CFO: Chief Family Officer

The Psychology of Having Multiple Savings Accounts

2009-07-16T10:58:00.000-07:00

Back in 2007, I finally designated a savings account specifically for money to pay infrequent bills – things like life insurance, car insurance, homeowner's insurance, property taxes, disability insurance, etc. I calculated how much all of these expenses cost annually, divided by twelve, and began transferring that amount into the Infrequent Bills Account each month, minus whatever payments were due that month. About three times each year, I have to take money out of the IBA to pay all of the bills due that month. It all balances out, though, and knowing that the money for those bills is always available and accounted for makes my bill-paying very easy.

So it's no surprise that I've become a fan of having multiple savings accounts for specifically designated purposes. I've taken to keeping these accounts at ING Direct simply because it's so easy to open a "subaccount" there (once you've figured out how to do it – the first time, I had to hunt down directions). We now have a "car fund," which gets a monthly deposit roughly equivalent to a car payment. The money in this account will naturally be used to pay cash for our next new car (which, if all goes according to plan, will be in four or five years).

As I mentioned earlier this week, I recently created a "mortgage fund," which now gets a monthly deposit that's half of our debt snowball. Psychologically, I like keeping the money separate from our regular savings/emergency fund. It seems less available, somehow, although of course it's not. And keeping the money in a separate account makes it easier to stay on track with our original six-year payoff plan, if we decide that we can go ahead and use the money to prepay our mortgage.

If you're having trouble keeping track of the amounts you're saving for specific purposes, I highly recommend trying separate accounts. Just be sure not to open so many that you can't keep track of them!

Previously: My review of ING Direct

Walgreens $5 off $25 purchase coupon - valid 7/16 & 7/17 only

2009-07-16T05:24:00.000-07:00

There's a new printable coupon for $5 off a $25 Walgreens purchase. It's valid today and tomorrow (July 16 and 17), and states that the $25 minimum must be met before taxes and after all manufacturer and Walgreens coupons.

I don't see any great deals at Walgreens this week, especially since I'm well stocked on pull ups thanks to Rite Aid. (But if you need diapers, check out a sample scenario at Common Sense with Money.) My printer just ran out of ink, though, so I'm going to take my cartridges in to get refilled for $12.99 each (same price for black and color). It's the first time I will have cartridges refilled, so I'm a little apprehensive, but the price is certainly right!

Figuring out (how I want to use) Twitter

2009-07-15T17:25:00.000-07:00

It's been a few months since I last mentioned Twitter, and back then, I said I would send out at least one tweet every day. But that hasn't quite worked out, because I really don't want to send out pointless updates. I figure most of my followers are CFO readers, and don't need "hey, I've got a new post" updates. And I'm certain no one (not even my mom) wants to read a "hey, I'm going to pick up the mail" update.

So I've been working to make my updates as relevant as can be, and use them as an extension of CFO to post things that wouldn't really be appropriate for their own post here. For example, on Sunday, I tweeted about a post at Nicole's Nickels about tips for this week's free CVS photobook deal. Back on Friday, I tweeted to let followers know that I'd updated the Ralphs deals post.

Admittedly, not everything I post will be relevant to everyone, particularly direct replies. But generally, I think that the average CFO reader will find that my tweets are a nice complement to the posts here.

And here's a little secret: I follow too many people on Twitter to read all of their updates, so if I don't want to miss a single update from a particular person, I'll subscribe to the RSS feed for their updates in Google Reader. I get the updates a little bit slower than I would on Twitter, but I can be sure I'll see all of them.

Links:
Follow CFO on Twitter
Subscribe to CFO's Twitter RSS feed

Ralphs: 7/15 - 7/21/09

2009-07-15T09:07:00.000-07:00

The Mix & Match event is back at Ralphs this week (Safeway stores too, so Vons and Pavilions out here in SoCal), but unless there are good unadvertised M&M deals, it looks like a pretty slow week to me. I'm going to go for the produce deals, and I'll take a look around while I'm there. In the meantime, below are the best deals I see in this week's circular - I'll update the post throughout the week as other deals come to light.

Mix & Match - Buy 10 participating items and get $5 off
Vitamin Water $1.29 - if you have a $1 off coupon, these will be a 21-cent moneymaker after coupon and M&M (actually, 16 cents after CRV)

Kellogg's Cereal, Nutri-Grain bars, & Special K bars $2.49 - if you have a $1 off coupon, these will be 99 cents after M&M discount; the ad shows Mini-Wheats and Raisin Bran, which you can get for 88 cents after coupon at Target this week, but the cereal will be a decent filler if you need something to get to your 10 items.

