I haven't posted this month (except the survey income) so thought I'd try and come up with something to report.
I bought a new microwave (see prior report). I spoke to my friend who fixes appliances and he said don't bother. It is 16 years old and not worth repairing. We'll probably save more in electricity conservation than it would cost to repair. So I went to Wal-Mart and got a GE unit for $55. The first one was damaged when I got it home, but I exchanged it yesterday and the new one works fine. I used it to cook grits this morning. We lost a chunk of counter space, but we'll manage.
I took my wife's van in for service last week. With a coupon, that came to less than $200 which wasn't too bad at all. It recently turned 100,000 miles and is doing fine.
Some guys at my synagogue play in a weekly poker game and have been inviting me to join them for years. I finally did 2 nights ago. Everybody buys in for $20 - it is more about having fun and socializing than making big bucks. We played for close to 4 hours (way past my bedtime) and I lost a total of $7.00 which was just fine by me as I had a fun time. I can't see myself playing weekly, but I will join them from time to time.
My wife's birthday is on Monday. I'll give her her gift on Sunday, probably, since I work late on Monday. I know she doesn't read my blog, so I can share what I got her. We tend to buy each other practical gifts, but good quality/luxury versions. She is always complaining about her bed pillow but doesn't want to spend the money to get a better one and isn't sure which to get. Anytime we travel and stay at a Marriott, she always loves the pillow, so I ordered one from Marriott's website. It was $65 which is extravagant for us, but if she likes it as much at home as she does at the hotels, it will be well worth it.
My wife has been stressed out this week because they have been doing a special project at work and she has had to work lots of extra hours. She normally works part-time, a few hours a week, but this week has worked every day and a few days were 9am to 6pm which she hated, but at least we know it was just for this week. After today, it is back to the usual. The only good thing, which I appreciate more than her, is the extra money those hours will bring in. 50% of her pay goes to her 401K, so this week will give that account a nice boost.
Nothing else comes to mind right now, so I'll stop here. I hope everyone has a great weekend.
Assorted ramblings
December 14th, 2007 at 08:46 pm
December 14th, 2007 at 09:44 pm 1197668684
December 15th, 2007 at 02:57 am 1197687462
December 15th, 2007 at 03:23 am 1197689016
I had no idea you can buy pillows from a hotel
December 15th, 2007 at 05:20 am 1197696037
December 15th, 2007 at 03:46 pm 1197733588
As for why I gave in and played poker, I wasn't really resisting. I like the guys and like playing poker. I just always either forgot about it or had something else going on.
baselle - If you find a game you are good at, it isn't unfrugal. I'm not that great at poker, but still managed to get 4 hours of entertainment for $7. Last trip to Atlantic City a couple of weeks ago, I played blackjack (my best game) for 2-1/2 hours and walked away even, so it cost me nothing (except a tip to the waitress) for 2-1/2 hours of entertainment, plus I earned comp reward points for my play, so we'll probably get a free meal next time we go down.
December 16th, 2007 at 01:24 am 1197768256
October 9th, 2009 at 04:25 pm 1255105527
You would be a great mystery shopper for the casinos!! I have no idea how to play Blackjack. I met a friend from college at Belterra, where I have to stay every month for business, and she had a Craps/Blackjack friend expert with her. I was a little sad because my significant other had given me $$$ to play and I lost it all but $40.00 on slots. He talked me into trying to learn Craps. He told me what to do and at the end, it made one of the table hosts mad. I won all the money back, though!