Lookout!

I'm about to revamp this blog! :)

An Oldy but Goody!

CARPOOL! :)

that's all I got today...

MPS

its free!
Sorry I missed a couple days on the posting...I was busy building snowmen and laying low celebrating President's Day in style (w/ hot chocolate and snuggly socks!)

Now...the Military Postal Service. We can send packages from our post to any other in Europe (I think) or downrange (to deployed Soldiers) FREE!

Now THAT'S a deal! :)

I'm off to send 4 boxes to some deployed Soldiers!

A Nugget from the Suze Show-Stick together!

We enjoy watching the Suze Orman Show. One thing she said today really rang true for me. She was talking to this poor girl, almost 21 yrs old, who got a credit card at 18 with a limit of $400. She "spent it" right away and continued to do so with subsequent cards. She...not lying...did not know she had to pay that money back. Seriously??? Parents are responsible for teaching their children financial responsibility. But that's not what I'm here to talk about. I don't even have kids. What I'm here to pass along from her show today was what she said next.

People in your life inflence your financial decisions (or something like that). She was talking about how growing up, apparently this girl has been handed everything. But here is what I took from that statement.

People join support groups all the time. They hang out with like minded people to get through challenges and struggles in their lives. They go out with people who eat healthily when they are trying to lose weight, lower their cholesterol or just be healthier. They exercise and train with people who have the same fitness goals. Why should financial health be any different?

Share your goals with your friends and family so that they can be supportive and you can support them. If you have a neighbor who has similar goals and circumstances, you can really benefit.

At home: Couples or singles living in adjacent apartment? Cook and share meals, split family sized portions that are often less expensive than single servings. Share herbs and spices that a small household might not ever use all of can be divided instead of wasted.
Share coupons with one another.

Going out: Split large entrees with a friend, encourage one another to make smart restaurant choices, and snack at home before going out.

Team up with people who can help you achieve your goals.

Love is all you need.

Happy Valentines Day!

Call me a scrooge, but that's all you get. I made a card (two actually) for my sweet husband. We agreed no presents. He got me a postcard and (against the rules) a spaghetti portioner! But it's more a gift for our family than a Valentines gift because we have been talking about it for quite some time. He saw it the other day when he was down the street watching the fire drama unfold. He also got me (really against the rules) a package of roses and Laugh, Live, Love rub ons for scrapbooking.

He spent just a few euro, and I could not be happier. Certainly not happier with some 50euro dozen roses that are going to die in a few days.

Happy Valentines Day. Enjoy the love. It's really all you need.

$2-$3? FOR A DRINK???

That's right. Just about anywhere you go, it's going to run you a couple bucks for a beverage. Some days I'd pay $5 for 4 ounces of ice cold fountain Coke! And that's okay! But most days I'd be just as happy with some water to wash down my meal. It's better for my body anyway! So, today's lesson:

Just because it's part of the "meal deal" doesn't mean it is cost effective or even a "deal" at all.

If you are getting a meal to go, or eating in a food court type setting, take a small bottle of water with you. This can be a refillable Nalgene or those stainless steel type bottles, or a disposable Dasani (or whatever). Two notes-#1: I'm told it is not a good idea to buy one disposable and keep refilling it. Something about bacteria or the plastic leeching out or something. #2: I get it if you don't want to whip out your stash in a restaurant for fear of embarrassment or being told you can't do that.

Anyway, it is less expensive than $2, that's for sure.


Today at Taco Bell:

1 Nacho Bell Grande (no tomatoes, and BTW, I think I'm going to ask how much for extra tomatoes and when they tell me I'm going to ask for a discount since I don't want any. ;) )
+ 1 cruncy taco

total: $4.88

Same food as a number whatever. Who am I kidding? I know it's a #5. I've ordered it enough times! To be fair, the taco isn't a "supreme", so I'm missing out on a squirt of sour cream and more tomatoes I don't want.

Cost of #5? $6.89. That's $2.01 for a drink.

Again, I'm not asking you to give up your favorite. If you really think the meal is better with the Coke (or Dr Pepper or whatever) GET IT. I'd be getting it at Sonic! I'm just letting you know, you have options. They try to make you think you don't. Here's how the conversation went:

TB Guy: WelcometoTacoBellCanItakeyourorder? <--said REAL FAST as though it is one word. That's how our Taco Bell guy is.

Me: One Nacho Bell Grande no tomatoes and one crunchy taco, please.

TB Guy: You want the meal?

Me: No thank you.

TB Guy: Drink?

Me: No thank you.

TB Guy: Wouldyoulikecinnamoncrispswiththat?

Me: No thank you.

