Soooo, how about this recession eh? I recently found out that my entire work site is shutting down. I had suspected that it might happen for a while, but now, it's been made official.

Since the time of the announcement, they said we've got about six months. I guess I took a little bit of time for it all to sink in, sort out my thoughts, and decide on a plan of action.

Well, the second I heard, all non-essential spending stopped. On the spot.

Also, I've already reviewed my budget. For better or worse, I've been largely frugal, so there isn't much to cut back. I suppose I can decrease the internet, eliminate Netflix, and cook more at home. But beyond that, bills like gas, electricity, and phone are already running at its bare minimum. Overall, I'm pleased to have been able to run a tight ship on my budget.

I've got between now and then to find another job. Given this economic climate, it won't be easy, but hopefully, I'll find something and it won't interrupt the income flow.

If it does, as you know, I've been plugging away at my emergency fund this entire time. Right now, I'm probably good for 6 to 8 months, but I want to be 1 year ready by the time shutdown completes.

Worst case, there's always unemployment benefits.

Overall though, I think I'm actually in a good shape to absorb the impact of potential unemployment. It's nothing like going through my financial situation during the divorce. Wow, looking back at it, I'm shocked that I even managed to get through that with any semblance of a financial picture....

But I did, and this time, I am much better prepared for any financial bumps that may lie ahead....

And yet, you know, it's a funny thing. Despite all the readiness and being healthy on the numbers, the very prospect of not having income fills me with utter fear. Isn't it funny? I think it is. I guess the difference is that I just didn't know better back then, but I do now.

By the way, to my ex and those related to her, I highly recommend that you do not gloat over this under the guise of "concern" for the children or even me. This sort of thing will make me a lot more adversarial than accommodating, I assure you. The children will be fine when they are with me. (She did that to me once, and I don't want to put up with that a second time.)

Uh, I don't want to end this with such a downbeat note. All-in-all, I am grateful for the job because it provided the much-needed stability during my transition through divorce. But the truth is, my current job is also getting a bit long in the tooth anyway, and it's time to move on. I just wish it wasn't forced, but that's life sometimes.

Now, for something completely unrelated, does anyone know if you can crockpot wild rice for 8 hours? I've been wanting to try an Italian chicken recipe, but it'd be great if I could somehow cook the rice along with it. Or is it still better to cook it separately?

Considering how easily things can go wrong in life, it's always good to count your blessings.

For example, my employer will cover a pair of shoes per year, and when my current shoes fell apart, I got a new pair for free! Well, that is, when the employer refund comes back. Oh yeah, I picked up a sweet pair of Timberlands.

Plus, I'll be able to do this again next year! I'm no shoe person, but I've read it's always good to have two pairs to alternate so that they will last longer.

A co-worker also asked if I wanted to have lunch. Free food? I was all over that! In fact, we went to a great steak place. Did I mention it was free? Woohoo!

When it comes to movies, I'm a typical guy with typical tastes. However, once in a while, I would step outside my comfort zone and try something new. So, that's how I ended up renting "The Curious Case of Benjamin Buttons" on Redbox for $1.

Although it had some awkward moments, overall, the movie is quite touching and even captivating. How or why it is, I am still not sure. But it was a good movie.

One of the main themes in that movie is the value of time, and how important it is to spend it well. I completely agree. If there should ever be one asset in our lives to obsess over, it might as well be time.

(Warning: Potential spoilers ahead.)

But, with my financial cap on now, I have to say that the movie is also slightly mistakened in a few ways. In this case, while time is the most valuable asset we may have, it still doesn't mean money isn't important. If his late father wasn't wealthy and left everything to him, Ben, the protagonist, would not have been able to live so care-free. And when their daughter was born, he would not have had a dime to leave behind for her future.

(Spoilers over.)

In other words, in order to live life to the fullest, you must also have money. Many people tend to ruminate over money on its own. But to me, it's only one ingredient in a list of many to make a good crockpot soup. But it's an important one. To me, it's something basic and vital, like salt.

Now, I know it's a fictional movie, but the message is very real: Live life the best you can, while you still can. But I would also add that in order to do so, you also have to save ahead and plan ahead. I don't disagree that life isn't important. I'm just surprised at how many people would say that, but then, do nothing about it in terms of preparations towards that goal. You know what I mean?

To me, it's not always about money versus life. Rather, it's about money towards life.

When I decided to cook soup with a crockpot, rather than the usual onions, I decided to take a chance on something called a fennel?



Truth to tell, I didn't even know what it was when I saw it. The grocery store didn't have a name printed for it or anything. All I knew was that it looked like a cross between a celery and an onion, and it had a particularly distinct aroma, similar to onion but not really.

