9/30 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the week:  Tonight I attended the free Martha Stewart class at the Home Depot.  We were given organizers, a booklet, and 20 cokerewards points.  I had 10 points in my account, so plus the 20 points gave me enough to order another coupon for a free 20 oz drink.  Yesterday at work, there was a work function and a local business provided a nice, healthy free lunch and drink, and lots of other sponsors provided freebies.  I am "off" tomorrow, so, I will organize my coupons/deals and go grocery shopping in the morning.  Saturday, our town is having a street festival - so, we may attend that.  I also scrounged around the house and found all the supplies necessary to upcycle the flipflops I purchased for .75.  I was inspired by a design I found on a craft blog.  So, that and finishing off two pair of knitted slippers tomorrow - and may be a bit of deep cleaning should keep me plenty busy - after a I sleep in a bit :)  Oh, and good today only, I used the code WOW for 90% off and went thru mypoints and ordered 2 more $25 off gift certificates at Restaurant.com - they were $1 each.

9/26 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  If you have a Murphy gas station - the one's around here are at Wal-mart - and you use them - you might want to go to http://www.murphyusa.com/ and sign up for their e-offers - last time in an e-mail - I got a coupon for a free Dr. Pepper - listed the code on Listia and got over 400 credits - and my husband drank the drink.  Today, I got a $1 off $20 in gas coupon.  Nice to get a little break on the gas every now and then :)  I also printed out a $5/$25 coupon from Rite-Aids video rewards program - so, while I purchased some Diet Cokes for my husband (even though he prefers Pepsi) and some dental hygiene products with coupons - I got a bunch of a total of $9 in Up-reward cash to use - and I did - took 3 transactions - but I now have Halloween candy and we each got a pair of flip-flops (clearanced for .75/each) to wear on our beach vacation.  This year, my daughter's math team decided to "make" their own t-shirts - buying all of the supplies from Michaels - she has a 40% off one item from the newspaper that was delivered and she printed a 20% off her total offer for the rest of the items.  Hopefully, she will grow-up to be fiscally prudent :)

9/25 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  This has been a "winning" 24 hours for me :)  I won a pair of concert tickets - so, we are going to try to make a weekend of it during that week.  I also cashed in some swagbucks for a $5 AMAZON gift card.  Yesterday, I did the deal on the Bamboo website - posted just about everywhere - and got 3 Bamboo cutting boards for under $7 shipped.  I plan to keep one, use one at the condo, and give one away.  I also found another $10 off JCP code.  I went through mypoints and ordered 2 "quilted" King Sized Shams - "regular" price $55 each - got them for under $10 shipped - they will go to the condo when we do the annual "update"/maintenance. They will add a nice touch.  Oh - and no jinxing - but the stock market was very nice to me yesterday :)  Still below highs of 3 years ago - but maybe within sriking distance.  And my daughter wants to use "her" money tomorrow to get a pair of jeans at the GAP today only between 12-3 PM - 50% off if we say "FLASH" at check-out.

9/24 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the week:  Don't forget - tomorrow is freebie day at many museums - check-out my post from a couple of days ago for a link to get tickets.  My daughter and I will also be going to the "beauty school" to get our hair "done".  I hope to rental a few Blockbuster Express DVDs for free this weekend.  Dinner tonight will be take-out with a gift certificate - taxes should be the only additional money out.  This has been a great week for freebie magazines - got another one today.  I am almost done knitting a pair of slippers for my daughter and then will start on a pair for myself!

9/23 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  I noticed a lot of complaints about the GCCF reducing claims substantially - that was not my case.  Mine was reduced less than 1.5% - but I submitted 69 pages of documentation.  BP paid 45% and were really slow.  I think GCCF's mistake was publishing such short timelines in the beginning.  Believe me, the longer it dragged past the published dates - I expected the worst - more of the same of BP.  So, while I was not happy about the time it took, I was happy with the results in the end.  I got the diamond pendant from JCP.  It was sent by Fed-ex and it comes with a thin silver chain (I was not expecting that) - so, I am extremely please with and know my daughter will be too.  I received coupons to receive a free pr of panties from Victoria's Secret.  I was going to say the stock market looks like it was headed in the right direction - but must have jinxed it again ;(  The rental agent said she has a potential renter for the house that is being vacated by the divorcing couple.  So far, the IRS has not cashed the check I sent - I am sure it will be soon.  Have started receiving property tax statements.

9/20 Expressions

Whoo hoo - the Gulf Coast Claims Facility paid our claim today!!!!  Although it took longer than originally stated - the service was much better than BP :)  Ken Feinberg is doing a better job than BP in my book!!  Thanks!

9/20 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  Just ordered a $119 + shipping gift for my daughter for $22.39 shipped - a diamond (small chips) and sterling silver skeleton key - went through mypoints to JCPenney the pendant is on clearance - used a $10/$10 code - do a google search - there are several that are valid.  I wanted to get a pair of shoes - since shipping is free on shoes - but none in our size.  Also got a freebie thermos in the mail - very nice.  Stock market was nice today - not jinxing I hope :)  I found out I am getting a small - but very appreciated bonus in my next check.  Also, fed-ex just brought free samples of dog food - I think the dog is going to like it :)  And, I signed-up for free tickets to a nice local museum for this Saturday - you might want to check it out too:  http://microsite.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/admission.html?2010

9/19 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  Today, our local museum was open to the public for free - and they were having a festival.  It was a nice way to spend a couple of hours this afternoon.  My daughter and I did some cooking, so, we should have very little to prepare this week and should not be tempted to eat out even on busy nights.  We listed a few items on listia. 

