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ht to PalmTree Pundit
Monday, March 31, 2008
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Weekly Menu - Eating Stella Style Edition
This weeks menu is super easy, because I am super tired. I have read that it is normal to feel like you have been hit by a bus. I think the bus backed up and ran me over a few times. I am adding carbs back into the menu for those who can tolerate them (so far, everyone but me. The jury is still out on Alex, though) and let me tell you ... that makes my life a lot easier.
When I went through to add comments about each dish I noticed a theme. Really, I think this Eating Stella Style book is my new favorite. I think I like it for the same reason that I love Lucy's SCD cookbook. They aren't pretentious. I am married to a Chef (who sold his soul to corporations...) and we had/have a lot of Chef friends.
We have seen enough pretense when it comes to food to last me a lifetime. Believe me. (Which might be the reason I am not a big fan of Eat Well Feel Well, but that is a whole other story.)
Everything served with a side of vegetable, side of fruit and a salad.
3/30 - Sunday
Beef Stir-Fry (Brown rice for everyone else, cauliflower rice for me) - I am going to use this really, really good peanut butter based Asian dipping sauce as the base. I will let you know how it works out.
3/31 - Monday
Beef stroganoff (w/o noodles for me, w/noodles for everyone else) - This recipe comes from Eating Stella Style and calls for ground beef. I will use SCD yogurt instead of the sour cream, but I just can bring myself to put the dill pickle relish in it.
4/1 - Tuesday
California Vegetable and White Bean Chili w/ cornbread (Mock cornbread for me) - Yum. Chili.
4/2 - Wednesday
Jamaican Jerk Chicken, brown rice (for everyone else), black beans (w/ tomatoes, onions, cilantro and other good stuff) - I am using the Jamaican Jerk recipe from Eating Stella Style's Jamaican BBQ Ribs recipe. I love me some Jerked meat, so this should be a winner.
4/3 - Thursday
Normal pancakes for everyone else, cinnamon toast flavored pancakes (opens a PDF) for me, hash browns for them, fruit for me - My pancakes will be a combination of two recipes - the one above and the cinnamon toast pancakes recipe from - Surprise! - Eating Stella Style
4/4 - Friday
Taco salad (w/o tortilla chips for me, w/ tortilla chips for everyone else) - This has become a favorite. I
4/5 - Saturday
Grilled Marinated Flank Steak - Really sirloin, but the recipe is called Grilled Marinated Flank Steak, and comes from - you guessed it! - Eating Stella Style
Friday, March 28, 2008
Maintenance issues
The lawn guy came to look at a water leak in my apartment. He is pretty sick of the maintenance guy too, but won't say anything because he is his boss and in this Michigan economy, everyone is afraid to lose their jobs.
He said that the maintenance guy spent a whole day writing a reply to my email. Nice. He can spend a whole day defending why he can't fix anything, but can't spend ten minutes mixing them.
He also told me that the maintenance guy told him that I didn't hear what was said, so he will deny it. What a jerk.
I am trying really hard to be nice. I am trying really hard to not let it get me down, but you know what? They don't care. They just don't care. They will go to court and lose, and they just don't care. They will chalk it up to the cost of doing business. They make people miserable and they just don't care.
The lawn guy told me that another property that they own that have half as many apartments as this one has four maintenance men. He said that Andy (the maintenance man here) refuses to hire anyone else, because then it makes him look bad.
The guy from corporate headquarters acknowledges that there is a major problem, but won't do anything about it. It saves him money to not have to fix things.
If I lived in government housing they wouldn't be allowed to treat us this way. But no, I spend $1029 a month to be treated worse than a dog in a shelter. How stupid am I?
He said that the maintenance guy spent a whole day writing a reply to my email. Nice. He can spend a whole day defending why he can't fix anything, but can't spend ten minutes mixing them.
He also told me that the maintenance guy told him that I didn't hear what was said, so he will deny it. What a jerk.
I am trying really hard to be nice. I am trying really hard to not let it get me down, but you know what? They don't care. They just don't care. They will go to court and lose, and they just don't care. They will chalk it up to the cost of doing business. They make people miserable and they just don't care.
The lawn guy told me that another property that they own that have half as many apartments as this one has four maintenance men. He said that Andy (the maintenance man here) refuses to hire anyone else, because then it makes him look bad.
The guy from corporate headquarters acknowledges that there is a major problem, but won't do anything about it. It saves him money to not have to fix things.
If I lived in government housing they wouldn't be allowed to treat us this way. But no, I spend $1029 a month to be treated worse than a dog in a shelter. How stupid am I?
Feeling better
I am feeling a little better. I am still suing our landlord, still don't have a place to live when we move, my mom is still sick, I am back on the diet, the weather is still horrible, the kids are still driving me nuts, and school is still like pulling teeth ... but I feel better. I am going to start packing/spring cleaning/ documenting for a household inventory soon. Maybe next week.
Alex said he wasn't convinced that the diet is doing him any good. Um ... ok. He wanted to try eating "the old way" for two weeks, just to see if he felt the same. I agreed to join him on his suicide mission. I ate exactly two non-SCD meals, and I swear to you I will never do that again.
On Wednesday night I ate a bowl of pasta and immediately felt sick. Thursday morning I ate scrambled eggs with onion and mushrooms ... and a tiny bit of non-SCD cheese. I was finally able to get off of the couch last night, about 10. I got up long enough to go to bed.
So there we are.
Now that it looks like it is just going to be me eating SCD, I will bring non-SCD foods back into the house. Finally, my grocery budget will recover. Let me tell you... it is expensive feeding five people without the help of carbs.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Blah
I have been feeling really down lately. Enough that people have noticed.
I don't know if it is what is going on with this apartment - we file a lawsuit against the management company on Monday.
I don't know if it is what is going on with the current apartment - There is a good chance we won't get it because of what the people at this apartment did.
I don't know if it my mom's health - she is pretty sick. She is just one bad blood test away from needing blood transfusions.
I don't know if it is the diet - I felt so bad last night I ate some pasta and have been sick ever since.
I don't know if it is the weather - It snowed on Tuesday and is supposed to snow again today. Have I mentioned how much I hate snow? I usually get the seasonal blahs, but this is different.
I don't know if it is the kids - Christian is acting like a parent, Ethan is acting like a baby and Alex is acting like his normal jerky self.
I don't know if it is school - We go along great and then - BAM! We hit a wall.
I don't know what it is but I swear if it doesn't change, I am not getting out of bed. Ever.
I don't know if it is what is going on with this apartment - we file a lawsuit against the management company on Monday.
I don't know if it is what is going on with the current apartment - There is a good chance we won't get it because of what the people at this apartment did.
I don't know if it my mom's health - she is pretty sick. She is just one bad blood test away from needing blood transfusions.
I don't know if it is the diet - I felt so bad last night I ate some pasta and have been sick ever since.
I don't know if it is the weather - It snowed on Tuesday and is supposed to snow again today. Have I mentioned how much I hate snow? I usually get the seasonal blahs, but this is different.
I don't know if it is the kids - Christian is acting like a parent, Ethan is acting like a baby and Alex is acting like his normal jerky self.
I don't know if it is school - We go along great and then - BAM! We hit a wall.
I don't know what it is but I swear if it doesn't change, I am not getting out of bed. Ever.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Moving = Decluttering
Since we are moving at the end of May, I am going to start packing soon. I have a feeling that I am going to like the place better without all of the *stuff* hanging around. And believe me ... we don't have a lot of *stuff*. A few pictures here and there and that's about it. My sister-in-law says that we are minimalists, but I am way too unorganized to be a minimalist.Years ago when Marty was in corporate housing we realized just how little we really need to live. In corporate housing you have just enough. Two saucepans and one skillet. Six plates, sets of silverware, cups. One cutting board, one big knife, one spatula and one slotted spoon. Six towels and washcloths. Just enough.
The walls were decorated with just enough artwork to make it welcoming, but not so much that you felt like you were living in someone else's house. You know... just enough.
We loved it.
The other day I read a blog post about making your home like a vacation home. Kind of the same concept as my corporate housing idea, but I think even more open and airy. Of course, I can't find the blog that I read it on or the blog that I found the link through. Once I do, I will post both.
While I am all for giving stuff away, I have decided that I want to have a yard sale. Last night at archery we hatched a plan to have a spring yard sale. (Ok, really the plan was already hatched and I jumped on board.) Now I have even more of a reason to go through and get rid of.
Updated: Look what I found! Create Your Own Vacation Home Ok, I didn't find it. It found me. Kelly (the author) posted a comment.
Picture from flickr
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Food Log 3.25.08
I am supposed to be keeping a food log. I keep forgetting to write it down. Oops! Now you guys can yell at me if I don't.
Breakfast: Smoothie (Frozen strawberries, SCD yogurt and honey)
Lunch: 6 oz chicken breast w/ BBQ sauce (SCD ketchup and honey), steamed broccoli and an orange
Dinner: Swiss steak (Sirloin seared in a pan then tossed into a crockpot. Mushrooms, onions and tomato sautéed in pan and pan deglazed with homemade beef stock. tossed on top of sirloin and cooked on low all day.)steamed broccoli, a banana
Breakfast: Smoothie (Frozen strawberries, SCD yogurt and honey)
Lunch: 6 oz chicken breast w/ BBQ sauce (SCD ketchup and honey), steamed broccoli and an orange
Dinner: Swiss steak (Sirloin seared in a pan then tossed into a crockpot. Mushrooms, onions and tomato sautéed in pan and pan deglazed with homemade beef stock. tossed on top of sirloin and cooked on low all day.)steamed broccoli, a banana
Monday, March 24, 2008
Miserly Math
I love this article! It really goes to show how the little things do add up. Miserly Math
by Rebecca Underwood
Who said that you shouldn't sweat the small stuff?
We all know that little things can add up in a hurry. But, often we fail to realize just how much the small stuff is costing us. As a junior high math teacher, it's always fun to shock my students by having them work up a few calculations like the ones below. I can always hope they'll become frugal adults someday!
- A $1 soda every day for a year = $365
- If you must have that $3 latte instead, your annual cost =$1095
- Paying just one bill with a $3 late fee every month for ayear = $36
- Over the course of a 50-year adulthood, that late fee =$1800
- One fast food meal ($16 for a family of 4) per week for a year instead of quick hotdogs at home (about $4) = $624
- If your family usually prefers the local buffet for $28, those annual hotdog savings would = $1248
- If you buy a bag of ice for $1 every two days instead of making your own, your annual ice cost = $182.50
- Keep buying that ice for 50 years of your adult life, and its cost = $9125
- If you discard half a gallon of spoiled milk per week at $2.30 per gallon, in a year your waste will = $59.80
- Keep wasting that milk for 50 years of your adult life, and your loss will = $2990
- If your family buys half a pound per week of $5/lb. deli cheddar cheese instead of $3/lb. American slices, your annual cost = $52
- If you keep buying the cheddar for 50 years of your adulthood, its extra cost = $2600
- If you mail five bills per month at a cost of about 40 cents each instead of using free online banking, your annual cost =$24
- If you continue to mail your bills for 50 years, your cost =$5200
- If you buy four new books per year at an average cost of $15 each instead of buying used at around $4 each, your annual added cost = $44
- Keep buying those new books for 50 years, and your cost =$2200
- If you rent one new release video per week at $3.50 for a year, your cost over borrowing from the library = $182
- Keep renting those videos for 50 years, and your cost =$9100
- If you buy the premium cable package at an additional $35 per month, your annual cost over basic cable = $420
- Keep buying that premium package for 50 years, and your cost over basic cable = $21,000
- If you carry a credit card balance of just $1000 for a year at 18% annual rate, your annual interest = $180
- If you keep the $1000 balance for 50 years without ever paying it off, your interest = $9000
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Weekly Menu - Easter edition
Not much to say this week. I know, I was shocked, too. Trying new things and trying to get some favorites. So far, so good. (About 50% are instant favorites and 50% are "never try agains.") Everything served with a side of vegetable, side of fruit and a salad.
