Walmart.com has a nice package of the Acer mini laptop I have that comes bundled with flash drive, printer/scanner/copier, nice carrying case for $375.00. This is an incredible deal for a very nice mini laptop that comes with Microsoft Office already installed. I have enjoyed mine immensely. Nat and Aubrey like theirs too. It even comes in an array of colors (the one I like best wasn't even available when I got mine). Click on the post title to be taken to the description.
Showing posts with label money. Show all posts
Showing posts with label money. Show all posts
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Deal of the Day
Like with most electronics, the deals just keep getting better...
Walmart.com has a nice package of the Acer mini laptop I have that comes bundled with flash drive, printer/scanner/copier, nice carrying case for $375.00. This is an incredible deal for a very nice mini laptop that comes with Microsoft Office already installed. I have enjoyed mine immensely. Nat and Aubrey like theirs too. It even comes in an array of colors (the one I like best wasn't even available when I got mine). Click on the post title to be taken to the description.
Walmart.com has a nice package of the Acer mini laptop I have that comes bundled with flash drive, printer/scanner/copier, nice carrying case for $375.00. This is an incredible deal for a very nice mini laptop that comes with Microsoft Office already installed. I have enjoyed mine immensely. Nat and Aubrey like theirs too. It even comes in an array of colors (the one I like best wasn't even available when I got mine). Click on the post title to be taken to the description.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Today's Deal
This is my newest toy. It is an incredible deal on Amazon.com ($55 includes shipping). This is $5 less than I paid for mine. I'm having lots of fun with it because it's a tiny, handy cam that fits in my purse so it's with me wherever I go. Not high end, but it works for those grandma moments and plugs right into my USB connection, can be directly downloaded to YouTube, etc. I have put a link here in case you're interested. Click on this post title to be taken there.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Deal of the Day
Click on the post title for info on this camera. $27.99 includes shipping if you choose "budget shipping" when you check out. Buy.com is the site and it looks like an incredible deal to me if you know someone who could use a pink digital camera.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Frugal Friendly Fill
Make your own foaming soap - much cheaper. This is especially good for kids since they tend to use more soap than is needed, but I prefer the foam myself too.
You can buy the bottles online at a fraction of the Pampered Chef price - click on thise post title to be taken to the site. I've been told this is the recipe: 1 qt water to 2 T liquid soap. I've also heard you can just do 10:1 or a couple teaspoons in the dispenser. The one on the site is about a 7 ounce bottle. Add the water first, then the soap. Dawn is a good choice, since it is used to clean wildlife after oils spills. I like the foam soaps; but not the high cost when I realize most of it is water and the dispenser. Refilling is more eco-friendly too!
If the foaming mechanism gets clogged, clean it with vinegar. One thing to keep in mind. The purpose of soap is mostly to lower the surface tension of water and help the dirt and germs to slide down the drain. This is not the place for antibiotics which contribute to the overuse of medications and resultant resistance to them so skip the antibacterial variety when it comes to hand and dish soap. We don't need to try and de-germ the world and it does damage for future effective treatments since the exposure allows the germs to develop their own defenses, mutate and become resistant to traditional treatments.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Debt Reduction!
I'm a believer in Dave Ramsey's plan for debt elimination. The basic concept is also used by a number of other good sources. I've been working on this program for several years and it's working. I'm taking Michelle's challenge - posting the debt total for accountability's sake - or at least to make me feel like I've accomplished a major goal because I'm already a believer. This debt won't be staying for long though. I'm very close to being debt-free. I quit using store credit cards years ago and I've been whittling away at my last Visa for the past two years. I will be paying it off very soon now.
Balance = ta-da! $2700.
I pretty much pay as I go now and it feels good to delay gratification. My car's paid off and I'm trying to make some improvements in my house but I'm resisting RC Willey's attempts to lure me in there. Even though I only shop the scratch & dent department, things add up. I'm finding much better deals on KSL and Craig's List. It works even if it doesn't really impress anyone but me! I sleep better at night when I can pay my bills and have a little to spend besides.
My biggest challenge is in resisting travel. I really want to do it, but not on the credit card so again, I wait. It probably helps that I don't get much vacation time to get away anyway, so I work, I pay my debt, I try to save and prepare. It's OK. One day I will be in a much better situation to vacation and I'll enjoy it more if I'm not adding to the cost by paying for it for years after. Meanwhile I have plenty to keep me busy at home.
So, stay tuned. I'm hoping for a tax refund (guess I'd better get on with filing) and this may just be the end of my consumer debt. They're not collecting interest from me! I do believe in the explanation of interest - those that don't understand it pay it; those that do collect it. I'm ready to start collecting, but in the meantime, I'm not contributing to their cause.
