Almost Free New York: Easter???

Almost Free New York: Easter???: COVID-19 The New Normal Photo by  Kelly Sikkema  on  Unsplash My Roman Catholic Church on the Upper East Side of Manhattan - n...

Easter???

COVID-19 The New Normal

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

My Roman Catholic Church on the Upper East Side of Manhattan - not exactly a bastion of lefty political leanings - has canceled all Easter Masses. Yet our narcissistic President says he is imagining crowded churches on April 12 - a mere 2 and a half weeks away.

The only thing I may have in common with Trump is that I am not a scientist.  Catholic school in the 1960's was skeptical of science and I am embarrassed to admit I've never taken a biology class.  My public high school required just 1 year of science to graduate.  Groovy Earth Science was my ticket!

This is 2020, and over the years I have grown to respect and listen to scientists for a simple reason: they know much more than I do. Herein lies the problem.  Trump rejects the idea that anyone knows more than our perfect, tremendous, fantastic President.  

I stare in rapt revulsion as Trump, surrounded by his loyalists, holds daily briefings and shares his dangerous fantasies with the American people. His story changes with alarming rapidity.  This isn't leadership.  It's the boy who cried wolf - in reverse.  Trump says come gather at church.  The sheep dutifully obey, and the COVID-19 virus eats them.

Apologies for the mixed metaphors, but the point is this: Trump is a failed businessman and an accomplished liar. He's not worried about the virus because it will cull the herd.  Who cares if we lose thousands of old people?  They're too expensive and they don't work. Who needs the infirmed and disabled?  They also don't work - not good for my bottom line.  

If you can stand it, listen to this compilation of Trump's recent contradictions.

Trump

Meanwhile, here is what I am doing to contribute during our social isolation:

1) I live on the third floor of an apartment building with an elevator.  I carry a small spray bottle of isopropyl alcohol and I spray the buttons and knobs whenever I take my dog for a walk - at least 3 times per day. If you don't have rubbing alcohol, any disinfectant spray like Lysol, Clorox, fantastic, etc. will work. I posted a sign in English and Spanish in the elevator explaining this and inviting others to do the same.  This has been very well received by my neighbors!

2) If your budget allows, order take-out from your favorite locally-owned restaurant once-a-week or more.  I had a delicious burger and sweet potato fries for lunch today from Hilltop Park Ale House, which leads me to...

3) Give blood. Supplies are low and must be replenished regularly.  I usually don't have enough iron in my blood, hence the burger mentioned above! I will eat meat this Friday.  I trust Jesus will understand 🙏

4) If you are lucky enough to have help, pay them to stay home.  Consider it long-overdue vacation time.

5) Again, if your budget allows, buy a gift card from a local small business.  They are strapped for cash and you can make a dent in your holiday shopping!

6) Most importantly, use technology to check in often with the people you love. I've got my parents in their 80's doing Facetime.

Thank you for letting me get this off my chest.  I feel much better now!  I keep coming back to God (or your higher power or the universe) doesn't give more than you can handle.  We are stronger than we think.

If you learned something useful in this blog please forward it to your friends, and if you sign up you can post a comment and I promise to reply!

Keep calm and carry on...Lori Bores

I leave you with this much- needed classic from the Five Stairsteps...enjoy!

Ooh Child

Almost Free of Trump - Part 2

Women's March 2017

I was wrong back in October when I honestly believed that it was time to elect a female president of the United States.  Actually, the majority of voters agreed with me, but the Electoral College, which was designed precisely to prevent a dangerous egomaniac from assuming the office, failed to do its job.

So we are stuck with Donald Trump - at least until he does something so egregious that he is impeached.  Frankly, I don't know what that could be since we already know he doesn't pay taxes, sexually assaults women and hates immigrants.

Almost Free New York: 7 Ways to Save Big Bucks in 2017

Almost Free New York: 7 Ways to Save Big Bucks in 2017: 7 simple ways to save big bucks in 2017 Many of us have resigned ourselves to the fact that Donald Trump simply cannot keep his promise. ...

