View Full Version : June Frugals and No Spend Days
Hey everyone, welcome to the June thread!
Kicking it off with a mini-frugal...I avoided getting take out after my gym workout today. Instead went home and made popcorn. Not the most well balanced of meals, but it sure hit the spot and saved me from spending who knows how much on take out!!!
June 01
--Spreadsheets done and ready for another month.....not sure on the net worth...down because of new roof....
no way to honestly know if it is just maintenance in the long run or will add to value of resale....guess it depends on when I sell...
...no way to know for sure....but, the job is good and it can't hurt resale.
---still working on back yard, really a lot of work but again improves the property for now and for resale.
--finally sorted out my clothes and was pleasantly surprise that some things I had bought on sale and were too tight now fit...yeah!!!!
So this occurred in May and I'm just getting around to posting, but I got some amazing deals at my local SA over the past few weeks. I don't usually score there for clothes, but I got a pair of brand new jeans, 4P, for $7.99, then another pair during their Memorial Day sale for the 1/2 price of $3.99 (Not Your Daughter's Jeans brand). I also got a totally cool full-length denim skirt for $3.49, and a like-new merino wool sweater for $5.99. I can understand why it is hard to pay retail if you get this kind of deal on a regular basis! Now the challenge will be to keep away from SA. Those are all things I can & will use, but I don't really need anything else, so stuffing my closet with unnecessary "bargains" won't be any bargain at all!
I have been overspending recently, and I don't really know why. I think part of it was to deal with some of my fears concerning some medical problems I'd been having recently, and then, when I finally got the diagnosis (definitely a problem, but not as bad as I'd feared), I did some celebratory "relief" spending! Now it's time to reel it back in and calm down. Some of the little purchases were just bits and pieces for the house that we needed/wanted: a bath mat, since DH and I had both injured ourselves slipping in our bathtub; corn-on-the-cob holders, since my old ones were broken; a hairdressing cape, since we now cut each other's hair on a monthly basis; a couple of replaced cooking utensils.
On the other hand, some of my purchases were completely frivolous: some decent conditioner for my hair, a wonderful hair "ornament" of a clip-on mane of flowing locks to fill out what is left of my dry and thinning hair, some new eyeliner that allows me to make those cool "cat eye" lines, a couple of e-books for my Nook reader, and so on. I don't need any of those things, but at the same time, I really enjoy having them now!
I dropped off a number of items of clothing for repair today, which has the net effect of increasing my wardrobe, since after the repairs I'll be able to wear all those clothes again!
Selah: I'm glad your problem didn't turn out to the the worst-case scenario. It doesn't sound like any of your purchases were over the top, and usually most of your "purchases" are free! :)
Isn't it interesting how often we use shopping to fulfill emotional rather than practical needs? At least self-awareness can help keep it from spiraling out of control as it does for some folks.
Blackdog Lin
6-2-14, 9:33pm
Adding my hopes to you Selah for easy resolutions to your health problems.
My newest frugal is going no poo (you know, the not-using-shampoo thing) - we've had a thread or two here about it, but I wasn't really interested or paying attention to it then. Then last month I realized I was halfway there anyway, in not feeling a need to shampoo every day (or every other day, or even every third day). And I was already often using vinegar as a rinse, so.....I just made it formal, and haven't used any shampoo for 3 1/2 weeks so far. And I am very happy with the results, noticing no difference at all in how my hair is behaving or performing.
My research said that basically everyone's hair and scalp is different, and you have to figure out what works best with what you have. For me, a once-a-week scalp scrub with a baking soda paste, and a vinegar rinse 2-3 times a week (to remove my styling product, which I have not been able to give up thus far) is working great. Like I said, I can't tell any difference in my hair.
So a very small frugal that I hope I'll be able to maintain for a long time.
Adding my hopes to you Selah for easy resolutions to your health problems.
My newest frugal is going no poo (you know, the not-using-shampoo thing) - we've had a thread or two here about it, but I wasn't really interested or paying attention to it then. Then last month I realized I was halfway there anyway, in not feeling a need to shampoo every day (or every other day, or even every third day). And I was already often using vinegar as a rinse, so.....I just made it formal, and haven't used any shampoo for 3 1/2 weeks so far. And I am very happy with the results, noticing no difference at all in how my hair is behaving or performing.
