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Archive through October 23, 2008

Reality TVClubHouse Discussions: General Discussions ARCHIVES: Oct. 2008 - Dec. 2008: The only Dumb question is the one not asked (Q&A): Archive through October 23, 2008 users admin

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Grumpy
Member

02-08-2004

Wednesday, October 22, 2008 - 4:49 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Grumpy a private message Print Post    
Yeah. Homemade is better tasting too. I like the old fashioned kind that you bring to a boil on the stove. I can always save a bit in the pan to lick after serving up the dishes.

Twinkie
Member

09-24-2002

Wednesday, October 22, 2008 - 5:06 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Twinkie a private message Print Post    
I love the cooked kind that forms that skin on top. Oh YUMMMMMY!

Grumpy
Member

02-08-2004

Wednesday, October 22, 2008 - 5:10 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Grumpy a private message Print Post    
Oh Yeah! That is my favorite, the skin!!

Mameblanche
Member

08-24-2002

Wednesday, October 22, 2008 - 5:35 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mameblanche a private message Print Post    
Grumpy, I'm enjoying your enjoyment and excitement with your new toy. Grin. But I think I should point out that for TVCH clubhouse purposes regarding photographs .jpg & .png are okay but .bmp are not. I noticed that you tried to post a .bmp pic in Who's folder. No such luck. Unless you can convert it to a .jpg or .png

Serate
Member

08-21-2001

Wednesday, October 22, 2008 - 5:57 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Serate a private message Print Post    
When I make homemade pudding I take hubby's out then throw a little more flour in and cook a tad bit more. Makes yummy little chocolate dumpling thingys.

ETA: Only make the dumpling thingys in the pudding you are going to eat warm. Doesn't taste as well after it cools.

Kitt
Member

09-06-2000

Wednesday, October 22, 2008 - 6:43 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kitt a private message Print Post    
What's homemade pudding? Is it the same texture as the bought pots?

Grumpy
Member

02-08-2004

Wednesday, October 22, 2008 - 6:50 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Grumpy a private message Print Post    
Mame, yeah I was seeing if I could get irfanview to work. nuh uh Didnt happen. So Im gonna take it off my comp and use the one that works. That is also why Who was my guinea piggy.

Seamonkey
Moderator

09-07-2000

Wednesday, October 22, 2008 - 6:54 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Seamonkey a private message Print Post    
That one about milk in a sack.. I don't buy milk, but I always wonder about anything that has a built in handle being bagged/sacked. My shower was backing up and I went and bought about 10 or 12 gallon jugs of cheap bleach .. jugs with handles. I was still putting stuff on the conveyor belt and looked up and the bagger was putting each jug in a separate plastic bag! And that was after I put only one jug up there for them to scan and told them about the others.. she was taking them OUT of the cart to bag them. ACK!

I haven't been too successful remembering to bring in the canvas bags I do have and one time when I had them and put them up with my purchases, they somehow grabbed them and used them for the person before me!! I complained and the manager came over and I suggested that then replace them, since I had bought them at that store and they did, but they really do resist the use of those bags.

Merrysea
Moderator

08-13-2004

Wednesday, October 22, 2008 - 7:08 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Merrysea a private message Print Post    
Yeah, my youngest son works at Safeway, and he hates using those canvas bags because they don't stay open, so it takes longer to bag the groceries.

Couchtomato
Member

09-09-2008

Wednesday, October 22, 2008 - 7:25 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Couchtomato a private message Print Post    
I never used to have my milk bagged until I bought one that had a pinhole in it and leaked all over my car seat by the time I got home! I also make sure all lids are tight before anything goes into the trunk.

Serate
Member

08-21-2001

Wednesday, October 22, 2008 - 8:29 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Serate a private message Print Post    
What's homemade pudding? Is it the same texture as the bought pots?

It's kind of liked non-instant Jello pudding that you have to cook yourself. Milk, sugar, flour, cocoa, vanilla. It's a different texture, maybe softer? Can't explain it. I like store bought and Jello brand, but I like homemade best.

