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Frugal deeds for the day:  Today I received a phone call - my daughter's contacts are ready for pick-up.  At lunch, I opened an item from the grocery store with mold on it - nowhere near the printed expiration date.  Normally, I would have jumped in the car and ran some errands.  Today, I didn't.  The grocery store return will be combined with an errand I need to run later this evening.  The contacts, will be picked up tomorrow with some other errands incorporated.  So, I got a lot of me time in:  made myself a nice breakfast smoothie, took an afternoon nap.  I even cooked and did a bit of cleaning without feeling rushed.  Took the dog for a walk.  The weather is fantastic - and I have enjoyed the peace.

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Frugal deeds for the day:  I used at a freebie giftcard for Walmart for gas today - unfortunately - now it is $3.25/gal.  Then I purchased a few grocery items.  Hopefully, I won't need much else.  Most of this weekend, I plan to use giftcards.  May be a few $ additional to use coupons at Earthfare and pick-up a few items at Aldi.  I am off from my day job tomorrow - and I plan to sleep in and relax.  May do some cooking.  I was hoping the coupon for a free exercise ball from Sears would print - still can't get it to print.  They are probably out of them anyway :(

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Frugal deeds for the day:  Yesterday, I analyzed the condo data provided by the realtor and asked for additional information.  I am still waiting.  We are hoping to hear from the condo association as to what the next step is.  There are some good deals out there . . . Today was a very sad day.  Funeral services for a former co-worker - it was sudden.  It just reminds you how short life is.  Only consolation is that I know this person lived each day to the fullest and enjoyed his time on this earth.

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Frugal deeds for the day:  Since this is the New Year for the Health Savers Account - we refilled rx's on the 1st and order my daughter's glasses and contacts yesterday.  Now I've ordered my year's worth of contacts.  How's that - I get to borrow someone elses money and not pay interest on pre-tax dollars :)  I guess I am easily entertained :)  Oh, and I got a dividend check for more than a few pennies today from Starwood.  Enough to buy a meal at a fast food joint :)

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Frugal deed for the day:  My former piano teacher - I have kept in touch with her for over 30 years - sent a nice card and calendar.  She wrote that her husband is retiring this month and her daughter graduated from college.  I wanted to send a nice gift - just a token really.  Many places do not ship internationally and if they do - the shipping is outrageous.  So, I poked around stores I found through ebates.  Finally found one - Godiva Chocolate has a Japan site.  And while not cheap, I was able to send a nice gift without spending an arm and a leg for shipping.  As a matter of fact, shipping was under $7 :)  And while some think it is inconsiderate to send giftcards - my husband's cousin's daughter had a baby last week - I hope they enjoy their baby's r us card :)  Maybe I am old and inconsiderate - but would rather send a gift card than drive around a look for something - and then not have it be useful.  If they lived in driving distance - which they don't (probably 1,000 miles away) - I would have purchased a practical gift - but practical plus shipping isn't always smart.

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Frugal deeds for the day:  When walking in the neighborhood yesterday, I saw a yard with a bunch of box gardens - even with vegetable growing.  I think that is the new trend - and I want to embrace it.  Where possible, I think I am going to use edible plants.  The interesting weather has caused Paper Whites to bloom in our yard.  They have never bloomed in the 5 plus years we have been here - I alway wondered what the plant was - now, I know.  A nice surprise.  I have put a few more crafts in my bag - no more wasting time when "waiting" or when I have free time.  I am going to do what I find relaxing and productive.

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Frugal deeds for the day:  Today, I did refrigerator maintenance.  I made a smoothie with strawberries, a bit of pomagranite juice, frozen banana and Greek yogurt.  I also made a batch of veggie curry with potatoes, onions, apples, vegetarian sausages.  Stir fried garlic, onions, baked potatoes diced, and leftover steak in olive oil.  Made a large salad with cucumber, buttery leaf lettuce (bad leaves went into the compost), pecans, juice from about 4 schriveled oranges, a bit of diced onions, and poppy seed dressing.  Tomorrow, I plan to buy the minimum to get us through the week with a Wal-mart gift card.  Also, we took a nice relaxing walk through the neighborhood.  I clipped a few coupons - there were 4 inserts and will take the rest to the office for others to enjoy :)