Well I bought my first Christmas gift today...sm

Our family has always picked names for Christmas and bought only for that person.  The limit is supposed to be $25. You know how hard it is to just spend $25 especially on someone that basically has everything.  In the past this had just included the adults in their 40s and 50s.  Of course one felt obligated to buy the teenagers and younger children something. I'm single with no kids.  Last year I spent close to $200 on Christmas.  I really couldn't afford it last year, absolutely cannot afford that this year. 

This year my SIL presented the idea of a low cost gift or gift card (my mother hates gift cards) and playing the game of picking a number, then picking a gift, etc.  Well my other brother and his wife, who are well off, and my mother decided they didn't want to do that and also now want to include the teenagers and young adults (20s) in the gift exchange.  I told my mom I don't want to participate.  I can't afford it.  "Its only $25 they say.  Aren't you making any money?" Well its never "just" $25 and what can I buy a teenager that has everything for $25?  They turned up their noses on the small gifts I gave them in the past. I also don't want others to spend more than $25 on me when I could only afford $25.  I already feel inferior about my financial status in comparison to my siblings and I feel the best thing for me is to not participate.  What's the problem?    I really loathe Christmas anymore.  No one really appreciates any gifts they are given and I don't want to participate anymore. I guess I'm antisocial. Why can't we just have a family dinner and forget about the gifts?     Thanks for letting me vent. 

There is a little spa near us that has gift certificates for massages, aroma therapy, etc  and had thought about getting my daughters each one as a Christmas gift.  Thought they could go together as they are good friends as well as sisters.  I am a bit of a country bumpkin myself and know nothing about these things.  Anyone tell me a little about what they might expect?  One daughter is pretty easy going, the other is a little more conservative.  I understand sheets covering the body, just wanted to make sure the massage is confined to extremities and back, nothing too personal.  TIA 

Mine is Little Critters Omega-3 Gummy Fish. Cute concept but the berry, lemon and strawberry flavoried gummies somehow manage to taste like fruity flavored fish When I got them, my kids gagged with the first one and wouldn't even touch the second one for the recommended 2 a day. So guess who is choking down 2 of those suckers every day now?

I bought a convetion oven a year ago and it puked out this past week when I wanted to broil a london broil. I was very disappointed.  Up until then, I used to make cakes and whole BBQ chickens on the rotisseie which all were great, plus the baking/roasting things. I'm hoping I just did something wrong when but I'm afraid I might not have. I also have his SS pots and pans bought a year before that that are still sitting in the box because I found anoter set of pots and pans that were given as a Christma giflt, so I'm using them.

i will be making chicekn again this week rotiserries style so keep your finers crossed for me. Of course, the warranty ran out prior this happening.

local convenience store (Sheetz) sells them in packs of 3 for $1.00.  Love 'em, but nothing beats scraping the pot when it's still warm!!! MMMMMM!!!!

It's an interesting CD and I really like the theory behind it, which has been around forever if you think about it. What I didn't like was all the emphasis on material things, wealth, money, etc.  To me it seemed that was the focus of the CD whereas on the show the panel focused on many other types of issues besides just getting wealthy.

with my husband and I am an IC.  I have never been asked to get a letter from a service stating I would have work for a period of time.  Anyone you contract with, would probably not do that.  They cannot promise you anything.   WE know that.

BUT what I am asked is how long I have been in the business.  That seems to matter the most, as it should.  And when I say *over 32 years*, then there is no problem. 

If you are happy with you mortgage company and have good rates, then just explain to the loan officer how your job works and emphasize that you have been in the business for 6 years.

As an aside - the last mortgage officer knew I was self employed but when we went in with our W-2s and 1099s, he was shocked at my earnings.  He said, *Most of the time, self-employed means no income and a lot of deductions."  Make sure your mortgage company knows you make money at this and are not using it as a tax write off.

Good luck to you!  and congratulations on your new house! 

If the picture comes out (is there any way to preview before you post??), it is the sofa you see on the left and also the matching loveseat. We are very happy with it. But there is just my husband and me and our college-age son when he is home, so it doesn't get a lot of wear.

We just moved into a new house and bought new furniture for the living room and dining room. The other brands we chose were Hammary (dining table, chairs and sideboard) and H00ker (entertainment center). We are very happy with all of it.

LOL - it wouldn't let me post H00ker!

Last year, I posted on this board about how to buy a house at a tax auction.  I came into a very small amount of money and bought a very small (2 bedroom), 50 year old home that needs a little work, but is livable right now as it is.  My plan is to live in it, work on it a little at a time, and eventually sell it for a profit or turn it into a rental property.

This is a huge deal for me.  I've been living paycheck to paycheck, trying to make ends meet for years now.  A year ago I seperated from my husband because he was screwing up my credit and not working and now I was able to buy this house outright.  That means no house payment!  Of course my mother was negative.  Saying I better prepared to do a lot of work and I bought the house.  Why can't she just be happy for me?  This is huge!  I'm doing this on my own (with a little help from an insurance settlement). 

Anyway, I just wanted to share my good news with people who could actually be positive.  So, if you're going to be negative -- don't post. 

Also, the first step is deciding on refinishing the hardwood floors or going with carpet.  Then I have to think about remodeling the kitchen which has the hideous 70s linoleum in it and counter tops to match.  It's gross.  The good news is it is a small kitchen so replacing that stuff won't be real expensive.

So any ideas of how to get great deals on things like flooring and laminate counter tops?  Also, I suck at decorating.  I just don't have that creative flare, so I've been watching a lot of HGTV, but I still have no idea about color schemes, etc.  So any ideas would be great!

Okay, back to work.  It's so hard working at home when you have good news!  There's just no one to tell!  Thanks for taking a coffee break with me!

He is the cutest little thing.  He is all white but has some cream running through him.  His dad is pure white and his mom hs the reddish color running through her. 

We also have an Olde English Sheepdog, who is almost 1 year old now.  If you want to see another cute puppy, check out Olde English Sheepdogs.  They have such great personalities too!!!  My husky and my sheepdog just play all day together.  They get along so well.  But I must admit the husky doesnt take any of the sheepdogs crap..... He's just a baby and he is the more dominant already.