Finances & Money

Weekly Roundup: Expensive Chocolate and Ethiopian Food Edition

Stacie and I decided to head down to Georgetown to our favorite Ethiopian restaurant Sunday, Zed’s. It was the first place we had Ethiopian food, and we’ve always liked going there because it’s in a vibrant area (M Street), it’s clean, and the food is just spicy and sweet enough to please our tastebuds. But in the last few years, we’ve found other places with similar (and cheaper) food, and with equally pleasant (or nicer) ambience. One of these places is Langano in Silver Spring, MD.

After getting the bill at Zed’s, we decided it’s now out of our price range. Over the last few years, they’ve bumped up their prices to $15-20 per entree level, while other places cost more like $12-15. As we were leaving, we saw the owner (Zed) pass us on the sidewalk. I was going to tell her they’ve gotten too pricey, but since we have other options now, I decided to leave her alone.

While strolling down M Street near Georgetown University, we stopped at a little chocolate store because there was a sign for free chocolate-dipped blueberry samples at the door. While inside, I tried a sample of a chocolate truffle. Rather than ask how much it cost, I figured I would just order a quarter-pound. I thought it was odd that he didn’t weigh the container; instead he counted out pieces. He boxed it all up and passed it to the cashier. The price: $8.00. Oops. Stacie informed me later that the price sign (which I didn’t see) said they were over $1 EACH! He did give me about 10 pieces, so I think he felt sorry for me, knowing I was stupid, but I feel so dumb for spending so much on chocolate that I don’t think was worth it.

Lessons learned: 1) Ask for the price. 2) Don’t have so much guilt, shame or pride that you don’t ask to put the merchandise back and forego the purchase. I had the “rich boy” mentality because I was with all the other big spenders in Georgetown, so I didn’t want to look cheap. I don’t know why because I’m not ever going back to this shop and there were no other shoppers in there (and I wouldn’t know them anyway). Stupid me.

Best Articles from the Personal Finance Network:

– Squawkfox has some ideas (with photos) for gross, easy and fun Halloween foods for kids.

– Quest for Four Pillars has 3 ways to monitor your spending.

– MoneyNing did the unthinkable: canceled his cable.

– Canadian Capitalist asks some questions to prepare you for the worst-case scenario.

– Blunt Money has some advice about paying attention that I should have taken today.

Best Articles from my PF Reader List:

– Stock Trading to Go gives 25 essential bear market stock tips.

– The Simple Dollar says to stop trying to impress other people with a great analogy.

– The Consumerist points out a great use for the Netflix “Feedflix”.

– Lazy Man and Money recounts some of his worst gifts. Luckily we don’t have the “display everything” mentality, or else we would be forced to see a certain creepy Joe Paterno statuette every day.

– Frugal Dad explains that being a full-time parent is more sacrifice than luck.

– Wisebread is getting me closer to giving up TV with a hint into the life without television.

– Budgets are Sexy has some great tips for photographing/videoing your possessions for insurance.

– The Digerati Life has a great video about “Foreclosure Alley” and some things you probably haven’t seen about clearing out foreclosed home.

– Ask Mr. Credit Card tells us some interesting stuff about the outcome of their bankruptcy. Turns out bankruptcy didn’t hit their credit too hard.

– Money Grubbing Lawyer highlights some lessons learned from an Elton John concert.

Whew! I think that was one of the longest weekly roundups ever! There were even more excellent articles, but I had to pick and choose or else I would have to start my own blog carnival!