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Home > Archive: July, 2007
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Archive for July, 2007
July 28th, 2007 at 03:38 pm
0We are doing early research on swimming for the fall. The kids love it soo much but I hate to have them stop for the whole winter yet again. I thought I would check a membership to the Y. you ready for this?
150 start up fee and 74$ a month, plus a 75$ class fee! Absolutely no possible way we could afford that!
I called another place and found class prices to all run 75-150 for a month of classes with 5-8 kids per class.
I called one more place and got a direct number to the instructor, she mentioned they didn't have classes set up yet but that she would offer a private lesson for $20 for both kids. I felt like I was being led into a selling spiel where you tell what your competition costs to numb customers to the high price of your item (I sold cutco knives, that was the gimmick, tell em what other brands cost so the 100 dollar knife seems low in comparison)
But the more I think about it, $20 for a private lesson, not stuck in a group of 3-5 year olds who prolly don't swim at all, while our two can not only swim, but GMC can swim well...not to much time for one on one.
That is for both kids, whereas the other classes are 75 per kid...and that is totally individual instruction....
Not to mention I think we might be able to let gmas know that lessons would be a wonderful gift.
But then again..$20 per week? asdf123
We are doing early research on swimming for the fall. The kids love it soo much but I hate to have them stop for the whole winter yet again. I thought I would check a membership to the Y. you ready for this?
150 start up fee and 74$ a month, plus a 75$ class fee! Absolutely no possible way we could afford that!
I called another place and found class prices to all run 75-150 for a month of classes with 5-8 kids per class.
I called one more place and got a direct number to the instructor, she mentioned they didn't have classes set up yet but that she would offer a private lesson for $20 for both kids. I felt like I was being led into a selling spiel where you tell what your competition costs to numb customers to the high price of your item (I sold cutco knives, that was the gimmick, tell em what other brands cost so the 100 dollar knife seems low in comparison)
But the more I think about it, $20 for a private lesson, not stuck in a group of 3-5 year olds who prolly don't swim at all, while our two can not only swim, but GMC can swim well...not to much time for one on one.
That is for both kids, whereas the other classes are 75 per kid...and that is totally individual instruction....
Not to mention I think we might be able to let gmas know that lessons would be a wonderful gift.
But then again..$20 per week?
Posted in
Complaint department
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7 Comments »
July 27th, 2007 at 05:42 pm
0For us. See if I ignore the amount exactly of money we have, I tend to spend less, assuming we don't have enough.
Which means surplus tends to pile up and I have to go schlep it around to pay off the car. I kinda like that problem! I would prefer not to ever have to deal with it at all, but if I have to have a problem this is it.
Course it isn't enough to pay off fully, just a nice double payment every other month or so.
Most of the surplus is due to overtime, and more would be going to the car, except we keep buying groceries. We buy more fruit and veggies than anyone I know, I have got to learn to grow some. ON a plus note the sunflowers are still alive. There is hope, so long as I choose hardy plants that like to live.
Now to find food that is that hardy (I know you can eat the seeds, but I don't.)
The kids picked favorite fruits and veggies last night, GMC picked tomatoes, JC picked nearly every fruit we eat!
Bananas and Apples are out (though I wonder on the apple tree...not anytime soon, but for the future?) Blueberries...I didn't think they grew around here...Strawberries do...I wonder if they are very thorny? I was kinda hoping for something the kids could pick.
Peppers are favorite veggie for my husband and GMC...I wonder if they are easy to grow. JC and I like peas, and green beans.
asdf123
For us. See if I ignore the amount exactly of money we have, I tend to spend less, assuming we don't have enough.
Which means surplus tends to pile up and I have to go schlep it around to pay off the car. I kinda like that problem! I would prefer not to ever have to deal with it at all, but if I have to have a problem this is it.
Course it isn't enough to pay off fully, just a nice double payment every other month or so.
