Hi KK, we've had to do some real "slimming" down too, so I can suggest a few things - we cut our insurance bills considerably by raising the deductables to $1000. It saved us significantly on both our health, auto and homeowners policies. We also trimmed our phone, cable & internet bills by using a bundle product - most providers offer them, and it's where they provide phone lines, high speed interet and cable all together. I also raised by thermostat by 2 degrees - 75 instead of 73 in the summer and 68 instead of 70 in the cold months, and it's saved me over $200 in electric bills. Another way we slimmed down was to start "shopping smart" - I clip coupons, and do my major shopping at the new Wallmart market - their prices are un believeably good , and I only go the "gourmet" market once a week for a few choice items I can't find at the regular grocery. When I was doing all my shopping at Fresh Market or Wild Oats, it was nice, but I was paying almost twice as much for stable things like cereal, toilet tissue, etc. Well, these are just a few ideas... the economic pinch has hurt us all, but I think these are excesses I needed to be more conscious of anyway! Good luck! :)
Daily Kitten Chat Forum » General Chat
TDK Cafe' Monday! 1.5.08
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Back again...glad to see kykat, mmm and everyone back on. I am sitting on my butt now finally. My legs have swelled so I am staying put. Wayne has done some laundry and fed Maddie now it's her nap time. I feel so out of the loop as to what is going on with everyone. Forgive me if I don't comment on something posted. My mind is a jumble :)
I have to tell you that I have some newborn clothes for Abigail since those are for newborns and run smaller than 0-3 months, well the newborn clothes are too big! Our girl is tiny!! She has long legs, long feet, fingers and toes though so I am sure she will grow into them!
I also put on my jeans for the first time in 6 months!!! yea :)Posted 3 years ago by cricketsmama #
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Thanks AGV. We are already doing the thermostat thing and the bundling. I will have to significantly change my shopping and cooking habits. I need to start planning menues for dinners and lunches. We are obligated to going out tonight as it was planned before everything came down on our heads, but I plan on eating my salad and only half the entree and having the rest be lunch tomorrow. This should help my diet as well. Nothing like the economy to promote portion control!
Posted 3 years ago by KYKAT 12 23 #
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I do have a few I can post petpntr..I am glad you reminded me..it's been so crazy. I will load up a few :)
Posted 3 years ago by cricketsmama #
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they just look at us as if to say...are you crazy? You brought home another one??? They really just leave her alone.
Posted 3 years ago by cricketsmama #
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I was helping to care for one of my great neices when she was newborn. My cat Sophie was about two at the time. She hated the sound of the baby crying which she did because she didn't like the feel of the air or something whenever her diaper was changed. I had laid her on the bed to do it and Sophie was sitting there. She raised her paw like she was going to smack the baby and I could tell from the expression on her face that she really wanted to but knew better. She didn't but I kept a close eye on her
Posted 3 years ago by Cat talk rules #
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KYKAT - Not everyone prefers to do this, but when I want/need new clothes, I shop at Goodwill. I find excellent deals there. In fact, my entire outfit came from Goodwill. Shoes, (MIA's for $8) Lizwear sweater ($10) and slacks (don't recall but probably not more than $6). Every other Saturday is 1/2 price day. The sweater, btw, looks brand new... actually everything does !
Bought my grandson dirtbike riding pants for $14.... can't beat that !
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"Urp-up" - LOL!!!!!! I love that term but haven't heard that bodily emission phrased quite that way! *giggles and adds the term urp-up to vocabulary*
MMM, you bet that it takes longer to recover! It takes a good six weeks so don't push it.
KK, I'm so sorry that you've been sick! We've cut way back, too. We haven't been out to eat since September! Happily I like to cook but sometimes I get tired of my own cooking. And like AV, I've gotten better at clipping coupons. Now, if I could just remember to actually take them to the store with me..
CM, I left you a note on the Abbie thread but I'll say it here anyway. SIT DOWN!!!! FEET UP!!!!!
Posted 3 years ago by WillowandWindismom #
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I have posted new pictures of Abigail on a new thread :)
Thank you WWM, I saw your note..I am sitting down now. :)
We had to cut back too. we use coupons but what has saved us a lot of money is shopping at Aldi's! I never wanted to go there and then my nephew and his wife told me how good they were and I went and omg do I save a lot of money especially on meat. I only go to Giant Eagle(local grocery store) for cat food, fresh fruit..etc.
