Kristen Hagopian Show - 08 06 25

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:08):
And we are back with the Christian Agopian Show.

Speaker 2 (00:11):
And I don't know about you, but when I was
a kid, one of those lofty kid dreams was being
somehow mentioned in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Speaker 1 (00:22):
Am I crazy?

Speaker 3 (00:22):
You know?

Speaker 2 (00:23):
You read about the people who ran the fastest or
the world's tallest person, or the person who climbed the
highest peak how many times.

Speaker 1 (00:31):
Whatever it is.

Speaker 2 (00:33):
And it's always been a fun concept to be part
of the Guinness Book of World Records. And when I
found out I had the opportunity to interview our next guests,
these two amazing young ladies, I had to grin ear
to ear because they have just dropped the opportunity to
all of us within our listening audience, all of you
and me included, to be a part of an entry

(00:53):
in the Guinness Book of World Records. And for the
best of reasons, you guys, this is wonderful stuff. Where
they have the most uploaded pictures of smiles. What could
be a better Guinness Book of World Records insert than that?
And you can be a part of it. And here
to tell us more and to give us all the
details and how this came about. Samantha Hanratty, known as

(01:14):
Sammy starf Showtime's Yellowjackets, and Smile Train's Chief smileologist Nicole
Bell joining us vir newsmaker line. Ladies, We've been looking
so forward to this. Welcome to the show. How are
you guys doing today?

Speaker 1 (01:27):
Thank you so much for having having us.

Speaker 2 (01:30):
It is my pleasure. These are the stories that we
need to hear more about. I am loving having you
guys on. Tell us a little bit more about how
this all came to be, what got you into this
initiative and how can our listeners coast to coast be
a part of it.

Speaker 4 (01:43):
Absolutely, I'll kick it off. So we are very excited
about this campaign that kicked off this month for smile training.
This month is National cranio Facial Cleft Awareness Months, so
we thought perfect time in We are going after a
Guinness Book World Records title to set the largest number
of smiles uploaded to a photo album. This is creating

(02:04):
a ripple effect in terms of the power of a smile,
while also raising awareness about what cleft is and the
impact someone born with the facial difference can have. And
so we're asking people to join us by going to
everysmile dot org that's everysmile dot org. It is quick
and easy. You go to that website, you snap a picture,

(02:24):
you upload your picture, and it's really just your smile.
The platform is simple, it takes you through the process,
and we can do this together collectively, collaboraty, collaboratively to
help children around the world.

Speaker 2 (02:37):
That is fantastic. And tell me a bit about what
got you both interested in this. There are so many
worthy causes out there, this is clearly one of the best.
What brought you both into this initiative?

Speaker 4 (02:48):
Well sonestly, I talk about what got you in? Yeah,
because your story is amazing.

Speaker 1 (02:53):
Oh, thank you.

Speaker 4 (02:54):
Thank you.

Speaker 1 (02:54):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (02:55):
I mean I heard about Smile Train a little over
ten years ago, and I have been pretty much a
part of the team since then. I was really drawn
to it. I was born without two of my permanent
teeth in the front of my teeth, and for me,
I was very lucky and privileged to be in the

(03:16):
hands of my father. He is a dentist, and I
was very very lucky to have so much care and
also the financial benefit of having my dad be my dentist.
And as I've gotten older, you know, I started really
thinking about how lucky I truly am for that. And
when I started really understanding more about Clefts and I

(03:38):
started to hear about Smile Train, I really just got
so excited to jump on this journey with them. I
got to go travel to Mexico to be there in person,
hands on, I got to watch some of the surgeries happen,
I got to meet some of the patients, I got
to meet the doctors and really see what Smile Train
is all about. And it was an incredible life changing

(04:01):
journey and I am so grateful that I get to
be a part of this with them and now get
to embark on this new journey which is you know, yeah,
making this Guinness World Record, which is so exciting. So yeah,
I've been just really loving my journey with Smile Train.

Speaker 2 (04:18):
That is brilliant and it's so true. And I'm taking
notes as we're talking here because you touch on so
many important points and on those unfortunate days of mind
where I suddenly have a brief pity party because I
can't find my favorite you name it type.

Speaker 1 (04:33):
You know, I've got a flat tire.

Speaker 2 (04:34):
I mean, all of these first world problems out there,
and you realize that hops gepping to jump away You've
got kids that are being impacted negatively potentially for their
entire lives with these cleft problems. And I've been involved
with these initiatives before, and one of the biggest takeaways
to time is the ripple effects and how it's going
to impact their lives in all the years to come.

(04:56):
You must be getting incredible feedback about that. What has
been the top bits of feedback that you've loved the
most about this great initiative.

