Well with the economy as it is and with unemployment increasing daily, I
believe conspicuous consumption may be out of order. Food Banks are running
out of food, our wonderful State of California is closing down a tent city
that has popped up - I think they should pitch their tents on the lawn that
leads to the State capitol building, Where Arnie smokes his cigars (probably
10 bucks a piece).

http://www.news10.net/news/local/sto...?storyid=56175

Today I was thinking I was going to braise some chunks of pork in the
crock-pot when it occurred to me gas is much less expensive than electricity
so the oven went to 200 and in went the Dutch Oven.

Are you conserving?
Buying less extravagant foods?
Donating to the local food bank?
Watching the sale prices more closely?

Dimitri

Dimitri wrote:

> Well with the economy as it is and with unemployment increasing daily, I
> believe conspicuous consumption may be out of order. Food Banks are
running
> out of food, our wonderful State of California is closing down a tent city
> that has popped up - I think they should pitch their tents on the lawn
that
> leads to the State capitol building, Where Arnie smokes his cigars
(probably
> 10 bucks a piece).
>
> http://www.news10.net/news/local/sto...?storyid=56175
>
> Today I was thinking I was going to braise some chunks of pork in the
> crock-pot when it occurred to me gas is much less expensive than
electricity
> so the oven went to 200 and in went the Dutch Oven.
>
> Are you conserving?
> Buying less extravagant foods?
> Donating to the local food bank?
> Watching the sale prices more closely?


That's the way I've always lived, I grew up frugally...

It's amazing that so many peeps have no clue as to how to budget for vittles
(and other things), all the "frugal" articles and such I see about saving
grocery money are really pretty much targeted to the monetary morons out
there...

One of things that is "interesting" about the current economic crisis is
that many are just *now* realizing where money "comes from"...


--
Best
Greg

On Mar 12, 8:23*pm, "Gregory Morrow" > wrote:
> Dimitri wrote:
> > Well with the economy as it is and with unemployment increasing daily, I
> > believe conspicuous consumption may be out of order. Food Banks are
> running
> > out of food, our wonderful State of California is closing down a tent city
> > that has popped up - I think they should pitch their tents on the lawn
> that
> > leads to the State capitol building, Where Arnie smokes his cigars
> (probably
> > 10 bucks a piece).
>
> >http://www.news10.net/news/local/sto...?storyid=56175
>
> > Today I was thinking I was going to braise some chunks of pork in the
> > crock-pot when it occurred to me gas is much less expensive than
> electricity
> > so the oven went to 200 and in went the Dutch Oven.
>
> > Are you conserving?
> > Buying less extravagant foods?
> > Donating to the local food bank?
> > Watching the sale prices more closely?
>
> That's the way I've always lived, I grew up frugally...
>
> It's amazing that so many peeps have no clue as to how to budget for vittles
> (and other things), all the "frugal" articles and such I see about saving
> grocery money are really pretty much targeted to the monetary morons out
> there...

Didja see that tv spot where the guy tried to live on food stamps for
a month? I wanted to grab him thru the tv screen when he tossed boxed
mashed potatoes in his cart along with some other convenience type
boxed and canned junk.

No wonder he couldn't stretch a dollar.

Stepping off soapbox now.

On Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:53:26 -0700 (PDT),
wrote:


>Didja see that tv spot where the guy tried to live on food stamps for
>a month?

I saw it. He obviously didn't know how to cook.

>I wanted to grab him thru the tv screen when he tossed boxed
>mashed potatoes in his cart along with some other convenience type
>boxed and canned junk.

I've seen several spots with a similar theme. They all buy that crap.
I've also seen it first hand in the store. If I had to live on food
stamps the last thing I'd buy was convenience food.

Lou

Lou Decruss wrote:
>
>
>> I wanted to grab him thru the tv screen when he tossed boxed
>> mashed potatoes in his cart along with some other convenience type
>> boxed and canned junk.
>
> I've seen several spots with a similar theme. They all buy that crap.
> I've also seen it first hand in the store. If I had to live on food
> stamps the last thing I'd buy was convenience food.