My research said that basically everyone's hair and scalp is different, and you have to figure out what works best with what you have. For me, a once-a-week scalp scrub with a baking soda paste, and a vinegar rinse 2-3 times a week (to remove my styling product, which I have not been able to give up thus far) is working great. Like I said, I can't tell any difference in my hair.
So a very small frugal that I hope I'll be able to maintain for a long time.
When I stopped using shampoo I started to grow more hair! I think I was stripping my scalp with my daily shampoo. I am now in the process of finding an organic solution to my gray hair problem. I stopped coloring about 2 months ago and I feel great not putting any chemicals on my head, but haven't figured out how to blend the gray with my dark hair. I've tried the honey lightener and it does work, but I think I need to do it more than once to get good results.
awakenedsoul
6-2-14, 11:41pm
Good timing. I just finished putting henna in my hair, watergoddess. It saves me money to do it myself. I have to leave it on for four hours to cover the grey! I went to Costco and bought some food for an upcoming trip. That way I won't overspend eating out at restaurants. Got the dogs bordatella shots at a clinic. It was only $10.00 a piece. Much cheaper than a vet! Made some compost and manure tea to feed the cottage garden. It makes the plants look fabulous, and it's free! Have been walking, doing yoga and pilates at home, so that's a good workout at no charge.
I have been spending more money on vocal training and plan to do a recording session. But, I'll get all of my songs on a CD for $100. That's pretty good. It's energizing me, and feels like a step in the right direction. As the old saying goes, "It takes money to make money."
Teaching a summer class during June for an extra $3k. Happy to have the extra income and teaching is something I love so it doesn't really feel like work. The class starts at 8:30am two days a week so I'm going to try to go in to work around 8:30 on the other two days I have to go in just to keep my schedule the same. So far, so good, but we're only on day 2!!! :~) I have managed to make and bring my lunch to work on both days and I hope to keep that up for the whole month since I feel much better eating healthy food that I've prepared than the crap I can buy in the cafeteria. Been eating down the pantry pretty aggressively. Last week our refrigerator didn't seem to be working properly. We figured out how to fix it, but it forced a complete fridge clean out. Lots of jars of miscellaneous "sauces" went away and a few things to the compost pile. Not the most frugal, except for the part about fixing the fridge ourselves. I really thought we were going to have to buy a new fridge....that would have been painful.
I have some points from one of my credit cards that will expire at the end of June. Thinking about redeeming them for a $50 iTunes gift card!!! I have to buy a plane ticket for September, but I don't think I'll know the details by the end of June in order to use the points for that instead. Fortunately, I have some frequent flyer miles I think I can use.
Oy, vey iz mir! DH and I just got the news that we need to find a new place to rent this summer. Our lease was set to go till the end of November. However, DH's arthritis in his knees has become so bad (he just got the news from his orthopedic doctor that he recommends that BOTH knees should be replaced ASAP), that it's very difficult for him to get up and down the four flights of stairs up to our apartment. Our building was SUPPOSED to have been retro-fitted with an earthquake-proofing upgrade and an elevator nearly three years ago (!), but the apartment owners' dysfunctional "association" (kind of like a condo board) couldn't all agree on a contract they had with the construction company that would have done the work.
Anyway, when DH called the landlords to tell them we wouldn't be renewing our lease, they said, "oh, great! Can you move out this summer, then, because it'll be easier for us to find new tenants--nobody likes to move in the winter." Of course, we don't HAVE to leave until November, but it really does work out better for us to move during the summer, as it solves the stair problem sooner and I'll have more time to do the moving-in settling-in process if I don't have to teach two days a week.
I'm posting this on the Frugals thread just to give you all a heads-up on all the nutty things I will probably be trying to keep this move as cheap and cheerful as possible. We are moving out of a furnished apartment, and only bringing with us a few appliances and a few small sticks of furniture with us. That makes it easy to move, but it also means we're going to have to get a crapload of stuff all at once, which I HATE having to do. I know from harsh experience that urgency + necessity usually does NOT equal frugality! Wish me luck...we'll need it.!Splat!