Speaker 4 (05:03):
We are people are so generous and are so supportive.
As you were mentioning here in the United States, you know,
you may not see a lot of people walking around
with a cleft lip or a cleft palate because we
are lucky. We have the resources, we have the technologies,
we have the doctors, we have the hospitals, the infrastructure
where if someone was born with a cleft condition here
in the United States, they can easily get it fixed

(05:25):
at the age of two three months, very early on
in life. But outside of the US, in some of
these low resource countries, they don't have the same resources
that we have here in the United States. So you
see a lot of people walking around with the cleft
lip and or a cleft palate, and not just children,
we see adults. We see people in their sixties, seventies,
and eighties who have a cleft and this is something

(05:47):
that can be easily repaired. Being born with a cleft,
it comes with so many different complications and health struggles
in terms of difficulty with eating, breathing, speaking, And so
that's where Small comes into play because we offer these
life changing and life saving services for free, and not
just the cleft repair surgery. We're talking about comprehensive care,

(06:09):
taking care of the whole child, psychosocial services, speech language pathology, nutrition,
It runs the gamut, so it's really about taking care
of the whole child. And in terms of this Guinness Record,
it totally aligns with our vision in terms of amplifyingt
and cleft awareness, but also creating smiles and giving people

(06:31):
the opportunity to live full, healthy lives.

Speaker 2 (06:35):
It's so true, and you bring up an important point
that made me think, because it's not just the children
who are still affected by this. You've got a lot
of adults that are still impacted by this, and this
is the kind of thing that can be addressed later
in life too. I hadn't thought about that.

Speaker 4 (06:49):
Yeah, absolutely, it's certainly better to have the surgery done
sooner than later as a child, as opposed to in
your sixties, seventies or eighties. But yeah, it can be
done at any age, but we like to get in
the and do it early as possible. If a child
is healthy enough and is well enough to have a
cleft lip or cleft palate repaired, it's good to get
in It's good to get in there and do it

(07:09):
early and then kick in those other services that comprehensive
services with speech language, because we're talking about your mouth,
so your speech is impacted. We're talking about dental, your
teeth are impacted. So we want to do it as
soon as possible. But the child, of course has to
be healthy enough to undergo such a surgery.

Speaker 2 (07:28):
I love that, And if I could ask this question
just popped to mind, if I could ask, you know,
you had some ideas as to what would happen when
you got involved in this amazing project, But has there
been any surprise side benefits of this, any results where
you look back and you say, wow, I knew that
great thing was going to happen, and that great thing
was going to happen. But you point over there, Hey,
I never expected that were there any surprises as you

(07:50):
carried out this initiative, where just a wonderful surprise that
you didn't expect.

Speaker 3 (07:53):
I think that you bring up so many great points,
you know, Like one thing that I didn't know for
a long time is that three minutes a baby is
born with a cleft lip and or a palette, and
that just shows you, yeah, how common it is. And
I think that you know what you said about this
ripple effect. I've gotten to meet some kids who have

(08:15):
you know, been that we're a patient years ago and
are still in contact with Smile Train, and I have
been able to get to meet these children and hang
out with them and their families. Thing just how happy
they are and how grateful they are, and how it
really has affected their lives in such a beautiful and

(08:36):
positive manner.

Speaker 1 (08:37):
Has been just such a truly like a blessing.

Speaker 3 (08:40):
It really has, and I just it warms my heart
that I get to be any type of part with
Smile Train, and I think that there are always things
that I'm learning, and just the people that you meet
along the way really is the best part.

Speaker 1 (08:55):
In my opinion, that is fantastic.

Speaker 2 (08:57):
And you two are being just a little bit modest
where you know, you've got so many people out there,
myself included, where you say, no, this is the year
I'm going to get involved. I'm going to get some
stuff done, and they don't quite get it done. Okay,
maybe next year, maybe next month, maybe next whatever. You
two are out there, you're getting it done and it
is very appreciated. And you've got a lot of our
listeners out there who also want to be a part

(09:18):
of this. You just dropped the perfect opportunity in their lap.
Who wouldn't want to be in the Guinness Book of
World Records. And even if there are people out there
too shy for that, there are going to be some
people out there who want to perhaps financially contribute as well.
Where do we steer them to? Do you have a website?
We can point them. What is your site that you're
looking at right now? Where we can send our listeners
as well.

Speaker 4 (09:38):
Sure, there are two websites we're speaking about today. So
if people want to support and join us in the
campaign to set the Guinness World Record, we're asking people
to go to everysmile dot org. That's everysmile dot org
and for people in general who want to learn more
about Smile Train and what we do and to support
us in that capacity. The website is SmileTrain dot org.

(09:59):
That smile train dot org, So please visit us, join us,
and help us help more children around the world to
continue that ripple effect of smiles outstanding.

Speaker 2 (10:09):
We'll put a link on our social media as well.
I knew the time would fly. Ladies, Samantha, Sammy Henritty
and Nicole Bell fantastic. I love everything we just talked about.
You got an open mic anytime. Please join us again
when you can and go get them.

