Carrots and Hummus.
Specifically... the GIANT bags of carrots and single-serve containers of hummus from Costco.
I am, in general, opposed to single-serve items that are more expensive and I prefer to make-at-home vs buy pre-made.
HOWEVER.
In finding the balance between cost-effective and healthy/green and convenient (my personal chartreuse triumvirate) I don't follow that concept to the letter. Ya have to know the rules to know when to make an exception says I.
I sometimes buy the pre-packs of carrots and love them. But lately my kids have been on a bugs bunny style carrot fest. And I've been making lots of pans of roasted veggies and those little peeled buggers just don't taste as good as a real carrot..... all carmelized and delicious. And those big bags, stored unwashed in my crisper, seem to last FOREVER.
I know how to make hummus. But I don't have a food processor and cleaning the blender is a pain. And the repackaging and spoilage. Well.... I love being able to just grab one of those little packets from the fridge and go with it.
Also... is it wrong I consider cut-up carrots and hummus a breakfast food?
Showing posts with label Chartreuse triumvirate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chartreuse triumvirate. Show all posts
Monday, November 07, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
The Bike Saga: Part 3 and the End
So off to the bike store we go.
I was ready to head for Target. Hot had other plans.
We went to a real bike store.
We decided Sweet could pick whatever bike he wanted. Hot's rule.
We had a great saleswoman. Sweet picked a 7-speed mountain bike. 24"
Sweet rode around in their parking lot and got all crazy going up and down this hill into the alley. This is the kid who put neo-to-go on a keychain on his bike when he was little so he wouldn't have to come in when he wrecked.
We went in and he carefully got out his wallet and smoothed out the ones and fives on the counter. We had changed all the change at the bank but he paused, dug in his pocket and pulled out a nickle he found in the car on the drive over. $155.05. And now he owes his dad for the rest. Yes, it was a pricey bike. Please don't come and rob us. He has to bring it in for a tune up in a month and it gets locked in the shop every night.
He's riding it all over the place. Around the house. Down to the creek. Figuring out the gears and hand brakes was a challenge. So much fun. Kinda almost makes me want to tune up Hot's old bike and go for a ride.
I was ready to head for Target. Hot had other plans.
We went to a real bike store.
We decided Sweet could pick whatever bike he wanted. Hot's rule.
We had a great saleswoman. Sweet picked a 7-speed mountain bike. 24"
Sweet rode around in their parking lot and got all crazy going up and down this hill into the alley. This is the kid who put neo-to-go on a keychain on his bike when he was little so he wouldn't have to come in when he wrecked.
We went in and he carefully got out his wallet and smoothed out the ones and fives on the counter. We had changed all the change at the bank but he paused, dug in his pocket and pulled out a nickle he found in the car on the drive over. $155.05. And now he owes his dad for the rest. Yes, it was a pricey bike. Please don't come and rob us. He has to bring it in for a tune up in a month and it gets locked in the shop every night.
He's riding it all over the place. Around the house. Down to the creek. Figuring out the gears and hand brakes was a challenge. So much fun. Kinda almost makes me want to tune up Hot's old bike and go for a ride.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Bike Saga: The money issue
Sweet wanted a new bike.
He's riding a bike that makes him look like a circus sideshow. It is small. He is large.
Nana and Papa gave him $75 towards his goal for his birthday.
That crazy toothfairy has been coughing up $5 per tooth. (Yes, jokes were made about knocking out a few more to pay for the bike....)
Grandpa paid him a little cash to pick up all the bailing twine in the bale lot.
Daddy paid him $20 to pick up all the sticks in the yard this spring (rip off.... it took him almost 3 days to get it all done....)
Grandma put change (quarters, not pennies) in some plastic eggs for an egg hunt.
He's been doing odd jobs for me for green money***. Also.... I sometimes pay bribes to kids who do fantastic tricks at the swimming pool.
***sidenote: how to you handle the difference between paid chores and "the things we do because we are part of the family" chores?
So he's carefully been hoarding his cash.
I love the lesson this is teaching him.... Grandpa Kenny will be so proud. I also love that he is saving for something that is active and not passive. Because we all know he wants a video game.
So, finally, we realize summer is almost over and we better get shopping.
He's riding a bike that makes him look like a circus sideshow. It is small. He is large.
Nana and Papa gave him $75 towards his goal for his birthday.
That crazy toothfairy has been coughing up $5 per tooth. (Yes, jokes were made about knocking out a few more to pay for the bike....)
Grandpa paid him a little cash to pick up all the bailing twine in the bale lot.
Daddy paid him $20 to pick up all the sticks in the yard this spring (rip off.... it took him almost 3 days to get it all done....)
Grandma put change (quarters, not pennies) in some plastic eggs for an egg hunt.
He's been doing odd jobs for me for green money***. Also.... I sometimes pay bribes to kids who do fantastic tricks at the swimming pool.
***sidenote: how to you handle the difference between paid chores and "the things we do because we are part of the family" chores?
So he's carefully been hoarding his cash.
I love the lesson this is teaching him.... Grandpa Kenny will be so proud. I also love that he is saving for something that is active and not passive. Because we all know he wants a video game.
So, finally, we realize summer is almost over and we better get shopping.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Cars of Summer
I need some advice. I'm having car issues. Specifically.... car packing issues for summer.
Or maybe this is more about generally summer activity organization.
I'm struggling.
Here's where I'm at.... tell me where I'm going wrong.
