January Frugals

[fidgiegirl]

Kelli we've actually mixed paint from the same paint line but other colors and had great results. Ivory can mitigate lots of colors. You just need to make enough for your project because it can be hard to replicate unless you are measuring. Also let a paint sample dry on the wall before you judge it. Your FIL's thoughtfulness behind the gift offsets the colors...he gets what you're trying to do frugal wise...Bravo!

Very true, Merski. He was just trying to help.

[Merski]

Hope I didn't sound preachy. We had this yellow for the kitchen which was horrible out of the can so we added some of the living room color called coffee kiss and it became a beautiful tuscan gold. We also had to do it with an appalling shade of green (we were trying to do more vibrant colors and get out of our neutral comfort zone). This was just perfect in the long run because all the areas are open to each other.

[JaneV2.0]

Probably the opposite of frugal, but I scored a number of good deals at Value Village yesterday--most of them half off--including a like-new anorak for my SO for five dollars and a red quilted paisley Vera Bradley tote for slightly less. (retail $52.) And some wonderful scarves, including a long chocolate brown velvet burnout one in an intricate symmetrical floral pattern and another filmy rayon number in vaguely 20's Deco colors that's practically throw-sized. In case anyone regularly buys thrifted goods, Value Village has its very own "club card" now: http://www.supersaversclubcard.com/

[AnneM]

Well, this is my very first post to the frugals thread.

My husband and I paid off his tractor after three long years! That will free up $500/month to either put towards the mortgage or go into savings. I cleaned out one of my chest freezers today and found several bags of vegetables from my summer CSA that I had blanched and completely forgotten about. Also am doing a pantry reorganization and finding tons of things. I think, except for milk and fruit, we could go a couple of months without going to the grocery store. Also, after much conversation, I believe I have finally gotten my husband to come around to my way of thinking and actually set up a budget and stick to it for 2012.

[mamalatte]

Tracking expenses starting 1/1/2012. Have done this before and found it SOOOOooo helpful, but haven't done it in a while. Hopefully we will stay with it long enough to get some useful information. Still getting used to a situation in which I only get paid (except for a very small monthly amount) every few YEARS. At end of last year and beginning of this year, I am getting paid for the first time since I started this job in 2007, and it could be several years until the next significant payment. Am having a hard time adjusting my budgeting/saving to this arrangement. I had such a good system in place previously, based on a fixed salary (saved enough to make it through all this time not being paid!). Got some good tips in response to a previous post about this but still working out the kinks. Having the spending info will be a big help.

Haven't tried the sweet potato fries before, but they sound delicious!! Will definitely try them. What temp for baking?

fidgiegirl - I am probably high on the paranoia scale about this living in an old house with two little kids, but I recently read that, in an older house, blown-in insulation has the potential to blow a bunch of (invisible or nearly invisible) dust from lead paint, toxic previous insulation materials, etc. all around the interior of your house, basically coating everything without you realizing. You mentioned that your contractor seemed to lack experience in this area, so it might be worth checking out if potentially an issue in your situation.

[fidgiegirl]

Hope I didn't sound preachy.

Not at all! I reread my original post and realize that though I was thankful he had been thinking of us, I didn't say so.

We used some of that paint today, in fact!

[fidgiegirl]

Haven't tried the sweet potato fries before, but they sound delicious!! Will definitely try them. What temp for baking?

fidgiegirl - I am probably high on the paranoia scale about this living in an old house with two little kids, but I recently read that, in an older house, blown-in insulation has the potential to blow a bunch of (invisible or nearly invisible) dust from lead paint, toxic previous insulation materials, etc. all around the interior of your house, basically coating everything without you realizing. You mentioned that your contractor seemed to lack experience in this area, so it might be worth checking out if potentially an issue in your situation.

Mamalatte - I use 400 degrees, but was thinking I might try them at 425 or 450 next time.

As far as the insulation, I'm not too worried. Plus we have no children in the house, so it would only be us we are injuring . We ended up going with the insulation company instead and they are putting it in next Saturday! Eek!

[danna]

Jan 07
Been here reading but not posting because of so much company over the New Year...
--frugal was mostly planned meals (mostly using things in the stockpiles) and not going out to eat
--unfrugal washing and cleaning up all the bedding after the company (a smelly dog that is in beds and on furniture)..frugal was half drying at lot of it on rack
--all new spreadsheets with new expenses and revised income...every penny tracked so far..only day 7..lol
--went for groceries and only spent $55.00 (bad or good depending on how I look at it was 10 cans of "poppy c**k (which is carmal popcorn and pecans for those who don't know the name) for $1.47 a can reg. $6.99, use by Sept/12 but, I am sure I can use it by then...hehe)
--created myself a dayplanner for free from a spare Journal

[flowerseverywhere]

I have been trying in the past year to work on relationships with fellow frugals, and it is starting to pay off. Not only do I not feel like I am the crazy one, but I am getting lots of tips and help. For instance, I save all the coupons I don't use for my neighbor with four kids, as they eat way more cereal etc. then we ever would. She has reciprocated several times by helping me out in ways that were moneysaving.

Another friend approached me with an idea which I thought was great. We are going to carpool one day a week to go grocery shopping. Since I only have use of a car one weekday (we are a one car family) this will be a big help. We plan to hit about three major grocery stores and research ahead of time the sales and deals. I think that in the long run we will really urge each other on to be very mindful in shopping.

things are going in a good direction I think.

[lhamo]

Well, this is my very first post to the frugals thread.

My husband and I paid off his tractor after three long years! That will free up $500/month to either put towards the mortgage or go into savings. I cleaned out one of my chest freezers today and found several bags of vegetables from my summer CSA that I had blanched and completely forgotten about. Also am doing a pantry reorganization and finding tons of things. I think, except for milk and fruit, we could go a couple of months without going to the grocery store. Also, after much conversation, I believe I have finally gotten my husband to come around to my way of thinking and actually set up a budget and stick to it for 2012.

Wow -- huge progress, AnneM! The tractor payoff and budget agreement are both HUGE scores, and the reorg finds great bonuses. Be patient with your DH. He will probably have a few slips along the way. But this is already major progress, especially considering that the tendency without having the budget agreement would probably have been to just let that extra $500/month slip away.

Wishing you guys all the best in 2012. It was great to meet you in person the other day and hope we can meet up again next time I'm back in the Valley.

lhamo