One of my favourite books on selling is Influence: the Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini. It may sound like a theoretical text book but, trust me, it’s a great read. In his book, available through Amazon, CLICK HERE Cialdini gives example after example of crafty ploys people get us to act the way they want us to. In one experiment he sets up a queue for the photocopier in a large office. The […]
I haven't been hanging around this site in ages. It's showing in our current spending. This has got to stop because we want to do some major work around this place this summer and my boyfriend plans on starting classes this fall (one class at a time). And I have 5 left.
I haven't posted in over a year. So hi to all the new people and everyone who may remember me. I'll try to be around. I'm in so many places at once these days that I may just keep up the blog and not read much of the message boards. I do miss it but ... between everything on my plate I can't have it all.	
And I saved some money today. DD pulled the PS2 down (accidnetly I was playing and she fell onto the controller cord and crash it went). And it would no longer open. We were gonna get it fixed after Christmas, and DH was all disppointed.
But I went online and found out how to take it apart. and it works again. Waiting for him to check his email so he can find out. HAHAHA ... I'm the best. I'll make a point of posting here more often. We are done with gov't debt too, yay. Lots of yays and it's 2 days til Christmas	
IT's nearing the end of the month. We have no money, of course. We'd have a little if not for our little trip and our new VCR. DH's life is watching movies, so I conceded we could buy one now instead of 2 weeks from now.
We keep saying we'll fix it next month. Next month, next month. DH gets 3 pay checks next month and 2 stat days for sure. Then there's January 1st for a stat day. He hopes to work all 3. Fine by me.
We're getting colds. Got a sore throat today. I blame work, since one of my co-workers has a horrible cough. Wish I had money for some echinacea. If it even really works. Guess I'll go brew some tea and pull the humidifier up from DD"s room.
It's wednesday, that means parenting group day. Hooray!! DD isn't too sure about it, but she'll be okay once she is there.
It seems that the Calliou video we got from my SIL has ruined (both) VCR's. I made the assumption (wrongly) that it was a bug's life or that the VCR was dirty. So I switched to the other VCR, which has a habit of eating tapes (so it's not the best one to use anyway). Neither of them will show a tape now. If I go the menu I can hear the tape, and I can almost see when using the tracking. But, the tracking is what seems to be ruined. I can't manual track the tape and the auto track is dead.
Wonder how cheap we can get a new VCR. Very unhappy. Won't tell DH about using the second VCR. He thinks it's dead anyway. VERY PISSED OFF asrai right now. DD is just getting into Calliou so I was hoping that things would work out well for us with the tape. Nope it's killed 3 VCR's now, since I'm assuming that it killed SIL's as well. ARGH ARGH ARGH. Damned. Gotta go write DH a note and tell him that the VCR is dead dead dead.
It cost us $80 in gas alone to get to SIL and back. We'll we have nearly a full tank of gas left. Half way between here and there gas is super cheap. Here it is 79.9/liter and there we paid 72.4cents/liter.
Then we bought some food on the way there and back which was I guess $20. And then we exchanged presents which cost another $20. And there were some other incidentals, so about $130 we spent on one weekend that was VERY stressful.
4 kids, 2 room house. 3 smokers. The kids are 7 year old boy, 4 year old with Down's Syndrome girl, and 3 year old girl.
DD is rather shy and quiet. Their kids are CRAZY, nutso. They just want to be in our poor girl's face all the time and she doesn't know what to do. She did play with them, espcially their 7 year old son. The middle girl was always hugging and in her face, she's a very lovey kid, and is well intentioned but DD just can't take it.
my sister in law went shopping twice. Once without the kids, and once with two kids. ARGH. Like 6 hours of shopping with her. I don't mind shopping. But boy oh boy she likes to spend. They went into their overdraft while we are there. (They have no savings, and make a decent income. No debt but they smoke ... and not just cigerettes. At least they go outside for the latter).
It was supposed to DH's and I weekend together. We only get minimal time togheter. So SIL and I went out. And then he went out with his brother in law for 3 hours and i was asleep when he got back. So I was a little rude when the guys got back, 'cause I was pissed I never saw him all evening.
IT was a total of 8 hours driving. DD did REALLY good. The last bit she was getting antsy, not that I blame her.
