Savingbucks's Personal Finance Blog

I mentioned awhile back that an early retirement package may be offered at the local government where I am employed. I am in the group that started "too young" (something to be thankful for) but was hired so long ago (28 yrs) that the pension contribution is only 2%. The was a tentative deal offered to folks with different criteria. It seems my group has been mentioned. However, it does appear that the offer for my group is not as generous as was previously rumored. The artificial 55 & 30 (non-penalized) retirement is probably not an offer. The offer is 5 years added to one's service credit. But DB (my bro) a union mucky-muck still thinks that the 5 years can be used as I see fit. So stay tuned..... It is a better deal to add the 5 years to my age rather than to service time. There is a larger penalty with the age. I will be *gasp* the Big 5-0 next month, so getting to 55 would be better than staying 50 with the extra time. With all the votes and delays, it seems that any realistic departure would be at the end of this year or early in 2010. That will increase service time by a few months. Vacation and sick payouts will be split into the 2 years to lessen tax burdens (yay). So, I am in the process of determining what I actual live on now versus what a monthly retirement check would be (minus those charges I do not have to do anymore). I'll keep you posted. My gut tells me to take the $$ and run!

Had a birthday party for DD this weekend and I lived to tell the tale! Actually, it was a nice party. Four girls came and lots of swimming - Sat pm, Sat eve, and Sun am. Pool was hovering at about 87 degrees (yippee for solar heating). We had Costco pizza and taco bar (I prepared all the fixing but cheated by using preformed shells). Lots of fruit and veggie try. I was so proud of myself for no junk foods except for the birthday cake. I made DD an ice cream cake. One layer white cake, one chocolate with Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Brownie ice cream in the middle. Frosting was cool whip. Yum! And very easy and cheap to make as well. After dark the girls made bracelets and necklaces with fancy beads while watching "Bewitched" on DVD. My DD loves the show (it brings back childhood memories). One girl brought "scary" movies to watch but 3 were rated "R" and one was "PG-13." So no go on that one at our home. In the morning more swimming. Breakfast was pancakes, left over pizza, and homemade smoothies. The guests were impressed that I actually save left over fruit and freeze it for smoothies! Hopefully they tell their mommies. The pancakes were also extras frozen for breakfast at a later time (yes I was a bit lazy). I took a long nap this pm and then off to Target for DD to spend some of her birthday monies. But we rode our bikes for a bit of exercise. DD is happy with her day and Mom and Dad are content that it was not too wild. Sophie the dog was even on her best behavior! She did not bark at anyone and did not jump in the pool after the girls.

Hope the rest of you have also enjoyed your weekend!

Got back from Texas the other day. Looooooong road trip but saw lots of interesting things. We went to a family reunion in south central Texas (south of Austin). We all got to see the family farm and other family country land. DD was excited to see so many cows (she took about 150 photos of them!) -- the area is full of small beef cattle ranches. Cows seems to love to look at the camera! In southern CA I only see large dairy operations. My FIL is almost 89 and he was so happy to go back to where he grew up. He saw his brother, nieces/nephew, and lots of cousins (his age). That made it worth the trip. We also were quite lucky with the weather - the weather was in the high 80s but was fairly dry for June. Good for us!





It almost killed me not to have any time to exercise (except for some hiking). There was always someone to take us out to eat! We also toured a Blue Bell creamery (yum). I tried to be fairly careful with portions and with types of food (more veggies than usual). At least I did not gain any weight. But, I did pay for it. I went running yesterday and was almost as slow as a slug.

It was so nice to be in the country - the pace of life is much slower in this part of Texas and I think that is a good thing. This area is a farming area where everyone knows you. We had lunch at a local cafe where FIL saw someone he went to school with as a child! Downfalls --- bigger bugs in Texas! We saw lots of them. Poor DD looks like she has the measles on her legs from all the mosquito bites!

Budgetwise, the largest cost was for gas for our vehicle. DD did not ask for any souvenirs. Her splurge was a trip to the local bead ship. We stayed at Uncle's log cabin and they even stocked it with groceries! Texans are very hospitable. It was nice to sitting in the rocking chairs on the porch reading magazines and even going on an "armadillo hunt." We did not find any except for a dead one on the side of the road. Saw a snapping turtle and scorpions and a baby buzzard that fell out of its nest in the woods.

I would like to travel there again at a "better" time of year. But I think we'll fly. Right now we are hoping that Uncle will come here to visit in August (to escape the heat and humidity).

Well, back to reality -- enjoy the picture of the cows on Grandpa's farm!

Had a great Memorial Day Weekend. DD turned 11 on Saturday. We went to a local restaurant of her choosing (Hawaiian-Japanese casual cuisine) and saw Star Trek at a small theatre nearby ($5 each). DD got a digital camera as per her wishlist. We will have a small birthday party at our home next month - her birthday is not on the best weekend for a party. On Memorial Day, we had steaks from the freezer (bought on sale); fresh french bread (free with coupon); carrots; olives; baked beans; and salad. For dessert I made a peach upside down cake with peaches from FIL's peach tree. Yum! FIL is drowning with peaches - they are small ones that don't last once they are picked from the tree. I have been busy flash freezing them for later use.

Also trying to get ready for our trip to Texas this weekend (and yes, DH wants to drive!). Seems Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas will all be about 90 degrees. No surprise, but I know I will have a jolt in Texas with the humidity. Southern California is pleasantly dry! Hope to visit a bit in Texas - any ideas near Austin? The Citywalk in San Antonio has been mentioned. The Gulf does not look too far on the map - maybe there as well. No plans for Houston though. FIL has a ranch that we want to visit out in the country.

Have a great evening!

