Savingbucks's Personal Finance Blog

Today my last name must be Murphy! Whatever shouldn't happen, did happen. I couldn't log in as Admin to a few computers (password did not work for some unknown reason); had an 11 o'clock meeting and the location was changed but I was not notified (They called looking for me - kind of embarrassing); and the car......... Check engine light continues to come back on. DH has cleared the computer and looked through the car. It is a 2000 Ford Explorer and may be looking at a lot of work coming up. Perhaps the water pump, perhaps hose replacements, shocks, rotors, etc. Possibly $500-$1500 to repair. It is worth it? DH says either we fix and keep for a few years or dump it now before shelling out $$$ for any major work. The plan had been to keep car for at least 2-3 more years and then buy a new car (I drive my car for work so I can write off things like depreciation, etc.). I know the blue book value is not too high but I am still thinking that repair is cheaper then 2 years of monthly payments. But DH is looking at a Ford Focus or something similar costing $15K or so and then trading in vehicle. I am just so adverse to another payment coming up - even if it sound like it will be cheap. Perhaps if a 0% came up I might bite. Anyone have further insights on that? Now pardon me while I am off to pick up DD from her school performance this evening -- hope we come back with no mishaps!

Sounds like another political campaign promise! The early retirement plan from my employer have come to fruition. Of course, I am in the group that started early enough to be offered a tidbit but too young to really go..... The tidbit would be about 55% of current income. Because I am not 55, I am also hit with an age penalty --- oh, now to wish I was 5 years older - HA!!!! DH and I seriously discussed the option, but even though I did earn lifetime medical (dinosaur plan) I cannot use it until I am actually 55! So, that has tipped the scale to staying. Bad news -- I get an automatic 4% paycut due to an increase in retirement contributions. Good news -- I am paying that to myself. Other good news -- I really, really like my job. I get to wear jeans and workboots and work with a bunch of great guys. I think that I would miss them (don't tell). I am so fortunate to be employed in today's economy. So, the plan is to continue to save as much as possible between now and then. In two years, I will be able to utilize the catchup provision in my 457b - yay! In the event another opportunity presents itself for early retirement, I will be ready to pounce.

DH and I are also beginning to evaluate areas of cost reduction. Our only debt is a small tractor loan. We will continue regular payments because the interest rate is 0%. We just switched our auto insurance to another company and saved hundreds of dollars while increasing coverage and adding an umbrella policy to our homeowner's.
DH would like to buy some rental property but I hesitate to get into debt. Values here in southern CA may drop more -- but maybe not? If a really good deal comes our way, maybe. But if I knew where the bottom of the real estate market was, I would be rich..........

Our troop hosted an annual Halloween event for our service unit at a local park -- about 550 girls showed up! 25 troops signed up for "booths." Small games, such as relay race, tattoo parlor, etc. were enjoyed by GS in Halloween costume. It was a nice sunny day and not too hot. Most girls were princesses and butterflies witches and such. One good costume was a dark green dress with artificial grass glued on. She wore a garland made of the same green stuff. Sign on the grass read: "Keep off the grass." Best "funny" costume I saw was "Kate Gosselin" -- girl wore the wig with that weird haircut and six dolls hanging everywhere! Too funny! I did not see anyone in "Octomom" costume, though. The event was a success and happily there was very little trash for our girls to cleanup. We also collected used blankets and towels for a guide dog organization. One of the members brought a dog in training and the girls were very excited. We will be meeting with this person next month to learn more about the organization and its work. Our troop will also tour a local animal shelter to learn about dog care and get information on volunteering at the shelter. My DD is very interested in the volunteer aspect of girl scouts (read - beaming Mom) and I hope to encourage her. She would love to have another dog at home but DH is not up to that YET.....................

The title says it all -- I have posted in the past that I may have an opportunity to retire early. I had been mulling over all the implications - both financial and otherwise. All of the facts were not disclosed so I had been waiting for a final version of this plan in order to make a sound decision. Well, I heard yesterday that the latest version excludes any opportunity for anyone in my group to retire. A penalized retirement will not be permissible. But our group will graciously contribute an additional 4% for our retirement contribution. In addition, there are talks about furloughs, layoffs, and reductions in holiday pay. But..... on the bright side, I still have a job! There are so many others that are out of work in this country. I am thankful that DH and I have stable jobs, medical insurance, and good health. We own our home without debt and are maxing out all of our retirement options every year. We are also part of the boomer group (the youngest end) that are also part of the sandwich generation. We have parents that are aging and need assistance, yet we still have our DD at home. But I am thankful that DD can see that caring for grandparents is the good and right thing to do. Not always easy, but right.

What are you thankful for in these uncertain times?

