Today a local ice cream parlor had 5 cent ice cream cones all day. After Mr S got home from work we headed over, expecting to get a kid-size cone for our 5 cents. Nope! We got full size cones!
So, for the cost of gas to drive the 4 or 5 miles from our house to the ice cream parlor plus 15 cents we each got a regular size soft serve cone (or cup, in my case). Yum!
We then came home and had homemade gluten free pizza while we watched a movie on Netflix.
Fun and inexpensive!
Friday, April 16, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Handmade Furniture
Back in January I found a blog called Knock Off Wood that has plans that show you how to build your own furniture. She gives easy, clear instructions with lots of diagrams. Unfortunately, with the upcoming move that we were facing, I didn't want to start building then, so I had to put the idea on the back burner.
I have no problem building my own furniture. In junior high, when most of the other girls signed up for home ec, I signed up for shop class. I alreay knew how to cook and sew, and I wanted to learn how to use power tools!
A few years ago, Mr. M and I built a log bed and a log night stand. The bed turned out good, but the nightstand is a hulking monster that I need to figure out how to re-purpose into something prettier. Now that we're moved and getting settled, we can start building furniture. We have a lot of the tools we need, the rest we can find on sale and craigslist.
There's so many things I want to build:
- bookcases for our boxes and boxes of books.
- new nightstands for our room, as well as one for the guest room.
- armoires (probably at least two) for storing all my craft and sewing supplies.
- bookcases and storage systems for LMS's books and toys.
- wood play kitchen.
- entryway bench and storage cubbies.
- coffee table and end tables.
Right now we're on temporary hold on the furniture building since Mr. S tweaked his back (old injury) over the weekend, but as soon as he's fully mobile again, we'll get moving again. I'll post photos of the process, so stay tuned!
Has anyone else built their own furniture?
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
"Quick" Trips to the Store
Today I discovered how to minimize the damage when making a "quick" trip to the store: walk!
Ok, so you need to live close enough to walk to a grocery store for this to actually work, but there are some elements that you can use even if you don't.
We're still in the process of figuring out how often we need to go grocery shopping, how quickly we use each item (we're going through milk a lot faster than I expected), and deciding which items we actually need. It's been a week and a half since we last went shopping, and we used the last of the eggs and milk for breakfast today. It's also our turn to bring snacks for soccer today, and I hadn't bought them yet.
Since Mr. S takes the car to work and the grocery store is only about a mile away, I decided that our walk this morning would be to and from the grocery store. I loaded LMS into our trusty BOB jogger (love that thing! we got an awesome deal on it on craigslist and we've definitely gotten our money's worth out of it) and headed out. At the store I grabbed a basket, set it on top of the jogger, and filled it with the items I needed: milk, eggs, cheese, yogurt, carrots, and snacks for soccer. After I paid for it all, I stowed everything in the basket under the seat and walked back home.
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What I learned: a basket's worth of food fits nicely in the basket of the jogger. If I'd bought anything more, it wouldn't have fit. This limits how much I can buy, meaning I think more about what I'm putting in the basket, and therefore spend less. I also got a better workout on the way home- a gallon of milk adds a significant amount of weight to the jogger.
If you can't walk to the store for a quick trip, when you get there you should still grab a basket. They're a pain if you need anything heavy (like a gallon of milk), but the size of the basket will limit what you can put in it, helping to avoid impulse purchases.
Any other good tips for avoiding over-spending on quick trips to the store?
Ok, so you need to live close enough to walk to a grocery store for this to actually work, but there are some elements that you can use even if you don't.
We're still in the process of figuring out how often we need to go grocery shopping, how quickly we use each item (we're going through milk a lot faster than I expected), and deciding which items we actually need. It's been a week and a half since we last went shopping, and we used the last of the eggs and milk for breakfast today. It's also our turn to bring snacks for soccer today, and I hadn't bought them yet.
