1 Piece at A Time

Budget Blown

2007-01-24T06:56:00.000-08:00

Last week we went $136.53 over our budget. Yikes! We had to buy some office supplies ($43.72) and then we splurged on a chicken dinner at Brook's Barbecue ($27.30). Another big expense came when we had to mail our Christmas guests' packages to Florida--they'd bought each other more than they could carry home on the plane, so they boxed everything up and left it for us to ship: $32.92. Also, I spent $25 on a savings bond for my nieces' birthday.

This month, including this week, we've spent $601.97. We've still got the rest of this week and the weekend to go, and we've going to visit my family, which means we'll have to buy gas, etc.

It looks like we'll end up spending the whole $700 we have left after paying all of our bills.

The one bright note, our snow tires came in $125 under what I'd budgeted. We can at least put that toward savings.

We're not beaten! There's always next month. But it is amazing how easy it is to spend so much money every month.

I'd like to know how much my readers spend. Please do share your budgets. You will either feel better about your own budgeting wizardry or we can snivel guiltily together!

Soles4Souls

2007-01-17T09:03:00.000-08:00

My sister put this quotation in a cookbook she made for me one Christmas:

The bread which you do not use is the bread of the hungry; the garment hanging in your wardrobe is the garment of the one who is naked; the shoes you do not wear are the shoes of the one who is barefoot; the money that you keep locked away is the money of the poor; the acts of charity that you do not perform are so many injustices that you commit.

--St. Basil the Great

Donate the shoes you do not wear to Soles4Souls

Not Even Close

2007-01-16T08:30:00.000-08:00

Boy, did we blow our budget last week! On Friday, we were already up to $99.59, and I had a menu planned for the weekend that didn't involve having to spend any money on food, but Pancake and I were like sharks Friday night and ate the rest of the home-made Chinese and the chicken for chicken sandwiches. Then, because we were busy doing work on our hall walls all weekend, we broke down and got Chinese take-out on Saturday and pizza on Sunday. So now we have to find a way to cut $52.59 from the next two weeks. Actually, we went over the first week, too, by $13.46. So we really need to try and live on $133.95 for the next two weeks. Yikes! That might be difficult.

Oh! So Close!: $100 A Week Update

2007-01-12T09:23:00.000-08:00

It's only Friday and we've spent $99.59 this week. We've still got today, Saturday and Sunday to go. Where did we overspend so far? I upgraded our NetFlix account which cost $8.42. Plus I bought yarn for my next afghan project (Joann.com had a huge sale, so I'm not feeling guilty about that) and while I was on the site, I bought my niece's birthday present. Joann's total: $45.09. Our food expenses have been really low this week, but we did go get slices of pizza on Tuesday and then again yesterday. And we've been to the coffee shop every day this week.

Weekend Plan:

We have leftover "Chicken Breasts Supreme" from which we can make sandwiches tonight, with oven-roasted potatoes, and leftover baked beans. Food for tonight: Free.

Saturday I have everything to make Vegetable Barley Soup and Beer Bread.

Sunday can be fend-for-yourself night, which means cleaning out the fridge. (There will be leftover soup and there's leftover homemade Chinese food from Tuesday.)

As for my weekend projects, I'm still working on the hall and have all my supplies.

We might go a few bucks over the budget, but I think we can do it!

Note: Other than joining me at the coffee shop and pizza parlor and eating what I bring home from the grocery store, Pancake has not spent anything this week.

Sweet Tooth + Free Cereal = Delicious

2007-01-11T07:40:00.000-08:00

Before my in-laws left for their winter home, Pancake's mom gave me a box of Kashi GoLean, which neither of us seemed to be interested in eating. I didn't want to throw it out, and I didn't want to eat it, so I kept trying to come up with something to do with it other than use it as packing material. Viola! Yesterday, stricken by my sweet tooth, I decided to grind the cereal in my blender and make a graham cracker-style crust for banana cream pie. I'm happy to report that it was a success. Here's how I made it:

1 1/4 cups Kashi GoLean (ground in blender)
1/3 cup melter butter
1/4 cup raw sugar
1 tsp honey
1 tsp cinnamon
pinch of nutmeg

Melt the butter and honey in small saucepan. Add honey butter to cereal crumbs, cinnamon, sugar, nutmeg. Press into 9-inch pie plate. Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes.

Sore Throat Gargle

2007-01-10T11:18:00.000-08:00

Since it's that time of year, I thought I'd post a sore-throat home remedy:

3 Tbsp cider vinegar
1 cup of water
pinch of cayenne pepper

And while you're down for the count, why not treat yourself to a foot spa:

Heat small amount of petroleum jelly in microwave for a few seconds (you can add a drop of esstetial oil to this if you'd like) and rub into feet. Apply socks. Drape heating pad over feet. Relax.

$100 A Week Challenge: Week 1

2007-01-08T08:38:00.000-08:00

Sunday ended the first week of our $100 a week challenge. So how did we do? We overspent by $13.46, but we can always make it up in the next three weeks. How much did the challenge change our lives? Actually, quite a lot and not at all. Remember, I wanted to be able to live well and still do the things we enjoy doing (that cost money), so the real challenge was saving money in places where we wouldn't feel it. We still went to our favorite coffee shop every afternoon to work, we had pizza out one night, and we spent $30 on home repair supplies so we could start working on our hallway.

So how did we do it?

1) We borrowed movies from the library rather than rent from the video store
2) I made many yummy meals using ingredients I had in the pantry and freezer
3) I bought all of the personal and household products that we needed from Family Dollar
4) When we did eat out (pizza), we only spent $5
5) I used a $15 coupon to buy cigarettes
6) I returned our cans and bottles and used the money at the grocery store

Normally, we spend about $700 a month, or an average of $175 a week. We could easily have spent that $61.54 by eating out one more time, renting a video every night, not sticking to the grocery list when I shopped, or going to a theater to see a movie.

4 Free Projects :: Draft Dodger

2007-01-05T08:34:00.000-08:00

Last but not least, using some fabric from Pancake's mom, I sewed up this attractive draft dodger. (The right fabric makes all the difference. These things can be as ugly as sin when covered with country ducks or playful kittens.) After sewing a tube and turning it right-side out, I filled it with rice and sewed up the end. Yesterday, I received a catalog from Plow and Hearth, and they sell these for $19.95.

4 Free Projects :: Cloth Napkins

2007-01-05T08:21:00.000-08:00

After reading Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth, I decided to stop wasting paper and whip up some cloth napkins. Riffing on the pillowcase apron idea, I used a pillowcase from Pancake's college days. (The sheets disintegrated years ago.) I found the instructions on the Instructables web site. Mine aren't nearly as neat as HeresyOfTruth's, but we like the design, and they held up in the wash.

4 Free Projects :: Pillowcase Apron

2007-01-05T08:13:00.000-08:00

This project was from an early issue of ReadyMade magazine. I used a pillowcase from a set of second-hand sheets from Pancakes mom. For some reason, even though they are queen-size sheets, they don't fit our bed.

4 Free Projects :: Coupon Wallet

2007-01-05T07:59:00.000-08:00

Here is the first of the four free projects I made on New Year's Eve. I needed a coupon wallet and had this really cute sample of oilcloth that I'd squirreled away years ago. I measured the largest of coupons that I had on hand, cut the oilcloth to fit, zig-zag stitched the sides, and used some Velcro that I had for a closure.

Save A Toothpick, Use A Skewer

2007-01-04T09:36:00.000-08:00

Quick tip: When testing baked goods to see if they're done, use a skewer (which can be washed and reused) rather than wasting a toothpick.

Note to Al Gore: Feel free to use this idea in your next book.

Celestial Seasonings Free Sample

2007-01-04T09:32:00.000-08:00

Click on the link for a free sample of Celestial Seasonings tea.

Enjoy!

Dang Fine Use for Leftover Holiday Ham

2007-01-03T08:31:00.000-08:00

This recipe is my own. I made it up and you will like it.