3/23 - Sunday
Leg of lamb, prime rib, steamed broccoli, honey glazed carrots, salad, and peanut butter brownies and homemade frozen yogurt for dessert
3/24 - Monday
Orange sticky chicken
3/25 - Tuesday
Swiss steak
3/26 - Wednesday
Jamaican Jerk Chicken
3/27 - Thursday
Beef stroganoff w/o noodles
3/28 - Friday
Greek burgers
3/29 - Saturday
Beef in Mojo Criollo
Friday, March 21, 2008
Decluttering
I am looking forward to moving. Nothing whips you into shape like the thought of boxing up and moving stuff you never use.
I am a reformed pack rat. I come by it very naturally. My grandmas house was packed - and I mean packed - full of useless stuff. It bordered on hoarding. No, it didn't. It was hoarding. She had her stuff, her moms stuff and her MIL's stuff. She couldn't bear the thought of parting with any of it.
My mom's house is getting better. S-L-O-W-L-Y. At least she isn't bringing more into the house, so that is a start.
I started my adult life with lots of junk. My dad had died when I was 16, and Marty and I got our first apartment when I was 17. (I know, I know...) It was furnished with most of the stuff from my mom's house. You know, stuff it had taken her 20+ years to accumulate. All of those things that were still perfectly useful, but too painful for my mom to keep.
I used to hold on to things because they were my dads. It took me a long time to realize that having something of his won't bring him back and doesn't change the memories I have. Now, if I can't use something, out it goes.
Right now I have a box of kitchen stuff to go out (Why do I have two Tupperware ice cream scoops??) and probably a bunch of Tupperware. I also have two complete twin bed duvet sets, some board games, school books and other odds and ends. Maybe I should have a yard sale?
I am a reformed pack rat. I come by it very naturally. My grandmas house was packed - and I mean packed - full of useless stuff. It bordered on hoarding. No, it didn't. It was hoarding. She had her stuff, her moms stuff and her MIL's stuff. She couldn't bear the thought of parting with any of it.
My mom's house is getting better. S-L-O-W-L-Y. At least she isn't bringing more into the house, so that is a start.
I started my adult life with lots of junk. My dad had died when I was 16, and Marty and I got our first apartment when I was 17. (I know, I know...) It was furnished with most of the stuff from my mom's house. You know, stuff it had taken her 20+ years to accumulate. All of those things that were still perfectly useful, but too painful for my mom to keep.
I used to hold on to things because they were my dads. It took me a long time to realize that having something of his won't bring him back and doesn't change the memories I have. Now, if I can't use something, out it goes.
Right now I have a box of kitchen stuff to go out (Why do I have two Tupperware ice cream scoops??) and probably a bunch of Tupperware. I also have two complete twin bed duvet sets, some board games, school books and other odds and ends. Maybe I should have a yard sale?
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Maxed Out
Remember back when I told you that we watched Maxed Out and made the decision to wait to take the kids to Germany? Well, not you can watch it and decide to do something responsible, instead of the super fun thing you have been planning to do for years.
ht to Need To Be Debt Free
ht to Need To Be Debt Free
Feeling better
I never made it to officially sick, but instead stayed in the "I'm coming down with something" feeling all day. I went to bed early last night and feel better today but am still tired.
Today is the week two anniversary of our starting SCD. I have to say... week one I obsessed over food. Week two wasn't as bad. Now (starting week three) I feel like it is second nature. Strange, huh? I am an old pro at making yogurt, checking labels and even explaining to people why I can't eat the things they offer us. (The puzzle ladies especially.) We are still doing "meat and a side of fruit and veg" and so far it suits us. I swear I have never eaten so much meat in my life!
There comes a point when you realize that you have felt better for the last few days. (Kind of like the day you realize that you have managed to wake up for the last few mornings without a kid in your bed.) It is a great feeling. Both Alex and I have been symptom free since we started the diet - except for the vanilla episode. In fact, we are doing so much better that a few people with stomach problems have asked to see the book. Not bad after 31+ years of problems. (I am 35...)
Now, I want to be sure to say that not everyone has such a quick, miraculous recovery. We didn't have nearly the problems that a lot of the SCD'ers do. I personally know of people who have not been able to eat raw fruit or vegetables for a year. One celebrated her one year anniversary by eating one baby carrot. That was all she can handle. I also don't know that it will always be such smooth sailing for us. Sometime down the road we may have problems. Who knows? The body is a funny thing.
I got a cook book from MEL (Michigan eLibrary) that I really like. In fact, I wish some of these McDougall and vegan cookbooks would sell so I can buy some SCD cookbooks! The new one is called Eating Stella Style and looks pretty good. It is low carb and not SCD, but so far it looks like most of the recipes can be adapted. (Something SCD'ers are more than familiar with.) There are even a few recipes that call for almond flour. The author is George Stella, who you may remember from the Food Network show "Low Carb and Lovin' It."
Next week we are going to try some of the recipes.
It is a balmy 32 here. Hurry up spring! (I mean spring like weather. I know that today is the first day of spring.)
Today is the week two anniversary of our starting SCD. I have to say... week one I obsessed over food. Week two wasn't as bad. Now (starting week three) I feel like it is second nature. Strange, huh? I am an old pro at making yogurt, checking labels and even explaining to people why I can't eat the things they offer us. (The puzzle ladies especially.) We are still doing "meat and a side of fruit and veg" and so far it suits us. I swear I have never eaten so much meat in my life!
There comes a point when you realize that you have felt better for the last few days. (Kind of like the day you realize that you have managed to wake up for the last few mornings without a kid in your bed.) It is a great feeling. Both Alex and I have been symptom free since we started the diet - except for the vanilla episode. In fact, we are doing so much better that a few people with stomach problems have asked to see the book. Not bad after 31+ years of problems. (I am 35...)
Now, I want to be sure to say that not everyone has such a quick, miraculous recovery. We didn't have nearly the problems that a lot of the SCD'ers do. I personally know of people who have not been able to eat raw fruit or vegetables for a year. One celebrated her one year anniversary by eating one baby carrot. That was all she can handle. I also don't know that it will always be such smooth sailing for us. Sometime down the road we may have problems. Who knows? The body is a funny thing.
I got a cook book from MEL (Michigan eLibrary) that I really like. In fact, I wish some of these McDougall and vegan cookbooks would sell so I can buy some SCD cookbooks! The new one is called Eating Stella Style and looks pretty good. It is low carb and not SCD, but so far it looks like most of the recipes can be adapted. (Something SCD'ers are more than familiar with.) There are even a few recipes that call for almond flour. The author is George Stella, who you may remember from the Food Network show "Low Carb and Lovin' It."
Next week we are going to try some of the recipes.
It is a balmy 32 here. Hurry up spring! (I mean spring like weather. I know that today is the first day of spring.)
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Wordless Wednesday
I am not feeling well today. (I think I caught the flu from a neighbor.)
So enjoy Wordless Wednesday. I will leave you with this, from our vacation to the UP. (I know... I'm not being very wordless, am I?)
So enjoy Wordless Wednesday. I will leave you with this, from our vacation to the UP. (I know... I'm not being very wordless, am I?)
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Ouch!
I started back to my workout yesterday and my legs hurt. Bad. I had to stop working out because there was something wrong with the pool heater and the entire area was so humid you couldn't stand it. Now that they have fixed it (oh, 8 months later...) I am back at it.
Of course, it is going to take me a while to build back up to my 1 hour on the treadmill (at 3.5 MPH and 2% incline) and 45 minutes on the elliptical.
Of course, I don't know if I can take Advil. Maybe I should have figured all of this out before I was in pain?
Of course, it is going to take me a while to build back up to my 1 hour on the treadmill (at 3.5 MPH and 2% incline) and 45 minutes on the elliptical.
Of course, I don't know if I can take Advil. Maybe I should have figured all of this out before I was in pain?
Monday, March 17, 2008
Top O' The Mornin' To Ya
Happy Saint Patrick's Day!
As my old Irish neighbor used to say - If you're lucky enough to be Irish, then you're lucky enough.
We are on our way to our first restaurant meal since starting SCD. I am taking my own seasoning mix for the steak, my own cheese for the salad and will use oil and lemon juice for a salad dressing. Even though you can take your own things to any restaurant, it helps a lot that it is Marty's restaurant. I know things will be right, and no one will give me a hard time about bringing my own cheese.
Have a great Monday!
Picture from flickr
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Weekly Menu - The Blah Edition
Nothing new or exciting going on here. Alex and I both feel 99.9% better with SCD. We haven't had any problems... as long as nothing illegal sneaks its way into our diet. (The vanilla was the last time. I found some organic vanilla without corn syrup for $10 a bottle and am using that until the batch I am making is done.)I am still having a heck of a time with lunch, breakfasts and snacks. We are working on it, though.
I am almost out of the 5 lbs. of almond flour that we bought. We baked our first almond flour goodie on Friday the 7th. I don't think going through 5lbs. of almond flour in a week is a good thing.
As always, all meals are served with a salad, fruit and vegetable.
3/16 - Sunday
Chicken Satay with Spicy Peanut Dipping Sauce
3/17 - Monday
Spanakopita Burgers (Using ground beef instead of turkey. Can't find a SCD legal ground turkey), squash fries
3/18 - Tuesday
Sticky Chicken (A family favorite! I might make orange sticky chicken.)
3/19 - Wednesday
Taco salad w/o tortilla chips (Huge hit last time. Alex had 3rds [unheard of for him] and had it for lunch the next day, too.)
3/20 - Thursday
Chicken and Mushrooms
3/21 - Friday
Pizza SCD style
3/22 - Saturday
Honey Garlic Chicken
Picture from flickr
Friday, March 14, 2008
Lawsuit
Looks like we are going to court.
I sent a long email explaining all of my concerns about maintenance and the rental referral to the corporate headquarters for our property. He spoke with all of the employees and they all denied giving the referral so he said they have no recourse. Gee... the people that broke the law denied breaking it? I am shocked! He also said that when he spoke with the property manager she said she was unaware of any maintenance issues.
I told her that it was going to go to court and that she is going to be subpoenaed to testify as to what she knows. She looked scared. She told us that she told him everything she knows, but then later on the phone (when I called to get the correct spelling of her name) said that he had asked her if there were any problems and she said not that she was aware of. She also said that she didn't know what she could testify about and I said "Things like me waiting 2 months for my dishwasher to be fixed. Or about what happened with my oven." She again sounded worried.
It was pretty obvious that she lied because she is afraid to lose her job. Nice. So this weekend I get to collect statements from other residents with maintenance issues (all of them) and the two former managers.
If we decide to go to small claims court instead of "regular" court the woman I talked to about filing said that I don't need to bring witnesses, because if I have pictures, that is enough to win.
So now I have to decide what my damages are. We have had something wrong with the apartment EVERY month that we have lived here. Every stinking month. Nice. Do you guys think asking for 10% of my monthly rent for each month + court costs is fair?
1222.80 (10% of 1019.00 X 12 months)
1234.80 (10% of 1029.00 x 12 months)
= 2457.60
Plus filing fee of $69 + $10 to have them served, + $10 per witness I have to subpoena
Please, please, please tell me if you think this is fair? I am not out to make money, but I don't think I should have to pay rent for an apartment that I couldn't even bring people to for six months.
I sent a long email explaining all of my concerns about maintenance and the rental referral to the corporate headquarters for our property. He spoke with all of the employees and they all denied giving the referral so he said they have no recourse. Gee... the people that broke the law denied breaking it? I am shocked! He also said that when he spoke with the property manager she said she was unaware of any maintenance issues.
