Debt Dumpers 2020

[dina444444]

I love their frozen mashed potatoes and the creamy vodka sauce for pasta. Also their mini chocolate chip cookies.

Oh the mini crispy chocolate chip cookies are sooo good.

 

[jen7233]

Back, thanks for the suggestions I can keep them in mind next time! There was quite a line to get in, I think we stood in line 15 minutes. Once again after visiting, I still don't understand the hype for the store.

I didn't leave empty handed, and did look for those chicken taquitos but couldn't find them. I ended up getting a few frozens, mac'n'cheese, roasted potato and pepper mix, and tator tots. Then, picked up some Trader Joe french vanilla ground coffee, organic popping corn, and milk chocolate peanut butter cups. It's a little confusing on layout, trying to look at the frozens, looking at jars, and then the cookie shelves are right above the freezers. etc. Amazed at the amount of wine selection. May have to try the pineapple salsa one of these days....

 

[MerissaAndMomLoveDis]

I love the Everything crackers. Goes well with the TJ brand cheddar cheese with carmelized onions.

 

[WeatherLights]

Did the compressors fail on your A/Cs?

No, it wasn't the compressor. The technician explained the problem but I didn't retain much of the detail--something about the coolant pooling up somewhere because some cup like thing wasn't emptying right. Getting to the part in order to replace it was going to be costly in terms of labor. The other system was still working fine, but was described as being in "worse shape" overall than the one that was failing to cool well. If I didn't live in a super hot climate, I might have just paid for the one repair and try to get another year or two out of them, but being without AC for even a few days in the summer here is too much to risk!

I know several of you use banks that give you virtual "buckets" within one account to visualize saving for specific things. My bank doesn't have this feature but I do still visualize my savings that way and replacing the AC units was one of my buckets that was fully funded, so I had the cash ready for it. The company also offered one year financing at 0% which I briefly considered but then decided I didn't want the hassle of it. I was thinking about what I might have done if the AC failed and I couldn't afford to replace--probably buy a couple of evaporative coolers (swamp coolers) to put in the windows? I don't know but it's certainly a good reminder that there are some significant benefits to renting over owning a home, particularly if one does not have robust savings.

 

[barkley]

Trader Joe's shoppers: what is something you love to get there and recommend? I've only been once, heading there today.

roasted red pepper soup, lentil soup, turkey chili, cuban bowls (frozen), steak and ale pies (frozen) are all staples at our house. during the holidays i stock up on their brand of almond rocha-it's SO much better than the name brand.

 

[Eureka]

Trader Joe's shoppers: what is something you love to get there and recommend? I've only been once, heading there today.

So many things, too many to list! Since you’ve already gone, report back what you liked. A few of our faves: Their dark chocolate pb cups are yummy, we like the chicken spring rolls and any of their frozen gyoza. And I like their refried beans in the purple can. We found the chicken tacquitos to be very bland.

 

[jen7233]

So many things, too many to list! Since you’ve already gone, report back what you liked. A few of our faves: Their dark chocolate pb cups are yummy, we like the chicken spring rolls and any of their frozen gyoza. And I like their refried beans in the purple can. We found the chicken tacquitos to be very bland.

I heard also to try the dark chocolate like you suggested, I got the milk ones this time. They are pretty good, better at least than a mini chalky texture Reese's PB cup I think.

My kids love chicken taquitos, we get the Costco ones usually. I had some Jose Ole boxes I'll never buy again, ended up tossing some boxes a few weeks ago when I read an article the brand was on recall, and matched our box numbers to the recall. If the store I got them from wasn't a pain to go to, I would have trekked back and got the money back, I also had ditched the receipt. I made some homemade chicken taquitos a week ago, trying it out thinking I'll freeze some and eliminate that from a grocery list. I did the chicken breasts in the crockpot with just four ingredients, which I thought turned out good, but I didn't fry the flour tortillas, I just baked them basted with olive oil. But, they didn't like it. Next try is a lime and cilantro chicken one. I have to keep trying some new recipes with that I suppose, not giving up yet on trying to find a good recipe for it.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I know this is not the point of your post, but I’m a huge huge proponent of recycling your running/gym/whateveryoucallthem shoes often. 11 months seems like a lot to me, so I say go for it! I judge mine based off of mileage (I use my running shoes solely for running) and the tread of the shoe. My shoes always look good from the top, but if the tread is gone, I ditch them ASAP. Take care of your feet!!!! Especially if you’re running or you walk all day at work. So important for your knees, posture, ankles etc.

You are so right. I don't run in them except when I'm running late for my morning train to work.
I am on my feel all day though. I did order a new pair and I just tried them on today and they are keepers.
I didn't get to use Asics HCW discount because that only applies to full priced items. I found a good pair for $59 on sale that were regularly $90. I am content.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

ouch! but on the bright side you may see a savings long term on your utility bill. we had an issue going on w/ours a year or so ago that we hadn't realized had been going on for so long (just thought it was so hot the a/c was having a hard time keeping up with it), once resolved we saw our utility bill take a nice drop during the summer months.