Speaker 1 (10:22):
Thanks, thank you so much, and we'll be right back
gang right after.

Speaker 4 (10:25):
This is small not to steal the best of all.

Speaker 1 (10:37):
Circumstances.

Speaker 4 (10:50):
I just got a.

Speaker 2 (10:52):
Record and we are back with the Christian Agopian Show
sharing our various listeners amazing ideas for using contact paper.
Of all things. I can't believe the word's coming out

(11:13):
of my mouth. Contact paper, this new generation of contact
paper that has been created in some of the most
flawless you know, brushed nickel, burnished copper, fantastic marbles, Italian
nite marbles and granites and every single beautiful, elegant finish
that you can think of, you will find it out

(11:34):
there on today's contact paper. Not only that it's easy
to put on, it's easy to take off if you're
currently in a rental or not sure you want to
keep the look. Beautiful stuff. So when I was patting
myself on the back for using this on an old
fireplace mantle in the master bedroom back home, was really thrilled.

Speaker 1 (11:52):
I loved it.

Speaker 2 (11:53):
Could not believe I'd not heard more about this stuff.
You guys sent me pictures, projects, descriptions, ideas, and that
that's what we're doing today, in no particular order. If
you've got stairs, stair risers, or your stairs in your home,
your apartment building, wherever it is that you don't like,
they don't have carpeting on them. They're kind of blah
beautifying stair risers. I got pictures here. You know, if

(12:15):
the stairs are just stairs, you're not in a position
to get a custom runner made, you know that kind
of thing. Use contact paper on the stairs. Patterns are
especially gorgeous. You can even search for like a temporary
wallpaper to find some more interesting looks. People put like
a bamboo look. They're on the risers. They're putting all
kinds of amazing different wood finishes right there on the
risers and letting the part that people step on be something,

(12:37):
you know, just the plain bear wood.

Speaker 1 (12:39):
It's really gorgeous. I love this.

Speaker 2 (12:42):
The pictures sent to me for this next one are
especially charming. And here's why I love this stuff. Sticking
it to the back of bookshelves and then making matching
dressers matching you know, my gosh, they put together this
entire bedroom step. These families are finding wonderful old bedroom sets,
say on something like Craigslist or a garage sale, or

(13:05):
they're finding it for next to nothing at their local
department stores, but they want to customize it a bit.
The creativity that I'm seeing is blowing me away. They're
taking old, let's say, the old dark bedroom sets, really dark,
heavy wood, impossible to destroy, jobs, the heirlooms, especially out there.
Maybe you've got airlooms in your house and you're thinking, Okay,
this is going to be for my room. I love it,

(13:27):
maybe for you know, my spouse's room, a kid's room,
and the dark wood isn't doing it, And especially into
the front of the dressers are really dark and gothic
or whatever.

Speaker 1 (13:35):
Else you think it's a done deal.

Speaker 2 (13:36):
You got it, rid of it, No painted some gorgeous mellow,
you know, but lively color where it's going to make
your eyepop, but it's not going to make your eyes
bleed that kind of thing. Make it completely customized to
your favorite colors. Then on the front of these dressers,
people are using contact paper in victorian patterns, or in
contemporary fun kid patterns, or in just wonderfully masculine patterns,

(14:01):
whatever it is, they're customizing it and making these furniture
sets from something that they may have acquired for very
very little into these beautiful hand me down airloom, gorgeous
pieces of furniture, one of a kind. And that's my
favorite part of doing things frugally like this. When you're done,
not only do you have some new bedroom set or

(14:23):
a new set for your study, or a new set
for the kids room, or a new office set or
kitchen set or you name it, you have something that
is utterly unique in all the world. It talks about
your personality, It talks about your taste. When you acquire
a piece of furniture that you know, maybe even might
have wound up in a landfill somewhere or locked up
in some dusty storeroom somewhere or in some locker miles away, right,

(14:48):
and you transform it through a little bit of sand
paper and maybe a little bit of Old English or
your favorite paint color, a couple of hours of your time,
and then this contact paper to make it utterly unique.

Speaker 1 (15:00):
Glee yours.

Speaker 2 (15:01):
I absolutely love the pictures. It's fantastic. Check out craik'slist,
find what you're looking for, and then make it yours
with a bit of Old English, some paint and this
wonderful contact paper, gorgeous covering. These are mind notes covering
up these granny cabinet fronts. People who are in brand
new construction will not see these. A lot of our
listeners are like me. We're in these wonderful homes we've

(15:22):
had for decades. Maybe we just moved in last year
and it's a fixer. Maybe it's something we've had for decades,
and we love the kitchen exactly as it is. But
you hear about these brand new kitchen redos, the kind
of thing you kind of drool a little bit side
of your mouth.

Speaker 1 (15:35):
Oh my god, these new kitchens look.

