Well, I worked up my nerve and ventured out front and to the side garden bed on the weekend and here is what I found....
3 Killer sized Squash, 2 Italian Roasting Peppers, 2 more Cukes(*Sluggy crying & begging for mercy*), 1 Golden Bell Pepper, 1 Roma Tomato(that had fallen on the ground), 1 Jalapeno Pepper that had turned bright red & 1 teeny green bean(that blends into the tablecloth pattern).
This Harvest--
TOTAL....5lb. 10.8oz.
Garden Harvest Weight Total to date....41lb. 11.82 oz.
Hubs is going to pick the Roma Tomatoes later today so I'll be processing those to can tomorrow. I'll have a photo of the 1st real tomato harvest soon.....
Sluggy
Just an average Gal, older mom, trying to live a simple life & what happens along the way.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Friday, September 3, 2010
In the Land of Randomness...Welcome to My World!
* When I looked in the mirror this morning....at the crack of 10....the pic above is similar to what I saw....well, except for the wet nose.
* I forgot to mention in all of my recent blog posts that Hubs and I celebrated our 28th Wedding Anniversary last Saturday. 28 years married to the same man! I have been married longer in my life than I have been single....5 years longer. Am I a throwback to a different time or what? ;-)
* I was suppose to report for Jury Duty next Tuesday and for the rest of the month of September(unless I was placed on a jury and finished my service before Sept. was over). The same week I got the notice, I was selected to take part in an online chat/focus group that would pay me $25 an hour!....to sit and talk. Of course it turns out the focus group is being held mid September. 8-( And this is the 1st time I have EVER been offered this kind of work(at this level of pay!) though I've been signed up like....forever!
Since often times here, if you get called for duty, you never actually have to report, if they have no juries to seat for trials. But you have to call every Friday to find out if you need to report the following week. So I said yes to the online work and I'm crossing my fingers I don't have to report the week it's being held. If it does conflict I'll have to back-out, gracefully of course.lol
How come nothing is ever simple in my life?
*Besides a load of laundry or 2 I've gotten nothing on my list accomplished. Yet, I feel like I've run a marathon this week and just want to lay down and sleep for 10 hrs.
*My biggest accomplishment today, as Dr. Oz and Oprah would say, is having a really nice 'poop'. I guess eating 10 pitted prunes(excuse me, they now call them dried dates, not prunes because prunes is an old person's fruit and they are attempting to market them to a younger crowd)will do that to your BM. I really like prun....er....dried dates. They sure blow prune juice out of the water as far as taste goes. Um, maybe I should NOT have used the word "blow" here.....
*eBay is offering FREE LISTINGS until Sept. 7th....you still pay the final value fee if your item sells however. I can't seem to get my stuff together enough to jump back into eBay and finish selling off the stuff boxed up in my living room....oh yeah, and all the stuff in my storage unit that isn't toiletries and toilet paper too.
*Some one near and dear to us called 3 days ago wanting to shop in my stockpile. Come to find out they lost 1/4 of their income(which was very low to begin with)3 months ago and they don't have enough income/savings to cover what they spend each month and they are just letting some one know the pickle they are in now. So I've been working with them for the last 2 days, getting them on a plan(plus directing them to available resources locally)so they can get through this month with what they have left. If they succeed in following the plan for September, I have a plan for the next 3 months, that if followed, will net them some cash for an emergency fund/savings acct. by the end of the year. I am crossing my fingers they can stick to the budget and some other 'things' and people that have a capability to derail the plan don't sabotage what can be accomplished here. I'll be sitting down with one of the possible saboteurs this evening face-to-face for a frank, adult conversation. Please keep good thoughts and prayers for me!
*Speaking of stockpiles.....I haven't added to it in weeks and it's being depleted at an alarming rate! The surprising part is that I am NOT freaking out over this and I am good with it. The stockpile needs some thinning out. It's the loss of no good deals over the last 3+ months that's freaking me out.
