It was my turn to choose our thrifty theme for April and I settled on Belting It. I never used to check the belt section in thrift shops because I always assumed that most donated belts were generally those cheap matching belts that are attached to garments when you buy them but you never wear them because they look, well, cheap. Then a few years back, Jodie had mentioned that she always finds lovely belts in secondhand stores so I started paying closer attention whenever I go on thrifting adventures. My assumption was partially correct…most of the belts hanging in my local thrift stores are pretty much junk. However, Jodie’s…

It’s that time of year again when most of the northern hemisphere is experiencing the beauty of springtime weather. The sun is shining, the temperatures are warming, and the flowers are blooming. However, I live in a place that experiences very unique weather patterns with spring being nothing more than a tease for the first six to eight weeks following the equinox. We have seen some lovely temperatures recently but those days are almost always tarnished by rain, leaving me feeling a little depressed during the gray days, which happen with much more frequency than sunny ones. Although this is typical weather for the North Country, I can’t seem to…

Becoming a local small business owner does not always require the expense of a rented storefront or a small business loan that barely covers operating costs. Some of the best small businesses emerge from the comfort of home, parlaying skills you already possess and connections you have already established in the community where you have settled. The beauty of starting small and local is that it allows you to take baby steps without risking too much while simultaneously and organically growing at a pace that makes more sense for your life. How Do You Know What Kind of Business to Start? Most of the best small businesses emerge from what…

Do you love your vehicle? If you’re like most vehicle owners, you probably do, even if the new car smell has long since faded. But as car owners create a relationship with their vehicle, they also develop ideas about worth. How much did you pay for it? What’s your maintenance cost? Maybe they even factor in that cool stereo system they had installed. Regardless, over time, vehicle owners tend to value their cars higher than the market price. And the sad thing is, the reality of vehicle depreciation is nowhere near as good as people think until it comes time to sell. Your vehicle is not an appreciating home or…