Keebler Fudge Shoppe Cookies $2.49 - There are printables for these here and at Coupons.com. The final price will range from 99 cents to $1.49.

Note: You can combine the Keebler cookies and Kellogg's cereal deal to do the Fuel for School rebate, but Target is probably a better deal if you have coupons. See Money Saving Mom for Target scenario examples.

Colgate Toothpaste 4.0-6.0 oz or 8.2 oz $1.99 - use a $1 coupon from the 7/12 SS or 75 cents coupon from the 6/28 SS, with a 75 cents coupon from Cellfire.com for a final price of 24 cents

Daisy Sour Cream 16 oz. $2.49 - Use the 50-cents off coupon from the 5/31 RP and get it for 99 cents.

The rest of the deals
Black plums or yellow nectarines 49 cents/lb

Personal watermelon or Tuscan cantaloupes $1.99 each

Ralphs milk 1 gallon $1.99

Oscar Mayer bologna or salami 88 cents

Boneless pork butt $1.99/lb

Asparagus $1.99/lb

Green or yellow zucchini 99 cents/lb

Dannon Light 'n Fit Nonfat Yogurt 6 oz. 60 cents - use the 60 cents off 6 coupon from the 5/3 SS for a final price of 6/$2.60

Thanks to CalItalian at SlickDeals for some of the deals.

Works for me: Shave in multiple directions

2009-07-14T20:39:00.000-07:00

I first read this tip years ago in a book of beauty tips, and I was reminded of it the other day in the shower. It was such a big revelation for me that I thought it was worth sharing: Shave your underarms in multiple directions. Apparently underarm hair grows in more than one direction, so the general guideline of shaving in just one direction doesn't quite get the job done.

Find more Works for Me Wednesday tips at We are THAT Family.

Giveaway: Honey Kix Prize Pack

2009-07-14T08:05:00.000-07:00

This week's giveaway is for a Honey Kix Prize Pack, courtesy of MyBlogSpark. The Honey Kix prize pack includes a coupon for a free box of cereal, a honey jar, a cereal bowl, a container to take your cereal and milk on-the-go, and a great container to keep cereal fresh at home.

To enter this giveaway, simply fill out the form below. (If you're reading this in a feed aggregator or email, you may need to click through to the post to reach the form.)

For an additional entry, subscribe to CFO via RSS or email and fill out the form again to let me know you've done so. You'll get the latest on CFO delivered right to your favorite feed aggregator or inbox, so you don't miss any weekly giveaways. (If you're already a subscriber, just fill out the form to let me know.)

For a third entry, spread the word about this contest – tweet about the giveaway, Stumble this post, or write about it on your own blog. Then let me know about it by filling out the form again.

You can enter up to three times (one for each type), and you must complete the form once per entry. Only one entry of each type per email address will be counted. I'll select the winner using Random.org and announce them here on CFO as well as contact them by email. The winner must respond within 48 hours, otherwise their prize will be forfeited and a new winner will be selected.

The giveaway ends at 6:00 p.m. PDT on Tuesday, July 21.

Good luck!

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Re-thinking the Mortgage Payoff Plan

2009-07-13T08:12:00.000-07:00

On a day-to-day basis, I tend to focus on the small picture: save a few dollars on milk and cereal, buy the boys' clothes a year ahead on clearance, pay insurance bills in full to avoid the installment plan "convenience" fee, etc.

But lately I've been thinking more about the big picture: our long term goals, what's likely to happen in the next five to ten to twenty years, and especially, how do we balance liquidity with paying off the mortgage?

While both Marc's and my jobs seem secure for the moment, we are definitely not immune to the economic crisis that our country – and particularly, our home state of California – is weathering right now. We could be hit by pay cuts or layoffs, a steep decline in the quality of our local public school, or even a medical crisis or something unpredictable.

Pay cuts or layoffs are unlikely but not impossible or even improbable. One of my best friends and her husband were both laid off earlier this year and just found jobs after months of searching. It was stressful, to say the least, but they survived as well as anyone could due in large part to their conservative spending habits and savings. We want to be in the same position, just in case.

