Mile High Savings

Do you get a deal at dollar stores?

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:15:28 PST

Do you get a Deal at the Dollar Store? - Blogging For Change

Reading this article made me think if the trips I make there are worth it? Not so much.

Food/toiletries/plastic products are not safe, electronics are of poor quality, and we use only natural cleaning products...

Got my consignment check!

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:33:36 PST

Well it's not much, only $33 bucks (4 things), but it's something. These are items that are not worth the hassle of listing on ebay and are still too nice for the Goodwill.

I've got another bag of summer things I am going to take in next month, and two more full of fall...

Where does the money go?

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:53:55 PST

I'm a sucker for infographics, and this one from April 2009, is pretty good:

How The Average U.S. Consumer Spends Their Paycheck

The top 4 are obvious: housing, car, food and insurance. But it was interesting to see that people spend almost as much on groceries as going...

Unexpected Car Repair

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 09:27:36 PST

There we were, all packed and ready to drive to the airport for our Portland vacation. We loaded up the car, grabbed all the snacks and water, locked up the house and..... DH's car wouldn't start. It made a weird clicking sound, and nothing. He tried it a few more times, and...

Back from vacation, and UNDER budget!

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 10:34:03 PST

DH and I had a wonderful 5 days in Portland!
We had an amazing time. We stayed in a beautiful Victorian guesthouse in the heart of Nob hill, ate and explored to our content, and took several roadtrips to the Willamette valley and to the coast stopping at small towns along the...

Portland or bust

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:06:12 PST

Today is the end of a three day week for me, and tomorrow my DH and I leave for Portland for a mini 5 day vacation. I am actually getting 5 days off with only having to take of 1 from work, thanks to the holiday!

I am absolutely enamored with the Pacific NorthWest, and...

At a crossroads with our house

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:11:36 PST

I've been a bit antsy over making a decision about what we're going to do with the house over the next few years and what our 5 year plan is. As I've mentioned before on here, I bought this house in 2003, before I met my husband and when I worked about 5 minutes away, it made...

Starting up the ROTH, again.

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:43:46 PST

When I got laid off last October, the economy was bombing and I stopped my ROTH contributions. I've been gainfully employed for 5 months now and I'm a little embarrassed to say I haven't picked them up. My thinking was that with the market the way it was it made more sense to...

Cancelled TV today

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 10:43:47 PST

And I feel so much better already! I've had an exhausting couple of months, and have gotten into the rotten habit of plopping onto the couch when I got home and numbing out in front of the tube for the evening, consequently feeling pretty worthless. I'll even admit to eating...

iPhone mania and a free lunch

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:01:24 PST

I would not be overestimating when I say that about 80% of the people on my floor purchased or upgraded to the new iPhones last week. I've put up with weeks of nerd talk about all their great features and how they will change everyone's lives.

Now everyone is busy playing...

$1109 spent on gas commuting to work

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:13:15 PST

This math is very depressing, so is my commute: 32mi each way. At least it's to a job I like..

2.50($/gal) * 1/30 (gal/mi) * 64 (mi) = $5.33

4 (days a week ) * 52 (weeks/ year) = $1109

pros:
the boss is cool and lets me work from home one day a week
my favorite job...

Trying not to pay attention to appraisals

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:38:22 PST

I logged in to mint today to update all my transactions and low and behold our house value dropped to 211K. I almost had a panic attack until I remembered a house 2 doors down and smaller than ours sold for 250K a week ago.
Whew!

I gave my two weeks notice

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 09:11:48 PST

Yes, I know, I must be crazy. But is it ever a good time to realize you're doing something that makes you miserable and no amount of accolades or money is ever going to be worth it in the end?

October 2008
Get laid off from cushy, dream job.
Get hired back as an independent...

Prepaid cell phones - Do you use them?

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:39:27 PST

Pre-paid cellphones aren't just for loosers anymore

Hmmm, 80minutes for $10 a month? If I wasn't on a family plan I might consider it, especially if I could keep my number. There are also plans that only kick in on the days you actually use your phone.

Does anyone use...

Photos of the Last Depression

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 09:44:35 PST

I thought these photos from the Smithsonian collection were very moving.

Photographs of the Great Depression

Seeing kids without shoes, families living in shanties, and driving across country with all of their possessions piled on top of a car is humbling. After listening...

Inexpensive Dinner Party

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 07:58:33 PST

I decided to have a small, impromptu pre-Thanksgiving dinner party last night for a few of my close friends and it was a great success. I'm a battling perfectionist and it's hard for me to have people over since I believe my house is never clean, organized, decorated well enough....

Cutting back on home insurance

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:46:52 PST

I received my home owners insurance bill today. $818 Ugh. As always American Family bumps up all my values by $5000, just because they can even though the amount of my mortgage goes down. Every year I have to call and have them bump the numbers back down and even still I've...

Profits Up 10% for Walmarts

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 10:02:27 PST

Looks like the recession isn't making people live more simply and buy less. It just makes them buy cheaper Chinese crap.

Wal-Mart's Low Prices Mean Big Profits In Crisis

I know it's good for the economy and my portfolio, but a little sad for the soul. I think it's more encouraging reading about people consuming...

All Americans have a reason to celebrate.

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:42:24 PST

Even if your candidate didn't win tonight, you have reason to celebrate. We all do. Barack Obama's impressive victory says a lot about America and what is possible in this country.

Hearing of Obama's win last night Dad proudly flew his American flag, which he hasn't done...

BOOOOO!!!

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:13:27 PST

Happy Halloween everyone!

DH and I are getting ready for my best-friend's annual bash and I'm in charge of the music this year. He plans these parties way in advance and they are always the talk of the town, and I'm excited!

I've totally procrastinated coming up with a...