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Archive for February, 2006

DC hotel

February 28th, 2006 at 01:49 pm

The rooms are reserved at 151 a night, but Mom didn't get an exact total so I don't know what the cost is, I might want to budget more for the trip if the rooms are over 150 like origionally though.

I also am running into the food gap, Mom forgets it is not only my kids that eat a ton, but DH and I as well, culture shock comes to mind! I have to look into how much food we can pack, as I am sure grocery prices in DC are more than here in Charlotte.

We also have tentative plans for our next trip to PGH, around Easter, as soon as I can get some firm dates off of my bro and BIL, we can firm up our dates. I hate unpredictability when planning is needed!

Oops

February 28th, 2006 at 01:34 pm

So I really want to workout, and get my prepregnancy size back, but....err.... well.... I don't have any church clothes that will fit if I do! I realized this as a I got ready Sunday, I honestly have no smaller skirts for church!

Though on an up note I did find, already, my current skirt was loose, that means one week of halfhearted work is paying off!

I think it may be anti frugal, but when I am down I will buy a new skirt! One that is the proper length. I really don't like mid calf, I feel frumpy, so for church I think long and flowing, but fitted waist. Heh, kindof fun to dream, and I prolly should start looking now, I can be rather picky, so it could take awhile to find something!

Kids as dumbells

February 27th, 2006 at 02:17 pm

Not as in Stupid (they are quite smart) but as in actually using them as weights. I was lifting my youngest in 'baby presses' the other night, and I thought for fun I would continue with some other mini workouts. IT sent all three into giggle fits, but I managed to burn a few calories, and more interestingly to me, in just 10 minutes I was soreish the next day!

Not enough to regret it, just enough to think progresss will be made on the waistline. Children may be the most frugal workout, and alot more fun than any other form IMO!

I also did 'baby curls' 'baby kisses' (like crunches but to kiss a kids head. Lots of 'kid lifts' (requires balance on the kids part, sitting on the sides or tops of my legs) and some old fashioned wiggles, wiggle the legs with them on top and watch the hair floof and the giggles emmerge!

Then I also tried 'zooming' them in a basket, bit of an arm workout and managed to get my heart rate pumped up, I just added my 4 month old when I needed to 'cool down' (can't zoom him quite as fast!)

2 million!

February 26th, 2006 at 08:29 pm

The church we go to has a goal of raising 2 million to build a new sanctuary, I agree it is a need, their current one is too small, but I also don't see how they are going to get 2 million in addition to their monthly expenses!

One family talked about 10K extra for a couple families (2mil/10K = 500 families)

There are not 500 families in the church! There are prolly not 500 active members! I really think some common sense frugality is in order, but no one asked me.

Groceries Feb

February 25th, 2006 at 03:15 pm

OUCH!

140! that is WAAAAAY over budget, see what I mean about getting the money out of the account!

431 for the month! way over budget, by a huge amount!

I don't know if we are going to do better in March or if we are going to change the budget!

Motivation missing

February 25th, 2006 at 01:53 pm

When I had a CC debt looming over my head I was generally motivated, I would get discouraged but I was still motivated, now? well umm it ain't easy!

Getting up early to pay off a house in 24 years instead of 25 is not easy! well getting up period after nursing DS isn't easy period!

I need to write down the debt and see how to tweak the numbers to make me more motivated. Like DS will be out of college before I get the house paid off! Maybe if I figure out what extra we will have to pay to get it done before he is 18 or something. (I would love to do it in less than 7 years though, like the bible tine for debt)

Poker and education

February 24th, 2006 at 02:35 pm

My husbands poker challenge is actually working, he just got our kids three educational games with a gift certificate he earned (we might have bought one without it, but not all 3, so we can't add the money to the challenge or anything), and his original investment is up to around 200, pretty good for a hobby!

Reviews as English

February 24th, 2006 at 02:04 pm

I had my first grader review his new Computer game and just today a new CD of his, I think it is helping him with the 'complete sentences' and expressing himself. I put it all up on our website and I want to move it to the BBA website so that I can let other people read it. (I am fanatical about letting people see our real names and address, and such.)

Mainly becaue I want to know if it is reasonable from a first grader! This is such a frugal way to get English practice, and help me remember what is on the computer games in a couple years when my daughter is ready for them.

edit, I did it!

Text is Music review and Link is http://home.earthlink.net/~guin_dt_sales/bba/id13.html
Music review
and
Text is Game review and Link is http://home.earthlink.net/~guin_dt_sales/bba/id12.html
Game review

I need to move that money!

