Layout:
Home > Archive: September, 2011

Archive for September, 2011

How can you LEGALLY buy Movie Downloads

September 12th, 2011 at 08:49 pm

Okay so I am getting ready to deploy. I have a Netflix account, I have my favorite Movies on DVD (like 10).

I am worried that the internet I can purchase will be to slow to stream DVD's. The top speed is 1MSPB or some combination of letters that start with M. I do not want to carry a huge binder of DVD Movies, I would like to have the Movies on a hard drive.

What is the legal way to do this? Is there a legal way to get my Favorite Movies in a Digital Version. PS my favorite favorite Movie is a 1954 movie called Seven Brides for Seven Brothers...It cost $45 YEARS ago special order to get it in DVD version, Much much cheaper now with EBAY and Amazon.

I see SOME movies (Not the favorites I really want) are available for purchase with a Blueray copy, but this means you have to have the TIME to buy the DVD and then enter a code into your computer (that is verified---note need internet also), all in order to not carry around the DVD.

I was hoping someone knew of a site where you could pay to just do a file download of your favorite movies....Kinda like buying individual MP3 downloads. Or am I totally off base since DVD's cost $20 and MP3 downloads are like $.99 to $2.99 each.

Thanks for knowledge.

Long Post Lost!!!

September 12th, 2011 at 03:24 pm

ARRRRG!

Well High Spending, acted too quickly, pondering the future.


The short version, longer version to follow later about my car repair on Friday and Future Car discussions with BF.

Oops and Ouch$

September 12th, 2011 at 03:22 pm

I have been working on getting my to do list done.

Friday was get the car fixed. I had hoped to only spend like $200. I should have known better.

I went in planning on getting a NEW set of keys made since years back when I got one of my sets stuck in the ignition they replaced the ignition. That repair only came with one set of keys. I wanted a second set of keys made incase I locked my keys in the car. Trust me I have had a few close calls. These close calls also involved banged up hands as I used my hand to stop the car door from closing all the way. The car keys had a ignition security chip in them so a set costs $75.

I also wanted a new remote car starter FOB. My FOB still works but not well since the button to unlock the door is actually broken into the FOB and you have to hit it 12 times sometimes to make sure it gets the message that YES you really do wanted the door to open. I believe the FOB was $50.

I needed a oil change so $30 plus or minus. I don't have the record of my bill in front of me but it always seems like oil changes cost around $30. BF could do this BUT I figured since I was going in for the other stuff I would save him the time and just do it there.

I was having issues with my turn signal. I thought it could be a corroded light bulb socket. The part IF you can get it is like $12 (BF went to the autoparts store and tried to order it; but they never called him back to say they actually got it in - BACK Order Nightmere). On the other hand in the past I have had issues with my turn signals and it ended up being the actual lever. That is spendy so I had hoped it was not that. Well it was the lever.

I also was getting an ABS light on in the dash, BF plugged his BASIC diagnostic device onto my car and it did not return anything. Of course his device is not the $1000 version that includes ABS options, but we figured he ruled out basic break issues that can also result in the light turning on. Well the repair was the ABS Sensor Harness. The part itself is actually pretty inexpensive, and according to BF a pretty basic easy repair.

Well they called me back with a quote of $830-$850 plus tax. Note that I had $155 plus or minus in routine stuff but the other two issues I was hoping to spend less than $45ish on. I was told both the light lever and ABS switch repairs would run $350 EACH.

This is where I made my mistake. I have two weeks left until I deploy. My BF is a vehicle mechanic, and the only thing BF could not do was make the SUPER Crazy Secure Keys that have to come from the Manufacter and the Remote FOB (don't sell the part to general public here).

I called BF to see if he could do the repairs, I was not sure IF he could do electrical repairs (lots of wires in lever). He said in the past he does not LIKE to do them...But he can. For some reason I could not remember if he said he did not like to do them or did NOT do them. I had called and left a voicemail for BF. Then I texted him since it sometimes is less disruptive to text then to take a voice call. Well I did not wait very long (felt like forever but really was not). And then by the time I was able to get ahold of him (he was at drill) I had already called back and authorized the repairs.

BF called back and said he could do both, and truthfully both repairs are minor issues and even if he can't get to them in the next two weeks the car is still drivable.

I thought about it and called the repair shop back and was going to only have them do the original list and leave the two repairs, but the lever was already done and the guy was half way done with the ABS.

Ideally, I would have stopped the repairs and only paid $50 or so for the 50 point inspection to figure out the problem and BF could have gotten to the repairs during the 1 year I was gone. But oops!

Oh well, at least it is done. I got there to pick up my car and then made sure to ask if they had any discounts. I have the (same shop but old NAME) discount card (5% off that is put on the card for future payment). Well I had $21.41 on the card BUT they also give military discount of 15% off PARTS ONLY. The kicker is you can only use one discount.

