Crochet2

Whoa! that is serious stuff! I haven't heard anything on our television stations about that. We have a representative right there in your town G.L. Williams & Associates, our reps. call in daily so I'll have to ask him about it when he calls in today.

Some frugal things I do but don't think about writting when I'm at the office:

I buy 1 lb. bags of baked pretzels at GFS, divide them into sandwich baggies and bring them to work for my snack. Savings 35 cents a day. A bag cost $1.99 and is enough to last for 3 weeks. Also healthier because they are baked.

I buy bulk size boxes of Keebler Graham crackers and again, divide them into baggies. Low fat though not sugar free snack. Not sure of the savings since our company doesn't sell them.

Well big news in Columbus, Ohio today: We are now smoke free. You can not smoke in the work place, in restaurants, bars, bowling alleys, company owned cars, etc. in Hilliard where I work it is going for a vote soon. They are trying to get exemptions if your business sells 60% of its sales in alcohol you are exempt. Leaves us out since we sell electronics.

Anna

Good morning! I hope everyone is doing well today.
Ooh, mystery shopping at a bookstore would be my dream come true!:-D I normally have to be very careful at bookstores since I seem to have trouble leaving without a book.
Frugal today is just staying home. I have been cutting down on soda and been drinking water, tea, and milk. I love the diet rite stuff, but the kids drink it like water. I'm just going to get it once in a while as a treat or if it's a good sale. Well, take care and I'll be back later.

Bluebird - here's the recipe.

Peanut Butter Cups

Into small candy making cups or regualr muffin pan if you don't have a small one, or I also use the inserts from my deviled egg tray(tupperware)- spray w/nostick spray- then put small amt of pb in bottom-you can also add a few nuts if you'd like. I divide up 1 Tblsp into about 4 of the cups. Then make choc as follows

1 oz unsweetened baking choc
1 T butter
1 T heavy cream
1/2 c splenda or other artif sweetener
hot water

Melt choc in micro about 1 min- mix cream, sweetener, butter and water to get desired consistancy. Pour over pb and freeze until set. You have to eat them b4 they melt but oh so good and about 1 carb each. I usually pop them out of the mold and keep them in an airtight container if freezer but they don't last long.

Carol


:cocacola:

My old slow cooker bit-the-dust yesterday. So after reading all the raves about Nesco's on this thread, I just ordered the 6 quart roaster. I'm so excited - it looks like it does so much more!

Last night I made 6 homemade pizzas. We ate one, and I put the rest in the freezer. Then this morning I made a batch of waffles for the freezer.

DH has the morning off, so he's downstairs cleaning up the kitchen - it doesn't get any better than that!

Vickilynn, you will love that roaster! You can slow cook and so much more in it. Last night I made chicken parmesan in mine.

If you are interested in joining an email group with recipes & tips for Nescos (of all sizes) just PM me and I'll send you the link.

I figure that for the same price as a good slow cooker, with the Nesco you get a more versatile appliance--definitely a frugal way to go.

LoriMae: The problem with Paypal has been fixed, is much more secure.

Went snooping on Ebay, ( that is my passtime) and found several listings for the Nesco roasters you gals have been chatting about. My dil has one, but here at the ranch we have a smaller style of a electric roaster, also 3 other crock pots which we use alot. one of the crock pots we have in the 5th wheeler, as when parked at a camp ground , those crock pots come in so handy.

dh / ss are hauling a critter off to be cut up and wrapped, so there will be plenty of meat in the freezer once again, we still have a huge amt of hamb frozen, but don't care for the taste of it.

Will be going into town this afternoon, do some banking and later to bible study.

Had heavy fog here earlier, so imagine the roads are a bit slick. Windy and sunny now.

Have a great day gals
Joy

Frugal today will be going through my coupons that Carol sent to me! Have already filed coupons from yesterdays paper!
Crochet,
My that is scary about the terrorist threats, surprised the media isnt all over that one.
When we went on our trip last summer,(Philly) we took a day and ended up driving to Atlantic City we didnt gamble, but dh and I decided it would be fun to see the Boardwalk since we had never been. Evan (3) loved the Ocean he had a great time. We ate at a cool restraunt called the Rain Forest! So I guess we were right in your neighborhood! Same trip that I was able to meet Barbszy and her kids at the Philly Zoo!
That was a great vacation, we probaly wont get one this year with our situation but at least I will have the memories till we can go somewhere again! Thats Frugal! Will be Rooting for the Eagles in the Superbowl!
Leighann

OK everyone-head on out to Old Navy. Went in today looking for a gift for 11y.o. nephew. Came out with tons of other stuff from the clearance racks.

50% off the lowest marked price. Rang up a t shirt for dd2 at 90c. I went back and got all that I could at that price. Those are headed to ebay in the next couple weeks! May save 1 or 2 for bday presents. Those shirt were originally $12.50 so I think I got a really good deal :)

LJsmom

Wow! That is some steal on the tshirts! Good buy.

Anna

LJsmom, those were good deals!! Wish I had the money right now to go pick some of those up!

Crochet that is scary! I hadn't heard anything about that either. But, I do know what you mean about the plane sound being scary. As that is how I felt when 9-11 happened, and the planes were all to be grounded. Apparently we were right below a "special flight area" due to the fact that I would hear planes flying over at that time.

Frugal today was opening the furnace door and cleaning the filter. It was not done since fall, so it was well over due.

Also, making my own hm laundry det. I was going to throw my wash in the dryer this morning, but, caught myself hanging inside, and didn't change my mind back to throwing it in the dryer.

And on that note. I have to tell you all this. We complain about not wanting to hang laundry outside over the winter due to the cold. Last week on a trip to WalMart. I noticed that the mennonites do not let the cold keep them from line drying outdoors. It was 19* that morning at 11:30. We were on our way to WalMart at around 8:30 and the wash was on the line than already!

I should head over to Old Navy this week if I have time. Usually I end up buying boys' t-shirts and windbreakers there on clearance. Once I got a nice little pullover windbreaker with some night-reflective strips on it for older DS for $3. And it's still in good enough shape that younger DS can wear it next fall and winter.

I've been working out of the house today, so frugal so far has been commuting to the office with DH rather than taking two cars. Okay, so the other car doesn't work right now, but I'm trying to put a positive spin on this! LOL! I had to drive to a client's office who is in far northeast Houston, and I filled up with gas while I was out there- I bought it at $1.70 a gallon, and in downtown and in my area it's $1.83 a gallon. Came back to the office to do some more work and DH and I had sandwiches and chips (made with stuff from yesterday's mystery shop!) we'd brought from home rather than going out to lunch. I did pick up the boys at school in the truck today rather than walking because it's very windy, , cold, and rainy today, and I can spend a dollar's worth of gas if it keeps us out of the bad weather where we might get the sickies.

Tonight I'll make dinner here, maybe using some of the ground beef I cooked last night. Maybe spaghetti and meatballs. Not sure yet.

