I came across a BBQ pork recipe on miserlymoms.com, and Safeway was having a sale on Pork Shoulder (Butt) for $1.19/pound. It was like the stars aligned! I did adapt a couple things, because I hate browning pork, so it came out like this.
3-5 pounds boneless pork meat
1 regular size bottle BBQ sauce (We used Bull's Eye. but it's more of a personal preference.)
1 large can of beer
1 medium yellow onion
Salt, pepper & garlic
Chop the onion, and mix the onion, BBQ sauce, beer, salt, pepper, and garlic in the bottom of a crockpot. (I used a mix of crushed pepper and whole peppercorns.) Trim the fat from the pork, put it into the crockpot. Cook on low for 8-10 hours. Shred and serve.
This was awesome!
MT Tips: Create A Financial Management System That Works For You
One of the greatest things about our move has been the chance to re-examine how we manage our financial information and paperwork. I couldn't believe when I was going through our paperwork I found bank statements from a CD I had in 1992. Seriously! The IRS doesn't even want to know about it but for some reason I'd never gotten rid of it.
Previously, I'd used my mother's filing system. My mother is the most incredible filer I've ever met. I remember when I was about 20, we were going through some of her files of paperwork and she started giggling strangely; apparently she found the receipt for the hotel stay where I was conceived. Ten years, and quite a bit of therapy later, I've figured out that her system doesn't work for me. She keeps a folder for every account that she's pretty much ever had. When I tried that, I had too many folders for things I couldn't even recognize when I was looking.
So what does work for me? I get expandable 13-pocket file folders for each year, one for personal, and one for business.(Additional ones for separate businesses or separate finances may be required.) Each of the first 12 pockets are labeled with the appropriate month, and contains a folder and an envelope. All financial statements and documents that should be kept go into the folder, and all receipts go into the envelope. Optimally, at the end of the month, I use the receipts to reconcile our statements, and dispose of any that wouldn't be used for write-offs at the end of the year. More realistically, I go through the receipts every quarter. The thirteenth pocket is for tax documents at the end of the year.
So far this works very well for us; the file folders are very easy to transport and store, which is great since I have near ten of them. I had some investments that I will be writing off until the end of time, so I do have to manage more than the customary seven years.
What works for everyone is different. Some people sort by date, some by account, some by type of account. The important thing is to find a system that you can keep up with. It doesn't do you any good to file things where you'll never find them, or have a system that frustrates you so badly you'd rather let statements from 1992 sit in a box than file them.
Previously, I'd used my mother's filing system. My mother is the most incredible filer I've ever met. I remember when I was about 20, we were going through some of her files of paperwork and she started giggling strangely; apparently she found the receipt for the hotel stay where I was conceived. Ten years, and quite a bit of therapy later, I've figured out that her system doesn't work for me. She keeps a folder for every account that she's pretty much ever had. When I tried that, I had too many folders for things I couldn't even recognize when I was looking.
So what does work for me? I get expandable 13-pocket file folders for each year, one for personal, and one for business.(Additional ones for separate businesses or separate finances may be required.) Each of the first 12 pockets are labeled with the appropriate month, and contains a folder and an envelope. All financial statements and documents that should be kept go into the folder, and all receipts go into the envelope. Optimally, at the end of the month, I use the receipts to reconcile our statements, and dispose of any that wouldn't be used for write-offs at the end of the year. More realistically, I go through the receipts every quarter. The thirteenth pocket is for tax documents at the end of the year.
So far this works very well for us; the file folders are very easy to transport and store, which is great since I have near ten of them. I had some investments that I will be writing off until the end of time, so I do have to manage more than the customary seven years.
What works for everyone is different. Some people sort by date, some by account, some by type of account. The important thing is to find a system that you can keep up with. It doesn't do you any good to file things where you'll never find them, or have a system that frustrates you so badly you'd rather let statements from 1992 sit in a box than file them.
Deal Alert: Old Navy
In honor of Father's Day, Old Navy is having a massive sale on menswear, up to 50%. Boot cut jeans normally priced at $29.50 are now $14.75! Shirts, shorts, swimwear, and accessories are on sale as well. Take advantage while you can; I'm pretty sure these deals won't stick around past Father's Day.
Hello Portland, Oregon!
Now it would be perfect if I could shout that with Robin William's voice in "Good Morning, Vietnam!" fashion.Mr. MT, FrugalPup and I are almost settled in Portland, OR. Unfortunately there is a slight problem with our apartment and we will be moving (again) in a couple weeks, but this time just to a new apartment in the same complex.
I haven't had a vacation from a 9 to 5 in quite a long time, so I've been instructed by Mr. MT to take a few weeks, relax, enjoy, and do what I love to do. Luckily, what I love to do includes writing and photography, so I'll have more time to dedicate to this blog, and it looks like I might have a friend joining me in the writing process. (Keep your fingers crossed; I really like his perspective.)