Balance = ta-da! $2700.
I pretty much pay as I go now and it feels good to delay gratification. My car's paid off and I'm trying to make some improvements in my house but I'm resisting RC Willey's attempts to lure me in there. Even though I only shop the scratch & dent department, things add up. I'm finding much better deals on KSL and Craig's List. It works even if it doesn't really impress anyone but me! I sleep better at night when I can pay my bills and have a little to spend besides.
My biggest challenge is in resisting travel. I really want to do it, but not on the credit card so again, I wait. It probably helps that I don't get much vacation time to get away anyway, so I work, I pay my debt, I try to save and prepare. It's OK. One day I will be in a much better situation to vacation and I'll enjoy it more if I'm not adding to the cost by paying for it for years after. Meanwhile I have plenty to keep me busy at home.
So, stay tuned. I'm hoping for a tax refund (guess I'd better get on with filing) and this may just be the end of my consumer debt. They're not collecting interest from me! I do believe in the explanation of interest - those that don't understand it pay it; those that do collect it. I'm ready to start collecting, but in the meantime, I'm not contributing to their cause.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Frugal Living
It has become something of a family joke. I have said several times, "people just don't know how to live poor." This includes my own children. Though, how they escaped learning this one is beyond me because I was the queen of frugal, credit cards were not easy to come by and we had none for a long time. If we ran out of groceries, well, we either made do with whatever we could find left in the pantry or a relative took pity on us and fed us! I did sometimes make up instant milk the night before and put it into bottles so it would be cold for breakfast and maybe not noticed - at least not on the cereal.
Because of this, I try to feed my kids and families on a fairly regular basis. It was wonderful to have resources when money was so tight.
Nowadays (I sound old, don't I?) people have very different "needs vs wants" lists.
A few examples or how this half lived ...
Cell phones were definite luxuries (once they came out). There was never any question that this was something you only got if you had extra at the end of the paycheck. Now most 20-30-somethings feel it is a necessity complete with new model phone, updated every year or two, special features, ringtones and text messaging - and the kids think they need them too! Poor teachers having to deal with this one now.
We ate out on a schedule depending on where the specials were. 5/$1 Deeburgers or same priced tacos at Taco Time. We shared large drinks and fries but there were no extras, special orders, or Happy Meals because we only got what was on sale in quantity. It was easier to shield kids then from the barrage of advertising thrown at them today. We also let them know this was a real treat just to get that much and we didn't do it so often it got old. They really didn't complain (too much). They seemed to accept that there really was a limit in what we could do.
Christmas meant one larger-type item. This year I emphasized to Emma that I was thrilled to get just ONE Barbie doll the year they came out. We made the clothes and that was how we got variation. We never got the packaged pre-made outfits but we enjoyed copying those from the Barbie books (tiny booklets that came inside a purchased, authentic Barbie clothing packet). We were even known to steal these on occasion (they were kind of a "freebie" in the package - our rationalization) so we could duplicate the cool clothes. Most years I got a new doll for Christmas and that was my "big" thing. Baby dolls were great and we would play for hours with the little accessories, buggies, etc.
Once cable TV and high speed internet came out, I still considered those to be luxuries; not necessities. If we were out of work or on a tight budget, there would never be any question this would not be part of our life. If it wasn't on regular TV, we skipped it and dial-up internet mostly did the job. Patience is more scarce now.
Kids were expected to eat the food prepared for the whole family and we did not waste food. We planned meals to include creative use of the leftovers. We stretched a pound of ground beef to feed a family of 8 with casseroles, etc. I actually tried to get balanced meals on the table fairly regularly. Without lots of scratch cooking, soup making without mixes and coupons, I never would have survived.
We took care of everything because we knew it had to last a LONG time. If I bought a piece of furniture, I never actually expected to replace it; just add something else next time there was any money. That couch/matttress/TV/dining set, etc. better last darn near a lifetime because getting a big-ticket item once a year at best did not allow for lots of repeat business on the same need. I notice that most (well, most younger than me) do not worry about things being left out in the rain, lost in the mess, or destroyed - just go buy another! I would stress for a long time about a lost or ruined item and guilt would haunt me forever if I were the one responsible.
Lots of ONES. The family had one hairbrush, usually one comb, one car. I had one bike; never expected to get another one - it was my bike - singular event. We also had one lunchbox and I never owned a backpack. One pair of shoes for play and one for dress pretty much summed it up. One winter coat. Boy, you should see my shoe and coat collection now! I guess I've forgotten a few of these tricks too.