The scary part is that they turned out to be $2 a piece, but I figure that it was worth trying anyways. (The price wasn't printed, so I didn't know until it was rung up.)

When I got home and looked it up on the internet, it mentioned that it was not only nutritious, but was also medicinal in some way. Interesting.

Unfortunately, 12 hours in the crockpot made the fennel give off a strong, bitter smell, and it did not do much to soften up the vegetable. Overall though, the soup still ended up fine.

So, even though I won't use fennel again, it was a new and interesting experience just the same. And for that, it was worth $2.

Through a co-worker, I found out yet another fantastic-looking hotel in Thailand. This one is called the Sarojin. Just look at these pictures!

Of course, I still love the way the Buri Rasa looks. Woot!

Considering the level of quality, the cost of these hotels are actually not that bad! Even now, it would seem the US dollar can still go a long way in Thailand.

Although I would love to go to one of these hotels some day, I would love it even more if I can bring some of that styling home... to an actual home... some day.

I'll bet it can be done, but of course, the pre-requisite would be to have a home in the first place. Speaking of homes, check out these spectacular Hakka houses from China.

Of course, something like that is entirely way, way too big for me (and it was meant for a different time period). I could be perfectly content with a small dwelling, perhaps even something as small as a tool shed if it looked like this:



Well, provided that it has water, electricity, and a bathroom and all that. By the way, that parasol is not attached to the building.

Dentist
I just got back from a dentist appointment. My teeth would have slight shooting pains whenever I drink something very cold, so I thought it wouldn't hurt to go have a check up. It's fully covered by insurance anyway.

But when I got there, they were also talking about how maybe I should have a bite guard ($400), a crown ($2600), and have my wisdom teeth removed (cost unknown; another specialist). Say, is it normal for me to only have lower wisdom teeth, but not upper?

But anyways, although I didn't say anything, I'm thinking to myself what an insane amount of money they want. To tell you the truth, I don't want them to do any of that. I mean, is there anything in there that is truly necessary?

Plates
I finally checked out Walmart's Corelle plates. I saw a really nice set that is mostly white, but also had a nice, subtle leafy trim on it. Very nice, and also $30. I probably should have picked it up, but for some reason, I just couldn't pull the trigger.

I kept thinking that maybe I won't use it all that much after all. But what made me change my mind was that at least I know what's out there and where to get it. So, whenever I do change my mind again, I'll know exactly where to go to pick it up.

Comfort food
The weather has been rather dreary and, you know, it's funny how the weather can really cost you money if you're not careful. For example, because it's been cold and rainy, I've been having an overwhelming desire for warm comfort food, even when I am not hungry. And that's the problem. I would crave it when I'm not hungry. Not only is there a risk to cost, but I may also over-eat, which I don't want to do.

Besides sheer willpower, I don't know how to fight this though, and I'm open for suggestions if anyone has any.

Gas bill
Finally, I just got my gas bill, and I was very pleasantly surprised that it only costed me $18.75. Considering that the weather has cooled down, I would have expected a lot more.

For the most part though, I've been keeping my temperatures very low (when the kids are not with me). Like 55. I think that's good enough, especially when I am running my computer.

Overall though, I'm enjoying the fall, and I hope you do too.

You may or may not be aware of a growing camp or group or movement called the "Big Wins".

Their idea is that it's best to focus on the big stuff. The low-hanging fruit. The stuff that will make the biggest financial difference with the least amount of effort. Like your mortgage, or your insurance, or your career. Stuff like that.

I don't have a problem with that, but the Big Win camp's critique usually takes it a step further and claim, "Some people spend so much time sweating the small stuff that they don't bother to do the same on the big stuff. They're penny wise and pound foolish, negating their daily scrimping and saving by making poor financial decisions that burden them for years."

SAY WHAT?

How many readers here are so busy clipping coupons that they actually forget to re-finance their mortgage? Raise your hand. What about cars? Has couponing caused you to forget to look at affordable cars? And how many here are so busy clipping away that they've completely forgotten to work on getting a raise? Raise your hand high please, so I can count them.

What? No hands? Why? Because the Big Wins are wrong! Why is there an automatic assumption that we are so caught up in the little things that we've become incapable of noticing the big things?

Look, Big Wins. Some people enjoy doing these little things in life. Why? Because it brings us comfort and joy. It also gets us closer to our financial goals, because yes, little things can and do add up.

Now, if you don't want to do the little things, that's fine. Nobody says you have to do them. Nobody says you have to do anything. However, to claim that people who do little things are completely ignorant of the big things? I'm sorry, but that is completely absurd.

Besides, even the little things can be automated. For example, I don't think people cut a ton of coupons anymore. Many of the discounts come straight off of grocery store memberships. I simply carry it on my key chain, swipe it when I check out, and I get discounts. What's so hard about that?