Additionally, you may recall that I've spent much of the last two years researching public and private schools in an effort to determine where to send Alex next year. I was pleased to discover that our local public school is at least as good as any private school that we could afford. But of course, whether the public school is able to maintain its high standards in the midst of this recession remains to be seen. Class sizes are increasing this coming year. The school board has approved a three-year plan to eliminate full-day kindergartens and all arts and music programs, cut salaries by five percent in 2011-2012, and require furlough days. Governor Schwarzenegger wants to "suspend" mandatory school funding. I'm cautiously optimistic that because our public school seems to have a committed administration and an active PTA, it will be able to adjust to these restrictions without a loss in quality. The PTA, if it is able to raise enough money, can provide funding for supplemental arts and music programs, for instance.

But, who knows what the situation will be in a year or two? It would be nice to have the option of sending the boys to private school should that become preferable.

It would also be nice to pay off the mortgage in six years, as we'd originally planned. But sometimes it's necessary to strike a balance.

For the time being, we are splitting our debt snowball and directing half to our mortgage and the other half into savings. I created yet another subaccount at ING to keep this money separate. My thinking is that we will re-evaluate every six months or so, and if things look good, we can make a large principal payment on the mortgage that will keep us on the path to full repayment in six years. On the other hand, if we feel like hoarding cash, we can do that too.

This plan worked well for us when it came to paying off my student loans – and in fact, we did that a few months earlier than I'd anticipated. So hopefully things will work out that well when it comes to the mortgage too.

Previously: How I'm paying off my student loans

Roundup: Another huge edition

2009-07-12T07:47:00.000-07:00

There was a lot that caught my eye this week - enjoy!

Triple Chocolate Trifle @ Bakerella - I loved this post because it wasn't just about saving a cake gone wrong, but it also saved money to boot!

California do you want double coupons??> @ A Thrifty Mom - If, like me, you've been wondering why we don't get the Albertson's double coupons here in Southern California, Sarah has the answer and a possible solution.

Tips for Stockpiling Kids Clothing @ Northern Cheapskate - Christina has some great suggestions for buying ahead for your kids.

Christmas in July Clearance Alert: Target and Kmart @ Common Sense with Money - Mercedes has some thoughts on toy clearance sales.

Vegetable Tempura @ Just Hungry - I love Maki's recipes because they make Japanese food so accessible. I actually think I could make a decent tempura at home now.

The 2009 Personal Finance "How to" Roundup @ All Financial Matters - This is long list of helpful posts.

Free Financial Spreadsheets from Google Docs @ Get Rich Slowly - For those who don't like making their own spreadsheets :)

Cheap Icing Tricks & Other Baking Tips From a Pro Baker @ The Frugal Duchess - I particularly like the tip about sour cream and cream cheese extending shelf life. Good to know!

17 tips to keep it cheap in Las Vegas @ Bargain Babe - Vegas is one of my favorite vacation spots, so these tips will come in handy.

Frugality and the WOW Factor @ Frugal Hacks - I like this way of thinking about whether something is worth the cost.

Weekend With the Parents @ My Open Wallet - Madame X has been incredibly open about the difficult financial situation she's handling with her aging parents, and it's very educational.

A refresher on "how to pitch bloggers" @ Fake Plastic Noodles - Melanie hits the nail on the head.

Inside the Soquel Cafeteria: From Homemade Turkey to Burritos in a Bag @ School Lunch Talk - This is a fascinating explanation of how and why school cafeterias serve what they serve.

Giveaways to check out:
Albertson’s Big Relief Price Cut Giveaway @ Common Sense with Money - SoCal & Southern Nevada residents only; ends today (7/12)
RECARO Car Seat Review And Giveaway @ Two of a Kind - Dee is giving away a Recaro Vivo or Vivo Lite seat as part of her Baby Bash - be sure to check out her other giveaways while you're there; ends 7/20

Stockpile pic of the week: Smurfytigger @ A Full Cup
Runnerup pic of the week: Rhylansmom @ A Full Cup

Chex Mix Bars giveaway winners

2009-07-11T08:43:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone who entered the Chex Mix Bars giveaway. Congratulations to the lucky random winners:

Lauren (lauren.bel****@gmail.com)
and Kasey (kasha*****@aol.com)
Winners, you have 48 hours to email me at cfoblog [at] gmail [dot] com with your address.

Swag Bucks Pay Pal Sale

2009-07-10T17:19:00.000-07:00

You might recall that last week, Swag Bucks introduced a true cash option: $5 in your PayPal account for 80 Swag Bucks. Well, it's already on sale! Now through July 16, you can get your $5 cash for just 70 Swag Bucks.

