What Frugal Thing .....- Part II - Page 3

marvholly · #41 (**permalink**) 10-29-2010, 05:37 AM

NOT frugal but:

I gave in. It was SOOO damp cold here late Thur afternoon that I did turn on my heat. It got down to 33 here overnight. However, I believe this is the latest I have waited in years.

Ima saver · #42 (**permalink**) 10-29-2010, 01:43 PM

I bought a new pet bed for my older dog at half price today. My puppy had pulled the stuffing out of the past two beds. I also bought some halloween candy at half price.

marvholly · #43 (**permalink**) 10-30-2010, 07:42 AM

Already looking ahead to my Nov. spending plan. I limit myself in the money I spend on eating out & bringing in meals. I am already WAAY ahead for the Nov:

10/31 DD1 for Halloween
11/4 Investment seminar at GREAT local place w/ lunch included
11/14 Site group meet up
11/25 Thanksgiving at family
12/4 Family celebration at DD2
?/?? Coupon for FREE sandwich at KFC
?/?? Coupon (bought in Oct) from Groupon for $10 food=2 meals

I do have plans to meet up w/a group from another site at an in town, moderately priced place so I will be spending then-in CASH.

That is 7 eat outs/bring ins over 5 weeks and I rarely do more than 1/week. Will likely just hold the groupon as it does not expire until spring 2011. Need to check the expire date on KFC to see if I can hold it too.

I just finished my meal plan for the week of 10/31. I usually do this after my big shop of the week (usually Fri or Sat). I have/had everything in house except the usual perishables, some of which I still need to get but I am certainly set for a few days. I am not even doing a batch cook this week. NOTE: This plan is NOT set in cement. If I am out & run into a GREAT deal I alter, same if I get a taste going. Example: Today I am set to eat cottage cheese & a veg for lunch. However, I have a taste going for baked onion soup. So I will add & make a double batch for the fridge or freezer. Just checked; I changed up 7 of 21 planned meals. ALL were home cooked.

marvholly · #44 (**permalink**) 10-31-2010, 03:12 AM

I HATE the time change.

Sat was a no drive, no spend day.

While in the basement Sat. I tripped over a carton of pots & pans. found 1 from when we cleared my parent's condo summer 2005 that is PERFECT for the way I am cooking right now. I also dropped a BIG one in my donate box and was able to justify getting rid of one from my kitchen cabinets that I have not used in 2-3 years.

HINT
NOT all package items are created equal. Remember this after buying romaine hearts at veg market on Fri. After YEARS of shopping & weighing things at work my hands are VERY aware of and sensitive to even subtle differences in actual package weights. There was actually are 4 oz difference on a labeled 18 oz package.

While I have a LARGE stockpile of pasta one of my natl chains has house brand on sale today ONLY for $0.47. Generally I am a happy camper at anything under $1/lb. Since I DO use pasta at least 2x/week I will be stocking up even more.

Someone (on another site, I believe) stated that since she paid her bills online she was using the envelopes to send out other things. I have started using them for my store specific weekly shopping lists AND putting the coupons inside so I have everything together.

CHH1023 · #45 (**permalink**) 10-31-2010, 05:29 AM

I was craving for chocolate turnover from Arby's and I drove pass them without stopping .

marvholly · #46 (**permalink**) 11-01-2010, 03:58 AM

I did get to the store and bought 5 pkg (1 lb) of the pasta. Also, this store has all 5# bags of apples on sale for $2.49. Had tried to buy Granny Smiths on Fri but store did not get so I have a raincheck. Asked about these and guy in produce said Granny Smiths were EXCLUDED and pointed to a sign over the apple display. It was something my 92 y/o father or 4 y/o granddaughter could print on any computer. I told him so & I wanted to see a memo or email from corp as that is NOT the way the ad read. He asked if I wanted to talk to the manager. You Betcha I replied. Five minutes later he was back, pulled down the sign and walked me over to the 5# Grannies. So now I have a BUNCH of apples and a raincheck for more.

As poster on another board has always said:
If you don't ask, the answer is ALWAYS NO!!!

Joan.of.the.Arch · #47 (**permalink**) 11-01-2010, 08:21 AM

Good deal on the apples, marvholly.

~I bought several bottles of hydrogen peroxide for $0.57. We use it for stain removal. The usual best price is $1.00.

~Found lamb on sale. A benefit of the changing demographics of my area is that lamb is regularly sold now. Made Scotch broth, a favorite from childhood....That made me want to talk to my Mom, so I used my Trac phone minutes, purchased in bulk so as to get half price.

~Still have some baby onions from the summer garden. Need to peel and pickle them with cloves, as they are not getting used in general cooking.

