Category: Money matters

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New bathroom vanity

Getting a new vanity in the bathroom had to be put on hold for awhile because we had developed problems with the pipes that came up from the under the floor and though I had kept telling my husband that I thought we had a leak, he had been too busy with work and other things he had on his plate, to even check it out. Something that of course upsets me to no end, as I don’t really know anything about pipes and plumbing. I didn’t even know how to begin to fix the leak or who to call that wouldn’t’ charge me a small fortune.

After talking to a good guy friend of mine, he came out and looked at it and thank goodness it was a fairly easy fix. I ended up using the barter system and promised him three loaves of homemade bread for him to fix my leaky pipe.

Shopping for the vanity was easy. There were only three that I had looked at and really loved, but only two that would fit the space. Since I couldn’t decide on which I wanted, I let my oldest son pick. I like his style and he knows mine, so we came home with a really nice looking and functional vanity. I’m happy with it and it does give me more storage space.

 

 

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Home repair grants

Having written about home repair grants in the past, I am a firm believer that more people should take advantage of this service. I’m in the process of looking for a contractor to help with venting and also repairing the old pipes in the bathroom, and believe me when I say it can get very expensive. With the economy the way it is, any help with money situations is a big deal and it’s worth checking out to see if you are eligible. It only takes a bit of one’s time and it can make all the difference in the world.

A friend of mine moved back to where she had been renting out the home she owns. When she got there and was settled, she decided to check out assistance with home repairs as the old tenants had trashed her house, then skipped out on the rent and repair bills. My friend was in dire need of assistance to help with the repairs since she couldn’t afford it on her own.

I was told an insulation assistance in NJ was just the thing she needed, as my friend’s previous tenants had even run up a heating bill in the winter that was outrageous. The utilities had been included in the rent so she went into debt with that also. I’m glad she is using her head and checking out various grants and professionals to help with and do the work she needs to have done.

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Market day and sky high prices

This morning I had to go grocery shopping and once again, the prices of food bummed me out. It’s getting harder and harder to feed my family and I know I’m going to have to once again tighten up the purse strings and go back to basics.

I can cook creatively, but now I’m going to dig out old recipes that my mom had used while raising us. She was a pro at cooking something great with the minimal of resources. I admire and respect her for this and a lot of other reasons.

Online there is a site that I go to, which tells what items, food and otherwise, is  found cheap during the month of June. It’s looking like meat prices are not in the cards, but berries and produce are. LOL.. there I go, I’ll fix my kids berry squash casseroles and see how that goes over. NOT!

 

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Power needs from Generators AtoZ

While preparing for my daughter’s graduation party, I realized that we might need another generator for when the band sets up in our back lot, and so since I had heard about Generators AtoZ, I decided to check them out and find out what kind of prices they were there. I have to say that I was quite impressed by the range of generators they have and the prices. I think there is a generator for any kind of need a person my have.

We have a small generator that is sufficient to run enough power to some of the lights, the television and also refrigerator and a small chest freezer, in case we loose power, and that seems to have always been enough for us. In truth though, I have always wanted a back up generator in case something happened to our small one.

Living all these years where the winters can be long and sometimes very icy, means we loose power at least three times in the winter for durations of anywhere from a few minutes to days. A few hours is long enough for me not to have power. Looking at all the generators on this site I was told about, is making me know for sure that I want another power source other than what we have.

 

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Plans changed with saleing

It’s nearly midnight and I’m thinking that today’s plans were not what had been planned in the first place. I love it when there are NO plans. The kids and I did hit some garage sales, but then we passed a place to eat. Once that was finished, we decided to go real shopping, as they call it.

We found some great bargains on summer things. I actually thought that prices would be low after the holidays, but I was pleasantly surprised at the great sales we hit.

Now everyone is in their bedroom waiting until tomorrow to figure out plans and what they all want to do without me tagging around. Fine by me. I need to play in the gardens and call some blogging buddy about her bale gardening. It would be good to meet up with her again and we could do a quick see what we can see and find trip. Maybe some flea markets or antique shops.

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Computer and server problems

A few days ago, my PC crashed. It needs something called a video adapter. I’m bummed out. I love my old “buddy.” I knew how it worked, and it’s quirks. Also it’s temperament. Believe me when I say my Buddy was temperamental.

