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Archive for June, 2014

6-28 Weight Loss Update and New Bike

June 29th, 2014 at 02:08 am

It's been six months since I started my diet and exercise regimen. Today I stepped on the ole bathroom scales and weighed in at 165 lbs. This equates to a 55 pound weight loss since Xmas Day. (My Weight Loss Progress Page can be found in the sidebar). Now the quest is to keep the weight off.

So as a reward I bought a new bicycle. It will supplement my exercise routine. It's my first one in about 25 or 30 years, and it's amazing how bikes have changed. I researched them on the internet, and visited several sporting goods stores, big box stores, and dedicated bike shops. I decided not to go with the cheapest or the most expensive either.

The mid range model I chose after test riding several today is the JAMIS Citizen 1. I charged it on the new CHASE Freedom card with the current $200 Bonus for charging $500 in the first three months, so that $200 will help pay for it.

I don't know how to upload and post pictures, so here it is on the JAMIS website:

http://www.myjamis.com/SSP%20Applications/JamisBikes/MyJamis/consumer/bike.html?year=2014&model=Citizen%201&cat_grp=recr_1

6-28 Weight Loss Update, Plus New Bike

June 29th, 2014 at 02:05 am

It's been six months since I started my diet and exercise regimen. I stepped on the ole bathroom scales and weighed in at 165 lbs. This equates to a 55 pound weight loss since Xmas Day. Now the quest is to keep the weight off.

So as a reward I bought a new bicycle. It will supplement my exercise routine. It's my first one in about 25 or 30 years, and it's amazing how bikes have changed. I researched them on the internet, and visited several sporting goods stores, big box stores, and dedicated bike shops. I decided not to go with the cheapest or the most expensive either.

The mid range model I chose after test riding several today is the JAMIS Citizen 1. I charged it on the new CHASE Freedom card with the current $200 Bonus for charging $500 in the first three months, so that $200 will help pay for it.

I don't know how to upload and post pictures, so here it is on the JAMIS website:

http://www.myjamis.com/SSP%20Applications/JamisBikes/MyJamis/consumer/bike.html?year=2014&model=Citizen%201&cat_grp=recr_1

6-22 Week Spending and Shopping

June 22nd, 2014 at 04:25 pm

I came in right at On-Budget this past week for groceries, HBA, and other consumables. I would have been well below budget if not for an impulse buy yesterday. I went up to a bike shop in the city. It just happens to be across the street from a Whole Foods Market. I suddenly decided to stop in, and sample and buy some of their great cheeses (I should have ate breakfast before leaving the house). I also picked up some organic baby spinach for this weekend salads.

On the rebound home I decided to stop at my favorite clothing store for some more work shirts. I got 3 polo style knit shirts for $12.00 at the Goodwill Outlet. They didn't have any Shorts in my size, so I have an excuse to stop in again in a week or two.

6-15 Cheap Bayer Aspirin and Deodorant

June 15th, 2014 at 03:22 pm

In todays Redplum insert in the newspaper there are 2 great high value coupons, $4 off 2 and a $2 off 1 for the Bayer (20 ct or higher). This could mean a moneymaker at your Walmart, as some have the 36 ct at $1.98. My nearest store had them for $2.17 so your mileage may vary. I went ahead and got 6 for $.17 each instead of waiting for a little better price.

We are wrapping up the second week of the Kroger Mega Sale which included Secret and Gillette Deodorant for $1.29 (after $5 off 5). We have $2 off 2 MCs for the Gillette and $1 off 1 MCs on the Secret from the June P&G insert. Kroger finally restocked, so in the past 2 weeks I have picked up 4 of each Deo for $.29 each.

I came in under budget again this week for Groceries, HBA, and consumables. But barely.

I've been out looking for a reasonably priced bicycle to ride around the neighborhood or short trips to the corner store. There are a couple at Walmart and Sports Authority that are possibilities. I'm going to keep looking and try to catch something on sale or deeply discounted. I guess the days of the 50 dollar bike are over.

