The last of the leftovers are gone. So very sad...
Just looking at the main meal and counting desserts and drinks, we got 8 plates of food for roughly $25 or about $4 a plate, which I'm pretty happy with. Other than making the stuffing from scratch, I'm not sure how we would get the price any lower unless we could buy the turkey breasts on more of a sale.
Still, there is no way we could ever eat out at a restaurant and get the same meal for $4 a plate. It would probably cost us at least $25 just for one meal for the two of us.
Monday, November 30, 2009
80% of Restaurant.com
Restaurant.com is having an 80% off sale, you can get a $25 certificate for $2 or $50 for $4 with the code: SAVE the code is good until the end of the day today.
I've used these before and they are more like coupons than gift certificates in that there are restrictions on ordering a minimum amount and automatically charging you 18% gratuity on the full price. With that said, if they offer a restaurant that you like to go to anyway this is an easy way to save some money. I usually find that I can save 25-35% off the bill by using one of these coupons. Which is nice if it's a restaurant that you go to often or you find a restaurant that you want to try.
In San Francisco they offer certificates to everything from North Beach restaurants for Italian, places in the mission for Mexican, cafe's and bistros in most neighborhoods so there's a good chance you have a place close to you that you might want to try. Personally, I love that Helmond and Mercedes are on the site.
I've used these before and they are more like coupons than gift certificates in that there are restrictions on ordering a minimum amount and automatically charging you 18% gratuity on the full price. With that said, if they offer a restaurant that you like to go to anyway this is an easy way to save some money. I usually find that I can save 25-35% off the bill by using one of these coupons. Which is nice if it's a restaurant that you go to often or you find a restaurant that you want to try.
In San Francisco they offer certificates to everything from North Beach restaurants for Italian, places in the mission for Mexican, cafe's and bistros in most neighborhoods so there's a good chance you have a place close to you that you might want to try. Personally, I love that Helmond and Mercedes are on the site.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Cost of Thanksgiving
Here is the final tally for our Thanksgiving diner (which includes leftovers for at least one and possible two more meals for us)
Turkey Breast $9
Squash $1
Sweet Potatoes $1
Cranberry Sauce $3
Dressing $4
Broccoli $1
Gravy $1.50
Vanilla Ice Cream $4
Pecan Pie (6 inch) $8
Pumpkin Pie (9 inch)$10
Sparkling Cranberry $3
Wine $7
Total $52.50
The real killer was buying the desserts at $22 for the pies and ice cream, which was nearly half of the overall cost. If that's taken out and you skip the wine so that you're just making the food, I think $25 is a very reasonable cost for one of the best meals of the year and getting another day or two worth of leftovers.
Instead of having turkey sandwiches, you can use the leftover turkey to make turkey chili or a soup with the turkey meat. Of course, a hot turkey sandwich with gravy does sound good...
Turkey Breast $9
Squash $1
Sweet Potatoes $1
Cranberry Sauce $3
Dressing $4
Broccoli $1
Gravy $1.50
Vanilla Ice Cream $4
Pecan Pie (6 inch) $8
Pumpkin Pie (9 inch)$10
Sparkling Cranberry $3
Wine $7
Total $52.50
The real killer was buying the desserts at $22 for the pies and ice cream, which was nearly half of the overall cost. If that's taken out and you skip the wine so that you're just making the food, I think $25 is a very reasonable cost for one of the best meals of the year and getting another day or two worth of leftovers.
Instead of having turkey sandwiches, you can use the leftover turkey to make turkey chili or a soup with the turkey meat. Of course, a hot turkey sandwich with gravy does sound good...
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Thanksgiving
R and I will be making a huge Thanksgiving even though it's just the two of us. We each think it is by far the best meal of the year, and we try to get extra turkey when it's on sale and freeze it so we can enjoy a second Thanksgiving in April or May.
This year we'll be having:
Turkey breasts (brined of course)
Dressing
Cranberry Sauce
Sweet Potatoes
Broccoli
Beet relish (basically roasted beets and horseradish)
Banana Nut Bread
Persimmon Bread
A Small Pumpkin Pie and a small Pecan Pie
For drinks we'll have sparkling cranberry juice, sparkling pomegranate juice and wine.
Everything but the pies and drinks will be home made. Our kitchen just isn't big enough to roll out dough, which is rather sad. But aside from the small kitchen, we have a lot to be thankful for, and hope that you do to.
This year we'll be having:
Turkey breasts (brined of course)
Dressing
Cranberry Sauce
Sweet Potatoes
Broccoli
Beet relish (basically roasted beets and horseradish)
Banana Nut Bread
Persimmon Bread
A Small Pumpkin Pie and a small Pecan Pie
For drinks we'll have sparkling cranberry juice, sparkling pomegranate juice and wine.
Everything but the pies and drinks will be home made. Our kitchen just isn't big enough to roll out dough, which is rather sad. But aside from the small kitchen, we have a lot to be thankful for, and hope that you do to.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Real Estate
It was reported today that nearly 1 in 4 people, or roughly 10.7 Million people, with a mortgage are underwater and that 7.5 Million people were 30 days or more behind on their mortgage payments.
