After visiting a handful of college campuses, my son selected his first choice.  My wife and I helped him fill out, and submit his college application.  I told him my wish was for him to graduate from college and start his adult life debt free.  Even if  that means taking out student loans but my wife and I paying them back for him,  starting his life with a clean slate is something that I really want for him.  Something tells me there’s going to be a lot of articles here on EOD about student loans and saving money while in […] Read more »

Yesterday my wife and I took our son on his first college visit to a nearby campus that he is interested in.  He got his first look at what a college campus looks like, including a dorm room.  After the tour, there was a presentation which included a ton of information about the college, including the average cost per year.  I knew college was expensive, and the number wasn’t unexpected, but with my son entering his senior year of high school the reality of it all hit me pretty hard.  Helping our kids through college is going to be a […] Read more »

Walking through the aisle at Walmart, my head snapped as if I had been slapped in the face.  What in the world are school supplies doing out already?  Summer is just getting rolling, isn’t it?  The calendar tells me otherwise. Which means it’s time to start setting aside funds for back to school supplies and clothes.   We’ve got a few weeks to stockpile some cash, but it’s going to come quickly. Are you ready for the coming school year? I don’t know if I can fist pump for the coming school year, but I sure can for my favorite posts […] Read more »

Happy Friday, EOD Nation!  Not only is it Friday, but it’s pay day.  My wife and I have fallen off the cash only weekends bandwagon, and we’ve decided that we’re jumping back on THIS WEEK.  Therefore, I’m heading to the ATM to withdraw this weekend’s spending money.  I’m excited to get back to what makes us most successful in handling our finances….here we go! Fist pump for cash only! Posts That Make Me Fist Pump How to Balance Your Checking Account from Couple Money What I Lose When I Bring My Lunch to Work from Frugal Rules Being Rich Eliminates […] Read more »

I hope everyone had a great 4th of July!  My family’s big plans consisted of……well…..not much.  We picked up a friend of my son’s at the airport and went to the Mall Of America indoor theme park (using all day wristbands that I got for over half off through my employer…SCORE!).  Then we came home, grilled, and watched our city’s fireworks from a hill in a park behind our house.  They were kind of far away, but there were also plenty of people around us that were shooting off fireworks, and we enjoyed them all.  Cheap theme park wristbands, and […] Read more »

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 »