Cents To Save

Just a Break, Nothing Permanent

2012-05-01T10:38:00.000-04:00

Time flies when you are reflecting. The break was not intentional, but evidently it was needed. Let me first say that my parents are both doing good and things are still the same with them. Well, my mom did discover that her cancer has traveled to her spine. Yep, the MRI of her spine that she had during her last hospitalization did reveal that lovely bit of information. The docs have changed her meds and she has a PET scan coming up later this month to make sure the cancer is not anywhere else. Mom is a trooper and is handling it all very well.

These last couple of weeks have gone by quickly. There have been some positive changes too. I have another job. It is as a ultrasound clinical adjunct from the college I graduated from 12 years ago. It is a part time position, (only 10 hrs a week) so I think I can handle it. It may grow into more hours next semester, but the good thing is the other instructors know my situation and are very flexible.

Financially...... I think it took me two weeks to ACTUALLY look at my bank account. Oh yeah.... I was just winging it with the debit card and the credit card. Yesterday, I did pull up my accounts and had a look. It was not pretty, but it definitely could have been worse.

My eBay is keeping me busy and sane. The small income it provides definitely helps out.

My husband and I are living day to day. We make no long term plans because we have learned that situations can change with a phone call. That may not sound like the best way to do things financially, but for now the stress is off. And yes I can admit that I was super stressed and probably still am a bit wore out from all the stuff going on with my parents.

There will come a time when we ( my husband and I) can make some some more long range goals and plans. But that is not going to happen right now. We are enjoying each and every day we have with our family. Speaking of family, it is time to get the grandson and head out to SeaWorld for the day.

Thanks for all who emailed to check on me. Much appreciated :)

Lisa

Here is the Plan for Now: Visiting Angels

2012-04-16T22:52:00.002-04:00

Oh yes, everyday is different here. And we are just going with the flow. But for now, this is what we are going to do if and when mom goes back into the hospital.

Visiting Angels "Visiting Angels Senior Care in Orlando, FL can assist you in providing in-home senior care services in the Orlando, FL area. Inviting a caregiver into your home is not an easy decision, but if you are at the point where you need senior care help, we are here to assist you. We have designed a personalized screening system for your peace of mind called the "Select Your Caregiver" process.

Using our "Select Your Caregiver" program, you are given the chance to interview any assisted living Orlando, FL caregiver that we refer to you for senior care service. You provide your schedule to the senior care provider (i.e. times for waking up, bathing, meals, etc.) and he or she will adjust his or her schedule to yours so that your loved one remains comfortable in their home."

We heard of Visiting Angels through some friends of my mom. There were here golfing buddies and had recently lost their husbands. While the wives were taking care of their husbands, their came a time when they needed assistance. As I would update her friends with her progress during her hospital stays, the ladies would always talk about how wonderful the home health aides were. They both suggested I call and find out what they could do for mom when she got back home.

Her first weekend home, we arranged for Visiting Angels to come in to mom and dad's home and provide coverage overnight. This would allow mom to get uninterrupted sleep and dad would have assistance when he had to get up during the night. I would check on her each day to see how it went. She seemed well rested and was pleased with her aide. As for my dad, well..... he never was a big fan of strangers coming into his home for any reason.

We are trying to convince him that mom needs her rest and encourage him to try to cooperate. It is a struggle. But, he will just have to get use to it. Because if or when mom does go back into the hospital, we will definitely be calling Visiting Angels.

I am also in contact with mom's primary doctor to see what services are available to her through medicare.

Carla is Raising Money for Charity and Hello Judy!

2012-04-16T09:09:00.000-04:00

Head on Over to Half Dozen Daily to check it out. She's actually raising funds for two separate charities and in return for a donation, she's giving away that fabulous bag you see above. I have purchased a camera strap cover from Carla last year. It is the prettiest, most comfortablist (new word) camera strap ever. Love it!!

I will be donating to her charities because I would love to win this cute tote!

In other great news. I found that elusive blogger Judy, who I only found out is back thanks to Carla's charity drive/giveaway. I saw her comment and realized it had to be her. I have missed her and I bet you have too!

She's Just Making Her Way Back so go on over and give her a big welcome back if you haven't already.

Ground Hog Day: Real Life not the Movie

2012-04-15T05:57:00.001-04:00

Yes, mom went back into the hospital again. Tuesday the paramedics carried her to the ER after she was complaining of dizziness and right arm tingling. It is usually never good when my mom needs to call the paramedics. She is not one to complain unless it is really severe.

Of course a battery of tests were run. Most all of the tests were of her head/brain. The CT and MRI of her head were okay. Since they docs could not find anything above the shoulders that was causing the dizziness, they decided to do an MRI of her spine.

mom and Cricket at pet blessing last year

Well, don't you know that they found that the cancer has now spread to her spine. It is only three little spots on her thoracic spine, but that is definitely not the news that any of us wanted to hear. Next week she is scheduled for a Nuclear Med full body scan. This will tell us if it is anywhere else in the body/skeletal system.