*I missed Project Runway last night...again! I enjoy that show(given my background, I should!lol)but since they changed networks, I just can't seem to keep straight where or when it's on. I guess I'll have to cruise around this coming week during the day and find when they are rerunning it for the umpteenth time.
*The fridge is still limping along. I've had to move all the frozen foods to the upright freezer in the garage.
Basically both the fridge and the freezer section of the fridge can be used as refrigerators since the freezer can't maintain a frozen foods temp. Hubs and I are buying a new fridge Saturday so by next week sometime I'll have a fully functioning fridge again...yay! Not having any room in the upright freezer because of the current situation has stopped me from stocking up on farm market buys, to this point, for freezing for winter. Gosh, I hope there is some local farm produce left to buy late next week like corn and tomatoes and beans.
*We could use rain again. I thought Earl would generate some rain inland here but Jim Cantore is dashing my hopes..... I have lost quite a few tomatoes here due to skin splitting because of weeks of drought in between the rain. I can't keep the plants wet enough even with the hose.
*Hubs took off another week from work for vacation. We are thinking of getting away for a few days during that week.....getting away ALONE! Maybe somewhere at the beach since the small children set will be back in school. I like the beach without crowds of people and screaming little children. We use to vacation before having kids during the 'off seasons'. I recall it was lovely..... 8-))
*Besides the wanting to sleep 24/7 I seem to be in a holding pattern as far as making decisions. I can't decide on ANYTHING! What towel rack to buy to replace the one that keeps jumping off the wall.....which fridge to buy(well, that one is more about how MUCH money to spend!)....what to make for dinner.....what color to paint something.....which brand of sealer to use on the deck.....etc., etc., etc.
Is it I just don't want to be held accountable if my choice isn't the best one in the end? If I don't make a decision then I can't be blamed for anything.....except for NOT making a choice...lol
*"When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years."---Mark Twain
#1 son proved this quote correct last week. He actually took Hubs aside and told him something to the effect that he thought we were very good parents and he was glad he was our kid and not the kid of many of his friends' parents. Then he posted something similar on his Facebook page.
When I asked Hubs why he didn't mention any of this to me, he said it was probably because he didn't want to see my big old smirk and the smartass comment I would make at his expense. Yes, the #1 son apple didn't fall far from his mother's tree.
*Ok...my brain is empty again. Time to go fill it up with randomness again this week.
What do you need to get out of your head? Leave a comment and share!
Sluggy
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Another 2010 BORING BLOG BOX of FUN GIVEAWAY is OPEN! Box #3 FINAL Post
This is the 3rd Sluggy's BORING BLOG BOX GIVEAWAY for 2010!
It's time again for a Boring Giveaway.
I run a Boring Blog here so why not give away boring stuff, right?
Just to recap, I put things in the box(mostly what I have gotten for free or almost free)each week and when the box is filled we draw a winner from all the entries received. The stuff can range from HBA, food, toys, collectibles, home decor or books. Someday if enough people click on enough ads and this blog makes some cold hard cash, I may add a gift card, so get to clicking already!!lol
Here is what went into the Box today.....with a "tip of the hat" to Back-To-School time of course....
1. Another Dove Skin Vitalizer(keep this spare one or give as a gift to a friend!)
2. A Bottle of Elmer's Glue
3. A package of Papermate Mechanical Pencils
4. A P&G Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics Enameled Pin
The BOX is officially FULL now!
Here is a photo of everything you can win if your name is drawn.....
If this is your first time, please go read all the rules for these Giveaways on THIS POST.
Please NOTE--You MUST be a follower to enter the Giveaway. If you aren't one, just click on the "Follow" button on the right hand side of my blog to become a follower---->
TIME TO ENTER.....
1 basic entry per person on this POST. Just leave a comment & include your email if you don't have a google account.
This is the FINAL POST for this BORING BLOG BOX of GOODIES, so enter now!