Daycare: We have a daycare bag. It's big and orange-ish and made by Keen. It contains three Eagle Creek cubes... one for each kid.... with various gear.... socks, sweatshirts, spare panties, t-shirt, sweats, spare swimsuit. It also has a small bag with a travel toothbrush/paste for each kid, some mylicon drops (I guess those could go), ambesol, lip balm and eye drops. A spare diaper and some wipes. A spare blankie and some pacis. Sunscreen lives on the top of the fridge at daycare.
The usual car stuff: hand sanitizer, spare paci, lip balm, dog leash, spare sunglasses, random coupons, gum, pen/pad, tissues, wipes, jumbo first aid kit, grocery store bags, coffee shack punch card, umbrella stroller.
Summer: spare sweatshirts (x4), fabulous 31 picnic blanket, spare water bottles.
Baseball: Mitt, ball, hat. Make sure you are wearing the right shoes. Snacks. Entertainment for the girls. Game Days: Uniform t-shirt, grey shorts, socks, hat, cleats.
Picnics: Ziplock bag with knife, bottle opener, cork screw & can opener. Plastic silverware and napkins.
Snacks: Most often for baseball we have a soft-side cooler with ice packs and lots of snacks. Sometimes we do this for going to Spring Meadow or the playground as well.
Swimming Lessons: suits (2), towels, goggles, hair stuff, clothes for after.
Swimming at the club: suits (4), towels, goggles & giant bag of toys and floaties, hair stuff, jammies for after, sunscreen if early in the day.
Swimming at Spring Meadow: suits (3), towels, goggles & giant bag of toys and floaties, hair stuff, jammies for after, sunscreen, snacks or dinner.
All this planning and I still feel unprepared. How do you pack for the day so you are prepared and can go with the flow regardless of what happens? I need all this rigorous discipline (planning and packing) so I can be an easy-going mom (sure, let's do something fun on our bucket list tonight).... how does that compute?
Or maybe this is more about generally summer activity organization.
I'm struggling.
Here's where I'm at.... tell me where I'm going wrong.
Daycare: We have a daycare bag. It's big and orange-ish and made by Keen. It contains three Eagle Creek cubes... one for each kid.... with various gear.... socks, sweatshirts, spare panties, t-shirt, sweats, spare swimsuit. It also has a small bag with a travel toothbrush/paste for each kid, some mylicon drops (I guess those could go), ambesol, lip balm and eye drops. A spare diaper and some wipes. A spare blankie and some pacis. Sunscreen lives on the top of the fridge at daycare.
The usual car stuff: hand sanitizer, spare paci, lip balm, dog leash, spare sunglasses, random coupons, gum, pen/pad, tissues, wipes, jumbo first aid kit, grocery store bags, coffee shack punch card, umbrella stroller.
Summer: spare sweatshirts (x4), fabulous 31 picnic blanket, spare water bottles.
Baseball: Mitt, ball, hat. Make sure you are wearing the right shoes. Snacks. Entertainment for the girls. Game Days: Uniform t-shirt, grey shorts, socks, hat, cleats.
Picnics: Ziplock bag with knife, bottle opener, cork screw & can opener. Plastic silverware and napkins.
Snacks: Most often for baseball we have a soft-side cooler with ice packs and lots of snacks. Sometimes we do this for going to Spring Meadow or the playground as well.
Swimming Lessons: suits (2), towels, goggles, hair stuff, clothes for after.
Swimming at the club: suits (4), towels, goggles & giant bag of toys and floaties, hair stuff, jammies for after, sunscreen if early in the day.
Swimming at Spring Meadow: suits (3), towels, goggles & giant bag of toys and floaties, hair stuff, jammies for after, sunscreen, snacks or dinner.
All this planning and I still feel unprepared. How do you pack for the day so you are prepared and can go with the flow regardless of what happens? I need all this rigorous discipline (planning and packing) so I can be an easy-going mom (sure, let's do something fun on our bucket list tonight).... how does that compute?
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Financially Fried
I'm feeling that kind of financial pressure that has me needing to breath into a paper bag for a minute. You know what I'm talking about?
I'm sure it isn't anything I can't handle.
Breathe. Breathe. Breathe.
December's credit card bill was, um, big. So was January's. And for a chunk of time in there Hot was not bringing in a full paycheck.
Part of that was my excellent new dishwasher.... and I've been without for almost all of 2010 so I'm not complaining about that at all.
The Subie had some issues and cost almost $300 (and two hours of my life) to fix.
The kids started gymnastics... there's another $300.
Hot has had 3 major-ish health issues in 2010... nothing life threatening but all adding up in doc visits and meds and such.
The pellet stove went on the fritz and cost us almost $300 in part and labor. The awesome guy that fixes it for us came back a few days later to fix a jam in the auger for free so I can't complain. I should take him a batch of cinnamon rolls for that.
We had some restoration work done on some antique family furniture.... we got a great deal on it but it was still almost $300 total.
Then January brings the house payment and registration for two of our vehicles.
And I toasted my brake pads AND roters..... another cool $300.
I got the breakout for 2010 daycare costs.... I'm not even going to tell you.
This weekend the high speed internet dude is coming to our house and that's going to cost... you guessed it... another $300.
Sweet is doing yet another fund raiser... cookie dough and pasta kits this time.
Next up is taxes and property tax payment.
The pressure pump is dying. The built in microwave is dead and I really want to remodel the kitchen. We are doing the next tiny phase of our remodel plan this spring by replacing the septic system so it is upgraded for a house with more bedrooms.
Ok... time to focus on SOMETHING ELSE for a while......
I'm sure it isn't anything I can't handle.
Breathe. Breathe. Breathe.
December's credit card bill was, um, big. So was January's. And for a chunk of time in there Hot was not bringing in a full paycheck.
