Judicious June Controlled/No Spend Thread

[shanendoah]

I'll ask DH where he gets his recipe from. I know its online, but none of the ones I'm pulling up look quite right.

[redwagon]

Installing new doors is more expensive than we thought. Boo to that. Guess that's where my next freelancing paycheck is going... sigh. Hoped to send to debt. But again, doors falling off, frames cracked, not good. It's needed. And tax-free. So that's good at least...

[shanendoah]

12 cups stock

3 pounds russet potatoes cubed

3 pounds gold potatoes cubed

4 ounces port fatback (or salt belly, in truth bacon would work)

2 pounds chicken (cubed?)

2 pounds frozen corn.

2 bell peppers diced (optional)

Onion (optional leeks)

Pepper



render fatback heat fatback to reduce fat

saute onions and leeks remove from pan

cook chicken over heat high enough to produce graton

add stock and russets chicken onions and pepper cook for 1 hour (or more, this stage is pretty robust)

add corn and gold and bell pepper cook for 30 minutes

remove 4 cups and blend reintegrate, serve.



That's what DH sent. Let me see if I can make it make more sense.

The chicken needs to be shredded
We use frozen corn, but you can also used canned (some recipes call for creamed) or fresh
The pepper needs to be diced.
By pepper, he means a chile pepper. We have some mild ones that we use, but you can easily kick up the heat, using however hot a pepper you like

In a stock pot, render the fatback, heating it enough to reduce the fat
In that same pot, saute onions and leeks, then remove them from the pan
In a separate pan, cook chicken on a high enough heat in order to shread it
If using fatback or salt belly, remove big pieces from the stock pot. If using bacon, just break it up and leave in
Add stock, russet potatos, chicken, onions and pepper to the stock pot.
Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to just below a simmer. Cook for at least 1 hour (can cook longer if needed)
Add corn, gold potatos, and bell pepper.
Bring to a boil then reduce heat to a simmer for 30 minutes.
Remove 4 cups and blend, then reintegrate and serve.

We serve this with some shredded cheddar cheese over it or add oyster crackers. It's also really good with a dob of sour cream.
If you don't add something to it, you will probably want to add a pinch of salt.

[muttleynfelix]

Hope you all have a great day today.

DH got on the scale last night and he has lost 20 pounds since last year. The depressing thing is that now he only ways 5 pounds more than me! I was thinking for my Grandma's 90th birthday party that we would all get new outfits. The party isn't until August. How late do you think we can wait to go shopping for summer stuff and still have a good selection? I was thinking the end of July would be a good time to go. I'm not looking for anything super special. Just some dressy type shorts for me with a blouse and new kahkis and polos for DH and DS.

I'm also currently debating either upgrading my phone to a smart phone or getting a tablet. I've been debating this a while, but I'm leaning towards a smartphone for now.

[redwagon]

love my droid! a lot of super helpful apps. i particularly like the shopping list one, which synchs between blue and my phones. So I'll say I'm going to the store, put a few items on the list, and by the time I get to the store blue's usually added a few things. Or we both just keep adding until one of us has time to go to the store. It's pretty cool.

[sheilaincali]

Update: 4/20 NSD

Went to Kohl's with my sister last night. She has a Kohl's charge card and got a coupon for an extra 30% off if she used her card. We make them do two transactions (one for each of us) and she charges it and I write a check for my amount to Kohl's and they apply it to her account right at the register. Boys really needed summer clothes. They have both lost enough weight that last years stuff is way too big. Actually DH fits into some of DS' old shorts.

Weather here has been crazy lately. 95 on Sunday, 99 Monday, 102 Tuesday, 85 Wednesday and 68 so far today Wish it would just be consistent for a change.

My sister is trying to talk me into going to this boot-camp tonight. If I agree to go she will pay my $5 cover charge. Her co-worker convinced her to go. Problem is I really don't like her co-worker. Like not even a little bit. On the fence as to going or not. Should really finish staining the deck before it rains again.

[redwagon]

Days like today I very much wish our pool was functional. Even if we rip it out I think I'm going to insist we get one of those crazy blow-up doo-dads. Or even a kiddie pool. Just somewhere outside I can submerge myself in cool water. Made the mistake of going for a walk at lunch and now feel like I just went in a pool (with hot water) with my clothes on. Gotta love NYC summers...

Sheila - I've always wondered about those boot camp classes. Go and tell me how bad it is hehe.

[azmom]

1 NSD

I keep spending money here and there but none of it is out of the budget. I just can't seem to pull it together and combine my trips. Today I need to get DSS a gift card, plus we are taking him out to eat for his B-day. I don't have my menu planned for the rest of the week. Mostly because my ads are still in the mailbox! Ugh this is our short check and we have DSS birthday, Father's Day, and DH is going out of town on business!