We bought economy sized cheap shampoo for our hair (and creme rinse/conditioner too). Funny but it seemed to work just fine for the whole family.
We used scraps of paper, backs of printed stuff for coloring (we did as kids - discarded, outdated P.I.E. letterhead from my grandpa and later my kids did too - just different letterhead). We made our own Barbie house and it was much more fun than the plastic pink kind.
We all wore hand-me-down clothes and were very happy to get them. We were especially lucky because grandma would sew nice things for us, but that also meant I got Kathy's hand-me-downs which were also made by her. I also learned to sew when very young and between grandma and I my kids were also well-dressed. She often gave me fabric and notions she had leftover or from sale tables that I used. She was very happy I could sew - felt like I had taken after her there and she encouraged me. I'm so glad I learned and it helped us out immeasurably. My sewing machine was one of our best investments (Christmas gift in 1976) . I'm still using it.
When my kids went shopping with me we only checked out the clearance racks and sale items. I remember once when Aubrey was small - she saw something she liked at the store and said, "is it on sale?" I said no but later realized she thought that meant they would not sell it - not on SALE at all. I was always telling them we would buy something that was on sale - maybe - or wait for it to come down in price. If anyone lost me at the store they knew to find me in the clearance section.
We recycled when recycling wasn't cool.
In some ways I have gotten a little better. I love shopping at D.I., Saver's, or other thrift stores. When I was a kid I would have been embarrassed. Now I get a thrill when I find a great bargain and would be embarrassed to pay a ridiculously high price for anything. How could I justify it when there's so much real need?
Well, these are the things that come to mind now. I may revisit this again some time because it's a good way to record these things before senility sets in.
Idea: Frugalhacks shares alternatives to pricey movie theaters. http://frugalhacks.com/2009/01/12/cheerful-frugality-goes-to-the-movies/
Because of this, I try to feed my kids and families on a fairly regular basis. It was wonderful to have resources when money was so tight.
Nowadays (I sound old, don't I?) people have very different "needs vs wants" lists.
A few examples or how this half lived ...
Cell phones were definite luxuries (once they came out). There was never any question that this was something you only got if you had extra at the end of the paycheck. Now most 20-30-somethings feel it is a necessity complete with new model phone, updated every year or two, special features, ringtones and text messaging - and the kids think they need them too! Poor teachers having to deal with this one now.
We ate out on a schedule depending on where the specials were. 5/$1 Deeburgers or same priced tacos at Taco Time. We shared large drinks and fries but there were no extras, special orders, or Happy Meals because we only got what was on sale in quantity. It was easier to shield kids then from the barrage of advertising thrown at them today. We also let them know this was a real treat just to get that much and we didn't do it so often it got old. They really didn't complain (too much). They seemed to accept that there really was a limit in what we could do.
Christmas meant one larger-type item. This year I emphasized to Emma that I was thrilled to get just ONE Barbie doll the year they came out. We made the clothes and that was how we got variation. We never got the packaged pre-made outfits but we enjoyed copying those from the Barbie books (tiny booklets that came inside a purchased, authentic Barbie clothing packet). We were even known to steal these on occasion (they were kind of a "freebie" in the package - our rationalization) so we could duplicate the cool clothes. Most years I got a new doll for Christmas and that was my "big" thing. Baby dolls were great and we would play for hours with the little accessories, buggies, etc.
Once cable TV and high speed internet came out, I still considered those to be luxuries; not necessities. If we were out of work or on a tight budget, there would never be any question this would not be part of our life. If it wasn't on regular TV, we skipped it and dial-up internet mostly did the job. Patience is more scarce now.
Kids were expected to eat the food prepared for the whole family and we did not waste food. We planned meals to include creative use of the leftovers. We stretched a pound of ground beef to feed a family of 8 with casseroles, etc. I actually tried to get balanced meals on the table fairly regularly. Without lots of scratch cooking, soup making without mixes and coupons, I never would have survived.
We took care of everything because we knew it had to last a LONG time. If I bought a piece of furniture, I never actually expected to replace it; just add something else next time there was any money. That couch/matttress/TV/dining set, etc. better last darn near a lifetime because getting a big-ticket item once a year at best did not allow for lots of repeat business on the same need. I notice that most (well, most younger than me) do not worry about things being left out in the rain, lost in the mess, or destroyed - just go buy another! I would stress for a long time about a lost or ruined item and guilt would haunt me forever if I were the one responsible.
Lots of ONES. The family had one hairbrush, usually one comb, one car. I had one bike; never expected to get another one - it was my bike - singular event. We also had one lunchbox and I never owned a backpack. One pair of shoes for play and one for dress pretty much summed it up. One winter coat. Boy, you should see my shoe and coat collection now! I guess I've forgotten a few of these tricks too.
