When Old Technology is Needed

Prepping for the storm, what came up with many people was the fear that they would be without phones if the storm knocked out their electric power or disabled the city's cell phone towers.  Many people have replaced those "old" phones with new electric plug-in models or use their cell phones instead of having a house number.  No, we too have those electric models.  However, we also kept one of the old Princess phones, which remains plugged into a phone jack.

The benefit of that old phone is that it is not affected by an electrical outage.  Only if your phone lines go down will you not have phone service, and there are many areas of the city, such as ours, where phone lines are now underground precisely so heavy winds and rain can't rip them down.

A bit late to go shopping now for such an "old" phone, but it's something you might think of acquiring after the storm is over.  Electrical outages in the NYC area don't require a major hurricane to occur--I can't remember a summer yet where we have not had areas of the city or the whole city without power for a while.  Besides, think of the joy and fun of introducing your kids to some old technology that can nonetheless save the day when new technology is laid low.  No, they (and you) won't be able to text on those phones or play games on those phones, but you'll be able to be in contact with others or summon help in an emergency--and isn't that really the point of a phone?

Water, Water Everywhere

Yes, I can think of a few instances in which a person might need/want to buy a bottle of drinking water. For one, the regulations in place at airports means you can no longer bring a thermos of water with you when traveling.  However, for everyday use there seems to be no logical reason to be buying those bottles of water. 

Here in NYC we have highly ranked and rated tap water.  In fact it's so highly rated that a smart young man began bottling and selling NYC tap water a few years ago, and yes, it sells well.  http://articles.latimes.com/2009/feb/25/nation/na-tapwater25

NYC residents are already paying for that water through water and sewer taxes, so why not take advantage of what is being paid for?  Even an expensive thermos or specialized "water bottle" pays for itself within a few weeks, and then it's yours for decades of use.  Like your water icy cold?  Err, anyone reading this who doesn't have a refridgerator available?  Spend another couple of dollars for a 1/2 gallon or gallon container, fill with tap water and keep in the fridge--instant cold water to fill the thermos with.

I've heard many people say that it is a pain to have to shlep that thermos around, and that it is more convenient to just buy a bottle and throw out the bottle after it's empty.  After all, we're only talking about pennies here.  Sigh.  As if pennies don't add up to dollars, lots of dollars, rather quickly.

Let's say you are a commuter who doesn't carry bottles with you, but you do buy a bottle at a convenience store on the way to the office.  On average that is going to be $1 per bottle you buy.  Five days a week of work, and you are spending $5 a week for those bottles.  Drink more and you are obviously going to be spending more.  The vending machine at school sells the small bottles of water for "only" 75 cents each.  Again, you do the math.  This could amount to $260 per year, per drinker.

Even if you buy those bottles in the 24-packs on sale you are not likely to be getting them for less than $3-4  per pack.  You might be averaging about 15-20 cents per bottle.  And check the amount in those bottles--a whole lot of bottlers are putting in less than 8 ounces to a bottle.  So now you are only going to be spending 30 to 40 cents per day for those two bottles of water.  But hold on, that's 30-40 cents per person who takes water with them in your household.  Let there be only 3 people who take that water and you are now spending 90 to $1.20 per day for that water.  Carry this out to a yearly expense and what you have is about $300  per year, if not more.  If you have more water drinkers or drink more water the cost obviously goes up.

Given the cost, a thermos or water bottle would pay for itself in from 2-4 weeks.  Why not decide that this is the year that you aren't going to "water down" your available spending money and are going to start putting that money back into your pocket.  Just another example where the pennies add up to serious dollars.

Note: if you buy those water bottles in a supermarket, check your register tape.  Those cases of water that are on sale at 4 for $12?  Sorry, but that isn't the final cost.  Check the tape and you will see that you are also being charged 5 cents per bottle for the State bottle deposit charge.  At 24 bottles per case, that's an additional $1.20 you are being charged per case.  And if you throw away those bottles instead of recycling them yourself, that's $1.20 you are willfully and knowingly throwing in the garbage.

The Weather Did It

I was in and out of supermarkets and fruit and vegetable stores all of last week and this week as well.  One thing I noticed right away was that none of the markets had any fresh horseradish roots on display.  This is kind of strange as they are always out by two weeks before Pesach.  I asked the produce managers when they would be getting the roots, and the answer was "IF we get them it won't be until a few days before the holiday."  IF?  Apparently the unprecedented warm winter temperatures we had this year have affected the horseradish crop.  Producers are first selling any product to the manufacturers of jarred horseradish.  After that, the consumer will--hopefully--get some. 

