(NEW) SMART SPENDING CHAT THREAD

[motherto2]

Theo - that's wonderful news!  I'm so glad the waiting is over.  Now everyone can breathe .  I probably wouldn't have called the utilities until it was legal either.  You just never know...

Looks like we missed the bad storms that blew through this afternoon.  They mentioned our county on the news, which is almost unheard of.  We are like this little county the world forgot.  We don't get mentioned much on the big news up North, and don't get mentioned on the news down South.  But I never even got the first drop.  And we are a small county, so that's surprising.

Today was my first Friday that I'll be off every one until September.  Took full of advantage of it.  The pups and I took the kayak out and it was a glorious morning.  Then I did some yard work.  Came inside and did a bunch of laundry and tidied up.

I called the other day and cancelled my cable.  It will be cut off on the 15th since it was paid up til then.  I might call again and cancel earlier because the cable company is going to an HD platform, which you either have to have a newer tv or have to rent converters of some sort.  My HGTV is gone. So are a bunch of the other channels.  Started yesterday.  I noticed more channels gone today.  I probably won't have any channels in a couple more days.  Oh well.  I was hoping I'd still have the service if DS made it home for the 4th, but maybe not.  Does anyone have advice on getting something that at least will allow me to have the local channels?  I'm going to start researching things tonight.

Molly, so glad that you are turning the ac on.  I worry about you .

Lynn, have a great trip - don't squeeze that baby too tight .  Give her a hug for me!

[marvholly]

Whooppeee
got all my shopping errands done Fri except CVS and was home in time to see te entire parade & ralley for the Blackhawks. Guess my Wed dinner friend did go to see in person as planned since I called (wanted cheap blueberries & I found them) and had to leave a message.

Will do CVS today as I will go to get a Sun newspaper.

[Sharon]

I was having trouble posting this morning so I went out and sprayed the lawn for weeds.  The air is calm this morning so I didn't have to worry about drifting spray.  It is also going to be very hot today and that seems to help the spray work also.  With this heat I will need to water the plants out front twice a day.

Last night DD told me that FSIL is probably going to bring me some good fertilizer from the farm to use on the garden.  It sounds like he is also going to set some traps in the holes in the yard.  We are suspecting Voles because they don't have mounds like gophers or moles would make.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

No kitten adoptions at Petco yesterday.
Hoping for better results today.

110 today and 111 Sunday and 113 Monday and 110 Tuesday and 110 Wednesday and 110 Thursday and 104 Friday. In fact, the entire-10-day forecast is like that. OH. MY. GOD.

It was 103 yesterday and we were out of the house most of the day. Wasn't bad when we came home and jumped in the pool. Didn't use A/C last night since it cooled down to 91 outside when we went to bed. But that's changing today. We will definitely turn it on starting this evening and it will probably STAY on.

Savings, this is what savings is for, right?  (I remember one summertime power bill was $1027 and we survived THAT!)

[Sharon]

Jun 29, 2013 11:22:01 GMT -5 ❤ mollymouser ❤ said:

No kitten adoptions at Petco yesterday.
Hoping for better results today.

110 today and 111 Sunday and 113 Monday and 110 Tuesday and 110 Wednesday and 110 Thursday and 104 Friday. In fact, the entire-10-day forecast is like that. OH. MY. GOD.

It was 103 yesterday and we were out of the house most of the day. Wasn't bad when we came home and jumped in the pool. Didn't use A/C last night since it cooled down to 91 outside when we went to bed. But that's changing today. We will definitely turn it on starting this evening and it will probably STAY on.

Savings, this is what savings is for, right?  (I remember one summertime power bill was $1027 and we survived THAT!)

Molly if that powerbill arrived in my mailbox I would probably faint dead away.  I know that you have said your power rates are outrageous but that is beyond outrageous.  My electric bill averages around $75 a month.  We heat with natural gas so heat is not included in the average.  We only have one window AC unit that someone somewhere stuck in the wall in the kitchen.  It is old and works okay.  I rarely, if ever, turn it on.  We do run fans when it gets hot.

[mrsdutt]

Yeah for THEO!  Another season has passed.

Two hours until we leave to see Ellie baby! 

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

The air conditioning is on.

