RealLifeSurvivalGuide.com Blog

Buy an air powered popcorn popper to snack on the cheap

2009-06-30T15:09:41-05:00

There’s nothing like a tasty (and by that I mean salty) snack on a hot summer day. The problem is, those snacks can be pricey.

Enter the decidedly “old-school” air powered popcorn popper. According to PayLessForFood.com, “Using a hot air popper, which can be purchased for around $10 to $15 at Walmart or Target, you can make popcorn for an insanely low 8 cents per serving!"…

Spend $150.00 on landscaping to help sell your house.

2009-06-26T17:38:25-05:00

We’re selling our house, so lately I’ve been interested in how to “dress up” your home without spending a fortune.

The July 2009 issue of ShopSmart suggests that you “Clean up the landscaping. Cost - About $150"…

Use tape to stop a mosquito bite from itching

2009-06-19T01:01:19-05:00

I just love it when somebody sends me a tip - it means I don’t have to think. (I don’t like thinking, because it’s considered a form of work.)

So my friend Ed sent me this tip, which he found on ThriftyFun.com:

“Big Bad Mama” says you can stop a mosquito bite from itching by using rubbing alcohol and scotch tape…

Use a clarifying shampoo twice a month

2009-06-17T02:28:58-05:00

I was showering one morning, and I put the conditioner in first. You should have seen it - I freaked out, like some natural order had been interrupted. But don’t worry, it will NEVER happen again.

Which brings me to an article I just disovered in the Real Simple Website. It turns out there is much to be learned about proper hair washing - including the the need to use “just two shampoos"…

Seeking revenge can make you feel worse

2009-06-11T01:55:28-05:00

Remember what Don Corleone said about revenge in the Godfather? He said it isn’t worth it - that vengeance wasn’t going to bring Sonny back - nor would it bring back Phillip Tattaglia’s son.

Interestingly enough, a study authored by Kevin Carlsmith at Colgate University agrees. About revenge, not Tattaglia’s son…

Don’t watch TV before bed if you need a good night’s sleep

2009-06-10T01:27:50-05:00

We are a massively sleep deprived society - and many of us are also on a first name basis with Dave, Jay, and Conan.

The problem? According to an article in the LA Times Health Blog “Booster Shots”, “Almost seven in 10 Americans spend some part of their final two waking hours each day in front of the television, and most let television programming—not their level of sleepiness or their need for a full night’s sleep—dictate when they go to sleep...”

Save money by reupholstering a high quality piece of used furniture

2009-06-08T20:39:24-05:00

When you need new furniture, your first inclination is usually to buy… well, new furniture. The problem - they really DON’T ‘make ‘em like they used to’.

A good solution, according to DoItYourself.com, is to buy a high quality piece of used furniture and have it reupholstered…

The Week in Review - 06-05-09

2009-06-06T02:13:52-05:00

Don’t worry about solving every problem in your marriage

2009-06-05T00:12:39-05:00

Even though I’ve had my fair share of marital disagreements, I’ve never considered them to be repetitive. Each one feels unique - like a snowflake - and there always seems to be some kind of resolution.

This is unlikely, according to Psychology Today. Dr. John Gottman of the University of Washington says that “couples argue about the same issues 69 percent of the time. They don’t resolve their problems.”

Make a personal passion part of your job

2009-06-04T01:38:01-05:00

For over twenty years, I worked at my dream job - I was a morning show radio host. Unfortunately, over time, the dream became a nightmare.

Where did things go wrong? I’m not sure; but, according to Alexandra Levit of the Wall Street Journal, one option would have been to bring a passion to the party…