~Our Hyundai just finishing burning up the ten gallons of gasoline bought for, but never used in our little jon boat. Would've been a terrible waste to let it sit and degrade over winter. Thanks to spouse for funneling it into a can that could spout it into our car tank.

marvholly · #48 (**permalink**) 11-02-2010, 05:18 AM

monday was a no drive/no spend day. Ever notice how these tend to go together? I only have a CVS that is really walking distance, esp if I have to cary stuff home.

Today is a drive/spend day (CVS, WAG, fruit market) & just might get REAL $$$. I need a new fridge, mine is about 20 y/o. Best Buy has a 30% off sale going. Going to check it out.

biff · #49 (**permalink**) 11-03-2010, 01:45 AM

Cut down on alcohol and sodas in the last few weeks...feel much better,only drinking tea and water!

marvholly · #50 (**permalink**) 11-03-2010, 04:07 AM

did not get to Best Buy yesterday but I have a meeting accross the street from them on Thur.
Thur will be a control drive day (new category = <5 mi rt).

Today is a no drive, no spend day. I have household & cooking chores planned. Last week I spent $3.00 At WAG on gc gotten from my points on an item that yielded $6 RR. Today I got a can of soup, a pkg of dried cranberries (needed for a recipe I want to make), DayQuil/NyQuil deal and Zarbees for $0.88 OOP (nearly all tax) on my gc after coupons & that $6 RR. I got $5 & $6 RR today. May just spent the $5 on pizzia.

I am trying VERY hard not to buy any meat as I have quite a stockpile BUT picked up a pkg of boneless country pork ribs on clearance Tue: 1 1/4 lb for $2.10. Right now it is marinating to make Chinese BBQ pork. I have NOT made this in a LOONNG time, >7 years and I love it. Prob have it w/some soup and/or an egg roll on Thur.

So, in spite of my NOT planning on doing any batch cooking this week I have/am doing 2 batch cooks –Quiche on sun and pork today.

Joan.of.the.Arch · #51 (**permalink**) 11-03-2010, 07:18 AM

I think I may walk to Walgreens today with my "register bucks" that are soon to expire. Have never used these before. Will soon need aspirin, so guess that is how I'll spend it. If the aspirin doesn't take up the whole amount, I'll find a packet of sunflower seeds or nuts to spend the rest on. Then I'll have a snack to leave in the car glove compartment.

marvholly · #52 (**permalink**) 11-03-2010, 10:27 AM

I love being able to certify my unemployment on line in IL. Took me all of 7 minutes Wed am which also included doing a copy & paste into word so I have a no cost (paper, ink, travel time, wait time, parking fee or gas to go into office) copy on my computer if ever needed. The OLD way was to go in & file a paper copy. I have never before collected but as I recall from a couple times DH collected going in w/a paper copy always took a ½ day & he could NOT go to local office but had to go to special professional office 35 miles rt.

I spent some time (>1.5 hours) reorganizing my basement stockpile. Discovered I have:
160 servings of pasta (52-80 weeks)
10 cans dice tomatoes (about 1 year)
12 cans of tuna (6-12 months supply)
7 cans tomato sauce (about 6 month supply)
8 bottles salad dressing (6-8 month supply)
10 pkg alum foil (10-15 month supply)
That does NOT include HBA or cleaning supplies which are mostly upstairs and I still have more to do in the basement.

biff · #53 (**permalink**) 11-03-2010, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marvholly

I love being able to certify my unemployment on line in IL. Took me all of 7 minutes Wed am which also included doing a copy & paste into word so I have a no cost (paper, ink, travel time, wait time, parking fee or gas to go into office) copy on my computer if ever needed. The OLD way was to go in & file a paper copy. I have never before collected but as I recall from a couple times DH collected going in w/a paper copy always took a ½ day & he could NOT go to local office but had to go to special professional office 35 miles rt.

I spent some time (>1.5 hours) reorganizing my basement stockpile. Discovered I have:
160 servings of pasta (52-80 weeks)
10 cans dice tomatoes (about 1 year)
12 cans of tuna (6-12 months supply)
7 cans tomato sauce (about 6 month supply)
8 bottles salad dressing (6-8 month supply)
10 pkg alum foil (10-15 month supply)
That does NOT include HBA or cleaning supplies which are mostly upstairs and I still have more to do in the basement.

Great job marvholly!
We are pretty much in the same boat...I love going through the pantry and trying to use up everything before shopping again...I need to work on the coupon thing. When I was working I always shopped in a rush and didn't care.. I gotta change that!

biff · #54 (**permalink**) 11-04-2010, 11:12 PM

Watched a movie on netflix streaming at home and made a sandwich...instead of going out to dinner and a movie!

marvholly · #55 (**permalink**) 11-05-2010, 03:37 AM

Thur was a controlled driving day (<5 mi rt) and turned into a no spend day.

