digitalBush

It's been a little while since I've pushed an update to my Masked Input Plugin for jQuery. I just released version 1.1.4 which is just a minor bugfix.

Steve Davis found and fixed a bug that would occur when the mask characters match the criteria of the first placeholder character(s). The mask characters would end up repeated as user input. Thanks to Steve for the fix!

I feel bad for this being my only post of this week, but I've been busy.  I've been busy putting up a chain link fence so that my dog can roam free in the back yard without me taking him out on a leash.  So, the fact that I've been busy doing this little project is fitting for this week's tip. 

I originally had a family friend in the fence business quote me to do the job.  The quote would up to be $900.  For no more fence than I was putting up, I just felt like it was too much.  After all, he had put up nearly triple that amount for us for less money only 5 years ago.  The cost of materials have just gone up that much. 

I went down the the local home improvement store and priced the materials and it turned out to be quite a bit less than his quote.  For $500, I could get everything I would need to complete the project.  Not too shabby.  I decided to take the plunge and do the fence myself.  Armed with some general direction from the Internet, I was able to complete the fence in a couple of weekends.  Not only do I get that warm, fuzzy feeling of accomplishment, but I managed to save $400!  To top it all off, I also got a good workout these past two weekends.

So, in summary:

1. Saved $400 in labor.
2. Built a quality fence. (no half-assing)
3. Feel good about what I did.
4. Got a good workout.
5. Dog can now roam free in the back yard.

Adding to last week's savings tip to use coupons, I want to discuss other ways to make your grocery trips lighter on your wallet.  I think the easiest place to start is by making a list of what you intend to get at the store.  This gives your trip purpose and focuses your energy towards completing the task that is grocery shopping.  Without a list, I wander around aimlessly trying to think of what would be good to eat.  I always end up buying things I already had at home or just didn't need.  This is also good for my weight loss goal because it keeps me from buying sweets. 

As an added bonus, I challenge you to take your grocery list making to the next level.  My wife has mapped out the grocery store and now makes the grocery lists in the order that we walk through the store.  At first I was skeptical, but it has made our trips much more efficient.  No more wandering, no more going back to the complete opposite side of the store because you missed something on your list, just efficient shopping hell bliss.  We get in and out without buying a bunch of crap we don't need. 

[Queue superhero theme song.] When there are bits and bytes to be wrangled into submission, I will be there.  If it uses electricity, it will yield to my hands.  There is no problem to strong to overcome my trusty tool belt armed with a compiler and debugger. I will solve the worlds greatest problems! [Graphic of computer blowing to pieces as I pound my fist through it.]

[Useless Office Employee] :Heard down the hall: Help! Help!  The copier won't work and I have 30 copies to make of my Tupperware party invitations for the office!  What will I ever do?

[Computer Scientist] *Ring*  Hello.

[Useless Office Employee] I have an emergency!  The copier won't work.  I need your help quick.

[Computer Scientist] Ummm.

[Useless Office Employee] If I don't get these important documents copied, the world is doomed!

[Computer Scientist] Well, I'm sure that the copier repair man could fix it, there is a number on the side of the copier for the service ...

[Useless Office Employee] ...I don't have time for that!  You went to school for this, just come down here and take a look.

[Computer Scientist] Actually, I didn't go to school for copiers, I'm a software devel...

[Useless Office Employee] ...A copier is just a big computer, come down here now.  It will only take you a minute to figure it out, I know it!

[Computer Scientist] Uh, alright.  I'll be down there in a second.

[Computer Scientist] *Pauses for a minute to calm down and ensure lunch doesn't make an encore appearance*  Ugh, I guess I should go see what the problem is.

[Useless Office Employee] :Heard down the hall: Argh!  What could be taking so long!

[Computer Scientist] *Grumble* What's seems to be the problem.

[Useless Office Employee] The copier won't work.

[Computer Scientist] Could you be more specific?  What's it doing?

[Useless Office Employee] I don't know! Just fix it!

[Computer Scientist] Well, it says here on the screen that it is out of paper.  Did you look at the screen?  **Really thinking: "You can read, right?"

[Useless Office Employee] Oh, that's not what it was doing a minute ago.  It was flashing lights and making funny noises!

[Computer Scientist] Sure, whatever.  Here, I'll put some paper in here for you.  That should fix it.  What is so important for you to need copied immediately anyway?

[Useless Office Employee] My Tupperware party invitations! Look at this flier I made online, isn't it sooooo cute?

[Computer Scientist] :Walks Away:

This has been another exciting tale of the computer scientist.  Tune in next time to see computer scientist take on such daring foes as the phone system, fluorescent lights, or his arch-nemesis the fax machine!

Continuing with the randomness that is this blog, I thought it would be fun to share some tips to save a little cash.  Times are getting tougher, so every bit helps.  I'd like to do this semi-regularly.  I'll try to do one a week until I run out of ideas.  After that, you'll just get them when I think of them.

I think a lot of people don't use coupons because it makes them feel cheap.  I know that was my reasoning for the longest time.  Put your pride aside and look to your local paper.  Ashley and I have started getting the Sunday paper for the coupons.  With the coupons we got this week we saved $4.  I know that might not seem like much, but over a year that comes out to $208.  Getting the Sunday only subscription of our paper costs us about $25 every 3 months. 

What important here is that you use the coupons to buy stuff that you would normally get.  It doesn't save you any money if you buy crap just because it's on sale.