The Shopping Nazi

The other day, I was talking to a lady from the state of Georgia. She was telling me that she could not afford to buy a computer. She thought is was a luxury besides being a waste of time and money.

A couple of years ago, I doing cold sales calls on businesses in a rather large strip mall. I walked into this shoe store, and asked to speak with the manager or owner. A very well mannered elderly lady came out from the back room and introduced herself as the owner.

I asked what kind of software she was using to manage her inventory. At that point she harshly stated that they did not use any computer software for inventory management.  The only computer they had was the card reader for processing credit cards.

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For centuries families have always gathered together at the end of the day to catch up on the day’s activities, current events along with some form of entertainment. The evening gathering place has evolved from a evening fire, to the dinner table. In the early 1900’s, the radio was a gather point for the family. Today, it is the television.

The past year was marked by the television reception going all digital. This improved the clarity of the picture and the number of channels we could watch. Going all digital now gives many households a very good reason for getting a new television for Christmas.

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The Autumn leaves are turning their golds and reds. There is a biting chill in the morning air. The furnace kicks in for the first time in since late spring. The house is filled with that smell of burnt dust from the furnace heat.

The weather is getting cold. The air conditioning pump will not come on again until mid or late spring. For many, this year, the ole furnace has already turned its self on a couple of times or more.

No matter what type of fuel you use for heating this is a good time to do some preventive maintenance on the heating system. For the mechanically inclined, like myself, I can do much of it. All I have to do is follow a simple check list that I put together from over the years.

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It is Fall. Days are getting shorter. That means I will be riding my bike more at night. In the interest of safety encouraged me to get a head and tail light for my bike.  I found a good deal on a head and tail light for under $15.

Like most things they did not with batteries. Naturally, I thought that I had some AA batteries at home, from the last time I bought a pack of AA batteries. This was not the case when I got home.

I needed 2 AAA batteries for the tail light and 4 AA batteries for the head light. All I had in the battery storage bin was 3 AA batteries. Just 1 battery short for the headlight and no batteries for the taillight.

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Call them pots and pans, or cookware both terms mean the same thing. Either way buying new cookware is not something you do every month or even every year. The last set of cookware we bought has lasted us about 15 years.

I still have the old cast iron set of cookware my mom brought out from Arkansas when she married my dad. About once or twice a year, I will pull down that old cast iron sauce pan. Then I will cook a pineapple upside down cake. Then is goes back on display.

I don’t know what factors into your considerations when it comes to buying new cookware. Price is usually a big one. Some people have to have the right color, to match their kitchen. Some are attracted to a particular set because of glass lids or the free utensils that come with the set.

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I am not so emotionally lured by aesthetics when it comes to buying cookware. I want it to be functional and last a good length of time. I hate nothing more than cooking eggs or pancakes and have them stick to the pan.

Copper cookware is the most expensive but it is the best for even heat. Aluminum, along with copper and to a lesser extent cast iron, do chemically combine with certain foods, and alters the flavor. Then there is consuming unwanted levels of the metal.

Stainless steel is the best choice. It doesn’t react with acidic or alkaline ingredients. However, stainless steel doesn’t conduct heat too well. Thus making necessary to get a set good heat-conducting features like thick aluminum or copper disk at the bottom of the pan.

High-quality non-stick cookware made of good heat conducting, thick gauge aluminum is another good choice. However, non-stick cookware usually doesn’t heat as well as cookware made from other metals.

If you want more information about buying the right cookware,  go to Cooking.com. They can help you pick the perfect cookware.

All-Clad it probably the best you can buy, but it will cost you over $500 for a set.

If you go to WalMart.com, you will find cookware from $800 on down to about $30. I thought it interesting their best sellers were 10-piece sets ranging from $30 to $300 in price.

I am still looking around. I do know the next set of cookware is going to have the follow requirements.

1. Stainless with an aluminum or copper base.
2. Non-stick surface
3. Glass Lids

I don’t know about you, but I usually only have to get our washing machine fixed every 5 years or more. Now when it comes to replacing such an essential appliance, we usually go 12 to 20 years. It has been a long time since I last had to walk in an appliance store and look at washing machines.

Yesterday, I walked in my local Best Buy, and headed to the back corner where they have the washing machines. It was there where I was over taken by the shear number and variety washing machines. There were red and stainless steal ones along with the traditional white ones. I even saw some made by Samsung? I thought they made cell phones?

I could not recognize the different manufactures by their general look. I had to look for the manufacture’s logo. My head was in a spin. My eyes were in a blur all because there has been so many changes  in one appliance in the past 12+ years.

I finally made my way to the outside of the three rows of washers and dryer. There I saw a name I recognized, Maytag. It was a top loader with a glass lid so I could look in and watch my cloths as they went through the various wash cycles. That one was almost $900. So I moved to the next to it. It was just under $400.

In the corner of my eye, I saw a sales person. His blue shirt and smile brought me back to a reality.

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I asked him for a sales or catalog sheet for the washing machine where my hand rested. I was informed sales sheets are no longer printed. If I wanted information about any of the washers I would have to go online a bestbuy.com.

I asked the sales person if that washer was in stock, other than the display model, and the charge for delivery. He acknowledged that if it was not in stock it could take up to 3 days to get it. Delivery would would cost me $29.99.

The washing machine I had my hand on was a Maytag model MVWC300VW. They were asking $365.49. Maytag’s suggested retail price is $429.99. Have you notice only foolish people are the ones who pay suggested retail price.

That washer delivered, and installed will cost me $394.98 before sales tax. They once said that a Maytag washer would last you 20 years. I am going to figure 15 years on the newer ones. (I am being well conservative here.) That breaks down to about 51 cents per week for just the washing machine.

Now if you want to compare the cost of doing laundry at home as opposed to going through all of the hassle of going to a laundromat. You need to see the laundry calculator at CSGNetwork.com. This is one calculator I wish I made.