I told her that it was going to go to court and that she is going to be subpoenaed to testify as to what she knows. She looked scared. She told us that she told him everything she knows, but then later on the phone (when I called to get the correct spelling of her name) said that he had asked her if there were any problems and she said not that she was aware of. She also said that she didn't know what she could testify about and I said "Things like me waiting 2 months for my dishwasher to be fixed. Or about what happened with my oven." She again sounded worried.
It was pretty obvious that she lied because she is afraid to lose her job. Nice. So this weekend I get to collect statements from other residents with maintenance issues (all of them) and the two former managers.
If we decide to go to small claims court instead of "regular" court the woman I talked to about filing said that I don't need to bring witnesses, because if I have pictures, that is enough to win.
So now I have to decide what my damages are. We have had something wrong with the apartment EVERY month that we have lived here. Every stinking month. Nice. Do you guys think asking for 10% of my monthly rent for each month + court costs is fair?
1222.80 (10% of 1019.00 X 12 months)
1234.80 (10% of 1029.00 x 12 months)
= 2457.60
Plus filing fee of $69 + $10 to have them served, + $10 per witness I have to subpoena
Please, please, please tell me if you think this is fair? I am not out to make money, but I don't think I should have to pay rent for an apartment that I couldn't even bring people to for six months.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Farmers Market
I contacted the city about selling SCD legal baked goods at the Farmers Market. I figured there probably wasn't much of a need in this area for sugar free / gluten free baked goods, but what the heck, right?
I just heard back from the woman at the chamber of commerce who handles all of that sort of thing. Turns out... she is gluten free / sugar free because of allergies! So, I was thinking "Ok... maybe."
Then she told me about all that you have to do. Commercial kitchen (she said many churches in the area rent them out to people), food handler license, health inspection, $25 weekly booth rental... and a waiting list that goes back to 2002. The commercial kitchen and license I can do. The waiting list, not so much.
I gave up on my idea.
She said she would send my the contract, and when I got the email she wrote - I hope everything works out because your goods are something that this community could really use!!!
So I called the health department. The guy is getting back to me, but the woman I talked to said that she thinks I need a seasonal license and that is $90.
If I went ahead and did everything I needed to in order to be legal, I could make a job out of it. There is a farmers market on Monday in Sanford, Tuesday & Thursday in Bay City, Wednesday and Saturday in Midland, and Friday in Saginaw.
What do you think? Should I look into it more and go for it?
As a side note: The woman I talked to is there every week because her mother runs the booth that I buy my herbs from - and has for the last 25 years. Maybe I could talk to her mom about offering a few things in her booth if no space opens up...
Update: The guy from the health department called me back. Turns out I have to go through the Department of Agriculture. Called the woman he said to and she was out, but the woman that answered the phone was a big help.
She confirmed the commercial kitchen thing, said that the license I need is $70 and said that the other woman will spend all the time I need helping me. She said that if I want to do Jams, I have to label them and the Michigan State University Extension office has a website that I can email them a list of what is in it and they will do a nutritional analysis for me so that the label is legal.
The other woman is going to call me back tomorrow.
I just heard back from the woman at the chamber of commerce who handles all of that sort of thing. Turns out... she is gluten free / sugar free because of allergies! So, I was thinking "Ok... maybe."
Then she told me about all that you have to do. Commercial kitchen (she said many churches in the area rent them out to people), food handler license, health inspection, $25 weekly booth rental... and a waiting list that goes back to 2002. The commercial kitchen and license I can do. The waiting list, not so much.
I gave up on my idea.
She said she would send my the contract, and when I got the email she wrote - I hope everything works out because your goods are something that this community could really use!!!
So I called the health department. The guy is getting back to me, but the woman I talked to said that she thinks I need a seasonal license and that is $90.
If I went ahead and did everything I needed to in order to be legal, I could make a job out of it. There is a farmers market on Monday in Sanford, Tuesday & Thursday in Bay City, Wednesday and Saturday in Midland, and Friday in Saginaw.
What do you think? Should I look into it more and go for it?
As a side note: The woman I talked to is there every week because her mother runs the booth that I buy my herbs from - and has for the last 25 years. Maybe I could talk to her mom about offering a few things in her booth if no space opens up...
Update: The guy from the health department called me back. Turns out I have to go through the Department of Agriculture. Called the woman he said to and she was out, but the woman that answered the phone was a big help.
She confirmed the commercial kitchen thing, said that the license I need is $70 and said that the other woman will spend all the time I need helping me. She said that if I want to do Jams, I have to label them and the Michigan State University Extension office has a website that I can email them a list of what is in it and they will do a nutritional analysis for me so that the label is legal.
The other woman is going to call me back tomorrow.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Easy? Nah!
Saying that this whole SCD thing was getting easier may have been a bit misleading. It is easier but not easy by any stretch of the imagination. For one thing, you have to cook everything from scratch.
You may be thinking what I thought the first time I read that. Bid deal. I cook everything from scratch anyway. Yeah... not so much. I have never had to make my own ketchup, mayonnaise, beef and chicken stock, garlic powder, onion powder, vanilla, etc, etc, before. Sure, I had the option of doing so, but I also had the option of running to Meijer and grabbing what I needed if I didn't have time to make something.
Right now we are really struggling with snacks and quick "go-to" meals. Sure, we snack on fresh fruits and vegetables, like we used to. But lemme tell you... sometimes you just want a damn Oreo.
Come home later than you thought? Forget grabbing that box of pasta off of the pantry shelf or using those canned beans and tomatoes and having spaghetti or chili on the table in 20 minutes.
So my goal for the next few weeks is to come up with some snacks to keep on hand, and to come up with some ideas for quick easy meals.
I have come across some cookie recipes that look really good, and I think the key to quick meals might be either the crock pot or freezer meals. I will let you know what I come up with.
Today was Alex's first day away from home since starting the diet. (All three are spending the day at a friends house.) I talked to the mom and she knows what he can and can't eat, but this house is full of yummy stuff that he can't eat. Luckily he had a dentist appointment so I was able to pick him up from the friends house a bit early and bring him home for lunch. I asked him if he wanted to take some fruit and vegetables with him, but he declined. I'm not sure if he was embarrassed or just tired of fruit and vegetables.
You may be thinking what I thought the first time I read that. Bid deal. I cook everything from scratch anyway. Yeah... not so much. I have never had to make my own ketchup, mayonnaise, beef and chicken stock, garlic powder, onion powder, vanilla, etc, etc, before. Sure, I had the option of doing so, but I also had the option of running to Meijer and grabbing what I needed if I didn't have time to make something.
Right now we are really struggling with snacks and quick "go-to" meals. Sure, we snack on fresh fruits and vegetables, like we used to. But lemme tell you... sometimes you just want a damn Oreo.
Come home later than you thought? Forget grabbing that box of pasta off of the pantry shelf or using those canned beans and tomatoes and having spaghetti or chili on the table in 20 minutes.
So my goal for the next few weeks is to come up with some snacks to keep on hand, and to come up with some ideas for quick easy meals.
I have come across some cookie recipes that look really good, and I think the key to quick meals might be either the crock pot or freezer meals. I will let you know what I come up with.
Today was Alex's first day away from home since starting the diet. (All three are spending the day at a friends house.) I talked to the mom and she knows what he can and can't eat, but this house is full of yummy stuff that he can't eat. Luckily he had a dentist appointment so I was able to pick him up from the friends house a bit early and bring him home for lunch. I asked him if he wanted to take some fruit and vegetables with him, but he declined. I'm not sure if he was embarrassed or just tired of fruit and vegetables.
Monday, March 10, 2008
You Know Dave's Got You When...
Another post from my 'other' blog. I think this came from the TMMO message board, with many people adding to it.
1. When walking through the parking lot, you stop and think, "Wow, that's a fine car......I wonder if it's paid for."
2. You watch someone pay for a paper, coffee & cigarettes with a credit card and you silently pray "Forgive them Father, they know not what they do."
3. Your nine-year-old with a terminal case of "stuffitis" starts asking, "Mom, is this in the budget???"
4. You have sold your big red truck and your camper to speed up your snowball to reduce your debt by $40,000 in less than 4 months, only 8 more months to go.
5. You can start a crazy thread like this one, laugh at the craziness, but realize this used to be your way of life.
6. When you see people are driving a 12 year old car and see another one driving by and think...Yeah baby, smells like money to me!!!
7. Your friend just bought a new car and is bragging about how he got such a great deal, then you run the #'s, your friend realizes he gave his trade to the dealer and had the balance owed on it rolled into the new car loan. "told ya $500 per month for 5 years DOESN'T equal $15K !! (the amount your friend said he got his new car for)"
8. You overhear your 11 year old daughter is telling her friends that "Credit Cards Reek!"
9. You no longer ask "How much is that a month?" and do ask "How much is that?"
10. Just shake your head when your office partner uses one credit card to pay the minimum due on another. And gleefully think this is the way you used to live. (This incident just happened about 10 minutes ago)
11. Your 9 year old son tells a customer in Wal-Mart who's buying a CD player on credit that "by the time you pay that thing off my mother will be a GRANDMOTHER!" (True story.)
12. Romantic talks with your spouse center around being debt free
13. You've actually got a plan to get out of debt that doesn't involve consolidating all of your debt into more debt.
14. You spend your tax return on debt repayment instead of a down payment on a new snowmobile...and you adjust your withholdings so you don't get another return next year.
15. Your co-workers are laughing at you for brown bagging your lunch and your laughing at them for going out to eat everyday.
16. Your peers laugh at you because you live in a paid for cracker box while they are a payday away form loosing their house ...
17. You have traded out the pleasures of the debit card to stand in the 20 minute long line at the bank each payday to get cash in certain denominations so that you can fully fund all of your envelopes to pay cash for everything until the next payday. And you gladly continue to do it because you save 12-17% more than using plastic, you are "really telling your money where to go" and you can "hurt" a little more when you spend it.
18. When your car breaks down and instead of crying, "Oh, no!" you say, "Oh, well."
19. You tell your 15 year old daughter if she wants a prom dress she has to work for US! (We paid her minimum wage to EARN it)
20. You start selling candy to your school bus kids to get out of debt quicker!
21. You create a detailed spreadsheet of you home loan showing the rate of interest per day, hour and minute and changing that rate every time you make a principal only payment or when a normal monthly payment occurs. Yup...I do that!!
22. You listen to the Kenny Chesney song "A lot of Things Different" and instead of thinking of missed chances and lost loves you think of lost dollars! Yep, I'm weird.
23.When you work 70 hrs a week and want more. And love it!!!!!!!!!
24. You look forward to getting calls from companies advertising credit cards so you can explain how and why you want to be debt free (and why they should too)
25. You think: if I played the lottery and won 100,000..... $34000 would go to taxes, $6995 would pay off my van, $6000 would fund my Roths for the year, and then try to calculate how much you would need to fully fund your 403(b)s for the year (around 22,000). Then you think how much of the remaining $31000 would I put in the kids college fund and how much would I blow on a vacation. (Let's see, $25,000 for the college funds and about $6000 to take the kids to Disney)
26. When you look forward to debt CON-solidation companies calling you about how they can reduce your interest rates/payments, and you tell them "The only way to reduce MY payments is to pay ME, cause I don't have no stinkin' payments !!"
27. When your friends tell you that a CC is needed for emergencies and you explain to them MONEY also works in case of emergency.
28. When you and DH discuss your anniversary, you suggest going to Nashville to see Dave's office and meet him, and DH thinks it's a really good idea! (Yes, this is true...we did it in January!)
29. When credit card bills stop being a cause for depression and stop being a surprise because you know EXACTLY where your money is going.
30. When your landline phone doesn't ring for days, and you don't dread it ringing anymore!
31. When you look forward to getting your monthly bills!
32. When you back into your friend's car you say "Dang Murphy!", and don't panic because you know you have an EF for such things.
33. When you look at other cars on the road that are exactly like the one you're trying to sell and think, "Man! I bet they're WAY in debt with that SUV!"
