View Full Version : April Frugals
I finally bought a new vacuum cleaner after pondering the matter for a long time. My last few vacuums have been cheap Bissells in the $50 - $60 range, and I think I've been penny wise and pound foolish, because they seem to pick up debris on the front end and spew out dust from the back end. I also don't love the idea of buying disposable crap to send into the waste stream every few years. I wanted better filtration, but light weight was also one of my top criteria, and of course I didn't want to spent more than necessary. I made a decision and ordered one online (cheapest model Miele). The company rep called me and told me they were having supply chain issues with the brand across their entire line. He offered me a vacuum by another brand that runs $100 more (Sebo), but said he would give me the same price as what I ordered. I checked it out online, and it seemed to have all the virtues of my original selection, so I went for it. It even has a 5-yr warranty vs. 1-year for my original choice, so I think I'm getting a good deal. I can report back on how satisfactory it is.
I also went to Savers with Sis yesterday. I found a brand-new Lands' End plaid shirt for DH, and a nice flowy kind of black cardigan thingy for me (in anticipation of an occasion where Vista camp pants and hoodie won't do). The cardigan looked brand new as well. It was senior discount day, so I paid about $12 for the two items., which felt like a nice score.
happystuff
4-6-22, 10:04am
Nice scores, rr!!
iris lilies
4-6-22, 12:52pm
Do report on the vacuum sweeper. I need a light stick type sweeper for my condo. If that seems to work OK after a while I may get one for our Hermann house as well. We have hardwood floors everywhere, so at the moment without rugs, I have no need for heavy duty vacuuming.
Cooked the last of the big bag of rice. After this I will not buy more. I am trying to be focused on long-term frugality (losing weight and saving on medical expenses down the road) vs short-term (eating free carb heavy snacks at work or cheap carbs at home).
Already I have given up flour and potatoes except for special occasions. I will likely have a roll with my veggie burger for Red Sox Opening Day at work.
I am noticing with the newer, looser jeans I bought they let my body breathe more and I don't have to wash them after every use.
Jeppy: I've been trying to shift to quinoa at least some of the time. It isn't cheap, but it's a reasonably good substitute and supposed to be a lot healthier.
Quinoa is one thing on my list - too much of it and I don't feel to great, but I can take it in moderation. I thought I might also try barley. And maybe some more substantial fruits like bananas.
Beans of course are filling and cheap, but have side effects (or should I say rear effects).
early morning
4-9-22, 11:33am
Still struggling to be more frugal in my daily life - things are getting more expensive and still it's difficult to curtail spending on things we value. Mostly fresh fruits and veggies, twice-weekly coffee out (for several people, depending...) and the weekly treats of take out and/or desserts out. Supporting local businesses is important to us (coffee, desserts) and I do appreciate a non-nutritious fast-food meal sometimes, lol. There's not a lot of fat in the budget but what there is, we enjoy. *sigh*. Doing well with the food waste, and planning to have a small garden this summer, although I really don't much like taking care of vegetables. I have a stock tank I've been using for tomatoes, and this year I think I'm going to fill it with wax beans and put tomatoes in smaller, shorter wash tubs. Raised plantings are much nicer for my back to deal with! But it's snowing this morning, so that will have to wait!
Had a jar full of coins to took to Coin Star kiosk at regular grocery store this morning. Got an Amazon gift card. $66.75. The soft bagels I like were on sale. I take a can of good soup to work for lunch almost daily. Campbells Chunky 2/$4. The others were $3/can not on sale. Yikes. And no regular chicken noodle I eat a ton of. Probably got 10-12 cans. Hit Aldi for a bunch of stuff. Milk, eggs, yogurt, etc. Spent $48 and got a lot. I’m set for two weeks I hope aside from milk. I drink a ton.
Gas has inched down a small amount, but it's unlikely I will hit my aggressive budget goal unless it goes lower. I am still going to the cheap gas station in the hood. Today people were cutting the line to the cashier and there was an aggressive panhandler. It made for an interesting time.
Teacher Terry
4-9-22, 1:29pm
I bought a shark vacuum which is a upright stick and love it. It was 200. They make a bunch of different models so I researched and bought one that doesn’t let dust escape. I am not giving up the things that bring me joy such as going out with my dining group. I just don’t go to the expensive places.