Part of that was my excellent new dishwasher.... and I've been without for almost all of 2010 so I'm not complaining about that at all.
The Subie had some issues and cost almost $300 (and two hours of my life) to fix.
The kids started gymnastics... there's another $300.
Hot has had 3 major-ish health issues in 2010... nothing life threatening but all adding up in doc visits and meds and such.
The pellet stove went on the fritz and cost us almost $300 in part and labor. The awesome guy that fixes it for us came back a few days later to fix a jam in the auger for free so I can't complain. I should take him a batch of cinnamon rolls for that.
We had some restoration work done on some antique family furniture.... we got a great deal on it but it was still almost $300 total.
Then January brings the house payment and registration for two of our vehicles.
And I toasted my brake pads AND roters..... another cool $300.
I got the breakout for 2010 daycare costs.... I'm not even going to tell you.
This weekend the high speed internet dude is coming to our house and that's going to cost... you guessed it... another $300.
Sweet is doing yet another fund raiser... cookie dough and pasta kits this time.
Next up is taxes and property tax payment.
The pressure pump is dying. The built in microwave is dead and I really want to remodel the kitchen. We are doing the next tiny phase of our remodel plan this spring by replacing the septic system so it is upgraded for a house with more bedrooms.
Ok... time to focus on SOMETHING ELSE for a while......
Friday, July 02, 2010
Game
Do you play the CVS game?
I used to play when they had good monthly freebies but I haven't been for a while.
But I needed more sunscreen.
So here's the deal I did today:
(Buy $25 of aveeno, get 10 ECB)
Aveeno face spf100 3oz. $11.99, sale: $10.99
Aveeno lotion spf85 4oz. $11.99, sale: $10.99
Aveeno skin relief 11oz. $11.99, sale: $9.99
Total Purchase: $31.97
ECB: $10
Aveeno rebate: $10
Go back and get:
Schick Hydro Razor $9.99
Schick intuition blades (3pack) $10.99
Use the $10 ECB from above
Pay $10.98
Get another $10 ECB (buy $20 Schick, get $10ECB)
Then send in for Schick Hydro Rebate of $9.99.
So all in $56.95 worth of stuff. Saved $4 in sales. Saved $20 in ECB. Saved $19.99 in rebates.
Not the best deal I've done but pretty good for all things I want, need and use. I love the Schick Intuition razor and blades but they are so pricey I consider them a bit of a splurge for summer. And Hot really needed new razor blades... this way he gets a razor and 5 blades for free. And we had to buy new sunscreen before this weekend anyway so why not do a deal, right?
Now to check the ad online to see if they have any other good ECB deals... I've got $10 in ECB to roll before August 1.
I used to play when they had good monthly freebies but I haven't been for a while.
But I needed more sunscreen.
So here's the deal I did today:
(Buy $25 of aveeno, get 10 ECB)
Aveeno face spf100 3oz. $11.99, sale: $10.99
Aveeno lotion spf85 4oz. $11.99, sale: $10.99
Aveeno skin relief 11oz. $11.99, sale: $9.99
Total Purchase: $31.97
ECB: $10
Aveeno rebate: $10
Go back and get:
Schick Hydro Razor $9.99
Schick intuition blades (3pack) $10.99
Use the $10 ECB from above
Pay $10.98
Get another $10 ECB (buy $20 Schick, get $10ECB)
Then send in for Schick Hydro Rebate of $9.99.
So all in $56.95 worth of stuff. Saved $4 in sales. Saved $20 in ECB. Saved $19.99 in rebates.
Not the best deal I've done but pretty good for all things I want, need and use. I love the Schick Intuition razor and blades but they are so pricey I consider them a bit of a splurge for summer. And Hot really needed new razor blades... this way he gets a razor and 5 blades for free. And we had to buy new sunscreen before this weekend anyway so why not do a deal, right?
Now to check the ad online to see if they have any other good ECB deals... I've got $10 in ECB to roll before August 1.
Thursday, November 05, 2009
The December List Draft One
Elle is making Christmas lists..... she has lots of birthdays in December and that really makes things tricky... I'll take a smug moment here and be thankful for June-July & September birthdays.... good balance.
She's asking about family traditions and gifts from other kids...
Family traditions:
Nana: Nana gets the kids pj's they open on Christmas Eve. They are always nice ones from Gymboree or Land's End. Great photo ops and we don't have to get dressed on Christmas Day.
Christmas books: This year I'm going to try wrapping up 12 Christmas books and opening one each night.... books we already have. Grinch. Stranger in the Woods. Christmas Mice. Rocky Mountain Christmas..... you know.... those ones. We get to have a present opening fix, we have a book to read that night, and I don't spend any money. It's the chartruse triumverate of cheap, easy & fun.
Santa: Santa is into personal hygiene... this dates back to when we were kids. He loves character bandaids & fancy toothbrushes.... stuff mommy might not normally spring for.... (hint: and stuff that always goes on good sale at CVS sometime in the months of November & December...) He also always brings batteries. (This year they might even be rechargeable....) He usually brings a bag of Hershey's kisses. And lots of swag I score at an IT conference mid-December.... little notebooks and tape measures and such. Santa at my in-law's involves gifts from everyone.... each person sneaks stuff into the stockings.... I like to get Mexican hot chocolate mix, lip balms, chocolate oranges, little hand lotions, and socks. Hot manages to do up great stocking stuff..... stockings are fun at our house. Santa also usually brings one thing mommy would not approve of..... a special movie or some toy that makes way too much noise.
