View Full Version : September 2015 Frugals
Post those frugals here, my Simple Living friends!!!
Sept 2
I have been off too long....been mostly frugal but, life just keeps getting in the way....need to keep it up the frugals
--Deforosted the big freezer last month and did an inventory (way too much food/meat AGAIN) so I am determined to eat only
from the oldest to freshest and get it down and therefore spend very little on food this month.
The exception to that is buying and freezing some of our wonderful local veggies/fruit for the winter.
--My Loblaws points had a deal this week were you got $6.00 worth of points for spending $20.00 on fresh produce so both Dd and I got the deal..great
now I am busy freezing and eating the freshest first.
--trying to add beans/lentils/chickpeas to my diet (mostly for weight loss but, great for the budget too!)
--Still decluttering and trying to use up every last bit of things.....Waste Not Want Not is the motto I am going with this month.
Day 2 of tracking my spending, and it's been an eye opener on how much I've been spending. Of course, part of that was a big grocery shopping trip that needed to be done.
I've been going through a lot of tea that has been in the kitchen for a couple of years. Drinking herbal or decaffeinated tea instead of wine in the evening makes it extra frugal. Also, it's a little more soothing just before bed. I guess I didn't realize that I was getting a bit of indigestion from wine.
Sept 02 today
--large pot of chicken soup from chicken bought on sale and butcher, two of the caucuses with frozen celery and onion made a wonderful pot of broth that was eaten with beans
and seasoned with parmesan cheese
--cut up and froze in snack bags six pears to use in winter oatmeal.
Free breakfast and lunch yesterday at work as part of our required professional day. Plus a free t-shirt from our new student orientation program. I also discovered an attendance/grade book that some company was clearly passing out as a promotional item in my faculty mailbox.
I joined the water cooler/coffee club for the semester for $20. I've never done this before as I usually bring a full re-usable water bottle from home every day. But I decided that for $20 it might be worth it to just leave a re-usable water bottle at school and fill it when I get there every day. I'm generally fine with drinking tap water, but the tap water at school is really quite bad. I'm not a coffee drinker, so I'm really paying $20 to be able to fill my water bottle from the water cooler every day (in my case, multiple times a day). I think it's a pretty good deal and it means that I have one less thing to remember to bring from home every day.
I also got the barcode for campus cash put on my faculty ID. I'll be able to go online and load money onto my ID with a debit/credit card and then use my ID in the cafeteria. I usually bring lunch every day, but sometimes I'm not that organized or I get lazy. If you add $50 or more to your ID, you get a 10% bonus added to the amount. I figure I'll add $50 and see how long I can make the $55 I then have on my card last.
Ate tomatoes from the garden as part of dinner last night. Need to harvest some more and make them into more pizza sauce today.
We've been managing frugals this month fairly well considering...
DW and I went to the State Fair earlier this week. Discounted tickets. Park for free and bus to the site. We bought two food items each and three bottles of water (it was quite hot and humid) and that was it. No gifts, no (useless) souvenirs. Probably the least amount of money we've spent on the Fair in years -- and I love the Fair.
My neighbor has kept plying us with cucumbers and tomatoes. The cukes have been a great cool simple counterpoint to the spicier dishes I've cooked over the last couple of weeks. He's also letting us have all the kale and collard greens he grew -- he's had his fill and doesn't want to look at them anymore :) . I'll make kale chips out of a lot of the kale and will freeze most of the collards since they'll be used in making greens and stews anyway. I'll also try pickling the collard stems just to see if I like them.
DW is off visiting a friend of hers in California this week. She bought the airfare (cheapest possible fares; once on Spirit [eek]); they're providing the hotel out of frequent-flyer points and likely some meals (the entire family loves her and they like to show off some). DW was clear she didn't want to spend lots of money on this trip, and I believe her.
Me, I'll be home, not driving, and probably not buying stuff. Meals will be dribs and drabs from the refrigerator and freezer. I had to repair the drain in the bathroom sink (used a frequent-buyer coupon at the hardware store). There are some other little repairs for which I have most of the parts I need; it's just a matter of waiting for some cooler temps to do them (next week).
Not bad considering how hard-won frugals are some weeks...
