house and home by joel martens
Are we all tired yet of hearing how horrible the economy is and how much
trouble we are all in yet? I find it interesting that there is such an endless litany
of bad news; we are so conditioned to hear, see and expect the worse. It has, I be-
lieve, a paralyzing effect on all of us, as we all nervously wait to see what happens.
I would never try to underplay the difficulties that many people are facing
with unemployment, the loss of their homes due to ballooning mortgages and
the effects that has had on their financial outlook. It is indeed a difficult time
for many. No doubt, recovery from those situations is challenging, and the loss
disheartening. I do wonder though, why there isn’t more discussion about what
is going well and what we can do as a group or individually to alleviate some of
those financial burdens. It kind of all comes down to perspective. Do we choose
to see the worst or look for the opportunity? There are two very simple things that
I changed in the last few months as a simple way to cut costs; part of the process
of re-evaluating how and where I spend wastefully. I made two calculations that
were very enlightening:
First, I’d never really thought about the amount of money that I spend on one of
the most basic needs I have—water. We all need it to stay healthy, but the actual
cost of it in dollars wasn’t something I’d closely considered.
I usually drink at least three bottles of water per day, at an average cost of about
$2.00 per bottle. When you think of it that way it doesn’t seem like such a bad
thing, but let’s break it down over the course of a year. Three bottles of water per
day comes to $6.00 per day. Multiply that by the 365 days in a year and it comes
out to $2190.00 per year! Even if you bring the price down to $1.00 per bottle, it’s a
significant amount of money; especially if you consider a faucet filtration system
puts the average cost at $.18 per gallon. Guess what? – I bought two $15.00
stainless steel water bottles and a filtration system (the most expensive one cost
me $29.95).
This doesn’t even consider the cost to the environment in waste – which is
ghastly. 60,000,000 plastic water bottles are tossed out each and every day, not
recycled, but tossed out—that’s 21,900,000,000 per year that end up in land fills
(if we’re lucky)! Staggering, isn’t it?
The second thing I grudgingly looked at is my favorite get-me-started elixir, my
java jump, the I-gotta-have-it-lifeblood, (can you tell I love it?) COFFEE!
I usually have one cup in the morning at home, I have a nice German coffee-
maker that brews at the optimal temperature, giving me, if I do say so myself, the
perfect cup of Joe. That is of course when I’m not running late, which I often am.
Regardless, it’s what I do once I leave the house that we’re going to discuss.
The truth is, when I get to work I frequently want more. So off to the local coffee
shop I go for another – and typically this one isn’t a simple one. So let’s do our
calculations again: The price is generally is $3.65 per cup, average that out over
a year; 365 days multiplied by $3.65 = $3500.00! That one gave me pause – even
if I don’t by a cup a day, it’s still surprising. What a great vacation that would help
finance, I might even be able to afford that nice red moped (saving me even more
money)! Again, I went out and bought myself a stainless steel thermos for $15.99
and I now take the coffee that I once threw out every day from home!
Close To Home:
I have talked in previous articles about how to look at your home with new eyes,
what I am hoping to illuminate on another level is related to that idea as well.
Easy Ways to Cut Costs
The one constant in life is that it changes; the question is how are you going to
respond to that change? React to it like it’s the end of the world (listening to the For more information, please feel free to call us at 619.220.0225 ext. 2 or visit us at Pomegranate-
media hype, you might think that) or look at it like it’s an opportunity to view it in Home at 1037 University Avenue in Hillcrest. You can check out our website at www. Pomegran-
a new way.
ate.signonsandiego.com as well. If you need more individual assistance, contact me at joel@
Start simply, look at your daily habits and examine your choices and routines.
pomhome.com or the number above and we can set up a consultation!
Then change what you are willing to change – true power is in the ability to adapt
to circumstances whatever they may be. Joel Martens is the general manager at PomegranateHome and owner of Arrange Design.
72 RAGE monthly | MARCH 2009
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104