What Frugal Thing .....- Part II

[My English Castle]

I stayed home, ate leftovers for lunch, made us a cheap dinner using everything in the fridge, and grumbled a lot. I wonder if attitude adjustment pills are on sale somewhere...

[marvholly]

Fri was what I call a 'controlled' driving day = 5 mi/less total. Did spend a bit but on NEEDS only.

Today is a full drive day as I will complete the majority of my grocery shopping and see my Dad.

[marvholly]

Sunday ended up being a stay at home, no gas, no spend day. I had intended going to the library for a free concert but napped instead.

I boned, skinned and portioned the Chicken I had bought on Sat. I ended up w/9 breast chunks, 5 servings of strips and pieces (stir frys, fajitas, stroganoff) and 2 servings of cooked meat from the bones that = soup. That is 16 servings = <$0.35/serving.

I am going to sear 3 chunks and cook them separtatly w/onion, garlic & can tomatoes. I will finish them off w/seasonings & cheese in Mexican, Italian or Greek fashion in the oven. I will also do a couple more chunks as oven fried.

[KiwiJo09]

I made some extra money and put it towards paying off my debt. Also, I let my friend from work buy me dinner. Less frugal for him than me.

[marvholly]

Mon was a control drive (<5 mi rt) day. Ran some errands. Spent <$1 total on a few items. Counting it as a no spend day.

[Naz56]

I bought most of my groceries using some coupons I'd accumulated and now I'm set for the week. Will keep this up for as long as I can.

[marvholly]

Tue was a visit my Dad day so I did all my stops while going to/from him.

Tried to shop at Walmart BUT their prices are higher than I pay elsewhere (even w/their new coupon policy) and they REFUSED to take my WAG RR. Left w/o my entire order.

The only thing I bought was a reduced price loaf of bread at a grocery 1/2 mile from my Dad.

Today s/b a no gas, no spend day BUT;
I have a $10/$10 coupon for a store grand reopening and a 30% off entire purchase coupon so I am going to do a 20 mi rt.

I will also treat myself to a $1 bagel & cream cheese (coupon) because it is on the way. On the way home I will pick up the Panda Express free entree for dinner (today only). I already have prepared rice in the house and egg rolls in the freezer.

[marvholly]

To get everything I need to done in all the various directions I have had to go & visit my Dad every 2-3 days I have been driving WAAAY too much. My fill up Fri was >$30 in only 7 days. I MUST cut back on driving. Today will be a controlled drive day (<5 mi rt) as I plan to go to a FREE concert at the library. Both WAG & CVS are enroute.

I have not yet done a complete meal plan for this week but I am currently defrosting 20 oz of ground turkey. I will make a lasagne cassarole and taco filling. I also plan on a veggie pasta, burger, and stir fry this week. I have plenty of shellfish, chicken, steaks and burgers in the freezer to feed me for MONTHS. That is a good thing as a local store has my favorite wine on special 23% off regular. I want to buy a couple as it VERY seldom goes on sale and even less often for this much off.

[Aleta]

To get everything I need to done in all the various directions I have had to go & visit my Dad every 2-3 days I have been driving WAAAY too much. My fill up Fri was >$30 in only 7 days. I MUST cut back on driving. Today will be a controlled drive day (<5 mi rt) as I plan to go to a FREE concert at the library. Both WAG & CVS are enroute.

I have not yet done a complete meal plan for this week but I am currently defrosting 20 oz of ground turkey. I will make a lasagne cassarole and taco filling. I also plan on a veggie pasta, burger, and stir fry this week. I have plenty of shellfish, chicken, steaks and burgers in the freezer to feed me for MONTHS. That is a good thing as a local store has my favorite wine on special 23% off regular. I want to buy a couple as it VERY seldom goes on sale and even less often for this much off.

How far away is your Dad from you and do you have any other family member that can help you>

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

I finally found a used church-key can opener as mentioned way back in October. I was surprised it took that long.

Blew some big bucks at the thrift store.
$2 for set of 8 cotton napkins, new.
$1 for a very graphic, easily manipulable, large clock for teaching "time telling."
$0.50 for a Discovery Toys puzzle for about 6-8 year olds.

But DH went with me and this was yet another thrift store that gave him asthma. Does anyone else run into that problem? I think he is going to have to stop going to these places.

[marvholly]

Aleta
My Dad is about 17 mi rt. My brother goes every or every other day in the eve; I go at lunch time. DD1 goes when she can but its hard w/3 kids & a FT job. She does generally let me know so I can adjust my going. DD2 lives 80+ mi away rt and can sledom go with a kid and a FT job.

Joan
Most thrift stores have an issue w/ dirt, mold, dust mites. It's prob best if DH does NOT go.

The rehab place my Dad is in for some reason cannot/will not supply Depends in the size he needs. I checked both CVS & WAG for their prices. Then – BRAINSTORM!!! I did a search on Depends and got the mfg web site w/special offers section. SCORE!!! Coupons DO exist but you must register and after 6+ minutes of waiting for the registration page to open on each of 3 tries I just gave up. I WILL be calling their toll free number. I will buy 1 pk today and see what happens w/my call. Also, CVs is going to have their brand on sale the week of 3/27 so I will likely stock up then.

[KiwiJo09]

I ate dinner at home instead of going out.

[marvholly]

The CSR at Depends is snail mailing me the coupon(s). I bought the CVS brand ones this time. I want to try them as forum postings have said they will be on sale the week of 3/27. Also, WAG brand are slightly more expensive (NOTE: I have a CVS & WAG 1 block apart on the route I traveled on Mon).

I KNOW I have told myself time & again that I do NOT need any more meat. However, when I stopped at Dominicks (Safeway) to try to get the new Pet Pals coupon book I found a 1.4 lb piece of boneless chuck that had been marked down to $1.49/lb AND had a 50% off sticker. I could NOT resist.getting 5 meals for <$1 inc tax. When I bake my planned lasagna today I will also put that in the oven w/a can of diced tomato, onion, bell pepper and spices. Now I have to adjust my menu plan and make some more rice.

Being a mite more than frugal I knew I did NOT want to buy & cook a corned beef for 3/17. It is WAAAY too much for a single person household and the $$/lb is WAAAY over my budget. I checked the market that has had this on sale pretty cheap ($3-4/lb) in past years – no go. Found the market near my Dad has an off brand for $3/lb. Got ½ lb. That is 2 servings for me and I have swiss & kraut in the fridge.

I send for a lot of free samples. Some I use myself. Some I use in gift bags for my kids or friends. I am seeing a VERY disturbing trend. I just checked my Oct/Nov/Dec list of stuff sent for & received. I got ONLY 12 of 33 items requested = 36%. NOT even half. If I do not get the samples I am NOT likely to buy these products. No incentive; in fact, I am TICKED!!. Also, I think many of the mfg sponsoring the samples are DUMB. Less than 1 in 50 samples received has a coupon included.

[marvholly]

Tue was a no Gas, no spend day.
today is a no gas, no spend day.

Thur I have a dentist appt so I will also run some errands and visit my Dad.

[khosta]

I bought groceries for breakfast and lunch at work so I don't go out and eat!!! It'll prob last me a week to week-and-a-half!!!