Here are the ways to get UP TO 2 EXTRA entries PER POST.....
1. Put my blog on your blog's Blogroll. Leave an extra comment for this entry on THIS POST only with the URL of your blog. If I'm already on your Blogroll, say so in an extra comment.
2. Blog about this Giveaway on your blog or on a Message Board. Leave an extra comment for this entry on THIS POST only with a link to your blog post or the message on the board.
You can do each of these 2 things once per post, so that's a total of up to 3 entries per person per post.
(*Sorry M & F...no daily entries this time because of the vacation.*)
You can enter on this post until this Giveaway CLOSES on September 9th, at 11:59pm ET.
Any questions? Just email me at slugmama@yahoo.com
Oh yah, I pay for all the stuff in this giveaway and nobody(business or person) gives me stuff or pays me to hold them or promote their products. I even pay the shipping just because I loves ya'll and....and.....that's how I roll! ;-)
Happy Entering!!
Sluggy
It's time again for a Boring Giveaway.
I run a Boring Blog here so why not give away boring stuff, right?
Just to recap, I put things in the box(mostly what I have gotten for free or almost free)each week and when the box is filled we draw a winner from all the entries received. The stuff can range from HBA, food, toys, collectibles, home decor or books. Someday if enough people click on enough ads and this blog makes some cold hard cash, I may add a gift card, so get to clicking already!!lol
Here is what went into the Box today.....with a "tip of the hat" to Back-To-School time of course....
1. Another Dove Skin Vitalizer(keep this spare one or give as a gift to a friend!)
2. A Bottle of Elmer's Glue
3. A package of Papermate Mechanical Pencils
4. A P&G Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics Enameled Pin
The BOX is officially FULL now!
Here is a photo of everything you can win if your name is drawn.....
If this is your first time, please go read all the rules for these Giveaways on THIS POST.
Please NOTE--You MUST be a follower to enter the Giveaway. If you aren't one, just click on the "Follow" button on the right hand side of my blog to become a follower---->
TIME TO ENTER.....
1 basic entry per person on this POST. Just leave a comment & include your email if you don't have a google account.
This is the FINAL POST for this BORING BLOG BOX of GOODIES, so enter now!
Here are the ways to get UP TO 2 EXTRA entries PER POST.....
1. Put my blog on your blog's Blogroll. Leave an extra comment for this entry on THIS POST only with the URL of your blog. If I'm already on your Blogroll, say so in an extra comment.
2. Blog about this Giveaway on your blog or on a Message Board. Leave an extra comment for this entry on THIS POST only with a link to your blog post or the message on the board.
You can do each of these 2 things once per post, so that's a total of up to 3 entries per person per post.
(*Sorry M & F...no daily entries this time because of the vacation.*)
You can enter on this post until this Giveaway CLOSES on September 9th, at 11:59pm ET.
Any questions? Just email me at slugmama@yahoo.com
Oh yah, I pay for all the stuff in this giveaway and nobody(business or person) gives me stuff or pays me to hold them or promote their products. I even pay the shipping just because I loves ya'll and....and.....that's how I roll! ;-)
Happy Entering!!
Sluggy
$30K Savings Challenge AUGUST 2010 Totals.....Full Steam Ahead!

Check out the side bar to your right for the specific numbers.
I have to report that we finished up August in the black....with another healthy addition!
The extra cash amount we ended the month of August with was.......$3,138.45.
Income
We had $3,132.45 left over of DH's salary after expenses were deducted. Add in a whole $6.00 of Rebates applied to the food expenses and you have a deposit of $3,138.45 toward the Savings Challenge!
Seeing as our monthly target is $2,500.00 to reach our Year End Goal, this month will go a long way to keep us ahead of schedule.
Outgo
As for the expenses in August.....it was pretty much a 'normal bills' type month. Since the vacation money came out of the vacation funds set aside and not from the monthly income, we had just a few unusual/non-repeating bills.
