My DVR died last week. I knew it was coming as my DVR continued to make a clicking noise. At times I was unable to select a program I had recorded. Not a good sign. So, I called in to get help from Dish Network. As soon as I told the technician about the clicking noise, he said that was not a good sign. He confirmed that my hard drive crashed, and I would not be able to get my taped shows back. I wasn’t too concerned about my shows, but had a feeling when the kids found out they would not be happy. They are so used to watching everything taped and being able to pause in the middle of a show when I ask them to go do something. Live TV just doesn’t happen in our house. I love that I can tape 2 things at once and watch something else that I have taped at the same time. I never watch commercials anymore! I’m sure the marketers out there are not happy to hear that. Do you realize how much time is wasted by having to sit through the commercials? I have now given myself extra time in my day just by cutting out the commercials.
So, I asked the technician what I needed to do. He told me not to worry about anything. He said that they would mail me a new DVR. I asked how much I was going to have to pay. He told me I didn’t have to pay anything. He said my old DVR was under warranty. He said I would only have to pay shipping. I started to argue with him, when he told me that he would waive the shipping fee. I thought that was so nice of him. Then I asked what I should do with my broken machine. He told me I would have to ship it back to them as soon as I got my replacement. I started to ask if I would have to pay for the shipping. He let me know once again that they would cover the shipping costs. So, now I’m getting a new machine within a few days and won’t have to pay a dime. Wait, my dog is barking like a mad dog! It has to be either the mailman or the UPS guy. I went to check and guess what? My new DVR is here! We won’t have to suffer through another day of having to watch live TV and having to pick what show we like better, The Office or Grey’s Anatomy? The only good thing good thing to come out of this is I have discovered hulu.com. I can watch all of my shows that I missed on hulu.com. Isn’t modern technology great????
So, I was telling my friend that my DVR finally died. It had been acting funny about a month prior to this and we were sure it was going to die. I told her how great the customer service was at Dish Network and that they did not charge me anything. I didn’t even have to argue to get my way. She told me I didn’t have to fight with them because I already had a mark on my account that says, “Difficult customer! Give her whatever she wants!” You know, I’m ok with that!
The thing I didn’t mention is that within the past 4 months I have called Dish Network and negotiated my monthly fees. I have successfully reduced my bill by $20 a month without compromising my services! I never would have thought this was possible until last year my previous boss made me call my business phone and internet providers and ask for a discount. I thought she was crazy, and there was no way they would reduce our bill. I was wrong! The providers are willing to negotiate. You just have to ask. So, if you are not comfortable with negotiating, let me do it for you. I love to argue and get a good deal. I won’t charge you too much!
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Wasting Food
Everyone knows how much I love Chick-Fil-A. It’s the perfect place for mom and kids. I love kid’s night. Usually they have a pretty decent event for the kids, plus kids eat free. Then the kids disappear into a place almost like heaven, the sound proof play area, and I get to enjoy my meal in peace with a friend. So, this particular night, we went for kid’s night, it was like any other night. The kid’s ate free and I got to enjoy my meal catching up with a friend. The kids get a free ice cream in a cup with their kid’s meal. Sometimes they get lucky and convince the worker to give them their ice cream on a cone. This particular night they were not successful.
This is how our conversation went:
Me: “Jenna, please don’t use your fingers to eat your ice cream. Use your spoon.”
Jenna: “I don’t want to use my spoon.”
Me: “If you don’t use your spoon, I am going to take your ice cream away, and throw it in the trash can.”
Jenna continues to eat her ice cream with a spoon for a little while and then goes back to her fingers again. I had to take her ice cream away, right? She begged me not to throw it in the trash. I told her that she did not listen to me, so I was going to have to throw it in the trash. My friend is looking at me and giving me this look like I have to follow through with what I said. I go over to the trash can and threw her ice cream in the trash. Jenna starts screaming and crying.
Jenna: ”You are the worst Mom ever! I’m going to tell Daddy on you!”
Me: “What are you going to tell him? That I threw your ice cream in the trash because you were using your fingers instead of a spoon?”
Jenna: “No! I’m telling on you. I’m telling Daddy that you wasted food! You are going to be in big trouble! You are the worst Mom ever!”