I spoke of the possibility of early retirement in an earlier entry, and was seriously considering it. But... as things go, it appears the offer has been withdrawn for the time being. Darn! Just when the dream was getting closer to reality! The next rumor is talk of cash incentives towards targeted individuals - whatever that means. I am not sure who the targets will be. I'll let you know if I have a bullseye on my back! Time will tell - 5 years to go in the meantime.

DH and I are talking more seriously about reworking and simplifying our finances. Everything has been on autopilot, but I have been guilty about not looking for the best deals on things like insurance (auto, home, etc.) Why? Procrastination, laziness. Sometimes I can't seem to propel myself into savings mode especially with larger ticket items. DH says that I can save a buck with a coupon but it's hard to save a few hundred on a bill. He is right. I need to make a better effort to get organized. Once I am organized, I can investigate the differences between companies.

Today is my DS' 21st birthday! I called him on his cell to wish him the best (he lives on his own). His buddies are taking him out and I told him to be safe and not drive anywhere! I will see him on Mother's Day! I miss my "little boy" and it is hard to adjust to him growing up. DD is still 10 and I think her growing up may be harder for me to deal with.

Tonight it is just me and Sophie and Spot (dog and cat respectively). DH is at work, and DD is at a friend's house. I am working on decluttering while watching some TV and writing this blog (of course). Tomorrow is the day to leave a bag of groceries for the mailman (I think this is nationwide). I have two bags set aside so far. Last year our mailman complained that I left too much! This year the food pantries are a bit bare and written appeals for groceries are in our local paper. Hunger definitely does not take a vacation.

I am hoping for some unbiased (and maybe biased) feedback about retirement. I may have an opportunity and be offered the chance to take early retirement. My original plan was to retire in 5 1/2 years when I am eligible. Financial goals after that time (whenever I feel like it) include working part-time to earn enough quarters for Social Security. I am a local government worker bee. Here's the potential offer:

Enough years and time to be artifically considered 55 years of age with 30 years of service (no penalty retirement). I would receive about 66% of the highest 12 months of service. Historical retiree COLA adjustments have been 3%. DH and I paid off our mortgage 7 years ago, so that debt is not there.

Pros to go:
Yippee -- don't have to go to work!
No commuting costs - save on gas.
I wear jeans to work, so no clothing changes.
Less stress.
Time to be home more with my DD, who will be starting middle school in the fall - that alone is priceless.
More time with DH.
Possible lower tax bracket.
Currently utilizing DH's medical/dental insurance plans, but with 25+ years I have medical insurance earned and plan to be double covered for no cost out of pocket (current plans - could change in the future for retirees).

Cons of retirement:
34% paycut
"Loss" of about $150K to invest, etc. in the 5 years time frame difference. Will not have the ability to invest in my 457b. If not working part-time, I believe my only option is a spousal IRA of a sort.
Possible lost opportunity for one more promotion - this hinges on my supervisor taking the early retirement or retiring before 5 years. The promotion would be substantial which would make later retirement more lucrative. Odds of this are slim to middling.

NOTE: If option is offered, and I decline, my contribution to the pension fund will increase by 5% - so a 5% paycut if I stay.

I do plan to crunch the numbers and consult advisors in our retirement system once I see an offer in writing. There should be something concrete by the end of the fiscal year.

Anyone think of any considerations that I am overlooking? Any input would be appreciated, especially from those who are retired. Has retirement been great or not so great - from both financial and other perspectives?

DH's saying is this: He feels that I would regret NOT taking early retirement more than taking advantage of it. Of course, he plans to eliminate the gardener (saving bucks) and "hire" me instead!

Today's a lazy Saturday the day before Easter. I got my workout in early this am. DH's back is giving his fits and spasms - we have been going for 10 min walks throughout the day to stretch him out. He is a stubborn man (but cute) who does not want to go to the doctor. Lunch and dinner are out of our pantry and fridge. Lunch was leftover fish with curly fries and coleslaw and avocado (from our own backyard tree). Dinner will be pizza (Boboli) with white sauce, mozzarella cheese, alfredo sauce, and chicken. Toss in a salad with more avocado. No desserts due to anticipated over-indulgence tomorrow.

Tomorrow we head to my parents' farm. We are having a whole lamb BBQ'd over a spit (folks raise sheep). Yum! Plus ham, potato salad, green salad, mostaccoli, and lots and lots of desserts. DD is the youngest of the grandchildren so I don't know if we will have the egg hunt. She wants to fill our plastic eggs and hide them herself. DS may not be there because he forgot to ask for the day off in a timely manner.

Everybody pitches in and brings something. I traditionally brings drinks due to my lack of culinary skill (I don't dispute it). I was going to head out to a local store to buy soft drinks, but just before I left, I went into the back room and looked in the closet. Lo and behold ---- many 12 pks!!!!!! All "name" brands! And NONE expired! Yipee! So I "save" some current money and closet space at the same time. I put them into the fridge to get cold. The most interesting (or disturbing) item I learned is that Mountain Dew has about 46g of sugar per can!!!! No wonder DS and my nephews (all in early 20s) love the stuff! The only soda DD drinks is Minute Maid lemonade Light (and very rarely). She hates all dark sodas and that is a good thing for her. So no trip to the store needed!

