Rats! Everything was going so well on the budget front for December and I was looking at a surplus of $1,000 or so on the $3,500 budget.
Then I looked at the mortgage payment calendar that’s programmed into my phone to give an alert. Payments due Dec. 3 (yup, paid that), 17 (yup, paid that) … and 31st? Waaaa! I wanted to buy us a great Christmas present!
Here’s what I was “going” to buy with that mortgage payment:
Mint Floor Cleaner – about $250 plus tax
Mama wants this for Christmas
A friend of mine bought one of these babies a few months ago and loves it. I love anything that gets me out of doing housework. I bought a Scooba when they came out about 4 years ago and it bit the dust (literally and figuratively) 2 years after I bought it. It appears that the Mint has less moving parts, less maintenance and less potential for something going wrong than the Scooba. For the carpets, I’ve got a Roomba that’s still working after 4 years but now that the main floor is mostly hardwood, I can run it in a room or two a day and keep the floors in decent shape. Added bonus – it makes you pick up everything off the floor.
Here’s a write-up on the Scooba vs. Mint:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20014011-1.html
Next thing on the list was a deposit (or full payment) on the annual February ski trip. The hotel has a pool and FIVE hot tubs and is cheap cheap with a package. The kid didn’t want to even leave the hotel (the oldest hates skiing so he doesn’t come). It’s about $650 total for 5 days skiing and hotel. That’s about the same as the cost of lift tickets alone in my part of the world.
Here’s a pic of the hotel courtyard:
Then there’s the Notion Ink Adam PC tablet – about $500ish
I don’t know about this, I’m the furthest thing from an early adopter (unless it’s for robots that do the cleaning), but the oldest has researched a TON and he says this is going to be the best one out there. Part of me wants the ipad just for the apps since I have a Blackberry phone and the apps are pathetic, but realistically I don’t use apps on the phone I have, don’t play computer games, etc. etc. plus then the kid would probably want to use the ipad all the time and I’m trying to limit his technology usage. But if / when we go on the Dixie trip the ipad could come in handy since I’ve heard that there’s great educational apps out there. So I’m happy to wait until the oldest son buys his to find out what it’s like before I plunk my money down.
So since I’ll have maybe $300 left over this month, I’m going to put the deposit down on the trip and that’s it. One out of three ain’t bad even though I was hoping for two out of three. And I don’t know about this “experiences over stuff” argument. I like buying stuff over experiences since the stuff often gives a great experience (like something else cleaning my floors.)
I know it might seem silly to someone else that I wouldn’t just buy what I want since the money’s there in savings and I could just cut back in January, but for some reason I like the feeling of anticipation that comes with saving up for something. Besides, I’m sure something else will come up in January that I didn’t foresee just like I didn’t remember the third mortgage payment.
Anybody else have a Mint? Would you recommend it?
Any thoughts on ipad vs. PC tablet?
Do you buy awesome Christmas gifts for yourself and your family?
How do you handle it when you get 3 mortgage payments in a month and you’ve got yourself on a fixed budget?
I just started using Mint and I’m not sure if I’m going to stick with it. Mint won’t sync with my credit union (where I have a couple incidental accounts), and it won’t sync with my Visa card issuer (a smallish bank). Since it won’t allow *manually* entering anything either, that means I’m not getting a full accounting of my finances.
Also, I have all these odd transactions that make me think I really need to use something more robust. I pay for a most of my health care expenses out of pocket first, submit a bill to my insurance company who sends me a reimbursement check for the proper amount, then submit the EOB to my pre-tax medical flexible spending account for the rest of the money. Mint can’t seem to handle the fact that my doc bills aren’t way over budget every month, and those checks I’m depositing aren’t really “income.” Hence my thought that I need to use a different software that will let me set up these more accurate income/expense categories. Maybe I’m just not using it right. If anyone has a suggestion about how to configure such transactions, I’d be happy to hear them. (And maybe I should write a blog post about this, too…hmmm….)
Can’t really say much about the bi-weekly mortgage approach since I don’t do it, or the Christmas gift thing since I don’t really do that, either, but I can add some thoughts on the iPad vs. PC tablet issue. Since you have to wait anyway, I suggest waiting for the iPad. There’s a new one due out in January/February that may be better for your purposes.
I’m personally thinking of picking up a Barnes & Noble Nookcolor this year as I’ve read very complimentary things about it’s ability to function as a tablet computer, what with it’s Android operating system. B&N hasn’t fully enabled the Android interface so people are doing a minor hack to do it themselves, but B&N will be making a change in January that will not require hacking. For you in Canada, unfortunately, the Nookcolor may not be so great since their DRM only allows you to download books within the U.S. Although, the hack you could download the Amazon app or any other Android eReader app and get books. Despite the DRM issue, the fact that I could have a fairly robust tablet computer that runs apps, plays music, and is an eReader for $250 is very, very tempting.