Posted 3 years ago by cricketsmama #
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verp...I like that!
I am off to read some of my book since the girls are sleeping...maybe I can sleep a bit too. I shall return sometime...hugs to all.
Posted 3 years ago by cricketsmama #
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MMM after my gall bladder surgery the doctor told me it would be six months for the fatigue to go totally away. My aunt told me it took her a year and someone else said two years YIKES. I haven't had that feeling of overwhelming fatigue for 2 or 3 weeks now so I hope that I am on the drs schedule. Its been six months. I think any stomach surgery you are going to experience fatigue, I'm sorry that this isn't better news but I can handle it better if I know to expect it.
Posted 3 years ago by Cat talk rules #
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Morning all. Second day back at work for me and first for some of you - hope you are coping! My team leader and other colleague and I went for lunch yesterday then decided a 'brainstorming' session at team leaders house was a good idea. Somehow (no idea, how, really) a couple of bottles of wine were used to aid the brainstorming. Wish every Monday could be like that!
Posted 3 years ago by KapitiKats in NZ #
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CM, (when you are back from reading)and anyone else. Aldi is across town, but I am going to start shopping there more often. I have gone a few times and liked what they had. My only frustration is when I find something there that I really like, they never have it again! A big change for us is no more ordering pizza! Hubby and I ordered Pizza Hut not too long ago. The driver got lost twice so the pizza was cold, it was under sauced and hubby and I came to the realization that not only do doctored up frozen pizza's taste just as good, but that we really liked the $1.25 Totino's pizza's best because of the crispy crust. I just add some green olives and whatever we might have on hand to a triple meat and we are pretty happy. So even if we both have our own pizza we are looking at pretty significant savings. The biggest change will be no going out for lunch. That will be the hardest because we both like to get away from the office. We get one day a week that we can go out and the rest of the week is leftovers or sandwiches.
Posted 3 years ago by KYKAT 12 23 #
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Kk - I make my own pizzas, using those "wrap tortillas" you can buy in the grocery! They are wonderful - brush both sides with olive oil, then put your toppings on and put it on a wire rack (like you would cool a cake on, on top of a cookie sheet- keeps things from dripping & messing the oven) then heat at 400 degreese for about 15-20 minutes. Thin, crispy crust, and custom made how you like it! You can also do this on the grill, brush one side with olive oil, grill and flip, add toppings and close cover until crispy!!!!
As far as going out to lunch - my solution to this is meet at a park (or by the bay if you're near water - and pack a picnic!!! It's our favorite thing to do. I take the previous nights leftovers, and make a great picnic lunch, that way we still get to "go out" and don't have to eat at our desks!!!!
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KK, does your store have those Boboli pizza crusts? In my store they are usually by the luncheon meat counter. They are sealed in plastic and Boboli even makes a pizza sauce. They're really good and allow you to put anything that you want on them.
Here's a few recipe ideas for brown bagging it!
http://www.recipezaar.com/recipes/lunch-snacks,brown-bag
As yummy as some of these sound, who would want to eat out?
Posted 3 years ago by WillowandWindismom #
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I have a brisket in the slow cooker but somehow I already know that this will not be my finest moment....
Posted 3 years ago by WillowandWindismom #
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Definitely hard! And thus.... the gym....
Posted 3 years ago by WillowandWindismom #
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AGV, great idea about the rack. I have done the tortilla crust pizzas and they just don't crisp up enough on a pizza stone or in a pan, but are too fragile for the regular oven rack. I do have a couple of cooling racks and a grid rack that goes in a cookie sheet that I can use. I also bought the pouch mix of pizza dough to try. It's spaghetti tonight so I will just add some extra cheese on top and that will cover me for the Pizza cravings.
Posted 3 years ago by KYKAT 12 23 #
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KK yes! the idea of the rack is to let the heat get both under and on top of the pizza. Those cake cooling racks work great! and also, crispy requies a hotter over - 350 would be too low, and make them soggy.... 400-450 works best, depending on how your oven cooks !!! Truly, the grill is great too!!! I've tried the pizza dough mixes, and they're good, but make a thicker crust. I like mine really thin and crispy, and these tortilla (wrap things) are the best I've found to date..... fun thing is, they come in all sorts of great flavors - basil & garlic, sun dried tomatoe, I could go on....!!! Enjoy!
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