I only drove because I had one of 'those' senior seminars that gives a FREE meal; meal was at one of our better, $$ Italian places.

Since I had not gone to Best Buy to check out the advertized fridge & it was accross the street I stopped. Did NOT care for the unit at all. Also stopped at Walgreens but could not do my deal as they did not have everything I wanted & I nedd to spend a $5 register reward.

Today is a drive/spend day as I will visit my Dad and shop along the way. Not much shopping 'planned' for this week as nothing I want at 2 of the 3 independent markets I do get the ads for. There are 3 other markets I will be checking out. I do not get their ads. I do have a list of things I need and will, as always, keep to it unless there is a managers special I s/b under budget. Might buy myself 1 treat (sweet OR salty) for the week.

For the months of Sept & Oct I have been $58 under budget for all my grocery, household, persoanl care and animal supplies.

marvholly · #56 (**permalink**) 11-06-2010, 06:34 AM

Friday was a visit my Dad day so I also did a BIG round of errands.

Used a $5 register reward at WAG to get sandwich bags, brown sugar and more ZarBees (w/coupon & giving $6 RR) that I have been trying to do all week. Spent <$0.49+tax.
Favorite fruit/veg market had zucchini & grape tomatoes on sale. Since I already put some into Italian dressing for a side dish/salad I chopped some up this morning to make a side dish & sauce w/mushrooms (clearance rack for $0.99/1.2 lb) for over my dinner pasta=veggie meal.
Stopped at chain grocery to check clearance meats. Hit a Hormel Always Tender pork tenderloin for $2.49. I KNOW I said I was NOT buying anymore meat BUT I also had a $1 coupon. Could NOT resist. Its now in the freezer.
Also hit the library for more reading material.

Today a local sandwich place is celebrating their 16th anniversary w/price rollbacks to 1994 prices. I am going to walk over for lunch (taken out of my monthly blow money which I earned doing a survey). I expect to spend $2.50+ tax on a gyros sandwich and theirs are good size.

Gas took a HORRIBLE price jump here as it frequently does for the weekend so I will wait until next week to buy gas. Do these companies think we are really that dumb, especially when it has happened 2, 3 or 4 weeks in a row?

Otherwise today is a no drive, no spend day computer & household chores day.

marvholly · #57 (**permalink**) 11-09-2010, 04:48 AM

Visited my Dad Sat & will visit again today. I will be running errands & checking gas prices. Will need SOOON.

Got an email from my DB late Mon afternoon. Seems we MUST determine if Dad is ready to go back to his senior living apt (will need FT aide) or has to be transferred to a skilled nursing facility in the next 9 days. Medicare co-pays will stop on 11/18. I need to take a drive up to check out a place DB suggested (about 28 mi rt for me; newer place) and call a cousin about another place (much older place) where his dad was, that is in my burb. newer place will increase my driving & gas usage about 30 miles/week and 1.5 gallons (all city driving).

nanamom · #58 (**permalink**) 11-11-2010, 12:00 PM

I got a deal at a chain store yesterday. I have a credit card with them (rarely used and always paid right off) which they recently changed to a rewards card. To recomp me for the trouble of changing the card in my wallet for this one and having to call to activate it they sent me a free reward of $10.00 if I used my credit card. I got a flyer in the mail the same day giving me 15% off any sale. I looked around the store and decided to buy 2 tshirts for my grandsons. They were 5.99 each. After totaling it and taking off the rewards cert the amount was 2.09. After she took my 15% off the total owed was 19 cents!! I had to charge 19 cents for 2 gifts. I was pretty happy.

marvholly · #59 (**permalink**) 11-12-2010, 05:07 AM

Wed was a no spend day-just went to the library. Thur was a no drive, no spend day.

Today is a drive & spend day as I will visit my Dad & do my major weekly shopping. I also have to clean up & fill the tires on my late DH wheelchair. Dad is determined to return to his senior apt and is likely to need it. this at least will save him significant $$ and get it OUT of my house.

marvholly · #60 (**permalink**) 11-13-2010, 03:39 AM

I planned on a chicken stir fry for Fri dinner made w/leftover chicken & veggies I had on hand. BUT, I realized I still had some tomato & zucchini cooked veggies from several days ago so I added the chopped chicken & some cooked rice. No waste & a good, healthy CHEAP dinner.

Did most of my grocery shopping on Friday. Spent $10, nearly all fruits & veggies. Did my meal plan this morning & I need nothing else but will probably pick up a bit more produce.

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