John E. Simmons

Don't pay fees for your bank accounts

I'm old enough to remember Savings and Loan Associations - you had a document called a passbook, you took in in to the S&L, added money to your account, and the S&L computed your balance and entered it in the passbook.  You generally earned 5% interest.

Because of changes in financial laws, crooks in high places, and general incompetence, the S&L's went out of business about 20-years ago.  I put my savings account into a bank, where I was stunned to see that fees cost me more than the interest I earned.

I switched to a credit union and now pay no fees at all - on any accounts.  Don't pay those fees. Shop for a bank that doesn't charge them, or find a credit union.  You'll save your family money.

Tightwad Assignment - buy gasoline early in the morning

Here's a tip for buying gas - buy early in the morning.  As the temperature rises, the gasoline in the pump (yeah, I know it's actually in a tank in the ground) expands.  The pump thinks it's giving you more gas than you are actually getting, and the error increases as the temperature gets hotter.

Only folks in Hawaii don't have to worry about this.  State law requires their pumps to take temperature into consideration.

So, buy your gas early in the morning or late at night when the temperatures are lower and the pump more accurate.  Get what you pay for.

Don't pay for TV - build a free antenna

With broadcasters moving to digital TV next month, you won't need to pay for cable to get a lot of TV channels.  Digital allows for your local stations to put out more signals - for instance, my public TV station has five different signals.

You'll need a tuner if your TV does not have a digital tuner, but you don't need one of those expensive "made for digital" sets of rabbit ears.  Here's how to build a digital TV antenna from clothes hangers

Tightwad Assignment - extending that car warranty yourself

A long time ago, I bought a new station wagon for my then wife.  A month after the warranty ran out, one of the shock absorbers punched it's way through the floor into the luggage area.  Clearly a manufacturing defect.

I went to the dealer and complained.  The service manager was very surprised.  He complained to the zone manager and told me how to complain, also.  It worked.  Ford repaired the problem even thought he car was out of warranty.

You might be able to do the same, particularly if the problem is later identified as a manufacturing defect.  Visit your dealer.  Try to meet a zone representative when he or she is at the dealer.  Write letters as though you are writing to a jury that will eventually hear your case.  Write emails daily.  Be firm, but remain polite.

Tightwad Assignment - it's sprinkler season

Folks here in northeast Florida have been under water restrictions for years.  Now  the lessons leaned in saving water can apply to everyone in a down economy.  The folks at Rainbird have a number of tips for saving water - including the following.

THE INTELLIGENT USE OF WATER™
Tips From Rain Bird that Will Keep Your Lawn,
Garden and Wallet Full of Green

Did you ever think that you could be saving water by using an irrigation system? If your irrigation system is correctly designed, installed and maintained, it will help reduce the amount of water you use and still keep your lawn and landscape looking healthy. A few good sense tips from the leader in irrigation…

DON’T DROWN: Avoid over-watering lawns and gardens. Much of the water is never absorbed anyway. Some water is lost to runoff by being applied too rapidly, and some water evaporates from
exposed, un-mulched soil. But the greatest waste of water comes from applying too much, too often. Instead of watering for 20 minutes straight, water four times for 5 minutes each, with a 15-minute break between each session. This will allow water to soak in, while minimizing runoff.

WATCH THE CLOCK: Watering in the evening isn't a good idea because leaf surfaces can remain wet overnight --- an open invitation for fungal diseases. Midday watering is better for plants, but bad for your water bill because of water loss through evaporation. Try to water between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m., when the sun is low, winds are calm and temperatures are cool. Under these conditions, leaf surfaces have a chance to dry out during the day, reducing thechance of fungal diseases and conserving water due to reduced evaporation. Make sure to use low angle nozzles in areas where wind is a factor.

PLAY THE ZONE: The goal of any irrigation system is to give plants a sufficient amount of water without wasting. Divide your yard and landscaping into separate irrigation zones so grass can be
watered separately and more frequently than groundcovers, shrubs and trees. Both sprinkler and drip irrigation can be incorporated to achieve efficient use of water.

RAISE THE BLADE: Trim grass at a higher mower setting to shade roots from sunlight and encourage deeper roots.

WATER ONLY THINGS THAT GROW: If you have an underground sprinkler system, make sure the sprinkler heads are adjusted properly to avoid watering sidewalks and driveways. Also, a properly adjusted sprinkler head should spray large droplets of water instead of a fog of fine mist, which is more susceptible to evaporation and wind drift.

