Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Spanish American War tax has been cut!

Yes a telephone tax that helped pay for the Spanish American War from 1898 has been cut!

The tax was imposed in 1898 to help pay for the Spanish-American War. It was designed as a tax on wealthy Americans, back when phone service was considered a luxury.


Time to celebrate!! I have no idea how much I pay but all phone companies need to stop charging this tax on August 1st. And we can get a refund for taxes paid since 2003.

USA Today

How to make panty hose last longer?

Yes it is an age old question. They get a run and you have to throw them out. Panty hose are not exactly cheap either so you want to get the most wears out of them.

I highly recommend out checking out protecting panty hoses. It is not the simple things of making sure your toenails are trimmed or putting nail polish on the runs.

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

50 ways to cut your budget

There are lots of ways to cut or trim your budget. Liz Pulliam Weston summed them up in her weekly article on MSN Money

She gives the usual ones like all frugal minded people do however there are a few that I don't necessarily agree with like extending your mortgage to 30 years if you have a 15 yr mortgage. And pay a ton more interest.

Some I will champion like looking around for cheaper long distance. Check out Budget Dial Communications for lower rates plus dial around plans. Also Verizon has a cheap dsl option for less than $20 a month.

Another one is meal planning! If you are a regular reader I plan my menus weekly.

Overall it sums up how to save money but nothing that most frugal folks already know.

Gas and Grocery Shopping

Many of our local Stop and Shops also have gas pumps! They offer a great deal and discount on gas.

If you show your S&S card at the pump you get a discount of 5 cents a gallon. However if you spend $50 on grocery shopping you get a 10 cent off a gallon coupon. So you could save up to 15 cents off a gallon coupon!

They have been doing this for a while but I have to admit I really didn't think about it too much. However I did some comparsion shopping for gas with the local Cumberland Farms. This is from Sunday gas at Cumby was $2.75 and gas before the discount at S&S was $2.74.

We had been getting our gas at Cumberland but will now be getting our gas at Stop and Shop.

Monday, May 29, 2006

Do you buy bottle water?

Just a simple poll this week as I was at the supermarket over the weekend and saw people walking out the door with caseloads of bottled water. A single bottle of water can cost $1.50 or so. I very rarely buy a water bottle. I use them up. I do have a brita water filter.

Do you buy bottled water?
Yes
No
Free polls from Pollhost.com

Lottery poll results

Exactly 1/2 of the frugal folks that answered the poll said that they didn't play the lottery. That number is a little higher than I would have thought. I thought more on the higher jackpots. Atleast no one plays daily or several times a week.


No 50% 6
Yes Daily 0% 0
Yes Several times a week 0%
Yes Several times a month 17%
Yes However only on big jackpots 33%

Tech Tags:

Sunday, May 28, 2006

Frugal Meal Planning week of May 28th

Happy Memorial Day! I love the unofficial beginning of summer. Cooking on grill, easy quick recipes to use.

Here is what we are eating for dinner this week

Sun Chicken feta Spinach burger

Mon Cookout

Tues Chili

Wed Chicken Stroganoff in the crockpot

Thurs Leftover chili

Fri Leftover Chicken Stroganoff

Sat Homemade pizza

Menu and Recipe ideas


Easy Marinades

It is the unofficial beginning of summer! Time to pull out the grill and cook.

Easy beer and ginger marinades

Dr Pepper Marinade

Easy beef Marinades
Beef Marinade
BBQ Bourbon Sauce Recipe
Blackberry BBQ Sauce -
Fajita Marinade
Simple BBQ Sauce
Honey Mustard Chicken Marinades
Spicy Marinades


Check out easy frugal recipes

Saturday, May 27, 2006

Gap Coupon Codes

I found these online and anyone who is doing some memorial day online shopping may like to use.

FREE Shipping w/$50 purchase - enter code FREESHIP

Save 10% off your online order of $85 or more plus get free shipping - enter code YAYFJUNE

I don't have any expiration dates on these.