Speaker 2 (15:36):
So great, and the first thing you want to think
about are the cabinets and you're freaking out like I
would like, it's all going to go wrong. It's going
to be the money pit. Go and find the various
new wood, the various types of wood finishes that they
have on this contact paper these days. You can do oak,
you can do maple, you can do like a like

(15:57):
a pale Norwegian sort of you know, hue to it
as well. Anything you're looking for, try it on one
cabinet and send me a picture. You can text it
to me at six' ten eight four four four nine one.
Three number again is six' ten eight four four four nine,
one three or send it to me probably better send
it to Me. Via facebook send it to me via

(16:19):
you know. The website Go To brilliantfrugal living. Dot com send.
Me pictures we can start comparing them coast. To coast
you'll hear from all of our other listeners as well
with what you want. To do. Good stuff rental kitchens
especially notorious for cabinets that look like they're straight out of,
the fifties you Know what i'm, talking about and we
all love our. Custom fronts maybe you have a rental
that you're looking to.

Speaker 1 (16:38):
Freshen up for the.

Speaker 2 (16:38):
Next person maybe you want to up the rent a,
little bit, perfectly understandable and you want to freshen up
the kitchen, to help, you know give you a good
reason to.

Speaker 1 (16:46):
Do it do it with this. Contact paper.

Speaker 2 (16:48):
It's beautiful this next one Is something i'm really seriously thinking.
About doing the pictures that people have sent me who
have created a. Kitchen backsplash some people it's a bathroom
backsplash out of thin air with this gorgeous. Contact paper. It's,
fantastic now you guys may or may. Not know this
stuff is really kind. Of protective so if you don't

(17:10):
have a backsplash in your kitchen, right now mine is
simply a wallpaper border that matches, my, wallpaper okay and.
IT'S okay i have to change it up once. A
year i'll put a new, strip down take the, old strip,
you know take the old, strip down put a new.
Strip up BUT when i see These beautiful italian looking
tile backsplashes that look so much more elegant, and more,

(17:30):
you know kind of step up From what i've got,
right now. Very tempting so you can slap some on
the wall behind your oven, as well wipe it clean
when it gets when it gets covered in soup spatters or.
WHATEVER else a marble pattern Is what i'm, leaning. Towards
honestly but you also you can also. Find fouxtile you
can find everything, next, up yes do it yourselfing for.
The tabletops the tabletops along with, you know, the countertops

(17:55):
are phenomenal ways to start your fun with this time of.
Contact paper because, it's flat it's easy to, work with
there's no crazy corners you have to. Deal with and,
the again the projects being sent. To me case, in
point people working on. Their house they have this beautiful
basement that, they're rehabbing and it's got the lower ceilings

(18:16):
like most, basements do but it had, this huge wide
open space that was begging for this, elegant bar this old.
Fashioned bar and this guy got a Bar, on craigslist
straight out of an old. RESTAURANT building i think they
had to get rid. Of it he came to pick.
It up it was, old fashioned it, was heavy he
had a buddy help. Him ount and now this beautiful
custom antique piece with god knows how many stories behind

(18:37):
it is in. His basement he refinishes all of the
wood and slaps this new piece of wood on top,
of it covered in this antique.

Speaker 1 (18:46):
Looking marble it is one of. A kind.

Speaker 2 (18:49):
It is i'm not even doing a justice describing it.
Right now but he took this piece of furniture that
otherwise that had all, his history all of, these stories
this old bar from an old restaurant in A, downtown
philadelphia and he now has it in his basement, right, now,
refinished rehabbed giving it a brand new life with this
beautiful it Looks brand it looks like it was belonging

(19:09):
to it since the days it was. Brand new this
Gorgeous marble italian marble looking countertop on the top. Of
it and that's in his basement. Right now it's a beautiful.
Show stopper it's such a conversation piece. As well that's
the kind Of thing i'm. TALKING about i want you
guys to use your imagination with the most blowout ideas
for your. Beautiful homes maybe it's for an, office space

(19:31):
maybe it's for, a rental maybe it's for, your camper
maybe it's for. Whatever else you guys hang out for.
A second dad and daughter talk real estate right, after this.

Speaker 1 (19:45):
And we are back With The Christen.

Speaker 2 (19:47):
Agophian show with the two parter on how to redo
a room in Your house when all the experts are
saying it's going to cost you, a thousands we did
it for less than. One hundred and when we put
the word out of and we Had our facebook feedback
a phenomenal response to our before and, after video things
started pouring in from our amazing listeners coast to coast

(20:10):
with their own stories of rehabbing and redoing and just
making their living space their own through some, serious ingenuity
easy strategies that didn't break. The bank so we're talking about,
some more not just bathroom, remodeling ideas but just any
kind of rooms in. Your house so say you're ready
to redecorate or redesign in your bathroom or. Somewhere else

(20:32):
according to, remodeling magazines this is hysterical cost versus. Value
report an average bathroom remodel costs around, ten grand like
that doesn't make you, choke enough and upscale remodel is
going to cost you over twenty. Five, grand however if
you do the, work yourself doesn't mean heavy, lifting craziness just.