Got home from work minding by business when the doorbell rang. A young lady with a clipboard was from a company that I won't name - let's just call it Superduperfrozenfoods or SDFF (not a real name - I made it up). She said that this company is seeking new customers and they sell frozen meats, etc. For all non-customers, they would give some free samples as well as a small softsided cooler (one person lunch size). The samples were: a piece of cheesecake, 2 hamburger patties, and one small steak. I looked at her clipboard to see which neighbors had taken the bait, so to speak. Well, I also bit. I happily took the samples and will have them for dinner tomorrow - a review to come. They would like to return for an appt. to show me the prices but would not bother me if I declined. I will get a phone call the night before to confirm (I chose next Tues). Well, I know the prices will be too high for the couponer in me, but hey, free is free, right? Well, within an hour, I got a call to just confirm my info. The caller said I would get another call but they would see me and DH at the scheduled time. Well, no, I said. I never committed DH - he works nights and besides, he chases away all doorbell ringers equally! The man was trying to be persistent, but I told him no. The couple thing is a BIG red flag. I buy 99.9% of all groceries for the house and DH would not care if I wanted to buy the meat or not. I do not need his approval. I did research the company (I was told that they are listed with BBB) and they were rated a big fat D-!!!!!!!!!! Seems that they are not exactly what I thought they would be. I thought that SDFF would kind of be like Omaha Steaks - order online whatever I need. Seems this company wants one to order a freezer and lots of meat upfront at outrageous prices and commit to monthly purchases. I figured out that the prices would be high, and I already have a secondary freezer. So they wasted their samples with me. Plus, I have a monthly coupon club meeting scheduled for Tuesday night, and if they want to contend with a bunch of couponing ladies, go for it!!!!

This week has been zooming by so quickly! This past weekend I was able to declutter about a dozen bags or boxes of unneeded "stuff." DD has had two nights of choral performance, I attend Girl Scouts Leader meeting, and Jazz singer practice for DD today. Tomorrow is DD's chorus party, and Friday we are off camping for the weekend with 14 Girl Scouts! I am so tired that when I put my head on the pillow I am out within 3 minutes! Haven't seen DH too much this week, either. He works nights and had had to leave this week before I get home.

FIL is still with us, but hopefully will transition back to his house soon. More cleaning to be done at his house! DH wants me to check into Life Alert to see if it could fit FIL's needs. Hope so. Right DH is taking him back to his house for a few hours each day to get him back into his routine. The plan is to send him back with us checking on him and using a part-time caregiver. Luckily he does not need any medical assistance at this time.

FIL's dog also needs to go back home. Seems she is used to "yipping" when she wants to get someone's attention. DH does not like that and has had some "words" with her. No neighbor complaints so far. Our dog is actually being quite good about sharing space and attention.
The cat is not so tolerant of the new dog -- when everyone is inside, she sometimes decides to show the dog who is boss by sneaking up and giving her a swipe on the nose! As a result, FIL's doggie is a bit afraid of the smaller cat.

There has been more talking about offering early retirement incentives at work. I work at a local city government (been there a LONG time) and unfortunately, per the rumor mill, I will miss the opportunity. I was planning to work 5.5 more years to receive my pension without penalty. The rumored offer is 5 years to be used as needed (time or age). Even with the added 5 years, I am still 2 years short. I was lucky enough to start very young. But I will have almost 33 years when I do retire which will be a comfortable amount. It sure would have been nice to get a smaller amount 5 years sooner! Oh well, I am very blessed to have a job that I enjoy with no danger of layoff. I work with the greatest "cast of characters" that the world has ever seen! I may write a book about my career adventures someday -- especially a book about the various excuses that guys have used for being late or not coming in! Or a book about what some folks have done playing pranks on others (ex-lax cupcakes, anyone?)
These stories are all true, and someday I may describe them but of course change the names to protect their identities. At least my job is never boring!!!

Enjoy the week!

This weekend has been nonstop! Purging through "stuff" at home to donate to ARC on Monday. I have gone through a few rooms and barely made a dent. Sigh! At least DD has been cooperative and is helping give away toys and clothes. We have also been going to FIL's house to clean and purge as well.

FIL is staying with us for a bit after falling a few weeks ago. He fell in his kitchen (no known reason) and DH found him on the floor the next day. FIL went to hospital for a few days and rehab for 2 days before coming to our house. The hospital experience was not the best, to say the least! FIL was a bit disoriented and was very out of his environment (he is 88 and has early AD). Nothing was broken and the only thing that could explain the fall was a low potassium level. The stint at the convalescent house (it is NOT a home) was not necessary, but DH agreed to placate his sister. He finally said that enough was enough and brought him to our home. The convalescent place kept asking about his insurance and that they recommended a stay of 4 weeks! There was nothing to rehab! DH said that he was checking him out. FIL is doing very well and not behaving oddly as he was in both of those places. We intend to clean up his house and have a part-time person keep an eye on him. He lives about 10 blocks from us so we will be doing a lot of checking as well. I do feel bad because I can't think of anything useful for him to do. I would have had him water the outside yard but it rained today. DH (who works nights) takes him back to the house every day and runs him on their errands. My biggest drawback is cooking! I have always been "culinarily" challenged and am now cooking 2 meals a day. But FIL will eat anything though. I am so used to scrounging for DD and myself so this is an adjustment.

I did see a local freebie for Southern California folks -- buy $75 worth of Legos from downtown Disney (forgot store name - legos, probably) and get a free annual pass for a child at Legoland. Limit 2 passes per family ($99 value). Hope this is of value for someone.

Spent most of the weekend trying to declutter and get rid of stuff. Mostly paperwork - I am a notorious piler. I especially love to collect magazines that I usually don't read (at least 99% of them are free subscriptions). But on a good note, the work cafeteria now has a reading section. Bring books and/or magazines to swap. So..I have already dropped off 5 magazines. I went through the house and thumbed through about a dozen issues of various mags and slipped them into a bag to bring to work. Hopefully others will enjoy them.

Got to also slug through mounds of junk mail hunting for bills and tax info. A lot of the mail is from charitable organizations. I give at times -- but it seems once I give, they want me to give all the time! They also send LOTS of address labels -- I will NEVER use all of them! I am trying to figure out a way to get them to stop sending those. I can't send them through a shredder -- I tried, but the adhesive gums up the machine.

