I will start the September Frugals.....

[rosarugosa]

Iris Lilies: Have you tried any of the Black Box wines? They are not my favorites, but they get decent reviews, and at $20 for the equivalent of four bottles, I can live with them. I also like the little spigots and I enjoy having a chardonnay on tap in the fridge and a shiraz (or sometimes a merlot or a cab) in the cupboard.
Menage a Trois and Clancy are two decent red blends that we get at Costco in the $8 - $12 range. I like to keep a few bottles on hand for times when I want something a little yummier than the Black Box.

[Yarrow]

I was able to turn off the AC last night - a nice cool breeze here today, for a change. That will save on the electric bill. I'm hoping I can go into the fall without having to turn it on again.

I was able to buy some curtains today for half price and free shipping. I've been eyeing this curtains for quite some time, waiting and hoping I could get a better price. They will look awesome in my bedroom.

Having a good day with my MS today, so have been processing my bounty of ripe tomatoes into salsa, tomato sauce, and spaghetti sauce. Freezing them in portions, and should last me all winter long.

[iris lily]

Iris Lilies: Have you tried any of the Black Box wines? They are not my favorites, but they get decent reviews, and at $20 for the equivalent of four bottles, I can live with them. I also like the little spigots and I enjoy having a chardonnay on tap in the fridge and a shiraz (or sometimes a merlot or a cab) in the cupboard.
Menage a Trois and Clancy are two decent red blends that we get at Costco in the $8 - $12 range. I like to keep a few bottles on hand for times when I want something a little yummier than the Black Box.

No, I haven't tried them. We don't have a Costco account but we do have a decent liquor warehouse right nearby.

[SteveinMN]

We like the Black Box wines. We're not connoisseurs -- I don't know as we've ever spent more than $30-40 for a bottle -- but, at its price, we find it quite drinkable, and (more importantly for us) we don't have to polish it off in a sitting before it starts oxidizing.

[SteveinMN]

I hope there are some September frugals since it didn't feel like there were many for August!

My men's retreat weekend was essentially free for me this weekend. I cook and the guys chip in for the ingredients (and cleanup). I don't count the odd things I'll bring from our stocks at home (a little kosher salt, a teaspoon of oregano, some onions which should be used up, etc.). But everything else (sans some chicken I bought that went bad before I got to cook it) was reimbursed and then some. I drove up with one of the guys and he offered to pay for the fuel, but it was only four gallons (200 miles) and he's loaned us his camper and pickup before, so I declined the offer, but that could have been free, too. Didn't spend any money at the cabin, either. Just fun.

Rather than run the car today to get groceries, I'm making chicken soup. Frozen chicken trimmings, the limp celery and carrots in the crisper, some leftover raw onion, and so on all will become tasty soup by dinnertime. Always leftovers, always different, always good. Tomorrow I have several errands to run so I can take the car out on a grand tour and be done all at once.

Today I'll be lining up a schedule of things I need to get done before frost: paint some window frames, bring in the garden hose, prep the snowblower, etc.) I suppose it will be frugal in the sense that not doing them will cost more later. I also have rounded up some gift cards which have been just hanging around. Time to declutter those either with use or by re-gifting.

[Gardenarian]

My dh usually does the grocery shopping, but dd and I are taking it over for a while. I hope to see some reductions.

The main issue is that he only like to shop at Costco, and a lot of bulk food ends up going bad, and also too much processed food.
I pass by a Trader Joe's on the way home from work, and will be going to the town farmer's market once a week (he usually gets expensive stuff there, like fancy breads and fish.)
There is also a Mexican market next to dd's guitar lessons where I can get excellent cheese (very cheap!) and a lot of produce, rice, and beans.

I'll still go to Costco for dog food, olive oil, t.p., and a few other items.

I'm saving my receipts - we'll see how it goes.

[Synapse to synapse]

Ok here is the ONE thing I'm working on: reducing my alcohol bill.

I am allowing myself 2 bottles of wine per week. That's 10 glasses. That's 3 glasses over the medical recommended limit for my gender. hmmm, a risk I am willing to take.

I'm not yet working on dollar cost, but am starting with bottles. Even though I've (sadly) backed away from my old standby Waterstone Cab @$27/bottle, I will be ok using another favorite at $17 mixed in with $11 - $13 bottles.

This is really something I want to work on myself. Thank you for bringing it up, though I've known I need to manage my money better for years. I budget well enough, and I never overdraw or anything. I always just get paranoid and such until my rent, utility, and internet checks clear.

Maybe tomorrow I'll write up a better budget, and a better post. I'm not feeling too swell today.

[danna]

Sept 03
--thanks to Mods &/or Stella for getting this thread moved...

--called an old credit card I wasn't using to cancel and found out I had $10.00 worth of points for Sears so they are going to mail me a gift card.
--YES, to the boxed wine it is not high end but, way better then it use to be and a really good price. I still buy whatever is cheapest I am definitely not an expert.
Of course drinking less would also be a good way to save on wine.....lol
--made quinoa and beans (from the freezer already cooked). I had never made this before, used Mexican type flavourings and it was really good for a meatless meal.
And, enough for breakfast with an egg tomorrow.
--cut the bottom off an face soap, added water and have been using it as hand soap all week.

Continuing to purge and use up stuff, part bottles, open packages, stuff that has been put in the freezer as leftovers (eating or tossing)
going through stuff to sell, toss or give to friends, family or charity. Learning it is only people and security that count, NOT stuff.

[Jilly]

I would like to have a glass of wine once in a while, and even though I buy some really cheap stuff, I have the one glass and the rest gets tossed when I find it in the back of the refrigerator a few weeks later.

So, to be able to indulge in a nice sunset and glass of wine...once in a while...can anyone share how long the boxed wine lasts?

Iris lilly, do you keep the red wine on the counter after it is opened? Do you know how long it can last? Does it make any difference if it is refrigerated? I could probably only buy the little boxes that have a couple of bottles worth in them, as my fridge is tiny.

[Tammy]

You can buy wine in single serving 187 ml bottles