When it comes to purchasing a major appliance, I had no idea. Most people are on that very same page until they make their first purchase.

Even still, major appliances are supposed to last long enough, such that in your lifetime, you really only have to buy a few, if any at all. So noone ever really becomes an expert in buying these appliances. Fortunately, we have the internet. We can browse ahead of time, look up how to find the suitable appliance with a given price range. RV and I like walking into the store too, so that we can see AND feel the appliance. Whether we end up buying it in-store or just making a purchase online, we’re as informed as we can be. There are no surprises on the surface. Everything else, you can’t prevent. Ultimately, the appliance we end up getting may or may not be PERFECT, but we’ve come as far as we can.

Here are some tips that’ll help get you end up with a pretty good deal [with examples from our washing machine shopping experience last night]:

1) Competitive pricing – Keep your web-enabled phones handy. Even though the washer that we were eyeing was no longer in stock [let me rephrase - THANK GOODNESS it was not in stock], we ended up with a pretty good deal on a better washer because a competitor had the same one at a significantly lower price. Combined with rebates and no delivery fee, SCORE.

2) Free delivery – Some stores charge an arm and a leg to deliver major appliances. If you’ve got the lowest competitive price, pick the store with the free delivery! No matter how strong you think you and your friends are, you’d rather have the store do all the grunt work. For anyone who has ever moved before, if carrying a couch or mattress is a pain in the rear end, imagine that very heavy stove or fridge! Yeah, no thanks. If you have a broken appliance that you’re replacing, some places will even haul them away for free. SCORE.

3) Rebates – Energy efficient appliances are pulling in the $ for us too. The washer we were originally looking at did not qualify for the rebate. Thankfully, the salesperson told us. SCORE.

4) Warranties – In terms of determining which appliance is worth a look at, check the amount of warranties that comes with the appliance. Usually, a longer warranty included in the price indicates that the company is willing to back up its product. Good sign. The washer we originally wanted only had a one year warranty. The washer we ended up with had a much longer one. PLUS, our sales person threw in an extra few years because we were an “easy sale.” SCORE.

With all those working out for us [taxes/rebates included], we ended up spending $50 less than what we would have paid for the SMALLER basic washer we were originally looking at. Online, the lowest price listed is ~$628. After everything, it will be less than $450.

With the extra savings, I ended up splurging on the sink of my choice. *happy dance*

Here’s another sneak peak at the house if you haven’t visited already.

One of the few “cons” to the house – an ugly kitchen.

Of course, it no longer looks like this. It functions as a kitchen, but I think it is also the source of a wiring problem in the house. We’ve had more than a handful of electrical trips over the last month. I’m hoping that gets resolved SOON. I LOVE gas stoves, so that was a saving grace, but we had to replace the one in the photo. For some reason, the digital part controlling the oven fell off, and you couldn’t tell what temperature or whether the oven was on or not. Not particularly safe. The fridge was a little on the small side, so we moved it downstairs for RV’s fishing supplies.

Anyway, RV’s having a blast, ripping it to shreds. In the meantime, we are either microwaving or eating at my parents’ house. All dishes are being done in the bathroom. The living room looks like the kitchen exploded all over it – dishes, pots, pans, appliances from the kitchen scattered about.

Spent night two here. The hum of the traffic is quite soothing. It keeps me in bed longer than I should be, but it’s so comfortable. If only I could sleep in more than once a week.

This is the living room that made me fall in love with this house. Seriously, the large sunny window and spacious living area [which is now FULL of stuff] made this house one to remember on my house hunting spree.

Tonight’s the first REAL night in the new house. We have stopped in every day to move stuff in, tear things out, or put stuff up. It’s an amazing learning experience – I found out that you can use a Lowes coupon at Home Depot and vice versa. SUPER USEFUL, considering we’ve made more trips to Home Depot and Lowes than I’ve ever made, and honestly, I’m sick of it.

