Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Friday, October 31, 2008
Skipping the pumpkin
We opted to skip buying and carving a pumpkin for Halloween this year. We just never got to the Pumpkin Patch, even though we drove by it nearly every day for the last month. And the children didn't want to just get a pumpkin from WalMart or Publix because "it's not tradition."
I told them since we didn't get a pumpkin, we'll start their savings tomorrow with a $5 deposit for each of them since we normally spend at least $10 on a pumpkin.
I told them since we didn't get a pumpkin, we'll start their savings tomorrow with a $5 deposit for each of them since we normally spend at least $10 on a pumpkin.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Countdown to Savings...
We're starting the "money in the jar" concept on Saturday, November 1st, for having the children save up their cruise fare. Each child will have a container that they deposit coins and cash in for various things that they do that specifically save money, because money we don't spend on one thing, we can put towards our trip.
For example, Tuesday has been our family's traditional pizza night. If we go to our favorite local pizzaria, we spend $20 with tax and tip. If the boys say "hey Mom, let's just pick up a pizza special for $10" instead, they can each put $5 in their container. Or if they eat the $5 pizza from Publix, then they can each put $7.50 in their container - because that is money that is typically budgeted for dining that we won't use for dining, so it goes towards the trip.
Or when they remember to turn the light off in the bathroom when they are done, they can put a penny in the jar because that is electricity they aren't wasting, thus making our electric bill slightly less. Or if instead of getting a new towel every day (ahem, 7thGrader, this means you!), they hang their towel up and reuse it, then we will have just one load of towels to wash and dry on the weekend rather than two. Thus saving the cost of washing and drying a load of laundry. So for each time they reuse their towel, they can put x-cents in the jar.
5thGrader seems to have at least once every other week that we have to make a return trip to school for forgotten homework materials. While we live close, it is still an extra trip to school and back to collect it. The two miles round-trip costs money (although not as much now that gas is down to $2.35 in our community), but I'd say for every week we don't have to go back to school, 5thGrader can put some money in his container.
DH and I don't have a container, but I'm thinking we might set one up for ourselves. For example, instead of going out to lunch every week, for the weeks we don't go, we can put that $10.30 in the jar.
While none of this seems like a lot, it really will add up. And while the 18 months we have before our "final payment" is due seems like a long time away, this isn't a "trip on a budget." So we have to live budget-minded now so we can go on the trip without budgetary worries when we go.
For example, Tuesday has been our family's traditional pizza night. If we go to our favorite local pizzaria, we spend $20 with tax and tip. If the boys say "hey Mom, let's just pick up a pizza special for $10" instead, they can each put $5 in their container. Or if they eat the $5 pizza from Publix, then they can each put $7.50 in their container - because that is money that is typically budgeted for dining that we won't use for dining, so it goes towards the trip.
Or when they remember to turn the light off in the bathroom when they are done, they can put a penny in the jar because that is electricity they aren't wasting, thus making our electric bill slightly less. Or if instead of getting a new towel every day (ahem, 7thGrader, this means you!), they hang their towel up and reuse it, then we will have just one load of towels to wash and dry on the weekend rather than two. Thus saving the cost of washing and drying a load of laundry. So for each time they reuse their towel, they can put x-cents in the jar.
5thGrader seems to have at least once every other week that we have to make a return trip to school for forgotten homework materials. While we live close, it is still an extra trip to school and back to collect it. The two miles round-trip costs money (although not as much now that gas is down to $2.35 in our community), but I'd say for every week we don't have to go back to school, 5thGrader can put some money in his container.
DH and I don't have a container, but I'm thinking we might set one up for ourselves. For example, instead of going out to lunch every week, for the weeks we don't go, we can put that $10.30 in the jar.
While none of this seems like a lot, it really will add up. And while the 18 months we have before our "final payment" is due seems like a long time away, this isn't a "trip on a budget." So we have to live budget-minded now so we can go on the trip without budgetary worries when we go.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Itinerary
Our itinerary for the Northern European Capitals Cruise looks like this:
Tues: Dover - depart at 5:00 p.m.
