Mildew Remedy

I was afraid drying the couch cushion covers would shrink them.  As a result, the couch smells about as bad as Kai that time she introduced herself to a skunk.  A 10 lb dog is one thing, but we don't have nearly enough tomato bisque (or Axe) to cover the couch, so I resorted to a remedy out of Kelly Coyne's Making It.  

Mildew Spritzer

Cost/Treatment:  $0.50

• 1 tablespoon tea tree oil (first package thrown over padlocked overgrown fence yesterday)
• 1 cup tap water
• 1 commandeered water container and spray nozzle

If I could do it again, I'd choose a day when we're not working from home.  Tea tree turned out to be overwhelmingly fragrant itself (think rancid pine sap).  Thankfully, it seems to be dissipating and taking The Stench with it.  

1,000,001 Ways to Save Money

A er... incomplete list...

1.  Home brew coffee $0.67/cup

2.  Buy gently used jeans off eBay $83.02/pair

3.  Carpool to work $4.00/day

4.  Buy vs. rent $548.85/month +equity

5.  Home brew craft beer $0.15-$1.15/bottle

6.  Vermicompost $2/lb

7.  OTC pet allergy meds $1.84/dose
8.  Insurance Broker (home) $207.05 + $358,750 more coverage
9.  Mortgage Broker $4,000 seller credit retained +13 bp interest rate reduction
10.  Redfin Realtor $2,400 +  21% reduction from list
11. Used Amazon books $2.81-$23.85/book (AMZN vs B&N new)
12.  Audit cell phone feature usage $15/month
13.  Lender cashback credit card applied to mortgage $0.01/$1 charged
14.  Ask retailer for replacement plate from original set $5.00
15.  Bed Bath & Beyond coupon $5
16.  Moving boxes from Home vs. Office Depot $3.50/box +10% more volume
17.  At restaurants order soup or salad instead of meaty entree $2 per meal
18.  Keep receipts and return unused items $60/doorknob @ home depot
19.  Shop contractors $81/repipe and a more competent team
20.  Downgrade internet baud 5 Mbps $15/mo
21.  Follow up about commitment to discount vanity saved $130 off $279 list
22.  Use total wine coupon on Bruery stock up $10
23.  DIY worm compost bin $61.73
24.  Home Depot sale avocado trees vs. fancy mail order lamb hass variety.  $70.47 + an extra tree for hass-reed extended season
25.  Report wrong version (paperback) of used book was shipped; get refund.  $30
26.  Consolidate auto insurance with home owner's for both vehicles.  $600

Rage Quitting Starbucks for Fun and Profit

It turned out to be a mega hassle to get reissued a working Starbucks Rewards card after paying to participate in their pilot program a few years back.  

Thus began the French Press project, which became one of those rare dominating alternatives that is cheaper, more convenient, and healthier.

Cheaper:  $0.93/cup.  Break even:  12 days.  

• French press:  $20
• Bean grinder (optional):  $20
• Snobby non-SBUX beans:  $30 (32 cups)
• 2 cans of whip cream, a couple cups of sugar (only during transition process)

More convenient:  

• Don't need to dress and leave the house
• No replacing leashes Kai chews through while tied to the trashcan outside 
• Less coffee cup waste and frequent trips to trash chute
• More coffee grounds for compost/vermiculture adventures 

Healthier:  

• Decreased refined sugar consumption
• Increased Kai's walk length and variety  (no need to beeline for Starbucks and hurry home to avoid spilling)
• Rad experiments with different low cal condiments (stevia, cinnamon, nutmeg, etc.)