Money Makeover

[peanut]

AmeliaM: Thanks for the idea. I'm afraid it won't work. I'm not supposed to sit for more than one hour at a time, whether biking, in front of the computer, or TV, or whatever. Compressed discs are no fun! For what it's worth, I'm planning a visit with my doctor to talk this all over with her. The concept of even being able to rent a fancy bike like that in Europe has my mind reeling.

I first found Leslie Sansone's DVDs in the library. I knew they were good because they were always out. In the end I bought mine in self defense. The library ones kept going 'missing'.

Jean

[peanut]

~ DH's back pay came in...another $1000 for the emergency fund. We are still jamming as much into the emergency fund as we can. We have $5500 of our $10,000 goal at the moment.

~ We find we are preferring to eat snacks and treats at home, from homemade cooking.

~ We have another shopping day shaping up this weekend for DH and coats/shoes.

~ DH made arrangements with eavestroughing people to come look at the house for an estimate.

~ DH has yet to go over energy grant/audit programs.

~ We decided to put off calling a realtor to look at the house until we were ready to renovate the interior.

~ DH and I discussed time management and tracking time usage. Also I finished tracking my time last week, and analyzing it. Results will be posted on my blog...brave soul I am.
As per usual, I have a lot to do this week.

~ I want to finish the mending.

~ I also want work on the family photo album.

~ I've been looking through library books for things to make for sale.

~ I want to make the felt bags.

~ The EAC embroidery course.

~ I want to continue going through the “Embroidery Canada” magazines.

~ I want to finish reading “Boundaries”.

~ I want to continue de-cluttering the utility room.

~ I need a haircut...badly!

Also need to do menu planning, grocery shopping, laundry, etc. A busy week ahead... lots of evening activities. Two Bible studies, choir practice, 2 stitch-ins...and the eavestroughing guys, an appointment with my fitness specialist, a kitchen party at the church...

Lots to do, so little time...

Jean

[wannabedebtfree]

Auntie2many: Thanks for the Costco heads up. We have one here, but have never been able to justify the membership. but with Co-enzyme Q10 costing me $15/mth. it might be worth it...that's $180/year. A membership is $50. I wonder if I'd save that much? I find most things cheaper elsewhere in the city. Even the CoQ10 I can buy 10% off if I buy it from a local store the first Monday of the month. So it's really only $160/year.

I haven't read the rest of the posts yet so it may already have been addressed, but you do not need a membership to get a prescription at Costco/Sams membership places. As you go in, instead of showing them your card, just tell them you are there to get a prescription. No problem, at least in the US.

[peanut]

I haven't tried this. Thanks!

Jean

[peanut]

Update:

~ researching Christian meditation/contemplative prayer.

~ de-cluttered drawer full of jewellry. It's a start. I still have two jewellry boxes and a necklace hanger thingie to go through. Sigh...

~ de-cluttered the laundry area of the utility room.

~ also de-cluttered part of my away room in the basement.

~ finished reading "Boundaries". Onto "What's so Amazing About Grace?" by Yancey and "Your Spiritual Gifts" by Wagner.

~ DH vacuumed the basement

~ I got a haircut too!

~ sorted sports equipment in the basement and listed it on-line for sale.

~ working on the EAC embroidery and course.

~ working on the photo album - 4 pages a day.

~ mending in progress. Fixed DH's Siwash sweater today. Bought the yarn to fix the crocheted afghan.

~ DH and I were out windowshopping for jackets and dress shoes for him again. Still haven't found anything we really like, without paying big bucks.

~ Found a company we stopped ordering from had charged us for something we hadn't bought. Phoned the distributor and they said wait another month and see if it was taken off. I'm pretty ticked. means it will be a credit to my credit card...which i don't use anymore. Grrr...!!!

~ Foolishly agreed to order some Bible study material. Only problem is it wasn't available locally and I can't return it. I don't like it, but will pass it onto the people who want to do the study and see what they say. I may just opt out of this study altogether.