34. Someone at the office mentions that he paid $2.75 for his daily morning purchase of a Starbucks coffee when it usually costs only $2.25, and you think Hmmm, $2.25 every weekday, that's $11.25 every week, over $45 a month, and probably over a million dollar expense over a few decades considering what a good investment of the same money would yield.
35. When the cashier at Kohl's invites you to apply for a charge card by saying, "The interest rate is only 5.9%," and you reply, "No thanks, cash is at zero percent."
36. When your go into an "Everything's a Dollar" store, your kid, seeing a toy he wants, says "Is that on sale?”
37. When you pick up a penny on the parking lot, not because it's "heads up" or lucky, but because you'll add it to your debt snowball jar when you get home!
38. When you consider picking up your dinner plates (with rice & beans, beans & rice) and going to the porch "Eating Out"!
39. You start potty training your son because (and ONLY because) you want to cut diapers out of the budget.
40. You confuse a half dozen bankers because you're trying to setup an automatic recurring DEPOSIT INTO the account.
41. When someone calls to offer you a great investment opportunity to triple your money in just 60-90 days, ask the guy why, if his commodities investments are so good, is he sitting in a telemarketing cubicle trying to get YOU to be like him.
42. When your 11-year old son, seeing you use a debit card at the checkout line, yells out "That isn't a credit card, is it?" and when you assure him it is not, he yells out "Good, because credit cards are stupid!"
43. When your 10-year old daughter offers to donate her commission to help retire the debt.
44. When your eating out with friends and you hear the music in the background and you tell your friends " This is Dave Ramsey music". They look at you weird and say "Huh uh, this is Pink Floyd. Who is Dave Ramsey? What does he sing?" lol Then you start explaining.
45. When someone asks you for financial advice you begin each statement with, "Well, Dave says..."
46. You refer to the Total Money Makeover as your financial bible.
47. You see a cookbook titled "101 Tasty Ramen Noodle Dishes" and think, "Lightweights. Only 101???"
48. When your usual greeting to your coworkers changes from "what have you been up to lately" to "what have you sold lately?"
49: When somebody asks you how you are doing, you reply "Better than I deserve"
50. When the cashier at Wal-Mart, seeing your envelopes, asks "You listen to Ramsey too, eh?"
51. When your co-workers roll their eyes when you start a sentence with, "Well Dave says......"
52. When your 7 year old begins a conversation with the doctor by saying, "We're getting out of debt..."
53. When a server at a fast food place, when you pull out your Financial Peace envelopes, suggests a non-advertised sale since "I know you're looking to save money..."
54. When your dog dies, and after the initial sadness passes, you are comforted by the realization you're going to save at least $10 per month on dog food! (Sorry, true story!)
55. When your family and friends tell you that working 3 jobs is "working too hard" and you take it as a compliment!
56. Seeing a "Pre-Approved, 0% for 6 months" envelope in your mailbox automatically makes you yell "CHEEEEEEETTTTAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!!!"
57. You use dollar store paper towels as coffee filters, and reuse coffee grounds.
58. You explain to your certified financial planner (who has a PhD) why getting out of debt is an important part of financial planning. (of course wondering the whole time, who gave this guy a degree and does he really do this for a living?)
59. When you cry whenever someone calls Dave and screams "We’re DEBT-FREE!!!!".
60. When your girlfriend asks you, "Is Dave coming on the honeymoon, too?"
61. When your broke, completely-unaware-of-the-irony-coworker with: a mortgage, car payment, credit card debt, and a financed 55 inch TV tells you that renting is throwing your money away.
62. You see a possible 'FOR SALE' sign in every 70’s-80’s model, egg shell blue car on your daily commute!
63. When you are watching Sponge Bob Square Pants, who is talking about kids spending their allowance on their summer vacation, and you think "I can't believe their parents give them allowance! They need to be EARNING COMMISSIONS!!!"
64. When your car dies and your well-meaning father offers to give you $25k of your "inheritance" early, if you will go buy a new car with it, and you say, "Thanks, I'm buying a car with the $3k I have saved for that purpose. But, if you really want to send me the money, do part of it this year, part next so I avoid paying taxes on it, and I'll slap it all on the mortgage."
65. When one of the highlights of your day is bringing in the mail and your two year old daughter's face lights up as she says, "Daddy, is that another bad credit card!!" because she can't wait to help you take the application to the shredder.
66. When you call the insurance company that you have (had) a Universal Life Policy with and the customer service rep asks "Are surrendering the policy because you have had a problem with the company?" and you reply, "NO!!! I'm getting DEBT FREE!!" and she asks, "How??" Of course you can't keep a secret, so you tell her about DR and TMMO. She says, "Wow, I need that!!"
67. When your creditor calls you to negotiate and you happily share your "Ramsey" outlook on life and ask them if they know what a debt snowball is.
68. Instead of getting a cup of coffee on a break, you pop in to get caught up on the Dave Ramsey forums’ posts.
69. When you buy a dresser from a furniture store with cash and they can't come up with the change of $10.05. The salesmen and women get together to see who has enough pocket change. "Honey I don't see a cash register near the stack of credit applications."
70. You spend your $20 that you budgeted on entertainment for the month to buy a copy of The Total Money Makeover.
71. You pull an all nighter (until 6AM) downloading, updating, and categorizing the last 5 months account statements into MS Money to get a better look at what you've been doing so you can STOP IT!!!
72. When you are living like no one else and everybody thinks you are broke just like they are. When tell your co-workers you OWN all the stuff you have outright they don't believe you, because the idea of owning something nice without having payments boggles their mind. Normal people think only the "rich" can have nice stuff and own it outright, not the people you work with ...
73. You start thinking that Jesus must have been on this program and must have really cut the grocery % by eating bread and drinking water.
74. You start wondering around the house looking at different designs in the ceiling because your "blow" money is gone.
75. You're at your one of your three jobs and you overhear someone ask an elderly relative for money, saying "You know I wouldn't do this if I didn't have to" and you think, "You know you wouldn't have to do that if you sold that brand-new car out there! And what other toys do you have?"
76. You see someone buying bottled water, and think "That stuff's $4 a gallon! And you complain about gas prices!"
77. You feel sorry for the people around you who spend money like it's water...
78. When you tell your Kids to apply the "Dave Ramsey" lifestyle to their Animal Crossing game and they celebrate because they are "Debt free!"
79. When a family member suggests to you that you need to get a NEW car because your six year old car will surely break down, your son tells Grandpa that car repairs are a lot CHEAPER than car payments plus insurance every month! (Go Joe, GO!)
80. When you apply for a mortgage and they ask you about your payments trying to figure out you debt to income ratio, and you tell them you don't have payments!! Of course they are baffled by this concept ...
81. When you can't watch these home improvement shows, like Landscape, and wonder if their house is paid for and are they paying cash for all that work.
82. When you see a young couple looking at a new Mustang with those starry eyes and drool running down their chin and all you want to do is scream " RUN, RUN, IT IS A CHEETAH dressed like a car"!!
83. When you take the usual $20-30 that you would have paid for one dinner out- You take that to the grocery store to buy 5-6 dinners instead=) WITH COUPONS!
84. When you create a budget that outlines the spending of your Christmas and Birthday Amazon.com Gift Certificates when you received them. AND when you spent them, it hurt just as much as CASH!
85. Your "Blow" money for the month is $40, and the thing you want to blow it on costs $45, so you make yourself wait until the following month...
86. You actually pay most of your utilities ahead one month, as opposed to one month late like you used to.
87. You thoroughly enjoy the look on the cashiers face when she asks "would you like to open an xyz account with us", and you tell her you don't believe in credit cards.
88. Your tenth (yes tenth) child is born and you feel a sense of excitement (after the initial rush or excitement and emotion due to the birth) come over you because you realize that your tax return will be a lot bigger and getting out of debt is that much closer.
89. You continue to eat MREs even after your power is restored because you don't want to spend the money to restock the fridge.
90. When you look at your bed with an eye for including it in the garage sale and you realize that you have to sleep SOMEWHERE!
91. Your 8 year old Daughter gives a gift of $5 to one of her classmates and can't believe she spends it all at the school store - "she didn't save any or give any to God".
92. When somebody at coffee break mentions charging something on a credit card, and the entire group cringes and looks out the sides of their eyes at YOU... because they know "them’s fighting words."
93. When you want to scream at a co-worker who 1) makes twice what you do w/ her dh's income, 2) but has already declared bankruptcy once 3) just bought a new house 4) and borrowed the down payment from **her parents** 5) mentions that her dad makes her car payment 6) and wonders why her in-laws won't "help" her with a medical bill....when you want to scream: "Me and my husband don't need "help" from anyone, why do you?"
94. When you are a finance Manager at a car dealership and the only thing you can think of when you are doing the paper work is how much money this person is wasting. I do this every day, it may be time for a career change!!!
95. When you freak out while having an MRI and you calm yourself by going over your budget and snowball. I DID this today!
96. When you’ve just started the program and your diamond falls out of your wedding set and the insurance gives you a check...and you decide to use it on debt snowball and save for a new one when you can buy it with cash and are debt free!
97. When a family member invites you out to dinner, their treat... and you reply "Great, as long as we don't go somewhere that serves beans OR rice!"
98. When you see a Hummer driving down the road, and smile, thinking "hey Dave, Daniel's going to put one of these in your driveway in three years!"
99. When you wander through the kitchen appliances section of Target, and your only thought is about what each of these gadgets would do to a credit card.
100. When you look back over this list and you realize that you have done most of the stuff on it.
101. You have so many jobs you’ve taken to wearing the different uniforms over each other, superman style.
102. You have sold so much stuff, the kids aren’t just afraid they’re next, they’ve gone into hiding!
103. Taking the family out to lunch entails a trip to Costco on sample day!
104. You have fought homeless people for aluminum cans to recycle.
105. You make an entire mortgage payment with rolled change found in couch cushions, on the street, and in vending machine change returns.
106. You are almost done writing a cookbook entitled ‘Five Thousand ways to prepare beans and rice, and love it’.ï¾
107. You have changed the names of your three boys from Bobby, Tim, and Joe, to Blake Thompson, Brian Kirsch, and Lara Mayes Johnson.
108. You don’t understand why you never see FPU in the collegiate sports listings.
109. You attempt to bargain with a vending machine. Using ‘walk away power’ does not seem to work, however.
110. You took ‘Shaving the head and drinking the kool-aid’ to heart. It’s cheaper than going to the barber shop or buying soda. As an added plus, you now have a remote resemblance to DAVE!!!
111. You stand outside, staring at the power meter, yelling ‘It’s spinning too fast, turn something off!!!’ to your wife.
112.Even your pets are on the envelope system.
113 You go to sleep at night thinking about money instead of trying NOT to think about money....and you get a good night's sleep.
114 When you put gallon and quart sized Ziploc bags on your birthday and christmas list and really hope you get them.
115. DaveRamsey.com is down and you spend your whole Saturday morning hitting "refresh" and praying it will come up *this* time!
119. Your wife starts referring to Dave Ramsey as "your new pastor".
120. You actually look at how many times you posted on this site.
121. You post to this site major accomplishments/milestones before you call your mom and dad.
123. You see one of those giant brand new cars on the road (like a Hummer or Expedition) and you *really* see half your house worth driving down the road!
124. You do the happy dance when your son decides to sell the car that is worth more than his annual income.
125. You see one of those stupid Capital One commercials on TV and when the dude says, "What's in YOUR wallet?", you scream, "CASH!"
126. When your nine year old looks at you on Christmas Day after opening his presents and says, "I hope this all was in the BUDGET!"
127. When the same 9 year old destroys a brand new pair of school pants by doing something that he was told not to do (running in a freshly painted room)...and Grandma offers to take him out... tells Grandma, "Do you have anything that you need help with around your house? I messed up my school pants and Mom says that they'll cost $15 to replace. I need to earn extra money because buying a new pair was not in the budget."