One cat adopted today at Petco. It was 108 and people just weren't venturing out. Forecast for 111 tomorrow (Sunday) and 113 Monday.

My plan is to stay inside and be a hermit!

[marvholly]

Molly
I would be staying inside too.

Surprise!!! Actually got a compliment from DD1 on Sat. She called to invite me to DGD1’s bday party and asked if I needed gift ideas. Told her no, been accumulating a manicure kit since Christmas. She was really pleased and thought DGD1 would LOVE it. Wish I had a recording. Wait until she sees her 10th anniversary gift – large roll of aluminum foil & larger than usual check.

[TheOtherMe]

Hope you are enjoying the baby, dutt.

Mom and dad were different people when I took them for lunch yesterday.  Much more relaxed.  Mom is anxiously awaiting the arrival of her new washer and dryer either Monday afternoon or Wednesday.  They need to get the laundry back on schedule and DS is not doing it according to the schedule.  

DS has said they don't have enough laundry to do a load a week, but dad wears the same clothes over and over.  They are old and should be tossed, but mom says he says they still have use in them.  Depression era childhood is rearing it's head.  At least mom knows when it is time to throw out things.

[Sharon]

The garden is weed free.  I was outside working in the yard around 6am.  It would have been nice and peaceful except for the crows.  I can see why a group of crows is referred to as a murder.  The incessant cawing was making me consider murder.  The crows have been really bad this year.

My nephew returned from his trip to South Africa where he got to play secret service agent.  He had an outstanding time.  One of the secret service guys was talking to him about the dog unit within the secret service department.  They were even allowed some time off and got to do a little sight seeing.

[marvholly]

Theotherme
Now that everything is settled w/your parent’s house (congrats) it is time to decide on YOUR schedule and carve it in granite (harder than cement). I am sure there will be a BUNCH of ‘emergency’ calls, esp after your sister goes back to teaching but unless someone is bleeding (call the EMTs), unconscious (call the EMTs) or already in an ambulance handle it by phone or say you will do it on Xday (the next time you are planning to be there).


I am going to try to get a nail appt for either Wed or Sat but w/the holiday on Thur I doubt it. I have not been able to get in since about last Aug. I did try at Thanksgiving, Christmas and at least 1 other time - prob around when 3 of the grands had bdays.

[marvholly]

Got my phone bill yesterday. I KNEW it was going to be high BUT: It is more than twice as much as I have averaged for the last 2 years (55 vs. 25-27). Guess that is what happens when DD is in her last 6 weeks & on bed rest. It is still WAAAY cheaper than having to drive out there (80 mi rt + $1.80 in tolls) multiple times/week for 3-4 weeks.

I decided to run a ‘few’ errands today. Need to return some library books, hit CVS, Wag, my bank & get the last of this week’s grocery sale items. I now have 8 stops on my list – about the same as a full run grocery errand day but less miles.

[Sharon]

I think today is supposed to be our last really hot day.  Really looking forward to Friday, forecast of 78 degrees instead of this 98 that we have been having.

This is a short work week because of the holiday and I am looking forward that.  I like weeks that in my mind have a Monday, Wednesday, and then Friday.  This is followed by 3 Saturdays and then Sunday.  Okay my mind works in strange ways but that is kind of how I look at these holiday weeks.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

I have officially wilted and melted. Ugh. Hot and humid and air quality that's unhealthy. (sigh) I went online to check our power usage for Saturday ($8.69) and Sunday ($14.29 ~ the rates went up) ... and those rates are about to double due to our tiered-pricing. Ahh, this reminds me of why I normally don't use air conditioning! (We're turning it on at 1pm at 80 degrees, moving it down to 77 at night to sleep) then off in the mornings.) I expect that by the end of the week, we'll be paying about $20 per day for electricity. Sheesh. (Our billing cycle runs through July 9, then we reset back to the lower priced tier)

Based on current forecasts, we'll need AC through at least Friday .... after that, the overnight lows look low enough (72) for no AC and using the whole house fan!

