January 20 to February 14, 2014 NOMADS Project, Mercedes, MS

February 15 (Approximately) to June - Gate Guarding, TX or LA.

June, 2014 - Up to Alaska!

September - NOMADS Annual Meeting, Branson, MO



Sunday, April 14, 2013

Thinking I've learned something.....

Hunstville,  TX

Next Friday will make two full months we've been stationary here in Huntsviile Gate Guarding.   As both of us cannot leave the site at the same time, it has meant no visiting restaurants, diners, fast food places, buffets... you get my point.

What I've learned.   We managed!   In fact I've not even missed it.

Oh a few times Len ran to a deli about 6 miles from here and got us each a gimantous cheeseburger and an order of fries.   The burgers were so huge neither of us finished the fries so last time we split an order.  Also twice while in town I've picked up "fast food" for lunch once at Subway and once at Popeyes.

We pay almost everything with a credit card and at least once a week I gather up the receipts, go online and pay everything off.   With our credit card for every $2,500 we put on it we get a $25. gift card.   There are several restaurants we choose from - Pizza Hut, Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Chili's, Carrabas, Longhorn and others.  We have about 6 on hand now and I just ordered 4 more.

Back in 2011 when we bought our F350 we decided to put $20,000 down knowing we would be paying off the entire amount in a month when we settled on the house.   Instead of taking the $20,000 from savings we put  it on the credit card, got $200. worth of free meals and then transferred the money from savings and paid off the credit card all within a week.  We love free stuff.

This morning I went through our file of credit card receipts and tossed any a year old or more.  I thought about how many of those receipts were for eating out and decided - if we can live for two months without eating out, we can surely cut back a great deal once we leave here.   For the times when we really want to eat out there are those gift cards.

Hoping to increase the bank account and decrease the waist size  (and make heftier payments on the bill for Leonard's hospitalization.)




9 comments:

Chuck and Anneke's RV travels said...

If only everyone thought this way, this would such a better place:) We really do not enjoy restaurants that much anymore with all the extra bad stuff they put on the food to make you think it is more tasty.

Paul and Marsha Weaver OCT. 17, 2009 said...

We don't have any credit cards we owe on either. We do something very similar to what you do. We also get gift cards from Bank of America. Great idea.

Hope Len is feeling much better and all the meds are working well for him.

Travels with Emma said...

I seldom eat out, so cash back rather than restaurant cards are better for me.

The Odd Essay said...

Looks like I've got some catching up to do reading your blog. Good hearing about your gate-guarding experience. We seldom eat out... mostly eat vegan when we're at home. We use our Discover card... love that cash back... and pay almost everything by credit card. We're so cheap we buy a Walmart card with our Discover, then use the Walmart card for money off at Murphy.

JO said...

Not eating out may also help Len's condition. Fast food is a killer.
If I eat out I try to eat at better places and eat salads.

owensontheroad said...

All my hard work losing weight flew the coop when we hit the road. Here in CA we are too social as well. Our dining out budget is a joke :) We're both hoping to get back on track in Oregon where we won't be tempted by such things!

Rick said...

We eat out a lot while down in Palm Springs because of all the great restaurants and because we just enjoy it.

Back home, now, we don't eat out nearly as often. We're more likely to get take-out food to bring home.

Donna W. said...

As a server, hey guys lets not stop eating out we depend onyou :-)
As a friend, good for you. Many restaurants are trying to put healthier choices on menus. Our clientele leans on the over 40 side so we sell a lot of baked cod and healthier salads, now if people would only realize 2 pints of dressing kind of defeats the idea behind a salad w/ chicken or turkey. Glad Len is doing better.

Karol said...

So glad Len is doing well and things are getting back to normal. Prayers are sigh you.