Dang Fine

2 TBSP. peanut oil (or any oil you've got, remember this recipe is about using what you've got)
1 large onion, chopped
1 large green bell pepper, diced (pretty sure a sweet red pepper would work well, too)
Cubed leftover ham (dice it up small)
black-eyed peas (ham and peas should be in equal proportions)
1 can of Rotelle
sliced leeks, or shallots, or green onions (if you've got any)
Parsley (fresh or dried) for color
1 cup chicken broth/stock (I'm a fan of Better Than Bullion)
garlic (a couple of cloves, minced)
Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce (this is an Asian hot red chili sauce sold in Asian food markets & some health food stores and specialty markets. We call it rooster sauce because there's a rooster on the bottle)

In a big pot, saute the onion, pepper, garlic & leeks in oil. Add ham, Rotelle, peas, & parsley, and simmer until it starts to smell good. Add chicken stock and Sriracha to taste and let cook down to a thick stew consistency. The peas will start to breakdown a bit which thickens the whole thing. Serve with corn bread.

December: DIY "Keep The Change" Program

2007-01-03T08:09:00.000-08:00

In December we managed to amass $22.46 in change from cash purchases, which was down from last months whopping $36.74, but still not too shabby. I deposited the coins in our savings account.

Also, we have $72.08 in pending rebates from Mr. Rebates. The bulk of the rebates is from Pancake's his new ThinkPad (a much-needed purchase we've been saving for--without it we can't run our business). By using Mr. Rebates we received a 2% rebate from Lenovo. I was also able to get a rebate on the iPod I bought Pancake for Christmas and the yarn I bought for the afghan I'm going to crochet for our living room sofa after we get it back from the upholsterer.

2007: The Year of Pancake & Mountain Girl

2007-01-02T09:57:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! One of my resolutions for 2007 is to try and blog every day. It's been a while since my last post and since then Pancake and I have resolved to get out of debt this year. We accomplished quite a lot in 2006: we paid off the company's debt to the IRS, bought a home, consistently spent less than we earned, and stopped using credit cards. Now it's time to tackle the business debt and pay down the mortgage while putting money toward savings.

The other day, while going over our 2007 budget, I showed Pancake that after bills (credit card and loan payments, mortgage, telephone, utilities, etc.) and putting $200 in savings, we have $700 a month left for everything else. This includes gas, food, cigarettes (I know I should quit smoking), coffee at the coffee shop, restaurant meals, entertainment (movies, etc.), and any purchases like books, music, and home-improvement supplies.

Pancake's reaction was, "Seven hundred dollars! That's a lot!"

This surprised me because I didn't think it was all that much. We have no problem spending it, for sure. But rather than justify spending that kind of money, I decided to challenge us. Can we reduce our spending to $400 a month and still live as well as we do now?

$400/month=$100/week=$12.90/day.

I made a PocketMod using the financial register component and will keep track of the total that we spend every day for the month. If we can keep our expenses to the allotted $400 then we can put the extra $300 in savings.

Here's the catch: What I don't want to do is put off all purchases until February. We need to live well, continue to work on our house, watch movies (one of our favorite pastimes since we don't subscribe to cable TV), buy books and music that we really, really want, enjoy an occasional meal out, go to the coffee shop, etc. This means that I have to find ways to cut expenses that we don't notice. One of the first things that I've done is make cloth napkins so I don't have to buy paper ones anymore. This is actually a lifestyle improvement because they're more attractive and nicer to use than paper. Also, Al Gore would approve because we're not wasting a valuable natural resource.

I will keep you updated on our progress and share any money-saving/cost-cutting tips that I discover.

Greener :: Christmas Song

2006-11-08T08:33:00.000-08:00

Send someone Greener's Christmas Song, an e-card from band Greener, and when you download one of the electric or acoustical versions, a portion of the proceeds will go to LIFEbeat, the music industries HIV/Aids charity. A few years ago a demo of the Christmas Song was downloaded over 1,000,000+ times, and they're trying to beat their record. It's a painless was to contribute to a good cause and you get to listen to a good song (I preferred the acoustic version).

Total :: DIY "Keep The Change"

2006-11-08T08:14:00.000-08:00

I took all of the coins to the bank the other day and will definitely keep up this DIY program I've started. On average, my coin jar total is $10 a month. Since I started breaking bills and pocketing the change, I managed to save $36.74. I know that not a whopping figure, but it's more money towards savings, and it was painless, too.

Cha-Ching :: $90 Saved

2006-11-03T09:52:00.000-08:00

I've been searching for 0% interest rate credit cards so I can transfer the balances of some of our higher interest rate cards and found that the Amazon.com Chase Visa is offering 0% for six months. In addition, when you apply, you get a $30 credit toward Amazon.com purchases. I had my Christmas list next to me, which included three books, and got all three for free, plus I qualified for free shipping with the Super Saver Shipping method.

When I applied for the card, I chose to transfer the balance from one of our smaller balance cards with a high interest rate, so all in all, if I pay off the new card within six months, we'll save approximately $60 in finance charges. Add to that the $30 in free Christmas gifts, and we just saved $90.

EnergyStar Tax Credits

2006-11-03T07:52:00.000-08:00

While I'm sure most of you haven't started thinking about tax season, it's a good idea to think about tax-deductible purchases you can make before the year is over, especially with winter closing in. We're having a new roof put on our addition, and while they've got the roof off, we're going to have insulation put in. I found on the Department of Energy web site that we can get a credit of 10% (up to $500) for this improvement. My sister had new windows put in during the summer, and I'm sure that she is not aware that she can get a credit for that, too.

If you've made any energy-saving home improvements, or have purchased, or plan to purchase before the end of the year, any EnergyStar appliances (fridge, washer & dryer, oven, etc.) check out the site and see if you qualify for a credit.

DIY "Keep The Change" Program

2006-10-31T08:26:00.000-08:00

I kept seeing ads for Bank of America's "Keep the Change" program and thought, "I don't need a $7 a month service-charging bank to save my nickels for me." And so, since I try and use only cash, I have stopped using exact change when I make a purchase and break bills. For the last month, I have taken all the change and put it in a jar, and today I am going to cash it in and see how I fared. I'll post the results tomorrow.

Happy Halloween!

2006-10-31T08:21:00.000-08:00

New Moby Video—And I Don't Need Cable TV To See It!

2006-10-30T08:46:00.000-08:00

Tonight, October 30th, Singing Fool will show the exclusive U.S. premier of the new Moby video for "New York, New York." I do love Moby. I saw him in Kansas City about four years ago and the show was fantastic. "New York, New York," features Debbie Harry on lead vocals, another reason for me to check it out. And I don't need cable! Which I don't have anyway, so there.

See the US premiere of Moby's "New York, New York" feat. Debbie Harry (Blondie).

A Solution for Everything :: The Bag Dryer

2006-10-30T08:22:00.000-08:00

I've been racking my brain to come up with a way to make a ziploc bag dryer for my sister. She and I both wash and reuse and so our kitchen counters are always covered with baggies. I thought about using one of those octopus-style photo holders, and then did a search for "plastic bag dryer" and found this site:

The Agora Concepts Bag Dryer

It's much nicer than anything I could ever make and since it's a Christmas present, it was worth the $16. I know, you're thinking, "What kind of person gives her sister a bag dryer for Christmas?" If you knew my sister, you'd know that she will be doing back flips when she opens this gift.

Discover 0% Balance Transfer

2006-10-30T07:58:00.000-08:00

I received notice that I have been approved for a Discover card with a 0% APR for 1 year, and that includes balance transfers. Good-bye Beneficial; hello Dicover. I'll be wiping out the LOC and paying off the Discover before the introductory rate expires. I calculated that over the course of a year I will save approximately $1200.00 in finance charges. That's no small potatoes.

I have also recently sent every single credit card company that we owe a letter requesting that they lower our interest rate since we have been making timely payments and paying more than the minimum payment. I'll let you know in furture posts how that turns out.

Halloween Hijinks

2006-10-30T07:41:00.000-08:00

Saturday I threw a Halloween party for my family and got miles out of this great idea from the Frugal Yankee:

Take two talc-free rubber surgical gloves, fill with water, and tie the ends as you would a balloon. Freeze. Run frozen hands under cold water and cut/peel off gloves. Float the ice hands in punch made of equal parts orange juice, cranberry juice, and ginger ale.

My nieces loved it, as well as the adults. When the hands start to melt, they look freakishly real.

Happy Halloween!

Long Distance Service: The Biggest Scam In The Universe

2006-10-25T09:55:00.000-07:00

For the last twelve years I have lived far enough from my family that when I phone, it is a long distance call. In Wichita, I played the switch-to-our-company-and-we'll-give-you-a-$100- check game frequently enough that, for almost a year, long distance was free. But the offers dried up and I chose MCI's Family Plan and for a flat rate I could talk as much as I wanted.