[TheOtherMe]

Jul 1, 2013 5:50:56 GMT -5 marvholly said:

Theotherme
Now that everything is settled w/your parent’s house (congrats) it is time to decide on YOUR schedule and carve it in granite (harder than cement). I am sure there will be a BUNCH of ‘emergency’ calls, esp after your sister goes back to teaching but unless someone is bleeding (call the EMTs), unconscious (call the EMTs) or already in an ambulance handle it by phone or say you will do it on Xday (the next time you are planning to be there).

I know my schedule:  the days I work at the church (normally Thursday) and one weekend day, with exceptions for holidays.  I do realize it has to be set in granite as DS is going to push and push me.  Dad refuses to wear the call necklace they are supposed to be wearing because he doesn't need it.  Mom wears hers in the shower.

DS thinks I don't call enough and that I shouldn't be pushing them to socialize.  She did say they commented on Sunday that they hadn't seen anybody in the hall when they went for their walks.  Mom is up to three walks a day, which is great.  Dad takes two more as she doesn't walk far enough.

Today, my niece was taking mom to get her hair done.  Dad said he didn't need a hair cut yet.  DS told him he would have to wait until somebody goes to get theirs done.

I do have to make phone calls tomorrow about getting the health insurance switched.  I'm happy to do things like that for them.  

I do know in my head that eventually we will be facing the end of their lives, but we certainly are not there yet.

[motherto2]

HI all!!!  One more work day and then the four day weekend .  Woot Woot!!!!  This is so sad, but at the end of this month I have 5 more work years and then I can retire - but I am wishing it would hurry up.  I'm so ready for retiring, selling the house, moving and starting a new journey.  I have lived in this area for over 45 years (minus a couple in college which was a little over an hour away).  I have wanted to move away from here since I was a teenager.  Haven't made it very far.  Because of one thing or another, I've not managed to make it out of the county.  I just feel like it's my time.  I stayed here mostly because I wanted my kids to grow up near family.  I never had family close, other than stepdad's family about an hour away.  But we weren't all that close.  Now that the kids are grown and mostly gone from around here, the only thing keeping me here are my mom and stepdad.  I'm still working on them to move with me (mostly stepdad, since Mom's a little out there these days).  He says he doesn't think he'll ever get her out of the house they are living in.  But I'm still going to keep working on them.  Is it wrong to feel like this?

On another note, because I don't care if it's wrong or not, I've started really narrowing my area of retirement.  I know I want to move more south, and I want to be near water, because I've really started to enjoy my time in the mornings on the lake.  So when I go on  my vacation in a week and a half, I have several small areas that I am going to look at.  These areas are in/near the first leg of my vacation.  Since I had already made my second leg of hotel reservations (it is closer to the mountain area) and the hotel is nonrefundable, I'll still go and hang out for a couple of days. I just think that's not the area that I'm looking for, but one never knows.   I haven't made the hotel reservation for the third leg, but I now know I'm not interested in that area at all.  I think I'll still make a day trip of it to check the place out so that I can say I looked into it.  If I decide I'd like to stay the night I can always make a reservation that day/evening, or just come on home.  It's only about 3 1/2 hours from where I live, so I can drive home no problem.  Can you tell I'm excited?

DS is coming home tomorrow evening until Sunday some time.  It will be great to see him.  I can't wait!

[TheOtherMe]

One more day of gorgeous weather before I will need to turn the a/c on.  I have only had it on 2 days so far this summer.

Thanks to mom and dad living here, I got invited to my DS's 4th of July family BBQ.  I will take my veggie burger with me.  I will be stopping to pick up parents.  Nobody has to take them to lunch tomorrow since DS is having the BBQ.  

Delivery of parents' washer and dryer did not happen.  Mom called and salesperson (who has been there over 20 years) didn't schedule it.  Store is to call her on Friday.  Dad is going crazy that laundry schedule is now totally off!  

First fireworks have gone off in neighborhood and it isn't even dark.  Lucy wasn't happy and it hasn't even started.  

[Sharon]

Yay for four day weekends.   Today was an incredibly long day.  Apparently I am now too old to stay out until 11:30pm at the rodeo and then come home and get up at 4am to go to work.  I can remember the days when I could do that and not even think twice about it.

We have had very few neighborhood fireworks this year.  I think the neighborhood demographics are changing again and we don't have as many young children and teenagers.  The ball park that is nearby has fireworks on Friday evenings all summer long.  We can't see them but we can certainly hear them.  It gets old after a couple of weeks.  This week they are planning fireworks tonight, tomorrow and Friday.

