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Archives for April 2011

Stockpile: Pasta and Vegetables

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The term “stockpile” refers to items that have been purchased at rock bottom prices prior to needing the item. Some people use their garage, pantry, and linen closets to house their stockpile. I have a few places where my stockpile resides: pantry, outside freezer, garage, under the sink in the Master bathroom, and the Master bathroom linen closet. I keep food in the pantry, outside freezer, and the garage; and I place the toiletry and personal items under the sinks and in the linen closet of my Master bathroom. When I arrive home from shopping, I have a designated place to put my free to really inexpensive items that we will be using in the future.

When I find a great deal on items we need, I buy ahead and place those items in one of the locations of my stockpile. For example, on Monday I shopped at Publix. (These sales prices ended on Tuesday and are no longer available. This breakdown is an example of using the sales to add to my stockpile.)

Here’s what I purchased:

4 boxes of Mueller’s Pasta – on sale buy one get one free or $.69 each. I used 2 coupons for $1 off 2 boxes which made them $.19 each. I consider $.25 or less a rock bottom price for pasta.

1 bottle Ken’s Steak House marinade (16 oz.) – on sale buy one get one free or $1.49 each. I used $1 off coupon from newspaper which brought the cost to $.49. With grilling season around the corner, this teriyaki marinade on chicken is a family favorite. My rock bottom price for marinades is $.75 or less. If I had had more coupons, I would have purchase more.

6 bags of Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers – on sale buy one get one free or $1.19 each. I used 2 coupons for $1 off 2 bags which made 4 of the bags $.69 each. I also used 2 coupons for $.50 off one bag. Since this coupon doubled, I was able to get 2 bags for $.19 each. My goal is to purchase frozen vegetables for less than $1 per bag. This sale pairs with the coupons reached my rock bottom price.

2 containers of Friendship Sour Cream – on sale for $1.25 each. I used 2 coupons for $.55 each off which doubled. My final cost was $.70 each. My rock bottom price is $.99 for sour cream.

My total for these 13 items came to $5.57. I saved $20.69 with sales and coupons which was a savings of 79%. After celebrating my savings, I placed the pasta and marinade in my pantry, the sour cream in the refrigerator, and the frozen vegetables in my outside freezer. As I plan my menu, I now have an assortment of pasta and vegetables from which to choose as I feed my family.

Unlike some, my stockpile will not feed my family for 2 years. Since the sales typically run in a 6-week rotation, I can purchase at rock bottom prices enough items to last me the next 6 weeks. I will usually purchase only as many items for which I have coupons to get that rock bottom price. Since I am willing to wait for a sale, I will be patient and not make my broccoli and cheese soup until the half and half and cheese goes on sale.

You can stockpile even if you don’t have a lot of space. Just purchasing one extra item at a rock bottom price will be a savings to your grocery budget. Start small as you find a system that works for you!

Next week, I will explain more about rock bottom prices, and how I determine that price for my family.

Using a To Do List to Keep Organized – Step 2 of 3

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Like using a hammer to insert a nail makes the process easier, so using a To Do list makes using my time more productive. Last week, I shared how I create my To Do list. The list might look overwhelming when you think of everything that needs to be done. With the list created, we can now plan a course of action.

STEP TWO:    Prioritizing my To Do list.

During the afternoon and/or evening when I am working at my desk, I will review my To Do list. As I scan the list, I look for items that have an up-coming deadline since these items need to be completed before tasks that “just make my life easier.” By keeping myself reminded of my projects, I am better able to meet deadlines and stay-on-top of my responsibilities. When I finish one task, I have a plan for the next item to complete. My To Do list helps me to see all my projects at once, so I can prioritize which item needs to be completed next.

I usually prioritize by due date. For me, PAYING THE BILLS will be completed before PURGING 2010 ACCOUNT FILES. The account files have no deadline. They can sit for a long time without any penalty. But if I miss the due date of my utility bill, then I will probably get a late fee, possibly lose service, and end up paying more than necessary.

