7/17 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  We just returned from Big Lots - they are having a 20% off of everything in the store sale.  I brought my coupon - but they said one was not needed.  Our Vacuum was on its last leg - so we got a Eureka for $60.  We also ended up buying a fabric steamer for around the same price.  Since my daughter is into clothes, etc. - figured I might as well get one.  I also ended up buying some international food items that were discounted potato knocci (sp), soba noodles, etc.  We checked expiration dates.  Yesterday's mail - a rebate check and a coupon for a free bottle of Country Bob's sauce came.  Also today, I finally made the butternut squash soup and Italian style spagetti squash noodles.  Those will be side dishes for most of this week.  In addition, I made a batch of natural turkey patties and bakalava with the leftover puff pastry, honey, etc.  I did buy a bag of chopped walnuts from Wal-Mart - and a lb of butter - Great Value brand was almost half the price of brand name.  Added:  the vacuum, which was a re-manufactured one, did not work and we returned it and purchased one at Target.  We have had luck with re-manufactured items before - but this one was lemon.

7/16 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  Yesterday I got a $10 off anything coupon from Kohls.  My husband just used it and got a free shower liner - no money out.  We need one for the foreclosure house.  He also stopped at the farmer's market and picked up 4 more goat cheese tubs with our discounted membership card.  We will take two to my daughter's adoptive grandmother who wants to take us to a matinee.  She already purchased tickets.  She said she wants to take us out for lunch too - but, we are going to let her pay.  It is the place next door where upon each of us can get a free appetizer with the movie ticket stub.  Lots of leftovers for more meals :) - and a decent price.  Also, my husband decided only one wall in the foreclosure needed painting right away.  Turns out it is a light brown - so, for now, that wall will be painted with my free can of Glidden's paint - it is "Fawn" - so, it will be an accent wall.  Of course, sending my husband to the farmer's market can be dangerous - he decided to buy a small bag of organic peaches - $8 - wowsa - they are good though. 

7/15 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  All I can say is TGIF :)  I picked my yellow squash today - it doesn't seem to be growing any bigger - and I did not want it over ripen and rot.  For dessert - I made raspberry/fig preserves, walnut baked brie - in a puff pastery shell - yummy.  And the brie was $1.99 on Manager's Special at Kroger.  Tomorrow, we are going to a movie and eating lunch out with my daughter's adopted grandmother.  She wanted to eat first and watch a movie.  My daughter told her it is better to watch a movie first then eat because you can get a free appetizer with your movie ticket :)  So, we are going to an earlier matinee and then to lunch. 

7/14 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  we picked one peach - it seems almost ripe - so, we will keep it in the window sill.  We went grocery shopping at Wal-mart today and picked-up a few things.  Then to the credit union with the rent check and .50 in pennies.  Then to McDonalds for another round of BOGO smoothies and we each got a basic sandwich - me the burger - DD the cheeseburger.  It is so hot outside - it is hard to get the motivation to do anything once I am in the house.

7/13 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  We received a nice rent check from our condo.  June and July are usually big months - high rates and high occupancy.  Anyway - every bit of it will go toward the HELOC portion of the new foreclosure.  The airconditioner was not cooling in the Foreclosure - it was $300 to get it running properly and cooling.  The mattress and frames were delivered; as were the stove and fridge.  Unfortunately, they did not have the washer and dryer in stock - so, they will be delivered next week.  They also forgot the ice maker.  So, the foreclosure is coming right along.  Today, I earned enough swagbucks to redeem for a $5 Amazon.com gift card :)  In addition, while there - I noticed I could get 180 more swagbucks if I ordered a groupon - so, I got a $20 gift certificate for a bakery for $10 - my daughter's birthday is coming up - I think it may come in handy.

7/12 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  My husband did a great job shopping for appliances at Lowes last night for our foreclosure house.  He got a black stove/fridge and a white washer/dryer - all brand new, will be delivered and installed free.  Originally, just over $2,000.  Yeterday was the last day for 10% on 3 of the brands.  Plus, I had e-mailed for a 10% off coupon.  Next, he had those discounted giftcards from plastic jungle (saved about $40 on $600 worth) - so, after discounts, he paid $9XX on his credit card.  His employer will be reimbursing him just over $1K for closing/misc expenses.  So, I figure the rest of the change can go toward paint - and eventually - change out the flooring ourselves - install laminate - hopefully we will be approved for those credit cards to get the $500 Lowes or Home Depot Gift Cards :)

7/11 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  I got my first bill for the HELOC on the foreclosed house.  I believe they calculate the interest differently - but, I will take it.  I owe $1.XX in interest - but have to pay a minimum of $50.    I plan to pay more than the minimum - and have several more weeks before the payment is due.  I will be marking it into my new little planner.  I don't know if we are approved yet, but I signed up for another credit card - it does have a $99 fee - but, for using it once, I can get free flights or a $500 giftcard.  I sure hope it gets approved - unfortunately it is with Chase - I already have several Chase cards - so, we shall see.  I am going to ask my husband to sign-up also.  2 X $500 (in Lowes or Home Depot) - $198 in fees will go a long ways in the minor repairs we need to make on the foreclosure and we also need to do a few things to our other "permanent" residence before we put it up for sale.  So, here's hoping.   Other than that - I stopped at the dry cleaners and picked-up some clothes - used the ancient coupon from back of the ancient receipt.  And since it was on the way - stopped at McDonald's for the BOGO cold drinks again.  This time I went for the Frappe and my daughter stuck with the smoothie.  I  currently have 12 turkey burger patties in the oven in addition, a spagetti squash, a butternut squash, and a large eggplant.  After they all bake, I am going to cook ahead and make several salads and side dishes for the rest of the week.