With my looser, airier clothes not needing to be washed as often and wearing fewer layers as we exit winter (or try to - got a little bit of snow yesterday, just along the bottom of the windshield where the wipers are, and last night there was a hard frost) I only have one load of laundry to do this week.
Heating oil is a tad below a half tank - hoping that holds out until lower prices come. Home heating/diesel is a lot more than the already overpriced regular right now.
happystuff
4-10-22, 10:37am
Just used the last of the soy sauce out of the 2 quart jug (we use a lot of soy sauce!) and was ready to throw it in recycle. Took a good look at it and decided it is a great size and the shape of the container will fit nicely on the fridge door. Cleaning off labels and will have a new ice tea jug!
Cancelled NYT digital subscription - $8/month. Cancelled Amazon Prime - $140, renews next February, but at least it's not on auto renew. No refund.
Been watching Frugal Queen in France's videos on YT. She's been putting out some good ones these days.
iris lilies
4-10-22, 6:01pm
Cancelled NYT digital subscription - $8/month. Cancelled Amazon Prime - $140, renews next February, but at least it's not on auto renew. No refund.
Been watching Frugal Queen in France's videos on YT. She's been putting out some good ones these days.
Tradd, this just reminded me to cancel my HBO subscription. I have Netflix, and Amazon prime. Those are both good. And enough.
Tradd, this just reminded me to cancel my HBO subscription. I have Netflix, and Amazon prime. Those are both good. And enough.
Good! I don't use Amazon Prime for anything but the free shipping. I donate $5/month to my local PBS station, which gets me streaming access to ton of PBS shows. PBS is what I would watch. So I'll keep that up. Wasn't reading the NYT as much the past couple of weeks. I'll just use the BBC website instead. Put the link to that on my iPhone home screen rather than having to go into browser links.
happystuff
4-15-22, 3:44pm
Dh was getting ready to mow the lawn - first time this year! So I asked him to hold off and pulled up as many wild onions as I could (not many, but some), picked dandelion flowers (trying to make wine for the first time) and gathered some dandelion greens (will add some to salad and saute some for weekly egg dish).
early morning
4-16-22, 9:30am
Thanks for the reminder Tradd! My NYT subscription passed the "deal" date and went from $4 to $17 per month. Your post prompted me to cancel it and they extended it for another year for $4 per month again. So I stayed, AND saved. Happystuff, let us know how the wine turns out if you make it. Sounds like a fun endeavor. My grandmother loved dandelion wine - she made it, and elderberry. She stopped making it before I was old enough to try it. My father said the dandelion was just short of vile, but he didn't like much wine at all, so what did he know, lol.
Early, glad that helped you!
Ordered toiletries I needed from Amazon. Had $60 gift card balance from cashing coins at the CoinStar machine at my grocery store. $50 in credit card rewards points. Total came out to $0.
I've not been getting fast food at all. Just as well as my stomach can't handle soda anymore and the acid in the coffee aggravates my acid reflux. The carbonation doesn't help either. But oh do I miss an ice cold Coke from McD.
Got paid yesterday. $1K in the scuba fund (I'm saving for a rebreather for next year. If that doesn't happen, I'll have some nice savings. Need $11K-$12K to have a cushion). Found gas for $4.05 on my alternative way to work. It's $4.25 by home. Tomorrow is my Palm Sunday (Orthodox). The women's group is having their fundraising Easter bake sale. I'll buy some Greek Easter cookies and the sweet cheese spread from the sale. With the cost of ingredients, it would run me far more to make them. Plus, I'm just not in the mood to do anything. Got some little chocolate eggs at Aldi a few weeks back as well as the $3 Brie for my Easter basket (we party out of our baskets after the midnight Easter service). I'll add some salami from the grocery store and something cold to drink (after 3 hours of singing), and I'm set.
I got a $75 rewards card for my workiversary and used it on practical items - four T shirts and most of the cost of a blender.
Not the healthiest but I have gone back to eating the free snacks at work to keep my food spending under control. The cupboards are pretty bare so I will pick up a few items tonight. Gas prices are starting to tick up again, and how much I spend on food seesaws depending on that.
