View Full Version : April 2013 Frugals
Happy April Fools Day, everyone! But frugality is hardly a laughing matter, so post your frugals for the month here and help keep others in our little online world motivated!
Kicking things off with some frugal-ness on this lovely spring day. Traveled to see family for the Easter weekend and now I'm happy to be home and back to my frugal routine.
Making up a list of errands so that I can group them and be efficient when I ultimately venture out to run them. Which means I did not give in to my impulse to just run out and randomly do some stuff this morning. Plan, then execute! I'm going to a college alumni meeting tonight and that will give me the perfect opportunity to run some errands on my way so that I don't need to make a special trip to run those errands another time.
One of my errands is to stop at the post office to mail out a paperbackswap.com book. I had packaged it up, weighed it, put postage on it and dropped it in the mailbox at the post office before leaving town for the weekend. I came home to discover that it had been returned to me saying that I owed $0.17 in postage. I re-weighed it and double-checked the postage pricing online and it definitely has the right amount of postage. I'm going to go to the post office and get it straightened out instead of just sticking more postage on it because someone at the post office clearly weighed it incorrectly and I'm not paying for their mistake.
Eating at home today. Finished the leftover frittata and one of the donuts I bought at a gluten-free bakery while in NYC this weekend. Those were some expensive donuts -- fantastic the first day, still quite yummy the second day, but by day three...a noticeable decline in the taste. Guess that just means I'll have to eat the remaining donut today, too! ;)
We've been eating a lot of premium ice cream around here -- not frugal -- so I'm going to try to start making fairly large batches of tapioca pudding to see if that will be a suitable replacement for the ice cream. If so, it will definitely be a less expensive dessert to keep around and it's relatively easy to make so hopefully I can keep a steady supply in the refrigerator. I'm also going to make up some macaroons as those are naturally gluten free and we both like them.
We ditched cable TV. Finally! We loved The Mystery Channel a lot and its other English language channels helped me feel less isolated but I just couldn't justify the price anymore for the one channel we loved.
Also saved by disconnecting it myself and taking the cable box/tuner to their office myself :)
DW found out over the weekend a kind-of distant uncle passed away, so she took her mom to the funeral today (about three hours away) and I'm manning the fort. Frugal dinner for me: I made some chicken stock (from concentrate; if I make it with a chicken it becomes this big-deal chicken soup) and added all the vegetable leftovers in the fridge, some leftover noodles, and a squirt of rooster sauce. A little salty, but tasty and some of the vegetables really needed to get cooked or gone. And we could use the space in the 'fridge. :-)
We ditched cable TV. Finally! We loved The Mystery Channel a lot and its other English language channels helped me feel less isolated but I just couldn't justify the price anymore for the one channel we loved.
Also saved by disconnecting it myself and taking the cable box/tuner to their office myself :)
You may already have done this, but check and see if your channel or some of its shows are available online. I watch HGTV on my computer at their website because I don't get that channel. Google for 'watch <name of show> online' and look among the results for the website of the channel.
flowerseverywhere
4-3-13, 10:44am
my neighbor and I were talking, she does not use her hambone so she gave it to me. It was full of ham so I have in on the stove in a stockpot with two packs of split peas, sautéed onions, celery and garlic and some chopped carrots and potatoes. Smells heavenly. who know a pack of split peas is now 12 ounces instead of 16? Decided to research some methods of self care as I have a lot of nasal problems and congenitally bad gums. I've been working hard to floss, dental pic and brush my teeth and at the last cleaning even after six months they were impressed and told me I only need cleanings every six months. That is a huge savings over every three months I used to go. Also, I am faithfully doing my nasal wash instead of nasal steroids and other sprays and pills and I am going great. Working on closing the drapes on the hot side of the house and using ceiling fans to lessen the need for air conditioning as it is hot here. We haven't turned on our air yet this season.
Made a frittata for dinner last night using up some potatoes and half an onion that was in the refrigerator. Wasn't sure how it would turn out, but it was good so this is another frittata variation that I can add to the rotation -- hooray!
Finally discovered a granola that I can buy in bulk that my dearly beloved likes. Turns out it's the cheapest option, too, at $3.29/lb. Yes, making my own would probably be cheaper, but I can't commit to that right now. My next homemade cooking project will likely be yogurt since we go through a lot of it around here.
Made up a master grocery list (with prices) of what we eat in a week. I over projected on the amounts for some items and it came out to $91.81. If I can hold us to this weekly we would hit our grocery budget for the year. But it doesn't leave a lot of wiggle room for extras so I need to think about how I can modify some recipes or swap out some of the more expensive dishes for things that are cheaper. But it gives me hope that we can keep our grocery spending in check this year.
We're supposed to get weather in the mid-50s over the next few days so I'm going to hold off on doing some laundry so that I can dry stuff on the clothesline and start to phase out the use of the dryer -- woo-hoo!
With the encouragement of a friend, made up a budget for the coming year. I haven't done this in several years, and this one is better focused because it has to do with my income going down and DH retiring in a year and a half from his half-time job. After I did some research to arrive at numbers, added the list up, took out some things and at his suggestion took everything possible down by 10%, he made a spread sheet for it and I filled it in. It's a May-to-May thing, a year, so has a place for each month when I spend from each item. What a relief to have all this really thought through and organized. May will be our first month when our HELOC is paid off, and we have only the original mortgage left, $804, which is so much we can never pay it off ($150,000), but hopefully low enough for whichever of us dies second to be able to pay. Meanwhile, another big thrill about all this is I will start in June on putting as much as I can into our so far only $1,500 emergency/savings/retirement fund. Thank you all for being frugal models, each of us struggling in our own way to be financially better.
Decided to dive in and try my hand at making homemade yogurt today. If this works and I can commit to making yogurt regularly, we'll save a projected $243.88 on yogurt over an entire year. Hot diggity -- that's about 5% of our annual grocery bill right there! Feeling inspired by this!!!
Thanks for the update, larknm. I've been wondering how you are doing. Big financial changes are scary, aren't they? We are going through a similar circumstance right now. But, like you, we are trying to plan as best we can for it. I am confident we we both make it through. I've been re-reading YMOYL and feel inspired. Maybe it would help you, too. :-)
How did the yogurt come out cdttmm? I used to make Greek yogurt all the time in my crock pot. So easy and so good!
As I mentioned on another thread, DH and I have been really concentrating on eating at home. We have been working on the nursery, too, which isn't exactly frugal, but we have been trying to do as much of it ourselves as possible and hired someone hourly to do the rest. WAY cheaper than the initial $5700 estimate we got. Eeek! Other than that, I have been shopping with coupons and doing well. Yesterday I was able to score 3 sleepers for the baby at Kohl's for 90 cents. They let me combine about a billion coupons with sales, so that was nice! We've been taking DD for walks each evening in her stroller again. It is a little chilly still, but we bundle her up, and she loves it. Frugal and good for all of us to get out into the sunshine.
How did the yogurt come out cdttmm?
Thanks for asking, Kat. It came out GREAT! I just had some this morning. It was not quite as thick as store-bought, but very close. The real test comes when my dearly beloved has some for breakfast. He seemed very on-board with this idea (why not? I was the one doing all the work -- LOL!), but then he looked at me skeptically this morning and asked, "It won't kill me, right?" I *think* he was joking. :D
Keeping up with lots of other good, frugal behaviors. I'm still making a pot of tea every morning and keeping it warm in my travel mugs to drink throughout the morning, instead of heating up water to make tea by the cup. I'm trying to be very careful about not turning on more lights than we need now that we have much more natural light than we do during the winter months. And I've been trying to remember to double-check little used equipment and making sure it gets shut off, like the printer and the paper shredder. I want to build up our credit with the electric company from our solar panels so that we don't ever pay an electric bill again! Of course, this is heavily weather dependent...but I'm doing what I can on my end to reduce our energy consumption.
Yesterday was a no-drive day for me. I don't have many of those so I like to celebrate them when I do have them. I was originally planning to go to the gym for a yoga class, but it was a substitute teacher and I'm really quite partial to the regular instructor, so I decided to stay home and get some other stuff done.
flowerseverywhere
4-4-13, 11:48am
WATCH THE GROCERY CASHIER! today mine rung up gourmet peaches instead of bananas, it would have been a wasted $5 for me if I hadn't been paying attention. She didn't even apologize, just laughed it off. This grocery store has really good bogo offers which is what I get there, plus pick up a few items I need. I'll still go there but it highlights that no one is as good a steward of your money than you are. Kat, how do you make greek yogurt in the crockpot?
Kat, how do you make greek yogurt in the crockpot?
We like Greek yogurt, so we followed the method outlined here:
http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/04/crockpot-greek-yogurt.html
You don't have to strain it , though, if you prefer regular yogurt.