DD is back from 9 days at Girl Scout camp in the local mountains! We missed her more than she missed us (I think). She was on the go the entire time with swimming, hiking, archery, etc. Even had time to pull a few pranks -- her unit put rubber duckies every in the BIFF (bathroom). was very proud that she handled the 9 days away (longest time away from home not with a relative) with no problems. She was also very responsible with her digital camera (did not lose it!). Fun pics of canoeing and her counselors and lots of new friends. She is anxious to go again next year,

I had attempted to work on her room while DD was gone but was not too successful. I am trying to get rid of stuff that does not fit anymore and donate them. Also need to buy her new soccer shoes because practice starts on Friday! I know it is hot everywhere, but the last few days in So CA have been very hot and humid - over 90 degrees a few miles from the ocean.

I have bought some school supplies at CVS that are FREE after earning ECBs. Got most of her items but will head off to Office Depot on Sat to get the rest. I do have a gift card so that should help with the cost. I asked DD about what kind of backpack she might want and she said, "Mom! You already bought one at Target a long time ago on clearance." Of course, I did not remember where I put it. But DD found it no problem. The only problem is that I "found" 4 other brand new backpacks stashed away for the start of school! One I must have bought when DD was about 5 or 6. It has Winnie the Pooh on it (real cute but not cool for a 6th grader). So I will donate the ones we do not need. I do really need to stop buying stuff because it is a good deal. They are good deals, but lately I am forgetting where I put things. I am getting better on food and toiletry items, but there is more room for improvement needed. Simplify, simplify, simplify -- getting by with less. That needs to be my mantra.


I mentioned a bit back that early retirement plans may be offered by my employer. And that I may be eligible. Well, things seem to be on hold for the moment. It appears that the concept was approved, and that some unions approved a proposal. A proposed increase to our retirement contributions would be about 0.75% (although if I stay, my current contribution of 2% would shoot up to 6.75%). But a recent actuarial study indicates that the increase is just not enough -- an increase to 10% or so with a 5 year payback period is more prudent in today's economy. So, alarm bells have rightfully sounded about these plans! No kidding! So, we'll see what happens. I had not made any decision about whether to go or not. I plan to wait for the final proposal if and when it comes. I did determine that my current net is about 39% of my gross. So the penalized amount that I think that I might receive is more than that amount. But I will not longer be contributing to my 457b($22K yearly). But I do not plan to touch any funds currently in that account. It was also mentioned that no medical insurance coverage until age 55 (I am 50). Even though I use coverage via DH's job, that clause makes me very nervous. We have a minor DD. I worry that medical benefits could be decreased or eliminated if I am not an active employee. So I asked DH to check if I would be entitled to survivor benefits if something happened to him before that time (though he asked if I was planning anything). So, I am living more frugally and saving more just in case.

When I went grocery shopping at the local store yesterday (grand re-opening), I bought two packages of Drumsticks ice cream. Last night we opened the package and they tasted well....a bit odd. Cone was soft and texture was different. Sophie the dog got mine. Everyone noticed the difference but at least no one got sick. I figured that I would call the company on Monday. Well, I went to the garage freezer to check the other box and found that the expiration date was 1/12/09!!!!!!! That does explain why the drumsticks tasted like soft cardboard. So I just took the full box and the empty box and my receipt back to Vons. The manager was very nice and offered me two new boxes. Turns out that all of the type I purchased (Vanilla Fudge) were expired! He hauled off about 10 boxes. He was at a loss as to why that happened. He gave me two vanilla boxes instead. I did not bother to ask about the expired goods policy - I was happy to get more ice cream. I was also happy they pulled the expired product from the case. Now Sophie the dog is not so happy. DD and I had to each try a Drumstick to make sure they tasted fine -- they did! Yum.

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I have decided (for the never ending time) to try to declutter and get rid of stuff that we do not need. I am waiting for the local ARC to advertise another pickup so that I do not have to drive anywhere. I have lots of baby/kid's clothing of DD (and some of DS) in the garage loft that I always saved in case were had more children. That did not happen (and probably won't) Then I wanted
to save them in case we adopt a child. Well, DH is not as keen on that idea as DD and I are. I hope this position will change. Plus, now I realize that if we do adopt, it will not be a baby - rather a girl from 6-9 years old. So, those clothes won't fit! So, my game plan is to give those away except for a few select pieces for my "future grandchild." Keep in mind my 11 year old DD plans on having 5 children! Plus a career as a lawyer and having a farm!

I also am looking at all those plastic cups that everyone gets from fast food or amusement park type places. I need to get rid of those! I know they can be used to gardening starters, and such, but I have sooooooooooo many. Any suggestions for these? I do not want to donate them if that is not appropriate. I am considering using Freecycle to give those away. Hopefully I will have a taker.

