Remember a few months ago I was having a really hard time deciding when to take our Disneyland trip?  Well, we decided on January and that means it’s coming up real soon!  So we are getting down and dirty about planning the details.

We have about $1,450 in our vacation budget and it breaks down into 4 basic categories, tickets, gas, hotel, and food.

Tickets: Costco is having a deal where if you buy a season pass through them you get a $50 gift card to use in the park.  So we took advantage of that.  We are planning to go next December so we will be able to get two trips on the year pass, which will save us money in the long run.  And the $50 gift cards are just icing on the cake.

Normally we would spend $507 for tickets to the park.  Year passes cost us $821 plus we get $150 in gift cards.  Which brings our over all cost down to $671 for a long term savings of $343.  (This is for two adults and one child.  We don’t have to buy my son a ticket yet since he is only two.)

Gas: Hello gas prices!  When we were planning this trip gas was like $3 something a gallon.  So I’m thrilled with today’s gas prices.  We are expecting to spend about $100 on gas.

Hotels:  We got pretty close to what we were planning on for hotels.  We were thinking $50 a night and we got them for $55 on Priceline.  (not counting all their dumb fees)

Here’s the thing… our son is the world’s lightest sleeper.  He needs things just right if he is ever going to fall and stay asleep.  And any parent knows… a tired child can turn your world upside down.  So when we travel it means the whole family has to go to bed when the two year old does.  Honestly, my husband and I have had enough of laying in a dark room and whispering from 7:30 on.  It’s really not fun at all.  On our Grand Canyon trip we vowed to start getting two room suites when we travel.  I’m not expecting to be able to watch TV after bedtime but I would like to be able to maybe sit in a chair with the lights on.

Ok, that said we can upgrade our room to a two room suite for about $60 a night.  I haven’t called to see if we can get a deal, this is just what I’ve determined from their website.  But $60 a night will put a huge cramp in our budget.   After we pay for tickets, gas, and our current price on hotel rooms we have about $680 left in our vacation fund, including the $150 in gift cards.  If we shell out another $240 for hotel costs that leaves us $440 for food.  Which brings us to…

Food:  We have to feed 4 people for 5 days.  It actually breaks down to 4 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 4 dinners (52 meals in all…wow).  While $440 should be enough to do it, it is also every last dollar.  And I’m not naive enough to think that A) I’ve thought of every cost B) I’m going to take two kids to Disneyland and not buy them one single thing and C) nothing will go wrong.

We have been talking about what food we can bring with us to try to keep our eating costs down.  We usually have breakfast in the hotel room.  I bring muffins and we chow down before we start our day.  It’s as much of a time saving thing as it is a money saving thing.  If we upgrade rooms we will have a fridge so we could potentially bring milk for the kids.  That would cut out all breakfast costs.  We usually get lunch at the park, but we were talking about bringing lunches.  This would save us about $125 or more.  I need ideas for tasty, filling, easy to carry lunches.  Peanut butter and jelly can only be eaten so many days in a row, unless you’re 7.

But let’s say we eat 4 dinners for $40 each and lunch on the drive home for $25, that is $185.  Round that to $200 and we have a $240 slush fund.  I think that is about perfect.  AND it includes getting the upgraded room!

So here is your mission if you choose to accept it:  Comment with some ideas for good lunches to bring to the park.  Also, do you think I could get a deal on the more expensive room if I wait until we arrive to ask for an upgrade?  Is it worth the risk?

Pic by: Idcross

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Here’s the first woman in my self made men (and women!) series.  Oprah. Love her or hate her, there’s no denying her power.  She was recently named number one on Forbes Top 100 Celebrities, earning a whopping 275 million in 2008.  From a six year old girl wearing a potato sack dress to a millionaire at age 32, she has an amazing story to tell.

Oprah Winfrey was born on January 29, 1954 to two unmarried teenagers.  She was raised by her grandmother until age six.  Her grandmother was a huge influence on her life and was the source of great encouragement.  At age six she went to live with her mother in Milwaukee.  Her Uncle, cousin, and a family friend began molesting her at age 9.  At age 13, tired of the abuse, she ran away from home.  At age 14 she gave birth to a son, but he died as an infant.  Her mother then sent her to live with her father, Vernon Winfrey, in Nashville.