When we moved to town, Pancake & I started using a pre-paid phone card because I hadn't chosen a long distance carrier. And now I never will. The phone card is much cheaper because you're not paying line fees and delivery fees and lattes for the telemarketers fees, not to mention all those stupid FCC taxes. My folks bought us a $20/570 minutes card the last week of July and we just last week ran out of minutes! Three months for $20 vs. $78 a month, which is what we used to pay. Boy, do I feel like a dope!

Yum :: Vegetable Barley Soup

2006-10-19T08:33:00.000-07:00

Homemade soup should be inexpensive, and I've found a recipe that I'm always able to make with what I have in the fridge. It is the thickest, richest, tastiest vegetable barley soup I've ever slurped. (Note: When I don't have homemade chicken stock on hand, I use Better Than Bouillon rather than canned chicken broth. I prefer the taste, it's less expensive, and there's less packaging.)

Vegetable Barley Soup

1 TBSP Butter
2 TBSP Olive Oil
1/2 Cup Barley
1 Yellow Onion, Chopped
2 Carrots, Diced
2 Celery Ribs, Diced
4 Cups Chicken Broth/Stock
Salt & Pepper, To Taste

1. In a 3-quart saucepan, melt butter in olive oil over medium heat. Add barley, onion, carrots and celery and cook, stirring often, until the onion is tender, 7 to 10 minutes.

2. Stir in stock and bring to simmer. Cover and cook for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until barley is tender. Add salt and pepper to taste.

This recipe is from The Wooden Spoon Book of Home-Style Soups, Stews, Chowders, Chilis & Gumbos by Marilyn M. Moore. This woman knows how to cook. I keep renewing the book from the library and have asked for it for Christmas. Every recipe I've tried is fantastic.

Saving For Big Purchases

2006-10-18T08:27:00.000-07:00

Since we no longer use credit, I've been putting away as much cash as possible to save for some big purchases that are long overdue. Everything on the list is absolutely a necessity and we will take our time before spending our hard-earned cash to make sure we're getting the best deal without sacrificing quality. Here goes, in order of importance:

1) Pancake needs a new computer. This is a necessity (and a business expense) because our livelihood depends upon it. The ThinkPad he is using is five years old and I fear that it may die soon, which would not be good. In fact, it would be a disaster.

2) We need a car. We only had one car and that was totaled in an accident back in July. The settlement check is sitting in the savings account while we save a few extra thousand so we can buy a decent used vehicle. Pancake's folks have been letting us use their truck and we can continue to use the truck for as long as we need, but I don't want to take advantage of their generosity for too long.

3) We need a new porch roof and a new roof on the ad-on. This is third because neither roof is leaking. Yet. We need to have this done before winter sets in. There is the very real possibility of an ice jam which could cause considerable damage.

4) We need to reupholster our sleeper sofa and loveseat. This is last because we can't pay for the sofas if Pancake's computer bytes the big one and it would be silly to put newly upholstered furniture in a room with a leaky ceiling. They are quality pieces and it will cost less to reupholster than to buy new. Unless, of course, we bought cheap furniture, but I don't want to spend money on disposable sofas. Once these are reupholstered we'll never have to buy another set as long as we live.

Baby Needs A New Roof

2006-10-18T08:17:00.000-07:00

We received an estimate to have a new porch roof put on, and also repair the roof over the ad-on, which is where I work. My father-in-law said he thought it would cost somewhere around a thousand bucks, but these guys came back with (gasp) $5400.00. Needless to say we're getting a couple more estimates. I had not budgeted enough for such a huge expense, but now, before we even get the other estimates, I'm trying to calculate how we can work that in. That way, if it ends up costing considerably less, we'll be ahead.

ING Pays Off

2006-10-17T08:35:00.000-07:00

I checked my ING account yesterday and was happy to see that my $25 bonus had been posted. I also signed up for their automatic savings plan and will have $100 a month magically whisked from my checking account to the ING account. Plus, by signing up, I've been entered into a drawing for $1000 and a grand prize drawing for $25,000. Wouldn't that be nice to win!

Buy Nothing Days

2006-10-17T08:25:00.000-07:00

I've decided to institute a "Buy Nothing Day" into my week. On those days, we will eat whatever we have in fridge or pantry and we won't spend any money anywhere else (e.g. on the internet, at the video store, etc.). Since I go to a coffee shop in the afternoons to get some writing done, I'll have to figure out how I'm going to work. I see the $2 I spend on a cup of coffee as rent because I work out of the house and sometimes I just need to go somewhere else. Maybe I'll start saving up my free coffee cards to use on those days! I also think I will pick Tuesdays, and maybe, if all goes well, I'll try upping my experiment to two times a week.

Crossword Puzzle Junky Fix

2006-10-04T07:02:00.000-07:00

Pancake's dad sent me this link so I don't have to buy a daily newspaper to get my crossword puzzle fix. Click on the link below to print out a new puzzle everyday:

Daily Crossword

Squirreling Away Cash

2006-10-03T06:19:00.000-07:00

While the ING Direct percentage rate is lower than HSBC, I opened an ING account last week to take advantage of the $25 sign-up bonus that they were offering. I'd received the offer in the mail, and had to enter an invitation code, so I don't know if the bonus is available to everyone.

Now I have accounts with both HSBC and ING, plus a Christmas Club and regular savings with our local bank--plenty of places to sock away some cash and forget about it.

Design On A nickel

2006-10-02T06:32:00.000-07:00

And the final cost of redoing the lavatory...

Paint.................$13.99
Recessed TP Dispenser..13.98
Towel Ring..............8.79
Mirror.................10.00
Toilet Seat.............5.59
Molding.................8.96
Spray Paint.............3.19
____________________________
Grand Total...........$64.50

The spray paint was for the vent cover, and the mirror, which I picked up at Family Dollar, was a real steal. We're still searching for the perfect sconce light to replace the bare fixture that is in there now. If anyone knows of a good place online, please let me know!

The 1/2 Bath: Before & After

2006-09-29T08:00:00.000-07:00

This room is located on the first floor, next to my office/laundry/pantry. Now my writing cove is complete! Here is the before:

It wasn't in bad shape, but the wall paper was pretty bland and the toilet seat was cracked. Also, when sitting on the hopper, the tp holder was practically on your knee caps. The room needed a little love, and that's just what I gave it. I spent an hour wrapped around the toilet in order to paint next to and behind it. We're quite intimate now, the toilet and I.

And here's the snappy new after:

In the photo below, you can view some of Pancakes handiwork. Next to the toilet are some plumbing pipes, covered in wallpaper (of course), and Pancake thought it would be cool to make some molding to match the pipes, thereby disguising the fact that the pipes are exposed. He did a fine job. He also put up molding in the corners, which look quite nice, and cut a hole in the wall and installed the recessed tp holder. Thank you, Pancake.

Why I Opened A Christmas Club

2006-09-29T07:54:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I opened a $25 a week Christmas Club with our bank. While the account pays only 2% interest, I did it to trick myself into saving extra money above and beyond the regular savings account. First, everytime I visit the bank, I'll be reminded to make my weekly payment, and second, I cannot touch the money for a full year. While I have no intention of spending that kind of money on Christmas presents, I am planning to use the extra savings to fund home repairs.

Drum Roll, Please...

2006-09-26T10:34:00.000-07:00

And the grand total for redoing the office/laundry/pantry...

Paint..............................$39.47
Polyurathane........................34.00
Primer..............................13.98
Small Roller (to get behind washer)..6.79
3 Switchplates.......................8.97
Globe Light Bulb.....................6.49
Trim Brush...........................3.98
_________________________________________
Grand Total.......................$113.68

I didn't count the supplies we already had such as paint rollers and nails, etc. Overall, I think we did pretty well for very little money.

Office/Laundry/Pantry Redo

2006-09-26T10:15:00.000-07:00

Here you go, folks, the before & after of my combination office, laundry, and pantry.

The painting above the washer is "Spreading Lies" by Charles Baughman.

Here I am, before we bought the house, trying to figure out how to make the room work.

And here it is after I stripped off all that very 80s country-kitchen contact paper, polyurathaned the shelves, painted, and hung some art. The print on the back wall is "All Used Cars Are Not Lemons," by Mary Werner.