Since Mr. S takes the car to work and the grocery store is only about a mile away, I decided that our walk this morning would be to and from the grocery store. I loaded LMS into our trusty BOB jogger (love that thing! we got an awesome deal on it on craigslist and we've definitely gotten our money's worth out of it) and headed out. At the store I grabbed a basket, set it on top of the jogger, and filled it with the items I needed: milk, eggs, cheese, yogurt, carrots, and snacks for soccer. After I paid for it all, I stowed everything in the basket under the seat and walked back home.
.JPG)
If you can't walk to the store for a quick trip, when you get there you should still grab a basket. They're a pain if you need anything heavy (like a gallon of milk), but the size of the basket will limit what you can put in it, helping to avoid impulse purchases.
Any other good tips for avoiding over-spending on quick trips to the store?
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Why Do We Need an Emergency Fund?
We recently had a good lesson in why an emergency fund is necessary.
While eating nuts one night, part of one of my teeth disintegrated. I thought the 3 pieces I found in my mouth were small rocks till I ran my tongue over my teeth and discovered a jagged edge on one of my upper molars.
Mirrors and a flashlight revealed that the corner of my tooth next to a filling was gone.
I brushed my teeth and put in my retainer, an invisalign type, to keep me from going crazy running my tongue over the jagged edge. I left in in while eating breakfast and lunch the next day, which was awkward, but it kept food from accumulating in the tooth or causing more problems.
First thing in the morning I called the dentist and got an appointment after lunch.
I figured I'd need a crown, which would probably run about $400 (when I got two teeth crowned three years ago, we paid about $750 out of pocket). I was really hoping costs hadn't gone up much in the meantime.
The x-ray showed decay in the area that remained, which wasn't surprising- it's been bothering me for awhile but I just thought it was a new cavity or the filling being stupid. Turns out that the crack and subsequent crumbling was caused by the amalgam filling expanding with nowhere to go. Stupid filling.
Anyway, the decay was close to the nerve, so there was also the possibility of a root canal. The dentist cleaned out the decay and the offending filling, then decided to just do a new ceramic filling and buildup the area that had crumbled. I was told to pay attention to how my tooth is feeling- if there's more problems, I'd have to go back in, do a root canal and put a crown on it. This won't be cheap, so I was hoping it wouldn't be necessary anytime soon.
While I was waiting for the numbing meds to take effect I was running through what money we had available to pay for the procedure. Last week we received some additional pay from Mr. S's trip to Japan in December, but it was supposed to be the start of our emergency fund. One crown would almost wipe it all out. A root canal... we'd need more. Luckily we only had to do a filling, and it only cost $40, leaving the beginnings of our emergency fund mostly intact.
It did emphasize the need for an emergency fund. We only pay 20% of the cost of a filling, which isn't too expensive to begin with, but crowns are only covered 50%- the other 50% is out of pocket. We'd have to pay 40% of the cost of a root canal, but since I don't know what they run I don't know how much our portion would be. In any case, having money in our emergency fund would mean we could get things like a crown or a root canal taken care of without having to put them off till money is available or pay for them with a credit card. Once we get our debts paid off we'll be able to add to our savings, expanding it beyond just a $1000 emergency fund, and allowing us to be able to pay cash for multiple emergencies. Like a root canal and work that had to be done on the car.
I went in for my regularly scheduled cleaning today and had them check the tooth. I haven't been able to chew on that side of my mouth for the last week and a half because of pressure sensitivity, and it's very sensitive to hot and cold as well. So I'm going in next week for a root canal and crown. Yay. Not.
I was hoping we'd have the money already saved so we don't have to use a credit card to pay for the procedure. Unfortunately, that's not going to be the case.
In the past I've considered dropping our dental insurance- we pay about $110 a month for the three of us, which I think is a bit steep if all we're doing is getting regularly scheduled cleanings and exams- we're paying more than $1300 a year for services that only run about $300-400.
If we saved that money specifically for times it was needed, would we be saving money? Like doctors, dentists will give a discount if you pay cash, so I think we would save money, even with the odd filling, crown, or root canal thrown in.