Sheila: I say you should go. During the class there will be little time for chit chat between you and the co-worker. Before and after the class strike up a conversation with another classmate to eliminate the awkward I don't really like you stare down/conversation.

Muttleyn: There are always cute short sets on sale here, but then again it is like Summer year round. I would guess shopping on line is always an option too. They seem to carry a selection year round.

I think we need a quick and easy weekly challenge or QOTW! Anyone have any ideas? Maybe put a $5,10, 20 on your wallet and see who still has it on Monday? Anyone?

Wish me luck ladies. I will be making brownies from scratch for the first time. DSS doesn't care for cake so I always make him birthday brownies (from a box!)

~Happy No Spending~

[startsmart]

what a weird day this is.

Not sure what happened but it seems 2 debate coaches in our community may have died - when people stop praying *for* people and start praying for their families it's a bad sign. No details though and I'm afraid to ask.

Work is getting so frustrating. Lots involved there that I don't want to go into here but it makes me so tired.

Getting packed for the weekend too, plus I need to pay bills, deposit a check and basically get 100 little things done.

Maybe I need a personal startsmart list?

deposit $500 to CU
pay water, electric and CCs before Saturday
write check for grandma
take starbucks gc to redeem
pack the car
fill up with gas
finish moving work files to mac
charge bluetooth
empty SD cards for weekend
throw out bad food in fridge
balance my checkbooks
take out cash for hotel room
mow front lawn
water flowers
move extension cord to the garage
finish laundry
wipe down shelf for Eli

[mizbear]

waiting to see if things blow up in my face- called a guy I have liked for a while to ask him a question, which usually results in me sounding like a blithering moron. (Tall, thin, blonde, tan- need I say more- my first love was tall, thin, tan and had beautiful black curls that he kept shaved as close to his head as he could LOL)

I just printed out a 2 do list for the next 2 weeks- the roof work for DGMs house will be started and done in 2 weeks. Since only the back roof has to be done, it should only take 3-5 days.

HUGS everyone and be careful in this heat.

[mizbear]

Something I forgot to mention, DGM is checking into having DM and I buy out the house at the time of her death. They have found a small blockage in her heart but because of all of her other health problems they can not go in and remove the blockage. Removing the blockage will kill her on the table. So, I have inherited a brand new, unused Wii that was bought to be her therapy. DGM wants the house rewired so I can have a home office and my room, etc right there.
DM has scheduled an appt with DB about his behavior. We'll see how that goes.

[ses]

miabear--Check out this option for DGMs house.

Dealing with an inheritance updated Wed May 4, 2011Mary Jane wants to give her sister a house she inherited. HLN Money Expert Clark Howard tells her how to go about it.
www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2011/05/04/exp.howard.hmc.mary.jane.hl

[3catslady]

5/20 NSD, 2/5 CSD, 2/5 EOD. I am right on track for the month.

[mizbear]

Thanks ses!

Putting in app for music contest today- all paws crossed!

[dakota4600]

Hey all- Sorry I've been MIA. Trying really hard to get packed and ready to leave in the AM for our trip. Mini-D is very excited about going camping, probably will be bummed that we are staying in a hotel the first night. We'll camp once we get to Colorado.

Muttley- That is always motivation for me to start losing weight, when DH gets close to me in weight.

Shelia- Did you go to boot camp?

[redwagon]

Blue's flight home was delayed because of the crappy weather here on the east coast. so he took off when he was supposed to be landing, after spending 6 hours sitting in the airport. he'll be in a fine mood today I'm sure!

Excited to get my reimbursement check from tuition for the spring semester. It will be nice to knock off that $1k off my credit card. Hoping they get it to me today, but I'm sure that's to quick to be reasonable. Also wrapping up a freelance project next week which will be a much larger chunk of change, which will now go to pay for the doors. What is left will be divided between my taxes fund (can't forget those!) and my new car fund. Looking to buy in September when the new model year comes out and the 2011s drop a bit in price.

dakota - have fun camping! We're so busy we don't really have a free weekend to go this summer, which is a bummer. and hey! that rhymed!

anyone want to join me in virtual happy hour at 930am? I'm thinking I'll start off with a screwdriver. Gotta get my OJ in!

[muttleynfelix]

dakota - Have fun camping. I want to hear how it goes because I ready to camp again, but am nervous with DS.

red -I'll take that virtual happy hour. I've got to finish some plans this morning to take over to the architect so that they can take them down to Branson (an hour away) TODAY!! Rush jobs are fine, super rushed jobs make me want to pull my hair out. Something always gets missed.

[sheilaincali]

I did not get to go to Boot Camp last night. Canceled as it is outside and was raining. Going to go on Saturday with DH and DSis. From what I understand they use the sledding hill as a large part of the camp. Crab Crawls up the hill and obstacle courses I guess. Not all sure. Will let you know how tomorrow's 7am ( ) class goes - if I survive!

