This morning, while purusing Yahoo, I came across the article 7 Signs You're a Shopaholic. Immediately, I thought, "Tell me something I don't know." But, just for fun, lets go through their criteria together.
1. You have many tagged or unopened items in your closet.
Hell no. When I buy something new, I immediately wear it as soon as possible. Otherwise, what's the point of buying it?
2. You often purchase things you don't need or didn't plan to buy.
Guilty. For reference, see this post about a trip to Target.
3. An argument or frustration sparks the urge to shop.
Nah. I quell my frustration and anger through drinking.
4. You experience a rush of excitement when you buy.
Most definitely. You know those Kohl's commercials about "shopping to win"? That's me. One time, My savings total was $1,022 at Kohl's and you might as well have shot me up with heroin. I was high on savings.
5. Purchases are followed with feelings of remorse.
Eh. I'll go half-sies on this one. Sometimes, I'll feel guilty about a purchase, especially if it's one we really didn't need, but this doesn't happen too often.
6. You try to conceal your shopping habits.
Again, half-sies. Have I done it in the past? Yes. But it's not something that happens more than once or twice a year. I can't remember the last time I snuck a bag into the house.
7. You feel anxious on the days you don't shop.
No. I don't have the shakes or anything yet.
Okay, so I'm not a full fledged shopaholic, but it looks like I'm well on my way.
Yahoo suggests I "find a new activity" to substitute for shopping, which frankly, is ridiculous. Jogging will never be more fun than shopping, at least in my book. Although, I could get some cute new sneakers (just kidding, don't worry!). Or I could watch more TV, if that's even possible (and thus see commercials for things I want).
Then, I should "identify my triggers" which I think in the course of this blog, we've already done. I know I tend to shop before social events or when I'm feeling sad about something. Whether or not I "avoid shopping at all costs" at those moments is debateable. Next, we "remove temptation", by limiting shopping trips and going when only necessary. Unfortunately for Yahoo (and my wallet), I am the best execuse-maker I know, and I can make every shopping trip a necessary one.
They also advise to carry only the cash you need. There are a few schools of thought that harp on this principal, but I've never tried it. There's something about it I just don't like... I can't quite put my finger on it.
Lastly, "if you're still struggling with compulsive spending, don't be afraid to ask for help." I won't lie to you, my three faithful readers, lately I have thought about seeking some professional counseling on the subject. If for nothing else that some objective thoughts on the matter at hand. Maybe there's some deep-seeded reason for my shopping habits that I've been forcing into the deep recesses of my pysche. Probably not though.
Any thoughts on the article? Is there anything you would to the definition of a shopaholic?
Monday, September 17, 2012
Friday, September 14, 2012
sub or hero?
Disclaimer: this post is not actually about the linguistics of a sub/hero/hoagie. I don't want this blog to be the start of geographical warfare (because that's totally what would happen). Authors Note: If you're visting South Jersey, it's hoagie.
I was reading Stephanie's blog this morning and she noted she has never made zucchini bread with nutmeg, simply because she didn't have it in her pantry. Instead, she uses pumpkin pie spice and it works out just fine. This got me thinking about all the times I haven't had something in the pantry/fridge that a receipe called for. When, and if, I meal planned, I usually just went right down the list and bought everything a receipe called for. This can get very expensive and half the time I don't use the ingredient again. Talk about a waste of money.
Lately, I've been getting better at checking out substitutions for common (and not so common) ingredients. I thought I would share with my lovely readers (all three of you) my favorites so far. Just know that these are necessarily "healthier" substitutions, but perhaps, easier.
Allspice: equal parts nutmeg, cinnamon, & cloves
Bread crumbs: rolled oats (crushed up a bit) or even plain potato chips crushed finely
Butter: 7/8 cup of oil for every one cup of butter
Buttermilk: just under 1 cup of milk combined with 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice. Let sit for five minutes then use as needed
Egg: applesauce, half a banana, or plain yogurt can be great egg substitutes in baked goods, just remember to add a pinch of baking powder if you need the food to rise when cooking. If you're really in a pinch, try mixing two tablespoons of water with two tablespoons of baking powder.
