Paying Almost $500 Less Monthly and Gaining Home Ownership, A Hobby and A New Love

Like many people these days, I have been struggling to not only make ends meet but just to have ends. I have over 100 job applications in. The days of deciding where I'd like to work are past. I just want a job, any job. Formally a professional writer, presently one month shy of panhandling.

A problem I was running into though was that I needed more then a job...I needed at least two to pay my monthly expenses. I live very frugally, drive a motorcycle to save gas and insurance, eat A LOT of tuna (mercury poisoning is less fatal then starvation) and pretty much have cut so many corners I don't have any left. Still I was looking at potentially living in someone's closet if something didn't change soon.

Then inspiration came in the voice of my dear friend Margie (aka my guardian angel I think sometimes). Financially savvy, her and her husband are 100% retired in these lean times. When she talks, I listen. And recently she was talking about an upcoming rv vacation, and listening has paid off big time.

Mentioning an rv spot cost them $250 a month, all utilities included meaning internet and cable TV also, a light bulb went off in my head. Why couldn't I do that permanently? Calling around, I found a park near where I live for $375 a month, internet, water and cable TV part of the deal. I pay electricity. Just that brings my total monthly expenses down by almost $500.

In addition I'm with in walking distance now of Walmart, a large Goodwill, a bakery and an old fashioned green grocer. I get a small yard I can fence off, access to a laundromat, an address with no apartment number and the pride of owning my own home. If I wanted a pet I could have one with no deposit or fuss. If I hadn't given up smoking I could now smoke in my own place.

Better quality of life, increased opportunity to save money and reduced monthly expenses as well as buying an investment that I can live in and enjoy. And the downsides are....

I'm SO glad I had my listening ears on! ^.^ See photos of my new home in my albums!

Battery Hack EXPOSED!

Ever see the video that a regular 6 volt battery contains up to 32 regular AA batteries inside? If you've never seen this tightwads' daydream, watch it here:

6 Volt Battery Hack! You'll Be Amazed! - video powered by Metacafe

Pretty amazing, huh? When my digital camera, which uses AA batteries, needed fresh input I remembered this hack and decided to try it. At the grocery store I bought one 6 volt battery by Eveready for $2.31. At home, armed with a screwdriver I pried open the top of the battery, which was quite easy after I got the hang of it.

Unfortunately, instead of finding a treasure of AA batteries I found this:

What in the heck are these?!? I know they're not AAs!

Nonetheless, I consider my $2.31 well spent in the name of science. Now I can stop looking greedily at the 6 volt batteries, imagining the wonderful secret hidden inside. I figure there are three possibilities to why I don't have any AAs from my 6 volt...

1. Only certain brands have the AAs inside.
2. The manufacturers changed their technique.
3. The whole battery hack is a spoof to see if people like me would really do it.

What's your take? Does anyone know the answer? Please enlighten us in the comments section. I still need AAs for my camera, and now I'm $2.31 in the hole ;)