Gifts for kids: Each of my kids will get something for each other and something for mom and dad.... usually dvd's for each other and something special from all three for mom and dad.... maybe a new elk video for daddy and the new Lucinda William's cd for mom. Mommy also wants the Dr Oz challenge book. Sweet wants to get Tuff the new Tinkerbelle DVD and Tuff will probably get Sweet a Scooby Do DVD or a Transformer. They will get Bugsy something (probably a brightly colored plastic toy or a new Christmas book) and she will get them something.... maybe new Leapster games.
Teacher gifts: This is a new one for me. We always try to get something nice for our daycare provider... usually a fat gift card to Jade Garden because we know she likes it. The teacher has an amazon wish list for the classroom. I'll be watching for a great sale on some of those items. I love the idea of a spaghetti gift basket.... get those clever bowtie pastas from Costco and present it in a collander (the $1 store has decent ones last time I was there) with a spaghetti scooper. Also make sure to include some dessert.... dove chocolates maybe? If you really want to go all out I'd add a bottle of wine... is that wrong for a teacher gift? There is a great wine at our grocery store that is $4 per bottle. I am a master at those kinds of gift baskets.... years of silent auctions. Our teacher for K had a baby in the spring so I m-i-g-h-t think of a baby themed basket for her.... maybe. Or a Target gift card... now to decide an amount. Right now I'm voting homeroom teacher only and no support staff but I might change my mind later.....
Others: I give a plate of sweets to the mailman. Fudge and caramels. And somehow a stupid gift giving tradition at work started a few years ago.... I'm thinking ELF all-in-one sticks for everyone....
I'd love to drop/limit the sibling gift giving.... this is the first (and possibly only) year we ALL have spouses..... My sister's hubby is getting a bottle of crown unless I come up with something better..... Heck... that's a good gift for my brother, my husband and my husband's sister's spouse as well.... ok... 4 bottles of crown and I'm done shopping for most of the men. Maybe we will go for a booze-themed Christmas and get that for the women as well.... one stop shopping at your local liquor store....
My hubby wants new binoculars. The $1300 kind. Ponder that for a moment.
She's asking about family traditions and gifts from other kids...
Family traditions:
Nana: Nana gets the kids pj's they open on Christmas Eve. They are always nice ones from Gymboree or Land's End. Great photo ops and we don't have to get dressed on Christmas Day.
Christmas books: This year I'm going to try wrapping up 12 Christmas books and opening one each night.... books we already have. Grinch. Stranger in the Woods. Christmas Mice. Rocky Mountain Christmas..... you know.... those ones. We get to have a present opening fix, we have a book to read that night, and I don't spend any money. It's the chartruse triumverate of cheap, easy & fun.
Santa: Santa is into personal hygiene... this dates back to when we were kids. He loves character bandaids & fancy toothbrushes.... stuff mommy might not normally spring for.... (hint: and stuff that always goes on good sale at CVS sometime in the months of November & December...) He also always brings batteries. (This year they might even be rechargeable....) He usually brings a bag of Hershey's kisses. And lots of swag I score at an IT conference mid-December.... little notebooks and tape measures and such. Santa at my in-law's involves gifts from everyone.... each person sneaks stuff into the stockings.... I like to get Mexican hot chocolate mix, lip balms, chocolate oranges, little hand lotions, and socks. Hot manages to do up great stocking stuff..... stockings are fun at our house. Santa also usually brings one thing mommy would not approve of..... a special movie or some toy that makes way too much noise.
Gifts for kids: Each of my kids will get something for each other and something for mom and dad.... usually dvd's for each other and something special from all three for mom and dad.... maybe a new elk video for daddy and the new Lucinda William's cd for mom. Mommy also wants the Dr Oz challenge book. Sweet wants to get Tuff the new Tinkerbelle DVD and Tuff will probably get Sweet a Scooby Do DVD or a Transformer. They will get Bugsy something (probably a brightly colored plastic toy or a new Christmas book) and she will get them something.... maybe new Leapster games.
Teacher gifts: This is a new one for me. We always try to get something nice for our daycare provider... usually a fat gift card to Jade Garden because we know she likes it. The teacher has an amazon wish list for the classroom. I'll be watching for a great sale on some of those items. I love the idea of a spaghetti gift basket.... get those clever bowtie pastas from Costco and present it in a collander (the $1 store has decent ones last time I was there) with a spaghetti scooper. Also make sure to include some dessert.... dove chocolates maybe? If you really want to go all out I'd add a bottle of wine... is that wrong for a teacher gift? There is a great wine at our grocery store that is $4 per bottle. I am a master at those kinds of gift baskets.... years of silent auctions. Our teacher for K had a baby in the spring so I m-i-g-h-t think of a baby themed basket for her.... maybe. Or a Target gift card... now to decide an amount. Right now I'm voting homeroom teacher only and no support staff but I might change my mind later.....
Others: I give a plate of sweets to the mailman. Fudge and caramels. And somehow a stupid gift giving tradition at work started a few years ago.... I'm thinking ELF all-in-one sticks for everyone....
I'd love to drop/limit the sibling gift giving.... this is the first (and possibly only) year we ALL have spouses..... My sister's hubby is getting a bottle of crown unless I come up with something better..... Heck... that's a good gift for my brother, my husband and my husband's sister's spouse as well.... ok... 4 bottles of crown and I'm done shopping for most of the men. Maybe we will go for a booze-themed Christmas and get that for the women as well.... one stop shopping at your local liquor store....
My hubby wants new binoculars. The $1300 kind. Ponder that for a moment.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
The B Word
Elle has a post up about the dread word... BUDGET.