Linda recently posted..A conversation
Oh, duh! I spaced out and thought you meant MINT the program, not MINT the floor cleaner thing! Um, never mind.
Linda recently posted..A conversation
Hey Linda, you brought up a good point though – I would totally HATE a bank / program sync that didn’t work properly. What I used to do was download everything into excel and play with it from there. But it was a pain compared to the system I have now with my credit card, investments, bank, everything all rolling into one. The only thing it doesn’t do (besides wash the floor)
is show income in the budgeting tool. I do have one credit card that is separate that I use for groceries and gas (better points). I just do a manual pay every time I use it. Then I can tell if it’s for gas or groceries since the gas is always round numbers. Kind of a waste of time since I don’t look at individual categories really, but that CC is TERRIBLE about getting bills out on time and I can never remember my username and password to the online account because they have all these extra characters… 
Yeah, the B&N ereaders will read ePub format and you can use them for library books AND to “lend” books you’ve purchased to others. Unfortunately my local public library usually has very long waiting lists for their ePub books so I’ve yet to check one out.
Linda recently posted..A conversation
Ahh, and I was wondering whether maybe the ipad would come down in price on the old version (I’m not a multi-tasker) once the new one came out and I could snag a deal from all the early adopters selling theirs!
I’ve got an e-reader which I “bought” myself for my birthday (free on credit card points). I picked the kobo because it works with my library e-pub format where the kindle doesn’t. No point in buying something that I have to keep on buying books that are available for free from the library. I like to have something that functions as only a book but is portable, it kind of pushes me to read more books vs. blogs and articles. Not sure about the nook. I think that one might be e-pub as well. That sounds like a great solution for you though!
See, we may have health care but you guys have lower prices and more and earlier selection!
Anybody else have a Mint? Would you recommend it?
No but you make me want one
Any thoughts on ipad vs. PC tablet?
iPad apps are much better even for kids. SO COOL. Have you seen the interactive e-books?
Tale of Peter Rabbit — SO PRETTY. It makes me want one for my future kids
The PC tablet seems more open though. Can add your own content on there, like a mini computer but you use your finger. Hard to say. What do you want to do on it? Use it for entertainment?
Do you buy awesome Christmas gifts for yourself and your family?
No. We cook instead, which my family loves
FB @ FabulouslyBroke.com recently posted..Earl Grey Cream Tea- Lemon Biscotti and a Fight
Hey FAB! Re. the mint – I know, it’s soooo cute! I love watching my robot(s) work. The roomba even has a remote control for kids… ahem… I am FAR too mature to have ever used it… (not)
And you’re making me want an ipad.
I’d use it for blogging I think – more commenting because all that stuff is blocked at work but I could do it at lunch time – maybe. Right now I read my e-reader at lunch and would really miss doing that. Also for some (limited) entertainment. Better portability than a laptop. I’ll have to do a pro/con of either option.
ah yes, food does = love too. I’m cooking a seafood feast for Christmas. Bacon wrapped scallops, crab legs, maybe a lobster tail for my oldest son – and maybe a couple of Cornish hens just to pretend that I’m cooking a turkey.
I am about the last person to buy and ‘new’ technology. You could say that I am the first person to buy ‘ancient’ technology, so I cannot provide any great answers.
I bought a Roomba during a Woot-off and I haven’t used it yet. Should I bring it out from the basement? Did you really like it? It seems so complex. (Plus my kids do the vacuuming, so I am really just saving them work
)
Everyday Tips recently posted..Recipe Swap- Tortilla Pie
What’s a woot-off? Oh yes, I love the roomba, it’s not complex at all. But the kids could do something else then, couldn’t they?
Have you ever been to Woot.com? Well a woot off is like a special they run for a certain amount of time (I think. My friend had just texted me and said ‘roomba is up on a woot off’ and I logged on and bought it. I am never, ever than impulsive.
OK, Roomba just got added officially to the New Year’s Resolutions.
Everyday Tips recently posted..You Don’t Have To Read the Paper To Measure How the Economy Is Doing
Woot-offs are apparently another thing that Canadians sacrifice in order to have free healthcare… Higher taxes, more expensive everything, no big sales, and no woot-offs for us.
The ski trip will be fun, that’s a good “investment” in memories. At least that’s what I tell myself
Besides the kids have fun.
I like the IPAD, but I did hear another version was coming out in the new year. I would wait on that.
I’m lucky about landing a cheap but good computer through work for my son. He’s actually getting better at the computer than I am!
I can see his future at Valve or Google. Maybe facebook.
Who knows.