A couple of frugals rounded up...
I bought a replacement cable modem today. It came to my attention that we've been paying Comcast $7 a month for the cable modem we're using. I knew we were renting the modem at a premium to buying one, but I was okay with that because I knew having our own modem would be the source of every single issue that ever occurred on our end of the Comcast network forevermore. ("Oh, there's no problem with our service, sir. It must be your own modem's configuration." "I haven't changed anything in more than a year." "Well, it must be your modem.") I didn't notice because, well, Comcast has been nickeling-and-dimeing our rate every few months for years. At $3 a month, it was worth avoiding the hassle, but at $7 a month, it's not. The new modem will pay for itself in 11 months and is reasonably future-proof.
Our income taxes are done. Courtesy of working with people who actually know local tax laws (our accountant), we got a much larger refund than we expected. I don't think there's any way I would have found this deduction using tax software. I didn't even know to look for it, really. So though the accountant's services cost significantly more than a box of tax software, it was money well spent, in my view. The plan DW and I have agreed upon for the refund is to pay against principal on the mortgage so it can be finished with when she retires in 2019. Finishing off the mortgage is a psychological thing for us; we could carry that amount in full retirement. But DW would like to; we're doing fine with our EF; and, courtesy of DW's financial condition and my self-employment, we're not going to be able to refinance the mortgage for some years yet. Saving 5.5% interest on the mortgage beats what we'd make in savings. And we'll have the $$ in case we need to start replacing expensive parts of the house, like the windows.
Still selling stuff on craigslist. Man, there are a bunch of flaky people out there.... :doh:
I am going to have to be way more careful in my frugality, as tomorrow I will be taking on a car loan for the first time in about 15 years! I have actually only ever had one car loan in my life, plus some student loan debt, both long since paid off. So it will be my first on-going debt since then. Plus I have to figure in the more expensive insurance my new car will need (collision). I was crunching the numbers I have stored in Quicken for the past few years and was basically allowing about $1100 per year (or around $100 per month) in car repair bills for the old car. So I figure that the loan payment will be a little more than that, hopefully no more than $130-140 per month (depending on how much I put down for a down payment and how long the term of the loan will be - I'll find out all that tomorrow when I go sign the papers).
At any rate, my monthly expenses will be going up.
I thought of one way to be frugal next week - I am going to go to Indiana to help open a new store! I found out how much the per diem allowance for food will be and it seems pretty good, something like $8 for breakfast, $11 for lunch, and $20 for dinner. So this is what I am going to do - I will make use of the hotel room's refrigerator and eat the same breakfast I eat at home (granola with fruit and almond milk). Lunch can be very a light fair too, perhaps just some salad/deli stuff from the store and dinner from the hot bar, all using my WF discount card. I will probably treat myself to a dinner out at a restaurant once or twice. Snacks can be an apple, raisins, almonds, etc. The company is cutting me a check for the allowable amount which I can then pocket what I don't use! I will be reimbursed for mileage as well.
This seems like it will be a lot of fun - a little working vacation. I'll get to drive my new car and enjoy its luxury, listen to music on the CD player, stay in a hotel that has Wi-Fi (I have an old lap-tap that I can take) and watch bad TV, which is a fun novelty to me! I can use the exercise room. I can explore South Bend and check out the music scene. But most of all, I will be working my butt off.
Tussiemussies
4-4-13, 9:30pm
I am going to have to be way more careful in my frugality, as tomorrow I will be taking on a car loan for the first time in about 15 years! I have actually only ever had one car loan in my life, plus some student loan debt, both long since paid off. So it will be my first on-going debt since then. Plus I have to figure in the more expensive insurance my new car will need (collision). I was crunching the numbers I have stored in Quicken for the past few years and was basically allowing about $1100 per year (or around $100 per month) in car repair bills for the old car. So I figure that the loan payment will be a little more than that, hopefully no more than $130-140 per month (depending on how much I put down for a down payment and how long the term of the loan will be - I'll find out all that tomorrow when I go sign the papers).
At any rate, my monthly expenses will be going up.
I thought of one way to be frugal next week - I am going to go to Indiana to help open a new store! I found out how much the per diem allowance for food will be and it seems pretty good, something like $8 for breakfast, $11 for lunch, and $20 for dinner. So this is what I am going to do - I will make use of the hotel room's refrigerator and eat the same breakfast I eat at home (granola with fruit and almond milk). Lunch can be very a light fair too, perhaps just some salad/deli stuff from the store and dinner from the hot bar, all using my WF discount card. I will probably treat myself to a dinner out at a restaurant once or twice. Snacks can be an apple, raisins, almonds, etc. The company is cutting me a check for the allowable amount which I can then pocket what I don't use! I will be reimbursed for mileage as well.
This seems like it will be a lot of fun - a little working vacation. I'll get to drive my new car and enjoy its luxury, listen to music on the CD player, stay in a hotel that has Wi-Fi (I have an old lap-tap that I can take) and watch bad TV, which is a fun novelty to me! I can use the exercise room. I can explore South Bend and check out the music scene. But most of all, I will be working my butt off.
We just met someone who cleans stores that are new and about to be opened as a business he built up over the years. He is doing very well with it...although probably different than what you are doing.
Sounds like there will be a lot of pluses to your trip!!!
Blackdog Lin
4-4-13, 9:31pm
SiouzQ: that is the most awesome description of a working vacation I've ever heard! Love that you have plans to both have "little funs" like enjoying your new car and checking out the new city, along with utilizing their per diem and put money in your pocket by not spending all that money they allow you for restaurant meals.
A hotel with wifi: check. Bad TV: check. Exercise room: check. Working your butt off: check. A mix of frugal food and some maybe-fancy restaurant food: check.
The very definition of serendipity - frugal meets a work trip meets making the best and funnest of it.
early morning
4-4-13, 11:56pm
SiouzQ, your trip sounds wonderful! I just found out today I may be able to go to a conference in DC - expenses paid. It won't be as good a deal as yours, since I only am reimbursed for what I have receipts for, and we'll fly - no mileage- but it sounds like a great conference, so I hope we get to go. On the frugal front, we got our taxes done for free by an AARP foundation volunteer (they know a lot more than I do...) we do not itemize, but discovered we could get a deduction for both of our adult children even though they are over the age limit, since 1 lives at home and is severely underemployed, and the other is in school full time with no visible means of support. So that saved me not only the cost of software or a tax prep, but also on ibuprofen. I found two nice large ovals of heavy plate glass with polished edges for $5 each, about $75 LESS than if I'd had it cut. Which I wouldn't have, so I can't really count it as a "savings" - but it IS a deal, lol. I'm sure I will find something interesting to do w/ them! AND, my car's odometer turned 200K on my way home from my sister's tonight. Which isn't really a frugal, but I'm excited about it anyway! :)
Well, DS#2 and I are traversing the country this week looking at colleges. It's NOT a frugal week, with the hotels, gas, eating out, etc. But some frugals have been possible:
~ snacks packed in the car for while traveling
~ all but one morning, eating the "free" breakfast at the hotel
~ using the "free" wi-fi inthe rooms
~ because restaurant meals are so huge-sharing or ordering an appetizer as a meal
~ reading the college publications: newspapers, magazines, lists of courses available, list of clubs available, etc as entertainment
~ driving my hybrid car which gets pretty good milage
~ packing every single item of clothing I own, so I do not have to do laundy till I get home
~ crossword puzzles in the "free" USA today, or college papers
~ like SousiQ, hotel TV. Since I do not have a TV at home, this feels decadent. I have discovered that I prefer bad Britsih murder shows to CSI.
~ mostly, I have had to pay for parking, but my best frugal for the week, so far, has been finding an open street parking spot in NYC. I figure that probably saved me $30.
~ talking with the financial aid counselors at the various schools. Won't save me any money this week, but maybe thousands in the future.
Another no-drive day here. Almost made a trip to town to pick up a prescription, but realized I could wait until Monday and run some other errands at the same time.
We loaned our neighbors our tractor for the afternoon and in return they gave us a dozen duck eggs. We've never eaten duck eggs before, but two minutes of online research tells me that they are superior to chicken eggs for baking. We don't bake much around here because I'm gluten free, but several websites also mentioned that you can use duck eggs the same way you use chicken eggs so I'm thinking perhaps a frittata is in our future! :D
My homemade yogurt continues to be a hit -- Day 3. Guess I'll be making more soon!
My dearly beloved baked bread today -- something only he can eat -- I'm pleased that he has become quite dedicated in his bread baking and he hasn't bought bread in months.
Other than that, it's been a pretty quiet day around here. Looking forward to warmer weather so that we can put an end to the heating season and stop having to load the boiler with wood! Also looking forward to getting seeds started and having a productive veggie garden!
