Author Archives: Money Reasons

About Money Reasons

A offbeat personal finance blogger that comes from the tech world.

Christmas Dinner Tradition 2011

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Every year in December, we (my wife, kids and I) take out annual Christmas Dinner Tradition  trip to our favorite Christmastime restaurant: the 356th Fighter Group.

356th Fighter Group Restaurant

356th Fighter Group Restaurant

 

It’s a very original looking restaurant with a stucco exterior with chunks missing exposing the underlying bricks.  This creates the illusion that the building has weathered some hardships during a war.  Actually thinking clearly, this has to be one of the best theme-oriented restaurants that I’ve even been to.

Why this restaurant is our traditional Christmas Dinner Restaurant?

Much of it has to do with my childhood.  My family didn’t go out to eat much when I was a kids, but when my Aunt and Uncle from Delaware came over to visit, they treated us all to dinner.  My uncle had been to a restaurant similar to the 356th restaurant, and suggested that we go there.  At first I didn’t want to go (I think I was 8 or 9 years old), not really feeling comfortable going out to eat, since we didn’t do that much in my childhood.  But once my parents put their foot down, off I went.

The first unique feature of the restaurant I noticed as a kid was the parking lot had all of these old beat-up wartime vehicles, much like what they would have looked like if they were still active.

356th Fighter Group Parking lot

 

The things that really sold me on making this a Christmas Tradition was the fact that my kids got to watch the airplanes take off and land because the restaurant is beside an airport, and the cool headphones that you could listen to and hear the air traffic control center.  It was always neat to hear the air traffic controllers instruct the planes.  In the present though, the restaurant removed the headphones and stopped the listening to the air traffic controller communications though (perhaps because of security?).

The Restaurant Decor

The decor inside is as good as the exterior!  The restaurants have pieces of planes mounted to the ceiling, and tons of pictures from the war with the various captains and other such things from the past.  It’s like a different world!

356th fighter group sand bags

daughter with sand bags above

 

 

Not a very Frugal Christmas Dinner Tradition

Unlike many of the articles that I have written in the past, this is not a frugal experience.  The prices average over $20 per entrée, and while this isn’t horrible, it’s not cheap either.

When my wife and I were younger, we had a good time going to this restaurant, but I have to admit, I always would cringe once we got the bill.  Now that we have kids and are older, the prices seem more affordable.  I no longer cringe upon receiving the bill and overall enjoy the experience much better than I use to.

Our 2011 Christmas Tradition Dinner Experience

Snow would have been nice, but the drive on the way down to the restaurant, in the rain, while listening to Christmas music, was still enjoyable.  Even though it’s much more enjoyable seeing the planes take off with snow floating down from the sky, it was still pretty awesome and the kids seemed to enjoy it.

This year the restaurant had a musician perform.  He was a solo act, but was a good singer and played the piano very well!  It was a nice surprise.

So while the weather didn’t really add to the enjoyment, it was still a great experiences (as usual).

Happy Holidays,

MR

Frugally Surviving The 2012 Apocalypse

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This article is motivated by the various television shows that I have been watching these past few days.

Asteroid

Let me first say that I don’t really think 2012 is magically going to be the year that the world characteristics change in such a way that the human species will no longer be at the top of the food chain.

The largest source being referenced as being the “End of the World” proof is the Mayan Calendar.  So how many times have you looked at your calendar and thought to yourself “Oh, it must be the end of the world next year, because the calendar I have doesn’t go beyond that date?  Did I mention that the Mayan Calendar is carved into stone?

So in a nutshell, the primary source for a 2012 Apocalypse is the calendar created by ancient people who use to make sacrifices to a feathered snake god?  Now I’m not saying that the Mayans weren’t intelligent people, but still, it’s not like they said that the end date of their calendar would be the end of the world.  Yes, a very unusual alignment of the planets, but not necessarily an apocalypse…

Frugally Surviving The 2012 Apocalypse

Okay, now lets say that I have failed to ease your mind about the Mayan’s predicting (which there is no real document to say they have made a prediction) that in 2012, an apocalypse will happen.  Or perhaps you have another reason for believing that in 2012, something bad will happen (bird flu strain, the nuclear issue, killer asteroid, etc) and the human race will have hardships for a few years…

Well if you believe that the human race will have hardships for a few years, then this article was written for you!

I believe if we grow our own food next year and “can” it for storage, such a practice would be both beneficial from a 2012 apocalypse route and a great way to save money too!  An additional benefit would be the learning experience and the fact that you were able to become more self-sufficient.