We just got our power bill. By switching all our lightbulbs to LED bulbs, and now using a propane stove instead of an electric one, our total energy expenditure for a three-bed, 2.5 bath house with a living room and bonus room is now LESS than what we were paying for our two-bedroom apartment. Whee! Of course, the lightbulbs did cost money, which we are not attempting to figure into the bill. However, it sure feels great to get that low-low power bill, and have our very dark home (surrounded by trees) warm, bright, and cozy.
Friend gave me a bushel of tomatoes he grew. Yesterday I spent the day canning and making lacto-fermented veggies. Then a neighbor dropped off veggies from their CSA that they were not going to use. So, today I cut up a number of them and roasted them. I have never roasted veggies before and they turned out great. Unfortunately, the weather has been very hot and I have been using the stove and oven. Thankfully, we have air. I didn't want any of the veggies to go to waste.
Friend gave me a bushel of tomatoes he grew. Yesterday I spent the day canning and making lacto-fermented veggies. Then a neighbor dropped off veggies from their CSA that they were not going to use. So, today I cut up a number of them and roasted them. I have never roasted veggies before and they turned out great. Unfortunately, the weather has been very hot and I have been using the stove and oven. Thankfully, we have air. I didn't want any of the veggies to go to waste.
You hit the jackpot with those veggies. I know from personal experience that a bushel of tomatoes goes a very long way!
Sept 03
---no drive, no spend
---took snack to volunteer and had a large bowl of leftover soup with added corn and beans yummy, healthy and frugal
---froze up some strawberries I got on sale will be great in smoothies and oatmeal in the winter
--eating up the veggies and fruit bought on sale for lunch and snacks
Tussiemussies
9-3-15, 11:46pm
Just bought sale and marked down items at Eddie Bauer. Four tops and I have ten dollars left from a $75.00 gift card I received for my birthday!
Had a delicious (free!) kale salad for lunch yesterday courtesy of the farm. It was leftover from a huge veggie-centric event the night before.
Hard-boiled the remaining eggs for lunches over the weekend.
We had a social gathering for my Tae Kwon Do school last night instead of our usual class because they head of our style (in the U.S.) was visiting from Colorado. We very rarely have social gatherings so it was pretty much a given that I would attend. Everybody pitched in to pay for the community room we rented and the beer/wine that was purchased for the occasion ($10) and then everyone paid for their own food from a nearby restaurant. I ordered a milkshake (chocolate-peanut butter -- YUM!) because everybody raved about how amazing they were. And for the $6 I paid, I figured they had to be right. Meh. Not so much. I mean, it was a milkshake and it was good, but it definitely wasn't $6 good. Oh well, all in all, I figure $16 for the night was not a bad deal.
I came home to discover that my significant other had made another batch of pizza sauce from the free tomatoes, garlic, and peppers from the farm. It's been added to the freezer stash. There are still more tomatoes so I suspect another we'll be making another batch later today.
Cdttmm--thanks for the idea of doing hard-boiled eggs! We have a family event to attend this weekend and I was scratching my head over what to bring without having to go out and buy something. I have a box of brownie mix on hand but needed something else as well. Whee, no extra trip to the grocery store. Thanks!
Sept04
---cleaned up a large celery and froze the tops and bottoms for soup
---made a Costco run but, brought mostly things Dd needed...did buy 2 1/2 doz eggs it is the cheapest way to buy so the idea of boiling
a 1/2 to have on hand is good....I don't worry if they get close to the best use by date I just pickle them. It is so easy and I
noticed at Costco to day they sell a jar with I think it was 12 for $8.99. One could make a lot of them for that price.
--made a nice small casserole of Mac and Cheese for Dd and myself using up a piece of drying out cheese,
This last couple of tablespoons of sour cream in a container, some puree cauliflower, 1/2 of a fresh tomato, the last of
a litre of milk that was ready to go off and of course some marconi .....yummy...and I did not even try to count the calories.....lol
I used up a big bag of apples that were starting to go bad by making apple crisp for breakfast and a crock-pot apple butter. The apple crisp was delicious. The apple butter is a new recipe I haven't tried before, so I hope it works out. The thing I hate about making apple butter on the stove top is all the electricity that gets used d during the time it takes to cook down.