(20:52):
Get Creative This, old house one of my favorite magazines,
favorite shows estimates that you can do, a remodel saying
for anywhere between one thousand to three thousand or. Even less,
and again we just did our bathroom for less than.
One hundred so if you're planning a bathroom remodel or
any other, room remodel updating or adding to your home

(21:14):
is a home improvement project that adds value if you're
working on. A bathroom in, other words you'll recoup a
significant portion of costs when you do this smart if
and when you ever decide to sell, your home we're never.
Selling ours we just wanted to enjoy the. Space better
first thing you want. To do and this is something
people suggest no matter what, You, know stripe whatever side

(21:35):
of the country you're, coming from wherever your earning. Level
is this was something that was universally said in every
single one of. These projects they sent the number one
thing you do determine how much you can afford to
spend on. Your remodel why because there's nothing more miserable
than when you set your price and, YOU'RE thinking i
got to stick. To this it's not going to WORK if,
i don't and then you overshoot it because then if

(21:58):
you don't stick, to it just like any. Other purchase
you don't stick to the price you're, looking for you
won't enjoy it if you overspend to, get it and
a remodel is. No different now in, our case we,
you know we are. Very blessed we've got enough money
to put food on, the table get the, mortgage paid
keep gas in, the cars, beautiful food and our, beautiful kids, you.
Know stomachs but when it comes to, a, remodel yeah

(22:19):
we could, spend more BUT then i wouldn't. Enjoy it
so we set the limit of one hundred bucks for
a huge bathroom redo.

Speaker 1 (22:28):
And it came. Out gorgeous set.

Speaker 2 (22:30):
Your amount if you're saying fifty for, a bedroom it
can be. Totally done if you're saying one hundred for,
a bathroom that can be. Done too it's time to
get creative. Number one determine how much you can afford
to spend on your remodel and then stick. To it
now you're gonna want to Stick to if it's just,
cosmetic changes that's going to be a. Huge help but
even if you're thinking new fixtures or a, new sink

(22:51):
maybe you take one step back and look, and realize
you know what the sink is just the. Right size
it's just kind. Of ugly and then listen to our
earlier segment about how, to redo, BECAUSE honestly i love
the Effects and i'm. Pretty picky, next up this is
a trend that a lot of people mentioned in there before.
And afters it had me scratching, my head but then
YOU realize i kind of like. It too if we're
talking about bathrooms or kitchens or even, bedroom furniture marble,

(23:17):
tops apparently, you know granite tops for, the kitchen marble for.
The bathrooms And now i'm seeing this beautiful, you know
my Big fat greek wedding effect on a lot of.
This furniture. That's gorgeous you put this marble effect, On
top it's. Really beautiful now you KNOW how i feel
about the marble? Contact paper use that whenever, you can
if you need to use the. REAL thing a popular
trend is to splurge on these granite countertops now because

(23:41):
the bathroom counter is usually, so small the investment is often.
Fairly low but even that is not going to work.
FOR me i had to do the contact paper and it.
Worked great if you have a project in, your kitchen,
your bathroom, your bedrooms, any room maybe you're doing a
bar downstairs and you want some granite or, some marble
use this, Contact paper i'm telling you. Right now, next

(24:01):
up one of the biggest trends in bathrooms is also
one that budget do it yourselfers like us can pull off.
With style and the trend is if you absolutely must
rip out your, current vanity it's just not going. To
work using old dressers as. Sink pedestals you simply cut
away the top of the dresser to accommodate a, sink

(24:22):
insert you cut or you remove interior drawers as you,
need to and then you cut a hole in the
back for. The plumbing, all, right NOW when i hear the,
WORD plumbing i immediately think. Chi chain but if you
truly need a new vanity and you.

Speaker 1 (24:34):
Know a, trusted plumber go.

Speaker 2 (24:36):
For it because these dresser sinks can sell for thousands
of dollars in, retail stores but you can easily make
your own with a. Budget dresser you can. Head yourself
you know what you need, to do get Yourself to
goodwill or get yourself to your nearest Habitat for humanity
home store where there's incredible selection there. Beautiful stuff, next
up and this is one of my. Favorite things whatever

(24:57):
room you, are redoing if it's den if it's, your kitchen,
your bathroom, your bedrooms your a little, you know the
romper room for, your kids a playroom for, little playmates. A.
Basement paint if you don't.

Speaker 1 (25:11):
Have a lot.