For another example, MAKING HISTORY FAIR PROJECT would be completed, started, or delegated before WRITING ADDITIONAL BLOG PAGES. Having the pages on the website would be nice, but my son needs his project by the end of April. (I don’t usually put the date beside the items on my To Do list because I can remember time frames. But if you need that extra reminder, then a month/day beside each item might help as you prioritize.) Just knowing the deadlines and the time frames needed for each item, I can prioritize and schedule my time wisely to complete the needed tasks.

Having my To Do list created and prioritize helps me to save time as I prepare to execute. Next week, we will conclude this 3-part series with executing our To Do list.

Attending the Great Harvest Field Trip

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Having scheduled the field trip for my son’s class, I was ready to assist his teacher up to and throughout the event. Taking a step back from scheduling and coordinating to assisting someone else takes some time. This transition is much like preparing for a vacation. You spend so much time packing, scheduling, and remembering, and then you leave. After assuring yourself that the lights are off and all responsibilities are covered, you can calm down, relax, and enjoy the vacation.

After transitioning from preparing to going, I was ready to help make this field trip fun and beneficial for all. On the day of the event,

1. Arrive early. I arrived 15 minutes early. My car was ready to transport my son. The other mom arrived early as well to get car seats setup in her vehicle. When the teacher was ready, the other mom and I were ready to assist getting students into the vehicles.

2. Look for ways to assist. Since neither the teacher nor the other mom had her camera, I pulled out our camera from the diaper bag and began snapping pictures.

3. Make introductions. The teacher had not met the owner. Being familiar with both of them, I was able to introduce them to each other. Then I stepped back allowing them to form a plan for the tour.

4. Follow directions. When the teacher gave directions, I assisted the children in following those instructions. The other mom and I helped wash the students’ hands before handling the bread. We also helped guide them through the bakery at the different stops.

5. Traffic Control. As the teacher lead the way, I helped to keep the students moving in the right directions. Some will get distracted, and a simple, “Let’s catch up to the class” can help keep the student with the class.

6. Remain available. When the teacher went to the counter to purchase a loaf of bread, I helped keep the children occupied until the teacher returned.

7. Enjoy. I listened and learned about how Great Harvest Bread Company makes their bread. Their system takes many steps, but each employee handles his part and the final product is a beautiful loaf of bread.

How nice it was to enjoy the tour of the bakery after spending time organizing the event. Good planning helps make the event run smoothly. Spending time planning is time wisely spent. On the day of the event, I was able to reap the benefits of my labor by enjoying the tour and taking time to learn the process.

Do you also help your child’s teacher by scheduling or attending field trips? What’s the hardest part of the event for you? Once I get the transition complete, the event takes off. Wishing you lots of success as you help teachers with field trips!

Goal-oriented or Task-oriented?

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Goal-oriented or Task-oriented

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Do you find that you start many projects at once with none of them getting completed? This is my daughter.

Goal-oriented

She is goal-oriented and loves to get out different sets of toys with the goal of organizing. She likes to line up the dolls, sort the silverware, and stack the blocks.

If the baby comes over to play with an available organized pile, then my oldest daughter gets so upset because she is not done with those items.  At the end of playtime, she has all these little messes.

She then gets overwhelmed with pickup because she did not pickup when she was done with the silverware or blocks. We are working on getting out one set of items, playing with them, and putting them away before getting out something else. It is a work in progress, but with this system, the pickup progress is easier to manage.

Task-oriented

Where my daughter is goal-oriented, I am task-oriented. I like to select an item on the To Do list (i.e. make tea), and complete that task.

In our household, the kids and I drink about 3 gallons of tea in 2 days. Now, I could make tea everyday, and sometimes I do. But I prefer to make 4 gallons of tea every 2-3 days. I just like having the refrigerator stocked, the tea maker in its place, and the counter cleared off.

Often life intervenes, and I get distracted by good things. But when I get back to my task, I just keep on going. When my task is finished, then I move on to something else. This system works for me, but it may not work for you.