Our heat spell seems to be breaking, which is nice.  Tonight I am able to open up the house and get some fresh air.  Tomorrow is supposed to be mid 80's and Friday upper 70's, which is our normal temp for this time of year.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

I've officially melted. 110 yesterday. 108 today. 110 tomorrow. 107 Friday. The 10-day forecast goes out to July 12 and has EVERY SINGLE DAY OVER 100! Yeeeesh! I'm ready for a break. This bad air is killing me!

I went online today to see how much electricity we used Tuesday (yesterday.) $20.57. Crappity Crap Crap. Note to self: stop going online to see how much electricity we're using by running the AC. Fortunately, we're only in the highest billing tier (34 cents per KwH) through midnight on July 9 ... then it goes down for the following week.

[marvholly]

Thank the stars it has NOT been hot here (yet). Last 4th it was over 100 per last night's news. My a/c was 'supposed' to be replaced last Sat but there is a mfg issue. New units were to be in on Wed but my HVAC guy is out of town until Sun or Mon. I KNOW I will have to call him & check on an install date Mon or Tue. Also, I'm not the only one waiting.

[TheOtherMe]

I did have to turn on a/c today, but it's nothing like last summer.

Had a lovely evening with DS and BIL, DN & her hubby and 2 kids, DNephew, and parents.  Dad was busy talking to anybody who would listen to him.  He stayed too late for mom's liking and she let him know it when we got in the car to take them home.

Today, mom called all upset.  This was after 3 PM.  Their mail comes about 10:30 AM.  They had received their first bank statement from new bank.  I bank there.  Closing date is end of month, so last Friday.  Pensions and social security were not on it and they have no money.  She could not comprehend the statement shows nothing after June 28.  Called the bank.  Pensions and Social Security went in on correct dates.  Got balance and check numbers of cleared checks so we can work on check book tomorrow when I take them to lunch.  I'm guessing from the way she sounded, she had been working on checkbook since mail came.  

Worked at church today.  So nice and quiet there, unlike last night with the two little ones, three dogs and a cat.  I've lived alone for too many years.  I am happy to go and happy to leave when I see my family.

[Sharon]

DD is working on her kitchen table and I was helping for a little while this evening.  It is an absolutely gorgeous evening tonight.  Warm but not too hot with a slight breeze.

I am really proud of DD and her table.  This is table we got off craigslists.  It is a little beat up, but not too bad, and the price was right.  It is a country farm table with the lighter finish top and white legs.  She is sanding it all down and is going to finish the top a darker color and paint the legs black.  She is really working hard on it so it should look really nice when done.

I am glad to see her working with what she has to turn it into what she wants instead of insisting on buying what she wants.

[marvholly]

Sharon
See - training, even just by example, is a BIG help. This is a 'kid' who will NOT have a boatload of cc debt whe she finishes her schooling Be PROUD!

[TheOtherMe]

Cute story about my dad at lunch today.  They always want to go to Dairy Queen.  After they eat their meal, they go back to get the sundae that comes with their meals.  Today, dad ordered theirs, walked over to the counter and took the next 2 sundaes that were put on counter.  They were not his!  There were people waiting for theirs and he took somebody else's sundaes.  Mom was humiliated.  I hope DS has better luck getting him to watch what he's doing tomorrow.

Mom and I had to go over the bank statement.  She was going to leave this bank because she couldn't understand the bank statement.  It shows all accounts a person has on one statement.  She doesn't want it that way.  She wants individual statements for each account.  She had added the interest from the one year CDs to the checking account in her check book.  I told her that did not go in the checking account.  I showed her where the checking account is on the statement and told her that is all she needs to be concerned with.  There were only 5 transactions the entire month, so it couldn't be that hard to balance the account.  She doesn't use the worksheet on the bank statement.  I used that and got the same number the bank did. 

She let me activate the ATM cards, even though dad says they are "stupid".  This way when we do run errands for them, we can pay with their money and not have to be reimbursed.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

I haven't posted much ~ I think I've just been hot and cranky! We were 102 again today ... I fear this heat wave won't end until October! I will say that there are two 99 days in our 10-day forecast, though! Yay!

