View Full Version : February 2013 UN-Frugals
So...I'm starting this a little late as there is only a week left in February. But thought it would be helpful to have a place to put my UN-frugals this month.
And, besides, this was such a clever idea for a thread -- kudos Mrs. M -- that I really want this to become a recurring monthly thread. Helps me to remember why I'm so frugal most of the time -- so that the UN-frugals don't derail me entirely!
I'll start. :D
Feeling quite UN-frugal that I ran the dishwasher TWICE this week with less than full loads of dishes. Why? Because we had a little ant invasion and it seemed to be focused around the dishwasher.
Also feeling UN-frugal that I did a poor job of planning my day and, as a result, will end up driving an extra ~30 miles because I'll need to make a second trip to town. Oops.
awakenedsoul
2-22-13, 12:08pm
It's been a very frugal month for me. I did buy some yarn that ended up being too busy for the cable knit vest I'm going to make. But, I'll use it for a sweater. It cost $45.00, but is beautiful quality soft merino wool. I'm spending less time at my knitting group because they apply such high pressure there to buy buy buy!
Awww... what a great surprise, Cdttmm! :)
Shame on me... do I EVER have UN-frugals to post about! LOL! A Black Forest Cake, which I picked up at the start of the week (while shopping), a package of paper towels... so UN-frugal, yet I haven't been able to totally migrate away from buying them, and two rotisserie chickens (for lunches).
P.S. Thank you for starting this thread, Cdttmm! And yes, let's make it a recurring monthly topic!
DH and I are going out for sushi tomorrow. I'm not sorry!
Mrs. M, I think as far as "convenience" foods go, rotisserie chickens aren't bad at all. You can get several meals out of them plus make stock with the bones. That's way better than those "meal in a bags" you can get in the freezer section--you know, the stir fry or whatever. Those cost like $6-$8 here, and we usually don't even have leftovers!
Originally posted by Kat.
DH and I are going out for sushi tomorrow. I'm not sorry!Good on you!
P.S. You've made me feel a lot better about my purchase of the rotisserie chickens! Thanks for that! Sometimes I'm so tired and worn-out, I have to rely on an easy fix.
I just bought a six-carat emerald...
Of course it's lab created and I paid sixteen dollars for it, but it's lovely and green and I have plans for it.
I was feeling guilty about the purchasing the Menopause book recommended on another thread until my husband laid out another $800 Ironman registration fee =0 OUCH!!
rosarugosa
2-22-13, 8:22pm
Well we had a nice weekend in Portland two weeks ago, but it wasn't cheap. However, we had a great time, it was very relaxing, and we ate a lot of great seafood, so no regrets.
I do a lot of unfrugal things and I do a lot of frugal things. Today`s story...well. I bought two wool sweaters at the thrift store (see my complaint about the smell in another thread). I washed them and they are SHRUNKEN! (I am not exactly sure of the grammar here). Anyway, apparently cold water wash meant exactly that. Oops.
I wasted $15 bucks, plus twice through the washer. But I bet they can be cut up and sewn into something interesting...by someone who is crafty that way.
Anyway, that was me trying to be frugal but actually giving away money. And the smell still isn`t out, so I likely couldn`t have worn them anyway. Pity, they are nice looking sweaters, just a bit, um, small. Now.
awakenedsoul
2-23-13, 10:31pm
Oh leslieann, I'm so sorry about your sweaters. I just wrote you a post about hand washing in lukewarm or cold water with no agitation...oh well. I guess I was too late. I just learned to knit sweaters so I'm ultra cautious. Maybe you can use them at cushion covers?
I like the cushion covers idea. I have also noticed a fad here of making boiled sweaters into mitts and scarves. People cut them into squares and then put together like a patchwork. I am not crafty, though I am a craft and art appreciator. The cushion cover could be cute and easy, though, particularly with the cardigan. A button-up cushion cover! Thanks for the idea.
One of the reasons I prefer thrifting to shopping is that disasters like this are blips. Can you imagine if I had ruined a hundred dollar sweater....not that I have any of those.
Sorry about your sweater, leslieann! That happened to me once, too, only it was a new sweater that shrunk! It was a total bummer! I have seen a lot of cute craft ideas for felted wool online, though. I used mine to make gauntlets for my niece. They turned our really pretty!
We went for sushi yesterday and then did a little clothes shopping for the kids. Both of those things were budgeted for, so even though we spent money, it wasn't horrible. I probably could have outfitted the kids for less money shopping at Goodwill, though! ;-)
I have had a major unfrugal each month for the past two months, and expect one next month also.
January: Hired a personal trainer. Not cheap, so worth it.
February: Paid for a work/personal growth conference that is scheduled for July. I haven't done anything like this for decades, and I am really looking forward to it. Very pricey, though.
March: Attorney's fees. Am taking the kid's dad back to court about custody issues. This may pay off as I will likely get more in child support.