BTW, here is a great website I found 3 years ago and re-discovered several weeks ago when I renewed my resolve to live frugally and live better that way.

http://www.bettertimesinfo.org/2004index.htm

I've found the site to have some really helpful and interesting tips and some good recipes. It's fun to explore there. :-D

Really, some of the stuff on the site is common sense, but sometimes we need reminding of the obvious. It's funny- growing up, we lived in a frugal household, and I remember not going without anything. Mom had a huge vegetable garden, totally organic, in the backyard and did canning. She baked cookies in the winter and when I came home from school, she would have dozens and dozens of them cooling on the table on top of tea towels. Dad went hunting every deer season and always got at least one deer and usually a wild (domesticated pigs that broke free from their farms and lived in the woods, that kind of wild) hog. We never bought sodas unless someone in the house had an upset tummy or for a treat. I didn't even grow up drinking Kool-Aid because Mom didn't like all the sugar in it- I had water, orange juice, milk, or lemonade, and I never once thought I was doing without because I didn't have soda or Kool-Aid. Dad made vanilla or peach ice cream often in our old hand-cranker, and it was sooo good. We didn't live out in the country where it was easier for us to be partially self-sufficient rather than travel into town to shop- we lived that way, 40 miles from the 4th-largest city in the US, because we wanted to, and because that's what my parents knew. Mom was a child of the Depression and remembered going up the street to the soup kitchen with her older sister- my aunt would carry home the bucket of soup and Mom would carry the bread. Dad grew up in the woods on his grandfather's farm where everyone was naturally self-sufficient.

What I mean by "it's funny" that I said earlier was just how much lifestyles have changed since I was a kid in the 70's. It doesn't seem all that long ago, and yet it does. With the way the economy is these days, it makes more sense to live the way I lived as a child, but it's taken me a while to really see that, you know? I remember being happy that way and I don't see why we can't be happy that way in a different time.

Anyway, sorry to get on a tangent... I suppose I just wanted to share some of that so you guys can see what makes me tick on my frugal journey. Because making the conversion to frugality really is a journey, and I'm looking forward to it! :jump2:

Soda pop was strickly a treat when I was a kid we might have had a glass (not our own bottle) twice a month if that. We would go to the drive in theater when it was car load night (one price no matter how many in the car) and Mom would bring popcorn (cooking on the stove) & soda from home.

I do keep pop in the house but I purchase 2 liters on sale which is cheaper than cans or 20 oz bottles. Last week I purchases 4 2 liters for 4/$5 which I then used a coupon for 1 2 liter for free, a $.25 off coupon which was doubled, and a $1.00 off coupon for Tostotos chips with the purchase of 4 2 liters (on sale for $2.50) so the 4) 2 liters cost $3 and the chips $1.50.

Roberta

:jump2: Wow, it's so neat to read about what everybody has been doing today and hearing about all the good deals.
I find the Mennonite and Amish people fascinating. They could probably teach us a lot about being frugal, I'm sure.
Frugal this evening was meeting one of dh's co- workers for dinner. Frugal being that dinner was paid for by his company. The best part was not having to cook!
Today was mostly spent on ironing and mending. I have been procrastinating for a while and it caught up with me. Take care all, and have a good evening.

Frugal today was stayiing home! Trying to clean some more things out and get them out on cheapcycle.

The articles about the terrorists threatening the casinos first showed up a few weeks after 9/11. I have friends who work for different casinos and they said it was pretty scary.

Now, it was in the papers again last week. Not front page, in the region section, but again. They don't want to scare the tourists away. That would be bad for business. They would rather lose the customers who are there on the day that something does happen, rather than lose buisness on a daily basis. If that makes any sense.

I sort of don't understand. My law firm handles a lot of people who are immigrants, a lot from muslim countries. A lot of these people work for the casino industry. You would think that they would not work an industry that they want destroyed. I won't work for the casino industry because I don't believe in gambling. I very seldom go to any event, or restaurant that is sponsored by or at one of them. I just won't support the industry. But that is a personal thing.

The money that they generate is not even funneled back to the community the way it was originally outlined. The taxes were supposed to stay in South Jersey, down where I live, to build new low cost housing for the poor, (apartment building torn down and 1/2 the number of new single/double family units at an exuberent cost), to generate jobs (they import people from Philly, and China), to spur on new small businesses (try to get a loan to start a new business), and open family venues (not a one). Instead they are funneling the money into politicians pockets, and into the far north Jersey for new housing projects, etc. The tax money from the casinos goes to an organization called the Casino Re-Development Association (CRDA).

The CRDA took over a small business the fist of the year. It was the parking lot my office parks in. Sunday, we had a small amount of snow, topped off by freezing rain, which caused a lot of ice. We got the parking lot, and the CRDA, which doesn't work on weekends, had made no provisions for clearing the lot over a weekend. I couldn't get into the spot I normally park in because it was so icy, I was afraid that if I tried, I might slide into one of the cars on either side of that spot. And then getting to the side walk was treacherous. A tree that was planted in the sidewalk, had literally frozen, broken off at the base (at least 6" wide), and was laying in the middle of the sidewalk, frozen in the ice, so a person could not have moved it. It was still there last night on our way home. I can assure you that if it had been a private business, the city would have cited them, on Sunday, for it blocking the sidewalk, and for not having the ice cleared.

Enough of this. And don't wonder why I or any of my colleagues didn't report the dangerous condition to them. The head mucky-mucks park in that lot. Their offices are almost adjoining the lot. They know.

Anyway, enough venting.

Frugal for me will be taking lunch, leftovers for dinner, keeping the heat lowered while I am at work, and not stopping to browse at any of the stores on the way home.

Well ladies, I will be on my merry way for now.

Take care all!!

Norma

I am back!!!!:party:


The move is all done and aside from bruises scrapes and 2 stitches(DS dropped a a box on hisself and cut his leg) it is all done. We had to wait a week for the phone. It was going to be a month before we got our phone in but DH got on the phone with the phone company and argued them down to a week. I can tell you it has been hard. No phone no Internet no Family Corner.:goof: I don't think I could have last any longer. The house is still stacked with boxes but I really don't care. It is just nice to be in here and not have to worry about moving again.

There has been nothing frugal going on here. It seems like we are spending money every day. DH and I will be getting the bills ready to pay. And I know it is going to be tight. We have a 320.00 electric bill from the old house to pay.

I have been purging. Just getting rid of stuff I don't want or need anymore. I am tired of junk that i don't use or just plain don't want anymore.

I am going to buy new drapes for the window andthat wil ot be cheap. But I am trying to find them on sale. So I am holding off just going to the store and buying them. I really love the ones at JC pennys. They are a little on the pricey side but so pretty. Have any of you seen the window scarfs they have? I just fell in love with them. But the one I really want 200.00 and that is just not in the budget. I am going to look at Wal-Mart and see if they have the scarfs. Maybe I can get them there.
Got to go put laundry in the washer. Chat with you all later.

What I did frugal yesterday is my mother brought me left-overs from my sister's house. The had boiled shrimp, potatoes and corn on the cob. It was so wonderful. My sister and her DH are both wonderful cooks, but they don't believe in leftovers. I am trying to train them to put the leftovers in their freezer. And then send them over to my house. Sometimes they remember and sometimes not.

The kids all needed a haircuts, so I took all three (13, 11, & 4)of them in. The place I take the kids send out coupons all the time, I had not recieved copons in a while. They were advertising a sale 4.99 a cut. My older kids are considered adults, regular price is $11.95. So I saved quite a bit.

Have a wonderful day.

Melly

Emmjean great to have you back so glad your move went wel.


frugal here is getting my city water hooked up we have to buy line and put it in about 1000 ft but it will pay off in the long run and I will have water im so excited i can t wait ^^ have a good day all

^^ Emmjean--welcome back, and I'm so glad you're finally done moving and can get to work on settling in!! I got a grin out of the fact that you're purging--when we moved, I got rid of sooo much stuff it blew my mind, and that was before we got packed!! Then, I kept getting rid of stuff. Three and a half years later, I'm still working on it. Can't figure out how we went from a 2 BR apt with a tiny storage unit to a three BR house w/ a full basement, PLUS a 4 car garage, and still not have enough room for all the stuff lol!!