Another thing I would like to do next year is going skeet shooting with my son.  Having a shotgun can run as a dual purpose functionality too.  It can be a recreational device, but it can also serve as a home defense tool too!  I might just get me a shotgun to go skeet shooting at first since my son is only 11.  Next, I’ll learn how to shoot well, and then teach my son too.

Well, there you have my frugal techniques to halfheartedly prepare for any 2012 Apocalypse…

Any additional frugal ideas to combat the high price of the items needed for a 2012 apocalypse?

Cheers,

MR

Will Buying A Laptop For Christmas Make My Son A Digerati?

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Last month, I wrote an article called: For Christmas, My Eleven Year Old Son Wants a Laptop!

In this article, I revealed that my son wanted a laptop for Christmas.  I honestly thought I was going to get a response in the comment section where I would hear that he’s too young and that it would be a waste of money to buy him one this early…  boy was I wrong!

Young Digerati?

Young Digerati?

Exposure to Technology

I remember hearing talk about the digerati and how they would have a much larger role on society.  But 10 years ago, the technology was a joke and expensive too.  I remember when the palm pilot and blackberry’s first came out.  With the Palm Pilot and their “pda – personal digital assistant” technology, I decided to pass!  To me a good old paper notebook and pencil/pen was much more efficient and tons more cheaper.

Now times have changed!  Back then just the well-off crowd could afford the technology, but now it’s cheap enough and easy enough to use that almost anyone can access one form of the technology or another.  Even the very cheap “notebooks” are worth the money, if you don’t have gaming demands.

Rise of the Digerati

Just 10 short year ago, the technology as either too expensive or too underpowered to do anything really cool with it.  My how times have changed!  There are so many options and at such reasonable prices that I have a hard time resisting making Technology purchases myself.  I’m even going to buy a Republic Wireless hybrid phone once they come out!  The tablets that are out with the Android operating system all seem to be a great value.  Obviously the Apple iPad is a hit and incredible device too.

I consider myself a part of the Digerati crowd, but I’m not really in as tightly since I don’t have any of the really cool tech tools of the trade like most of the members of the Digerati have.  In some ways, since my son has an iPod Touch already, he’s more of a Digerati than I am.  Not to mention that he has his own blog called EntertainmentTimez.com.

Having a laptop will enable my son to blog more often and much quicker than he can on his iPod Touch.  I was shocked when I actually saw him writing his article on his iPod Touch… I almost laughed…

I was pushing for him to get a tablet, but he wasn’t interested in them yet, and to be honest, his iPod Touch and Cell Phone makes him pretty tech heavy already.

The Laptop

I didn’t want to spend a lot on a laptop for my son, but I didn’t want to buy him a netbook either (especially since he plays online games).  So I bought a laptop deal from Best Buy that seems like a good buy!  It was a $375 laptop from Samsung with 4 CPU cores, 4 Mbs of RAM, 500 GB hard drive.

 

Laptop

Laptop

This laptop is just another addition to help him become more technologically savvy.

Thanks everybody that commented in my original post about my son wanting a laptop.

I hope he enjoys it!

Thanks,

Don

 

Fun With Investing – Take the Money Pros Index Fund Challenge

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Sometimes investing can be boring…, so how about spicing it up by a friendly competition against the Money Pros Index Fund Challenge members?

Money Pros Index Fund Challenge

Money Pros Index Fund Challenge

Here’s how it works:

  1. PICK 3 STOCKS you think will perform the best in 2012
  2. SIGN-UP on the Money Pros Index Fund Challenge registration form – before the first trading day of 2012!
  3. FOLLOW your progress, and see if you can make the leaderboard

This will be the 1st year of the challenge so it should be both a fun and interesting experience!!!

Some unique features of the challenge are that the stocks prices are updated at least daily.  So you can check to see how your picks are performing.  The picks performance should be accurate as of that day’s prices (give or take 20 minutes).

Since this is the first year of the challenge the look and feel may change throughout the year for the better.

 

Why Participate?

  • Bragging rights!  Most, if not all of the members dabble in stocks and other investments.  Would it be cool to outrank the members in the index?
  • Potential exposure to interesting new stocks.  Most of the picks should be interesting to say the least.
  • It’s a great way to track the performance of your three favorite stocks throughout the year.  Since once the picks are in, they are frozen.
  • Be a Charter member of the program.  While we’re still working out all of the final details, we may have a hall of fame record of who placed first for the year.
  • Cool place to visit!  It’ll be dynamic, so make sure you sign up!

We hope you join and enjoy the challenge, I’m sure we will.

MR