It takes all kinds to make a world. I am not painting everyone with the
same brush but can't help but be reminded of a family I knew and became
so disgusted with that I learned to avoid them like the plague. They
were on welfare. Dad and the two teen girls lived on Kraft dinner while
mom went next door to a restaurant. He was signed on to every employment
workshop around and managed to sabotage every job they lined up within
weeks. The younger daughter left home to live on student welfare but
spend most of her waking hours at her parents' house, not at school.
Mother went to college to take a course that would train her to be a
social worker. The older daughter somehow got into the same two year
program but set out to get pregnant just in time to have to drop out on
maternity leave half way through the second year.

It was ironic that they would be taking courses to be social workers.
They needed a social worker.

Somehow they managed to maintain two cars, and everyone in the family
had their own state of the art computer, and this was a few years ago
when computers were a lot more expensive than they are now. Of course
they had to have multiple telephone lines so they could each be on line
most of the day.. before the days of DSL.

They even had handicapped permits for both cars. It seems that big fat
momma had broken her arm and it was hard for her to carry books to
class. Years later they were still using the permits. She was just too
lazy to walk, and he had no excuse for using a permit issued to her.
Thank goodness they tightened the requirements for those things.


I have no idea what those people are up to these days. I hope they moved
out of the country so that the rest of us don't have to support their
lazy asses.


rant mode off

Dave Smith wrote:
>
> I have no idea what those people are up to these days. I hope they moved
> out of the country so that the rest of us don't have to support their
> lazy asses.

Actually, wasn't one of them elected to Parliment?

:-)

been eating raman noodles and jacks pizzas(only when on sale= 4 for 10
dollars) for over 2 years now...the dog next door gives me a nervous
look when i take out the trash......

Wendy
http://community.webtv.net/WJS1701/AWEBPAGEFORJEFF

On a recent visit with relatives,
five of us went to a local steakhouse for dinner.

When all was done, dinner, drinks, tax and tips,
the tab was close to a hundred bucks !!

( and that was with picking from the cheaper page of the menu )

Now, I'm reminded why I limit my outings to
Mickey-Dee's or Pizza Hut....

"<RJ>" > wrote in message
...
>
> On a recent visit with relatives,
> five of us went to a local steakhouse for dinner.
>
> When all was done, dinner, drinks, tax and tips,
> the tab was close to a hundred bucks !!
>
> ( and that was with picking from the cheaper page of the menu )
>
> Now, I'm reminded why I limit my outings to
> Mickey-Dee's or Pizza Hut....
>

Don't do that. Go to "mom and pop" places! You can get great home cooked
food for less.

In article >,
"<RJ>" > wrote:

> On a recent visit with relatives,
> five of us went to a local steakhouse for dinner.
>
> When all was done, dinner, drinks, tax and tips,
> the tab was close to a hundred bucks !!

For one person or for five? I'm curious -- do you remember how much
your entree was?

>
> ( and that was with picking from the cheaper page of the menu )
>
> Now, I'm reminded why I limit my outings to
> Mickey-Dee's or Pizza Hut....

I understand but that stuff's hard on the bod.
--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
http://web.me.com/barbschaller
"What you say about someone else says more
about you than it does about the other person."

<RJ> wrote:
> On a recent visit with relatives,
> five of us went to a local steakhouse for dinner.
>
> When all was done, dinner, drinks, tax and tips,
> the tab was close to a hundred bucks !!
>
> ( and that was with picking from the cheaper page of the menu )
>
> Now, I'm reminded why I limit my outings to
> Mickey-Dee's or Pizza Hut....

I can't imagine having a decent steak dinner for $20 each. And that
included tips? Amazingly inexpensive.

"<RJ>" > wrote in message
...
>
> On a recent visit with relatives,
> five of us went to a local steakhouse for dinner.
>
> When all was done, dinner, drinks, tax and tips,
> the tab was close to a hundred bucks !!
>
> ( and that was with picking from the cheaper page of the menu )
>
> Now, I'm reminded why I limit my outings to
> Mickey-Dee's or Pizza Hut....


$20.00 per person is not bad with drinks. In fact it's damn good!

I would have expected at least double that.

Dimitri

wrote:
> Didja see that tv spot where the guy tried to live on food stamps for
> a month? I wanted to grab him thru the tv screen when he tossed boxed
> mashed potatoes in his cart along with some other convenience type
> boxed and canned junk.
>
> No wonder he couldn't stretch a dollar.
>
> Stepping off soapbox now.
>

Yep, I saw that. He bought boxed mac & cheese, when home made would
have been cheaper and it would have tasted better.