The lady was pushing the Card but in my head I figured the Parts would come out ahead. So I had the lady figure it out and I came out ahead using Military discount. The order would have earned me like $20 (future) and I had $21.41 on my card but military discount earned me $45 off now but I could not use my $21.41 this visit.

The original bill was $750 after tax, then I got $45 off for military, so $705 total bill.

So basically I think
Basic Maintence $155
Repairs $550

*****

Now the thought for the day. I don't know when my last repair for my car was, but on 9-9-2011 it was $550. I figure that is like 2 months of car payments so I am still in the repairs are less than payment stage so still worth holding on to.

BF wants me to get a different vehicle when I get back and just trade this one in. I am not ready to trade this one in. I don't think dealers give you enough for trade in, plus this is a good car. The only complaint is that during the winter we get too much snow that I need something higher off the ground. Part of me wants this as my summer car and get a winter vehicle and then this one could be a spare...and a future vehicle for my 8 year old. If nothing else I would find out what they would offer for trade in and sell it to family for that price (someone is always looking for a good cheap car it seams).

I just don't know if BF and I are going to agree on a different vehicle for me. Because
#1. I do not want a loan, but I am a buy new and drive into ground girl.
#2. I do not want full coverage (loan or newer car)
#3. I do not want to give up my very reliable car for trade in
#4. I do want a great gas mileage vehicle with high ground clearance....Had thought about 3 different SUV's and he pooo poooed each idea because they were imports (Honda, Toyota, and the final was a hybred). I then started really thinking about either a Jeep Patriot or Jeep Compass. Both get good Gas Mileage and New the prices are still within most finacial experts Vehicle to Income ratio. Well when I said Jeep he said "AHHHHHHH when you go to look at different vehicle bring me with...Well duh. Of course I am going to bring him with, even if I buy NEW). Two people against one salesman for the lowest price- Win Win!

Not sure what to do. BF's compaint with imports and Hybreds is the higher repair parts cost...But if I buy a Quailty NEW vehicle the repair cost will be minimul for a while.

What to do, What to do.

Two projects done....4? to go

September 6th, 2011 at 09:25 pm

Today the Sprinkler guy came to fix the head that popped up from the ground. He also (main reason) fixed the cut line from the post hole auger. He also adjusted some heads so they were not hitting the fence. $60

This afternoon the AC/furnace guy came. He blew out the AC drain, put some gel tab thingys in and poured water down drain. He also let some Freeon out ( I guess we had a bit too much in). Hopefully those things fixed the leak. He could not find a reason for the leak so it could have been the tooo much freeon which was causing the coils to freeze then thaw and when thawing leaking under the unit. Waiting on the bill. I did ask him to please rush the bill since I was leaving in two weeks. Some times it takes them a while to bill.

+++
I am still on hold for someone to come out and fix the window.

I have a dentist appointment for DS tomorrow after school.

I have my car going into the shop for a bunch of little things on Friday, so I took that day off.

I then have a Doctors appointment for DS on Monday the 12th.

I think that is all of my to do list. Sadly not wanting to see the bills from all these projects but no choice since I do not have a magic pay the bills fairy.

+++
Tomorrow my stuff will be loaded into the conex and I will be done with my deployment stuff.

Tonight I plan to mow the grass, BF did not do it this weekend and I forgot my grass stained yardwork shoes at work so I did not do it. I wanted to do it since BF is going to have to do it every week once I am gone. Not sure why BF did not do it this weekend BUT I think he is starting to be bummed out that it is getting close to time for me to leave.

DS is getting a bit more hyper, not sure if it is because I am leaving or the fact that we have TV again. I saw a decrease in his hyperness when I disconnected the TV years ago. Then I saw another decrease in hyperness when BF moved in. I hope it is just DS's way of reacting to my soon departure. That way once I am gone he can calm down. My cousins have even MORE cable channels than we do, so I am hoping it is not the cable.

Should NOT have looked at Retirement Account

September 2nd, 2011 at 06:44 pm

Well my retirement account is down....Down $5600.00 since July 1st. Ouch!!!

I had been thinking lately about my retirement goals now that there is talk about switching up the retirement plan that I was suppose to be working towards.

Current Goal:
Max Emergency Fund

My Future goal is to (Sept 2012 and later):
#1 Each year Max Roth IRA
#2 Pay off Mortgage as fast as possible
#3 Once Mortgage is paid off invest in stock market
*** ???#4 Build up Pre-Retirement account to 100K


My old plan 2010 and prior:
#1 Max my pre-tax Retirement acoount (16,500 per year)
#2 Build up my Emergency Fund

That is a big swing. I am still liking my new goal but I think it would be nice to have 100K in my retirement account before a certain point, but with this drop of nearly 6K, it makes that distance from where I am now to that 100K goal seem like it might not happen.