This is the office/pantry shelves area before:

...and after. I've discovered that in tight spaces, neatness counts.

Promises, Promises

2006-09-26T09:49:00.000-07:00

I hope you enjoyed the before & after pictures of the desk. We've completed a number of projects lately--all on the cheap--and I'm going to post pictures and costs daily. Also, on Friday, I'll give a financial update. We incurred a couple of late payment fees for the business because we had some delinquent clients, but we're building up our reserves so we can avoid unnecessary costs like those in the future.

Desk Rescued From Basement

2006-09-25T19:33:00.000-07:00

Here is the desk we found in the basement of our new house. It was missing one drawer (the other drawers aren't in the photo), so Pancake made a false front using a piece of Masonite and some cabinet magnets. Also, you can't tell from the picture, but the legs were rotted. Here's the breakdown of refinishing costs:

4 Wooden Legs..............$9.96
4 Nuts..................... 2.40
7 Draw Pulls................8.33
Paint......................11.48
Glass Top..................36.00
________________________________
Grand Total...............$68.17

I Still Love Technology (or Why I've Been Neglecting My Blog)

2006-09-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

Wow, when I looked at my last post (dated August 15th) I experienced pangs of remorse and felt that I needed to post an explanation. I'm still here, and while I've been busy with the new house, that's no excuse for neglecting my blog and everyone who takes time out to read it. Sorry about that. I'll do better.

My office/laundry room is almost done. I'm waiting to get a piece of glass for the top of the desk and for my ultra-cool banker boxes to arrive from Target. I went a bit over budget, but not by much. By the end of the week, I will post before and after pictures along with the total costs. I have to say that I am impressed with my own handiness. The room looks spectacular. I can't wait to show you all.

Project #1: Mountain Girl's Office (Which Also Happens To Be the Laundry Room)

2006-08-15T07:13:00.000-07:00

This week we're going to start working on the laundry room/office that is off the kitchen. I've picked out paint colors and purchased polyurethane to seal the wooden built-in shelves, and now I'm doing some research into kitchen lighting. Right now there's just a bare bulb hanging from the ceiling. We're a bit short on funds, so I'm aiming to do the entire remodel for less than $100. When we're finished, I'll post before and after pictures and the total cost of the project.

Involuntary Debt Reduction—No More Car Loan

2006-08-10T06:40:00.000-07:00

The Friday before we closed on the club house, I was in a car accident (see post Feeling Pretty Lucky) that totaled our 2000 Volvo S40. Luckily, Volvos depreciate slowly and so we owed about $4,000 less on the car than the book value. The good news is that our $257 a month car payment is gone, and so we're going to try and buy a car for the $4,000 we'll get from the insurance company. There's a 1990 Mercedes station wagon for sale down the street that looks very clean and is going for $3800. There's also a Ford Focus for $4300, but the Mercedes looks solid and I'm all about solid cars, especially after the accident.

Biore Free Sample

2006-08-08T07:50:00.000-07:00

This company wowed me with their pore strips so I'm excited to try their facial cleansing products & moisturizers, too.

Click on the link to get your free sample of Biore

The Energy Efficient Home

2006-08-08T07:31:00.000-07:00

Now that we're in our new digs, Pancake and I have been looking at ways to save energy. We walk everywhere, so our gas consumption is way down. We've been replacing regular light bulbs with Energy Star bulbs, and now, since we spend a lot of time on our porch, I am looking into solar lights for our yard. OnlineDiscountMart.com has a large selection of solar lighting products at very reasonable prices. We had a couple of solar lights when we lived in Kansas and they worked really well for us.

Check it out: Solar Lights

The Club House

2006-08-07T13:17:00.000-07:00

As promised, here's a photo of our new house. Neither of us has experienced one iota of buyer's remorse. We are so happy we're giddy. Now it's back to business—time to start our get-out-of-debt program.

Cleared for Takeoff!

2006-07-19T05:54:00.000-07:00

We are closing on the house at 2:00 this afternoon. Thank you to everyone who has left encouraging comments along the way. Your words were deeply appreciated. It may be a few days before my next post because we won't have DSL until Monday and we'll be busy moving our belongings. Also, tomorrow is Pancake's and my 10th anniversary. This has been some week!

You Can Quote Me on That

2006-07-18T08:47:00.000-07:00

As a writer, I often find it easier to begin an article if I use a quotation as a springboard for my ideas. Whatever I want to say has probably been said by someone else, and they probably said it better than I ever could. Online Discount Mart has a number of quotes for every occasion. Here are a few fun proverbs:

Experience is a comb which nature gives us when we are bald.--Chinese Proverb

Only the first bottle is expensive.-- French Proverb

So the next time you have to write a speech or give a toast or want to add something special to a card, check out the Quotable Quotes section: http://www.onlinediscountmart.com/quotable-quotes.html

A Few Thoughts about Mindfulness

2006-07-18T06:39:00.000-07:00

Fellow PF Bloggers, it's time for a reality check. First, let me say that I enjoy reading everyone's blogs and that I think what we are all trying to do in terms of fiscal responsibility is commendable, but I also think that sometimes we are too hard on ourselves. (We're PF Bloggers not PF Floggers, right?) I often read posts in which bloggers beat themselves up for buying this or that or see comments left by readers who criticize others for not being frugal enough. Case and point: I actually had someone tsk-tsk me for buying my favorite cereal (Barbara's Peanut Butter Puffins) because he said cereal is overpriced and I was wasting money. Well, too bad.

A few years ago, a friend of mine gave a lecture on mindfulness, the practice of being fully aware of everything we do. I think we are all pretty aware of every cent we spend and don't spend, save or don't save. It is mindless spending that gets folks into financial trouble—the impulse purchase; the buying-something-just-to-buy-something syndrome; the habit of spending out of laziness. We all have to spend money. Let me say that again—we all have to spend money. And if we get enjoyment out of the thing we're spending money on, why should we feel guilty? Granted, if you don't have the money, and you have to borrow it (e.g. pull out the credit card) then maybe you should refrain, but if it's between putting $50 in your savings or 401K or going out on the town with good friends, by all means go out with your friends and don't feel guilty about it the next day!

I'm not suggesting that we all stop paying down our debt, and I'm certainly not condoning going further into debt, but I am offering a bit of a reprieve now and again from our hyper-frugal lifestyles. There are many enjoyable things in life that are free and there are many enjoyable things in life that cost money. I truly enjoy going out for an ice cream cone every once in a while. Yes, I could buy a carton of ice cream at the grocery store for the price of one cone, but it's not the same because it's not just about the ice cream—it's the experience of sitting outside at the ice cream stand at dusk under the orange sulfur lights, watching other people enjoy their cones, too.

The last few months, I've fallen into the hyper-frugal mindset because we've been saving for a house. I can think of at least three occasions when Pancake asked me out for ice cream and I said no because I didn't want to spend the money. I'm sorry for that. I'm sorry I missed those opportunities.

Feeling Pretty Lucky

2006-07-17T08:51:00.000-07:00

Friday afternoon was hot and dry, the sun glinting off the windshield of the occasional car that passed me on Route 23, a rural country road west of Oneonta. I was thinking about all of the details of our closing and worried that something would go wrong—a missing document, an overlooked financial detail—that would prevent us from securing the mortgage and our house.

Behind the wheel, I am observant, always keeping on eye out for deer and, during these last weeks since the flood, road damage, so I immediately noticed when the white Buick in the oncoming lane swerved over the double yellow line. The driver seemed to regain control and moved back into her lane, but as she drew closer, the car began drifting again. I moved as far over onto the shoulder as I could without going into the ditch, but the car kept coming, taking off my side-view mirror and wiping out the back half of the driver's side. The impact blew my tire and spun the car sideways until I landed on a small bank on the other side of the road. The other car went off the road and into a field.

When I climbed from my car, I started thinking about our closing and how this could not be happening and then I stopped myself. I was not hurt and that was all that mattered. And it really is all that matters. My husband and I have been spinning in circles of worry and fear for months, and I am through. There is only so much we can control and we have to let everything else go. I am tired of making myself sick with worry, and not enjoying my life because I am afraid. Afraid of what? Finances? Money? That is just stupid.

The other driver, an 86-year-old woman on her way home from the grocery store, was not hurt either. In the police report, she says that she doesn't remember the accident. The State Trooper thinks she fell asleep. He commended me on my driving and avoiding a head-on collision. Had we hit head on at 55 miles an hour, I cannot say what might have happened.