Becca

On Mar 13, 9:43*am, Becca > wrote:
> wrote:
> > Didja see that tv spot where the guy tried to live on food stamps for
> > a month? *I wanted to grab him thru the tv screen when he tossed boxed
> > mashed potatoes in his cart along with some other convenience type
> > boxed and canned junk.
>
> > No wonder he couldn't stretch a dollar.
>
> > Stepping off soapbox now.
>
> Yep, I saw that. *He bought boxed mac & cheese, when home made would
> have been cheaper and it would have tasted better.

Yes, but many folks here on the NG, who ostensibly know how to cook
use that Kraft boxed crap. They turn it into their own unique semi-
homemade masterpieces, and then tell us all about it.
>
> Becca

--Bryan

On Fri, 13 Mar 2009 10:11:52 -0700 (PDT), Bobo Bonobo®
> wrote:

>Yes, but many folks here on the NG, who ostensibly know how to cook
>use that Kraft boxed crap. They turn it into their own unique semi-
>homemade masterpieces, and then tell us all about it.

I don't. I make it according to the directions on the box, stick a
fork in it and call it done. Mmmm, mmmm, good.


--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that
interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

On Mar 13, 8:08*pm, "Michael \"Dog3\"" > wrote:
> Bobo Bonobo® > *news:da294994-58bd-4470-ab7b-
> : in rec.food.cooking
>
>
>
> > Yes, but many folks here on the NG, who ostensibly know how to cook
> > use that Kraft boxed crap. *They turn it into their own unique semi-
> > homemade masterpieces, and then tell us all about it.
>
> I've never seen anything like you posted. Sure, lots of people use canned
> soups in recipes but the recipes are simple, usually casserole type things. *
> This is a cooking group, not a gourmet group. *Never have I seen anyone
> jazz up "Kraft boxed crap" and claim it was anything else.

There was a thread last week.
>
> Michael
>
--Bryan

"Michael "Dog3"" > wrote in message
...
> Bobo Bonobo® > news:da294994-58bd-4470-ab7b-
> : in rec.food.cooking
>
>>
>> Yes, but many folks here on the NG, who ostensibly know how to cook
>> use that Kraft boxed crap. They turn it into their own unique semi-
>> homemade masterpieces, and then tell us all about it.
>
> I've never seen anything like you posted. Sure, lots of people use canned
> soups in recipes but the recipes are simple, usually casserole type
> things.
> This is a cooking group, not a gourmet group. Never have I seen anyone
> jazz up "Kraft boxed crap" and claim it was anything else.
>
> Michael
>
>
Yeah, but... many have called Kraft Mac 'n Cheese caserole gourmet cooking
because they added <drum roll> shrimpsss. hehe

"Michael "Dog3"" wrote

>> Yes, but many folks here on the NG, who ostensibly know how to cook
>> use that Kraft boxed crap. They turn it into their own unique semi-
>> homemade masterpieces, and then tell us all about it.
>
> I've never seen anything like you posted. Sure, lots of people use canned
> soups in recipes but the recipes are simple, usually casserole type
> things.
> This is a cooking group, not a gourmet group. Never have I seen anyone
> jazz up "Kraft boxed crap" and claim it was anything else.

Grin, I've not mentioned it here, but I've done that. I agree, I do not
pretend it is haute cuisine. Just a more palatable 'boxed crap' than the
plain box crap ;-)

Trick 1) Melt the butter and milk in a separate pan and add the cheeziodal
stuff to that. Let bubble gently and add to the hot pasta.

Trick 2) Add stuff to it. What is mostly limited by your kitchen fodder of
the time.
About 1/2 cup total additions from any of the following or add something
new:

Montery Pepper Jack (only use the box if not enough to go it alone with
this)
Cooked leftover ham bits
Bacon (cooked) bits
Olives (green and black both work)
Bell Peppers
Onions (even green ones or chives which I grow along my fence)
Rosemary (just a little, I have a 3ft bush of it in my front yard)
1-2 Can(s) of well drained water pack tuna
Leftover chicken adobo meat (deboned)
Broccoli fast stirfried to al-dente in small bite sized bits
Bacos sprinkled on top (shamefully, we like'em in a few things)
Heavy cream instead of milk or for part of it
Green peas (fresh if got'm)
Green beans (fresh only)
Kang Koon leaves and stems (a type of asian spinach)
Leeks (greens and/or whites)
Mini sausage meat balls, precooked and drained
1/2 can of cream of mushroom soup (odd but roomate liked that one)

Grin, was fine enough college student level fodder.

