:::: MENU ::::
Apr 20, 2009    |      1 comment

March Net Worth Update = ($21,038)

by

I plugged the numbers into NetWorth IQ today and our net worth is now at a negative $21,038. It’s hard to believe that three years ago our net worth was at a negative $55,131. It gives me a little perk-me-up because right now it feels like time is standing still. We are waiting for another payment to arrive so we can pay off more of our credit card debt.

A little off-topic, but I designed a little avatar that displays next to my posts. It was difficult trying to find a picture to put there. I wanted something that represented me. For some of you long time readers, you may remember that I started it was purple and green on here then I changed to gray and blue. With those colors, I didn’t feel at home here. Our debt reduction rate also slowed down – although that could be just a coincidence. I asked everyone what they thought and a few of you said that the purple and green matched my personality.

Being in debt can be a dark place. The purple and green sure brightened it up LOL. Just loading up the site in my browser made me feel more optimistic. So with my avatar I decided to go with a simple purple and green theme with my name in it 🙂

Apr 19, 2009    |       34 comments

Metal Water Bottles and Saving A Buck

by

I continually look for ways to cut costs from anywhere and everywhere including…gasp…bottled water.

I bought one of those ‘earth friendly’ metal water bottles – though I question the ‘friendliness’ of metal. Sure I’ll be using less plastic but how biodegradable is metal anyway?!?

Regardless, I was concerned about the financial impact of purchasing and carting plastic water bottles to work on a daily basis so I thought I’d give the world of reusable’s a try.

I carefully filled the bottle, took a sip……

And I have one thing to say.

I have standards and this… is way below them.

And… my standards aren’t that high to begin with. My city uses reclaimed sewer water that tastes like a cross between Dial soap and dirty socks and I can somehow drink that – but this? My bottle makes water taste like a welders refuse pile.

And trust me… I KNOW what metal tastes like. Twenty-four months of my life were spent with railroad tracks of braces glued to my teeth.

Needless to say, I won’t be re-using the metal bottle again. Maybe I’ll throw it in with the aluminum cans for recycling?

But, I wasn’t going to be deterred! My new job stocks bright red mugs with ‘Company X’ blazed across the front and stores them in the kitchen for community use. Sure there was a risk that I’d come down with communicable diseases from improperly washed dishware but at least my water would be drinkable.

…Unfortunately, as I was washing the mug, I noticed the tiny print on the bottom that read, ‘The colors used to tint this mug contain lead. Do not use if pregnant or nursing.’

Great. Like I need that to worry about. I’m not pregnant but now I’ll always worry about having a child with a mild deformation because ‘mommy wanted to save a buck’.

Thankfully, a co-worker noticed me struggling to bleach a mug and gave me a brand new Nalgene bottle.

Good thing he wasn’t there to witness my interesting way of drinking to avoid touching any colored areas on the mug.

Always looking to save. ; )

1 … 1,417 1,418 1,419 1,420 1,421 … 1,943