It's a big day of cooking at home today, just the sort of thing I love to do. I'm using every cucumber I have to make pickles and relish. I also have other produce that I have to process in some way. Fortunately, it's a three-day weekend, so I have time.
I also took a big chicken out of the freezer: 7.7 pounds. (Our CSA grows a huge breed of chicken.) I'll divide that up. The legs, thighs, and wings will be our dinner for tonight. The breasts will be big enough to make into two meals, and the carcass will be made into broth with the bits of cooked chicken removed and frozen for a stir-fry or soup. I love how I can get so much from one chicken.
I suppose that will be enough to keep me busy today. I'm in my happy place. :D
It's been a mix here, too. This past week I saw three movies - all free. One on preview screening (A Walk in the Woods; excellent btw), one as part of a theater card perk (Raiders of the Lost Ark on the best screen in LA), and a free rental from Redbox for joining by text. But I did spend $15 in concessions seeing the first two. Am putting together a new-to-me garbanzo-zucchini-tomato salad today. Got most ingredients at the 99 Cent Store but for the fat-free feta, kalamatas and capers that I got at TJ's. Bean salads are healthy and last several days. Am excited to try this one.
Well, I did all the cooking and canning that I said I would do, except for the pickles because I only had enough cucumber to make relish. Now we have enough relish to last three years, although I'll probably end up giving some away.
The apple butter looks okay, but it doesn't have that smooth, glossy look that it gets when I cook it on the stove. It smells good, though. I haven't tried it yet.
We decided to make pulled pork today using a pork roast that had been on the bottom of the freezer for over 2 years. It had a bit of freezer burn, but the pulled pork tasted good anyway. We were glad to use it up. We still have some assorted pork products from that 1/4 pig we bought back then, and I hope I can find ways to use them up. Of course, the tastiest parts were eaten long ago.
It's been pretty humid this weekend, but tomorrow should be cooler and less humid, so it should be a good day to hang wash on the line.
Sept 07--todate
---Another couple of no drive, no spends days
---used up the last few peaches making a very yummy peach salsa
---salad, rice and chicken for supper
--still decluttering I find it the best way to make me not want to shop I see how much stuff I already have
I work very part time at a small cafe and the women who own it shop weekly at Costco. I don't have a membership but they always ask if there is something I could use. They have picked up coffee and butter for me. Today I had a pork loin waiting for me - $1.89 a lb - what a deal!
I used to put my dog in day care when I worked for them but lately we have found if we do not use the crate at home, he is fine alone for 5 hours or so. No accidents and no panic when we come home so if I only work 2 days a week, he can stay alone. But if 3 days, I pay for a full day of care ($27.50) for him to have the interaction with other dogs.
We go to DC tomorrow to meet our new grandson :cool:- our son asked me to help him cook to fill their freezer - I sent him a grocery list and he has done the shopping. I like having a task and knowing that for awhile, at least, there will be healthy and easy food for them to eat. Got a good deal on the hotel which is 1/2 hour on the metro to them - time to read!
Tussiemussies
9-10-15, 2:37am
Congratulations chrissieq on the birth of your Grandson! Nice that you are going to help everyone out...
rosarugosa
9-10-15, 5:01am
Congratulations, Chrissie! Filling their freezer with home cooking is an amazing gift!
Tussiemussies
9-11-15, 8:35am
Wanted to buy a close friend a nice birthday gift so I found a very nice sweater on sale at Llbean and the coloring would look great on her, it was on sale for thirty dollars with no shipping charges. Great value for my money!
chrissieq
9-16-15, 10:10pm
Back from DC - I made over 40 servings of food for the new parents' freezer!! I go out again in October (just got an amazing deal on Sun Country) and will cook again. And the baby is, of course, fabulous!!!
Went to a big subdivision garage sale on Sat.. got a Bodum mug coffee press for $2. I had bought me sister the same one for her birthday for $25 and that was with a $5 off coupon. I also got 4 of the Readers Digest music books that I didn't have for $1 each. They were ones I had been looking for so I was excited.
I am trying to concentrate on using up what is in the freezer coupled with what I get from Bountiful Baskets, so the food bill is lower. I am still not happy with the amount of food waste I have and need to work on that.
Farm bounty!
