This is really more of a rant post, as I don't think there is a solution. I am a substitute teacher for pre-school and the powers that be have recently enforced a new practice that I find despicable, very wasteful, and kind of silly. Here's the scoop:

When the children wash their hands, they turn on the water and scrub up with soap as usual. They have been instructed to leave the faucet on while they go get a paper towel and dry their hands, then they are to turn the faucet off with the paper towel.
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The last time my family went camping, I was amazed at the amount of stuff we felt we had to bring for such a seemingly simple activity. Our van was almost full of camping gear, most of which we never even used, but brought "just in case." I couldn't help but notice when we went shopping before the trip that much of the supplies marketed towards campers are simply more compact versions of things we already own.
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There are plenty of addiction treatment centers for overuse of drugs and alcohol, but what about the addiction that afflicts most of the American population? What I'm referring to is overconsumption. This includes shopping as entertainment, overpaying for purchases, maxing out credit cards, and living beyond one's means.
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I am a firm believer that no one should pay someone else to do anything they could do themselves. This is especially true when it comes to home improvement projects. Did you know that when it comes to home furnishings, stores average a gross margin of 43%? When we are talking about projects costing thousands of dollars, that 43% can be a huge amount of money.
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I am happy to say that spring is officially here, which means it is time to shed that extra winter weight and gear up for the summer wardrobe. For many people, home gym equipment is a good investment. If used regularly, it makes more sense to have exercise machines in your home rather than paying monthly for gym memberships.
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I can't think of any reason why anyone would do without home insurance in this day and age. The premiums are so low that I would pay them for peace of mind, if nothing else! But the fact that they insure both your home and all your belongings totally makes it necessary.
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I was thrilled to have been selected to receive a free yoga dvd to review. I practiced yoga during both of my pregnancies, which I believe helped me to deliver totally natural with no medications both times. The mind/body/breath connection learned in yoga is very helpful in many other aspects of life as well. Sadly, after my children were born, I have been too busy to keep up with yoga and I have missed it.
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Pop quiz: what's more exciting than finding an effective colon cleanser? Answer: reading a great book about saving money and living a simpler life! All joking aside, I just finished a refreshingly fun book called The Ultimate Cheapskate's Road Map to True Riches by Jeff Yeager. Among a sea of dry, humorless finance books, his takes a different approach to enjoying life more by spending less.
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