DDA Chapter 18

[bear74]

We rarely eat out, never go to the movies though we do rent, but only from RedBox for $1 each. I'm working more at the school and Chris has worked extra Saturdays at work. I drive used cars and only have liability insurance on it. We do have a new truck though. We camp in the summer at campgrounds that have lots of free activities. We always plan our trips to be the most cost effective whether it means using Annual passes for 2 trips then skipping a year or two, taking the camper etc. We let the kids do as many activities as reasonable, but really no more than before. They do snowboarding, bowling league and lacrosse. We did splurge by getting the aquatics center membership, but I'm planning to use it to gain my strength and endurance which will assure my passing the tests that I need for future certification which will give me a job there and a free membership. We use coupons and I have no brand loyalty so I buy whatever brand is on sale. Chris does all the work on our vehicles, we do all of our own home improvements. We are cutting our own wood for our outside furnace. Our last oil bill was $18. We use loyalty points from Price Chopper to get money off our gas bill. It usually costs about $20 to fill Chris' truck. I'm pretty financially conscious in general.

wow that is good.

I am trying to plan a great trip to Dallas this summer with the least amount of money out of pocket.

I have a feeling we are going to get a lot of use out of our season pass to six flags this summer.

 

[my3princes]

I made dinner early tonight and we headed off to the aquatics center. The boys loved the pool area. I even tried the water slide and it was fun. It wasn't as good as the one at Vero Beach, but not bad. I swam some more laps so I managed over 1/2 mile in the pool today, not bad for not having swam in months. Hunter is very into swimming laps and had me help him improve his strokes. He really wants to join the swim team, but it is expensive and the season ends in March so he agreed to wait until the new season in September. Colby even swam some complete laps which is quite a feat for the little guy. Logan and Summer were there and Logan did 10 lengths, Summer was only interested in bothering everyone. Nick and Chris used the fitness center. I think they both enjoyed it, though Nick bailed on the treadmill and joined us in the pool. He even swam a few laps. Man we should be a healthy group by summer

 

[my3princes]

wow that is good.

I am trying to plan a great trip to Dallas this summer with the least amount of money out of pocket.

I have a feeling we are going to get a lot of use out of our season pass to six flags this summer.

We're probably going to get season's passes to Six Flags too. Since we can hit 2 of them with day trips it might be a fun cost effective plan for this summer. Colby has also asked to go to Santa's Village so I need to make that work too.

 

[bear74]

Honestly, I haven't changed anything. In fact, I'm out looking for bargains, hoping to capitalize on the sagging ecomony.

I'm always looking for bargains

 

[my3princes]

The kids get free games of bowling for every X100 pins they knock down. I can't remember the exact number of pins, but I'm sure they have a bunch of free games that we need to use up. That is another free activity for us since we have all our own equipment.

 

[bear74]

We're probably going to get season's passes to Six Flags too. Since we can hit 2 of them with day trips it might be a fun cost effective plan for this summer. Colby has also asked to go to Santa's Village so I need to make that work too.

that sounds like fun

 

[Glynis]

Who knows where I can get some teeth? Another science fair project that I came across was to put teeth in several different beverages (water, milk, oj, soda, etc) and see which decays a tooth faster. Sounds interesting and simple. The article I read suggested checking with a vet. The others that caught my eye were which fruits/vegetable conduct the most electricity and why do some soda cans sink and some float. That last one has to do with the density of the sugar in the soda. If I can find someone who will let us borrow a multimeter, Nicholas is going to want to do the electricity one. It doesn't sound very award-winning, but it's what interests him.

My niece did the teeth one several years ago. It was quite eye opening. Let's just say that I'll never drink orange soda again!

She used cow teeth and got them from the local meat plant.

 

[ReAnSt]

Good morning, DDA!!!

Now it's time to get Terra's party stuff under control for two weeks from now. All of the supplies should be here or in route, but I need to get her game stuff made and decide on the pinata. She really wants one, but I just can't see spending $15 on it. We'll see how much everything else costs I guess.

I would make a pinata. They are not that hard to make. But they are messy and take time to dry. We used to make one almost every year in school. One year I made a battery, sun, and I think a bear to name a few things. It was a yearly project in Spanish class.