With some automation and pre-planning, I think there's plenty of time to do both the big things and the little things, AND still have time to enjoy life. Be both penny wise and pound wise... or just be financially wise in general. Why not?

Finally, I just want to add that Get Rich Slowly isn't the main culprits on this kind of thinking, and although I linked them, I don't entirely blame them. JD, the author, has also been very good about focusing on the little things as well, and it's likely that this idea originated from elsewhere.

Hello! Welcome to the 2009 edition of Strangely Creepy! I'm your host, BA, here for yet another round of lively talks with... myself regarding matters of the strange and creepy kind.

So BA, temperatures are dropping now. Are you ready for Jack Frost to come a'knocking?
Ugh, no. As you know, I'm reluctant to just turn up the heat. I do turn it up when the kids are with me, but it seems like a colossal waste when it's just myself.

Righty ho! So, making plans to bunker up in Fort Closet?
Returning to the closet has crossed my mind, and it's still a serious option on the table. But there's a reason why I didn't do it last year and why I am hesitant to do it anymore at all.

Really! Do go on....
Mostly, it has to do with the technical issues of good air circulation, because you know, the last thing I need is to kill any more brain cells. The confined space also leads to the issue of my body sweat collecting with nowhere to go. I would wake up drenched. That and there's the potential hazard of having a radiator in a room full of clothes that would have to be addressed....

Oh, boo hoo I have poo in my pants, why not just tough it up, man? Show them lovely ladies out there the hairs on your backside by hibernating in the closet with macho gusto.
Don't you mean hair on the chest? Or do you mean spine on the backside?

Whichever.
OK... again, the closet option isn't off the table yet. In fact, I still think it's worth serious consideration. All I am saying is that there may be better options out there.

Such as?
Well, what about just a sleeping bag or even pitching a tent or something? That way, I can still reduce the amount of space that needs to be heated, but still be in a room where there is good air circulation?

Well, I don't know. It certainly sounds strangely creepy, but I'm just the interviewer, and you're suppose to have all the answers. Don't you have the answers?
Well, I've thought long and hard about it, and I do think it can work. With some effort, it may even be affordable and not even look tacky!

But...
But what?

Well, you seemed like you were about to add a "But..."
Ah, yes. But... the catch is this would require more money. In fact, it would require that I set up a separate savings fund to get all the gear in place. Of course, I wouldn't consider any expensive options, and I would consider something that could and would be used year after year.

Of course. So, anything in particular in mind?
I would just love to pull off a stylish looking yurt. I know, crazy right?

Strangely creepy!
But take a look at this!

I know it's a picture of a permanent dwelling, but yurts by nature are small portable tents. The trick is just to find a way to build one that's both affordable, stylish, and can be taken down and put back up year after year.

So, that's what you've decided?
Well, no. I'm still in the brain-storming stage, so all this is just.. you know... brainstorming.

So, you have no earthly clue what you want to do.
Ok, no, I really don't know. I'm still deciding. I do know one thing is for sure: I don't want to have to turn on the heat too high just to keep myself warm. I think that's just nuts.

Alright, any ideas on how you plan to resolve this?
Well, whenever I'm not sure about something, I would ask around for outside input. What about asking the readers on what they think I should do about it?

Smashing! Kind of like that internet 2.0 thing that we keep hearing about. The wave of the 21st century and all that jazz.
Yes indeed!

So, there you have it! Thank you for listening in on another exciting episode Strangely Creepy. And this time, we would love to hear from you dear readers. Please. Help out our hapless, hairless chump (Hey!) I mean chum and his winter predicament. Until then, this is BA, signing out!

A nice list of financial podcasts.

Yep. That's all I've got right now.

This isn't exactly exciting or anything, but I decided to go ahead and buy a batch of Walmart bonds. I needed a certain amount of bond position anyways, and Scottrade will buy them for you for free. Plus, there's no expense ratios involved, and I think Walmart bonds are pretty solid.

The "downside", if you want to call it that, is that you can't pull them out until they mature, which will be two years from now for mine. The interest for the 2 year is 5% per year, and this is done through the Roth so no capital gains tax.

While I've bought stocks for a little while now, I confess this is the first time I've bought individual bonds. Sure, I've had bond funds before, and still do in 401(k), just not individual bonds.

Also, I've noticed that some bonds are more expensive than others. I thought the Walmart bonds were relatively pricey at $108 a piece, but I guess that's also what happens when you buy something that seems to be in demand....

The final thing I'm hoping to do for 2009 is to shift some of my rollover money into the Roth as well. Of course, I'll have to pay taxes for it, and truth is, I'm not sure if I have the spare cash to pay for the amount I want to convert. We shall see though.

Anybody ever bought bonds? If so, how did that work out for you?