Money Money Money

First, some good money things:

• I was looking at my credit card account (the one I got that I used to buy the appliances with a while back) and saw that there was $135 waiting for me in the rewards section.  Seems this was a cash rewards kind of credit card (which I didn't really know much about or expect) and that was my cash reward for all of the purchases I made on it!  Yippee.  Instead of cashing it out, I will charge the tickets for our Seattle trip then put this extra, unexpected money towards paying it off.  I'm beginning to think that maybe I should use this credit card for all of our monthly spending then pay it off at the end of each month while racking up cash rewards.  The only problem is that I seem to spend more money when I use the card instead of cash so there is that.
• One of hubby's bowling friends heard that I knew something about computers so he asked if I could set up his printer and router which I did last week.  He offered to pay me at the time and I said no, I just like to help people out and not to worry about it.  After bowling yesterday he and his wife insisted that we go to lunch with them...at a seafood place...where each entree was $30+.  They didn't have to do that but it was a nice lunch and since we never spend that much on a meal (and the days of my expense account lunches are long over) it was a nice surprise.  
• I finished up processing for my WSOP job and since I worked last year they were very nice about offering me whatever work I wanted.  I got to choose my shift (days), whether I wanted full or part time (full), where I wanted to work (a super busy, low dollar cash cage instead of the slower cage where you are counting out $10,000 per transaction...and doing all of the paperwork associated with such a large transaction) and they even asked me what days I wanted off or if I wanted any special days off like 4th of July (I told them every day was pretty much the same when you are retired so they could work me every single day if they wanted to).  tldr; I want to rack up the cash for our fall trip to Europe and this seems like the best way to do it!

Some great links (about money of course):

• How to build a 400 square foot solar cabin for $2000 (I would LOVE to do this!)
• How a 21 day financial fast saved me tons (always a great way to save money)
• Google search for flights (I use this more than Travelocity now...it's great!)
• How to retire early with 13 kids (love articles like this!)

And some other stuff:

• I am looking at crossing off two more of my annual goals--meet up with my family and go to San Francisco--in April.  It is just HOW to do this the cheapest way possible that is the issue.  (Hubby is the other issue, he says he is on vacation everyday so why go anywhere...ugh).  So I have looked at every possible trip configuration--from Megabus to Amtrak to flying to driving--and still haven't decided.  Driving is the cheapest way to go but neither of us wants to sit that long.  Megabus to LA then to San Francisco then flying to Seattle and taking the Amtrak to Portland is another option.  Just flying is the more expensive option because we would have to fly to San Francisco then to Portland then to Seattle then back home and would need a rental car in Portland.  Then we would need hotels at each place plus meals out plus dragging hubby about with me then dealing with my dysfunctional family on top of that...and I can see why hubby would rather just stay home.  Buy I have a couple of elderly aunts that were so thrilled that I set up a family reunion for the first time in 30 years last year that I don't want to disappoint them.  So I will work something out...