Veggie garden started

For vegetables, I follow Mel Bartholomew's square-foot gardening method. I made the box below from simple instructions in Better Homes and Gardens' Spring Planting Guide. All of the materials cost me around $60, I think. It's untreated pine, so it won't last more than a few years or so, but I knew there was a chance we would move or I'd want to change something before then.

I didn't get around to starting seeds this year. Actually, I didn't feel like it. Since it was possible we'd be moving I wasn't sure I wanted to go through the trouble. But that's not living in the moment now, is it? So, this morning I went to a nearby nursery and bought some young plants--lettuces, broccoli, chives and brussels sprouts. I spent about $15 and have several plants left over which I'll take to work tomorrow to give away. I'm saving some room for tomato seedlings which I buy from a nearby farm.

The dog was happy to hang out outside with me, wallowing in the grass and eating peanuts (my neighbor feeds them to the squirrels and inevitably they wind up in our yard). He now knows that when the overalls come out of the drawer, that means he and mama are going outside for a long time--and we can't get out fast enough once he spots them.

New windshield, strange reactions

I recently replaced the windshield in my 2000 Civic. The surface of the glass was pitted throughout; I imagine it was caused by the sand and salt that are sprinkled so liberally on the roads here in winter. Driving had become a headache, especially when heading into the sun as I often do on my commute.

The reactions I encountered, from friends to the people at the glass company itself, surprised me. Without exception, everyone reacted as though this was a somewhat unusual matter. "So there's no actual crack?" the woman at the glass company asked. "Interesting; I've never heard of someone replacing the windshield for pitting," a friend said.

One of the very few reasons I could think of for this being uncustomary is that most people must replace their car before they feel the need to replace its windshield. I spent $250.00 getting this done, which is less than the average car payment. Seems reasonable to me!

Spreading the gospel

A few weeks ago an email was sent out by the Exhibits Team at work. They were putting together an exhibit of books that had had a profound impact of people's lives. They asked us staff members to contribute with a succinct paragraph describing a book that "changed your life." Now, I've read a lot of wonderful books that I've never been able to get out of my head, and I'm not even sure I could explain why they touched me. If I tried, I'd probably write three pages. A succinct paragraph about a book I'd read and loved? Forget it. I can't even leave a succinct voicemail message. (Ask my husband.)

So, since I was doing three things at once before I got the email, I decided to make it easy on myself. I chose Your Money or Your Life, which we surprisingly have in the collection despite our academic library status. I wrote a few short sentences about how performing the "life hours" calculation that the book describes had really had an impact on my purchases, and that I was going to Starbucks much less these days.

Lame, yes. But maybe someone will be moved to borrow the book.

---

Speaking of books that touched my life, the novel All the Names by Jose Saramago was one reason I wanted to become an investigator. I could explain, but it would take three pages.

An orchid to brighten up the day

Almost a year ago, I got a $25 gift certificate to Weston Nurseries for a donation I made to WBUR. It's been sitting in my wallet, largely forgotten--I realized that if I were going to use it I'd better do so quickly, in case we move.

I drove down to Hopkinton today, which was a rather cold and bleak day, and got myself a free orchid:



I love orchids, though I've avoided buying them since I killed one a few years ago. I thought they were just fussy, but today I learned my mistake--I'd potted it in regular potting soil! Orchids are epiphytes and need a nice loose bark mix to promote airflow. Some can even be mounted on wooden plaques, or grown in wooden boxes like the one above. I was told to dunk it in water for 3-4 minutes once a week, give it a little orchid food now and then, and repot in about a year. I should be able to handle that.

Want a frugal wedding? Elope!

When J and I got married, we did what might be called a "planned elopement." This was nothing new in my family, as my oldest sister had married her husband in Grenada a few years before. My parents had performed a more traditional elopement, deciding suddenly to marry one weekend when they were both home from college. (My mother ran into the kitchen and told my bewildered grandmother, "I'm getting married and I need some money!")