I don't have a copy of the most current budget for our household right now but here are some estimates:
House Insurance: $850/year
Pellets: $750/year ($250/ton)
Daycare: $8500/year
Vehicle Insurance (3 vehicles): $1700/year (geez-UM. Need to shop this around.)
Property Tax: $2000/year
House: $10,000/year
Propane: $300/year
Vehicle Licensing (3 vehicles): $600/year
Student Loan: $4000/year
Electricity: $1800/year (is $150/month average?)
Land line: $480/year
Cell phones: $1020/year (3 phones)
Internet: $265/year
Netflix: $200/year
Fuel: $3600/year
Groceries: $2400/year (this seems low)
TP & Stuff: $1800/year
Entertainment/Gifts: $1200/year
Hot Stuff Lunches: $400/year (not much in winter.... lots in summer)
Spending Cash: $960/year
Things I'm failing to report: Donations, shopping, home repairs, car repairs.... um, what else?
SHIT. It isn't pretty when you list it out like that, is it??
Things we've dropped: $47/month for health club membership is on hold until June.... I'll probably pick it back up for the summer so we can swim but I have to add Tuff for $6/month so maybe not. Video store rentals..... we were spending about $30/month so netflix is a great deal for us plus we can get tv shows and no fuel expenses driving to town to get or drop off a movie. Take out pizza.... we get take-n-bake from Costco or make it at home now.
Things we are getting more careful about: I'm planning to "shop" our insurance... but I've been saying that for years. We've done more "winterizing" work on the house but the price of electricity is out of control. We are watching our credit card bill more closely and really working to keep it under $1500/month. We are saving for some major home repairs that are going to strike at any moment.... like a new roof and a new water heater. I really want text messaging but I'm not getting it yet. I also really want high speed internet.
Things I WANT but I'm not buying because of the economy and/or our budget: frontloading washer/dryer, recliner, dvd recorder, new slipcovers for the couch, a new mattress, new flooring, headboards/bedframes.
Things we've bought but budgeted carefully for: a new fridge (happy anniversary 2006), an elliptical trainer (happy anniversary 2008), a new tv (happy birthday 2008).
How about you?
I don't have a copy of the most current budget for our household right now but here are some estimates:
House Insurance: $850/year
Pellets: $750/year ($250/ton)
Daycare: $8500/year
Vehicle Insurance (3 vehicles): $1700/year (geez-UM. Need to shop this around.)
Property Tax: $2000/year
House: $10,000/year
Propane: $300/year
Vehicle Licensing (3 vehicles): $600/year
Student Loan: $4000/year
Electricity: $1800/year (is $150/month average?)
Land line: $480/year
Cell phones: $1020/year (3 phones)
Internet: $265/year
Netflix: $200/year
Fuel: $3600/year
Groceries: $2400/year (this seems low)
TP & Stuff: $1800/year
Entertainment/Gifts: $1200/year
Hot Stuff Lunches: $400/year (not much in winter.... lots in summer)
Spending Cash: $960/year
Things I'm failing to report: Donations, shopping, home repairs, car repairs.... um, what else?
SHIT. It isn't pretty when you list it out like that, is it??
Things we've dropped: $47/month for health club membership is on hold until June.... I'll probably pick it back up for the summer so we can swim but I have to add Tuff for $6/month so maybe not. Video store rentals..... we were spending about $30/month so netflix is a great deal for us plus we can get tv shows and no fuel expenses driving to town to get or drop off a movie. Take out pizza.... we get take-n-bake from Costco or make it at home now.
Things we are getting more careful about: I'm planning to "shop" our insurance... but I've been saying that for years. We've done more "winterizing" work on the house but the price of electricity is out of control. We are watching our credit card bill more closely and really working to keep it under $1500/month. We are saving for some major home repairs that are going to strike at any moment.... like a new roof and a new water heater. I really want text messaging but I'm not getting it yet. I also really want high speed internet.
Things I WANT but I'm not buying because of the economy and/or our budget: frontloading washer/dryer, recliner, dvd recorder, new slipcovers for the couch, a new mattress, new flooring, headboards/bedframes.
Things we've bought but budgeted carefully for: a new fridge (happy anniversary 2006), an elliptical trainer (happy anniversary 2008), a new tv (happy birthday 2008).
How about you?
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
The Dread Credit Card Bill January
Mmmm. Love this post about credit card debt.
Speaking of.... November & December were a little hard on the budget here at The 'Stead.
My "nose job" bill finally came through insurance and cost me more than I thought. Plus Christmas. Plus some serious work on the pickup. Plus another ton of pellets to heat our house. Oh and those omigod-cold temps are going to ding us when the (electric) heat bill arrives.
Well, it's officially taken care of (carrying a credit card balance makes me break out in hives... seriously....) but we made a conscious effort to cut back in January. Unfortunately, the billing cycle is mid-month to mid-month so I have half of December on this bill... but we shopped early so it isn't as bad as it could be... right? Sooth me here.
I'm not going to lie.... I'm not back in the $500/month credit card bills of my singleton days.
But if the bill is around $1500 I'm happy. Andy has cut back considerably on his "daily Bob's" purchases.... going from almost $200/month to almost nothing the last few months. I still spend a lot at Costco but it is our primary grocery source and I've cut out impulse buys almost entirely. We have a big line item for fuel. That's the problem with living in BFE.