We got an amazing deal on back splash tile, and we’re going to pick up some nice discounted floor tiles soon too. While I wanted to go for the bamboo floors, it was more than three times the price. This isn’t my dream home, so I don’t need to spend outrageous amounts on the floor. On my off day [thankfully granted by my supportive company], when I should be relaxing at home, I’ll be wading through cabinet styles and granite countertops while waiting for updates on potential appointments at the oral surgeon’s office. Surprisingly, the work we’re getting done will cost significantly less than originally estimated. We tell people we’re on a budget, but basically, the lowest possible $ amount is our budget.

All of RV’s stuff has been moved in. He’s got a lot, and we need to organize and throw stuff out. Mine will be slowly trickling in over the next few weeks. It’s funny how you can fill up an entire house with just a bedroom and a studio apartment as the starting point. MUST minimize! Even though the house is right off the freeway, the sounds are constant enough not to be noticed once asleep. It’s barely noticeable when you’re in the living room at the front of the house, and the doors to the bedrooms are shut.

Enjoying it so far. I’ll love it more when I’m all moved in, and everything is orderly and in its proper place. I’ll love it more when friends come over and celebrate!

088 – Move out of parents’ house.

There was really only one way to cross this item off my list. That would be by completing another item from my list :

070 – Buy another house.

The house closed earlier this month. I’ve not moved in as the place needs a bit of work. Plus, surgery has put my life on hold in some aspects. No more heavy lifting since I’ve lost all muscle. RV’s started moving his belongings over. He finished his lease early, so he would save on a few months of rent. The nice part is that his apartment will waive the penalty of one month’s rent [which isn't so bad to begin with] if he finds a replacement. Pretty sweet deal, considering the apartment manager already had someone in mind who will come by to check out his place this week.

In other news, since I’ve been on antibiotics this whole time, I’ve not been drinking. So that has allowed me to work on: 035 – No alcoholic beverages for two months of the year. and 037 – Do not eat out for two weeks twice a year. Considering that I’m only starting these now, I should really restrain for the next six months! For the record, no alcoholic beverages for one full month is nearly complete, and I haven’t eaten out for about the same time.

In all seriousness, the last week of December, I attended my 10-year high school reunion. It was as odd as I’d expected, but thanks to the wonderful world of social media, most appeared as I’d seen in photographs. So 087 – Attend 10-year high school reunion. is off the list.

I visited the oral surgeon this week, and I’m on the right track. I’m scheduled to have the bands replaced with removable bands in three weeks. THREE WEEKS! That’s a lot longer than I expected, but at the same time, it’s not without good reason. I have to be patient with the healing of the jaw. These things can’t be rushed. I’m off of the prescribed mouth rinse and most of my medications. The only one left is the antibiotics that I’m finishing up. I don’t hurt enough for me to take the pain medication regularly, so that’s good. I’m hoping these three weeks pass by quickly because five weeks is a long time to run on liquids. I’m getting hungrier by the day!

In terms of eating out, I really can’t. Even what I would normally consider to be liquid isn’t enough for me to drink out in public. Last night, we went to a Thai place for dinner. I’d already eaten, so it was more for RV. We ordered two dishes, so that he would have something for lunch the next day. So as not to appear suspicious, I filled up my plate, and when nobody was looking, we’d swap. So silly!

Oh, and thank goodness for health insurance! I received my itemized statement today. When I saw the total, ZOMG. Anyone want to take a guess on how much it was? I was in the operating room for seven hours, and anesthesia cost about 1/3 of the operating room.

Inspired by a friend’s 2009 recap post, I looked at my calendar and previous blog posts to jog the memory. I was going to include photos to spruce the entry up a bit, but nah, you’ll just have to read through all this blah-blah-blah to find out the news I’ve been withholding… Please ignore the fact that I switch from present to past to present and back again…

January
We rang in the new year with a party at RV’s and then a party at our friend Matt’s place. It was the start of another “busy season” at work, and I would be racking up the hours. Keane and I decide to get a family plan together, so we purchase our iPhones. I also decide to refurnish my room with a loft bed, so that I’d have more space. Months later, it just gave me more room to expand my mess. :p I also flew a kite for the first time after many attempts in the month.

