Our town, city, whatever you want to call it -- just had its first CVS open. I already had my little red card and couldn't wait for them to open. It's been two weeks now and I'm enjoying saving money. The clerk today was impressed with the saving both Little Miss Muffet and myself enjoyed. I checked out first. I gave the clerk my coupon with my updated email address on it. For doing that, I will receive a coupon worth either $5 or $10 off $20. Last time I was in I received a coupon for a free CVS brand toothbrush. She rang up my purchases, some things were cheaper because I used my CVS card and I had coupons to use also. Everything totaled over $65 dollars. I had ECB's and my final total was $29. I purchased some pencil bags that were on sale but didn't ring up the sale price. The clerk and I discussed it throughout the sale. No ECB's and the sale price didn't ring up. She refunded the difference to me and I ended up paying about $22. I received $9 in ECB's and the $5 or $10 is on it's way. Next LMM made her purchase -- some sunglasses she had been wanting and looked at every time we have been in the store. If you purchase sunglasses, you receive a $5 ECB. She wanted some hair care products and they were $5.99 before tax. She did a second transaction (the assistant store manager told us during our first store visit that we could do this and they encourage their customers to in order to save money); she used her $5 just received ECB and her total due was $1.07. When paying for her sunglasses, she used a prepaid debit card that was a Christmas present that she had forgotten about. The only money really out of her pocket was the $1.07.
Little Boy Blue helped his grandfather today at his shop. One of his employees gave LBB a hammer that a vendor left with them. He was thrilled with his hammer. He explained that after the vendor uses it a bit and begins to show signs of wear, they give them the hammer.
We stopped by a furniture clearance store. They are having a huge sale because they are closing. Head and foot boards without side rails were $5 a piece. I really wanted to buy some. I tried to figure out something I could do to repurpose them. No ideas came to mind, so I left empty handed. There were some excellent deals. A coffee table was $9.99 -- it was a little rough around the edges and needed to be restained and varnished. A pretty good investment for a $299 coffee table. I passed on this also. The coffee table swiveled and I was afraid it may break soon. I may go back another day and find something but there were great deals throughout the store; somehow, those great deals must have been meant for someone other than me.
All in all, I think we had a pretty frugal day. Not buying something that I wouldn't/couldn't use counts!!
Leave a comment if you have any ideas to repurpose some really pretty, ornate head and foot boards.
Have a blessed day!!
Showing posts with label frugal tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label frugal tips. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Reading books
I love homeschooling! One of the neat things to me is all of the books we read; the read-alouds, the historical books, the living books, the free reading books, it's wonderful. I search used book stores, the Friends of the Library in our neighboring town, eBay, and last but certainly not least, PaperBackSwap for the wonderful books that fill our many bookshelves. These are in addition to new books from bookstores and curriculum companies.
Sometimes we end up with multiple copies of the same book. Mainly it happens when we visit the Friends of the Library during the 50% and 75% off sales. We can seriously buy $325 of books for only $25. We love those kind of deals! When we end up shopping off list and getting some books that we think look good, sometimes they are already sitting on our bookshelves waiting to be read. But at prices like that, it's okay to have duplicates. Besides, I can always list them on PaperBackSwap if I want.
One book with multiple copies is The Giver by Lois Lowery. One was from PaperBackSwap and the other came from a lot of books from eBay. This worked out well because both of my children can read the same book at the same time. I love their conversations when they refer a book to the other. During one's reading, the other will ask if they have read a certain part yet or where they are in the book. It's wonderful to hear them compare notes and their favorite portions of the books.
Today was the day they started the same book on the same day. I think there is a little sibling competition to see who finishes first but much more than that, they are both enamored with the book. Little Miss Muffet was actually stirring the vegetables at supper tonight while reading. Little Boy Blue went to the hardware store with my dear husband tonight and was able to read a few pages. I'm not sure if he was bumping his way down the aisles turning pages or if he just used the map light en route.
The day the book arrived (the first book) I read it that day. I thoroughly enjoyed it and thought it was thought provoking. Both of my children have both made the exact same statement about The Giver without knowing knowing the other one said it also. They both finished the book today (the day they began reading it). LMM said it was thought provoking and gripping and went on to say; "What if we were limited and didn't have choices. What if we couldn't see color or hear music...". LBB said it was thought provoking and even a thriller. He felt the last 30-40 pages were the most suspenseful. In the back of the book there are questions for discussion, we will utilize those tomorrow.