On 14 Mar 2009 01:08:46 GMT, "Michael \"Dog3\""
> wrote:

>I've never seen anything like you posted.

It was a week or two ago when you weren't reading rfc much.


--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that
interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

In article >,
"Michael \"Dog3\"" > wrote:

> Bobo Bonobo® > news:da294994-58bd-4470-ab7b-
> : in rec.food.cooking
>
> >
> > Yes, but many folks here on the NG, who ostensibly know how to cook
> > use that Kraft boxed crap. They turn it into their own unique semi-
> > homemade masterpieces, and then tell us all about it.
>
> I've never seen anything like you posted. Sure, lots of people use canned
> soups in recipes but the recipes are simple, usually casserole type things.
> This is a cooking group, not a gourmet group. Never have I seen anyone
> jazz up "Kraft boxed crap" and claim it was anything else.

Are you arguing about the words that Bryan is using? I haven't seen
anybody take a blue box and claim that they made a unique semi-hoe
masterpiece, but I've read lots of accounts of a quick dinner with, say,
a blue box with leftover diced ham from the fridge.

--
Dan Abel
Petaluma, California USA

On Fri, 13 Mar 2009 09:43:46 -0500, Becca > wrote:

wrote:
>> Didja see that tv spot where the guy tried to live on food stamps for
>> a month? I wanted to grab him thru the tv screen when he tossed boxed
>> mashed potatoes in his cart along with some other convenience type
>> boxed and canned junk.
>>
>> No wonder he couldn't stretch a dollar.
>>
>> Stepping off soapbox now.
>>
>
>Yep, I saw that. He bought boxed mac & cheese, when home made would
>have been cheaper and it would have tasted better.

But would it really have been cheaper? Making your own requires pasta
(cheap) milk (fairly cheap) and cheese (expensive). Buying a boxed mix
only needs a little milk or even water. You can't get enough
ingredients to make a pan of macaroni cheese for two bucks. It may be
a false economy in terms of nutrition and long-term savings, but in
the short term you've got food in your stomach.

"Kajikit" > wrote
>>
>>Yep, I saw that. He bought boxed mac & cheese, when home made would
>>have been cheaper and it would have tasted better.
>
> But would it really have been cheaper? Making your own requires pasta
> (cheap) milk (fairly cheap) and cheese (expensive).

The cheese alone prices it above the boxed stuff.

Buying a boxed mix
> only needs a little milk or even water.

This is true of pancakes, too. I buy Krusteaz whole wheat, you just add
water, they're delicious, and about one third the price of homemade done
with eggs, milk, and flour.

You can't get enough
> ingredients to make a pan of macaroni cheese for two bucks. It may be
> a false economy in terms of nutrition and long-term savings, but in
> the short term you've got food in your stomach.

This is why so many poor people are malnourished. Obesity is another form of
malnutrition. And high blood pressure is another side effect of this kind of
eating due to the salt content in the foods. But for kids, it's not so bad,
as they at least have systems efficient enough to deal with the fat and salt
levels.

"Kajikit" wrote

>Yep, I saw that. He bought boxed mac & cheese, when home made would
>>have been cheaper and it would have tasted better.
>
> But would it really have been cheaper? Making your own requires pasta
> (cheap) milk (fairly cheap) and cheese (expensive). Buying a boxed mix
> only needs a little milk or even water. You can't get enough
> ingredients to make a pan of macaroni cheese for two bucks. It may be
> a false economy in terms of nutrition and long-term savings, but in
> the short term you've got food in your stomach.

It's hard to beat the 4/1$ box set on price even if it does need a lot of
TLC to add extra stuff to make it good enough for lunches ;-)

Yeah, we have a box or so around for a fast fix. I add things to it.

