Dreams: Saving Money on Canned Dog Food

My seventy-eight year old dad loves spoiling his schipperke (pronounced "Skipper-key"), Cinder. I cringe whenever I see him open a can of expensive dog food. It's not because he cuts the dog food up into small bite size pieces then feeds her each little portion from a plastic knife because that's the only way she'll eat it. I cringe because he spends a fortune on brand name canned dog food.

But I bite my tongue. I don't tell him to save his money and not buy the stuff; that he could actually provide her meat from his own kitchen table. No, I don't advocate giving dogs leftovers from the table. What I do advocate is reserving meat that you have cooked for your canine.

And that is just what my husband does. He does all the cooking around here (shopping, too). Whatever meat he prepares, he always reserves a certain amount for Tsaile (pronounced "Say-lee"), our Rhodesian Ridgeback. Whether it's chicken, ribs, roast, pork chops or steak, we always have a small plastic bag of meat set off to the side in the refrigerator. Every morning and every night, we put a bit of meat on top of Tsaile's dry dog food.

I know for a fact that she would eat her dry dog food without that bit of meat on top of it because we have run out of the reserve and had no choice but to give her only her dog food with a bit of warm water mixed into it. I also know she would eat her dry food with cooked rice, carrots or potatoes.

We don't scrape leftovers into her food bowl but we will keep a small amount from our plates occasionally to add to her food.

She isn't over-weight because we're very conscious of what we feed her. And, we're not spending a fortune on canned food or doggie treats. Yet, I can tell you she is very spoiled.

Conclusion: If you're looking for something to cut from the budget, consider substituting something for the expensive treats or food you serve your pet.

P.S. My ferret, Ponc, gets off-brand raisins instead of the five dollar packages of ferret treats.

How I Saved Money on Postage This Christmas

How many of you have compared flat rate Priority versus Parcel Post pricing? I made the mistake of not doing comparisons last year and ended up spending more than I needed to spend when I mailed Christmas presents.

This year was different. Instead of assuming United Postal Service's flat rate boxes (if it fits, it ships) would be the cheapest way to mail Christmas presents, I navigated to USPS.com to do a little research. The URLs are located at the bottom of this blog.

I clicked on Parcel Post, located the zone table and typed in the first three digits of the zip code for the address furthest from me. Based on the weight of the package going to that zone, I was going to save close to three dollars for the one package as compared to mailing using a flat rate box. With that information in hand, there was no doubt I would save on the remaining packages as all of them were basically the same weight.

In all, I saved close to thirty dollars mailing nine packages Parcel Post. So, unless you are sending a personalized brick that can fit into a medium sized flat rate box, save your money by packing in a box you have laying around and send it Parcel Post.

http://www.usps.com/prices/priority-mail-prices.htm

http://www.usps.com/prices/parcel-post-prices.htm

Another Way to Earn Extra Income

I have a little artistic talent; can paint poinsettias, snowmen, winter and summer country mountain or forest scenes and the like on canvas, paper, wine bottles or glasses. After painting a Christmas scene on one of the windows in our house I decided I would see if there was anyone interested in having their own home window painted with a Christmas scene for a small fee. Sure enough, after advertising on a website that offers free posting, a lady replied; emailed that she had two windows she wanted painted with Christmas scenes.

This goes to show that if you have a talent for something, chances are at least one other person will need or want your services.

Here are some ideas to earn extra income or for barter:
Flower arrangements
Bouquets and candy bouquets
Party planning
Snow shoveling
Organizing closets, garages, cabinets
House cleaning
Cut hair
Style hair
Rake leaves
Clean car interiors
Run errands
Grocery shop

And pass the word around to all of your friends. Tell them you are willing to apply your talent or knack for a small fee. Be sure to advertise on websites that allow posts for no cost and post on your favorite social network website.

I did a search for sites like craigslist and found several responses. I plan on checking them out to see what will best serve me. And, I never charge a lot for my services. I research costs then under bid by several dollars. Doing so ensures I will get a customer at least ninety percent of the time.

Daddy Shot Santa... Written by my brother, David Graham

Daddy Shot Santa

Twas the night before Christmas and all ‘cross the farm

The critters had settled with no cause for alarm.