February 24th, 2006 at 01:57 pm

I know I said this before, but It hasn't moved and I went and splurged! Well we did. I needed eggs to make brownies, so I suggested to DH we go to the store a day early, no big deal, or to much money, except we had to have dinner out before shopping! to the tune of 50$! what was I thinking! I know it is there and I wanted to splurge.

Then we went shopping I dunno how much yet, and we still have to get some things! Really I HAVE got to move that money!

On a plus note it gave me great satisfaction to buy the wipes at a1$ more a box, just because I had no CC debt, and I like unscented better. (why does it cost more to get unscented?)

So do you suppoise walking around carrying a 17lb baby counts as excersise for Thursday? I hope so cause it was all I got!

Saving Gas

February 22nd, 2006 at 01:25 pm

I finally remembered, they drop off this collection bag for clothing and whatnot everyonce in awhile and I always forget to fill and put it out, not that I don't have stuff, just that I forget to put said stuff out.

This time I did it, and that will save on Gas for a trip to the Good will, well I still have more stuff but it is raining and I didn't want to get the cardboard wet, but maybe they will do it again. I would love to empty my house of clutter without having any hassle (or cost)

I did it!

February 22nd, 2006 at 11:21 am

I got up at 5 and worked out, then I went to self.com to log it, and the food I ate aleady, well I am in the middle of the oatmeal now. But I think keeping track online will help me, and since my waistline is going the wrong way after my baby I need the help!

So far it says I burned 189 calories working out, dunno how accurate that is though.

Oh and I wrote out the check for the CC, no more huge numbers in the checking account, but what a relief!

They are devouring it!

February 21st, 2006 at 10:34 pm

Now normally I have good eaters, they eat what I put in front of them with little to no complaint, but on occasion I find a meal they devour as fast as I can dish it up, well not my husband, he never eats fast no matter how good! Anyway I have to write the recipe down fast so I don't forget it!(I made it up tonight - well based off of other peoples similar dishes, or at least what my taste buds rmember of them)

Parsley Potatoes: Warning-I don't do amounts!

1. Cut up and boil some potatoes (6?)

2. Add veggies when you can poke the potatoes with a fork but before they are done (I used corn, but I hope small green peas or cut up carrots would work too) (3 or 4 cups)

3. Drain then put back in pot with:
- 3/4 stick of butter (salted or not)
- onion powder (some)
- pepper (some)
- parsely (lots)

4. Mix together
-chicken boilion and
-2 cups boiling water (I used the kettle) and
-1 tablespoon cornstarch

5. Add above onto potatoes and vegetables warm up and serve.

The numbers are too big!

February 21st, 2006 at 02:55 pm

I don't know what to do with the giant numbers in my checking account! i generally only break 1,000 when I get a check from DH, then I pay the bills and it is back to around 200, but I have the Federal return in the account and I am actually having to deal with huge numbers! (ok not that big, 3,000).

And why is that money still there and not off to pay the CC, which I keep saying I get to do? beacuase I keep forgetting to call for a pay off amount and address! really what a lazy procrastinating idiot I am!!!

food menu

February 21st, 2006 at 02:50 pm

I am finally doing it! I am writing a menu! Ok well I have done this before, but not in a long time, and not very well. No guarantees this will be very well, but I am going to try this week.

My menu starts on Thursday cause that is when we go to the grocery store.

1. Veggie stir fry N rice (if we have chicken we will add but only if the chicken is on sale)

2. Sloppy bean joes (I found this recipie thought I would try it)

3. Black bean fiesta

4. Parsely cheesy rice N brocoli

5. Quesadillas (prolly cheese, or bean)

6. Salad

Now all I have to do is stick with it Smile.

Auto paying

February 20th, 2006 at 03:03 pm

I want to see if it is possible to have my mortgage company automatically take out some extra each month, they already take out the payment each month. If I get it auto extra, it will be more likely to happen, rather than 'if maybe we might have extra' that sortof leaves the door open to not pay extra.

I have no willpower, I need external controls!

DC total

February 20th, 2006 at 02:35 pm

We decided to round up for DC to 1500 then any extra we do not use in DC we will leave in ING for a slow growing emergency fund.

For the first time in eons I get to think how big I want my EF to be! and I am not sure...

DC eating

February 19th, 2006 at 01:42 pm

Well since that lady on Oprah could eat on 100 a day all out, I figure it is a fair estimate of what we need for DC (we will be packing some food)

And it is official DH wants to spend less time there this trip, no big we will be back.

