photo taken from Google Images

It’s Thursday, that means it’s time for another Thank you Thursday, a time where I take a look over the past week and thank those who have in some way or another given me some free food.

Alicia V. x2 She was awesome this week and can cook one mean roast

Mom and Dad

Debbie L.

April and Andrew C

Amy F.

Jenny and Josh S

Leah F

I’m thinking that I forgot someone, and if I did, I’m sorry.  I truly am thankful.

Image from pastemagazine.com

Alright, I know I have been doing some major slacking with posts lately.  I am sorry about this, and will give my excuse now.  Starting a business, even if it is just a side business is a lot of work.  My side business jmundie photography has been consuming all my spare time as of lately.  I encourage you to check it out, let me know what you think, and I also welcome constructive criticism.  I was an art major, so I can handle it.

As for my money tip this week, which is usually on Mondays, but this week is on Tuesday (look above for excuse) is what I like to call the wait rule.  what is the wait rule, well it is pretty simple, you simply wait to purchase something.  I know that this can’t work for every time that you go to purchase something, but it can and does work for luxury things that you don’t “need”  For instance, when I’m tempted to buy an album of amazon mp3, if I use the wait rule and say “tomorrow if I still really feel like I need this album, I will get it”  then most of the time I will end up thinking that I can go without, thus saving me like $9.  Now I know that this won’t work all the time, and it won’t work for everything, but for a lot of things it does work and will end up saving you from buying things that you don’t really need and saving you money as you do it.

photo taken from Google Images

This week special thanks to lots of people

Davis B

Rebecca M

Debbie L

Campus Church

April and Andrew C

Mom and Dad

Amy F.

Eric and Courtney M.

people in my small group who cooked this past week

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.  I really appreciate you all, more than you know.

Image from pastemagazine.com

This weeks money tip.  Buy off brand things.  This is a tough one for me.  I love me some name brand things.  but a lot of times, the off brand stuff is the exact same as the name brand stuff, just packaged differently.  Think about it, can ibuprofen really be that different from brand to brand.  or how about cereals and things like milk and eggs.  go with the cheaper option, it is usually just as good quality, just without the fancier packaging and expensive price tag.

photo from http://www.sxc.hu/photo/296223

Okay, So I know I have been lax on the posts recently, but there is a good reason for that.  You see, I no longer have internet at the house, so it is making it harder to put up posts.  However, I am going to make an effort to be more consistent with my posts.

This weeks Thank you Thursday is a culmination of 2 weeks.

Mom and Dad

April and Andrew

Jody V.

Debbie L.

Amy F.

Amy F.

Davis B.

Rebecca M.

Eric and Courtney M.

I’m sure there are more, and If I left you off, I am truly sorry, and extremely thankful.

This weeks Friday Money Fail:

This past week was a pretty good week.  However, the week before I had to turn down a freelance job because of lack of time.  It was a pretty good paying job, but I just didn’t have enough time to do an adequate job.  Part of this is because they didn’t approach me with enough time, but part of it is because I took too much on at work.  Now I know that I have a job to do, and I want to do that job with excellence, but there is a time to have boundaries.  And the truth of the matter is this, on my salary I need freelance work to make ends meet.  So if I don’t exercise my boundaries at work, and have to continue turning down freelance jobs then I am going to struggle.

Image from pastemagazine.com

Alright, It is Monday.  Sorry for the lack of posts, but I was preoccupied with family and turkey that was graciously cooked and given to me by said family.  With today being the last day of the month, I thought I would reiterate a tip that I gave previously.  And that is, to make a budget.  Knowing where your money is going before it goes there is key.  That way you don’t end up at the end of the month with no money and nothing to show for it.  It doesn’t take too long to figure out, and is well worth your time.  I just finished mine for this month, you should too.

Image from pastemagazine.com

Okay I know, I missed yesterday’s Monday Mundie Money Tip.  But to make up for it, I am giving you a tip for Tuesday, and my sincerest apology.

Today’s Mundie Money Tip is: If you go out to eat, only eat half your meal and take the rest home.  Think about it.  An average meal at a decent restaurant is $12.  So if you eat the whole thing, that is $12 a meal.  But if you save half of it, and eat it for lunch or dinner later, than you drop the price to $6 a meal.  Which isn’t too bad.  And lets be honest, you probably don’t need to be putting all those calories in your body anyway.  You might even lose some weight.  You can thank me later….fatty.

Alright, I also have a confession to make.  I went out to a restaurant yesterday and paid for my food and a friends.  Then we also went out for ice cream at Brusters.  I promised transparency with all my readers out there, so here it is.  I went almost 3 whole months without spending money at a restaurant on myself.  Think of the money I saved.  I would like to say that I regretted it, but I didn’t.  I had a really fun time with a friend that hopefully I will be hanging out with again soon.

Well hope you all have a great Turkey day!

photo from http://www.sxc.hu/photo/296223

It’s FRIDAY!!!  woohoo, this week has been long and long.  Glad the weekend if finally upon us.  It is also time for another Friday Money Fail, a time where we can share our financial mistakes that we have made over the past week, so others won’t fall into the same trap.

This week was one long epic FAIL for me.  I made a lot of mistakes with my finances this week.  The first being on Sunday, It was my turn to cook for my small group, we alternate between people and eat for free most weeks, except when it is your turn to cook.  So I have been eating for free for 2 months now, and it was my turn to cook.  Now because of my personality, I wanted to out do everyone else who has previously cooked.  So naturally I spent a whole lot more, doing something that was really fancy instead of doing something that more naturally lends itself to a large group of people.  So I ended up spending about twice what I could have.  That’s one of my FAILS this week, what are your FAILS?

photo taken from Google Images

It’s Thursday, that means it is time for another Thank You Thursday.  This is where I take some time to thank everyone who fed, gave me food, or somehow encouraged me this past week with my beans and rice diet.  Thank you.

Debbie L. —> she’s a beast, she makes the list every week.  Special thanks to Debbie

Amy F.

Mom and Dad

Aunt Lynn and Uncle Don

Sara R.

I’m probably forgetting a bunch, but it has been a long day and my mind is fried.  If i forgot anyone, I am so sorry, and I truly and thankful.

image from frugalmania.com

I have been super busy lately starting a photography business for some extra cash which is why the posts have been minimum. Check it out if you get a chance.  But I figured I would take my lunch break to post a fried rice recipe.  I made this the other day, and it was really tasty.

What you need:

3 to 4 cups cooked rice (preferably cooked in a rice cooker)

chopped green onion

frozen peas/carrots combo bag

choice of chopped chicken, pork, or shrimp

eggs

soy sauce

butter

Directions:

cook rice as directed making it sticky hopefully

in a large frying pan or wok, cook 2-3 eggs scrambled

add meat, some peas/carrots to taste, chopped green onions, and some soy sauce until meat if fully cooked

add rice and some butter

mix everything together and enjoy