Finally opened up the spice rack DH got me for Christmas (yes I am slow). We also set up the Wii Fit that came from Amazon a few days ago. So far, it is fun. Amazingly enough, the Wii Fit tells me that my weight and BMI are in the normal range! A bit inaccurate -- I would like to lose about 20 lbs and the scale does agree with that observation. DD likes to go on the runs but tends to cheat by moving the whatchamacallit with her hand instead of jogging in place. I hope to use this daily to add some movement.

Went to my niece's playoff game in bball last night. Unfortunately, they lost. Boo. DN looks like she is heading to college with a scholarship as longs as she stays injury free. Well, that will be in a few years since she is still a freshman.

Made pancakes for breakfast this am for DD and her friends. There were enough to freeze for future breakfasts. Lunch was leftover rice and broccoli slaw and also included shrimp and corn. I am busy freezing leftover cocktail sauce. I got a HUGE can 40+ oz for 99 cents at the 99 cent store. Could not resist -- I needed some but the prices at the supermarket are much higher. Dinner will be leftover chicken and whatever else I can scrape out of the cupboards. I may make some cookies for dessert from a box of cake mix. I got lots of boxes for free last year and usually make cookies rather than cakes. The cookies always turn out well even if the cake mix is expired. I stir in raisins or M&Ms or chocolate bits into the batter.

Now.. off to work on my taxes.

It's raining off and on here is southern CA. I love it when it rains -- and we sure can use it! Today is a holiday, but I did go into work today. Contractor could not work due to weather, but I did spend a few hours catching up on paperwork. It was great to work with little distraction. Then went to the company gym, and off to home with DH and DD.

A no spend day today -- we just had grilled cheese on hamburger buns with avocado for lunch. I got the cheese on sale last week for $1.88 lb (good price for here). Buns were given to me by a friend (her gardener gives her volumes of day old bakery goods) and the avocados were from our tree. Dinner plans will be chicken or bean burritos and carrots. Chicken is a leftover. Lots of sour cream, salsa, and avocado for garnish. Lemonade is one of the beverages (FIL's tree). Dessert can be cookies or See's Candies.

Yesterday DD and I went to a local mall to use up some gift cards. I haven't been to a mall for shopping in quite some time. Both DD and I did not like it -- to many people. I keep hearing that the economy is in trouble and spending is down. But there were no signs of that at this mall! People everywhere with lots of bags! We went to Vitamin World (with coupon); Gap (gift card); Justice (no gift card but 40% off the entire store so some decent deals were made); Victoria's Secret (gift card); and See's Candies (gift certificates). Got some good deals and free goodies at Justice and See's. I still have gift cards so I think I will have to make more trips to redeem them. I worry that the stores will not be there and I will be out my money. I do feel good that DD could see that we were being prudent with money; and also that my disdain of rampant (not mild) spending and commercialism is rubbing off on DD. DD is happy wearing just about anything (although she is getting more concerned about matching these days); and is an ardent recycler. She has more fun making things out of cardboard, etc. I am hoping to have her GS troop visit a local recycler this year and also start a papermaking project.

So.. I am having a lazy afternoon sitting on the computer and vegging.....

Well, I have partially recovered from a girl scout weekend! A local GS unit sponsored a local "Mall-lock in." Theme of the event was Mall Olympics. Each troop was to have a "booth" or activity related to the Olympics. Our troop had a balloon relay - put an inflated balloon between the knees, race to your partner, hand off to partner, then race back to the finish line! If you drop the balloon, pick it back up and keep going. That was hilarious!

The girls brought sleeping bags and were camped out near the Target entrance. Of course, there was not much sleeping. Games were held throughout the course of the evening. Fortunately for me, our booth was from 10-11:50 p.m. Other troops were not so lucky - their events were from 3-4:30 a.m. There were also skits and dances. Food was around all night - salad bar and veggies all night; pizza from midnight to 1 am; and ice cream from 3-4 am. Breakfast from 5 am-7 am. The girls had a blast!!!! Most stayed up for most of the event. I got 20 minutes of sleep. The adults also had sentry duty at various times - I pulled a 3 am shift in front of the pet store (keep girls from annoying the dogs). We also had to make sure that no one left the mall and that no damage was done in the restrooms.

We got home Sunday am about 9 am. I took nap #1 from 9-12:30 pm and nap #2 from 2-5 pm. Then off to bed at 10 pm and back to work today. Whew!!! I was so tired that I could not even move. And to add insult to injury, DH said that I snored!!! But DD came to my defense and told the truth!

Our next GS adventure will be a weekend at a camp in the local mountains at the end of March. But this time, all activities will be taken care of and the leaders will do nothing..... (I can only hope)

