Family On A Budget

Ever wonder why you money is disappearing so fast? All the financial advice books recommend you jot down all the money you spend in a month (including your spare change for coffee) and study the results.

Ok I tried this dozens of times and just can be arsed to do it manually. We there is a free tool on the net to track your expenses. Check out Walletproof.com and track your expenses over the internet.

Since I am always on the computer, it should be easier. I am wondering if perhaps I will not like what I find at the end of the month. (no more starbucks for me….)

I use a lot of postage for my business and for book trading. I have discovered that people sell postage on Ebay for a discount cost. You can get some great deals on older value uncancelled stamps. If you get ungummed uncancelled stamps, you can use a glue stick to attach them to packages and envelopes, however you cannot tape them onto packages.

Here is a list of Ebay auctions containing discount stamps.

Roll Coil of New unused $0.39 Cents Liberty Stamps

US $34.85 (5 Bids) End Date: Saturday May-10-2008 9:21:31 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

One New Roll of 100 .41 cent stamps. $41.00 value

US $31.01 (6 Bids) End Date: Sunday May-11-2008 19:00:00 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

Rock & Roll Rhythm & Blues stamp book Elvis Presley

US $8.95 (0 Bid) End Date: Monday May-12-2008 8:51:38 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $11.95 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

1500 Forever Stamps Plus 4 Rolls Of 100 American Flag

US $720.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Monday May-12-2008 10:50:07 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

Coil, Roll of 500 P O Sealed Sc#1613 Guitar 3,1cents

US $15.50 (0 Bid) End Date: Wednesday May-14-2008 19:33:04 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

Stamps .42 Rolls (8 Total $336.00 value) FREE SHIPPING

US $299.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Friday May-16-2008 14:51:50 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

Stamps .42 Rolls (4 Total $168.00 value) FREE SHIPPING

US $150.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Friday May-16-2008 14:54:46 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

We don’t have air conditioning, so the summer is always a challenge to cook dinners without heating up the house. I make this chicken dinner once or twice a month and we all like it.

1 to 2 peices of chicken legs/thighs per person (or any chicken parts). I like legs because they go on sale for $.49 to .69 lb.
potatoes (I usually use 1 to 1/2 per person)
bbq sauce (homemade or bottled)
onions

1. Remove the skin from the chicken.
2. Peel and slice the potatoes.
3. Parboil or place the potatoes in the microwave for a few minutes to precook a bit
4. Peel and slice the onions into rings.
5. Tear off two pieces of foil per packet if using regular foil and one piece if using heavy duty foil. I usually make them about 12/14 inches long.
6. Spay the foil with cooking spray or coat with oil
7. Layer a portion of pototes on the bottom and add some salt and pepper.
8. Layer a portion of the onions next
9. Add a piece or two of chick on the top
10. Add a generous amount of bbq sauce on top of that.
11. Bring the long sides of the foil up so they meet and then fold it over a few times till it reaches the chicken. Then close up the short sides. Shake the package a bit to distribute the sauce. Make sure the packet is sealed up tight to avoid leakage. Sometimes I will add another layer of foil just to make sure they don’t leak.
12. Add the packets to the grill. I usually start them top down first. Depending on the size of the chicken pieces I usually cook them on this side for 10-15 minutes, then switch sides for another 10-15 minutes.
13. Try to remember which package had the largest piece and test it to make sure they are done. BE very careful because steam will escape when you open it.

Enjoy..

Recently I canceled my business phone service with Verizon because the $45.00 monthly cost was just not worth it. I hated losing my phone number that was listed in the yellow pages, however I think it was worth it.

I recently replaced it with Voice Over IP service that runs through my existing cable internet. There are a few services for VOIP, but I chose Sunrocket since my brother the technophile has had it for a few years and highly recommended it to me.

So far so good. The cost is $199.00 per year which is a huge savings per year. You are supplied with a router that connects to your internet connection and a regular phone.

One of my guilty pleasures is that I love to read. I can sometimes burn through up to 4-5 books a week. That could get very expensive because with the typical paperback costing around 7.99 and hardbacks $24.99. On our fixed budget, buying new books is out of the question. So how do I feed my addition on a budget.

Trading books

There are a few internet sites where you can trade the books you have with other readers. The site I use is PaperBackSwap.com. It is the coolest thing for us readers. Here is how it works:

1. First you sign up and list at least 9 books that you want to trade. This is FREE and very easy to do.
2. One you list your initial 9 books you now have three free credits with which you can order any 3 books that are available. Mailed to you at no cost to you.
3. If one of your books is requested, you can print out a very slick mailer that can be wrapped around a paperback or cut out and used as a mailing label for larger books. Then you mail the book. Until May 14 2007 it will cost around 1.59 to mail out a paperback sized mailing. After May 14 the postage rates are going up.
4. Once your book is received, you will get another credit for a new book
5. Just repeat the process over and over and you can read lots of books for a pretty low costs

Here are a few tips for success at PBS.