The Food Budget costs for August are in another post, which is located HERE. The actual Food/Toiletries spending in August was about $17 less than I had budgeted for so we are right on target there.
Looking Ahead to September....
Looking at last September as a guideline,the only non-monthly bills I see are the quarterly sewage fee and the school taxes, which is a big one! 8-( And it looks like at this point we will be purchasing a new refrigerator....which will cost a pretty penny!
Otherwise, it's just the usual monthlies plus some smaller school related fees(photos, club fees, band stuff, etc.). No other big expenditures and no heating bill in September so it's usually a fairly good month to stash some cash away for us. 8-))
YTD Standings....
We have a Year To Date Total of $22,921.36 in Savings. To save $30K for the year, we need to put away $2,500 per month average, at this point in the year we need to have $20,000 saved. Currently, we are an entire month's worth of savings ahead of schedule. It would be so awesome to finish the year with more than $30K saved! I don't want to get my hopes up but I can dream. ;-)
So how was your August financially? Leave a comment and share with us what you did with your money, both the good and not-so good. Do you have any tricks or tips that help you to end your month before the money runs out? Let us know!
If you posted your financial progress on your own blog, leave a link in the comments so we can go check you out too!
Sluggy
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
AUGUST Budget Results....Food & Toiletries Spending Totals

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for AUGUST 2010.
I have posted August's totals on the right side bar under Total Grocery Savings for 2010.
I am listing subtotals for each store I purchased from in August. If you aren't interested in that much detail, just skip to the bottom information.
These Totals include Food, Toiletries/HBA, Pet Supplies, Cleaning Products, Paper Goods & tax where applicable.We are a family of 5(between 5 & 2 at home this month) & 3 dogs. No kids under 14.
BAKERY OUTLET
OOP $11.56
Value $53.87
Savings 78.54%
CARONE'S(small local independent store)
OOP $26.53
Qs/Ads $3.99
Value $30.52
Savings 13.07%
I have posted August's totals on the right side bar under Total Grocery Savings for 2010.
I am listing subtotals for each store I purchased from in August. If you aren't interested in that much detail, just skip to the bottom information.
These Totals include Food, Toiletries/HBA, Pet Supplies, Cleaning Products, Paper Goods & tax where applicable.We are a family of 5(between 5 & 2 at home this month) & 3 dogs. No kids under 14.
BAKERY OUTLET
OOP $11.56
Value $53.87
Savings 78.54%
CARONE'S(small local independent store)
OOP $26.53
Qs/Ads $3.99
Value $30.52
Savings 13.07%
RITE AID
OOP $49.90 (whole amount put on Rite-Aid Gift Cards)=$.00 actual OOP
Qs/Ads $15.86
Value $188.10
Savings 73.48% before gift cards/ 100% savings after gift cards
WEIS (local chain Grocery store that doesn't take IP Qs in my town)
OOP $117.24
Qs/Ads $46.50
Value $163.74
Savings 28.40%
VACATION SHOPPING(assorted discount outlets in Maine)
OOP $133.48
Value $332.50
Savings 59.85%
I don't track CVS's ECBs & Walgreen's RRs. They will be included when used on purchases under "Coupons". I'll keep track of what rebates are received monthly. Rebate money/gift cards will be considered 'income' & will go into the Food/Toiletries budget, offsetting the Out of Pocket. Cash will go immediately into the Budget kitty, while Gift Cards will be calculated in when spent.
REBATE CHECKS RECV'D. IN AUGUST
Pinecone Research....$6.00OOP $49.90 (whole amount put on Rite-Aid Gift Cards)=$.00 actual OOP
Qs/Ads $15.86
Value $188.10
Savings 73.48% before gift cards/ 100% savings after gift cards
WEIS (local chain Grocery store that doesn't take IP Qs in my town)
OOP $117.24
Qs/Ads $46.50
Value $163.74
Savings 28.40%
VACATION SHOPPING(assorted discount outlets in Maine)
OOP $133.48
Value $332.50
Savings 59.85%
I don't track CVS's ECBs & Walgreen's RRs. They will be included when used on purchases under "Coupons". I'll keep track of what rebates are received monthly. Rebate money/gift cards will be considered 'income' & will go into the Food/Toiletries budget, offsetting the Out of Pocket. Cash will go immediately into the Budget kitty, while Gift Cards will be calculated in when spent.