Enjoy your shopping!

What to get for Dad?

I have to say my Dad is the hardest person to buy for. His hobby is his work being a carpenter. He is always puttering around fixing things so usually it is a gift certificate to Home Depot or to a local restaurant.

Father's Day we usually have cookout at our home for my Dad, my father in law and of course my husband. I am glad to have an official day to celebrate Dad and Father's Day has been around for almost 100 years. Mrs Sonora Dodd thought of the idea for Father's Day while listening to a Mother's Day sermon in 1909. Sonora wanted a special day to honor her father, William Smart. Smart, who was a Civil War veteran, was widowed when his wife died while giving birth to their sixth child. Mr. Smart was left to raise the newborn and his other five children by himself on a rural farm in eastern Washington state. Mr Smart sounds like an amazing man as most Dads are.

Still thinking of what to get for your Dad for fathers day gifts Gift Baskets are a good way to make sure you can get your Dad what he wants. You can a gift basket with his favorite hobby such as golf or grilling. Or maybe some nuts, wine, chocolate or cheese. It is really a nice way to personalize for your Dad.

Ponzi Schemer goes to jail

I hate hearing how people get fooled. There are so many scams out there these days. One got justice on Friday. James Lewis Jr got the maximum sentence for scamming people out of 311 million dollars.

Over 1600 people believer what Mr Lewis told them over the years as he was a "trusted money manager"

Former investor Collene Campbell testified she and her husband lost the money they were saving for a down payment on their granddaughter's first home, a grandson's college savings, and the contents of a scholarship fund for another grandson.

Other people talked about how their retirement savings was gone. Their hopes and dreams as well.

The judge asked how Lewis could keep up his scheme for nearly two decades.

"As long as you're able to raise money and keep paying the promised annual or monthly payments, you can keep going until you implode," Kane said. "And Mr. Lewis was about to implode when he was arrested."

Lewis told investors he was earning returns of 18 percent to 40 percent by leasing medical equipment, financing purchases of medical insurance, making commercial loans and buying and selling distressed businesses.



Missouri Sectary of States listsPonzi Schemes and Pyramid Schemes as one of the top 10 investor scams of 2006.
These investment scams are essentially “robbing one person to pay another.” Initial investors are paid off with money taken from new investors. As long as a steady flow of new investors keeps coming in, there will be money to pay off the old investors. This early return on investment is misleading, however, because when new investors stop coming in, the scheme collapses, investors lose their money and the fraudsters walk away rich.

We have seen 2006 already with some ponzi scams such as Auto Surfing Programs being at the top of the list.







A car accident and ice cream!

Well I woke up this morning and next to the coffee maker was an accident report. My husband decided he was going to the local convenience store to get some ice cream at 10:30pm (I fell asleep watching Freaky Friday on the couch) and got into a car accident. He is okay thankfully just some front end damage to our old 1996 Dodge Caravan. Who knows how much! Well, it must have been karma because we were talking earlier in the night the no ice cream rule in our husband because we both need to lose a few pounds.

We had been thinking of switching insurance agents for the past few months because whenever we did those free car insurance quotes it always came out better. It only took about 15 minutes to do the quote. It is always a good idea to do the comparison shopping on auto insurance and check several different companies.

I found some good tips on saving money on auto insurance and also some tips from Geico and National Insurance Crime Bureau's on preventing auto theft:

1) Keep your vehicle locked at all times, even while driving. Close all windows and sunroofs, no matter how hot it is.

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. Car thieves want to get off cheap. They don't want to go to the expense of replacing all the glass

Friday, May 26, 2006

Frugal end of the year teacher gifts

Teachers add so much to our lives and guide out children with special attention. It always nice to give an appreciation for their thoughtfulness and caring. But what gift would be appropriate and not overwhelm the teacher? Here a just a few:

Fill a basket with things they will need and use all year. Add pens, pencils, notepads, stickers, boxes of staples and paperclips.