Using my laptop is a problem for me, as it makes my neck hurt very badly. I can’t sit at my desk and type even with my chair adjusted as I’m still too short and have to raise my arms up higher and lower my head, which puts pressure in my neck and back. SMH. The keys aren’t raised and it cuts down my typing time, trying to get used to it. I find my keys are too close together for me. Not to toot my own horn, I’m a very fast typist when I’m not in a hurry to do what I have to do.

With computer problems, I got hit again…double wammie. My server is upgrading or some such thing, and I keep timing out in my page and other things dealing with the server, plus I keep loosing internet for hours at a time. I called and tried to be nice to the woman who angered the call. After she got snitty with me, I told her that wanted to talk to her supervisor. Once on the phone, I told him exactly what the woman had said and how she treated me, yet I am paying her salary. (Not good for her, considering the conversation is monitored and can be played back) I told the supervisor my problem that has been happening for a few days now, and also said I refused to pay for the down time, as I was loosing work. He told me that my bill will be adjusted. ( Yeah right, and the check is in the mail…) They have told me this before. I did however record the conversation this time and what he told me. We’ll see if he lied when the bill comes next week.

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Preparing for income tax returns

Yes, it is that time of year again and I’ve seriously thought about learning how to become a tax preparer. I can not believe the amount of money some people I know have been telling me that they are paying to have their taxes prepared, in order to get the biggest refund they can. Most of the time, if they even took their taxes things to just a regular person who know how to prepare the tax forms, they would still get the same amount of money back, but in hopes of getting a higher amount, they still spend all that money. To me, it’s rather senseless, but hey…it’s their choice.

I think if I were to become a Registered IRS Preparer, I’d have a good shot at making a decent income once a year. It’s something I’ve thought about before. Like when my husband took our tax things to this one person who charged an arm and a leg, just to tell us that we had to pay in to the IRS. That was a total bummer.

I really don’t like surprises, so I think that if I were able to prepare our own taxes, it would save me the surprise of not knowing if who does our taxes is going it right or not. I’d be the one preparing them, so I’d know if the numbers were right and if our refund was correct. There is other great information about tax courses that are really helpful.

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The dreaded grocery store

Having to make another trip to the grocery store is something I have to do today that I really dread. Everything has gotten so expensive, that I find myself looking in all my cookbooks for ideas of meals to make that are great, nutritious but the ingredients are inexpensive.

My mom did give me a big envelope of coupons that I’m going to go through. They may help. The problem with using the coupons, is that most of them are for things I don’t normally use. Or, I forget the ones I can, which is a major flaw of mine. I also tend to forget my lists unless someone in the family reminds me.

Today I’ve decided to go in armed though. I think when I went to the market on Sunday, I got flustered because the store was super crowded, a lot of the items that were on sale had not been restocked and I didn’t want to try and find a person to help me go in to where ever they go and get what I wanted. That is, IF I could have found someone to help. In that store it’s nearly impossible. I just wanted to get the heck out of there.

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Address Plaques are a great solution

After my mail box got hit and demolished the other night, I’ve decided to look at cool address plaques. My old mail box had the house numbers that were reflective, right on the wooden mailbox post. It was free to have the first time, from the village I live in. Now, it will cost me a mint to get another one. Since the mail is delivered around 10:00 am, and everyone knows everyone here, my mail man does not need to know my the house number, so it doesn’t need to be a reflective address sign.

I rarely ever have company in the night time, and if I do, once again, I don’t need reflectors on the house number, but I would indeed like to check out house numbers for the front of my home. I like the look of them. I’ve seen many now after shopping around on the net, that are classy, but not too fancy or overstated for me.

I also have been trying to decide if I would like to buy something distinctive for the front lawn, since my herb and flower gardens are planted there. I’ve been looking at lawn plaques. There are some really very classy, but simple ones I wouldn’t mind having. I’m still undecided, but I am leaning to these, as they would give a great touch to my front lawn and gardens.

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Mail box costing a mint to replace

After my mail box was totaled out, I found out they are no longer inexpensive like they used to be. All prices seem to have gone up on everything.

Not to mention, in this village it will also cost extra to get the house numbers that are reflective and put on the post. The price per number is outrageous. I mean, it wasn’t my fault my mail box was hit.

I’m trying to think of a solution, but found that a mail box now has to be out at the road side. Great. I wonder how many times it has to get hit in order for counsel to change the “rules”.