128. When you make a big bargain purchase (new fridge) and capture the teaching moment by handing the cash to your ten year old so she can count out the "Uncle Bens" for the cashier.
129. When you're happy that someone nailed the side of DH's truck while you were out to dinner (using XMAS gift cards to pay). Happy because the insurance paid for a complete repair. Problem is that the repaired door would look to "pretty" for the ole' truck. Took the money, put it toward debt and decided to just fall in love with the new dented door... 185K miles and chugging along with the 1997 GMC Yukon.
130. When your husband states, "I will not give you the receipt from your Christmas Gift to enter into our budget spreadsheet..."
131. When you find yourself asking your neighbor what she's planning to do with her child's awesome winter parka when her child grows out of it. Hmmm, that stinker is now mine, along with matching snow pants. I traded her for some sweaters that came from my nephew for my daughter. They're still too big! And, I am a clothing SNOB in recovery.
132. When you enjoy paying on a loan almost as much as what you got the loan for back before you heard of Dave.
133. When you can't wait to get paid so that you can pay more bills.
134. When you cancel the newspaper because you can read the news online, get the coupons from your neighbor, and you're not going to buy anything from those silly flyers anyway!
135. Your 4 yr. old daughter tells your co-worker that she's gonna get a brown horse after we're done with our "money makeover."
136. When you're playing Junior Monopoly with your 6 year old and he lands on a property and doesn't buy it because "it's too expensive!" Well, he ended up WINNING because I spent all my money BUYING properties and he got his for FREE from getting Chance cards (junior monopoly is a little different).
137. You call your Dad and tell him he was right about everything and tell him he'd LOVE Dave!!!
138. Your 15 year old daughter has started her own emergency fund to use for her 1970 VW bus that she won't even be driving for another year.
139. When trying to get a second job, you put on your resume that you graduated from Financial Peace University and the interviewer is impressed.
140. When you can go through the house for the 6th time in three years and still find stuff to sell for the snowball.
141. When you're glad it's raining because that means you don't have to pay for the water to wash your car.
142. When you're glad it's sunny because you can hang your laundry to dry and save the $ it would cost to run the dryer.
143. When your spouse checks the boards and reads your posts to see how your day was.
144. When you hear someone say "I'll charge it." and immediately have restrain yourself from lecturing them.
1. When walking through the parking lot, you stop and think, "Wow, that's a fine car......I wonder if it's paid for."
2. You watch someone pay for a paper, coffee & cigarettes with a credit card and you silently pray "Forgive them Father, they know not what they do."
3. Your nine-year-old with a terminal case of "stuffitis" starts asking, "Mom, is this in the budget???"
4. You have sold your big red truck and your camper to speed up your snowball to reduce your debt by $40,000 in less than 4 months, only 8 more months to go.
5. You can start a crazy thread like this one, laugh at the craziness, but realize this used to be your way of life.
6. When you see people are driving a 12 year old car and see another one driving by and think...Yeah baby, smells like money to me!!!
7. Your friend just bought a new car and is bragging about how he got such a great deal, then you run the #'s, your friend realizes he gave his trade to the dealer and had the balance owed on it rolled into the new car loan. "told ya $500 per month for 5 years DOESN'T equal $15K !! (the amount your friend said he got his new car for)"
8. You overhear your 11 year old daughter is telling her friends that "Credit Cards Reek!"
9. You no longer ask "How much is that a month?" and do ask "How much is that?"
10. Just shake your head when your office partner uses one credit card to pay the minimum due on another. And gleefully think this is the way you used to live. (This incident just happened about 10 minutes ago)
11. Your 9 year old son tells a customer in Wal-Mart who's buying a CD player on credit that "by the time you pay that thing off my mother will be a GRANDMOTHER!" (True story.)
12. Romantic talks with your spouse center around being debt free
13. You've actually got a plan to get out of debt that doesn't involve consolidating all of your debt into more debt.
14. You spend your tax return on debt repayment instead of a down payment on a new snowmobile...and you adjust your withholdings so you don't get another return next year.
15. Your co-workers are laughing at you for brown bagging your lunch and your laughing at them for going out to eat everyday.
16. Your peers laugh at you because you live in a paid for cracker box while they are a payday away form loosing their house ...
17. You have traded out the pleasures of the debit card to stand in the 20 minute long line at the bank each payday to get cash in certain denominations so that you can fully fund all of your envelopes to pay cash for everything until the next payday. And you gladly continue to do it because you save 12-17% more than using plastic, you are "really telling your money where to go" and you can "hurt" a little more when you spend it.
18. When your car breaks down and instead of crying, "Oh, no!" you say, "Oh, well."
19. You tell your 15 year old daughter if she wants a prom dress she has to work for US! (We paid her minimum wage to EARN it)
20. You start selling candy to your school bus kids to get out of debt quicker!
21. You create a detailed spreadsheet of you home loan showing the rate of interest per day, hour and minute and changing that rate every time you make a principal only payment or when a normal monthly payment occurs. Yup...I do that!!
22. You listen to the Kenny Chesney song "A lot of Things Different" and instead of thinking of missed chances and lost loves you think of lost dollars! Yep, I'm weird.
23.When you work 70 hrs a week and want more. And love it!!!!!!!!!
24. You look forward to getting calls from companies advertising credit cards so you can explain how and why you want to be debt free (and why they should too)
25. You think: if I played the lottery and won 100,000..... $34000 would go to taxes, $6995 would pay off my van, $6000 would fund my Roths for the year, and then try to calculate how much you would need to fully fund your 403(b)s for the year (around 22,000). Then you think how much of the remaining $31000 would I put in the kids college fund and how much would I blow on a vacation. (Let's see, $25,000 for the college funds and about $6000 to take the kids to Disney)
26. When you look forward to debt CON-solidation companies calling you about how they can reduce your interest rates/payments, and you tell them "The only way to reduce MY payments is to pay ME, cause I don't have no stinkin' payments !!"
27. When your friends tell you that a CC is needed for emergencies and you explain to them MONEY also works in case of emergency.
28. When you and DH discuss your anniversary, you suggest going to Nashville to see Dave's office and meet him, and DH thinks it's a really good idea! (Yes, this is true...we did it in January!)
29. When credit card bills stop being a cause for depression and stop being a surprise because you know EXACTLY where your money is going.
30. When your landline phone doesn't ring for days, and you don't dread it ringing anymore!
31. When you look forward to getting your monthly bills!
32. When you back into your friend's car you say "Dang Murphy!", and don't panic because you know you have an EF for such things.
33. When you look at other cars on the road that are exactly like the one you're trying to sell and think, "Man! I bet they're WAY in debt with that SUV!"
34. Someone at the office mentions that he paid $2.75 for his daily morning purchase of a Starbucks coffee when it usually costs only $2.25, and you think Hmmm, $2.25 every weekday, that's $11.25 every week, over $45 a month, and probably over a million dollar expense over a few decades considering what a good investment of the same money would yield.
35. When the cashier at Kohl's invites you to apply for a charge card by saying, "The interest rate is only 5.9%," and you reply, "No thanks, cash is at zero percent."
36. When your go into an "Everything's a Dollar" store, your kid, seeing a toy he wants, says "Is that on sale?”
37. When you pick up a penny on the parking lot, not because it's "heads up" or lucky, but because you'll add it to your debt snowball jar when you get home!
38. When you consider picking up your dinner plates (with rice & beans, beans & rice) and going to the porch "Eating Out"!
39. You start potty training your son because (and ONLY because) you want to cut diapers out of the budget.
40. You confuse a half dozen bankers because you're trying to setup an automatic recurring DEPOSIT INTO the account.
41. When someone calls to offer you a great investment opportunity to triple your money in just 60-90 days, ask the guy why, if his commodities investments are so good, is he sitting in a telemarketing cubicle trying to get YOU to be like him.
42. When your 11-year old son, seeing you use a debit card at the checkout line, yells out "That isn't a credit card, is it?" and when you assure him it is not, he yells out "Good, because credit cards are stupid!"
43. When your 10-year old daughter offers to donate her commission to help retire the debt.
44. When your eating out with friends and you hear the music in the background and you tell your friends " This is Dave Ramsey music". They look at you weird and say "Huh uh, this is Pink Floyd. Who is Dave Ramsey? What does he sing?" lol Then you start explaining.
45. When someone asks you for financial advice you begin each statement with, "Well, Dave says..."
46. You refer to the Total Money Makeover as your financial bible.
47. You see a cookbook titled "101 Tasty Ramen Noodle Dishes" and think, "Lightweights. Only 101???"
48. When your usual greeting to your coworkers changes from "what have you been up to lately" to "what have you sold lately?"
49: When somebody asks you how you are doing, you reply "Better than I deserve"
50. When the cashier at Wal-Mart, seeing your envelopes, asks "You listen to Ramsey too, eh?"
51. When your co-workers roll their eyes when you start a sentence with, "Well Dave says......"
52. When your 7 year old begins a conversation with the doctor by saying, "We're getting out of debt..."
53. When a server at a fast food place, when you pull out your Financial Peace envelopes, suggests a non-advertised sale since "I know you're looking to save money..."
54. When your dog dies, and after the initial sadness passes, you are comforted by the realization you're going to save at least $10 per month on dog food! (Sorry, true story!)
55. When your family and friends tell you that working 3 jobs is "working too hard" and you take it as a compliment!
56. Seeing a "Pre-Approved, 0% for 6 months" envelope in your mailbox automatically makes you yell "CHEEEEEEETTTTAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!!!"
57. You use dollar store paper towels as coffee filters, and reuse coffee grounds.
58. You explain to your certified financial planner (who has a PhD) why getting out of debt is an important part of financial planning. (of course wondering the whole time, who gave this guy a degree and does he really do this for a living?)
59. When you cry whenever someone calls Dave and screams "We’re DEBT-FREE!!!!".
60. When your girlfriend asks you, "Is Dave coming on the honeymoon, too?"
61. When your broke, completely-unaware-of-the-irony-coworker with: a mortgage, car payment, credit card debt, and a financed 55 inch TV tells you that renting is throwing your money away.
62. You see a possible 'FOR SALE' sign in every 70’s-80’s model, egg shell blue car on your daily commute!
63. When you are watching Sponge Bob Square Pants, who is talking about kids spending their allowance on their summer vacation, and you think "I can't believe their parents give them allowance! They need to be EARNING COMMISSIONS!!!"
64. When your car dies and your well-meaning father offers to give you $25k of your "inheritance" early, if you will go buy a new car with it, and you say, "Thanks, I'm buying a car with the $3k I have saved for that purpose. But, if you really want to send me the money, do part of it this year, part next so I avoid paying taxes on it, and I'll slap it all on the mortgage."
65. When one of the highlights of your day is bringing in the mail and your two year old daughter's face lights up as she says, "Daddy, is that another bad credit card!!" because she can't wait to help you take the application to the shredder.
66. When you call the insurance company that you have (had) a Universal Life Policy with and the customer service rep asks "Are surrendering the policy because you have had a problem with the company?" and you reply, "NO!!! I'm getting DEBT FREE!!" and she asks, "How??" Of course you can't keep a secret, so you tell her about DR and TMMO. She says, "Wow, I need that!!"
67. When your creditor calls you to negotiate and you happily share your "Ramsey" outlook on life and ask them if they know what a debt snowball is.
68. Instead of getting a cup of coffee on a break, you pop in to get caught up on the Dave Ramsey forums’ posts.
69. When you buy a dresser from a furniture store with cash and they can't come up with the change of $10.05. The salesmen and women get together to see who has enough pocket change. "Honey I don't see a cash register near the stack of credit applications."