She is also scheduled to meet with her radiation oncologist and her regular oncologist. Her neuro-oncologist (the one that ordered the MRI of her spine) said her case will be going before the "tumor review" committee to decide the next plan of action regarding the new lesions on her spine.

I am just hoping and praying that mom can catch a brake and not have to go back into the hospital for awhile.

While mom was in the hospital, my husband and I were at her house taking care of dad. I know that we said we were going to bring him to our home the next time mom went into the hospital. Well, we didn't. After much thought we are going to bring care to him in the form of a home care service. He really, really, wants to stay home and we will try to honor his wishes. And mom wants this too. So we are in the process of interviewing home care agencies to get things in place for future events.

The needs of everyone in this situation change minute by minute. All it takes is a phone call..........

Over at Happy Girl Collectibles: Fill a Bag for $5.00

How Easy is Saving for a Wedding?

2012-04-12T18:41:00.000-04:00

How Easy is Saving for a Wedding?

A wedding is a once in a lifetime event…ideally…so people want to have the best wedding they can, but it costs money. Weddings aren't inexpensive. Not only are there the major expenses like tuxedos, cake and wedding dress, but also many little expenses from the reception centerpieces to the tip for the DJ or band.

Most people can't just afford to buy everything for a wedding so that means you have to save for the big day. Saving for a wedding is no different than saving for any other major purchase.

Make A Plan

You need to start out by calculating exactly how much you plan on spending for the wedding and how long you plan to save. Since there are always unexpected expenses associated with weddings, take your estimate and add 10 percent as a buffer.

Once you know how much you want, decide on how long it's going to take to save for it. Most weddings take six months to a year to plan, but there is no hard and fast rule. If you want to spend $30,000 on the wedding and you think it will take two years to save for it, set your wedding date for two years ahead. It's your wedding and you make the decisions.

With your plan in place, it's time to compare savings accounts. Don't use your checking account to save for a wedding because there is a chance you'll dip into the money for bills, whether accidentally or on purpose.

When you compare savings accounts, you're also looking for the best interest rate. If you are going to be saving money for a year or more, a savings account can add some nice interest to your increasing account balance.

Implement The Plan

With your savings account in place and a plan for saving money, it's time to actually implement it. Have the money taken directly out of your paycheck and placed in the account, so you never see it.

Create a ledger of expenses and revenue for the account because you will be making purchases here and there throughout the year or two that you are saving. It's important to keep track of the money going in and out of the account so that you don't start getting nervous if the balance starts to get a little low.

You should also continue to compare savings accounts throughout the saving period to take advantage of higher interest rates. Some accounts require a higher starting balance, so keep an eye on your balance to take advantage of it.

Your wedding is the kind of occasion that you dream about your entire life and when it finally happens, you want it to be perfect. By taking the time to prepare and plan, saving for your wedding can be a piece of cake. The key is to stick to the plan and never deviate.

Monday Plan Monday April 9, 2012

2012-04-09T07:15:00.000-04:00

This weekend, I started back with taking the time to plan out my weekly menu. For the most part, we were able to stick to the plan. There is a peace of mind that comes with having a weekly menu plan. No last minute panic or last minute drive thru food. These dinners will be our lunch since my husband is working nights next as well.

Monday: Grilled Chicken Cutlets, Grilled Zucchini

Tuesday: Spaghetti Casserole, Salad, Garlic Bread

Wednesday: Grilled Cod Fillets, Steamed Broccoli, Brown Rice

Thursday: Frozen Pizza, Salad.

Friday: Crock Pot White Chili, Corn Bread

Saturday: Dinner Out ( Gift Card!)

Sunday: Crock Pot Roast

Linked to Menu Plan Monday at The Organizing Junkie!

Check out my Thrifty Finds Here:

Sunday Night Chit Chat

2012-04-08T22:53:00.000-04:00

Caleb and his bucket of eggs

Make sure you check out Carla's Sunday Night Chit Chat HERE!!

Reading? Oh...... I barely get the paper read each day. To much time on the computer.

Watching? The Good Wife. Pretty good show...... a high school friend has a part on this show. So, I get to watch it and try to find him.

Listening to? Background noise ...... the dog is snoring. Does that count? :)

Cooking/Baking? I did make bread yesterday. Definitely going to do it again next week too!

Happy you accomplished this week? I have successfully organized my eBay inventory. That sounds like I have a lot of stuff, doesn't it? I could have more.

Looking forward to next week? Enjoying this wonderful weather. I love this time of year.

Thankful for today? The love of family and friends. I am blessed.

