Cheddarblog

Thanks to a cooler April this year and shelling out for some window screen inserts, the Swiss_Mouse reduced his electricity consumption by 10% this month. 10.73% to be exact. Maybe switching to Compact Fluorescent bulbs helped too.
Who knows? The Swiss_Mouse continues to track his electricity spending. May should prove very interesting.
In […]

[Read more →]

The Swiss_Mouse and Mrs Swiss_Mouse sat down the other day and tried to figure a way to save 10% on their grocery purchases.  We of course keep cheese in the budget, but eliminated some items.
One item was Slimfast.  The Swiss_Mice used to use it NOT to lose weight, but as a time saving breakfast!  BUT,  […]

[Read more →]

The Swiss_Mouse finally got around to doing his taxes.
The Swiss_Mouse while Swiss at heart is 100% American.  He doesn’t mind paying his fair share.  FAIR SHARE of taxes.  But that is a rant for another time.
The Swiss_Mouse sat down over the last week with his copy of H&R Block TaxCut Premium + State.  Now […]

[Read more →]

The Swiss_Mouse just finished a “Biggest Loser” contest at work.  While there are many losers at the Mouse’s place of employ and it is so hard to tell who is the biggest one, this was a contest for weight loss.
Not weight loss exactly, but body fat loss.
NOW ignoring the fact that the scales were screwed […]

[Read more →]

Technically 3.47% for electric bill for February.
As mentioned in a previous email, the Swiss_Mouse switched all of his flood lights and regular bulbs to Compact Fluorescent bulbs.
One of the bulbs did burn out after just one week.
Was this reduction a fluke or true savings?  Only the next few months will tell. However the dollar amount […]

[Read more →]

The Swiss_Mouse often heads out to the Cheesecake Factory or a fondue restaurant to snack and relax.
He always uses his CapitalOne card in order to get his No Hassle Miles.
As an added bonus, he has that card linked to UPromise, so if it is a participating restaurant, the mouselings will get a tidbit of college […]

[Read more →]

HOLY COW!
The Swiss_Mouse got his January statement from Fidelity today.  It has his IRA, Rollover IRA and UTMA accounts.  Or it did.
The numbers were HORRID.  His numbers were lower than Britney Spear’s self-esteem.
Seriously, the Swiss_Mouse has rarely ever seen such negative numbers.  Down 7.77% in one month.  BUT luckily the Swiss_Mouse made 93 cents this […]

[Read more →]

So giving back Americans $1500 is suppose to “jump start the economy”?
Boy does this p.o. the Swiss_Mouse.
First off, even people who pay NO TAXES are getting back $300! WHAT IS UP WITH THAT? TOO damn bad. The Swiss_Mouse doesn’t care if it’s unfair. If you didn’t pay in, you shouldn’t be […]

[Read more →]

Years ago the Swiss_Mouse and Mrs. Swiss_Mouse bought insurance from Prudential.  We were young and the cheddar was flowing.
Not knowing much about insurance, we asked family members for advise.  Looking back..oh my.
Dear 1990’s Swiss_Mouse,
Do not listen to the in-laws.
Sincerely,
2000’s Swiss_Mouse
We purchase policies through the agent that sold to Mrs. Swiss_Mouse’s family.  The Swiss_Mouse realized a […]

[Read more →]

The Swiss_Mouse has completely converted all his bulbs over to CFL lights.
Almost all.  All floods and regular lights.  Only dimmable lights and decorative bulbs are not converted.  Sure, it’s dimmer at first than it used to be, and no warning is on the package that you will stub your toes over and over again until […]

[Read more →]