Her father was strict and set education as the priority.  Oprah was voted Most Popular Girl in her high school and won a scholarship to Tennessee State University in an oratory contest.  At age 17 she won Miss Black Tennessee Beauty Pageant and gained the attention of a local new station, WVOL.  They hire her to do a part time news show and she worked there during her senior year in high school and for two years during college, where she majored in communications.

In 1983 Oprah moved to Chicago to host AM Chicago.  Within months the show went from last in the ratings to the highest ranked talk show in Chicago. It was renamed The Oprah Winfrey Show and began national broadcasting on September 8, 1986.   In 1993 she interviewed Michael Jackson.  The interview became the fourth most watched event in American television history and the most watched interview ever.[1] In the mid 1990’s she changed the feel of the show from a tabloid type talk show to a self improvement theme.  Her show now airs in 140 countries.

Most people would be pretty satisfied with coming from nothing to millions and having one of the top rated shows on TV.   But not Oprah. She has been in several films such as The Color Purple, Beloved, Charlotte’s Web and the Bee Movie.   She also has her own cable network, Oxygen, where she created super stars such as Dr. Phil and Rachael Ray.  She has two magazines; O and O at home, and a radio show on XM Satellite Radio called Oprah and Friends.  A book that is chosen by Oprah’s Book Club often means a million or more book sales for author.  She was also the therapist on the sitcom Ellen where Ellen Degeneres came out of the closet.

Oprah personally donates more than any other celebrity in show business.[2]  In 1998 Oprah started the Angel Network which has raised $51 million for under privileged people.  She covers all administration costs.  100% of donations go to helping others.   After hurricane Katrina she asked her viewers to donate to the cause and raised $11 million.  She also contributed $10 million of her own money.  Oprah also spent $40 million to open the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa.

Forbes’ international rich list has listed Winfrey as the world’s only black billionaire in 2004, 2005, and 2006 and as the first black woman billionaire in world history.  In December 2007 a poll of American women found her to be the most admired woman in the world.  She was called the world’s most powerful woman by both CNN and Time. She is so powerful she cost the cattle industry an estimated $12 million with one comment.  April 16th 1996 she aired a show about mad cow disease where she said “It has just stopped me cold from eating another burger!”.  Cattlemen in Texas sued her for defamation of perishable foods.  The trial lasted two months and Oprah was not found liable.

Beginning on an unspecified date the Discovery Health Channel will become The Oprah Winfrey Network and will debut in 70 million homes.  Just one more step in world domination for Oprah.

Other Self Made Men in the series:
Warren Buffett
Henry Ford
Ingvar Kamprad
Sam Walton
Thomas Edison

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Hey guys… real quick.

I’ve added a new page to site with links to all the recipes I’ve posted in the past.  See the link at the top of the post in the blue stripe, it says Frugal Recipes.  See it?  That’s it.  If you are reading this in your reader come by and check it out.  Or click here.

If you have a recipe that you think belongs on that page send it to me and I’ll try it out.  Or if you have a blog and have posted a recipe or two… or bunches, let me know.  I would be happy to link to it.  I know I’ve seen some delicious looking frugal meals out there.

Until next time…

Happy cooking!

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A few days ago, I was walking in our neighborhood with my 7 year old daughter.  Sitting out by the sidewalk was a metal filing cabinet with a sign that said “Free” being held up by a rock.  My daughter said “Oh, look!  They are giving that rock away for free!”  I said “No….”  She replied “Oh, the house is free.”   LOL.  Luckily the housing market isn’t quite that bad!

Oh also… I’m going to be out of town coming up here soon.  If you would like to write a guest post for me shoot me an email.  Diaperbagdiva[at]gmail.com.  Thanks!

I found a lot of great articles this week.  I found this one just cruising around…  How to control the minds of customer service reps.  Do this!!  Read it, reread it, and then read it again.  Have it ingrained into your head.

Saver in the City wrote about money lessons she learned from her mom and dad.  I wrote a similar post back in April money lessons I learned from my parents.  Check them both out.

M is for Money talks about living in 750 square feet.  This is the size of my master bedroom, bath, and closet.  But I have lived in this size space before.  With a kid!

Spilling Buckets gave directions on how to make a homemade sun jar.  This looks so cute!  I really want to do it.

One Frugal Girl gave a definition of what it means to live beyond your means. I can safely say I’m not living beyond my means.  Even my the official definition.

Frugal Dad lays out a plan to give yourself a bailout.  You can do it!

