If my husband and I are inexperienced in the area or if it's a huge repair, we would call an expert. If it a small repair, we try to fix it ourselves. It is not even about saving money; I think there is an accomplished feeling when you can fix something yourself.
If I already know how to fix it, or if I can find simple directions and it looks like it will take less than 3 hours and very few items that I don't already have (one tool, a few spare parts that that I know the specs for), then I'll do it. Otherwise, I figure I'm at risk of making it worse and needing a more expensive professional job after I've messed with it.
Luckily, my husband's pretty handy, so we're able to make most common repairs ourselves. It's kind of a financial necessity, as we're both students on student loans and don't have much by the way of an emergency fund.
Time and money, as well as experience. If it's going to take me too long to figure out how to fix it (plus the possibility that I might make the situation worse), then I'll definitely call in an expert, provided that it's not going to bust the bank. That's why it's important to shop around, but you still have to remember to check for quality of service too.
Since I live in a rental, I get to call in on-site repair folk some of the time. However, for bigger projects that would be seen as extraneous requests - such as getting a knife stuck out of the knife drawer (it went through vertically into the drawer and got stuck!) - we spent three hours getting it unstuck rather than having to call in the team. It probably would have gone into our security deposit and been a much bigger issue at that point. For us, it's mostly based on cost - anything that costs extra above and beyond what is expected of general repairs we will give the good old DIY try before calling in reinforcements.
Ugh! that sounds horrible. I would rather fix it myself if I thought it was worth the time, saved money, and was easily fixable myself. However, I wouldn't risk it if I thought I couldn't fix it right and would rather hire a professional. Not fixing something right could cost more money in the long run.
I've just released an online adaptation of Puerto Rico called Tropic Euro. It supports the 2-player variant mentioned in the comments above and also the 2004 PR Expansion. It can be played for free at http://www.tropiceuro.com
We had similar experiences with Comcast. We ditched them for Fios because we didn't have a clear view of the sky for DirecTV.
DirecTV, in my opinion, is the best service. We have had DishNetwork - it's not that great because of how the boxes work with multiple TV sets. We had some issues with DishNetwork that I remember aggravating me.
I will agree wholeheartedly, Comcast is horrible. It appears that they are trying to scare their customers away. I thought it was just us!!!
We like Fios but liked DirecTV more.
Congratulations on dumping Comcast! NetFlix is a great companion to Satellite TV because now you can watch movies using a Wii console!
For me, it's based on difficulty/messiness. I'd rather use some of my emergency fund if that means I don't have to disassemble stuff or get dirty/greasy/wet.
I have been making my own yogurt for years. I have a Salton 1 quart that at the time we got for about $16. It seems the current prices is around $25. To pasteurize the milk and denature the proteins (makes for thicker yogurt), I create a double boiler using a crockpot full of water, into which I place a covered metal bowl of milk. I keep the milk at 190 deg F for 10 minutes. I have digital probe thermometer that I just leave in there. Before heating, I typically add about a cup of non-fat dry milk, for a denser yogurt, and 1/8 teaspoon of stevia powder for sweetening. Then cool it down to under 120 deg F (in an ice bath if I'm impatient), and innoculate it with about a tablespoon of yogurt from previous batch. Then stick it in the Salton for 8-12 hours, and then in the fridge for a couple of hours before eating. If you haven't got a previous batch of live yogurt, just get some plain yogurt of a brand you like, make sure it has active cultures, and use that. In a pinch I have used my kids' flavored yogurts.
You could probably incubate yogurt using a heating pad under a bowl. I've done that for fermenting bread dough in the past.
A very indulgent variation is to use half and half instead of milk.
My parents had a yogurt maker like you've described, with the individual cups. Mom used to make a batch each week for all of us to enjoy with/as breakfast. Dad ate his straight up, but I used to mix in a spoonful of fruit preserves. Nowadays I mix in a teaspoon of sugar-free DaVinci flavoring syrup in Kahlua flavor and it tastes like Starbucks' caramel macchiato ice cream (slightly melted) - yum!
The crock-pot idea is cool. I'd have tried that, but alas, our crockpot (a wedding gift) is closing in on thirty years. I just am paranoid about keeping foods at the proper temperature, and don't trust that old thing. Also, I really like the individual cups with the Donvier. They are really handy. Even though buying yogurt in a big container was cheaper than the individual cups, did I take the time in the morning to scoop some out to take to work? Nope. I tend to grab and go. I need convenience.
We love our DirecTV, Paul! I didn't get the Starz movie package either, but turns out most of the movies I wanted to watch are available as Netflix instant viewing films through their Starz partnership. With my Roku box or Wii, we can watch it through the TV any time we want -- so much easier and cheaper than buying the channels. And we don't do much Pay Per View for films -- we go the Amazon Unbox route for that. Still only $70 a month for phone, cable, and long-distance (yes, we still use our landline a lot!)
I would love to use Netflix streamed, but my husband is hearing-impaired and uses captions. And Netflix hasn't gotten around to figuring out how to caption the streamed stuff - although Hulu and a couple of the networks online have. Still waiting on CBS to get with the program as well.