~ no eating out. DH, DD#2 and I have been taking turns cooking. The menu plan is working. My grocery bill this week was about $120. That leaves me $80 for next week, but I won't need much.

~ Health wise, everything is going a lot smoother. I checked out a book by Dr. John Lee called "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You about Menopause". It was useful. I've noticed since using the yam extract (progesterone cream) my back side pain has decreased. I am using a very weak cream and very little of it. I will up the amount I use and see if that makes any difference. He claims you may need to wait four to six months to see a noticeable improvement. I've already seen my pain go from 5-10/10 to 0-5/10. The mega-doses of vitamin C are going well. I've backed down to 2000 mg./day. And I am tolerating the liquid cal/mag/vit. D well too. Next up to try is vitamin B...at the end of the month...

That's all I can think of so far. I've been carpooling to Bible study and such.

Jean

[peanut]

The latest update...

~ decluttered keys,
~ sorted through spices and tossed old ones,
~ baked muffins for the week, and banana cake for my Red Hat ladies,
~ put my cilantro and parsley in water on the counter to grow (rather than in the fridge to go to slim),
~ bought DH a three season coat for 30% off, and a pair of dress shoes...full price unfortunately. They were the last pair of the kind in the store, and they fit. However, the jacket was put on my air miles card so I can collect points to trade in for gift certificates for entertainment.
~ continuing mending of a baby afghan of the girls and a top. Still have more mending to go, but I can see the end of it!
~ EAC course embroidery. I need to update the journal now.
~ Finished browsing "Your Spiritual Gifts" by Wagner.
~ Started reading "A Guide to Christian Meditation" by Marilyn Morgan Helleberg.
~ Started reading "The Simple Home" by Sharon Hanby-Robie.
~ Prayer scrapbooking seems to be working. I just crack it open and start praying. Once a week I go through and check off the answered prayers.
~ Had a frugal luxury on the way home from the hairdressers. Stopped at a local cafe for a couple cups of tea and reading some vacation magazines. By the time I was done I was short $1.95 and felt like I'd had a nice reprieve on the Canary Islands! Gotta love those kinds of places. I'd never normally buy a vacation magazine, but the one on the Canary Islands was interesting.
~ De-cluttered another shelf of the sewing unit.
~ Managed to do some rug hooking.
~ ordered in a hard to obtain DVD for extended family use, and my own.
~ DH gave me a back massage using a library DVD as a guide. Saved us $30.
~ DD#2 and I are talking about her BF's quilt and who's paying for what and doing what.
~ DH, I and DD#2 had a chat about her employment status (she's been out of work 2 months and not looking seriously). Things will be changing, or she'll be out of options real quick.

Jean

[peanut]

Things are moving along...

~ DD#2 has a job! Yahoo!

~ DD#2 also informed me she has a medieval feast to go to in 10 days and needs a pirate costume - blouse, vest, pants and coat - by then. We are sewing...the vest and blouse are mostly finished.

~ DD#2 also picked up some fabric for her bf's quilt.

~ Made muffins and tortillas this week.

~ Carpooling to knitting.

~ Listed old commercial cassettes on-line for sale. Gave personal taped ones to a friend to use.

~ Researching Costco membership on-line. Need to check the store and see if Cdn. stores also will do prescriptions without a membership. I don't think so.

~ I lost my EAC journal. Will have to start a new one.

~ reading "The Writing Road to Reading" to review it for myself. I think it's the course that will help my niece. I printed out the phonograms on cardstock and cut them up. Also copied those pages. All I need is to record the sounds and words on a tape now. The book used to have a record with it, but I guess they did away with that. Too bad. It's exactly what my niece needs - the auditory part. I'll leave the rest of this situation up to God.

~ Decided to revamp how I carry out one of my church missions. I send BD cards to the kids, and I forgot one in February. I decided to mark all the BD's on my computer desk calendar so I know when to mail them. I have another problem with this mission. I have no place in town to buy Christian BD cards for kids now. Sigh...

