Penny Pinching Mom

My Wants Won’t Hurt Me

I would just about give my right arm for a nice new computer desk. The hand-me-down I’m using has seen its better days, and I’m tired of picking the keyboard shelf and keyboard up off the floor ten times a day.

But I’m trying to bear with it, because there is definitely a laptop in my future. When I get it I won’t have to worry about a desk, I can work wherever I take a notion to work. I’m probably going to keep my desktop for a while, but I’ll probably use the laptop more.

So I will make do with the office furniture I’ve got for now. One day I plan on having some better stuff, but it’s not that big of an issue in the whole scheme of things.

A New Job for Hubby?

Hubby filled out an application to work with a granite installation company over the weekend. Whether he accepts the position depends on the starting pay, but I think he’s got a good shot at getting it.

His cousin works for the company, and he says they’re great to work for. They let the installers take remnants home to use as they please. So if he wanted to make end tables or bathroom vanities to sell on the side, he could do so.

Hubby still wants to get his own business started, and I would love for him to. But we also have to make a living. He keeps asking me what he should do, and I just tell him that it’s up to him. Above all I want him to be happy, and no matter what he chooses we will make it somehow.

Scraping By

Hubby and I have gone slightly crazy with the finances this month. A few too many cookouts, a used lawnmower, and other little things have made money a little tighter than it should be. Oops.

We’re not in danger of anything being cut off or being out on the streets or anything. I’m just slightly outside of my financial comfort zone. Everything will straighten out eventually. Then I can get my laptop, and a new patio set, and a new house…

You’ve probably figured out that I’m not any kind of financial guru. I do know how to save money, and I enjoy doing so when possible. But I started this blog as much for myself as for my dear readers. It gives me an incentive to take a look at how my finances are going, and look for ways to improve them. And isn’t that what pinching pennies is all about?

Low Tech TV

I’m not what you would call a television junkie. I occasionally sit down and watch cartoons with Pumpkin or wrestling with Hubby, but I rarely watch anything just because I want to watch it. On the rare occasions that I do, it’s usually VH1 Classic or some other type of music programming, or an old sitcom.

Up until recently the largest TV we had was a 20 inch. I was content with it for obvious reasons, but Pumpkin kept saying that we needed a bigger one. Hubby didn’t complain about it much, but I know he wasn’t crazy about the small screen either. So when our neighbor offered to sell us a 27 inch flat screen for $100, we took it.

I can’t say I’m not interested in all of the great new TV technology that is on the market. If someone wanted to give me an HDTV I certainly wouldn’t turn it down. It’s just not my top priority. But if I were to get started on it, I can see how it would be addictive. I would need a Blu-Ray player to go with that HDTV, and surround sound… and pretty soon I would be pricing home theater seating. So I guess I’ll just stick to flat screens, satellite TV, and DVDs for now.

Cheap Cards

I normally make my own greeting cards on my computer, but my printer hasn’t been printing well lately. I also won some free cards from Send Out Cards last year that I still have yet to use all of. I’ve been using them when an occasion sneaks up on me and I need to send a card out quickly.

But today I realized that I needed a birthday card for my nephew, a graduation card for my niece, and a Father’s Day card for hubby. Instead of turning on the computer, I decided to see what I could find at Family Dollar. I had to go to town anyway.

I was delighted to see that most of their cards were two for a dollar. I found a birthday card in that bunch. I had to go to the big money (one for a dollar) rack to find a graduation card, and Pumpkin picked out a Father’s Day card from those as well.

I don’t think I did too badly. Three cards cost me $2.50, and that’s cheaper than one card is in most cases.

A Mess

Pumpkin got sick the other night and threw up all over her bed and floor. It was quite a mess. I was half-asleep, so I just stripped her bed and threw everything in the washer, cleaned the floor, and let her sleep on the couch. The couch was her idea, and I didn’t protest- I wasn’t interested in digging out the stuff to change her bed at 1:00 am.

She hasn’t had her comforter very long, but it has been through a lot of similar stuff. Somehow it has managed to escape without any noticeable stains every time. It seems like kids bedding is tougher than adult bedding, and that’s definitely a good thing. If it wasn’t, she would have probably gone through about four or five comforters by now.

Oh, in case you were wondering, Pumpkin is feeling fine now. I don’t know what caused her to get sick, but she was fine the rest of the night and the next day.

Father’s Day

I began to panic this morning when I realized that Father’s Day is this month. At first I thought it was tomorrow. I breathed a huge sigh of relief when I looked at the calendar and saw that it was next Sunday.

I told Hubby I would try to get him a Reese hitch for his truck. I’m not sure whether or not he still wants one, though. If not I have no idea what to get. I can rule a few things out, such as golf equipment, pro or college sports memorabilia, and ballet shoes. I’m just having a little trouble settling on one of the many things that are left after that.

I could get him some camping gear. He loves to camp (and so do Pumpkin and I). I’ll have to check around and see what I can find that he might be interested in.

Rock on a Budget

I’ve been hearing this for the past several months, but it took an email from The Buzzard (my favorite radio station) to cause it to sink in: Ozzfest is FREE this year!!!!

The only catch is, you do actually have to have a ticket to get in. The tickets are in fact free, but there are a limited number available. Here’s how it works: You have to get a ticket code. You can do so one of three ways:

1. By purchasing a specially marked copy of the new Ozzy CD
2. By buying a specially marked pack of Monster Energy Drinks
3. Online at livenation.com, monsterenergy.com, jagermusic.com, or fye.com

Then, on Tuesday, June 12th, you can redeem your code online for up to two printable tickets.

You can find tour dates and more information at the official Ozzfest website. If you go to the one in Charlotte, I just might see you there.

In Need of More Seating

Hubby and I have been having a lot of company lately. Since it has been pretty warm, we often sit outside. But there’s not much of anywhere to sit out there- our tiny “porch” has no room for chairs, and if we’re lucky we can squeeze three people on the top step. We usually end up dragging our kitchen chairs out there.

We do have a couple of camping chairs we use sometimes, but we still need more seating. I’m thinking about getting some inexpensive folding chairs to use when people are here. I would like to get a nice patio set with an umbrella, but there are much more important things in the budget right now.

Hanging In There a Little Longer

I had planned on giving my notice at my job last week. The day I told Hubby I was going to do it, I never got around to it. But I decided that the next day I was going to go in and get it over with first thing.

I went in, all ready to tell them I would be leaving in two weeks. But as soon as I got there, the manager shouted that I was Employee of the Month. Huh?????

Yes, I do work hard and try to do my best. But I just got that award about three months ago. And nobody there ever gets it twice in that amount of time. Then a couple of days later, they gave me my evaluation and a raise.

Hubby talks to a lot of people who work there. My guess is that he’s mentioned it to someone and they’ve told the manager, who doesn’t want to lose anyone else. Several people have moved on to better jobs lately, and with the busy summer season getting underway I can understand not wanting to lose anyone else.

My schedule there this week was virtually nonexistent- I was only scheduled for one full day and two short ones. And they’ve been sending me home early if it wasn’t busy. I guess I’ll stick with it a little longer, but I am still planning on quitting before the summer is over.