Wrap a coffee can with colorful paper and add three or four of your favorite home baked cookies. The plastic lid will keep them fresh for days.

Teachers often burn the midnight candle as they read reports and grade papers. Fill a basket with bags of munchies like peanuts, chips, popcorn.

Make a donation to the local zoo or library in your teacher’s name. Put the donation card in with a note expressing your appreciation.

Teachers are always reading. Get a gift certificate or card at your local book store and enclose it in a note of your appreciation for their help.

Get a apple made of cloth and filled with soft fibers. Have every member of the class sign the apple in ink.

Teachers are always carrying books and papers. Find a satchel bag with an apple or red, white, and blue flag design. Or make a bag with all the school colors.

At the local bookstore, find a bookmark that says what a great teacher he is. Or one that has apples running the length of the bookmark. You may be able to find one with dunce hats or take another plain bookmark and add dunce hat stickers to it.

Buy a glass or ceramic mug and have your child paint an apple and his name on the side.

Have your child create a pencil cup by decorating a juice can with brightly colored tissue paper.

Adriana Copaceanu provides people with creative gift ideas that don't blow the bank. Teacher Gifts, Baby and Birthday Gift Baskets are just some gift ideas you'll find at her site. Want regular reminders on gift-giving? Sign up for her free monthly newsletter at http://www.abcgiftsandbaskets.com/gift-news-signup.htm

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Tuesday, May 23, 2006

A teenager who is a millionaire and a scammer

We have all gotten the emails saying we the long lost relative of some prince and we could get millionaires of dollars to help get the funds released. Most of us are smart enough not to get involved in that.

How about selling something on ebay? Fortune Magazine looks at one boy behind a computer and how he is scamming Americans.

Meet Akin 14 years old is a millionaire and a scammer and lives in Lagos

Akin buys things online - laptops, BlackBerries, cameras, flat-screen TVs - using stolen credit cards and aliases. He has the loot shipped via FedEx or DHL to safe houses in Europe, where it is received by friends, then shipped on to Lagos to be sold on the black market. (He figures Americans are too smart to sell a camera on eBay to a buyer with an address in Nigeria.)

I haven't heard of that one but it is something that is happening over and over at Internet Cafes

And he's not alone: The cafe is crowded most of the time with other teenagers, like Akin, working for a "chairman" who buys the computer time and hires them to extract e-mail addresses and credit card information from the thin air of cyberspace. Akin's chairman, who is computer illiterate, gets a 60 percent cut and reserves another 20 percent to pay off law enforcement officials who come around or teachers who complain when the boys cut school. That still puts plenty of cash in Akin's pocket.

While there is a sign on the door saying not to do this. It is a joke and not enforced.

"The deterrent factor is not there at all," says Thomas Oli, a Lagos lawyer, citing the case of a former police inspector general who was convicted of stealing more than $100 million and got only six months in jail.
"What do you want me to do?" Akin asks in pidgin English, explaining why he turned to a life of Internet crime. "It is my God-given talent. Our politicians, they do their own; me, I'm doing my own. I feed my family - my sister, my mother, my popsie. Man must survive."


Free Summer movies for the kids

The movie theatres are doing it again this summer! We took advantage of this several times last summer. We got to see Spongebob, Rugrats go Wild and Polar Express. While the movies are not first run and probably on DVD, it is still great to go to the movies. Get there a little early as many summer camps go as well and tend to fill the movie up.



Regal Theatres
AMC theatres

Dickinson theatres They are only in 10 states. AZ, FL, GA, KS, MO, NC, NE, OK, SC, TX


Crown Theatres CT, IL, MD, MN, NV

Marucs Theatres IL MN OH WI
Pay $2.50 but get a drink and popcorn

National Amusements

Also more great ideas for frugal summer fun at http://www.budgetdial.com/news-Jun0105.htm

Monday, May 22, 2006

Do you play the lottery?

