https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 06 Apr 2026 05:02:41 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-have-you-done-today-to-improve-your-finances/page/3#post-1947466 Mon, 17 Nov 2014 12:23:06 +0000 lilyann 1947466@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I stopped following all the IG resale shops that I liked! Might not have been an instant savings, but it will pay off :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-have-you-done-today-to-improve-your-finances/page/3#post-1944350 Fri, 14 Nov 2014 08:36:27 +0000 Anagram 1944350@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Espion: @PurplePumps: Yup. Lesson learned. :sad: Stupid Maternity21 test. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-have-you-done-today-to-improve-your-finances/page/2#post-1944167 Fri, 14 Nov 2014 02:26:22 +0000 SugarplumsMom 1944167@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We bought a new stove that was on sale (no frills), which apparently is ranked best in test this year. I also got a slow cooker during the time we were stove-less and vowed to continue to use is since it's crazy convenient! I buy everything on sale, preferably majorly discounted, but aside from that I'm really guilty in not saving. I need to start packing lunch, for instance. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-have-you-done-today-to-improve-your-finances/page/2#post-1944163 Fri, 14 Nov 2014 01:32:11 +0000 sunny 1944163@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jump Rope: Yes, I think the HD Homerun prime is a tuner and it replaces the cable box. The cable card (you rent it from your cable company) provides the descrambler information. Typically, the cable card is $2-3/month rental. You can then get rid of the cable box + DVR charge (~$20). </p> <p>Here's how we have it setup at our home.</p> <p>To record: Desktop computer with a Ceton Tuner mounted in a slot in the back (similar to the HD Homerun that PurplePumps has). We rent a cable card, and it fits right inside. We run coax cable from the tuner to the wall. The computer runs Windows 7 with Windows Media Center (WMC) and we setup shows to record through the WMC.</p> <p>To watch: Xbox 360 hooked up to the TV. Xbox 360 can connect to the WMC and we can watch our recorded shows or live TV. Alternately, if your computer is in wired range of your TV, you can always run a cable to the TV. Ours is in our office, and the TV is downstairs so we need the Xbox.</p> <p>Caveats: I know PurplePumps has said it was really easy, but I actually think it has its challenges sometimes. Second, Microsoft seems to be discontinuing the WMC product. There aren't really any other hardware manufacturers building Windows Media Center Extenders (e.g. ways to connect to your WMC and bring it to a TV elsewhere in your home). </p> <p>If you wanted to cut cable and just watch OTA channels (but maintain DVR capability), you can do that with this setup as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-have-you-done-today-to-improve-your-finances/page/2#post-1944129 Thu, 13 Nov 2014 23:40:11 +0000 Espion 1944129@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Freckles: Ha! So easy! Thank you. I don't think we would have figured it out but for the hard way. 49th state newbs! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-have-you-done-today-to-improve-your-finances/page/2#post-1944128 Thu, 13 Nov 2014 23:36:53 +0000 Freckles 1944128@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Espion: DH said it's any timer where you can set the time, and that should work with your block heater. We would set it up so that the block heater turns on about 30 minutes before we had to leave the house. Hope that helps! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-have-you-done-today-to-improve-your-finances/page/2#post-1944127 Thu, 13 Nov 2014 23:34:00 +0000 fancyfunction 1944127@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't spend any money today! And I didn't get<br /> To go to my rehearsal tonight which saved me from buying a Starbucks on the way home :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-have-you-done-today-to-improve-your-finances/page/2#post-1944125 Thu, 13 Nov 2014 23:31:55 +0000 Espion 1944125@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Freckles: A timer would be awesome. I'll ask DH if he can find such a thing. He left it plugged in basically 24 hours a day. And it is warmer here than where my sister lives in Dallas! </p> <p>After the shock of the bill, I'm actually proud of ourselves for tracking down the cause. We're (read: I'm) pretty good with turning off lights and I can't imagine that our darker and shorter days caused that much of a jump in our bill for having room lights on longer. But DH calculated out the wattage and basically made up the exact difference based on the outputs from the engine block heater. (And when I looked at our electric company's "winter tips", the very first one was "unplug the engine block heater"!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-have-you-done-today-to-improve-your-finances/page/2#post-1944113 Thu, 13 Nov 2014 23:19:02 +0000 Mrs. Jump Rope 1944113@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sunny: interesting. And this is to replace your regular cable box?</p> <p>Let's say I do this-- what do I tell Comcast? We currently pay $3/mo for a "regular" box (no HDTV, basic cable) in our bedroom. The box in our living room gives us HDTV and all the premium channels. How does this media player thing fit in? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-have-you-done-today-to-improve-your-finances/page/2#post-1944112 Thu, 13 Nov 2014 23:18:04 +0000 PurplePumps 1944112@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sunny: I've been wanting to do it for 3 years or so now, but was too lazy to look into it. Been wasting so much money and it was so easy to set up! I should have done it so much sooner. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-have-you-done-today-to-improve-your-finances/page/2#post-1944109 Thu, 13 Nov 2014 23:13:19 +0000 sunny 1944109@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PurplePumps: We do the same thing! We have been setup that way for years. </p> <p>@Mrs. Jump Rope: if you have a Xbox 360 you can even use it to connect to your Media Center and watch the recorded shows on the big screen. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-have-you-done-today-to-improve-your-finances/page/2#post-1944106 Thu, 13 Nov 2014 23:08:26 +0000 Freckles 1944106@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Espion: Whoa, do you guys have one with a timer? That's what we use, and i don't think we saw a big jump in our bill. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-have-you-done-today-to-improve-your-finances/page/2#post-1944091 Thu, 13 Nov 2014 22:56:35 +0000 PurplePumps 1944091@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: Yikes! I would be SOOOO pissed at the doctor for doing that. Wow, I'm sorry they screwed you up like that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-have-you-done-today-to-improve-your-finances/page/2#post-1944088 Thu, 13 Nov 2014 22:54:44 +0000 PurplePumps 1944088@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jump Rope: It still requires an initial investment (a media player, I got the HD Homerun Prime ~$120) and a small fee to rent the cable card ($2 for me vs $7 for the cable box). Then you set up and use Windows Media Center and you can watch TV via your laptop or PC like normal and record/watch up to 3 channels. They even have a WMC remote control so it's totally like still having a "real" cable box. It'll pay itself off in 5 months and then start saving $25 a month with all the same functionality </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-have-you-done-today-to-improve-your-finances/page/2#post-1943990 Thu, 13 Nov 2014 21:35:03 +0000 Espion 1943990@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Holy crap, people. If you live in a cold climate, unplug the engine block heaters!! They apparently only need to be on for three hours if it is &lt; 20 degrees outside. DH has been leaving his plugged in all day and our electricity bill jumped from $90 to $171...and it is all due to the engine block heater. </p> <p>OUCH. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-have-you-done-today-to-improve-your-finances/page/2#post-1943947 Thu, 13 Nov 2014 21:10:23 +0000 luckypenny 1943947@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just sold a bunch of baby clothes and my clothes/purses. I'm also trying to sell some diaper bags I never used so I can pay for our family photo shoot this year </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-have-you-done-today-to-improve-your-finances/page/2#post-1943914 Thu, 13 Nov 2014 20:52:22 +0000 Mrs. Jump Rope 1943914@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PurplePumps: talk to me about recording with your laptop!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-have-you-done-today-to-improve-your-finances/page/2#post-1943911 Thu, 13 Nov 2014 20:50:34 +0000 Espion 1943911@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lilteacherbee: Congratulations on the new job! So convenient that you'll be in the same school as your DH as well!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-have-you-done-today-to-improve-your-finances/page/2#post-1943908 Thu, 13 Nov 2014 20:49:59 +0000 Espion 1943908@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: UGH. I feel you. I just went to my OB's office today and complained about the same thing, slightly different test. I told them, in no uncertain terms, that they should NOT recommend those tests to everyone without understanding what they are and in whom they should be ordered. By casually saying, "Oh yeah, it is covered by insurance" (because I ASKED!) is an <i>extreme</i> disservice to the patient. I am so angry with you!! </p> <p>After a banner month last month of an egregiously inflated grocery bill, we have committed to eating what we actually have in the house and only supplementing with milk, veggies, and fruit as needed. </p> <p>And I've bought zero maternity clothes. I'm making it with a Bella Band and a pack of larger underwear (so key, ha!) I just can't justify it with all of our mortgage/student loan debt. :( I haven't bought anything for myself in a long, long time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-have-you-done-today-to-improve-your-finances/page/2#post-1943895 Thu, 13 Nov 2014 20:42:35 +0000 sunshineandsushi 1943895@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I called our mortgage lender to request the surplus in our escrow account be mailed via check. $743 for us, woot! This is the result of me reshopping our homeowners insurance and getting a policy $1000 less per year. Now we get the surplus back and a lower mortgage payment. :grin: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-have-you-done-today-to-improve-your-finances/page/2#post-1943809 Thu, 13 Nov 2014 19:42:52 +0000 lilteacherbee 1943809@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: @mrs. bird: @.twist.: @gilmoregirl: @simplyfelicity: Thanks! I teach public state pre-k, but since my county houses them in private centers (like daycares), we don't get benefits or the state teacher salary. I'm going to be teaching the exact same program in a neighboring county that has them in the elementary schools, which means I'll be considered a state employee. I'll be working in the same school where DH teaches 3rd grade. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-have-you-done-today-to-improve-your-finances/page/2#post-1943307 Thu, 13 Nov 2014 15:00:19 +0000 DillonLion 1943307@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO and I are both home sick today. We drove DH to the airport, went to the mall, and went to her doctor's appointment and came home. We didnt spend any money on anything! These kind of days are so tempting for things like snacks and coffee and meals out, but we didnt do any of that. Yay! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-have-you-done-today-to-improve-your-finances/page/2#post-1943298 Thu, 13 Nov 2014 14:57:02 +0000 StbHisMrs 1943298@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I bought a brand new washer and dryer that had better save a ton of money and time ;)<br /> I sold my old ones and stashed that into savings to help recover from the new ones.<br /> I got a killer deal on the washing machine because they just had it delivered and were too busy to unwrap it and set it up as a display so they marked it down to less than half price that morning. I was stoked, then I got them to take a military discount on the dryer and walked out spending $300 less than I originally planned (but with the sale that was going on I really saved $1400!)</p> <p>Our rent increased $50/month so I've been trying really hard to keep all the unnecessary lights off, and whatever we aren't using unplugged, no tv's on for background noise and that kind of thing. I'm hoping that the new washer and dryer will help too, I was having to hit spin 2-4 times, and still dry for 1-2 hours. </p> <p>I really need to be better about using YNAB. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-have-you-done-today-to-improve-your-finances/page/2#post-1943229 Thu, 13 Nov 2014 14:24:19 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1943229@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lilteacherbee: awesome! What are you doing now? </p> <p>I went out to lunch but with a $5 coupon. We get one drink and one water when we go out. </p> <p>I would like to cancel cable when I go back to work. Need suggestions though on how to record some tv shows. We already have Amazon and Netflix. </p> <p>I like the idea of cleaning out the freezer before thanksgiving.</p> <p>Does breastfeeding all day and night count as a money saving tip? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-have-you-done-today-to-improve-your-finances/page/2#post-1943212 Thu, 13 Nov 2014 14:11:55 +0000 mrs. bird 1943212@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lilteacherbee: wow!!!! That's fantastic! Congrats </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-have-you-done-today-to-improve-your-finances/page/2#post-1943172 Thu, 13 Nov 2014 13:53:44 +0000 ElbieKay 1943172@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not today, but this week I spoke to my boss about some issues I have with my job. I think that in the long run this will result in more opportunities (and therefore more compensation) for me at work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-have-you-done-today-to-improve-your-finances/page/2#post-1943093 Thu, 13 Nov 2014 13:22:38 +0000 .twist. 1943093@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lilteacherbee: That is SO AWESOME! Congratulations! :D </p> <p>@LovelyPlum: It definitely isn't a cure all for problems. But it gives you the tools to be easily aware of your financial situation and helps you make the right choices to fix your problems! :D Glad you're enjoying it, it has helped us SO much.</p> <p>@gilmoregirl: That is great! Happy to hear the little one outgrew MSPI. Must be a huge relief and I'm sure it helps on the grocery bill too. :D </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-have-you-done-today-to-improve-your-finances/page/2#post-1943091 Thu, 13 Nov 2014 13:19:57 +0000 LovelyPlum 1943091@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gilmoregirl: so excited that B outgrew MSPI! I fear we may be headed to the world of gluten-free, but so far, we're doing OK on the groceries. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-have-you-done-today-to-improve-your-finances/page/2#post-1943088 Thu, 13 Nov 2014 13:18:38 +0000 LovelyPlum 1943088@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@.twist.: I am totally and completely obsessed with YNAB now. It's pretty much the best idea ever. It didn't solve our problems, but we are so much happier knowing where we are.</p> <p>As to what I did? I didn't buy anything at Dunkin Donuts this morning. I win! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-have-you-done-today-to-improve-your-finances/page/2#post-1943062 Thu, 13 Nov 2014 13:10:39 +0000 Anagram 1943062@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PurplePumps: What really, really makes me angry about this situation is that the whole dispute was/is over an unnecessary test--that my doctor TOLD ME would be free~! Which is the only reason I said yes, we could do the test.</p> <p>Long story short....when I was pregnant, my doctor told me that the Maternity21 test was new and they were offering it free to his patients during a trial period. So I said, sure! I'll do it. Seems cool to know if there are any genetic issues so early.</p> <p>And then I got a freaking bill for 2000! And then my insurance company said they'd only pay $470 or something and no one at my doctor's office had record of the "free trials" because I didn't get a bill until a few months after my LO was born and the test was done almost 7 months before by that point.</p> <p>Anyway, the whole situation is totally maddening and makes me insane when I think about it for too long. </p>