Speaker 2 (25:12):
To spend even if you do have a lot, to
spend keep that money in. Your pocket repainting will be
not only, the cheapest it is without, a doubt the,
most effective the, most fun and in my, own opinion
the most satisfying way to give any new room a.
New look you will be amazed when you put a

(25:34):
fresh coat of paint. On something it. Is glorious now here's.
The thing take your time while. You're painting if, you
don't you're gonna find, splatters here. Splatters there suddenly you
got more. Cleanup work do yourself. A favor be SMARTER
than i was on all my. Painting projects. Go, slow
now going slow is not an easy gear for me to. Slip,
into however on our, latest PROJECTS when i have to

(25:55):
paint or stain Or old, english something. Move slowly you
will find that the cleanup will be. Far easier, next
up this is another one for, the bathroom and this
IS something i found was. Amazingly helpful if you've got
a house that's older than say.

Speaker 1 (26:13):
New construction i'm.

Speaker 2 (26:15):
Deadly serious give some serious thought to, another easy really
kind of satisfying in a crazy way move that, you
do and that is freshening up the cock and. The
grout because it's. Often overlooked people think they can't. Do
it but when it, gets grimy it, gets unsightly you
can bleach the heck out. Of it it simply won't.
Bounce back you clean the grout and you add some

(26:35):
straight clean lines around the tub and.

Speaker 1 (26:38):
The sink it is.

Speaker 2 (26:39):
HUGELY sparkly i love that it looks brand new for
a few. Mirror dollars and this Is also oftentimes people
will look at their tubs, and think this, is horrible this.
IS disgusting i got to get this out. OF here
i need a brand. New one you don't put some
arm muscle, into it scrub the heck out of it with,
you know not your usual weekly. Scrubbing Stuff but i'm
talking about some powerful. Professional stuff get, it Going and i'm.

(27:02):
Deadly serious try some, new grouts some. New cok it
doesn't take. VERY long a couple. Of minutes very inexpensive
way to freshen up. Your bathroom, next. Up redoing don't.
Buy new we talked about, this briefly but it bears.
Re mentioning replacing your old tub or shower's going to cost,
you huge simple. As, That instead i'm hearing from people

(27:22):
who are having it, professionally religned which is. Much cheaper they,
come out they take care, of it, they leave you
pay them a, small Amount and i'm hearing that it's
cheaper and easier than doing. It yourself, You know i'm
a huge do. It yourselfer you just don't, want to,
you know don't take a chance on. Certain things, next
up another common thread through all of our listeners wanting
to redo. A room don't buy brand. New furniture we all,

(27:44):
love it we drool, over it we. Adore it don't,
buy new. Buy used you can also save money, on
fixtures even on the toilets and, the showers if you,
want to if you purchase. Them used now scour sites
they talk About. LIKE eBay i honestly can't imagine buy
something Huge. On, eBay however i have been sent pictures
of people who are also renovating the older homes and

(28:06):
they're finding, beautiful, faucets, fixtures something, you know things that
are easily Mailed. On eBay one of my favorite sites
Not only Goodwill and Habitat, for Humanity. But crikeslist criike'slist
is amazing for some of these, old fixtures for. Old
furniture Habitat For humanity restore is a, gold, mine people

(28:27):
a gold mine for finding these types, of vanities furniture,
for bedrooms, for bathrooms, for basements, for bedrooms anything. YOU
want i mean literally you'll walk, in thinking oh this could.
Be good your jaw. WILL drop i mean it specifically sells.
Home necessities we're talking even things like new, bathroom doors.
New anything whatever you're, thinking about you're.

Speaker 1 (28:45):
Looking for.

Speaker 2 (28:46):
It works here's one more, you know quick, line here.
Quick thought going green with. Your Upgrades and i'm talking
about if you have to bite the bullet and get
a brand, new toilet or a brand new faucet or
a brand, new sink give some thought when upgrading. Your
bathroom don't forget to redesign with some of these new ideas.
In mind not only are the prices coming, down huge

(29:08):
and Not because i'm, SO green i should be far
greener in. My thinking but if you buy these new
more environmentally, friendly ones the environmentally friendly toilet or the
sink or the, shower head whatever, it.

Speaker 1 (29:19):
Is it's going to save.

Speaker 2 (29:21):
You money and that's my big goal here is to
not only help you freshen up your bathroom if you
really want to get it redone for maybe one fiftieth
the cost of what they're saying it. Should cost but
if you do need to bite the bullet with a
new toilet or a, new sink or even something small
like a new, shower head think long and hard about
the new greener ones because they're going to save you
some huge cash down the road when it comes to.

(29:43):
Water consumption i'm hearing from people who wish they had
done it. Years ago it's a, beautiful thing so whatever,
your PLANS and i realized this segment we focus more
on bathrooms again because there are so many ways not
only to upgrade, your bathroom but there are huge numbers
of ways to do it and personalize it in. A
way it doesn't belong in a. Magazine cover it belongs in.

(30:05):
Your home, it's comfortable it reflects your style and your
values and your charm and your flat, out money saving
frugal amazingness when it comes to upgrading, your home and,
that way when your friends, see it.