Sometimes we end up with multiple copies of the same book. Mainly it happens when we visit the Friends of the Library during the 50% and 75% off sales. We can seriously buy $325 of books for only $25. We love those kind of deals! When we end up shopping off list and getting some books that we think look good, sometimes they are already sitting on our bookshelves waiting to be read. But at prices like that, it's okay to have duplicates. Besides, I can always list them on PaperBackSwap if I want.
One book with multiple copies is The Giver by Lois Lowery. One was from PaperBackSwap and the other came from a lot of books from eBay. This worked out well because both of my children can read the same book at the same time. I love their conversations when they refer a book to the other. During one's reading, the other will ask if they have read a certain part yet or where they are in the book. It's wonderful to hear them compare notes and their favorite portions of the books.
Today was the day they started the same book on the same day. I think there is a little sibling competition to see who finishes first but much more than that, they are both enamored with the book. Little Miss Muffet was actually stirring the vegetables at supper tonight while reading. Little Boy Blue went to the hardware store with my dear husband tonight and was able to read a few pages. I'm not sure if he was bumping his way down the aisles turning pages or if he just used the map light en route.
The day the book arrived (the first book) I read it that day. I thoroughly enjoyed it and thought it was thought provoking. Both of my children have both made the exact same statement about The Giver without knowing knowing the other one said it also. They both finished the book today (the day they began reading it). LMM said it was thought provoking and gripping and went on to say; "What if we were limited and didn't have choices. What if we couldn't see color or hear music...". LBB said it was thought provoking and even a thriller. He felt the last 30-40 pages were the most suspenseful. In the back of the book there are questions for discussion, we will utilize those tomorrow.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Frugality
Since becoming a single income family over sixteen years ago, I have implemented many different ways of being frugal. These have changed over the years as needs and income levels have changed.
I'm feeling the need to be careful and be more frugal these days. To see what I am already doing and areas where I could do more I thought I would list them here.
1. My top Christmas request was a clothes line. Cost: The price of a bag of concrete. We had all of the other supplies. The clothes line is up now. I'll save money on electricity once I actually use the clothes line.
2. I'm making my own laundry detergent. The first batch of laundry detergent was powder. I hadn't used powdered detergent in probably 14 years. My second batch was in the big five gallon bucket and was liquid. It didn't gel up as it was supposed to, but I am going to try something a bit different next time and it should gel then, otherwise it is working just fine.
3. Vinegar is our new laundry softener. 2 gallons is a little over $3, and that's without using coupons. No, clothes don't smell like vinegar and they are surprisingly soft. There aren't any unpronounceable ingredients either.
4. Jigsaw puzzles are cheap entertainment. I found some for $1 at Dollar Tree. Board games, dominoes, and cards are also cheap entertainment and promote family togetherness.
5. The temperatures are becoming more mild now in anticipation of spring. I have turned off the heater for the most part. We turn on some electric tower heaters in the morning to heat up the house and we have electric blankets on our beds if they are needed at night. We have been able to open the windows a few days when the temperatures have been in the mid to upper 70's. I hope to cut down on our electric bill and take advantage of the moderate temperatures.
6. I changed our telephone service and bundled it with our Internet. Yes, I had to agree to a two year contract. Instead of paying $45 for Internet and $65 for telephone monthly, we pay $65 for both - a monthly savings of $45 - that a savings of $540 a year!!
7. I've begun to use coupons again. A local health food store has a website, I can print off the coupons I will use from their site. Another has 20% off on certain days off certain items. I saw Albertson's is advertising double and triple coupons again. Another grocery store has loads of in store coupons and the register prints off coupons with your receipt. I received a $4 off coupon on paper towels. Awesome deal.
8. I make a two week menu then make my grocery list from it. I have made forms that have all the usual grocery items listed. If I don't need it that time, I just mark it out. I still keep my grocery list on the fridge when we run out of something, that allows me to accurately mark off those things we don't need. Making a menu lets us plan in advance for when we eat out. On those busy days when we would have gone out to eat, I use the crockpot -- so much better than drive-thru food. Freezer cooking helps tremendously also.
9. Freezing bananas. Laugh if you want, but if you've ever found those last few bananas that didn't get eaten because they were getting brown spots on them, then a day later they oozed some kind of goop and had to be thrown away -- you don't laugh then. Now oozy bananas have been eliminated. We always have frozen bananas for smoothies now. This was an attempt to be aware and not waste money by wasting food. This also includes forgotten lettuce in the crisper and sprouting potatoes in the pantry.