Serate
Member

08-21-2001

Wednesday, October 22, 2008 - 8:32 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Serate a private message Print Post    
HyVee just opened their new store and gave away the canvas bags, nice sized ones. And for every bag you use you get $0.05 refund. Sackers actually ask you if you have any bags or would like to purchase any.

Oldtex
Member

03-06-2006

Wednesday, October 22, 2008 - 8:56 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Oldtex a private message Print Post    
Couch, same thing (pin hole in bottom) to me BUT it was a bottle of bleach. Got home and unloaded groceries and the bleach. Big bleached out circle in my red carpet floor mat. Put bleach bottle in a plastic bucket, went back to grocery store, and was told some "person" had gone down the bleach isle and "pinned" several bottles.

The store was extremely nice and bought (from the car dealership) a brand new floor mat for me. No hassle whatsoever. Now when buying any plastic bottle, I rub my hand across the bottom and also have them put it in a plastic bag. I then recycle my plastic bags. May be a bit of a hassle and not so eco-friendly, but it does protect my hard earned property.

Kitt
Member

09-06-2000

Wednesday, October 22, 2008 - 10:17 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kitt a private message Print Post    
Thanks, Serate, I might look up the recipe for that, I didn't know it existed!

Rissa
Member

03-20-2006

Thursday, October 23, 2008 - 5:42 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Rissa a private message Print Post    
Our local grocery store not only encourages the canvas bags, they insist on it. LOL They do not have any plastic bags available for free or sale. If you do not bring in your own canvas bags or a bin then you cart your groceries out in the shopping cart as is. I don't mind except when I forget the bags in the car (often) and end up standing in the parking lot unloading my cart into the canvas bags in my trunk. :-)Our other grocery store gives you $.05 cents off your every plastic bag you don't use.

Oldtex, I had a leaky bottle of pool chlorine that bleached a spot in my one week old vehicle as well. Great that your store replaced it, I am living with mine. LOL

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Thursday, October 23, 2008 - 9:24 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
Some people want jugs with handles bagged anyways. It's easier to carry... you can loop several bags over your arm or grab the handles and carry several items at once. If you live in a condo or place where it's easier to carry everything all at once, rather than making several trips downstairs and up again, handles are a life saver!

Whole Foods no longer uses plastic bags. Trader Joe's will give you a plastic bag if you want but usually only offer paper.

Ralph's gives you a dime off (I think) for every self-bag you bring in.

The "cooked" pudding always tastes better than the "instant" kind. It's really just a custard, and it's easy to make from scratch. I don't know what it is, but I can tell the diff between cooked and instant. Personally, I think it's worth the few extra minutes to make (although I don't make it very often!).

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Thursday, October 23, 2008 - 10:07 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
New Question: A while back there was a discussion on medical insurance (probably in the news and views area?) A few people were talking about putting money into an account and having an atm type card to use on medical expenses through the year.

It's time for us to refill out all our insurance stuff (think it has to be done by the 29th or 30th) and Darren's company is now offering this plan on top of our regular medical/dental insurance. A certain amount of money (say $50 a paycheck) goes into the account, at the begining of the year we get the atm type card and can use it.

Actually, I have more than one question. For those who are already doing this...do you like it? I know we can use it for otc meds and the dentist, but what if I need a new wrist brace or Kota a new nebulizer (for her asthma) or one of us needs new glasses? Can we use it for co-pays? And, is it hard to spend say, $1,200 (the minimum we can put into the account?)

I'm guessing to the last question the answers probably no, it's not hard to spend. However, if we can't use it for co-pays for drs appts and prescription (where most of our money goes for medical stuff) it might be hard to use it all. My concern is we'll put this money away and have trouble using it all and end up losing some.

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Thursday, October 23, 2008 - 10:26 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
These are questions you should be asking your group administrator. And they should give you a form to use to calculate out whether it's worth it to get an HSA account or not.

Some things to note...
1. You (usually) can have only one (FSA or HSA).

2. You will pay "regular" prices for office visits and the like, until you reach your maximum. And then it should be no charge, depending on your plan.