You can use boxes or balloons, or other objects as the base depending on what you want to make. Tear or cut strips of newspaper. Then mix flour, water and you could use some glue to make the paste to hold the paper to the base. You cover small sections of the base with the glue mixture, then put on paper strips. Cover the whole thing in one layer of paper. Let it dry and then keep adding layers of paper and glue mix and letting it dry in between the layers. If you use balloons you will need more layers of newspaper and paste mix to make a thicker pinata. If you use boxes you will need less layers as they are already hard.

After the whole thing is dry, you can either paint it. If you decide to do that you would want the top layer of paper to not have designs on it, before you paint it. Or you could cover it with tissue paper.

 

[bear74]

thats sounds like fun as well.

I need to find a few activites for Olivia to do. I am thinking of swiming lessons and maybe dance.

 

[Tammi67]

My niece did the teeth one several years ago. It was quite eye opening. Let's just say that I'll never drink orange soda again!

She used cow teeth and got them from the local meat plant.

Thanks, Glynis. I'm pretty sure we don't have a meat plant around here!

 

[bear74]

So Olivia thinks since we can't find my friends tigger and pooh party supplies that she might want to do a Mickey Mouse Party

 

[Tammi67]

Is anyone else as unimpressed with the Dancing with the Stars stars as I am?

 

[bear74]

Thanks, Glynis. I'm pretty sure we don't have a meat plant around here!

but if you have a meat market you might be able to use Deer teeth. If they process deer.

 

[bear74]

Is anyone else as unimpressed with the Dancing with the Stars stars as I am?

sorry I have never watched the show,

 

[Tammi67]

but if you have a meat market you might be able to use Deer teeth. If they process deer.

That's a good idea, thanks. I have a hunter friend so I'll ask him where he takes his deer.

 

[bear74]

okay night, night,
got to work tomorrow.

Hopefully it will be a better day then Sat. as that was a mad house.

 

[Steffy]

Okay I'm curious. What is every one doing to save money?

We recycle cans and that is spending money for WDW

I line dry my clothes to cut down on the electric bill.

I use half the amount of soap powders that is recomended

I am considering making my own soap powders when I run out of my curent soap powders.

I use coupons

I cut off my premium channels on cable. I am down to 3 DVR boxes.

Bye bye Explorer and $66 fillups, hello Honda and $18 fillups.

Bye bye land line, hello cellphone only.

Starbucks... maybe twice a month now. I'm my own barista now thanks to my Krups machine. I still buy my expresso from Starbucks.

No more $15 lunches. We look for $5 lunches and go to Subway twice a week. This year I'm actually packing lunch every now and then!

I plugged all my leaks around my doors and windows. I turned the heat down from 72 to 70 degrees. That is why I was so surprised when my bill was $571last month!!! But then it was really cold. I can't imagine what it would have been if I still had my heat at 72!!!

We haven't been out for Saturday breakfast in a while. No more out to dinner twice a week, more like twice a month.

I make a list before I go to the grocery store and try to stick to it.

I use coupons. I won't buy certain things unless they are on sale.

 

[ReAnSt]

Get better. What is a Neti Pot?



I'm so sorry. How is your grandmother holding up?

A neti pot is used to rinse out the nasal and sinus areas. My Dad has used something similar to that for years, due to his crappy sinuses.

Grandma is hanging in there. She and my Aunt were here for dinner and to look through pictures. Her stress level seemed down as she no longer has to worry about taking care of him.

The viewing is Wednesday night and the funeral is on Thursday. I have a meeting Wednesday night but I am not going to it. Thursday I have a meeting during the day that I should be at, but my manager was not 100% sure it was happening. I also have meetings at night that I will probably end up going to as I have not been to any meetings for this service unit yet.

 

[tinker1bell]

What is a Neti pot? I might need to get one!

http://www.sinucleanse.com/nasal/nasal.htm

 

[tinker1bell]

Is anyone else as unimpressed with the Dancing with the Stars stars as I am?

I am waiting to see who their partners will be. Like they were grasping at straws.