Jenna totally had me pegged. She knows how much I HATE to waste anything including food. It was so hard for me to throw her ice cream in the trash. That’s the good thing about being married to a human garbage disposal. Nothing gets wasted. Rick will eat anything. So, I sucked it up and wasted the ice cream, since I had to follow through. I guess the good thing was that I didn’t have to pay for the ice cream since the kids eat free. You know, even though it was free, I still had this awful feeling in my stomach and I really did not want to waste the food. I wonder if my neurosis about not wasting anything is going to scar my kids for life?
This is how our conversation went:
Me: “Jenna, please don’t use your fingers to eat your ice cream. Use your spoon.”
Jenna: “I don’t want to use my spoon.”
Me: “If you don’t use your spoon, I am going to take your ice cream away, and throw it in the trash can.”
Jenna continues to eat her ice cream with a spoon for a little while and then goes back to her fingers again. I had to take her ice cream away, right? She begged me not to throw it in the trash. I told her that she did not listen to me, so I was going to have to throw it in the trash. My friend is looking at me and giving me this look like I have to follow through with what I said. I go over to the trash can and threw her ice cream in the trash. Jenna starts screaming and crying.
Jenna: ”You are the worst Mom ever! I’m going to tell Daddy on you!”
Me: “What are you going to tell him? That I threw your ice cream in the trash because you were using your fingers instead of a spoon?”
Jenna: “No! I’m telling on you. I’m telling Daddy that you wasted food! You are going to be in big trouble! You are the worst Mom ever!”
Jenna totally had me pegged. She knows how much I HATE to waste anything including food. It was so hard for me to throw her ice cream in the trash. That’s the good thing about being married to a human garbage disposal. Nothing gets wasted. Rick will eat anything. So, I sucked it up and wasted the ice cream, since I had to follow through. I guess the good thing was that I didn’t have to pay for the ice cream since the kids eat free. You know, even though it was free, I still had this awful feeling in my stomach and I really did not want to waste the food. I wonder if my neurosis about not wasting anything is going to scar my kids for life?
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Cut out a trip to the Barber
About 6 years ago, I found out that one of my friends was cutting her husband’s hair with clippers. I thought that was a great way to save money. Especially since my husband is in the military and has to keep his hair very short. He has to get his haircut at least every 3 to 4 weeks. That would equate to about $225 a year for one person. So, I invested in some decent clippers and started experimenting. Rick learned very quickly not to ask me to cut his hair when I was mad at him, as he always ended up with a really horrible haircut. I really didn’t do it on purpose. It just turned out that way. Then we had Andrew, and since I was already cutting Rick’s hair I decided to cut Andrew’s hair too. I got lucky since both Rick and Andrew have wavy hair which is perfect to use clippers on.
So, the other night Rick and Andrew were well overdue for a haircut. Andrew loves to throw a fit and hates to get his haircut. I finally convinced him that it was time especially since it was so hot. I explained that he wouldn't feel so hot with his hair shorter. He finally agreed since it has been almost 100 degrees here this week. As I’m cutting his hair, Jenna is watching me. She asks me if I can cut her hair next. I told her I only know how to cut hair with clippers, and if she wanted her hair to look like Andrew’s or Daddy’s hair, I could do her hair too. So, she keeps asking all kinds of questions about how I would cut it and is using hand motions to show me. Then, I get this flash of how she cut her hair right before Christmas and cut a huge chunk out of the front of her hair. I tried my best to explain that I only do one hair style and it only looks good on boys. So, I’m keeping my fingers crossed that she doesn’t decide to cut her own hair again! I think the boys got a pretty good haircut. What do you think?
So, the other night Rick and Andrew were well overdue for a haircut. Andrew loves to throw a fit and hates to get his haircut. I finally convinced him that it was time especially since it was so hot. I explained that he wouldn't feel so hot with his hair shorter. He finally agreed since it has been almost 100 degrees here this week. As I’m cutting his hair, Jenna is watching me. She asks me if I can cut her hair next. I told her I only know how to cut hair with clippers, and if she wanted her hair to look like Andrew’s or Daddy’s hair, I could do her hair too. So, she keeps asking all kinds of questions about how I would cut it and is using hand motions to show me. Then, I get this flash of how she cut her hair right before Christmas and cut a huge chunk out of the front of her hair. I tried my best to explain that I only do one hair style and it only looks good on boys. So, I’m keeping my fingers crossed that she doesn’t decide to cut her own hair again! I think the boys got a pretty good haircut. What do you think?