The key would be, of course, to actually save the money we would have spent on the insurance premiums and set it aside for this purpose. I think we could do this, once we've got the credit cards paid off and are actively building our savings. Until then, we're keeping our dental insurance.
Has anyone tried paying cash for dental services instead of having insurance? How has it worked out?
While eating nuts one night, part of one of my teeth disintegrated. I thought the 3 pieces I found in my mouth were small rocks till I ran my tongue over my teeth and discovered a jagged edge on one of my upper molars.
Mirrors and a flashlight revealed that the corner of my tooth next to a filling was gone.
I brushed my teeth and put in my retainer, an invisalign type, to keep me from going crazy running my tongue over the jagged edge. I left in in while eating breakfast and lunch the next day, which was awkward, but it kept food from accumulating in the tooth or causing more problems.
First thing in the morning I called the dentist and got an appointment after lunch.
I figured I'd need a crown, which would probably run about $400 (when I got two teeth crowned three years ago, we paid about $750 out of pocket). I was really hoping costs hadn't gone up much in the meantime.
The x-ray showed decay in the area that remained, which wasn't surprising- it's been bothering me for awhile but I just thought it was a new cavity or the filling being stupid. Turns out that the crack and subsequent crumbling was caused by the amalgam filling expanding with nowhere to go. Stupid filling.
Anyway, the decay was close to the nerve, so there was also the possibility of a root canal. The dentist cleaned out the decay and the offending filling, then decided to just do a new ceramic filling and buildup the area that had crumbled. I was told to pay attention to how my tooth is feeling- if there's more problems, I'd have to go back in, do a root canal and put a crown on it. This won't be cheap, so I was hoping it wouldn't be necessary anytime soon.
While I was waiting for the numbing meds to take effect I was running through what money we had available to pay for the procedure. Last week we received some additional pay from Mr. S's trip to Japan in December, but it was supposed to be the start of our emergency fund. One crown would almost wipe it all out. A root canal... we'd need more. Luckily we only had to do a filling, and it only cost $40, leaving the beginnings of our emergency fund mostly intact.
It did emphasize the need for an emergency fund. We only pay 20% of the cost of a filling, which isn't too expensive to begin with, but crowns are only covered 50%- the other 50% is out of pocket. We'd have to pay 40% of the cost of a root canal, but since I don't know what they run I don't know how much our portion would be. In any case, having money in our emergency fund would mean we could get things like a crown or a root canal taken care of without having to put them off till money is available or pay for them with a credit card. Once we get our debts paid off we'll be able to add to our savings, expanding it beyond just a $1000 emergency fund, and allowing us to be able to pay cash for multiple emergencies. Like a root canal and work that had to be done on the car.
I went in for my regularly scheduled cleaning today and had them check the tooth. I haven't been able to chew on that side of my mouth for the last week and a half because of pressure sensitivity, and it's very sensitive to hot and cold as well. So I'm going in next week for a root canal and crown. Yay. Not.
I was hoping we'd have the money already saved so we don't have to use a credit card to pay for the procedure. Unfortunately, that's not going to be the case.
In the past I've considered dropping our dental insurance- we pay about $110 a month for the three of us, which I think is a bit steep if all we're doing is getting regularly scheduled cleanings and exams- we're paying more than $1300 a year for services that only run about $300-400.
If we saved that money specifically for times it was needed, would we be saving money? Like doctors, dentists will give a discount if you pay cash, so I think we would save money, even with the odd filling, crown, or root canal thrown in.
The key would be, of course, to actually save the money we would have spent on the insurance premiums and set it aside for this purpose. I think we could do this, once we've got the credit cards paid off and are actively building our savings. Until then, we're keeping our dental insurance.
Has anyone tried paying cash for dental services instead of having insurance? How has it worked out?
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Trains, Planes, and Automobiles
Go here to read about our train trip. We had a great time and I think it would be fun to do again.
