What Frugal Thing .....- Part II

[marvholly]

MH, why didn't you ask for the carcass in a bag in exchange for making her a tub of home made soup? It may be awkward taking it home but I agree it's totally worth it! Even top rated restaurants use their carcasses after a big event. The stock is used as base for several sauces. I have a treasured list of 'plan-overs' for meats picked off the bone so meat is all carved and packaged in 12 oz. portions in ziplock bags

That is just NOT to be done in my family.

As it is I am looked at as totally nuts because of my money saving/frugAL ways. No one believes that I can & DO eat healthy on $20-25/week.

An aunt admired a blouse I wore Thanksgiving and asked where I got it. I could NOT admit I bought it (and the name brand pants I was wearing-$4) about 6 months ago forabout $2 at a charity resale shop. Family would have been agast. These things are just NOT DONE!!!

[snafu]

I fully understand being considered odd by extended family. I'm the only frugal one who won't run up credit cards to the limit and brag about it. They'd gossip for weeks if they knew I pay cash for our cars lol.

If you're already tagged as the eccentric aunt, why not put a positive spin on it for Christmas and ask in advance for the carcass since you watched Iron Chef or some famous name make stock. You could be the aunt who's tagged a 'foodie' preferring home made/made from scratch stuff because it's healthier for example.

[marvholly]

There will NOT be a carcass (or ham bone) for Christmas. That holiday is done at DD1 and she is a lacto-ovo veg as is her partner & partner's immediate family.

I actually have plenty of chicken broth in the freezer., I made a good size batch about a month ago. Yesterday's project was mushroom, veg, barly soup. I will get about 3 meals into the freezer from that.

[marvholly]

Nov wrap up:
11 full driving days
9 controlled (<10 mi rt) drive days
12 NO drive days

Estimate I drove about 335 mi which is OVER my plan by 35 mi BUT included trip to DD2 (80 mi rt), drive to cousin for holiday and BF trips. Since I did NOT drive 11/20 I have not checked my final monthly milage yet.

[PennyDime]

I really like this thread marv. So much that I decided to join. All your frugal posts are inspiring. Anyway, not spending anything today. Driving to the gym and back RT 12 miles. I wonder if that is a long way.

[PennyDime]

No spend day. Did drive about 20 miles. Worried about having to start buying holiday gifts. Don't want to go overboard but do not want to appear cheap!

[marvholly]

Sammy Jo
If you want tastier coffee there are a couple options:

Buy a better grade of coffee-one of the drug stores has Gelavia this week & I think Target has a deal on Starbucks. Both have coupons.

Buy some flavored creamers. Lots of sales & coupons out there now

Buy some flavored syrups. Torianni is carried by Walmart ($?) & there is a coupon out there.

[PennyDime]

Filled up gas tank $48.00.
Went to holiday evening parade free
Went to dinner before parade with my child $26.00
Froz yogurt after $2.00
Made it under $100 today which is ok I guess.

[EarlyRetirementJoy]

My frugal activity yesterday was entering my JCP button codes online to see if I had won anything, and yes, I did! $15 in free merchandise to be exact. I went in, shopped, spent exactly $15 ($0 to me!) and picked up more buttons. This morning I entered them again online, and won $25 in free merchandise, so back to JCP I go.

I also got a $10 "try us, please" gift card in the mail yesterday from Barnes & Noble, which I'll be adding to my husband's stocking, rather than using it now. Why? Because the Page-A-Day calendar I always buy for his stocking will go on sale for 50% off the day after Christmas, so we're both ahead if I wait.

And . . . yesterday I also invited two girlfriends here for wine and appetizers before our dinner date, to avoid having to order either at the restaurant. We drank just half the bottle, and the appetizer, homemade tzatziki and fresh veggies, were leftovers from a dinner party I gave over the weekend. Cost to me was therefore under $5.00, and both my girlfriends thought I was incredibly generous in offering to do this. (If they only knew!)

[PennyDime]

Went to a play date and made veggies and dip I already had on hand $0
Had to stop to buy gallon of milk for baby $5.99 darn convienience stores!
Posted stroller on Craigslist.

[PennyDime]

No drive no spend day.
Donated tons of stuff I wouldn't be able to sell to breast cancer foundation
Posted an old DVD player on Craigslist.

[marvholly]

Dec week 1 is over. 3 no drive days and 4 no spend days.

[PennyDime]

No spend day

[creditcardfree]

My frugal activity yesterday was entering my JCP button codes online to see if I had won anything, and yes, I did! $15 in free merchandise to be exact. I went in, shopped, spent exactly $15 ($0 to me!) and picked up more buttons. This morning I entered them again online, and won $25 in free merchandise, so back to JCP I go.
[/I])

I didn't understand these button codes, but free merchandise? That could be good. You definitely got a deal!!

[marvholly]

ccfree
JCP button codes are from the back of 'buttons' you can get from any associate at JCP. Come home & enter on JCP web site to find out if you 'won' anything.