7 Ways to Save Big Bucks in 2017

7 simple ways to save big bucks in 2017

Many of us have resigned ourselves to the fact that Donald Trump simply cannot keep his promise. Unions are what made a thriving middle class in America and I suspect the death of unions is something Trump celebrates.  Automation is another inarguable fact that our President-elect does not acknowledge.  We grownups have learned that a problem must be named before it can be solved. We've strapped ourselves in because it's going to be a bumpy ride.  See you in D.C.

However, thanks to technology and good old-fashioned resourcefulness, there are a number of ways to save significant money in 2017 to partially offset the continuing war on the shrinking middle class.

1. Cut the cord 

How much money do you spend on your cable bill?  $150 per month? $250 per month??  When mine was approaching $300 per month (and I was moving) this former television producer  finally made the decision.  I was nervous, but more than 2 years later I can honestly say I do not miss anything and I have saved a serious bundle.

Mohu HD antenna

You will make an initial outlay of as little as $29.99 for a Roku to stream programs and $49 for an HD antenna (I bought mine from Mohu). Then I subscribed to Netflix (movies and original programming) for $7.99 per month, Hulu (almost everything one day after broadcast) for $7.99 per month, and later Sling (for sports and news)  at $19.99 per month. So after my initial investment of less than $100, my monthly "cable" bill is $33.97 per month! I "borrow" the codes for HBO and SHOWTIME from my cable paying parents (thanks, Mom & Dad).  HBO GO, which shows HBO content 1 day after it appears on HBO, allows up to 3 people to "share" codes. Ditto for SHOWTIME Anytime.  See my previous post Cut the Cable for more details.

2. ditch your old hard wired phone

Full diclosure:  I still pay $60 per month to TimeWarner, now Spectrum, for a hard-wired phone (and wireless service) because with my MS I (foolishly) believed I needed a FAX machine to deal with all the medical paperwork.  Over the holidays, my 26 year old son looked at me incredulously and said, "Mom, just scan it and email it." 

The phone only rings w/ robocalls and this week, I'll be happy to ditch it!  I'll let you know how Spectrum figures out a new way to overcharge, but by my calculations this should cut my bill in half.

3. change every light bulb to an LED

About a year ago, I made a bet w/ my Dad, who lives in a typical, suburban 3 bedroom house.  I replaced all of his light bulbs w/ LED or CFL bulbs for one month.  If his electrical bill wasn't reduced he wouldn't have to pay for the bulbs.

In 1 month, his electrical bill was reduced by almost $10!  Again, it requires an initial outlay to buy the bulbs, but they last forever and you will never have to replace another light bulb.  LED's/CFL's are costly, so I recommend waiting for a sale at target, taking careful inventory of what you need, and start saving big time.  For more tips, see my post Save Money, Save the Environment.

4. make every credit  card purchase with at least 2% cash back, preferably 5%

Many of you feel the way lots of credit cards change their rewards every quarter is a pain.  Fair enough, but if you don't want to do the little stickers every 3 months, just get yourself one of the 2% cashback cards. I have one from Citibank, and there are others, like Fidelity Rewards Visa Signature. Google 2% cash back credit cards. We're talking about potentially thousands of dollars a year! 

5.  bring your lunch to work once or twice a week

This is one of the good, old-fashioned resourcefulness tips.  When I was a child, my Mom used to make lunch for my Dad (who was in a union) to take to work every day. Going out to lunch is often social, and ordering in is certainly convenient, but this year why not try bringing a sandwich or yogurt and a piece of fruit for lunch a couple of times per week?  Pack it the night before while planning your outfit and maybe take a walk with your co-workers after lunch,  You will save money and be healthier!

6. call your insurance broker to find discounts on bundling, safe driving, taking teenagers off your policy, etc.

Insurance is especially competitive and especially if you have been w/ the same broker for years, it would be worth a friendly call to see if you can reduce your bill.  Raising your deductible is a classic money saving strategy, as is dropping collision coverage if your vehicle is more than 3 years old.  I get a discount from Travelers because I insure both my car and my apartment w/ this company.  Take a 1 day safe driving course for more discounts.