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Lazy Reilly
This is what Reilly does all day waiting for Rick to get home.
He only perks up if Jenna gives him a bone!
Book Clubs
My monthly book club is tonight and I’m hosting, which means I was the lucky one that got to pick the book. Let me back up for a minute. When we first moved to CA about 4 years ago, I was desperate to meet people and make new friends. I am a total people person and would be very happy to be with my friends 24/7. So, I found a book club on Craigslist, and decided to try it out. I know it is kind of silly that I would want to join a book club. I don’t even read books! But I needed to get out there and meet people. At this time I still had my pregnancy brain so things were very foggy. My kids were 1 and 3 at the time. So, I met my new book club friends at a coffee house each month. Well, I should say 3 months. I was kicked out after the third month. You see, I was the only mother in the group. Everyone in the group, with the exception of me, was single, young, hip, and still had full use of their brain. I was raining on their parade. I guess it didn’t help that I never read any of the books. I had every intention of reading, but never got around to it. I was working fulltime and taking care of a 1 and 3 year old. Who has time to read?
So, now fast forward 4 years and I’m in a new book club with moms. We formed the club when we were out celebrating my birthday in the summer. My Secret Bunco Sister was so thoughtful and planned a special surprise dinner for me with friends, since Rick was deployed to Iraq at the time. She even set up FREE babysitting for me. I was so thankful for her that she reached out to me. So, as we are eating, talking, and having a great time, our book club is born. I was in the club. Then out of the club. Now back in the club. So, it is my turn to pick the book. Remember I don’t read. What on earth am I going to pick? The pressure is really on now.
I first pick a book called “A Year of Absence” which follows the lives of 6 women whose husbands deploy to Iraq. What I didn’t realize is that none of our local libraries have the book. So, I had to pick another book, after already letting everyone know about my first choice and some people had already purchased the book. OOPS! Sorry about that! I asked my mom for a suggestion since she is in 2 book clubs and reads several books a week. I thought I could trust her opinion. The fact that she reads many books a week, and has been able to stay in 2 book clubs without being kicked out makes her very qualified in my mind. So, she tells me that everyone in both of her book clubs really liked the book, “The Double Bind” by Christopher Bohjalian. She said that there was a really interesting twist at the end that no one saw coming. OK, I now have a recommendation from a qualified person and they have plenty of copies at the library, so I go with it.
Of course, things don’t go smoothly. After all, I’m picking the book. You know, the person that gets kicked out of book clubs. I personally thought the book was good, but what do I know? I don’t read. It was on the New York’s Bestsellers List. How could I go wrong? Well, just in case you decide to read this book and you are offended by foul language, just skip the one paragraph on page 5 that uses graphic language at a pivotal moment in the main character’s life. I felt that the author had to use the wording he did in order to make it clear how horrific this incident was. Anyway, what is done is done. My poor mom felt horrible about it and went through the whole entire book again to make sure that there were no other parts of the book with offensive language. I think I learned my lesson. Next time, I will host by offering my house and goodies, but I will let someone else pick the book. That is if I’m not kicked out of this book club first!
So, if you made it to the end of my long, drawn out story, you are wondering where your savings tip is. Well, here it is. Don’t ever buy books from the bookstore. You only read the book one time so why do you need to buy it? That makes no sense to me. I always check things out at the library. It’s great! You can go directly to the library’s website and reserve the book. You can renew online. It’s so convenient and free! If you really feel the need to own books, do what my mom does and buy them at garage sales for a quarter a piece. You may have to search longer for the books you want, but you sure will get a deal and your bank account will thank you. And in the end, don’t you feel better about that? I know I do!
So, now fast forward 4 years and I’m in a new book club with moms. We formed the club when we were out celebrating my birthday in the summer. My Secret Bunco Sister was so thoughtful and planned a special surprise dinner for me with friends, since Rick was deployed to Iraq at the time. She even set up FREE babysitting for me. I was so thankful for her that she reached out to me. So, as we are eating, talking, and having a great time, our book club is born. I was in the club. Then out of the club. Now back in the club. So, it is my turn to pick the book. Remember I don’t read. What on earth am I going to pick? The pressure is really on now.