We budget $40/each for cash each month. I mostly save mine for bigger purchases... like a dvd recorder or a new recliner. And I pay my library fines. And buy girl scout cookies. And I pay the kids the occasional bribe. This weekend it was a dollar each to help me clean up the dog poo in the yard. They scanned and located the piles and I picked them up. If they were too frozen to scoop they marked them with a croquet marker and I came back for them later that afternoon. It is a glamorous life I lead, isn't it?
Ok, so I know some of you are still gasping at the $1500/month credit card bill.... let me explain. I'm not buying myself a new wardrobe every month or anything. I have a Costco cash-back card and I try to put EVERYTHING on it. Fuel. Groceries. Car repairs. Doctor bills. Home phone. Cell phones. Internet. Netflix. I haven't figured out how to put the electric bill on it yet.... wish I could. Pellets are up to $300/ton and we use about 3 tons per winter.... on the card.
I know. I know. Using a card instead of cash isn't very "Dave Ramsey" of me, is it? But I haven't taken his course and I haven't committed to saving all that money over the convenience of plastic.... maybe someday but not today. For today I just bury my head and say "cash back, cash back" instead of listening to Dave's philosophy...
What about you?
Speaking of.... November & December were a little hard on the budget here at The 'Stead.
My "nose job" bill finally came through insurance and cost me more than I thought. Plus Christmas. Plus some serious work on the pickup. Plus another ton of pellets to heat our house. Oh and those omigod-cold temps are going to ding us when the (electric) heat bill arrives.
Well, it's officially taken care of (carrying a credit card balance makes me break out in hives... seriously....) but we made a conscious effort to cut back in January. Unfortunately, the billing cycle is mid-month to mid-month so I have half of December on this bill... but we shopped early so it isn't as bad as it could be... right? Sooth me here.
I'm not going to lie.... I'm not back in the $500/month credit card bills of my singleton days.
But if the bill is around $1500 I'm happy. Andy has cut back considerably on his "daily Bob's" purchases.... going from almost $200/month to almost nothing the last few months. I still spend a lot at Costco but it is our primary grocery source and I've cut out impulse buys almost entirely. We have a big line item for fuel. That's the problem with living in BFE.
We budget $40/each for cash each month. I mostly save mine for bigger purchases... like a dvd recorder or a new recliner. And I pay my library fines. And buy girl scout cookies. And I pay the kids the occasional bribe. This weekend it was a dollar each to help me clean up the dog poo in the yard. They scanned and located the piles and I picked them up. If they were too frozen to scoop they marked them with a croquet marker and I came back for them later that afternoon. It is a glamorous life I lead, isn't it?
Ok, so I know some of you are still gasping at the $1500/month credit card bill.... let me explain. I'm not buying myself a new wardrobe every month or anything. I have a Costco cash-back card and I try to put EVERYTHING on it. Fuel. Groceries. Car repairs. Doctor bills. Home phone. Cell phones. Internet. Netflix. I haven't figured out how to put the electric bill on it yet.... wish I could. Pellets are up to $300/ton and we use about 3 tons per winter.... on the card.
I know. I know. Using a card instead of cash isn't very "Dave Ramsey" of me, is it? But I haven't taken his course and I haven't committed to saving all that money over the convenience of plastic.... maybe someday but not today. For today I just bury my head and say "cash back, cash back" instead of listening to Dave's philosophy...
What about you?
Thursday, December 04, 2008
Pack-a-Lunch
Money Saving Mom has a post up about brown bagging lunches.
I brown-bag every day. I'm lucky... we have a kitchen with a hotplate & microwave at work so I can even make grilled cheese or soup for lunch. Hot isn't so lucky... he doesn't know where he will be at lunch-time every day. We are trying to break him of his "stop at Bob's" habit. Bob's is a local gas station/convenience store that has lots of pre-made (fairly tasty actually) lunch options. He gets a diet drink, sunflower seeds, a salad & sometimes a newspaper and spends about $10. Which makes my budget gasp and flutter. It can't be avoided sometimes in the summer but in the winter he can pack a lunch.... or so I think.
I'm getting into the idea of bento lunches. I love this site for her quick and clever lunches... and so cute. (Seriously... did you see the hot dog octopus?)
I'm also trying hard to use pyrex bowls with plastic lids for in the microwave. I have several and could, honestly, use a few more... but my tiny kitchen is already a game of tetris to put things away.... one more bowl might tip me over the edge.
Growing up on a farm has made me something of a master of the packed lunch. During harvest we pack a cooler to last all day. Those little playmate ones. Each of us is assigned a different colored cooler and you are responsible for getting it in the house every night so it gets rinsed out and repacked.
Interesting tips for harvest lunches:
1. It is hot so you are never as hungry as you think you will be... even though you are working hard all day.
2. Pack lots of drinks. I don't drink a lot of pop (soda for the rest of you) but I do love an ice-cold root beer during harvest. And a bottle of lemonade frozen solid is a great ice pack.
3. Pack sandwiches veggies separate. Soggy is not fun. But a gorgeously crafted sandwich piled with veggies on a hoagie is a beautiful thing.
4. You can eat sandwiches every day and still have variety. Deli cold-cuts, shaved ham, smoked turkey, shredded bbq beef, ground beef (I need to get this recipe from my mom), roast chicken, egg salad, tuna, cream cheese and veggies. I don't do pbj but my mom loves peanutbutter and banana sandwiches. Heck, you can even eat Spam during harvest.
5. Harvest is the one time a year you can splurge on those single serve packets. Chip varieties. Maybe those little cheese/cracker packs. Gogurt. Individual fruit cups. Mmm.
6. Oreos are ok but homemade cookies are better. We make up cookies ahead of time and freeze them. Last year my sis-in-law brought over a giant assortment of at least 6 different kinds of homemade cookies for the freezer.... yum.