70. You spend your $20 that you budgeted on entertainment for the month to buy a copy of The Total Money Makeover.
71. You pull an all nighter (until 6AM) downloading, updating, and categorizing the last 5 months account statements into MS Money to get a better look at what you've been doing so you can STOP IT!!!
72. When you are living like no one else and everybody thinks you are broke just like they are. When tell your co-workers you OWN all the stuff you have outright they don't believe you, because the idea of owning something nice without having payments boggles their mind. Normal people think only the "rich" can have nice stuff and own it outright, not the people you work with ...
73. You start thinking that Jesus must have been on this program and must have really cut the grocery % by eating bread and drinking water.
74. You start wondering around the house looking at different designs in the ceiling because your "blow" money is gone.
75. You're at your one of your three jobs and you overhear someone ask an elderly relative for money, saying "You know I wouldn't do this if I didn't have to" and you think, "You know you wouldn't have to do that if you sold that brand-new car out there! And what other toys do you have?"
76. You see someone buying bottled water, and think "That stuff's $4 a gallon! And you complain about gas prices!"
77. You feel sorry for the people around you who spend money like it's water...
78. When you tell your Kids to apply the "Dave Ramsey" lifestyle to their Animal Crossing game and they celebrate because they are "Debt free!"
79. When a family member suggests to you that you need to get a NEW car because your six year old car will surely break down, your son tells Grandpa that car repairs are a lot CHEAPER than car payments plus insurance every month! (Go Joe, GO!)
80. When you apply for a mortgage and they ask you about your payments trying to figure out you debt to income ratio, and you tell them you don't have payments!! Of course they are baffled by this concept ...
81. When you can't watch these home improvement shows, like Landscape, and wonder if their house is paid for and are they paying cash for all that work.
82. When you see a young couple looking at a new Mustang with those starry eyes and drool running down their chin and all you want to do is scream " RUN, RUN, IT IS A CHEETAH dressed like a car"!!
83. When you take the usual $20-30 that you would have paid for one dinner out- You take that to the grocery store to buy 5-6 dinners instead=) WITH COUPONS!
84. When you create a budget that outlines the spending of your Christmas and Birthday Amazon.com Gift Certificates when you received them. AND when you spent them, it hurt just as much as CASH!
85. Your "Blow" money for the month is $40, and the thing you want to blow it on costs $45, so you make yourself wait until the following month...
86. You actually pay most of your utilities ahead one month, as opposed to one month late like you used to.
87. You thoroughly enjoy the look on the cashiers face when she asks "would you like to open an xyz account with us", and you tell her you don't believe in credit cards.
88. Your tenth (yes tenth) child is born and you feel a sense of excitement (after the initial rush or excitement and emotion due to the birth) come over you because you realize that your tax return will be a lot bigger and getting out of debt is that much closer.
89. You continue to eat MREs even after your power is restored because you don't want to spend the money to restock the fridge.
90. When you look at your bed with an eye for including it in the garage sale and you realize that you have to sleep SOMEWHERE!
91. Your 8 year old Daughter gives a gift of $5 to one of her classmates and can't believe she spends it all at the school store - "she didn't save any or give any to God".
92. When somebody at coffee break mentions charging something on a credit card, and the entire group cringes and looks out the sides of their eyes at YOU... because they know "them’s fighting words."
93. When you want to scream at a co-worker who 1) makes twice what you do w/ her dh's income, 2) but has already declared bankruptcy once 3) just bought a new house 4) and borrowed the down payment from **her parents** 5) mentions that her dad makes her car payment 6) and wonders why her in-laws won't "help" her with a medical bill....when you want to scream: "Me and my husband don't need "help" from anyone, why do you?"
94. When you are a finance Manager at a car dealership and the only thing you can think of when you are doing the paper work is how much money this person is wasting. I do this every day, it may be time for a career change!!!
95. When you freak out while having an MRI and you calm yourself by going over your budget and snowball. I DID this today!
96. When you’ve just started the program and your diamond falls out of your wedding set and the insurance gives you a check...and you decide to use it on debt snowball and save for a new one when you can buy it with cash and are debt free!
97. When a family member invites you out to dinner, their treat... and you reply "Great, as long as we don't go somewhere that serves beans OR rice!"
98. When you see a Hummer driving down the road, and smile, thinking "hey Dave, Daniel's going to put one of these in your driveway in three years!"
99. When you wander through the kitchen appliances section of Target, and your only thought is about what each of these gadgets would do to a credit card.
100. When you look back over this list and you realize that you have done most of the stuff on it.
101. You have so many jobs you’ve taken to wearing the different uniforms over each other, superman style.
102. You have sold so much stuff, the kids aren’t just afraid they’re next, they’ve gone into hiding!
103. Taking the family out to lunch entails a trip to Costco on sample day!
104. You have fought homeless people for aluminum cans to recycle.
105. You make an entire mortgage payment with rolled change found in couch cushions, on the street, and in vending machine change returns.
106. You are almost done writing a cookbook entitled ‘Five Thousand ways to prepare beans and rice, and love it’.ï¾
107. You have changed the names of your three boys from Bobby, Tim, and Joe, to Blake Thompson, Brian Kirsch, and Lara Mayes Johnson.
108. You don’t understand why you never see FPU in the collegiate sports listings.
109. You attempt to bargain with a vending machine. Using ‘walk away power’ does not seem to work, however.
110. You took ‘Shaving the head and drinking the kool-aid’ to heart. It’s cheaper than going to the barber shop or buying soda. As an added plus, you now have a remote resemblance to DAVE!!!
111. You stand outside, staring at the power meter, yelling ‘It’s spinning too fast, turn something off!!!’ to your wife.
112.Even your pets are on the envelope system.
113 You go to sleep at night thinking about money instead of trying NOT to think about money....and you get a good night's sleep.
114 When you put gallon and quart sized Ziploc bags on your birthday and christmas list and really hope you get them.
115. DaveRamsey.com is down and you spend your whole Saturday morning hitting "refresh" and praying it will come up *this* time!
119. Your wife starts referring to Dave Ramsey as "your new pastor".
120. You actually look at how many times you posted on this site.
121. You post to this site major accomplishments/milestones before you call your mom and dad.
123. You see one of those giant brand new cars on the road (like a Hummer or Expedition) and you *really* see half your house worth driving down the road!
124. You do the happy dance when your son decides to sell the car that is worth more than his annual income.
125. You see one of those stupid Capital One commercials on TV and when the dude says, "What's in YOUR wallet?", you scream, "CASH!"
126. When your nine year old looks at you on Christmas Day after opening his presents and says, "I hope this all was in the BUDGET!"
127. When the same 9 year old destroys a brand new pair of school pants by doing something that he was told not to do (running in a freshly painted room)...and Grandma offers to take him out... tells Grandma, "Do you have anything that you need help with around your house? I messed up my school pants and Mom says that they'll cost $15 to replace. I need to earn extra money because buying a new pair was not in the budget."
128. When you make a big bargain purchase (new fridge) and capture the teaching moment by handing the cash to your ten year old so she can count out the "Uncle Bens" for the cashier.
129. When you're happy that someone nailed the side of DH's truck while you were out to dinner (using XMAS gift cards to pay). Happy because the insurance paid for a complete repair. Problem is that the repaired door would look to "pretty" for the ole' truck. Took the money, put it toward debt and decided to just fall in love with the new dented door... 185K miles and chugging along with the 1997 GMC Yukon.
130. When your husband states, "I will not give you the receipt from your Christmas Gift to enter into our budget spreadsheet..."
131. When you find yourself asking your neighbor what she's planning to do with her child's awesome winter parka when her child grows out of it. Hmmm, that stinker is now mine, along with matching snow pants. I traded her for some sweaters that came from my nephew for my daughter. They're still too big! And, I am a clothing SNOB in recovery.
132. When you enjoy paying on a loan almost as much as what you got the loan for back before you heard of Dave.
133. When you can't wait to get paid so that you can pay more bills.
134. When you cancel the newspaper because you can read the news online, get the coupons from your neighbor, and you're not going to buy anything from those silly flyers anyway!
135. Your 4 yr. old daughter tells your co-worker that she's gonna get a brown horse after we're done with our "money makeover."
136. When you're playing Junior Monopoly with your 6 year old and he lands on a property and doesn't buy it because "it's too expensive!" Well, he ended up WINNING because I spent all my money BUYING properties and he got his for FREE from getting Chance cards (junior monopoly is a little different).
137. You call your Dad and tell him he was right about everything and tell him he'd LOVE Dave!!!
138. Your 15 year old daughter has started her own emergency fund to use for her 1970 VW bus that she won't even be driving for another year.
139. When trying to get a second job, you put on your resume that you graduated from Financial Peace University and the interviewer is impressed.
140. When you can go through the house for the 6th time in three years and still find stuff to sell for the snowball.
141. When you're glad it's raining because that means you don't have to pay for the water to wash your car.
142. When you're glad it's sunny because you can hang your laundry to dry and save the $ it would cost to run the dryer.
143. When your spouse checks the boards and reads your posts to see how your day was.
144. When you hear someone say "I'll charge it." and immediately have restrain yourself from lecturing them.
Square Foot Gardening
Frugal Dad has a great tutorial on Square Foot Gardening: How to Build a Square Foot Garden
I would like to point out that you can use anything for your bed... old trash picked waterbed frame, cinder blocks, wood from an old pallet, other scrap wood (old table top, for example)...
I highly recommend the book Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew. My copy is at least 10 years old, and I am re-reading it this month to prepare for planting my earthboxes.
Even if you don't have the space or inclination for square foot gardening, the information in the back of the book about when to start your seeds is worth reading.
I would like to point out that you can use anything for your bed... old trash picked waterbed frame, cinder blocks, wood from an old pallet, other scrap wood (old table top, for example)...
I highly recommend the book Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew. My copy is at least 10 years old, and I am re-reading it this month to prepare for planting my earthboxes.
Even if you don't have the space or inclination for square foot gardening, the information in the back of the book about when to start your seeds is worth reading.
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Weekly Menu - The 'Hey! This is getting easier!' Edition
We are doing pretty well with SCD. I made a mistake and didn't check our vanilla for sugar and made waffles the other day. We both had a bad reaction and thought for sure that it was the almond flour until last night when Alex discovered the sugar in the vanilla. Really. Who would have thought that there was sugar in vanilla? (Maybe I should have...) I assumed that because it said it was "pure vanilla extract" it would be ok. Guess I was wrong.So much of our diet before was based on carbs that it is going to take a bit for our tastes to change. I think I am going to just serve hunk of meat, side of veg and fruit until we has been away from this stuff long enough that we don't crave it.
After much searching and experimentation, we have decided to use the Midas Gold Pancake/Waffle recipe from BTVC as a sandwich bread. The inspiration for this came from a SCD website that had a "fun for kids" sandwich pancake that had cheese in it. Only one boy liked it. They all love the Midas Gold recipe, so what the heck, right?
As always, all meals are served with a salad, fruit and vegetable (for those who can tolerate.)
3/09 - Sunday
B: Pancakes, fruit
L: Late breakfast so we snacked on fruit
D: Meatloaf
3/10 - Monday
B: Fruit, Yogurt
L: PB&J, fresh fruit & Veggies
D: Grilled pork chops, steamed broccoli, SCD applesauce (Ended up not having these last week because I forgot to pull them from the freezer. Doh!)
3/11 - Tuesday
B: Fruit, Yogurt
L: Hamburgers
D: Eggs cooked w/ various vegetables and cheese
3/12 - Wednesday
B: Fruit, Yogurt
L: PB&J, fresh fruit & Veggies
D: Roasted chicken
3/13 - Thursday
B: Fruit, Yogurt
L: Grilled cheese sandwiches
D: Honey Garlic Chicken Drummettes, fruit, vegetable
3/14 - Friday
B: Fruit, Yogurt
L: Honey Garlic Chicken Drummettes, fruit, vegetable
D: Taco salad w/o tortilla chips, fruit, vegetable
3/15 - Saturday
B: Fruit, Yogurt
L: Taco salad w/o tortilla chips, fruit, vegetable
D: Jamaican Jerked Chicken
Picture from flickr
Saturday, March 08, 2008
Mason Jars, Blenders and a DIY Magic Bullet
Really! Is this not just the coolest thing ever?