10. We take our own beverages with us when we go into town for errands. Four soft drinks can be $10. Three times a week is $30 =$1560 a year! Wow! What an expense! Plus, we save cans and cash them in. We don't make a lot but we are recycling.
11. I had been buying 6 to 8 cases of water a month. I found a Brita water pitcher on sale and am keeping my eyes open for the lowest price and coupons for the replacement filters. $4 per case of water = $32 a month. $384 a year for water. With prices I've paid so far for the replacement filters, it will cost about $80 a year for these - a savings of $300. I hope to find a really good price and save even more. I'm also saving more money by not having to go to the recycling center as often to take the plastic bottles.
12. Discount makeup and other hba items. How? I let other people pay for mine. How? I sell Avon. My customers orders cover the cost of my orders or at least greatly reduce what I have to pay. Even without customers, the price I pay is discounted.
13. I am an avid reader and so are my children. I use Paperback Swap. I have received several books that would have cost me $25 to $40 if I had to buy them. All for the cost of one credit, which was the cost of postage to send a book I didn't want or was finished with(about $2.50). Paperback Swap lists my savings at over $600, but that's at $4.50 a book. So the savings is so much greater, the convenience is wonderful too.
14. Actually, I am surprised I have been able to list this many items. I did spend money to save money a week ago. I bought some organic seed starter soil mix and the trays to plant seeds in for my own transplants. I also bought some organic heirloom seeds along with having some on hand. In a couple of months I won't be guessing what kind of tomato transplants are at the nursery. I'll have my own transplants and I'll be planting the vegetables I want because I won't have to just choose from the selection that is left over or from what someone else chose.
15. Okay, this one is kind of frivolous but nonetheless it's still saving money. We don't frequent Starbucks often, but I learned something recently. I opened some mail that I had originally just thought was junk mail. Not exactly -- there was a Starbucks gift card in there. I saved a percentage on my purchase by using that gift card. That was cool. Then I registered my card and I get free perks for doing that (free refills, free syrups, etc.) The only reason we went to Starbucks was because of the gift card. Since I have Celiac, I can't eat any of the pastries there which saves money too!
16. Target pharmacy. Every 6 to 8 weeks, they have a coupon for a gift card worth $10 when you fill a new prescription there or transfer one. I save up the gift cards and use them for Christmas gifts -- free money! I'm only able to use the coupon when I get a prescription filled, it's got to be done, why not get a free $10 gift card. Also, Target often offers free gift cards when you buy certain items. If they are something that we use/need, I will get them at Target when that is offered, it's even better when I can use coupons.
There is also the usual 'I don't buy convenience foods'. I shop the perimeter of the grocery store first and don't go down aisles if I don't need anything on them. When I make lasagna, I make two and put one in the freezer. I double and triple pancake recipes in hopes of having enough left over to put in the freezer. I can't do this with waffles yet as I don't have a new waffle maker. I have two, but they were both used with wheat flour batters and with all the nooks and crannies I am not willing to use them with gluten free batters. For a couple of months
I'm feeling the need to be careful and be more frugal these days. To see what I am already doing and areas where I could do more I thought I would list them here.
1. My top Christmas request was a clothes line. Cost: The price of a bag of concrete. We had all of the other supplies. The clothes line is up now. I'll save money on electricity once I actually use the clothes line.
2. I'm making my own laundry detergent. The first batch of laundry detergent was powder. I hadn't used powdered detergent in probably 14 years. My second batch was in the big five gallon bucket and was liquid. It didn't gel up as it was supposed to, but I am going to try something a bit different next time and it should gel then, otherwise it is working just fine.
3. Vinegar is our new laundry softener. 2 gallons is a little over $3, and that's without using coupons. No, clothes don't smell like vinegar and they are surprisingly soft. There aren't any unpronounceable ingredients either.
4. Jigsaw puzzles are cheap entertainment. I found some for $1 at Dollar Tree. Board games, dominoes, and cards are also cheap entertainment and promote family togetherness.
5. The temperatures are becoming more mild now in anticipation of spring. I have turned off the heater for the most part. We turn on some electric tower heaters in the morning to heat up the house and we have electric blankets on our beds if they are needed at night. We have been able to open the windows a few days when the temperatures have been in the mid to upper 70's. I hope to cut down on our electric bill and take advantage of the moderate temperatures.