Saturday Morning: Bright and Early

2012-04-07T08:49:00.000-04:00


Me and Caleb

Happy Saturday Morning! What stared out as a laid back weekend is becoming a little busier as it progresses. Last night, my grandson Caleb and my son Jared were over to color Easter eggs. I forgot how much fun this is..... and how messy and can get.

We managed to get through two dozen eggs..... and they all turned out beautiful. Here are a few links that are worth the read.................

How I Failed My No Buy Challenge @ My Broken Coin
Decluttering: The Work Never Ends @ So Over Debt
The Psychology of Wealth Book Review and Giveaway @ Financial Samurai
Spring Training for Your Money @ Cult of Money
Mystery Shopping @ Making Sense of Cents

Jared and Caleb.. bubble blowing

Over at Happy Girl Collectibles:

Working Through The Mess

Somali Head Rest: Real or Fake

Caleb coloring the eggs

Hope you all have a great Easter weekend!

Food Waste Friday: All Clear

2012-04-06T09:22:00.002-04:00

I am happy to report that this week has been a great week as far as food waste. The yucky slimy cucumbers and gooey mushrooms from last week are but a distant memory. The primary reason that this week was so successful is that my husband is on second shift. For me, this means I don't really have to prepare a large dinner. And any left-overs were taken care of by me.

This has also helped my grocery bill. And if all goes as planned, next week should go the same way. I have to say I enjoy having the house to myself in the evenings. I really get a lot done. The list of projects goes on and on but that is just the way it goes!

Have a great Friday!

Top 5 Reasons I L-O-V-E to Thrift Shop

2012-04-04T07:09:00.000-04:00

1. The hunt. Okay, maybe I’ve read too many self-help books, or watched too many Lifetime movies in my life, but it is a little spooky how I can find things I’m shopping for at thrift stores so randomly. The merchandise in a thrift store is so varied and random itself. For example, just the other day I was talking to my children about when they used to watch “The Little Einsteins” on Disney. After our discussion, I looked up the prices of Little Einstein toys on Ebay out of curiosity, and was shocked to see what some of them were selling for. Fast forward a few days and I was back out thrift shopping and what do I find but none other than one of the character dolls from the show. I was thrilled! I don’t find everything I’m looking for, but I do like to think I’ve been a little bit lucky.

2. The fun. I usually go shopping with someone. Actually, I prefer it. It is always fun to compare and laugh about what type of odd things you can find for sale in a thrift store. I have found used, disposable, “one time use” ziploc type bowls overpriced for $3.00 each. I have found mugs with couples personal pictures on them. I could go on and on. Its crazy sometimes what I find – and fun.

3. The adventure. I love to travel. I mean Love It. So my natural adventuress in me loves to punch in a new address in my trusty GPS and set a course to a new destination. Who knows what bargains I might find. Unfortunately, I’ve found some real stinkers and places I’ll never venture to again. Generally though, I’ve found some great spots to find some hidden treasures. Every where we happen to go, whether it be a baseball game, or to visit relatives out of town, I love to scour google looking for thrift shops that are near our destination and plan time to check them out.

Source: poetichome.com via Ann on Pinterest

4. The re-use. I’m not quite to the point of being a tree hugger but I do recycle my plastic bottles and my new puppy helps me recycle my newspapers while he gets house trained. I have bought quite a few items from the thrift store and repainted them and made them my own. I love getting on pinterest and seeing how everyone reuses different items by painting it or even turning it sideways and making it into something completely different.

5. The flips. One of my favorite flips was one of my very first flips. I purchased several craft and scrapbooking magazines from the library book sale for only $.10 each. I resold one of the magazines for $31.00 and another for $24.00. Apparently there were collector items. I just thought they looked interesting. I use my smartphone a lot in making decisions whether to buy something for re-sell or not. There are several apps out there such as Terapeak and even the advanced search engine of Ebay is helpful. I also like to use coupons and sales event to get an even better deal on top of my bargain. Yes, I get questions from my family if I am becoming a hoarder with all my shopping. I always tell them its borderline. ;)

Today's Short List

2012-04-03T12:52:00.004-04:00

The day is half over and already a lot has been accomplished. I packed up two orders for eBay customers, and I am still looking for a scarf that was purchased. As of yet, I have not found it. It is definitely somewhere in the garage.... I hope.
Now you can see why the organization of the eBay/garage is so important. I will lose money if I can't find my inventory. ((Sigh))

Both dogs were dropped off at their designated destinations. Cricket (the papillion) is already back from her grooming appointment. This was the first time we tried a privately owned business as opposed to always going to Petco. We are very pleased with the results and the price. It will be $12.00 dollars cheaper to get her clipped each month. And we are supporting local small business owners. That is important too.