Like I said last week, I'm still redeeming my Swag Bucks for Amazon certificates because it's a better deal for me (just 45 Swag Bucks for a $5 certificate). But if you want cold hard (electronic) cash, then this is the time to redeem your Swag Bucks!

Previously: My original Swag Bucks review

Three recalls yesterday: Balls & hooded sweatshirts

2009-07-10T13:07:00.000-07:00

If you think you have the following item(s), click through to the CPSC press release for more details:

American Greetings Corp. Recalls Sport Balls Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

Children’s Hooded Sweatshirts with Drawstrings Recalled by C-Mrk Inc. Due to Strangulation Hazard

Children’s Hooded Jackets and Pullover Sweatshirts with Drawstrings Recalled by Hard Tail Due to Strangulation Hazard - Click through for photos of additional styles.

As always, I highly recommend signing up for recall notifications by email at the CPSC web site.

Giveaway: Horrible Harry Cracks the Code

2009-07-10T08:05:00.000-07:00

This week's giveaway is a paperback copy of Suzy Kline's Horrible Harry Cracks the Code.

Here's the description from Amazon:

Horrible Harry thinks he’s the world’s second-best detective—second only to Sherlock Holmes, of course. But the rest of the kids in Room 3B aren’t so sure. So he’s determined to prove himself by solving the latest mystery at South School—how to win the new cafeteria contest. He knows the cafeteria lady is using a special mathematical code, but can he crack the code before his classmate Mary tattles on him again? Or will the case go cold right before Harry’s eyes?

The book is recommended for ages 9 through 12, and seems like a great summer read.

To enter this giveaway, simply fill out the form below. (If you're reading this in a feed aggregator or email, you may need to click through to the post to reach the form.)

For an additional entry, subscribe to CFO via RSS or email and fill out the form again to let me know you've done so. You'll get the latest on CFO delivered right to your favorite feed aggregator or inbox, so you don't miss any weekly giveaways. (If you're already a subscriber, just fill out the form to let me know.)

For a third entry, spread the word about this contest – tweet about the giveaway, Stumble this post, or write about it on your own blog. Then let me know about it by filling out the form again.

You can enter up to three times (one for each type), and you must complete the form once per entry. Only one entry of each type per email address will be counted. I'll select the winner using Random.org and announce them here on CFO as well as contact them by email. The winner must respond within 48 hours, otherwise their prize will be forfeited and a new winner will be selected.

The giveaway ends at 6:00 p.m. PDT on Friday, July 17.

Good luck!

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One more recall yesterday: 1 Million Kolcraft Play Yards

2009-07-09T12:23:00.000-07:00

If you think you have the following item(s), click through to the CPSC press release for more details:

Kolcraft Recalls 1 Million Play Yards Due to Fall Hazard - The recall includes Kolcraft, Carter’s, Sesame Street, Jeep, Contours, Care Bear and Eric Carle play yards. Click through for additional photos and a long list of affected model numbers.

As always, I highly recommend signing up for recall notifications by email at the CPSC web site.

Bacon & Spinach Strata

2009-07-09T08:12:00.000-07:00

My friend C. gave me a couple of loaves of La Brea Bakery's Roasted Garlic Bread, and I wasn't quite sure what to do with so much of it. And then it came to me: a strata. I totally improvised this recipe, so the measurements aren't exact, and I wish I'd thought to add one cup of shredded cheese. I also think it could have used a little more flavor - if I'd had any fresh herbs, I would have added them but I made this at the end of the week when my fridge was rather bare.

Bacon & Spinach Strata
Serves 4 to 6

10 ounces La Brea Bakery Roasted Garlic Bread or other peasant-style bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
6 slices bacon, diced
12 ounces spinach, chopped
4 eggs
2 cups milk
salt & pepper to taste
nonstick cooking spray

1. Lightly spray an 8x8 baking dish with cooking spray. Add the bread to a large mixing bowl.

2. Heat a skillet over medium high heat and cook the bacon until browned, about 10 minutes. Remove the bacon and add to the bread, reserving 2 teaspoons of fat in the pan. (Discard remaining fat.) Return the pan to heat and add the spinach. Sauté the spinach until wilted, about 5 minutes. Add the spinach to the bread and bacon, and mix well.

2. In a separate bowl, combine the eggs, milk, salt and pepper (and anything else you might be using, like herbs and/or cheese). Pour the egg mixture over the bread mixture and stir. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking pan. Cover the pan with plastic wrap and refrigerate for four hours to overnight. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 45 minutes, or until the top is browned and the egg mixture is firm.