Wed: Sea
Thurs: Oslo - 8:30 - 4:30
Fri: Copenhagen - 9:30 - 5:00
Sat: Warnemunde (gateway to Berlin) - 5:00 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Sun: Sea
Mon: St. Petersburg - 11:30
Tues: St. Petersburg - til 10:30 p.m.
Wed: Helsinki - 9:45 - 5:00
Thurs: Stockholm - 7:30 - 4:30
Fri: Sea
Sat: Sea
Sun: back to Dover at 8:00 a.m.
We have also scheduled a pre-cruise stay in London for three nights, and have one night booked for post-cruise. We hope to extend that by a second night.
Tues: Dover - depart at 5:00 p.m.
Wed: Sea
Thurs: Oslo - 8:30 - 4:30
Fri: Copenhagen - 9:30 - 5:00
Sat: Warnemunde (gateway to Berlin) - 5:00 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Sun: Sea
Mon: St. Petersburg - 11:30
Tues: St. Petersburg - til 10:30 p.m.
Wed: Helsinki - 9:45 - 5:00
Thurs: Stockholm - 7:30 - 4:30
Fri: Sea
Sat: Sea
Sun: back to Dover at 8:00 a.m.
We have also scheduled a pre-cruise stay in London for three nights, and have one night booked for post-cruise. We hope to extend that by a second night.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Seven Countries in 12 days
Our family is planning a cruise in the summer of 2010. Not just a cruise full of sun and fun, but a cruise full of adventure and sightseeing in seven countries in northern Europe!
Our journey will begin in London where we'll spend a few days before embarking from Dover, England. From there, we'll sail to Oslo, Norway; Copenhagen, Denmark; Warnemunde (Berlin), Germany; St. Petersburg, Russia; Helsinki, Finland; and Stockholm, Sweden.
While the trip is 20 months away, we are working together as a family to ensure that we can go. The most important part is saving the money to make it happen because we won't go into debt to take a trip, no matter how fabulous it will be. So that means each of us doing our part ~ mostly in the "spend less" portion of our "how to pay for it" plan.
We'd love to hear from you if you've been to any of these areas. We'd also love to hear ideas for stretching the dollar and spending less / saving.
Our journey will begin in London where we'll spend a few days before embarking from Dover, England. From there, we'll sail to Oslo, Norway; Copenhagen, Denmark; Warnemunde (Berlin), Germany; St. Petersburg, Russia; Helsinki, Finland; and Stockholm, Sweden.
While the trip is 20 months away, we are working together as a family to ensure that we can go. The most important part is saving the money to make it happen because we won't go into debt to take a trip, no matter how fabulous it will be. So that means each of us doing our part ~ mostly in the "spend less" portion of our "how to pay for it" plan.
We'd love to hear from you if you've been to any of these areas. We'd also love to hear ideas for stretching the dollar and spending less / saving.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Hidato
My brother introduced me to my newest time-waster.
Hidato is a number puzzle.
It's fun.
Play online at the Seattle Times (linked above) or other online sites.
Don't say you weren't warned!
Hidato is a number puzzle.
It's fun.
Play online at the Seattle Times (linked above) or other online sites.
Don't say you weren't warned!
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Fuel efficiency
Have you seen those SMART cars in your city yet? We saw them all over last summer when we visited Europe, but I hadn't seen one locally until last week. There was one that was in front of me on the way to work. I was just thinking about how it must be fuel efficient (and wow, with gas at over $4 / gallon, we need that!), and how it must be easy to park, fun to drive, etc., when all of a sudden, what should come off a side street but a Hummer.
Seeing the two vehicles next to each other was laughable. I'm sure the SMART car driver was laughing as he zoomed by gas station after gas station while the Hummer driver had to cut off his arm and his leg to get enough gas to get where he was going.
