Food isn't cheap.
Want proof? Then chew on this: I spent almost $12,000 in groceries last year for my four-person family, including two teenagers.
And what's really scary is that I work very hard to keep my food bill as low as possible every ...
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Essential Tips For Lowering Your Grocery Bill
One of the big reasons the Honeybee has tolerated me for so long is because I love to cook. Some of you fellas out there would be wise to keep that in mind.
Why is that, you ask? Well, it's somewhat ironic, but the fact remains, the more time men ...
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Why Financial Success Often Depends on the Road Not Taken
Decisions, decisions. Like it or not, our lives are defined by them.
It's no secret that a big part of our financial success is based upon the decisions we make in life.
Just ask any person who has jeopardized their financial future by, say, ...
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Why I Refuse to Get Upset By Subtly Deceptive Advertising
Last weekend I was lured to an online calendar website with the following promise: "Everything up to 60% off!"
Sixty percent!
While I was visiting there I found a calendar that was on sale for $13.49 -- $1.50 off the regular price of ...
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100 Words On: A Grim Warning to Those Who Think Money Grows On Trees
A democracy can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the treasury, with the result ...
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The Unexpected Bill That Added $2406.88 to My Recent Vacation
"Whatever it takes."
That was the answer the Honeybee gave me three years ago after I asked her how much she would pay to save a pet's life.
Unfortunately, last week we got a chance to reconsider that question after we returned from a week-long ...
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Cheap Thrills: 6 Awesome Halloween Movies That Aren’t Scary
Everyone knows that staying at home and watching a movie is one of the cheapest ways to share a night, but that can often get tiresome. There's something about the Halloween holiday season that brings the notion back to life, as Halloween movies are ...
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Your Disaster Fund and the Best Places to Hide Money in Your Home
Most people who have emergency and rainy day funds use banks to keep their cash safe. However, it's also wise to keep a home-based readily-accessible disaster fund in the event a situation arises that makes it impossible to withdraw the cash from ...
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My Daughter’s Latest Business Venture (A Car Wash? That’s So Last Year!)
This is another post from my 12-year-old daughter, Nina.
Hi everyone! My dad asked me if I would write another article to tell you about my latest accomplishments so far in 2012.
My last post received a lot of attention because it was put on ...
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The Apocalypse Can Wait: My State of the Household Report for 2012
As the old saying goes, knowledge is power.
When it comes to tracking personal finances, one of the most important pieces of information in you can have in your knowledge database is a detailed summary that highlights where your household income ...
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The High Cost of Getting My Son’s Wisdom Teeth Removed
Nobody likes a big mouth.
At least that's what I used to think.
My teenage son, Matthew doesn't have a big mouth -- although I wish he did.
That's because most big mouths have one particular virtue that makes the rest of us extremely envious: they ...
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A True Love-Story: My Proven Method for Online Dating Success
I thought this article would be apropos today, considering the Honeybee and I are enjoying a bit of a second honeymoon in Maui this week -- sans kids, of course. And yes, we're having a fabulous time!
It's tough being single. Perhaps that's why ...
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My BBQ Sauce Taste Test: My Family Bucks Conventional Wisdom (Again)
Depending on who you talk to, barbecue sauces have been around since the days of the American colonies.
Wikipedia claims that the first commercial barbecue sauce appeared around 1909. I know; please don't grill me on my source, folks.
And while most, but not all, barbecue sauces include some secret blend of ketchup, mustard, vinegar, sugar, onion, and garlic, in the United States there are a multitude of different barbecue sauce styles. For example, there's Kansas City, Memphis, Texas and Alabama styles. There's also South Carolina Sauce, East Carolina Mustard Sauce, and even something called a Lexington Dip, which if you ask me, sounds more like a dance move than a barbecue sauce.
Obviously, it's a matter of personal preference, but one thing is certain: there are as many barbecue sauces out there as there are opinions as to which one reigns supreme. If you don't believe me, walk down the barbecue sauce aisle at your local supermarket.
With that in mind, I figured what better reason to conduct yet another of my completely unscientific blind taste-test experiments?
How the Test Was Conducted
As with most of my other taste tests, I recruited a bunch of hungry family members for my expert panel. This time everyone convened in San Diego for a summer cookout at my cousin Kevin's house.
With the panel in place, Kevin and I barbecued up a whole bunch of chicken wings and the candidate sauces were applied from unmarked bowls.