TB Guy: Hereortogo?

Me: Here, please.

TB Guy: $4.88.

I'm in and out under five dollars.

Cooking for Two

It seems I have two natural speeds. For one, which I perfected over the course of 20 single years, and for a bunch, which is how most meat is packaged. We need for two. So I am learning how to cook for husband and self, not more. Why? A couple of reasons.
#1, I don't like reheated chicken. I've come a long way where chicken is concerned. Not all the way to "on the bone", but a good distance from "chicken is disgusting". So if we cook a pkg of chicken breasts, there are too many to eat in one meal.
#2, some foods are not conducive to next-day-take-to-work lunch leftovers. Like pulled pork sandwiches. Just too messy. Tacos, same deal.
#3, if you cook way too much, the leftovers just become unbearable. Ever made a GIANT pot of soup (ie vegetable or taco) and then you can't eat it for a year because you are so sick of it?

All of these scenarios end in food thrown away or overeating because we don't want to feel bad about wasting. And that translates to wasted money.

Here is what I'm working out:
Chicken breasts-4 in a package. One night, Fried Onion crusted baked chicken with potatoes and a vegetable. The next night, chicken fajitas (marinate the over the first night).
1 lb hamburger meat-Make 1/2 pound for tacos, and two 1/4 pound patties for hamburgers.

The trick is in the planning. I always knew planning was a GOOD thing!

Just a Coke

Sometimes, when you aren't even really hungry, but a group of friends is going out to eat and you don't want to miss all the fun...it's okay to order "Just a Coke," please. :)

THRIFTY!

I went to the Thrift Store today with my 14 items!

At the Trift Store on post you can take 14 items per day. Unless you are PCSing (permanent change of station=moving), then I don't know what the limit is. You can actually take that many every day, but I try to do it at least once per month. They keep 25%, and put the money back into the community through projects and scholarships. It's a pretty good deal. They also accept hand crafted items, so I have made some cards and sold a few of those as well. Cards...that's a whole other post!

You would not believe what you have hanging around your house that you don't need or want. You could keep dusting it, leave it in the closet/attic/basement, or you could sell it and listen to that change going jinga-linga-ling in your pocket! Maybe you don't have a Thrift Store with a plan like this one. Have a garage sale! Craig's List it. Or, save some pennies by trading some things with friends (books, clothes, dvds) new-to-you is still new!

OH, and on the way out, I picked up my check from last month. $18.75! :)

Original or not so much...

I stole this. But I just came across it in my email and thought "ha! That's a lot of pennies, I'll put that on the blog!" So here it is, taken from Dotti's Newsletter, and she took it from Redbook!

What YOU could SAVE in a year IF YOU…
Eat dinner out twice a month instead of once a week: $1080
Bring your lunch to work three days a week (if lunch with a drink cost about $7/day): $1050
Buy just two $3.00 lattes a week instead of five: $450
Get a pedicure ($25.00) once a month instead of twice a month: $300
Color your hair every six weeks at home ($10.00) instead of a salon ($75): $560
Stop buying one new book a month and use the library instead: $360
Adjust your thermostat from 72 degrees F to 68 degrees F ~ from November thru March: $200
Replace four standard light bulbs that burn two hours a day with compact fluorescent bulbs: $35 ~~Redbook, January 2008 www.redbookmag.com


WOW. That's a lot of pennies!

A Day Off

Well, I said I'd go as long as I could without skipping a day on the blog. Yesterday, I skipped a day. I'm going to use this as my springboard for today's "how to save a penny."

Sunday has traditionally been a day of rest. Here, in Germany, it very much is. Only the gas stations are open. Actually, I wouldn't be surprise to find one of those closed. Does that irritate me? Sometimes. Maybe I'd like to get some bread or flowers or ice cream down the street on a Sunday. But will the world keep on spinning if I don't? Yes.

The lesson here for those surrounded by stores open 7 days a week, and some open 24/7, is to take a day. At least one day each week, don't go in a store. Make it a little game if you need to. If all you were going to do today was "look around" at the mall or "window shop" try NOT. I don't know many people (myself included) who very often go in a store and not spend a penny. You didn't see anything you needed, but how about some gum on the way out? There's always something.

But if you don't need something specific you can put on a list, then there isn't any purpose for going in the store. So don't. That's your suggestion/tip/hint for the day. Just Don't Do It. ;)

Every Day is a Good Day to Save a Penny

Today I am tired. I just want to go to bed. But I told myself I'd try to post every day. We'll see how long that lasts, but it's free, so why not?!