I got paid three times in December, so I’m happy. Only happens twice a year (we go by 26 pay periods not bi-weekly). I like that. Paid $600 on the Cards alone!
CHeers!
Bi-weekly IS 26 pay periods. I don’t know about the stuff vs. memories. I think the togetherness that comes from holidays at times is the memory most of the time. For other holidays, I hardly remember anything about them at all. So I guess it depends.
Hi Jacq
I know 26 pay periods is bi weekly, I was referring to most people getting paid 15th and 30th each month.
Just had to clear that up.
K
Oh yeah, semi-monthly. What the heck, as long as we get paid…
I’ve had things on my “to buy” list for a long time. I too have the money in the bank. It’s fun to wait. Hoping nothing comes up in January. (But why buy a floor cleaner if you’re going on an RV adventure?)
frugalscholar recently posted..The Supper of the Lamb Chez Nous- Leftover Love
Hi FS! I know, I think I like thinking about getting something more than actually getting it sometimes. I’d really like to have the floor cleaner while I’m selling the house, they’re just so handy. Oh and 3 words – golden retriever hair. (Long haired cat too.) I’d be coming back and using it anyway.
*patpatpat*
No, we don’t buy fancy presents… not for ourselves anyway. Our scuba is still working, so no mint. We use the scuba regularly but not the roomba. (One of those was a Christmas present from the in-laws. The other was a fun toy DH bought himself.)
My in-laws bought me a kindle this year, so the tablet/e-reader decision was made for me, rather than put off until I had time to think about it and decide (probably a few years from now).
We only have time to travel to visit family or go to conferences (which are like paid vacations sometimes). Maybe in a couple of years after tenure life will settle down enough to take real vacations.
Man we’re so boring.
Nicole recently posted..Women need MORE MONEY
Aha! You are a maximizer too! I think that maximizers must save a lot of money…
I was quite pissed at my Scooba. I’m going to give it one more try to fix it before I call it a day.
Yeah, most of the academic conferences that I saw profs go to at the U. when I worked there were in pretty awesome locations. I used to travel through work and bring my family. It was awesome – and cheap.
Not boring. Definitely not boring.
Heh, not always a maximizer. But I did figure if I didn’t have time to figure out which e-reader to get then I probably don’t have time to actually read anything on it. That is definitely true. Getting the kindle forced me to check to see if our small town libraries (or the university library) had ebooks, since they’re not compatible without playing around with fancy software, and caused me to look at what was available on the amazon page for free. I think I’m going to stick with paper for books that cost money.
Ah, to be independently wealthy.
Nicole recently posted..Women need MORE MONEY
It really shocked me that Amazon / libraries aren’t compatible. Maybe Amazon did that deliberately? Jeff Bezos, you greedy bastard! Sometime in the future, I’d like to do a round-up of all the places you can get free books. Meh, who am I kidding? I’m too lazy to do that.
The comments on the GRS page about whether or not the kindle is worth it have a bunch of links for places to get free books.
Nicole recently posted..Women need MORE MONEY
Hey thanks a lot for the review, my dad and i were going to split the cost of a scooba for my mom, because her favorite invention in the world is her roomba, and we wanted to give her the complete package. I’ll be sure to check out the mint instead!
JohnG Home Loans recently posted..Best Wichita 300-000 New Home Loan Mortgage Rates – November 18- 2010
Hi John, I think it depends. I didn’t have good luck with my Scooba, but it sounds like others have. They’re well made machines anyway. I’m with your mom – anything that gets me out of doing housework is a good thing!
Jacq, seems like we have the same mortgage payment schedule! I get hit three times too. On the bright side, my part-time gig pays three times in December. Regrettably, the mortgage is dramatically different than my little minimum wage part-time gig.
Sympathies that the mint isn’t coming home right away. Perhaps some day soon! Merry Christmas to you and the family – hope you have an awesome holiday!
Tracy recently posted..Merry Christmas to you!
Hey Tracy! At least you pay more attention to this stuff and were probably prepared for the shock.
Actually, the Mint’s are out of stock everywhere here, so I couldn’t have got one even if I would have had the money available. Same thing with the tablet, they aren’t even out yet. It’s nice to want so few things though, I must say that’s a welcome change from the way I was years ago!
Oh, Jacq…just noticed for 2011, I have three mortgage payments in December 2011 again. How cruel of the calendar to do that twice, two years in a row.
Just wanted to give you a heads up, in the event we’re both paying our mortgage on the same day
Tracy recently posted..Where the money went in 2010- Part 3 – Life
Oh man Tracy, if I’m still paying a mortgage in 2011, something’s gone terribly wrong…
Thanks for the heads up though, I’m not even sure how long my reminder goes out for – will go check!