I first pick a book called “A Year of Absence” which follows the lives of 6 women whose husbands deploy to Iraq. What I didn’t realize is that none of our local libraries have the book. So, I had to pick another book, after already letting everyone know about my first choice and some people had already purchased the book. OOPS! Sorry about that! I asked my mom for a suggestion since she is in 2 book clubs and reads several books a week. I thought I could trust her opinion. The fact that she reads many books a week, and has been able to stay in 2 book clubs without being kicked out makes her very qualified in my mind. So, she tells me that everyone in both of her book clubs really liked the book, “The Double Bind” by Christopher Bohjalian. She said that there was a really interesting twist at the end that no one saw coming. OK, I now have a recommendation from a qualified person and they have plenty of copies at the library, so I go with it.
Of course, things don’t go smoothly. After all, I’m picking the book. You know, the person that gets kicked out of book clubs. I personally thought the book was good, but what do I know? I don’t read. It was on the New York’s Bestsellers List. How could I go wrong? Well, just in case you decide to read this book and you are offended by foul language, just skip the one paragraph on page 5 that uses graphic language at a pivotal moment in the main character’s life. I felt that the author had to use the wording he did in order to make it clear how horrific this incident was. Anyway, what is done is done. My poor mom felt horrible about it and went through the whole entire book again to make sure that there were no other parts of the book with offensive language. I think I learned my lesson. Next time, I will host by offering my house and goodies, but I will let someone else pick the book. That is if I’m not kicked out of this book club first!
So, if you made it to the end of my long, drawn out story, you are wondering where your savings tip is. Well, here it is. Don’t ever buy books from the bookstore. You only read the book one time so why do you need to buy it? That makes no sense to me. I always check things out at the library. It’s great! You can go directly to the library’s website and reserve the book. You can renew online. It’s so convenient and free! If you really feel the need to own books, do what my mom does and buy them at garage sales for a quarter a piece. You may have to search longer for the books you want, but you sure will get a deal and your bank account will thank you. And in the end, don’t you feel better about that? I know I do!
Monday, April 20, 2009
Stretch Your Pedicure for a Year
I had an incredible afternoon yesterday! I dropped my kids off for a birthday party, and was able to have freedom for 2 whole hours. So, as I’m walking out the door with a big smile on my face, one of the mom’s asks me what I’m going to do. I told her I had no clue, but would enjoy my freedom. She pipes up that I should go get a pedicure. What a great idea! So, off I went with another mom who was smart enough to leave the crazy party of 5, 6, and 7 year olds beating each other with light sabers.
The beautiful thing about your children getting older, you can now drop the kids off at parties and pick up at the end. Those mothers are saints, aren't they? The mother of the birthday boy wasn't feeling well during the party. I noticed, but conveniently waited til the next day to ask her how she was feeling. I was going to get a pedicure, remember? There was no way I was going to stay with a bunch of screaming kids. There were several other very capable mothers staying. How would one or two more mothers help the situation? In fact, I'm sure we would have just been in the way.
So my afternoon was perfect, as I was due for my annual pedicure. I know that sounds funny, but it is true. I go once a year in the spring and have the manicurist trim my toenails and scrub all of the dead skin off of my feet. Then I’m good for a whole year. See once again, this is where my special talent of being thrifty comes in, or cheap as Rick keeps reminding me. Why would anyone complain when their spouse is saving money rather than spending money???? So, the nice, asian ladies sat us down in our very comfortable massage chairs with our trash magazines in our laps, and went to work. I wasn't able to understand a lot of what the ladies were saying, so when they asked me questions, I just kept saying no. I didn't want to have to pay for anything extra. So, when she asked me if I wanted a coke or diet coke, I politely told her no thank you, all the time wondering how much that would have cost me. See, another great way to definitely save calories and maybe even some money!