I was never one to dream about the day I'd get to wear the Big White Dress. Frankly, weddings seem like uncomfortable affairs to me...a lot of expense, so many things to plan, so many opportunities for things to go wrong. In addition, while I considered myself a Unitarian at the time, I wasn't religious enough that it struck me as desirable, or even appropriate, to be married in a church. I think the major reason I didn't want a wedding, though, was that I hate being the center of attention. (I could imagine myself fainting or throwing up out of nervousness, on my way down the aisle.)

So, when J surprised me with an engagement ring, I didn't even want to begin thinking about the logistics of planning a huge affair. I just wanted to remain blissfully engaged until we were suddenly, seamlessly, blissfully married. I didn't want to spend the next few months having to hash out the details of the big day--that didn't seem fun or romantic to me. I put forth the idea of eloping, but then I worried for a time about that. Would I regret it? Would I have wished later that I'd done something more traditional? Some time later, I finally decided that no, I wouldn't miss it a bit.

So, we'd decided we were going to elope, but where? There was really no place that came immediately to mind, and the choices seemed overwhelming. I jokingly put forth the idea that we should spin each other around in front of a huge map we had in our bedroom in order to come up with a location. So, I covered my eyes, J spun me around, and I chose a small island in the South Pacific that resembled a small speck of dust. I then spun J around and he chose Victoria, B.C., Canada. We both said something to the effect of, "Hey, not bad!" The next and last time he spun me around, my finger landed on The Congo!

That had only been for fun, but I couldn't get the idea of Canada out of my head. I asked J what he really thought of Victoria or, perhaps, Toronto. He'd been to both places and loved both of them, and we settled on Victoria.

We lined up a Marriage Commissioner and reserved several days at a lovely B&B. My parents, probably thankful that they didn't have to pay for a big wedding, offered to purchase the plane tickets. And on a clear, sunny October day, we were married in the Japanese Gardens at Royal Roads University.

I think we probably ended up spending around $700 of our own money. What we got was a wedding that was about us and for us, and not for dozens of other people. I suppose it would have been different if one of us actually wanted a traditional wedding, but neither one of us did.

I mainly used the internet for my own research, but here's a book on "destination weddings" that my sister loaned me. She had used it when planning her wedding in Grenada.

Slight update on the job search

Austin isn’t looking easy. As I mentioned, the job market is on the small side and doesn’t have a lot of turnover. In addition, the nature of J’s current job, which he’d like to mimic somewhat, is that there’s typically only one per company. However, he’s already expanded the search beyond mere titles, and we’re both willing to cut back financially, if necessary, if he can find a job he’s happy with. Other cities have entered the picture as possibilities (San Antonio, San Francisco, Seattle), but I’m not doing any major research on any of them until it looks like I should.

Despite all of this I’m in less of a funk lately. I’ve been trying to ask J less questions in an effort to not make myself nuts, and am following my trusted source’s advice and attempting to “live in the moment.” Additionally, I keep reminding myself we’re doing this from a position of strength, and that we’re very close to the $30,000 goal for our savings account.

Last weekend I didn’t have class and I spent Friday and Saturday doing things I liked—-hanging out on the deck, taking the dog to the Delaney Wildlife Management Area, some light gardening, cooking. I had Monday off and I cleaned the house. I don’t mind light cleaning—-I think of it as another opportunity to enjoy my home.

Perhaps as a result, I’m spending less money—-a bonus.

Refund arrived!

I checked my bank balance this afternoon and found that our federal refund had been transferred into our checking account. I immediately set up a transfer to ING so that we could begin earning 4% interest on it.

I'm pleasantly surprised by how quickly it was processed. I'd checked the IRS website earlier in the day and was given an estimate of April 25th.

A surprise for the furry member of the family arrived today as well: he is happily chomping away on his Iams Tarter Treat sample, courtesy of Wal-Mart (the Tarter Treats are no longer available, but others are). I may let him give me lots of kisses later.

(What am I playing at? I'd let him kiss me anyway.)

