Comments on: Five Things That Seem Expensive – But Don’t Have To Be http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/10/five-things-that-seem-expensive-but-dont-have-to-be/ Simple, applicable personal finance advice for the modern world Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:34:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Sara http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/10/five-things-that-seem-expensive-but-dont-have-to-be/comment-page-1/#comment-367820 Sara Thu, 04 Sep 2008 02:31:39 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/10/five-things-that-seem-expensive-but-dont-have-to-be/#comment-367820 THANK YOU so much for the link to that MIT site. I am determined to self study my way to a degree and one part of that is taking some CLEP exams. Problem is I needed some kind of guidance as far as choosing reading materials and such and having the whole curriculum for the class... wow. I'm blown away. Awesome resource. I can't believe I didn't find it sooner. Thanks again! I'm also curious about which free blog host you used originally and how/if that effected you when you switched to your own domain as far as search engine rankings and stuff like that? THANK YOU so much for the link to that MIT site. I am determined to self study my way to a degree and one part of that is taking some CLEP exams. Problem is I needed some kind of guidance as far as choosing reading materials and such and having the whole curriculum for the class… wow. I’m blown away. Awesome resource. I can’t believe I didn’t find it sooner. Thanks again!
I’m also curious about which free blog host you used originally and how/if that effected you when you switched to your own domain as far as search engine rankings and stuff like that?

]]> By: Computer Consulting Kit http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/10/five-things-that-seem-expensive-but-dont-have-to-be/comment-page-1/#comment-81177 Computer Consulting Kit Wed, 03 Oct 2007 19:00:39 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/10/five-things-that-seem-expensive-but-dont-have-to-be/#comment-81177 It’s definitely true that computer consulting businesses can be relatively low-capital startups if you approach them the right way. Nothing is free, but with some work and a little effort starting small business computer consulting companies definitely can produce some great rewards financially if you tap into the right specialty and niche within your area (and find one with high demand and market in a very targeted way). My Computer Consulting Kit Preview blog provides tips for <a>computer consultants</a> in all stages of business development, but also emphasizes a lot of articles about startup. Thanks for the blog post! It’s definitely true that computer consulting businesses can be relatively low-capital startups if you approach them the right way. Nothing is free, but with some work and a little effort starting small business computer consulting companies definitely can produce some great rewards financially if you tap into the right specialty and niche within your area (and find one with high demand and market in a very targeted way).

My Computer Consulting Kit Preview blog provides tips for computer consultants in all stages of business development, but also emphasizes a lot of articles about startup. Thanks for the blog post!

]]> By: Shane http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/10/five-things-that-seem-expensive-but-dont-have-to-be/comment-page-1/#comment-27145 Shane Sat, 19 May 2007 21:59:35 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/10/five-things-that-seem-expensive-but-dont-have-to-be/#comment-27145 I agree that starting a business doesn't have to be expensive. When I wanted to quit my job 4 years ago I put a lot of thought into what kind of business to start. It had to have almost no start-up costs because we didn't have much money. It had to have some kind of "repeat" business because I didn't want the stress/financial strain of constantly looking for new customers (I'm not a "sales" oriented guy). And it had to be something I could already do and would enjoy doing. I had done janitorial work in college and the more I researched the more I realized that this was just right for me. My wife got in on the action, too, and we started out doing both janitorial (at night) and housecleaning during the day. We found customers through fliers, door hangers, mailings, and word of mouth. We stopped doing janitorial because we were getting paid so much more for repeat housecleaning. Eventually we added several teams and had 9 employees. This January we cut back (employees caused more problems than they were worth, IMO) to only one employee and only kept the best clients. My BIL borrowed over half a million dollars just out of college to start a dairy farm and he's constantly stressed-out about keeping-up with payments. That's just not for me. What we do is not glamorous but it pays very well now that we can charge what we feel we are worth and it is very low-stress. I have found that there are lots of opportunities like this in many different fields - hauling, handyman, consulting (any field), yard-work, etc, etc. I always felt that if it didn't work I could always try to get my old job back (or at least try another job). Throwing-in the towel on the business would be easy because we didn't borrow to start it. In other words, there was really no financial risk. I agree that starting a business doesn’t have to be expensive. When I wanted to quit my job 4 years ago I put a lot of thought into what kind of business to start. It had to have almost no start-up costs because we didn’t have much money. It had to have some kind of “repeat” business because I didn’t want the stress/financial strain of constantly looking for new customers (I’m not a “sales” oriented guy). And it had to be something I could already do and would enjoy doing.

I had done janitorial work in college and the more I researched the more I realized that this was just right for me. My wife got in on the action, too, and we started out doing both janitorial (at night) and housecleaning during the day. We found customers through fliers, door hangers, mailings, and word of mouth.