In today's news NH lottery commission said that lottery sales were up almost 20% this year. Do you play the lottery? I might buy a ticket when there is a big jackpot and I have bought scratch tickets in the past.


Do you play the lottery?
No
Yes Daily
Yes Several times a week
Yes Several times a month
Yes However only on big jackpots
  
Free polls from Pollhost.com

Sunday, May 21, 2006

Retirement poll results

What percentage of your annual income do you save for retirement?

Results were pretty spread out with no clear majority of what percentage saving for retirement. I get concerned when I see nothing being saved. Even $50 a month is something for retirement or make sure you taking advantage of automatic deduction from work for a 401k or other company sponsored retirement plan. I also thought we would see more saving 11% or more.

none 8%
1-5% 27%
6-10% 23%
11-15% 12%
16-20% 8%
over 20% 23%

Frugal Dinner Planning wk of May 19th

Beautiful weekend days means summer grilling!

Sun Steak and grilled eggplant

Mon Beef stew in the crockpot

Tues Meatloaf, potatos

Wed Leftover beef stew

Thurs Spaghetti with leftover meatloaf

Fri Pork Chops

Sat Homemade pizza

Menu and Recipe ideas

Thursday, May 18, 2006

Pizza for dinner!

We are doing pizza tonight! It is actually a fundraiser for the school my kids go to. I would rather spend the $20 on this than spend $50 on crappy stuff (ie expensive wrapping paper that does not hold dear to my frugal heart) they sell in the fall.

The pizza place gives 20% to the school for any food order between 4-9pm.

And I don't need to cook or clean-up~

Children Place Coupon

Here is a great coupon! $10 off $10.01 or more at the Children's Place.

They have great quality clothes!! Children's Place Coupon

Sex and the past due water bill

My water bill came today. I have to admit a few times in the past I completely forgot to pay it, but I did pay for it eventually with cash. I'm glad I live up in Massachusetts and not Arkansas.

Waldron's mayor was released on a signature bond Wednesday after being accused of soliciting two women for sex after they fell behind on their water bills.


Wow can you imagine!
Another woman told investigators that she'd been having sex with Anderson for money for the past eight to 10 years. She said Anderson paid her $25 per encounter and that he allowed her to change the name on her overdue water bill, which kept her water turned on, the affidavit said.

The mayor also gave the woman $60 to pay a late water deposit in exchange for sex, the affidavit said. The woman's bill was $617 overdue, the affidavit said.

In February, the second woman wore a recording device when Anderson picked her up for a sexual encounter that netted her $20, authorities said.




Lesson learned Pay your water bills on time.

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Life is more expensive

I don't like to shop even grocery shopping is not my thing. That is probably one reason I can be frugal. However we need to shop to get the things we need in life. Well life is getting more expensive.

Inflation is going up thus prices are going up. Consumer prices went up higher than expected in April. Some of it was energy related.

I think most families will need to make decisions on purchasing non necessary items. Do I need those new blouses or shoes? Or should I get away with last years style.

What areas will you cut back on? Eating out, clothing, electronics?

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Mail call

I got 2 interesting pieces of mail today:

A catalog for fireworks- fireworks are illegal in Massachusetts. Think someone needs to take a look at their mailing list.

The second one is a bit more money related. I got an offer to skip my car payment for either June or July because it is summer! While that sounds good, read the fine print.

Vacations, major purchases, repairs...whatever the reason, Skip-A-Payment lets you decide when you need your money the most! Skip-A-Payment is a service that allows members to "skip" one full payment after six monthly loan payments are made on most loans or credit lines (except first mortgages, fixed-rate second mortgages and business loan accounts) for only $30 per loan per occasion. The loan must be current and interest continues to accrue during the month the payment is skipped.