Really trying to stay motivated today. Yesterday was DS' last day of school for summer. Monday he starts tennis lessons every morning for the next 2 weeks (we can extend that if he likes it). Looking into some week long engineering camps at the University for July. The University is between my house and my office. My commute is all of 5 miles and the University is only about 1 1/2 from my house. DS could bike it easily.

[redwagon]

muttley - yeah super rush jobs aren't my fave either. something DOES get missed. and guess who gets blamed? :-) I have a souvenir t-shirt from Branson. From my grandparents, I think... country music big there, right?

I have major ADD today. Do NOT want to work. Pretty much just want to research and plan for babies. Part of me wants to get going, part of me wants my Alaskan cruise next summer... probably best to stick to the original plan of starting in a year or so. Still trying to figure out how to find out my work's policy without them being convinced I am currently pregnant or am planning in leaving immediately after taking my 12 weeks paid leave. They say you have to sign a good faith agreement that you'll come back. But for how long? My evil plan is to do that, come back for two months and give notice until they find a replacement, then freelance fulltime. Is that enough time "back" or do they want me to stay longer? It's a tiny company so there are no real secrets here.

[shanendoah]

Wednesday was an NS, yesterday was a spend.

One of those weeks where everything seems to break. Our old, first generation XBox 360 dies. Only $20 more to replace than to fix. We bought a newer generation on eBay. The little handle to open the mailbox broke off, making it dangerous. We bought a new, locking mailbox because there have been a string of mail thefts in our neighborhood. The "U" key on DH's keyboard stopped working, so he bought a new ($10) keyboard.

We have to get DH in to the doctor today or Monday so that he can get a lab test saying he's had the measels vaccine. The school just put a hold on his records for that. As an adult, if you did not have a super organized parent, it is next to impossible to find your shot/immunization record.
I did have a super organized mom, so I have mine. I should find the bin its in and take it in to my doctor and see about getting it scanned in to my medical records, just to have that back up.

Non-money (but oh so important) challenge of the week: Find your shot record/the shot record of your kids and make sure you have a couple back up copies. States are getting better about tracking that information for kids, but for adults, it can be nearly impossible to find. If you have any thoughts of going back to school, the school will require it.

No real weekend plans other than lunch at our favorite restaurant.

Hope everyone has a good weekend.

[redwagon]

wooohoo got my reimbursement check! going to the bank at lunch! now, to pay off the card that has 0% interest rate until September and I never use (and thus the balance will never go up again) or pay half off another card that we use from time to time? I feel like it'll feel more like Take That! with the 0% cause I know it's gone. But the other one has an interest rate of like 12%....

[mrslynch]

happy friday, ladies! i wanted to stop by and say thanks to those of you who are supporting my new blog. i'm absolutely loving writing it and plan on doing something i've yet to do as a blogger...working on my blog extensively on a weekend! i usually spend so much time in front of computer during the week that i take the weekends off but i really want this blog to look good.

i'm doing well with controlled spends this month. i have 6 controlled spends so far. today would have made 7 but dh and i are both leaving work early to see super 8. i can't wait to see it! normally i don't like sci-fi stuff but anything that combines jj abrams, steven speilberg and kyle chandler is ok in my book!

on a good financial note...dh and i made the decision clear our savings to get rid of 1 of our 2 remaining manageable debts (his students loans get their own category) next month. that means we will only be left with his car payment which we will be able to pay off within the next 15-18 months (my car is a lease and we're unsure what to do with it when the lease expires. we don't exactly agree on the best course of action)! i'm not too worried about the savings because he and i each have scheduled classes to teach this fall that will more than replace what we're using. it's such a relief to be down to one debt. it's been a long time coming.

have a wonderful weekend!

[redwagon]

mrslynch - happy blogging!! and let me know how super 8 is! blue doesn't want to see it, but his friends do, so I might just go with them haha.

[startsmart]

after extensive googling I found out what happened to the guy from debate who passed away. He was a coach when I debated from my district so I know I'd known his name somewhere. He had sudden kidney and liver failure and passed away 6 days later - only in his mid 30s. So sad to hear but grateful his fiancee is getting a lot of community support.

not planning on leaving the house today. I did have an early appointment to see a dog up for adoption and they gave her away last night! So annoying. Now Wilson can't have a girlfriend

Also on the agenda today is mowing the lawn and packing up my car.