I am not in any danger of going hungry, it's just that I want to meet my aggressive budget goals with lots saved towards retirement (or if we hit a recession, a layoff).
frugal-one
4-20-22, 2:43pm
Went to the village wide garage sales this morning. Surprisingly, I found a few items I have been looking for and spent very little. It is cold and windy but was worth going. Tomorrow is the big day....
Called the bank to ask why they aren't raising the interest they pay since rates are going up. They agreed to offer me a small increase over the amount paid to others through the end of the year.
Also being me you know I had to ask, and they said the mask mandate for their unvaccinated employees should be going away very soon :)
If I don't go for a physical at least once every two years I must pay $5 extra per week, or $260 extra per year, for health insurance.
But I don't want to go back to the doctor who would not write me a jury duty excuse when masks were required in courtrooms. (I was willing to do jury duty via Zoom.) So today I prepared letters to seven different doctors - I think this is easier than waiting on hold and trying to get past their gatekeepers on the phone - asking if they accept the exemptions in the mask mandate and are willing to have me as their patient maskfree. If so then they will probably be reasonable if and when I am called for jury duty again.
This took a bit of research - I searched for providers who take my insurance, have admitting privileges at the hospital I like, are accepting new patients, and are women. If I strike out I will try again with male doctors.
Good luck with this, Yppej. I have been to two doctor appointments with this doctor in Maine and she never once had me take off my mask. I told my husband the lower half of my face could be missing, for all she knew. She charged over 400 dollars for the first appointment and over 700 for the second where she did a simple CBC.
I am appalled at the medical care here, both for my parents and us.
Teacher Terry
4-22-22, 11:20pm
Locally all but my allergist had signs on the door that masks must be worn. One place they said you couldn’t wear cloth masks and gave me a surgical mask. I doubt you will find a doctor that doesn’t require one.
boss mare
4-23-22, 12:10am
If I don't go for a physical at least once every two years I must pay $5 extra per week, or $260 extra per year, for health insurance.
But I don't want to go back to the doctor who would not write me a jury duty excuse when masks were required in courtrooms. (I was willing to do jury duty via Zoom.) So today I prepared letters to seven different doctors - I think this is easier than waiting on hold and trying to get past their gatekeepers on the phone - asking if they accept the exemptions in the mask mandate and are willing to have me as their patient maskfree. If so then they will probably be reasonable if and when I am called for jury duty again.
This took a bit of research - I searched for providers who take my insurance, have admitting privileges at the hospital I like, are accepting new patients, and are women. If I strike out I will try again with male doctors.
OMG Get a Grip Lady....
OMG Get a Grip Lady....
Still reading my posts. Life's so boring without me.
happystuff
4-23-22, 10:34am
OMG Get a Grip Lady....
Yppej get a grip? That ship has sailed a long time ago and seems unlikely to ever dock again. Very sad.
Sent back new Moto phone because it kept talking to me and making random noises, and it seemed like I would have to reprogram it to get it to stop. Went back to my old phone, which will save me money when they accept the return of the new phone.
iris lilies
4-24-22, 10:08am
Locally all but my allergist had signs on the door that masks must be worn. One place they said you couldn’t wear cloth masks and gave me a surgical mask. I doubt you will find a doctor that doesn’t require one.
No one in my Dr’s office was masked.
when I went in the first time after long .covid absence, they all had on masks, they asked me if I was fully vaccinated, they asked me if I minded that they removed their masks, and then took off their masks.
I havent seen them in masks since then.
iris lilies
4-24-22, 10:10am
Good luck with this, Yppej. I have been to two doctor appointments with this doctor in Maine and she never once had me take off my mask. I told my husband the lower half of my face could be missing, for all she knew. She charged over 400 dollars for the first appointment and over 700 for the second where she did a simple CBC.
I am appalled at the medical care here, both for my parents and us.
Tybee, I pay $900 annually for unlimited access to my doctor or her nurse practicioner. She is a direct care physician.
Tybee, I pay $900 annually for unlimited access to my doctor or her nurse practicioner. She is a direct care physician.