So now we are without a car and our closing is scheduled for Wednesday but everything is fine. We will get through this and everything else. For someone who constantly plans for the worst scenario, I hadn't realized until Friday that the worst possible scenario is something I don't even want to consider.

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

2006-07-13T07:47:00.000-07:00

Boston Gal had a really good post yesterday, "Neither Quick Nor Easy," in which she discussed the growing trend in living beyond one's means. While the problem seems to have reached epidemic proportions, I am encouraged by the number of PF Bloggers, as well as the current news shows and magazine articles that are starting to discourage that kind of lifestyle. While it is still annoying to have to explain to people why we don't want cable TV in our new house or why we really only need one car, I've come to accept that as part of the territory.

No Need to Wrestle for the Remote

2006-07-13T07:16:00.000-07:00

In an earlier blog I mentioned that Pancake's dad often falls asleep in front of the TV while cradling the remote control, making it difficult for me to watch my shows. Problem solved! Last night I found 4TV.com, a free TV site that offers 152 streaming channels, including major networks like ESPN. I got to watch the BBC news, undisturbed, without having to use string and a piece of gum to fish the remote from my father-in-law's lap!

Check it out: http://www.4tv.com

When I Grow Up I Want To Be Like Warren Buffet

2006-07-13T07:11:00.000-07:00

The other night, Charlie Rose re-aired the episode "The Life of Warren Buffet," an inspiring piece that revealed the every-man behind the billions. It was surprising to learn that Berkshire-Hathaway, with its modest offices in an equally modest building, employs only sixteen people and that Buffet's favorite restaurant was an unpretentious steakhouse—the kind of place where you and I might dine, with sugar packets on the table and paper napkins. What I gleaned from the show was that Buffet seems to eschew ostentatious displays of wealth—no $15K umbrella stands for this man. In a charity golf tournament in which Buffet was paired with Tiger Woods, Tiger suggested making a wager for "serious money," to which Buffet replied, "All money is serious, Tiger." (The bet, it turned out, was for five dollars. Tiger won, but then Buffet, as Tiger's caddy, asked for 10% of the winnings.)

What I Would Do If I Won the Lottery

2006-07-12T13:00:00.000-07:00

I don't often sit around fantasizing about hitting the jackpot, but I have been known to buy scratch-off tickets for stupid reasons, the latest being I had a dream that I won $15K. (BTW: I had that dream when we were scrounging together enough cash to finishing paying off our IRS penalties—Go figure!) But every time I watch the new show Windfall I find myself thinking about what I would do with that kind of wealth. First, I'd pay cash for the house we're trying to buy, and then I'd completely renovate it. Next, I'd buy a case of Barbara's Peanut Butter Puffins and join the CSA farm in our town. After that, I'd invest the rest and live my life the way I do now. Frugality is more fun when it's a choice.

http://www.nbc.com/Windfall/money_tracker/

Sample Nivea Body Lotion

2006-07-12T12:53:00.000-07:00

Click here for a free sample of body lotion from Nivea. Enjoy!

Hello…Is Anyone Out There?

2006-07-12T09:35:00.000-07:00

1 Piece at a Time is attempting contact with alien life forms. I just submitted this blog to BlogInSpace.com, a new site that transmits blogs into…well, space! It's a fun idea and maybe I'll get some new readers. It's free, so go launch your blog today.

Check it out: http://www.bloginspace.com

Zen-ing My Way through the Rest of the Week

2006-07-12T08:19:00.000-07:00

I'm resigned to the fact that the clear-to-close is not going to happen any time this week. I phoned my mom last night and told her I would not be able to make it to the mass my sister is having at her church for our grandmother who passed away a year ago Thursday. (I'm not going because I'm afraid that the mortgage company will need something while I'm gone.) We had a good conversation and a few laughs about the house-buying process. She said that if we start saving our money now, we'll have enough to buy the house in cash by the time the mortgage comes through.

I feel strangely calm--which is a change from my usual state these days--and also a bit reflective. Financially, we have a long haul ahead of us, but we've also come very far in the last year. I have to remind myself that everything takes time. We did not get into our situation overnight, and it is going to take time to reverse the damage. We have taken many hard, laborious steps in the right direction, and I am confidant that we are on the right road.

Laugh or Go Crazy

2006-07-11T17:29:00.000-07:00

Okay, readers, remember the posts about the floods we had here the last week of June? Well, our county was declared a disaster area and now the mortgage company needs to be sure that our house is still standing. Haha! (Hearty knee slap.) That's a good one. Like I'd pursue a mortgage for a demolished house? If we don't get this mortgage soon, we're going take all of our money and buy a van in which to live down by the river.

Mortgage Update

2006-07-11T12:51:00.000-07:00

I'm about to write a not-so-nice review of the mortgage company with which we are dealing. Today, they decided that they needed a couple of cancelled checks. That's all well and good, but they didn't know that they needed these items last Friday? Not only that, but the broker said that our account was with the lender's lawyer and in the final review process, which is obviously untrue if the underwriter is still seeking information. We were told that the clear-to-close (which, last week, they assured us would be Friday or Monday) will not come today (Tuesday). It looks like we'll be here another weekend. I'm getting very frustrated and discouraged.

Savings Strategy Update: The Emergency Fund Goal

2006-07-11T07:44:00.000-07:00

I read an article in a free issue of O (the Oprah magazine) in which Suze Orman strongly suggests that your emergency fund should equal eight months of income. It sounds difficult to do, but it would be worth it to have that kind of peace of mind, so I did the calculations. The first step for me is to get the emergency fund started with one paycheck for each of us. Step two, as suggested by Mapgirl, is to allocate 10% of our monthly net income to that savings account. I calculated that it will take 6 ¼ years to fund our emergency account, which isn't too bad when you consider that the average car loan is 5 years.

Still No Word on the Clear-To-Close

2006-07-11T06:21:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, our lender's corporate office was having technical difficulties—no phone or computers all day long. We talked to our representative on his cell phone a couple of times, but by three o'clock, he called it a day and said he'd get back to us tomorrow.

It's 2:54. Do You Know Where Your Mortgage Is?

2006-07-10T12:04:00.000-07:00

I don't. Still no word from the lender on the clear-to-close. And I sliced the middle finger on my right hand, making it very difficult to type. Penny-pinching can be hazardous to your health. I was returning soda cans for deposit, so I wouldn't have to use any "real" money to buy my father-in-law a newspaper, and picked up a can by sticking my finger in the razor-sharp top. Bled all over the grocery store parking lot. Not a pretty sight.

List or Find Office Space at Office2Share.com

2006-07-10T10:07:00.000-07:00

I wish I'd know about Office2Share when we were still in Wichita. We leased the top floor of a building and then tried to sublet half the suites. We ended up renting space to a theater troupe for peanuts and then traded out an office for massages from a massage therapist. I think if we'd used a service such as this, where we could have listed the space we had to offer, we would have been more successful and made a few more dollars.

The service also allows business owners to search for space to sublet as well. If you work from home and are looking to rent office space, I'd recommend checking out their site:http://www.offices2share.com

Losing Patience

2006-07-10T09:19:00.000-07:00

I just heard my last marble hit the floor and roll under the recliner, and now the cat's got it. I'm a fairly patient person, but I'm really starting to lose it when it comes to this whole mortgage process. The lender has everything it needs to issue the clear-to-close, but now it's with the lender's attorney, who is evaluating the package for "investment worthiness." What the?!? Investment worthiness—doesn't that seem like something they should have looked at before now? I'm sure that this is just a formality (that's what I keep telling myself, anyway), but c'mon folks, it's been 53 days since we put in an offer on the house.

New PF Blogger Quo + Blogroll Love

2006-07-09T10:18:00.000-07:00

Check out PF Blogger Quo's new site at Money-Up. If any of the readers of 1 Piece at a Time have a link to my blog on their site, please let me know so I can return the favor.

Reducing Our Phone Bills

2006-07-09T06:51:00.000-07:00

I read an article in a free issue of Good Housekeeping about trimming your phone bills. Quite honestly, we need to take a machete to ours. Because we own two businesses, we have VOIP, two cell phones, and a land line for personal calls. I'm going to give up my Sprint cell phone and get a pay-as-you-go plan, and I might be able to talk Pancake into doing the same thing. We need the VOIP, and we need the land line, so we have to start looking for better rates to reduce our costs.