Subsidized shopping

I spent my $5 Amazon gift certificate (thanks again, Jane!) today, after reading a post on Educating the Wheelers wherein Terri lists some of her favorite frugal cookbooks. I got the Dining on a Dime cookbook for $10.25 by buying it from a Marketplace Seller with my $5 certificate and A9 discount. Usually I don't order books sight unseen, preferring to check them out from the library first to see if I really want them; however, it wasn't available from my library network. At ten bucks, I figured I could risk it.

I have to admit, frugal cookbooks and websites are a bit of a personal finance fetish for me. I've been lucky in that I've never had to budget for food, so it's not out of need that I buy them. Also, my food tastes tend towards olive oil rather than bacon grease, so I usually end up modifying the recipes. Finally, I've discovered that many of these books and sites have a Christian theme; I, not being of a religious bent, ignore those bits. Frankly I have no idea why I'm drawn to these cookbooks, but isn't a major feature of a fetish the fact that it can't really be explained?

Anyway, here are my two favorites:

The Frugal Family's Kitchen Book, by Mary Weber. No religious theme, or if there is, I've missed it. The writer seems like a pleasant person, but I haven't tried many of the recipes. I agree with Terri's assessment that most of the value lies in the commentary between recipes.

Good Recipes for Hard Times, by Louise Newton. She was making polenta before it was cool. Written in 1975 and out of print, I purchased mine (after approving it via a library loan) for around $20 from an Amazon Marketplace seller. Surprisingly good recipes, but watch out for that bacon grease.

I really wanted to like the More-With-Less Cookbook, by Doris Janzen Longacre. It's usually the first one folks mention when they talk about budget cookbooks. However, the recipes just didn't appeal to me.

In spring, a young woman's fancy

...lightly turns to thoughts of vanity--and, if she is of the frugal sort, how cheaply she can make herself look pretty.

Like Seattle Simplicity, I've fired up the wax warmer from Sally Beauty Supply and am shedding my "winter coat." I've painted my finger- and toenails, and I even picked up a bottle of that new daily moisturizer that has a bit of self-tanner built in. I was feeling a little nostalgic for the golden glow of my youth before I became a sunscreen addict at the ripe old age of 19.

J is mildly creeped out by the self-tanner. "Tan in a can," he calls it. But I got whistled at the other day--an old-fashioned wolf whistle--so what am I to make of that? (Perhaps my "tan" and that gentleman's behavior are both throwbacks to an earlier era, and there simply is nothing more to it.)

I had to rip out my knitting project when it became clear it was going to be too small. I then changed my mind about what I wanted to do and decided on this instead. I'm making it in peach. That will be worth whistling at!

One more Ebay rant

...and then I'll stop. I'm not wanting just to rant, actually--I'm also wondering about the experiences of the other Ebayers out there, and if they've ever had anything like this happen:

I sold a skirt last Wednesday, April 5th. I found when I was packing up the item that it was a Gap skirt, and not J. Crew as I'd advertised. I sent the winner an email apologizing profusely and telling her that she was under no obligation to buy the skirt, but that if she did want it anyway I'd take off $1 for the error (it had sold for $5.50). I also sent an invoice with the discount applied.

Three days passed and I'd heard nothing, so I sent another email saying, "Just wanted to make sure you got my other messages about the skirt," and restated that she was under no obligation, but to just let me know what she'd like to do. The next day I got an email back, saying, "Oh sorry, I thought I responded. Yes, I do want the skirt, and will be paying by PayPal." She also gave her mailing address. I wrote back to thank her, and to ask her to let me know if she needed me to resend the invoice. (Hint, hint.)

I should mention that this woman had stellar feedback ("Lightning fast payer!" "Faster than the speed of sound!") so I was a little surprised, but not yet irritated, that things were going as they were.

Three more days pass. By last Wednesday evening I'd gotten pretty fed-up, and poking around on the Ebay site I found that I could file an unpaid claim after 7 days. However, I decide to try contacting her once again before resorting to that measure. I sent another message and asked, "Could you please let me know when you'll be paying for the skirt? The auction closed a week ago and I've only heard from you once. Thanks." I meant to imply that if she was having some kind of issue, she might have communicated that to me.

