I really like the idea of solar power. I really do. Who wouldn't like free, passive electricity?

It's just so unfortunate that they are so darn expensive. A modest 80 watt kit can cost as much as $1000 to $2000. This does not include accessories such as voltmeters, mounts, and sometimes, not even charge regulators and inverters. Oh yeah, and don't forget the batteries.

Solar is also a finicky beast, where cloudy days can reduce efficiency as much as 40 to 50%. Heat exposure can knock that down even further. Solar panels also have a shelf life, and could lose around 15% more efficiency naturally in the first two years. Batteries will need to be replaced eventually as well.

In all, and depending on who you ask, solar panel owners don't break even until about 10 to 20 years later. That's a long time.

Still though, solar seems irresistible to me. It can be an affordable enough option if you can reduce your energy needs low enough. This is doubly so for small, specific energy needs. For example, I am thinking about getting an emergency flash light and radio that can be charged by solar or by hand crank, and I am going to try to use it every night for ambient back lighting instead.

However, my dream some day is having a powerful enough system to be able to charge a laptop and cellphone every day. I don't think that's being entirely unreasonable, especially if I am going to try to pare down to a less costly and more mobile lifestyle.

Anybody know of any good systems or resource on solar power I should look at?

Ok, so some people, out of frugality, may have a wood burning type stove or fireplace. If so,

I used to have a pre-pay phone, but I think "shocked" would be a good word for it when I finally realized just how many minutes I am actually using.

Well, you see, everything on those phones cost minutes, and although they tend to be cheap, if there is enough traffic on it at all, I learned the hard way that it will add up!

What's worse, it seems like the previous owner of my phone used it for everything under the sun. I've gotten everything from debt collectors looking for someone I've never heard of, to image and texts of "Happy Mother's Day" and "Spread your joy to your friends, girl!" I'm a guy.

Well, that and it seems that I use more phone than I thought. So, after looking around, I decided to go with Virgin Mobile. The $25 starting deal can't be beat, because although I have only 300 minutes per month, texts, emails, and even 3G is unlimited. Well, I chose the Blackberry, and that costs another $10 premium, but $35 a month is still a very reasonable phone bill to me.

Ok, so my spring cleaning is a bit over-due. At least I managed to get around to it eventually, right?

As I was cleaning up, I started to wonder just how much space do I actually need and use, and not just want or have? Once cleaning was done, I broke out the tape measure to find out. Here are the results:

Bed: 36 sq. ft.

Kitchen: 5.25 sq. ft.

Desk: 15.75 sq. ft.

Closet: 15 sq. ft.

Bathroom: 24 sq. ft

Total sq. ft.: 96 sq. ft

The figures are rounded, but they are close enough. Also, please keep in mind that this is actual working space, and does not include space to move around (except perhaps the bed, which is wide because of my nightstands).

Only thing I disagree with is the dumpster comment. I don't think that qualifies as theft, but that's just me.

or the practice of living inside a van. From a financial standpoint, this has intrigued me as an option.

I know some have lived in one for years, but I wonder if it's possible to live in one... for decades? Possibly the rest of my life?

Certainly, it would be a cheap way to live. However, cheap isn't always frugal, and I wonder if this crosses that fine line?

I know it's pretty extreme, but right now, it's purely a theoretical consideration. I wonder if there's a way I can somehow make it work?

I just read elsewhere one of the most insane comments I have ever seen. Basically, some guy makes $250k a year, but thinks that is only middle class, and that he is only somewhat getting by. This despite acknowledging the fact that only 3% of the population makes that much. You can't be MIDDLE class if you are in the top 3%!

And what is causing them to struggle with their "middle class" money? 4200 sq. ft. house in an affluent neighborhood, 2 kids in private school, only 2-3 week-long vacations a year, and investing heavily in college and retirement funds (which I have no problems with).

What really kills me is that he thinks he is very frugal. And that may very well be true for someone who makes $250k a year. However, the vast majority of the population do not make that much, and have had to eek out a life with much less. So PLEASE do not tell us how to be frugal like you. For you, frugality is buying the 42" TV instead of the 50". For the rest of us, we have real choices and real sacrifices to make in our version of frugality.

So a friend of mine decided to give Cha Cha a try. Basically, a question comes in, he Googles it, copy and pastes the answer back, and gets $0.02 for it. He said that he averages around $1.50 per hour.

This is a little late, but in light of St. Patrick's Day, I learned that the Oxalis (or more commonly known as Shamrocks) make for amazing house plants. But then, I guess any resilient "weeds" are strong candidates for it.

Hi everyone. I've been lurking for a while, and decided to take the plunge and try this out.