1/31 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  The battery I ordered from Amazon for my daughter's smartphone came today - just over $7 shipped!  I sold another item on ebay.  I filled out a credit card application that I was "prequalified" for - Kroger/USBank.  Spend $200 in 3 months and get a $75 statement credit - can't beat that.  Tomorrow, my husband and I are opening accounts at a local bank and hopefully in a month or so, we will receive our Kindle Fire HD.  I went on a quick cooking spree this afternoon and used up "stuff" - raisin scones, potato casserle, gingerbread cookie whoopie pies, "Mexican" cornbread muffins.  I used the $5 off offer from livingsocial to get a pet grooming certificate for $12.  A couple of days ago, I used the $10 off code from Groupon for a hot stone massage and body wrap for just under $40.

1/30 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  I sold 2 items on ebay and my third has a bid.  With the paypal - I have ordered a discounted Wal-mart giftcard to buy gas/groceries/misc.  Junk-out and money in.  I am trying to convince myself to sell on ebay, etc. and shoot for an average of $100 per month or $1200 for the year.  I am "off" at my day job.  I hope to be productive - but may just relax :)

1/27 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  I sold a DVD on half.com and will mail it out tomorrow during lunch break - and also mail back an item my daughter order - free returns.  My daughter and I had a bogo latte at Barnes and Noble - the printable coupon is back out and is good until the 31st.  I saw an add for a local bank in which they are giving away Kindle Fire HD by opening an account, doing a direct deposit, and 3 bill pays.  I am going to look into on my "day off" this week.

1/26 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  Today, we made an appointment for the dog and got her groomed at Petsmart and used the rest of the cheap giftcard.  Also shopped at Kroger and Wal-mart with lots of coupons for some health and beauty items - toothpaste - Colgate $1 less .75 coupon, etc.  Panera bread, my daughter and I signed up for their rewards card and each got a free pastry this morning.  While there, we went to Victoria's Secret and got a free pair of panties, used the 20% of pretty much anything in Ulta and my daughter used the last of her GAP gift card (from signing up for the AMEX card) and got 2 shirts for about $2.50 out of pocket after the gift card since they were having an additional 40% off sale items.  We ate lunch at a Thai Restaurant with a BOGO coupon.  Sadly, we could not find the Triple Chocolate Hot Cocoa at Arby's - we tried 2 Arby's in the area and neither had the item.  So, that freebie was a bust.  Not to jinx ourselves - but the stock market has been ver nice to our 401K equivalent accounts.  Added:  my daughter's smartphone will not hold a charge for more than 2 hours.  We stopped by T-Mobile - and inquired about replacement batteries.  The sales representative told us that since we are now pay-as-you-go, the battery is not covered.  He told us we should be able to order one for about $5 from Amazon.Com - and he was right.  Instead of the $5 one, we ordered the $7.XX one - no shipping costs and I used my Amazon.Com credit. 

1/24 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  This month - I have been just keeping one step ahead of the bills - not fun.  No money out of savings - yet, but no money in either.  I am hoping that in February, we will round a corner and get back on track.  I have been cooking meals at home, taking breakfast and lunch to work - and snacks.  Just the basics.  Oh, one item on ebay has a bid - and it should buy me and my daughter a tank of gas - so that's nice to get rid of clutter for something we can use that doesn't clutter the house.  This weekend I plan to list a few larger items on craigslist.  I am sort of dreading it though - I am wondering if it is worth the hassle.  I have been plugging away with swagbucks and halfway to earning a $5 Amazon gift card.  I have restrained myself from buying bargains.  Tomorrow, I will be going to work a few hours later because of the ice - but at lunch, I will stop by Costco and do my bi-weekly shop/gas run.  My husband got his American Airlines card - and hopes to earn 35,000 miles - and we hope to take a nice trip this summer - perhaps to Europe again.

1/21 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  I used the $50 off $100 coupon at Bestbuy (with Mastercard - and lots of restrictions) for 3 boxes of black/color ink cartridges for our printer.  We should be set for the year.  We also stopped at Kroger and got our free Carnation Instant Breakfast mix with digital coupon - I also got some 1/2 priced manager's special items to freeze.  I also found a $4 rebate form for rotisserie chicken which will come in handy.  And we used some Tomato Bank points at Earthfare to have a nice lunch out - mine came to $1.50 after point redemption.  I also listed 2 items on ebay - hopefully they will sell and that's a bit more clutter out and cash-in.  Added:  planted basil seeds I "won" on Listia, received my Amazon.com e-card for selling a giftcard and found that I had a $5 code on Swagbucks that I had not redeemed, sewed the zipper on my daughter's jeans, and made a batch of potato salad before the potatoes as a side dish for the next couple of meals.

1/20 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  For some reason, I cannot upload my picture - but anyway, I made 4 very wide headbands from 2 old t-shirts for my hot yoga classes.  I don't like ones that are too tight, or thin - as I do not like sweat dripping into my eyes or ears - so, I tried one today - and it works well and just cost me some time.  I taught my daughter how to use a seam ripper - and she removed a broken zipper from a pair of perfectly good jeans.  Then she printed a 50% off coupon for Joann's and purchased a zipper for $2 plus tax.  I will stitch the zipper back in for her.  We went to lunch at Macaroni Grill with the $5 bonus gift card - the food was yummy - but the gift card didn't make much of a dent in our bill.  Then we headed to Bath and Body Works and we each got a free travel sized lotion.  My daughter went to Victoria's Secret and used the $10 gift certificate they sent me on a clearanced shirt.  Then to Barnes and Noble, my husband treated me to a coffee with the Gift Card he got from American Express and he and my daughter used the BOGO cookie coupon and gift card.  Then we all browsed the books and magazines.  My husband started the flooring work - it is going to taken longer than we thought - but there isn't a big hurry at the moment.  This month - we definitely have more time than money.  Added:  to use up a 1/2 bag of tangerines - I made tangerine cake with tangerine frosting - turned out very yummy.  I cashed in $25 in statement credit on my BOA card.  I am very close to being able to cash out another $25 - so, it will be my card of choice until I spend $30 on it - about 1 trip to the gas station.