7/30 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  Yup, it is controversial, but, I was approved for the Thank-you Premier card and hope to comply with the terms and get 5 $100 gift cards.  As stated previously, we do not carry balances, are not in the market to get a mortgage - so, will suffer a few point ding against my credit rating for $500.  We had to change plans for my dad's birthday - it rained - but we are grateful - as the plants really needed it.  So, we cooked everything on the stove - not as tasty and maybe not as frugal - but it was a nice and enjoyable meal.  He enjoyed his gift basket and asked if he could take a couple of helpings of the dessert with him - why certainly since we sure don't need the extra calories.  He took a container of the triffle and another with baklava.  He also took home extras of the meal to have for dinner and lunch tomorrow,  My husband and I are about to get out and trim some more bushes now that the sun has peeped out.  Oh, and I got a skin care kit for my daughter in the mail and my free Woman's Day magazine.

7/29 Expressions

Frugal ramblings for the day:  My husband could not find the invoice for the Sun Visor repair from Honda - and I want our money back - so, he stopped buy and they were able to give him a copy.  Tomorrow is our BBQ/birthday for my dad - we used a bunch of coupons.  So, since I ordered the rebate form, we purchased a few more groceries.  Not so frugal - I left with a list of free Blockbuster rental codes and not one worked.  I got my bill for my Southwest Airlines credit card bill - just over $20 for a $25 PF Chang giftcard - and I have my 50,000 miles already.  I was going to cash it in for a $500 Lowes giftcard - but we have a better idea.  My brother moved to New Mexico - so, we have decided to we will get 4 free tickets - and take my dad along.  That will be part of his Christmas present.  We haven't been together in a few years - so, we figured now is as good of a time as any.  I am shocked that even though the economy has been all that great, I believe this month has been an excellent month for rentals for our condo.  So, another nice check next month.  We made the HELOC payment this month as planned. 2/5's gone.  This weekend, my husband and I will put on our landscaper hats and trim the bushes even more and see if we can't make the HOA lady happy ;(  ADDED:  Also, it used to be that my credit union was a better deal than any bank.  Lately, that is not the case.  As my credit union expanded - customer-wise and foraying into insurance and investment sales, they are now not always the best deal.  As for the HELOC, we chose the bank because they gave us a great rate - 2.7 currently and it cost us nothing to get it.  Also, my credit union used to give out coin wrappers for free.  Now they don't even have them.  They want you to use their automated coin coin machine - kind of like a slot machine - spits out a receipt of the amount of coins you put in, minus a hefty fee.  Cheap as I am, I am not about to dump my coins in there for the fee they charge.  I'd rather use Coinstar and get a no additional charge gift certificate.  But just for fun, when we made the HELOC payment at the bank today and asked for coin wrappers - they were happy to give them to us - so, back to rolling coins for me.

7/28 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  My co-worker again bestowed some lovely vine ripened tomatos on me.  It will be great for the BBQ we are having for my dad on Saturday.  Oh and a frugal tip, when I went to Dollar Tree last weekend, they had "famous brand" adult t-shirts for $1 - not that I bought any - but I did buy 2 loaves of Nature's Own wheat bread for $1 a loaf and a pack of buns for this weekend.  I guess it is like the 'day old' bread store - these had a few more days before their best if sold by date.  I put a loaf in the freezer - as I did the buns.  I was going to make my second batch of baklava - but, I think I will put it off till tomorrow.  I'd rather not use the oven until I really need to.

7/27 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  At lunch today, I stopped by Pier 1 with the $10 facebook coupon that expires today - I got an organizer basket for my mail - $0 out of pocket.  Earthfare sent me a $1 coupon good on 1 Quart of Organic ice cream - I got it too - since they are about a block away - strawberries and cream yum!  The weather has been so dreadfully hot that I have been eating the chocolate covered bananas myself.  I hope I have a few left for my daughter when she gets home this weekend.  I also ate 2 of the 3 peaches we got from our tree (first year) - they are delicious.  Looks like a bug got one of our pears - but there are 4 thriving so far.

