Archives for 2012

Grocery Shopping: Limits on Sale Items Explained

July 19, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Flickr (Polycart)

After running out of milk 3 days ago, we made it to the first day of the weekly sale at Bi-Lo, where milk is on sale for $2.99 per gallon. Whew!

Having almost run out of gas, completely used up the milk, and down to our last 2 eggs, I either need to plan better or choose recipes without using these ingredients.

With a little creativity, I plan to make our last 2 eggs stretch until Saturday’s one-day sale at Bi-Lo where eggs are 68¢ per dozen with a limit of 2. (My rock bottom price is 99¢ per dozen, so this deal is FANTASTIC!)

Stocking Up with Limits on Sale Items

This one-day sale has some deep discounts (aka, loss leaders), and most of the items have a limit of 2 or 3. However, I will purchase more than 2 at the sale price by separating my purchases into multiple transactions. The limits listed are per transaction.

Per Transaction

If I want to purchase 8 items that are at a limit of 2, then I need 4 transactions. To space it out, I would checkout with 2 transactions at a time. I might even go to multiple stores. Depending on how busy and how empty the shelves, I may choose more or less transactions at the same time.

Per Customer

Some stores specify that the limit is per customer and not per transaction. To cover my basis, I take a helper with me. Though I have not been denied multiple transactions, your store may run differently. If you stay within the limits, refrain from clearing the shelves, and stay organized, then you are on your way to snagging some great deals.

Benefits to Multiple Transactions

Another bonus to breaking up the shopping to multiple transactions is more receipts with surveys. When I complete a survey with Bi-Lo, I get rewarded with a coupon for a free item. From the month of June, I have restocked our tissues from the free coupons.

In using time wisely to plan your shopping trips, abide by the limits. If you need more of that product, then purchase those items in multiple transactions. Learning to play the savings game will net you food for your family while maximizing your savings. Happy strategizing!

Question: How many units of a deep sale item do you purchase?

Using Time Wisely: Counting my Blessings (78 – 89)

July 18, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

I have looked forward to writing this post all day. With my children home this summer, we are having a blast.

Last summer, I was adjusting to having them all home after my son was in school. But this summer, I feel like a pro and really enjoying all the activities.

My last Counting My Blessings update posted at the beginning of the summer. Now that we are past the middle of the summer, I am counting these blessings:

78. Air conditioning! We came home to a warm house one Sunday afternoon. Thinking that we did not set the thermostat correctly after entertaining the night before, we reset the settings and took a nap. When we awakened, the house was still hot.

79. Purchasing the A/C warranty. After investigating the outdoor unit, Paul concluded that the problem was with the air conditioner, not the programmable thermostat. Going to our warranty file, I found our extended warranty for the air conditioner. Though the $800 payment 5 years ago was hard to swallow, I knew we made the right choice when I made the call.

80. Quick service. The HVAC technician returned my call and came out to inspect our system. He found that our capacitor swelled and prevented the system from regulating the temperature. After going to meet his boss for the part, he returned to swap the new part with the old.

81. Relaxing in comfort. Within the hour, our house had cooled off. I was left with a copy of the receipt for $395, covered 100% by our warranty. As our warranty still has another year and a half before expiring and we have used it twice now, the $800 protection offers peace of mind and immediate service.

82. Family outings. With Paul’s schedule different during summer hours, we venture out together on his weekday off. My children think that every time we stop by QT (convenience store) that we are getting ice cream. Although at 49¢ each, we usually indulge. 😉

83. Gas stations that stay open late. On our last family outing to North Carolina, we left our destination around 9:00 p.m. About two-thirds of the way home, our low gas indicator light with sound effect reminded us that we needed gasoline. Though close to home, we were still far from the city. About 2 miles down the mountain road, we found a little gas station that was open. Praise the Lord! We pumped 5 gallons at the hefty price of $3.09 per gallon. We made it home and refilled at one of the cheaper $2.89 per gallon stores.

84. Awesome daily deals. After watching the deals, I found the annual membership at our recreational district drop below half price. Snagging 4 of those memberships, the kids and I are enjoying unlimited visits to the water parks and inflatable zone. My daughter and I will go ice skating one of these days.

85. Friends. We have enjoyed meeting friends at the water park and the library for fun activities.

86. Library performances. Our library system hosted many performances this summer. My favorite performer was Eric Litwin, the bestselling author of the Pete the Cat series.

87. Time to relax at home. After cleaning for a day or two, I get really tired. Just resting and watching a movie is a nice change of pace.

88. Downstairs cleaned. Our entire downstairs is still nice and clean. I need to do a quick dust, water the plants, and clean the bathroom. But, the little maintenance is a welcome change to the disaster with which I began the summer. I’m making headway upstairs but taking time to enjoy the activities and snag the back-to-school deals.

89. Sleeping in. As a night owl, the early mornings kill me after burning the midnight oil. Though I still like to rise early on busy days, I am enjoying sleeping in on these lazy days of summer.

As the summer continues to fly by, I love the opportunity to stop and think about the many opportunities given to me. In counting my blessings, my heart is full of gratitude knowing the privilege I have to stay at home (or with my children since we are on the run so often).

Whatever situation you may find yourself, there is ALWAYS someone who would love to be in your shoes. In using time wisely, smile, focus on the opportunities available, and count your blessings.

Question: For what are you thankful today?

Summer Picnic & Barbecue Planning Guide – Part 1 of 5

July 17, 2012 by Tracy

Summer picnic and barbecue - planning your menu

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

As I sit in a comfortable air-conditioned room writing this post, my outside garden is feeling the full weight of the summer heat.