7. Salad is an option. Last year my dad was on a veggie-veggie-veggie kick. I made him the most beautiful salads with homemade vinagrette dressing.
8. It works for kids. I've done hot dogs in a thermos. Usually it is so hot they just want grapes, carrots & chips.... and, sometimes, you have to be ok with that. They eat more at night when we get home and it has cooled off.... just make sure they get enough liquids. And pack hand sanitizer.
9. Everything tastes better with a little dirt and wheat dust on it.
10. Reuse the baggies.
11. Granola bars pack well. Ice cream bars do not pack well. But... if you are dumping in the bins by the house and you are quick you can win a LOT of points with the combine drivers if you bring them a frozen treat once in a while.
12. If all else fails... grab a can of pork-n-beans, some stewed tomatoes and a can opener. There's actually a bit of a bitter story behind this one. One day I packed a beautiful lunch for myself including powdered donuts, an herbed cheese and veggie sandwich on fancy bread, watermelon, veggies with dip... you get the idea.... well, as fate and truck break-downs would have it.... by lunch time I was in dad's truck and he was in mine. He called me on the radio and I could tell his mouth was full. He did mention how good his lunch was and, by that time, I was starving. I was so happy to roll into the field and see all the combines were empty so I had a minute to eat "my" lunch. I opened the cooler and saw a can of pork-n-beans (which I dispise), a diet coke (yuck... and no ice pack even) and a can opener. Lucky me.
I brown-bag every day. I'm lucky... we have a kitchen with a hotplate & microwave at work so I can even make grilled cheese or soup for lunch. Hot isn't so lucky... he doesn't know where he will be at lunch-time every day. We are trying to break him of his "stop at Bob's" habit. Bob's is a local gas station/convenience store that has lots of pre-made (fairly tasty actually) lunch options. He gets a diet drink, sunflower seeds, a salad & sometimes a newspaper and spends about $10. Which makes my budget gasp and flutter. It can't be avoided sometimes in the summer but in the winter he can pack a lunch.... or so I think.
I'm getting into the idea of bento lunches. I love this site for her quick and clever lunches... and so cute. (Seriously... did you see the hot dog octopus?)
I'm also trying hard to use pyrex bowls with plastic lids for in the microwave. I have several and could, honestly, use a few more... but my tiny kitchen is already a game of tetris to put things away.... one more bowl might tip me over the edge.
Growing up on a farm has made me something of a master of the packed lunch. During harvest we pack a cooler to last all day. Those little playmate ones. Each of us is assigned a different colored cooler and you are responsible for getting it in the house every night so it gets rinsed out and repacked.
Interesting tips for harvest lunches:
1. It is hot so you are never as hungry as you think you will be... even though you are working hard all day.
2. Pack lots of drinks. I don't drink a lot of pop (soda for the rest of you) but I do love an ice-cold root beer during harvest. And a bottle of lemonade frozen solid is a great ice pack.
3. Pack sandwiches veggies separate. Soggy is not fun. But a gorgeously crafted sandwich piled with veggies on a hoagie is a beautiful thing.
4. You can eat sandwiches every day and still have variety. Deli cold-cuts, shaved ham, smoked turkey, shredded bbq beef, ground beef (I need to get this recipe from my mom), roast chicken, egg salad, tuna, cream cheese and veggies. I don't do pbj but my mom loves peanutbutter and banana sandwiches. Heck, you can even eat Spam during harvest.
5. Harvest is the one time a year you can splurge on those single serve packets. Chip varieties. Maybe those little cheese/cracker packs. Gogurt. Individual fruit cups. Mmm.
6. Oreos are ok but homemade cookies are better. We make up cookies ahead of time and freeze them. Last year my sis-in-law brought over a giant assortment of at least 6 different kinds of homemade cookies for the freezer.... yum.
7. Salad is an option. Last year my dad was on a veggie-veggie-veggie kick. I made him the most beautiful salads with homemade vinagrette dressing.
8. It works for kids. I've done hot dogs in a thermos. Usually it is so hot they just want grapes, carrots & chips.... and, sometimes, you have to be ok with that. They eat more at night when we get home and it has cooled off.... just make sure they get enough liquids. And pack hand sanitizer.
9. Everything tastes better with a little dirt and wheat dust on it.
10. Reuse the baggies.
11. Granola bars pack well. Ice cream bars do not pack well. But... if you are dumping in the bins by the house and you are quick you can win a LOT of points with the combine drivers if you bring them a frozen treat once in a while.
12. If all else fails... grab a can of pork-n-beans, some stewed tomatoes and a can opener. There's actually a bit of a bitter story behind this one. One day I packed a beautiful lunch for myself including powdered donuts, an herbed cheese and veggie sandwich on fancy bread, watermelon, veggies with dip... you get the idea.... well, as fate and truck break-downs would have it.... by lunch time I was in dad's truck and he was in mine. He called me on the radio and I could tell his mouth was full. He did mention how good his lunch was and, by that time, I was starving. I was so happy to roll into the field and see all the combines were empty so I had a minute to eat "my" lunch. I opened the cooler and saw a can of pork-n-beans (which I dispise), a diet coke (yuck... and no ice pack even) and a can opener. Lucky me.
Monday, October 06, 2008
Trash Day
Caroline commented on the last post about budgeting garbage.
Love it.
We have to haul our garbage to town to the "transfer station." I think we could have curbside but I don't want to pay for it and I would have to haul in the recycling anyway.