After tasting a slathered barbecue chicken wing, the experts were asked to rank each sauce on a simple four-point scale -- four points for their favorites or as few as one point for those they didn't like at all. The panel was also free to note any accompanying comments they had regarding each sample.
The Expert Panel
Before we get to the results, let's once again meet our distinguished panel of experts:
Aunt Doris
Birthplace: London, England
Age: Unless you're the Queen, it's none of your darn business.
Best advice ever given to her: Shut up! (Doris only gives advice nowadays.)
Dad
Birthplace: Youngstown, Ohio
Age: 74
Best advice ever given to him: Know what your first priority in life is.
Tony
Birthplace: New Haven, Connecticut
Age: 68
Best advice ever given to him: If it sounds too good to be true, then it is.
.
Mom
Birthplace: Youngstown, Ohio
Age: 70
Best advice ever given to her: "I'm so old I don't remember."
Rose
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California
Age: What Aunt Doris said.
Best advice ever given to her: Don't ever get old. (Good luck with that. Right, Mom?)
Kevin
Birthplace: Youngstown, Ohio
Age: 58
Best advice ever given to him: Read the four Gospels. (And for you atheists: measure twice, cut once.)
Chris
Birthplace: Hemet, California
Age: As old as her tongue, but not as old as her teeth.
Best advice ever given to her: Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.
The Honeybee
Birthplace: Whittier, California
Age: 43
Best advice ever given to her: Your husband Len is always right. (Okay, you got me. I made that one up.)
Evan
Birthplace: Escondido, California
Age: 32
Best advice ever given to him: Never quit!
Matthew
Birthplace: Fontana, California
Age: 14
Best advice ever given to him: Get off the Xbox and go play outside.
Nina
Birthplace: Fontana, California
Age: 11
Best advice ever given to her: Remember to wash your hands.
By the way, for the first time ever, my dog, Major, was unceremoniously left off the tasting panel. Don't worry; he'll get over it.
Introducing The Barbecue Sauce Competitors
While my supermarket had a score of barbecue sauces to choose from, I selected the "Original" varieties of the following seven brands: Bull's-Eye, Hunt's, KC Masterpiece, Jack Daniel's, Tony Roma's, the Albertsons store-brand and, my family's personal favorite, Sweet Baby Ray's.
Here now, in reverse order from worst to first, are the completely unscientific barbecue sauce blind taste test results, based upon the inputs of my expert panel:
7. Sweet Baby Ray's Original Barbecue Sauce
Price per ounce: $0.21
Panel Scoring: 23 points
Average Score (4-point scale): 2.1
Judges Who Gave It a Top Rating: 0
Judges Who Thought It Stunk: 1
Well, this is embarrassing. Apparently, our so-called family favorite isn't quite as good as we thought it was. Even more surprising, not a single panel member ranked this as a top sauce, which is problematic considering it was the second most expensive brand sampled. Ironically, the Honeybee, who usually swears by Ray's, complained that, "it didn't have much flavor." Another self-proclaimed Ray's fan, Kevin, gave it demerits for being sugary. My cousin Evan suggested that the poor rankings were because Sweet Baby Ray's sauce goes better with pork.
6. Albertsons Original Barbecue Sauce
Price per ounce: $0.17
Panel Scoring: 27 points
Average Score (4-point scale): 2.5
Judges Who Gave It a Top Rating: 1
Judges Who Thought It Stunk: 3
Nina was the only member of the panel to give the store-brand sauce a top mark, noting it was "tangy and addictive." You know what? I'm moving on -- I'm still in shock Ray's came in last place.
5. Tony Roma's Original Barbecue Sauce
Price per ounce: $0.19
Panel Scoring: 27 points
Average Score (4-point scale): 2.5
Judges Who Gave It a Top Rating: 4
Judges Who Thought It Stunk: 4
Four members thought enough of Tony Roma's to give the sauce top marks; Chris thought it had a "great barbecue flavor" and Mom praised its "really good taste." But just as many panelists thought otherwise. Kevin ribbed the Tony Roma's barbecue sauce for tasting "artificial, although not bad for colored gelatin." The Honeybee piled on by remarking that it tasted so much like ketchup that it was better-suited for a weenie roast. Then you have my handyman father-in-law, Tony, who summed it more succinctly: "It sucked."