Fish sauce (my secret ingredient in a lot of things!): 1 teaspoon of light soy sauce
Ginger: 1/2 teaspoon ground to substitute for 1 teaspoon fresh
Molasses: 3/4 cup brown sugar, 3/4 cup white sugar combined with 1/4 cup water, OR 1 cup dark honey or maple syrup
Vinegar (white or cider): 1 tablespoon lemon or lime juice
That's just a very brief list - check here if you're looking for something specific.
It might take a few more minutes to make a substitute, but your wallet will definitely thank you when the receipe is done! What's your favorite?
I was reading Stephanie's blog this morning and she noted she has never made zucchini bread with nutmeg, simply because she didn't have it in her pantry. Instead, she uses pumpkin pie spice and it works out just fine. This got me thinking about all the times I haven't had something in the pantry/fridge that a receipe called for. When, and if, I meal planned, I usually just went right down the list and bought everything a receipe called for. This can get very expensive and half the time I don't use the ingredient again. Talk about a waste of money.
Lately, I've been getting better at checking out substitutions for common (and not so common) ingredients. I thought I would share with my lovely readers (all three of you) my favorites so far. Just know that these are necessarily "healthier" substitutions, but perhaps, easier.
Allspice: equal parts nutmeg, cinnamon, & cloves
Bread crumbs: rolled oats (crushed up a bit) or even plain potato chips crushed finely
Butter: 7/8 cup of oil for every one cup of butter
Buttermilk: just under 1 cup of milk combined with 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice. Let sit for five minutes then use as needed
Egg: applesauce, half a banana, or plain yogurt can be great egg substitutes in baked goods, just remember to add a pinch of baking powder if you need the food to rise when cooking. If you're really in a pinch, try mixing two tablespoons of water with two tablespoons of baking powder.
Fish sauce (my secret ingredient in a lot of things!): 1 teaspoon of light soy sauce
Ginger: 1/2 teaspoon ground to substitute for 1 teaspoon fresh
Molasses: 3/4 cup brown sugar, 3/4 cup white sugar combined with 1/4 cup water, OR 1 cup dark honey or maple syrup
Vinegar (white or cider): 1 tablespoon lemon or lime juice
That's just a very brief list - check here if you're looking for something specific.
It might take a few more minutes to make a substitute, but your wallet will definitely thank you when the receipe is done! What's your favorite?
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
what we have here...
... you know the rest.
We had a slight failure to communicate this week regarding our finances this past week. Luckily, it didn't cause any major damage, but I'll get to that momentarily.
Last month, we had to take The Hubs' vehicle to the repair shop. It was making this ridiculous clunking noise. Obviously, not good. If he were a single man, he would have let it go until the car didn't start anymore. But, since he decided to get married, I did my wifely duty and nagged him about it until he agreed to get it looked at. As it turns out, he needed new hub bearings (whatever those are), but more urgently, he needed new brakes (another thing I had nagged about for months, but wasn't as successful at getting replaced). We agreed to have the brakes replaced and once he started bringing home paycheck again, he would take back the car and fix the hub bearings.
Since my hubs is a teacher,we are on a pretty tight summer budget, we tend to blow through our summer budget by the end of July, and have to pinch our pennies until the first paycheck in September (what can I say, we like beer). We agreed to put his car expense on my Chase card and pay it off at the end of this month. Sounds okay, right?
Let's just say, I've never been so happy to have a car repair before. Had it not been for this charge, I would have never logged into my online account (since I haven't used the card since paying it off a few months ago) and I would have never seen all the other charges he put on it without giving me the heads up. Late fees and general chaos would have ensued.
It's not like this caused a big fight or anything. I was mildly annoyed for about an hour. I may have shot off a sarcastic text. But now it's over and done with - I'm over it.
So consider this a Public Service Announcement/Reminder to let your significant other know when using their credit cards ;-)
P.S.: I'm taking my car in for work this Friday - keep your fingers crossed this doesn't blow up our savings account like Bat Gat.
We had a slight failure to communicate this week regarding our finances this past week. Luckily, it didn't cause any major damage, but I'll get to that momentarily.
Last month, we had to take The Hubs' vehicle to the repair shop. It was making this ridiculous clunking noise. Obviously, not good. If he were a single man, he would have let it go until the car didn't start anymore. But, since he decided to get married, I did my wifely duty and nagged him about it until he agreed to get it looked at. As it turns out, he needed new hub bearings (whatever those are), but more urgently, he needed new brakes (another thing I had nagged about for months, but wasn't as successful at getting replaced). We agreed to have the brakes replaced and once he started bringing home paycheck again, he would take back the car and fix the hub bearings.