I learned a lot from this moving process. There were so many things that I didn't think about or didn't remember. A move is so much more than packing boxes; there were financial implications, choices to make about ourselves and our dog, and the ever present reminder from the universe that no matter how well we plan, something will go wrong to test our resilience. As is common for me I think I learned more from the mistakes I made than from anything I did right. Regardless, I'm happy to be settling in with old friends, making new ones, and finding creative and frugal ways to establish our life here (which I'll be sharing shortly).
Don't think I'm leaving Vegas completely behind, though. I still have friends, family, and a small piece of my heart in the desert town. Many I know have had a rough time and have adopted a frugal life out of pure necessity, not choice. I wish very good things and better economic times for everyone.
And lastly, a special thank you to the supportive bloggers of the Pacific Northwest who have been very welcoming. I look forward to being part of this wonderful group of writers.
Photo By StuSeeger
MT Tips: Don't Buy Anything Just Because It's A Good Deal
It never ceases to amaze me how many times I've gone through my closet and given away or donated items that still had price tags. In my case these aren't gowns from Neiman's. My tags always have slashes through them and red mark down stickers. For many years I suffered from good-deal-itis. If it looked like a good deal, sounded like a good deal, smelled like a good deal, it was going into the basket.
I would honestly convince myself, that I needed pants in my "size range" because they were marked down so low. I know this problem isn't relegated to clothes.
Other good-deal-itis buys include buying food in bulk that doesn't freeze well because this is the lowest price you've seen.
How about buying gardening supplies on sale for projects you couldn't hope to finish because you were afraid the price might go higher?
Even in business, I've watched several people stockpile materials. In fact, salespeople count on it, offering great, "once in a lifetime" deals, hoping that individuals will overbuy.
The end result is a lot of stuff piling up in closets, garages, and sheds.
Now, I give myself shopping boundaries. I only freeze products that freeze well. (For great tips on freezing berries check out Kris's post on Get Rich Slowly.) I buy non-perishables in bulk, and fresh fruits and vegetables every week or every other week.
I buy clothes that fit me now, and I try to keep a couple PMS options available, like drawstring pants, yoga pants, or stretch jeans.
If I have a project in mind, I make sure I have all of the resources, including time and capability before gathering supplies.
But I'm not immune to a good sale. If I see something that is a killer deal that I can't use for myself, I make sure I have someone in mind for it, and when it comes home it gets tagged, and ready for gift-giving.
In short, while it's good to take advantage of a great deal, you shouldn't purchase something only because it's a good deal.
I would honestly convince myself, that I needed pants in my "size range" because they were marked down so low. I know this problem isn't relegated to clothes.
Other good-deal-itis buys include buying food in bulk that doesn't freeze well because this is the lowest price you've seen.
How about buying gardening supplies on sale for projects you couldn't hope to finish because you were afraid the price might go higher?
Even in business, I've watched several people stockpile materials. In fact, salespeople count on it, offering great, "once in a lifetime" deals, hoping that individuals will overbuy.
The end result is a lot of stuff piling up in closets, garages, and sheds.
Now, I give myself shopping boundaries. I only freeze products that freeze well. (For great tips on freezing berries check out Kris's post on Get Rich Slowly.) I buy non-perishables in bulk, and fresh fruits and vegetables every week or every other week.
I buy clothes that fit me now, and I try to keep a couple PMS options available, like drawstring pants, yoga pants, or stretch jeans.
If I have a project in mind, I make sure I have all of the resources, including time and capability before gathering supplies.
But I'm not immune to a good sale. If I see something that is a killer deal that I can't use for myself, I make sure I have someone in mind for it, and when it comes home it gets tagged, and ready for gift-giving.
In short, while it's good to take advantage of a great deal, you shouldn't purchase something only because it's a good deal.
Today's Free-ish Fun
After considering my own piece on the current deprivation movement, I decided to be part of the solution instead of part of the problem. The truth is, every day I do something that is free (or very close to it) that I deeply enjoy. Granted, I do find joy in a wide variety of things, from eating at a fine restaurant to making my own fabric softener.
Today's free fun has included:
Today's free fun has included:
- Lighting five tea light candles
- Taking my dog for a walk
- Watching old episodes (but new to me) of Bones on hulu
- Getting puppy breath kisses this morning
Carnival Love #5
Big thank you to Funny About Money for hosting the 207th Carnival of Personal Finance which featured my post Is Deprivation the Best Option?
Greetings from the Pacific Northwest, where it even rains in June. :)
Greetings from the Pacific Northwest, where it even rains in June. :)
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