5% cashback

7. get an Amazon Store credit card

This is brand new and seriously recommended.  This year for the first time, I did all of my Christmas shopping online.  I realized that I bought almost everything online from Amazon.  With the Amazon Prime store card, you get 5% back on everything!  You can only use it on Amazon, but isn't that where most of us begin our shopping search?  OK, maybe Google first, but usually all online shopping roads lead to Amazon, so why not get 5% back on the bluetooth speaker you bought for your crazy uncle?

If you learned something useful in this blog please forward it to your friends, and if you sign up you can post a comment and I promise to reply!

Keep calm and carry on...Lori Bores

 

Almost Free New York: 10 Almost Free things to do in New York during the...

Almost Free New York: 10 Almost Free things to do in New York during the...: 10 almost free things to do in New York during the Holidays Honestly, I think many of us are still reeling from the US presidential elec...

10 Almost Free things to do in New York during the holidays.

10 almost free things to do in New York during the Holidays

Honestly, I think many of us are still reeling from the US presidential election. In my other life as a successful AirBnB host, I was puzzled to have had no guests during November and I suspect it may be because the rest of the world is afraid of what we Americans have done. I am, too, but I remain an optimist.

As President Obama (and Annie) said, the sun will come out tomorrow...and as I say, there are still fantastic things to do for free in NYC!

Ice skating at Bryant Park - from October 29, 2016 to March 5, 2017, there is free ice skating in Bryant Park in midtown Manhattan at 42nd Street.  Bring your own skates and the rink is free from 8am to 10pm daily. You will pay $20 to rent skates and $28 to skip the line ($35 online) but plan an "offpeak" weekday skate and the ice is yours!  Bring a lock for your stuff.  They are lighting their tree on December 2 this year.

Rock Center Tree - at Rockefeller Center the skating is not free but the Christmas Tree lighting is. This year, the gorgeous 94 foot Norway Spruce lights up on November 30th. Watching the event is free and the limited space will only accommodate those who come early. Pick a place at the Channel Gardens together with your family, friends and watch the star studded show. 

Window Shopping - my perennial favorite is the Lord & Taylor holiday windows but there are so many to choose from: Saks, Barney's, Bloomingdale's, Cartier, Bergdorf Goodman, Henri Bendel, etc.,etc. I challenge you to spend the day window shopping in NYC during the holidays and not finding your smile.  Bring a thermos of hot chocolate with you!

Trains @ Grand Central Station- you know about the big boy (and girl) trains, but during the holidays, NYC Transit Museum Gallery Annex sets up an impressive and free model train exhibit that is not to be missed!  This year, it runs from November 14 to February 2017.

Visit Santa @ MACY's - I have many fond memories of taking my children to see Santa when they were young, and I confess a certain nostalgia for the old-fashioned mechanical elves.  My then 4 year old son looked at me with a knowing look and said, "Those are pretend elves, Mom.  The REAL elves are making my toys!"

The exhibit is updated now, with a fantasy train ride and digital displays to determine who's naughty or nice.  The kids will be entertained to help them tolerate the long lines, but again, try to go offpeak - weekdays during school hours and early in the season.

Union Square Market - If you are looking for a seriously unique gift, for yourself or someone you love, you cannot do better than from one of the hundreds of small vendors and artisans that populate NYC's outdoor markets.  I don't know which I love more, but the one at Union Square is very popular.  There is also one at Bryant Park and at the edge of Central Park by Columbus Circle.  It's free to look and you might find something irresistible!

Chelsea Market - Brooklyn's Artists and Fleas independent designers have set up shop here, conveniently right at the lower edge of the Highline. the city's most popular (and free) tourist destination.

Finally, as we must't forget the reason for the season, explore your spiritual side with a visit to Trinity Church, where Alexander Hamilton is buried, and to St. Patrick's Cathedral.  They will be decorated for Advent until December 25th, and in Christmas glory thereafter. Enjoy the season!

If you enjoyed this blog, please pass it along to a friend!

Keep calm and carry on...Lori Bores