4. KC Masterpiece Original Barbecue Sauce
Price per ounce: $0.19
Panel Scoring: 28 points
Average Score (4-point scale): 2.5
Judges Who Gave It a Top Rating: 1
Judges Who Thought It Stunk: 2
KC Masterpiece is generally recognized as one of the better mainstream barbecue sauces. However, for this test it ended up looking more like, well, just a decent lithograph. The Honeybee was the only panelist to give KC Masterpiece top honors, but Kevin enjoyed the sauce too, noting its pleasing "woody aroma." In a dissenting opinion, however, Chris beefed that the barbecue sauce simply tasted too much like ketchup.
3. Bull's-Eye Original Barbecue Sauce
Price per ounce: $0.19
Panel Scoring: 30 points
Average Score (4-point scale): 2.7
Judges Who Gave It a Top Rating: 2
Judges Who Thought It Stunk: 1
This barbecue sauce got blue ribbons from both my kids. Matthew, in particular, thought the Bull's-Eye brand hit the mark for its "smokey flavor."
2. Jack Daniel's Original Barbecue Sauce
Price per ounce: $0.22 (the most expensive of all brands tested)
Panel Scoring: 30 points
Average Score (4-point scale): 2.7
Judges Who Gave It a Top Rating: 5
Judges Who Thought It Stunk: 3
Jack Daniel's barbecue sauce is manufactured by Heinz, and it got more top-scores than any of the other competitors. Nina noted that she would give it a higher score if she could. Meanwhile, both Aunt Doris and the Honeybee -- who coincidentally happens to a big fan of Jack Daniel's whiskey -- praised JD's barbecue sauce for its distinctive hickory flavor. Interestingly, those who didn't like the Jack Daniel's sauce dinged it for being just a bit too hickory flavored.
1. Hunt's Original Barbecue Sauce
Price per ounce: $0.11 (the least expensive of all brands tested)
Panel Scoring: 32 points
Average Score (4-point scale): 2.9
Judges Who Gave It a Top Rating: 4
Judges Who Thought It Stunk: 1
Ah, the grill of victory! Incredibly, as with my ketchup taste test, the least expensive brand in the survey once again came out on top. Evan thought the Hunt's had a delicious sweetness to it. Rose agreed, giving it top marks for being "sweet, but not overly so." Dad liked Hunt's savory mix of spices, Kevin thought it was "perfect," and Tony thought it had a "great BBQ flavor." The only one who flat out didn't like the Hunt's was Nina, who remarked that the flavor was "just wrong."
I Know What You're Thinking ...
Hunt's barbecue sauce? Are you kidding me?
Say what you will about this experiment's unscientific methods, but it was a fair fight. After all, the blind taste test goes a long way toward eliminating preconceived notions and biases that would otherwise subtly influence the panel members' decisions.
Is Hunt's barbecue sauce "sexy?" Um, no. But in the end, Hunt's was not only the least expensive brand of all those sampled, but my expert panel also found it to be the best tasting barbecue sauce of them all -- and that's good enough for me.
Photo Credit: Public Domain Photos ...
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Dogs and Old Cars: Why Both Are Worthy Of Being Man’s Best Friend
I was surfing the Internet this week when I stumbled upon a brilliant essay by The Washington Post's Gene Weingarten on why old dogs make the best dogs. In it, Weingarten astutely observed:
"It's no big deal to love a dog; they make it so easy for ...
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How to Choose a Reasonable Health Care Plan on a Budget
by Patricia Walling
Every year there are millions of Americans who struggle to afford health care. This can be due to insurance companies raising premiums, but there can be other reasons too. For example, many people who are either unemployed or self-employed (such as per diem nurses or those in other health care professions like medical coding) are unable to get the discounts that many companies offer to their employees. Many employers who have simply stopped offering health care as a benefit. As a result, many people struggle to find a reasonable health care plan that fits within their budget.
Luckily, there are options available that can help provide yourself with reasonably priced health coverage. And though it may cost a little more than you'd like, paying for health insurance before you get sick or injured is usually a much better alternative than paying medical bills out of pocket. Here are a few basic tips to consider when you're looking to choose a reasonable health care plan on a budget.
Stick to the Basics
Basic coverage policies differ a little bit depending on the insurance provider. Of course, these are no-frills policies that generally cover doctor visits and reduce the amount the policy holder has to pay for prescription medication. That doesn't mean they aren't worth it; when you are sick, one trip to the emergency room or a walk-in clinic can cost more than six months of coverage.
Consider an HMO Plan
If you visit the doctor often, an HMO may be the most cost-effective way to manage your health care as preventive services like physicals are often provided at no extra cost. An HMO is where you use in-network doctors. Thus it is important to remember that even though your favorite doctor may be right around the corner, if he is not in the network you probably won't be able to see him.