Princess will get picked up at 3:00 PM today. Hoping she is doing okay so far.

Time to pack my husband's lunch, as he will be leaving in about an hour. That leaves me the evening and afternoon to work on eBay and cleaning. Oh.... I get the remote all to myself too! Gotta love that!

Hope your Tuesday is going well!!

What Needs To Get Done In April

2012-04-02T22:40:00.001-04:00

Princess.... pooping :)

There is no shortage of things to do around the house. We need to prioritize our "List of Things To Do" and come up with a plan to accomplish the multitude of projects around here.

Tomorrow, I will be taking the one of the dogs to the groomer and the other dog to the vet to get her spayed. I have been trying to get her ( Princess,the BullDog) fixed for the last year. We had an appointment at the low cost spay clinic last spring, but the vet passed away. So with moving and everything else that has been going on, I have just now set up an appointment to get her surgery.

She is a registered Victorian Bulldog, and we could breed her as Victorian Puppies do fetch a pretty high price. But, breeding is expensive. The females have to be artificially inseminated, and when they are due, they then have to have a C-section. When the puppies are born, you then need someone to physically raise the puppies. That's right. Someone has to make sure the puppies are not squished by the momma. Bulldogs are not that graceful. And someone has to put the puppies on the momma dog to nurse. Yep... a lot of work, indeed. None of it cheap!

So, as long as Princess does not come into heat tomorrow, we can proceed as planned!

Other things that we need to get done this week: I seriously need to get the garage organized. This is where all my eBay stuff is. I am configuring and re-configuring an area that will provide a smoother flow work wise. So far, not much success with that. Stuff is all over the place. But in an organized way. Seriously.

Other things on my list:

Curtains for the living room.
Paint bathroom door.
Re-paint my bedroom.

So much to do!

Sunday Night Chit Chat

2012-04-01T22:37:00.002-04:00

Today is Cricket's Birthday. She is 6. We love this April Fool!

Make sure you check out Carla's Sunday Night Chit Chat HERE!!

Reading? I must confess, I don't read much at all when it comes to books. I do a lot of research online regarding eBay items and selling on eBay, so if that counts, I do A LOT!

Watching? Just finished watching Ax Men. Love that show. Shelby, the logger in the Louisana swamps is my favorite.

Listening to? Pandora. The Norah Jones channel.

Cooking/Baking?   Getting back in the groove of baking bread again. I missed that.

Happy you accomplished this week?      I started walking again. That is a really big deal! I think it will help my knees to keep moving.

Looking forward to next week?    Going to hang out with my grandson at SeaWorld again. Love that place.

Thankful for today?    I am thankful for the beautiful weather we are having. I am also thankful for the time I get to spend with my family.    Life is good.

Hope your week was great too!

Ways to Save onHome Insurance

2012-04-01T13:36:00.000-04:00

Paid guest post from Alternative media

Ways to Save on Home Insurance

Owning a home is one of the greatest joys in your life. Along with this, it is one of the biggest investments you will ever make. For this reason, you need to do whatever you can to protect your asset. The best way to get started is to purchase a high quality home insurance policy. With the right insurance in place, your home as well as many of your possessions will be covered against theft, fire damage, and much more.

Like any type of insurance, there is one problem you may face: the cost. How much are you currently paying for your home insurance policy? Do you feel that you could save money by making a change? It is important that you know how to save on this expense, ensuring that you get a deal that you can live with.
Compare Multiple Companies and Policies
Have you made the mistake of buying home insurance from the first company that offered you a reasonable quote? In this case, you may be paying more than you have to for a policy. Worse yet, you don’t even know just how much you are overpaying.

To get back on solid ground, compare quotes from multiple companies – at least three if possible. This will give you the chance to see once and for all if you have been paying too much. If you have been overpaying, making a simple change is easy enough.

Do you Qualify for any Discounts?
Believe it or not, you may qualify for home insurance discounts. However, some companies will not offer every discount until you really “push” them. Make sure you ask about discounts at least once per year. For example, you may find that you can save money on your policy if you buy another type of insurance (life, car, renters) through the same company.

Alter your Coverage
One of the best ways to save on home insurance is to alter your coverage level. Before you do this, though, make sure you know what you need in order to keep your home and belongings protected. In other words, you don’t want to alter your coverage if it means you are taking too much of a risk. This is not worth the few dollars that you are going to save.

Ask Questions
Do you have a good relationship with your home insurance company? Do you speak with your agent from time to time? Here are a few questions to ask to ensure that you are getting the right coverage at the right price:
Is there anything I can change to help me save?
Am I purchasing more coverage than I need?

What is my deductible? (Increasing this could greatly reduce your premium)
If you own a home you need insurance. That being said, you don’t want to overpay. With this advice, you can find and buy an affordable home insurance policy that you can trust and rely on whenever necessary.