Yesterday morning I received notice that she'd paid, and this sarcastic reply: "Oh, I'm so sorry, I've been doing this for years, and never had anyone expect me to check in with them more than once. It's paid now. Sorry if you worried about it. Have a nice day!"

I felt like writing back and saying, "I've also been doing this for years and never had anyone take so long to pay," or leaving her nasty feedback. Instead, I decided that if I couldn't say anything nice, I wouldn't say anything at all. Her package went out yesterday, packed in lavender-scented paper.

Honestly I can't see how she thought taking 7 days to pay (and then only with a reminder) was reasonable. I figure people are selling stuff because 1) they need the money, or 2) they're trying to declutter, and they have better things to do than wait around for me to pay. I try to pay within 24 hours of winning an auction, and I think Ebay recommends that a buyer pay within 3 days. Most of my buyers have paid immediately; one took about 3 days. I just don't see why it should take any longer than that unless someone is having computer or other issues, and in that case, they should try as hard as possible to contact the seller (and then apologize). But what I want to hear from others is how they'd feel about someone taking that long to pay. If I'm being unreasonable, well, please enlighten me as to what the norm is.

No matter what--if she leaves me nasty feedback, the gloves are coming off.

Consumer Reports Money Advisor

I'd been meaning to post my thoughts on Consumer Reports' Money Advisor newsletter. Miserly Bastard already got around to it and said pretty much the same thing I would have. While I do think the newsletter has its value for novices, I'll repeat what I said in my comment on his post--I've learned more from reading the many PF blogs I follow, and they're free!

I've been getting Money magazine for a few months now, and generally find it enjoyable to read, and there's usually one or two useful articles or tidbits in each issue.

Bad buyers coming out of the woodwork

I have a number of things on Ebay right now and they’re generating a lot of interest. They are also generating a lot of annoying questions from potential buyers. One buyer seemed to be asking if I would sell two items to her before the close of the auction. Is that even possible? I made the question and answer public and played dumb: “Are you asking if I’d be willing to combine shipping if you’re the winning bidder for both items? I’d be happy to!”

I also have it clearly stated in my policies that I’m not trying to make money off of shipping, though I made sure to cover my rear by saying that I measure each package to the best of my ability. I just received a question from a buyer asking, “Do you charge actual shipping costs, and do you refund if there is a difference?” (I have edited the question; it was replete with spelling and grammatical errors.) I went on to explain my policy again and that it could easily work in the buyer’s favor, but that in the case that I make a few extra cents “…I typically don't refund shipping because it's such a negligible amount and it would create a paperwork hassle during the times that I have multiple items on auction.” I checked out her feedback after responding to her. Quite a few negatives and neutrals; apparently she likes to haggle after she wins an auction.

I now remember why I took a break from Ebay. I’d sold a purse for a pittance to a woman who played dumb about my payment policy (I was Pay-Pal only at the time) and asked to send a check, then took over two weeks to send it. Nevertheless, I left her positive feedback. Her feedback for me was “It’s okay…it looked better in the picture.”

Sunny Sunday

Today I sat out in the sun on the deck with a new knitting project. The lounger I dragged out specifically for the dog was found to be lacking; instead he squeezed into mine with me. I don't know if it's a universal phenomenon, but my dog always smells really good when his fur is warmed by the sun. I kept leaning over and sticking my nose in his neck--probably not the best idea, seeing that one of the ingredients in my biweekly allergy shots is dog dander. I feel fine, though.

A trusted source says I'm not "living in the moment," and I think she's right. I've stopped cooking, gardening, cleaning the house, reading fiction. Instead I've been shopping. I'm going to work on that. I can't wait for next weekend--it's a three-day weekend and I don't have class. I'm going to get out in the yard, pick up the branches and leaves, and see how the perennials I planted last summer weathered the winter.

Rein her in already

For the price of one logo-covered "status bag*" that I would have ended up embarrassed to carry, I was able to buy two very nice purses, one in black, one in dark brown, and a nice watch.

Only I didn't stop there. I have also purchased two pairs of new chinos to replace a couple that no longer fit, and a mandarin-style top. Good thing I've got close to $100 coming from Amazon Marketplace on the 9th.

