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Shopping for Shoes – Intro
Before Sex in the City, it is accepted that women like fancy shoes, with high heels. Men are not any more practical. Men what boot to look and feel macho. Both are not necessarily the best approach to buying shoes. 21st century has taken over, even the shoe industry. I am sure many of you have see the TV commercial that suggests you don't have to go to the gym. All you have to do is wear this c...
Shopping for the Palm Pre
It has been over a year since Palm released the Palm Pre. At that time all the tech reviewers were joking that the Palm Pre was the pre-bankruptcy release for Palm. Well, Palm has not gone into bankruptcy. Three of the four major cell phone carriers offer the Palm Pre. In call seriousness the Palm cell phone is different than the Blackberry, or the many smart phones that use the Android operati...
Shopping for the Chevy Equinox
The Chevy Equinox is classified in what some people want to call "plus-sized crossover, small SUV". This basically means the Equinox is smaller than a full size SUV and larger than your standard crossover. The much advertised feature of the Chevy Equinox is the rear seating and rear storage.  60/40-split rear seat that could be slid almost 8 inches front and rear. In the rear cargo section t...
Money Management from the Mint
Way back in 1995, I remember when I helped a young pest control business get their first computer. We set up their books with a new software from Quicken. Over the years, Quicken has been the only real money management software for personal of business use. Since then there has been several of money management programs to come on the market and many of them leave. Then in 2005, Aaron Patzer sai...
Dean Koontz on Audible
One of the many author found at Audible.com is Dean Koontz. Do you realize you can get his Dean's book Breathless in an MP3, but it on your iPod, or other MP3 player and listen to it while driving to work, or even washing the car, or at the gym.   Breathless was #1 New York Times bestseller. Author Dean Koontz delivers a thrilling novel of suspense and adventure. The mystery unfolds high ...
Clear Expectation of Service
Several years ago, I worked briefly at this computer store. The owner would change the terms of service at least once a week, if not more. When I left there the Terms of Service was very fine print on the back of every receipt. The receipt was printed on an 8 1/2 by 11 sheet of paper. This is nothing unusual. Every business has literature that states where their responsibly starts and where ...
32 Inch LCD Recon
I love sitting around coffee shops, and lounge area. What I over hear is so amazing. Just the other day this guy asked a friend, "Where was the best place to get a LCD TV?" The friend answered quick, "Fred Meyer, they have the best prices." I was so tempted to lean over and ask what empirical data he was making statement. Instead I bit my tongue. Without any ceremony, I got up and walked t...
Auto Recon: Honda Fit
The Honda Fit is another one of those little sub compact cars that came into being to easy the strain on our wallets because of high gas prices. The Fit is akin to the sportier Honda Jazz. Introduced at the time of high gas prices the Honda Fit is a subcompact four door hatchback. The first-generation Honda Fit was available for just two years: 2007 and 2008 model year. The base model came wi...
Mattress Recon – Intro
Next to marriage and underwear the mattress you sleep on is the next personal thing in your life. It has been my experience that what on individual sleeps well on is another individuals restless nights sleep. So when asked to help buy as mattress, I had to start with the basics. The number of different types of mattresses far exceeds the three Goldilocks came across in the three bears cottage. ...
Business Books from Audible
Anyone in business will tell you that knowledge and time management is a crucial factor to success. Traveling to an appointment, or waiting in a doctors office can be put to good use. An MP3 player containing an audio book can convert dead/wasted time into an enriched learning experience. Books like "How to Wind Friends & Influence People", "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" make great...

Restaurant Star Ratings

Posted By: The Shopping Nazi on August 17, 2010 in Dinner, Food, Lunch, Travel - Comments: No Comments »

A few weeks back I wrote about the star rating system for hotels. Today, I want to look at the star rating system of restaurants.

The reason why I am writing about the rating system for restaurant’s is I want to know and I want you to know what to expect when you walk into a restaurant. Are you getting your monies worth in terms of food and service?

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© 2009 – 2010 Cussins Enterprises

How to Buy Fast Food

Posted By: The Shopping Nazi on April 16, 2010 in Bargin Places, Food, Lunch - Comments: Comments Off

How much food do we really need to satisfy your bodies and stomaches requests for food. Like most of us, we head to the local fast food joint, and order according to how appealing the pictures are on that menu board.