REBATE CHECKS RECV'D. IN AUGUST
Subtotal........$6.00
GIFT CARDS and CERTIFICATES
WalMart Gift Card(Giveaway winnings)...$25.00
Gillette Razor Survey Gift Card...$5.00
Subtotal....$30.00
TOTAL Value of Cash/Store Checks/Gift Card Rebates Received..$36.00
FREE ITEMS
I love Bacteria Shirt(Giveaway winnings)
Purina Feed Trucker Hat
2 x Almond Milk Coupons(Giveaway winnings)
2 x Almond Milk Coupons(Giveaway winnings)
My best 3 Store Savings Totals were from Rite-Aid at 100%, Bakery Outlet at 78.54% and the Vacation Outlet Shopping at 59.85%.
TOTAL Out of Pocket...............................$288.81
TOTAL Coupons & Store Sales Savings...$501.84
TOTAL Value of Items Purchased.............$784.65
TOTAL Savings of..........63.19%
TOTAL of CASH Rebates........................$6.00
TOTAL OOP After Rebates....................$282.81
TOTAL Savings of..................................63.96%
This closes out the August spending.
THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month-
While on vacation we ate out alot(which came out of the money put aside for the vacation and NOT from the food or entertainment budget). I don't even think I used a single coupon this month....EGADS!lol
Very little produce was bought at a store since the garden is giving us an ample supply of goodies right now. Our refrigerator is having problems so I've been reticent about stocking up with fridge/frozen foods this month as we need to get it repaired or replaced. Not having it crammed full is preferable right now, so I am holding off on large purchases of food that need freezing or refrigeration. I did spend almost half of my August food budget amount on the vacation, stocking up on shelf-stable foods(along with wild blueberries).
Yet I was still able to come in $17.19 under budget for the month. 8-)
What's ahead for September 2010.....
I am setting the September 2010 Food/Toiletries Budget at $250.
Why?
Because we have 4 family members home again.
And if the fridge issue is cleared up quickly I still plan on making my farm bulk buys early in September.
We are still full with shelf-stable stockpile items but if any good buys present themselves I'll take advantage of them. I am figuring $150 for regular monthly purchases and the other $100 for the stocking on farm buys and any good deals.
As always, any rebates received this month will be added to the food budget spending. I have few outstanding rebates at the moment so there will be little extra cash to cover food expenses in this way for September. I did get 6 rebates out into the mail recently(and have some more to do soon) so the rebate amounts should pick up a bit in the next 2 months.
With eight months of the year behind us, we have averaged $184.40 per MONTH after rebates on food/toiletries spending for 2010 for a family of 4-5 adults/teens.
How did you do in August with your Food Budget? Leave a comment or link to your post and let us hear! By sharing our struggles and efforts we can help each other stick to our budgets and learn to be better guardians of our resources.
Sluggy
As always, any rebates received this month will be added to the food budget spending. I have few outstanding rebates at the moment so there will be little extra cash to cover food expenses in this way for September. I did get 6 rebates out into the mail recently(and have some more to do soon) so the rebate amounts should pick up a bit in the next 2 months.
With eight months of the year behind us, we have averaged $184.40 per MONTH after rebates on food/toiletries spending for 2010 for a family of 4-5 adults/teens.
How did you do in August with your Food Budget? Leave a comment or link to your post and let us hear! By sharing our struggles and efforts we can help each other stick to our budgets and learn to be better guardians of our resources.
Sluggy
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