• If a book you want is not available (many popular ones are not immediately available) you can put your name on a wishlist. When the book becomes available the next person on the wishlist gets it offered to them. The wishlist is first in first out. Most new books will cycle through fast.
• If you do start a wishlist another tip is to add books that are not published yet to get a jump on the wishlist order. As soon as Amazon.com adds books to list (usually 4-8 months prior to release date) you can usually find the book on PBS to add to your wishlist.
• If you are looking for a book by isbn and it is not available, do additional searches for title and author because sometimes the same book will have different versions
• When listing books, check the club wishlist to see what books are heavily wishlisted. That will give you a better chance of having someone request your book. Some books may have hundreds of copies available such as John Grisham books, but many others do not.

Sign up today and try it out, you have very little to lose and lots of books to gain.

These are not really a budget food, but they are so darn good that they are worth every penny. You may be broke, but sometimes you really need something rich tasting. These stay moist when wrapped up for lunches.

This recipe comes from The Food Channel’s - Alton Brown

Soft butter, for greasing the pan
Flour, for dusting the buttered pan
4 large eggs
1 cup sugar, sifted
1 cup brown sugar, sifted
8 ounces melted butter
1 1/4 cups cocoa, sifted
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup flour, sifted
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Butter and flour an 8-inch square pan.

In a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the eggs at medium speed until fluffy and light yellow. Add both sugars. Add remaining ingredients, and mix to combine.

Pour the batter into a greased and floured 8-inch square pan and bake for 45 minutes. Check for doneness with the tried-and-true toothpick method: a toothpick inserted into the center of the pan should come out clean. When it’s done, remove to a rack to cool. Resist the temptation to cut into it until it’s mostly cool.

The credit card companies are forever finding ways to make big bucks. One of the main reasons we are on a budget is because we didn’t learn how to manage our credit cards correctly. A mistake that we are going to great pains to learn from. A late payment lead to such an increase in our interest that it proved to be a domino effect. Obviously we were at fault for screwing up, but the CC industries thrives on your mistakes. Heres one way.

I recently read about the Univeral Default Clause that is cropping up on Credit Cards. Basically this clause allows the credit card to up your interest if you are late on any payment, not specifically their credit card. Imagine paying your phone bill late and suddenly your credit card goes from 2% to 30% overnight.

According to the Institute of Consumer Financial Education, currently almost 40 percent of credit card issuers apply a hidden in fine print Universal Default Clause to their customers.

Generally, a universal default clause states that a creditor reserves the right to penalize you with an increased interest rate if you’re late — that is, in default — of a payment to any other creditor. They justify this practice because, in theory, if you pay any of your creditors late, you pose a greater credit risk and are less likely to pay your debt.

Your creditors also have the right to routinely monitor your credit file. So a creditor with a universal default clause will be watching — and waiting.

Let’s say your Visa card has a universal default clause. Any late payment — whether it’s on your utility bill, home equity loan, or Macy’s credit card — acts as a “default trigger” allowing the bank that issued the Visa card to double or even triple your interest rate overnight. Your all-important credit score will be hurt as well.

For more information on this read an informative article written by David Bach The Automatic Millionaire on the Universal Default Clause .

My grandmother used to make pasta e fagioli when I was a kid. This is not her recipe, but an inexpensive recipe that I use. It costs around $2.30 for the entire recipe.

4 cups broth (I used chicken or beef — whichever I have on hand)
2 cups cooked small pasta such as shells or ditalini
2 15 oz cans white northern or canellini beans
1 28 oz can diced tomatoes.
garlic powder (to your taste) or 2 cloves minced sautéed garlic
onion powder (to your taste) or 1/4 chopped sautéed onions.
1 tsp basil (or to taste)
1 tsp italian seasoning (or to taste)
hot pepper flakes (to your taste)

While noodles are cooking, add the remaining ingredients to a small soup pot. Heat at medium for approximately 20 minutes or until the tomatoes are cooked. Add the noodles and let set for about 10 minutes until it cools off a bit.

Serve with bread and olive oil dipping sauce.

This soup tastes even better the second day. I will also throw leftovers in it such as meat sauce from spaghetti, green beans and sometimes spinach for a variation. You can cook your own beans to save more money. Very filling and nutritious

My daughters love gnocchi and it is so easy and cheap to make. I normally make it when I have left over mashed potatoes, but have also made potatoes specifically to serve gnocchi. I estimate it costs around $.30 per bach to make (without the sauce).

1 cup mashed potatoes
1 egg
2 cups flour

Mix the ingredients together. This works best with your hands. Dump out onto a flour board and kneed until smooth. Break into a few chunks and roll them into 1/2 - 3/4 in ropes. Slice the ropes into 3/4 slices pieces and let set out for at least 20 minutes. You can cover them with a towel while they are resting.

Drop the gnocchi individually into salted boiling water. Cook until the gnocchi floats - about 5-10 minutes.

Serve with spaghetti sauce, marina sauce, garlic and oil sauce or a cheese sauce.

I occasionally add in spices for a variation. Try adding garlic powder, roasted garlic, onion powder, italian seasoning. The next time I make this I am going to try replacing small portions of the flour with whole wheat flour. I will let you know how that works out. My family is picky so I will have to replace only small amounts to start.

Let me know how it turns out for you.

This is not a budget tip, but a helpful one none the less. I hate press 1 if you are …. press 2 for english and so on. This site contains a list of the best ways to reach a real live human.

Get a Human

Now if there was a way to insure that the person you reach can actually speak ENGLISH and life would be good.

Let me know if this was helpful for you.