Who is winning here? The bank or customer? The bank in the long term because they get to collect a fee as well as accure more interest.

Thanks but no thanks!

What is a penny worth?

To a Michigan energy company it's the difference between keeping your lights on and having them turned off.
Consumers Energy turned off the power to a Flint woman after she paid all but one penny of her bill, which was $1,662.08. The company told Jacqueline Williams the power would not be turned on until it received the penny.
The woman went into the Consumers' Energy office and paid the penny and got a receipt. After seven hours without electricity, her power was restored.

Golden rule: Pay your bills on time! Look at the totals and pay the right amount.

Yard Sale Shopping Tips

Hello and Welcome!

In this week's issue Living on a Budget in a Non Budget World
Newsletter.

Money Saving Tips
Featured Article Yard Sale Shopping Tips
Money Blog Spotlight
Top Conversations on the Money Saving Forums
Freebie and Contest Alerts
The Frugal Five
Frugal Food Easy Pizza Dough Recipes

Read this issue at:
http://www.budgetdial.com/news-May1506.htm

You can view past newsletters at http://www.budgetdial.com/news.htm



Enjoy! Best of luck in your savings

Monday, May 15, 2006

How much are you saving for retirement?

How much are you saving for retirement? We are saving about 12% of our annual income between 401k and Roth IRAS.


What percentage of your annual income do you save for retirement?
none
1-5%
6-10%
11-15%
16-20%
over 20%
  
Free polls from Pollhost.com



Extra $500 a month poll results

The results for Where would you put an extra $500 each month? were a little suprising to me. I thought that most would try to pay their mortgage down.

apply it toward your mortgage 20%
retirement 4%
college saving 4%
general savings 72%
spend it 0%

I did a get a few comments to that they would apply it towards their credit card debt.

Tech Tags:

Sunday, May 14, 2006

How I earn a 135K a year?



I am a work at home mom but primarily a stay at home mom! Well according to www.salary.com I should be earning $135,000 a year. 10k a year as a housekeeper - my husband would dispute that in a minute.

Oh well life would be grand if I actualy earned that.



Frugal Meal Planning week of May 14th

Happy Mother's Day!

Sun We are going out for brunch so dinner will be some sandwichs

Mon Breakfast for dinner

Tues Hamburger and spinach casserole

Wed Pork Chops, potatos green beans

Thurs Pizza fundraiser night at preschool

Fri Spaghetti

Sat Chicken on the grill
Sat Homemade pizza
Tech Tags:

Saturday, May 13, 2006

How to deal with a job layoff?

I was newly married when I was laid off from a call center job. I was in a total panic Luckily for us, my time off of work wasn't that bad. I have had several friends who experienced layoffs later on in their career and their was greater impact. Two years later, one couple is still trying to pay off debt due to a 6 months without a job. While the economy seems strong today, we are still hearing of layoffs of manufacturing jobs. Ford was mentioned earlier this year and now Maytag plant closings in Iowa are causing concern.

Kara of Moms Market Online shares that her Dad is getting laid off Over the past few years things have gone from bad to worse at the original Maytag plant in Newton. Lay offs were extremely high, going from 1,500 on the floor clear down to 500 or less. It may not seem like much in the corporate world, but for this tiny town it was a HUGE deal. Very sad as well, because this was where Maytag started and the entire town held a lot of support for this company.

This year Maytag was sold to Whirlpool, and things have gone completely down hill. I just got a call from my dad (one of the few remaining employees that's been working there just shy of 20 years) who said the announcement was made to all the employees today - the plant is closing in October of 2007. 