Ways to Save on Home Insurance is a guest post by Chris at Home Insurance Comparison.

2012 Financial Goals Progress Report #3

2012-03-31T08:18:00.000-04:00

I am borrowing this format from Laura at NoMoreSpending to help me stay accountable to my 2012 goals.

1.   Pay off credit card debt this year. Yep, it has got to go. We have about $11,5000 in stupid credit card debt. With our current living arrangements (we moved in with my sick parents to become their caregivers) our expenses are low(er). There is some good news here. We have reduced the credit card debt to $7900.00!! NO CHANGE HERE THIS MONTH

2. Increase Emergency Savings from $1000.00 to $3000.00. Right now our emergency fund carries about $1200.00, but by the end of the year we would like to increase that to $3000.00 for a little more piece of mind. Emergency savings is at $1000.00. Any extra will go to debt, at least for now.

3. Building online income.   My work situation has changes totally. I am now a fulltime care giver for my dad, and soon for my mom. I will be able to (hopefully) find time during the day and night to learn more about HOW to successfully do that. You know I did join the $30,000 Online Income Challenge, right?   Changes are my new thing this year. I am back home and building my eBay business as well as blogging.

4. Christmas 2012.   I again will be working my $500 Holiday Challenge. I was able to stay pretty close to the spending/ shopping budget this year, so I am pretty happy about that.   Acquiring gifts all year round at deep savings really helped the bottom line. I did get a few things in February, but still not up to speed or where I should be.

5. Have more fun! Life is short and I know that saving money, budgeting, and being frugal is important. But....   having fun and enjoying life is just as important!   Living in Central Florida provides many opportunities to visit theme parks and be a kid again. We have not yet decided which park we are going to get a year long pass for, but I am leaning towards SeaWorld. And next year.... Disney World. I will be getting passes for me, my husband and my grandson. Money well spent. DONE. Right now my daughter's family and myself have the SeaWorld pass. We go about once or twice a month. Definitely enjoy this.

6. Plan a Trip out West. We want to go to San Francisco, visit Alcatraz ( I find that place to be very fascinating), Cross the Golden Gate Bridge, to name a few. It may not happen this year, but it will happen. I plan to save at leat $4000.00 dollars towards this goal. Probably no big trips this year. :(

7. Roth IRA..... hello.... you remember me, don't you? My retirement planning has taken a BACK seat lately. Time to get all that back under control. I have a 401k with a previous employer that I need to do something with..... and I do recall a Roth IRA too. I am a huge slacker when it comes to this stuff. Help please. Fail. ~~There is the rest of February to get it changed~~. ~~Lets see what I can get done in March.~~ Maybe April will be better.

11. Get our wills done.   Enough said. This has been on my goals list for the last two years. Nope, not yet.

Visit Kevin at Invest it Wisely and enter his contest to win THE NEW iPAD!! It is his two year anniversary, and he is celebrating in a big way!

Food Waste Friday: Slimy is Yucky

2012-03-30T06:50:00.002-04:00

Happy Friday! It is that time again to search the deep recesses of your fridge and seek out what was hidden and forgotten. Last week I really didn't look that hard for any waste. This week, the mushrooms and slimy cucumber kinda found their way to the front of the fridge.

My food waste has definitely been worse in the past. There was a time when I could fill a post with the pictures of my wasteful ways. This little bit of was is not so bad. I can live with it. Off to the compost pile it goes!

I have wasted mushrooms before. I may just need to stop buying them. In theory they are good for me, but the reality it only the compost pile is benefiting.

Linked to the Frugal Girl

Checking In Tuesday: Feeling Normal

2012-03-27T07:09:00.000-04:00

Add caption

This past weekend was busy and productive. The bathroom remodel is still underway. The lighting was finished up by my son. We put a light (waterproof) in the shower ceiling, this definitely brightens things up. The second coat of paint has been applied. Now, my husband has has to install the vanity and toilet and that should be it. He is finishing it up a little bit each day after work. I have been finishing up my mom's room and now am working on my dad's room. We are ordering a recliner (just like the one he has at his house) this week. If and when they do come out to stay with us, we want the transition to be a smooth as possible.

Spring is definitely here and the weather is beautiful. Most of the weekend was spent outdoors cleaning up the yard and pulling weeds. My grandson was visiting with us Saturday and stayed the night. I tell ya, when he is here, not much gets done at all. After he went home Sunday afternoon, I was able to get back in the Spring Cleaning groove and tidy up the garage which is now home to my eBay business. I have come to the conclusion that it is just about impossible to "tidy up" other people's junk. And I say "junk" in a good way. That "junk" can be quite profitable and helps me to support my family. But, there is just no good way to make it all look neat. At least I know where everything is!

I hope your week is wonderfully productive too!