In preperation for my test (that and DD's computer obessesion) I haven't been online much. Just reading my email. We're going away for the weekend so I won't be here then. Changing all my yahoo groups to no mail so I'm not clobbered on Sunday eve when we return. Just the freecycle stuff and my financial bootcamp emails will come in.
Got DD a library card yesterday. Because they don't charge late fees for kids books. Although I keep thinking I'm late on things and they never charge me. I can't argue with it tho.
We've spent $130 on groceries this month so far. And should be under a hundred more. I should start the new list now. The menus have helped tremendously. Next month I should be able to buy chicken breasts again. YUM! We finally have money and are paying off debt. It's exciting. When our debt is paid off we'll have just over $500 in expendable income. Which will be saved for school and then we'll have no money.
Attempt #1 to post was thwarted by DD's desire to play on the computer and then it was time for exercises. I do aerobics everyday that DH works. Added to DD and I going for a walk.
We're doing good this month it should be a decent month despite my pitiful work hours. They keep saying "Things will pick up next week." I'm still waiting for next week a month later. And despite that we are going on a 4 hour car ride (one way).
OTher than that, we haven't spent a lot of money. DH keeps wanting to spend spend spend as usual. And i would like a few things for myself. I'm getting a little resentful.
Writing my 3rd exam this week and the final one next week. Phew. Have a good day. Supper is nearly ready.
I've have 28 hours of work this week. Tomorrow is a stat day so double time for most of the day. Hooray for me (it's dependent on the hours you work per week *rolls eyes*).
Anyway, Red Deer freecycle has 100 members. This is the most exciting news for me. We've been open since June 25, and we have 100 members!!! Doing a happy dance right now.
I've finished reading my text book now I just have to write my tests. And print the last assignment off and send it. I should do that now.
Learned about anger managment today in my parenting class. That was interesting might have to post about that later if I have some time. And then went ot my mom's. Went shopping today spent less than I thought we would and should have a juice supply for the rest of the month. Have to enter that information in my spreadsheet. I'm tracking everything to find out where we need to cut down (extra's and add more into the fruit and veggies category) to try to get the balanced diet/balanced budget we need and desire.
ANyway it's nearly nine I just got back from my mom's. And I have to eat snack, get ready for bed, do some housework (OR NOT), and get to bed.
Had a lazy day today. Typed out my final assignment I just have to read it over once and then print it out. Hooray for that.
Havne't been spending much but on food lately. Have to pay a bill today and move some money into savings.
DH made a shelf for his movies. We have a few hundred movies. Over 200 anyway, not sure the tally anymore.
My menus I made up are working well. It sure helps me when shopping I look at next weeks menus and decide what is needed from that.
Got a letter from my insurance company as of last month our insurance is $20 less a month. So we got a $50 credit this month in leiu of last month. This is exciting news for us. We both had an accident in 99 and it takes 7 years to get rid of that. and I'm also a young driver (which no longer matters in Alberta).
There was a stat day last month that DH and I had. (which made up for hte day that DH had to miss when I got my concussion) and hten there is one this month as well. DH has it off, so it's a paid day off and I work. NOt sure what that means for me since my hours are so crap anyway.
I have to go write a shopping list for tomorrow for the next two weeks worth of food. Have a good day.	
Tonight around midnight DH gets paid. Hooray we can buy food again. We almost nothing left. Couldn't even buy milk today so DD and I get to have toast in the morning. I'll have to hide two peices in the fridge for DH's lunch. Or maybe I"ll just grab another loaf, we eat a lot of bread.
Today was a stressful day. Worked 5 hours, coulda been 6, but I didn't want to be too rushed getting to my parenting class for 1 PM. I hate to turn down hours since EVERYONE is getting cut down the next two weeks.
Explain how we lose an employee and still have less hours than usual. I'm so frustrated. Trying to just let it go and let the universe figure it out. If need be I'll just have to pay less on the debts for the moment and catch up when the money comes in.
Did 3 chapters today. Have 6 left and I have to type out my final assignment. And then two tests. Ach!
DH's smokes didn't last more than 2 weeks, in fact for the last month he was making 2 more days than 2 weeks and today it's 2 days early and he's whining for money.
My hours are still being cut down. The latest person to get hired (one rung down the ladder from me) just quit and I'm still getting crappy hours. It's frustrating. But I'm trusting the universe to provide for us. Which I hope means I get my hours up. Or win the lottery. LOL. No, we don't buy lottery tickets.