Went on my annual "guy's weekend" last week. I'm the cook (and happily so). The guy who owns the cabin has a hobby farm and he brings up whatever looks good the day he comes up. Sometimes that's unusably large amounts of certain items (how many Thai peppers can I use up in a weekend?). The rest I purchase locally unless it's a minor ingredient like a fraction of a cup of flour since I don't want to buy a package of flour just for the weekend. The guys attending reimburse me. Anyway, I was told to take home any of the produce that was left over. So I got some onions, some Asian eggplant, brussels sprouts, raspberries, a couple of winter squash I don't recognize, and a bunch of peppers gratis.
On top of that, my neighbor has taken down his garden and gave us all the red and green tomatoes he had left. I turned the green ones into roasted-green-tomato lasagna, which we love. He loves it, too, so he'll be getting some prepared portions to heat and eat.
The neighbor also helped me fix the faucet at my mom's place. It was leaking and I knew how to fix it, but I could not get the handle off to access the rest of it. Neighbor brought over a serious crowbar and busted it loose for me. We'll skip the hour-and-a-half I spent driving around town trying to find a replacement cartridge (long story). I came back to put the old cartridge in until I could get to the plumbing supply on Monday. Between using an old toothbrush and a little vinegar to dissolve hard-water deposits, now the faucet works fine. Sure beat buying a new faucet because I could not get to the leaky bits before...
Comcast doubled our Internet speed without bumping the price. Now I need to look at their pricing again. We really don't need as fast a connection as this, and would not have paid for it otherwise, so we're going to see about bumping down a level.
Nature's air conditioning has returned. Glorious sleeping with the windows open. No A/C in days!
awakenedsoul
9-20-15, 10:15am
I'm finally catching up with this frugals thread. It sounds like everyone is doing really well. Sept. has been a good month, financially. The hospital bills have been arriving. I'm so glad that I planned what I would spend with my bilateral hip replacement surgery. I budgeted $20,000. It looks like that amount was about right. It may cost less, depending on how much my insurance company reimburses me for the surgeon. I paid him cash, up front. It was worth it to me. He did an impeccable job. Each day I'm getting stronger and more capable.
I just finished crocheting a set of pot holders for my neighbor. She's a fellow dog walker. She's having back surgery tomorrow. I bought the yarn with a 40% off coupon at Beverly's. These are an easy project, and everyone seems to love them. This afternoon I plan to hang out at the knitting shop. It's only a mile from my house. I like to socialize with some of the regulars who meet there on Sundays. I'm working on a pair of peds, using leftover sock yarn from my stash. I love knitting up the leftovers. It feels so frugal and practical.
Speaking of leftovers, I plan to use up some leftover marinara sauce in the fridge today before it goes bad. I've got plenty of pasta that I bought in bulk. I'll make a macaroni and cheese this morning, before it gets too hot. I've got all of the ingredients in my stockpile. That will last me for a few days. It's the same feeling I get from eating up leftover food in the fridge.
Yesterday I took the woman who lives across the street from me to Costco. She doesn't have a membership, and she needed a few things. Her husband was just killed in a motorcycle accident last week. It was such a shock. She had been a huge help to me during my surgery. She drove me to the hospital, brought me ice and groceries afterward, and called a few times to see if I needed anything. Now I can help her. She's such a nice neighbor. I really feel for her. We had a good talk in the car. I helped her put the groceries away and we discussed cutting back expenses.
I've been buying what's on sale at Sprouts, Food for Less, and Costco. My grocery bill looks good. I harvested two huge bowls full of pomegranates last week. I've been eating those regularly. It's so rewarding to grow organic fruit at home. The persimmons will be ready to pick very soon. This year I'm going to let them ripen in my kitchen and then freeze the pulp. I need to buy some ziplock freezer bags. My guava tree looks promising, as well. It's full of fruit. I seem to be much more talented at growing fruit than I am with vegetables. My vegetable garden only produced about six tomatoes. Nothing else worked. Oh well. The orchard has more than made up for the loss. The citrus trees look very healthy, too. They're loaded. They should be ripe around Christmas...
Hello everyone! I've missed you.
