Good to see you, Kat!! Well done resisting Coldwater Creek. Thanks for the slipcover link! I followed it to another link with an ebook . . . hmmm . . . might be worth it!
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Good to see you, Kat!! Well done resisting Coldwater Creek. Thanks for the slipcover link! I followed it to another link with an ebook . . . hmmm . . . might be worth it!
My frugal today is all about a MN snowstorm. I had to work my one day a week job so I took the bus rather than face a very slow drive. Here's the frugal - took the bus home, turned around after grabbing a coat that my daughter had ordered on line, back on the bus to take it to her (super cold coming in the next day or so) - that took 2 bus routes - then home again - all on one pass transfer!!! I love the bus but especially during winter storms!
Oh my! It's getting COLD here. Going down to the single digits. Unusual here. Folks here aren't really prepared for that sort of thing. That means some high utility bills no matter how frugal we are trying to do to keep it on the down low.
No drive, no spend day - cold here so I walked to the library which is so close to my house I would have had to drive a few miles to warm the car's engine up. Worked the book sale and, despite the cold, we had a good first day. May run an errand or two tomorrow just to start/warm the car after 2 days sitting in the garage.
Not doing too good frugally. Ian's laptop died so we replaced that. Well, at least it was less expensive than Ty's new trombone lol Also had to replace the blower motor for the heater in my car.
Did get 2 new belts for the boys and a new bra for myself for free using Kohl's cash plus the free $10 they gave me. Also got a nice Yankee Candle votive set and some groceries for free using Meijer Mperks. The votive set will be my gift for the family gift passing game on Christmas Eve. Today I got DH 3 crystal light's for free between sales & coupons.
Tomorrow it's church & a visit with Deja. Otherwise we'll be at home. Not spending money.
Thursday I had the day off and stayed home and in my pj's most of the day.
For dinner we are using the last of the bl/sl chicken breasts and left over rice. Well I am having one of the few remaining potatoes. The guys are eating the rice.
Did okay this week. Made a big pot of beef stew that allowed me to use up some odds and ends. I usually add some wine, but I didn't have any, so I just made it without instead of running to the store for some. Still good!
I decided to discontinue physical therapy for now as it is not helping and is very expensive (about $40 a week). Will re-evaluate the need this spring/summer.
Completed an awesome Target trip. Got tons of diapers and wipes. Stacked coupons and Cartwheel and left with a 20 gift card to boot. I just did a deal online that got me 4 pairs of jammies for the kiddos for $4 each (shipped!). This includes a robe for DD, who has been asking for one. Nice jammies are hard to find used around here.
Went to Gymboree today and was delighted to find 7 packs of children's underwear for $1.99!!! I bought a bunch for the kiddos to grow into and some extra for our local women's shelter.
I joined an online swap site and am super stoked that I was able to trade some freebies and old clothes for some new Converse shoes for DD, a blue ray for DH (one from his Christmas list) and a $20 itunes card. Woot! I am in talks with another person for some fabric. Awesome way to declutter, get some things I need, and help someone else get the things they need!
DD's stuffed Rudolph from Build a Bear broke last week. The nose wouldn't light up anymore. So we took it back to the store and they replaced it for us for free. Awesome customer service, and DD is over the moon.
This (past) week's frugals:
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday were no-drive days.
- Thursday was my birthday, so dinner was free (for me :))
- Christmas shopping: found on ebay a slightly-used copy of a book my niece wants and found a deal-of-the-day (70% off) on something DW has often said she wants (and will use)
- Got several meals out of the rotisserie-chicken soup I made earlier this week (cost us only to buy a rutabaga; the rest was all food we had on hand)
- Had both our furnace and the one in our rental property inspected (good thing considering the below-zero temps this week); I always ask for (and get) a discount on the total price because the properties are across the street from each other; there's no expense to get the truck and the tech from one place to the other
Kat, what is the swap site? Sounds intriguing. Well played at Target.
We drove up to my mom and dad's yesterday and dropped some stuff and also picked up the dresser that we are going to paint up and use, so that was free.
Off to Costco today to stock up; it's been a while, and some of our Costco staples are low or out. I did buy a $50 Costco card from my mom that she'd received from someone, but she isn't a member so it was pretty worthless to her. Now she can use the $50 for something else.
I am experimenting with different rice and bean dishes for my breakfasts, mostly in the crock pot, and I must remember that even though it is an extra step to do the rice separately, it is soooooo much better. I don't even like rice done in the crock pot - why do I keep doing that?! It's not like it's a big effort to make rice on the stove.
P.S. Happy bday Steve!
Yesterday we ended up staying home all day. Overslept & missed church and then decided not to go see Deja. I expect to go tomorrow instead. So no drive & no spend.
Today I picked up an extra 1 1/2 hours at work. yay! Got 2 9.9 oz bags of mint M&M's for $.34! Those'll be nice for Christmas.
DH wanted to go get Chinese for dinner. Instead I fried some ham slices. Ian & I had the last 2 potatoes. DH made hot ham & cheese sandwiches for himself.