Pancake has a headset and I'm going to get him to try iCall. iCall offers free calls in the USA and to Canada, free unlimited inbound calling, and customizable voicemail.

You can download it here:http://www.icall.com

The Longest Weekend Ever

2006-07-09T06:32:00.000-07:00

Pancake and I are trying to entertain ourselves during this interminably long weekend. It's not a long weekend in the traditional sense—just the standard two days—but since we're not spending any money and my in-laws are here at the camp and we're anxiously awaiting the clear-to-close on our house…well, you get the picture. Friday night we had some free fun at the Fair on the Square, a local event that runs every Friday throughout July. There was music and food and a small traveling animal exhibit. Saturday we poked around some used bookstores, and last night my in-laws went to a concert and we had a few hours alone. But today, I have no idea what we're going to do today.

Ban Free Sample

2006-07-08T06:31:00.000-07:00

Click on the link to get your free sample of Ban. Enjoy!

I Never Claimed I Could Dance

2006-07-08T06:04:00.000-07:00

I've been watching more TV than usual lately because it's free, and last night I saw a clip from the FOX show So You Think You Can Dance? in which a very serious contestant was upset by his score and then tripped during his dance routine and landed on his face. I'm not a fan of American Idol, but this looks like it could be fun to catch when I'm not busy trimming my cat's claws or obsessing about our closing date.

You can check out clips at http://www.fox.com/dance

Taster's Choice Free Sample

2006-07-07T11:47:00.000-07:00

I received my free sample of Taster's Choice, and since it comes in individual serving "straws," they are handy to take on the road or vacation (in case your room doesn't have a coffee maker).

Get your free sample here: Taster's Choice

Free Passport Photos at ePassPortPhoto

2006-07-07T07:22:00.000-07:00

In August we'll be going to Pancake's family reunion in western NY and if we want to head over the border to Canada, we'll need passports. I've found a site that lets you do your own passport photo for free.

Check it out: http://www.epassportphoto.com

Debt Reduction/Savings Strategy Update

2006-07-07T07:04:00.000-07:00

Mapgirl suggested we allocate 10% of our income to savings, and after reviewing our budget, I believe we can manage it. So after we sock away the initial "one paycheck for each of us," I will set up an automatic transfer to the HSBC account for 10% of our biweekly check. I've decided that any "disposable" income left at the end of the month (money left from over budgeting or money we've saved by spending less on groceries or utilities, etc.) will go toward debt reduction. Thanks Mapgirl!

Sweet Holy Moses, Set a Closing Date, Will Ya!

2006-07-07T06:06:00.000-07:00

I've never felt as powerless as I have these last few weeks while we wait for everyone involved in the buying of our house (lawyer, title searcher, lender, insurer, etc.) to get their collective acts together. Everyday the [insert participant] tells us he can't [insert action necessary to set closing date] until the [insert participant] supplies him with some document that [insert participant] insists was sent two weeks ago. As of 8:53 am we're waiting for the insurance company to issue a binder so the lender will issue a clear to close so the lawyer can schedule a walk-through and then the closing. But wait...the lawyer said that his schedule for next week is filling up and if this doesn't get resolved soon, we might have to wait another week! Please, please,please, don't make me wait another week. Don't they understand that I'm living with my in-laws! If they only knew how every night I sit on the couch next to my father-in-law, who nods off while cradling the remote control, making it impossible for me to change the station to Law & Order, surely they would put a rush on our purchase.

Pancake Frightened By Cheapskate Ways

2006-07-06T12:41:00.000-07:00

In Pancake's estimation, I've reached a new low (or high) in my cheapness. We should be closing on the house any day now, and I am paranoid that there is some expense for which I haven't accounted. Consequently, I've been spending hardly any money, and today we had to buy enough food to feed ourselves and Pancake's folks, who have moved to the camp where we're staying until we get our house. Tonight we're making pizza (with veggie topping, no pepperoni, because we have veggies in the fridge and pepperoni is pricey) and tomorrow we're making barbeque beef sandwiches (I already had the meat in the freezer). We also had to make a stop at Family Dollar for personal supplies. I'd been putting off that trip by watering down everything and using free samples, but today I had to buck up and spend $10. While we were there, Pancake wanted to buy a $3 phone cord to replace the messed up one at camp, but I put the kibosh on that, saying we could buy it for his folks as a gift after we move out.

While I'm all about frugal living, I have to admit that I've been a bit ridiculous lately. Once we're in our house, I'll be able to back off a bit.

Table Mate Offer

2006-07-06T12:07:00.000-07:00

I saw this advertised on TV and thought it seemed like something useful. Currently, I use a lap desk for my laptop, but I tend to cross my legs when I'm on the couch, or sit in the lotus position, which makes the lap desk not very useful. There is a site that is offering it for $5 less than the TV-advertised price, plus faster shipping time.

Check it out: http://www.tvproducts4less.com/table-mate-2.html

Lady Raptastic: Da Breakup Song

2006-07-06T09:10:00.000-07:00

I just got a good laugh out of my best friend whose divorce was finalized last week—and believe me, she needed to laugh. Essentially, you enter the name of the person with whom you are breaking up and then two reasons for the breakup, choosing issues like "stinks," "lives with mom," etc. Very funny stuff.

Check it out:http://www.dabreakupsong.com

PayPerPost: New Revenue Stream for Bloggers

2006-07-06T08:50:00.000-07:00

I've been looking for some ways to make a few extra dollars and was directed to http://www.payperpost.com by Blogging Away Debt. It is a good opportunity to recommend products and services (which I tend to do for free when I really believe in something) and get paid for it. When I signed up there were at least fifteen offers from which to choose and the payment ranged from $5 to $10. The post has to be on your site for at least thirty days and your blog has to be at least 90 days old. If you're looking to make a few extra dollars, check it out:

Hammering Out a Debt Reduction Strategy: First Things First

2006-07-05T07:32:00.000-07:00

I've been doing a lot of reading and thinking and calculating as I try to come up with a debt reduction/savings plan that will actually work in real life and not just on paper. Boston Gal suggests in the post Saving Yourself that before you start tackling debt with push payments, you should have at least one paycheck in savings. I think that is a wise idea. What good is it to apply every available cent toward debt if we're only going to have to use the cards when an unexpected expense arises? I'm taking action one step at a time, so here we go:

1) Save one paycheck for each of us and deposit it in the HSBC savings account.

Once we have accumulated a paycheck's worth of savings, I'd like to schedule a reasonable deposit for every week. Does anyone have any suggestions for a percentage of our earnings that should go toward savings rather than debt reduction?

Happy 4th of July!

2006-07-04T06:48:00.000-07:00

It's raining here, but my spirits are high—the title came back on the house and we should be able to close by the middle of next week. I hope everyone has a safe and happy 4th!

Take Heed: Repercussions of Driving On "Closed Roads"

2006-07-02T09:11:00.000-07:00

All roads in our county have been closed since Wednesday. Of course plenty of folks are driving around because they are running low on supplies. We resorted to eating chocolate cake for dinner on Thursday (okay, it was a choice; we did have elbow macaronis in the pantry). It's nearly impossible to expect people who live in a rural community to avoid driving for five days (the roads are still "officially" closed as of Sunday). So what exactly are the repercussions of driving when the state transportation department has declared "all roads closed"? I was told that if you have an accident your insurance company won't cover it! Flood victims beware: you are driving at your own risk, so don't make any unnecessary trips—essentials only, please.

Flood Stories

2006-06-30T09:00:00.000-07:00

Our county was one of the places that got hit hard by the floods. Luckily, the house we're going to close on next week seems to be fine. (Boy, would that have sucked.) It was touch-and-go for a while because the reservoir dam was leaning and they evacuated what will be our street. We haven't had mail in two days (maybe three, if we don't get anything today) and our Main Street is a muddy, tree-strewn mess. We fared better than some other villages, though. Walton was four feet under water and they haven't had running water since Wednesday. Other towns are under curfew and the police are issuing tickets to all non-emergency vehicles. Best of luck to any bloggers out there who were also affected by this once-in-a-lifetime storm.

