Layout:
Home > Archive: November, 2007

Archive for November, 2007

Weight Loss Update

November 30th, 2007 at 01:05 am


As of last Monday I have now lost 25 pounds. That was really exciting for me, especially since it was the Monday after Thanksgiving and I'd lost 2.2 pounds that week! Yeah me! LOL

Sure Looks Good

November 30th, 2007 at 01:02 am


I was just noticing tonight that I like the looks of that list of debts in the sidebar. There are only 3 there now! I started off with 2 credit cards, furniture, 2 mortgages and 2 car loans. That's pretty good for a year!

AND...Another One Bites the Dust!

November 22nd, 2007 at 02:06 am

The furniture is paid off as of today!!! One more debt eliminated!

How I Saved Money By Christmas Shopping on Amazon.com

November 10th, 2007 at 12:56 pm


Last night I made a dent in my Christmas shopping, all from the comfort of my own living room. Just a few clicks of the mouse and the gifts are on their way. DS#1 is getting some art supplies and Star Wars books, DS#2 is getting a paramedic bag (fully loaded with supplies), DS#3 is getting a computer tool repair kit and flash drive, and DD#2 is getting a digital camera. I will actually have to go out and get what DH wants and DD#1 has given me no ideas as of yet.

I love shopping this way. I have never been much of a shopper so to be able to do it without leaving the house and fighting the crowds is wonderful for me. I have them delivered to my office and then I don't have to worry about anyone 'accidentally' finding them either. I wrap them at work and then bring them home just before Christmas and place them under the tree. Simple!!!

I actually ended up saving money on DD#2's digital camera. I had done my 'shopping' little by little as the ideas came in and placed them in a cart on Amazon.com. The items stay in the cart for 90 days and the prices get updated if anything changes. I logged in yesterday and the price on the camera had dropped $10, so by not placing my order right away I was able to save money. Of course, the opposite also applies, so you're taking a gamble and also the risk of the item selling out if you don't order it right away. I did not know this about Amazon.com until this year.

I am going to have to actually go Christmas shopping this week with my mother to help give her ideas for the kids, but at least the pressure is off of me, since mine is practically done.

When Did Bad Become a Noun?

November 6th, 2007 at 03:31 pm


This has absolutely nothing to do with finances, but was triggered by a Martha Stewart commercial I saw this morning. One of the newer slang phrases has been bothering me for quite a while and viewing this commercial this morning is to blame for this blog entry.

I can't stand to hear anyone use the phrase "my bad". Bad is not a noun, so it can't be yours! It just drives me crazy to hear people say that.

Sorry...just had to get that off of my chest. LOL!

The 20-Pound Mark

November 6th, 2007 at 01:52 am


Tonight was my Weight Watchers meeting and I was hoping to have my total weight loss be 20 pounds. I actually surpassed that goal and made it to 20.8!

It felt good last week to make my 10% weight loss goal and receive my keychain and so to get to 20 pounds this week has really motivated me to keep going.

I'm exercising every weekday and try to get a good outdoor walk in on the weekends as often as I can. My morning routine is either a "walk" with Leslie Sansone or some yoga.

Changes to 401k

November 5th, 2007 at 04:33 pm


DH's 401k is finally offering some different investment options. He's been contributing the maximum that the company will match half on for at least 13 years now and it just hasn't seemed to grow much.

He brought home literature last week that introduces 3 new plans. As soon as I saw a targeted fund I told him that's what we wanted. My IRA is in a Vanguard targeted fund and I love it. His will be with American Funds.

I am anxious to see if it does better than what he has now has been doing.

For Me, Weight Watchers is Worth the Cost

November 4th, 2007 at 12:59 am


I signed up for the monthly pass for Weight Watchers ($39.95) the middle of July. At first I thought it was really silly to pay someone to weigh me each week, but I have to say that it is really working. So far I have lost 20 pounds. I enjoy the meetings and am meeting new friends. I find encouragement and support at the meetings. Knowing that someone is going to weigh me in each Monday night keeps me honest with counting points.

The main thing I like about Weight Watchers is that they have a maintenance program. You gradually add in points until you find the amount you can have each day that maintains your weight.

As soon as I get within a healthy weight range for me I'm going to apply for a term life insurance policy.

Talk About Sky-Rocketing Health Care Costs!

November 3rd, 2007 at 01:42 am


We received notice in our office this week that our medical insurance premiums are going up over 48% next year!!! We have a very small group and, because of the health problems I've had in the past year (which simply turned out to be an allergic reaction to blood pressure medicine!) they are increasing our payments. That amount just seems outrageous to me. It's not like my medical bills amounted to even $20,000! They were far below that.

So, we are now forced to shop for a different company or take a high deductible policy. Our budget for next year is already set and we only alloted for a 10% increase since the research we did indicated that was the average amount that PPOs would go up. So much for planning ahead!

Problems with Electric Orange

November 2nd, 2007 at 10:37 am


I logged on to ING Direct's website 2 days ago and tried to send out a paper check payment to our local hardware store for home repair materials we bought last month. I've done this many times with no problem. Well, this time it kept telling me that it could not pay that business to please enter a different one. I don't want to pay a different business, I need to pay that one! I tried again yesterday, same response. So I've emailed them to find out what the problem is.

I don't want this problem to happen in a couple of weeks when I go to pay my car payment!