Anyways--if the window scarves are the things I'm thinking of, they are very simple to make. My friend bought yards of fabric from Walmart and hung it up on those round towel holders. She just folded and draped it until she liked it--I'm not sure if she even sewed anything. I think she may have glued the edges for smoothness, but don't quote me on that lol!! Then she hot-glued floral arrangements onto the towel holders to hide them, but it wasn't neccessary.

Frugal today is making iced tea instaed of buying soda. One of my resolutions is to cut way back on the amount of pop I drink--for the savings as well as my health. I have one of those iced tea makers, but today I'm trying to just brew it in the fridge. I have 2 pitchers, and as I empty one I refill it, toss the tea bags in, and stick it behind the one in the fridge. It seems to be working nicely. I also mixed up a batch of powdered milk for cooking, and another batch that I mixed with the regular milk for the kids to drink. And I have bread in the machine for the kids' lunches for the rest of the week. I cut the loaf down to "regular" size and use the cut parts for stuffing. I'm also going to boil some leftover turkey legs to get the meat off the bones for turkey pot pie. Someone mentioned pot pie on the WFD thread and it sounds yummy right now lol!!

Chicken pot pie sounds so good! I have some baked chicken left over from Sun. night's dinner--so pot pie it is tonight! I make my own bisquick with whole wheat flour. And a side salad.

I also wanted to share a cute treat recipe for Ground Hog's day. My youngest son's class takes turns bringing treats--on the day that they are assigned as "Top Banana".

So--tomorrow is Ground Hog's day (cupcakes):

Bake cupcakes as usual. Frost with choc. frosting and decorate with green sprinkles or whatever ( I used rainbow chips since that's what I had on hand). Make a face on nutter butter cookies with decorator icing and insert into the cupcake (I made a slit with a knife first). This is supposed to look like the groundhog coming out of his burrow. Cute!

Well---now that I've used the a.m. with a dental appt., groceries and laundry, I'm off to tackle the next proejct: the upstairs. Going to start a thorough cleaning of the bedrooms and a "weeding out".

I've been inspired by someone (paintingnut I think!) on our local freecycle who is cleaning out and donating everything on freecycle. I think I'm done having garage sales and may do the same thing. We got rid of an old mattress set last week--and I'm so glad someone could use it vs. paying $15 to have it hauled away!

Have a great day everyone.

rivermom

I made my scarves for my bedroom. I bought bridal tule ( gold/ copper color). It comes in colors at Walmart. I had old antique coat hooks, spray painted them gold. Put one at each corner and one in the middle of each window. Draped the bridal tule over it. They make corner thingys you can buy instead of coat hooks but they were amost $10 each at my Walmart... They have holes in them and your thread the tule thru. Bridal tule is $1.00 a yard.

I wasn't frugal today. Went to Walmart spend $40. Bought contacts $55.00. Pharmacy $47.00 then add in gas. I would like to spend money on fun stuff......

Bluebird

That drape scarf thing sounds really beautiful and very frugal.

Emmalee

I thought of you this morning. I forgot and left my travel mug with coffee on the front porch last night... dh brought it in and the coffee was frozen, ICED CAPPUCINO:-P:: free:clapp: I told him I must tell the girls about this frugal idea, lol! Course this summer when we really want one, no freezer conditions outside.

Anna

Today we made the final jump to a VOIP phone service.
Our phone bill will be $24.99 a month for unlimited service to the US and Canada, and cheap international calling (DH has a friend in the UK and it cost him just over $1.00 to talk for more than an hour! He only calls once every couple of months but international rates are usually so expensive).
As of today we cancel our regular phone service, which we paid about $72 a month including all the taxes they added on. So we'll save nearly $50 a month off our phone bill :clapp:
In the fall I switched my cell phone from a $30 a month plan to a prepaid plan that costs me $25 every 3 months for 100 minutes. I can add more minutes if I need them but we rarely use the cell except in emergencies. And on this plan, the minutes roll over! All told, we have cut our phone bill from around $100 a month to less than $35.

Emmjean, I'm so glad to hear you are IN the new house! Can't wait to see some pictures! Congratulations, and may you have many happy, healthy years there.

Does anyone know anything about OCD? If so please feel free to PM me.


On of the unfrugal things I did was buy Valentines Cards. I want to send out cards since I didn't get my Christmas cards out.... I know I don't have the time or all the items needed to make them. It was $6 for 18 cards.... but they will remain unopened until I am ready to mail them out.... after I have written a letter to everyone. :-D

^^ Congratulations, Emmalee, on moving in! How fun to fix it how you want! Enjoy!
Lol, Anna, on the iced coffee. Maybe you could blend it and make one of those frappacino things.:-D
Boggz, good news about the water line! Gotta love that!
Frugal today was trading magazines with my friend. Whenever we have a good stack, we get together and switch. We just have to make sure not to duplicate and give back the same magazines.
Mrs. Maniac, I use powdered milk for cooking and baking, too. It saves a lot of money. Take care,everyone and Happy February!

I know this is early but I will forget to post, so better to do it now...
McDonalds is having its Groundhog Day sale on burgers and cheeseburgers for 49c and 59c , limit 10 I think---but ONLY on that day.
I don't know if its nation wide or not.

jjoj thanks i am so excited im so used to having to save on water we can flush the commode twice and wash a sink of dishes and im out we have a 1200 gallon tank that we have hooked just to the washing machine that cost me $50 a month so this well be so much better dd is so excited she can have the water yard toy she has always wanted this summer i wont know what to do with lots of water^^ ^^

:party: :party: :party:


Happy Birthday Songberries!!!!!



Hope your day is full of special memories!!!!




Hugs
Debbie

:party: Happy Birthday Songberries hope you have a very special day :party: :party: :party:

:party: HAPPY BIRTHDAY SONGBERRIES. :bday:


Unfrugal today. I have to take the kitty to the Vet. Something is wrong with his hind end. The base of his tail is swollen and hurts him. DH was petting him last night and touched it and the cat bit him. They play like that all the time so I didn't think anything of it until DH asked me to look at it.actually I shouldn't have called him a kitty. He is 7 years old. And bigger then some dogs. He is as old as my DD and she is very worried about him. I really hop eit is nothing.

Frugal, we make our first house payment tomorrow.:jump2: Silly I know but I am really excited about it.

I was wondering if any of you have a recipe for cracker pie? My Momma used to make it for us all the time. And now she doesn't remember the recipe. It has been years since I thought about it. So I never asked for the recipe.

:party: Happy Birthday, Songberries:bday:


Bluebird what is OCD?

Happy Birthday Songberries. Hope your day is special!
Barb,
Good going on the phone bill issue! I did get my land line phone down to 24.95 but with taxes it still comes to 34.25!!!!! I pay 35.00 (including taxes) on my cell phone. We do use the cell phone to call long distance. Its nice to be able to call my grandmothers and our family and friends out of state more often. If dh is still unemployed I will try to cut the cell phone down, I know I cant cancel since were under contract but maybe possibly lower it.
Emmjean,
I hope your kitty cat will be okay. I am thankful everytime I make the house payment a little bit off the mortgage, that much closer to paying off! One of these years I would love to pay extra on it. Just never seems to happen. You should post your recipe request on the WFD thread, someone there is bound to know it.
Leighann

is this the one you are looking for ??


