January 2015 frugals

Sunday I took the bus to the knitting shop and hung out with the women there. It was free, and I enjoyed catching up with some of the ladies from one of my classes. It's fun to see everyone's projects. I used yarn from my stash. I didn't spend much money on yarn in 2014. It looks like I will have enough for 2015, too. I try to buy it just once a year, on sale. That way I qualify for free shipping. My boyfriend was headed back over to my place that afternoon, so I got a ride home with him. We sat in the living room with the dogs. He played on line poker, and I continued knitting. It was relaxing, fun, and didn't cost us anything.

Yesterday I took two buses and the subway down to Hollywood and Vine for my monthly vocal coaching session. I stopped at Trader Joe's on the way and picked up some organic popcorn kernels, beef and turkey jerky, free range eggs, and soy milk. I had packed several snacks to munch on at the bus stop. A trip to Hollywood takes me all day, so I need plenty of food and water. My coach prepped me for two auditions I have this week, and another one next week. She's very efficient. We get so much done in an hour. We taped the class on a CD. That way I can practice at home every day. I don't have any of the new stereo equipment. I still use the CD turntable and speakers that I bought for my dance studio several years ago. I think they'll last a long time.

It only costs me $8.50 RT to go down there. Hollywood is always entertaining. There are so many interesting people. Today I'm headed to Burbank Blvd. for an audition. I'll take the bus again, and walk the rest of the way. Am still car free in LA. It's working. It just takes organization and planning.

awakenedsoul, you are such an inspiration -- I love reading about all your frugal activities!!!

A minor frugal over here: I am finally able to file my paperwork to receive my official 1st degree black belt ranking in Tae Kwon Do. It has to be approved by the governing body in Korea and it has taken 7 months to make any progress on it. Well, I originally thought I was going to have to pay to send the fees Western Union, but found out today that they can be done by credit card. So, minor frugal in that I don't have to make a special trip to the Western Union office and pay any fees to send the money that way.

Another minor frugal, I start teaching a new class for a local University today. I've taught there a few times before, but not consistently. My class has only 3 students, so the University is allowing us to run it more like an independent study. This will likely mean that I can meet with the three students for fewer sessions and simply make each session longer. That will save on a lot of gas over the semester!

cdttmm, thanks, same here. The little things really do add up. It's interesting to hear how each person on this thread incorporates frugality into their life. The details are different, but the end result is the same. That's great that you can pay by credit card. It's a good feeling to save a trip. Glad to hear you still will make the money with those students and not have to cancel the class.

Yesterday I spent all day at the audition waiting to be seen. I didn't renew my union membership 15 years ago, because I thought I wasn't going to audition as a dancer anymore. (They tell you you're too old when you're in your twenties.) Now that means that since I've come back as a 50 yr. old singer/comedienne I have to wait and be seen with the non union performers. I sat around until 5:00 p.m. yesterday. They sent all the non union people home and made an exception for me. My vocal coach (of 15 years) was the accompianist and she told the Equity monitor, "She's coming with me." I was so lucky to have her step in and recommend me to the director. It made me realize how much of show business is contacts. I felt so relieved. 25 other hopeful singers had to go home. I felt badly for them. The song went really well, and I will go back and dance on Thursday.

Tbe bus last night from North Hollywood was packed. A really nice guy helped me load my bike trailer/shopping cart into the luggage bin on the bottom of the bus. Someone else let me get back in line so that I could get a seat. People that commute on these coach buses are really nice and helpful.

I bought a candy bar at the vending machine halfway through the audition. (Normally I don't waste money on vending machines, I pack my food.) But, this one gave me $4.00 worth of quarters in change! I really needed quarters for my audition commute, too. Sounds silly, but I was thrilled. It felt like I hit the jackpot at a slot machine.

Once home, I made a quick quesadilla with onions, bell peppers, arugula, and avocado. Today I need to catch up on housework, bread and cookie baking, and organization.

Yesterday, a relative commented that they have so many recyclables. We have HUGE containers that are picked up bi-weekly. They indicated that they can hardly get the lid shut. I was SHOCKED. Our container may be a fourth full after 2 weeks. Mostly containing milk jugs. It just goes to show that it pays to cook from scratch!

I texted DH to tell him that we now have three of us down with the flu, and that I was feverish and going to bed. He suggested that maybe he should bring lunch in, and I told him that we had frozen veggie burgers, canned baked beans, and frozen corn. I bought buns Sunday knowing that I wasn't feeling 100% and might need them this week. I don't love canned and frozen foods and don't want to rely on them day in/day out, but they are great to have in a pinch (and were fast and simple for DH to make on his lunch hour). Lunch was under $10 for all four of us; if he'd brought in food it would have been $25 at a minimum.

Before that I finally gave in and went for cold/flu medicines. I actually prefer to treat each symptom separately as it occurs rather than buying all in one medicines (and there are some I don't tolerate), so I needed several. The store had buy one get one 50% off on their generics so that was a help; I saved $7 that way. They also had breakfast cereal 4 for $6; we almost never have cereal but with mama ill and knowing that Papa will probably get it I decided that a breakfast that the boys can fix for themselves would be helpful (and they are super excited). I had almost $8 in rewards points to put toward the purchase, and earned a bonus $5 in points for the next time I shop.

I stopped for freshly squeezed orange juice, 2 gallons of it. It isn't exactly frugal but I have a hard enough time keeping my youngest hydrated when he is well; when he is ill it is critical and mixing orange juice 50-50 with sparkling water helps. We did recently find that the local grocer has a better price than the produce stand, by $4 per gallon, and both places sell it freshly squeezed and unpasteurized.

DH is going to stop at the produce stand for local tomatoes and avocados; the tomatoes aren't a bargain at $3 per pound, but DH says they are good tomatoes. The avocados are $3.25 for 5 - 6 big Zutano avocados, so those are a bargain.

We'll have to muddle through for supper; I think I have one kid feeling well enough to scrub potatoes for baking, and we can roast some broccoli too. I have some canned chickpeas, so maybe we can try a roasted chickpea recipe to add some protein, or I can make hummus.

Oh, Kimberly, I am so sorry to hear you all are sick. Take it easy and I hope you get well soon.

Hope you feel better, kimberly. You are amazing! I can't believe how organized and efficient you are, even when you're sick!

Stopped at Horrocks on the way home from work yesterday and bought 2 lbs. of sliced hard salami for $6.99.

Today was a no-spend day. Dinner was very tasty left over pork roast quesadilla's. Dh had wanted to go get a pizza.

I finished washing the bedding from when the kids were all home. I wash the blankets, hang them on a drying rack in the basement and the next day or so I put them in the dryer on no-heat with a tennis ball to remove dog hair.

Thank you for the kind words Azure and awakenedsoul. Really, I have no desire to be frugal today, but being sick can turn into a double whammy because DH will start bringing food in and the food we have will spoil uneaten.

My opinion - lots of recyclable containers are from all the non-water beverages people buy. Mixed up and ready to use. Other than milk I try to buy powders or concentrates, and I drink mostly water. It also is cheaper.
And it is so much easier to carry home from the store.