We bought economy sized cheap shampoo for our hair (and creme rinse/conditioner too). Funny but it seemed to work just fine for the whole family.
We used scraps of paper, backs of printed stuff for coloring (we did as kids - discarded, outdated P.I.E. letterhead from my grandpa and later my kids did too - just different letterhead). We made our own Barbie house and it was much more fun than the plastic pink kind.
We all wore hand-me-down clothes and were very happy to get them. We were especially lucky because grandma would sew nice things for us, but that also meant I got Kathy's hand-me-downs which were also made by her. I also learned to sew when very young and between grandma and I my kids were also well-dressed. She often gave me fabric and notions she had leftover or from sale tables that I used. She was very happy I could sew - felt like I had taken after her there and she encouraged me. I'm so glad I learned and it helped us out immeasurably. My sewing machine was one of our best investments (Christmas gift in 1976) . I'm still using it.
When my kids went shopping with me we only checked out the clearance racks and sale items. I remember once when Aubrey was small - she saw something she liked at the store and said, "is it on sale?" I said no but later realized she thought that meant they would not sell it - not on SALE at all. I was always telling them we would buy something that was on sale - maybe - or wait for it to come down in price. If anyone lost me at the store they knew to find me in the clearance section.
We recycled when recycling wasn't cool.
In some ways I have gotten a little better. I love shopping at D.I., Saver's, or other thrift stores. When I was a kid I would have been embarrassed. Now I get a thrill when I find a great bargain and would be embarrassed to pay a ridiculously high price for anything. How could I justify it when there's so much real need?
Well, these are the things that come to mind now. I may revisit this again some time because it's a good way to record these things before senility sets in.
Idea: Frugalhacks shares alternatives to pricey movie theaters. http://frugalhacks.com/2009/01/12/cheerful-frugality-goes-to-the-movies/
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Computer update
Not yet, but maybe one day I'll go for this 24" iMac
Chris gave me a suggestion for what might have been causing my computer shutdowns! It was overheating. He gave me an old computer of his a few years back and he said it sometimes had this problem. It has a lot of components in a very small box. Then I had lots of accessories on top of that (my network and other plug-in things - don't ask me what). We have made temporary modifications and it has been running smoothly for the past three days, not crashing once! Maybe I won't have to buy a new computer in the near future after all. Yeah! I love having this kind of expertise at my fingertips. Not that I wouldn't love a new computer but I'm on the self-imposed "cash only" program, making strides eliminating my consumer debt, so it's better to pay down the Visa than buy a new computer right now. The practical side of me says to give this old baby another chance. Thanks to Chris (and Ken too) for helping me out and keeping me on track for my goal! It really is a good feeling to pay as you go.
Chris gave me a suggestion for what might have been causing my computer shutdowns! It was overheating. He gave me an old computer of his a few years back and he said it sometimes had this problem. It has a lot of components in a very small box. Then I had lots of accessories on top of that (my network and other plug-in things - don't ask me what). We have made temporary modifications and it has been running smoothly for the past three days, not crashing once! Maybe I won't have to buy a new computer in the near future after all. Yeah! I love having this kind of expertise at my fingertips. Not that I wouldn't love a new computer but I'm on the self-imposed "cash only" program, making strides eliminating my consumer debt, so it's better to pay down the Visa than buy a new computer right now. The practical side of me says to give this old baby another chance. Thanks to Chris (and Ken too) for helping me out and keeping me on track for my goal! It really is a good feeling to pay as you go.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Economic Stimulus Check
How I spent mine:
Flowers planted in improved bed
Garden boxes with new dirt
My "economical" wheels now cost twice as much to fill the tank as when I bought it. Same style but obviously not my exact car (Palm trees???)
The truly economical wheels ~ I only paid $30 for it and it runs on peddle power.
Except for the gas going to the middle east, the money stayed local. And, that just about did it. But, I'm pleased with the way my yard is looking now and it was nice to have some cash to spend on it.
- Energy efficient basement windows
- Flowers/plants
- Topsoil (for garden and flower bed)
- Used bike (for exercise, not riding to work)
- Couple tanks of gas
Flowers planted in improved bed
Garden boxes with new dirt
My "economical" wheels now cost twice as much to fill the tank as when I bought it. Same style but obviously not my exact car (Palm trees???)
The truly economical wheels ~ I only paid $30 for it and it runs on peddle power.
Except for the gas going to the middle east, the money stayed local. And, that just about did it. But, I'm pleased with the way my yard is looking now and it was nice to have some cash to spend on it.
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