I’m sure there are some tragic stories in this crowd - probably involving unforeseen medical expenses, but for the most part I think it’s mostly the result of people being greedy and trying to buy too much home or getting refinancing and using their home as an ATM machine. Lets get real, if the average person makes $50k a year they can’t afford a $500,000 house – no matter what the agent might tell them.
When I first got to San Francisco the real estate party was in full swing and I had no job and few assets to buy property so I was priced out of the market. After getting a job I still had no assets for a down payment so I went into super saver mode trying to build up enough to perhaps make a purchase. While I was building up my down payment I watched as prices went higher and higher and higher still. Eventually I started to think that there was just no way I’d ever be able to buy a home in or around SF.
Then came the great unraveling and prices started their slow decline. I patiently watched prices decline and waited, reminding myself not to get a mortgage more than 3x my income. I can now afford a home in the exurbs – if I’m willing to deal with an hour long bart ride and uncertain water rights, or I could buy a small condo in SF and be stuck paying HOA fees. Neither are options I like very much. Prices are still high for real estate in San Francisco and haven’t dropped as much as they have in other parts of the country and perhaps they never will, but with the unemployment in the city around 10% I’m guessing prices will continue to decline for at least a little while longer. This gives me hope that maybe one day I’ll be able to be a homeowner in the Bay Area.
I’m sure there are some tragic stories in this crowd - probably involving unforeseen medical expenses, but for the most part I think it’s mostly the result of people being greedy and trying to buy too much home or getting refinancing and using their home as an ATM machine. Lets get real, if the average person makes $50k a year they can’t afford a $500,000 house – no matter what the agent might tell them.
When I first got to San Francisco the real estate party was in full swing and I had no job and few assets to buy property so I was priced out of the market. After getting a job I still had no assets for a down payment so I went into super saver mode trying to build up enough to perhaps make a purchase. While I was building up my down payment I watched as prices went higher and higher and higher still. Eventually I started to think that there was just no way I’d ever be able to buy a home in or around SF.
Then came the great unraveling and prices started their slow decline. I patiently watched prices decline and waited, reminding myself not to get a mortgage more than 3x my income. I can now afford a home in the exurbs – if I’m willing to deal with an hour long bart ride and uncertain water rights, or I could buy a small condo in SF and be stuck paying HOA fees. Neither are options I like very much. Prices are still high for real estate in San Francisco and haven’t dropped as much as they have in other parts of the country and perhaps they never will, but with the unemployment in the city around 10% I’m guessing prices will continue to decline for at least a little while longer. This gives me hope that maybe one day I’ll be able to be a homeowner in the Bay Area.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Weekend recap
Saturday my girlfriend R and I decided to go bike riding along the Bay at Crissy Field. I have a bike, which I bought used off of craigslist, but she doesn’t so we had to rent a bike for her. So we do what every good San Franciscan should do and went to Sports Basement rather than one of the high priced tourist ripe-off bike rental shops like Blazing Saddles. Why Sports Basement? Because the staff is super nice, knowledgeable and the prices are cheap - $10 for 3 hours or $20 for the day, kids pay half.
The staff was great in helping R deal with her fear of riding a bike. Knowing that this was her first time riding in years and if she liked it we would be back to rent a bike often they not only gave us an old fashion cruiser bike – the kind without gears and peddle breaks, for our Bay side ride (don’t ever get a cruiser if you’re going to be riding up any of San Francisco’s many, many hills) but they also gave it to us at the kids price. That is fantastic customer service!
I helped R ride around the parking lot a few times to remember how to ride a bike and get used to this particular bike and then we ventured across the street to the Crissy Field paths. Soon we were riding from the Yacht club to the Warming Hut and back with the sun on our faces and the wind in our hair.
Returning the bike, we picked up a few energy bars from their huge selection and played a game of pink pong for free on the table they have set up for their customers to use. Total cost: about $7. Which got us the joy or riding along the Bay, time spent together, fresh air, helping to over come one of R’s fears and a post ride snack. Well worth it. Oh, and you can be sure we’ll be back to Sports Basement again.
I spent Sunday indoor rock climbing and watching football, neither of which cost any money – I have a monthly membership to the climbing gym so essentially once the fee is paid each visit is free. Alternatively I go to the gym on average of 10-12 times per month making each visit cost an average of roughly $6 to $7 if you wanted to calculate it that way.
The staff was great in helping R deal with her fear of riding a bike. Knowing that this was her first time riding in years and if she liked it we would be back to rent a bike often they not only gave us an old fashion cruiser bike – the kind without gears and peddle breaks, for our Bay side ride (don’t ever get a cruiser if you’re going to be riding up any of San Francisco’s many, many hills) but they also gave it to us at the kids price. That is fantastic customer service!