Ingredients

FILLING:

2 cups water

3/4 cup sugar

2 tsp. cream of tartar

30 Ritz Crackers

1 unbaked 9-inch pie shell

1 Tbsp. lemon juice

1 tsp. cinnamon


TOPPING:

1 cup finely-crushed Ritz Cracker crumbs, about 25 whole crackers

1/2 cup lightly-packed brown sugar

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/3 cup melted butter or margarine





FILLING:

1
Combine water, sugar and cream of tartar; bring to a boil.

2
Drop in whole crackers and simmer for 5 minutes.

3
Pour mixture into pie shell; sprinkle with lemon juice and cinnamon.

TOPPING:

1
Combine all ingredients for topping and sprinkle over pie.

2
Bake at 400°F for 15 minutes, then reduce heat to 350°F and continue baking 15-20 minutes longer. Serve warm.

Well, thanks to the inspiration of the person cleaning out on freecycle--I cleaned up both my boys' rooms yesterday afternoon! Took out a bag of garbage and burned a load of paper stuff. Today will be vacuuming those rooms and starting on mine! Also have a bag for goodwill. Will probably have more today.

Frugal also will be just staying home. Tonight when I bring the kids to their religion classes, I stay for a parenting class I'm taking at the same time. Frugal on gas.

Also need to start on taxes today---yuk.

Better get going!

Happy birthday, Songberries! :bday:

Unfrugal today, but it had to be done, is paying the phone bill for our office. It just aggravates me that the same phone service I get at my house is so much more expensive at my office simply because it's a business. Bah! I am thankful, however, that we are able to pay it this month without struggling. Usually once a year we have a real tighten-the-belt month, and this time around, it happened in December- right during Christmas, of course. Fortunately this didn't affect our holiday plans at all, as we'd already bought or made all the presents we needed, and we spent the holiday at my mother's house, which was frugal for all of us. We just had a very veeerrry lean January!

Frugal today is the batch of peanut butter cookies I baked this morning and the popcorn I just popped for snacks. I have also started my compost pile in the backyard, which I want to use for my little herb garden. Tonight I will throw something together for dinner from what I have on hand. It feels good to be able to just pick stuff to make again and break away from my dinner calendar every once in a while. :)

I checked on my mystery shopper account, through which I did my grocery store mystery shop this weekend, and they rated my report as "good", which means I get my full $15 for the shop- and I will have paid $2.02 for about $25 of groceries, since I picked out some really good deals. Yippee, discount groceries! :jump2:

I did 2 loads of cold water laundry today.

We have Kids for Christ today so the kids will have thier after school snacks there.

I found a pack of chicken thighs way in the back of the freezer so I cooked that for dinner.

Roberta

for frugal stoage space, i measured that space under the girls beds, i can fit a lg plastic tub under there easily. so i figured out i can slide 6 of them under there easily to use. i can also put 2 accross from the back along the wall for things i want to store..like winter clothes. that will help out some. i cant put a 2nd bar in the closet because the water heater is in the end of that closet. so i have to come up with an idea for that. im thinking..the littel hanging things that you have for sweaters, i could use thoes to set out the clothes for the next day and i found one with 4 shelves, adn room for 5 or 6 prs of shoes, so i can put out 2 days worth of clothes for them. i also wnat to get a couple of the coat hangers for putting backpacks on. that will help out alot. if i can find the ones with the 4 hooks, so i can have them put thier coats on there too.

one thing i did do was order a hangup clothes bag thing, its on a roller base, has 3 places for dirty clothes and a place to hang up laundry across a bar over it. what i plan to do is seperate our clothers out in the laundry room. one place for our socks underwear, and things, one for the girls, one for bubba. plus room to hang things on it. adn since it will roll, that will be alot easier to go thru the house and put things away. i got it on sale at amazon.com for 14.99 less than half what it normally sells for.

i also signed the contract on my trailer yesterday and that makes me feel good. ive been rereading it all day. lol.

happy birthday songberries hopeyour day is good.

since mynew trailer is all electric, i have to come up with ways to save on electric. so thats my next goal. well i hope everyone has a good day. talk at you all later.

ericka

Emmjean, so glad to hear from you and that you are getting nicely settled in your new home!! That is great!!

Ericka, it sounds like you have lots of plans for your new home!!

Darn, I wish we did have a McDonald's that was offering the Groundhog day sale. I have to bribe DD to go to swim/gym day at school, by taking her to McDonald's. :eek: It is not so bad when it is just the two of us, but, with DH being home, he gets a full meal. I just get a happy meal, than DD has two toys. If he is still home next week, I think we will just use the coupon BOGO for 1/4 pounders w/cheese, and split a soda, and fries, as the sodas are refillable.

So, now that I gave my unfrugal. My frugals are the same things, cold water wash, line drying inside.

Soon, I have to sit down and make a very detailed list for groceries. DH only had 12 1/2 hours in last week, and I barely had any work, maybe a $30 check coming in. And this week is not our week to get unemployment checks. Luckily, I do have quite a bit in the pantry/freezer, so we will not starve!! I will probably end up spending more on animal food than people food!

This is my first post on this board. My frugal things today have been taking a sack lunch to work, turning my thermostat down to 60 degrees before I left for work and finding 2 shirts for a birthday gift for my goddaughter on clearance at Sears today--the twof of them together only cost me $3 total!

Happy Birthday Songberries

mom2-4

You are making me hungry for McDonalds! Sometimes I really miss beef, sigh... but not enough to undo 2 plus years of hard work.

We will be having spaghetti with turkey meatballs for dinner tonight along with a big salad.

Not anything extra frugal to report, still cold washing, hanging as much up as I can to dry, washing my dishes by hand and letting them air dry.

I've been recycling some old towels, cut them into 1/4's and use as hand towels in the kitchen.

Well it's about time to head out. I'm stopping at the store tonight or tommorow night, both Krogers and Meijers have been giving out those spit out coupons for a free pack of Always pads, so will be stocking up on those freebies!

Anna

Happy Birthday Songberries!!!!

:bday: :wigg: :party:

Same here, still doing my normal frugal stuff, washing in cold water, chasing behind the kids once I get home from work and making them turn off the lights, or turning them off behind them, hand washing the dishes - okay, so that's a must because I don't have a dishwasher but give me a break huh? Scoping sites on my break at work for any new ideas as well!

Made hotel reservations (not going to be frugal there) for my son's high school graduation in Chicago suburbs for May 24th & 25th. He moved back up there this past August, didn't like living in Southern IL at all and missed the pace of the city so he lives with his aunt and uncle and is rounding the end of his senior year. My baby's growing up! He is my oldest so I guess I'll survive. Even though he doesn't live with me anymore I hear from him at least 3 times a week, usually nonsense, once in awhile he needs to talk to MOM.

Okay, back to work for me. Hang in there all!

Lisa
:worm:

hey Lisa...i looked it up on the map....you live about 80 miles away from me. cool. thats pretty close.

talk at you all later
ericka

Ericka,

Down here that's just a stone's throw! I'm happy to see you guys got a new trailer. It's so much fun putting a house together, nerve-racking but fun. My rental house is put together some with what I brought with but mostly what I've picked up either from friends, garage sales, Salvation Army or garbage picking, YES GARBAGE PICKING!!!!

I'm outta here and going home. I wish I had a computer at home again. I miss it :(


Lisa
:sparkle:

Does anyone know if buffalo is like beef for B12 vitamins? Dd needs to go on B12 shots, her B12 is so low. We don't eat much beef since it is very costly here. Buffalo is so much better for you.

Hey,Carol, Happy Birthday!:party: I hope it is filled with lots of good things!
Frugal today, was finally finishing taxes and filing through tax cut. Also, I bought 2 cans of blue diamond almonds for 2.00. They were normally 4.98 each. I picked some unusual flavors: wasabi and garlic and onion. I love almonds and spicy stuff. I was thinking they would be good on salads too. Well, take care and I hope you all have a nice evening.

Hey Songberries!! Hope your special day was teriffic!!