We stopped doing janitorial because we were getting paid so much more for repeat housecleaning. Eventually we added several teams and had 9 employees. This January we cut back (employees caused more problems than they were worth, IMO) to only one employee and only kept the best clients.

My BIL borrowed over half a million dollars just out of college to start a dairy farm and he’s constantly stressed-out about keeping-up with payments. That’s just not for me.

What we do is not glamorous but it pays very well now that we can charge what we feel we are worth and it is very low-stress.

I have found that there are lots of opportunities like this in many different fields – hauling, handyman, consulting (any field), yard-work, etc, etc.

I always felt that if it didn’t work I could always try to get my old job back (or at least try another job). Throwing-in the towel on the business would be easy because we didn’t borrow to start it. In other words, there was really no financial risk.

]]> By: Sarah http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/10/five-things-that-seem-expensive-but-dont-have-to-be/comment-page-1/#comment-17738 Sarah Thu, 12 Apr 2007 17:12:42 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/10/five-things-that-seem-expensive-but-dont-have-to-be/#comment-17738 I'll plug for the Harvard Extension School (disclosure: I work there). It's the continuing ed division of Harvard. Relatively inexpensive courses for credit, including a couple hundred offered online, and part-time degree options if you want to do more. We've been really expanding our Distance Education options, too. I have it easy because I get a substantial employee discount, but I find that actually being enrolled in a class makes me to keep up with the work, where free options don't enforce that discipline. One course per semester had been about right for me to find the balance between too much free time and being too stressed with work and class. I’ll plug for the Harvard Extension School (disclosure: I work there). It’s the continuing ed division of Harvard. Relatively inexpensive courses for credit, including a couple hundred offered online, and part-time degree options if you want to do more. We’ve been really expanding our Distance Education options, too.

I have it easy because I get a substantial employee discount, but I find that actually being enrolled in a class makes me to keep up with the work, where free options don’t enforce that discipline. One course per semester had been about right for me to find the balance between too much free time and being too stressed with work and class.

]]> By: Nancy http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/10/five-things-that-seem-expensive-but-dont-have-to-be/comment-page-1/#comment-17606 Nancy Thu, 12 Apr 2007 03:16:28 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/10/five-things-that-seem-expensive-but-dont-have-to-be/#comment-17606 Taking a class on your own is indeed better for some reasons. Having a degree is more like the same with choosing your class. The free class just require us to to be more resourceful, unlike getting a degree which the school prepares everything for us at a cost. Taking a class on your own is indeed better for some reasons. Having a degree is more like the same with choosing your class. The free class just require us to to be more resourceful, unlike getting a degree which the school prepares everything for us at a cost.

]]> By: Amy http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/10/five-things-that-seem-expensive-but-dont-have-to-be/comment-page-1/#comment-17506 Amy Wed, 11 Apr 2007 19:01:13 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/10/five-things-that-seem-expensive-but-dont-have-to-be/#comment-17506 I agree, particularly with starting your own business. I think if people really thought about their talents that they could come up with a lot of things that they could do to get started for free or for really cheap. Great list! I agree, particularly with starting your own business. I think if people really thought about their talents that they could come up with a lot of things that they could do to get started for free or for really cheap.

Great list!

]]> By: Gal Josefsberg http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/10/five-things-that-seem-expensive-but-dont-have-to-be/comment-page-1/#comment-17493 Gal Josefsberg Wed, 11 Apr 2007 17:45:00 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/10/five-things-that-seem-expensive-but-dont-have-to-be/#comment-17493 Taking a class - Unless you're looking for official credit or a transcript, there are multiple classes available online for free. UCBerkeley just started podcasting a lot of their classes. You can find those on iTunes. I'm currently listening to their economics class and I have a separate podcast to learn Spanish. Exercise program - Careful with this one. Sometimes you do stuff and it ends up being bad for you. Jogging for example, can be really bad for your knees. However, you're absolutely right in that you don't have to spend a lot of money to get fit. Most of the information is available online and the actual exercise can usually be done at home. In fact, I just started a blog about getting fit (Got inspired by theSimpleDollar). Taking a class – Unless you’re looking for official credit or a transcript, there are multiple classes available online for free. UCBerkeley just started podcasting a lot of their classes. You can find those on iTunes. I’m currently listening to their economics class and I have a separate podcast to learn Spanish.

Exercise program – Careful with this one. Sometimes you do stuff and it ends up being bad for you. Jogging for example, can be really bad for your knees. However, you’re absolutely right in that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get fit. Most of the information is available online and the actual exercise can usually be done at home. In fact, I just started a blog about getting fit (Got inspired by theSimpleDollar).