On Fri, 13 Mar 2009 13:23:06 -0400, Kajikit wrote:

> On Fri, 13 Mar 2009 09:43:46 -0500, Becca > wrote:
>
wrote:
>>> Didja see that tv spot where the guy tried to live on food stamps for
>>> a month? I wanted to grab him thru the tv screen when he tossed boxed
>>> mashed potatoes in his cart along with some other convenience type
>>> boxed and canned junk.
>>>
>>> No wonder he couldn't stretch a dollar.
>>>
>>> Stepping off soapbox now.
>>>
>>
>>Yep, I saw that. He bought boxed mac & cheese, when home made would
>>have been cheaper and it would have tasted better.
>
> But would it really have been cheaper? Making your own requires pasta
> (cheap) milk (fairly cheap) and cheese (expensive). Buying a boxed mix
> only needs a little milk or even water. You can't get enough
> ingredients to make a pan of macaroni cheese for two bucks. It may be
> a false economy in terms of nutrition and long-term savings, but in
> the short term you've got food in your stomach.

exactly. i think many people forget that the poor don't really have the
money to invest in the 'long term.'

this apart from the fact that they can't jump in the car to take advantage
of 'bargains' that are available.

your pal,
blake

On Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:53:26 -0700 (PDT), wrote:

>
> Didja see that tv spot where the guy tried to live on food stamps for
> a month? I wanted to grab him thru the tv screen when he tossed boxed
> mashed potatoes in his cart along with some other convenience type
> boxed and canned junk.
>
> No wonder he couldn't stretch a dollar.
>
> Stepping off soapbox now.

about a year and a half ago, a number of democratic congressmen and others
in the media and elsewhere took a challenge to live for a week on
twenty-one dollars (the amount alloted then for food stamps). they didn't
find it all that easy:

<http://foodstampchallenge.typepad.com/>

your pal,
blake

blake murphy wrote:

> about a year and a half ago, a number of democratic congressmen and others
> in the media and elsewhere took a challenge to live for a week on
> twenty-one dollars (the amount alloted then for food stamps). they didn't
> find it all that easy:
>
> <http://foodstampchallenge.typepad.com/>
>
> your pal,
> blake

Is that $21 intended as the persons entire food budget, or is it
intended as assistance to be combined with their own limited resources
towards their total food budget? Does that make sense?

"Goomba" > wrote in message
>
> Is that $21 intended as the persons entire food budget, or is it intended
> as assistance to be combined with their own limited resources towards
> their total food budget? Does that make sense?

Certainly does. Living on food stamps may not be possible, nor were they
intended to be the sole source of food. Supplementing low income helps.
Anyone that tries to live on just the stamp amount is doing so for the
publicity.

On Fri, 13 Mar 2009 12:40:24 -0400, Goomba wrote:

> blake murphy wrote:
>
>> about a year and a half ago, a number of democratic congressmen and others
>> in the media and elsewhere took a challenge to live for a week on
>> twenty-one dollars (the amount alloted then for food stamps). they didn't
>> find it all that easy:
>>
>> <http://foodstampchallenge.typepad.com/>
>>
>> your pal,
>> blake
>
> Is that $21 intended as the persons entire food budget, or is it
> intended as assistance to be combined with their own limited resources
> towards their total food budget? Does that make sense?

i'm not sure whether it's intended to be the whole food budget or not. but
given the fact that you have to prove you have a very low income (and no
money to speak of in the bank), it's unclear how much extra money the
recipient is expected to add to that. they also have housing, clothing and
other needs to spend their money on.

your pal,
blake

On Thu, 12 Mar 2009 18:23:24 -0600, "Gregory Morrow"
> wrote:


>One of things that is "interesting" about the current economic crisis is
>that many are just *now* realizing where money "comes from"...

Many still think it comes from government. At least those who pay
little or no taxes.

Lou

On Thu, 12 Mar 2009 21:03:24 -0500, Lou Decruss wrote:

> On Thu, 12 Mar 2009 18:23:24 -0600, "Gregory Morrow"
> > wrote:
>
>>One of things that is "interesting" about the current economic crisis is
>>that many are just *now* realizing where money "comes from"...
>
> Many still think it comes from government. At least those who pay
> little or no taxes.
>
> Lou

dear god, here we go again. about nine percent of the u.s. budget goes to
public assistance.

Safety net programs: About 9 percent of the federal budget in 2007, or
$254 billion, supported programs that provide aid (other than health
insurance or Social Security benefits) to individuals and families facing
hardship. This includes: the refundable portion of the earned-income and
child tax credits, which assist low and moderate-income working families
through the tax code;[1] programs that provide cash payments to eligible
individuals or households, including the Supplemental Security Income
program for poor people who are elderly or have serious disabilities and
the unemployment insurance program; various forms of in-kind assistance for
low-income families and individuals, including food assistance through the
food stamp and school meals programs, low-income housing assistance,
child-care assistance, and assistance in meeting home energy bills; and
various other programs such as those that aid abused and neglected
children.