Master Your Card tells us 10 things you will face on the road to being debt free. It’s good to know what to expect so that you don’t feel like your failing when you hit bumps in the road.  Everyone seems to hit the same roadblocks.  Be prepared for them!

pic by: Williac

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I’m all about keeping resolutions simple.  I used to get all crazy and make a bunch of complicated resolutions.  But come January 3rd they had been forgotten.  So now I try to just make one.  And really it’s more of a goal than a resolution.

Last year my New Years Resolution was to get wills.   Which I’m proud to say was actually done!  (You can read about it here.)  It wasn’t hard at all once we got our butts in gear.  Basically just laziness and cheapness is all that was keeping us from it.

I want to make a resolution to pay off my husband’s car, and start a car fund.   But I don’t know if that is reasonable in this economy.  We owe just over $4,000 on his car.   We would have to pay an extra $73 per month towards it to get it paid off this year rather than next.  Which may or may not be doable.  The car fund would really be a struggle.  The economy really needs to pick up here if we are going to be able to do that.  My husband needs some overtime before we can start putting extra money into savings.

That said, I think a reasonable goal for 2009 would be to continue to be a stay at home mom. Right now I feel like that is a workable goal.  I know it’s not much of a resolution to just try to hold steady, but if we aren’t careful I can see us getting into a position where I will need a steady income.  I will feel we did great in 2009 if next year I’m still sitting here on my couch watching Little Einsteins and writing my blog.  And if were able to get my husband’s car paid off and have a car fund going then all the better.

What are your financial goals for 2009?

pic by: ahisgett

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Quick Tip:  Sort those coupons!

I just went through my coupon drawer and about 90% of the coupons in there expired today, being the last day of the year and all.  It’s a great way to start fresh in the new year.  A nice clean and organized coupon drawer.  Let the savings begin!

Pic by: Bramus

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Another month gone by, really another YEAR gone by!   I’m thrilled to say that December was one of my best months ever, traffic wise.  Love it!  I would like to give everyone a great big THANK YOU!!  I also had a bunch of new subscribers this month.  So hello to all my new readers!  Glad to have you on board.

Here were the 10 most popular posts of the month:

10 Holiday Budget Busters
10 Tips to get your house sold
Ingvar Kamprad: The founder of IKEA
Gift Cards at Costco
Warren Buffett
Rate Cuts: What does it mean?
Don’t let the news replace your reality
My Gallons
What the Government should be doing in a recession
A Trip to Costco

Here are my top 10 referrers for December:

Living Almost Large
The Frugal Duchess
No Debt Plan
No Credit Needed
Master Your Card
Frugal Dad
Not the Jet Set
Ultimate Money Blog
Mighty Bargain Hunter
Remodeling This Life

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Ok, so I admit that debt reduction isn’t on the top of my list of things to do.  I mean, it IS, but not like a lot of bloggers.  While I think it’s very important, I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about it.  It’s basically on auto pilot, I pay my payments plus a set amount extra and that’s that.

But even so it’s great to look back to see how much it’s gone down over the year.  So here we go…

I guess I’m happy with that.  Obviously I wish we didn’t have so much to pay towards debt, but I’m glad over half of our payments go towards principal.  It’s crazy that we sent an extra $1,950 towards the mortgage and we still only paid off $4,503.  Wow.  It’s sad how little of your payment goes towards the mortgage balance.  That’s why I force myself to pay extra.  I just can’t stand sending all that money and having nothing to show for it.

Pic by Morning Glory

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Next up in the self made men series is Thomas Edison.

Edison is considered one of the most prolific inventors in history, holding 1,093 U.S. patents in his name, as well as many patents in the United Kingdom, France and Germany. [1]  I can’t begin to talk about all of Edison’s inventions.  This post would go on forever.  I’ve barely scratched the surface but I tried to stick to his more well known inventions, the phonograph and electric lights.

Thomas Edison was born on February 11, 1847 in Milan Ohio.  Edison had hearing loss early in childhood and became totally deaf in his teens.  This has been attributed to scarlet fever and chronic untreated ear infections.  He was quite the day dreamer in school and only received 3 months of formal schooling.  He was home schooled by his mother and has said, “My mother was the making of me. She was so true, so sure of me; and I felt I had something to live for, someone I must not disappoint.”