(Note: I'm okay with this as a summer time dish because the 8x8 baking pan fits into my toaster oven - that means it doesn't heat up my whole kitchen!)

One recall today: Jaloma Pacifiers

2009-07-08T13:28:00.000-07:00

If you think you have the following item(s), click through to the CPSC press release for more details:

Pacifiers Recalled by Gromex Due to Choking Hazard - Click through for an additional photo.

As always, I highly recommend signing up for recall notifications by email at the CPSC web site.

Ralphs: 7/8 - 7/14/09

2009-07-08T08:02:00.000-07:00

I do the bulk of my grocery shopping at Trader Joe's, but I always check the weekly circulars for more traditional grocery stores, like Ralphs (Kroger family of stores) and Pavilions (Safeway family). Pavilions tends to track the national sales at all Safeway-owned stores, so planning my trips there is relatively easy. But I've struggled with Ralphs.

The single best source of deals I've found is the SoCal Grocery thread at SlickDeals, where user CalItalian regularly posts coupon match ups for the weekly ad. But I've found that even that isn't enough, since I find unadvertised deals on other sites like A Full Cup.

So, I've decided to list the best deals at Ralphs each week (I'll update the post throughout the week as I come across more deals). CFO isn't really a deals blog, but my hope is that the list will help some of you as well - and I'd love to get some feedback on this, too. We'll see how it goes, but here are the best deals I see in this week's ad:

DiGiorno or CPK Pizza $4.99 - For DiGiorno, there was a $1 off coupon in the 6/14 SS. If the Flatbread pizzas are included, there was a $1.50 off coupon in the 5/17 SS. For CPK, I'm hoping that the Rising Crust pizza is included because I have $2 off printables (that don't seem to be available any more).

Lean Cuisine Entrees 5/$10 - There was a Buy 2 Get 1 free coupon in the July All You. There are a couple of other LC coupons out there, but this is the best one I can find.

Ben & Jerry's - The pints are 2/$7, but I'm hoping this means the new Flipped Out sundaes will also be on sale because I'd like to try it. There were B&J coupons in the 6/28 RP.

Strawberries and peaches (white or yellow) are 99 cents/pound.

Bounty single rolls $1.25 - There were 25-cents off coupons in the June and July P&G inserts, which will double. And there's a 25-cents off any Bounty ecoupon at P&G eSaver, so that's 50 cents for one roll (only once, since the ecoupon can only be redeemed once).

Broccoli crowns and cauliflower are 99 cents/pound.

Thomas' English Muffins B1G1 - The last time these were buy one, get one, I think they were priced at $3.79. They are usually $1.99 at the bread outlet, so it's a pretty good price if you get two.

Skippy Peanut Butter 99 cents (selected varieties)

Also, if you spend $50 in one transaction, you'll get double bonus points. According to CalItalian at SlickDeals, the $50 minimum is before coupons. So this is a good time to use those coupons for free items. I will probably try to get my total up to $75 with free item coupons since I have a $5 off $75 purchase coupon from the Clipper magazine that comes periodically in the mail.

Update: This year's Kellogg's Fuel for School $10 rebate is back (click on "More" at the bottom right to register so you can print the form). The participating products are

any Kellogg's Cereal (10 oz. or larger)
any Keebler or Austin Product (8 oz. or larger)
any Sunshine Product (8 oz. or larger)
any Eggo Product (4 ct. or larger)
any Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Cereal Bar (8 ct. or larger)
any Kellogg's Special K Cereal Bar (8 ct. or larger)
any Kellogg's Pop-Tarts Toaster Pastries (8 ct. or larger)
any Kellogg's Rice Krispies Treats Squares (8 ct. or larger)
any Kellogg's Fruit Flavored Snacks (6 ct. or larger)
any MorningStar Farms Veggie Foods Product (5 oz. or larger)
any 100 Calorie Right Bites (6 ct. or larger)

Keep in mind that all 10 items need to be purchased in a single transaction. According to A Full Cup user AWools, Morningstar Farms products are on sale for 2/$7. There are apparently $2 off coupons in booklets, but if you don't have those, there are $1 off printable coupons.

There's a deal where you get $3 off if you buy 3 selected Keebler products. There are $1 off Fudge Shoppe and 55-cents off any Keebler cookie coupons, and $1 off 2 Fudge Shoppe coupons. You could also use $1 off Sandies coupons if you have any left. The ad says one offer per household, so presumably you can only do this deal once.

