What Frugal Thing .....- Part II

[CCCFree]

I bought used tires instead of brand new ones, even though I wanted brand new ones really really bad! =(

I also bought a used, Dell laptop instead of buying a brand new Mac that I wanted yesterday.

[hausfrau]

Nothing to add today yet but I did make fried potatoes and added chopped bratwurst for dinner last night. Not very healthy but it was pennies compared to our normal dinners =)

[hausfrau]

Oh, to add. My Mother offered to babysit (for free) and Instead of going out drinking we are going to the dollar theater to see a movie ($4) =) Gas is the only extra but to make up for it I am not driving to the store today.

[marvholly]

Today is going to be a controlled driving day. To me, that is no more than 5 mi rt. I am going to my local library. They are showing Burlesque for FREE and I will pick up some more books. I will be passing a fruit market, Aldi and WAG so I may stop at them to get things on my list so it will prob be a (low) spend day.

[Frugal]

Well, yesterday, I returned some things, and got some money back from Target and Walmart. Then, I went to Penney's to use my free $10-off coupon good on most any merchandise. I found a cashmere - 100% cashmere - sweater on sale for $9.96. I found another nice, satin shirt on sale for only $4.49. With my coupon, and my existing gift card, I only paid $2 cash for a cashmere white sweater and a satin shirt that looks dressy. The bottom of the receipt said I saved over $125 dollars! And only spent two! Wow, yesterday was sure a frugal day.

p.s. Found strawberries on sale at Walmart for only $2.28, which in our area is very good.

[Ima saver]

I am having a no spend, no use gas day, today!

[mom-from-missouri]

Had a dr appt today, and I asked for samples--and got them! Then, she wrote me a script for the remainder of the script and gave me a coupon for up to $40 off at the pharmacy. My RX copay is $10, so basically I will get it for free.

[marvholly]

apparently I have cut back on driving - only used 1/4 tank since my fill up on 3/11 - 8 days.

I plan today as a no gas, no spend day. I will walk to CVS this am to get the FAEB item paying w/EB I already have. I will do the rest of my CVS shopping later in the week getting my bag tag count up. I got a snail mail coupon booklet from CVs on Sat. Depending on prices there are 4 of 8 coupons I might use.

I have done my menu plan for this week. I spent $10 on groceries so far for this week and want/need only a bit more produce. I have everything else on hand.

In the NOT frugal column:
It is cold & damp here this morning. I had to turn the heat up to 62. Have not done that, except for showering, for several weeks.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

~~I passed on the canned tuna at 5 ounces for $1.00, as we never think to use tuna. However, on rethinking it, I realized at that price, it is $1.60 per pound which makes me compare it in my mind to other "meats." I think I'll go back and buy some after all. We might like it added to stir fried vegetables. (What do you all think?)

~~I put away some broccoli in the freezer when I found it at a good price, but we do eat lots of it. I have 27 broccoli seedlings and figure if I can get 1 pound in crowns and side florets from each plant, I will harvest $34.70 worth of broccoli at prices of $1.19/lb. If broccoli is as high as it was when I was inspired, $2.98/lb, then I would harvest then I will save $86.90. My numbers include 8% sales tax.

[marvholly]

Joan
Don't know where you are but Meijer has chunk light tuna on sale for 0.50/can. Around here, broccoli is generally 0.49/lb in season.

Sun was a no gas, no spend day.
I walked to CVS & got the free after EB item. Paid w/a coupon and EBs.

I will be driving the next 2 days. I need to go east of me today to see the soc. security people as I am medicare eligible this summer. Also, I pulled a BUNCH of late DH better clothing and will take to a consignment shop. Further, lunch & a dinner later in the week will be paid for by a Groupon I got in Dec. Tue I will need to go see my Dad & might pick up a few things.

[marvholly]

Mon was a good day and it was a bad day. The things I went to the next town over of me to do were NOT accomplished but my add on errands were and at quite good rates.

There was no one available to help me w/Medicare at social security. I picked up the books and may do it on-line. Otherwise I have an appt on Fri. I went to the Walgreens right in the same strip center & got the plackers and Kettle chips. Surprised they had both. For the 2nd time this month at 2 different stores the cashier did NOT give me my receipt. I got my $5.

There are MANY antique stores and art galleries in this town. However, I forgot 99% are CLOSED on Monday. Therefore I hit up a grocery chain store. Original bill was >$11 but after card and coupons it was $1.69 including my free Philly Cooking crème BUT the recipe book on top was MIA. Made about primavera w/the $0.50 Ronzini smart taste pasta and the green beans, mushrooms, tomatoes and carrots I have on hand. I will cook enough pasta so I have it for the other pasta dish I planned this week cook 1x, eat 2x.

