Hello Readers!

It's definitely been awhile!

Between having the Super Bowl in the Tampa area, and newlywed life, I have had to put blogging on the back burner the past few months.

Sorry guys!

I am still CVS'ing every week, and enjoying having a Gordon Food Service nearby our apartment.

Gordon Food Service is a regional distributor that's open to the public. It's kind of like Sam's Club or Costco, but without the membership fee.

On Sunday we bought an ENTIRE ribeye lipon beef portion. (this is the part of the cow that we get delicious ribeye and delmonico steaks from). It was about $4.55 lb or $69 for 15 lbs of meat. Tim, being the chef that he is, broke down the meat into 16 steaks ranging from 12 - 15 oz. and 15 oz of beef tips to use for cooking.

That equals about $4.50 per steak! Pretty great deal!

The one complaint we had was that the sign in the store said the beef was USDA Choice, but the plastic packaging said USDA Select, which is one step down.

We compared a steak from this batch to a more expensive flat iron steak. The quality was similar!

I highly recommend trying to find an entire ribeye or strip pieces of beef. Sam's Club also carries these larger pieces. They're quite a great price for what you get! Don't be afraid of having to cut the meat yourself. The outside of the meat may not be pretty, but the inside will have a beautiful color and marbling.

New Year's Challenge 2009

Wealth does not always come from income, but from the way money is handled. I am not rich and I do not make six figures. However, I am in better financial shape than many people who appear much wealthier than myself. When a paycheck comes in, I can spend it frivolously or unwisely... or make the most of what I have.

Some background information about me: my fiance Tim is currently looking for a job. He has significant student loans that will start repayment in a few months. We cannot both live off of my salary and it's a hard reality fo face. I mean, if I was single, I wouldn't really have to scrutinize my situation at all. But until Tim finds work, I really need to not spend any unnecessary funds. He's my partner-to-be and we both need to work together to get through these difficult times.

Tomorrow CVS is having a really great sale (yes on Thanksgiving) with quite a few free items after Extra Care Bucks rewards. I want to go, and many of the items are essentials that I purchase frequently... But... there will be temptation to purchase free stuff that we will not use (ie: makeup products, 5 Hour Energy, toys) Not to mention the fact that it would mean getting up at 5:30 a.m. So we'll see if I end up there or not.

There are a few electronics that I've been eyeing. One is an ultraportable laptop. This one in particular... (The ASUS EEE PC 901) It's so cute and little, and is in the cheaper realm of computers at around $350.



My own computer is on its last legs and I would love to use some of my tax refund next year to buy one. However, Tim has two Sony Vaio's both in good condition. I will make due using his.

In our office, coworkers and I have been checking out a nifty Audiovox Digital Photo Frame / Message Board. It's really cool. At Best Buy it's $130. This afternoon I discovered it online for $70 plus $8.95 shipping. Part of me was drawn to the idea of ordering it for my mom and stepfather. It's such a great price! But is it? You can put photos and a dry erase board on the fridge for a lot less than $78.95!


My goal for 2009 is to consciously spend wisely instead of thoughtlessly buying things I think I need, but really don't.

Here's what I'm going to do: whenever I'm considering a large purchase (something non-essential over $20) I will NOT buy the item when I would normally. Instead, I will post it on here, and YOU will tell me if I should buy it or not. Your comments will be my consumer conscience. Please help me in this ambitious process of becoming a better spender and saving more money. Thank you guys and have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Barely Legal? Hardly the Case

It's not that often that I take the time and money to play the Florida Lotto. But lately, I've been buying a few dollars worth on a weekly basis. Hey, you never know who will win the jackpot, right?

Today I went into a Rally on Ulmerton near work to fill up for $3.97 and then stepped into the store to buy $5 in tickets. When it was my turn at the register, I asked for the tickets. The clerk asked, "Are you 18?"

Laughing, I said that I was. "Would you like some ID?"
Clerk: "Actually, yes."

Wow. Occasionally I'm carded at bars and restaurants, but for lottery tickets?? Hahaha. It was rather flattering though, having someone think you might be a minor when in fact, you're closing in on 26.

I wonder if it had anything to do with the honey and aspirin mask I've been applying at night. My skin has been great since I've started doing that. And yes, I'm rather petite and have a youthful appearance.

Let's just hope that helps my lotto luck Wednesday night!