I made my first batch using the crockpot last week and it turned out beautifully. Better than I'd hoped and was gobbled up in about 48 hours around here. Starting another batch this afternoon and I'll never go back to buying store-bought yogurt again.
Even canceling with them is a chore. I canceled my service yesterday - primarily because I"m moving to a place with satellite provided (but even if it wasn't, I wouldn't be continuing with them). The customer service rep all but demanded my new physical address (not just a forwarding address), first so she could transfer the service, then so she could tell me about all their specials, then, when I finally mentioned that I already had service taken care of (hoping that would make her give up), she wanted to know who was providing it. What should have been a 5 minute call - disconnect, instructions for the final bill, done - was more like 15, and that was after waiting on hold.
Netflix streamed is the way to go IMHO. We don't miss cable a bit and have actually found some really cool shows we would have never watched if we didn't have Netflix.
It sounds like the "yogurt maker" is just used to keep the milk warmish?
Like Jessica, I make yogurt in the crockpot. Pour about a half gallon of milk into the crock, and heat on low to 185-190 degrees (about 2 1/2 hours). Then turn off the heat and allow the crock to cool to about 110 degrees (about 1 1/2 hours). Then whisk in some starter (I just use about 1/2 cup from the last batch; no need to purchase a separate starter), wrap the crockpot in a blanket, and go to bed. You should wake up to great yogurt in the morning.
Been there, done that!
I had a similar horrible customer service experience with Comcast. So, I switched to DirecTV. But when my bill jumped over $80/month, with no premium channels or anything fancy. I did exactly what the 3rd post from "Guest" says.
I now have a digital antenna, with some good (PBS, all locals, all spanish, which I speak, and even a couple I didn't get with DirecTV, like US Sports), and some bad channels, I have Netflix, and use it a lot, not only for movies, but for TV series, I mostly use the Nexflix download. I use Hulu.com for a lot of TV shows, and for sports, I use ESPN3.com, which shows many prime time events (NBA, MLB, Soccer (from Europe, US, etc), Tennis, etc). So I might not have the last channel on earth, but I have about 75%.
The main difference is (besides my internet connection), I pay $9 for all that.
I've been filling like a champ ever since.
If my husband and I are inexperienced in the area or if it's a huge repair, we would call an expert. If it a small repair, we try to fix it ourselves. It is not even about saving money; I think there is an accomplished feeling when you can fix something yourself.
If I already know how to fix it, or if I can find simple directions and it looks like it will take less than 3 hours and very few items that I don't already have (one tool, a few spare parts that that I know the specs for), then I'll do it. Otherwise, I figure I'm at risk of making it worse and needing a more expensive professional job after I've messed with it.
Luckily, my husband's pretty handy, so we're able to make most common repairs ourselves. It's kind of a financial necessity, as we're both students on student loans and don't have much by the way of an emergency fund.
Time and money, as well as experience. If it's going to take me too long to figure out how to fix it (plus the possibility that I might make the situation worse), then I'll definitely call in an expert, provided that it's not going to bust the bank. That's why it's important to shop around, but you still have to remember to check for quality of service too.
Since I live in a rental, I get to call in on-site repair folk some of the time. However, for bigger projects that would be seen as extraneous requests - such as getting a knife stuck out of the knife drawer (it went through vertically into the drawer and got stuck!) - we spent three hours getting it unstuck rather than having to call in the team. It probably would have gone into our security deposit and been a much bigger issue at that point. For us, it's mostly based on cost - anything that costs extra above and beyond what is expected of general repairs we will give the good old DIY try before calling in reinforcements.
Ugh! that sounds horrible. I would rather fix it myself if I thought it was worth the time, saved money, and was easily fixable myself. However, I wouldn't risk it if I thought I couldn't fix it right and would rather hire a professional. Not fixing something right could cost more money in the long run.
I've just released an online adaptation of Puerto Rico called Tropic Euro. It supports the 2-player variant mentioned in the comments above and also the 2004 PR Expansion. It can be played for free at http://www.tropiceuro.com
Enjoy :)
If it's on my repair plan, I call in an expert. :) That's the washer, the dryer, the furnace, the refrigerator and my main sewer drain.
The sewer drain with accompanying root clogs pays for the repair plan by itself every year.
If anyone is thinking of getting the Donvier, monitor the Amazon prices. Every so often it drops to $24.99.
We had similar experiences with Comcast. We ditched them for Fios because we didn't have a clear view of the sky for DirecTV.
DirecTV, in my opinion, is the best service. We have had DishNetwork - it's not that great because of how the boxes work with multiple TV sets. We had some issues with DishNetwork that I remember aggravating me.
I will agree wholeheartedly, Comcast is horrible. It appears that they are trying to scare their customers away. I thought it was just us!!!
We like Fios but liked DirecTV more.
Congratulations on dumping Comcast! NetFlix is a great companion to Satellite TV because now you can watch movies using a Wii console!
if I am absolutely sure I can fix whatever it is, I do it.
If not I call someone, isn't worth my aggravation.
Tried and tested. I have wasted too many days of my time on things that didn't work out.