It’s hot this week, and my kids are ready to meet friends for another visit to the water park to cool off.

In keeping our home comfortable and enjoying visits with friends, summer picnics and backyard barbeques win my choice for summer entertainment.

A summer picnic and barbecue with friends does not need all the bells and whistles. You do not need a Martha Stewart centerpiece nor spend hours preparing for some outdoor fun.

To share my simple strategy for a summer picnic and backyard barbecue, I will cover the following topics in this 5-part planning series:

Summer Picnic and Barbecue Planning Guide

Part 1: Planning the Menu

Part 2: Distributing the Responsibilities

Part 3: Creating an Inviting Space

Part 4: Keeping Refrigerated Dishes Cold

Part 5: Enlisting Cleanup Helpers

Part 1: Planning the Menu

When planning a summer picnic or barbecue, I start with these 3 broad food topics to choose the menu:

1. Meat (choose 1-3 types)

Hamburgers
Hot Dogs
Bratwurst
Chicken
Beef
Shrimp

2. Sides (add 2-5 options)

Salads: green, pasta, potato, etc.
Corn on the cob
Veggie cups or tray
Fruit tray
Deviled eggs
Mac and cheese
Chips

3. Dessert (top off with 1-2 choices)

Watermelon
Strawberry shortcake
Homemade ice cream
Apple pie
Brownies

With the menu decided, I then create a list with all the items needed at the picnic. This list would include condiments, sauces, dips, buns, paper products, and beverages.

Knowing the big picture helps me answer questions and distribute the responsibilities evenly, coming in Part 2 of this 5-part series.

As you endure the summer heat, consider hanging out with friends at a summer picnic or backyard barbecue hosted at your home or at a local park. To begin this adventure, start planning your menu and look for a free evening on your calendar to host your summer bash. I’ll walk you through the process. It’s painless, I promise. 😉 Happy planning!

Question: What foods do you enjoy serving for a summer picnic or backyard barbecue?

Cleaning: Deodorizing my Garbage Disposal

July 16, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Flickr (Brian Short)

Oh, how I appreciate my garbage disposal! Yes, that hole in my sink that takes all the leftovers and unwanted particles and chomps them away. In using time wisely in the kitchen, my disposal is a time saver.

Having lived without one growing up and in the early years of our marriage, I know the convenience my garbage disposal provides.

While keeping my garbage disposal uncluttered, maintained, and cleaned, I follow these 8 steps to deodorizing my garbage disposal:

1. Fill an ice cube tray with white vinegar and place in freezer.

Tracy’s Tip: Mark this ice cube tray and only use it for freezing vinegar. 🙂 I wrote the word “vinegar” on my ice cube tray, so that I do not accidentally use it for water ice cubes.

Though I do not use ice cube trays often, I do keep some for those events that need decorative ice cubes (e.g., fruit in ice, mint in ice, etc.). To prevent unwanted vinegar at an event, I keep this ice tray with my cleaning supplies.

2. Remove the tray from the freezer when frozen.

Tracy’s Tip: Try to freeze and use the vinegar ice cubes on the same day. The vinegar aroma remains in the freezer for a few hours to 2 days when freezing the same day.

3. Run cold water in the sink.

4. Turn on the garbage disposal.

5. Crack the ice tray into the garbage disposal.

6. Allow the disposal to “eat up” all the ice cubes.

7. Turn off the garbage disposal.

8. Turn off the water.

For more options to cleaning and deodorizing your garbage disposal, How To Clean Stuff recommends dish soap and citrus or baking soda, to name a few.

Around the blogosphere, many suggest using baking soda to deodorize your garbage disposal, even professional plumbers. However, if you have plastic pipes, do not use baking soda with boiling water or after using a commercial drain cleaner. Per Earth Easy, you may melt your plastic pipes or create toxic fumes.

In applying these 8 steps, your garbage disposal will smell fresh. Cleaning and deodorizing your garbage disposal maintains your time-saving investment while using time wisely. Happy cleaning!

Question: How do you deodorize your garbage disposal?

Additional Items in Box 2 of our Important Documents

July 15, 2012 by Tracy

In completing file Box 2, I mentioned in last week’s post that I had a few extra documents tucked into the last pocket of my filing system.

The first and last pockets in my accordion file do not have a label holder, so I usually skip those slots when filing items.

However, the openings can hold items if needed, so I chose to place a few uncategorized documents in the last pocket for safe keeping.

Employer’s Bankruptcy Court Documents

After ~~leaving~~ being laid off from his previous employer (2006), my husband, Paul, began receiving legal notices of that company’s bankruptcy proceedings.

Though he was no longer an employee, Paul got these notices seeking to find all the company’s debts. As a previous employee, Paul got these notice. Even though the company fulfilled all its payments to us, we continued to receive the correspondence.

Since these notices did not pertain to any of our accounts or policies, I needed to assign a place to file this paperwork. With the last file opening of Box 2 empty, I filed the documents in this slot near other paperwork from that employer.

Though the last correspondence was in 2010, I still keep the documents in the event the case enters the appeals process. By assigning a place for these documents, I know where to find them and can add more items if necessary.

This concludes the documents in Box 2 of my important documents. As you organize your paperwork and assign spaces for your documents, I hope this sample of my filing system points you in the right direction.

Our situations are different and thus our documents and policies will differ. However, knowing what items you have and assigning a space for each category is the key to organizing your paperwork. This journey is a marathon, and we are two-thirds of the way to the finish line. Keep going!

Question: What odd documents do you have in your stash that do not fit within the “normal” categories?

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