Frugal for me this evening is not going to Amazon.com looking for a waffle stix maker for $4.99 with free shipping. Frugal for me is not going to coldwatercreek.com, or Catherines.com, to see what they might want to tempt me with. frugal for me this evening is also not paying for any magazine subscriptions which came in the mail, or paying for any cd clubs which also came in the mail. It was not stopping at the discounted book store on the way home from work. It was not stopping at any of the fast food places on my way home. Frugal for me this evening is eating left over chicken, again, and not complaining, because it really is good, and hanging out here on Family Corner.

But I do have to get some sleep. Being the only secretary in the office for two attorneys, is very demanding.

So ladies, I will take my leave now. I am too tired to do anything else.

Take care all!!! Norma

I just wanted to say good job,Norma!:clapp: You did great resisting all those things. It takes a lot of willpower sometimes, but the results are worth it. Take care, all.

:party: :party: :party:

Well, took my car into the shop for what I thought would be a simple wheel alignment but there is several things wrong and it's gonna cost about $650 to get it all fixed but its necessary.

Unfrugal today was also buying supplies for my tension headaches. I don't take stress very well and I have been stressed out at work and that stress goes directly to my shoulder blades, the back of my neck and head and so I spent $40 on a cold/hot heat wrap, some migraine pills, a battery operated back messager I can use at work and a travel pillow for stabilizing my neck while I sleep and while I'm sitting on the couch. I sure hope it works...

Songberries - Hope your day was a happy one!:bday:

DS is so hard on his shoes. He has gotten them muddy two days now at school. I had to go to Meijer and saw they had their clearance an additional half off. So I bought DS another pair plus boots to go outside in. So he now has pair of New Balance Tennis shoes and boots for a total cost less than the original for the boots.

Frugal last night, doing a search on the web for free graphic sites. One of my fragrances I've been scratching my head trying to figure out a picture to go with it. It's called Voodoo Love, it smells like roses but that's the actual title. Of course I didn't want anything voodoo like as a picture, looked at fairies but all I could were either cartoon type or animated. I finally found a picture of a moon over a lighthouse and used that as my label. It turned out really pretty.

Also downloaded a weekly free graphic from Dover... darling picture of a little girl hugging her dog sort of victorian style. Each week they send 4-8 free samples to choose from.

Anna

Good morning everyone. The Vet costed 112.00. Kitty had an infection. From a cat fight. But DD is happy to have her kitty back. Even if he has to stay in the bathroom for a few days. They put in drain tubes and he is leaking, and he is not going to leak all over my new house. Sorry if that sounds mean, but we cannot afford to have the carpets cleaned right now. There is nothing left in the budget to get them clean so he is staying in the bathroom.


I don't remember who sent the cracker pie recipe, thank you. It sounds good, but the one I am looking for uses saltines. It tasted like apple pie. I will keep searching.

Emmjean, I just did a search on "Mock Apple Pie" and got lots of links for pies using Ritz crackers:
http://www.cooks.com/rec/doc/0,1937,135187-247193,00.html

I'm not sure if that's what you were after or not. Here's another link, if you scroll down far enough you will see one that calls for saltines:
http://www.swtimes.com/Features/potluck.html

Good luck! Glad your kitty will be ok.

Well goodness where is everyone today? Thanks for the recipe, but that isn't the one. Did you look at the amounts it calls for in that recipe. I have never seen a recipe that calls for 4 cups of butter before.:lol:

I just went to the little store here in town and they had chicken thighs for .59 a pound. So I got 10 pounds of thighs. Might go back before they go off sale and pick up some more.

Welcome to our site futureteacher. Glad to have you here. My Husband is also a future teacher. He is going to be a High School Math Teacher. What are you going to teach?

I'm an elementary education major with an emphasis area on the Language Arts. Ideally, I'd like to teach 2nd or 3rd grade in a self-contained classroom, but I'm sure I'll be happy to teach any area I can get hired for!! I work full-time and went back to school 5 (!!!) years ago to get my elementary ed degree. I only had one class scheduled this semester, but it was cancelled, so I'm off until fall. I only have 3 classes left before student teaching, so I'm really wanting to get started!

Oh Chris how wonderful for you. To bad about your class being cancelled though. My husbad is taking 4 math classes and a biology class this semester. Very hard on all of us. Mostly the kids. They miss thier Daddy. Well I miss him too. But it is all for the best for us. He will also take classes in the summer, just not so many. He also works part time and the local V.A.. Money is tight but we get by. And I do everything I can to save us money. And I must say that the Ladies on this site have helped me a great deal being Fugal.

Best of luck to your husband! From everything current teachers have told me, teaching is hard work, but it's rewarding. I know that whenever I've worked with children throughout my coursework, I've found I really do get a high when the kids have that "Aha!" moment and something they've been struggling with really makes sense!
I know what you mean by the money being tight thing--paying for school is not cheap and the regular household bills don't go away! And when I'm so busy, sometimes it really does seem easier to grab lunch or dinner out than to try to brown bag it, etc. Hopefully being off this semester will give me a push to get back on track moneywise!

OK, Emmalee, here is 1 more link I found.
http://www.hungrybrowser.com/phaedrus/

This is the "Uncle Phaedrus, finder of lost recipes" link. Great site!

OH barbszy, thank you thank you thank you. I am going to make it this weekend. My kids have never had it. And it has been so long since I have had it. You are so wonderful to look for me.

((((((((((HUGS))))))))))

:typ:
Glad you found it!
:typ:
It took me a while to think of that site, since my computer ate a bunch of my bookmarks yesterday :bawl:
I wasted an hour trying to get them back but I couldn't do it.
I am going to start backing up my bookmarks WEEKLY.

I never made that kind of pie before, so let me know how it turns out :clapp:

My mouth is water you guys! How did you actually find the recipie...I went to that last link to Uncle Phaedrus and typed in Mock apple pie and saltines and didn't get anywhere...what am I doing wrong?

Sandra

Sandra, I just sent her the main link and she did the rest. Emmjean posted the whole recipe on WFD so if you're looking for it, check there :typ:

OSI, sorry to make you hungry for McDonald's! Didn't mean to. It really is not worth, all that I end up paying for it!! If that helps any!!

barbszy, the computer ate your bookmarks???? I never heard of that, that is scarey!!

futureteacher, welcome to the frugal thread! And good luck with your teaching, I think highly of anyone that can deal with a bunch of kids that are not there own!!

EMMJEAN, glad your kitty will be okay. And no that does not sound mean locking it in the bathroom. We had a tom cat one time that started to spray before he should have, and he lived in the basement until the vet could fit him in for surgery.

Frugal today, was using up chicken that DH had made over the weekend. I had gotten bags of cheesy rice, kind of like hamburger or tuna helper, that I just had to add chicken to. The bags were 2/$1. I did have to use both bags to feed the whole family, but technically speaking dinner for a family of 6 was only $1. (That does not include the cupcakes I made). The cupcakes I made were from a generic mix. 89 cents and 99 cents for the frosting. So they only cost me $1.88. I let DD ice the cupcakes. And I told her to not use too much or she would run out. She did a good job, and there is frosting left over to use next week!! So dinner for 6 was under $3 total.

One of the cars needs gas, I really dread that. With DH being home we use the one car more than the other. When I am the only one using them, I try alternating them so they don't need filled up as often. Not really a savings, just seems like it is when we don't have to fill up every week.

Well, I think I am done with McDonald's for a while.
I had this "need" for a Big Mac today. So I had one. And now I didn't want to eat my dinner....I just feel....icky....

Karen, I had some kind of "error" happen and that's how my bookmarks disappeared. It was a pretty obscure thing from what I was able to find out about it. I am not using Internet Explorer because of security issues, and of course having worked in the software industry I am well aware that there is no such thing as Bug Free Software :rolleyes: so it is the user's responsibility to back up those bookmarks and anything else.