This week we had a lovely visit with some friends at their homestead. We are thinking of moving to the country in the next few years and I've been making lists of classes I want to take on various country skills. It occurred to me that I should start by asking my friends. This friend is going to let me help butcher turkeys (including my own Thanksgiving turkey) to get a feel for the process. I'm kind of excited and kind of nervous. :)
I also went to a craft fair this weekend and didn't buy anything but a cup of coffee. I seriously considered a skirt for Cheyenne, but I reminded myself that the money was better spent paying down my student loan.
rosarugosa
9-20-15, 7:14pm
Nice to hear from you Stella! I'm avoiding a flea market/fair next week because I don't do as well at buying nothing in that type of environment, but I don't really need anything. I feel a little bad about it because my sister and other people I would like to see are going. Maybe I can make some type of plan to hook up with them afterwards.
How is your sister doing?
She is doing really well! She has regained some of her ability to walk, which is more than they had hoped for. She and my mom moved to a new house that is just perfect for them and she is really thriving there. My mom is starting to recover too, since the demands on her have lessened as Kenzie is getting better.
Tussiemussies
9-21-15, 1:27pm
So glad to hear how you are progressing Awakened soul...sounds like you able to go places now. So very, very sorry for your neighbor. It must be so hard on her. That is great that you could help her out too.
Stella, nice to see you here once again. Sounds like an interesting time for you making a big life decision...so glad that your sister and Mom are doing better in their new place...
Our frugality was that we received gift cards for our 30th wedding anniversary and we are working on the Dave Ramsey program so we can still get some pumpkins and Mums at this time of the year with one of our gift cards! We also went out to eat last nigh with another gift card...I am very thankful...
rosarugosa
9-26-15, 8:46pm
A belated Happy Anniversary, Tussiemussies. That's great that you can indulge with gift cards and not sabotage your financial goals. We bought some squashes today that I will use as seasonal decorations and then we will eat them. That's one of my favorite fall frugals, since the grocery stores have so many squash varieties this time of year.
We spent a week in the Berkshires 2 weeks ago, so it didn't really feel like we had much in the way of frugals going on. But on second thought, since frugality is about mindful spending and getting good value for dollars spent, it was a somewhat frugal vacation. I booked online reservations, and I opted for a lower non-refundable rate, since we have a pretty solid track record of never changing our reservations. That brought our room rate down by 25%. We brought some fruit and snacks and combined these with the hotel's continental breakfast, so we only ate out one meal per day for all but one day. We are expensive dates in restaurants, so eating out less often was a win. We did scenic drives and took walks around the lake, so entertainment wasn't too expensive. We did spend some money on a tour of Herman Melville's homestead, but otherwise, not much in the way of entertainment expenses. Oh, and I might have done a little bit of shopping, but nothing close to what I've done in prior years!
Since vacation ended, we've stuck with just grocery expenditures and have stayed within budget. We went to a seasonal fair at Breakheart Reservation today because the Garden Club was doing a dedication ceremony in their butterfly garden that was important to my Mom, and did she ever light up when she saw me & DH arrive! We didn't stay long, but I did realize we could have made a day of the fair event if we wanted to, and everything was free, so I filed that thought away for next year. Tomorrow we are going on a historic cemetery tour which is also free, and I'm really looking forward to that. I'm content to be a homebody for the most part, but it's pretty cool to see how many free or inexpensive entertainment options are out there.
Interesting week that somehow stayed kinda frugal.
- DD gave birth to our first grandchild early this week. :cool: We're thrilled to look at that tiny little face and the tiny little fingers and that head of hair that isn't from either one of the parents (!). Now it's time to put together the used items we bought for watching the baby -- a crib/bassinet/changing table/playpen/dishwasher (I think) sort of thing, some previously-loved onesies, etc. DD and DSiL will bring over toys/diapers/etc. as needed, but we figured it would be nice not to have to break down and transport the bulky stuff.
- It feels like I've spent a ton of money on groceries this week. But I've pretty much filled our pantry and freezer with stuff which was on sale and which I know we'll use. No fluff, really. Still using up the remainder of take-home groceries and what we were given by our neighbor when he left to be a snowbird.
- Courtesy of natural air conditioning, our electric/gas bill this month will be about half of what it was last month. This despite the (gas) stove/oven being on a lot as I was cooking and feeding the freezer.
