4/29 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  I cut the lawn - and skipped yoga.  Skipping yoga was cheaper than paying someone to mow the lawn.   I also earned $5.89 from ebates - so, I opted for an Amazon e-card.  Tomorrow, I will try to find a good deal on granite sink tops for the bathroom.  If I can get a reasonable price, I will go ahead and have it done since the sinks in this house are the original - about 20 years old - I find them kind of charming - shell sinks in porcelain. 

4/28 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  I finally listed some more items on-line.  I am going to finish the sewing machine work on the quilt I am making for my dad - and then taking it to work - to do the quilting by hand during lunch.  I have a better cabinet paint - read about it in Good Housekeeping - use high gloss enamel - and the Lowe's Rep recommended an additive so that paint brush strokes won't be visible.  I got my husband to get the mower ready for me - he wasn't able to cut the grass this weekend - too much rain - still raining - but since we live in a HOA - I will need to do it.  I also got him to get out the pressure washer - I am going to work on the deck next.  Did I mention that I got a nice job offer - not all of the details are worked out yet.  But in any case, I want the house ready to sell.

4/26 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  Today is my day off from my day job - but there's lots to do.  My husband took the discounted Lowes gift card and a few items we bought from there they we do not need (wrong sized molding) and he will buy the molding - and finish up the flooring work).  I also gave him 2 small checks and some change to cash in at the bank - to take to Aldi - with a list.  Today, I have started menu planning so that we can use up what we have in the pantry/fridge/freezer.  I am expecting to move within the next two months.  I am hoping we can sell our current residence and buy one for 1/2 and bank the rest for education/retirement expenses.  Good thing we have a community yard sale coming up in the next few weeks.  As much as I hate it, I think I will also utilize craigslist.

4/25 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  I got a job offer today :)  My daughter got a Kindle Fire HD - free from a bank deal.

4/24 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  We accepted the proposal of a tenant to paint the trim outside of our house.  And, my daughter won another scholarship for full expenses for a three weeks STEM program at another college :)  Great experience for her - and my wallet is still intact :)  And tomorrow, while running errands - I plan to get 3 free bagels from Brueggar's :)

4/19 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  Received a small dividend check.  My daughter won a scholarship to attend STEM related summer camp at a college for 1 week - all expenses paid :)  I am proud of her and it is quite frugal.  I am going to do some sprucing up/cleaning up this weekend.  Our community yard sale is next month.  Also, I have applied for a few jobs and hope to move this summer.  Mainly, I hope to land in a state where my daughter wants to attend college.  That way, hopefully we will have lived in the state long enough to get in-state tuition.

4/13 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  Received a rebate check in the mail.  My husband finished most of the flooring work (still needs to put the moulding in) - but he had some underlay left - a whole roll - unused.  He returned it for almost $70.  I listed 2 more items on ebay.  It was such a nice day - weather-wise.  I convinced myself to do some outdoor work - I polished the brass on our front door.  A little elbow grease - and it looks a lot better.

4/12 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  I listed 3 items on ebay.  I won a "free" Bath and Body Work gift card with $4.XX on it on Listia.  My husband just ordered a large 3 topping Pizza for dinner - for free using some Papa Johns points.  In the mail, received two freebie magazines - In Style and Ladies Home Journal.  Not a bad start to the weekend.

4/11 Expresssions

Frugal deeds for the day:  Mail call - I got 2 Gevalia K-Cups and a coupon and 10 Spring Daisy postage stamps.  I found a few items - and since I am home tomorrow - I will list them on ebay.  My husband will hopefully finish up the flooring.  We also will be getting 2 estimates to paint the outside of our house.  While there are plenty of things that need to get done - I plan to mainly goof off tomorrow.  Another month of more money out - not too much money staying in.  Anyway, we are still contributing a set amount to our daughter's college fund - good thing the stock market has been nice - otherwise, my husband and I would see very little change in our savings.

4/7 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  Silver linings - I volunteered at the concession stand yesterday - but sadly, my daughter's team will not be advancing - therefore - there won't be a "payback" for us.  In any case, it was fun - and since I volunteered at the end - clean-up time.  While breaking down soft drink boxes - it occurred to me that there were Coke Reward points on some of the boxes - I asked if I could keep the codes - and the answer was yes.  I entered the 5 codes - and got a bonus of 20 points - with the points I had - I had enough points to order 2 20oz Coke coupons for the soda-aholic in the family.

4/6 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  In between watching my daughter's team compete - and waiting for my volunteering time - I painted a couple of cabinet doors and worked on the quilt for my Dad (birthday present).  In the mail today - I got cash for doing a product testing and a $10 TJMaxx gift certificate - I paid the deductible for my daughter's wisdom teeth surgery with this card (have already been reimbursed thru the HSA).  I have also cooked "ahead" - pot of brown rice, a large spinach/salmon salad, and chopped/prepped veggies for tempura.  Also ordered a Lowes gift card discounted 7 percent - and will get 1 percent rebated back on the credit card - and signed up for a 10% off coupon.  We've arranged for a painter to give us a quote - and also the tenant that is currently unemployed - we want to be fair about the price paid - but will buy the paint ourselves at a discount from Lowes.

4/5 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  I sold a book on half.com and got my freebie CVS gift card w/credit card point redemption.  I will make use of it this weekend buying things I hate to buy - but need.  I know I have a few extrabucks waiting for me - and will try to find a few coupons to stretch the $10 card even more.  I am volunteering to work concessions this weekend so that if my daughter's team wins a competition - I will be awarded part of the proceeds towards the expense of the competition.  I won't get any $ - but my daughter would get a lower bill for her expenses - more like a barter I guess :)

4/2 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  Today's topic is bartering.  Last week, one of our property managers called to let us know that the reliable tenant asked if he could use his deposit as rent because he was in between jobs.  The property manager said she understood - but if he used his deposit as rent - he should be ready to move out at the end of the month or be evicted.  Anyway, the current house we live in needs it trim painted.  So, I called the property manager to ask about the tenant - she said he came up with the rent.  Even so, I asked if she could ask him if he'd be interested in doing some work on our current house in exchange for rent - and of course we'd still pay the management fee.  She said he is a builder by trade and would probably be interested.  So, it would be a win, win situation for us.  We want to get our current house ready for sale either this or next summer - so, doing maintenance/repairs, etc. as we go will reduce the stress of trying to get it all done in a short span of time.

4/1 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  Today, I made use of the free gym facilities at work.  I think it would be a better use of my lunch break to spend some time on the treadmill and use the private shower facilities.  Don't know why I didn't think of it earlier.  And my daughter reminded me that our Community has a gym facilities - part of our HOA.  We have hesitated - because we lost the security card - and the replacement cost is $20.  Crazy, I know.  But, $20 is whole lot cheaper than Gym memberships - and the place is closer - and we can walk - saving on gas.  But, for my sanity, I will continue to do Hot Yoga - at least for another few months.