My back hurts from facing. I wasn't supposed to be facing today but the truck was late. Again. I guess it comes through the mountains.
Trying the potty thing again. Not going well. She's went four times in her underpants and zero times in the potty. THe problem is we cloth diaper and we've lost a pair of plastic pants and the ones we have get really gross really fast and I don't have any money right now for new ones.
I just checked my freecycle group and we have 95 members!! since june 25. That's exciting for me. We'd have over a 100 messages this month. 50 + items offered/wanted.
DD and I went out for a half hour. I can ration that candy to last a year. DD will not be happy with that.
It's cold enough out that th ecandy we bought should last us another year. Except for DH. He'd eat it all in one night and then be sick for a week. :P
Other than that I"m jsut enjoying my two days off. This is gonna be a long week. 26 hours. I guess that's not too bad. Then 24 hours the next week.
Now I have to do some dishes. I didn't make tortillas today like I had planned. Need to do that tomorrow. DH has tomorrow off as well. That rarely happens. and it doesn't really matter. The only thing that changes when he has a day off is I make something meaty for supper and when I'm off it means he has an extra hour to sleep.
Well, we have no money or very little but everything is paid. But what does DH do? Leaves his sandwhich on the cupboard. :P He's over 15 minutes away, I have no vehicle, means he's grabbing fast food. GRR!
Did light stocking today. The asst. manager (who drove me h ome on Thursday) had a fit because I had a heavy box on my wheeler, but I was taking the items out indivdually and putting them on the shelf. Head feels not too bad.
Finally got some more hours in two weeks. I had 12, it's double that now. PHEW!! Was having panicks, I need 20 some hours so I can pay off debt the way I plan. I want out of debt ASAP. Plus, there's the visit and christmas pictures to do this month. But DH gets paid 3 times in December/January (depending on when the checks get deposited) so we should get back on track then.
I was opening the wrap on a skid yesterday morning at 7:00 Am. and the skids were ALL very unbalanced, stuff was falling off as we were unloading the truck (or kelly was and i watched him do it since I"m too weak to move a skid). I was bent down and three boxes fell off and at least one of them hit the back of my head.
About five minutes later I had split most of the skid and then I was whoozy and puking. So hi ho, off to the emergency ward we go. I had vomitted three times, so they did a CT scan. And all is fine. I'm still dizzy today.
Had to go into work today and fill out worker's compensation forms so they can pay me for the time I missed. It has all been very much fun.
Somewhere according to my calculations we should have more money than we do, but I don't know where. I have everything accounted for in the register, so I'm not sure where I got these other numbers from.
Watched a solar eclipse tonight. Had some sasuage manicotti. Meet some neighbours who invited DD and I over for coffee.
The problem is the people around here who have kids are old or single mothers. (The ones I know anyway). No one for DH to visit with. I"m trying to talk him into taking a father's only parenting class.
DD is still sleeping on the sofa. She wanted to get up but then I was watching Good Morning Canada, she fell asleep on me so I set her down and came to read my email.
My ISP was testing out some new anti-virus email scanning so I got no emails Friday and they ALL came on Saturday and Sunday. 200+. (I belong to many email groups, although I've cut down, plus my freecycle group email that needs to be moderated.
Re-reading the $10/week grocery list from budget101.com Always helpful. Especially when we are going to get groceries today.
I'm taking a parenting course for young parents. And I brought the book home to read. In the budgeting sectiion there is a page about food and what the average person should spend per month dependent on age.
For myself it's $150, DH: nearly 200 and DD almost a hundred. THat's just for food. They have all the other things paper, cleaners, etc at over 100 and then DD's diapers on top of that. That's like nearly double the amount we spend now on everything (we use cloth diapers for one). It's insane. There would be so much junk food in this house if we spent that.
Anyway DD is up, so we are going to make up some oatmeal. and I'm going ot add raisins to the shopping list as we are out.	
DD is napping on the sofa. I'm watching Passions. Which has got to be the stupidest soap on tv. I find it so amusing.
Just go the flyers for next weeks shopping. Sugar is on 2 for 1, at a 50 cents saving per bag from the cheapest I can buy it so I'll buy a few of them. Nothing else much there. More flyers will arive on Sunday. Today has just been a boring day.	
$600 dollars I guess. DH got paid today. I get paid tomorrow, my check will have a stat day on it, DH's next paycheck will have the stat day on it. This paycheck basically goes to rent.