Today's tip: Just because you drove to the store to find what you saw someone else had and thought you really liked, doesn't mean you have to purchase it when you find it. If you don't love it, or don't love it as much as it costs (you know the difference between a $2 love and a $12 love) leave it. If you think it is a must have, but you aren't sure, leave it. Sleep on it. If you still want it tomorrow, you can go back.

Happy Friday!

5 calls to save big bucks! (or 3)

I saw this on the Today show. They had a list of 5 calls you can make to save money. Well...I tuned in late and only saw 3 of them. I tried to find it on the internet, but didn't. So, the ones I heard are:
1. Call your credit card companies and ask them to lower your interest rate. Mention the offers you've gotten in the mail if they are lower, compare with other cards you may have that you could transfer that balance to, etc. *my note: and pay those cards off ASAP...CUT THEM UP.

2. Call your car insurance company and update your information. You may be able to be underwritten at a lower rate if, for example, you now take public transportation more often, you don't let your teenager drive anymore, etc.

3. Call your cell phone provider and ask to add people to a friends and family plan. They are pretty liberal with who they allow on a shared plan. They don't want to lose your business, so they may be willing to work with you.

Another quick note from me...take a sick day every now and then so you can see programs like this on daytime television. :) (as long as you get paid sick days, that is).

Four and a Quarter

That's $4.25.
$4.25 for a trip to the salad bar and your choice of 2 types of soup, a piece of swiss steak (breaded and topped with brown gravy), rice or noodles, cauliflower, green beans, a roll, and a cookie or piece of pie or cake. If you are not interested in that menu, you can choose a hamburger or grilled cheese and fries, and can pick up a piece of fruit (banana, apple or orange) as well.

To drink, you can choose from Coke, Diet Coke, Hi C Fruit Punch, Sprite, water, chocolate milk, skim or 2% milk, or coffee. Refills are free.

Where can you get this great meal? Why at your friendly neigborhood (post) DFAC, of course!

DFAC= dining facility, formerly known as the chow hall.

$4.25 beats an average of $7 at Burger King, Taco Bell or Popeyes, and the choices can be healthier!

You can't judge a banana by its peel

I forgot to write this yesterday, but it is just as well...I'd like to make a tip each day, so let's just say I saved it (like a penny!) for today.

At the commissary, and I know at grocery stores all the time, they have the "scratch and dent" food. The box is smashed on the corner, the can is dented, the produce is about to expire. So yesterday I see a bunch of bananas that still have a hint of green around the stem. They all have black scratch marks on them. You know, like maybe they were at the bottom of the pile, had a rough ride to the store, or were handled by some toddlers. They were very firm, and clearly just bruised, not overripe.

Lately, I've been peeling and freezing in a ziploc several bananas at a time, then making a smoothie for breakfast. Smoothie = 1 frozen banana, 1/2-1 c frozen strawberries, about 1/2 c fat free or low fat plain yogurt if I have it, if not 1c skim milk. (If I have the yogurt, I just put about 1/2 c of the milk so that it will blend better). Throw it all in the blender (Magic Bullet blender!) and wa-la, healthy breakfast!

Back to my story-I've been buying just regular bananas, I have no idea how much they cost. 39cents per pound sounds familiar. Well, yesterday there were several "scratch and dent" bags. So I got 5 bananas. For FIFTY CENTS! :) pleased with self.

What are we doing here?

I decided to make this blog a little more useful. It was just for recording my dreams. And while I had a very interesting one Saturday night about me and a few friends poisoning someone in a hotel room with a very complex system of running the poison through the water (just to that person's room), that's not why we are here.

I'm here to start recording some things I'm doing to save a penny or two. Just good common sense, really, but things I never thought about. My friend KC just posted a week or so ago about price comparisons on milk. It was eye opening. I've never really considered the price of anything I buy at the grocery store/commissary. If someone asked me how much milk or bread or eggs cost, I couldn't even make an educated guess. Imagine my SHOCK to find out today that Hellman's mayonnaise is $4.49. That's almost FIVE DOLLARS for a jar of eggs, vinegar and oil! And then double that amazement and turn it to anger to find out...we ALREADY HAD a brand new unopened jar of it! ugh. Am I going to start making my own mayonnaise? Probably not. But cookies? $3 something a package? or whip up what you have in the cabinet?! I made 2 dozen giant chocolate chunk cookies (chocolate chunks were at the USO for a donation. I gave $1). I already had flour, sugar, brown sugar, eggs, etc. ta-da, $2 something saved!

Tune in next time for...well, I don't know what, but something money saving! :)

What are you doing for lunch?

