If I won the $1000 Amazon gift card, I would use it to replace our broken dishwasher, get my parents a new mattress, and if there's enough left over, get a fun tablet for my best friend's little girl. Her birthday is coming up in February! :-)
We just starting making our own dog food for our 75lb mixed breed (mastiff/Staffordshire terrier). We did so after buying what we believed to be high quality, expensive food ($90 with tax for a 30lb bag) that made our dog sick. We took the food back to the store and got a refund and then I did some research.
My conclusion was this: a) the food we were buying was reputable with very few issues
b) the commercial dry kibble has lots of nutrients in it that would be difficult for us to economically provide our dog with home-made dog food.
c) what would work best for us is a combination of commercial dry kibble and homemade meals
So: we feed about 1/2 cup dry kibble with 1 cup of our home made mixture. Our homemade mixture is about 45% protein, 30% fat and 25% carbs. It's still a work in progress, but so far, Bowser looks great, is full of energy, drinks less water and poops less.
Here is our rough recipe; we divvy it up into 14 portions and freeze most of it:
2.5 lb meat, fat included
3 eggs including 2 eggshells, crushed (boiled as egg shells can have nasty dirty things on the outside)
2.5 cups vegetables (carrots, beets, peas, celery - NO: Onions, grapes, raisins of course)
4 cups rice
1/2 cup cheese
My research has told me that dogs (especially active ones like ours) need a nice balance of protein, fat, carbs, fibre and calcium (hence the eggshells)... you can buy a calcium supplement, but why would you if you are just going to toss your eggshells in the compost?
I was able to get everything on sale and the above recipe worked out to about $1.00 per portion. I keep watching the dog to make sure he isn't losing weight as it has been hard to get him up to the weight he is at.
Great tips.
GT0163C, to your comment on sleep masks, "standard" sleep masks put too much pressure on my eyes and trigger migraines. My wife found me a "contoured" sleep mask (does not come in contact with your eyeballs) and it works great. It's make out-of neoprene and is very comfortable.
A few years ago our families decided to dispense with the "buy a gift for everyone" and now we bring one gift to exchange. In my family you can either go into the chocolate exchange or the beer exchange. We bring mostly homemade chocolates, fudge, or other candy and a small item like a cookbook, or bowl or such. We wrap the chocolate gifts and you draw blind. The beer exchange is 2 6-packs of something interesting. We play games that we make up each year to determine what order we pick. With the beer, you only get to pick one 6-pack at a time. In my husband's family it's a chocolate and wine exchange, or the beer exchange. We have a ton of fun with the silly games and we laugh a lot! Takes so much pressure off wondering if your gifts will be ok.
By the way, the website Allrecipes has a ton of seasoning recipes and Amazon has spice bottles. You can always do a wine and spice exchange. So much more fun than bringing home yet another gift you cannot use.
I am trying to be self sufficient. I would I crease animals on our farm... I understand there is a milking cow that only needs milking once a day!
Drinking coffee from Statbucks holiday cups while cozied up by the fire. And dressing up for holiday parties!
I would use this money towards my grad school program I'm starting next week.
I love sitting in front of the fireplace, with a good cup of coffee...cocoa, if I'm feeling indulgent!
I'd take my husband out on a nice date, and the rest would go toward my student loans.
I would use it for a rainy day. I lost my job in September so it would really help.
If I won the $1000 Amazon I would save it to use towards a lightweight wheelchair or a new mobility scooter.
Thanks for sharing this info. It works and really only takes a few seconds.
If I won the $1000 Amazon gift card, I would use it to replace our broken dishwasher, get my parents a new mattress, and if there's enough left over, get a fun tablet for my best friend's little girl. Her birthday is coming up in February! :-)
I'm definitely guilty of #6, but I'm trying to wean myself off - it's as bad as trying to quit smoking!
I would use the $1,000 to pay off 5% of my debt!
I would add it to my savings account for the months ahead when work will be slower! Blessings!
We just starting making our own dog food for our 75lb mixed breed (mastiff/Staffordshire terrier). We did so after buying what we believed to be high quality, expensive food ($90 with tax for a 30lb bag) that made our dog sick. We took the food back to the store and got a refund and then I did some research.
My conclusion was this: a) the food we were buying was reputable with very few issues
b) the commercial dry kibble has lots of nutrients in it that would be difficult for us to economically provide our dog with home-made dog food.
c) what would work best for us is a combination of commercial dry kibble and homemade meals
So: we feed about 1/2 cup dry kibble with 1 cup of our home made mixture. Our homemade mixture is about 45% protein, 30% fat and 25% carbs. It's still a work in progress, but so far, Bowser looks great, is full of energy, drinks less water and poops less.
Here is our rough recipe; we divvy it up into 14 portions and freeze most of it:
2.5 lb meat, fat included
3 eggs including 2 eggshells, crushed (boiled as egg shells can have nasty dirty things on the outside)
2.5 cups vegetables (carrots, beets, peas, celery - NO: Onions, grapes, raisins of course)
4 cups rice
1/2 cup cheese
My research has told me that dogs (especially active ones like ours) need a nice balance of protein, fat, carbs, fibre and calcium (hence the eggshells)... you can buy a calcium supplement, but why would you if you are just going to toss your eggshells in the compost?
I was able to get everything on sale and the above recipe worked out to about $1.00 per portion. I keep watching the dog to make sure he isn't losing weight as it has been hard to get him up to the weight he is at.
Great tips.
GT0163C, to your comment on sleep masks, "standard" sleep masks put too much pressure on my eyes and trigger migraines. My wife found me a "contoured" sleep mask (does not come in contact with your eyeballs) and it works great. It's make out-of neoprene and is very comfortable.
My favorite winter activity is drinking hot cocoa.
A few years ago our families decided to dispense with the "buy a gift for everyone" and now we bring one gift to exchange. In my family you can either go into the chocolate exchange or the beer exchange. We bring mostly homemade chocolates, fudge, or other candy and a small item like a cookbook, or bowl or such. We wrap the chocolate gifts and you draw blind. The beer exchange is 2 6-packs of something interesting. We play games that we make up each year to determine what order we pick. With the beer, you only get to pick one 6-pack at a time. In my husband's family it's a chocolate and wine exchange, or the beer exchange. We have a ton of fun with the silly games and we laugh a lot! Takes so much pressure off wondering if your gifts will be ok.
By the way, the website Allrecipes has a ton of seasoning recipes and Amazon has spice bottles. You can always do a wine and spice exchange. So much more fun than bringing home yet another gift you cannot use.
My favorite winter activity is reading a book with a hot cup of coffee or cocoa.
For me it isn't actually. I own my home, I'm not a renter.
I would use it to pay off some college loans.
I wonder if you are aware that what you're doing is illegal in New York City.
I love to sit by the fireplace with a cup of hot chocolate and a good book.
snowboarding
If the government wasn't using Social Security as a slush fund, over 3 trillion and counting, there would have been plenty of funds there.
We enjoy sledding when it snows.
i dont agree with "apply online" part, me and my friends did apply online, and it worked well, one of my friend even got 10 interviews / week