8/17 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  Today, my daughter and I headed our early for errands and around 9 AM stopped at Burger King for a quick bite.  She wanted French Toast sticks - 3/$1 or 5/$1.99 - you know what she chose since she was so hungry - 2 3/$1 orders cuz she gets the 6th one for a penny.  My husband helped me track stuff down at Publix - we saved around $48 and spent $40 including tax - so, over a 50% saving.  I hand mended one shirt for my daughter - and then took a nap.

8/16 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  Tomorrow, my daughter and I are going to go sit for an identification card.  So, this evening, I have printed out coupons, have gathered coupon inserts, etc. and I hope to put together another "cheap" shop at Publix  - possibly tomorrow afternoon.  I also plan to take my "free" decorator pillow kit from the British knitting magazine I got - in case I really need to stay busy - and a cooler of water and a few snacks.  Perhaps a thermos of home brewed coffee too.  My daughter is negotiating with a classmate for car rides to and from school.  Perhaps a budding entrepeneur . . . I received a rebate check from Staples making my 2 packs of printer paper .01 plus tax each.  Also picked a few more tomatoes, used the last of the purple onions, and previously chopped and frozen green peppers and stir fried them with the vegetarian kebob "meat" with a bunch of spices - turned out to be quite tasty and will be eating that for lunch tomorrow too.

8/15 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  I think a few frugal lightbulbs have gone off in my daughter's head.  This week she realized that although we have not subscribed to cable for years now, clean our own house, do our own lawn - doing those things enables to spend in other areas that are important to us.  She realizes that we really don't miss cable because we don't have much time to watch tv.  She even pitches in more with household chores.  Last week, she saw a dress marked down from $4xx to $45.  We let her purchase it with her own money.  She got it in the mail today.  She tried it own and there was a that look in her eye.  She really wanted justification to keep.  First because it was such a big discount, but then she said it didn't fit well and she'd probably only wear it once.  So, on her own, she has decided to pack it up and return it tomorrow.  No matter the discount, if you don't need or want it, it isn't a "saving". 

8/13 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  Today, we received the condo rent check and combined it with our ebates rebate, my daughter's birthday check, and I scraped $2.16 in chage out of my purse.  That covered the money my husband "borrowed" to pay the new insurance bill in full and her education fund deposit.  This is a 3 paycheck month for my husband - so, I am hoping he can finally get ahead.  Even though we don't have a budget set in stone, our goal is to spend my husband's income or less to fund all household expenses for both residences.  My salary is split approximately into education fund and savings.  Rental income is for investments.  I will say our retirement accounts are starting to grow ever so slowly again and our individual accounts are still lagging from our all time high.  Now that my daughter can drive herself around, I really do have some more "me" time.  I think I will get back crafting, upcycling, recycling and the like.  Since retirement is drawing closer for the both of us, we need really declutter and figure out what we want to do in the next phase of our lives.

8/12 Expressions

Today, we had a birthday BBQ for my dad and daughter - both share the same birthdate.  My husband BBQ's vegetarian items and non-vegetarian items.  I got a great deal on vegetarian kebobs from Gardein - originally almost $5 for 4 skewers - they were marked down to $1.99 - got 2 boxes and used the a $1.10/2 coupon.  My daughter made homemade cupcakes and buttercream icing - yum.  My dad brought over a large chocolate chip cookie cake.  We had 1 cent coleslaw from Publix (Wednesday's penny item), blue cheese potato salad from Earthfare - buy $5 get 1/2 gallon of organic milk for free deal.  Now we have plenty of left overs for easy meals for the rest of week.  The gift cards came in time - so, the dog got groomed for a discount - and my husband bought a 3rd remote for the garage.  My daughter gave her grandfather a FIAT hat - she is keeping the car.  We gave him a $50 Barnes & Noble gift card (ordered at a discount) and my husband added a coupon he got from his sports barber shop for a free hair cut.  The weather has been great these past couple of days.

8/10 Expressions

Finally, my daughter was able to take the road test and get her driver's license.  Note to self:  stay away from our County DMV and go to the next county over.  Our County's DMV is booked - walk-ins are chaotic - we got there at 5:45 a.m. were 3rd in line - got a "spot" and then because it rained - driving tests were cancelled.  Not only was I tired, annoyed, and used a vacation day - but accomplished nothing my give myself anxiety :(  Next county over - did not have to arrive early, 2nd in line - and done within an hour.  Sometimes it is better to drive further because our time is worth something . . . The only things I have made an effort to do this past week was order discounted gift cards - one for my dad for this birthday - Barnes and Noble so he can download books galore onto his Nook, a Lowes Gift Card so we can buy a third garage door opener since we are now a 3 car family, and a petsmart giftcard so the dog can get a "do" at a discount.  Tomorrow, just the ladies will be eating lunch at PF Chang's - my treat (oops, should have ordered a gift card) and adoptive Grandmother will treat us to see "Hope Springs".  Sunday, my husband is BBQ'ing for my dad's birthday luncheon and my daughter and I will make a few side dishes and dessert.  Lots of freebie magazines came in the mail.

8/5 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  Did I mention yesterday that we went thru the Burger King drive-thru for an ice cream cone and the cashier gave it to us for free :)  Sometimes you just have to be at the right place at the right time.  Seems the manager was training the person and let him use a free cone coupon from their stash as my payment :)  This afternoon, we went to Kohls and since we wanted more wash cloths - we used our $10 and 5% off coupon and got 18 wash cloths for $1.80 after sale and coupons.  We also got a free face wash at ULTA and a free trial sized lotion at Bath and Body Works.  Shortly, we will attend the "Pink Party" at Victorias Secret and at a minimum, pick-up some free panties.  My husband filled out some paperwork for refunds from IRS and his state tax organization.