Elise at Simply Recipes shares a great tip. Apparently, you can use Mason jars with your blender (provided that it fits.) I checked, and mine does!
You can use it as a coffee grinder, spice grinder, to make mayo, etc. The only thing that I would point out is what someone mentioned in the comments section.
I have always wanted one of those Magic Bullet things for smoothies but am way too cheap to buy one. Now, I am going to keep my eyes open for those Mason Jar glasses I see at thrift stores and yard sales. DIY Magic Bullet!
Elise at Simply Recipes shares a great tip. Apparently, you can use Mason jars with your blender (provided that it fits.) I checked, and mine does!
You can use it as a coffee grinder, spice grinder, to make mayo, etc. The only thing that I would point out is what someone mentioned in the comments section.
Be very careful when doing this. Liquids (esp hot soups, etc.) can cause strange pressure changes in a blender and would, at best, make a mess if you used a glass jar.
I have always wanted one of those Magic Bullet things for smoothies but am way too cheap to buy one. Now, I am going to keep my eyes open for those Mason Jar glasses I see at thrift stores and yard sales. DIY Magic Bullet!
The M-Network Series on Dave Ramsey’s 7 Baby Steps
In case you haven't read it, The M-Network ran a series on Dave Ramsey's Baby Steps.There are quite a few reviews written about the series, so I won't bother. We all know I worship at the altar of Dave Ramsey, so obviously I think it is worth a read.
Introduction at Cash Money Life
Baby Step 0 at DebtFREE-Revolution and Single Guy Money
Baby Step 1 at Gather Little By Little
Baby Step 2 at I've Paid For This Twice Already...
Baby Step 3 at Being Frugal
Baby Step 4 at The Dough Roller
Baby Step 5 at My Two Dollars
Baby Step 6 at Moolanomy
Baby Step 7 at Plonkee Money
(Photo courtesy of daveramsey.com)
Friday, March 07, 2008
I am so mad!!
Marty got a call today from the apartment manager at the new place. They called our current place and were given a bad reference, so they can't rent to us.
I called the new place and she told me all kinds of things that are 1) untrue and 2) illegal to tell them even if they were true.
So I called the current place. They didn't give a reference, and don't give them. Manager of current place is mad, and says she is going to call and find out who it was. She calls, and leaves the office for a few minutes.
I called the new place back. She won't tell me the name, but said it was "not a manager, but an employee." There is only one "not a manager, but an employee." It was the maintenance man. You know... the one that I am having problems with. The one who is about to lose his job because he made a rude comment about me, to me. The one who is being named in the small claims case I am bringing against this place. Yeah... that one.
Manager of new place assured me that she and the manager of current place are handling it, and that we are still accepted.
I am currently waiting to hear back from the manager of current place. I swear to you I feel like if this guy has a job on Monday I am calling a lawyer.
What would you do?
What???
I called the new place and she told me all kinds of things that are 1) untrue and 2) illegal to tell them even if they were true.
So I called the current place. They didn't give a reference, and don't give them. Manager of current place is mad, and says she is going to call and find out who it was. She calls, and leaves the office for a few minutes.
I called the new place back. She won't tell me the name, but said it was "not a manager, but an employee." There is only one "not a manager, but an employee." It was the maintenance man. You know... the one that I am having problems with. The one who is about to lose his job because he made a rude comment about me, to me. The one who is being named in the small claims case I am bringing against this place. Yeah... that one.
Manager of new place assured me that she and the manager of current place are handling it, and that we are still accepted.
I am currently waiting to hear back from the manager of current place. I swear to you I feel like if this guy has a job on Monday I am calling a lawyer.
What would you do?
Huge Apartment News
We went to look at this killer apartment yesterday... and we were accepted! W00t!
What makes it killer, you ask? Is it the banging 60's kitchen cabinets? The 3rd floor walk up? The laundry room in the basement? Nope. It is the fact that it is $279 less than this place, they pay our heat (As God is my witness, I'll never be frozen again) we get a membership to the local gym, the heated indoor pool, kick-butt clubhouse with a pool table, air hockey table and ping pong table... and did I mention that they pay our heat?
Our current place is:
Living Room: 17'5" x 12'
Dining Room: 8'6" x 9'6"
Master Bedroom: 10'6" x 18'4"
Bedroom 1: 11'8" x 9'
Bedroom 2: 10' x 9'
Garage: 22'x 11'
The street that Ethan's good friend lives on dead ends right into the complex, so Ethan is ready to move in NOW. I am tired of fighting with the maintenance man here, so I am ready NOW, too.
Now, this is where I need your help. They currently don't have a 3 bedroom open, but the manager said that they sent a bunch of renewal notices out this month so she is confident that there will be an opening. (Luckily we don't need the place until the end of May.) So, prayers, good thoughts, etc are greatly appreciated.
What makes it killer, you ask? Is it the banging 60's kitchen cabinets? The 3rd floor walk up? The laundry room in the basement? Nope. It is the fact that it is $279 less than this place, they pay our heat (As God is my witness, I'll never be frozen again) we get a membership to the local gym, the heated indoor pool, kick-butt clubhouse with a pool table, air hockey table and ping pong table... and did I mention that they pay our heat?
Our current place is:
Living Room: 17'5" x 12'
Dining Room: 8'6" x 9'6"
Master Bedroom: 10'6" x 18'4"
Bedroom 1: 11'8" x 9'
Bedroom 2: 10' x 9'
Garage: 22'x 11'
The street that Ethan's good friend lives on dead ends right into the complex, so Ethan is ready to move in NOW. I am tired of fighting with the maintenance man here, so I am ready NOW, too.
Now, this is where I need your help. They currently don't have a 3 bedroom open, but the manager said that they sent a bunch of renewal notices out this month so she is confident that there will be an opening. (Luckily we don't need the place until the end of May.) So, prayers, good thoughts, etc are greatly appreciated.
Almond Flour
First, let me just say that if you are in the market for almond flour or other SCD products, Lucy's Kitchen Shop is my recommendation.
I spent quite a bit of time on the phone with her on Monday. First of all, Lucy has been on the SCD herself for 16 years. She answered all of my questions, offered some tips and made it clear that if I had any more questions, she was just a phone call away. (People have posted on my SCD list that they have spent upwards of two hours on the phone with her.)
The shipping is amazing. I ordered Monday afternoon and my order was here Wednesday! And she is in Washington state!
I ordered Lucy's cookbook and I have to say there are only 3 recipes in it that I don't think I will like (they contain olives, hot peppers and salmon - three things I don't like.) I have decided to use Lucy's cookbook for my101 106 in 1001 cookbook.
Now, on to the almond flour. We love it! I made the Midas Gold Waffles (all the way at the bottom) and they were gooooood. Most importantly, they didn't upset Alex's tummy.
I spent quite a bit of time on the phone with her on Monday. First of all, Lucy has been on the SCD herself for 16 years. She answered all of my questions, offered some tips and made it clear that if I had any more questions, she was just a phone call away. (People have posted on my SCD list that they have spent upwards of two hours on the phone with her.)
The shipping is amazing. I ordered Monday afternoon and my order was here Wednesday! And she is in Washington state!
I ordered Lucy's cookbook and I have to say there are only 3 recipes in it that I don't think I will like (they contain olives, hot peppers and salmon - three things I don't like.) I have decided to use Lucy's cookbook for my
Now, on to the almond flour. We love it! I made the Midas Gold Waffles (all the way at the bottom) and they were gooooood. Most importantly, they didn't upset Alex's tummy.
Financial Peace University - Week 6
Another great FPU lesson. I wasn't sure how relevant this lesson would be to us because, well, we don't really buy things. Boy was I surprised. He talked about everything from major purchases to product placement in the grocery store.
I knew about how hard companies fight to get the good spot at grocery stores because the husband of a friend of mine is a grocery store manager. The amount of loot they get from companies is unbelievable. (Concert tickets, game systems, trips, a deck built onto the back of their house...) It was pretty eye opening to hear about the tactics sales men will use, though. I mean, you know you are being sold to, but to hear about how and why they do it is another thing.
1. Super Savers - Done!
2. Relating with Money - Done!
3. Cash Flow Planning - Done!
4. Dumping Debt - Done!
5. Credit Sharks in Suits - Done!
6. Buyer Beware - Done!
7. Clause and Effect
8. That's not Good Enough!
9. Of Mice and Mutual Funds
10. From Fruition to Tuition
11. Working in Your Strengths
12. Real Estates and Mortgages
13. The Great Misunderstanding
Monday, March 03, 2008
Price book tutorial
Jenn at Frugal Upstate has a great tutorial on price books.
Starting Frugality-Saving on Food Part II-Price Books, Sales and Coupons
I have been meaning to get a price book made for Midland since we moved here... almost two years ago! Heck. I even put it on my101 106 in 1001 list. I think I am going to use her idea of index cards. (One of the problems I always had was prices change so much and in my über analness I couldn't just cross a price off. Gasp!)
I ended up making a template to print on 3x5 index cards. I can't figure out how to post the darn thing, so if anyone wants it just leave a comment with your email address.
Starting Frugality-Saving on Food Part II-Price Books, Sales and Coupons
I have been meaning to get a price book made for Midland since we moved here... almost two years ago! Heck. I even put it on my
I ended up making a template to print on 3x5 index cards. I can't figure out how to post the darn thing, so if anyone wants it just leave a comment with your email address.
Paycheck Headache - Solved!
As you may or may not remember, Marty was shorted on his paycheck this past Saturday. (His actual pay date is today, but it is in our bank Saturday.) It turns out, it is all Dave Ramsey's fault.
Just kidding... kind of. One of the first things we did when we started listening to Dave Ramsey was change our number of exemptions on Marty's W-4. Using the IRS Withholding Calculator we determined that Marty could claim 12 exemptions (!!) but we decided to claim 10.
Apparently, there is a part of the tax code that says that if you claim exempt from taxes, they take something out once a year, just in case. Because we are one of .01% of the company that claims any exemptions, the payroll software wasn't able to recognize our situation, and tossed him in with the group that claims exempt. So... he has a call in to the head of the payroll department to fix it.
The funny thing is... I am so set on "We won't spend the BEF" that when this happened it never even dawned on me that we have the BEF to make up the difference, if needed.
Just kidding... kind of. One of the first things we did when we started listening to Dave Ramsey was change our number of exemptions on Marty's W-4. Using the IRS Withholding Calculator we determined that Marty could claim 12 exemptions (!!) but we decided to claim 10.
Apparently, there is a part of the tax code that says that if you claim exempt from taxes, they take something out once a year, just in case. Because we are one of .01% of the company that claims any exemptions, the payroll software wasn't able to recognize our situation, and tossed him in with the group that claims exempt. So... he has a call in to the head of the payroll department to fix it.
The funny thing is... I am so set on "We won't spend the BEF" that when this happened it never even dawned on me that we have the BEF to make up the difference, if needed.
Rogue debt collectors -- how to fight them
I saw this and thought it fit right in with our last FPU lesson.
Rogue debt collectors -- how to fight them
Rogue debt collectors -- how to fight them
Sunday, March 02, 2008
An Embarrassment of Food
Really. How can we have so much food? We took a giant plastic tote thingy full of food to Ohio to give away. It was so much that I had to reorganize my brothers pantry because it all wouldn't fit. Some of it went to my mom, too. Tomorrow a woman is coming over to pick up some more. I posted TVP, brown rice flour and tapioca flour on Freecycle, and she is getting a lot more. Her family is vegan, so I know she will know what to do with quinoa, potato starch, nutritional yeast flakes, ener-g egg replacer, about 900 kinds of beans and various other goodies. (How'd you like how I painted all vegans with the same brush there? It was of course a synthetic brush.) Poor woman doesn't know what she is walking in to. I hope she brings help to carry it all.