Trying to eat down our small chest type freezer. Went to the store and bought only what was on our list. WooHoo!
We saved a lot of money and built our own half wall separating the kitchen and dining room. We are reusing/repainting our dining furniture and DH will be building a set of built-ins on one side to store the china and other pots/pans that are used occasionally. I started our seeds indoors and also have plans for our raised garden beds....we are making them out of cinder blocks that we are getting free here and there.
I have to make another batch of our ultra moisturizing body wash and a few more loaves of bread/banana bread :)
BTW...did some research on having top soil and mulch delivered....prices ranged from $250-$350 for a total of 6 yards >:( that is a whole lot of money for frigging dirt!
citrine- what is you body wash recipe?
I agree that is a lot of $ for dirt. I'm sure there are cheaper options if you have the time to investigate. You do compost, right?
I'm eating down the freezer in between eating things made with all the great fresh produce I bought yesterday.
I bought a basil plant to add to my container garden on the balcony.
Got a bunch of books from the library.
early morning
4-7-13, 2:18pm
Forecast called for rain all night, and all day today. It is dry and beautiful, so I have my third load of laundry (blankets, bedding, winter throws) on the line, and another (clothing) in the washer. If I run out of day, they can finish inside. Had the forecast been for such weather, I'd have gotten an earlier start and be done by now! Oh, well...
Hello everyone! I can't believe it's the 8th already. April is going fast.
I went and got my seeds this week for seed starting. I had Zach rig up the lights on a shelf in the dining room this year, where it will be easy for me to remember to water them. We are excited for gardening after this long, long winter. Ultimately, it's not going to be a cheap gardening year, since I am finally tackling a couple of spots that have been long-neglected, but gardening is one of those things where you end up enjoying the fruits of the time and money you put into it for years and years, so it's worth it.
That's kind of where I'm at this year, in a spend-now-to-save-later kind of place. My freezer purchase is paying off. I have been able to save $100 a month on groceries since I bought my new freezer two months ago, so that is going to pay for itself pretty quickly.
We got a new-to-us bed for free yesterday. A neighbor had bought a $2500 mattress set and then decided she wanted a King. She couldn't return the old one, so she gave it to us for free. We have been sleeping on the same awful $100 IKEA mattress since we got married 10 years ago, so this was quite a score for us. We are saving the foam mattress from our old bed for camping. Zach is going to build a platform with storage underneath in the bed of his truck and we'll toss the old mattress on that for camping this summer. The old bed was smaller than the new one, so we still need to get a bed frame, but I'm going to wait it out until I find something I like for cheap, or just have Zach build one.
Now that it's a little bit nicer out, Zach and I are trying to have more inexpensive date nights. We decided to do a Drink of the Month, for drinks out on our patio or by the pool this summer. That way we only have to have a couple of ingredients on hand. It's cheaper than going out.
My homeschool preschool is mostly set up now and it's going quite well. I think I posted about this before, but I decided that, instead of sending the three littles to the preschool their sisters went to, which would be a total of $4000 for the three of them for one year, I would spend a bit of money on setting up my own preschool, with the idea that in a year or two, I may take on a couple of friends' kids on a part-time basis. I spent a couple of years in my misspent youth as an assistant teacher at a Montessori school, so I set up my school shelf for the littles Montessori style. It's been such a huge hit. The little kids love it. I've got two sensory bins that I change out monthly, right now it's a bug bin with Easter grass and bug toys and a dragon bin with gravel, fake trees and some dragon toys. Then I have my puzzle rack, some stacking puzzles, a wooden peg-person colour sorter (made by me for $25 less than the one I wanted online), block puzzles, a nature tray we fill from our nature walk finds, a wooden car ramp, a wood shape stacker and a wood clock puzzle. I also got bins of random PVC and connectors, one for making marble runs and one for water play. I made a bin full of busy bags, each with a different preschool activity, too. We have storytime in our home library everyday, usually with the big girls reading while I clean up from breakfast. When I am able to get out on the patio more, we will also have a sand bin, water table and dirt bin for playing in. Some of these materials will be changed out occasionally, and some will be permanent. I think it's a pretty decent set-up to start. They also learn a lot from watching their older sisters' lessons.
We have been doing some planning for the summer and we have decided to start doing more camping this year. We're starting small and close to home, since we do have a lot of small kids, but we love to travel and the better the kids get at camping, the cheaper and easier that will be.
Tussiemussies
4-8-13, 4:54pm
Hi Stella, so great that you have Montessori experience so that you could really set up your pre-school wit expertise! It sounds like you did such a great job, glad that the children are having such a great time!
I scored some really nice spring/summer clothes at Salvation Army yesterday! I got a pair of Calvin Klein sand-colored cargo style capris ($6.99), and pair of Lucky Brand olive drab cargo shorts ($6.99) and two really nice T-shirts for 99 cents each! I guess I am actually having fun rebuilding my warm weather wardrobe :) Now all I need are some light hiking shoes for my trip this summer (I've been checking out Merrells and Keens) and some sporty mary-jane style fun shoes for running around town.
I feel light and strong from this past year's weight loss and clothing looks a lot better on me - another added plus is I am finding more and better selection in the smaller sizes in at the thrift stores.
I scored some really nice spring/summer clothes at Salvation Army yesterday! I got a pair of Calvin Klein sand-colored cargo style capris ($6.99), and pair of Lucky Brand olive drab cargo shorts ($6.99) and two really nice T-shirts for 99 cents each! I guess I am actually having fun rebuilding my warm weather wardrobe :) Now all I need are some light hiking shoes for my trip this summer (I've been checking out Merrells and Keens) and some sporty mary-jane style fun shoes for running around town.
I feel light and strong from this past year's weight loss and clothing looks a lot better on me - another added plus is I am finding more and better selection in the smaller sizes in at the thrift stores.SiouzQ I was lucky enough to find a gently used pair of Merrel sandals and sporty mary-jane style shoes at Salvation Army yesterday! Finds like that are awesome!
Taking advantage of our spring weather here! I hung two loads of laundry on the line yesterday and two loads of laundry on the line today. Also, finally shut down the wood boiler for the season since we should no longer need the heat to kick in at night. We used more than 6 cords of wood this season --more than I anticipated needing -- but it is much cheaper than when we were heating with oil, so I'll take it! I enjoy stacking firewood so I look forward to getting our delivery for next season some time soon so that I can stack in during the cool spring days as opposed to the heat of the summer.
Doing a good job of eating at home and stretching out the time between trips to the grocery store. Discovered that my homemade yogurt is awesome when flavored with my homemade apple butter! Good thing, too, as we have lots of apple butter in the freezer. :)
Started getting the various pots and containers out of the garden shed today in preparation for planting our container garden on our deck later this spring. I'm going to try to minimize what we buy by taking a thorough inventory and thinking carefully about what we want the container garden to consist of. We starting moving more towards succulents this past year, but we still like to have a few flowering annuals for the hummingbirds and butterflies. I could start some from seed, but most of our seed-starting space is/will be dedicated to starting vegetables. Will have to think this through and plan carefully to maximize our return on investment. :D
I just wanted to check in and say hi. I stop by and read everyone's posts from time to time but just haven't felt like I have much to share. I'm doing the same old stuff-coupons, rebates, rewards points etc.
Dh and I are getting really burnt out on our current life. So sick of the restaurant and the closed-minded small town people we're surrounded by. I took ds to get his hair cut the other day and spent 20 minutes listening to a group of old biddies talking about how they wanted to shove all the gays back in the closet where they belong. Ugh! I have a very large callous on my tongue from biting it so many times over the last 12 years!
The house still hasn't sold and the restaurant is slow. Basically life is at a stand still for us.
One cool thing-ds is in the top four academically in his class. He is nominated for his first college scholarship at the age of 13. We find out next month if he won.
I don't mean to make this sound like a complaint-I just didn't want to lose touch with you all by not posting.
I guess I can mention a few things from recent shopping:
I bought 16 boxes of cereal to restock ds's stash at about $1.50 a box.
I've been vegan (again) for about a month and got a great deal on soy milk-$1.45 per half gallon and stocked up on several of those as well.
I'm drinking free coffee and doing laundry with free detergent as I sit here and whine to you all-lol.
Hope everyone has a fabulously frugal day!
rosarugosa
4-10-13, 7:45pm
Nice to hear from you BKE. I think you always have great things to contribute; you're one of our frugal ninjas! I, on the other hand, seem to be much more skilled at rationalizing expenditures. I'm lucky you all let me hang out with you on the Frugals Forum!
Blackdog Lin
4-10-13, 8:39pm
We today bartered an oil change, fuel filter, air filter, and lube job (there may be more - vehicle maintenance is a language I simply don't speak) for some in-kind services DH can provide even with his disabilities. Feels like we got free work. Win win.