Made some of the the chicken tonight. Maid chicken chow mein but it hasn't been as good as the first time I made it. Very disappointing.
The guy from freecycle came and picked up the snowsuits today. I guess I can say I give becuase we donate a lot of DD"s clothing and other things around the house that we have an abundance of.
My mom and her bf are going to kill one of his cows. And they are going ot give/we are going to buy some meat from it. Good meat. I hate buying it from the store, we can only afford the cheap cheap stuff and it's always fatty and tough and not good. So hopefully this will save us some money and we'll get good food and fill the freezer.
I did make bread yesterday and cookies. With 2/3 the amount of sugar, they taste good despite me doubling the baking soda. I froze half of the dough for later becuase they tend to get hard.
Bought $20 worth of groceries for $15 today at work. Card saves money. Of course I checked my price book first and they prices were good. So that was my saving for the day. How was your day?	
Been up since 7:30 (2 1/2 hour sleep in!). Did aerobics. DD got and we had breakfast. She's dresed I'm not. She's watching her show and then we'll go brush teeth and get dressed.
We bought 5 kg of chicken legs yesterday for $8.60 (CD). Gonna cook them in the crockpot when we want them because they take so long in the oven, it takes less energy. I used to thaw them and cut them but that takes forever. If I cook them in the crockpot long enough they should just fall off the bone and then I'll cut them up. Maybe I'll do some up and freeze the cut up chicken cubes for stirfrys and such. I also have 3 kg of chicken drumsticks I bought last month ($15 I think maybe $11) that I can do things with. Both DD and I love chicken. DH would rather have hamburger.
I can also take the bones after I cook the chicken legs and make soup. In september I bought a whole chicken that i made for motherinlaw and me for supper that I made broth with. SO I have lots, but there's always room for more. Our freezer we bought last year is getting very full. I need to organize it somehow.
Going to get boots for DD today. And a gentleman is coming to pick up her last year's winter coat. Freecycle. It was given to me and is brand new. Prolly still fit my small girl, but she got a brand new one given to her from my uncle that i would like to wear.
Our furnace is out. It won't stay going. We found the space heater not that's making a difference, but my socks are wet. I guess I should go change and get some lunch.
Got two of the three buckets processed and mostly frozen. There's a bit left that I'm not s ure what to do with. Anyway it has been some work but it should save some money. Gonna give some to my mom her bf likes applesauce I guess.
DD made it to the potty during her bath. (more or less made it. disinfecting the toys now) She often has a BM during bath time but has been catching it lately. IT's terribly exciting for me. B ut only something a mom can understand.
I'm going to write a to do list of things I want to get done this week while I have three days off (today being one of them). I've done 3 weeks of menus. I don't know what else we seem to eat the same things over and over. I need a fourth week at least for variety. Some things can remain the same but y'know. not that DH is home to know the difference, but I do make enough for him to eat when he gets home or DD and I for lunch the next day.
I also have to write a shopping list. We don't have a lot of money this week so I have to write and stick a list.
Blah .. that took more effort and time then I wanted. But I got most of one ice cream pail done. GODS I have three pails ... but it should be good in my muffins instead of all the oil and sugar they use. Well I still need some of those items but not as many. I'll do some more tomorrow. The kitchen is clean now.
I wonder how much an hour I'm making doing up these apples. How much does a bottle of applesauce cost? I can't remmber not an item I buy.
It snowed here today. Well something between midnight and 5 AM (It was still raining at midnight when DH came in). It was melting when I was heading to work, but then again that was on the car that I had just started. The temperture felt nice out then, at 5 AM.
So I went to work and the truck of freight was just arriving. YAY and hour late!! Grr, so we got that unloaded and then I started to work and Kelly did nothing. As usual. The men there are so lazy. Me and Joan got loads done tho.
DD is watching "songs". Mostly kids singers from the 80's Sharon Lois and Brahm and Sandra Beech (S, L, B are Canadian). It's funny to see the hair and clothing they have on. Brings back memories. Mother In law got it for her for her birhtday she LOVES it.