February
Even though it was the shortest month, it was filled with a lot of activities. I attended three Yelp-sponsored events: Burn the Floor, Tru Spa, Project One. RV and I celebrated Valentine’s at the Top of the Mark, and I was inspired by the wetness outside to purchase rain boots. I didn’t receive them until the following month, but I have no idea where they are NOW. My room is a black hole.

March
Sunny days began, so I took advantage of weekends when I could. It was still “busy season” at work, and while it was busy now, we knew it wouldn’t last. I started talking to recruiters in March to explore possible opportunities for someone with my experience. I didn’t seriously start my search though until April after the lay-off.

April
Mid-April seems to be the turning point of 2009 for me. I was laid off from a job that I had gone into right out of school. For four years and nine months, that was really all I knew. So I continue talking to recruiters and started looking online for both jobs and a new apartment for RV. His lease would be up in June. We head down to LA for a weekend for an “alter ego” birthday party, as well as Korean taco truck chasing and the Death Museum.

May
RV signed a new apartment lease, and we began moving his stuff over. It’s much smaller, but the location is nicer, and he’s living alone. It’s more convenient for the two of us in that sense, and since it’s centrally located, we can hang out with friends more easily. During the month, I interview with various companies, and it’s a frustrating process. It seems that the companies look to hire someone with a little less or a little more experience than me, but never the right amount. When Keane mentions wanting to take a quick trip to Fort Bragg and Fort Ross [both places neither of us have visited], I jump on it. It turns into an amazing weekend.

June
Still unemployed. By this time, my severance has run out. To keep my head above water, I kept my calendar full. I planned RV’s surprise party, which thanks to friends, was a success. He was definitely scared – hah. I also put together a birthday party at a local wine bar. Later in the month, we took a weekend trip up to Fort Bragg where we went crabbing and fishing. This was sort of where his obsession with fishing started…

July
I helped plan a benefit for the SF Food Bank called Pig Eat Fest, and it is successful! Meanwhile, I’ve been going to my orthodontist and dentist regularly. My teeth are ready for scheduling surgery, but the hospital isn’t ready to schedule anything for me. Figuring out COBRA puts my head in knots, but I finally figure it out. RV and I decide to go to Burning Man this year, but we want to take RV’s dad’s RV. To do so, I join him on a road trip to Oregon in this RV, and it turns out to be a very frustrating week. RV’s father is not an easy man to coexist with. Somehow, I survive the week…

August
We began preparing for Burning Man. I also learned about the All You Can Jet in August, and because it’s a difficult offer to resist, I buy a pass. Of course, the month couldn’t end without a hitch, so I find out that my house in Portland has caught on fire. Luckily, the damages aren’t too bad, but still, I have to deal with an incompetent insurance agent and all that fun stuff.

September
Burning Man! It’s awesome and fun, and I want to go next year. Of course, right before the week, I’m called in for a last-minute interview. It went well, so I had follow-up interviews… All this went down while I’m getting ready for Burning Man, and as I head out for the first stretch of my All You Can Jet travel. I end up only going to one place because I’m offered a position with the company. It’s on a temp-to-perm contract. Meanwhile, my surgery was scheduled for early October, so I go to my surgery pre-op. I then find out that someone messed up, and my surgery has to be moved due to scheduling conflicts. Not happy.

October
Birthday month! I’m at the new job, getting used to it all. I attended a Kylie Minogue concert because a friend had extra tickets; we were in the very last row, which worked out because we ended up dancing the whole time anyway. As usual, I am frustrated with the oral surgeon’s office. I’m given a December date, which is fine, but they decide to try for a November surgery date, only to find out later that it won’t be possible either. So back to December! We spent Halloween resting up because I over partied the night before. Oops. It’s also in this month that a former coworker of mine asks for a place to stay. Since I live at home with my parents, I ask a friend from high school who agrees… Little did we know, getting her out would be an ordeal.