Check out my Weekly Goals at Happy Girl Collectibles. I am on a mission to get organized!

Andrea at So Over Debt has provided her helpful hints on how to decorate on a budget and not OVERspend. I love her personalized artwork! Beautiful stuff!

Aloyssa at My Broken Coin shares her mom's personal story on being a mail order bride. Can you imagine how much guts it took to put it out there and be a mail order bride?

Sam at Financial Samuari has a guest post from Rachel. She shares her experience on being unemployed. I can so relate!

Karl at Cult of Money has an interesting perspective of How to get a Sweet-ass Government job!

Joe at Retire By Forty is leaving corporate America and becoming a stay at home dad. Joe has laid the groundwork for his success at stepping out of his career. Good for you Joe!

Friday's List of Things and Getting Back to Normal

2012-03-23T09:03:00.000-04:00

Family Update:    Took mom to see her neuro onocologist on Wednesday to address the new issue of her seizures. He again confirmed that the seizures are a result of the craniotomy scarring. It is no one's fault it is just how the surgery healed. The scarring is "tickling" her left side of the brain and now she is prone to seizures. This doctor upped her anti-seizure medication and gave her a script for a sub-lingual pill to take when she feels a seizure coming on.

Her doctor also said she did not need to have 24 hour supervision which was a relief to both of us. I was getting a wee bit homesick. After we did some necessary grocery shopping and other errands, I went home Wednesday night. Mom and dad want to stay in their home, which is totally understandable.

But, my husband and I have already discussed the future. If mom does end up in the hospital again we are bringing my dad out here and when mom gets out of hospital we will bring here out here too. I am tired of staying at their house and disrupting my life. That does sound a bit cruel, but I think mom will get more rest if my dad is out here where my husband can help with the care of him too.

Financial Update:    Truthfully, I have not really paid too much attention to the financials the last couple of weeks. This weekend I will be updating the checkbooks and move the money around to make good on the debt repayment and other financial goals.

I have been procrastinating a bit on this chore, but it will get done.

Today's Agenda:

1. Pedicure with daughter. ( I have missed spending time with her)

2. Clean kitchen and hit the grocery store. My husband is a drive thru kinda guy when I am not around. I know there is wasted food in the fridge....

3. List another 25 auctions on eBay. Trying to get at least 200 items up for sale by the end of the month.

4. Sit on the porch and enjoy the view. I have so missed my home.

How is your Friday going?

Works For Me Wednesday: Vinegar in the Kitchen

2012-03-21T06:37:00.000-04:00

When boiling or steaming cauliflower, beets or other vegetables, add a teaspoon or two of white distilled vinegar to the water to help them keep their color. This will also improve their taste, and reduce gassy elements. This also works when cooking beans and bean dishes.

Make pasta less sticky and reduce some of its starch. Add just a dash of white distilled vinegar to the water as it cooks.

Remove kitchen odors that come from burnt pots or when cooking certain foods by boiling a small amount of water with 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar so that the steam circulates throughout the room.

Make onion odors disappear from your hands by rubbing with white distilled vinegar.

Add moistness and taste to any chocolate cake—homemade or from a box—with a spoonful of white distilled vinegar.

To keep frosting from sugaring add a drop of white distilled vinegar. It will also help keep white frosting white and shiny.

Make perfect, fluffy meringue by adding a teaspoon of white distilled vinegar for every 3 to 4 egg whites used.

Perk up any can of soup or sauce with a teaspoon of red or white wine vinegar.

Eliminate the greasy taste in food cooked in a deep fryer by adding a dash of white distilled vinegar.

If you’ve added too much salt to a recipe, add a spoonful of white distilled vinegar and sugar to try correcting the taste.

Keep molded gelatin desserts and salads from sagging or melting in the summer heat by adding a teaspoon of white distilled vinegar for each box of gelatin used.

I Became A Member of The Yakezie Network

2012-03-20T13:35:00.000-04:00

I am happy to say that I have been accepted as a member of the YAKEZIE network. To become a member of this wonderful network has been a goal of mine for the last year. The network is full of wonderfully helpful and supportive bloggers that always want you to succeed. When I received my letter of acceptance into the Delta class from Sam at Financial Samurai, I was ecstatic!

In case you’re unfamiliar, the Yakezie Network is a group of some of the best Personal Finance and Lifestyle bloggers in the world. The common goal of the members is to live better lives. This is achieved by selflessly helping others and promoting quality content on the web.
The Yakezie Challenge is simple:

Write 2-4 times per week for 6 months
Drop you Alexa Ranking below 200,000
Selflessly promote others and build relationships

I started the Yakezie Challenge in August and have finally been accepted as a member. I couldn’t be more excited.
My Yakezie Member Post

Greetings, fellow Yakezies!! My name is Lisa and I am here from Cents To Save. Being accepted as a member into this community is such an honor for me. Sharing my member post with you is a bit overwhelming and exciting at the same time but here it goes!

