5/13 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  Pictured are the refrigerator magnets I finished yesterday.  My daughter and I made salt dough cut-outs and painted them several years ago.  While cleaning out junk drawers, I found them.  Sadly, 2 pieces were too heavy for the poor grade magnets I used (magnetic advertisements from realtors).  The bottom piece was heart shaped with a cute flower and also, there was a cut pig.  Being too heavy, then fell off the fridge and broke.  I salvaged the bottom piece of the heart.  Also, I worked a bit on my daughter's throw.  I also found some beautiful teal lace, very nice quality - vintage perhaps, in my auction stash of linen.  I am going to use it to embelish some towels.  I now have found a bazillion projects to work on - just as a result of cleaning out junk drawers.  I had a nice Mother's Day.  Now I need to package my half.com sale and mail it out tomorrow at lunch time.

5/12 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  Well, my husband and daughter decided not participate in the yardsale - and I agreed.  We really don't have much left to sell.  So, they wanted to know where I wanted to eat out for Mother's Day.  My preference is to not eat out.  My wish for today is to stay in my comfy clothes and do whatever I wanted to do.  My husband cooked breakfast and I wanted to cook lunch - but no dishes!  Then, I went through a couple of junk drawers - and threw out some small bags of trash and also found some useful items :)  Then, while in the garage, I decided I needed to organize my craft supplies.  After is my "before" and "after" organizers.  I purchased the canisters over 10 years ago at a yard sale - I paid between $3 and $5 for the set.  Of course that wasn't dirt cheap - but counter clutter in the kitchen is now "out".  So, the set has probably been sitting in the garage the last 8 years or so.  I found self stick sample labels from post-it - so, those containers - my husband washed off the years of dust for me will be label - probably thread, buttons, ribbon, and misc.  That will get rid of a bunch of clutter and keep me from hours of searching or buying more stuff that I already have - and I love the teal color to add some interest to my craft storage collection - how's that for a frugal Mother's Day.  Sadly, although I asked if flowers were purchased - that they come from Aldi - instead, I got overpriced Kroger flowers - but atleast they aren't as bad a florist flowers and a box of overpriced chocolate covered strawberries from Kroger too.  Of course those will be shared - and the purchaser seems to enjoy them more than I do ;)

5/9 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  Today we got the first of our property tax appraisals.  They are for our two beach properties.  So, they both went up slightly - which I think is fair - with a total tax impact of just over $50 for the year.  During lunch, I did my grocery shopping.  This evening, after I pick-up my daughter, I plan to do some cleaning.  We are having a visitor on Friday - I thought it would be a cheaper, more pleasant way to discuss our upcoming trip to France, than going to a restaurant.  Also nice is that my husband will help me clean.  I will cook - fair exchange.  Of course, I plan to help my husband and daughter get ready for the community yard sale.  Hopefully, we will get rid of junque and earn enough for a meal out :)  Save some cooking and cleaning too. 

5/7 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  Today in the mail - I got 2 items I "won" on Listia - no $ out of my pocket - the yarn - yea . . . and my necklace - already claimed by my daughter :)  I already mentioned my husband reserve our hotel accomodations for our trip to France - no money out of our pockets - and the first 5 nights - we get free breakfast, snacks, light meals, drinks throughout the day too - that makes me happy because we have most of the expensive ticket items taken care of.  We just need to plan our events.  Oh another "inclusive" - we each get to check in two pieces of luggage at no additional cost.  Remember - we are using British Airways miles (from the credit card deal last year) - but we had to pay $5XX for each ticket.  Most we have ever had to pay for a "free" ticket - but either way - it is still 1/3 of the price it would have been at the time.  We also got a point discount deal.  I would have to say the hotel points saved us the most.  We are booking 2 rooms per night - running between $750 - $1,000 per night per room - and I must say they are nice - but I sure wouldn't pay that kind of money.  The $1,000 per night hotel - we "earned" by signing up for a credit card also.  Please do not take this as advice.  It works for us - but, we pay off our credit cards, yada, yada, yada.  Oh, and I checked our condo rental statement.  It made a nice return for last month.  We are now saving for a car for my daughter's birthday.  Believe me, her being able to drive will go a long way for saving my sanity.  I know most parents probably believe so, but, she is very responsible and therefore, I will try not to worry.  Lucky for her, we still have several months more to save for that car and hope that nothing else comes up.  Of course my husband is still waiting for his "hearing" to get a reduction on our foreclosure house. Sure hope they hurry as the next installment of property tax is due in June.  They did offer a reduction - but only 1/2 of what we think it should be.  Got to give them credit for trying to protect their tax base - I guess.

5/5 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  All of our hotel points have posted and we will have nice hotel accomodations for our trip to Paris - at no additional costs out of our pockets.  We are hoping we get some free food priveleges too :)  Nothing exciting in the mail today.  But I did win a nice pair of earring on Listia :)  Our neighborhood yardsale is this Saturday.  I have asked my husband and daughter to try and sell enough to cover a meal out on Mother's Day.  And as for the best gift ever, I have asked if they could get us caught up on laundry - to include folding and putting clothes away.  Oh, and I checked the fig tree out - one of the figs has over-ripened and fell to the ground.  One fig was ripe - so, I ate it.  I offered my daughter 1/2 - but she declined.  It was good.  Pretty good to get even 1 piece of fruit from a tree that was transplanted a couple of months ago :)  I also picked up some Manager's Specials today in the organic department - and I had coupons to make them an even better bargain!

5/4 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  Mail call - 2 more freebie magazines:  Woman's Day and Smart Money.  I also got my Yves Rocher order - very nice, especially for the price.  I also got 4,500 listia credits - which I "spent" on 6 skeins of yarn and a vintage owl necklace.  The Owl is really neat - on a 24 inch chain and it has faux gem eyes ;)  No shipping costs for either.  Took my daughter to guitar lessons and while she was taking lessons, I went to Aldi.  For $4.04, I got 8 Roma Tomatoes, 3 Green Peppers, 1 Mango, 2 Avocados, and 2 pounds of sweet onions.  Then to the take 'n bake pizza place.  Got 2 large cheese pizzas for $8 plus tax.  Now my punch card is full and I will get a free pizza next time.  We stopped at Kroger for a few groceries and I told my daughter, our limit is $20 - with coupons, we spent $15.XX and got a coupon for a free Yoplait Greek Yogurt.  Of course I purchased 3 Greek yogurts in the organic section that were marked down to .25 each.  We also rented a Red Box.  Tomorrow, I have a hair appointment.  Not sure what else we will do.  Added:  I sold an item on Amazon.com, 1 item left in my inventory and I sold 2 items on Listia.

5/3 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the week:  Yesterday - I got 2 freebie magazines in the mail - Kiplinger and Martha Stewart Living.  Today, a postcard for a free drink at Starbucks and a t-shirt I won on Listia.  Today, I also won 6 skeins of yarn for my project :)  I rained a bit last night and off and on all day today - for which I am grateful since I won't have to water my plants/veggies.  Oh, my daughter got accepted into a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) program - 1 week this summer and she get a stipend of $50 :)