11/14 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  My daughter and I had a "smart" idea last night.  I was going to order discounted gift cards to use on Black Friday.  Looks like a lot of people already beat us to it.  We wanted Barnes and Noble, TJ Maxx, and Lowes.  Could not find any at any of the web-sites we check :(  Last night, we were at Barnes and Noble and ordered a book she needed for class and each had a specialty drink.  Noticed they had their Gift Cards on sale for $100 - get a $10 promo.  Anyway, I will be out of gift card funding after her book comes in.  The cashier said - you sure have a bunch of gift cards - I used up one and had to start on my other.  Today, I will go to the bank and get some cash - and head back to Aldi to get a few more ingredients.  I am going to try a pumpkin cheesecake recipe - and freeze them for Thanksgiving.  Also, my neighbor's sign has changed from "pending" to sold - so, I will get her a giftcard to Earthfare - so they can eat a few meals while in the moving process.  I am also going to take a load of dry cleaning to the place I got a 1/2 priced gift certificate for.  I may also pop into the "other" beauty school and get a trim.  My hair needs some shaping and for $10 plus tip - it would be well worth it. 

11/13 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  I had $8 in my wallet today.  The only "bad" thing about Aldi is that they take cash or debit cards.  I don't do debit cards - and rarely carry around cash.  So, for under $8 today - I got 2 lbs of unsalted butter, 2 bricks of low fat cream cheese, 2 lbs of pears, and almost 2 lbs of bananas.  I would have picked-up a few more things - had I had the cash.  Today, I cooked with what I had.  We had a nice breakfast and an Asian themed lunch with leftover - egg rolls and fried rice.  We stopped at Aldi before picking the dog up from my dad's.  We took 1/2 of the apple pie I baked earlier, some egg rolls and rice, and the frozen lasagna I made earlier this week.  He seemed pretty pleased with the haul.  After we got the dog home and gave her a bath, we went to Kroger and finished out shopping.  Kroger is now my favorite place for finding goodies from the Manager Special.  We are going to make a quick stop at Ulta - we got our rewards certificate, pick-up a book at B&N (and may be some coffee :)  and Victoria's Secret is having an event with goodies for their "Pink" line.  Did I mention we also stopped at CVS today - and did the buy $30 of certain items and get a $10 gift card - I did, used a bunch of coupons - and got what we needed/wanted.  Also did the buy $10 in Suave and get $3 in extra bucks which I applied to the $30 order.  Lastg night, I used a sample of shampoo - I was totally out - now I should have enough to last me through the year.  Oh, and I rolled another $10 to deposit at the bank.

11/12 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the weekend:  We just got back from the beach - we just completed a whirlwind maintenance of our unit.  We painted, I put stick-on tile in the tiny laundry room, purchased a refrigerator, a 42 inch flat screen tv - we used every discount we could.  The new sofa and chair from Overstock had not arrived - so, we made arrangements with the maintenance department to assemble them when they do arrive - shortly. They shipped on the 9th of this month.  We also replaced the balcony chairs, since they were rusting.  The salt air/water is tough on metal.  We brought them home and I plan to use rustoleum paint and use them on our deck here with the glass top table that needs some paint on the metal portion.  In the mail, we got plenty of samples in 1 day's mail and a couple of rebates.  All-and-all, it was pretty frugal - because if we let them rental company take care of everything - it would costs lots of $.  So, we saved a bundle - no telling how much :)

11/10 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  I did some more freezer maintenance just now.  Put some of the soup I made earlier this week and the pumpkin custard in the freezer.  I am trying my hardest not to waste food.    I got a small rebate check.  But, they start to add up.  Other than that, I plan to relax this evening since tomorrow is Veteran's Day holiday for us.

11/9 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  Today, I spray painted brass looking vent plates to a matted brown color.  I am also baking up a storm.  Pictured, my oatmeal crumble apple pie - used up all but 1 of my Fuji apples before they soften up, in the baking cups are pumpkin/orange/white chocolate chip muffins.  In the oven, I had a pumpkin pie cooking at a high temperature for a few minutes before baking the muffins with the pie.  I noticed the rental agency has our townhouse up for rent already - thank goodness.  The tenant moved out Monday.  We had it re-roofed on Tuesday - and it was listed today for lease :)

11/8 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  I got my Rite Aid rebate check in the mail.  The stock market was nice.  I contacted the realtor about a foreclosure and he said there are 5 more similarly priced units in the two buildings.  May take the time to look at them.  Beach condo earned a nice amount last month - a first for an October.  Hope the rental season next year is good too. Paid the roofer to re-roof a rental property.  Hope the property rents out quickly.  Lots of expenses the next couple of months

11/7 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  My daughter is under-the-weather today - so, she is staying home.  I am staying home with her since I took her to a doctor's appointment and the contractor's were suppose to be here first thing in the morning to do their clean-up work:  mainly, they did not attach the dryer vent - so, moisture and lint blows into the house, they left residue on on the granite counters, did not repaint the trim to cover the paint drips they made - there is a list of about 10 things.  I know they are thinking I went to work and they want to be here when "I get home" so they can get their final check.  Sure hope they know how much they have to and have the supplies to fix it all.  Fed-ex came this morning with my Chase credit card replacement - that was fast.  Pictured above, along with the few little tomatoes I found earlier - I have added some Muscadine grapes that have not ripened that I found today - pretty nifty for a new plant.  Hopefully they will ripen together in the window sill and I can add them to a chicken salad sandwich.  Also, since I have some time today - I finished my seat cover - the one that was ripped - and I started working on it months ago.  Sadly, I am not sure where the black piping went - so, I used the orange remanent I have had for a gazzillion years.  My husband will have to staple it to the wooden bottom to get the "finished" look and also touch it up with some stain - and it will be the chair for the built in desk.  I also plan to sew a curtain with leftover fabric for the kitchen door.  We were going to give the kitchen a deep cleaning this weekend - but since the dryer vent spread lint all over the place - and the messy contractors are suppose to be back today - my daughter and I did the minimum.  So, DIY and using leftovers can be very frugal.