Consider High Deductible Plans
Each year, more and more people are choosing to go with high-deductible plans because they are generally very affordable. These plans are meant to protect you from a catastrophic injury or illness. Because these plans have very high deductibles, they will not protect you from having to pay out of pocket expenses for minor injuries and illnesses.
Shop Around
Always shop your options. Although many insurance companies advertise that they have low prices, but you won’t really know if they’re truly low unless you get comparison rates. Find out what the rates are for at least two or three insurance providers and then make your decision once you have some actual facts.
Pay on Time
No matter which option you choose, always make sure to budget properly and pay your premium on time. If you neglect to pay on time, your insurance provider could pause or cancel your coverage. Timing is everything and chances are when your coverage is suspended is when you will need it most.
Purchasing health insurance can be an expensive undertaking. The choices you make will affect your future should you get sick or injured, so it is crucial to chose wisely when selecting a plan for you and your family.
Photo Credit: rosmary ...
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100 Words On: Why My Dog Is Worth Every Penny I’ve Spent On Him
Earlier this month our Rhodesian Ridgeback, Major -- that's him there in the picture -- celebrated his 8th birthday. Over that time, we've spent a little over $6500 on him -- not counting the $1500 the Honeybee and I paid for him way back in 2003. ...
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A Look Back at 12 Years of Spending Data: My 2011 State of the Household Report
Since 1999 the Honeybee and I have used our trusty Excel spreadsheet to steadfastly track how we use every dollar earned that is not siphoned off by federal and state taxes, or automatic retirement contributions. Over the years, this disciplined ...
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My Ketchup Taste-Test: Upset! Guess Which Brand Topped Heinz
Ketchup is the most popular condiment in the United States, and if you ask one hundred people what their favorite brand is, ninety-nine will usually say Heinz. As for the other guy, he'll simply say he doesn't like ketchup, period. It's true.
Then ...
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How Being Absentminded Resulted In A $2750 Year-End Windfall
At least I'm calling it a windfall. Let me explain.
You see, if I leave a twenty dollar bill in a winter jacket only to rediscover it after it has been hanging in the closet for nine months, that's a windfall.
Now I can hear a lot of you out ...
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My Daughter’s Halloween Take for 2010
In case anybody is interested, here is Nina's Halloween take this year.
I had her itemize everything in her bag when she got home Sunday night. Isn't that terrible?
Actually, she didn't mind at all. She happily put this together for me in no time really, all the while munching away on the stuff in her bag.
All candy bars are the "fun size" variety -- no big bars this year. The Reese's peanut butter cups are single count.
13 Kit Kats
8 Almond Joys (Amazingly, 0 Mounds)
6 Nerds
8 Snickers
3 Three Muskateers
5 Milky Way (Ever have the "After Midnight" variety with dark chocolate? The best!)
13 Laffy Taffy
4 Air Heads
3 Heath Bars (Heath ice cream, yes. Heath candy bar, no thanks.)
8 Butterfingers
16 Whoppers (no, not the Burger King variety)
4 Nestle Crunch
9 Reese's peanut butter cups (My personal favorites!)
2 Hershey milk chocolate bars
6 Twix
4 bags of pretzels
12 Smarties
5 Candy sticks
1 Milk Duds (These were big when I was a kid - not any more.)
1 Rice Crispy treat
4 Now and Laters
13 Tootsie Pops
3 Tootsie Rolls
3 Sweet Tarts
1 Bottle Caps (My favorites are the root beer ones. I wish they were all root beer!)
11 Sour Punch Licorice
2 Fun Dip
1 M&Ms (I can't believe this number was so low!)
1 Baby Ruth (Quite possibly the worst candy bar ever invented.)
1 Take 5
1 Hot Tamale
1 Starburst
1 Skittles
1 Twizzler
2 Life Saver Gummies
2 Fruit Jelly's
1 Lemon Gummy Heads
1 Gobstopper
1 Rolo (And now a message from our sponsor...)
2 Jolly Ranchers
1 Bazooka bubble gum
9 generic hard candies
2 pencils
1 glow stick
1 goody bag
$2.00 (Can you believe one house was actually giving out $2 per kid? We got 96 kids which means, assuming he got the same number, this guy passed out almost $200 to the kids! Wow.) ...
Continue reading My Daughter’s Halloween Take for 2010
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