Barter rocks, you know.
early morning
4-10-13, 8:41pm
Hi, bke! I don't have much on the frugal front either - we had to get the truck's thermostat replaced as it was overheating, and my car needed an oil change this week. These are the sort of thing DH always did himself until he became disabled, so it's very hard for me to see paying a mechanic as a frugal in any shape or form, but really, both of our vehicles have over 200K so the $33 for the oil change and $105 for the thermostat/hoses/system flush and fill is really inexpensive compared to a vehicle payment. I just need to reframe my attitude, I guess. DD picked up groceries for the next two weeks and it despite rising prices it was within budget. I just ran our food figures for the last 12 months, and excluding birthday dinners (which I book as gifts) we averaged 345. in food per month. For 3 adults and including dinners out/fast food, I don't think that's too bad, is it? Oh, and I got The Hobbit movie from the library, even though it's still at the second run houses, so free entertainment! :)
bke that's great about your son. To be considered for a college scholarship at such a young age surely is a sign of the greatness he can achieve academically. Hope you can keep him balanced. I know that's one of the important things to kids who are this smart.
bke--that's great news about the possible scholarship. Can't start too soon looking for college money.
Now that we are back from our expensive (but budgeted for) college tour, it's time to get back to the frugals.
~restocked the fridge and pantry with mostly Aldi food. Did buy some free range eggs and fair trade coffee.
~DD wanted some travel containers for toiletries her overnight college stay. The empty containers were $7 a piece. The travel sized shampoo, etc, were .97. If I had been planning ahead, I could have grabbed some extra from the hotels DS#2 and I were at last week.
~library for books for DS#2 for a research paper, movies and books for me.
~hung most of the laundry in the basement
~after buying groceries, two no spend days this week.
Thanks for all the nice comments everyone.
I was really surprised when ds came home and mentioned the scholarship (only $250 but it buys a book or two right?). I didn't think that kind of thing started until tenth or eleventh grade. He told me last night that the scholarship luncheon, which I was going to attend with him, is the same day as the All A's trip to see the Detroit Tigers play. They charter buses and buy tickets for the kids, allowing them to skip school for the entire day as a reward for getting good grades. This trip is the highlight of ds's school year and the principal gave the scholarship kids permission to skip the luncheon so we're not going. I'm a bit disappointed but I'd never tell ds that. I can't believe my baby starts high school in the fall.... "laugh *sob* laugh"
I did have one pretty good frugal yesterday. I bought ds's allergy medicine at Rite aid. It was on sale B1G1 free plus I had $8 in rewards money to use up. It cost me $22 instead of $60 for 8 months worth.
I received an email yesterday telling me that I had one first prize in the Bigelow tea contest. I will receive a nice wooden tea chest containing 32 assorted tea bags and a dvd of the movie The Life of Pi. I can have the box engraved with whatever I want and allowed dh to make the decision because its one of the few things that I get that he thinks might be nice to have long-term.
I signed ds up for the summer bowling program. 4 days a week he can bowl 2 games for the cost of shoe rental. This is something we enjoy doing occasionally as a family and will probably take advantage of the savings a few times this summer.
SteveinMN
4-11-13, 10:23am
Frugal anniversary; we enjoyed a romantic dinner at home. I cooked a beef-and-mushroom stew (there will be leftovers), set the dining table with "the good china" and cloth napkins with napkin rings, had a candle burning (DW loves candles), and had a single red rose and a (purchased) anniversary card waiting at her place at the table. Our gifts to each other was our cruise in February, so no additional gifts this time.
Normally, and despite the cruise, we would go out to dinner ($$) and have more flowers and still the card. So this was much less expensive, but it was no less romantic. My description of the evening will end there. ;)
Steve, I think that sounds like a lovely evening. When we were first dating, one of the sexiest things about dh was that he would come to my apartment and cook for me. I still find it to be one of the things I appreciate about him the most.
Happy anniversary-here's to many more to come!
try2bfrugal
4-11-13, 1:34pm
That sounds like a great anniversary Steve!
We sold some exercise equipment on Craig's list for a couple of hundred bucks. That helped with the decluttering, too. I want to reclaim the garage for just the cars and very little junk.
We went shopping at the local warehouse store last night for groceries. The ware house store compares prices to the retail stores and puts how much you save on the receipt. We spent around a $100 and saved over $50 if we shopped at a retail store like Safeway. That is quite worth it to me to bag my own groceries for $50. Plus I buy the groceries with a cash back card so that is another $2 off. The local warehouse store matches all of the local retail stores sale prices, so every week there is usually quite a bit on sale.
We also went to Costco this week and stocked up on meat and discount movie tickets. Last week we shopped at Fresh and Easy and used 20% off coupons, had $7 in rewards points, bought stuff on sales and their clearance rack so those groceries were pretty cheap.
This week we have books and DVDs from the library.
We are switching over to prepaid cell phones. One converted this month and the others will have to wait until the contracts run out because the cancellation fees are so high.
I sent in for a $100 Visa gift card for switching over to U-verse. The U-verse switch saved quite a bit each month over the old cable bill so we are happy with that change. Ooma for the house phone seems to be working out well, too.
For fun we did the usual inexpensive things - Costco movie tickets, club meeting and activities, a free class at the planetarium, grilling out, Netflix and library movies, reading books from the library, hikes, and walks with the dog. We live near a lot of open space with some great view trails so just about every day we go for walks. We look out at the view, our dog keeps his nose glued to the ground picking up scents and everybody is happy. :)
Ooma, prepaid cell phones, U-verse, pack it yourself warehouse shopping, library rentals, the wonders of Craigslist - I wish I'd known to do all this stuff years ago!
Great job on your respective frugals, everyone!
I'm starting seeds for our vegetable garden today. I'm reusing plastic seed starting pots that we had in the gardening shed and some paper egg cartons plus an open bag of garden soil that was bought on sale several years ago. So no costs other than the seeds, which I ordered online weeks ago when I had a discount code and the site was offering free shipping. By the end of the day I'll have started Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cucumber, hot peppers, sweet peppers, cantaloupe, watermelon, tomatoes, summer squash, winter squash, and pumpkins. I've got a lot of seeds that need to be direct sown, but the weather is not cooperating at the moment so will probably wait on those for another week or so.
My dearly beloved is out of town this week and usually I don't watch TV or movies when he is not here, but there have been a few evenings this week when I simply needed a mental break/mindless distraction so I watched some movies on Netflix. When I mentioned to him that I was hoping to watch a different movie but that it wasn't available on streaming Netflix he suggested that I download it from iTunes to watch it. I had considered it, but I was feeling too frugal and my need for distraction was just as easily (and enjoyably) met with a movie from Netflix so I didn't feel the need to spend money to download a specific movie. I'll save that for when I really "need" that urge satisfied! :D
To go along with movie watching I made a big batch of popcorn last night, which ultimately became my dinner as I didn't feel motivated to make anything else. I ate the leftover popcorn for lunch today. Probably not the healthiest of meal options so I followed it up with an orange. As usual, I'm putting off grocery shopping as long as possible, even if it does make for some interesting meals! :~)
I am continuing to make gifts for everyone on my holiday and birthday lists from my craft stashes. It's been a great activity for the prolonged winter we're having. Today I cut out fabric for two lined, self-storing shopping bags. When unfolded, they are the size of a plastic grocery bag, but of course hold about 5 times as much because they are very strong. They fold into a little pouch about 4" by 2.5" with a velcro closure. I'm making some of these for end-of-year teacher gifts, and some for friends' birthdays. I also made a beaded bracelet for my aunt's upcoming birthday.
Tussiemussies
4-11-13, 9:25pm
I am continuing to make gifts for everyone on my holiday and birthday lists from my craft stashes. It's been a great activity for the prolonged winter we're having. Today I cut out fabric for two lined, self-storing shopping bags. When unfolded, they are the size of a plastic grocery bag, but of course hold about 5 times as much because they are very strong. They fold into a little pouch about 4" by 2.5" with a velcro closure. I'm making some of these for end-of-year teacher gifts, and some for friends' birthdays. I also made a beaded bracelet for my aunt's upcoming birthday.
I love the idea of the shopping bags. What great gifts they will make I sure would be happy to receive one of those...
The bracelet sounds like a nice idea. What colors did you use?
Steve, that sounded like a perfectly lovely anniversary.
BKE, wow it's very cool that DS is already hearing about scholarships. And congrats on the tea win.
Rosemary, those bags you are making sound wonderful and something that I know I would love to receive as a gift.