~ Made a master grocery list off the four week menu plan. Now I need to price the food out.

~ Researched good, healthy, big breakfasts on the Internet. Came up with some things to try. I've tried a couple this week already. DH is really into this. He made a lovely breakfast this morning of soft boiled eggs, muffins and nut butter, and fruit smoothie. I rolled out the china, silverware and crystal and we dined in style!

~ DH made an appointment with a contractor who will be visiting this week to update a quote.

~ Started sewing on the felt bag from DH's old sweaters.

~ Watching more "Simple Living" with DH.

~ Contacting the Orthomolecular medicine people to find out more information. Cutting out dairy and sugar and taking vitamin C and liquid calcium seems to have made a huge difference in my general well-being. But I'm not willing to go any further without a health care professional's help.

~ Trying to deal with my jewelry this week. Had a necklace appraised. good thing I did. Had a gemnologist look at various rings. I'll be having things appraised bit by bit.

~ Reading "What's So Amazing About Grace?" by Phillip Yancey.

~ Did the jars, budget binder, Quicken and a budget meeting last night...very short. Even DH suggested we not do them at the same time. I'm thinking maybe do the money on payday, and just leave the meeting until Saturday nights.

Jean

[peanut]

So yesterday I talked with the original jeweler I took my rings to last week. She had suggested I take them to a certain store with a working diamond tester. When I did I lucked out and ended up talking to a gemnologist. It was extremely informative. The original jeweler had wanted to know about one specific ring. I went back to let her know it wasn't a diamond, but we're not sure it might be a star sapphire or some such. A third jeweler claimed it was 'synthetic'.

While chatting with the first jeweler I asked about their appraisal service. Sixty dollars a piece seems a bit steep. I asked if there was a discount for volume. She said 'kind of'. It costs them to bring the guy in. The first piece is $60 and every subsequent piece is $40. That makes it a bit more reasonable. Still, I'll wait till all the bills are paid out of Mom's estate/my inheritance and take the money for the appraisals from there. DH and I had a discussion and decided jewelry appraisals would not come from the clothing budget (where jewelry costs normally come from!).

The girl mentioned to be sure to bring in even costume jewelry because you never know, and the appraiser will not appraise anything worth under $100. I hadn't thought of costume jewelry! I have inherited my mom's jewelry and both my grandmothers' jewelry. I guess I shouldn't be so quick to discount Gram's and Grandma's stuff too.

I can foresee that appraiser having to make a special trip to appraise all this stuff. I don't know if this is a good idea though. I woke up thinking about all this jewelry. I am becoming too focused on things of this world. Sigh... But I guess it's better to know and have appropriate insurance/storage, than to have problems and not have it covered.

Jean

[peanut]

Yesterday...

~ drove DH to work. Stayed on that end of town and did some grocery shopping, and picked up my vitamins for 15% off at the health food store.

~ came home for a break and then on another round of errands in the afternoon...

~ went to the gym to meet my fitness trainer. It costs $4.95 per visit to the gym, so I only go once a month. We walked for 45 minutes. We decided to meet down by the creek next month and walk the bike path. It free and the nice weather will be wonderful!

~ went from the gym to an organic food mart that normally sells organic eggs...but they seem to be out when I get there Mondays. So I chatted up the owner. He told me the farmer drops them off on Thursdays...so I am making a mental note to walk up there after teatime Thursday afternoon to buy them.

~ went windowshopping study bibles at a Christian bookstore. Lots of choices!

~ then off to exchange something at the health food store. I picked up the wrong product.

~ then off to have tea at Zeller's. $1.50 for a cup of tea, and I could have a refill if I wanted! Gotta love that price.

~ then to pick up DD#2 from her day at work...and home for a 'rest'...I read and sorted mail, phoned DH about supper and picking him up from work, made a reservation at a restaurant for supper.

