Monday Stuff On the Way to Other Stuff: Cleaning Up, Getting Done

Is it really December? I can still go outside barefoot...well, briefly, anyways. It's been a little warm outside. The chickens are out scratching away -- and going up in egg production all the time. Yesterday, our 16 hens kicked out 15 eggs!
      But a storm's coming. Clouds are hazing up over the mountains, and the wind's picked up. Lows are supposed to be in the single digits by the end of the week. So much for warmth. 
     The quilt restoration is nearly done. (It's been weeks longer than I hoped or planned.) I've got dozens of quilts to fold and put away, and paperwork needs to be double-checked for year's end. But it's more peaceful here than it's been in a long, long time. 
     Meanwhile:

Keeping yourself from overspending -- or throwing a pity party about it. (From  FI Journey.)

Need help paying your mortgage? If you'll let your house be painted for advertising purposes, they'll pay your mortgage for a year...then paint the house back to its original colors.

Is it better for a two-income couple earning only minimum wage to have one stay home? The Simple Dollar brings up some good points, including pointing out that you can waste just as much time and money at home, as you can at work. The larger question: can you commit to money-saving techniques, whether or not you're working?

The whole fuss about a homophobic restaurant receipt seems to be...a big fat hoax. Apparently it was done by the waitress who accused a couple of not only stiffing her, but writing an insulting message on the receipt. Oops...the couple proved they DID leave a tip. And they're disputing the message, as well.

Holiday gift card bonuses. (From My Frugal Miser) I'm planning on doing this via Red Robin -- a $100 worth of giftcards from them means a $20 bonus for me and the Brick!
    MFM's post on saving money by watching Youtube is also enlightening. Learn how to do something by watching a Youtube video, and you've just saved the the bucks you would have paid someone else to do it for you!

Holding forth on the 100% off Black Friday Sale. (From Mr. Money Moustache, who also did an interesting look at dealing with a power failure on his birthday.)

Having a simpler Christmas - 21 days, 21 posts from Moneysaving Mom. 

If you could turn back time, what would you tell your younger self? April at Get Rich Slowly (and a bunch of readers) have comments on this.

Karma's reunion with her calf. Cows are very intelligent creatures - way more than most people give them credit for. Take a look at this tearjerker...but ignore the corny music.

And an inside look as a tornado tears through a school in Lafayette, Indiana: