Frugal Living: Jun 25, 2008

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

25 new messages in 11 topics - digest

misc.consumers.frugal-living
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living?hl=en

misc.consumers.frugal-living@googlegroups.com

Today's topics:

==============================================================================
TOPIC: how have you fought against shrinking cereal?
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/97e6d127104a33a1?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 5 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 9:58 am
From: me@privacy.net

"h" <tmclone@searchmachine.com> wrote:

>Don't buy it. Cereal and other grains should not be eaten by humans. Grain
>is what food eats.
>

So what to eat for breakfast then?

== 2 of 5 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 12:37 pm
From: "Rod Speed"

me@privacy.net wrote
> h <tmclone@searchmachine.com> wrote

>> Don't buy it. Cereal and other grains should not be eaten by humans.
>> Grain is what food eats.

> So what to eat for breakfast then?

I havent bothered with breakfast for almost half a century now.

Just have a single slice of toast, as thick as will still fit in the toaster
bought specially to be able to toast the thickest bread available.
The bread is mulitigrain, made in the bread machine.

Dont even bother with coffee anymore, just water.

== 3 of 5 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 1:54 pm
From: Parallax

By doing what I've always done, eat pop tarts.

== 4 of 5 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 3:06 pm
From: Seerialmom

On Jun 25, 4:52 am, "OhioGuy" <n...@none.net> wrote:
> I just heard that the average size of a box of cereal is shrinking by 2.3
> ounces. Outrageous! Most cereals I see now are very processed, and
> horribly expensive - often $3 or more per pound when you do the math. I can
> often get decent cuts of meat for about that.
>
> I'm tired of feeling gouged for cereals, and am wondering how you folks
> have fought back against the high prices.
>
> For years, I've considered buying grain bulk (several of my uncles are
> farmers) and trying to process it into something we can eat for breakfast
> (like hot wheat, or whatever), but I've never tried it, and am afraid my
> kids might not eat it.

I stopped eating cereal a few years ago along with milk. However from
time to time the local grocery store will have a $1-$2 each sale on
Kelloggs cereals (which I'll buy for my son). Even if the Frosted
Mini-Wheats are only 14oz vs the previous 15.4oz it's still worth it.
But if you want to keep it even more frugal, buy the Malt-O-Meal
equivalents in the bags and pour those into Rubbermaid or Tupperware
cereal keepers.

== 5 of 5 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 7:40 pm
From: JonL

OhioGuy wrote:
> I just heard that the average size of a box of cereal is shrinking by 2.3
> ounces. Outrageous! Most cereals I see now are very processed, and
> horribly expensive - often $3 or more per pound when you do the math. I can
> often get decent cuts of meat for about that.
>
> I'm tired of feeling gouged for cereals, and am wondering how you folks
> have fought back against the high prices.
>
> For years, I've considered buying grain bulk (several of my uncles are
> farmers) and trying to process it into something we can eat for breakfast
> (like hot wheat, or whatever), but I've never tried it, and am afraid my
> kids might not eat it.
>
>
Go to a health food store that carries bulk grains. Try steel-cut
oats, too. Buy small amounts, see if your kids will eat it, or if you
want to bother with the xtra work.

Or, try serving your reg cereal in smaller bowls, or dilute it with
something cheaper, or use lots more milk to "expand" the shrinkage.

ps: I stopped eating natural foods when I realized most peeps die a
natural death.......

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Carl's Jr Burger Coupon
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/f6e9668e1bcdf4ef?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 12:15 pm
From: Cheapo Groovo

http://www.carlsjr.com/coupon/Prime_Rib_Burger.jpg

==============================================================================
TOPIC: How many here own food freezer?
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/79858a8bd8f90308?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 4 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 2:30 pm
From: Vandy Terre

On Wed, 25 Jun 2008 06:50:37 +1000, "Rod Speed" <rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com> wrote:

>Samantha Hill <samhill@TRASHsonic.net> wrote
>> clams_casino wrote
>
>>>> It's all dated, and I don't have the chart handy but I know you can keep it for something like six months.
>
>>> Considering the pricing cycle is about 4 weeks and there are usually several grocers running sales (often at
>>> different times), why settle for 6-month old frozen meat?
>
>> Because I am self-employed and my income is not a steady stream, so I keep cycling food in and out of my freezer so
>> when I have short of work, we still have food.
>
>You dont need a freezer for that, you can do the same thing with cash instead.

Can you??? If you keep the freezer full of foods found on sale, then it is
there and available. The sales may not happen when your cash is low.

I too suffer from lack of steady income. I buy heavy when there is money and
sales. I keep my food bill under $600/ month for 4 adults and 2 teens. If it
in the freezer it is probably meat of some sort. Vegetables are bought canned
on special. Salad makings are purchased on sale or home grown.

General multiple stop shopping done once per week with the grocery as last stop.
Trying to reduce that to once every two weeks. Once every two means freezing
bread and milk or returning to home baked bread and hand milking the goats. As
prices climb for bread and milk, hand milking goats is looking better and
better. Homemade bread tastes better than store bought, but summer heat makes
baking bread most uncomfortable. LOL Maybe the cure to insomnia would be
baking bread, cakes, cookies in the middle of the much cooler sleepless night.
Might not cure the problem but it would make better use of the sleepless night.
;^P

== 2 of 4 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 2:44 pm
From: "Rod Speed"

Vandy Terre <vandy@tanglewood-destiny.com> wrote
> Rod Speed <rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com> wrote
>> Samantha Hill <samhill@TRASHsonic.net> wrote
>>> clams_casino wrote

>>>>> It's all dated, and I don't have the chart handy but I
>>>>> know you can keep it for something like six months.

>>>> Considering the pricing cycle is about 4 weeks and there are
>>>> usually several grocers running sales (often at different times),
>>>> why settle for 6-month old frozen meat?

>>> Because I am self-employed and my income is not a steady
>>> stream, so I keep cycling food in and out of my freezer so
>>> when I have short of work, we still have food.

>> You dont need a freezer for that, you can do the same thing with cash instead.

> Can you???

Corse you can, and with cash you can get a decent earning rate on it too, instead
of the inevitable loss with the food you end up discarding with the freezer too.

> If you keep the freezer full of foods found on sale, then it is there and available.

Yes, but thats just as true when you keep it in cash too.

> The sales may not happen when your cash is low.

Corse they will.

> I too suffer from lack of steady income. I buy heavy when there is
> money and sales. I keep my food bill under $600/ month for 4 adults
> and 2 teens. If it in the freezer it is probably meat of some sort.

> Vegetables are bought canned on special.

And canned veg is nothing like as good as frozen with a few exceptions.

> Salad makings are purchased on sale or home grown.

But arent suitable for the freezer, so irrelevant to what is being discussed.

> General multiple stop shopping done once per week with the grocery
> as last stop. Trying to reduce that to once every two weeks.

Separate matter entirely to what was being discussed, using
a freezer for the time when not working or with lower income.

> Once every two means freezing bread and milk or returning to home baked bread

And its even less effort to home bake bread with a bread machine than it is to buy
commercial bread and the home made bread leaves the commercial shit for dead.

> and hand milking the goats. As prices climb for bread
> and milk, hand milking goats is looking better and better.

Or you could give up on milk completely if you dont have little kids.

> Homemade bread tastes better than store bought, but
> summer heat makes baking bread most uncomfortable. LOL

Not if you use a bread machine.

> Maybe the cure to insomnia would be baking bread, cakes, cookies
> in the middle of the much cooler sleepless night. Might not cure the
> problem but it would make better use of the sleepless night. ;^P

Dont have that problem and use a bread machine. Dont bother
with cakes and cookies anymore, prefer fresh fruit instead.

== 3 of 4 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 4:33 pm
From: "Lou"

"Samantha Hill - remove TRASH to reply" <samhill@TRASHsonic.net> wrote in
message news:4861a24e$0$17220$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net...
> Lou wrote:
> >
> > Both these freezers are manual defrost. I've had both manual and self
> > defrosting types, chest and uprights. The difference in convenience is
> > overwhelmingly in favor of an self-defrosting upright, in my opinion -
well
> > worth the difference in operating cost.
>
>
> I agree that manual defrost units use less power -- but have you found
> any manual defrost units that are Energy Star rated? I haven't.

I just cited two - it took no more time to find than to browse to the Sears
web site.

== 4 of 4 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 4:42 pm
From: Samantha Hill - remove TRASH to reply

Lou wrote:
>>
>> I agree that manual defrost units use less power -- but have you found
>> any manual defrost units that are Energy Star rated? I haven't.
>
> I just cited two - it took no more time to find than to browse to the Sears
> web site.

Sorry -- I thought you said they were NOT Energy Star rated. And finding
them on Sears explains why I haven't seen them. I haven't done business
with Sears ever since the time a salesperson told me, "We don't have to
do anything to get your business. We're Sears. You're automatically
going to come to us."

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Wooden Chairs
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/e101ef490ecdc037?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 2 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 3:01 pm
From: Al Bundy

turtlelover wrote:
> AndyTao wrote:
> <snip>
>
>
> No thanks. The shipping cost from China is the deal breaker. Not very frugal.

That light colored hard wood they make stuff with is very nice. The
trouble is that many of the designs are under-engineered and break.
They don't understand how tough Americans and especially American kids
can be on furniture. I save the larger pieces from the cast offs of
others. It makes great repairs and toys.
I would not buy anything shipped directly from China. They are
shipping us some wasps here in the midwest to help fight the emerald
ash borer that has nearly killed off all the ash trees. We can still
get aluminum baseball bats though-from China.

== 2 of 2 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 3:13 pm
From: "Rod Speed"

Al Bundy <MSfortune@mcpmail.com> wrote
> turtlelover wrote
>> AndyTao wrote

>> No thanks. The shipping cost from China is the deal breaker. Not very frugal.

> That light colored hard wood they make stuff with is very nice.
> The trouble is that many of the designs are under-engineered
> and break. They don't understand how tough Americans and
> especially American kids can be on furniture.

Or they dont realise what hippos most of them are.

> I save the larger pieces from the cast offs of others. It makes great
> repairs and toys. I would not buy anything shipped directly from China.
> They are shipping us some wasps here in the midwest to help fight
> the emerald ash borer that has nearly killed off all the ash trees.
> We can still get aluminum baseball bats though-from China.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Free Tacos
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/ab3babf7d5753f0b?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 2 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 3:14 pm
From: Cheapo Groovo

From Jack in the Box

Thursday 6/26 - bring in a gas station receipt

http://www.jackinthebox.com/twofreetacosday/

http://www.cheapogroovo.com

== 2 of 2 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 3:24 pm
From: Seerialmom

On Jun 25, 3:14 pm, Cheapo Groovo <c...@nospam.com> wrote:
> From Jack in the Box
>
> Thursday 6/26 - bring in a gas station receipt
>
> http://www.jackinthebox.com/twofreetacosday/
>
> http://www.cheapogroovo.com

That's just too funny. I must have been posting mine at almost
exactly the same time as you...I even "looked" to see if there was
another topic with the same subject! Oh well...it's still free if you
have your gas receipts.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Jack intends to lessen the pain of high gas prices
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/010bb3847a39e95e?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 3:21 pm
From: Seerialmom

By producing another source of gas...through Tacos. In the US (maybe
elsewhere, not sure), if you bring a recent gas receipt to Jack In The
Box you can get 2 free tacos. It's this Thursday, June 26th. Details
on their site:

http://www.jackinthebox.com/twofreetacosday/

Bon appetit! :)

==============================================================================
TOPIC: CBS News on the economy and grocery shopping
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/1ad6efab460db467?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 2 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 3:57 pm
From: Truly Stunned

In article <6c7p46F3eisqtU1@mid.individual.net>,
"Rod Speed" <rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com> wrote:

> clams_casino <PeterGriffin@DrunkinClam.com> wrote
> > catalpa wrote
>
> >> The biggest part of my and many other peoples budget is taxes. I'd love to
> >> save money on taxes, but the federal,
> >> state, county and local governments and the school board won't let me.
>
> > You can always move to a country that doesn't provide any services.
>
> No such animal, and even if there was, there would still be taxes to pay
> their parasites.

Try Hong Kong. That's about as close as you will get.

== 2 of 2 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 4:33 pm
From: "Rod Speed"

Truly Stunned <violin@thebridgeofsighs.sad> wrote
> Rod Speed <rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com> wrote
>> clams_casino <PeterGriffin@DrunkinClam.com> wrote
>>> catalpa wrote

>>>> The biggest part of my and many other peoples budget is taxes.
>>>> I'd love to save money on taxes, but the federal, state, county
>>>> and local governments and the school board won't let me.

>>> You can always move to a country that doesn't provide any services.

>> No such animal, and even if there was, there
>> would still be taxes to pay their parasites.

> Try Hong Kong. That's about as close as you will get.

Sure, but even they still provide services.

And they have parasites too.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: china whole sale gucci purses coach lv sun glases lv prada puma traines
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/cbc9f25131b2fa50?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 5:38 pm
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==============================================================================
TOPIC: Free software.
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/1252e269bdfffdb8?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 2 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 6:02 pm
From: Gordon

At the risk of looking like a spammer (But, I'm not trying
to sell anything). There is nothing for sale on this site.

I found a web site a while back that maintianed a list
of the 47 best freeware applications. For those who
don't know, "Freeware" is software that is totally free.
Much of it is very good (The Linux opperating system,
Picasa from Google, AVG antivirus, etc).

Well, "Gizmo" Richards has totaly redone his web site
and has recruited about 60 volunteer editors to help
maintain one of the best freeware evaluation sites on
the web. The list of evaluated freeware is way over 100
now.

Now you don't have to buy commercial software, or take
a chance on unknown freeware. Find the best of the best,
the cream of the crop, right here.

www.techsupportalert.com

I would like to say that I have no connection with the site.
But, I have to admit that I have contributed articles to the site.

Obviously I think it's a great site. And saving money on
software is in keeping with the mission of this group.
(I think we had a discussion thread on it once).
So enjoy.

== 2 of 2 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 7:54 pm
From: Samantha Hill - remove TRASH to reply

Gordon wrote:
>
> Now you don't have to buy commercial software, or take
> a chance on unknown freeware. Find the best of the best,
> the cream of the crop, right here.

The site of freeware programs recommended by the readers of the
newsgroup news:alt.comp.freeware is located at

http://www.pricelesswarehome.org, and not only does it have an
impressive collection of "best of" freeware, but it has links to lots of
other sites that have lists of freeware.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Budget
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/9f56decb39ba091e?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 4 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 6:03 pm
From: Marsha

I'm curious. How many of you have a formal budget where you actually
put down all your monthly expenses and income? I've never had one. I
just do the numbers in my head, which is probably not a good idea in
retrospect.

Marsha/Ohio

== 2 of 4 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 6:32 pm
From: val189

On Jun 25, 9:03 pm, Marsha <m...@xeb.net> wrote:
> I'm curious. How many of you have a formal budget where you actually
> put down all your monthly expenses and income? I've never had one. I
> just do the numbers in my head, which is probably not a good idea in
> retrospect.
>
> Marsha/Ohio

Quicken gives me the complete picture on all income and outflow back
to 1991. Could not operate without it. It has a budget feature, but
I don't use it.

No way can you track it all in your head - especially cash purchases.

== 3 of 4 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 7:09 pm
From: Marsha

val189 wrote:
> No way can you track it all in your head - especially cash purchases.

Hence the reason for my post :-)

Marsha/Ohio

== 4 of 4 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 8:03 pm
From: "Rod Speed"

Marsha <mas@xeb.net> wrote:

> I'm curious. How many of you have a formal budget where you actually
> put down all your monthly expenses and income? I've never had one.

Me neither.

> I just do the numbers in my head,

I dont bother. Just watch the cash balance over time and
notice it keeps on increasing over time so dont bother.

> which is probably not a good idea in retrospect.

Depends on how close to the wind you are flying. Its fine if you arent flying that close.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Target stores unit pricing on paper goods.
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/2a1db67120ad9cd3?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 8:49 pm
From: the zak

Target unit pricing shelf labels for paper goods like paper
towels and toilet tissue list the unit price per 100 sheets
instead of per 100 square feet as do other stores.
It's inaccurate. Sheet sizes vary. Converting unit pricing
from per 100 sheets to per 100 square feet is difficult
to do in the aisle of the Target store.

==============================================================================

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Google Groups: http://groups.google.com?hl=en

25 new messages in 9 topics - digest

misc.consumers.frugal-living
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living?hl=en

misc.consumers.frugal-living@googlegroups.com

Today's topics:

==============================================================================
TOPIC: VANILLA ICE FANS ONLY
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/13b83054ee375dfc?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Tues, Jun 24 2008 7:50 pm
From: markritter151@gmail.com

The "Cool as Ice Blu-Ray" petition has been featured in seven major
news outlets already, including CNN and USA Today. There are already
342 votes to get Vanilla Ice's awesome move "Cool as Ice" released in
high-definition Blu-Ray disc. Add your name (or someone you know) to
the petition today!

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/coolasicebluray

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Marktforscher Marktforscherin jobangebote norddeutschland Mechatroniker
Mechatronikerin stellen deutschland stellenangebot vertrieb Facility Manager
Facility Managerin jobangebote im ausland karriere deutschland
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/38d2026860348b22?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 2:36 am
From: lilb81116@googlemail.com

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==============================================================================
TOPIC: Please Vote for AMIN!!
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/1d69f63af30b8911?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 4 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 3:29 am
From: clams_casino

vote4amin wrote:

>Dear frens,
>
>

sorry, but no spammer is a fren of mine.

>Need your help to spend a minute of your time to vote for my little
>boy
>
>

If I vote more than once, can I get additional virus? Or is there only
one downloadable virus?

>
>
>

== 2 of 4 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 4:19 am
From: Dan Birchall

OMG. What is the word "Cute" doing in this contest? There are some
positively _frightening_ looking people on that page! And most of the
kids look traumatized or otherwise profoundly unhappy.

--
"Infirm indeed are my bones, and the hair of my head doth glisten with
grey: but never am I unblest."

== 3 of 4 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 5:20 am
From: clams_casino

Dan Birchall wrote:

>OMG. What is the word "Cute" doing in this contest? There are some
>positively _frightening_ looking people on that page! And most of the
>kids look traumatized or otherwise profoundly unhappy.
>
>
>
Considering this spam was posted via Maylasia:, before you link with
spam such as this - "An analysis by Google found that 10% of all web
pages are equipped to secretly download spyware and other malicious code
on user's computers. These downloads can steal login and password
information, install unwanted bookmarks and toolbars, and even damage
operating systems."

== 4 of 4 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 7:59 am
From: Al Bundy

On Jun 24, 10:00 pm, vote4amin <vote4a...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Dear frens,
>
> Need your help to spend a minute of your time to vote for my little
> boy in Cutefam 2008 contest. Please click --->>>http://www.thelilcaliph.com/CuteFam2008/voteWithCodes.htmlto vote.
> The rule is only one vote per ip per day. So, you can only vote once
> a
> day until 28th June. Appreciate if you can forward this link to your
> frens and family. Thanks a lot in advanced for your help.

I checked. Nobody in your entire family pictured there is cute.
We'll have the UN send some Plumpinut instead, epap if you prefer.

== 1 of 12 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 4:52 am
From: "OhioGuy"

I just heard that the average size of a box of cereal is shrinking by 2.3
ounces. Outrageous! Most cereals I see now are very processed, and
horribly expensive - often $3 or more per pound when you do the math. I can
often get decent cuts of meat for about that.

I'm tired of feeling gouged for cereals, and am wondering how you folks
have fought back against the high prices.

For years, I've considered buying grain bulk (several of my uncles are
farmers) and trying to process it into something we can eat for breakfast
(like hot wheat, or whatever), but I've never tried it, and am afraid my
kids might not eat it.

== 2 of 12 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 4:15 am
From: Dan Birchall

none@none.net (OhioGuy) wrote:
> I just heard that the average size of a box of cereal is shrinking by 2.3
> ounces. Outrageous! Most cereals I see now are very processed, and
> horribly expensive - often $3 or more per pound when you do the math. I can
> often get decent cuts of meat for about that.
>
> I'm tired of feeling gouged for cereals, and am wondering how you folks
> have fought back against the high prices.
>
> For years, I've considered buying grain bulk (several of my uncles are
> farmers) and trying to process it into something we can eat for breakfast
> (like hot wheat, or whatever), but I've never tried it, and am afraid my
> kids might not eat it.

I knew I had blogged about this sort of thing a couple years ago...
http://danbirchall.multiply.com/journal/item/324

They're screwing around not only with the price and the size of the box,
but also with the size of the serving. :)

--
"Infirm indeed are my bones, and the hair of my head doth glisten with
grey: but never am I unblest."

== 3 of 12 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 4:30 am
From: Siskuwihane

On Jun 25, 7:52 am, "OhioGuy" <n...@none.net> wrote:
> I just heard that the average size of a box of cereal is shrinking by 2.3
> ounces. Outrageous! Most cereals I see now are very processed, and
> horribly expensive - often $3 or more per pound when you do the math. I can
> often get decent cuts of meat for about that.

The average price per pound for Malt-O-Meal Frosted Mini-Spooners is
$1.63.
M-O-M Golden Puffs, $1.78 per pound.

>
> I'm tired of feeling gouged for cereals, and am wondering how you folks
> have fought back against the high prices.

By eating a slice of whole wheat toast and 2 teaspoons of
peanutbutter.

>
> For years, I've considered buying grain bulk (several of my uncles are
> farmers) and trying to process it into something we can eat for breakfast
> (like hot wheat, or whatever), but I've never tried it, and am afraid my
> kids might not eat it.

Your kids will eat it if they get hungry enough.

== 4 of 12 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 4:34 am
From: Siskuwihane

On Jun 25, 7:30 am, Siskuwihane <Siskuwiha...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Jun 25, 7:52 am, "OhioGuy" <n...@none.net> wrote:
>
> > I just heard that the average size of a box of cereal is shrinking by 2.3
> > ounces. Outrageous! Most cereals I see now are very processed, and
> > horribly expensive - often $3 or more per pound when you do the math. I can
> > often get decent cuts of meat for about that.
>
> The average price per pound for Malt-O-Meal Frosted Mini-Spooners is
> $1.63.
> M-O-M Golden Puffs, $1.78 per pound.
>
>
>
> > I'm tired of feeling gouged for cereals, and am wondering how you folks
> > have fought back against the high prices.
>
> By eating a slice of whole wheat toast and 2 teaspoons of
> peanutbutter.

Actually it's two tablespoons.

== 5 of 12 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 5:52 am
From: hchickpea@hotmail.com

On Wed, 25 Jun 2008 06:15:24 -0500, Dan Birchall
<nobody@imaginary-host.danbirchall.com> wrote:

>none@none.net (OhioGuy) wrote:
>> I just heard that the average size of a box of cereal is shrinking by 2.3
>> ounces. Outrageous! Most cereals I see now are very processed, and
>> horribly expensive - often $3 or more per pound when you do the math. I can
>> often get decent cuts of meat for about that.
>>
>> I'm tired of feeling gouged for cereals, and am wondering how you folks
>> have fought back against the high prices.
>>
>> For years, I've considered buying grain bulk (several of my uncles are
>> farmers) and trying to process it into something we can eat for breakfast
>> (like hot wheat, or whatever), but I've never tried it, and am afraid my
>> kids might not eat it.
>
>I knew I had blogged about this sort of thing a couple years ago...
>http://danbirchall.multiply.com/journal/item/324
>
>They're screwing around not only with the price and the size of the box,
>but also with the size of the serving. :)

Cereal has always been outragously expensive for what it is.
Save-a-lot has some dollar boxes of corn flakes and raisin bran.
Can't tell the difference between them and the higher priced stuff.

Harry, still trying to figure out how to fight shrinking cereal.
Sharpened spoon? Tiny racks to stretch the individual flakes?

== 6 of 12 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 4:51 am
From: Samantha Hill - remove TRASH to reply

OhioGuy wrote:
>
> I'm tired of feeling gouged for cereals, and am wondering how you folks
> have fought back against the high prices.

I quit eating them a long time ago, because they have been overpriced
for absolutely ages.

> For years, I've considered buying grain bulk (several of my uncles are
> farmers) and trying to process it into something we can eat for breakfast
> (like hot wheat, or whatever), but I've never tried it, and am afraid my
> kids might not eat it.

Think outside the box, pun intended. Quick breads are easy to make,
cheap, and work. Peanut butter sandwiches worked for my oldest when he
was young. Add fruit or yogurt to cooked grains, or make
not-terribly-sweetened rice pudding or wheat pudding (same recipe,
different grain and longer cooking time) and have that for breakfast.

== 7 of 12 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 5:43 am
From: "h"

Don't buy it. Cereal and other grains should not be eaten by humans. Grain
is what food eats.

== 8 of 12 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 6:50 am
From: "Evelyn C. Leeper"

Siskuwihane wrote:
> On Jun 25, 7:52 am, "OhioGuy" <n...@none.net> wrote:
>> I just heard that the average size of a box of cereal is shrinking by 2.3
>> ounces. Outrageous! Most cereals I see now are very processed, and
>> horribly expensive - often $3 or more per pound when you do the math. I can
>> often get decent cuts of meat for about that.
>
> The average price per pound for Malt-O-Meal Frosted Mini-Spooners is
> $1.63.
> M-O-M Golden Puffs, $1.78 per pound.

Malt-O-Meal (and store brands) are certainly one way to fight the cost.
When I last checked, for example, Kellogg's Raisin Bran Crunch was
$3.51/pound ($2.63/pound on sale), while Shop-Rite Raisin Bran was
$1.75/pound all the time. Malt-O-Meal cereals run about $1.33/pound
when on sale, twice that regular price.

Buying only when on sale is another, particularly if one is limited in
what one can by. (One relative has diabetes and is severely limited in
what cereals are even allowed. Combine that with what she likes and
we're down to Wheaties, Total, and corn flakes. When they go on sale
for half price, she stocks up.)

Bulk store-brand oatmeal is still cheap, I think. (When last I checked,
it was about 67 cents/pound, or a little over a nickel a serving. I
think dry cereal is about 16 servings to the pound, so even the cheapest
is more than oatmeal.) Of course, in hot weather, people are less
likely to want a hot cereal.

(Note: I last checked these prices a few months ago here in New Jersey,
so they probably have gone up. :-( )

--
Evelyn C. Leeper
A great many people think they are thinking when they are
only rearranging their prejudices. -William James

== 9 of 12 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 7:12 am
From: larry

Locally, Blue Bell Ice Cream is running ads that show
shortened rulers, shoes, ice cream box that's a pint short.
Then say get what you're paying for, a full half gallon.
They added a bright red banner to their container months
ago- "still a full half gallon".

You can fight it, only buy from makers that have pint,
quart, pound, or 1/2 or 1/4 of these containers. I loyally
bought Dreyers Ice Cream since a kid. No more, since they
were one of the first to start this crap with downsized ice
cream containers. This was also about the time they were
bought out by Yum Brands, overpriced poor quality street
vendor purveyor, my opinion, ymmv.

Coffee started this, candy bars makers never made the same
size twice. Now here in hot country, we find out that
gasoline pumps are ~5% short on hot days because they don't
adjust for the liquid expansion when warm. Too expensive to
fix. Bet they would fix it if the pumps had to be
calibrated to deliver 1 gallon at 100 degrees. ;-)

- larry / dallas

== 10 of 12 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 7:20 am
From: "Bill"

Don't buy the "box" cereal - Buy the big generic "bag" cereal, then you are
not paying for advertising and fancy packaging.

Go to stores like Walmart which have "price per ounce" shelf labels.
Say a brand name box product is $3 and the price per ounce is 60 cents. And
the same thing in generic is $6 and 15 cents price per ounce for a big bag.

Buy the big bag for $6.

"OhioGuy" wrote in message
> I just heard that the average size of a box of cereal is shrinking by 2.3
> ounces. Outrageous! Most cereals I see now are very processed, and
> horribly expensive - often $3 or more per pound when you do the math. I
> can often get decent cuts of meat for about that.
>
> I'm tired of feeling gouged for cereals, and am wondering how you folks
> have fought back against the high prices.
>
> For years, I've considered buying grain bulk (several of my uncles are
> farmers) and trying to process it into something we can eat for breakfast
> (like hot wheat, or whatever), but I've never tried it, and am afraid my
> kids might not eat it.
>

== 11 of 12 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 7:42 am
From: "rtandems@yahoo.com"

On Jun 25, 6:52 am, "OhioGuy" <n...@none.net> wrote:
> I just heard that the average size of a box of cereal is shrinking by
> 2.3 ounces.

Has anyone actually verified this?

I've heard the claim that this is happening many times over the years,
yet I've been buying the same 25.5oz box of Raisan Bran since 1986.

Maybe it just doesn't effect Raisan Bran

-Brian

== 12 of 12 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 9:58 am
From: me@privacy.net

"h" <tmclone@searchmachine.com> wrote:

>Don't buy it. Cereal and other grains should not be eaten by humans. Grain
>is what food eats.
>

So what to eat for breakfast then?

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Easy way to learn English ***** download materials
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/c53551eda37665c8?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 4:12 am
From: Dan Birchall

senthilind@gmail.com (Suganya) wrote:
> Easy way to learn English ***** download materials
> Change ur language and you change ur thoughts.

Ur was a city in ancient Mesopotamia. Please learn English before
attempting to flog English-learning materials.

--
"Infirm indeed are my bones, and the hair of my head doth glisten with
grey: but never am I unblest."

== 1 of 2 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 4:42 am
From: AndyTao <22265737@qq.com>

Sofas, sleepers, lounge chairs, commercial poolside furniture, bamboo,
wooden and metal chairs, and more. We specialize in supplying
furniture for hotels, cafes and restaurants.
http://www.ogogo123sina.cn/

== 2 of 2 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 8:12 am
From: turtlelover

AndyTao wrote:
<snip>

> http://www.<>.cn/

No thanks. The shipping cost from China is the deal breaker. Not very frugal.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Simple ways to make yourself beautiful
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/e1fe17a276816681?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 8:05 am
From: "Mr.SmartyPants"

In article
<8ffbc7a8-9167-4441-a63b-da654b662409@m44g2000hsc.googlegroups.com>,
Al Bundy <MSfortune@mcpmail.com> wrote:

> On Jun 22, 3:51 pm, "Rod Speed" <rod.speed....@gmail.com> wrote:
> > Mr.SmartyPants <georgewks...@humboldt1.com> wrote
> >
> > > David <david7...@rediffmail.com> wrote
> > >> Simple ways to make yourself beautiful
> > >>http://www.beautyadvice4u.blogspot.com
> > > Just Smile
> > > works every time
> >
> > Not for those whose cigarette stained teeth look like a train wreck.
> >
> > > and pretty frugal.
> >
> > Not when little kids scream when you do that.
>
> Or, chop their head off and lose 10# of ugly fat.

hey, you, take it to the child-free NG.,
--
If Evolution is out-lawed. Only the Out-laws will evolve.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Aquasana Drinking Water Filter for Less
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/f7014bdb5d018ff2?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 2 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 8:19 am
From: Propane Heater

Aquasana Drinking Water Filter for Less
Pure Aqua World offers Aquasana drinking water filters at big
discounts. In fact, we will not be undersold. Great service and free
shipping. Order online or by phone.
http://www.yinwoo.net.cn/Drinking-Water-Filters.htm

Affordable Clean Drinking Water Systems
Gold Seal certified. Compare quality and performance. Fast free
shipping. Experienced water treatment specialists available to provide
assistance.
http://www.yinwoo.net.cn/Drinking-Water-Filters.htm

Drinking Water Filters
If you are looking for whole house water filters and drinking water
filters, check out our huge selection.
http://www.yinwoo.net.cn/Drinking-Water-Filters.htm

== 2 of 2 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 9:21 am
From: clams_casino

Propane Heater wrote:

> Aquasana Drinking Water
>

Is that like having a Koke? Calgate toothpaste?

Umm - tasty water from China.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Caribou Coffee Coupon
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/5b77cc5f38657381?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 9:43 am
From: Cheapo Groovo

$1 off any large summer drink
http://view.cariboucoffee-email.com/?j=fe881171736d017a73
&m=fef010797c640d&ls=fdf715797162077b72147277

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Google Groups: http://groups.google.com?hl=en

20 new messages in 7 topics - digest

misc.consumers.frugal-living
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living?hl=en

misc.consumers.frugal-living@googlegroups.com

Today's topics:

* 2009 Prius - why such a big engine? - 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/64b8bb7586b7de99?hl=en
* How many here own food freezer? - 11 messages, 7 authors
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/79858a8bd8f90308?hl=en
* Would you tip this person? - 2 messages, 2 authors
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/1737a3480cc643dc?hl=en
* CBS News on the economy and grocery shopping - 2 messages, 2 authors
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/1ad6efab460db467?hl=en
* GPS using Laptop - 2 messages, 2 authors
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/33340dc882a32488?hl=en
* Please Vote for AMIN!! - 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/1d69f63af30b8911?hl=en
* VANILLA ICE FANS ONLY - 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/13b83054ee375dfc?hl=en

==============================================================================
TOPIC: 2009 Prius - why such a big engine?
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/64b8bb7586b7de99?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Tues, Jun 24 2008 12:28 pm
From: cr113

On Jun 10, 10:04 am, cr113 <cr...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> From what I've read the new Prius is going to be bigger and faster and
> get slightly better fuel mileage. I don't understand this. Why do they
> need a 1.8 L engine? That's bigger than most gas only economy cars. I
> would think they could use a 1 L engine or even smaller. Do you really
> need to go 115 mph in a Prius? If they used a smaller engine and kept
> the car the same size they could sell it for less and get much better
> mileage. Am I missing something?
>

I found one thing I am missing. The Prius has an Atkinson cycle engine
while the non-hybrids have Otto cycle engines. The Atkinson cycle
engine is more efficient but less powerful than an equal sized Otto
cycle engine.

== 1 of 11 ==
Date: Tues, Jun 24 2008 12:52 pm
From: watcher@moog.netaxs.com

In article <s_58k.4764$3q7.2227@newsfe15.lga>, clams_casino wrote:
> Samantha Hill - remove TRASH to reply wrote:
>
>> JonL wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> How long can you keep meat frozen b-4 you start looking at it....and
>>> wondering.....hmmm....??
>>
>>
>> It's all dated, and I don't have the chart handy but I know you can
>> keep it for something like six months.
>
>
> Considering the pricing cycle is about 4 weeks and there are usually
> several grocers running sales (often at different times), why settle for
> 6-month old frozen meat?
>
> We prefer to cherry pick the weekly sales. Could be chicken this week,
> pork next, etc - freezing a minimal amount that fits easily into our
> frig's freezer for consumption within 1-2 weeks.

We like to do this, too, BUT -- lots of weeks, none of the local markets has a
good deal on anything we want to eat. Sometimes it's just seasonal; lots of
veggies and fruits simply aren't available at certain times of the year.
Other times, upcoming holidays skew the pricing; Memorial Day, Independence
Day, and Labor Day come to mind. Since many people will be having
get-togethers on those days, the markets have no particular incentive to
discount food prices during the run-up to the holidays. In view of all this,
having a freezer probably lets us lower our food costs on average through the
year. Oh, and, nowadays, reducing the number of trips to the market because
we can buy in bulk and freeze it when the prices are lower, lets us use less
gas, which is probably more than offsetting the cost of the electricity needd
to run the freezer.

== 2 of 11 ==
Date: Tues, Jun 24 2008 1:26 pm
From: Samantha Hill - remove TRASH to reply

clams_casino wrote:
>> It's all dated, and I don't have the chart handy but I know you can
>> keep it for something like six months.
>
> Considering the pricing cycle is about 4 weeks and there are usually
> several grocers running sales (often at different times), why settle for
> 6-month old frozen meat?

Because I am self-employed and my income is not a steady stream, so I
keep cycling food in and out of my freezer so when I have short of work,
we still have food. This is what I said in the first place as to why I
used a freezer.

== 3 of 11 ==
Date: Tues, Jun 24 2008 1:27 pm
From: Samantha Hill - remove TRASH to reply

me@privacy.net wrote:
>
> Would you definitely get a chest freezer if wanting
> lowest possible electric use?

I *have* a chest freezer, and yes, they generally have a lower electric
usage than uprights.

== 4 of 11 ==
Date: Tues, Jun 24 2008 1:41 pm
From: Parallax

Seerialmom wrote:
> On Jun 23, 8:51 am, m...@privacy.net wrote:
>> What size?
>>
>> And do you think its REALLY a frugal thing to own?
>>
>> If yes..... how and in what ways?
>
> I own an upright "apartment size" (5 cft?) model I bought at a garage
> sale about 16 years ago for $140.
> If I keep it packed with on sale meat ($2.99 a lb tri-trip for
> example), then it's fairly frugal.
> half empty...probably not frugal.

That's what milk jugs full of water are for, to fill the space not used.
Also comes in very handy to have giant ice blocks in there when the
power goes out.

== 5 of 11 ==
Date: Tues, Jun 24 2008 1:50 pm
From: "Rod Speed"

Samantha Hill <samhill@TRASHsonic.net> wrote
> clams_casino wrote

>>> It's all dated, and I don't have the chart handy but I know you can keep it for something like six months.

>> Considering the pricing cycle is about 4 weeks and there are usually several grocers running sales (often at
>> different times), why settle for 6-month old frozen meat?

> Because I am self-employed and my income is not a steady stream, so I keep cycling food in and out of my freezer so
> when I have short of work, we still have food.

You dont need a freezer for that, you can do the same thing with cash instead.

> This is what I said in the first place as to why I used a freezer.

== 6 of 11 ==
Date: Tues, Jun 24 2008 1:52 pm
From: "Rod Speed"

Samantha Hill <samhill@TRASHsonic.net> wrote
> me@privacy.net wrote

>> Would you definitely get a chest freezer if wanting lowest possible electric use?

> I *have* a chest freezer, and yes, they generally have a lower electric usage than uprights.

The difference isnt necessarily that great tho, particularly
if you only open the freezer once most days etc.

Even just the more convenient access to the contents
can see an upright actually use less power too.

== 7 of 11 ==
Date: Tues, Jun 24 2008 3:02 pm
From: clams_casino

watcher@moog.netaxs.com wrote:

> Oh, and, nowadays, reducing the number of trips to the market because
>we can buy in bulk and freeze it when the prices are lower, lets us use less
>gas, which is probably more than offsetting the cost of the electricity needd
>to run the freezer.
>
>W.
>
>

Trips to / from the grocer are no doubt costly. However, I rarely make
a trip solely to run a single errand. More commonly, I make multiple
stops in conjunction with being on the same street.

My business requires me to drop by the post office several times /
week. With two grocers located in between, making extra stops
typically adds no cost for me.

Along that line, one has to question driving 10-20 miles to shop at a
Super Walmart, etc (if its a special trip) vs. a local market. There
are times when it's a lot cheaper to purchase a gallon of milk, etc at
the local gas station vs. driving to a grocer, where poor planning does
have its price.

== 8 of 11 ==
Date: Tues, Jun 24 2008 5:08 pm
From: Seerialmom

On Jun 24, 1:41 pm, Parallax <Parallax-G@???????.com> wrote:
> Seerialmom wrote:
> > On Jun 23, 8:51 am, m...@privacy.net wrote:
> >> What size?
>
> >> And do you think its REALLY a frugal thing to own?
>
> >> If yes..... how and in what ways?
>
> > I own an upright "apartment size" (5 cft?) model I bought at a garage
> > sale about 16 years ago for $140.
> > If I keep it packed with on sale meat ($2.99 a lb tri-trip for
> > example), then it's fairly frugal.
> > half empty...probably not frugal.
>
> That's what milk jugs full of water are for, to fill the space not used.
> Also comes in very handy to have giant ice blocks in there when the
> power goes out.

I loaded my regular refrigerator this week with jugs of water
(formerly empty juice jugs my son had consumed and were slated for the
recycle bin). But I agree, filling either the freezer or refrigerator
with items to keep it from having just air is good. I even have some
ancient frozen strawberries in the bottom of that freezer even though
I know I'll never ever eat them.

== 9 of 11 ==
Date: Tues, Jun 24 2008 5:10 pm
From: "Lou"

"Samantha Hill - remove TRASH to reply" <samhill@TRASHsonic.net> wrote in
message news:4860e734$0$17199$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net...
> catalpa wrote:
> >
> > You must have dirt cheap electric rates. Most freezers about 21 cu ft
use
> > more than 500 kWh per year and at the 15 cents/kWh paid around here
costs
> > come to more than $75 a year.
>
> If you have a newer chest freezer compared to an older upright freezer,
> the difference in cost to run is amazing.

Chances are any difference you've noted is due to the difference between an
"older" and a "newer" freezer. For instance, Sears offers an upright 8.7
cubic foot model that has an energy guide label estimating annual electric
expense of $39/year (electric rate is assumed to be 10.65 cents per kWh).
They also have an 8.8 cubic foot chest type freezer with an energy guide
cost to operate of $31/year (same cost of electricity). That's a difference
$8/year, or 67 cents a month, in favor of the chest type freezer. In my
book, that's a long way from "amazing" - the difference is so slight I doubt
you'd notice.

Both these freezers are manual defrost. I've had both manual and self
defrosting types, chest and uprights. The difference in convenience is
overwhelmingly in favor of an self-defrosting upright, in my opinion - well
worth the difference in operating cost.

== 10 of 11 ==
Date: Tues, Jun 24 2008 5:18 pm
From: Seerialmom

On Jun 24, 7:52 am, val189 <gwehr...@bellsouth.net> wrote:
> On Jun 24, 8:44 am, clams_casino ...
>
> > We prefer to cherry pick the weekly sales. Could be chicken this week,
> > pork next, etc - freezing a minimal amount that fits easily into our
> > frig's freezer for consumption within 1-2 weeks.
>
> But, if you are finding sales this often, then why bother freeze it at
> all? I seems to me that at some point in time, a person has a ton of
> stuff in the freezer, cuz he wants to take advantage of sales, but
> stocking up can get to the point of never really using it all up. I'm
> probably making myself not too clear, but doesn't there come a time
> when this becomes hoarding? When I add up the money 'tied up' in
> food to the cost of the freezer and running it, plus maybe
> insurance.....I just don't see it.
>
> Like the woman who died and had 50 cans of coffee in the basement and
> still kept searching for sales- she obviously did NOT ever realize the
> savings from all of that stocking up. Isn't there a name for this,
> armchair economists?

There definitely should be a limit on what's enough of a stockpile.
For example there was another sale on the tri-tip just before Fathers
day...but I still had plenty from the last sale so I didn't bother.
What you're referring to, however, is hoarding and that's a completely
different animal and not rational, even if the coffee were free...it
should have been donated.

== 11 of 11 ==
Date: Tues, Jun 24 2008 6:41 pm
From: Samantha Hill - remove TRASH to reply

Lou wrote:
>
> Both these freezers are manual defrost. I've had both manual and self
> defrosting types, chest and uprights. The difference in convenience is
> overwhelmingly in favor of an self-defrosting upright, in my opinion - well
> worth the difference in operating cost.

I agree that manual defrost units use less power -- but have you found
any manual defrost units that are Energy Star rated? I haven't.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Would you tip this person?
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/1737a3480cc643dc?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 2 ==
Date: Tues, Jun 24 2008 2:22 pm
From: The Real Bev Far From Home

Peter Bruells wrote:
> George Grapman <sfgeorge@paccbell.net> writes:
>
>> If they go to a hotel the people at the hotel will take the
>> luggage. Driver tells them they are bad tippers. Guests wonder why
>> room service is so slow.
>
> Because it's a self-fulfilling prophecy?

People who order room service should have no problem with undertipping.

Personally, I don't think anybody should be tipped except for people who
are obviously underpaid in the supported-by-the-IRS expectation that
they WILL be tipped.

Anybody who carries bags from here to there clearly doesn't deserve more
than minimum wage. Why should he be tipped more?

That being said, I carry my own bags and don't stay in hotels.

If you tip a taxi driver, why not an airline pilot?

"Get me there on time, Flyboy, and there's a fiver in it for you."

== 2 of 2 ==
Date: Tues, Jun 24 2008 3:57 pm
From: Samantha Hill - remove TRASH to reply

The Real Bev Far From Home wrote:
>
> Personally, I don't think anybody should be tipped except for people who
> are obviously underpaid in the supported-by-the-IRS expectation that
> they WILL be tipped.

I tend to agree.

== 1 of 2 ==
Date: Tues, Jun 24 2008 2:32 pm
From: The Real Bev Far From Home

hchickpea@hotmail.com wrote:

> BTW, quiet around here the last few days. Have the google spammers
> figured out they no longer have an audience???

I'm reading news through a feed (reader.usenet4all.se) that claims to
reject googlegroups posts. They seem to be telling the truth.

Cheers,
Bev

== 2 of 2 ==
Date: Tues, Jun 24 2008 3:07 pm
From: clams_casino

The Real Bev Far From Home wrote:

>hchickpea@hotmail.com wrote:
>
>
>
>>BTW, quiet around here the last few days. Have the google spammers
>>figured out they no longer have an audience???
>>
>>
>
>I'm reading news through a feed (reader.usenet4all.se) that claims to
>reject googlegroups posts. They seem to be telling the truth.
>
>Cheers,
>Bev
>
>

Saw on another newsgroup that Verizon is dropping all alt newsgroups
(amongst others), forcing their customers to access newsgroups via
google groups (and other sources).

Several have been really upset to find many users are filtering out all
google groups postings.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: GPS using Laptop
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/33340dc882a32488?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 2 ==
Date: Tues, Jun 24 2008 3:07 pm
From: Mike Copeland

rick++ wrote:
> On Jun 22, 6:32 pm, Martin <mailbo...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> What do I need to use my laptop as a GPS mapping system. What do I
>> need to plug into a usb port that determines current location and
>> indicates that on some displayed map?
>
> A few computers have GPS devices in them already. This includes
> the iPhones and iTouches to be sold in July.

I own a Delorme unit which consists of a cd and USB antenna. It costs
under $100.00. I use it extensively and love it.

== 2 of 2 ==
Date: Tues, Jun 24 2008 7:36 pm
From: Jim

On Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:07:42 -0400, Mike Copeland
<mcopelandAT@pobox.comcom> wrote:

>rick++ wrote:
>> On Jun 22, 6:32 pm, Martin <mailbo...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>> What do I need to use my laptop as a GPS mapping system. What do I
>>> need to plug into a usb port that determines current location and
>>> indicates that on some displayed map?
>>
>> A few computers have GPS devices in them already. This includes
>> the iPhones and iTouches to be sold in July.
>
>I own a Delorme unit which consists of a cd and USB antenna. It costs
>under $100.00. I use it extensively and love it.

If you've already got a laptop then it's simply a matter of buying a
cheap usb GPS. I've just bought yet another cheapie, this time from
virtualvillage.com or whatever it's called, for about the $40 mark.
You'll also need software but you refer to map based stuff, in that
case oziexplorer is good for the job but i'm sure there's other stuff.
Anyway that should give you a couple of simple clues.

Jim
www.inghamcam.info

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Tues, Jun 24 2008 7:00 pm
From: vote4amin

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Need your help to spend a minute of your time to vote for my little
boy in Cutefam 2008 contest. Please click --->>>
http://www.thelilcaliph.com/CuteFam2008/voteWithCodes.html to vote.
The rule is only one vote per ip per day. So, you can only vote once
a
day until 28th June. Appreciate if you can forward this link to your
frens and family. Thanks a lot in advanced for your help.

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Tues, Jun 24 2008 7:50 pm
From: markritter151@gmail.com

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/coolasicebluray

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