06-11 Weight Loss Update and Cycling

June 11th, 2014 at 07:53 pm

I finally hit the 50 lb weight loss point when I stepped on the scales today. Yippee! For a reward I was thinking about purchasing a bicycle to help with my moderate exercise routine, which for now is nothing but a lot of walking.

I have not owned a bike in over 20 years, and at my age(just over 60), I am not looking for anything really expensive, or off road, or racing at the speed of sound. I'm thinking about something economical that I can just cycle around the neighborhood, or maybe a very short trip to the corner store.

I have just begun researching the latest models and a couple of them caught my eye. The Cruiser models with just one speed, fenders, and the old fashioned pedal-back braking is reminiscent of the bike I had as a child. My understanding that the next step up is the Comfort models with gears.

My small town doesn't have a cycle shop, but the next little town over from me does have a couple. The one online site I visited had nothing under $600.00. No way! I went to a sporting goods store in the city nearby, but they didn't have any of the Cruiser models on display. I'm going to check out another sporting goods store this weekend.

If anyone has any suggestions, I'll gladly consider.
Thanks in advance.

06-07 CVS Couponing Trip

June 7th, 2014 at 05:10 pm

Current Sale ends today.

I got all of the below for $0.16 plus .64 tax = $0.80.

I went into this transaction with $4.00 ExtraCareBucks:

1 - Colgate Optic White Toothpaste, 3.5 oz, @ $3.00
Less $1.00 MC and $2.00 Magic Coupon Machine Q => Free

2 - Ban Total Refresh Cooling Body Cloths, @ $3.39 each
Less 2 $2.00 MC's => $2.78 for both.

2 - Arizona Tea, 20 oz, on sale for $.69 each => $1.38

Total = $2.78 + $1.38 = $4.16, less $4.00 ECB = $.16

I then got another $4.00 ECB for the Ban product.

Note: It's my understanding that the Buy 2 Ban Cloths and get a $4 ECB is a June monthly deal, and the limit is 4.

If you cannot stand the heat....

June 4th, 2014 at 11:54 pm

No, I did not get out of the kitchen.

I turned on the Air Conditioner.

I held out for as long as I could without Central Air. I was using ceiling fans and a box fan. It's about the longest I have gone into the hot months without AC.

In my area we were actually doing fairly well until we got lots of rain almost everyday last week. Then this week the sun is out, and the temperatures are getting into the lower 90s. That means the humidity has shot up too. And, with no real cooldown at night, it has become too uncomfortable.

There goes the Electric Bill!!!

06-03 Investment Plan Update

June 4th, 2014 at 01:06 am

The Plan and Portfolio are now updated. But there are no significant changes. I did increase the Real Assets category just a little with the addition of 2 ETF's last month that track the other white metals:
PALL - ETFS Physical Palladium Shares
PPLT - ETFS Physical Platinum Shares.

The metals may be in a bottoming mode or may have already bottomed. Then again, maybe not! Anyway I've been trying to tiptoe back into that category a little at a time. The miners certainly have been beaten up badly since Fall 2011.

The complete Plan and Portfolio page can be found in the sidebar.

06-01 Weekly Spending Update

June 2nd, 2014 at 01:45 am

I came in under budget again for the second week in a row. Hooray! Although it was mainly grocery spending I did pick up a couple cheap Blu-rays last weekend.

Today I sprang for a Lowes Gift Card while at Kroger. They are offering 4X Fuel Points for selected GC's through 6/17(I think). So the $25 GC means to an extra 100 fuel points for June, which translates to an extra $.10 per gallon of gas. The GC will be used toward more line for the weedeater and some other home improvement items.

06-01 Weight Loss Update

June 1st, 2014 at 12:38 pm

I've been serious about weight and waist reduction for 5 months now. I dropped another 5 lbs last month, but my waist line reduced by only one half inch. I would like to lose more of the ole spare tire around my waist by turning it into a flat tire.

My Weight Loss Progress Page can be found in the sidebar.