Save Money by Cooking at Home: Japanese Steakhouse Edition

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When a Japanese steakhouse first opened in our city, it was extremely busy. Tales of flaming onion volcanoes, spatula tricks with eggs, flying bowls of rice and shots of sake had people rushing through the doors. As the newness wore off, the infatuation with the restaurant died down quickly. One of the reasons for this, in my opinion, was the price. For example, let’s say my family visited the restaurant for dinner.  My wife, myself, and my son would each order a meal, as well as upgrade from the white rice to the chicken fried rice. $20.95 (steak and shrimp) […] Read more »

I Love You Like a Blogger Roundup – 11/9

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As a country we re-elected President Obama to a second term this week.  I hope and pray that both parties will keep the best interests of our country in mind over the next four years  and keep moving our great nation forward.  We should all be keeping our finances in mind this weekend, and I’ve assembled a list of links that will help you do just that.  Enjoy! Favorite Posts Are You Ready to Fall Off the Fiscal Cliff? What You Need to Know if the Bush Tax Cuts Expire from Free From Broke Would the Envelope Method of Budgeting […] Read more »

Smart Phones are Going to Cost Me How Much?

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A mutiny is brewing at home, and I don’t know how much longer I can hold it off. Our cell phone contract expired in August which means we are eligible for a handset upgrade, or able to change carriers without penalty at any time. With scratched screens, odd behaviors, and increased frequency of complete “lockups” our phones are beginning to tell us they are nearing end of life. Chances are we will need to make a move soon, and if that move doesn’t include the iPhone as an option I fear I may come home one day to find the […] Read more »

I Love You Like a Blogger Roundup – 11/1

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Ooooooooh, no!  I think I’m fighting something off.  I’ve been going to bed early all week and getting some extra sleep but I just don’t have the usual spring in my step.  In fact last night I grabbed a pillow and blanket and curled up in a ball on the floor while the family caught up on a few episodes of Survivor.  I have still managed to drag myself out of bed every morning and get my workouts in.  I hate being sick, so I hope a weekend of R&R will get be back 100% in action. Well, I hope […] Read more »

What’s Your Measuring Stick for Value?

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Over the weekend I went out to eat on two different occasions. The bills were significantly different, and so were the experiences. Restaurant #1: Vonnie and I visited a nice restaurant that came highly recommended, and has a reputation. The kind of reputation that usually results in people mentioning going there during Monday morning hallway conversations at work when asked if you and your significant other did anything special over the weekend. Vonnie had butternut squash ravioli, a cranberry spinach salad, and a glass of wine while I ordered the shrimp and scallop au gratin. Oooh, sounds fancy! Except it […] Read more »

I Love You Like a Blogger Roundup – 10/26

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The picture is an actual radar image of the upper Midwest from yesterday morning.  It had been unseasonably warm here in Minnesota earlier this week with highs in the mid-70s.  Yesterday a cold front moved through and you could literally see and feel the seasons change.  The green is rain, the purple is ice, sleet, and snow.   The seasons may be changing, but one thing that is not changing is the fact that you can find links to the very best personal finance blog posts of the week right here on Enemy of  Debt each and every Friday.  Let’s get […] Read more »

Done Living Paycheck to Paycheck? It’s Up to Us!

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Vonnie and I had made quick work of reviewing and revising our spending plan for the remainder of the month, so we started work on our finances for the first half of November. “I think we should put something in savings,” she said. I was caught off guard and surprised when Vonnie said these words. Not because she said them, but because I knew it was possible. For so many years, it has been so different. We’ve been living paycheck to paycheck for our entire marriage, and up until we enrolled in our debt management plan we supplemented our income […] Read more »

I Love You Like a Blogger Roundup – 10/19

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The second Presidential debate was held this week, and as was the case with the first one and the Vice Presidential debate, Facebook and Twitter were alive with comments.  When it was all over, there was a lot of discussion about who “won” the debate.  Both sides claimed victory of course.  Since it’s all very subjective with your point of view, there really is no clear cut winner. Maybe one day there will be a way to determine who actually won a Presidential debate, but in the mean time there should be no question in anyone’s mind that the below […] Read more »

I Improved My Marriage by Talking About Money

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I was describing how I used to hide our debt from my wife this past Saturday in an interview with Gerri Detweiler on Talk Credit Radio, when I said the words: “I betrayed her trust, and it’s taken a long time to recover from that.  In fact, we’re still recovering from it.” I may have typed similar words before in a blog post or two, but I don’t recall ever ever having said the words out loud. I didn’t particularly like how they sounded, but they were true.  The magnitude of our debt had been a huge secret for many […] Read more »

I Love You Like a Blogger Roundup – 10/5

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After last week’s marathon (which I finished in 4:05:47), I’m looking forward to staying at home this weekend and having poker night with the guys in my neighborhood.  It’s always a good time.  I’m also going to fire up the smoker and make something on Sunday to eat while I’m watching football.  I’m thinking baby back ribs, what do you think? Speaking of things that are smokin’  here’s my favorite posts from the past week: Favorite Posts: If Something Looks Too Good To Be True, It Probably Is from Money Beagle Stalking Property Tax Records found on PTMoney Jokes on […] Read more »

Life is about Experiences, not Money

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Yesterday, I ran the Twin Cities Marathon for the third time. I’m not an elite runner, so my goal isn’t to win, but to simply finish with the best time possible. But I approached this one a bit differently than the previous two. I wanted it to be about more than just an internal struggle to finish. I wanted to fully experience everything the marathon had to offer. Marathons across the United States have become more than just a race, they have become events with cheer zones, bands playing along the way, people dressed up in costumes and spectators with […] Read more »

I Love You Like a Blogger Roundup – 10/5

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This Sunday I’ll be running the Twin Cities Marathon. Yes, I’m voluntarily running 26.2 miles. I’ve been training for the last year, so there’s quite a bit of anticipation for race day to come. Very similar, I’m sure, to the anticipation you’ve been feeling the past few days for this week’s EOD roundup. Here’s my favorite posts of the week: Favorite Posts: How to Get Your Spouse on Board Financially (Our Story) from Dr. Jason Cabler at Celebrating Financial Freedom The Great Debate: Kids and Money Matters from Suzanne Cramer at Straight Talk On Debt Lifestyle Inflation – What To […] Read more »

I Will Now Cease Any and All Complaining

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It was a 30 minute ride to and from the office during my two week stay in India, and since I wasn’t driving I had a lot of time to look at the scenery. I was surprised to see empty lots in the middle of a metropolitan area of millions of people. The driver told me that owners don’t want to leave their property empty for very long, or they’d end up with squatters which are almost impossible to get rid off. He pointed at just such an empty lot, which was dotted with small tin shacks covered with blue […] Read more »

I Love You Like a Blogger Roundup – 9/28

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It’s the last Friday in September. Whew! I don’t know about you, but it has been an action packed month. Four weeks ago, I was returning from my India business trip. Three weeks ago I was at #Fincon12. Two weeks ago I had gone to CareOne’s headquarters. After a recovery week, I’ve spent this past week playing catchup at work, and with my writing. We’re all busy, so I wouldn’t blame you a bit if you didn’t have time to check out all the financial blogosphere has to offer. But not to worry, that’s why I keep close tabs on […] Read more »