Most of the surplus is due to overtime, and more would be going to the car, except we keep buying groceries. We buy more fruit and veggies than anyone I know, I have got to learn to grow some. ON a plus note the sunflowers are still alive. There is hope, so long as I choose hardy plants that like to live.
Now to find food that is that hardy (I know you can eat the seeds, but I don't.)
The kids picked favorite fruits and veggies last night, GMC picked tomatoes, JC picked nearly every fruit we eat!
Bananas and Apples are out (though I wonder on the apple tree...not anytime soon, but for the future?) Blueberries...I didn't think they grew around here...Strawberries do...I wonder if they are very thorny? I was kinda hoping for something the kids could pick.
Peppers are favorite veggie for my husband and GMC...I wonder if they are easy to grow. JC and I like peas, and green beans.
Posted in
Grocerys, food lessons
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4 Comments »
July 25th, 2007 at 12:51 am
0While my husband was working on some model terrain making he let GMC use some spare parts to make what he wanted..
[img]2610[/img]
Pretty impressive for no help, just three straight sticks (no cutting was allowed)
Now for this one I did some cutting for him. He asked me to cut a piece in half to make two like the two he had...I suggested it would be two a bit small, so I found him another scrap, and was able to make 4 approximately the same, and one small piece.
Here is the result when he put it all together:
[img]2609[/img]
The picture was taken before we glued the front piece on, so GMC is holding it.
Here is what JC made, I helped to cut the frame, and I tore the tape, but she put it all on...it is primer-ed, so later I will have to try and post when she paints it all up.
[img]2608[/img]
We plan to put a magnet on the back and 'hang' it on her tin doll house...err will a magnet stick properly to that? I'd better check.
The sunflowers are growing! I have to get the kids to stand by them so you can see how tall they are.
[img]2611[/img]
Course you might notice the one side is pretty tall, the other side is pretty short...not sure why, though it is two different seed packets.
And here is the prize GMC won for reading from the library.
[img]2607[/img]
total disguise :) asdf123
While my husband was working on some model terrain making he let GMC use some spare parts to make what he wanted..
Pretty impressive for no help, just three straight sticks (no cutting was allowed)
Now for this one I did some cutting for him. He asked me to cut a piece in half to make two like the two he had...I suggested it would be two a bit small, so I found him another scrap, and was able to make 4 approximately the same, and one small piece.
Here is the result when he put it all together:
The picture was taken before we glued the front piece on, so GMC is holding it.
Here is what JC made, I helped to cut the frame, and I tore the tape, but she put it all on...it is primer-ed, so later I will have to try and post when she paints it all up.
We plan to put a magnet on the back and 'hang' it on her tin doll house...err will a magnet stick properly to that? I'd better check.
The sunflowers are growing! I have to get the kids to stand by them so you can see how tall they are.
Course you might notice the one side is pretty tall, the other side is pretty short...not sure why, though it is two different seed packets.
And here is the prize GMC won for reading from the library.
total disguise 
Posted in
Complaint department
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2 Comments »
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:56 pm
0I took a survey and discovered I had no intention of changing my brand...I didn't even look at the price! Admittedly it was a product I rarely buy, and one I find quality to be top importance of. but still, how unfrugal!
I also discovered that out of sight is out of mind, I was asked about products we buy, but I don't use, the first question is 'what brands do you recall' I checked all that seemed familiar (I wish it was a fill in box, not a checklist) and then it asked what was in the house...I asked my husband and it was a brand I hadn't even remembered for the first question! sheesh.. asdf123
I took a survey and discovered I had no intention of changing my brand...I didn't even look at the price! Admittedly it was a product I rarely buy, and one I find quality to be top importance of. but still, how unfrugal!
I also discovered that out of sight is out of mind, I was asked about products we buy, but I don't use, the first question is 'what brands do you recall' I checked all that seemed familiar (I wish it was a fill in box, not a checklist) and then it asked what was in the house...I asked my husband and it was a brand I hadn't even remembered for the first question! sheesh..