Christian and I cleaned out the freezer this evening, pulling all meat that we don't know the legal/not legal status of. We will eat it over the next few days. I will use the chicken to make chicken soup for the non-SCD'ers on our intro days, but I have no idea what to do with the pork roast. Pork roast for lunch just seems wrong.
My pantry shelves are B-A-R-E. I hope we don't have a snow storm tonight. Ha! I remember watching news broadcasts while I was growing up showing people panicking and cleaning off the shelves of the grocery stores before a big storm. At 7-8 years old I would say "But we live in Ohio! It snows every year. Don't they know that?" I still think it is funny... at least until we are snowed in and have to bum food from the elderly woman down the street. You know, the one who has me take her to the store before each big snow storm.
Anyway. The pantry is bare. Not sure how full it will be again until late summer when I plan to can tomatoes. Of course, I am scared to death of my canning skills, so I am going to have to borrow the elderly neighbor for moral support.
I wish I could be more like my friend Jeannine when it came to canning. She just does it, and if it doesn't seal she just serves it up for dinner that night. If something doesn't seal for me it involves 300 calls to Marie and then I am still afraid to eat it. Yeah. I'm a regular Julia Child. Bon appétit!
A vacation revelation
While we were in Ohio, an interesting fact came up. A family member and their spouse combined make just about what Marty makes a year (Marty makes a little more.) When they told me what they make I said "Oh..." and apparently got a look on my face. One of them said "I know! You can feel sorry for us." I said "No, I feel sorry for us. That is about what Marty makes and what do I have to show for it? A car payment and student loan payment. What do you have to show for it?" I proceeded to list many of the things they have, including huge retirement accounts, a paid for house, three paid for cars, multiple vacations a year...
Yup. They are debt free and we are not. Kind of depressing, but kind of motivating, you know?
If we were debt free, I would be packing to move to Florida right now. Heck... if we were debt free I could live in Hawaii right now. Doors would be open all over the place, and the hardest part would be deciding which one to step through.
Marty and I had a discussion on the way home about me getting a job. I want to, but am afraid of the upheaval it may cause for the boys. He agrees, and doesn't want me to if I am even a little apprehensive about it. So, please share your "going back to work" stories - good and bad. I really don't know what to do.
Yup. They are debt free and we are not. Kind of depressing, but kind of motivating, you know?
If we were debt free, I would be packing to move to Florida right now. Heck... if we were debt free I could live in Hawaii right now. Doors would be open all over the place, and the hardest part would be deciding which one to step through.
Marty and I had a discussion on the way home about me getting a job. I want to, but am afraid of the upheaval it may cause for the boys. He agrees, and doesn't want me to if I am even a little apprehensive about it. So, please share your "going back to work" stories - good and bad. I really don't know what to do.
Financial Peace University - Week 5
I forgot to tell you that we did the next lesson of FPU on Friday. This lesson was so darn funny. Yet sad. really. The things that bill collectors will stoop to never ceases to amaze me. And the fact that people are so afraid to stand up to them and just pay them what they ask, is even more frightening.
Two bill collector horror stories:
I got a call from a woman claiming that I owed a debt to my old bank. I knew that I didn't, but called the bank anyway. Confirmed that I didn't, and they suggested that I call the phone company and block the number. The calls are coming to my cell phone and can't be blocked. T-mobile suggested that I call the police. I called the police in my town.
The woman called back and I told her that I had called the police and that if she called again, they would get involved. So that is when the letters started. I ended up having to call the police in the town that the letter came from. The officer I talked to went to the address, which turned out to be a house, not a business. All contact has stopped completely. In a few months, I will pull a credit report just to make sure that they don't try to report something.
Horror story #2:
My dad died in 1989. My parents had some kind of insurance on their credit cards that paid off the balance in full upon the death of one of the card holders. In 2000 my mom got a call from a collection agency demanding that she pay the balance. She didn't want to fight with the woman(!!) so started to pay it. After a few payments, I ended up stepping in and speaking to the woman and explaining that the debt was not owed and that if she tried to collect they would be sued. My mom ended up having to involve the Ohio State Attorney General's office. Sheesh!
1. Super Savers - Done!
2. Relating with Money - Done!
3. Cash Flow Planning - Done!
4. Dumping Debt - Done!
5. Credit Sharks in Suits - Done!
6. Buyer Beware
7. Clause and Effect
8. That's not Good Enough!
9. Of Mice and Mutual Funds
10. From Fruition to Tuition
11. Working in Your Strengths
12. Real Estates and Mortgages
13. The Great Misunderstanding
Weekly Menu - The my head hurts, too Edition
As sad as it sounds, I am feeling a bit overwhelmed with the whole SCD thing. I don't know why. No, I do know why. Labels lie. Really, they do. They don't have to list everything in the ingredient list and that can be a problem. Did you know that it is just about impossible to find meat that hasn't been injected with *something*? Really... take a look at your meat. Ask your meat guy/butcher. I did, and was pretty mad. Cow blood in the ground beef? Lemon juice concentrate in my pork?? "Natural Flavors" in my everything else? Um... no thanks. I think I will buy a cow.I spent all day yesterday at the grocery store or looking up ingredients to see if they are "legal." Not kidding. Two trips to Meijer, one trip to Wal-Mart, one trip to my local fruit and meat market, two 1/2 hour discussions with two separate butchers, three hours on Breaking The Vicious Cycle and two Yahoo lists looking up ingredients and brand names... Someone tell me this gets easier. Please. Someone. Anyone. Now that I know what brands and ingredients to look for, I really think it will. Hopefully, I can stop whining about it, too.
We are going to officially start the Intro Diet on Wednesday, because I have read that often you feel worse during the intro and I want to make sure that we have nothing planned so that we can stay home and feel bad if we need to.
We are supposed to be on the intro diet for at least two but not more than five days. I am planning on two, but will have food on hand in case either of us needs to be on it longer.
Sooooo...
As always, all meals are served with a salad, fruit and vegetable (for those who can tolerate.)
3/02 - Sunday
Spaghetti squash with Valeria's sauce (I have to use Campbell's tomato juice instead of the tomato puree, and it needs to reduce. Between the sauce simmering away and the onions in the oven to dehydrate, my house smells really good right now. My neighbor told me that every time we cook she gets the urge to order a pizza. Who me? Use a lot of garlic and onions?)
3/03 - Monday
Grilled pork chops, steamed broccoli, SCD applesauce
3/04 - Tuesday
Pot roast in the crock pot (beef broth, porcini mushrooms, onions and garlic), honey roasted carrots (I have to come up with another crock pot option for archery night. I think we are all going to be a little tired of pot roast soon.)
3/05 - Wednesday
Homemade chicken soup, SCD cheesecake, homemade gelatin, various side dishes for the non SCD'ers in the house
3/06 - Thursday
Broiled hamburger, SCD cheesecake, homemade gelatin, various side dishes for the non SCD'ers in the house
3/07 - Friday
Grilled lime shrimp, roasted brussels sprouts, SCD pumpkin pie
3/08 - Saturday
Beef fajitas with onions and peppers, SCD sour cream (dripped yogurt), SCD salsa, and grated cheddar cheese all rolled up in a romaine lettuce tortilla (There is a SCD legal cashew butter tortilla recipe out there, but I am too chicken - and lazy - to try it right now.)
Cute kitty picture from flickr
A Vision of Students Today
a short video summarizing some of the most important characteristics of students today - how they learn, what they need to learn, their goals, hopes, dreams, what their lives will be like, and what kinds of changes they will experience in their lifetime. Created by Michael Wesch in collaboration with 200 students at Kansas State University.
Saturday, March 01, 2008
Grrr
I am on my way to the bank to fund my envelopes and thought I would vent here before I get myself in to trouble.
Marty's pay check was almost $300 short. I have no idea if it is a bank error or payroll department error, because apparently I bank at the only bank in the world without 24 hour customer service. Marty has put a call in to his regional manager but he is on vacation this week, so he is probably sitting on a beach somewhere and really, who would answer their phone? Of course, there isn't much he can do because the payroll department isn't open until Monday.
So, he will try to calmly get this figured out, and if he doesn't have a satisfactory answer by Monday (his official pay day) he will kindly remind them that it is illegal to pay someone less than their salary, and it is illegal to pay them after their pay date. Ask TGI Friday's how we know that. Of course, he won't say that because he is too nice. That is why he deals with things like this and I just sit back and wait patiently like a chihuahua on crack.
So... while I am sure it was just an accounting error and is really no big deal, I am mad. Mad because our zero based budget is finally working in our favor, and this throws a wrench into it... kind of. The only reason I am not a stark raving lunatic is because this was also the week that his February bonus came in, which more than makes up for the amount he was shorted, and since we hadn't included the bonus in our budget (it was all being dumped on debt) it really doesn't change things.
There, I feel better already.
Marty's pay check was almost $300 short. I have no idea if it is a bank error or payroll department error, because apparently I bank at the only bank in the world without 24 hour customer service. Marty has put a call in to his regional manager but he is on vacation this week, so he is probably sitting on a beach somewhere and really, who would answer their phone? Of course, there isn't much he can do because the payroll department isn't open until Monday.
So, he will try to calmly get this figured out, and if he doesn't have a satisfactory answer by Monday (his official pay day) he will kindly remind them that it is illegal to pay someone less than their salary, and it is illegal to pay them after their pay date. Ask TGI Friday's how we know that. Of course, he won't say that because he is too nice. That is why he deals with things like this and I just sit back and wait patiently like a chihuahua on crack.
So... while I am sure it was just an accounting error and is really no big deal, I am mad. Mad because our zero based budget is finally working in our favor, and this throws a wrench into it... kind of. The only reason I am not a stark raving lunatic is because this was also the week that his February bonus came in, which more than makes up for the amount he was shorted, and since we hadn't included the bonus in our budget (it was all being dumped on debt) it really doesn't change things.
There, I feel better already.
Books I read in February
One of my 101 106 in 1001 is to keep a running list of the books I read for a year.
January's list
You will notice that I didn't get to Don Quixote. I swear I will take that book to the grave with me. I also forgot to make a list as I went, so this is what what I have checked out now that I have already read. I will update as I think of more.
Don't bother me Mom, I'm learning! - Marc Prensky
Against the grain : 150 good carb Mediterranean recipes - Diane Kochilas
Eat well, feel well : more than 150 delicious Specific Carbohydrate Diet compliant recipes - Kendall Conrad
January's list
You will notice that I didn't get to Don Quixote. I swear I will take that book to the grave with me. I also forgot to make a list as I went, so this is what what I have checked out now that I have already read. I will update as I think of more.
Don't bother me Mom, I'm learning! - Marc Prensky
Against the grain : 150 good carb Mediterranean recipes - Diane Kochilas
Eat well, feel well : more than 150 delicious Specific Carbohydrate Diet compliant recipes - Kendall Conrad
You may be a Dave Ramsey fan if...
These are pretty funny! I have to admit that I am guilty of more than my share of these.
You may be a Dave Ramsey fan if...
Another ht to Pet Peeving
You may be a Dave Ramsey fan if...
Another ht to Pet Peeving
Frozen Grand Central
This is cool! The looks on peoples faces alone are worth watching the video.
On a cold Saturday in New York City, the world’s largest train station came to a sudden halt. Over 200 Improv Everywhere Agents froze in place at the exact same second for five minutes in the Main Concourse of Grand Central Station. Over 500,000 people rush through Grand Central every day, but today, things slowed down just a bit as commuters and tourists alike stopped to notice what was happening around them.
ht Pet Peeving
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