I am disappointed in the Cooking Crème. It is WAAY too expensive ($2.99). My homemade (no recipe) version is MUCH cheaper at very slightly over $1. It has WAAY too much saturated fat at 5g per ¼ c and I probably used nearer ½ c in a single serving. I bought the cheese & herb version as NONE of the 3 national chain stores I checked even had shelf space for the garlic I wanted. I had to add garlic and more parmesan, which makes it even MORE expensive.

Further, I am disappointed w/Kraft over this line of items. I went online to check recipes and they ONLY had 3 TOTAL – one each for plain, cheese herb and Santa Fe. I would think IF they really want this item to be a success they should have MANY more.

Conclusion: I will NOT buy or recommend this product UNLESS it goes on rock bottom sale AND I have a BIG coupon. Strange. I cannot get into the first taste web site to post my scathing review of this product group. Posted on facebook.

The person who does men’s stuff at the consignment shop was not going to be in until mid to late afternoon. It was 11 am. Made an appointment for Fri afternoon after soc.

The place I was buying my lunch on the Groupon had a sign on the door at 11:30. Sorry-closed until 12 N. Went home for lunch. I will use my coupon on Friday.

My plans for the week have probably taken a massive hit. My Dad is back in the hospital (4th time since early Aug) & in ICU. It is going to be ‘interesting’ fitting in my appointments on Thur & Fri w/going to the hospital mid-day to make sure he is NOT behaving like a 2 y/o having a tantrum & refusing to take his meds or do PT like last trip.

I have FINALLY gotten thru to my brother that, especially since I am NOT working, I cannot afford all the out of pocket msc expenses for my day (clothes, depends, haircut). I end up having to do all the shopping/personal errands because he is just too busy even when I was working FT & HAD to punch a clock. He has a non-working wife and full office staff. He has promised to write me a check. I won't hold my breathe until I have it in hand as out of sight is definatly out of mind w/him.

[jerrycates]

I bought food to cook at home rather than eat out for dinner again
This is just a start. Soon enough I would learn to make my own bread. Why not?!

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Ah, Marvholly, sorry to hear about your Dad's infirmity and the expenses involved in taking care of him, the expenses that your brother does not think of or spontaneously step up to share. I wish I could find the statistic I once had about how much longer-lived are people who have either a daughter or a DIL as compared to people who have only sons.

~~I found canned milk had gone up over a dollar in the neighborhood. I stopped in at an Aldi's elsewhere and bought 12 cans, saving about $3.60. Again, a case of saving pennies.

[marvholly]

Joan
I would NOT have an issue w/my Dads expenses IF I was working vs being on UE-COBRA is 1/2 more than 1 week of net UE. DB is a $500/hr+ lawyer and has NO clue how the rest of the working world lives/budgets/plans/pays bills/prioritizes.

[marvholly]

Joan
The can tuna at Meijer is on sale 3/30-3/26 or 3/24-3/30 depending on if your ad is Sun or Thur start.

I am a person who REALLY likes salad. I can eat it 2x/day. I NEED to eat it 1x/day most days to get my 5-7/day and it is low in fats & carbs w/the right dressing. Its a meal if I top w/shredded cheese, nuts, sunflower seeds, leftover chicken, leftover steak, browned ground meat and/or………However, the current $$ of my preferred salad base (romaine, spring/mesculin greens or spinach) and toppings (zucchini, tomato, celery, bell pepper) puts it WAAAAY out of my budget. I have been able to buy some at/near end of code greens and been using canned diced tomatoes but I miss my other toppings.

Interesting discovery this morning. When I worked I would take an envelope of oatmeal w/me 1-2x/week. I have used house brand, name brand and Mom’s Best. Since I am home and got the canister of Mom’s Best at Walmart for $0.25 after coupon I made some this am. I even added salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and sweet n low. It STILL tasted like Elmers Glue. I may just return the 2 unopened canisters. Actually, I will probably save myself the hassle of going to Walmart and just donate to my local food pantry.

I just looked into doing a CSA (community supported agriculture). The main one, most convenient for me has good pickup points for me. However, even the single boxes are WAAAY too much and WWAAAY to $$. I will stick to my ethnic and independent markets. I can get exactly what I want/need and prices are better, even on organic.

I found the Kraft garlic cooking creme at 2 stores yesterday BUT they both wanted $3.49. If I thought it was a BAD deal for FREE you know blasted well I passed on that.