Posted in
Uncategorized
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3 Comments »
July 21st, 2007 at 05:53 pm
0When I was a kid a pack of gum was 25cents...for a big giant pack of 25 sticks....
Lately I have had the urge to munch and thought gum would solve that with less weight gain...At the store I discovered not a single pack less than 50 cents and most had 12 or less sticks (or pieces)
good grief...has there been a recent blight of rubber trees or something?
asdf123
When I was a kid a pack of gum was 25cents...for a big giant pack of 25 sticks....
Lately I have had the urge to munch and thought gum would solve that with less weight gain...At the store I discovered not a single pack less than 50 cents and most had 12 or less sticks (or pieces)
good grief...has there been a recent blight of rubber trees or something?
Posted in
Complaint department
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0 Comments »
July 21st, 2007 at 02:59 am
0While watching the printer print a new batch of worksheets for the kids I found this:
[url=http://consumerist.com/consumer/college-is-expensive/professor-says-textbooks-are-too-expensive-quits-using-them-280753.php]proffessor stops using textbook[/url]
I recall one of my old proffs who never once cracked the book, all her material and homework was copied from news articles and reports....Unfortunately buying a book was still required by the college. asdf123
While watching the printer print a new batch of worksheets for the kids I found this:
Text is proffessor stops using textbook and Link is http://consumerist.com/consumer/college-is-expensive/professor-says-textbooks-are-too-expensive-quits-using-them-280753.php proffessor stops using textbook
I recall one of my old proffs who never once cracked the book, all her material and homework was copied from news articles and reports....Unfortunately buying a book was still required by the college.
Posted in
Frugal Home Education
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0 Comments »
July 20th, 2007 at 11:00 pm
0[url=http://www.internet4classrooms.com/]Internet4classrooms[/url]
I found this site looking for some science papers, or links. It has the Tennessee requirements with links that will fulfill each one.
[url=http://www.internet4classrooms.com/grade_level_help.htm]grade level list[/url] this page has links for each skill set and grade, find your subject and see what there is out there.
The website has 'links valid as of' from December of last year, pretty far away, but more recent than many I have seen. Hopefully in the fall they will update again. asdf123
Text is Internet4classrooms and Link is http://www.internet4classrooms.com/ Internet4classrooms
I found this site looking for some science papers, or links. It has the Tennessee requirements with links that will fulfill each one.
Text is grade level list and Link is http://www.internet4classrooms.com/grade_level_help.htm grade level list this page has links for each skill set and grade, find your subject and see what there is out there.
The website has 'links valid as of' from December of last year, pretty far away, but more recent than many I have seen. Hopefully in the fall they will update again.
Posted in
Frugal Home Education
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0 Comments »
July 20th, 2007 at 04:50 pm
0That is an actual quote from my daughter last night. "people give me too many clothes."
I asked her what she would like to do about it and she said she wanted to give the extra to 'kids who need them'. So we headed off to her room and sorted out her pants drawer (the only one she was concerned with). Don't worry she is still a girly girl, all the neutral clothes were for donation, the pink and flowered clothes were kept.
But still warms a mommas heart to hear her little one wanting to share. asdf123
That is an actual quote from my daughter last night. "people give me too many clothes."
I asked her what she would like to do about it and she said she wanted to give the extra to 'kids who need them'. So we headed off to her room and sorted out her pants drawer (the only one she was concerned with). Don't worry she is still a girly girl, all the neutral clothes were for donation, the pink and flowered clothes were kept.
But still warms a mommas heart to hear her little one wanting to share.
Posted in
Frugal Home Education
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2 Comments »
July 18th, 2007 at 05:52 pm
0Today we were talking about Hawaii, did you know they have and alphabet with only 12 letters? And that the chain has 135 islands on it? In an effort to see the rest of the islands (beyond Maui, and such) I tried a Google map search..no real luck, I think if I knew the name I could zoom in and find one, but without a name they seem to be too small to see from the last view of the main islands.