]]> By: eR0CK http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/10/five-things-that-seem-expensive-but-dont-have-to-be/comment-page-1/#comment-17425 eR0CK Wed, 11 Apr 2007 14:04:15 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/10/five-things-that-seem-expensive-but-dont-have-to-be/#comment-17425 I debated starting my own computer consulting business on the side, but I wasn't willing to do so without proper insurance. In most cases, I wouldn't advocate starting a business on the side unless you have yourself covered should one of your customers sue you. Instead, I found a local business and I'm working for them. This avoided fees associated with insurance, becoming an LLC, etc. I debated starting my own computer consulting business on the side, but I wasn’t willing to do so without proper insurance.

In most cases, I wouldn’t advocate starting a business on the side unless you have yourself covered should one of your customers sue you.

Instead, I found a local business and I’m working for them. This avoided fees associated with insurance, becoming an LLC, etc.

]]> By: plonkee http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/10/five-things-that-seem-expensive-but-dont-have-to-be/comment-page-1/#comment-17392 plonkee Wed, 11 Apr 2007 11:34:25 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/10/five-things-that-seem-expensive-but-dont-have-to-be/#comment-17392 Wow, that is fast. I always feel bad if I read too much of a book in the bookshop. Wow, that is fast. I always feel bad if I read too much of a book in the bookshop.

]]> By: MossySF http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/10/five-things-that-seem-expensive-but-dont-have-to-be/comment-page-1/#comment-17355 MossySF Wed, 11 Apr 2007 08:09:00 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/10/five-things-that-seem-expensive-but-dont-have-to-be/#comment-17355 I'm a fast reader so I just hit the local Borders and down a book in a sitting. For facts/trivia/topics, there's plenty of reading available on the internet. I’m a fast reader so I just hit the local Borders and down a book in a sitting. For facts/trivia/topics, there’s plenty of reading available on the internet.

]]> By: Irene http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/10/five-things-that-seem-expensive-but-dont-have-to-be/comment-page-1/#comment-17341 Irene Wed, 11 Apr 2007 06:56:03 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/10/five-things-that-seem-expensive-but-dont-have-to-be/#comment-17341 The big difference in getting a degree with self study is that some companies prefer people with degrees. Of course, there are others that don't require it but the your possibility of getting hired is small because there are more people who can't afford to have a degree than to those who have. The big difference in getting a degree with self study is that some companies prefer people with degrees. Of course, there are others that don’t require it but the your possibility of getting hired is small because there are more people who can’t afford to have a degree than to those who have.

]]> By: KMull http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/10/five-things-that-seem-expensive-but-dont-have-to-be/comment-page-1/#comment-17281 KMull Wed, 11 Apr 2007 01:43:20 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/10/five-things-that-seem-expensive-but-dont-have-to-be/#comment-17281 Three of the best exercises you can do for yourself are absolutely free: 1. Running/jogging 2. Pushups 3. Situps I've started jogging for 20 minutes every other night. Hope to have a long term effect. Three of the best exercises you can do for yourself are absolutely free:

1. Running/jogging
2. Pushups
3. Situps

I’ve started jogging for 20 minutes every other night. Hope to have a long term effect.

]]> By: Cascadia Girl http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/10/five-things-that-seem-expensive-but-dont-have-to-be/comment-page-1/#comment-17266 Cascadia Girl Wed, 11 Apr 2007 00:26:31 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/10/five-things-that-seem-expensive-but-dont-have-to-be/#comment-17266 Libraries ROCK. In Seattle, they are a source of not only books, but music, movies, great lectures and other entertainment, access to computers and the internet and so much more. ALL FREE. I regularly check out audiobooks on CD, load them on my iPod, then "read" them while gardening, running, commuting, etc. (I then delete them to honor copyright protection). Many libraries have online audiobook services that let you load entire books onto an MP3 player. It automatically expires in, like, 30 or 60 days. -CG Libraries ROCK. In Seattle, they are a source of not only books, but music, movies, great lectures and other entertainment, access to computers and the internet and so much more. ALL FREE.

I regularly check out audiobooks on CD, load them on my iPod, then “read” them while gardening, running, commuting, etc. (I then delete them to honor copyright protection). Many libraries have online audiobook services that let you load entire books onto an MP3 player. It automatically expires in, like, 30 or 60 days.

-CG

]]> By: Matt http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/10/five-things-that-seem-expensive-but-dont-have-to-be/comment-page-1/#comment-17217 Matt Tue, 10 Apr 2007 21:47:02 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/10/five-things-that-seem-expensive-but-dont-have-to-be/#comment-17217 As someone who recently finished my bachelors degree and has begun working on a masters I often ask myself how I should be categorizing expenses associated with my education. On one level I see it as an investment, but it's very difficult to quantify what kind of return it will yield and I get apprehensive diverting funds allocated for other investments towards education. As someone who recently finished my bachelors degree and has begun working on a masters I often ask myself how I should be categorizing expenses associated with my education. On one level I see it as an investment, but it’s very difficult to quantify what kind of return it will yield and I get apprehensive diverting funds allocated for other investments towards education.

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