Good luck with the move, Selah. Maybe this is a good time if you have any hoarder-ish friends to have them give or loan you any of their extras - maybe a lamp or two, misc. kitchen items, etc. - so you won't have to suddenly buy everything.
Good luck, Selah! Your furnished apartment is furnished quite nicely too, as I recall. Time to challenge your amazing scavenging skills to the max! Good luck especially to your DH with those knees.
Thanks, everyone! DH and I discussed trying to move heaven and earth to be able to buy a place instead of having to rent again, but in the end, we figured now is just not the right time. Tenant/landlord relationships in Israel don't always go very smoothly, to put it mildly. We've been SO lucky to have had a great landlord (a couple, actually) when we first got to Israel, but MANY of our friends have not had that great luck--I hope ours hasn't run out! Fingers crossed!
SO's boss took us out to dinner on May 31st. Prime rib leftovers went to the dog since it was more the grisly stuff. Sunday used my leftover chicken to make cheesy chicken enchiladas -- I had all of the ingredients on hand. Made enough for 2 days. Tuesday used ground beef from freezer and made burgers. Leftover ground beef tonight may make burgers again or possibly sloppy joes -- have all ingredients for either. Would have made Dorito's Beef Surprise, but would have had to purchase Doritos to bake this in the oven. Want to use up what I have. Also have 3 ears of corn left (purchased at .10/ear), so will have that with whichever I cook tonight. Did have to purchase gas for the vehicle on Monday and will again tomorrow (this is a normal spend, though). Hopefully nothing else to purchase the remainder of the week.
DH worked Habitat for the past 3 days so I have been without a car - still got to the library, post office, off to donate blood via the bus. He is home tomorrow and gone to a golf event that is a scholarship fundraiser on Friday. Boy, am I saving $$$!!
Listed several things on etsy, did yard work, started a 9 patch baby quilt.
Did go to Costco today with a friend and avoided buying anything that wasn't on my list. Ended up with coffee beans, beets, some fries and a rotisserie chicken. We did stop for a sandwich on our way home but we didn't get fries, etc since we came back here to add chips and grapes to the sandwiches.
June 4
--I have found the best/most reasonable handyman he was recommended by a good friend who has
had him for years. Installed 4 new outside lights, took down old #sign, put up new house #'s, fixed a screen,
fixed sweep on garage door, took down a piece of fence blocking one side of back yard, use said piece of
fence to pretty up a back corner, added a piece of extension to one down spout that was draining too close to house,
and took the wood from an old bed frame and made it into a raised garden box...all in one day, all well done and
only asking $80.00 I gave him $100.00 and was very pleased to do so. What a great lift to my house and me.
--eat the last of the corn for supper.
--did some cleaning in the garage, great exercise and starting to feel cleaner
Danna: What a great find! If I lived closer, I would be asking you for his contact info.
Debi: It sounds like you did a great job getting maximum value from that food - good work!
Chrissie: How do you like Etsy? I was thinking about trying to set up a small store. The thought of Ebay overwhelms me for some reason. I have some vintage items such as a sterling silver dresser set, old but unworn white leather dress gloves, evening bag, and old costume jewelry that I would like to sell. It's all cool stuff that I more or less inherited, and it's just stored away taking up space in the closet.
Our frugal from yesterday was going to see a reasonably priced show with our local theater group (me, DH, DSIL, DBIL). Rather than going out before the show, DH made a pizza and we had pizza, beer & wine at our house before the show. We agreed that instead of exchanging birthday gifts next year (we've already eliminated Xmas), the four of us will buy season's tickets for the theater group. That will get us into four shows, so we'll be buying ourselves the promise of quality time together instead of swapping gift cards (which is the point we have reached after exchanging gifts for so many years).
Blackdog Lin
6-9-14, 8:53pm
danna: me too! Oh, for a competent and reasonably-priced handyman!!! What a great find!
(I so wish I could explain the concept to my estranged super-smart-and-good-with-tools, but without-the-ambition-gene son: become a dependable and honest handyman. No need for a college degree, possibly eliminate the taxman, and the potential for decent money. Work when you want/need to. Provide an honest and very needed service.)