And then there is is--without long spells of cold, the bite of the horseradish root is reduced.  I've got male members of my family who look forward to the tear-producing aroma of freshly grated horseradish root.  It just might not be there this year.

My suggestion?  If you find that horseradish root now, grab it--you might not get a chance again.

Not Taken at Face Value

A few years back manufacturers of plastic storage containers for use in the kitchen began putting out what they labeled as "Disposable" containers. True, those manufacturers who produced the supposedly more long-lasting plastic containers were charging a lot for those products, producers like Rubber Maid and the like. But the prices that Glad and company were charging for these disposables wasn't always that cheap, although occasionally a bargain could be found.

However, here is the thing--just how are these containers really "disposables"? Haven't counted them all, but I believe just about every one of those disposables is still alive and well in my house after at least a few years of usage. They've been in the fridge, in the freezer, in the dishwasher and sink washed. The covers are still sturdy and fit tightly, the containers themselves are not warped, cracked or stained. The only ones that are not re-used for their intended purpose are the ones for Pesach, since I just don't have the space to store them with the Pesach dishes. But they weren't tossed--they just got used for chometz items during the year.

Sure, some of those containers leave the house--sending leftovers home with the kids, for instance--and I don't have to "worry" that a really expensive plastic container might never be seen again, but that's the exception, not the rule.

Point I'm making--given the longevity and usefulness of the less expensive "disposables," why spend on the more expensive plastic containers? Not sure that Glad et al really want customers like me, but there are a lot more like me out there.

Let the buyer be ware--just because a manufacturer tells you that something is one way doesn't make that true.

Note: and let's not even discuss what an environmental savings we have by not throwing out those disposables and clogging our landfills.

Adar, Mazal, Dagim

We've all heard that combination--Adar, Mazal, Dagim--but they've never come together for me quite like this week. Okay, there was a "fishy" posting up about a brand of salmon that was an excellent buy. And then it was Rosh Chodosh Adar. So what was the Mazal?

On Rosh Chodosh I was accidentally in the vicinity of a fish store, decided to drop in just to check what the prices were, and found one of those "Special, from 10:00 to 12:00" signs. Yup, the mazal kicked in, as it was 5 minutes to 12:00, and there was frozen flounder at 99 cents a pound--yes you read that correctly. Okay, there was a limit of "only" a pound, but since I was the only customer in there and it turned 12:00 and the sale was going to be over, they let me have three pounds. Not even sure if I was married yet the last time I saw flounder that cheap.

I have often touted the merits of having a big freezer. Being able to take advantage of sales like this one because I know I have the freezer space to hold the product can be a real plus, both in money savings and in not having to run out all the time to get supplies.

So yes, this week was truly Adar, Mazal, Dagim.

"P" is also for Preparedness

Those of you with a StopNShop market in your area might want to swallow your feelings about those "P" words that are upcoming, because it just might be "profitable" for you. The market already has its Passover products aisle up, and it's a double aisle in our market. Not only that, but about 2/3 of the products were on sale. If you have a place where to store those non-perishable products, then why not save some money now. Also will leave less to do before the Chag. Another plus is that the shelves are full and there's lots of variety. (Just an example: the Gefen large size salt-free tomato sauce {not the jumbo} was 3 for 89 cents today.)

Note also that Sanka coffee and Nescafe already have the OKP on them. Three different markets in our area had sales on those coffee brands over the past two weeks. If they go on sale in your area, it might pay to buy and put them away already.

Yes, "put away" for later is also a "P" phrase, and it also "puts" money into your pocket. Not all "P" words are "Perturbing."

A Shared Summer #3

When I think shopping, I think books. The price of books, both hardcovers and softcovers, can get quite expensive. So, let's share some sources we've found for getting those books, and perhaps getting those books cheaper than suggested retail price. Please leave your suggestions--both for online and for "real"--in the comments section.

Let me start off with a suggestion to look at alibris.com I've been using this site for many years and have yet to have a problem with any merchandise ordered. The site is easy to navigate and it sometimes offers some really incredible bargains. Use it once and the site will also send you notices good for further discounts/reduced-free shipping etc..

So readers, your suggestions?