Speaker 1 (30:16):
They ask oh, my god how'd you?

Speaker 2 (30:17):
Do this you just lay it on them that you
did it, FOR oh i, don't know seventy five bucks
when it should have cost nearly three grand watch their,
jaws drop and then help them do.

Speaker 1 (30:26):
The same that's a brilliant. Crugal living more, after this.

Speaker 2 (30:41):
And we are back With The Christin agopian show talking
about huge back to school savings, for you, your kids,
your grandkids, saving money, saving time saving peace. Of mind before,
the break we were talking about the clothes. Big time
you got. The point get yourself a little bit creative
compared to, last year save yourself some. Serious time, get
online whether it's stuff for your kids going to, public

(31:02):
SCHOOL which i did for twelve.

Speaker 1 (31:04):
Straight Years Hit.

Speaker 2 (31:05):
Penn state, after that hit crikslist for the most amazing
fantastic close easily easily seventy five percent off for your local,
parochial school, private school you, know whatever. Charter school tons
Of uniforms i'm seeing out there. These days, get creative,
get online talk, to people put out. The word you get.
The point you Know what i'm, Talking, about okay because

(31:25):
we got to get more in for this.

Speaker 1 (31:26):
LAST park i can't believe on the. Last segment.

Speaker 2 (31:28):
The books the books now mainly and this. Was, Surprising
mainly i'm talking about kids who are heading. To, college
okay if you've got kids or grandkids heading. To college
my eyes bugged out of my HEAD when i Was At.
Penn state this is A, wil ago so it's around.
NINETEEN ninety i remember my eyes bugging out of my
head paying two hundred bucks for a semester.

Speaker 1 (31:49):
Of, textbooks okay because that.

Speaker 2 (31:51):
Was big, All right now parents of college age kids
are reporting. TO me i can, name NAMES but i
won't upwards, Of again i'm throwing up my mouth a.
Little bit eight hundred dollars a semester for. Hardcover, books
crazy that's not. A typo eight hundred eight zero zero.
A semester two words for the. College crowd first, of all.
BUY used i don't care if it's. GOT graffiti i

(32:13):
don't care what. It's got it's got the same words.
Printed underneath, get creative life. Is long you want to save?
This money One trend i'm, hearing about and this is
wicked Cool and this is happening in some high schools.
As well One trend i'm hearing about, is downloading, you
know air quotes rented e Textbooks.

Speaker 1 (32:29):
ON kindle i Have.

Speaker 2 (32:30):
A kindle i Love, My KINDLE and i preface this
next advice, by saying don't get, ME wrong i really
like a hardcover book more, than anything whether it's, a
book a personal. Finance book i've got a whole library
of those. AT home i love holding a book when
it comes. TO decorating i love holding, a book, you
know personal finance or personal fulfillment or WHATEVER books. I

(32:51):
have i really prefer a, Hardcover book don't get. Me
WRONG what i don't prefer is spending like eight hundred
dollars a semester. For, them okay so two words for
the college crowd buy used for. Those books but One
trend i'm hearing about downloading rented e Textbooks. On kindle
the way, it works most college e textbooks are only
available for like a fixed, rental length usually about they're

(33:12):
saying here one hundred and eighty days, six months which
is the length of an average semester plus the break
right the huge upside eat book rental costs or approximately
eighty percent less than buying the. Book chitching imagine spending
whatever you spent last.

Speaker 1 (33:28):
Year for your kids.

Speaker 2 (33:29):
College textbooks imagine spending not only eighty percent less this
semester for that. Same book but if your kids have,
a kindle it's going to pay for itself, right there you.

Speaker 1 (33:39):
Download these but here's the. NEXT thing, I mean i'm not.

Speaker 2 (33:42):
THAT old i can REMEMBER when i was lugging this,
huge bag walking acres, and acres miles and miles every
day back from my dorm or from my apartment back.
To campus and you're lugging around all. Those books imagine
if you're just carrying a kindle around all day for.
Your books of course you're going to have a backpack
with some notebooks and some, you know writing implements or.
Whatever else maybe your laptops in, There too but Honest,

(34:03):
to god think about your kids going off to college
and not having to lug around those crazy. Heavy books
that's kind of cool. To me not only huge, cost
savings but also saving your back in. The Process, all
RIGHT if i tried to lug around a BACKPACK like
i had Back At, penn state you know some, years
Ago forget i'd fall over in.

Speaker 1 (34:21):
The street there. You go next up.