Eggos and Eggo Bake Shop products are on sale for $2.39 and $2.99 respectively. There are $1 off Bake Shop coupons at RedPlum (although you should be able to get them for less at Target).

Lots of free stuff!

2009-07-07T11:13:00.000-07:00

I do mean to have a giveaway this week, but things are kind of crazy right now (but then, they always are). Just as good as a giveaway, though, are freebies - here's some hot stuff that's available right now:

Home Made Simple coupon booklet - This is a regular freebie and I love it! It contains a coupon for a free bottle of Cascade Rinse Agent, as well as higher-value coupons for P&G products than you'll usually find in the newspaper. Via Coupon Cravings.

SC Johnson (maker of Ziploc) also offers high value coupons and freebies when you sign up at Right at Home. I've gotten free Ziploc containers and bags from them, and they've had high-value printable coupons that translated into free and moneymaker deals in The Drugstore Game.

There are a bunch of free samples over at Walmart:

Free subscription to Forbes from RewardsGold - I've gotten quite a few magazines from RewardsGold now, and thus far they've been truly free, with no bill.

Free subscription to Business Week from RewardsGold

Free subscription to Golf Digest from RewardsGold - Via Coupon Cravings

$3 off Huggies Pull Ups Printable Coupon

2009-07-07T05:43:00.000-07:00

Thanks to A Full Cup user Madmurphy, I found a printable coupon for $3 off Huggies Pull Ups (Firefox or IE). (I printed my coupons this morning and they expire on 7/15.)

According to Common Sense with Money, Rite Aid will have a sale on Huggies next week, so print these now and use them then! Rite Aid's rebates on Huggies include #53 ($2 SCR on select products), #800 (buy 5 packages of diapers, get a 6th package for free), and #61 (buy $25 or $50 worth of qualifying products and get a $10 or $25 gift card).

Quick Product Reviews - Food Edition

2009-07-06T08:08:00.000-07:00

Here are some food and food-related products we've tried recently:

Healthy Choice - Sweet Asian Potstickers - The potstickers were okay enough to eat, but the rest of this entree was inedible. I would only buy this if it were a moneymaker.

Healthy Choice - Mediterranean Pasta - I think this entree is poorly named, because I don't think cranberries and fontina and cinnamon when I think Mediterranean. And the combination here didn't work for me. I'd buy this if it were a moneymaker, but I wouldn't eat it.

Healthy Choice - Pumpkin Squash Ravioli - This one was the worst of all, because it was trying too hard to be savory and sweet at the same time. I'm not crazy about cinnamon, especially in savory dishes, and there was way too much in this. I tossed the whole thing after a couple of bites. I wouldn't eat this again.

Special K Crackers - These are a new product I got cheap thanks to a promotion at Target. They're more like Kashi 7 Grain Crackers than Wheat Thins and quite tasty. I like that there aren't any hydrogenated oils in them.

Rubbermaid Food Storage Containers- I've found that these containers really do extend the life of my produce, especially the pieces that are at the bottom, and especially fruit that tends to exude juice over time - things like watermelon, for example. It's still important to dry the produce well before putting it in the container, but I'd say the containers add a day or two to the life of my produce.

Previously: More quick product reviews

Roundup: Huge edition

2009-07-05T08:02:00.000-07:00

I managed to scroll through a lot of posts this week - here's what caught my eye:

Cereal & Milk Deal at Safeway @ Moneywise Moms - Gina's got the scoop on an incredible milk and cereal deal that goes through July 9. I got three boxes of cereal and had a coupon for each, but the cashier read the fine print and didn't double two of them. I used my milk coupon on a gallon of organic milk, so I paid a total of $4.44 for the milk, two boxes of Cheerios, and one box of Total. I usually pay $5.99 for a gallon of organic milk at Trader Joe's, so this is an exceptional deal. Thanks, Gina!

I want to share two posts from Parent Hacks: High Protein Treat: Cocoa Fruit Dip, which sounds delicious and healthy; and Replace Shoelaces with Elastic to Transform Lace-up Shoes into Slip-ons, which is downright brilliant and has just changed the way I shop for the boys' shoes!