In an effort not to disappoint the kids I let them zoom in and out and look all around. First came a request for Asia, simple and not to precise, then the great wall of china..since the books say you can see it and I told them it was a satellite picture....apparently the books lie...or rather I am not that good at finding a squiggly unnatural line, in among a mountain range full of squiggly lines...but Google to the rescue, just type in 'great wall of china' in the map search and it takes you right to the center of it!
After he asked for Russia and I suggested we go to the capital, he asked for lots of other capitals..eventually since I don't know the capital of India we Google searched that first (capital India...New Delhi) among many other capitals.
And later we remembered to search out Guatemala, since our church is sending a mission team over there at the end of the month, we had been talking about it and gathering supplies to send with them.
I love spending an afternoon learning with the kids..for free :) asdf123
Today we were talking about Hawaii, did you know they have and alphabet with only 12 letters? And that the chain has 135 islands on it? In an effort to see the rest of the islands (beyond Maui, and such) I tried a Google map search..no real luck, I think if I knew the name I could zoom in and find one, but without a name they seem to be too small to see from the last view of the main islands.
In an effort not to disappoint the kids I let them zoom in and out and look all around. First came a request for Asia, simple and not to precise, then the great wall of china..since the books say you can see it and I told them it was a satellite picture....apparently the books lie...or rather I am not that good at finding a squiggly unnatural line, in among a mountain range full of squiggly lines...but Google to the rescue, just type in 'great wall of china' in the map search and it takes you right to the center of it!
After he asked for Russia and I suggested we go to the capital, he asked for lots of other capitals..eventually since I don't know the capital of India we Google searched that first (capital India...New Delhi) among many other capitals.
And later we remembered to search out Guatemala, since our church is sending a mission team over there at the end of the month, we had been talking about it and gathering supplies to send with them.
I love spending an afternoon learning with the kids..for free
Posted in
Frugal Home Education
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0 Comments »
July 18th, 2007 at 12:14 am
0From one of many email sap:
[i]We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.
.....
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years.[/i]
Thought is was particularly financial related...more is often less. asdf123
From one of many email sap:
We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.
.....
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years.
Thought is was particularly financial related...more is often less.
Posted in
Complaint department
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2 Comments »
July 17th, 2007 at 04:30 pm
0[i]Decide what your time is worth: Take some time to calculate how much you your time is worth. Whatever you decide your hourly rate is worth, that is how much you must pay to watch each hour of TV over your allotted weekly free hours with the money going toward your savings.
This can be an excellent financial lesson for kids to determine their hourly worth as friends of mine with kids who adopted this strategy found out. If the kids set their worth too low in an attempt to watch TV on the cheap, you can hire them to do projects around the house for that same. low rate. On the other hand, if they demand too much money to do jobs that you want them to do, they won’t be able to afford to watch any additional TV over their allotted hours.] [url=http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2007/07/17/101625_how-dumping-tv-allowed-me-to-quit-my-job-create-an-online-business-and-fund-my-retirement-account.html]more here[/url]
Remind me when the kids are older to try that...prolly have to try it with computer time, not TV though.
Course the question is..I don't have cable, I don't watch 5 hours a week much less a day..so why don't I have a ton of money?...cause I am online instead :) asdf123
[i]Decide what your time is worth: Take some time to calculate how much you your time is worth. Whatever you decide your hourly rate is worth, that is how much you must pay to watch each hour of TV over your allotted weekly free hours with the money going toward your savings.
This can be an excellent financial lesson for kids to determine their hourly worth as friends of mine with kids who adopted this strategy found out. If the kids set their worth too low in an attempt to watch TV on the cheap, you can hire them to do projects around the house for that same. low rate. On the other hand, if they demand too much money to do jobs that you want them to do, they won’t be able to afford to watch any additional TV over their allotted hours.] Text is more here and Link is http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2007/07/17/101625_how-dumping-tv-allowed-me-to-quit-my-job-create-an-online-business-and-fund-my-retirement-account.html more here
Remind me when the kids are older to try that...prolly have to try it with computer time, not TV though.