Speaker 2 (34:23):
The lunches we're talking from top, to bottom the biggest
costs when it, comes to, you know parents reporting back
to me what's costing. The most and one thing that
was right, up there the lunches in. A NUTSHELL and
i got a little time to do. THIS one i
want to make sure we get it. Across here hot lunches.
Are overpriced they are, well intended but they're let's, face

(34:43):
that they're kind of lacking. A nutrition they're trying to
aim for stuff the kids are. Gonna eat it's very
wise for them to, do that but it rarely satisfies
the appetites of today's. Growing kids we have tried this with,
my offspring My, beautiful katie My. Beautiful robbie we've done
the lunches, from home which get eaten and which satisfy
APPETITES because i just stuff like a. LITTLE farmhand, I

(35:04):
mean i don't know what kids are doing during, the
day but they eat like little. FARM hands i mean tons,
of fruit, big sandwich you a bottle, of water everything else.
By comparison, all right you Hear what. I'm saying homemade
lunches give the kids exactly what, They love you control
exactly what goes, in it and the best the trifecta. Of,
happiness here you're gonna save hundreds of dollars per year. Per,

(35:27):
kid okay. Enough said and not, only that but my
kids are coming of an AGE where i can explain
to them how much money we're saving.

Speaker 1 (35:35):
With this you Know what.

Speaker 2 (35:36):
I'm saying, we know when they were, in kindergarten they're,
just playing, you know playing with. Their toys we didn't
care about stuff when were in. Kindergarten either but now
they're of an age where they, can say you, know what,
you know when you're putting pen, to, paper mom you're
just saving, you know a couple of bucks, a day,
That's right and that turns into about seven hundred bucks.
A year and you've been in school now for about,
nine years eight years, this year and so that's gonna
be over five grand just for. You alone and suddenly

(35:58):
it starts to add up to the amount for a
used car rather than buying one.

Speaker 1 (36:02):
Brand new you get. The point blah.

Speaker 2 (36:03):
Blah blah kids, are smart they, get it and you're
teaching them down the road because when they walk out
of your house, one day is grown, amazing adults and
they're starting on. Their own they're not doing it with
a zillion dollars in. Their pocket and they'll think back
to when mom or dad, pack, Them, like hey you,
Know what mom and dad saved a heck of a
lot of money on lunches and cars and blah blah
blah and. Everything else and they sent us to, you
know a great school. As well you get, the point?

(36:24):
All right, NEXT up i gotta get this. In electronics.
Holy crap remember last year's computer or phone or kindle
or gizmo whatever it is they called that people were
standing in line for hours. To, buy well they're now
available for a fraction of the Cost, on eBay, on craigslist.
Et cetera put out the word and get your kids everything.

(36:48):
They need don't let them walk in not getting stuff.
They need get them everything they need for easily twenty
five to fifty.

Speaker 1 (36:55):
Percent, off okay.

Speaker 2 (36:56):
Do it don't let y'all don't skimp On a hey
you can't have. A, kindle sorry your college course is
saying you, need this can't? Have it of course you can,
have it but find it for easily fifty. Percent off
here's the. Next one my kids are still in, years
okay so not so much with, the electronics but the.
Paper products, holy god the TREES that i feel like
we are slaughtering just to get my kids through the

(37:16):
door the.

Speaker 1 (37:17):
Front day, you know. Well prepared hit The dollar.

Speaker 2 (37:20):
Store first when it comes, to notebooks when it comes
to the little, pocket calculators.

Speaker 1 (37:25):
When it comes, to stickies when it comes to.

Speaker 2 (37:28):
Any of the poster, board, markers highlighters whatever, it is
get yourself into The, dollar store and it's one of my.
Favorite places i've got a Joke on facebook not too.
Long ago going Into The dollar store makes you feel
incredibly rich and yet incredibly poor at the. SAME time
i Love The dollar, store because let's, face it it
has so many things in there you never would. Have
guessed and school supplies it. Is divine i've seen compasses

(37:49):
and pro tractors and all the things that they're gonna
lose seventy five times over there.

Speaker 1 (37:53):
You go here's the.

Speaker 2 (37:54):
Next thing don't be shy about going through your kitchen
drawers if there are anything, like mine calculators and stick
it noe And approximately i'm not joking seven hundred and
thirty six pens and pencils await you most with. Perfect
erasers you Know what. I'm saying they need. The pencils
they're gonna chew on. The pencils give them the pencils you.
Already have give.

Speaker 1 (38:11):
THEM up i.

Speaker 2 (38:12):
LITERALLY have i could take care of an entire kindergarten
class with, the, crayons, pencils pens and stick at notepads
and glue STICKS that i have just in my own home,
right now without even hitting. The store you get, the
POINT and i want to hear from you guys. As
well i'll tell you what the. Summer's flown i'm already missing.
My kids we're gonna make these last couple of weeks.

Speaker 1 (38:29):
Before school starts.

Speaker 2 (38:30):
SUPER fun i hope you guys do, the same and until,
next week save, those pennies pay, with cash and you
all stay frugal, out.

Speaker 3 (38:37):
There small and not, too steep the

Speaker 4 (38:45):
Best of them all as