CNN shared some tips on how to deal with a layoff or the potential of a layoff.
1. Inform your family.
2. Keep monitoring your spending and live on less
3. Put debt repayment on hold This isn’t the time to be aggressive on paying off the credit cards. Contact your credit card , mortgage and student loan to see if you can make any plans with them. I have heard of some credit card companies not charging interest during this time.
4. Spend down your Flexible Spending Account if you know it is in the future
 5. Consider BIG cutbacks.
6. Be smart about taxes
7. Keep track of deductible expenses. Resumes, business cards, phone calls, unreimbursed job interview trips -- many of your job-hunting expenses are deductible if you itemize using a Schedule A.
8. Invest in yourself. Consider taking classes to make yourself more marketable.
9. Maintain your network.
10. Raise extra cash.

How do I stay fit?

WAHM bloggers network asked how do you stay fit physically and mentally?

I like to exercise. I love the feeling it gives to me. There is nothing after a good workout of a feeling of "yes I did it" I do it quite frugally the by. I don't belong to a gym. I have in the past with but 3 little ones it is hard to get there. I work out with mostly exercise videos. I admit I am an exercise video junky. Sometimes I buy them new, and sometimes I buy used from an online swap. I have also discovered Comcast ondemand exercise tv which has some older workouts but they are usually short and give me that push when I need it. Exercise keeps me fit physically as well as mentally.

As for mentally, I like to read. I read just about any book. When I was working and had to commute via the train, I always had a book. My husband and I also love to debate about politics. That keeps me sharp. We discuss the issues of the days as well. It is fun and challenging.

I think it is important for moms to keep themselves fit. I know when my twins were first born, I really let myself go. I thought what the heck, I am going to be home all day who cares if I don't take care of myself.

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

Get your car ready for the summer

The summer is typically the roughest season on your car. The added heat and strain of the air conditioning system can result in breakdowns and being stranded. Here are some tips for your car this summer that will keep you going and minimize repairs.

1) Cooling system flush. This costs around $60-$80 and is important as residue, rust, metal particles, etc... will clog up your system and reduce its effectiveness. If your cooling system is compromised it can lead to engine overheating and very expensive repairs or total engine failure.

2) Battery test. Take your car to a auto parts store and have the battery checked. Most will do this for free. They will also clean your battery cables and terminals. Sulfuric acid build up will corrode and worsen the connections which can lead to a dead battery or other electrical problem. A bad battery will not hold the proper charge and, especially in traffic on a hot day can leave you stranded. Believe in Murphy's law and be prepared for it. If something can or will fail it will probably do it when you least expect it and when it will effect you the most. Be prepared by testing your battery and replacing if necessary.

3) Change the oil and transmission fluid replace filters. Have this professionally done as a mechanic can tell you of warning signs with oil color, smell, etc... that can warn of impending or future issues. They will top off and check all necessary fluids for your car. They will also check the belts, hoses, tires and more if you ask. As a general rule, have the oil changed every 4,500 miles.

4) Remember to take care of your car’s finish. You want the paint to remain in good condition for as long as possible. Wash the car regularly as bird dropping, acid rain, dirt, etc... can ruin the finish. Apply wax and sealant to protect the paint from the sun, salt and weather conditions. Don’t neglect your headlights, which can become cloudy and won’t operate as well. New Lite Headlight Repair, Cleaner and Restorer will return cloudy headlights to like new condition.

These tips will keep your car running all summer long, make it safer, and make it look great.

David Maillie is a chemist with over 12 years experience in biochemical research and clynical analysis. He is an alumni of Cornell University and specializes in biochemical synthesis for public, private, and governmental interests. He holds numerous patents including his recently awarded patent for headlight cleaner, repair and restorer. He can be reached at M.D. Wholesale: http://www.mdwholesale.com

Tuesday, May 09, 2006

Where would you put an extra $500 a month?

If you have (or wish you did) an extra $500 in your budget, where would you put it? I have to say "wish" because we don't have an extra $500. If we did I would put it towards general savings until my emergency fund was fully funded. After that I would put it towards our mortgage. I feel having paid off mortgage is a good part of our retirement planning. We are saving for retirement (husband 11%, myself maxing out Roth) but probably could save more. So what would you do?