So 100 * 4 days = 400 for eating out
Hotel 150 * 3 nights = 450
Groceries 200 (some home some there, need fast dinner when we get back!)

Wish I knew how to make it pretty and line up.

but total so far= 1050

I just need to estimate gas up and back, and any admissions fees, and souveniers. I think that is it.

I think Bros family will not be going, his kids have that school thing... I so love not having to worry about that Smile. So my mother will prolly get the hotel and we will get the food, then we will give her a check for whatever of the hotel cost we didn't use on food (there are only three of them, I doubt they will use all 450 on food in the few days we are there)

Cleaning at 1 am

February 19th, 2006 at 07:27 am

Really only pregnant people clean at 1 am and I shouldn't be pregnant! I am nursing a 3 month old, I really shouldn't be...which leaves me crazy...hmm I might rather be pregnant.

I have no mold smell but pinky stuff in my tub, and spots on my windows. I am not sure what it is, but I don't like it.

I heard mold needs a 60 degree house to grow, I am wondering if my kids need 60 degrees or if I can turn the heat down again?

Cold sick and tired

February 18th, 2006 at 01:56 pm

I think that is effecting my finances, I almost agreed to send DH to the store midweek (we go once a week to save on cost) Plus I am considering asking for a air purifier. Really I need to get healthy, and get my family healthy so I can stop trying to spend money!

On a plus note I actually made beans and did not ruin them! I am soo proud of myself, plus I made sweet potatoes for my little one to try. DH is happy he only gets sweet potatoes at thanksgiving or when my kids are babies! I really should work on that.

I have got to move that money!

February 17th, 2006 at 01:54 pm

DH went shopping today,a nd he splurged, 'since we have all that money'!! Humph! I want to pay off the house and start saving for retirement, not buy more groceries!

total (two stores) 110
budget 75!

To young to be so old fashioned

February 16th, 2006 at 01:11 pm

I am too young to be so scared of figuring out how to pay my bills online! I have them auto drafted, I can now look at my bank account online, but I am still scared of online billpay. I dunno what is wrong with me, I am acting like a non computer person!

On another note I am dealing with my ear infection the old fashioned way, peroxide, it is weird! but it worked when I was a teen (not that long ago) so I hope it will work now, not that we have no insurance, just that I hate the time and trouble to go see a dr!

$37,000!!

February 15th, 2006 at 12:26 pm

We just got our semi anual 'check out all the credit we will give you, please use this card' letter from one one of our credit card companies.

37,000 is more than we make in a year! By a good bit! I can't imagine the trouble we could get into if we started using our credit. I thought the hole we dug after my daughter was born was hard, but 37,000! On one card!

I think if I added up all the different credit cards I would come up with enough credit to get the house!

(BTW there is zero on the card)

Can I go back to bed please?

February 15th, 2006 at 11:36 am

The cold I have had for a week is turning into an ear infection. The drilling pain thru my brain about drove my crazy last night. So I decided I do NOT want to wake up early today, DD had other plans...

DH got his 'end of year bonus' which comes at the begining of the year, and we decided to buy a new mattress with some then put the rest torwarnd the house. I am soooo happy, I really am looking forward to a bed I do not hate! My husband was going to suprise me with a bed for my birthdya, but I messed that up by asking for it early. Well that and asking him to build me a bench for my birthday.

DC planning

February 14th, 2006 at 01:44 pm

I checked out some hotel rates and it seems 150 is a reasonable guestemate my husbands wants to see about shortening the trip. I think that is doable, no reason we have to do it all in one trip. I figure the kids will want to go back.

But starting guess is 150 * 4 nights = $600

Then there is food, I am not sure how to go about researching the cost of food, eating out or grocery shopping?

Or metro costs? Gas to get there and back?

Workout a Wash

February 14th, 2006 at 01:35 pm

I did get up, but I got sidetracked by a wonderful Valentine poem on the fridge. Then my son wanted me.

I did some toning exercises on the floor while talking to him, but he wanted milk and sleep so I gave up after not quite 10 minutes.

I guess I will try again tomorrow.

February challenge

February 13th, 2006 at 12:55 pm

(Arn't I talkative today! thats what happens when I get up early to workout!)

We remembered to use the phone more on weekends (when it is free no matter how long I talk) and I got all the valentines out, oh wait two more. but I have thank yous to go with them.

This is working out ot help my oldests writing as well, I guess this challenge is for education as well as family!