[redwagon]

Chase bank can be so annoying. I try to avoid eye contact when I go in to deposit larger checks (I don't trust the ATM with the big bucks), so that's what I did today when I went to deposit my reimbursement. But a woman comes over to me as I'm filling out the slip and says she can help me. I told her I hadn't finished my slip yet, and she tells me she can do that for me in a bitchy voice. I just ignored her and kept going. Then I'm taken away by a bank guy, to a second bank girl in a cubicle. I should have resisted and just gone to the counter, but it's hot and sitting looked nice. So she starts asking me about my job and all that, and I qualify for XYZ and ABC and blah blah, oh yeah let's deposit your money. I asked if she could apply it directly toward the CC I have with them, and she looked dumbfounded at the idea so I told her never mind I'd do it myself later. Then I asked about car loans. I was sitting there, why not, right? I'd applied yesterday but only put myself in, so of course I didn't qualify when you take just my salary and then our mortgage, which they asked about. So I asked if I reapplied as a co-loan with Blue, with his salary, if she thought we'd get it, as my credit score is mid 700s so debt-income ratio was the only thing I could think of holding me back. Again, dumbfounded. Then the guy came back and asked me about my job and all those same questions and started telling me about how he and his wife divvy up their money, and I was like "People! It's my lunch break! THis was supposed to be a two minute stop, if that, and now it's been almost ten!" Argh! Then everyone, like six people, tell me to have a nice afternoon on my way out. The other branch I go to often has three people standing two feet inside the door to bombard you with "help", so at least I made it to the deposit slips this time... but really? You're going to drive me away if you keep this up! And I really like Chase!

[mizbear]

YAY mrslynch!

Happy hour sounds good!

Guy friend has made an appointment with me- as his schedule is almost as screwy as mine is- to look at the 3 guitars I am inheriting from DGMs attic. He laughed and told me it may not be until fall, but he will talk to me. Especially when he found out the one guitar is over 35 years old and a fender or gibson electric- I might get a date with him yet!

DB has to meet with DM regarding his responsibilities around the house and what his plans are when DGM passes. I have talked to DM- I will share a home with her, but not with DB because of his behavior and the company he keeps. My only request of DM is that she upgrade her housekeeping skills.

DM is in trouble with her doctor- she has dropped 35 pounds for no reason. She is on her second week of chemo and her favorite food is a large sub. She does eat at the Chinese Buffet with me- but she doesn't exactly load up on healthy stuff- unless she has one of those strange metabolisms that loves protein.

Reno starts with the roof next week. Aye yi yi! Trying to get everything done this week.

HUGS to everyone who needs them.
Be careful in this heat.

[startsmart]

pretty productive day. I got to catch up with sbcaligirl and we're hoping she delivers #2 soon! I picked up groceries, mostly fruit for the weekend so I don't have to stop in the morning.

updating my list:

deposit $500 to CU
pay water, electric and CCs before Saturday - done
write check for grandma
take starbucks gc to redeem - done
pack the car -done
fill up with gas - done
finish moving work files to mac
charge bluetooth - done
empty SD cards for weekend - done
throw out bad food in fridge - done
balance my checkbooks
take out cash for hotel room
mow front lawn - done
water flowers - done
move extension cord to the garage - done
finish laundry
wipe down shelf for Eli - done

Still more to do tonight!

[startsmart]

Okay, here's what was left at 6pm tonight (it's almost 10 now)

deposit $500 to CU
write check for grandma - done
finish moving work files to mac
balance my checkbooks - done
take out cash for hotel room
finish laundry - done

I also reorganized stuff in the living room, did dishes and wiped down the kitchen, worked on packing, cleaned out some magazines and vacuumed. Wilson supervised from his perch on the couch and Jackson killed three bugs in the garage.

Pretty productive evening. I will drop off the check for my CU tomorrow morning and take out cash for the weekend and then I think I'm ready to go!

[muttleynfelix]

Go Startsmart.

Walmart day today at some point. DS was apparently awake at 5am (note to self - see this is what happens when DS goes to bed after 7p) and DH was up with him. Now DH is half asleep on the couch. I was also thinking we would look at new cell phones. Mine is 4.5 years old and DH's is 2.5 years old. I guess we are leaning towards a smart phone for me and another basic phone for DH. His is starting to not hold a charge and mine is ok, I'm just ready to upgrade I guess. I'm not looking forward to adding a data plan onto our plan, but I will use it and it is $15/month. Not exactly going to break the bank.

[redwagon]

You'll find the data plan worth it, muttley. It's been a lifesaver having the google maps feature (only GPS in one car so good to have for the other), when I've overdrawn my account I could quickly do a transfer, and the games are boredom busters waiting in lines! I recommend the HTC Thunderbird, personally. :-) enjoy!!

I paid off the card with 0% interest. Nice to not have to pay that bill anymore, and that payment can now go to the other card. Some of which I'll be reimbursed for anyways, after my current class. Feels great!!

startsmart - you're at it again! remember to have some fun too!