Since my hubs is a teacher,
Let's just say, I've never been so happy to have a car repair before. Had it not been for this charge, I would have never logged into my online account (since I haven't used the card since paying it off a few months ago) and I would have never seen all the other charges he put on it without giving me the heads up. Late fees and general chaos would have ensued.
It's not like this caused a big fight or anything. I was mildly annoyed for about an hour. I may have shot off a sarcastic text. But now it's over and done with - I'm over it.
So consider this a Public Service Announcement/Reminder to let your significant other know when using their credit cards ;-)
P.S.: I'm taking my car in for work this Friday - keep your fingers crossed this doesn't blow up our savings account like Bat Gat.
Monday, September 10, 2012
the bottom line
This past Friday, while en route to my nephew's first football game of the season (go Delsea!), I stopped at a local Wawa to grab some cash. Apparently you can't swipe your debit card at the local ticket stand (it's 2012, people, get on it!).
Anywho, I'm waiting for my cash to dispense, and I happen to look down in the trashcan where everyone throws out their receipts. I'm reminded of a friend who once said he used to write his number on the back of a stranger's ATM receipt with a large balance. This way, the girl would think he's loaded and go out with him. At the time, I thought this was incredibly shallow. It still is, but now I can laugh at it.
In any case, the first receipt I can see has a balance of $12,689.47. My mind? Blown. I'm immediately jealous of that person, even though I have no idea who they are. Then I start thinking about why that number seem so unattainable to me. I can't even envision having that much money, ever, let alone just having it hanging out in my bank account.
Who is this person and what are they doing that I'm not?
Anywho, I'm waiting for my cash to dispense, and I happen to look down in the trashcan where everyone throws out their receipts. I'm reminded of a friend who once said he used to write his number on the back of a stranger's ATM receipt with a large balance. This way, the girl would think he's loaded and go out with him. At the time, I thought this was incredibly shallow. It still is, but now I can laugh at it.
In any case, the first receipt I can see has a balance of $12,689.47. My mind? Blown. I'm immediately jealous of that person, even though I have no idea who they are. Then I start thinking about why that number seem so unattainable to me. I can't even envision having that much money, ever, let alone just having it hanging out in my bank account.
Who is this person and what are they doing that I'm not?
Thursday, September 6, 2012
philanthropist in training
You know those people who say if they won the lottery they would donate the money and keep on working?
Yea, I think they're crazy, too. I am not one of those people. That's not to say I wouldn't donate a portion of my winnings, but I have a lot of other, more selfish things I'd do first.
I don't remember what got me thinking about donations. It might have been the tenth piece of mail I received from the Atlantic City Rescue Mission asking for donations, or it could have been the "Code Red" photo album I was looking at on Facebook of dogs that needed to be adopted or they would've been put to sleep (Don't do that, you won't be able to sleep at night). In any case, I started thinking about how a few years ago, I used to give away a pretty big (at least, to me) chunk of change annually. I remember getting my 2010 taxes done and I was shocked that I had donated close to $900 that year. And that was when I was making a lot less than I did now.
Then reality gave me a nice slap upside the head (probably in the form of a bank statement) and I remembered in 2010, I had no mortgage, no phone bill, essentially no real monthly expenses other than my personal bills and gas. How quickly times change.
Actually, when the hubs and I had our taxes done this year, our accountant encouraged us to do less financial donating and more "actual" donating (that's a technical term, I swear). Meaning, we should be cleaning out our closets more and our wallets less. Which actually works better for me, since getting rid of old clothes is my favorite reason to buy new ones! She told us to aim for once a season, but it looks like we'll be on track for three donations. We did one in spring and I currently have two bags full (just a matter of getting the hubs to dig through his stuff - the man has more clothes than I do!) Hopefully, we'll be able to get in another donation before the end of the year. Goodwill is great because you can use their computer at the drop off station to print your own receipt.
This year I haven't been able to donate as much money as I would have liked to, but I've managed to send a few dollars to a few of my favorite charities. As you can probably guess, animal charities are my go-to donation of choice. This year I've been supporting a friend's organization, The Lexus Project, which provides legal defense for endangered animals (usually dogs) who have been taken away from their owner(s). I'm also a member of the ASPCA & WWF organizations. I also made my first contribution to an alumni fund of my first alma-mater, Assumption Regional Catholic School. That donation made me feel old.
