Earn, Save, and Live Joyfully.
In the soap aisle at Target yesterday I noticed a woman looking over my shoulder with a wad of coupons. I picked the liquid soap I planned to buy off the shelf and walked over to the hand soap display. Sure enough the same woman was standing behind me with that same wad of coupons … Read more
Ok, so it’s a little past the end of the year, but not too far past. I finally got around to tallying up all of the money I saved and earned as a result of coupons, rebates, loyalty cards, online surveys, eBay sales, cash back sites and blogging last year and I am pleased to … Read more
After watching Food, Inc roughly ten days ago I asked readers for their input on purchasing organic products. I’m happy to report that the comments on that post convinced me to pursue a more organic lifestyle. I discussed the goal with my husband and began my quest this week. Unfortunately, the chain grocery store closest … Read more
Last week I managed to cook three new recipes using staple ingredients from our pantry. Among the list were chicken orzo, old fashioned chili and chipotle chicken soup. All three of the recipes were adapted from this month’s Taste of Home magazine. So without further ado here are the recipes:Chicken Orzo 1 lb chicken breasts … Read more
Remarkably my husband and I finished 2009 with nearly $79,000 in retirement contributions. This included savings to both 401k(s) and non-deductible IRAs. Our companies provide substantial 401(k) matching, which really bumped us well past the amount we could have contributed alone. This year we’ll need to decide whether or not to take advantage of the … Read more
I took my first trip to the grocery store late last night. I bought onions (red and yellow), lemons, lettuce, carrots, lunch meat (turkey and cheese) and milk, which were all in the list of items I planned to buy when I started this challenge. I also purchased juice and bread, which were not in … Read more
Since the winter of 2006 I’ve kept precise records of all medical expenses. Every time I come home from the primary doctor, massage therapist, acupuncturist or specialist I create a digital copy of the bill, (using my scanner), and record the date, cost and a brief description of the service performed. Last night I tallied … Read more
Have you watched Food, Inc yet? The documentary exposes the changes in the food industry since the creation and prominence of fast food restaurants like McDonald’s. Filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation’s food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that has been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our … Read more
So far I haven’t written any resolutions or decided on any new goals for the new year. Instead I want to spend the last day of the decade focused on all of the wonderful things that have happened over the last ten years. While I experienced my fair share of bumps in the road the … Read more
This year my husband and I agreed to stick to a holiday budget. As the year came to a close we refinanced both of our properties and paid quite a bit in closing costs and other mortgage related fees. We also spent nearly $2,000 on two short trips that were long overdue. The members of … Read more