We keep three big plastic garbage cans in the garage. Ew, I know. But in the fall the bears get in them if they aren't in the garage. I have no idea how often we go to the dump... twice a month? Every three weeks?
So Hot worked all of August. 100 hour weeks... no, not 100 hour pay periods... 100 hour weeks. This is fantastic for our budget but it gets a little old for the day-to-day household things. For example, Sweet doesn't like to go to bed without daddy-books.... Goodnight Moon and Guess How Much I Love You... complete with charade-like action are their favorites. Nothing cuter than a 2-year-old plopping her fuzzy-jammie clad self on the couch and declaring, "I wait." when told Daddy isn't going to be home for bedtime....
So the kids and I figured out a new dump-plan.... I condensed the garbage into bags, piled them in the back of the Subie, grabbed the kids & the dump pass... and dropped it all off on the way to daycare in the mornings. I saved a trip to town on the weekend AND driving the gas-hog-air-conditioning-is-out pickup AND avoided the weekend crowds. All while taking care of my main goal which was making sure Hot didn't feel like he was dropping the ball on household stuff because of fires. I don't think he had a clue we were being all yuppie-hippie taking the Subaru to the dump until he saw the dump pass in the visor.... and then he was slightly horrified but mostly impressed.... I could tell....
Love it.
We have to haul our garbage to town to the "transfer station." I think we could have curbside but I don't want to pay for it and I would have to haul in the recycling anyway.
We keep three big plastic garbage cans in the garage. Ew, I know. But in the fall the bears get in them if they aren't in the garage. I have no idea how often we go to the dump... twice a month? Every three weeks?
So Hot worked all of August. 100 hour weeks... no, not 100 hour pay periods... 100 hour weeks. This is fantastic for our budget but it gets a little old for the day-to-day household things. For example, Sweet doesn't like to go to bed without daddy-books.... Goodnight Moon and Guess How Much I Love You... complete with charade-like action are their favorites. Nothing cuter than a 2-year-old plopping her fuzzy-jammie clad self on the couch and declaring, "I wait." when told Daddy isn't going to be home for bedtime....
So the kids and I figured out a new dump-plan.... I condensed the garbage into bags, piled them in the back of the Subie, grabbed the kids & the dump pass... and dropped it all off on the way to daycare in the mornings. I saved a trip to town on the weekend AND driving the gas-hog-air-conditioning-is-out pickup AND avoided the weekend crowds. All while taking care of my main goal which was making sure Hot didn't feel like he was dropping the ball on household stuff because of fires. I don't think he had a clue we were being all yuppie-hippie taking the Subaru to the dump until he saw the dump pass in the visor.... and then he was slightly horrified but mostly impressed.... I could tell....
Monday, September 29, 2008
Let's Get Cheap.
Ok, so over at moneycentral they are taking about 8 extreme ways to save money.
My question is... who DOESN'T reuse sandwich bags? Seriously? Those things are pricey.... for a few crumbs you toss them? Really?
The rest of the list, besides the reusing sandwich bags:
Turn your car off -- while it's moving. Ok, well, I don't do that... but I do make it a game to see how long I can go down the pass without stepping on the gas or the brake.
Stop saving money. I'm pleased to report we don't have to do this one... at least not yet.
Make your own cleaning supplies. We do this. It works just fine... it is cheap and enviro. I do miss softscrub. And I do confess to not giving up bleach... I've tried. I can't do it. Not yet. My sister swears by the greenworks toilet cleaner... she says it works so well she seriously doubts it is actually "green" at all. I don't use toilet cleaner because sometimes the dog drinks out of the toilet (sorry, tmi, I know) but I do sometimes give in and bleach it.... she's so lucky her dogs are too short to drink out of the toilet....
Stop drinking soda. I don't drink soda or "pop" very often. But try to pry a diet, caffeine free pepsi out of my husband's hand... go ahead. The compromise it buying it on sale at CVS with ECB's.
Move back home with your parents, at any age. Ha. Ha. Ha. If they saw us coming they'd lock the doors... if they had locks on their doors.
Get rid of your carpet. Trying. Can't talk Hot into it. But trying.
Hold a no-spend month. This is a clever idea. Maybe a winner for January when we are recovering from the holidays.
Anybody else? Clever ideas?
My question is... who DOESN'T reuse sandwich bags? Seriously? Those things are pricey.... for a few crumbs you toss them? Really?
The rest of the list, besides the reusing sandwich bags:
Turn your car off -- while it's moving. Ok, well, I don't do that... but I do make it a game to see how long I can go down the pass without stepping on the gas or the brake.
Stop saving money. I'm pleased to report we don't have to do this one... at least not yet.
Make your own cleaning supplies. We do this. It works just fine... it is cheap and enviro. I do miss softscrub. And I do confess to not giving up bleach... I've tried. I can't do it. Not yet. My sister swears by the greenworks toilet cleaner... she says it works so well she seriously doubts it is actually "green" at all. I don't use toilet cleaner because sometimes the dog drinks out of the toilet (sorry, tmi, I know) but I do sometimes give in and bleach it.... she's so lucky her dogs are too short to drink out of the toilet....
Stop drinking soda. I don't drink soda or "pop" very often. But try to pry a diet, caffeine free pepsi out of my husband's hand... go ahead. The compromise it buying it on sale at CVS with ECB's.
Move back home with your parents, at any age. Ha. Ha. Ha. If they saw us coming they'd lock the doors... if they had locks on their doors.
Get rid of your carpet. Trying. Can't talk Hot into it. But trying.
Hold a no-spend month. This is a clever idea. Maybe a winner for January when we are recovering from the holidays.
Anybody else? Clever ideas?
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