A number of you may find this a useful project.

I've offered it for several years, not including last year, and I think that it still resides over on "Money saving tips" and "Household finance" ... but it disappears here in two or three months. Several who are recent arrivals may find it of interest.

Over time, make a list of everyone that you've known, from when you were a child: family, school friends, acquaintances in community, social, sport, fraternal, religious and various other connections ... including selected ones from work, past and current. As time moves along, you'll think of more names.

Try to locate them, re: address, phone, email address, etc., so that you can contact them on occasion.

Make notes regarding their interests, education, training, expertise and a number of messages relating to various aspects of their life that may be of interest, over time.

When you need some skill, expertise, opinion, etc., you may well find it helpful to ask your search engine to show you which of your acquaintances are familiar with whatever concern that may interest you at that time.

Some would be the kind of thing that a number of people ask here, and often get detailed explanations which surprise them - at no charge.

Many suggest that it's much less expensive to buy used cars rather than new ones, and to buy from former owners is even more beneficial ... unless one should get a lemon!

When you think that the old jalop may be getting near its last legs, put out the word to your list of friends, or part of them that you think might be productive, asking whether they know of someone who is interested to sell a privately-owned auto, of such and such a brand, type, etc.

Someone may know of a senior who's about to give up driving, or a vehicle about to be sold as part of an estate, etc. Often such vehicles have low and gentle mileage and will provide good, long-term service at quite reasonable cost. Your data base will be able to provide the names of folks familiar enough with the auto sales game to be able to give you an evaluation that's fair to both you and the seller, if necessary.

Or if one is about to buy one from an individual, ask your data base to show "mechanic" and it'll show you half a dozen, when you only remembered about three. Check with them to have them give you some suggestions as to what to look for in order to weed out some inadequate vehicles and to see whether they'd be willing to evaluate potential purchases for you. If you bring one, they just listen to the motor, etc. and tell you to get out of there with that piece of junk ... give them $10. If they give one a bit more checking, pay $20.00 ... and if they look one over fairly carefully - $50.00. If those evaluations save you just one trip to the garage ... you'll be money ahead.

And if they'll offer advice when you need repairs, it'll give you more knowledge, thus more bargaining power, when you get the repair done. Maybe good places to buy batteries, tires, etc.

If you are looking for suggestions about auto insurance, as someone did here earlier today, you'll be able to find some acquaintances/friends who know that game and can offer good advice.

Same for home repairs, renovations, landscaping, pool installation/maintenance, etc.

Medical stuff, too.

Information about kids' education, tutoring, etc.

Various other professional services.

As a personal financial advisor for 25 years, selling no financial products, I've said to many that no one cares as much about their money as they ... except someone who planned to move some of it from their pocket into his/her own. There are very few financial advisors around that aren't sales people for insurance or mutual funds ... and when their income depends on how much they sell ... can they claim to be unbiased? How often do they advise using products that they don't sell?

That it makes a lot of sense to learn how money works: an interesting hobby, that pays well.

You can start your list in some spare time, when you're waiting in the doc's office, store checkout line, sitting (not moving) in a traffic jam on the expressway, etc.

Maybe get a small notebook and carry it with you to jot down ideas, names, etc. But you'll find that doing the main part on a computer is most useful, for it allows you to edit, which gets to be a pain when done on paper.

You can even use an old cornflakes box to make a cover and some paper that's been used on only one side to make your own notebook - at nil cost: get your young (grand)kid (or a neighbour's kid) to make it for you: it'll make her/his day! Writing with your finger doesn't leave much trace, however - but what household doesn't have at least a dozen operable pens/pencils floating around?

Grandma used to say that a penny saved was a penny earned ... but she was wrong (unless, in Canada, you earn under about $11,000./yr., in which case you have no income tax liability).

If you're in 20% tax bracket ... you just gotta earn $1.25 before income tax in order to have the $1.00 available to buy stuff - the $1.00 saved. A local guy wrote a book a few years ago called, "Financial Freedom Without Sacrifice" ... suggesting that if you can save a few hundred on insurance, auto purchase, or other judicious buying, etc. - that gives you a good leg up on that emergency fund that everyone needs (did you read my thread a while ago asking whether folks knew an easy way that folks could put themselves into financial handcuffs? ... by living paycheque to paycheque!). Also kids' college costs, retirement, supporting aged parents on limited income, etc.

That many folks who were living paycheque to paycheque recently ... deeply regretted when they suffered a layoff ... especially if it was apparent that it was to be permanent.

Do you know how to make 35% on your money - guaranteed??

If your list doesn't save you hundreds - more likely thousands - during your lifetime, I'll be surprised.

I trust that you all had a lovely Christmas, if that celebration is important to you ... and that you enjoyed your holiday, otherwise.

And I hope that you may have a wonderful New Year - that helps you work toward the fulfillment of some of your dreams, as well as enjoying the blessing of loved ones and friends, interesting things to do, some challenges to keep life interesting ...

... and other stuff that'll keep you sharp (in the mentally alert rather than sneaky way), happy and active.

ole joyful ... thankful to be healthy and active at 80