Happy 4th of July weekend, EOD Nation!  We don’t have any big plans for the weekend, although I definitely plan on firing up my grill to make some delicious food, and because……’Murica.   My son also has a friend coming to visit, so we’ll have a house guest for the week.  My wife and I instantly feel the need to start planning activities, but the look in our son’s eyes as we started discussing was priceless.  He wanted to hang out with his friend….not his friend and his parents  Time for us to take a step back.  LOL. Get your fists […] Read more »

Last weekend my wife and I were in Duluth, MN for me to run a 5K and a half marathon as part of Grandma’s Marathon weekend.  With that now behind us, it’s time to focus on summer projects.  First up is a leftover from last year:  re-staining the deck.  I stripped it of the old stain last year, but didn’t get to finishing the project.  So, we’ll be doing some light sanding and then putting a fresh coat of oil based stain on it.  If we paid someone to do it, it would cost over $700.   No Thanks.  I know […] Read more »

Race weekend is finally here! After months of training and hard work, I’ll be running a 5k this evening, and a half marathon tomorrow as part of Grandma’s Marathon weekend in Duluth, MN.  Vonnie and I traveled to Duluth yesterday and one thing is clear; captive audience prices apply.  Hotel room prices double for this weekend, and you have to stay two nights.  Souvenirs, food, you name it and the price has gone up, bute’re doing our best to stay on budget and have fun! Get your fists up to wish me luck….and for my favorite posts of the week! […] Read more »

Yesterday we said goodbye to another school year.   My wife and I are now the proud parents of a Senior and a Freshman.  Scary.  My wife, who works as a paraprofessional at an elementary school, is also now off for the summer.  The good news is, because the school district prorates her pay for 9 months of work over the full 12 month calendar year we still get her normal paycheck but she doesn’t have to go to the job.  You can imagine she’s just a little excited about that. On another personal note, today is my 20 year service […] Read more »

The Pizel Family has had a number of adventures over the last few months.  Trips to Florida and Texas, my daughter was confirmed, our annual Memorial Weekend party as well as other smaller events.  With all of that behind us, there’s just one thing out in front of us yet which is a trip to Duluth, MN in two weeks where I’ll be running a half-marathon.  But this weekend…..absolutely nothing.  I feel like hibernating in my home, and putting my very well used wallet into a locked safe.  Sound good to anyone else? Now, get those fists up for my […] Read more »

Next week is Memorial Day weekend, which also happens to be when Vonnie and I host an annual party.  It’s kind of a big deal, and takes quite a bit of planning…….and money.  We have a budget, but as we start to get closer to the date we tend to go into “screw tracking our spending, let’s just get through this.”  I’m hopeful not to do that this year. I’ve got all kinds of lists made with estimated prices.  Hopefully we can execute on those lists, and stay on budget! Now, get those fists in the air, it’s time for […] Read more »

My daughter gets confirmed next week, so we’re in paint, clean, organize, plan mode.  The biggest question at the moment is, will I have the time to throw something on the smoker to serve at her open house celebration, or will we go with the standard ham and turkey buns? Decisions, decisions…….while I contemplate that, check out my favorite posts of the week! Fist pump for confirmations, and the best posts of the week! Posts That Make Me Fist Pump Get Rich with a Frugal Lifestyle from Couple Money 5 Signs You’re In Debt Denial from Stefanie O’Connell 5 Statistics […] Read more »

Our house was built 12 years ago, and there’s some rooms that have never been repainted, including a lower level living room.  I’m taking today off, and my dad is staying with me for a few days to give it a nice fresh coat of paint.  I’m not the most skilled painter, but my dad is very experienced.  I’m looking forward to spending some time with my dad, picking up some great painting tips, and saving some money by doing the painting ourselves. Fist pump for a fresh coat of paint, and my favorite posts of the week! Posts That […] Read more »

May is going to be a busy, busy month. We’ve got a trip to Austin, Texas planned for a gaming tournament my son wants to go to.  Our daughter is getting confirmed, and we have our annual Memorial Weekend party.  So, I’m very much looking forward to the next couple of weekends of not doing much both physically AND monetarily. Fist pump for a quiet weekend, and exciting May, and my favorite posts of the week! Posts That Make Me Fist Pump Escaping the 30-Year Mortgage Trap from Club Thrifty 6 Ways to Save at the Grocery Store Without Coupons […] Read more »

Yesterday was my daughter’s birthday.  Since she turned 14, and it was the 14th of the month, it’s apparently called her golden birthday.  I had never heard of this until I met my wife, but I guess it’s a thing.  My wife planned a surprise party for her, having all her friends meet at Olive Garden (my daughter’s favorite restaurant). I brought her there under the impression it would just be a few family members.  She was very much surprised.  My daughter had been vocally worried that we were going to try to throw something together for her birthday at […] Read more »

Greetings from the road to Florida!  I’m writing this in a hotel room in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois as my family and I make our way to Florida for a much needed family vacation.  We’re looking forward to having a week of fun in the sun, while still being budget minded. Here’s to vacations, and to my favorite posts of the week!   Posts That Make Me Fist Pump How To Budget Successfully as a Couple from Couple Money Five Ways You are Secretly Overspending from Master The Art Of Saving The True Cost of Wasting Money on Getting Wasted from Blonde […] Read more »

Yesterday I woke up to 10.5 inches of snow on the ground from a late season snowstorm.  Although I once wrote a post hailing the money saving simplicity of using a shovel, I fired up my snowblower and made quick work of the pile of snow on my driveway.  What made it even sweeter?  The fact that my snowblower was given to me for FREE.  My father gave it to me as it was old (they’ve had it since I was in 7th grade, which makes it….gulp….30 years old!) and very heavy.  He purchased a newer, lighter version that was […] Read more »

Welcome to the weekend, EOD Nation!  This is the weekend where I put my 2015 taxes behind me.  I’ve already gathered all the information needed, and purchased/installed the software on my computer.  At this point it’s just a matter of plugging in the information and filing.  With taxes out of the way, I can focus on our vacation to Florida in two weeks! Fist pump for getting taxes done, vacation, AND my favorite posts of the week – including a shameless plug to my latest BBQ post! Posts That Make Me Fist Pump I Can’t Pay My Taxes: What Should […] Read more »