- We were finally approved this week for a mortgage refinance. We'd sat out most of the low rates because DW had some real-estate -- err, difficulties -- around the time we got married. Between that and my self-employment many lenders wouldn't give us the time of day. We found a (reputable) lender who would talk now, though. We thought about going for a 15 year note, but we went for 30 years instead. I figure it gives us a little more room in case DW loses her gubmint job or in the years between her retirement and SS/IRA disbursements in our mid-/late-60s. We'll put what we save against principal and we'll finish in the same amount of time but will save $40-45,000 in interest.
- I replaced a couple of window screens. I don't believe I ever will pay someone to do that again. Not hard at all.
- We signed up for season tickets for a riverboat cruise line this spring. They offer it for half-off if you buy on-line and it's good for all public cruises. Take two cruises and you've paid for the season ticket; this was cruise #3 and we have a couple more coming as folks come into town to visit. Today was a beautiful day for a cruise, too. Trees haven't changed much yet, but they will in the next couple of weeks.
And now, I think, it's time to rest. :)
Sept 27
I have been here reading but, not getting around to posting. Here is a few from the last bit.
--of course soup from freezer stockpile
--still freezing up some fall fruit and veggies.
--did a Goodwill sale yesterday everything 50% off bought 3 pair of Pajama, 2 metres of water restraint material (going to be outdoor cushions next summer)
3 vintage never used patterns, (not sure if this is frugal I hardly ever use them but, love to find them..lol), 2 hand towels (high quaility), a set of IKEA curtains (purple my favourite
still in the unopened package) all for $14.25 You have to love a good sale.
--my fridge is down to the bare bones and very, very little is going to waste.
--trying to lose a few pounds so I have been walking which saves gas...win, win.
That is all I can think of for now
rosarugosa
9-27-15, 6:42am
Congratulations on the grandchild, Steve. Nice work on the refi too, that's some serious savings.
Steve & Danna: We're starting to think about cooking up some soups & stews & spaghetti sauces to freeze. It has been so hot these past few months that we've mostly been eating sandwiches and salads. Fall means a return of hot food to our diets!
Tussiemussies
9-27-15, 10:48am
Hi Steve, congratulations on the birth of your grandchild, such a life altering event!
awakenedsoul
9-27-15, 11:25am
Thanks Tussiemussies. It does feel good to be out and about on errands. Happy Anniversary!
Yesterday I met a couple of friends at Starbucks. I normally don't go out for coffee, but I made an exception. I used to go to cafes on a daily basis when I was younger. It never dawned on me how much money I was spending! I budget in a weekly trip with my knitting group to Panera. I usually just order a drink or a piece of baguette.
Yesterday I went to Vallarta and bought a golden melon at .30 a lb. and a bag of granny smith apples at.69 a lb. I picked up some red wine vinegar for my salad dressing. I made a cobb salad with diced smoked pork chops that I had bought on sale for $1.99 a lb. I baked an apple crisp last night. I had all the ingredients in my stockpile. It came out really well. I love home baked desserts! The nutmeg gives it such nice flavor.
Today I'm going to go swimming at the gym. I've really made use of that membership. I've met so many nice people there. Great energy and enthusiasm. First I need to walk the dogs. The weather is getting cooler in the mornings and evenings, which is nice. I love Fall. I'm going to sit and knit at the knitting shop this afternoon. It's only a mile from my house. (Free socializing.) The new (to me) VW Beetle is working out really well. It's such a nice little car. I've been limiting my driving to about 10 miles every other day. (I used to drive all over town without thinking...)
My garden is looking happier, now that Summer is almost over. (It's still been 95 degrees or hotter here!) I fed the flowers some homemade compost yesterday.they have perked up and look very healthy.
Congrats on the new grandbaby, Steve! Glad to hear you found some used baby items for a good price.
Tussiemussies
9-27-15, 12:57pm
Hi Awakened, so glad to hear that you are more up and about more now.
Sounds like you are having a good time with your knitting group and at the gym. Great for you!
Wonderful news on your first grandchild, Steve. I think my DS and his wife will be trying next year (they just got married this year) so maybe about a year from now I'll be seeing my own 1st grandchild. You'll have to keep us posted on how it goes.
rosarugosa
9-27-15, 7:29pm
The cemetery walk was delightful, and the folks running it said they expect to do more walks next year, so that will definitely be on my radar. There was a tree walk we missed a month or so ago with a horticulturalist, so I hope they do one of those again. This was free entertainment at its finest, because there wasn't even any temptation to spend money!