But enough about me, what about YOU? How do you donate? Do you prefer to donate your time rather than your money? Do you set aside a certain percent of your income?
Yea, I think they're crazy, too. I am not one of those people. That's not to say I wouldn't donate a portion of my winnings, but I have a lot of other, more selfish things I'd do first.
I don't remember what got me thinking about donations. It might have been the tenth piece of mail I received from the Atlantic City Rescue Mission asking for donations, or it could have been the "Code Red" photo album I was looking at on Facebook of dogs that needed to be adopted or they would've been put to sleep (Don't do that, you won't be able to sleep at night). In any case, I started thinking about how a few years ago, I used to give away a pretty big (at least, to me) chunk of change annually. I remember getting my 2010 taxes done and I was shocked that I had donated close to $900 that year. And that was when I was making a lot less than I did now.
Then reality gave me a nice slap upside the head (probably in the form of a bank statement) and I remembered in 2010, I had no mortgage, no phone bill, essentially no real monthly expenses other than my personal bills and gas. How quickly times change.
Actually, when the hubs and I had our taxes done this year, our accountant encouraged us to do less financial donating and more "actual" donating (that's a technical term, I swear). Meaning, we should be cleaning out our closets more and our wallets less. Which actually works better for me, since getting rid of old clothes is my favorite reason to buy new ones! She told us to aim for once a season, but it looks like we'll be on track for three donations. We did one in spring and I currently have two bags full (just a matter of getting the hubs to dig through his stuff - the man has more clothes than I do!) Hopefully, we'll be able to get in another donation before the end of the year. Goodwill is great because you can use their computer at the drop off station to print your own receipt.
This year I haven't been able to donate as much money as I would have liked to, but I've managed to send a few dollars to a few of my favorite charities. As you can probably guess, animal charities are my go-to donation of choice. This year I've been supporting a friend's organization, The Lexus Project, which provides legal defense for endangered animals (usually dogs) who have been taken away from their owner(s). I'm also a member of the ASPCA & WWF organizations. I also made my first contribution to an alumni fund of my first alma-mater, Assumption Regional Catholic School. That donation made me feel old.
But enough about me, what about YOU? How do you donate? Do you prefer to donate your time rather than your money? Do you set aside a certain percent of your income?
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
off track
Hello?
Anybody out there?
I know, it's been awhile.
As you can probably guess, I've pretty much fallen off the savings wagon. Summer got the better of me.
I'm going to make it up to you, though. On September 4th, we start a new school year and a new savings year. Ten months to save as much as humanly possible.
Getting excited?
No?
Me either - but some things just have to be done. We'll get through it together.
Anybody out there?
I know, it's been awhile.
As you can probably guess, I've pretty much fallen off the savings wagon. Summer got the better of me.
I'm going to make it up to you, though. On September 4th, we start a new school year and a new savings year. Ten months to save as much as humanly possible.
Getting excited?
No?
Me either - but some things just have to be done. We'll get through it together.
Friday, July 6, 2012
grande half dirty iced soy chai
Hello, my name is Kathy and I am addicted to Starbucks.
But they taste sooooooooo good. I mean really really REALLY good. I want one just thinking about it. There's not much better on a hot day than a cold chai. All that deliciousness comes with a pricetag - and I'm not just talking about the literal price - there are 240 calories in a grande (medium) and 43 grams of sugar. I might as well eat about 12 sugar cubes (sidenote: the website Sugar Stacks will really make you think about how much sugar your consume).
In the name of frugalism (& my girlish figure), I've challenged myself to recreate the drink at home. Spoiler: it's much harder than I thought. I could just buy the boxed Tazo concentrate Starbucks uses - it's not *too* expensive (about $4 for 32 ounces), but, after reading the label, I saw the concentate was the man source of my sugar woes. There is 16 grams of sugar in four ounces! I put that box back on the shelf for now and took to the internetz to solve this dilemma.
The first website that pops up when you google "how to make starbucks chai tea latte at home" is Tammy's Recipes. She suggests using Celestial Seasonings India Spice tea bags. I didn't have that brand at home and I couldn't seem to find it in store; however, I saw in the comments that another tester used Stash's Chai Spice tea. Score! My favorite tea brand! But honestly, I wasn't a fan of this recipe. I used 1% milk instead of whipped cream (an ingrediant we don't normally have in this house), but it didn't have the right combination of spices + sweetness. Next!