We had some days that were almost warm earlier this week lol So I bought some pansies and planted them in the containers outside the doors. I also bought some potting soil at work and planted some radish & lettuce seeds in containers I bought at a yard sale last summer. It has been cold and rainy ever since. Today it snowed. sigh.... Actually the pansies look fine. And I have some hopes that the rain didn't drown the veggies and the snow isn't sticking so maybe... lol
I also have the end of our last head of Romaine lettuce sitting in water. Yesterday nothing. Got home from DS's track meet and there is about an inch of growth. I think that the only veggies I will be growing this year will be in containers. I'm looking forward to trying carrots.
I have not been very frugal lately so there hasn't been much to report. But I think I am getting back on track. DH used his spending money to buy dinner on Thursday. But other that I will be cooking dinner every night. And not whining about it! I think we will need apples, lettuce & tp before he gets paid next Friday.
Ian broke his elbow ice skating. We had to drive down to Ann Arbor last Friday (for a 5:30 am check in time, arggh) to take him in to have surgery. We took advantage of his drugged state and brought him back home for the night. He now has a pin & wire in his left arm. Tyler already has 2 plates in his left arm. DH has fake knees. If we ever have to go through a security check point together I think I will find a faster line to go through hehe He is doing good though and was only on pain pills for 4 days. Anyway between that and Ty's track and end of the year concerts we have been spending way too much money on gas and other things. Thank goodness the price of gas has been going down.
Today I got more Feosol iron supplements for only $14 at CVS after using $1 in CVS bucks, a $2 off Feosol coupon and a 20% off CVS coupon. That's a very good price.
http://www.simplelivingforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=1238&d=1365903381
http://www.simplelivingforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=1239&d=1365903381
Bracelet photo is a little blurry, but I used assorted cobalt blue beads with metallic decorations on them, and made some dangle. Between those are iridescent white beads, metal spacers, and some tiny cobalt blue beads.
The bag photo shows an opened bag underneath, with a second bag folded into its pouch on top. They are really easy to make and very sturdy.
Tussiemussies
4-13-13, 9:50pm
Rosemary, I just love the bag and the material you used. Did you make the little case that goes with it? So cute.
I don't wear jewelry except for my wedding ring which does not fit me right now, but anyway I really like the colbolt blue!
Great work!
The bag folds inside a flap that is sewn to it, so it's not a separate case. Makes it easy to stick inside a purse or pocket. Also outer and inner fabrics are cotton so they wash really well, unlike most of the cheap reusable bags that stores sell. Thanks for the compliments!
Rosemary. The bracelet and bag are to die for! I absolutely LOVE the fabric used for the bag!!!
fidgiegirl
4-14-13, 11:10am
Rosemary, do you have a pattern?
Sorry I don't have many unique or different frugals to report . . . but I am still checking in on all of you. :)
Not a lot of frugals to report here, but I did have a no drive day yesterday. Woo-hoo! Also, made a frittata and used up half of the duck eggs that we got from our neighbor. Turns out they don't taste any different than chicken eggs so now I'm excited to use up the other half dozen. The frittata also made use of a yellow pepper that really needed to be eaten. Tonight I'll make Convict's Macaroni to use up half an onion that is in the fridge as well as some mozzarella that needs to get eaten.
My mom is going to come for a visit over Memorial Day weekend and I discovered that I have enough airline miles to get a free ticket for her. Yippee! Plane tickets are expensive so this will save me between $350 and $450. Plus we'll do lots of gardening and home maintenance projects while she's here -- she's not much for visiting and just sitting around waiting to be entertained, fortunately! Awhile back I bought some discounted gift certificates for two local restaurants so we'll go out to eat a few times and that will insure that it's not just a visit that is all work and no play. :D
early morning
4-14-13, 12:49pm
Rosemary, very pretty - those bags do make wonderful gifts! My DD makes those bags out of vintage tablecloths and other vintage fabrics. She's going to make some out of feed sacks for me - those should be fun! Pretty bracelet, too! Not much on the frugal front for me, sadly. I've really been a slacker lately.:|( But in my defense, my big splurge (two new chairs for our porch) was planned, and our unexpected day out yesterday was a much needed break. Paid bills online. Hung a load of laundry in the house. Found some lovely daffs blooming in the field by the creek, and picked a nice bouquet - free, and no guilt at decimating my flower beds, lol. Not frugal, but nice all the same...
smellincoffee
4-14-13, 1:47pm
Since the weather has been so mild, I've been biking to work and back, and church on Sundays. Traffic isn't bad; for the most part, people give me a lot of space. So far the only problem I've run into is that people suddenly think I'm indigent. They keep offering me rides and asking if there's anything they can do for me. I have automobile transport, I just don't want to use it when cycling is so much more fun!
I am not able to work at the same school next year - so most likely won't be able to walk any longer. Have made the commitment to walk every day - despite the weather - until school ends 6/3. Last week I walked in rain, snow, thunder on the way in but fine weather on the way home. About 40 more days and that shouldn't be a problem!
The only days I can't walk are the once every 4 weeks that I have to go to get my hair cut - I have to leave straight from work so my hair cutter can be home in time to meet her child's bus. I think that means 1 day to drive til years end!!
Recent frugals:
- I did my mom's and brother's taxes this weekend by hand -- I didn't spend $20 or $30 on tax software (yeah, I could ask them to pay for it, but their taxes really do not require software).
- Dinner last night -- and for several more meals this week -- was chicken soup, featuring chicken backs and wings and trimmings from other chicken dishes I've made and pretty much every vegetable in the refrigerator that would fit into chicken soup. Yummy.
- No driving over the weekend; I did the grocery shopping Friday along with some other errands. I'll be going out to lunch with some friends today, so I will drop off the taxes and do a couple of other errands then.
flowerseverywhere
4-15-13, 11:09am
just read the last week of frugal posts, great job everyone. Just realized I have not bought any clothes for six months except for a new bathing suit. We moved last year and I was overwhelmed at the amount of clothes I gave away. Only having one car really helps because I rarely go to the stores. Still doing all the usual frugals, managing the heat by closing blinds on the sun side of the house and opening up at night, hanging laundry, cooking from scratch from farmers market food etc. Just feeling great to be alive and well.
rosarugosa
4-15-13, 8:24pm
I am going to claim one frugal from my fun day out yesterday. We went in several stores - antiques, boutiques, etc. and I bought very little. I saw more than one thing that made me say to myself "I wouldn't mind having that," but I then asked myself if I would really mind not having it, and the answer was usually no. There was a time when I would have just bought these items without hesitation.
Kelli, I do have a pattern... I can bring it to the knitting day if you're going and would like to see it.
Frugals... a no-spend day, and the only driving was to DD's nearby school and home for some volunteering.
Simple pleasures - preparing for guests; making a fabulous soup and corn muffins for dinner, prepping other foods for the coming days while it cooked and being ready; purring cats; a thought-provoking book; enjoying sharing thoughts with DD.
Tussiemussies
4-15-13, 8:53pm
I am going to claim one frugal from my fun day out yesterday. We went in several stores - antiques, boutiques, etc. and I bought very little. I saw more than one thing that made me say to myself "I wouldn't mind having that," but I then asked myself if I would really mind not having it, and the answer was usually no. There was a time when I would have just bought these items without hesitation.
That is real progress Rosa, good for you! :)
try2bfrugal
4-15-13, 10:48pm
Today I got a refund from our cell phone carrier over a disputed bill. They had charged us with some misleading extra charges hidden in the fine print within the fine print.
I bought a bag of used books at a library book sale over the weekend for $1 a book.
I made tacos for dinner last night with rice, refried beans and meat from warehouse stores and inexpensive veggies from a local ethnic market.
Repaired my strawberry bed hose connector with a 23 cent O-ring from the hardware store instead of buying a new hose connector.
Starting my own tomato, pepper, basil and Brussels sprouts from seeds (and they're actually coming up!) in the laundry room window instead of paying 1.50+ each for seedlings. This is a big savings because I have a big garden (24 tomatoes, 8 peppers, 8 basil, 5 Brussels sprouts) Found a great seed company (Fedco) which doesn't charge too much and has all the open pollinated varieties I like. Plus they're in Maine so I know the varieties are right for my northern climate. In a couple of weeks I'll start squashes and melons too.
Very bad allergy season here with high wind--practically everyone in town sick. Predicted to last at least 6 more weeks. For my dogs getting less exercise due to that, I put four upside-down Kongs in four cups. each plugged in the little top hole with a piece of cheese. Then fill halfway with low-sodium chicken broth, put in a small treat, then fill the rest of the way. Put in freezer till frozen. Then each dog gets one and they are so happy and calm afterwards. So far they get one Kong a day each.
In November or December I applied for a discount on our cell phones using my Target discount. It finally came through. It looks like I will be saving about $12 a month. Not too bad!
We had black bean soup & grilled cheese for dinner last night. It was pretty yummy. And frugal as I used up a ham bone from the freezer.