6. I changed our telephone service and bundled it with our Internet. Yes, I had to agree to a two year contract. Instead of paying $45 for Internet and $65 for telephone monthly, we pay $65 for both - a monthly savings of $45 - that a savings of $540 a year!!
7. I've begun to use coupons again. A local health food store has a website, I can print off the coupons I will use from their site. Another has 20% off on certain days off certain items. I saw Albertson's is advertising double and triple coupons again. Another grocery store has loads of in store coupons and the register prints off coupons with your receipt. I received a $4 off coupon on paper towels. Awesome deal.
8. I make a two week menu then make my grocery list from it. I have made forms that have all the usual grocery items listed. If I don't need it that time, I just mark it out. I still keep my grocery list on the fridge when we run out of something, that allows me to accurately mark off those things we don't need. Making a menu lets us plan in advance for when we eat out. On those busy days when we would have gone out to eat, I use the crockpot -- so much better than drive-thru food. Freezer cooking helps tremendously also.
9. Freezing bananas. Laugh if you want, but if you've ever found those last few bananas that didn't get eaten because they were getting brown spots on them, then a day later they oozed some kind of goop and had to be thrown away -- you don't laugh then. Now oozy bananas have been eliminated. We always have frozen bananas for smoothies now. This was an attempt to be aware and not waste money by wasting food. This also includes forgotten lettuce in the crisper and sprouting potatoes in the pantry.
10. We take our own beverages with us when we go into town for errands. Four soft drinks can be $10. Three times a week is $30 =$1560 a year! Wow! What an expense! Plus, we save cans and cash them in. We don't make a lot but we are recycling.
11. I had been buying 6 to 8 cases of water a month. I found a Brita water pitcher on sale and am keeping my eyes open for the lowest price and coupons for the replacement filters. $4 per case of water = $32 a month. $384 a year for water. With prices I've paid so far for the replacement filters, it will cost about $80 a year for these - a savings of $300. I hope to find a really good price and save even more. I'm also saving more money by not having to go to the recycling center as often to take the plastic bottles.
12. Discount makeup and other hba items. How? I let other people pay for mine. How? I sell Avon. My customers orders cover the cost of my orders or at least greatly reduce what I have to pay. Even without customers, the price I pay is discounted.
13. I am an avid reader and so are my children. I use Paperback Swap. I have received several books that would have cost me $25 to $40 if I had to buy them. All for the cost of one credit, which was the cost of postage to send a book I didn't want or was finished with(about $2.50). Paperback Swap lists my savings at over $600, but that's at $4.50 a book. So the savings is so much greater, the convenience is wonderful too.
14. Actually, I am surprised I have been able to list this many items. I did spend money to save money a week ago. I bought some organic seed starter soil mix and the trays to plant seeds in for my own transplants. I also bought some organic heirloom seeds along with having some on hand. In a couple of months I won't be guessing what kind of tomato transplants are at the nursery. I'll have my own transplants and I'll be planting the vegetables I want because I won't have to just choose from the selection that is left over or from what someone else chose.
15. Okay, this one is kind of frivolous but nonetheless it's still saving money. We don't frequent Starbucks often, but I learned something recently. I opened some mail that I had originally just thought was junk mail. Not exactly -- there was a Starbucks gift card in there. I saved a percentage on my purchase by using that gift card. That was cool. Then I registered my card and I get free perks for doing that (free refills, free syrups, etc.) The only reason we went to Starbucks was because of the gift card. Since I have Celiac, I can't eat any of the pastries there which saves money too!
16. Target pharmacy. Every 6 to 8 weeks, they have a coupon for a gift card worth $10 when you fill a new prescription there or transfer one. I save up the gift cards and use them for Christmas gifts -- free money! I'm only able to use the coupon when I get a prescription filled, it's got to be done, why not get a free $10 gift card. Also, Target often offers free gift cards when you buy certain items. If they are something that we use/need, I will get them at Target when that is offered, it's even better when I can use coupons.
There is also the usual 'I don't buy convenience foods'. I shop the perimeter of the grocery store first and don't go down aisles if I don't need anything on them. When I make lasagna, I make two and put one in the freezer. I double and triple pancake recipes in hopes of having enough left over to put in the freezer. I can't do this with waffles yet as I don't have a new waffle maker. I have two, but they were both used with wheat flour batters and with all the nooks and crannies I am not willing to use them with gluten free batters. For a couple of months
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