Tomorrow off. YAY. But my apples got snowed on before I could get them Damned anyway. I really wanted to make some applesauce. Gotta figure out what we are having for supper. DD won't anything anyway *rolls eyes*
Finally a freecycle worked out. Sort of. I went shopping with my mom but left the dresser out side and she picked it up. There is so much room in DD"s room. If only I could get rid of those silly boxes of clothes. But I find it hard to give away BRAND NEW clothing. I kept only the brand new stuff and stuff that was too cute. I want to give it away, but to someone in the family or circle of friends y'know. Since all the clothing I got was given to me by the same.
A lady is bringing me soem apples tomorrow. From her tree. Gonna make apple sauce for muffins since using oil is bloody expensive. it takes 1 c of oil and 4 eggs (I only use 1 egg and 3 egg subsituttes of cornstrach and water) for the silly recipe. I think I'm out of carrots anyway, but the apple sauce will good for baking and DD will eat it. Hopefully, the kid won't eat anythibg lately.	
I'm done assignment #1. One paper and two tests and 12 chapters to go. HEHE ... um ... i better go get to work.
I have til December ?? to get this done. Sitll don't know when in December but I plan to be done before December. I'm going ot have the next test done by the end of October and the paper done by mid-November and final exam done by late late November at the latest.
On other fronts we have no money as usual and have been spending on food as usual. I need to get our
Didn't I write an entry yesterday? Can't remember. *sigh* Apparently not. Maybe I dreamed it. I have very real dreams that I can't tell apart from reality sometimes. Once I dreamt I talked to my SIL on the phone nad had to ask DH the next day if that had really happened. I'm not crazy really.
Yeah I remember I wrote about the stuff I'm giving away on freecycle. A dresser of DD's that we no longer need. We had so much extra stuff from my sister-in-law that we needed it to store everything but now that's all gone and the dresser is just taking up room. A lady is coming ot pick that up on Thursday.
I forgot to phone the other lady yesterday about DD's last year snowsuit that she would like. It's a nicenice snowsuit I could prolly consign for a goodly amount of money but I would rather give it since it was given to me.
We also have a big bag of clothes and toys of DD"s and other random household items to give to a charity. It's overflowing so I guess I should take it down.
Have some school work to get finished today (FINALLY gonna have my #1 paper done. Then I have to write test #3 write paper #2 and test #4 and i'me DONE!! Wohoo). Anyway the point is paper #1 is gonna be done.
Got taken out for THanksgiving supper. My mom and her boyfriend took DD and I out. Dh is working tonight. Double time pay!! wohoo. I got paid for not working. Gotta love those stat days. This will make up for last week and next weeks cut down of hours. Not to mention the stereo DH talked me into buying. It is considered our Christmas present tho. We are also going to buy some blinds for the bedrooms.
I'm giving away DD"s last years snowsuit and a dresser to Freecyclers. YAY. Hopefully it'll work out this time. Last two people never did show up. Oh well, if they don't it's going to charity. Along with a chair that no one wants (it's missing a leg and we have no room to put it so we don't feel the need to replace it). I also have a big bag of DD's clothes and toys and some of my toys and household items that will be donated.
After Christmas we will be selling her crib as well. My dad is buying her a bed, as far as I am aware of.
I broke my freecycle rules tho. I have a paper to be written after I interveiw three children in three age groups to determine their development of conservation (that matter, volume of liquid, number stay the same even if the appearance changes ... I looked for some links online but couldn't find anything useful). Anyway I don't know anyone in the city that has kids that age (well o ne person but she's fallen of the earth so I had to give up and move on) so I posted to freecycle looking for volunteers. It's gonna bit me in the ass I know. But I had to I have to get this done. That tarot cards told me I opened Pandora's box, which I hope means that it will turn out okay.
DD is watching a cartoon so I should go do the dishes. As much as I don't want to. It's back to work tomorrow and Wednesday is off for both DH and I. That never happens. Not like it matters much I'm exhausted by 10 PM period, working or not. IT sucks. But someday things will be back to normal.
Making tortillas this morning. Did my budget for food according to Jo's budget files on 4on4@yahoogroups.com. She's a very frugal lady.
According to what I want to spend a month on food I should be spending about 2.30/meal for the three of us. (Of course, DD's portions are 1/4 the size of DH's. Maybe less).
There is $52/category/month to spent on food. Meat, grains, fruits and vegs, milk and the like and misc food. I think I can work within those categories. BUt I have to start tracking how much is spent in each category. I also haven't yet made my menus up. BAD. I'm the one who talked about them the most and i haven't done it.