Relatives -- if my blood, you sure can't pick them! I have 4 brothers, all of whom I love dearly (and fought with growing up!). I am watching in dismay one my brothers - TJ -- facing the possibility of losing his home to foreclosure. The whole disfunctional family dynamic thing always comes into play here. Another brother, MJ, is a real estate agent and born hustler and lives to impress those that want to be impressed. TJ works part-time for him at this time and has worked full-time for him when he owned a business. Anyway, TJ was living in a condo with a low payment and was perfectly happy. MJ talks him into selling the condo a few years back and buying a house in a much better neighborhood for a much higher price. MJ is thinking that the prices will climb in a few years and that TJ could sell at the high end at that time and then buy another condo. TJ (the brilliant non-thinker that he is) goes along with the plan. MJ gets him one of those no-doc, adjustable rate, junk loans that are so well known. Fast forward to today....... The payment is a negative amortization loan!!! The payment has doubled and TJ is struggling to make the payment. I have asked TJ how he would agree to such a "deal." TJ goes along with MJ's plans (always) and trusted him blindly. That is the part that I do not understand. TJ is current on his payments but is running out of $$. He tried to get a loan modification but was told that that option would not be available for 4-5 months because the bank, Downey Savings, went under. The merger with Whomever Bank would need to be completed first. So, TJ is looking for a roommate and looking for more work. That is becoming more difficult these days even though he has a 4 year college degree. I told him that the Census Bureau is hiring temporary workers. Good luck to him and the thousands next to him in line. I get so frustrated at both TJ and MJ. TJ - because his outlook on the world is avoidance and denial - "If I don't think about it, it will go away." He is one of the most unambitious people I have ever met and he is 40 years old!!! And MJ - how could he dare to do this to our own brother?! A junk loan -- he gambled TJ's future (I know TJ allowed this to happen - no backbone at all) and avoids the subject when I bring it up. I, the frugal troublemaker of the family, bring it up anyway. They are looking into other loan options but it does not look good. MJ cannot bail him out because his own income has decreased in the past year. He has slashed his spending but the house payment alone is very high. I have nagged him to quit smoking because that does cost money. He also does some video production work but that is not steady. I just hope TJ gets his mindset into crisis mode and kicks it into gear.

DD made it safe and sound from her adventures at Outdoor Science School. It was cold and there was snow -- they all loved it! The food was good, too! DD got to do some hiking, rock climbing, and archery. Came home tired with a few blisters on her heels. The only part I thought was "funny" had to do with snow. I asked if the kids got to make and throw snowballs. They did but there were strict instructions on where one could or could not throw them. Apparently the only approved target was their backpacks. Now I would never want DD to throw a snowball in anyone's face, but everything is so PC these days.........

DD and DH are off to the bird farm this morning to sell off some birds from DD's business. She does not make a lot of money, but the responsibility earned is priceless. She does want to start an ING Direct account with the proceeds. When they get back it is lunch and then off to DD's basketball game. Tonight it is back to work on her school project (making a board game about the book "Treasure Island"). I am hoping she finishes the game this weekend so she can "rest" on Monday (MLK Holiday). Sunday is church and then Skate Day with the Girl Scouts.

I am planning to return a color laser printer back to Office Depot tonight. It was an impulse purchase (grr) and I am having trouble adjusting the color correctly. Also, the unit is a bit bigger than I had anticipated. I am looking for a printer (or all-in-one) that does photos very well. All of the previous printers or all-in-ones that I have had work well at first but then there is a problem with the photo quality. I am never able to resolve that issue. It seems that it had to do with the roller mechanism. All troubleshooting does zilch. I have always had HPs but may switch to another brand if the unit is better. I checked cnet.com for reviews so I had some ideas. I may also purchase a wireless. If anyone is happy (or unhappy) with their printer, let me know. Any input would be appreciated.

DD is still in the mountains learning by having fun. I miss her so! The principal has been keeping parents in the know by leaving autodialer messages. Everyone is doing well. It is warmer up there but there is plenty of snow to play in. He went up to camp today to deliver mail to the kids. He is a great principal! DH works nights so it is just me and Sophie (dog) and Spot (cat). I did work out at the work gym today (after work) and even went for a jog at home this evening. I have lots of things on my to-do list but haven't done too many of them! Tomorrow is another day!

One good note - I signed up at Houseparty awhile ago and was selected to be a host for one of the parties! Yay - it is an appropriate one, too. House Organization from Ziploc!!! I need all the help I can get. I plan to combine the party with the next monthly coupon club meeting. Our members will appreciate both the tips and the freebies - hope to get a lot of feedback on the product.

Today was a NSD also. I brought a Healthy Choice for lunch. Dinner at home was leftover salmon, veggies and dip, and fruit. Yum. Tomorrow I plan to bring fruit and yogurt to work - both healthy and frugal choices.

I am hoping this weekend to dig out an old breadmaker that I used to use. It bakes a small loaf in less than an hour and used rapid rise yeast. For some reason, I stopped using it (it might have been because I ate most of it myself!). DD expressed an interested in making some bread. So, I will dust it off and let her take the lead on that task.

I use Turbo Tax for our taxes every year. Does anyone have any ideas for the best deal for that software? I usually buy it at Office Depot. But I am looking for a coupon for additional savings. Office Max had a 15% off last week but I forgot to go. If anyone knows of a coupon source, that would be great. I usually also purchase additional software at the same time that will be free after rebate, such as Norton Antivirus and Quicken.

Have a good evening!

Since DD is gone in the mountains for the week (they made it up the mountain safely), I now have tons of time to myself (yeah, right). One of my failings in the financial department is letting the small amounts of "found money" slip by due to procrastination and laziness. I forget to send in the rebate form. I forget to shop around for a better CD rate (should be painless due to the internet). Sometimes I even forget to spend my CVS ECBs (darn!). I do coupon and save a minimum of 50% (used to be 70%+) but that is not good enough. I think I need to refocus my priorities and determine a set goal. If I establish something to work towards, I think I will have more motivation to follow through. But what should my goal be? We have no debt except for a tractor loan (that is DH's responsibility). Buying a tractor in southern California is a long story...
At this point, I plan to set aside the extra "found money" into my Wamu checking out. At $100 intervals, I plan to ship it off to ING Direct. I think I can set up a separate type of subaccount with a different name. Now I still have to plan what I am saving the fun money for, but at least I have a game plan on the saving logistics.

I wanted to title this entry "I'll Miss My LITTLE Girl" but DD is quick to remind me she is not a little girl anymore (10 and a half!) On Monday, DD will go to the local mountains with her school (5th grade) for outdoor science school. DH and I will miss her terribly, but she will have a great time. Hiking, identifying plants, trees, rocks, etc. Hanging out with the camp counselors, her teachers, and the rest of the 5th grade (even the boys!) She'll be back on Friday. DD will have a "No Spend Week" because they are not allowed to bring any money because there is nothing to buy! Fantastic! No electronic items, either. Books are allowed. I will go in to work late tomorrow to see her off.

