I will start the September Frugals.....

[redfox]

Hope I got the right area to post this, just reminded how super important it is to keep reciepts. Our Aerobed started losing air almost exactly one year after we bought it but I checked the one page 'manual' and it said Two year warranty on the pump, seams, etc. So I called, they had me write an incident number on the bed, take a picture of it and my receipt, email them the pictures and they're sending us a new bed!! Wow!


I'll never throw out another receipt or manual til I'm sure it's way past warranty.

Right on! We keep all receipts for a year, organized by week, in an expandable folder sorted by month. DH does the books every Friday, balances the accounts, and files that week's receipts in the printed off balanced ledger from QB. Very easy to find a paper receipt by searching in QB, then locating it in the file. I love the system.

[Tussiemussies]

Right on! We keep all receipts for a year, organized by week, in an expandable folder sorted by month. DH does the books every Friday, balances the accounts, and files that week's receipts in the printed off balanced ledger from QB. Very easy to find a paper receipt by searching in QB, then locating it in the file. I love the system.

What a great system, I am going to have to look into this!

[fidgiegirl]

Liv, welcome aboard! What a score! A testament to the power of organization as a tool for frugality.

[Kat]

Welcome, Liv! I can't tell you how many times I wished I had held on to a receipt! It sure pays off!

Well...DH and I kind of fell off the frugal bandwagon because...we bought a new van! It was kind of a need because our four-door sedan barely fit us all. The kids weren't really positioned very safely in their carseats, and we couldn't fit a fifth passenger (which means we couldn't take my dad anywhere (he is in a nursing home). So we started looking and found a beautiful, dark red 2011 Toyota Sienna. It can seat up to 7 people and is perfect for us. It is very clean and very nice! I guess the frugal part is that we traded DH's work driver and paid for the rest with a check...so no car payments, at least! But now my old car is DH's work driver, and since he gets so filthy at work, we had to buy seat covers, floor mats, and a steering wheel cover. Those things were expensive--like $75, I think. Eeek!

Another unfrugal is all the pictures we've been having done lately. DS's 3 month and DD's 2 year and family pictures. Another eek! But I know I will be glad to have those photos, and that's something you really can't put off too long when you have growing kiddos. Oh well--onward to frugality!

Things we've done well:

--DH finally got his raise. He had been promised one since January and had to hound his boss to get it. I kind of feel like it should be retroactive to that time, but the company is only going back to August since that is when his boss finally started filling out the paperwork.

--Will take DD to toddler time at the library today. It's free, and I think she will love it!

--I plan to make another pantry meal tonight.

--Will need to run to the store over the weekend for some fruit and milk. Making a list for coupons and price matching now.

--Someone gave me some canvas shoes for DD in a bigger size. They are used and were quite dirty (on the outside; the insides were fine). I washed them in the washing machine on hot, and they came out pretty nice!

[Stella]

Excellent news on the raise, Kat!

The recipe for the cobbler is 6 cups peeled and sliced apples, 4 cups peeled and sliced pears, 2T sugar, 2t cinnamon, 2T butter and a splash of lemon juice. Combine in the crockpot with the oats on top and cook on high for 2-3 hours. Super easy.

I got a call last night that I need to go out to Los Angeles next week to take care of my disabled sister. My aunt, who had been caring for her, had to quit and go back to Alaska because her husband has cancer a few weeks ago and the caregiver they hired for the daytime quit last weekend. They haven't found an evening caregiver and social security is hemming and hawing about paying for one. My mom can't take next week off, so I'm the only option. I've got meals in the freezer for most nights for Zach and the kids and we are managing, between vacation time and friends, to not lose income for the week. We are having to give up our weekend getaway to Duluth next week, which is a bummer, but it will save us money.

[Liv]

Liv, welcome aboard! What a score! A testament to the power of organization as a tool for frugality.

Thanks but I wasn't too organized about it - spent a hour looking thru a big baggie filled with a years receipts, lol, got to try out redfox's idea, makes more sense!

Since we're retired we have just a few 'spending days' each month and are trying to get that as low as we can this month.

[Tussiemussies]

Hi Liv, welcome to the forums, it will be nice to have you aboard to read about your simple living ideas! Chris

[Tussiemussies]

No driving for me today. We did spend money on iced tea for the roofing crew for tomorrow, hopefully they will drink it...that was our only expense for today.

Have been eating at home a lot and plan on trying to make some almond milk yogurt so I can get closer to my vegan goal now. Yogurt is the only thing I eat a lot of that is a milk product and have also been eating a little cheese on salads when we go out to eat, so these two things will be easy to remedy...and will help us to cut down on food expenses more...


DH's royalty check was a little less than he expected so there definitely will be much less spending this month!

[chrissieq]

Stella, So sorry you have to take the trip to LA unexpectedly, but how fortunate that you have meals in the freezer, money in the bank, and a great support system at home! This is a great example of how living frugally really works in day to day life - not just about saving a few cents on coupons but being able to have choices/options.

Organized another funeral reception at church and came home with a bag of fruit and a handful of bars. People don't always believe me when I say it's fun to work funerals but you really do get to know people working side by side - community building - but after 6.5 hours on my feet, I'm feeling it!!

[danna]

Welcom Liv....you will find this a great site to be on!!

Stella I am thinking about you and all your family is going through...chrissieq is right how wonderful it is that your
frugal life style and close knit community is making it possible for you to help your sister. It is amazing with your
busy young family you are able to do this.

The last couple of days
--volunteered at the city run seniors home...really frugal as in no cost and a feeling of time well spent.
--Made $30.00 selling with a consignment store on ebay...stuff out of my house and money in my pocket.
--still eating from the pantry/freezer and fruit/veggies in season
--my birthday yesterday and it is a nice reminder how many people care for you....Dsil joined us here for lunch (long story)
but we used chicken bought on sale cooked with BBQ sauce (homemade) and cranberry sauce, rice and carrots for a really nice lunch.
Even sent her home with a extra meal, which she always seems to appreciate.
She bought me a tea pot for making drip tea and several bags of loose teas from a way too expensive a store...but she means well.
Is short of money all the time but, spends on really frivolous things she can't afford. Oh well there is not alot you can do to fix these things
her and I are the same age but, she has lived alone and is very set in her ways.
--I had let my hair grow longer in all one length thinking I would save on cuts and colours but, in reality it was harder to keep and very aging.
I had a hair cut today back to my shorter cropped cut and I am feeling very good about. Of course I went to the lady who works out of her house and
does not charge crazy prices.