Made a meal plan for the first time in ages. I kinda hate meal planning. Made up my shopping list and stuck to it pretty well. I think there were only 2 items I picked up that weren't on the list. I do have to finish the shopping tomorrow but I think I'll do ok.
Oh, I forgot. I combined trips today. Credit union, CVS, Goodwill, $ Tree, Meijer and home. I was going to get gas but it was too darn cold & WINDY so I skipped it lol
Been staying out of thrift stores and can't believe how little $$ I've spent lately. Went to a consignment store today and looked at art to freshen up our sun porch - really here in MN we will someday be able to open up the porch! - and decided that between what we own and my own (somewhat limited) artistic ability, I can brighten up that space.
May go out tomorrow to buy some fresh flowers - cause spring seems so far away - have a locally owned flower shop that I try to support so maybe I'll swing by Peterson's tomorrow and give myself a lift!!
Tussiemussies
4-19-13, 10:44pm
Really like the idea of artwork on your porch to give you a lift!
:)
Returned a pair of noise-cancelling headphones to Target yesterday. I realized that if I hadn't even opened the box since buying them 3 months ago that I probably didn't need them. $159 credited back to my debit card.
Taking advantage of being out and about yesterday, I stopped and bought cat litter and cat food and used a $10 off rewards certificate that the store had sent me for being a good customer.
Today, I planted some wildflower seeds in seedling trays made of egg cartons. The seeds were free from an event I went to two seasons ago. We'll see if any of them actual grow.
Staying at home and having a no drive day today and a no spend day, too!
We've been eating up some butternut squash soup that was in the freezer. When I re-heated the first batch a few nights ago and tasted it I was reminded why it was still in the freezer...it just wasn't that good. I decided to add some ginger, salt, and maple syrup to it to see if that would make it more palatable. Yep! So much so that we ate a second batch last night. There are probably still 3 or 4 batches left in the freezer, but at least now I'm pretty sure they will get eaten!
Tonight will be frittata using the rest of the duck eggs our neighbor gifted us, a red pepper that needs to be eaten, some mushrooms, half an onion, and the last of a bag of shredded cheese. We'll also have a side salad made from the first of our salad greens that we started in our cold frame a few weeks ago.
Rosemary--I can't find the link to the pattern for the shopping bags, can you repost it? I would really like to have it.
April has not been a frugal month at the Fawn household, due to visiting colleges with/by two students. DS#3 and I drove from Springfield, IL to Providence, RI and back over 8 days, DD flew to Minneapolis and back and a week later, she and I drove to Chicago. Also, it's spring, and all three of my kiddos need new clothes.
Frugals that we have managed to squeeze in this month:
~DD's flight to Minneapolis was free as her new step-mom is a stewardess. I still had to pay $60 for the shuttle.
~bought DS and DD new underwear at Target.
~bought DS new shorts at T J Maxx.
~made a meal plan before I went to the grocery for restocking after I got home.
~keep turning off the lights behind DS#3
~washing clothes in cold water, hanging about 50% to dry in the basement
~limiting my gardening activities to weeding, clearing out beds. Will wait until May to buy a few annuals.
~in preparation for my paying for a portion of college for DD next fall, I am starting to limit all personal spending (clothes, make-up, wine, lattes, etc) to $100/month. This has been a very interesting experiment so far. I am spending a lot less on these things, but do not feel deprived. I know I can have "it" if I really want "it." But I find that I tend not to make impulse purchases, in case there is something I want even more later in the month.
early morning
4-21-13, 10:34am
This isn't a frugal month for us either, but nothing as fun as college visits, sadly. The dishwasher died (I know, I know - but washing dishes for a week has convinced me how much I want it replaced!!) and I've been shopping for a new one. I think I've made my choice, so DH and I will go today and buy. During my search I also located a nice wall-mounted microwave to replace ours at a really good price. We've been limping along with a trash-picked tiny micro but we use it a LOT and had decided to replace the larger one if something turned up in our set price range. Then the kitchen faucet started to leak badly. I went to get rebuild kits for both faucet handles (we have the ceramic disc kind) at DH's insistence - thankfully they didn't have the ones we needed, so I just got new O rings and bottom seals, for MUCH LESS, and they fixed it just fine. So - replacing dishwasher & microwave= not frugal; shopping around and getting the best price for what we need = frugal, so I guess that's a wash, lol. These two appliances really much to my quality of life. Now the clothes dryer - that I could easily do without! All other frugals are just the same old, same old.... heading to the yard to hang laundry next!:)
try2bfrugal
4-21-13, 11:12pm
We took some bottles in for the redemption refund. It was only a few extra bucks but I have a big collection to take in so it should be more over the course of the month. The redemption center pays more per bottle for smaller amounts because over a certain amount they only weigh the bottles, which pays less than hand counting.
I used my free ink recycling rewards from Staples to buy a couple month or two worth of toilet paper. I buy off brand ink cartridges for the printers for $2 a piece and Staples recycles them for $2 a piece in Staples rewards so it is a good deal. Then I combine the rewards with toilet paper on sale plus use a 20% coupon to get the most TP I can for free.
I went to a library book sale and got some more books for a $1 a piece. Now I have to donate as many old books as I bought so there is no net inflow. I got some great books related to our hobbies, emergency preparations, and self sufficiency, so I was happy with my purchase. One book was all on back to basic skills including how to make you own cosmetics and herbal products.
I went to Costco for a frozen yogurt treat while I was out shopping. In the old days I would have spent $4 at the yogurt store. Instead the Costco yogurt cost something like $1.20 for twice as much yogurt. I needed some more clothes hangars so I got those at the 99 cent store.
I bought produce again from the ethnic market. The produce is really fresh and less than half the price of Safeway. The local grocery store had a few good daily specials on meat so between the produce and meat we should be good on groceries for the next week.
We put money in a high yield rewards checking (well high yield for these days) at a local credit union so that will bring in a little extra cash each month in interest since the regular checking was paying virtually nothing anymore. The only downside is we have to do 10 debits a month. So I try to do buy something small like a jar of pickles with the debit card, then get the bulk of the groceries on the credit card that pays cash back.
For product reviews this month I ordered a couple of free solar / hand crank all in one radio, cell phone chargers and flashlight units. They should be good for camping as well as emergencies.
fidgiegirl
4-22-13, 7:39am
try2bfrugal, I can't remember, do you work in outside employment? I love all your frugals. I just can't see myself engaging at such a level while working full time. :(
You're keeping me going, all!! This weather has me needing a lot of outside inspiration so please keep posting, even though I don't have much to contribute . . . went out to eat FOUR times this weekend and didn't even photograph three of those meals in order to blog them!! Doh!!!! At least I'm reheating some leftovers for breakfast.
SteveinMN
4-22-13, 10:35am
This weekend's frugals:
- Brunch out with family, nominally to celebrate DW's birthday, but a good chance to get together as many people as we can. You never know when that can change... Brunch normally would not be frugal, but DW's mom owed her some $$ for stuff we'd gotten for her. Mom overpaid what she owed and would not take the extra back. So we paid for brunch.
- Another batch of beans on the stove. Mayacoba beans this time (they also go by the names canary beans and peruanos). I do prefer them to Great Northerns or cannellini beans. They're expensive at the few "regular" grocery stores that carry them, though -- maybe $4/pound. But at at least one of the ethnic supermarkets around here, they were $1.38/pound. Much bigger variety of beans, too. I'll be back. Also got four ripe-but-not-too-ripe avocados there for 99 cents.
- DW and I have organized our greeting cards (remember those? :)) into a box so we can find them when it's time to send one out. Why spend time and fuel buying yet another sympathy card when we already have three or four in the house (but unfindable)? Now we'll know where they are.
- Another redbox weekend. This weekend's discovery: when you reserve a movie, you can't use a discount code. Our "get one free" will have to wait for some night soon when we just stop by and pick from what's in the machine.
try2bfrugal
4-22-13, 11:40am
try2bfrugal, I can't remember, do you work in outside employment? I love all your frugals. I just can't see myself engaging at such a level while working full time. :(
Thanks, fidgiegirl. I work from home and so does my husband, so we have the time to tackle different money making and money saving projects every week. I have a big stack of books on urban homesteading and simple living, plus I get ideas from here and other forums and check out books from the library regularly. From that I have a long list of projects and we try to knock off a few each week. Some, like the ink recycling, are things that I do every month or so it just becomes part of my regular routine.
I did some scouting around in the garage and found some pots that I should be able to use for growing flowers or veggies. I was also looking at an vanity table? or something? I'd forgotten about it. I am wondering if we can use it as a desk space in DD's bedroom. DS#1 always complains that he has no place to work when he's home. I think he means no place to sit and play computer games for hours lol. But I have to wait until DH rides his motorcycle to work in order to be able to reach them.