I take the time to take very small baby steps in organizing and getting rid of clutter. Both DD and myself are filers/pilers! Wish me luck!

I survived jury duty yesterday - did not get selected for the trial in question. My juror number was not a "lottery winner." Whew! It was actually fairly stressful in the afternoon. Both sides kept dismissing jurors - but finally at the end of the day it was done. It was interesting to try to analyze the criteria the attorneys used to balance the jury. It appeared that prospective jurors were dismissed if: they had friends/relatives in law enforcement; they owned a firearm; and/or they had a college degree. Most jurors who had some college or had lesser education (and did not comply with the other items I mentioned) were retained. The final panel consisted of 10 women and 2 men. Average age of women appeared to be about 40. Most were Caucasian (defendant - Hispanic). Funniest thing to me was regarding the young man on the jury. He was asked about his knowledge of the jury system - he replied that he watched judge shows and police type shows! (He is on the final panel.) The second funniest was when a prospective juror was asked about voting (deliberations) on the case. I think she did not hear the lawyer clearly and said: "Voting? Not for Obama!" The whole courtroom laughed! (She did not make the cut.) I do know that the jury will do their absolute best to be fair and impartial when deliberating this case.

On to the local freebie: The Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA is celebrating the New Year by inviting all California residents to visit the Queen Mary free of charge, as often as they would like, through Jan 31. This special, free admission ticket includes a self-guided tour of the Queen Mary. California residents must provide documentation of residency with a driver's license or other form of photo identification at the box office, during normal attraction hours from 10 am to 6 pm. Parking not included. For reservations, call 800-437-2934 or visit http://www.queenmary.com. I need to check the website regarding proof of residency for children (if needed). Sounds like I may be visiting the Queen Mary (my last visit was over 20 years ago).

I went to jury duty today! Good news first: I got out early about 9:30 am. Bad news: I have to report back tomorrow for jury selection for a case that could last a month. We'll see what happens.....


On a financial and multi-tasking note: I used the early release time to go to Target, CVS, and Ralph's. Target was pretty wiped out of Christmas items, bit I got some tissue for 9 cents. I did buy a reusable lunch tote for DD for next year for $4. Off to CVS - they had lots of Christmas stuff at 75% off. I did buy the box of SoyJoy bars for $6 with the $6 ECB. Bought M&Ms, holiday socks. Used ECB's to pay. Off to Ralph's for produce, bread, salsa, yogurt, and beer (for DH). More spendy here but everything was on sale or clearance and I had a few coupons.

Tonight is the monthly coupon club meeting. This group (Club NED) started about 11 years ago! We don't have as many members as we used to and the deals are harder to get, but it is fun to get together to chat and discuss deals, coupons, etc. We have theme drawings, and an item exchange. We bring up to 5 items that we got for free or nearly free with coupons or otherwise. Sometimes we all bring the same things! But lots of fun - I like bringing DD so she is aware of how to save money with coupons and how much stuff actually costs. Hopefully, being frugal will rub off on her. My 20 DS was brought up the same way but is a real spendthrift right now. I know he will change when he is poor enough. I do give him "goodie baskets" when I see him - toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorants, etc. All items I got for free with coupons or ECBs.

Tomorrow is my "lucky" day - I am pressed for jury service at my county's Superior Court. I am not one to shirk service, but it always seems to happen when I am busy at work. I am a local gov't employee, so my service time is unlimited! The last time I was at this courthouse I was on a 2 week jury (my first time). It was an interesting experience, and jurors have a lot of responsibility for so little pay (if your employer is not generous). I also don't like staying until 5 pm. This interferes with child care issues plus I am used to getting off work by 3:30 p.m. But I can bring my laptop and internet is available. The last time I was there jurors got free coffee and tea. Hope that is still the case. So I will check emails and surf the web while I am waiting. And at lunch I plan to hit the closest Target and CVS to see if there are any deals to be had! I might even have time for hit a local Ralph's (I'll have an small ice chest in the car and jurors have a shaded parking area) for specials. I am gathering up my coupons and ECB's for this trip. Just wish I could bring scissors into the juror area to clip coupons (Darn!).

Was able to buy some waterproof hiking boots for DD's trip to the mountains. No kids' boots, but she fit into a women's size 6. The only bad part was the price - $39 - but she can use the boots for ATV riding (this will make DH happy). DD will start wearing the boots to school tomorrow to break them in before next week.

Still cold in the early mornings here in So Cal. The windshield actually had ice on it! I know this will not impress anyone in a colder climate, but ice is big here. We live about 5 miles from the ocean so this is an even bigger surprise. My DD was laughing at me because I thought the ice would come right off when I used the windshield wiper. I had to used a DVD case to scrape it off because I could not see anything in front of me! The grass at DD's school was also "crunchy' to walk on. I wore a heavy jacket all day at work (I am outside most of the time) even though is was probably in the 60's by the afternoon. Lucky I do not have a "suit" job where I have to wear hose and high heels.

My time off has passed by entirely too quickly. I was off from Christmas Day and will be back tomorrow. While I enjoy my job immensely, I never seem to get all (or even most) of my to-do list items done. Even when I was off for a year on maternity leave, I got very "little" done. But then, DD was my job, wasn't it?

Went and returned DD hiking boots to Big 5 today. I had hoped for an exchange in a smaller size, but no dice. Seems all kids boots are sold out at Big 5. I had bought the boots without my DD at a Big 5 near work. I also tried several Targets and Kohl's as well. I will try Sports Authority and Sport Chalet tomorrow. Outdoor Science Camp is on the 12th, and the procrastinator in me is in full regalia! I did see a good pair at Land's End online. I wonder if Sears would carry the same shoes. The cashier at Kohl's suggested purchasing a waterproofing spray if I get desperate.