University of Miami Law School Defers 1Ls: This is Not A Joke @ Above the Law - ATL is the best blog for news related to the legal profession, because of reports like this one: a law school frankly tells incoming students that (1) there will be too many of them so some of them need to defer to the following year; and (2) they should think long and hard before entering law school. I think the dean is really onto something, since even when I was in law school, I felt like a lot of my fellow students didn't really want to be lawyers and were just there for something to do that didn't involve getting a "real job" yet. In the current economic environment, I'd bet good money that a lot of these incoming students are hoping to wait out the recession – not thinking through the fact that firms are laying off attorneys nearly every day, and that even three years from now, there probably won't be much of a job market for brand new attorneys with no experience.

Basics: Cold soba noodles with dipping sauce @ Just Hungry - This is the perfect summer dish.

What To Do When You're Tired of Couponing @ Money Saving Mom - Crystal has some excellent advice for those who find couponing overwhelming.

Part 2: Fifth Birthday Deployment + Fort Pics @ Thingamababy - AJ's daughter celebrated her birthday with an enormous and complex fort.

Pillow Talk: Sleep Apnea @ Baby Toolkit - Some potentially life-altering advice.

How to Make it Easy for Someone to Watch your Kids @ The Happy Housewife - These are some very practical tips that apply to everyone from the grandparents to teenage sitters.

The four(ty) hour workweek @ BripBlap - I've heard so much about the Four Hour Work Week concept that Steve's view here was refreshing: why do we think of work as something that needs to be avoided, anyway? Perhaps it's more important to find something that we enjoy so much, it doesn't seem like work.

Rainbow Cake @ Sweetnicks - This is such an eye-catching, happy-looking cake. There were tips on making it in this subsequent post.

Sour Milk @ Frugal Hacks - This is the first time I've seen recipes that actually call for milk that's slightly spoiled. Very frugal.

The Chocolate Chip Cookie Bowl Sundae @ Ruhlman.com - Food writer Michael Ruhlman shares a recipe he created with his son.

Be Successful by Learning Delayed Gratification @ Bargaineering - As a parent, I was struck by how important it is to instill a sense of delayed gratification in my children.

Over at CFO Reviews, you can find out how to get a free sample of Kotex Overnight with Wings and a free trial membership to Sitter City, a matching service for parents and sitters.

Here are a couple of giveaways for the Dyson DC25 All Floors:
Dyson: Cleaning your floors and cleaning up at the box office! @ 5 Minutes for Mom
Win a Dyson DC25 just like on Transformers! @ Seven Dogs and a Baby

And here's a giveaway for a Crane Humidifier @ Two of a Kind - I recently got one for the boys' room and it's working great!

Finally, the stockpile pic of the week is for a ton of Tabasco and A-1 sauce, but milk, fruit and other perishables - all for $9.99, down from $126.84.

Chocolate Chip Buttermilk Pancakes

2009-07-04T08:34:00.000-07:00

I'd been giving the boys store bought frozen waffles for breakfast on weekday mornings, but since I'm not a big fan of processed food, all of the additives weighed heavily on my mind. Unfortunately, Tyler won't eat plain or fruit pancakes, but I hit pay dirt when I added a little bit of chocolate to a recipe adapted from The 1997 Joy of Cooking.

Chocolate Chip Buttermilk Pancakes
Makes approximately 16 pancakes

1/2 cup white whole wheat flour
1 cup all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cups buttermilk
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 ounces dark chocolate, very finely chopped (tip: use a serrated knife)
butter or nonstick cooking spray, for cooking

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients (flour through salt) and mix well. In a small mixing bowl, combine buttermilk, eggs and vanilla and mix well. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and whisk until flour mixture is just moistened. Stir in chocolate.

2. Preheat a griddle or large nonstick pan over medium heat, and melt some butter on it (or lightly coat with cooking spray). Use a 1/4-cup measuring cup to pour batter onto the griddle. When there are air bubbles popping, carefully flip the pancakes. Let cook an additional 2 to 3 minutes or until the bottom is the desired color. Repeat with remaining batter, occasionally cleaning off the griddle or pan with a paper towel.

3. To freeze these pancakes, cook until lightly browned, and cool completely. Separate with wax paper or parchment paper and freeze. You can defrost these in the microwave (they'll probably take about 10 seconds or so), but I prefer to heat them in the toaster oven to get the edges crispy again.