It's kind of fuzzy now, because I waited until I got to work to write it down. But we were workign at Weiners. Everyone trying to figure out who was doing what for lunch. I left to run an errand and said I'd just check around for where everyone was. On the way I stopped at the store on South Street, the one that is on that kind of corner where if you take a left but it is more of a veer left (coming from the Methodist Church direction) and if you keep going you end up on McDonalds/Highland Square street. Anyway, I go in to get a bottle of water and the guy informs me that this is no longer a convenience store, but a cafeteria/buffet. okay...so I leave and go to CGBs parent's house to ask if they know who went where for lunch. They don't. So I drive on. I end up seeing Jenn G-M and turn to follow her. We end up back at Weiners, and sit talking in the parking lot. She was saying something about how much weight she had gained since hs, and I was very confused bc she looked the exact same, and I'm not sure we weren't STILL in hs or just out of. She was saying how she weighed 51 lbs in hs, and wore less eye liner. No idea why that sticks in my mind.
freaky dreams!

Another night, another concert

This time it was Rod Stewart. And it was crazy because he was playing at the Top Hat or the Cove or some place on post, or some little place in Burstadt. I just know it was a tiny little venue, and he was out having drinks with the people in the club. I could not believe he had acutally just played the night before in some other little town, osterbergenheim or something German-ish like that. Oh, and he looked like he looked in the early 80s, not like now. Anyway, Bola walked through the door with not so little Th/Ab. He was so big. Like an 8 yr old. She asked if I wanted to stay for the show or take him home and watch him while she was at the show. I said I'd take him! So then we are driving in the car and she and I keep switching off driving, while the car is moving, just one holding the steering wheel while the other is climbing over the seat, etc. It was bizarre!
A little later we came back to pick her up and she either WAS or was with someone named Felicia or something like that who was pregnant but trying not to show it. I was shocked because she had adopted Ab and now was pregnant. And then it seemed like we were at my Aunt Nancy's house, but not the one she lives in now, the one she lived in when Nik and Scott were little. Then the trash man woke me up.

Odd...very odd...

ALL over the map

Last night was crazy. Just got up and am getting it down before I eat breakfast.

The first part I remember was going to a Rascal Flatts concert. It was really great and we were so close to them, like literally about 15 feet. There were about 35-50 people there with our group, some from here, most from home. Then some of us left and some stayed for the follow up band. I was one of the leavers. On the way out we passed their tour bus, it was really cool. Like a trailer/motor home, had a big round picnic table type hang out area that had pencils and notebooks and magazines and whatnot. We just peeked in the door, I have no idea why I would remember that.

From there the USO type bus tour took us around the town. We were somewhere in Poland or Czech or somewhere like that. There was some concern that the tour guide/bus driver (which are normally different people, but here were one) kept leaving the bus to drive itself while she walked down the aisle and talked about stuff. We got off, walked around, did some shopping. One of the ladies was looking for desk trays, the in/out box kind, preferrably ones that stacked.

When we got the rest of the group from the concert place, *****we went to an Alvin State Bank type place, where there was going to be a flea market so people could sell their stuff because they were moving or whatever. The 72d commander asked if SB could bring his EO slides to the event so he could do like a looping brief where people could listed to his equal opportunity information as they shopped. Someone said something about them paying for their stuff and he acted like people could pay if they wanted, like on a donation basis. Kim Bullard was there (she's a high school IRL and current FB friend) and arguing about how they are going to pay her for her stuff because otherwise she was just going to take it to the thrift store where she was more sure to get cash for it. Someone brought their dog, and it was pink with pink eyes. There was only a strip of black over it's eyes. Like a lone ranger mask. Someone else had another dog who was chasing a spider. The spider was fa-reaky looking. Shaped like a tootsie roll, but bigger, maybe 3 inches long and an inch around (?) coloring like a gummy worm (clearish w/ orangy-reddish tint) and four legs on each end that were on a circular free spinning type system. I told you. freaky. Then I woke up!

****There was a break here, where I went to work out with Elizabeth (fried/co worker here) and afterwards we went to a little cafe and had breakfast. T. Blakeney (former president ASB) was there, and he told the waitress to refund our money, he was paying for our breakfast (I think this is because the commercial was on last night where the man pays for the Soldier's family's meal because he "appreciates his service") anyway, then the cafe needed quarters, so we went to the bank...picked up the above part there...

CGB-no, previous post was not dream related. I just used this forum to post it so I could post it to my scrapbooking forum. I was thinking of doing some card making and stamping the back with that. I am being called Heather B or Mrs. B pretty regularly now. you know, since no one can say my last name very easily. I got really excited about the cards...and then just kind of abandoned it. we'll see...

Heather B

Something I am working on...