I would totally do that if I liked the doctor. But does Medicare pay for things like your blood tests and mammograms etc?
iris lilies
4-24-22, 6:45pm
I would totally do that if I liked the doctor. But does Medicare pay for things like your blood tests and mammograms etc?
Yes.
So, she still runs tests thru insurance, but her own actions and those of her staff are not billed to insurance.
ok, tho for instance… Her nurse technician performed a skin allergy test on the last time I went. The cost was something like $126. That cost was largely for the cost of the test kit her office used. I paid out of pocket and didn’t attempt to get insurance pay for it because apparently they wouldn’t anyway. So whatever.
I get the feeling that I hit her office about the time she was really reaching her stride and getting established. Since then she has hired a nurse practitioner. That’s who I saw in my last annual visit, the annual visit I need to continue to get blood pressure medication.
My doctor is also expanding to the nearby bigger town. So I don’t know if she needs to expand to keep her practice afloat or what exactly. In my adult life this is the longest relationship I have had with a physician, and I’ve probably seen her, what, three times? Plus I talk to her via email and on the phone a few times.
I have a long history of not visiting physicians at all .
That sounds really good. I looked around and there is one of these in a town about half an hour away. But it is a guy, solo practitioner. I need to look into this.
I have been cutting chives from my yard, mixing with shredded cheese, adding homemade vinaigrette, and chowing down.
I am finishing the month under budget by $9 and change.
Every month so far I have stayed on track but I am allowing myself four months this year to go over and it appears May will be the first of these. My goal will be to not exceed my average monthly spending over the past 95 months, a higher and more doable amount.
My irregular expenses will include homeowners insurance for the year, 30K maintenance on the car, Mother's Day, and maybe a little fun.
happystuff
4-30-22, 11:34am
Patio set apparently does NOT come with an umbrella base, but neighbor next door traded a base for the the water hose holder we have. (Hose is located on the side of the house where they ran more patio stones - no place to put the holder in actual ground). Nice trade for each with no extra monetary output!
If I don't go for a physical at least once every two years I must pay $5 extra per week, or $260 extra per year, for health insurance.
But I don't want to go back to the doctor who would not write me a jury duty excuse when masks were required in courtrooms. (I was willing to do jury duty via Zoom.) So today I prepared letters to seven different doctors - I think this is easier than waiting on hold and trying to get past their gatekeepers on the phone - asking if they accept the exemptions in the mask mandate and are willing to have me as their patient maskfree. If so then they will probably be reasonable if and when I am called for jury duty again.
This took a bit of research - I searched for providers who take my insurance, have admitting privileges at the hospital I like, are accepting new patients, and are women. If I strike out I will try again with male doctors.
No response from any of the doctors, and now there is a new wrinkle. I was looking for someone with admitting privileges to the nice community hospital in the area, but now it is being sold to the big conglomerate. There will be no more independent hospitals left in the area.
May as well pick someone in the same city where I live if I'm stuck with the sucky conglomerate anyways.
Wasted postage.
Teacher Terry
5-4-22, 12:20pm
Doctors have all the patients that they can handle and all your letters did was signal to them in advance not to take you as a patient.
Doctors have all the patients that they can handle and all your letters did was signal to them in advance not to take you as a patient.
Got a letter today from a doctor saying that "unfortunately" the medical group she is a part of has a "strict policy" but if this changes "I would be happy to take you on as a new patient".
Asked my Team Reality buddies do they know of any doctors in NH but they don't. Maybe in the future they will though. People from MA are already moving there to avoid covid restrictions, especially on their kids. MA is losing population and NH is gaining.
frugal-one
5-14-22, 3:28pm
Wrong month, not a frugal.
Wrong month, not a frugal.
Judgy, judgy.
Reply with quote only works within a thread.
I reached out to a NH group to see if they can help me.
frugal-one
5-14-22, 6:18pm
How does it feel? BTW, this May and your message had nothing to do with frugality.. wrong thread.
How does it feel? BTW, this May and your message had nothing to do with frugality.. wrong thread.
It has to do with finding a doctor who is sympathetic so I can get an annual physical that will save me $260 in annual premiums which you would know if you bothered to read the thread. Why are you on it anyways if it's May and you have rigid thinking about what month it is? Go to May and bitch there.
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