So true. When the tree fell on our house, the AC unit was replace with a cheaper brand. At the time, there were just so many disruptions to our work-home routine and I didn't hear about it until it was replaced. Dh approved it and he is not at all as picky about things as I am. Anyway, the HVAC company is our good friends so after the cheaper one lasting a few years and then kept blowing fuses (I never even knew central AC units had fuses!) I asked him if this one was still under warranty, I'd really want a Lennox unit like we had before. Our bill this month (for July use) says our electric use is 13% lower than this month last year. Hard to believe with all the 95-97 days we had this year. We are on the equal payment plan and for sure will get a credit in October when they readjust our account.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Sounds good, and that the purchase went well, and cut down that lawnmowing time! I don't mow ours here, DH does that and just have the pushmower but the yard is beasty, complicated. When we lived in flat yard areas, I used to do our mowing and loved it. If we had the space, I might find riding on a mower slightly a good time!

Not following too much on the student loan in news, but good news for you.

Oh yes it is. My parents always had a large property (relatively, for suburbs) and back in the 80s I'd pop my Walkman on and play Springsteen on cassette, cranked up loud enough to drown out the engine.
For a whopping $5 from my dad. Then again min wage was $3.35/hr. Really showing my age.

Anyway my dad kept repairing/maintaining his old Sears tractor which we had from my earliest childhood memories. When he thought it died, he bought a John Deere and then somehow was able to get parts for the old Sears mower too. So with 2 ride-ons, my kids would have a blast riding them all over my parents yard. That Sears mower was such a tank, it outlasted the John Deere. Funny, it even had a cigarette lighter on the dashboard, similar to the kind that used to be in cars.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Trader Joe's shoppers: what is something you love to get there and recommend? I've only been once, heading there today.

At Christmas, one of my coworkers brings in these awesome cookies called Jo-Jo's. They are like Oreos but have little crushed up bits of candy cane in them. Up until recently, the nearest TJ's was around 6 miles away. Now we have one pretty close. We'll have to check it out!

 

[RamblingMad]

The macarons! Although I make them now instead of buying

These are great on Disney cruises. I learned how to make them. It's way too much work. I like them at Whole Foods too.

 

[Eureka]

At Christmas, one of my coworkers brings in these awesome cookies called Jo-Jo's. They are like Oreos but have little crushed up bits of candy cane in them. Up until recently, the nearest TJ's was around 6 miles away. Now we have one pretty close. We'll have to check it out!

The vanilla Jo Jos are available year-round, vanilla cookies with creme filling. So yummy. But those holiday Jo Jos are another story....so decadent! (Yum)

 

[DLgal]

Just purchased a new elliptical. With professional setup and removal of the old one, came to right about $5300. Money well spent, as we will all use it. It's been tough not having a working elliptical and 100 degree temps for a week. Gonna pull from the vacation bucket which will bring that total down to $2700. No matter. We aren't traveling anytime soon.

 

[DLgal]

These are great on Disney cruises. I learned how to make them. It's way too much work. I like them at Whole Foods too.

I agree. These are one of those things that are not worth the time and frustration of making them at home. Costco sometimes sells a huge box of imported ones from France for around $12 for 36 in a variety of flavors. They are the best!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

So, back to debt dumping

These are great on Disney cruises. I learned how to make them. It's way too much work. I like them at Whole Foods too.

How did I miss these? Where do you get them onboard? I so miss Disney ships.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Back to debt dumping...
So far just in August I have been able to pay down our mortgage from $105,790 to 95,060. That's $10,730!! Part of that is the $8000 we had set aside for our Panama Canal cruise. Also by paying that lump sum, it bumped up the amount of our regular monthly payment that goes to the principal. Before it was $1015 and now it's up to $1042.
I plan to keep hammering the mortgage at least until the end of this year. The 0% Discover card balance is due in May but I don't want to feel a lot of pressure to pay it in time. I'll start setting money aside some time in January.
Dh is working all weekend so that helps a lot!!

I'm on a roll; can't stop now!

 

[RamblingMad]

How did I miss these? Where do you get them onboard? I so miss Disney ships.

Sweet on You. I have only ever been on the Fantasy. Grab some before going to see a show.

https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/onboard-activities/sweet-on-you/

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Sweet on You. I have only ever been on the Fantasy. Grab some before going to see a show.

https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/onboard-activities/sweet-on-you/

Ah, this space was originally an arcade.

 

[jen7233]

Just purchased a new elliptical. With professional setup and removal of the old one, came to right about $5300. Money well spent, as we will all use it. It's been tough not having a working elliptical and 100 degree temps for a week. Gonna pull from the vacation bucket which will bring that total down to $2700. No matter. We aren't traveling anytime soon.

It must be a high quality elliptical equipment. Much out of my price range. It's good when the whole family can use it. Our kids also use our treadmill, so it's been a good purchase. I plan to add a rower at some point, if we can organize our home space better to incorporate it. If I had more space, I'd also add an elliptical and a stationary bike.