9/18 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  I am running out of weekend wear - so, we stopped at the thriftstore to look for a pair of jeans - my daughter and I got a pair for $1 each.   In today's mail - we got 5 freebie magazines and .12 dividend checks from Wendy's - no rant - I will just deposit it.  The weather cooling down is soooo welcomed!  I bought some yarn and needles - I am going to start knitting slippers for myself and my daughter at lunch time. 

9/17 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  I am "off" today - so, I drove my daughter to school for a club activity - and then "cherry picked" on my way home.  I stopped at Wal-mart and got my free Dr. Pepper from Murphy's - boy, gas prices have climbed a bit.  I picked up a few things that I had coupons for.  Also stopped at Kroger and Publix.  Between the three, I have all of the groceries for next week, special request toothpaste, and a few other toiletries for under $50.  Even got a redbox for free.  Other not-so-great financial matters, still waiting for Ken Feinberg to pay our condo claim; IRS found an error in our 2009 taxes - software error??? - anyway, I sent the amount in to stop any interest from accruing, protested the penalty, and am gathering the paper work to back-up our claim; and a couple in one of our rentals is divorcing and will be moving out next month, since neither, on their own salary can afford the rent - so, the rental agent is looking for new tenants.  I am researching traveling to Paris either for spring break or in the summer - at the lowest cost to us.  I believe I can get our airfare for whatever they charge to redeem mileage; we should have enough hotel points to cover that; so, mainly lining up activities.  My husband and I went years ago - before our daughter was born.  So, it will be interesting to see if much has changed.

9/13 Expressions

Frugal Deed for the day:  I just went through mypoints and purchased two restaurant gift certificates at Restaurant.com - using promo code:  touchdown - expires today for 80% off.  We plan to go on a short weekend vacation - and this will allow us to eat a couple of nice meals out for a decent price.  Today's mail:  a rent check and a .21 dividend from Tim Horton's - I will no longer rant about the wastefulness and just deposit it.

9/12 Expressions

Frugal deeds this weekend:  Yesterday, we used our art museum pass and took a nice stroll through it.  It is near a park and we had fun walking through the park duck/geese/people watching.  In the same area, we stopped at Plato's and my daughter sold a few of her clothing items, then to the book store - $60 in credit - and 3 new to us books.  Today, I grocery shopped with a wad of coupons.  I will be making lunch pizza's from what ever bits and pieces I have on whole wheat tortillas.  This will be a busy week as my daughter has lots of after school meetings this week - so, we are trying to get organized now.

9/10 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the week: Last night, I was pitying myself about the lack of "stuff" I had to choose from to make my breakfast, lunch and snacks for today. I had run out of fresh fruit - my tortilla pizzas were gone, yada, yada. Instead of hopping into the car and heading to the grocery - I shopped from my pantry/freezer. I made a nice batch of fruit smoothies with the frozen strawberries, bananas, and melon I had frozen earlier before they went "bad" - also added yogurt which I have plenty of since they have been a great buy lately with a sale and a coupon. So, this morning, I had a smoothie for breakfast. Lunch, I had a few sandwich buns from last weekend that I kept in the fridge. A small bit of chicken. A few decent pieces of field greens from a bag almost gone/going bad. Basil from the neighbors. I made a sub sandwich - cut it in half - and placed it in a clamshell container I had washed and kept from a previous deli purchase. Also, I had a few odds and ends of small tomatoes from my neighbor and my own plants, and a few banana peppers - those were washed and became a snack. I guess what I am trying to say is that sometimes a new perspective, or arrangement of the stuff we have that may not be satisfying by themselves - can lead to lead to fulfillment or satisfaction. The sandwich almost seemed gourmet - as did the smoothie :) As for other financial news, I received a rebate on a razor - it was a "money maker" - after sale, coupon and rebate. I am still waiting for Ken Feinburg to process my claim - it has been in review status now for 15 days - very frustrating :(

9/5 Expressions

We celebrated labor day early and had a bbq today.  We used what we had on hand and dessert was provided by my dad.  I took advantage of Labor Day Sales and ordered a sofa sleeper - for the second time - knock on wood - hope it goes through.  I went through mypoints to JCPenneys and ordered one to be delivered.  A bit disappointed that the free shipping did not apply - but, still, I feel it was a good deal.  It is faux leather, queen, so, I am thinking more durable and it will be easy to match a chair later.  We can hang on to the one we have for now.  I used my American Airlines Business Credit Card - so, I have met the requirements for the 50,000 air miles.  I will make sure all goes well with the order, that the miles get credited and then probably cancel the card.  We have lots of leftovers, so, I don't plan on cooking much this week.  I am going to work on revamping my resume this weekend as job that pays better and probably less stressful has opened up - what could be better than that :)

9/3 Expressions

Time sure is flying - I can't believe it is already September.  I got in on two 1/2 price restaurant gift certificate deals (through local radio/tv stations).  Yesterday, I got a free neti pot - a nice freebie for sure.  Just got my free South Beach meal bars from Kroger and a few other items with coupons.  I plan to take a walk shortly.  Then kick back and relax the rest of the day.  Oh wait, my daughter brought home a progress report - excellent grades - so, we let her pick a place for dinner - she picked a low priced Japanese restaurant.    Nice long weekend for Labor Day.  We may do a bbq and invite my dad.