Lots of fun reading everyone's UN-frugals!
Without UN-frugals, my frugal and simple life would be drab. I NEED UN-frugals... and they need me. UN-frugals, help offset (and prime) my steadfast dedication towards all things frugal/simple.
We're almost back home from our BIG un-frugal: a Caribbean cruise (return flight is tomorrow). For the cruise itself, we didn't do too badly. Three glasses of wine, one of the photographs they took during the cruise, and some Internet time and that was it. No shore excursions; no "premium restaurants". Considering the subtle (and not-so-subtle) emphasis on buying Buying BUYING throughout the cruise, it was cheap. We saw what other people were paying for food and liquor and shore excursions -- it's not hard to double the cost of the cruise fare! We didn't buy much on shore, either. We don't need anything -- and neither do most of the people we'd buy gifts for.
We flew down a day early to avoid any crises with cancelled planes, so there were some meals out we would not have had. We did spend extra for a non-stop flight; it just cuts down on the anxiety of making multiple connections (not to mention time killed at airports). The price difference was about 15%, so not huge. I did end up buying a suit for formal nights because when I went to pack my old suit, it and my sport jacket were among the missing. In retrospect, I needn't have bothered: the clearly-spelled-out 'black tie' dress code for formal nights in the main dining room somehow got dumbed down to "any old sport jacket over a polo shirt". But it's too late to return the suit and I likely will get more use out of it in the future. Ditto with the trip back, though it turned out somewhat cheaper to stay another night in Florida than to fly out the same day the cruise returned.
The cruise achieved its purpose, though -- it was a great break away for DW and I enjoyed not having to shop/cook/clean for a week. We got to spend lots of time with each other and even with some relatives of mine at one port. So all told it was good. Once we arrive back home tomorrow night, though, frugality resumes!
I went to a quilt show this weekend and spent almost $80 on batik fabric, including four grab bags of gorgeous scraps in dozens of colors and patterns. Pretty!
Sounds like fun, SteveinMN!
I have a MAJOR weakness for fabric remnants, AustinKat!
Broke down and bought a bottle of soda today -- $1.84. Totally un-frugal, but the first few sips tasted great. :D
LOL, Cdttmm! I asked DH to bring home a bottle of Coke for me yesterday! Drank roughly half last night, and will no doubt finish the rest today! I go extended periods without drinking soda or even craving it, then without warning... there it is... severe soda pop need!
This one is for you, Cdttmm! http://www.smileyvault.com/albums/userpics/12962/coke.gif
I bought DD some $5 flowers at the grocery store today. Her little face just lit up when she saw them. I also bought DH a pack of fruit snacks, which he has been really craving. I don't usually buy them, but I figure I can leave them on his pillow as a little treat...kind of like how hotels leave chocolates on the pillow. :-)
I count these as unfrugals because, though I remained within my grocery budget, buying things that aren't on the list means I have less money to save. But, as usual...I'm really not very sorry.
Other un-frugals of late include a pile of medical bills related to my pregnancy, DH's broken foot, and that nasty bout of the flu that DH had. I also bought a maternity shirt. It wasn't a true "need," but I only have a few maternity clothes that were second hand. I just wanted to choose one thing myself, just one nice thing that I liked and that fit and that I could feel good in. Kind of silly seeing as I only have three more months to go, but...meh. I look adorable, and being able to feel that way while pregnant is pretty priceless to me! ;-)
treehugger
2-26-13, 3:21pm
Just bought a ticket to see Imagine Dragons in SF on 5/31 (going with a friend from work) and I am so excited! Add that to Airborne Toxic Event and Killers tickets DH and I bought for April, and that's more money spent on concert tickets in 2013 than all of the last 5 years put together.
I love live music and have had to do without it for so long (budget) that I am really enjoying the prospect of bringing that joy back into my life (since the budget can now handle it). Hooray for [affordable, totally worth it] unfrugals!
Kara
This one is for you, Cdttmm! http://www.smileyvault.com/albums/userpics/12962/coke.gif
Thanks, Mrs-M!!!
It's cold and raining/sleeting here today and is generally dreary. I turned the heat up to 63 degrees in the living room, which is where I'm working today. So un-frugal, I know, but drinking tea and putting a cat in my lap just wasn't cutting it today! :|(
BarbieGirl
2-27-13, 3:55pm
LOL, Cdttmm! I asked DH to bring home a bottle of Coke for me yesterday! Drank roughly half last night, and will no doubt finish the rest today! I go extended periods without drinking soda or even craving it, then without warning... there it is... severe soda pop need!
This one is for you, Cdttmm! http://www.smileyvault.com/albums/userpics/12962/coke.gif
Love the coke icon!! I'm a cherry coke zero fanatic!! That could be my avatar!
I love it, too, BarbieGirl!
P.S. Love your Cherry Coke avatar idea!
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