I tried to use my brain (that might have been my first mistake) and recall how my baristas made the beverage. If the drink is hot, the ingrediants are water, milk, & concentrate, but if the drink is iced, it's only milk & concentrate. I picked up a box of Organic Vanilla Soy Milk at Stop & Shop for $2 and set out the next morning to create this drink if it kills me. My first attempt was eeual parts (1 cup) water & milk plus two tea bags. Blech. Absolutely terrible. The next attempt was just milk & tea bags. Better, but still too sweet. Back to the grocery store where I picked up a box of Stash's Double Chai Spice tea. Third time was the charm - the double spice tea bags packed the punch I was looking for.
The recipe still needs plenty of tweaking - it doesn't translate to an iced drink as well as I'd hoped, despite only using two ingredients. Adding a packet of Stevia in the Raw makes the drink too sweet. I'm thinking maybe one more tea bag will balance it out. But for now, the recipe does what I wanted - replace my weekly habit with a drink that's cheaper and doesn't pack on the pounds. Eventually, I'd like to try my hand at making chai tea with actual spices and loose tea, but right now, it's too hot for that!
Have you ever made your own version of a store's concoction? How did it turn out?
I've been frequenting the baristas a lot more than usual lately and it's taking a toll on my wallet. My usual drink (see the above title) costs around $4.50. Now, I'm not buying them everyday, but at least once, maybe twice per week. Sometimes I switch it up and get an iced tea, which is cheaper or a hot tea (one teabag), which is the cheapest. But it's summer, so hot tea is reserved for AM's in the AC only. In any case, I'm still spending about $20-$25 per month on calories I don't really need.
But they taste sooooooooo good. I mean really really REALLY good. I want one just thinking about it. There's not much better on a hot day than a cold chai. All that deliciousness comes with a pricetag - and I'm not just talking about the literal price - there are 240 calories in a grande (medium) and 43 grams of sugar. I might as well eat about 12 sugar cubes (sidenote: the website Sugar Stacks will really make you think about how much sugar your consume).
In the name of frugalism (& my girlish figure), I've challenged myself to recreate the drink at home. Spoiler: it's much harder than I thought. I could just buy the boxed Tazo concentrate Starbucks uses - it's not *too* expensive (about $4 for 32 ounces), but, after reading the label, I saw the concentate was the man source of my sugar woes. There is 16 grams of sugar in four ounces! I put that box back on the shelf for now and took to the internetz to solve this dilemma.
The first website that pops up when you google "how to make starbucks chai tea latte at home" is Tammy's Recipes. She suggests using Celestial Seasonings India Spice tea bags. I didn't have that brand at home and I couldn't seem to find it in store; however, I saw in the comments that another tester used Stash's Chai Spice tea. Score! My favorite tea brand! But honestly, I wasn't a fan of this recipe. I used 1% milk instead of whipped cream (an ingrediant we don't normally have in this house), but it didn't have the right combination of spices + sweetness. Next!
I tried to use my brain (that might have been my first mistake) and recall how my baristas made the beverage. If the drink is hot, the ingrediants are water, milk, & concentrate, but if the drink is iced, it's only milk & concentrate. I picked up a box of Organic Vanilla Soy Milk at Stop & Shop for $2 and set out the next morning to create this drink if it kills me. My first attempt was eeual parts (1 cup) water & milk plus two tea bags. Blech. Absolutely terrible. The next attempt was just milk & tea bags. Better, but still too sweet. Back to the grocery store where I picked up a box of Stash's Double Chai Spice tea. Third time was the charm - the double spice tea bags packed the punch I was looking for.
The recipe still needs plenty of tweaking - it doesn't translate to an iced drink as well as I'd hoped, despite only using two ingredients. Adding a packet of Stevia in the Raw makes the drink too sweet. I'm thinking maybe one more tea bag will balance it out. But for now, the recipe does what I wanted - replace my weekly habit with a drink that's cheaper and doesn't pack on the pounds. Eventually, I'd like to try my hand at making chai tea with actual spices and loose tea, but right now, it's too hot for that!
Have you ever made your own version of a store's concoction? How did it turn out?
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