Cancelled our DirecTV account because we hardly ever watched television programs. So that will save us $87/month! Yea!
We have Netflix and do make use of that.
Brought my car in for its warranty repair last night -- avoiding what was supposed to be a(nother) miserable snowy drive to the dealership this morning. I was informed yesterday afternoon (thanks for the lead time, guys!) that even though this was a warranty repair and despite what I had been told earlier, there would be no loaner car. I asked if they would just let me use something off their used-car lot. *shrug* I didn't care what I drove for three-four days and who would notice another 50 miles on a used car? No, they don't do that, I was told. They'd arrange a rental car for me, though, at around $50 a day (!). Since my car sits in the garage at least as often as it's going somewhere, that seemed like an expensive solution to the logistical problem. So DW and I drove down last night, dropped off the car, and I am carless unless I find I need one and DW and I can coordinate my dropping her off at and picking her up from work. There are so many better places to spend $200....
Steve, how about doing the future warranty or recall repairs at a different dealership that is honest and has a loaner car? Also might be worth tipping off the national headquarters about the local place and its behavior.
I got an email from CVS asking me to fill out a survey. If I was accepted for the survey I'd get $10 in CVS bucks. If I was rejected I'd still get $2. I tried it and i got $10! I am SURE I can put them to good use.
Tyler is home for a few days then he heads back to school to finish out track season. While he's here he is going to help out at the high school track meet tomorrow. The kids asked him to ask me if I would make some of my peanut butter cookies. It's good to be appreciated LOL How could I say no to that! Not frugal I guess but I'm still smiling about it.
Tussiemussies
4-23-13, 5:43pm
I got an email from CVS asking me to fill out a survey. If I was accepted for the survey I'd get $10 in CVS bucks. If I was rejected I'd still get $2. I tried it and i got $10! I am SURE I can put them to good use.
Tyler is home for a few days then he heads back to school to finish out track season. While he's here he is going to help out at the high school track meet tomorrow. The kids asked him to ask me if I would make some of my peanut butter cookies. It's good to be appreciated LOL How could I say no to that! Not frugal I guess but I'm still smiling about it.
That is really nice Azure that your son is going to help others while he is home for a few days. Nice to know that your wanted! You must make a fantastic peanut butter cookie!!!
I made airline reservations today using Mileage Plus miles. Two round-trip tickets to Washington, D.C. for $10!!
Steve, how about doing the future warranty or recall repairs at a different dealership that is honest and has a loaner car? Also might be worth tipping off the national headquarters about the local place and its behavior.
Well, there likely won't be any future warranty work. My Volkswagen is 10 years old and the only warranty remaining is the anti-corrosion warranty, which is the one I'm claiming on. I will state it was my assumption that there would be a free loaner; the dealership confirmed there would be a loaner, but we were both ambiguous in our statements, so... I chose this dealership in part because I bought the car there (which I had hoped would give me some leverage) and because they do better body work than the other two VW dealerships closest to me. Getting the job done right is paramount to me as I want at least another ten years with this car. I'll put up with the distance and such for a better body repair. And I should get it, based on the homework I've done so far.
I'm also pretty sure that telling VW about this dealer will not do much other than waste my time. Volkswagen's dealer network is, without a doubt, their worst feature. And even VW fanbois will attest to that. :( Given this last exposure to VW "service", I'll just bear it and be done with it.
Fawn, this is the pattern I've used for the shopping bag: http://mccallpattern.mccall.com/m6130-products-11144.php (I never pay more than $1 for patterns - I wait for the sales at JoAnn Fabrics.) I have changed the method substantially, though. I line the bags, first off, and skip the rickrack. I use basic cotton fabric for both layers. I find the medium size to be best for my purposes - small is just too small, and the large will drag on the floor when carried in the hand as opposed to on the shoulder.
Frugals... Exchanged a sweater that DD received for her bday that was too small, for some items on the clearance rack that she's more likely to wear, anyway. Packed my lunch along today for my errand day (carrot-ginger soup w/ wild rice - better food than I could have purchased anyway!). A friend is buying me lunch tomorrow as a thank-you for all the kids' clothes I've passed on to her.
flowerseverywhere
4-23-13, 10:17pm
Fawn, you could also try one of the many free patterns out there for a tote such as: http://www.danamadeit.com/2012/07/tutorial-reversible-lined-color-blocked-tote.html or maybe this one http://thelongthread.com/?p=10690 and yet another http://cicadadaydream.blogspot.com/2009/02/fat-quarter-tote-bag-tutorial.html
My frugal today is a sweepstake win. I received a nice engraved, wooden box with 32 assorted tea bags from Bigelow teas. It came with a copy of The Life of Pi. They said its valued at $50-I'm guessing closer to $30. Its nice though and dh likes the box.
Took a bag of nonfiltting and other useless-to-me clothes to Boys & Girls club. My bird and I drink bottled water, 5 gallon jug a week, and I found a cheaper place to get it ($1.89 vs our former place $2.92) and a slightly closer drive. Got vacuum cleaner bags, again via research, at 5 for $17 instead of 4 for $19. (I used to clean out and reuse these, but inhale too much dust from them for my current health and the longoing, dust-flying drought and wind we have here.) Started wearing those masks people who work in hospitals use when I'm outside. Maybe could start broom-sweeping more often with those on to reduce what goes into the vacuum, cleaner bag. Created the first toy my parrot's been interested in in years and it's good for her--tying little blocks at abut 8 inch distances from each other with twine. She chews on the twine to free a block, the works on a block over time, which is good for her beek and frustration.
Yes, TussiesMussies, the cookies get raves every time I take them somewhere. And they are the simplest thing ever. And the only cookie I seem to have any luck baking these days. lol 1 cup peanut butter, 1 cup sugar & 1 egg. Mix & refrigerate for a little bit. Roll into 1 inch balls. Then bake at 350 for approx 10 minutes.
That is quite the deal Florence! Awesome.
I made granola.
Cancelled the HuluPlus since it has been a couple of months since we used it.
I tried to reprogram our thermostat to reflect the fact that I now get to sleep in an extra hour on work days but I don't think I got every day changed so I'll try again. Not sure what I did wrong. lol
We changed the batteries in the smoke detectors the other day.
Tussiemussies
4-24-13, 4:05pm
Yes, TussiesMussies, the cookies get raves every time I take them somewhere. And they are the simplest thing ever. And the only cookie I seem to have any luck baking these days. lol 1 cup peanut butter, 1 cup sugar & 1 egg. Mix & refrigerate for a little bit. Roll into 1 inch balls. Then bake at 350 for approx 10 minutes.
Sounds so easy Azure, bet they make a great holiday cookie...:)
Thursday I did a bit of shopping before I left work. We needed milk, bread & eggs. But I also grabbed some things that were 50% off clearance to put in the freezer: A bag of meatballs. I know homemade are much tastier and healthy but it sure is nice to have them in the freezer for when I need a quick meal. 3 polish sausages. 6 turkey pot pies. Not as good as I remember them from my childhood but nice to have on hand for those I do not want to cook times.
Yesterday we got a $25 gift card in the mail from HR Block. There had been a problem with one of the HRB forms being accepted by the IRS. It didn't inconvenience us at all but some other folks were pretty upset about it I guess. So they sent out gift cards. I'm sure I can find a use for it.
We are saving gas money by not going to Ty's track meet today.
Made several runs to the nearby county compost site and got a lot of free compost. Not sure how much, probably about 3 yards. It would have cost over $150 to have that much delivered.
Last week I found a lovely handmade basket at the thrift store for $5, in new condition. It will be a gift for my MIL, who loves baskets and the color blue, which was used on some of the trim. Normally I don't spent $5 on a single item at the thrift store, but I made an exception for this.
The next few weeks should be pretty frugal as I have to catch up on yard work and get the garden going. No time to do much other than essential grocery shopping!
early morning
4-28-13, 11:08am
Yesterday I went to a native plant sale at one of the MetroParks in an adjoining county. Their prices were so high on most things I wanted that I bought only two plants, and DD bought me a red trillium for Mother's Day. I really wanted a Jack-in-the-Pulpit, white trillium, and yellow violets, but I'll just have to wait until I find some I can harvest myself... generally wooded construction sites (not so may of those here lately, yay!!) or friend's woodlots. They had JitPs and yellow violets, but $10 each for small, sad plants was just too much. So I saved money by not buying what I wanted, sadly. We did some yard saling and I bought a few things for resale and spent $3 on a new spring jacket for me. Now I can actually wear a jacket into work instead of leaving mine in the car in the parking garage because it's so ratty, and walking to the building w/o one! >8)
fidgiegirl
4-28-13, 10:50pm
Finally I feel like I have some frugals to report. Have been in such a slump with the extended winter, but we got a break this weekend and oh what a glorious, glorious break it was!! Back to 40s on Wednesday, but we'll keep praying that won't happen . . .