Safety alert: It may be best to avoid drop-side cribs

2009-07-03T08:00:00.000-07:00

A few months ago, the Baby Bargains Book blog posted about Babies R Us's decision to stop selling drop-side cribs. The decision came after more than 375,000 Jardine cribs were recalled, costing BRU a lot of money (they're the exclusive seller of Jardine). The Baby Bargains Book blog suggests that the problem isn't inherent with drop-side cribs, which have been around for decades without the kinds of problems we're seeing now, and that the baby gear industry is motivated by the increased profit they could make from non-drop-side cribs.

I'm no safety expert, but we had two drop-side cribs at one point when Tyler was an infant. His crib was one of the Jardine cribs that was recalled – it cost about $300 and was of noticeably poorer quality than the convertible Simmons crib that we had bought for Alex for almost $600. The drop-side on the Jardine crib worked so badly that I stopped using it – I couldn't use it one-handed, and it was quite loud. And I'm 5'3" so you know the drop-side had to be really bad for me to not use it. By contrast, the drop-side on the Simmons crib always worked great.

From this admittedly tiny sampling, the lesson I draw is that you get what you pay for. Not that $300 is a pittance, but the difference in the quality of the two cribs was dramatic. And, given all of the recalls recently for drop-side cribs, it may be better to play it safe and avoid drop-side cribs simply because the hardware is more complicated. (By my count over at the CPSC site, there have been six recalls involving drop-side cribs since last fall.)

At the very least, if you have children still sleeping in cribs, you should read this warning from the CPSC about cribs. It includes this list of safety tips for all cribs:

Parents should not use any crib with missing, broken or loose parts.
Hardware should be inspected from time to time and tightened to keep the crib sturdy.
When using a drop side crib parents should check to make sure the drop side or any other moving part operates smoothly on its track.
Always check all sides and corners of the crib for disengagement. Any disengagement can create a gap and entrap a child.
Do not try to repair any side of the crib without manufacturer approved hardware or with tape, wire or rope.
Putting a broken side up against the wall does not solve the problem and can often make it worse.

Two recalls today: Cribs & baby floats

2009-07-02T21:05:00.000-07:00

If you think you have the following item(s), click through to the CPSC press release for more details:

Simplicity Drop Side Cribs Recalled by Retailers Due to Risk of Death from Suffocation - Click through for more photos.

Aqua-Leisure Industries Recalls Inflatable Baby Floats Due to Drowning Hazard - Click through for photos of other float styles.

As always, I highly recommend signing up for recall notifications by email at the CPSC web site.

News Roundup

2009-07-02T08:09:00.000-07:00

Here are some news articles that caught my eye:

"Organic" label doesn't guarantee quality or taste - One of my favorite LA Times food writers says that flavor is the most important thing to consider when selecting a food, and asserts that most farmers, while not totally organic, incorporate sustainable farming practices that make them "good farmers."

Recipe: Spicy mac and cheese - One of the perks of being the LA Times is that you can get restaurants to cough up their recipes. This one is from the Purple Palm restaurant in the Colony Palms Hotel in Palm Springs, and sounds like something Marc would love (the kids, though, not so much).

California chain restaurants must fork over calorie counts under new law - Chain restaurants with at least 20 locations in California must now supply calorie counts for their menu items in a brochure (alcohol is exempt for some reason). Restaurants that fail to comply face a $50 to $500 fine, followed by other charges, such as unfair business practices. I'm waiting for 2011, when restaurants will have to post calorie counts directly on the menus.

Finally, is it because I live in LA that the local news cast has been dominated by Michael Jackson coverage? I mean, I know he was the king of pop but enough is enough. I don't need a news flash every time someone talks to the media. Even a local reporter agrees.

Earn cash with Swag Bucks

2009-07-01T20:05:00.000-07:00

I'm still loving Swag Bucks, through which I continue to earn Amazon gift certificates. It was a pleasant surprise to learn that they've added a true cash option for redemption. Eighty Swag Bucks will now get you a $5 deposit into your PayPal account.

For me, Amazon gift certificates continue to be the better option since a $5 certificate code only costs me 45 Swag Bucks - and I know I'll spend the money at Amazon for sure. But, if you're looking for cash, this is certainly a very easy and totally free way to earn some.

Back in my original Swag Bucks review, I said that it took me about a month to earn 45 Swag Bucks. But it seems to me that I'm earning Swag Bucks a little more frequently through my own searches, so it might not take you that long these days.

Of course, you'll earn even more Swag Bucks if your friends sign up using your referral link. So I want to thank everyone who's signed up using my referral link, because of course, I've earned those Amazon gift certificates a lot faster thanks to you!