His first entrepreneurial venture was selling newspapers and candy on the train.  At age 19, he got a job with Western Union but was fired when he was experimenting with a battery.  He had accidentally spilled sulfuric acid on the floor and it dripped down onto his boss’ desk.  Edison went on to invent many telegraphic improvements. His first patent was for the electric vote recorder, which was issued on June 1, 1869.  But the first invention to bring fame was the phonograph in 1877.  The first phonograph had poor sound quality and the recordings could only be played a few times.  He continued to work on it until he developed the “perfect phonograph”.  You can listen to Thomas Edison talking into a phonograph here.  I highly recommend it, it’s pretty neat.

He eventually came up with the quadruplex phonograph which he sold to Western Union.  It allowed the transmission of 4 messages at the same time over a single wire.  He used the money gained on the sale of the phonograph to build a research lab.  It was the first institution dedicated to the advancement of technology.  Over his desk, Edison displayed a placard with Sir Joshua Reynolds’ famous quote: “There is no expedient to which a man will not resort to avoid the real labor of thinking.” [2]

Edison and his team mostly made improvements to existing designs.  For example, he did not invent the first electric light bulb, but instead invented the first commercially practical light bulb.[3]  Previous electric lights had short lives, were expensive to produce, and drew a high amount of electricity.  But Edison and his team were able to come up with a light bulb that could be mass produced and sold to homes and businesses.  Edison’s patent used carbonized bamboo as the filament but he later bought a patent that had been issued 3 years earlier to Henry Woodward.  This patent used a carbon rod in a nitrogen filled glass cylinder.

Edison also created a system for the generation and distribution of electricity.  The first public display of an electric lamp was on December 31, 1879.  At the time Edison said “We will make electricity so cheap that only the rich will burn candles.”  In 1880, Edison started Edison Electric Illuminating Company and on September 4th, 1882 Edison switched on the electrical power distribution system and provided 110 volts of Direct Current to 59 customers in Manhattan.

Direct Current (DC) had major disadvantages.  It could only transmit power to customers up to a mile and a half way and used thick expensive wires.  Edison employed a young immigrant named Nikola Tesla.  Edison told Tesla that he would give him $50,000 (53 years of pay) if he could improve upon his DC plants.  Tesla then discovered Alternating Current (AC).  When he asked Edison for his bonus Edison laughed and told him “When you become a full-fledged American you will appreciate an American joke.”  This upset Tesla who quit immediately.

Tesla took his design for AC to Westinghouse which began to promote the new technology.  AC could transmit power hundreds of miles and used thin inexpensive wires.  To fight the transition to AC Edison launched a campaign against alternating current which stated that AC was too dangerous to use.  He went as far as to publicly electrocute animals to demonstrate the dangers of AC.  But his efforts were mostly in vain and AC became the current of choice.  DC is still used to power subway systems today and was used in some buildings in downtown New York City power as late as 2007.

Thomas Edison died on October 18th, 1931 at his home in West Orange, New Jersey.  His last breath is said to be in a sealed test tube in the Henry Ford museum.

Other Self Made Men in the series:
Warren Buffett
Henry Ford
Ingvar Kamprad
Sam Walton

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Hello everyone!  I hope you had a great Christmas.  We did.  My big presents from my husband were a string of pearls, a heart necklace with diamonds, and a GPS for the van.  All of which I love.  I got my husband a big tool set of Craftsman tools and a drill.  My daughter got a digital camera.  I was worried about that since it wasn’t something she asked for, but she seemed to love it.  And my son’s favorite toy so far wasn’t even from us.  My brother in law got him a scooter and he’s been riding it everywhere he goes.  I don’t think he will ever walk again.

But I’m taking a break from cleaning up the Christmas tornado to highlight a few of my favorite posts this week….

Saver in the City gives some tips on writing thank you notes.

Budgets are Sexy wrote about a little girl who wants letters for Christmas.  I know this is a bit late, but I highly doubt she will stop wanting letters just cause Christmas is over.  And it’s his birthday today so make sure you stop by and give some birthday wishes.

Master Your Card asked if money and ethics mix.  She talked about paying for or selling college papers.  She even mentioned she saw someone looking to buy a term paper on ethics.  LMAO!  I love irony.

Brip Blap asks “Who watches the watchmen?“  Good Question.

Yielding Wealth talked about an interesting trend in the drop of State Lottery sales.  Weird.  I would think in hard times ticket sales would go up.

Ok, guys… now back to cleaning!!

pic by: Williac

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