I started blogging back in 2006. At that time I was in school at UCF seeking to complete my BS degree in Vocational Education and Industry Training. The degree was completely online so I spent a lot of time on my computer. I first started reading personal finance and money saving blogs as a result of the debt I was incurring by returning back to school. Reading about the successes and failures of others was the motivation to correct the wayward financial ways of my budget.

I took baby steps entering into the blogosphere. There would be several personal financial blogs that I would read and comment on a daily basis. Imagine my surprise when the blog authors would visit my blog and comment back. That was and still is very exciting for me. Knowing that someone actually takes time out of their busy day to comment really makes you appreciate them so much more.

The Evolution

Cents To Save has evolved and changed over time. Early on, I was “ hooked” on the rush that extreme couponing gave me. Sharing my stockpile of body wash and toothpaste with family members was always a proud moment. But, there comes a time when you can really have too much toothpaste and the rush of extreme couponing did eventually fade away.

Couponing and stockpiling did stimulate my interest in personal finance. Within the mix of blogs I was reading, were the personal finance bloggers. Topics such as retirement, IRA’s, and investing were becoming more interesting. Truthfully, to this day I still don’t know a lot about investing, but there are several blogs that I can reference to and educate myself on what I need to know.

Seeking education about topics on investing and retirement is the primary reason I blog at Cents to Save. My parents are both financially thrifty and stable. Only recently did I discover how financially stable they are. It may be generational for them, or it was the way they were raised, but my parents did not provide me with the financial skills needed to manage my money.

In fact, while growing up my dad would always reward my good grades or other accomplishments with a $20.00 bill. He would then say “This is all you get, if you spend over the $20.00 then you are on your own. Well, to this day, I can take a twenty dollar bill shopping and spend $19.99 and NEVER a penny more. At the time, I thought this skill would always benefit me. Now, not so much.

Personal Finance Discipline & Accountability

With age comes wisdom. Saving became more of a focus because of need versus actual financial education. While immersing myself in the personal finance blogosphere I put into practice several of the things I learned. Eliminate debt, this is still a work in progress. Spend less than you earn, yes this makes perfect sense but I never really did it. Instant gratification is something that I fight daily. Sometimes I win the battle, and sometimes not. Hence, the Stupid Credit Card Debt is still a part of my financial life.

A more important part of this blogging journey is the accountability. I put my own failures and accomplishments out there and the feedback I receive is encouraging and sometimes chastening. There are those who will come along side of your and boost you up in times of distress with words so kind that it almost makes you cry. This is why I blog. The support received is all areas is phenomenal.

What Makes Cents To Save Unique

With so many PF blogs out there, what can Cents To Save offer that is different? I track my personal and financial goals and the trials and tribulations that come up along the way. Of course there is always a tiny bit of family drama that somehow finds it way in my blogging. My family ( and it’s drama) is a big part of my life and I include them in my blogging because they have made me the person I am today.

I am on the road to becoming free from credit card debt. This year will be the year getting rid of the credit card debt. Then it will be the mortgage. We have a five year goal for that, but first the credit card. But even while becoming debt free is on my hit list, I have also learned to enjoy each and every day. I have not lived my life financially sound, but with the knowledge and support from many of the Yakezie members we are on our way to financial stability.

Becoming an actual member of the Yakezie is truly an honor. I pledge to support all members and challengers to the best of my ability. If there is anything I can promote, help with, or please let me know.

It Was a Wonderful Weekend

2012-03-19T21:56:00.000-04:00

This past weekend was a weekend away from my parents, ( the neighbors kept an eye on them) and I had a "working" weekend at my own home. Saturday after lunch, I took off from my parents and headed to my house.

The "boys"

My husband and two sons were already there working on the front door and the new storm door. They were re-framing the front door because it just was not sitting "right" according to my husband. The new storm door needed the same thing. It took them practically all day. Did I mention my husband is a perfectionist? Oh yeah.

The tile guy was there ALL weekend and today as well. He did an awesome job!! I love it!

This is the BEFORE......

And this is the AFTER!!.....

Saturday, I again PAINTED my mom's bedroom the same yellow that she picked out. This time the paint actually covered and it looked pretty good! Yesterday, I painted the trim and was able to pull the room together. Thank God That is done!!!

I have to confess, that I did not really want to leave my house today. I dragged my heels......I hemmed and hawed....but I did make it over here a bit after lunch. This will be my last week staying here full time. I told mom today that if all goes as planned, we will be moving her and dad out to my house. If that is what she wants. Her and dad will have to decide what they want.