7/26 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  I got a free bar of Soy Joy in the mail and some coupons.  I hope to use the $10 Pier1 coupon tomorrow - as it expires then.  I plan to be the family gardener and plant the plants today - and I plan to file the receipt - I believe Wal-mart and Lowes have a plant guarantee - if it dies within the first year - you can return it for a refund.  I am going to make-up a batch of brown rice to cover me for the rest of the week.  Planning a meal for one is simple - but in all honesty, I am flying by the seat of my pants :)  Chocolate covered bananas are yummy - especially in this heat wave.  I need to water my "garden".  So far, it has been pitiful - the bugs ate my only cabbage plant - so far, I have only picked 1 small yellow squash.  Lots of flowers out there - must be some kind of melon.

7/25 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  Today, at work, a co-worker gave me bagful of tomatos grown in her garden - I had a tomato sandwich for dinner - it was delicious.  Mail call:  $30 check for being a good mail decoy, 3 hair care samples from Aveda to tame the frizziness, a coupon for a free single serving bag of Skittles, my PF Chang giftcard from Cardpool.  Bad news, HOA thinks we should trim our scrubs some more :(  I need to get the pretty flowers planted asap. 

7/24 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the week:  This week, I had several drips of income from various sources.  I received a rebate check or two, my $5 Amazon e-code cleared from swagbucks, and I cashed in for a $10 Panera gift card.  There's an antique auction going on today and I sure would love to go - but, I won't.  There really isn't anything I need and I need to keep my eye on the ball - declutter as much as possible when we attempt to sell this this house early next year.  But I will be running out and about - I need to return something from Big Lots and while I am there - Petsmart is next door - so, I will be running in to get the dog a treat.  Also in the same complex, Target - might see if they have a deal or two.  And we have a bit of change left on our Michael's card - I plan to use it us.  Oh, and Sears, I need to use that $10 freebie Craftsman card, my dad's birthday is coming up, we plan to do a bbq for him.  The man has everything he needs and wants, so, I am making up a basket.  He likes, to try a variety of cheese, and he likes gadgets.  So, he will be getting a basket of both.  This Saturday morning, we will get him a variety of fresh goat cheese to add to a variety of crackers and some kind of gadget from Sears.  Instead of a plain cake, I have frozen leftover cake in the freezer - I plan to make a triffle and I will also make a big batch of baklava to use up the other box of phyllo dough I have in the freezer.  Also this week, our first HELOC payment is due on the foreclosure - I plan to pay the $50 in interest and 2/5ths of the principle.  2/5ths plus interest next month, and 1/5 plus interest in September.  My goal was to pay it off by the end of October - so, we will be a month early baring some catastrophic financial disaster.  The house is pretty much livable - we need a bit more furnace work which we plan to hire someone to do by the end of next month.  My husband rented a carpet cleaner and cleaned the carpets yesterday.  He will slowly replace the carpeting with laminate flooring - installing it himself as time permits.  So far, I would say we have spent just under $3,500 on repairs (air conditioner, garbage disposal, furnace, shower leak, carpet cleaner and supplies), new appliances (stove, fridge, washer, dryer) and furniture (2 queen mattress sets, frames).  The rest of the stuff we had - microwave, minimal furniture, paint and brush for one wall.  At this time, I am tempted to sign-up for a Citibank credit card which is offering a bonus of a $500 gift card - that would go a good way toward for the laminate.  Please note, signing-up for credit card offers is not for everyone.  We do not carry a balance on our cards, are not in the market to take out a mortgage ( few point drop in ratings won't affect us), etc.  So, please do not see this as an endorsement for signing up for a credit card.  I am just explaining what we do, or are planning on doing for our purposes only.  As they say, "your mileage may vary".