November
I spent Thanksgiving at RV’s mom’s. Fun parties all month long led up to it, including a Festizishow and a post-Thanksgiving meal with friends. CPA exam on the last day of the month, which I didn’t pass [Found out today - Ugh]. Plus, I started volunteering at the SPCA. The year has not been an easy one, but I am ever so thankful for all that I’ve got.

December
Unusually cold temperatures, so we’re all keeping warm. I’m a fan of the holiday parties with warm and tasty alcoholic beverages. I decide to ask for advice on the blog regarding the former coworker who won’t get her shit together and move out of my friend’s place. I passed the responses on to him, and I think she’s finally out of his place!

As for other news, I’m in the process of closing on a house that I bid on earlier in the month. There was little mention of it before because I didn’t want to jinx it. You heard it here first. I’m buying a house! There’s so much involved though – financial documents, insurance, appraisals, blah blah blah!

I also have surgery coming up in a week and a half. During the early Christmas party at RV’s mom’s place, she gifted me with a care package of Ensure and bendy straws. LOL.

Fingers are crossed that this will ALL go down smoothly. It looks like I’m going into 2010 head first. Or perhaps face first. Hopefully, I will have a new house AND a job that I can call permanent to go with it. This temporary status just isn’t enough!

I have been on the prowl lately.

There’s a house that’s caught my eye. It’s in a neighborhood not too far from the one I live in now, which for many people who want to live in San Francisco is a little out there. But I’m okay with that. If I want to afford a single family house in San Francisco, there will be sacrifices made on location, size, newness, etc. I’m currently working on getting pre-approved for a loan, and based on certain circumstances, bidding on the house will actually take place in court on some date still to be determined.

I will likely not get the winning bid, considering that it’s definitely of move-in condition and is starting out under $500K. For SF, that’s amazing for not being in a particularly bad neighborhood. I am hopeful, however, that I will find something eventually. I’m not in a rush, but it certainly doesn’t hurt to look around.

In other words, an update on the 101 in 1001:

017 – Finish taking Bar Method classes. Expires in September 2009!

Nope, this isn’t happening! I emailed them a few months prior to original expiration of July 2009, and they offered to extend the classes until September 2009. Very kind of them, but instead of making the most of them and attending all classes paid for, I call it a loss. Routine just doesn’t work for me when it comes to working out, no matter how I try. Yet I still try! The alternative to this is Pilates with Chase. I started today, and the odd machines are intriguing. I’ll report back when I see progress!

030 – Do a Daily Self Photo project for a year.

Rather than keep track via Flickr [got up to 50+, but lost interest and missed some days], I’ve switched over to DailyBooth. I get an email reminder daily about posting a photo, so it’s convenient. I stop what I’m doing, snap a photo on the phone, edit it a little with PS Mobile, and VOILA!

080 – Record every penny spent for a week.

In an effort to quell spending, I’m keeping track of it on a spreadsheet. I’m tired of credit card bills, which I manage to pay off on time, because they’re several hundreds more than what I should be spending. My sister has more saved up than I do, and I’ve been working longer. Clearly, I’m a bigger spender than she is. It’s not necessary spending, so it’ll get cut a bit. How else will I save for the house that I want to buy while the market’s gone kaput? I go on Roost daily to check out all the million dollar homes I can’t afford. So far, the goal of one week tracked has been accomplished. I’ll keep it up until I figure myself out.

That is all for now.

We all have our moments – some to build us up and others to tear us down. I felt like I was on a high just a week ago, planning trips across the country to visit friends after a spontaneous splurge [#AYCJ] and preparing for a week long adventure in Black Rock City. And then I was at an all-time low, wondering and worrying about an investment I’d made years ago. Money wasn’t the main concern because I had what I needed to make the proper payments. It was everything else – the stress of figuring out who to call, what the situation was, and where I’d gone wrong since taking care of the problem was not as easy as it should have been. It’s really a tale of two insurance companies, one that I will be working with in the future and the other that I would very much rather be done with.