It was a weekend of freebies! We had a wonderful time at the community garden workday shlepping leaves to cover all of the plots and picking up trash (believe that or not). So delightful to see all of the people there making a very ugly spot into something beautiful. When we were digging in the leaf pile we found a cute iron hose guard someone must have inadvertently raked up and dumped along with their leaves. We took that home. DH also found a winter beanie that was lost by the side of the road. It is reeeeeaaaalllllly dirty but he soaked it and we're washing it up. We'll see how it comes out; it's only dirt, after all.
Later yesterday we did some yard work at the rental house (we don't do a lot, but there is some stuff I don't feel it's fair to ask them to do), and DH drove by a free rain barrel, stand and diverter for the downspout . . . nice! We picked it all up and we might use the stand for ours, but will likely sell the barrel. We already have two identical ones and that's about all we can use here. We maaaay put it in the front of the house, though. But DH is more into aesthetics than I am and he doesn't care for having one in the front. But he does really like the concept of the rain barrel and the water we use from the other ones. So we'll see about it.
I dug up two plants to move from that house to this house.
We went up to my parents' today to help them with a room they are adding to their garage. My dad sent us home with an angle grinder ("early birthday" for my husband), a hose hook like one I've been eyeballing at Menards, and my mom donated a big huge bag of yarn to Team Yarn (knit/crochet group making hats and other items of comfort for individuals with cancer). The yarn is funny . . . some of those colors are so old they are now trendy again! :laff:
We also picked up an electric staple gun with staples at an estate sale for $10 (we've been eyeballing one for a while) and I got a set of TV trays, one of which I will convert into a mini ironing board and will probably just give away the remaining 3. That was $8. I also got a green sheet which I can use as a green screen at work for $1!
Even though we were out we bought food to make at my parents' instead of getting fast food.
Back in the saddle!
and DH drove by a free rain barrel, stand and diverter for the downspout . . . nice! We picked it all up and we might use the stand for ours, but will likely sell the barrel. We already have two identical ones and that's about all we can use here. We maaaay put it in the front of the house, though. But DH is more into aesthetics than I am and he doesn't care for having one in the front. But he does really like the concept of the rain barrel and the water we use from the other ones. So we'll see about it.
Also it's pretty easy to rig rain barrels in series in the back of the house. Plumb them together so that when the one attached to rainspout is about 95% full, it starts flowing into barrel 2. Some of my friends have each gutter with 4 barrels in sequence. That's usually enough for the heaviest rains.
Ian has to stay in AA for the summer due his solar car work. He and a friend found a sublet for $250 per month for each of them. I think that's pretty reasonable.
Haven't quite determined the food budget yet.
Today I combined a trip to the credit union with a trip to cvs. I used my $10 cvs buck to get a 6 pack of dove men's soap, small jar of peanut butter, small bottle of Dawn, a package of granola and a candy bar for $.44.
I bought a Groupon today for vision care. $49 for $200 worth of glasses. I need new glasses badly and have been trying to figure out how to afford them. I use progressive lenses so I don't think the $200 will cover the whole thing but I'm going to give it a shot lol And even if it is more that is still a pretty good discount. And if I can't use it I have 3 other people in the house that can.
Tussiemussies
4-29-13, 8:57pm
Hi Azure, you really did well at CVS...and think you son's sublet is a great price! Good luck getting your glasses hope you get them soon. Are you having eye strain since yours are no longer effective?
shadowmoss
4-30-13, 10:11am
Have you looked at Zenni Optical online? http://www.zennioptical.com/?prescription_type=single&nav_cat_id=2&navused=0 A few bloggers have reported good experiences with them, and I haven't read any bad experiences. You just need to get your pupillary distance measured as part of your eye exam. Probably not great for your primary glasses as it does take a few days to get them, but for a second set? I'm planning on doing that after my next exam.
DH and I have been buying our eyeglasses online for 3-4 years now. We've purchased from several different locations. Especially if you prefer high-index lenses or need progressives, the savings are amazing. I can usually get high-index progressive glasses with anti-reflective coating for under $50/pair. Of course, the disadvantage is that you can't try them on. What we did was start with frames that had very similar measurements to the ones we already had.
try2bfrugal
4-30-13, 2:31pm
DH and I have been buying our eyeglasses online for 3-4 years now. We've purchased from several different locations. Especially if you prefer high-index lenses or need progressives, the savings are amazing. I can usually get high-index progressive glasses with anti-reflective coating for under $50/pair. Of course, the disadvantage is that you can't try them on. What we did was start with frames that had very similar measurements to the ones we already had.
Which online places for glasses would you recommend?
I'm not having eye strain that I've noticed. But the lenses are pretty scratched up and the frames themselves are getting kind of rickety. At work I am in the store for an hour before the store opens and a lot of the time work in dimly lit sections of the store and it's hard to see then. I think I've had the glasses 4 or 5 years now.
I have looked at Zenni but on I am kind of nervous about the frame quality. On a board I visit 2 members mentioned that their frames didn't hold up. Are there other on-line companies that are good? I'm not opposed to trying them, though. I'll probably go to the eye dr. , price out a pair there and then check out the Groupon place and then decide how to go.
Like I said if I don't use the groupon I know the boys could use it. Tyler wears contacts and hasn't had a new pair of glasses in several years so I would probably use the coupon to buy something for him. It's always nice to have glasses you can actually see out of lol for those times when you don't want to or can't wear the contacts.
All the frames we've ordered from various places have been as sturdy as anything we've purchased locally -- and most of them have been among the less costly offerings.
Check out this blog for coupons and reviews: http://glassyeyes.blogspot.com/
Tussiemussies
4-30-13, 9:22pm
My husband orders his glasses online and has had no problem with them. I will find out where he gets them from and let you know....:)
I forgot that even though we have had small snow showers and freezing temperatures, my furnace has been turned off for a bit more than a month now. Yay.
Tussiemussies
5-1-13, 10:08pm
I'm not having eye strain that I've noticed. But the lenses are pretty scratched up and the frames themselves are getting kind of rickety. At work I am in the store for an hour before the store opens and a lot of the time work in dimly lit sections of the store and it's hard to see then. I think I've had the glasses 4 or 5 years now.
I have looked at Zenni but on I am kind of nervous about the frame quality. On a board I visit 2 members mentioned that their frames didn't hold up. Are there other on-line companies that are good? I'm not opposed to trying them, though. I'll probably go to the eye dr. , price out a pair there and then check out the Groupon place and then decide how to go.
Like I said if I don't use the groupon I know the boys could use it. Tyler wears contacts and hasn't had a new pair of glasses in several years so I would probably use the coupon to buy something for him. It's always nice to have glasses you can actually see out of lol for those times when you don't want to or can't wear the contacts.
Hi Azure,
My husband just told me that he gets his glasses from:
www.eyebuydirect.com
He uses them every time he needs a new pair of glasses!
Good luck! Christine
Tussiemussies
5-1-13, 10:11pm
I forgot that even though we have had small snow showers and freezing temperatures, my furnace has been turned off for a bit more than a month now. Yay.
That is amazing Jilly. We had a power outage for four days without heat and I would not get out of bed because it was in the middle of winter and freezing cold in our house. How do you keep warm?
Hi Azure,
My husband just told me that he gets his glasses from:
www.eyebuydirect.com
He uses them every time he needs a new pair of glasses!
Good luck! Christine
Thank you so much! I will check them out.
That is amazing Jilly. We had a power outage for four days without heat and I would not get out of bed because it was in the middle of winter and freezing cold in our house. How do you keep warm?
Martinis. :~)
Actually, it is relatively easy to be accustomed to lower temperatures. I keep the thermostat set at 52. Good bedding, warm and fleecy clothes, lots of socks and a cat who likes to sleep on my right shoulder.
Tussiemussies
5-3-13, 6:21pm
Martinis. :~)
Actually, it is relatively easy to be accustomed to lower temperatures. I keep the thermostat set at 52. Good bedding, warm and fleecy clothes, lots of socks and a cat who likes to sleep on my right shoulder.
:~) LOL
WOW! Does it take your body a few days or weeks to get used to the temperature?
I am not sure, 'cuz the brain slows down, too. Actually it does take a couple of weeks. One of the most important things are lots of comfortable socks, so that you can have a fresh pair when you get up and before you go to bed.
When we had a couple of warm days I was feeling so hot, you know, way beyond warmed. Now it is colder and I am more comfortable. My preference is to be cooler than warmer, so wintery time is more comfortable for me. I am not looking forward to summer, because whilst I under use the furnace, I use the air conditioner lots. Not frugal at all.
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