We are a family of three in transition. We spent years being frugal and are now at a crossroad. We'd like to retire from our day jobs in two years or less. Our retirement goals are to provide our daughter with the best education she desires; travel; and find new careers - perhaps part-time that we really enjoy. I hope to post both "frugal" and "personal finance" information. NOTE: I am not a professional on either subject. My posts are purely entertainment :)
Friday, January 18, 2013
1/18 Expressions
Frugal deeds for the day: I am "off" from the day job today - so, I slept in. Then we headed to the credit union to deposit some checks - including one for .20 (dividend). To get rid of change - I have started to round the deposit to a dollar amount. So, that .20 check became 1.00 with change. My husband and I also got a complimentary cup of coffee at the credit union - it is so yummy. Then to Wal-mart - mainly to do a bit of coupon shopping. Free after coupon items included a travel sized pack of Neutrogena face wipes and dental floss. Cheaper with coupon, 2 Kikoman sauces and 2 tubes of Jenny-o breakfast sausages. Next door is the Dollar Tree - so, I got a loaf of whole wheat bread, a jar of Jalapeno peppers, some "movie" candy, and some lasagna noodles. Then to Home Depot to pick-up the rest of the laminate. We still have some $ left on the discounted giftcard I purchased - so, that should cover any moulding we might need, etc. Then to Aldi - rounded out groceries there - unfortunately holiday sweets were heavily discounted - so, we got a few. Then on to Earthfare for a cheap lunch date with my husband. He still had $10 worth of Tomato bank credit - and they dropped the hot bar down to $5.99 - so, my husband got his lunch, a bottled lemonade, a box of crackers, a free round of brie with coupon, a sample of macaroon for his dessert (we also sampled a few other tasty items while strolling) - unfortunate they were out of the free water and they weren't expected to come in until after the coupon expires. My husband's total came to under $2. I got the free brie with my lunch and a few additional groceries items. Then the cashier reminded us that the meat department was giving out scratch cards. So, after lunch, we stopped at the meat department and each got 2 pre-made burgers. The scratch cards yielded 400 points which is the equivalent of $4. The burgers were $5 plus tax. And now we have over $4 left on our accounts - so, that will make for another cheap lunch date down the road. Then, a rarity. Mail was delivered early. Today's mail brought another dividend check of .45 - so, that means I will be scroungin .55 in change to go with it. And Victoria's Secret sent more coupons - free panty was the best of the 3 coupons. I have lots of things I need to work on - but I am mainly going to work on relaxing today. I do plan to go to hot yoga - and do some heavy duty cooking - a vegetarian and a meat lasagna for the freezer - and dinner. That way, I can use up items before they go "bad" - like the second bag of spinach I purchased from Aldi last week. All bills, big and small got paid today - and no money out of savings which as a relief. However, the accounts are very anemic - and not all of the "big" bills have come in - like the one to cut the trees down and there may be a bill for one of the rental properties. And, as much as I hate to "see" myself get less per paycheck that last year - I guess that is what is going to happen. Some got offset by cancelling a few optional deductions - but the payroll tax hit, and now I plan to ramp up my 401K equivalent will make the check a bit smaller. But, in the end , it will be worth it. I am hoping I am really close to committing to "retiring" from my day job - so, I need to sock away what I can. I need to re-calculate my deduction - for the catch-up missed for 2 pay periods, and the $500 increase in the "ceiling".
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