DH and I are going round and round about a new coffeemaker. DH (I drink tea) had a small 4 cup machine that he likes but it about worn out. We have a 12 cup Mr. Coffee in a cupboard in the garage (we use when we have guests). I told him to use this one as the "new" one so that no $$ are spent. He says that if he makes half a pot that it does not taste as good. I am not buying that argument. He is also concerned about the pot staying hot. I did point out to him that the old one does not keep the coffee in the pot hot and that he already microwaves it as he goes. He did say sheepishly that he may try it.

Brrr! It is cold here in SOUTHERN California (for a change). Dull and dreary - looks like it might rain. I did go walk/jog in the am but I warmed up after the first block. Looks like DH will start a fire in the fireplace to warm up the house. We do keep the thermostat at about 68 overnight, although I am trying to talk DH into lowering it a bit. My side of the argument is that I can lower the electric bill; and his is that he has noticed that we have less colds, etc. at 68 degrees. So for now it is a tie!

We got back from a few days at our own "country property" in the next county. DD had fun riding the ATV all by herself; and I got lots of hiking done on dirt roads. DD joined me on two hikes (mostly uphill on the first half) and did really well (about 2500' elevation). She is going to an outdoor science camp in the mountains in January and they will be doing lots of hiking in the snow. Even though we have been skiing in Mammoth in the past, she is VERY excited about this trip. The class goes for the whole week along with their teachers. I almost wish I could go.

We did really well on not eating out yesterday. On our way home we usually stop at a Chinese place for take out. It is not expensive and does last for at least 3 meals but DH just wanted to go home. So we had leftovers. Roast chicken, garlic bread, carrots, and salad tasted great and no $$ shelled out. Tonight we be leftover steak, curly fries (from the freezer), veggies, and salad. I also have chocolate chip cookies that I baked last night.


DD and DH are busy repacking the Christmas tree and ornaments back into the boxes until December. I was very good this year and bought very little Christmas items at after-Christmas sales. We went to Target last night and I only bought tissue paper for the zillions of gift bags that we have. 75% off was a good price. Target never has anything at 90% off that I can use. We still have lots of wrapping paper because I buy that at extremely reduced prices. I did buy LED outdoor lights for DH at CVS at 50% off before Christmas with a store coupon and ECB's. That will help with the electricity bill as well.

Finally bit the bullet and ordered fiber optic internet for home. I had been procrastinating for too long. I was able to get the first month free from Verizon by ordering online. Installation will be next week. I had been using my work laptop with broadband access so DH and DD have not gotten the internet time that they wanted. Hopefully the installation will go smoothly.

Well, I need to try to enjoy the weekend because I am back to work on Monday!

Just wishing everyone a wonderful New Year - hope everyone's plans and wishes come true (even better if they are financially viable!)

Got back from the farm - the girls had a great time feeding the sheep. The chickens stayed away from us and only one egg could be found (less eggs in the winter). Lots of giggling in the house. DD was also happy watching TV at Grandma's because she has Dish TV (we have no cable, etc.) and got to watch Disney and Nickelodeon channels.

My folks also have a lot of baby lambs and plan to give my any my siblings lots of lamb in a few months (to eat). I just have to pay the cost to the butcher for packaging the meat, about $35. Seems like a good deal for a whole animal - chops, leg of lamb, roasts, etc. Yum.

On the way back I stopped at Stater Brothers to pickup some whole chickens at 69 cents/lb (good price for this area) and NY Steak at $2.77/lb (also a good deal). Not sure which we may have tonight for a New Year's Eve supper, but either will be good.

Enjoy the evening and the New Year!

Finally sat down to write a bit in this blog. I have been busy (I know - who's not?) with things.....

But I am resolving to be more frugal in the future - my first goal is to use our stockpile. The first stockpile I intend to tackle is the "giftcard stockpile." I have lots of giftcards sitting around unused. I checked all the balances (I am in California so the cards can't expire) and am planning to use them as thoughtfully as possible. I definitely do not want to spend for the sake of spending.

As a matter of fact, today I did use one giftcard. I took my 10 year old DD to get her haircut for Locks of Love at the local beauty college. She decided to do this on her own and I am very proud of her. Her hair is so fine and so long and so tangled that cutting it is a blessing for us, too! A pleasant surprise is that the cost of haircut (escept tip) was zero! Seems the beauty school does not charge for Locks of Love. Plus they take care of sending the hair to the organization. Great! DD's only complaint is that her hair is too short - it is a cute bob - she just has to get used to it. Next, off to the 99 cent store for DD's reward for the haircut. She picked an ipod skin and a candy. I bought a few things including a LARGE can of cocktail sauce (I got several packages of frozen shrimp last week on sale). I do not know if I can freeze it, but I will email Contadina for input (the can was 7 lbs for 99 cents!) Perhaps I can use cocktail sauce in other dishes as well. Then off to Pizza Hut to use an old gift card. Spent $2.30 out of pocket for a large pepperoni pizza. Good lunch for us and DH at home with carrot sticks and fruit.

I went to CVS this pm for a few items. Got albacore tuna for 77 cents a can and also Yuban instant coffee (B1G1F) and some vitamins (also B1G1F). Paid with ECB's.

Overall, a nice day with DD. Tomorrow we are off to visit my Mom and Dad with DD and two of her friends. My folks have a farm with chickens and sheep and her friends are excited city girls. They can't wait to gather eggs and help feed the animals. The farm is about 1.5 hours away so it is easy driving.