I hate to waste money, especially on something I can do myself. So, I have invested in several colors of OPI nail polish, and I paint my toenails myself. Of course I found a deal on the OPI nail polish because there is no way I would pay full price! I’m pretty good at painting nails, if I say so myself. My sister even has me do her nails so she can save $20 on a pedicure. So, check out my newly dressed nails. I love the color! It’s OPI “Don’t Be Koi With Me.” It’s the perfect spring or summer color.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Starbucks Deal
I found an incredible deal this week at the Los Angeles Air Force Base Commissary. Unfortunately the only way you can take advantage of this deal is if you are military, or you convince me to buy some for you. I love the Starbucks Frappuccino in the bottles. They are way cheaper than buying one at the regular Starbucks. I hardly ever will spend my money at the corner Starbucks, but I always buy a 4 pack at the commissary. I usually can get a 4 pack for $4.99, but the past couple of weeks they have been selling the Dark Chocolate Raspberry Mocha 4 pack for $1.99, which was not advertised anywhere. I had to look at my receipt to see how cheap they were. The commissary even stuck a .55 cent coupon in each 4 pack. So, I was able to get a 4 pack for $1.44 plus of course the CRV. I live in CA so I can’t get out of that charge. I'm pretty sure this item is on sale because it is considered a seasonal item. I enjoy drinking this flavor year round, and find it tastes delicious regardless of the time of year.
My mind is racing about how I can make a profit off of this? I just bought 4 bottles for a total of $1.44. I can sell one bottle for at least a $1.50 or $1.75. So, I tell my husband since he was working up at El Segundo all week, he needed to stop by the commissary and buy all of the Frappuccino’s they had left. But of course, he forgot to buy them, but managed to bring home a bunch of liquor instead.
My mind is racing about how I can make a profit off of this? I just bought 4 bottles for a total of $1.44. I can sell one bottle for at least a $1.50 or $1.75. So, I tell my husband since he was working up at El Segundo all week, he needed to stop by the commissary and buy all of the Frappuccino’s they had left. But of course, he forgot to buy them, but managed to bring home a bunch of liquor instead.
I start to think about how I can sell these Frappuccino's to all of the SAHM's after they drop their kids off at school. I can have a mobile Starbucks out of my trunk. The only problem is I only have one choice, Dark Chocolate Raspberry Frappuccino's in a bottle. I'm doing them a service, right? I'm saving them money and they get to enjoy their Starbucks. I decide that is just too much work, so I would rather pass the tip on to everybody else.
You can even stretch these drinks even further by drinking only half and saving the other half for the next day. You'll get half the calories! For those of you that care, that would be 100 calories. See, no guilt! You saved money and calories!
The Commissary usually runs the same sales throughout the US, so you will have to let me know if you were able to find this same deal at your local Commissary. We have never been stationed overseas, so I can't speak for the military Commissaries abroad.
So for those of you who are VISUAL and would like to SEE the SAVINGS. Here you go!
Frappuccino’s from the Commissary:
$4.99+.20(crv) x 52 weeks=$269.80 (regular price)
$1.44+.20(crv) x 52 weeks=$85.28 (sale price)
The Commissary usually runs the same sales throughout the US, so you will have to let me know if you were able to find this same deal at your local Commissary. We have never been stationed overseas, so I can't speak for the military Commissaries abroad.
So for those of you who are VISUAL and would like to SEE the SAVINGS. Here you go!
Frappuccino’s from the Commissary:
$4.99+.20(crv) x 52 weeks=$269.80 (regular price)
$1.44+.20(crv) x 52 weeks=$85.28 (sale price)
That is a savings of $184.60 for the year!
Or for those of you who like to go to the corner Starbucks everyday, look at this savings!
$3.75x365(days)=$1368.75 (I’m estimating the cost of one drink at Starbucks and did not include tax) Also this is based on if you go everyday, which some of you do!
So this would be a savings of $1283.47 for the year if you skipped your corner Starbucks and stocked up on the Commissary deal for the year.
Now I just have to figure out where I can store 52 4 packs for the year. A basement sure would come in handy right now!
Or for those of you who like to go to the corner Starbucks everyday, look at this savings!
$3.75x365(days)=$1368.75 (I’m estimating the cost of one drink at Starbucks and did not include tax) Also this is based on if you go everyday, which some of you do!
So this would be a savings of $1283.47 for the year if you skipped your corner Starbucks and stocked up on the Commissary deal for the year.
Now I just have to figure out where I can store 52 4 packs for the year. A basement sure would come in handy right now!