For me, it's based on difficulty/messiness. I'd rather use some of my emergency fund if that means I don't have to disassemble stuff or get dirty/greasy/wet.
I have been making my own yogurt for years. I have a Salton 1 quart that at the time we got for about $16. It seems the current prices is around $25. To pasteurize the milk and denature the proteins (makes for thicker yogurt), I create a double boiler using a crockpot full of water, into which I place a covered metal bowl of milk. I keep the milk at 190 deg F for 10 minutes. I have digital probe thermometer that I just leave in there. Before heating, I typically add about a cup of non-fat dry milk, for a denser yogurt, and 1/8 teaspoon of stevia powder for sweetening. Then cool it down to under 120 deg F (in an ice bath if I'm impatient), and innoculate it with about a tablespoon of yogurt from previous batch. Then stick it in the Salton for 8-12 hours, and then in the fridge for a couple of hours before eating. If you haven't got a previous batch of live yogurt, just get some plain yogurt of a brand you like, make sure it has active cultures, and use that. In a pinch I have used my kids' flavored yogurts.
You could probably incubate yogurt using a heating pad under a bowl. I've done that for fermenting bread dough in the past.
A very indulgent variation is to use half and half instead of milk.
My parents had a yogurt maker like you've described, with the individual cups. Mom used to make a batch each week for all of us to enjoy with/as breakfast. Dad ate his straight up, but I used to mix in a spoonful of fruit preserves. Nowadays I mix in a teaspoon of sugar-free DaVinci flavoring syrup in Kahlua flavor and it tastes like Starbucks' caramel macchiato ice cream (slightly melted) - yum!
The crock-pot idea is cool. I'd have tried that, but alas, our crockpot (a wedding gift) is closing in on thirty years. I just am paranoid about keeping foods at the proper temperature, and don't trust that old thing. Also, I really like the individual cups with the Donvier. They are really handy. Even though buying yogurt in a big container was cheaper than the individual cups, did I take the time in the morning to scoop some out to take to work? Nope. I tend to grab and go. I need convenience.
We love our DirecTV, Paul! I didn't get the Starz movie package either, but turns out most of the movies I wanted to watch are available as Netflix instant viewing films through their Starz partnership. With my Roku box or Wii, we can watch it through the TV any time we want -- so much easier and cheaper than buying the channels. And we don't do much Pay Per View for films -- we go the Amazon Unbox route for that. Still only $70 a month for phone, cable, and long-distance (yes, we still use our landline a lot!)
I would love to use Netflix streamed, but my husband is hearing-impaired and uses captions. And Netflix hasn't gotten around to figuring out how to caption the streamed stuff - although Hulu and a couple of the networks online have. Still waiting on CBS to get with the program as well.
I made my first batch using the crockpot last week and it turned out beautifully. Better than I'd hoped and was gobbled up in about 48 hours around here. Starting another batch this afternoon and I'll never go back to buying store-bought yogurt again.
This sounds like every headache I had with Comcrap. You're better off without them.
Even canceling with them is a chore. I canceled my service yesterday - primarily because I"m moving to a place with satellite provided (but even if it wasn't, I wouldn't be continuing with them). The customer service rep all but demanded my new physical address (not just a forwarding address), first so she could transfer the service, then so she could tell me about all their specials, then, when I finally mentioned that I already had service taken care of (hoping that would make her give up), she wanted to know who was providing it. What should have been a 5 minute call - disconnect, instructions for the final bill, done - was more like 15, and that was after waiting on hold.
Netflix streamed is the way to go IMHO. We don't miss cable a bit and have actually found some really cool shows we would have never watched if we didn't have Netflix.
Neat article! My mom makes some from goat's milk and flavors it with instant coffee crystals. It tastes just like a cappuccino variety from the store!
It sounds like the "yogurt maker" is just used to keep the milk warmish?
Like Jessica, I make yogurt in the crockpot. Pour about a half gallon of milk into the crock, and heat on low to 185-190 degrees (about 2 1/2 hours). Then turn off the heat and allow the crock to cool to about 110 degrees (about 1 1/2 hours). Then whisk in some starter (I just use about 1/2 cup from the last batch; no need to purchase a separate starter), wrap the crockpot in a blanket, and go to bed. You should wake up to great yogurt in the morning.
Been there, done that!
I had a similar horrible customer service experience with Comcast. So, I switched to DirecTV. But when my bill jumped over $80/month, with no premium channels or anything fancy. I did exactly what the 3rd post from "Guest" says.
I now have a digital antenna, with some good (PBS, all locals, all spanish, which I speak, and even a couple I didn't get with DirecTV, like US Sports), and some bad channels, I have Netflix, and use it a lot, not only for movies, but for TV series, I mostly use the Nexflix download. I use Hulu.com for a lot of TV shows, and for sports, I use ESPN3.com, which shows many prime time events (NBA, MLB, Soccer (from Europe, US, etc), Tennis, etc). So I might not have the last channel on earth, but I have about 75%.
The main difference is (besides my internet connection), I pay $9 for all that.
I've been filling like a champ ever since.
DirecTV does have On Demand. You need a broadband service like FiOS to access it though.