The trip took two days, which is the same it would have taken if we had driven. The big bonus here was that I didn't have to drive. I don't mind driving long distances, but mile after mile of empty cornfields is just way too monotonous for me, and LMS doesn't really appreciate being strapped in a car seat for 13+ hours a day. Taking the train meant LMS and I could get up, walk around, go to the bathroom, sleep, eat, etc, all while still traveling. Doing those things while driving would have added a lot of time to the over-all trip length.
I don't know about the exact price comparisons, but if we had driven (assuming we had a vehicle to drive, which we didn't in this instance) we would have had gas, food, and lodging to pay for. Our train fare took care of all that. However, we were limited in what we could take with us. Two of the three trains we were on had checked baggage (two per person, no charge), but the third one didn't, so we had to pack accordingly. Driving our own vehicle would have allowed us to take a little bit more with us, though I don't know that that's really a good thing, since I tend to over-pack.
Since we didn't have a vehicle to drive, our only other option besides the train was flying. It would have been a lot quicker to fly, but it would have been a long day of flying. I don't know how LMS would have done with that. We could have checked two bags each, but most airlines charge for each bag now, and that adds up quickly. And I'm getting real tired of all the hoops they make you jump through these days. It's not so bad if you're by yourself, but once you add a baby or toddler into the mix, it really becomes an issue. We could have flown Southwest, which doesn't charge for checked baggage, but the closest airport we could have flown into is 2 1/2 hours away, which means Mr S would have had to take off work to pick us up. Less time worked equals less money earned.
Again, I don't remember the exact prices, but once you add on 3 checked suitcases (which is what we took on the train), I think the plane tickets would have come close to the cost of the train tickets. Not having to hassle with all the crap at the airport and on the plane (food would have been a big issue for me since I can't eat at most fast food places that I would find in a terminal) and having a fun, new adventure was totally worth whatever extra we spent. Sometimes you just gotta balance it all out- cheapest isn't always best.
The trip took two days, which is the same it would have taken if we had driven. The big bonus here was that I didn't have to drive. I don't mind driving long distances, but mile after mile of empty cornfields is just way too monotonous for me, and LMS doesn't really appreciate being strapped in a car seat for 13+ hours a day. Taking the train meant LMS and I could get up, walk around, go to the bathroom, sleep, eat, etc, all while still traveling. Doing those things while driving would have added a lot of time to the over-all trip length.
I don't know about the exact price comparisons, but if we had driven (assuming we had a vehicle to drive, which we didn't in this instance) we would have had gas, food, and lodging to pay for. Our train fare took care of all that. However, we were limited in what we could take with us. Two of the three trains we were on had checked baggage (two per person, no charge), but the third one didn't, so we had to pack accordingly. Driving our own vehicle would have allowed us to take a little bit more with us, though I don't know that that's really a good thing, since I tend to over-pack.
Since we didn't have a vehicle to drive, our only other option besides the train was flying. It would have been a lot quicker to fly, but it would have been a long day of flying. I don't know how LMS would have done with that. We could have checked two bags each, but most airlines charge for each bag now, and that adds up quickly. And I'm getting real tired of all the hoops they make you jump through these days. It's not so bad if you're by yourself, but once you add a baby or toddler into the mix, it really becomes an issue. We could have flown Southwest, which doesn't charge for checked baggage, but the closest airport we could have flown into is 2 1/2 hours away, which means Mr S would have had to take off work to pick us up. Less time worked equals less money earned.
Again, I don't remember the exact prices, but once you add on 3 checked suitcases (which is what we took on the train), I think the plane tickets would have come close to the cost of the train tickets. Not having to hassle with all the crap at the airport and on the plane (food would have been a big issue for me since I can't eat at most fast food places that I would find in a terminal) and having a fun, new adventure was totally worth whatever extra we spent. Sometimes you just gotta balance it all out- cheapest isn't always best.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Strawberry Shortcake
Last night I made gluten free pound cake (using the recipe I found here). The recipe called for a bundt pan, but I don't have one, so I used a bread pan and the 6 mini springform pans I found at Target at the after Easter sale.