<http://www.cbpp.org/4-14-08tax.htm>

and since income taxes aren't the entire source for the budget (sorry,
couldn't easily find what that percentage is), you're not even paying that.
think you can spare it?

if you really want to **** and moan, you might look at the pie chart. how
about the 22% for defense and security, a dollar amount almost as much as
the rest of the world put together (48% of the total).

<http://www.globalissues.org/article/75/world-military-spending#InContextUSMilitarySpendingVersusRestofth eWorld>

your pal,
blake

On Mar 13, 12:30*pm, blake murphy > wrote:

> if you really want to **** and moan, you might look at the pie chart. *how
> about the 22% for defense and security, a dollar amount almost as much as
> the rest of the world put together (48% of the total).

Yabbut, some of that defense spending puts food on my table. At
least, some
of the DOD's spending on R&D.

Thanks, everyone, for that "welfare for engineers".

Cindy Hamilton

Gregory Morrow wrote:
> Dimitri wrote:
>
>> Well with the economy as it is and with unemployment increasing daily, I
>> believe conspicuous consumption may be out of order. Food Banks are
> running
>> out of food, our wonderful State of California is closing down a tent city
>> that has popped up - I think they should pitch their tents on the lawn
> that
>> leads to the State capitol building, Where Arnie smokes his cigars
> (probably
>> 10 bucks a piece).
>>
>> http://www.news10.net/news/local/sto...?storyid=56175
>>
>> Today I was thinking I was going to braise some chunks of pork in the
>> crock-pot when it occurred to me gas is much less expensive than
> electricity
>> so the oven went to 200 and in went the Dutch Oven.
>>
>> Are you conserving?
>> Buying less extravagant foods?
>> Donating to the local food bank?
>> Watching the sale prices more closely?
>
>
> That's the way I've always lived, I grew up frugally...

Me too, and what a kick in the face we got from the red and blue teams.
People were buying mega homes they couldn't afford and taking out second
mortgages to buy other stuff they couldn't afford with the encouragement
of barnie frank and the piggy bankers and brokers were more than happy
to game the system. Then when the house of cards fell in the red and
blue team rushed to pull the money out of the pockets of the folks who
weren't irresponsible to bail out the irresponsible folks and pigs.

>
> It's amazing that so many peeps have no clue as to how to budget for vittles
> (and other things), all the "frugal" articles and such I see about saving
> grocery money are really pretty much targeted to the monetary morons out
> there...

Pretty much. Ever try to buy anything beyond basic and get the actual
price when you ask not $xx/month or "we can put that in the computer to
determine your payment?"

>
> One of things that is "interesting" about the current economic crisis is
> that many are just *now* realizing where money "comes from"...
>
>

"Dimitri" > wrote
> Are you conserving?
> Buying less extravagant foods?
> Donating to the local food bank?
> Watching the sale prices more closely?
>
I'm doing what I always do--making sure I get good values for my money and
donating some of the money I save to charities public and private.

Like, say I was tempted to indulge in a little "retail therapy" and I saw
stuff at BB&B that I wanted that totalled, say, $600.

I'd note the stuff, get it at a store more reasonably priced, or several
stores, and donate the difference. I get what I want, some others get some
help.

cybercat wrote:

> I'm doing what I always do--making sure I get good values for my money and
> donating some of the money I save to charities public and private.
>
> Like, say I was tempted to indulge in a little "retail therapy" and I saw
> stuff at BB&B that I wanted that totalled, say, $600.
>
> I'd note the stuff, get it at a store more reasonably priced, or several
> stores, and donate the difference. I get what I want, some others get some
> help.

That is very thoughtful of you, CC.


Becca

"Becca" > wrote in message
...
> cybercat wrote:
>
>> I'm doing what I always do--making sure I get good values for my money
>> and donating some of the money I save to charities public and private.
>>
>> Like, say I was tempted to indulge in a little "retail therapy" and I saw
>> stuff at BB&B that I wanted that totalled, say, $600.
>>
>> I'd note the stuff, get it at a store more reasonably priced, or several
>> stores, and donate the difference. I get what I want, some others get
>> some help.
>
> That is very thoughtful of you, CC.