In May I signed up for 3 no spend days and I got in at least 9. It's really too hard to keep track so I'll bow out of this challenge, but I will be there with you in spirit. I always like the idea of No Spend days and I will average 3 -4 per week, work keeps me on the straight and narrow.
We had my niece and 2 nephews here from Friday til Sunday afternoon. Frugal fun included multiple walks with their dog and ours, took the bus and rode the new "Green Line" train between Minneapolis and St Paul (free for opening weekend), Ghostbusters I & II on netflix, ate all meals at home, my other sister took them to the Y to swim and picked up pizzas to feed us all this afternoon.
We did go to a neighborhood sale and got a great baby gate for the kitchen for $3 as well as a second that I bought via a neighborhood social media site (new in box for 1/2 off amazon price) both of which were installed by DH today so that our "new to us" dog can be in the kitchen rather than crated when we are not here. The neighbor told me he heard the dog whimpering last week while I was running errands. We adopted him (not frugal) last weekend and he is a great dog but has never lived indoors before being fostered for 3 weeks so there is a big learning curve but we are settling in well!
Been trying to use up food in our pantry. Made a huge batch of mushroom risotto that used up the arborio rice. So we've been eating that for lunches for the past few days. Also made up some trail mix using peanuts, almonds, hazelnuts, chocolate chips, raisins, dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds. Okay, there were really two batches and they contained different combinations of aforementioned items. I ended up using up the peanuts, the open bag of dried cranberries, the open bag of chocolate chips, and the pumpkin seeds. And I made a dent in the other items. I've just been throwing various amounts into a glass jar and shaking it all up. Then I put the jar in my backpack and just eat trail mix throughout the day. Tasty and high in protein with all the nuts and seeds in there. Good stuff!
I've also been making tea every morning and bringing it in my travel mugs to work. Over the weekend I attended a beekeeping workshop and I did the same on those days. Definitely saves money over buying drinks while out and about.
Our neighbor borrowed our tractor again for a few hours and brought us 2 dozen eggs as a thank you. It means that we're eating a lot of eggs these days, but that's okay by me!
Not much else to report.
A few more frugals to report. Dried some laundry outside yesterday. Looking forward to some more warm, sunny days when I can do the same! Finally got the last two tomato plants in he the ground and got the tomato cages put around all of the tomato plants. Still need to stake the tomato plants that are in containers on the deck -- hoping to get to that today. Had to buy tomato cages and stakes, but convinced myself not to buy a tool bucket bag. I was pretty sure we had one hanging in the garden shed. Came home and found it. Of course, it had been home to mice over some winter so had some holes in it and needed a good scrubbing. Cleaned it up and I knew the holes wouldn't matter as I was intending to use it for my beekeeping bucket. Well, it turns out that it's a European design and made to fit a 12L bucket, not a typical 5 gallon bucket like we use here in the U.S. -- argh!!! After far too long, I figured out a way to MacGyver it to make it work -- hooray!!! Saved myself $10 and saved something useful from the landfill!
Harvested a whole load of rhubarb from our enormous rhubarb plant. Chopped it up and threw it in the crockpot with the juice of two oranges that had seen better days and a little bit of sugar. Let it cook for a few hours, then cooled it, packaged it up, and froze it. Now I've got a lovely variation on rhubarb freezer jam to enjoy over the next few months!
That's all for now, but I'm sure there will be more to come. How's everyone else doing this month?!?
awakenedsoul
6-18-14, 10:46am
You're doing great, cdttmm! I tried out a water exercise class at the City's Aquatic Center on Mon. It was excellent. Only $5.00, and well worth it. Taught tap at the senior center yesterday. The one hour a week is bringing in an extra $130.00 a month to put in my emergency fund. That feels good. Stopped at 24 Hr. Fitness on the way home and got a 3 day free pass to try out the pool and aqua class. This morning I'm going to take the bus and bike there and see how I like it. They have a two year membership available through Costco for less than $15.00 per month. Made a tuna casserole yesterday with ingredients from my stockpile. Have been harvesting tomatoes to use in quesadillas. My neighbors gave me a nice bag of homegrown grapefruit and lemons. I'll give them some of my organic Valencia oranges. Found a free sight singing book on line to practice my music. Made some compost tea to feed the garden. I didn't cost me anything, and the plants love it!