~ picked up DH and we went straight to the restaurant. I had checked their menu on-line before I went and found a dish I thought I could eat. Turns out there was sugar in the salad dressing...sigh... and then DD#2 convinced me to have a sugar/dairy laden dessert. I did not feel well afterwards. I couldn't finish it either. Enough eating out. I think I'm cured. Good thing we paid with a gift card from Christmas. I put the rest on my Air Miles credit card (yes, the one that got put away on the weekend - they have to go back away now). This was our celebration of DD#2 getting another job, combined with our 2 month celebration of the Money Makeover.

~ While talking over supper we got to discussing things that were happening in town this summer. Cirque du Soliel is going to be here when we have international company. I was saying too bad we couldn't go. DH looked at me and asked 'why not?' I told him tickets were $100 each by the time tax was added. He said we could afford it. I'm thinking on that. It would be one of those lifetime things for me. It might be worth $100.

~ Picked up some fabric on Full Circles. I told DH I was picking up my sewing stash for the year so my hobbies didn't cost anything. He's shaking his head. I'm going to have to start sewing before the fabric chases me out of the basement!

~ Went through my pattern drawer to match up fabric to patterns.

~ watched a DVD and read a book for entertainment last night.

[peanut]

Tuesday...

~ I was working at the computer and there was a big bang that shook the rafters. I turned around and saw orange flames shooting high in the furnace. I called DH and the furnace repair man. End result - we're short $350. I put it on credit card...sigh.

~ I missed two meetings while the furnace repair man was here. Had to phone someone to pass on a message for me on one.

~ a book I'd ordered on-line through Chapters came. It was the wrong one. I had to take it to the Chapters store in town and exchange it for the right one. It was their mistake, and cost me $3 more. I was not impressed and will not use Chapters on-line again.

~ I stopped in to have some coffee with friends late in the day. Actually, I had french fries. They had coffee.

~ got home and read more of "What's So Amazing About Grace?"

~ Took DD#2 to the mall to connect up with friends and buy stuff. She quit her job today. Sigh...back to square one.

~ DH and I thought we had a quiet evening at home. But then Dad called, and then my brother called, and well, 2 or so hours later...it was well past bedtime. We did get an invite to go visit my brother. DH is thinking about driving out and taking DD#2 to kind of wet her appetite for change. I am not thrilled with this prospect, considering my back. DH is known for driving non-stop and I've been told to get out and stretch every hour. I'm thinking flying might be better for my health. Actually, I'm thinking staying home might be better for our pocketbook.

~ My brother was able to tell me the appraisal I had done was wrong, and I had better get a second opinion from someone else. So I'll be doing that eventually. He suggested taking photos of all the jewelry, to tuck in with our insurance policy.

~ We watched some of "Simple Living" last night.

That's all I managed. Today I am sick. Rats! So much to do. I told DD#2 she was going to be on her own for the rest of the pirate costume. This is not good folks. She's never sewn a coat before. Sigh...I am not going to get well quickly I have a feeling. I made sure to take my vitamin C this morning, as well as a shot of echinacea. I'm heading up for some decaf. green tea to go with it... The local hospitals have set up triage outside the hospital ERs because they don't have enough beds for people coming in with the latest flu/virus thingie. Apparently it's resistant to antibiotics. Go figure... I'll stay home and try natural remedies for now. DD#2 had a bug that lasted all of 3 days. Hopefully I won't have it any longer than that.

Jean

[peanut]

Wednesday...

~ still sick, but functioning...kind of.

~ decided to start with a vitamin B complex to help boost my immune system. The new Natural Factors capsules seem to be working. I wasn't drowsy after taking the first pill. This is a breakthrough for me to discover the problem has been my vitamins all along, and not my medication. Still using the usual vitamin C, echinacea, honey and green/white tea.

~ lots of time on-line while DD#2 sewed her blouse up. I don't think she'll have time to finish the outfit. DH says I'm not to push it and try to help her. She has to learn by consequences. I don't know. It's hard to let them learn that way...