I HATE school lunch!!

September 2nd, 2011 at 03:18 pm

The school lunch program is such a pain in my lower backside.

They use a 6 digit pin to pay for their lunches. They enter the pin number once, and the students name appears on the registers screen. The adult asks the child if their name is _____, if the child says yes or nods then the number is charged.

The school district 7 miles away has the child use their thumb scan. Now that would be nice.

Well once again this year I am battling the unauthorized charges issue. This year I put NO money in my childs account. It was at a zero balance, until yesterday. Yesterday my son brings home a note saying his account was $1.75 short. This means the charge was placed this school year (last year lunch was $1.50).

My son has had cold lunch everyday, #1 because I need to limit his dairy, #2 because the money in his lunch account last year seemed to have a leak.

Well I called the school and left a message yesterday after I got the note. I then called back this morning. The charge was tracked to ANOTHER school. So the charge will be removed. I had his account flagged. His account now says NO Breakfast, NO Lunch CASH ONLY. Hopefully this WORKS.

Our School district has a NO hunger policy, so I am not sure IF this will help.

The policy is that a elementary school student can charge lunch without a problem no matter the negative balance in the account. In Junior high the student is allowed to charge a cheese sandwich or the main entree and Senior high the student can only charge a cheese sandwich.

So if the lunch person at the other school whom allowed this student whom is not my child to use my childs account sees the note but the child wants food she might ignore the CASH ONLY note just like she/he ignored the note on the screen about that account number belonging to a student in another school.

I need to get a note from my son's doctor so he can get juice instead of milk with his meals. Since my cousin will be having my son use hot lunch and the standard is milk.

Clearing the Stock Pile and To Do Li$t...Yep with $$$

September 1st, 2011 at 03:46 pm

I have 3 weeks left until I leave my home for Mob Station.

I had a talk with a girl whom went to the same deployment location last year. I was talking about stuff I was packing and she said she had wished she had an item I was still planning on throwing in my carry on. I asked her to clearify because I was told they have a HUGE PX there. Well she said she is frugel and the stuff there was over-priced. Her Secret deoderant was $1.50 more than it was at home. She said that IF you printed off the price at Wal-Mart they would price match BUT still. It would be a pain to go write down the size of every product they carry that you use, so before you go buy your shampoo and deoderant, toothbrush etc you can go and print out an ad from a national chain so you can price match EVERY item EVERY time.

So I went through my stock pile and packed more, orginally I packed enough toothpaste, toothbrushes, and Pads to last overseas.

Well I added Mouthwash, Lotion, Shampoo, Shaving Gel, Conditioner, Johnson's Buddies Bar Soap, and Hair Ties. I packed the stuff I already had in my stockpile at home, no additional shopping. During the next 3 weeks my plan is to use up all the little samples I have in my house in an attempt to downsize the stockpile clutter some more.

Once I get home then I will work on building my stockpile back up, in an orderly way. I want to have atleast one spare but I would like to figure out a way to make it easy to find what I am looking for. Maybe plastic Shoe Pouch hanging on the back of the bathroom door. See my shelves are so deep that stuff is hard to find at times even if it is in bins.

888

To Do List:
I need to call a glass repairman and get my broken window fixed. It is starting to get cold in the evenings.

I also need to call the furnace people, I think the overflow container on my AC is full and causing the water to come out the bottom instead of through the pipes.

I also need to call my sprinkler guy and have him repair the broken sprinkler line where BF broke it with the post hole auger. I also want him to adjust a head that due to dirt moving on a slope (or possibly a gopher) it is no longer flush with the ground it is sticking up in the air.

Then I need to take my car in and have it get an oil change, have the light socket on the rear marker light replaced, Have the ABS break light checked out and get a second set of keys and a new remote car starter FOB.

I also need to follow up again with my former childcare provider for a refund. They charged me $55 in activities fees for 2011-2012 school year even though they said they were not going to let my child ride. They also pulled my September payment out $165 last MAY. They pre-pay ;I really think the Pay for September in May thing is dumb but I suppose it is their way of locking in clients. BUT if they are going to drop clients they need to be prepared to refund the money. I have a feeling I am going to have to prove the overcharge.

***
I need to transfer some money into my checkbook...I want to have my emergency fund in my checking account incase something happens and my pay is disrupted. I can transfer the money back after my deployment. BUT I doubt I will, the money has two purposes. 1 the money is there in case of paycheck being disrupted, and 2 it is there so I can live off of that and put the money deposited into my account into SDP. I wonder how much of a allowance I should give myself. I know there are things I will want to buy or need to buy because I spaced them off, but I am not sure how much to put into my account for that.