Our stockings we hung on our bedroom doorknobs

In hopes that Santa would bring trinkets and bobs.


The tree, just put up, seemed slender and slight,

But shined of great promise with each Christmas tree light.

The cookies and milk we displayed quite exquisite

As Mama read soft tones of Santa’s famed visit.


The hour grew late and our bedtime grew nigh,

Our excitement did brim as the minutes dragged by.

Mama’s chores done, her children bathed and fed,

Did herd us like cats to each waiting bed.


We filed up the stairs wishing Daddy Christmas goodnight,

But his whispered response gave us considerable fright.

“That old man better not come, I told him last year,

I told him ‘Stay away,’ he’s not welcome here.


“I called him a thief, a scoundrel, a dastard.

If he comes ‘round here I’ll shoot the ol’ bastard.”

Our lips did quiver; our sobs we did stifle.

For it was much too late to hide father’s old rifle.


Calm and composed, Mother tucked us with care

And wished us sleep tight with a kiss and a prayer.

Her soft steps betrayed by the squeak of each stair

“Stay in bed, be quiet, don’t make me come up there.”


Her warning we heeded for a minute or two,

‘Til silent night broke, “What shall we do?”

“Will Daddy shoot Santa,” the sister did dread.

The youngest chimed in, “I don’t want Santa dead.”

- Hide quoted text -


Entranced I gazed through frosted glass pane,

I puzzled and pondered and contorted my brain.

This couldn’t be true; it wasn’t quite right.

You can’t shoot Santa on Christmas Eve night.


Like the blaze of a star streaking a moonless sky

I realized in a moment there was no reason to cry.

“Don’t give it a worry, there’s no cause to whimper.

It’s only a joke,” I said with a simper.


With sighs of relief our fears were allayed,

We nestled warm blankets, no longer afraid.

When outside such racket atop our own roof.

Were those pebbles on shingles or each prancing hoof?


We moved not a muscle, our breath quite bated,

We strained to hear more and nervously waited.

Father’s heavy steps, a slamming screen door,

Shouted harsh words, “Yer not welcome no more.”


“I told you last year, stay off’n my place.

Yer a cheat, a liar, a louse-bound disgrace.

I got ol’ Betsy an’ a bad trigger twitch.

I’ll shoot yer ass now, ya ol’ som-bitch.”


What happened next I’m loathe to tell,

But Daddy shot twice, and began to yell.

“I shot the ol’ man,” our father did hoot.

“I winged the ol’ bastard; I got the ol’ coot.”


A shocked icy silence befell the homestead.

Had Daddy shot Santa; had he filled him with lead?

Not a word was spoken, not even a peep

As each child slipped into a worried, fitful sleep.


No visions of candy canes, no hopes of that toy.

We’d all grow up in a world without joy.

In morning we gathered scrubbing sleep from our eyes,

To venture downstairs to witness Santa’s demise.


But what to our weary eyes did we see?

A pile of wrapped presents under the tree.

And off in the corner sat Daddy quite smug.

He dismissed our new bounty with a wink and a shrug.


“For a fat old elf, he’s nimble and quick.

You gotta be sharp to get ol’ St. Nick.

I fired twice; he sure lit outta here,

Cursin’ and whippin’ each tiny reindeer.


“In his hurry from off his back

Fell all these gifts out of his pack.

So, merry Christmas, be of good cheer.

I’ll try it again this time next year.”

Copyright 2010 David Graham

Get Busy and Dream Your Dream

Get busy dreaming; imagining yourself doing something you wouldn't do in your normal life and routine. Dream about working at home or starting your own business. Dream about taking that vacation to Europe you used to day-dream about. Or, dream up something then imagine yourself doing it. You can't? Why not? Does it feel a little like window shopping without any money? There's no satisfaction in that, is there?

Dreaming of doing something you wouldn't normally do is merely setting a goal for yourself. Certainly some may view the goal as unattainable therefore only allowing themselves the imagination. Then there are those who honestly consider their dream as something quite attainable.