Our tomatoes are still producing and we've easily picked 300+ cherry tomatoes so far! Only about 8 big tomatoes ~ but we mainly planted the little ones. We're spreading out with sharing them with neighbors and coworkers!

We're still waiting for the military to pay us about $400ish that's been wrong (shorted) since my wonderful DH went to Peru back in May. (sigh) My wonderful DH assures me that we will "eventually" get it reimbursed .... I'm not quite to optimistic, but he HAS been in the military a long time!

We had three kittens adopted today at Petco ~ yay!
 

[Sharon]

Yesterday was an all out shopping day.  It started with grocery shopping in the morning.  I did have a $10 off when you spent $60 coupon.  Unfortunately these days it is not hard to spend $60 at the grocery store.

Then we were off to Macy's.  DD has a wedding and baby shower to attend.  At least those were her money and not mine.   While at Macy's we did get her a new swimsuit.  They are going on a cruise for their honeymoon.  The suits were 50% off and then when you put it on your Macy's card get another 10% off.  Then turned around and made a payment on the Macy's card.  I was looking at sheets at Macy's.  They had some that were on a good sale.  When we got to the counter the clerk told us we didn't want those sheets that the quality was really bad.  She said that she had taken in 5 returns just this last week.  I was astounded that she would tell me such a thing but was grateful at the same time.

We stopped at the paint store and got the paint that she needed for her table she is re-doing.  There was also a stop at the nursery where they were having their annual annual sale.  Annual plants were 50% off and you got a free tomato plant with any purchase.  Now I need to find a place for another tomato.

We also ordered the wedding invitations yesterday.

[marvholly]

IU just ate chicken fajitas for breakfast.

It was so hot & humid Sun that my dinner was 4 glasses of ice water.

[mrsdutt]

I wrote a long post and it got lost.  I'll try again when I'm not so unsettled.

[motherto2]

Hi all!  Well, DS has been and gone.  It was great to see him.  He flits in and out, so I technically don't get to spend a lot of time with him, but he and I went out Saturday evening to a movie and dinner.  I belong to a couple of Marine facebook pages and one lady was really ranting about her son not spending any time with her and her husband when he was home this weekend.  I know how it can hurt not being able to spend time with him, but at the same time, they come home for just a few days and try to fit lots of people in to that short time.  Plus they are young 20 somethings, so of course they want to spend their time with the friends/girlfriends.  It's a tough situation.  In my case, DS has me, his father, my folks, father's mom, friends that live in Maryland, and father's extended family.  He is good about spreading the wealth .

The pupster and I made it out on the lake every morning these last four days off.  It's been great!!  He's a good sport about it.  I take him some snacks so that is his tradeoff!  He's too dag gone smart.  Knows when it's time for me to break them out .  We met a lady and her 2 year old son out on their kayak.  Really nice to talk to them.  I'm really trying to look into some subdivisions down in NC that have some sort of lake in the subdivision so that we can continue our kayaking when we move.  We leave a week from Friday! 

Sharon it sounds like your daughter's table will be gorgeous.  I wish we could see pics.  I have an old oak table that I would love to refinish, but it has  a big pedestal in the middle of it, plus it has that hard commercial finish on it.  And then if I did try to tackle it, the side board that I have is the same oak finish, as well as another cabinet and the leaf.  I seriously thought about doing it, but then as I remembered the other pieces, it kind of snowballed. 

Lynn, are you home?  How was the baby?  You didn't sneak her back in your bag did you?

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

It was 104 degrees today. Our 12th day in the row over 100. The air quality is "unhealthy." Forecast for 106 tomorrow. Yuck.

Picked about 50 tomatoes today. Trying to do some extra watering since the lawn is browning up. Swam a little. Air conditioning is on tonight. Spider Guy comes tomorrow.

Got most of my July bills paid, waiting to receive the pool bill with the new pool sweep.

My wonderful DH is flying Tues-Wed-Thurs this week. AND working this weekend (drill weekend). I will still "do my duty" at Petco on Saturday. Not sure about Friday.

We're going to get some trenching done along the front of the house to reduce/prevent moisture from the soil wicking into the concrete slab. Getting some bids for the trenching/gravel.