If you had a extra $500 in your budget each month would you
apply it toward your mortgage
retirement
college saving
general savings
spend it
  
Free polls from Pollhost.com


Sunday, May 07, 2006

Do you mind debt poll results?

In our weekly poll last week Do you mind debt? Over 1/2 don't mind a mortgage loan but almost 40% say no to debt completely.


Yes I hate debt and won't do/do by anything unless completely debt free 39%
Yes but certain debt like credit cards A mortgage doesn't bother me 56%
No, debt doesn't me Debt is a part of life. 6%


Frugal Homemaker said the poll question inspired her to write about her own debt fears.

Frugal Meal Planning week of May 7th

It is a beautiful day here so we are grilling.

Sun Hamburgers on the grill, french fries

Mon Leftover burgers mixed with spaghetti

Tues Chili

Wed Crockpot Chicken Salsa

Thurs Leftover chili

Fri leftover crockpot chicken salsa

Sat Homemade pizza

Free Museum visits for Bank of America cardholders

Bank of America is offering free admission to museums for the month of May.

By simply showing a Bank of America ATM, check or credit card or MBNA
credit card, customers nationwide and a guest can visit any of the 56
participating cultural institutions in May for free

To find out if museums in your area are participating check out
http://www.bankofamerica.com/museums


Walk for Hunger

If you live in the Boston area you are well familar with the Walk for Hunger which is a 20 mile route. The 20-mile Walk for Hunger begins on the Boston Common, and winds through Boston, Brookline, Newton, Watertown, and Cambridge before returning to the Boston Common.

Walk for Hunger is the oldest continual pledge walk in the country, and the largest annual one-day fundraiser to alleviate local hunger.

I have done the Walk 4 times in the past and it is a great and rewarding experience.

According to a recent USDA report, 179,000 households (449,000 people) in Massachusetts are struggling to put food on the table. The report also compared the 2002-2004 statistics to those of 1999-2001, and found that 18,000 more households - approximately 45,000 more people - were hungry

If you are local to Massachusetts, I highly recommend making a donation today. Project Bread donation page

If you are not in Massachusetts, I recommend finding out where you local food pantry is. A donation of money, time or food would be highly welcomed.

Remember while we may always be struggling wiht money, there is always someone who has less than us.


Saturday, May 06, 2006

Family support

The Question of the week at the Wahm Bloggers Network is Does your family support your home business?

I have done the home business thing in the past. In 1996 I tried to do Herbalife. I got one of those yellow booklets in the mail talking about "working at home" I was hooked and spent a lot of money and was very pressured by my up line to buy inventory. I also fell for the envelope stuffing thing as well. So needless to say when I wanted to attempt Cognigen Discount telecommunications back in 2002, my husband rolled his eyes. Heck it was free and I would make a go out of it.

I put my whole heart and soul into it to prove that I wouldn't fail this time around. I did fliers focusing on cell service. Once my husband saw that I was going to make this work and starting to get checks, he did a turn-around. He was now my number 1 cheerleader and fan. He also mentions my business to everyone he knows. I made him VP of sales :) I have since gotten into affiliate marketing and I bounce so many ideas on him. I even got him doing some writing for me on a couple of blogs as well.

My kids are too young to really understand. My oldest knows that I sell things on the computer.

With my extended family, it is more of the rolling of the eyes thing still. I think my parents really do not understand what I am doing. Selling on the internet. What are you selling? My brother and sister know more about the internet than my parents, but they still give me that funny look.



Monday, May 01, 2006

Do you mind having debt?

Does having debt bother you or do you think you gotta have debt to survive in today's ecomony.

I don't like having debt, we are credit card debt free. We have a reasonable car loan and a mortgage.



Do you mind having debt?
Yes I hate debt and won't do/do by anything unless completely debt free
Yes but certain debt like credit cards A mortgage doesn't bother me
No, debt doesn't me Debt is a part of life.
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