*blush* thank you. I remember what it is like not to have enough money for
what I needed no matter how hard I worked. I was in school, but the reason
doesn't really matter. It changed the way I "consume" forever. But don't get
me wrong, I love, love, love beautiful and fine things. I just think I can
have them without wasting money.

Dimitri wrote:
> Well with the economy as it is and with unemployment increasing daily, I
> believe conspicuous consumption may be out of order. Food Banks are
> running out of food, our wonderful State of California is closing down a
> tent city that has popped up - I think they should pitch their tents on
> the lawn that leads to the State capitol building, Where Arnie smokes
> his cigars (probably 10 bucks a piece).
>
> http://www.news10.net/news/local/sto...?storyid=56175
>
> Today I was thinking I was going to braise some chunks of pork in the
> crock-pot when it occurred to me gas is much less expensive than
> electricity so the oven went to 200 and in went the Dutch Oven.
>
> Are you conserving?

Yes, always have, no difference today.

> Buying less extravagant foods?

Our only extravagance is good cuts of meat, makes more sense than
7-steak and other bony, gristly cuts.

> Donating to the local food bank?

Through our church at least monthly.

> Watching the sale prices more closely?

My 22-year old granddaughter is coming over this weekend to show me how
she is saving money with coupons. Girl has absolutely amazed me at how
well she does with coupons and sales. An old dog is going to be taught
new tricks.

>
> Dimitri

In article >,
"Dimitri" > wrote:

> Are you conserving?

Not especially.

> Buying less extravagant foods?

Have never much bought what I consider to be extravagant foods.

> Donating to the local food bank?

Regularly. The church I go to operates a food shelf. Usage has
skyrocketed. Skyrocketed.

> Watching the sale prices more closely?
>
> Dimitri

Always have. I was dumbfounded two weeks ago to get 28-ounce cans of
Hunt's tomato products for a buck each. That was less than half the
regular price. There are sales all over the place and if you've got
the money it's a good time to stock up.

--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
http://web.me.com/barbschaller
"What you say about someone else says more
about you than it does about the other person."

On Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:02:40 -0700, "Dimitri" >
shouted from the highest rooftop:

>Are you conserving?

Like others have already noted, we always have been conservative to a
certain extent - even when we were earning good money. But as our cost
of living steadily increases and our retirement income remains
relatively static, we are more & more conscious of those increases and
that definitely has an effect on what and when we buy.

>Buying less extravagant foods?

Not exactly, but we're buying them less often. We still splurge on
special occasions, for guests and just for the enjoyment ... only not
as much.

>Donating to the local food bank?

Not specifically. But we make regular donations to various charities
including the Salvation Army, Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity. Also
the RSPCA because animal neglect is part of the scenario too.

>Watching the sale prices more closely?

Absolutely. I always do. But as the chief spendthrift in the family I
also ask myself and my wife if we really need something at least three
times before I rush in and buy it. As a result I am making very few,
if any, impulse purchases.


--

una cerveza mas por favor ...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~
Wax-up and drop-in of Surfing's Golden Years: <http://www.surfwriter.net>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~

On Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:02:40 -0700, "Dimitri" >
wrote:

>Today I was thinking I was going to braise some chunks of pork in the
>crock-pot when it occurred to me gas is much less expensive than electricity
>so the oven went to 200 and in went the Dutch Oven.

I have no idea how to calculate it but I would think a crock pot would
cost less than heating up a whole oven even with the difference
between gas and electric. At lest here in Chicago.

Lou

In article >,
Lou Decruss > wrote:

> On Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:02:40 -0700, "Dimitri" >
> wrote:
>
> >Today I was thinking I was going to braise some chunks of pork in the
> >crock-pot when it occurred to me gas is much less expensive than electricity
> >so the oven went to 200 and in went the Dutch Oven.
>
> I have no idea how to calculate it but I would think a crock pot would
> cost less than heating up a whole oven even with the difference
> between gas and electric. At lest here in Chicago.

I don't know either, but I just have to wonder if the oven uses more
electricity than the crockpot. Here's a random stove:

http://products.geappliances.com/App...QUEST=SPECPAGE
&SKU=JGBP28MEMBS&SITEID=GEA&TABID=2

It's rated at 5 amps vs maybe one or two for a crockpot. I think that
covers the oven light, and the three igniters for the top, broiler and
oven. I think the broiler and oven igniters probably use the most. Of
course, if you have an old stove with a pilot light, then electrical use
would be nominal.

--
Dan Abel
Petaluma, California USA