June 22....Good luck with your move Selah and your's and DH health issues...take care
--been away for a planned trip...eat out a lot and did a few things that cost money but, it was all planned for
and good fun with good friends.
--going to visit sisters this week and got train tickets at a discounted price saving about $60.00
--did the yardsales this week and only spent $9.75 for a complete set of stainless cutlery, 6 cloth covered containers
(I am going to use to store small sewing supplies), 6 gold coloured glass plates, 1 decorative signed plate (will be a gift)
and a bunch of Free magazines....love free.
---made a large pot of soup from chicken carcasses that did supper last night and lunch today.
---My back yard is now covered in weed control cloth, some mulch
(still needs much more) a large flower/gourds bed, two vegetable beds, and one herb bed. A new little tree is planted
and the compost is moved. Hopefully this will provide me with a nice space to relax, flowers and vegetables in the next few months.
This whole project as also given me a whole lot and a mean a whole lot of free exercise in the last weeks....hehe
That's all for now.....how are the rest of you doing??
awakenedsoul
6-22-14, 5:51pm
Picked up my box of produce from the organic co op yesterday. They gave us each an extra head of lettuce for free. It's perfect salad weather. Cooked up some hamburger with a milk gravy to have over leftover pasta for lunch/dinner. Sauteed some zucchini from the garden. Am so glad that I planted squash this year. Last year I really missed it! (Our co op sells it, but it's not cheap.) Stopped by the yarn shop to check out their summer sale. I didn't buy anything. I can use the yarn I have from their last sale. Took the bus today to swim at the gym. Practiced my music with the on line course that I'm taking. I work an hour a day and it costs $14.99 a month. Much cheaper than private lessons! I'm getting the hang of it.
Who else has frugals to share?
rosarugosa
6-22-14, 6:35pm
Danna: I got some of that free exercise myself today in the garden. The weather was perfect this weekend and I tried to make the most of it. I had two empty ornamental pots by the back steps, and I potted some succulents in them from the garden instead of buying more plants.
Awakened: I am covetous of your fresh citrus fruit - it sounds delicious!
We had a couple of favorite frugal meals this weekend. Last night was linguine & clam sauce, and tonight was zucchini & eggs.
I also posted this in the personal finance forum, but I just opened a new card with Chase that will pay us $200 after we spend $500 in 3 months, which is very easy to do with gas and groceries. I'm getting an additional $25. for adding DH as an authorized user.
ETA - Awakened - DH sautes the zucchini in olive oil with oregano from the garden and some garlic, and them scrambles in some eggs. It's especially good with fresh Italian bread.
It's the last day of June so I thought I would weigh in with a few more frugals for the month! My mom, who had hip replacement surgery in early May, decided she was feeling great and wanted to come for her annual visit. She is quite the gardener, so I buy the plane ticket and she works on my garden for a week and we get to spend time together. However, this was some last minute planning so plane tickets were $600+ -- yikes! Rather than fork over cold, hard cash, I asked my dearly beloved if he had a stash of airline miles that I could use for a plane ticket. Lo and behold, he did, and I scored a ticket on United for 37,500 miles + $80. Not bad! Mom will arrive today and be here for a week so I'm hoping the weather continues to be fabulously beautiful! :)
Speaking of the weather...it's been nice enough that we did not activate the AC until yesterday and we only ran it for a few hours to be sure everything was functioning properly. My dearly beloved is headed back to NYC today for work, which means that even if it gets on the hot and humid side this week the AC will likely stay off. I am far more willing to be mildly uncomfortable than he is!
I took a honey bee queen raising workshop a few weeks ago with a honey bee expert from Michigan. It was a great three-day workshop and I learned a lot. Since the workshop was being held locally at the apiary where I learned beekeeping 10 years ago, I was able to go and pick up the queen cells we started during the workshop and transfer them to hives at my house. I was cautioned by my beekeeping mentor that they might not make it (apparently the success rate for raising honey bee queens is pretty low -- around 30-40%). But I opened up the two new hives yesterday and -- hooray -- both had queens! One was mated and laying, the other was still a virgin. Hopefully she'll survive her mating flight and start laying in the next few days. Buying a new honey bee queen costs $35 so successfully raising two is a big money saver! Of course, the workshop cost $335 to attend so I'm still in the red on this project, but being able to raise queens for my dearly beloved's NYC apiary would be a huge savings (they need 15-20 new queens each season).