Cute little pans
The texture wasn't quite the same as regular pound cake, but it still tasted good.
Yum!
Mr. S made the comment that these springform pans would be good for making hamburger buns too- they're just the right size. And I can make cheesecake in them. And little birthday cakes. And brownies. So many options. At half off, I think I made a good investment.
I didn't find anything else at Target at the after Easter sales, but that's because I wasn't in the market for leftover candy, Easter baskets or stuffed animals. I wasn't even sure the pans were half off, but they were in the Easter section, so I did a price check and sure enough, they were half off. I had similar luck after Valentine's day- finding baking stuff half off. Guess you never can tell what you'll find.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Applying "Simplicity Parenting" to Our Lives
I've got most of the boxes unpacked now, just a few non-book-filled boxes left, so now it's on to all the bins. I've moved boxes, bins, and furniture back and forth across the screened-in porch, trying to sort and organize everything. Slowly making progress.
I've unpacked most of the pieces-parts (hardware, random pieces that got separated and packed in a different box, etc), so I've started listing a bunch of stuff on craigslist. I really hope it all sells quickly- I want an uncluttered space, and the money that will come in as a result (hello new camera for me!).
I've been reading Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne, and it is quite interesting. I haven't had a chance to finish it yet, I've been too busy with the unpacking and organizing to do much reading lately. The author has worked with families and children for many years and makes a strong argument for "Less is More".
I've been wanting to de-clutter and simplify for quite awhile now. Two and a half years of not being able to find anything because it's buried in the pile of boxes out in storage or it's in a basket somewhere in our room but everything's so closely packed that I can't remember where I put it took a toll on me. Before we moved everything into storage I always tried to keep everything put away and clutter free. Now, I'm very committed to finding a place for everything and making sure we don't have more "stuff" than we need. No more hanging onto things because we "might use it someday". Mr. S and I both inherited that gene from our parents, and while it can be useful, it can also lead to a lot of clutter.
Once I finish unpacking and sorting all our stuff, my next move will be to divide LMS's toys. Right now, they're all unpacked and stacked on her side of the room that will be her toy room and my work room (sewing, crafting, etc). There's too many toys to have out all at once- she only ever plays with a fraction of them at one time anyway, so we'll be doing what so many others do: rotating toys.
I'll also be making time to finish Simplicity Parenting. I'd like to find out what else the author has to say simplifying our lives.
Has anyone else read this book? What did you think of it?
I've unpacked most of the pieces-parts (hardware, random pieces that got separated and packed in a different box, etc), so I've started listing a bunch of stuff on craigslist. I really hope it all sells quickly- I want an uncluttered space, and the money that will come in as a result (hello new camera for me!).
I've been reading Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne, and it is quite interesting. I haven't had a chance to finish it yet, I've been too busy with the unpacking and organizing to do much reading lately. The author has worked with families and children for many years and makes a strong argument for "Less is More".
I've been wanting to de-clutter and simplify for quite awhile now. Two and a half years of not being able to find anything because it's buried in the pile of boxes out in storage or it's in a basket somewhere in our room but everything's so closely packed that I can't remember where I put it took a toll on me. Before we moved everything into storage I always tried to keep everything put away and clutter free. Now, I'm very committed to finding a place for everything and making sure we don't have more "stuff" than we need. No more hanging onto things because we "might use it someday". Mr. S and I both inherited that gene from our parents, and while it can be useful, it can also lead to a lot of clutter.
Once I finish unpacking and sorting all our stuff, my next move will be to divide LMS's toys. Right now, they're all unpacked and stacked on her side of the room that will be her toy room and my work room (sewing, crafting, etc). There's too many toys to have out all at once- she only ever plays with a fraction of them at one time anyway, so we'll be doing what so many others do: rotating toys.
I'll also be making time to finish Simplicity Parenting. I'd like to find out what else the author has to say simplifying our lives.
Has anyone else read this book? What did you think of it?
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