How are goals attained? They are attained by putting one foot in front of the other travelling a path toward accomplishment with intention. Origin of INTEND: Middle English entenden, intenden, from Anglo-French entendre, from Latin intendere to stretch out, direct, aim at, from in- + tendere to stretch.

We accomplish many intentions in our lives. We intend to do laundry; we intend to change the oil in our car; we intend to get up in the morning, have coffee then get ready for work and we intend on getting ourselves to work. We have successful intentions everyday. Yet, we sometimes have dreams we - for some particular reason - don't intend on achieving. Why? Is it the fear of affecting our survival? Is there not enough time in the day to put forth the effort? Or, is the dream merely a form of entertainment?

If your dream is not the latter then consider the other two reasons as excuses and untrue. They are untrue because there is no intention to attain the dream; the goal. I can hear the denials as I type. I have used those very same excuses myself. It's human nature. On the other hand, many of my dreams; my goals have been attained through mere intention. I let nothing stop me. I found ways to accomplish my dreams by putting one foot in front of the other; researching, if necessary, methods to get where I wanted to go then actually heading toward the end result, continuing until I reached my goal.

So, if you're not dreaming, conjuring, imagining for self-entertainment, start putting one foot in front of the other and heading up the path toward your final destination. There is nothing more enjoyable than productively accomplishing an end result: Your dream.

Dreams: Christmas Cards

What's more unique than a handmade Christmas card? A hand painted Christmas card.

My Christmas factory has been busily designing, creating and painting Christmas cards. Thanks to a good friend, Rick, I received and finished my first order of 16 homemade, hand painted cards! Done in layers of colored paper with the main image painted in acrylics, I have illustrated Cowboy Snowmen.

For the Cowboy Snowman and snow, I used a base of purple with glaze then add layers of white and blue. The hat is painted in layers of yellow ochre with glaze, tan and brown using white and black to highlight and shadow.

But I'm not limiting myself to just Cowboy Snowmen. I'm painting poinsettias, ferns, Christmas balls and holly. Interested? Please go to my website millerswrappedexpression.com

Dreams of Saving Money

It's difficult to save money these days what with the economy the way it is. If you're without a job or your hours have been cut back, it's next to impossible if not entirely impossible to save for that rainy day, vacation and/or retirement.

My parents didn't teach me how to save or economize. They didn't tell me to save at least fifteen percent of my pay checks. It wasn't until I was in my thirties I even heard about putting a portion of my income away into a savings account. They also never suggested to me to wait for sales to buy clothing, vehicles, food or anything for that matter. And, how many of us have ever heard the words don't buy what you can't afford? What we do hear plenty of is buy with credit. We're inundated with that message.

When I was a kid growing up on a farm, whenever my parents needed extra money Daddy would sell a hog or two. Unfortunately, I don't have that option today but I have learned to not buy what I can not afford.

This brings me to my list of things we do to save.

• There are no credit cards in this house. Nothing is purchased with credit. What would happen if we did then found ourselves without jobs? Think about it because in today's world losing a job is more likely to happen than not.
• We paid off our car early. Yes, I did say I don't buy what I can not afford but few of us have ten thousand dollars laying around to buy a used car.
• That's another lesson I learned: Don't buy a brand new vehicle. Think of the money lost in interest and car value when you drive it off the lot. I saved at least ten thousand dollars (not including interest) buying used instead of new.
• In a past post, I wrote about using coupons. Wait for the coupon. We NEVER buy glucosamine at full price nor do I buy supplies for my hobbies at full price. We wait for the fifty and forty percent off coupons. In truth, we use coupons for everything from dish soap to oil changes.
• Our bank offers the opportunity to save when we use our debit card by rounding up the dollar amount then putting it into a special savings account. At the end of the year, they match the savings up to $250.
• When I saw our bank was charging us a minimum balance fee, I called and threatened to change banks. We pay no fee what so ever.
• We mow our own lawn, turn out lights, keep the thermostat at sixty eight during the winter and eighty during the summer.

What is the number one thing I do to save? Fear. I use my fear of being without money as the main driving force to save. If you've never been able to pay for utilities, make the car or house payment, or pay rent, you will understand the fear. Other wise, you'll simply have to use your imagination.