I received an email notifying my that I had $53.50 in Staples Rewards on my account that expire on July 31st. The rewards are a result of having to buy stuff for work (that I am reimbursed for). I couldn't think of much that I would normally buy at Staples. We still have a huge stash of office supplies from our old business so unless I wanted to stock up on cases of printer paper, I was stuck for what I could use these rewards for. I finally decided on toilet paper. Turns out the price wasn't much more than BJs or Target so that was a bonus. I also discovered a box of 18 granola bars for $5. I must have been priced incorrectly because the box of 6 granola bars (same brand name) that was a few shelves over was $5.99. So free toilet paper and granola bars. Works for me! :D Oh, and I only managed to spend $25 so it looks like a return trip is in order! Good thing going to Staples is on the way to just about everywhere!
Anyone else wrapping up June on a frugal note?!?
frugal-one
6-30-14, 2:21pm
It's the last day of June so I thought I would weigh in with a few more frugals for the month! My mom, who had hip replacement surgery in early May, decided she was feeling great and wanted to come for her annual visit. She is quite the gardener, so I buy the plane ticket and she works on my garden for a week and we get to spend time together. However, this was some last minute planning so plane tickets were $600+ -- yikes! Rather than fork over cold, hard cash, I asked my dearly beloved if he had a stash of airline miles that I could use for a plane ticket. Lo and behold, he did, and I scored a ticket on United for 37,500 miles + $80. Not bad! Mom will arrive today and be here for a week so I'm hoping the weather continues to be fabulously beautiful! :)
Speaking of the weather...it's been nice enough that we did not activate the AC until yesterday and we only ran it for a few hours to be sure everything was functioning properly. My dearly beloved is headed back to NYC today for work, which means that even if it gets on the hot and humid side this week the AC will likely stay off. I am far more willing to be mildly uncomfortable than he is!
I took a honey bee queen raising workshop a few weeks ago with a honey bee expert from Michigan. It was a great three-day workshop and I learned a lot. Since the workshop was being held locally at the apiary where I learned beekeeping 10 years ago, I was able to go and pick up the queen cells we started during the workshop and transfer them to hives at my house. I was cautioned by my beekeeping mentor that they might not make it (apparently the success rate for raising honey bee queens is pretty low -- around 30-40%). But I opened up the two new hives yesterday and -- hooray -- both had queens! One was mated and laying, the other was still a virgin. Hopefully she'll survive her mating flight and start laying in the next few days. Buying a new honey bee queen costs $35 so successfully raising two is a big money saver! Of course, the workshop cost $335 to attend so I'm still in the red on this project, but being able to raise queens for my dearly beloved's NYC apiary would be a huge savings (they need 15-20 new queens each season).
I received an email notifying my that I had $53.50 in Staples Rewards on my account that expire on July 31st. The rewards are a result of having to buy stuff for work (that I am reimbursed for). I couldn't think of much that I would normally buy at Staples. We still have a huge stash of office supplies from our old business so unless I wanted to stock up on cases of printer paper, I was stuck for what I could use these rewards for. I finally decided on toilet paper. Turns out the price wasn't much more than BJs or Target so that was a bonus. I also discovered a box of 18 granola bars for $5. I must have been priced incorrectly because the box of 6 granola bars (same brand name) that was a few shelves over was $5.99. So free toilet paper and granola bars. Works for me! :D Oh, and I only managed to spend $25 so it looks like a return trip is in order! Good thing going to Staples is on the way to just about everywhere!
Anyone else wrapping up June on a frugal note?!?
Thanks for posting the info regarding Staples. We have a credit also and was wondering what to buy. TP works for me!!!
Could I put in a plug for using Staples rewards for donations to schools for supplies?
The friend of a friend who is a kindegarten teacher is alloted about $1/student per semester for art supplies - no wonder teachers chip in their own money. School starts here next month for some of the districts, so any supplies will be appreciated and used right away.
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