Chris, welcome to Family Corner! :typ: I am a teacher also....well, I am a stay at home mom now but I will always be a teacher whether or not I am employed as one. I was English and Spanish for middle and high-school students (and Spanish for elementary kids for a little while). BOY those little ones wore me out! They needed a lot of energy and patience! They were cuties though.

Not spending any money today is what is frugal for me.

Ok, I am hoping someone out there will know. Does mashed cauliflower really taste like mashed potatoes???

I have nothing against mashed potatoes, and I think I make the world's best. But I truly don't like cauliflower. I would be willing to give it a try, if I could get some positive encouragement. There is nothing frugal about buying even cauliflower if you are not going to eat it.

Well ladies, I better go for now. I have a newsletter to finish so I can print it out at work tomorrow and get it in the mail over the weekend.

Take care all!!! Norma

Well I don't know how it happened but....I missed your first post futureteacher...so sorry but....HELLO! and welcome :wigg:

I too am a licensed k-9th elementary ed. teacher...I stay home with my children right now and homeschool my oldest who is in Kindergarten. 3rd was my absolute favorite! However most of my work ended up with 6th graders:rolleyes: yikes...if I can do that I can do anything! Good luck to you.

Well you girls aren't the only ones with McDonald's cravings and I had mine last night with a McChicken sandwich and fries...it has taken me almost 24 hours to feel normal again...it really isn't worth it!

Again...welcome Chris...

Sandra

:wigg: Welcome to you, Futureteacher! Nice to have you here.
I used to love McDonald's, but I got very ill after eating there once. I was sick for nearly 2 weeks. That was several years ago and I've never eaten there since!
Frugal today was just not spending any money. Most importantly, I did NOT go to the L.L. Bean website to check out their sales. They do have great sales, but I have more than enough clothes, so there really was no point. Take care and have a good evening, everyone!

Today was Kiddie Karnival at DD's school Usually this is not frugal but goes for a good cause to PTO. However DD, won three times and then as they were the last class in all the "craft" table items were marked down to 10 cents. So we bought several craft kits, some made items and some non craft items.

Today is "Wear Red for Women" day. It is to call attention to the fact that women die of heart attacks and complications more than men. It is important for all of us to know this, and support research. Also, it is important for us to know that the symptoms of a heart attack are different in women than in men, and if we have the women's symptoms, go the er immediately and demand the right tests.

And TGIF - my co-worker has been out all week, I have been secretary to two lawyers. I am drop dead tired, too tired to spend any money.

I saw in the local grocery flier this week they are having a 10/$10.00 sale. And those wonderful waffles I love are part of the sale. The problem is that they only will double 1 like coupon per trip. Needless to say I will be there several times this week for free waffles. There doesn't seem to be anything else that I have coupons for which, when doubled, would be free. But I will take whatever I can get, especially when it is something I like.

They also have boneless, skinless chicken thighs on sale for $.59 lb. I will truly be stocking up on those. I am not a chicken breast fan, I like the breasts so much better. The bonus is that they have alredy boned and skinned them for me.

I am a pretty happy camper with these things. I can hardly wait for Sunday when the sale starts. And this is right in my little town, not even leaving to go to a bigger market.

Well, ladies, I have to go and get the car warmed up. It is snowing again - they said precipation, not wanting to scare those tourists again. And now it is snowing.

Take care all!!! Norma

Welcome to the frugal living thread futureteacher and best of luck to you finding a new job next semester.

Frugal yesterday? Eating at home, bringing in my lunch as usual. I made a big batch of chili this weekend and have been bringing it in for my lunch all week. Ground turkey 69 cents, 3 cans meatless chili beans 39 cents each, stewed tomatoe and a offbrand of roteli tomatoes about 50 cents each, so total for a weeks worth of lunches and dinner $2.86. Not shabby!

Made up lotion last night for orders for valentines day, also bagged up bath salts in those cute little organza bags I showed you all the link to earlier and sold another candle... my co workers are some of my biggest customers:clapp:

I also ordered another candle mold yesterday. It is a 6 piece unit that makes 6 votive candles at one time. These are a little different shape than what you normally see.

See link:

http://www.discountcandleshop.com/product_info.php/products_id/995

I would also like to buy these:

http://www.onestopcandle.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=OSC&Product_Code=SM781&Category_Code=CAMVM

but was good and didn't till later as that's alot to invest all at once. I love votives.

Tommorow we are going to our local candle supply store and I know I will have no will power to resist all those candle scents. I need to restock on my jars and for sure Satin Sheets fragrance as I sold out of it quick and have request for more. We are also going to buy for St. Patty's day a scent called Irish Creme and one called Green Grass. And of course color blocks.

Dh will be changing the oil in our truck on Sunday as the weather is supposed to get in the 50's.:clapp: so that will be a money saver.

We checked online the other day and our income tax return should be here on Monday or Tuesday. Exactly 2 weeks doing the telefile. We looked at a car last night, beautiful 94 Cadillac Coupe DeVille. Dh likes bigger cars as he feels they are safer but I keep emphasising we are in a gas crisis right now and this is going to cost more money! So hopefully we can find a comfortable compromise.

Anna

Dh completed and filed our taxes yesterday. We did get a nice return. I just wish it could be put away in the kitchen fund, and it still may but at this point will be part of our income when dh runs out of severance.
Welcome aboard futureteacher! This really is a great site.
All this talk of fast food, well last night was family hair night and my gf was going to come to our house, but things happen and she ended up needing us to come to her house at 6:00 I had a roast beef dinner planned decided there wasnt enough time and decided to cook today.The point is we decided on fast food Wendys though. Just bought burgers shared a "biggie" order of fries and since Evan always gets nuggets I made those here at home! Still we are trying hard not to eat out. It was good though! Throwing away paper so much easier than doing up a ton of dishes. We did get there at 6:00
Crochet,
I have been wondering about Cauliflower dish as well. I dont know if I could pull it off on my family....
Were off to the dentist again today to have Evans cavity filled wish me luck on this one! lol
Have a good day everyone.
LEighann

Thanks for the welcome! I'm finding that people at this site are super friendly and helpful. What a great support network! My frugal things for today--oatmeal for breakfast (that I bought in bulk), and reading a bit from "The Tightwad Gazette" that I checked out from the library. Later today I'm going to stop at the grocery store to pick up a case of Diet Coke on sale for $3.99. It's the one vice I won't give up, but I'm down to one a day!

Norma, mashed cauliflower does NOT taste like mashed potatoes. Trust me on this. But it does make a good substitute, but you have to like cauliflower in the first place. I do have a recipe for scalloped cauliflower that is wonderful. Even the kids like it.

Sandra, here is the cracker pie recipe. Hope you like it. It brings back so many good memories for me.

CRACKER PIE
3 egg whites

Pinch salt

1 c sugar

1 tsp vanilla

3/4 c chopped pecans

3/4 c finely rolled soda cracker crumbs

1 tsp baking powder

Chopped nuts (optional)


Beat 3 egg whites until stiff. Add a pinch of salt, 1 c sugar, a little at a time. Add 1 tsp vanilla. Beat until stiff. Fold in 3/4 c finely chopped pecans and 3/4 c finely rolled soda cracker crumbs, and 1 tsp baking powder. Spread into buttered pie pan. Bake 25 minutes at 325 degrees. Top with whipped cream. Put in refrigerator over night. Sprinkle chopped nuts on top.


Anna, good job on the chili. I love chili.

All this talk about taxes reminds me that I have to make an appointment with an acountant(SP?) to talk about our taxes. All our income last year was non taxable. So we want to know if we should file any ways. I wish we were going to get a return this year. I could do so much with it.
Got to go pay bill today. My fist house payment. :party: So have a good day all.