It all started with a fire. Without the fire, I wouldn’t have come to the realization that I would even need to consider a different insurance agent. I was under the impression that the woman responsible for the policy was doing her job. For the past few years, we’ve had the same insurance agent on the property. We paid our bills through her, and this year was not anything different. My father called her up with a credit card number and went on vacation, assuming that she’d do her job and take care of the bill. I only found out a few days ago that the bill hadn’t been paid, we’d supposedly been sent cancellation notices [none of which were received], and therefore, were not covered by any policy. The bizarre part of all this was that in calling the agent to tell her about the fire for the first time, she recognized my father’s voice, asked what our policy number was, and then said she would get back to me. I ended up calling her again because having tried to file a claim online, I noticed that the policy was no longer active. She knew nothing about it and supposedly had to go investigate what the issue was. She claimed that we’d received payment notices, cancellation notices, and termination notices on varying dates from May through July. So why hadn’t she called us to ask what the deal was? Why hadn’t she checked in to see if we were choosing not to renew our policy with them? That’s lost commission there, isn’t it? Also if there was a cancellation notice, it would have been sent to the bank as well. There were no voiced concerns from the bank, as far as I know!

Over the course of the several years of business with her, we’ve asked for name changes and address changes. It took her a very long time to change the address, and she never changed the name or added a name to the policy. Any bills that would’ve been received at the house would have been addressed to my father, rather than to me. If I’d known about the bills and notices that were supposedly sent [or had the chance to register with the company online], payments would have been made, and none of this would have been as big of a headache. To make matters worse, she would keep diverting from the problem – putting me off, telling me to file a claim even though it probably wouldn’t even make a difference. It was a waste of my time.

Luckily, through all this, there have been a few positives:

First would be Advanced Construction, a random company I picked off Yelp. They were super kind and supportive, offering to take a look at the house on their break because I couldn’t really get to it from San Francisco. They gave me an estimate, described the damages to me, and gave me their expert opinion. I would’ve used their services had none of the insurance companies covered any of the costs. I wrote a review of them on Yelp: here.

Second would be the other insurance company involved. As part of a homeowners’ association, we are required to purchase a separate policy to cover everything else. And thankfully, the damages were outside of the house and fit into the description of what the other policy covered. In other words, *phew* – it was such good news when I spoke to the adjuster yesterday. I am in the process of getting another policy with them.

Third would be RV. While he couldn’t exactly solve the problem at hand, he was there with me while I was fuming about the insurance agent and the situation. He was there while I was crying out of frustration and annoyance. It wasn’t easy discussing the situation over the phone without wanting to break down into tears. I’m a little overemotional/sensitive like that. And also the other friends I’ve spouted off about the situation with. It helps to talk about it to figure out how best to go about it.

So yeah, I am done with them, at least through that particular agent. I have a one-star Yelp review ready, but I’m waiting until the repairs are done to post it. When I called the insurance company directly, everyone seemed open and willing to listen to the situation. There really wasn’t a solution that could be offered since the policy was no longer active. The adjuster that I finally ended up speaking to was very helpful though. He said that there was only one possibility at this point, and he said he’d be willing to help me get through it if I wanted to. It would involve investigating the error of the agent and would involve management level decisions on coverage. I told him that I’d let him know if the other insurance company wouldn’t cover the costs. I’m just happy to know that not everyone is as incompetent as the agent I had!

There was a 1.5-week period of worrying and wondering, but it is over.

Medical insurance coverage is back! Thank goodness. After a few phone calls to ADP, it looks like I am good to go. It was just a matter of talking to people. Once I waded through the options over the phone and got to a real live person, it all worked out. COBRA doesn’t activate until payment, so if you’re looking to take that route, you have to make payments right away. I wasn’t aware of that, but I moved quickly from that point forward. I will probably have to call the oral surgeon’s office to make sure all account information is up to date. You know, get that ball rolling once again. Dental insurance isn’t back yet, so I have a few more follow-up calls to make.