View Full Version : April 2013 Un-frugals
Spent a ridiculous amount of money taking DMIL out last night as a belated birthday celebration. It was a really good meal and we ate and drank in high style, but geesh, what we spent was comparable to two weeks of groceries! I think we need to keep out of restaurants for awhile; we've been pretty self-indulgent with the eating out lately.
early morning
4-7-13, 12:01pm
Birthdays out are one of our downfalls too, Rosa! I like cooking but not cleaning (and I'm too proud to have people over to a dirty house, lol) so we go out for birthdays, and then I feel guilty. Which is stupid of me, because it was a choice we all made, and we never go anywhere really expensive; the tab ranges from $9 per person at our favorite Chinese buffet to $20-25. at the best Thai place in town, so it's not all that bad. And we never drink with our meal; those are separate outings, lol.
Yesterday's unfrugal - we set up at a flea market and I brought home more than I sold :|(. But I got this really cool little shelf with drawers and book holder to set on top of - something. I've not quite figured that out yet. But if I can't use it, I can sell it at profit at the only "real" antique show we do yearly, so I guess it could be worse. Of course I also spent $20 at the lovely baked goods/cheese stand of the most marvelous little old lady (I think she told me she's 84 this year), who bakes all night Fridays and sets up at markets all over on Saturdays. She raises plants and flowers in her greenhouse and brings those to sell also. It's a family operation, but she's the driving force. Her pecan rolls are just wonderful!
Sort of unfrugal and sort of not. Got a non-electric yogurt making set and for the price of one, got two. Have been using one, so it has turned out to be very frugal - but the second has just been sitting... unfrugal?
I think not. If you start eating lots more yogurt, then you have the tool to make it. Otherwise, it would make a nice gift.
Sent in a small political contribution--that's not in my budget for this year. I need to know I'll take this budget seriously and things like that don't help. It seemed essential, but so do many things in the moment.
Gardenarian
4-8-13, 6:58pm
I got a bit lost on a hike, was running late, and so instead of bringing sweet potatoes to the potluck I got a store-bought quiche. 16 bucks! and it wasn't even very good. Next time I'll just bring a bag of chips.
The first week of the month we took our first trip in 20 years by ourselves. Together. No kids. No real reason for it. We both just felt like we had to get out of town. We went up to the Petoskey area as we love it up there and our good friend lives there. She offered us a room but we wanted a space of our own. Drove up the beautiful scenic coast from Charlvoix to the bridge. Drove over the bridge. Just because. Went to a movie. Visited a winery.
It was really really nice to get away. But it was not frugal.
I just turned up the thermostat. Yes -- UP. I am thoroughly chilled after being outside on the most miserable April day ever.
rosarugosa
4-14-13, 8:44pm
And Rosa continues to support the local restaurant business - did a day trip to Essex- Ipswich - Gloucester with DSIS, DBIL, DH, & DFriend. We all went out to dinner and it was great. No regrets actually. I think I'm going to write April off as a frugal fail and regroup in May!
We went out to eat a lot before my surgery, largely due to stress, exhaustion, and the need to have some fun... My most un frugal was the surgery itself! However, it was worth it. Sure wish I had better health insurance.
Now that I am home & a friend is coming to stay & cook for us for a week, given that I cannot drive, and am too tired to go out, the rest of the month will balance this out, I imagine. Life is full of surprises.
Friends like that are worth more than gold.
Good friends are nice and wishes for a smooth recovery.
Life_is_Simple
4-15-13, 11:56am
April is an unfrugal month because of dental work this week. The hard part will be convincing the woman at the front desk to only charge me for the two procedures done this week, and to not charge me for the procedure done in August until August.
Spent $40 on buying and shipping a care package to my DS. See my post in the daily peeve. lol Knowing him he is not eating properly during this stressful time which only adds to the problem. So I got him some tuna and crackers. Trail mix. Jerky. Granola bars. Also wrote him a note asking him to be sure to take regular breaks to eat, drink, stretch etc. Unlike on the phone if he gets annoyed and throws the note away I won't know about it. lol
rosarugosa
4-15-13, 8:19pm
I have to say that I think some of these unfrugals were cases of money well spent. Not every expenditure is an unfrugal!
I have to say that I think some of these unfrugals were cases of money well spent. Not every expenditure is an unfrugal!
yeah, me too... :)
Yesterday I found a replacement for my electric pressure cooker. I have missed that stooopid appliance so much this past year and a half. No matter how I try, I just cannot make as good of a stock or bone broth in a pot or the slow cooker.
This one does browning, has several levels, is a slow cooker, is supposed to do beans like a dream, has a steamer and an actual rack. I am so excited. I made a corned beef slab this afternoon. Forty-five minutes!!!! Then I ran vegetables through it in eight minutes. It was a nearly five pound hunk of flesh and have enough for lunch and dinner today, lunch tomorrow and several servings for the freezer.
Best money I have spent in a long time.
I will never be without stock again. Bliss.
Just got the bill for the biopsy done in March... Nearly 6K...<sigh> so much for the great savings having a catastrophic policy...
Jilly, I'm with you on the right cooking tools. Worth every penny.
Your portion is six thousand????? Man.
One Saturday trip to the emergency veterinary clinic = $349. One 17 year old cat with an attack of kitty arthritis (and not a broken leg) = priceless. :~)
Just got the bill for the biopsy done in March... Nearly 6K...<sigh> so much for the great savings having a catastrophic policy...
Ouch - sorry you have to deal with these bills on top of the medical care itself. Almost like a double whammy.
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