~ I phoned another jewelry store in town and found out most of the stores in town doing on-site appraisals use the same appraiser! I was pretty curious about that. She told me there was little demand in our community for appraisers. So I searched Vancouver for appraisers. I thought I might take the jewelry out there to have it done. Found a couple qualified appraisers on-line but, truth be told, I just decided I would take some of it and put it away in a safe deposit box. I'll have some tested with a diamond tester, but I think I know what's of value and what isn't. It would probably be cheaper to have the safety deposit box than pay the extra insurance.

~ cooked a ham and sliced it up for breakfast and lunch meat. Nice bone for soup too!

~ reading "What's so Amazing About Grace?"

~ eating small meals throughout the day. Mostly leftovers because I was too tired to cook.

~ watching a library DVD with DH last night.

~ organized our greeting cards yesterday by filing them in file folders according to event they are for.

~ we decided to not go to visit my brother in Vancouver. It would mean spending money from the EF, and we don't want to do that.

Jean

[jade73]

Hi peanut Just had to say love reading your post keep it up

[peanut]

Thanks! Well, I broke down. I couldn't let DD#2 learn by consequences after spending so much on fabric. And the opportunity for mother/daughter time was unprecedented. So I've spent the last two to three days redesigning and sewing a pirate coat. It's all done. She gave me a big hug and thanked me for not making her learn through consequences! She knows our parenting style by now. She's off to the feast. I forgot to sew up a section of the side seam in the lining of the coat (where I turned it). I wonder if she'll notice all weekend?!

Haven't done much other than that the last couple of days. Had a great time working with her though.

Jean

[peanut]

DH and I did our weekly counting, entering receipts in Quicken and Budget meeting yesterday. I broke it up. I did the counting in the afternoon. DH did the entering in Quicken in the early evening. And later in the evening, while getting ready to watch a movie, we held our budget meeting.

We didn't accomplish much last week. At least I didn't...other than being sick, trying vitamin B complex (which I love!), and sewing DD#2's pirate costume with her. However, that does give me a healthy sized list of things to do this week.

But our decisions didn't focus on this week. For some reason we got talking long term about things. The jewelry, vacation, charity, etc.

I told DH I'd really rather take the jewelry to someone who has familiarity with antique jewelry as well as modern stuff. That means going to a major center to have it appraised. I also told him the money for appraisal comes from the inheritance. He asked 'why get it appraised at all?' A good question. I commented I was concerned on four fronts: fire, theft, loss, and dividing it up among Mom's grandchildren appropriately.

We walked to a local mall and had the jeweler check more pieces with the diamond checker. There were a few surprises. Definitely need an antique jewelry specialist.

While on our walk we had tea with a Christmas gift card. Also stopped in at a new Dollar Store and found some great stuff. We spent $2. Cheap entertainment! I want to go back for kitchen glasses sometime soon. And stopped at a Christian bookstore on the way home to show DH the bible I'm saving up for, and bought some milk too.

Anyway, back to the budget meeting. We've decided we put off Costa Rica too long. It simply is going to happen this coming January...period. That gives us plenty of time to pull together passports and save money.

DH and I talked about the church situation - if you want someone to give more money to the church, get them to count the offering after church! I felt so sorry for the church after that experience. I had a talk with DH. I'd like to quadruple what we give eventually. Maybe not this year, but eventually. We give very little right now. This morning he agreed to double what we give right away. Sounds good to me!

We talked about events happening this week. This is the one week every month where I am out 4 out of 5 nights. Means DH gets lots of alone time. I also need the car for one of those days...meaning he gets to walk or take the bus.

We have serious cleaning to do today and tomorrow while he's home. I have some serious baking to do, having missed my baking day last week due to being sick. We need muffins, bread, tortillas, and cinnamon buns.

We need to go for a walk and take a photo of the arbour we'd like the contractors to build, and send the photo to them...so they can finish off the quote for the job this summer.

That's all I can think of that we talked about.

Jean

[forHISglory]

Jean Peanut,
I admire your posts. Your questing mind and indomitable spirit are inspiring. You have made me look around me more at the facets of my own life. Keep up the great posts!