Saturday, April 18, 2009
About Me-Military Wife and Mom
My name is Laurie Hallbeck, but some of you may remember me as Laurie Davies. I am married to Rick, a US Air Force Officer. We currently are living in Signal Hill, CA (right smack in the middle of Long Beach) with our 2 children, Andrew who is 7 and Jenna who is 5. Oh yeah, and our super laborador, Bill O'Reilly, or Reilly for short. By the way, we did not name our dog. Reilly was given to us as a gift from our Republican friends in Ohio.
We are forced transplants from the east coast, counting down til Rick retires from the Air Force at age 43! That's right, a mere 43 years of age and he will retire! I have recently found myself unemployed, as I found out pretty quickly after my husband was deployed to Iraq, that corporate America really did not support our military families. So, here I am trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up, while trying to be a great military spouse and SAHM. One thing I do know, I love to find bargains and find new ways to save a buck. I think I am thrifty, but my husband says I'm just cheap!
My formative years were spent living in Frederick, MD which used to be a wonderful farming community. Now unfortunately Frederick has grown like crazy and you will find lots of townhomes on all of the old farms. Not the charming little place to raise kids like it used to be. After graduating from University of Maryland, I met my husband who was stationed at Site R in Pennsylanvia and living in Maryland. The AF Officer he was replacing at the time made a strong suggestion, that if he wanted to meet a woman, he better live in Maryland. Luckily he met me! Remember, I'm the one that gets to write this blog, so it is the world according to Laurie.
We started dating, got engaged, then married VERY quickly. But hey, we have been married 13 1/2 years, so we must have known what we were doing, right? So, since getting married, Rick has dragged me back and forth across the country more times than I would like to count. Of course, we would love to be living closer to the east coast since our families and friends are there, but no, we are stuck here in CA. We originally thought that we would be here 3 years, but will end up being here almost 6 years by the time our Air Force journey is over. I've come to understand that the military is just not as predictable as I would like it to be. So, for now I cannot make long term plans. All I do know is that Rick will retire February 2011. Then and only then, can I make our life plans. So, if you ask me, "Where are you moving after Rick retires?" I would answer with a definite Ohio, and Rick would say North Carolina. So for now, here we are in Signal Hill, CA (in our totally overpriced house that we made a stupid decision to buy at the peak), counting down til the day we can move. Wherever that may be! Remember, I can't make long term plans yet!
We are forced transplants from the east coast, counting down til Rick retires from the Air Force at age 43! That's right, a mere 43 years of age and he will retire! I have recently found myself unemployed, as I found out pretty quickly after my husband was deployed to Iraq, that corporate America really did not support our military families. So, here I am trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up, while trying to be a great military spouse and SAHM. One thing I do know, I love to find bargains and find new ways to save a buck. I think I am thrifty, but my husband says I'm just cheap!
My formative years were spent living in Frederick, MD which used to be a wonderful farming community. Now unfortunately Frederick has grown like crazy and you will find lots of townhomes on all of the old farms. Not the charming little place to raise kids like it used to be. After graduating from University of Maryland, I met my husband who was stationed at Site R in Pennsylanvia and living in Maryland. The AF Officer he was replacing at the time made a strong suggestion, that if he wanted to meet a woman, he better live in Maryland. Luckily he met me! Remember, I'm the one that gets to write this blog, so it is the world according to Laurie.
We started dating, got engaged, then married VERY quickly. But hey, we have been married 13 1/2 years, so we must have known what we were doing, right? So, since getting married, Rick has dragged me back and forth across the country more times than I would like to count. Of course, we would love to be living closer to the east coast since our families and friends are there, but no, we are stuck here in CA. We originally thought that we would be here 3 years, but will end up being here almost 6 years by the time our Air Force journey is over. I've come to understand that the military is just not as predictable as I would like it to be. So, for now I cannot make long term plans. All I do know is that Rick will retire February 2011. Then and only then, can I make our life plans. So, if you ask me, "Where are you moving after Rick retires?" I would answer with a definite Ohio, and Rick would say North Carolina. So for now, here we are in Signal Hill, CA (in our totally overpriced house that we made a stupid decision to buy at the peak), counting down til the day we can move. Wherever that may be! Remember, I can't make long term plans yet!
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