I helped R ride around the parking lot a few times to remember how to ride a bike and get used to this particular bike and then we ventured across the street to the Crissy Field paths. Soon we were riding from the Yacht club to the Warming Hut and back with the sun on our faces and the wind in our hair.
Returning the bike, we picked up a few energy bars from their huge selection and played a game of pink pong for free on the table they have set up for their customers to use. Total cost: about $7. Which got us the joy or riding along the Bay, time spent together, fresh air, helping to over come one of R’s fears and a post ride snack. Well worth it. Oh, and you can be sure we’ll be back to Sports Basement again.
I spent Sunday indoor rock climbing and watching football, neither of which cost any money – I have a monthly membership to the climbing gym so essentially once the fee is paid each visit is free. Alternatively I go to the gym on average of 10-12 times per month making each visit cost an average of roughly $6 to $7 if you wanted to calculate it that way.
Friday, November 20, 2009
How I got to where I am
After graduating from college I was in a position a lot of graduating seniors are in. I had no idea what I wanted to with my life. With some credit card debt hanging over my head (with interest running at 19%) I took the first job I was offered and even worse I didn’t even negotiate from the low ball salary they offered me. And I was living with my parents. Which all sounds rather sad and depressing looking back on it.
I quickly learned that the only way things were going to get better was for me to take matters into my own hands and start working toward a better future. I began saving and paying down my debt aggressively. Then the next fall I took what felt like a big step and enrolled in a part time MBA program from one of the leading schools in the area. Three years latter I graduated with my MBA, was free of my credit card debt had built up a cash reserve and saved enough to pay for a car. Though a series of promotions I had managed to get my income up over $40,000, but that doesn’t go far living in an expensive East Cost city. Unfortunately going back to school caused me to rack up $45,000 in student loans, and I was STILL living with my parents.
At the time interest rates were at record lows and I was able to consolidate all of my student loans at a low rate and by using their automatic payment option and paying consistently on time I have gotten the interest rate reduced to a mere 1.625%. Obviously I’m in no rush to pay off this debt. During this time I realized that the only way I was going to really increase my income was to change my employer, so I began my job search. I developed a list of companies that I wanted to work for and began contacting each of them.
I soon received an interesting offer from a company in San Francisco that I really admired. It wasn’t the job I was hoping for, but rather an internship. I’ve learned in life to never automatically dismiss an opportunity simply because it doesn’t fit the preconceived notion we may have for what we want. In other words, always keep an open mind! Weighing my options I decided that it was worth taking the chance of resigning from my job (which I didn’t really like anyway), driving across the country to take a low paying internship at an awesome company where I could gain very valuable experience and make industry contacts. Six months later I finished a very enjoyable internship and had landed a job with nearly double the income of the job I gave up on the East Coast. This is similar to what Ramit at Iwillteachyoutoberich.com talks about when he says sometimes you need to work for free so that you can get the job you want.
Along the way I started reading personal finance blogs and articles and received an inordinate amount of help, tips, advice, encouragement and entertainment. This blog is a way for me to contribute and possibly help someone else and also a way to keep myself accountable and motivated to continue saving and financially thriving while living in one of the most beautiful, fun and expensive cities in the country.
I quickly learned that the only way things were going to get better was for me to take matters into my own hands and start working toward a better future. I began saving and paying down my debt aggressively. Then the next fall I took what felt like a big step and enrolled in a part time MBA program from one of the leading schools in the area. Three years latter I graduated with my MBA, was free of my credit card debt had built up a cash reserve and saved enough to pay for a car. Though a series of promotions I had managed to get my income up over $40,000, but that doesn’t go far living in an expensive East Cost city. Unfortunately going back to school caused me to rack up $45,000 in student loans, and I was STILL living with my parents.
At the time interest rates were at record lows and I was able to consolidate all of my student loans at a low rate and by using their automatic payment option and paying consistently on time I have gotten the interest rate reduced to a mere 1.625%. Obviously I’m in no rush to pay off this debt. During this time I realized that the only way I was going to really increase my income was to change my employer, so I began my job search. I developed a list of companies that I wanted to work for and began contacting each of them.
I soon received an interesting offer from a company in San Francisco that I really admired. It wasn’t the job I was hoping for, but rather an internship. I’ve learned in life to never automatically dismiss an opportunity simply because it doesn’t fit the preconceived notion we may have for what we want. In other words, always keep an open mind! Weighing my options I decided that it was worth taking the chance of resigning from my job (which I didn’t really like anyway), driving across the country to take a low paying internship at an awesome company where I could gain very valuable experience and make industry contacts. Six months later I finished a very enjoyable internship and had landed a job with nearly double the income of the job I gave up on the East Coast. This is similar to what Ramit at Iwillteachyoutoberich.com talks about when he says sometimes you need to work for free so that you can get the job you want.
Along the way I started reading personal finance blogs and articles and received an inordinate amount of help, tips, advice, encouragement and entertainment. This blog is a way for me to contribute and possibly help someone else and also a way to keep myself accountable and motivated to continue saving and financially thriving while living in one of the most beautiful, fun and expensive cities in the country.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)