Mom has good support from her church family and neighbors. I would imagine that she will want to stay here and try things on her own again. We will just take it one day at a time. Hope your weekend was wonderful too!

Debt SnowFlake Challenge Week 11

2012-03-16T21:56:00.000-04:00

To help keep my on track with my debt elimination progress, I have joined Melissa at Mom's Plans in her Debt Snowflake Challenge. To the best of my ability, I will update my own debt snowflake progress every Friday. So.... It has been several weeks since I have updated. Life does get in the way sometimes.

Our Progress: This year we did receive a substantial tax refund. This will be spent on the following:

New Central AC unit for the house we just bought. The original unit is over 20 years old AND summer is hot in Florida. Husband will be doing the install. This will save us a bundle.

New Compressor for House. Okay, for husband. He needs the compressor to run his tools. He has lots of tools.

Two bikes for husband and me. We need exercise. Seriously.

700.00 for Tile install at house.

The remainder will be put on Credit card. $500.00

This month: This month I have been selling again on eBay. The results are on the positive side. Last week was 120.00 gross profits and this week is looking pretty good too. I will update eBay profits monthly.

Week four of SnowFlake Challenge

Week three of SnowFlake Challenge

Week two of SnowFlake Challenge

Week one of SnowFlake Challenge

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Food Waste Friday: All Clear Around Here

2012-03-16T08:37:00.000-04:00

Still at my mom's this week. We are happy to report that there is NO wasted food at her house. My house may be a different story. I bet next week I will have a bunch of pictures to share. But that is next week.

This week we got nothing!!

This weekend, the tile guy is suppose to finish the bathroom, and hopefully by next week I will be back home. I am so looking forward to it. You just don't know.

Today, I am going to SeaWorld with my son-in-law and grandson for a couple of hours. A neighbor is going to stay with my parents. And I am definitely looking forward to that!

Hope your Friday is awesome!

Things Are Progressing!

2012-03-14T13:27:00.000-04:00

My backyard

Yesterday, my husband met with a gentleman about doing the tile work in the bathroom that we are remodeling. If you remember, my parents may be moving in with us, and to better accommodate them we gutted our hall bathroom removing the tub, to replace it with a walk in shower. We are also putting a new toilet,and vanity and lights. Complete makeover.

The tile guy gave my husband a great price to do the tile work and he is suppose to get it started on Saturday. then my husband will be able to install the toilet, vanity and other stuff. My sons are also coming over this weekend to help with the new front door and new storm door. Oh.... there is still another coat of paint to go in the yellow bedroom. I can't change it now, since my mom may be moving in with me. She likes the color.

Mom is still talking like she only wants to come out for a couple of weeks. I have not asked my dad what he thinks about it. Last time I did that, he said " I want to die here!!" I doubt that answer will change at all. And why does my mom think she will only be out there two weeks? I sometimes think here thought process is still a little goofy after the seizure.

Honestly, I am getting a little cagey here at my folks home. My husband is staying at our home to keep an eye on the projects and the dogs. I am here by myself. If you knew my parents, you would understand my caginess. It may be late next week before things are all done at my house and we can or I can go home.

While here I have been keep busy ( or sane) with my Ebay. This week has been fairly good. There sure is going to be a lot of stuff to haul back to my house. There is a good variety of Thrift Stores in the area, and I am finding some pretty good deals. The Ebay is keeping me sane, that's for sure!

Where Did The Weekend Go?

2012-03-11T09:37:00.000-04:00

Happy Sunday Morning! The weekends just don't last long enough, do they? Today we are dealing with the "liquid" sunshine here in Central Florida. We definitely need the rain, so I really can't complain. It should be getting better in the afternoon.

I talked to my husband last night and he and my son worked all day yesterday on getting the bathroom ready to tile. Fingers crossed, I am hoping that they can get the tile guy in next week! This way, if my parents do decide to come out, we will be ready for them.

For now, I will not be looking for outside employment. My husband and I talked about that too last night. Personally, it is just too stressful for me to work as a sonographer ( and do a good job) and always be waiting for another phone call from my parents. Things around here are going to be iffy for a while, and I know I need the flexibility to take care of mom and dad.

How will this work out financially? For now it will be fine. I will be upfront with my parents when it comes to money. They are paying my gas and my husband's gas every month so that helps especially with the price of gas. So far this month, dad has given me enough money to pay my mortgage payment. I figure if he does that every month ( at least while I am helping them out) things will be just fine.

But you know, things with my parents can change just like that. They may feel they can do it themselves and if so, I will honor that too. I have started the Ebay business up again. I set weekly goals and work hard to meet them in order to succeed.

I just have to go with the flow in order to keep my sanity, but I know it will all work out in the end.

Did you remember to set your clock ahead for Day Light Savings? I feel like half the day is gone already! Sheesh!!!!