Obviously one should never allow oneself a full-on "spree," because it's very hard to stop. I wonder also if it's not due to my being a little down lately.

*It should come as no surprise that "status bag" is a Daily Candy term. I can't bring myself to type it without using quotes--they have no such qualms.

Because we really, truly LOVE loaning Uncle Sam money

Okay, not really. But we got the tax return back from the CPA and found we're getting a pretty hefty federal refund--$4237. (We owe the state almost $800.)

I really have no idea how it happened. I had more charitable contributions this year, but I didn't think it was that much more. I had also adjusted my withholding amount after we got a refund of $1500 last year. Furthermore, I thought we'd get hit by the Alternative Minimum Tax this year (and maybe we did?). Obviously I know nothing about taxes and need to learn, though right now it's pretty far down on my list of "financial education" priorities.

Like Jane, I'm not going to beat myself up over the interest-free loan to the government. If the worst thing my ignorance results in is a refund, well...there are much worse things in the world. And, given our current goals, the money couldn't have come at a better time.

A snob of a different stripe

I have a checking account of my own, into which my paycheck is direct-deposited. I usually transfer the bulk of my check--a nice round number--into one of our joint accounts. Over the past year or so, the few dollars left over after my transfers, plus my ebay and Amazon Marketplace earnings, had built up to around $700. I gave myself permission to go on a tear. I needed a new purse, after all.

I found myself oddly drawn to some real "status purses"--the Louis Vuitton signature print bags, and the similar offerings from Coach. This struck me as a little bizarre, as I haven't bought an obviously-branded item in several years. I decided it would be in my best interest to mull it over, and, wouldn't you know, I started seeing women carrying these purses everywhere.

My thoughts upon seeing the bags surprised me. In nearly all cases, the women carrying them looked like they probably couldn't truly afford them. Maybe the bag was in bad shape, or perhaps it was the rest of the outfit that gave that appearance. Other times, the bag was just too flashy for the rest of the outfit, but I suppose if you spend that much money on a bag, you're going to carry it no matter what. Rather than being impressed, I found myself thinking "I'll bet she put that on a credit card!" And suddenly I knew I didn't want anyone thinking that about me.

I suppose that means I've got a snobby streak, but at least it'll keep me out of debt.

So many questions

Okay, it’s time to let the cat out of the bag. I’ve alluded to it twice (not once, as I thought—I lost a $5 bet with J): we might be moving. J is looking for another job. Ideally we’d like to move back to Austin, Texas, where we lived for several years before moving to Massachusetts in 2001; however, the search is nationwide. Austin’s job market is on the small side, and doesn’t have a lot of turnover.

After it became apparent that we’d likely move from the Boston area I became somewhat obsessed with getting rid of our debt and building up our savings account as much as possible, because of all of the unknowns—will the company pay relocation costs? Will we have to pay for two living spaces for a while? Seeing that my class doesn’t end until July, we could very well be living apart for a while.

We have about $23,000 in savings right now; I’d like to get it up to around $30,000 before a move.

I’m also not sure of when the house should go on the market. I suppose immediately after J accepts a job and no sooner—after all, what if we were to put the house on the market and he ends up getting something here? And damn Zillow for being the bearer of bad news lately.

I hate not knowing what’s going to happen. I’ve been anxious and mildly depressed lately. Forgive the crappy disjointed writing; but my thoughts on the subject are rather disjointed.

Tiny update on the net worth

Net worth up $19000 from late Feb/early March. Much of it is due to J's bonus; the rest is "this and that." Not seeing all of that CC debt in the liabilities column is the VERY best part...

I'm not having as much time for blogging this week as I thought I would. There are 718 new entries in my RSS reader!

Happy Sunday

Me: No one* comments when I post pictures of the dog. I want people to comment on the dog!

J: They don't comment because they're trying not to encourage the Crazy Dog Lady.

Fair enough. This is supposed to be a financial blog, after all. I'll take it down a notch, folks.

I have no homework this week, so there will be more posts...about my finances.

*That's not exactly true. Jane often comments. Thanks for indulging me, Jane!