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It has been HOT here in SoCal this weekend and we have been in the pool both days. Sophie the dog also joins us (big black Lab) and even Spot the cat has been in the pool. We did have to put her in; but surprisingly enough -- she did not seem to mind. She actually stayed on the first step for a few minutes! Other cats I have had will try to scratch my eyes out if I bring them anywhere near the pool! Also, funny is that once Spot climbed out of the pool, Sophie came over to lick the water off! I will have to take a picture of the dynamic duo and upload it!

Have a great rest of weekend!

Yipee! Our local Vons was remodeled and their grand re-opening started yesterday. They mailed out coupon booklets and new club cards for additional savings. For the next 30 days, each time the card is used, one will save an additional 10%. Plus, there are a few free offers with the new card - FREE dozen eggs, FREE cereal, $5 off beef, and 30 cents off per lb of bananas. I rounded up a few coupons and went at 8 am in case of a crowd. No crowd. Store was nice and new looking. Store prices and fair to middling - good on the specials, and extremely high on other items. They also advertised that 300 $25 gift cards would be given away randomly today only at the register (that's why I went today instead of tomorrow). I got bananas, cheese, top sirloin steaks, ribeye steaks, eggs, cereal, ice cream, and other stuff. The bill before card and coupons was $147. After $45.00! And to my pleasant surprise I won the $25 gift card!!!! The card is a Safeway card -- I will use on return trips to the market. I still have lots of coupons I did not use because 1) I did not need those items at the moment and did not want to stock up items that might be perishable; and 2) Those items were bot on sale (I can wait for a sale). But all in all, a savings kind of day!

It was finally time to say goodbye. For years DH has cared for our "loved" one but no to no avail. The 1991 Nissan has finally bit the dust and went to the junk man! I bought this car brand new for about $8K out the door. DH has painstakingly maintained this vehicle - changing the oil, brakes, etc. But now the damage is not worth the cost of repair. Seems the timing chain is off (I am not the best with car lingo) and can barely run. Smog is due in Sept. and she always seems to fails the test. The cost to repair is too excessive. Even to reap the $1000 that the lovely state of CA offers for vehicles that don't pass smog. Too much effort. Car does not qualify for the Cash for Clunkers Program because it already is cash efficient. But all in all, I think I got my money's worth. About 245,000 miles on the original engine and mileage was about 35 miles per gallon (estimate was about 28). DH used it for the last few years as his work car. So, I got $175 and the battery (DH gave the junk man a core so that there was no penalty) and a refund of $162 coming from cancellation of the car insurance. We had debated whether or not it would be a good time to buy a car. The answer could be debated both ways. DH would like a hybrid or something similar at some point but would like to wait until the technology has been around a bit longer. So we decided to wait. DH has shifted his driving to one of our other vehicles (a Dodge) that had been primarily stored in the garage. The Dodge is a 2005 model with 6000 miles total. No payment is good! Plus with a possible retirement coming I do not want any additional monthly expenses. When I retire I will lose my daily commute of 20 miles each way. I plan to ride a bicycle with cargo trailer locally for shopping, etc. to save even more.
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Off the car topic, does anyone have any quick ideas for my 11 year old DD for summertime? She is basically home with DH during the day. I do have a camp scheduled for her at the end of the month. We will have some family camping time in August before she starts middle school. Soccer will start in August. I am trying to restrict her "electronics" time -- TV, Nintendo DS, and Computer time can be brain-draining not enhancing if done too much! She is also reading books from the library but is complaining that she is too bored. Most of the activities that I think of are things that we do together. DH is not the type to take on crafts. So I am looking for things she can start on her own. I did ask her to make a list of things she likes to eat as well as things that she might like to cook. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

The latest update is....no update. Rumors still abound to what the final offerings will be. My DB has spoken to the CAO's office regarding the group that I fall under. The current proposal for my group offers a severely reduced retirement. He spoke to a "brilliant" person with the CAO and pointed out that if they want my group to retire that such a penalty would not be offered. So, Mr. Brilliant is looking into what the original intent of the proposal is and seeing if there could be a change. I asked DB if the city councilfolk actually knew about the impact of "my" proposal. He did not know, but thought at least one would not care. One interesting tidboit I found out is that one of the councilmen is currently collecting a pension from prior service of over $10K per month (the $ is actually much higher) plus his council salary. Seems he probably does not care about those who could possibly retire early and collect nowhere near that amount. So, as they say, time will tell. The longer the wait the better for my anyway. But meanwhile, I did a tentative analysis of gross versus net pay. Seems I have been living on less than 40% of my gross pay. Deductions includes taxes (about 18%), 457b, savings, pension contribution, childcare, medical savings plan, etc. So it appears that I probably could easily live on a pension with the penalty. I still would like to save a minimum of 20% of the pensioned salary if possible. I did get a 3% raise on July 1st (go figure). But this will be the last raise for years.

Stay tuned........

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.