Most every fast food joint, has their menu board broke up into three basic sections. Comb meals which consist of a main course, a side dish, and a drink. The value items usually include a small sandwich, fries, drink and desert. Each item ranges in price from 99 cents to $2. Then there is the regular price individual offerings.

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© 2009 – 2010 Cussins Enterprises

School Lunch – Hot or Cold

Posted By: The Shopping Nazi on August 29, 2009 in Lunch, School - Comments: Comments Off

Hot or Cold Lunch

In this post I am talking about lunches for elementary aged children. Why? That is the age range of our daughter. Since school starts Monday, we need to decide if your daughter is going to take a lunch or buy her’s.

Last school year, our daughter was happy taking a school lunch. Then about February she started asking for a hot lunch. This year she wants a hot lunch, because all her friends will be taking a hot lunch.

Most school lunches run about $1.90. Then those school who offer breakfast for the kids for around $1.25. Those families that are struggles there is a reduced price if not free. For the reduced or free school lunch program, you will need to contact for office at the school your child goes.

If you are wondering if it is more economical to pack your child a lunch of buy them a hot lunch, consider the following;

Want to known the rest of the story? Want to know the real cost of taking a school lunch?  Just log-in as a member.

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  1. Lunch box or lunch bag runs about $12.00 (That is if the child does not lose it during the school year). The National Standard says our children are to have 180 days of school per school years. That means a school lunch box costs just under 7 cents per day.
  2. A sandwich cost between 25 cents to a dollar, depending if it is peanut butter or lunch meat. For our calculations we will say 50 cents per day on the average.
  3. An individual size juice container of 6.75 fluid ounces will cost just under 50 cents each.
  4. A snack of fruit (say a banana for our calculations)is currently running 47 cents per pound. A pound is roughly 3 bananas. That breaks down to another 15.6 per banana.

It cost to have a child take lunch to to school with them is $1.23 on the average.

What I did show is that there is savings for a child taking there own lunch is not a huge difference to them having a hot lunch at school. Over a week’s time the difference is $3.35. Well, that would add up to $67 per month.

I did not include plastic bags nor the time it takes to fix a lunch. These figures are per child. If you have more than one child in school you can multiply these figures by the number of children you have going to school.

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© 2009 – 2010 Cussins Enterprises

Lunch – Bologna Sandwich

Posted By: The Shopping Nazi on July 10, 2009 in Food, Lunch - Comments: Comments Off

If you are like me you get tired to taking peanut butter and jelly sandwich to work. There are times I just want some kind of meat. However, I do get lazy and don’t want to fix a foot long deli sandwich beforebogsandwichgoing to work.

A Bologna sandwich is good quick filling sandwich.

  • Whole wheat sandwich bread is 9 cents per slice
  • 2 slices of regular cut Bologna – 50 cents
  • Mustard and Mayo – 5 cents

That makes the cost of the sandwich cost 73 cents, along with a soda which is 25 cents. That gives you a light for lunch to cost 98 cents.

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Lunch – PB&J Costs

Posted By: The Shopping Nazi on July 2, 2009 in Food, Lunch - Comments: 3 Comments »

pbjThere is nothing more that says America than the Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich.

What makes the Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich so great is its’ nutriutional value at such a low price.

  • Strawberry jelly cost 8 cents per ounce
  • Peanut butter cost 9 cents per ounce
  • Whole wheat sandwich bread is 6 cents per slice

I like to have 2.5 ounces of equal parts of peanut butter and jelly. That makes a good peanut butter sandwich cost 54 1/2 cents per sandwich.

Now add a 25 cents for a soda plus 54 1/2 cents for the sandwich, that is a nice little snack, for under $1.

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Lunch – Footlong for Less

Posted By: The Shopping Nazi on June 21, 2009 in Food, Lunch - Comments: 1 Comment »

When I see major fast food joints offering a large sandwich for under $5, I think what a rip off. I could make that same sandwich for a whole lot less and still have enough money for a something to drink.footlong

This is what I mean.

  • Bread – 45 cents
  • 3 different types of meat – $2
  • Slice of tomato – 10 cents
  • Cheese – 12 cents
  • Mustard and Mayo – 5 cents
  • Pickeles, onions, and peppers – 20 cents

I can make a similar sandwich for $2.92. Then I add a sports drink for 88 cents. There you have it a good healthy lunch for $3.80.  I have saved $1.20. That is a $1.20 in my pocket.

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© 2009 – 2010 Cussins Enterprises


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