One Giant Debt-Reduction Leap

2006-06-27T06:45:00.000-07:00

Last year, when one of our businesses—the one with employees—started to tank, we got behind in payroll taxes. It reached a point where we had to let everyone go and it has taken us a year to catch up. If you own a business, I cannot stress enough the importance of paying IRS liabilities on time. The penalties and interest can be financially crippling, not to mention the toll it will take on your emotional health.

Friday, I sent a check to the IRS paying off the balance we owed. This is an enormous monkey off my back.

We're Getting Close!

2006-06-26T06:26:00.000-07:00

Since my last post, we've received the commitment letter from the lender and the title search is underway. While we have yet to set a closing date, it shouldn't be more than a couple of weeks. I cannot wait to get into the house! I can't imagine that either of us will experience one smidgen of buyer's remorse. We both love the place and feel that we are getting a super bargain ($112,000) compared to what homes are going for these days. Once it's ours, I'll post a picture.

It's been a year since Pancake and I have had our own place, and since this is our first home, we're doubly excited. Oh, I miss my things! Everything has been in storage and I've started to forget what I own.

I apologize for neglecting my blog, but I've been faithfully reading my favorites: Windy City, Udandi, Diva Jen, and Boston Gal. I promise that once things settle, I will get back to posting regularly—I have to because I'm going to start working on a ten-year total debt elimination plan (mortgage included). I don't ever want to be in the position that we we're in these last two years. And since we've mastered the art of living on very little money, we’ve agreed to stick with the "lifestyle" to which we've become accustomed and focus our energies on our new home and on becoming debt-free.

Thanks to everyone who reads this blog!

It's All Coming Together

2006-06-13T07:45:00.000-07:00

I haven't been blogging regularly because we've had a lot going on with the business and the house. But here's a quick update: The seller came down $3000, which means we'll pay $112,000 for the house. The house was appraised at $115,000. Before winter, we'll have to install a chimney liner (older homes were built without them, I learned) and get some minor plumbing issues fixed. Overall, everything's chugging along smoothly. We should get a commitment letter from the lender by the end of the week, and then the title search can begin. I've read that the commitment letter is the most important document we'll receive—that it's essentially our final approval—so I'll rest a bit easier once that's over.

Inspection Update: The Importance of Having Someone on Your Side

2006-05-31T08:20:00.000-07:00

Words cannot express how impressed I was with the inspector we hired to check out the house we're buying. I've seen inspection reports for other houses where the inspector has taken the word of the seller on many important aspects of the home's condition. Not this guy! For two and half hours, he poked, prodded, and examined every nook and cranny. He made it clear that he was working for us and that he was going to earn every three hundred and seventy-five dollars of his fee.

First, the good news: the stone foundation is pristine and the house is solid.

Now, minor issues aside, here are some of the problems: There's some knob-and-tube wiring that needs to be replaced, the chimney hasn't been cleaned in about 25 years, and there are a few plumbing issues. The porch and mudroom roofs need to be replaced (but not immediately) and almost none of the outlets are grounded. The inspector suggested we get estimates for the chimney, plumbing, and wiring. As long as the smoke pipe hasn't collapsed (something he suggested may have happened), the chimney cleaning should run only a couple hundred bucks. The wiring will probably cost a bit, and there's a problem with the shower body (the faucet knobs leak) in the upstairs bathroom. Most of theses repairs will have to be done soon.

The owner has already come down $10K from the asking price, so unless these repairs are bigger than we suspect, we should still be ahead. Once we get the estimates, we're going to ask if the seller is willing to negotiate on a couple of items. For instance, the oil tank is ¾ full and we are supposed to reimburse her at closing, and also, we're supposed to reimburse her for the pro-rated taxes. If she's willing to eat those costs, we'll probably still have a deal.

House Inspection Day

2006-05-30T05:43:00.000-07:00

This morning, Pancake and I are meeting the inspector at the house. Luckily, my father-in-law, who knows a bit about construction, is in town and will be joining us. Hopefully, everything will be fine. I've been in quite a state lately as everyone I know keeps telling me horror stories about everything that can go wrong. Heck with the cereal diet--if you want to lose a few pounds, buy a home!

Have GPS, Will Travel

2006-05-27T07:49:00.000-07:00

Three years ago, Pancake and I embarked on a 5,000-mile road trip that took us from Kansas to New York, then down to Florida and back to Kansas. Before we left, we invested in a GPS system that we installed on Pancake's computer. I did most of the driving while Pancake, computer on his lap, connected to the internet via his cell phone (so he could keep an eye on the business) and, thanks to the GPS, let me know every time we were within 25 miles of a Krispy Kreme. Other than pinpointing donut shops, the GPS let us find hotels when we were road weary and call ahead for pricing and availability. We also used it to plot a new route through Georgia when I-95 turned into a parking lot. While I'm not a technophile, if we were to take another trip I would invest in a GPS handheld. I checked out some of the snazzy new gadgets at Northeast Marine Electronics, and they have electronics for camping, hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, and driving. FYI: boating enthusiast can now get free electronic downloads of NOAA's Raster Navigational Charts. The NOAA Web site http://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov contains a fully updated raster chart for each chart in NOAA’s files. If only AAA offered something so cool, I'd be set.

Speaking of Investing in Houses...

2006-05-22T10:18:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, we saw the house we've been stalking and loved it. It was listed at $125,000, and on Friday, after consulting with knowledgeable family members, we offered $112,000. Late Friday afternoon, the seller counter-offered with $115,000, and we accepted! It's going to contract today. I have not been this happy in quite some time. Pancake and I are keeping our fingers crossed that all goes smoothly.

Chicken or Beef?

2006-05-22T10:15:00.000-07:00

Back when the entire Y2K hubbub was going on, Pancake was in a meeting with some folks from his office and talk turned to protecting your finances against the upcoming fiasco. One guy said that he was putting his money into bullion, to which Pancake said, "Chicken or beef?" No one laughed. But jokes aside, many folks do invest in precious metals, such as gold:

Since 1967, well over one hundred thousand investors have purchased billions of dollars of gold, silver, platinum and palladium bullion and bullion coins from Monex, one of the largest firms specializing in precious metals for individual investors. Investment experts have long-recommend portfolio diversification and that 10% to 20% (and sometimes more) of an investor's assets be devoted to tangible assets such as gold, silver and platinum bullion and bullion coins.

I feel out of my realm when I think about the possibility of investing in precious metals, but really, investing in gold is no different (I would assume) than investing in real estate.

Eleven Easy Steps to Protect Your Auto from Thieves

2006-05-21T07:04:00.000-07:00

When it comes to protecting my car, I admit that I have some bad habits. Luckily, my car has never been stolen, but I am going to make an effort to change my ways. I also know that many of my readers live in metropolitan areas and that's why I'm posting the follow eleven tips recommended by Nancy Pierce, regional vice president of GEICO's San Diego location:

1) Keep your vehicle locked at all times, even while driving.
2) Never leave your keys in the car.
3) If possible, park in busy, well-lit areas. Thieves prefer to work in the dark. Leave your car in park or in gear with the wheels turned toward the curb or some other obstruction, so thieves won't be able to tow it easily.
4) Avoid leaving valuables inside your vehicle where passersby can see them.
5) Install an anti-theft system in your vehicle if it doesn't have one. A mechanism that locks onto the steering wheel can be a very visible sign that you've taken steps to protect your vehicle. Ignition cut-off systems prevent a car from being started. Some new cars come with passive alarms that activate automatically when the key is removed from the ignition. One system emits a signal that can be tracked by the police. Thieves are reluctant to steal vehicles that can be tracked and recovered quickly. Many insurers offer discounts for these types of systems.
6) Beware of the "bump-and-rob" technique. Carjackers bump your car from the rear, then steal it when you get out to look for damage. When stopped at a traffic light, leave room to maneuver around the vehicle ahead if you need to. If another car bumps yours and you feel threatened, drive to a populated area. If you have a cell phone, call the police for assistance.
7) Do not leave registration or title in the car. Too often a car thief is pulled over and gets away from the police because he or she can produce the auto registration. If multiple drivers use the vehicle, the best suggestion would be to hide the registration in a secret location that only the owners know.
8) Look around. Be aware of your surroundings, especially in garages, parking lots and gas stations.
9) Know where you're going. Avoid known high-crime areas even if the alternate route takes a little longer.
10) If confronted by a carjacker, do not resist. Cars can be replaced; you can't.
11) Have your car's vehicle identification number (VIN) etched on each of the windows.