I am sure glad to be back.

We had our Labor Day BBQ a day early. DH is going dove hunting tomorrow and will not be home until late. Had my FIL over and enjoyed steak, coleslaw, potato salad, baked beans, watermelon, and brownies. I was stuffed! I made the coleslaw, potato salad, and brownies. That is an accomplishment for me since I am culinarily challenged! Leftovers were had for the evening.

The only bad note for the day was our brief visit to Lazboy Furniture store. They had a Labor Day as listing "all recliners for $449." A special financing deal or no sales tax was also shown in the ad. DH is VERY picky about a recliner so he thought he might not be quite as picky for that price. He is not looking for anything high end -- but leather and comfortable are on his list. He bought one at Costco recently and returned it. The display model was great but the one in the box was not. Anyway, off to Lazboy we went and lo and behold ------ there was a disclaimer regarding the recliners. Seems only the pictured models (all fabric coverings) were for that price. The salesperson would not budge and we left. My DH was so irate that we had wasted our time and gas driving there that he called the store when we got home and spoke to the manager. She said that the ad had a mistake in it. DH is so livid that he will never purchase anything from Lazboy ever. That is a shame for them because I am always on the market for a few good lamps and I might have purchased them there (due to the sales tax incentive). I am consdering sending a letter of complaint to corporate headquarters but don't know if I would get any resolution (other than venting).

WOW! The summer has really flown by and I do not have much to show for it!!! I did not take much time off this summer due to job issues. But we did go camping at the Kern River in July for 4 days. It was fun but very warm. Usually we go to June Lake but the price of gas kept us a little closer to home. We did see the areas that we used to tent camp (we now have a trailer) about 1 hour from the campsite. Turns out we can get the trailer into one of the camp areas. This area is primitive and has small, shallow streams running through the area. It is at least 10 degrees cooler and due to no facilities, almost no one is there! Out dog does not have to be tied to a tree. Next time we go that way, we will "rough" it with the trailer.

I did manage to get next week off. It has been a tradition. My DD starts 5th grade on Thursday. I walk her to school (4 blocks) and visit a bit. Next year she will be in middle school - so she may not want me around as much! I plan to declutter the house (gigantic task, but I'll focus on a small area). I desperately need to have a garage sale soon - I want DD to declutter her things and make a little $. If things don't sell, then we'll donate them. I am trying to get her to be more responsible. Hope this works!

I have noticed a virtual explosion in the volumes of phony emails wanting to give me money. At the rate it is going -- you would think that Nigeria is one of the richest nations of the world!
The story has shifted slightly from about a year ago -- the message used to be that I would cash a check for them, keep a percentage, and send them the balance. The poor soul was unable to cash the check themselves. But lately I notice that they would like personal information and that they would get back to me. A poor soul died without heirs and the barrister would like me to be the heir. Yeah, right! Here's a brief portion of the email:
"I am Barrister Alban Galadari Frank (Esq)a Solicitor at law and the personal attorney to late Engr.Hens Sanders,a National of your country, who used to be a private contractor with the Shell Petroleum Development Company in Nigeria, herein after shall be referred to as my client. On the 21st of April 2001, he and his newly married wife were involved in an auto crash, all occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. Since then, I have made several enquiries to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has also proven unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to contact you with this business partnership proposal.

I contacted you to assist in repatriating a huge amount of money left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Bank where these huge deposit was lodged. The deceased had a deposit valued presently at$15million US Dollars with a bank here and the Bank has issued me a notice as his lawyer to provide his next of kin or Beneficiary by Will otherwise have the
account confiscated within the next thirty official working days.

The request for you as next of kin in this business is occasioned by the fact that my client was a foreigner and a national of your country, I seek your consent so that the proceeds of this account valued at $15Million USdollars can be paid to you. This will be disbursed or shared in these percentages, 60% to me and 40% to you I have the means to provide all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make All I require is your honest Co-operation,Confidentiality and Trust
to enable us see this transaction through".

The email goes on to ask for pertinent personal information. Have any of you seen this flurry of emails also? Are people this gullible?

As a closing note -- anyone want to split a few million with me?

I broke even at bunco on Friday night - I was the biggest loser so I got my $10 back! I did well for the evening - a great Middle Eastern meal, wine, and gabbing with the girls!

Saturday was a busy day as well. DD had her end of year party for Girl Scouts at a local bowling alley. Lots of fun! I took home some leftover pizza for DH - he inhaled all of it that night! DD went home to a friend's house straight from the party to spend the night. This morning she went to a breakfast birthday party in her jammies until noon. I thought that was a great idea for a party -- breakfast is easy to prepare and inexpensive. They also played bingo and hung out.

This evening we had cornish game hens on the grill, homemade break sticks, baked beans, and salad for dinner. Dessert was a peach cobbler made with FIL's peaches. I am stuffed! Cornish game hens were free or almost free a few months back being on sale and using coupons. I have more stashed in the freezer that I think I will use for a 4th of July BBQ.

Now off to get DD's clothes and lunch ready for tomorrow. Good night everyone!

Tonight is bunco night with the girls - dinner, wine, and chitchat and bunco. We meet once a month - $10 is a good price for a good meal and enjoyment with friends. I win some money a few times a year so I just about break even. I especially enjoy the evening because I rarely get to socialize with other moms. I work with men almost exclusively (construction work) and it is sure nice to have a change. Sometimes we donate the cost to a needy parent at our school - we did have one single mother who was struggling to make ends meet (no support from the father of the children). We rotate the meetings at each member's home. DH and kids not allowed back in the house until at least 10:30 p.m.! In fact, DH is always asking what exactly we talk about. I tell him that it is a secret and that I would have to kill him if I tell him. : ) I'll let you know if I win anything tonight!!!