The mashed cauliflower does not taste like potatos. Does the mock apple pie really taste like apples?

The "check engine" light went on in my car. So that's going into the mechanic. I knew we had gone too long without something freezing-up or breaking-down around here :confused:

Good morning, everyone! 8-) And Happy Friday!
Today I am going to be planning my menu list for the next few weeks and checking for sales online. I'll probably see what's on sale and plan my menus around that. Mostly though, I'll buy most everything at Aldi unless there is some fantastic sale elsewhere that I just can't pass up! Take care and I'll be back later.

I didn't know it was wear red day today! I'm in the spirit though, wore red anyway!

Frugal or maybe finally found out, my application for Energy Assistance was approved so they dumped money into my Ameren (gas/electric) account. Of course by the time I get this month's bill it will be gone - haven't paid the last bill yet but at least that's there, that much less I'm due. Trying to get Link again too. They had stopped it because I missed qualifying after 5 yr old dd started school and I was no longer paying a sitter. They figured I made $10 a month too much, a measely $10! As minimum wage has gone up I'm trying again to see if I qualify. What's the worst they can tell me, no? I'm already not getting it so what the heck!

Let's see, anything frugal?? Last night was leftovers after taking 12 yr old dd to get plantars warts frozen, $30 a pop co-pay. This was visit #4 but should be the last visit we have to make according to her doctor. I'm crossing my fingers. I did stop and pick up hot dog buns, $0.69 and used them to make garlic bread to go with the spaghetti. It was either $2.00 for french bread or $0.69 for hot dog buns to split down the middle, hot dog buns won! Folded laundry by candlelight, to conserve energy, guess that was it yesterday. I have to take the minivan in tomorrow to get an oil change, $20 but I'm getting my income tax done for nothing due to low income. Back on a soap box but I don't see how I qualify for heat assistance and free tax prep but not Link???(food assistance) :ugh: Okay, I'll quit moaning!

I need to get to work anyway! I'm here, just not doing what I'm supposed to be - :-P::

Have a great day all! I'll be reading....

Thanks for the recipie EmmJean! I'll try it this weekend...Congrat's on the house payment...I know that may sound funny but I am tickled pink every time I drive up to the window and hand over our mortgage payment. Everytime you pay you have a little more equity! And by cracky if you want to paint your walls purple with pink polka dots and lime green trim well you can!

Frugal today is getting my taxes finished here @ home with Turbo Tax...should get a decent refund because we always have more taken out of the pay check during the year. If I tried to put that money away everymonth it would happen so this is the better way for us.

I'm also getting into this Flylady thing...my house was clean and organized for the most part already but I was terrible about routines so this is really helping. One routine to make is a weekly menu from what is in the pantry. Hopefully that will happen today.

Have a great weekend girls

I need to do our taxes.... we should itemize but I didn't keep any paperwork from doctor bills.... I know we have at least 6,000 that we paid.

I have granola in the oven. Smells soooo good.

Unfrugal is thinking that we should buy paint and paint the outside of the house this year. Also I am thinking of us paying for the bathroom shower redo. I know dh doesn't want to do it. We have put two different shower surrounds in and neither has lasted. The plaster wall needs to come out... oh what a mess.... it needs to be done and I know FIL won't pay for a thing. We could start paying rent but FIL will pocket the money and still refuse to fix anything. :confus: :confus: Then we could give FIL a list of money spent and hours worked and explain this is why he doesn't get rent. Oh, we have done that before.... he called us liars... We need to move........soooo badly...

Did any of you know that you can get your taxes done "FREE" by AARP? You don't have to be a member and there is no age requirement.
That's my frugal thing for the day. You can go on www.aarp.com
and there is a locater that will give you the nearest place to your home to have them done.

I'm beginning to think this over Fifty thing isn't so bad after all. Since I can't do anything about it I might as well enjoy it!
:hearts:

It's not exactly frugal, lol, but since we didn't have enough money to pay the Dish bill, we're tv-less for a week. So to keep busy I've been getting a lot of little projects done that fell by the wayside, like reorganizing my kitchen cupboards, cleaning out closets, etc. I had fallen into the habit of channel-surfing all day, so this is a good thing lol!!

Went grocery shopping last night and spent $50 at Savalot. Between that and my pantry, I'll be okay for at least two weeks(I hope). Still haven't bought any Dt. Coke:jump2: . I was pleased to get our gas bill--$282. Very high, yes, but all our neighbors and most of our family had bills over $400, so I'm satisfied with the difference!!

Frugal today so far is hand-washing some unmentionables and hanging them in the backyard to dry in the sun. It's around 58 now (after being 38 this morning!) and the sun is just beaming down everywhere. I experimented by soaking the boys' undies in hot water with a little detergent and bleach for two hours before I scrubbed and rinsed them. We'll see if that works!

Also frugal was having leftover homemade Mexican food from last night for lunch. I am about to do my dishes by hand and let them dry while the sun's still shining in the kitchen window!

Unfrugal, but it had to be done, was taking the taxes to the accountant this morning. We always pre-pay her to do our taxes because we never know if we'll owe the IRS or not, and we hate owing her AND the IRS money! I tried using TurboTax online to do our taxes this year, but it kept telling me I had no income entered for myself, so it wouldn't give me the child care credit. Since DH and I both own our business and both brought in income last year, after a week of trying to argue with TurboTax I finally gave up and will let the accountant do it. Actually, I suppose you could call this "emotionally frugal" because instead of paying her money to do something she knows a lot about, I could be pulling my hair out every night and staying up until 2 in the morning doing taxes again! AAAUUUUGH! :ugh:

Catwoman...so sorry to hear of your unpleasant time with Turbo Tax....I did mine this morning in about 45 and in about 10 days there will be a deposit to my savings account...My only problem was getting last years info into this year...the copy I made on a cd didn't work so after many tries I just hand entered it...there was an internal error or something of the sort:goof:

Also my new frugal habit is to make sure all bills are paid on time...most are set up on auto pay now with just a few to mail out every month...that will save me from the late charges plus boost our credit rating!

Lisa, My doctor tolld us we could get liquid nitrogen from the pharmacist and freeze warts ourselves. D

i know weve talked about using coupons alot. i wanted to tell you what ive done this week. first there is triple coupons at buy low. i spent 244.00. after coupons..i saved in coupons total: 147.60 plus i will go back again and get a few more things on the weekend when i get more coupons. the reason i am able to spend so much is i get food stamps, and i use them to stock up on things i really want and need durring these sales. plus i went to cvs. they are haveing a buy 20 on this page, get 10 back. ok..that sounded good. heres what i bought..and it totaled 20 excacty..befor coupons
8 dawn dish liquids @ .88 each- $1 off 2= 2.64
1 60 oz downy liqid @ 5.49- 1 off coupon= 4.49
1 always panty liners@2.49- .50 off= 1.99
2 crest sensitive toothpastes@2.49 each- $2 off 2 = 3.00

total befor coupons$20.00 total after coupons= 12.12 plus i get 10 back..so total for all that is 2. 12!!!! :jump2: :jump2: that is so cool. plus they do have the soda thing where you buy 3 12 pks pepsi and 3 lays chips you get $5 extra care bucks plus $10.00 rebate. to get this..i plan to take my 10 care buck..and get that ..so i get that for the cost of the 2.12 too. cool huh? i love coupons.
hope everyone has good day
ericka

Lislyn, I agree, that is dumb. While DH is laid off, and our income is almost cut in half, we would qualify for energy assistance, but, not for food stamps!