While I never leave my keys in the car, I am guilty of driving with my doors unlocked, storing my registration in the glove box, and leaving CDs and loose change in plain view. Visit CarInsurance.com for more information about protecting your auto and lowering your insurance rates with free auto insurance quotes. There are some useful articles in the Learning Center, such as "Which Car Should You Own to Keep Your Rates Affordable," and "Should I Buy Rental Car Insurance?"

Skype Goes Free

2006-05-17T09:45:00.000-07:00

Pancake uses Skype and received an email that from now until the end of the year, all US and Canadian calls using Skype are free:

Starting from today it doesn't matter if it's a Skype-to-Skype call or a call to landline or mobile phone - it's free as long as you're calling from within the US or Canada to US or Canadian phone number.

I've never used Skype, but Pancake swears by it. He says the reception is better than cell, VOIP, or landline.

Revamp Your Tired Music Collection: Trade CDs at lala.com

2006-05-17T08:21:00.000-07:00

Pancake turned me on to this new service that is about to launch that lets you trade your old CDs for new-to-you CDs. Here's how la la works:

Registering for 'la la' is FREE! You can browse member collections and play lists, search for specific artists and albums, or sample 'la la' recommendations. There are no upfront commitments.
Pay only $1 for a CD.
Once you decide to start trading, you only pay for CDs received from your Want List. There are no hidden costs or monthly fees. Every CD you receive costs only $1 plus a standard shipping charge of $0.49. The number of CDs you receive will depend on how many CDs you ship to other members.
You're NEVER obligated to ship CDs in your Have List. When someone requests one of your CDs, you decide if and when to ship the CD. The more you ship, the more you get.
'la la' provides you with stamped envelopes, so all you need to do is drop your CD in the mail! You never pay anything to send CDs.

I'm definitely going to give this a try. I've bought and sold CDs on half.com, but I like the idea of trading. You can't go wrong at $1.49!

House Update

2006-05-16T09:21:00.000-07:00

We've been waiting for a few more houses to become available before we ask to see the one I wrote about in previous posts, but I think we're going to ask to check the one we've been stalking later this week. We drive by the place every day, and I don't think anyone is living in it. A few days ago, the front door was open, and there was an ashtray on the porch rail, which leads me to believe that the owners may be making a few improvements.

According to the National Association of Home Builders, "At a median age of 33, U.S. homes are older than ever before. Since a flood of new homes hit the market during the real-estate boom, curb appeal is a big factor for older ones." This older home (pre 1900) definately has curb appeal—newer vinyl siding, updated windows, freshly painted trim—which, according to the National Association of Home Builders, is becoming very important for sellers as the market cools.

I found some helpful advice from the folks at New Castle Realty on negotiating with sellers at Naperville Real Estate, as well as many other useful articles for anyone either buying or selling a home in Naperville (or anywhere in the U.S.). Hopefully, we'll have our place soon!

Remanufactured Ink Cartridges: When the Best Price Doesn't Save You Money

2006-05-16T07:58:00.000-07:00

A few years ago, I bought a remanufactured ink cartridge from an online supplier and it didn't work. I should have returned it, but for reasons I can't recall, I didn't. I never ordered from that company again and decided that remanufactured cartridges were unreliable. Flash forward to a couple of weeks ago when we needed ink cartridges to get ready for the convention. We made a trip to our nearest city which has an Office Max, and I saw that Office Max was selling remanufactured cartridges under their brand name. I trust Office Max because I've always had good experiences with their products, so I bought the cartridge without hesitation. We printed the items we needed for the convention without incident, and then, this weekend, my printer started acting oddly, making these god-awful clunking noises and refusing to print more than one page before locking up. At first I thought it was the PDF I was trying to print, and then I thought maybe we'd damaged the printer when we brought it to the convention. Eventually, it dawned on me that it was probably the cartridge. Last night, we exchanged the Office Max cartridge for an HP, and now my printer is happy again.

So how much did this lesson cost? The remanufactured cartridge was $5.50 less than the HP cartridge, but our nearest Office Max (or any office supply store for that matter) is twenty miles away. We would have lost money on gas alone, but we needed to go to the city anyway to buy a birthday present for my niece. Gas aside, though, my husband and I probably spent a combined three hours troubleshooting before we figured out that it was the cartridge. (Doh!) I'm sure that there are folks out there for whom remanufactured cartridges work—there must be or they wouldn't sell them—but not for me. I asked the Office Max manager if problems were common, and he reluctantly told me that they've had a number of returns and that remanufactured cartridges are always a risk. I really like Office Max and hope that the remanufactured cartridge business doesn't tarnish their brand name.

Money Changes Everything

2006-05-14T10:19:00.000-07:00

I've been feeling strange lately, and not just because I've had a wicked cold, which explains the lack of posts to this site. For the last ten months my life has been in a holding pattern, and it's all directly related to money and our lack thereof. I am a writer—a fiction writer. I have an MFA in creative writing from a decent university and a handful of publishing credits. I wrote a novel a few years back (still unpublished) and completed a short story collection (also unpublished), and last year, before we moved, I started work on a second novel. Other than this blog, and an article I wrote for a local magazine, I have not been able to write in almost a year. I have always been extremely disciplined, writing everyday, twice a day (one session in the morning and another in the afternoon), all while managing an art gallery and keeping the books for our three companies. I know that a large part of the problem is not having my own space; we've been living at my in-laws' camp and everything I own is in the garage out back. My former discipline relied on routine, and I just can't seem to get my act together.

What I can do is obsess about money, and this scares me a bit. I've always been interested in personal finance and frugality, but I also had a healthy perspective and didn't let it rule my life. Now, it's all I think about. I know that my obsession is filling the space that used to be devoted to writing, and I also know that once I start writing again, it will resume its proper place in my life. I hope. Not all of it is my own doing. There's a hierarchy of needs—we need our own house; I need my personal possessions; we need health insurance; I need to have my eyes examined and get new contact lenses; we need to register our car—and writing is not at the top of the list. Our needs consume me. And I'm tired.

Please excuse the excessive introspection, but I don't recognize my own life. The way I am living right now is not who I am. And I hate the fact that I've wasted an entire year. I just feel so lost.

Help! First-Time Homebuyer Needs Advice

2006-05-10T08:20:00.000-07:00

We have our eye on a three-bedroom, two-bath house in our village, but we don't know how to go about making an offer. The house is listed at $125,000 and has been on the market for almost a year. The backyard is miniscule (luckily, we don't have kids) and there is no garage or real driveway (just an asphalt strip to park the car). I want to make an offer, but I don't want to insult the seller. Is there a ratio of the asking price that is appropriate to offer—for example, 10% of what they're asking? Obviously, we want to get the best price, but so do the sellers. What constitutes a low-ball offer? A medium offer? Help!

Dove Free Sample Bonanza!

2006-05-10T07:28:00.000-07:00

Visit the Dove Web site and choose from a variety of free samples. Enjoy!

Boy, What a Week!

2006-05-09T09:21:00.000-07:00

The last time I posted, I was getting ready to leave for a convention on Cape Cod, and we were waiting to hear if we'd been pre-approved for a mortgage. It was a crazy four days, and the Cape was cold and cloudy all weekend, and then it rained on Tuesday. I returned home to a pile of work and an inbox full of emails, and promptly came down with a sinus infection. I'm not better, but I'm back. And, yes, we've been pre-approved! The rate is pretty high because of our business debt, but, according to the lender, there are a couple of things I can do to get it reduced. And we can always refinance once our credit history improves. Our down payment is in A/R, and as soon as it rolls in we're going to take a look at a house that's been on the market for almost a year. It looks great from the outside, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the inside proves just as nice.

Pants Update

2006-04-28T06:26:00.000-07:00

For everyone who's been waiting to find out if my pants fit, or if I'll have to run to the mall and buy new, I tried them on this morning and am happy to report loose fitting slacks. Yippee! I really hate shopping for clothes, especially those last minutes trips, because you never can find what it is you're looking for.

For anyone concerned about my health ;-) I broke down and ate some other healthful foods besides cereal and milk--mostly rice and vegetables and a banana everyday. I will say that I'm feeling pretty good, physically, which is probably the result of not having had any high fructose corn syrup for five days. (It really is hard to avoid that stuff. It's in everything.)

Now that I'm done obsessing about my pants, I can return to more important matters, like obsessing about my money.