One Hundred Dollars a Month

It’s that time again. You ask, and I pretend to know things and answer your burning questions. It really is so much fun to open my inbox and see the wide variety of questions you guys have. Reminds me that my readers are so diverse and pretty dang awesome. So keep those questions coming and I’ll keep racking my brain for answers. As always, please pipe up if you have any input or are knowledgeable when it comes to any of the following questions:

I haven’t seen anything posted about your zero waste project. Are you still doing it? If so, how’s it going Or was it too hard so you stopped it?

~Mandy from Oregon

I’m still actively working towards that Almost Zero Waste goal. It was a struggle at first because it’s basically a shift in lifestyle and how you shop and dispose of things. I’ve reduced it to about 1 small plastic grocery bag a week. I am able to toss the bag down my parents garbage chute every time I visit, so the no trash pickup thing is still working out great. I have increased the amount we recycle by a TON. Overall, it’s been a great experiment that I plan to continue.

Hi Mavis,

I know you’ve been asked this a million times. I’m writing from Canada. How does one figure out the “principle” on a mortgage, and how does one go about making a payment just toward the principle? Is it something I have to do at my banking institution? It sounds great, because once the principle decreases, so does the interest.

In the dark in the Great White North, Cari

A principal only payment can be for any amount you choose. You can normally make additional principal payments at anytime, but you might want to verify with your bank that there are no penalties for doing so. The principal payment is basically just the part of the payment each month that does not include taxes, interest or escrow.

I know the estimated principal I pay each month, so I can calculate how many extra principal payments I make, but you can normally put any additional amount you want and earmark it towards principal. Each bank works the payments a little differently, so check with your mortgage company.

Why aren’t you posting as much on your garden site Dig for Your Dinner?

Honestly, I was mentally/physically drained after everything that happened with my brother earlier this fall that I decided to take Dig for Your Dinner off my plate the remainder of the year. I have plans to start up again in January though, so stay tuned…

Have you had experience with the Salmon and Shrimp from Zaycon? The seafood options are new to me. Love to hear some feedback.

~Melanie

We have tried the Zaycon Salmon and it’s delicious {I’ve never tried the shrimp}. As far as Zaycon is concerned, I’ve never had a bad experience. We have loved everything we’ve ordered, which is why I continue to promote them and use all their products! Baked Salmon w/ Lemon and Dill and Our Favorite Barbecued Salmon Recipe are two of my favorite ways to prepare it!

I’ve been reading your blog for about 3 years now and how do you deal with criticism?

~Christine

Well that’s a tricky question. After doing this for so long {8 years!}, I’ve pretty much been criticized for everything under the sun. I blog too much, I blog too little. I’m too crazy or too judgmental or make too many grammatical errors or I’m too religious or not religious enough, too granola or too uppity.

We eat too many Doritos, I’m killing my kids with artificial junkity junk, I make recipes that are too complicated, I make recipes that are too simple. I should shut up, I should speak up. Seriously, I’ve heard it all. And I can deal with it now after growing a thick skin by just shrugging it off, not taking myself too seriously and realizing that I will NEVER EVER please everyone.

This blog, it started out as something fun to do in my spare time, and I want to keep it that way. We may not be neighbors, but over the years I’ve grown to know so many of you from your comments and it’s been such a blast. So as long as you keep showing up… I’ll be here, quirky observations/opinions and all. 🙂

Have a question for me? Submit them HERE and I’ll try to answer them.

~Mavis