<p>Speaking of movie rentals…We have boycotted Blockbuster (sorry, worrywart) in favor of rentals from the grocery store. Two of our nearby grocery stores have RedBox video rental located in their stores. These are machines with a computer screen on which you scroll through to see what’s available, pick a movie, swipe your debit/credit card, the box spits out the movie and you’re on your way. The cost is less than $2 per rental (and they always stock the latest releases). The only drawback (which doesn’t bother us) is that the movie must be returned by midnight the following day. Even if you’re a day late on the return, the late charge is only .99 still making it cheaper than the name brand rental store.</p>
<p>PackMom, I agree with you. That’s why it helps to have a family member on the inside. Free is still less than $2. Just wish one of us had worked at a university before kids went off to college!</p>
<p>Ho ho ho.</p>
<p>Actually – how does that work? If you work at University X but your kid goes to University Y, does that help you at all?? And, do you need to be faculty, or can you be staff?</p>
<p>I use the library for dvds, books and reference material.</p>
<p>Don’t belong to a gym. I buy one piece of exercise equipment a year on sale.</p>
<p>Grow raspberries, blueberries, peppers and tomatoes each summer. Tried okra last year but not a hit.</p>
<p>Compost everything. Mulch to cut down watering. Even though we have a well, it takes electricity to run the well.</p>
<p>Heat was so far down this winter that the cats got under the blanket.</p>
<p>Ceiling fans rather than air conditioning.</p>
<p>Shades up on southern exposure side during winter, down during summer. Deciduous trees on southern side, evergreens on the northern side.</p>
<p>I walk rather than take my car on short-distance errands. Also ride my bicycle if weather permits.</p>
<p>Probably more but I can’t think of them.</p>
<p>We stopped with 3 kids although really we wanted 5.</p>