You might be goal-oriented like my daughter, who would probably prefer to accomplish the tea-making task at a set time each day. For example, after dinner make a pitcher of tea. These same individuals prefer to tackle a load of laundry each day.

The laundry pile, like the tea making, is a continuous cycle. I prefer to spend a day or two doing laundry to get it done. Again, life happens, and sometimes I need to do laundry during the week and then on the weekends.

Just knowing how you approach projects might help as you schedule your tasks. The goals are to get things done and don’t get overwhelmed while using time wisely.

Question: Are you goal-oriented, task-oriented, or both?

Credit Cards: Copies of Active Accounts

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In working through an organizational system for our important documents, we are still concentrating on the first section of Box 1 titled Credit Reports/Card Documents. As a review, here are the documents housed in my first box and links to the posts addressed to date:

BOX 1 of 3

  • Credit reports and credit cards

Credit reports:

Credit Report: Reporting Agencies

Credit Report: Schedule

Credit Score: Free Experian

Credit Score: Free TransUnion

Credit Report: Reviewing Information

Credit Report: Disputing Errors

Credit cards

  • Personal records
  • Home ownership
  • Vehicles

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

If you are following the same system I am sharing, then the first folder in your accordion file should obtain your accurate credit report(s) and credit score(s). Are you are still disputing errors on your credit report(s)? If so, then good for you! Keep those credit bureaus accountable for reporting your information accurately.

Having concluded last week the first part of this section dealing with the credit reports and scores, I will address credit cards, which is the second part of the Credit Report/Card Documents section. The second folder of my accordion file houses copies of my active credit cards.

TIP: These are just credit cards. Our debit card information is housed under Investments in Box 3.

For each credit card, I have the following documents:

1.       Copy of the front and signed back of the card. Hopefully this never happens, but in the event that my purse is stolen, I will have the phone number to contact the issuer to report the theft. The phone number to contact is on the fine print located on the back of the card. When I make the copy, I make sure the print is readable in case I need the information.

2.       PIN information. If a Personal Identification Number (PIN) was issued with this card, then I keep that number with the copy of the credit card.

3.       Credit Card Agreement. This document usually arrives with your credit card. When a new card is sent to replace an expiring card, a new card agreement is usually sent. If you have misplaced your original, you could contact the issuer and request a new one, or wait until a replacement card is sent before your current card expires.

4.       Website Address,  User names, and Passwords. Having the website address to access this card information written down will be very handy in the event you become incapacitated or pass away. If your Executor knows about your Important Document file, then he/she can access your accounts with this information. If you do not want this information all in one place, then choose a good hiding place. When you have a designated place, write down your user names and passwords and then let someone know where that information can be found. This one action can save your loved ones oodles of time and ounces of worry. Remember to update your list when you change your passwords or add accounts.

PROTECTIVE PASSWORDS: To help protect our accounts, I have placed a protective password on each account. I have called each account issuer and asked to put this password on our account. I then followed their guidelines. Now when I contact them regarding my account, the representative will ask for my protective password in addition to the other personal information they request. Having this password also allows me to bypass giving out our Social Security Numbers for identification. I prefer the protective password since I can customize the word or phrase making it difficult for someone to  commit identity theft.

5.       Contact name. If you have called for any reason and had a great customer service from a senior representative, then I write down and keep the name and direct phone number or e-mail of that representative with the credit card information. If I have a problem and need assistance, I will have direct access to someone who I know will help.

6.       Credit Card. Since we do not carry all our credit cards with us, we keep the unused ones in our credit card file. If we need to use it to make a purchase, then we get the card from the file. This action helps us make wise decisions with our money.

I paperclip these items together for each credit card we hold. I then place all these documents in the second file of my Box 1 documents. Next week, I will share the contents of the third file which is the last compartment under the first section titled Credit Reports and Credit Card Documents.

Are you finding this information helpful? Do you already have protective passwords on your accounts? Do you have them written down for your loved ones and/or Executor? If not, please write them down. Your family will be so thankful you did!