CONSIDER DRIPPING: When it comes to watering individual trees, flowerbeds, potted containers, or other nongrassy areas, consider direct application of water to roots using low volume “drip” emitters. By applying water slowly to soil, drip irrigation is by far the most efficient way to water. The water flows under low pressure through emitters, bubblers or spray heads placed at each plant. Water applied by drip irrigation has little chance of waste through evaporation or runoff, and will prevent unwanted weeds from growing.

GET YOUR HEADS CHECKED: Since lawns and gardens should be watered in the early morning hours, a problem may not be discovered until it is too late. Once a month, turn on your irrigation system, throw on your bathing suit and make sure everything is working properly. A clogged head or a torn line can wreak havoc on your landscape and water bill.

YOU CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MULCH: Mulch, a layer of non-living material covering the soil surface around plants, conserves water by significantly reducing moisture evaporation from the soil. Mulch also reduces weed populations, prevents soil compaction and keeps soil temperatures more moderate. Mulches can be organic materials such as pine bark, compost or woodchips; or inorganic materials, such as lava rock, limestone or permeable plastic, but not sheet plastic because soil needs to breathe.

BE RAIN SMART: Adjust your irrigation system as the seasons and weather change. Or better yet, install a shut-off device that automatically detects rain. They are inexpensive and enable you to take advantage of nature’s precious gift without paying for it.

For more watering tips, or information on the product categories mentioned, visit
www.rainbird.com, or contact your local Rain Bird retailer.

Tightwad Assignment - shaving update

Back in February, I began an experiment.  A caller to The Clark Howard Show said that he had been able to use a cheap razor for months simply by drying it, then immersing it in mineral oil.

The idea is that humidity causes corrosion and destroys the sharpness of the blade.

I began with a cheap drugstore razor on February 1.  I'm happy to say that I'm still using that razor.

An apology

I apologize for the light posting over the last month.  I was in an automobile accident and suffered a broken right arm and a sprained left wrist.  Thus, no typing for a while. 

I did learn some things about saving money on medical care.  Those updates will be posted soon.

Tightwad Gourmet - Cooked bread

Now 93, Clara shows us how to salvage a rock hard loaf of old bread, using a recipe she perfected during The Great Depression.

First, she slices the bread into manageable hunks.

Then she adds olive oil - it must be olive oil, not some other kind.  Add salt to taste.

In the meantime, bring a pot of water to a boil.

Add the boiling water to the bread, and mash the bread until it is soft.

Clara tells why the bread is good for infants and old people. With a laugh.

Again we don't make health claims for these recipes, but they are proven to keep people alive during hard times.

Tightwad Gourmet - Peppers and Eggs

Clara was 92 when she made this video.  Once again, she reprises favorite, cheap, recipes from the depression. This time, it's peppers and eggs.

First, she cleans out and slices three large  bell peppers.  Be sure to get all the white stuff out of the inside -it's bitter.  Slice them into long strips.

Brown the peppers in a skillet in oil.  You may be able to use less oil if you cook in a non-stick pan.

After the peppers are brown, add salt and turn down the heat.

Mix four eggs as you would for scrambling, then add them to the peppers in the skillet.  Stir around to mix thoroughly.  Cook until the eggs are done.

Watch Clara cook the Peppers and Eggs recipe for a few hints about quantity.  Like most cooks, she doesn't measure. 

Plus, you'll learn why she stopped sharing sandwiches at school

Tightwad Gourmet - Poorman's Meal

91- year old Clara shows us how to cook meals she once made during the depression.  While the ingredients might make a modern day health nut cringe, the wholesome food kept people alive.

As usual, she begins by peeling and dicing a potato and frying it in oil.  She uses a skillet.  You might get by with less oil if you use a non-stick pan.  Then she adds a diced onion, salt and pepper.   She browns it all together in the pan.

Towards the end, she adds a couple of tablespoons of tomato sauce.

While the potatoes and onions are cooking, Clara thinly slices several hot dogs.  Commentors suggest you could also use Italian sausage.  Clara says they hot dogs were cheap.

She adds the sliced dogs to the potatoes and stirs until they are thoroughly heated through.  She adds a little water to help soften the potatoes.

Watch Clara and learn a few more tips - plus the reason she had to quit high school