We did our weekly trip to Trader Joe's and I asked about a credit for peaches we bought last week that were inedible (rotten inside). They were quick to give me a credit and an apology, so good to know for the future, since I hesitate to do that sort of thing.
Chicken lady
9-27-15, 8:26pm
Hi, I'm just going to jump in. I have two frugal things for September. One is dh made me join his company fitness center which is only $15 a month for me. So far I have been swimming three times, so that's swim and a shower - towels provided - $5 a time. I'm gong to try to go Wednesday which will drop September to $3.75 a visit.
Also, we are having major construction work done. There is gravel in the bottom of the excavation next to the wall that they are just going to scoop out and dump with the fill dirt. so, I built a box around my greenhouse using the landscape timbers the previous owners stapled to the disintegrating chain link fence we removed, and am filling it with "free" gravel over a very thick layer of free cardboard. Unfortunately I didn't think of this project soon enough and I forgot that I'm an "old lady" so it will be a race in the morning to see if I finish before the workmen show up or if I have to buy some gravel to top things off. Anyway, so far it's free exercise.
someone on Fbook swap and shop in our town didn't want a bag of steel cut oats she just bought. I went to pick it up for free and it was 3.7 kilos somewhere over 7 lbs of the stuff and it is usually $$$
Meezer_Mom
9-28-15, 3:45pm
Haven't been checking in and I *need* to; it helps me be where I want to be.
The weekend was very busy. Friday I did some volunteer work then went to see HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2. Used $2 coupon from RecycleBank plus the remainder on a gift card earned from surveys. $1 cash. And I got a free popcorn. I bought a soda at 7-11 but it was still cheaper than the theater prices. Afterwards, I went to a free jazz concert.
Saturday I took advantage of a comp'd ticket to Green Festival. A lot of the usual suspects: yoga, food samplings, forums on sustainability. I felt like it was smaller, not as well attended, and there were more food vendors promoting coconut and/or chocolate. The costs start at $1k for a booth which may account for some of the decline. I was impressed by one woman who upcycled clothes. She had some nice pieces. b.laynecreations.com.
Then yesterday, I snagged a $25 cert to Fogo de Chao's on Facebook, which was expiring. Had I stuck with salad bar and iced tea, it would have been enough with little out of pocket. BUT I wanted the shrimp cocktail too. With tip and after coupon... well, it was $39. I enjoyed it though and that has to count for something.
Back to oatmeal on the daily. Not to compensate for my transgressions but because it's good for me.
Great work on all of your frugals, everyone! I don't feel like I have much to contribute right now, but here are a few things.
Filled out a survey at the vet clinic last week when I was picking up prescription dog food (that part is not frugal!) and got a $5 off of a $35 purchase coupon to the pet store where I buy my other pet supplies. The coupon had a September 30th expiration date so I went to the pet store over the weekend and used that plus another coupon for a free bag of cat litter and stocked up on cat litter and cat food. Score!
A co-worker made a broccoli-kale soup and brought it in to work. She had single-serving size containers and sent me home with 2 of them last week. Free soup. YUM! Actually, it wasn't great soup, almost like something was missing from the recipe, but I added a little goat cheese and that made it much better.
I have been bringing tea with me to work every morning in my trusty travel mugs. I see so many students and co-workers walking around with iced coffees, hot coffees, or other beverages from the Starbucks cafe on campus and feel good about the fact that I'm probably saving myself $4-$6 per day given the amount of tea I drink. I did load $50 on my faculty ID so that I could buy food on campus. I get a 10% bonus for whatever amount I add over $50, so I have $55 to spend. My goal is to add no more than $150 for the semester, which would give me $165 to spend or ~$10 per week. If I can stay under that it would be a huge improvement over last year. I loaded my desk drawer with crackers, pretzels, and peanut butter, too, so that should help as well. So far, so good. I still have $38 left on my card (so I've spent $17 so far) and if I make it to the end of this week we'll already be 25% of the way through the semester.
I'm sure I have more to add, but nothing else is coming to mind right now.
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