5/31 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  This was a 3 paycheck month for me.  Thank-goodness my husband and I are on different pay schedules :)  My daughter has been listing a few items here and there on half.com, ebay.com, and listia.com.  Still just plugging along.  I started to knit a winter sweater for my daughter with yarn I won on listia.com - should be ready by this winter.  Thought it would be a great project for our France trip.  The weather has been hot and muggy - defintely frizzy hair type weather.  Thank-goodness we are expecting rain this evening - not only to get rid of some of the humidity - but also to water the plants.  My "garden" is coming along - as are my flowers.  Gladiola bulbs that I planted several years ago that didn't bloom last year - and bright and cheery this year.  There are lavender and white with a tinge of red ones out in the yard .  Still need to work on paring down "stuff" - never know when one may want to move, retire, downsize, what-ever :)

5/30 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  Tsk, tsk . . . it finally happened.  Even though I was pre-selected for the Kroger card - to receive $100 for spending $200 - my application was rejected - because - something to the effect that I had too much available unsecured credit.  Very, very, sad.  May be they've realized I am a serial credit card opener - and spend what I "have" to - and then go back to my favorite card.  In any case, I am shocked - but not too sad.  So, for a pick-me-up, my daughter and I baked cookies this afternoon - a batch of peanut butter and a batch of white chocolate chip.  I also made a batch of Tzaziki and we ate some with manager special organic blue corn tortilla chips .99/bag.  I also "won" a SAT interactive handheld thing for my daughter to lug around - great way to use free time - don't you think :)  Hopefully an increase in SAT score will be a decrease in my $ outflow.  I also "won" 3 pairs of jeans for her.  Both of these were free shipping - so, no $ out of my pocket :)

5/28 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  My daughter and I made it to our mani-pedi - we both picked "loud" colors.  Afterwards, we drove through Burger King for a $1 caramel frappe.  We had plenty of leftovers for meals and I even froze some future meals.  I did a bit of refrigerator maintenance as I chopped green peppers and onions and froze them for future use too.  My husband took the old knife set to our foreclosure house and I opened a set I bought a long time ago for a pittance on Amazon.Com.  Nice and sharp - made chopping veggies a bit more enjoyable - sounds a bit macabe doesn't it.  I listed a few more items on listia.com and ebay too.  My daughter found some more clothes/shoes to take to the consignment store.  This decluttering is fun.

5/26 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  Pictured are a few things I accomplished today.  I finished the guest towel with scraps of fabric from a thrifted dress - from days gone by and the lace from the linen box I got at the auction.  Next to it - the strawberry cobbler for tomorrow.  I also made 2 batches of cookies - white chocolate chips (manager's special from Krober) and peanut butter.  The potato salad is done and I got some more of the throw completed.  I listed 2 more items on Listia and my daughter took 11 items of clothing to the consignment store.  Just watched "Joyful Noise".  So nice to have a very long weekend.  I have several painting projects I need to get done - maybe I will finally get to them.

5/25 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the week:  This week flew by - and I really didn't blog much.  I did "frugal" things - but nothing really exciting . . . maybe that is what being frugal is about.  Just minding the money.  So, I minded it - but, in a way to have some "fun" . . . this week on Groupon, I purchased 2 1/2 priced mani-pedi certificates.  $40 for both.  I had been "Jonsing" for a pedi - now my daughter and can get one together.  I was talking with an office-mate - she did not get in on it in time.  We called and the earliest we could get in was Monday - Memorial Day.  Today, I finished out my BBQ shopping.  My dad is coming over on Sunday.  Today, I purchased more meat - 4 Angus sirloin steaks - discounted to just over $6 and I had a $1 off $6 coupon.  Also purchased some split chicken breast at .99/lb.  I purchased a bag of Vidalia onions for .69 a 2 lb bag at Aldi and a whole watermelon for $3.99.  I will be making potato salad, strawberry cobbler (a hit with my family - and I still have plenty of the .49/qt strawberries in the freezer).  I also plan to make several types of cookies - probably chocolate chip and peanut butter since I have the ingredients - and want to send some home with my dad.  I also have baked beans in the freezer.  And I have plenty of veggies - so maybe a green salad.  We also bought some veggie burgers for the vegetarian in the family.  So, this week, I went $10 over my grocery "budget" - but we should be able to cut back next week since we will have lots of leftovers - surely some of it will go into the freezer.  I also won some more coupons on Listia - 2 coupon for Rudi organic bread - any, and some more Vosko yogurt.  We love that Greek yogurt - but the price is pretty outrageous for some it - regular price that is.  I grab the "manager's special" price - the best I have found so far is .25 a cup - and free with coupon.  Tomorrow, my daughter will take a load of clothes to the consignment store.  They just expanded to take men's, girls, boys, teens.  I also hope to list more stuff on listia.  Want to get rid of stuff - and win more "consumable" items - like yogurt :)  Oh, and we got a few drips and drabs of money this week - sale of a book on half.com and the sale of an item on Amazon.com.  Oh yes, and my rosemary and thyme are thriving - had some today in a potato/onion fry earlier today - yum.  Oh, and one other thing - got several things in the mail this week that I need to follow-up on.  Class action lawsuit notices - Deepwater Horizon, Groupon, RCI, Tribune Stock, and I am thinking 1 more.  I need to fill-out some paperwork and maybe something will come of it . . . would be nice to add to the college fund.

5/21 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  Today, I went through the mail and almost threw out a credit card offer from Kroger.  May be I am a bit of a credit card snob - but their offers to date have not interested me.  $10 or $25 bonus - pffffft.  But this offer was $100 if I spent $200 in 30 days - 50% is not bad - and when I called to apply for it - they said another bonus is .25/gal of gas for the first 90 day usage of the card.  Yup, I bit - hook, line, and sinker especially since there is no annual feel - and I am sure I can spend that much in fuel and groceries in 30 days - of course as always - I will pay it off in full.  My daughter and I had a nice, cheap, and easy dinner.  Breakfast for dinner to be exact:  2 eggs over easy on a bed of baked potatoes/onion/lots of herbs and spices pan fried in olive oil.  Yum - and really filling too.  Today, I wore an entire outfit (okay - not underclothing or shoes) from the thrift store.  I doubt I paid more than $10 for the 3 pieces - and as a bonus - I got plenty of complements.  I did confide in one frugal-lite - that I got the outfit at the thriftstore and she was amazed.  She asked for the name of the place - so, I may now have some competition - not really - since I got enought to last a whole long time.  The other people, I just smiled and said thanks!

5/20 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  Pictured is the flower arrangement my husband made.  The flowers from Kroger last week are still going strong - but the white lilies from the yard were on the ground from heavy rain.  So, my husganded a few roses from the yard and an orange lily and came up with the above arrangement.  I did put the stranded rose in the vase . .  . and now I notice the deck sure could use another refinishing or power wash.  Today, I plan to see if I can find discounted tickets for visit to Paris.  I need to make some salads for lunches this week.  I also want to give myself a mani-pedi.  My feet look so rough - I may splurge and go to one of those express places later this week.