We made round sugar cookies for our niece who just won a basketball tournoment. I was going to decorate them like basket balls, but then I though she might like to help, she seemed really excited over some baking supplies she recieved for Christmas so I think she will enjoy it. I jsut have to make icing and color it here then take all the supplies to her house possibly on Thursday. The only non frugal part is the Gas to drive there....they live across town.

Trip to DC

February 13th, 2006 at 12:46 pm

Well we talked it over with all participants (we are going with my mothers family, and maybe my brothers family) and so far it seems there will be 5 days/4 nights in DC

1. We (my family, not the rest)will drive up at night, and arrive for breakfast, prolly look at small stuff I just have to find out what, I would like a park. Then check in and family nap, another small thing, with minimal walking, dinner and a normal bedtime for the kids.

2, 3, and maybe 4. National mall and Zoo.

5. DH sleeping in all morning, check out and then leave for home after lunch.

I am guessing the middle 3 days are what will coincide with the rest of the group, we all are comming from different parts of the country, and my family is the only one that drives that way.

Since the attractions are free I just have to budget for souveniers (not much we are anti stuff) meals, and rooms. (If the group gets a suite we will pay a third, if not we will just have our room to pay for)

I think my mom is planning on paying a large portion of the meals, but I do not want her to cover all the meals, I think I will have to work out a way to not fight over who pays in DC but also not let her pay it all. And also not leave my bro feeling like mom is paying more for his family than mine (weather or not it is true, I don't know, but appearences matter in family relations!)

I also need to find out what a hotel would cost, and what the average meal is, and what groceries run (we will pack a lot of snacks, and buy snacks, rather than eat out all 6 meals my direct family eats!)

Groceries Feb

February 13th, 2006 at 12:32 pm

I forgot to put this up, no wait I was sick, so here it is late.

Two stores at 30, and 85 (ouch!) = 115
budget = 75

So that leaves us 40 over for last week. and the 9 left over from the week before doesn't cover it. Not cool.

I could put in a bunch of 'buts' .... 'but we got detergent with a rebate', 'but we stocked up on X on sale', 'but we skipped so many other things I wanted!'

But I wont, those 'buts' always lead me to spending more in the long run.

Bettter body = more money spent!

February 13th, 2006 at 12:20 pm

I find in my life that trying to improve one area always affects another. Now I know that healthier is cheaper, less sick time. But in the short term it is more expensive. I decided to try to work out more, but it is too cold for me outside!

I know, I know, move you'll warm up. but umm, I don't wanna! or more precisly (and more excuse worthy) my kids don't want to. Wind irritates my Daughter tremendously, and quite frankly I don't blame her.

It is all well and good to prod yourself and three kids out the door for their benifit, to see the happy faces watching construction, or playing at the slides, but to hear them whine about the cold? I'll pass.

So should I go alone before or after they are awake? Err yuck! I tryed it for a time, after the kids were all abed, but I discovered cold in the middle of the day is WORSE at night. I knew that, but now I Really know it! Plus my 3 month old hardly ever goes to sleep at the same time, so I never know just how late I am stuck staying up.

This week my goal is to get up early, and work out before anyone else is up. I awoke today at 5am, all prepped, I actually dragged myself out of bed, then I thought about the cold outside and almost jumped right back in! But I persevered, and popped in a workout tape!

So why is this more money? Well the little things like electricity is one thing, lights were on (I do not want to work out in the dark!) and of course, some to run the TV/VCR, plus....food.

Yep food. I can't diet. (that is a dirty word, the truth is I don't like to diet, had my fill in highschool) My excuse, is my nursing 3 month old, I have to eat to feed him. So a banana for pre-workout, a bowl of cheereos for breakfast, and I am off to a start of a full day of food. So a better body is just one more reason why our grocery budget is not shrinking like it should.

Math games finally!

February 10th, 2006 at 07:47 pm

I found several math games for DD that are awesome!

Text is BBC site and Link is http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/numbertime/games/index.shtml
BBC site

BBC has several, one 'find one more' is a simple matching game where there is an 'odd card out'

The dart board game took me awhile to figure out, but then I never really played darts, apparently if you click on the outer circle spaces it is double the numbers posted. It was great for DS to practice doubling, or later dividing by two.

I also found
Text is 'count your chickens' and Link is http://www.learningplanet.com/sam/cyc/index.asp
'count your chickens' which will even say the numbers for you!

Text is kidport mix and Link is http://www.kidport.com/default.htm
kidport mix

Lot of subjects very simple graphics, also low ads. Mainly the 'library is better than the games' And kids need to read or Mom needs to help for practically everything on kidport.


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