I've been thinking about, and trying to put into practice, some gas-saving principles. Like combining trips, running less errands, eating dinner at home, accelerating more steadily, coasting to a stop. So it was interesting to get some strategies in my work email box that I thought I'd share here. These were shared by various law enforcement agencies across the country, but some of these techniques can apply to all of us. Substitute "family member" for "officer."
Gas Conservation Suggestions
1. Institute A "No Idling" Policy - No matter how short of a stop (other than at a traffic light), UPS has found that requiring their drivers to turn off their engines has been a real cost saving. The same should hold true for the department.
2. Turn Off The Air Conditioner – Unless it is oppressively hot, officers should not use the A/C as it decreases gas mileage in city stop-and-go traffic by 5 to 20%. However, if driving at 55 mph or above, closing the windows and using the A/C actually reduces drag and improves mileage.
3. When On Random Patrol, Avoid Left Turns – UPS and FedEx design their routes to avoid left turns. They have learned that idling waiting to turn left wastes gas, not to mention the cars idling behind you waiting for you to turn. It is also safer to avoid left turns since you reduce the number of times you turn across oncoming traffic.
4. Reduce The Weight In The Vehicle – Officer should eliminate anything they do not actually need from their trunks.
5. Limit Monthly Mileage – Put a mileage limit on every vehicle. To conserve miles, officers could conduct more radar surveillance, park and walks, bicycle patrols, et cetera.
6. Test The Use Of Golf Carts – In some neighborhoods, try out a golf cart in lieu of walking or bike patrols.
7. Purchase More Efficient Vehicles – For non-patrol functions, look at purchasing hybrids or smaller sedans.
8. Scrutinize Monthly Gas Usage Report – Conduct a statistical test to determine which, if any officers, are driving outside of the norms for his shift/precinct. Meet with those officers and determine why they are outside of the norm and address the issue appropriately.
What are some things you are doing to save on your fuel expenses?
Seeing the two vehicles next to each other was laughable. I'm sure the SMART car driver was laughing as he zoomed by gas station after gas station while the Hummer driver had to cut off his arm and his leg to get enough gas to get where he was going.
I've been thinking about, and trying to put into practice, some gas-saving principles. Like combining trips, running less errands, eating dinner at home, accelerating more steadily, coasting to a stop. So it was interesting to get some strategies in my work email box that I thought I'd share here. These were shared by various law enforcement agencies across the country, but some of these techniques can apply to all of us. Substitute "family member" for "officer."
Gas Conservation Suggestions
1. Institute A "No Idling" Policy - No matter how short of a stop (other than at a traffic light), UPS has found that requiring their drivers to turn off their engines has been a real cost saving. The same should hold true for the department.
2. Turn Off The Air Conditioner – Unless it is oppressively hot, officers should not use the A/C as it decreases gas mileage in city stop-and-go traffic by 5 to 20%. However, if driving at 55 mph or above, closing the windows and using the A/C actually reduces drag and improves mileage.
3. When On Random Patrol, Avoid Left Turns – UPS and FedEx design their routes to avoid left turns. They have learned that idling waiting to turn left wastes gas, not to mention the cars idling behind you waiting for you to turn. It is also safer to avoid left turns since you reduce the number of times you turn across oncoming traffic.
4. Reduce The Weight In The Vehicle – Officer should eliminate anything they do not actually need from their trunks.
5. Limit Monthly Mileage – Put a mileage limit on every vehicle. To conserve miles, officers could conduct more radar surveillance, park and walks, bicycle patrols, et cetera.
6. Test The Use Of Golf Carts – In some neighborhoods, try out a golf cart in lieu of walking or bike patrols.
7. Purchase More Efficient Vehicles – For non-patrol functions, look at purchasing hybrids or smaller sedans.
8. Scrutinize Monthly Gas Usage Report – Conduct a statistical test to determine which, if any officers, are driving outside of the norms for his shift/precinct. Meet with those officers and determine why they are outside of the norm and address the issue appropriately.
What are some things you are doing to save on your fuel expenses?
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