Course the question is..I don't have cable, I don't watch 5 hours a week much less a day..so why don't I have a ton of money?...cause I am online instead
Posted in
Frugal Home Education
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2 Comments »
July 17th, 2007 at 04:18 pm
0Actually two are done, the firs is smaller and not in the slightest straight, the second is better and you can see it is supposed to be straight.
I am rather impressed with myself, not only did I finish...but I wouldn't be too terribly embarrassed to show it to someone.
before I wash it and find out how well it stands up to use I am going to show it to my teacher...just to prove I did it :), and ask for advice on crooked edges.
Now I have half a skein of yarn, purple, and not sure what to do with it. I would like to make something for my daughter, since she loves purple, but I don't know how. And I do not want to wait till Sunday cause if I stop working I will forget how! asdf123
Actually two are done, the firs is smaller and not in the slightest straight, the second is better and you can see it is supposed to be straight.
I am rather impressed with myself, not only did I finish...but I wouldn't be too terribly embarrassed to show it to someone.
before I wash it and find out how well it stands up to use I am going to show it to my teacher...just to prove I did it , and ask for advice on crooked edges.
Now I have half a skein of yarn, purple, and not sure what to do with it. I would like to make something for my daughter, since she loves purple, but I don't know how. And I do not want to wait till Sunday cause if I stop working I will forget how!
Posted in
Frugal Home Education
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0 Comments »
July 16th, 2007 at 04:51 pm
0I actually learned around age 5, my mother taught me. But I never got past a chain stitch, and I never made anything more than a hair tie for my barbies.
Now I am working with the people at our church, I had a wonderful lesson Sunday and now have a nifty...not well made, washcloth. I am going to try and make another and follow the pattern better, but regardless if it works I will have a free dishcloth, and I have too many in tatters to pass that up. Only trouble is the free yarn I was offered is purple, I hate purple.
Though I might give the next one to my mother in law, she has a drawer full of dish clothes that she doesn't really use, cause she doesn't want to get them dirty....I on the other hand use mine for everything and anything..I avoid paper towel use at almost all costs. And it shows, she has a drawer stuffed full of pretty looks like new dish clothes and I have a drawer mostly empty of holey well used dish clothes...so for looks, she wins...but..cost wise, I think I win.
Now my son is asking me how to crochet...I don't think he needs any hair ties..so not sure what he is going to do with them, but I will let him try...and did I mention it was free? Education is more seeking out knowledge, than paying for classes IMO. asdf123
I actually learned around age 5, my mother taught me. But I never got past a chain stitch, and I never made anything more than a hair tie for my barbies.
Now I am working with the people at our church, I had a wonderful lesson Sunday and now have a nifty...not well made, washcloth. I am going to try and make another and follow the pattern better, but regardless if it works I will have a free dishcloth, and I have too many in tatters to pass that up. Only trouble is the free yarn I was offered is purple, I hate purple.
Though I might give the next one to my mother in law, she has a drawer full of dish clothes that she doesn't really use, cause she doesn't want to get them dirty....I on the other hand use mine for everything and anything..I avoid paper towel use at almost all costs. And it shows, she has a drawer stuffed full of pretty looks like new dish clothes and I have a drawer mostly empty of holey well used dish clothes...so for looks, she wins...but..cost wise, I think I win.
Now my son is asking me how to crochet...I don't think he needs any hair ties..so not sure what he is going to do with them, but I will let him try...and did I mention it was free? Education is more seeking out knowledge, than paying for classes IMO.
Posted in
Frugal Home Education
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5 Comments »
July 14th, 2007 at 11:08 pm
0I joined the adult reading club when the kids joined, mostly to convince my nieces and nephews to join up.
And I won! I got a free T-shirt and a bag. All for logging the books I read. asdf123
I joined the adult reading club when the kids joined, mostly to convince my nieces and nephews to join up.
And I won! I got a free T-shirt and a bag. All for logging the books I read. |