3. Vision is usually covered under a different plan. I don't know if your HSA covers vision.

Again, check with your administrator. All of those questions may differ depending on the plan.

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Thursday, October 23, 2008 - 10:46 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
Yeah, I'd love to talk to the group admin, but it's through Darren's co and I don't see those folks. And he didn't bring home the paper work for it.

Now I'm totally confused though cuz he was talking about it like this would be on top of our regular medical insurance. I'm going to have to send him an email with questions to go talk to the woman.

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Thursday, October 23, 2008 - 10:52 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
War, as Darren's wife, you can call his HR person (or email) and they can answer all of your questions.

Scooterrific
Member

07-08-2005

Thursday, October 23, 2008 - 10:53 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Scooterrific a private message Print Post    
Ok WG...It's a Section 125 cafeteria plan. It is a great savings on taxes. A nebulizer and wrist brace would be covered, copays as well ... and glasses too.

Kitt
Member

09-06-2000

Thursday, October 23, 2008 - 10:54 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kitt a private message Print Post    
We had an HSA plan for a while and liked it. At the time we didn't have many medical expenses and the employer contributed half of the deductible (and of course the premiums are much less) so for us overall we saved a lot. However, things to note:

For most costs the "copay" doesn't exist. So a prescription is no longer $5, it's whatever the negotiated cost is. My dh takes a generic statin drug, and depending on where we got it, it cost us between about $27 and $40 for a 30 day supply. And that's a generic - if you take something less common that could cost a whole lot more. If you go to see a doctor they'll probably charge you between $60 and $100 a visit. A visit to a specialist could be double that. You pay ALL that cost, at the time of service (unless they let you wait for the bill).

Only once you've met your deductible will you go back to paying co-pays or smaller amounts (and you'd have to check your particular plan for details on that).

Also, there's a difference in concept between what you can spend your HSA funds on, and how soon your deductible is used up. You can spend your HSA funds (without incurring tax) on anything that is allowed by the IRS as a deductible medical expense. So dentist costs, glasses, bottles of aspirin, can all be paid for out of your HSA account. HOWEVER only items which are part of your medical insurance plan will count towards the DEDUCTIBLE, and you have to meet your deductible before you get into that zone where you don't pay the full (negotiated) cost of the medical visit.

It's a big shock to the system to pay full costs at the time of service, but once you get over that it can often save you money overall because premiums are lower, often the employer contributes a significant part of your deductible, and the out-of-pocket maximums are often lower than regular plans. But you'll want to look carefully into your plan details to check how it will work with your plan and your circumstances.

Kitt
Member

09-06-2000

Thursday, October 23, 2008 - 10:57 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kitt a private message Print Post    
War, his company should have given you some bumpf on this, it's a big change in concept and there would have been literature offered to the employees. Make sure he finds it for you!

And it wouldn't be ON TOP of your regular insurance, it would CHANGE your insurance plan to this new high deductible plan.

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Thursday, October 23, 2008 - 11:17 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
Right. You would not have your regular insurance with co-pays and cheap meds. I picked up an antibiotic yesterday ($4.00 is what I paid). If I'd been on an HSA and hadn't yet met my deductible, it would've been $167.00). And if vision and dental are provided benefits, then I believe there is a limit as to what you can use your HSA funds for. The monthly premium may be less, but you have to figure that you'll be paying higher amounts until you hit that deductible.

Again, there should be a form to fill out that allows you to analyze if the HSA is a more cost efficient way to go.

And Scoots. A Section 125 is FSA not HSA. They are two different types of plans being offered these days. An FSA is a flexible spending account, and yes, you can use those dollars towards co-pays, over the counter meds, and so on, and the dollars don't roll over into the next year. An HSA is a Health Savings Account which is basically a high-deductible, low-premium medical plan, and unused dollars do roll over. There are pros and cons for each and deciding which one to use is a personal decision.

Scooterrific
Member

07-08-2005

Thursday, October 23, 2008 - 11:34 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Scooterrific a private message Print Post    
I didn't see HSA specified and the description WG provided sounded more like an FSA....sorry my bad :-)