MrsManiac, I would love to cancel our satellite and not even pick up cable!! We lived for almost four years without either. I almost always won the TV battle, as all we could get were the local channels. About 4 channels, and they were fuzzy most of the time. So, no one really wanted to sit in front of the TV and watch. But, right now, with DH being laid off when we could really cut the bill, it would drive me insane because he would not have TV to watch!!

ethansamuel, I love FlyLady!! I am also working on the paying everything online/auto withdrawal, to not have the late fees, it is soooo nice!!!


I had a pleasant frugal surprise last night in my e-mail. I am set up to get my electric bill online. We are also set up on a budget amt. since about september we were set at $135. When I got the bill last night I found out, we won't owe this month, and we still have a $65 credit!!!^^ And our new budget amount is $122/month!!! I am hoping to get that even lower for next year!

Now, hopefully, I can get the oil bill amt. done, I am working on that one.

Dh did our taxes yesterday on TaxSlayer. Took him several times, as they are so busy. He and dd started hers last night, but had to stop when our computer froze. They will get hers done tomorrow. TaxSlayer charged us $9.95, but then we could file our state taxes free with them. I just wish that I would have known about AARP doing them for free first. We may have been frugal in the way we did them, but free is always better! Hope I remember that for next year.

Erika - I am with you girl. Check those sales fliers, check those coupons, and match them with those sales. And stock up if you have more than one coupon for a sale item, go for it. That is the only way to stay one mouthful away from hunger.

Thanks for the info on the cauliflower. I won't try that one.

B505D-68951 - 3 Jordache Briefs
Compare at $12.00 Sale $2.97
http://www.bargainoutfitters.com/cb/cb.asp?a=67202
White: Small

I found the above and wanted to share. These are for men's small briefs. Too good a price not to take advantage of if your husband or child can use them.

I finally got up and wrapped a throw around myself, I am that kind of cold that you can't get warm from. I hope I am not getting it. My co-worker didn't make it to work this whole week. The attorney my boss has assigned me to, has had it for 3 weeks, and he still sounds awful. I think I am just so tired, and I had a touch of a stomach bug for the last two days. I think that has finally passed. But there was no one to answer the phones, and type for these two guys, if I weren't there. But I will telll you that if is the worst that I feel, I will be lucky.

Well ladies, I better go. I need to do some dishes, and then get to bed. I have enough laundry to do to keep me busy all day tomorow. And I have floors to clean. I think I see the time for the Super Bowl as the only down I will have.

Take care all!! Norma

Hello, everyone! What is Fly lady?
Catwoman, that is odd. We had a similar problem with our taxes and we used Taxcut. It kept saying something about not entering my income, but I don't work outside the home. We finally had to express mail a copy of dh's w2 form before they finally did accept it. I never quite understood, but am relieved it's okay now. It seemed like some weird glitch in the system or something.:confus: Take care, and have a great weekend!:hearts:

I haven't read all the posts so it may have already been mentioned... But I did our taxes the other day using TaxAct.com linked from the IRS website. Federal's free and state's $7.95. I did it for free by hand and then decided I wanted the $ quicker and redid them online. It also reassured me that I can do our taxes pretty easily and correctly myself. Now if I can convince my poor parents to quit paying H&RBlock $75 every year.

Went to the store and spent $165 on groceries (for two weeks hopefully, minus milk and fresh fruit/veggies). Not very frugal though I did use coupons and that saved us roughly $32.

I traded in points with our credit card and received our $50 Target gift card today and a $10 prepaid Amer.Express card from a survey.

It's the time of year that I pick up the kids each a couple of new outfits. Went to Limited Too today and got the daughter a couple of outfits and accessories for $25 after using a 20% off coupon from their catalog. It was time for something fun since all she gets to wear are uniforms for school. Found a jean skirt for 97cents at Old Navy for her, too, as well as a 7pk of underwear for $1.97. Didn't do so well for my son. But still looking for some good deals on boys' clothes.

Refilled the ink cartridges for my printer. It cost half of what they would've cost new. There's a kiosk in the mall that does it.

Can't think of any other goodies to share, so going to bed. 'Night ya'll.

Went to the Peppridge Farm outlet store. Got Milano cookies for FIL for $1 a bag.
Also been talking about getting rid of cable-they keep raising the prices, seems like every 6 months! Can't live without HBO so we've been investigating the dreaded dish. So far it'll be cheaper. Not ready to make the leap yet though.

Oh golly...we have Direct TV satellite and I LOVE it...

Bluebird
Couldn't you contact your doctors, pharmasy, etc. and ask for a payment history for the year so you can claim what you paid?


Roberta

Evan did great at the dentist yesterday! I was so proud of him. We didnt go to a pediatric dentist so no special toys but they gave him 5 sample tubes of Colgate toothpaste so that was frugal for mom and dad. (5 is his favorite#)

I get to use my gift certificate for a facial and an 1 hr massage. Dh got me for my birthday last year. I had to use it up before the end of April or lose it. I am so looking forward to it as I have never had either! Its all paid for including the tip so no out of pocket money for me today.

Dh is dropping me off and taking kids to see their grandma who lives near the spa! So no wasting gas going back home....

Ljs mom, I buy all our goldfish crackers at the Pepperidge Farm outlet so much cheaper and they have never been stale.
I did a price comparison for Cable and Dish awhile back, we dont have any HBO, Max but it still came out about even if we wanted to access the reg channels on more than 1 tv.
Becki,
32.00 is better than nothing!!!!

Well off to the spa I go YEAH! Have a good one all
Leighann

I went grocery shopping this morning and spent lots of money... but my freezer is fuller than it has been in the last two years. It can snow and we will be fed.

Does anyone have any ideas where I can buy a light to put in our headboard? I am hoping Menards is open in NP. The only thing I found that would work is lights that you put above pictures on walls. BUT they are $25 each. That is too much I think. Little wall scones is what I am thinking...

<<Does anyone have any ideas where I can buy a light to put in our headboard?>>

Bluebird
Our bed has a light that the refrigerator bulbs fit. Have you checked out a lamp shop or hardware store for a light kit?

DH & I have been under the weather so we stayed home watching movies with the kids. I made sausage, egg, english muffin sandwiches with hashbrowns for lunch and we ordered pizza & italian wings for dinner.

Roberta

frugal this week was downsizing the junk in my home. Everything that we havent used in the past 6 months is gone or on its way out. I figure the less I have to dust, clean around, or store the better its saves me lots of time, but I still am not done, lots more to go, I would like my home down to a simplified state, bare bones and just what we use on a regular basis. Freecycle has been a great vehicle to get rid of the items, but I find that many people respond that have no intention of coming to pick items up.
that bothers me especially when I let others know that the items are spoken for and delete the emails from the other interested parties. Do any of you have that problem with freecycle?

I am not feeling well today (flu bug hit us all at the same time and seems to hang right in there )but did manage to get to the food club. It seemed pretty decent this time around, I guess I missed the one that some one said was no good, had to milk cows so i couldnt go that time, but this time we got some really HUGE cinnamon rolls, all we have to do is make up some frosting, pop em in the microwave to heat, and have a nice snack.
Broccolli was plentiful there today, and looked really nice, picked up a case of that, and lots of tomatoes. I made chili with the tomatoes, and froze the broccolli for later. I really hate ground turkey, but took it anyway, it doesnt taste too bad when made into sloppy joes, so popped that in the freezer for later too.
Since milk seemed in short supply there today, I skipped getting it seeing that we are on a Dairy Farm anyway, and getting milk is not a problem here at all, but I did get lots of bread and tons of sour cream and cottage cheese.
Tonight I have to tackle fixing our washing machine. I think the timer went out on it, and lucky or unlucky for me the people who lived here before us left a washer in the basement. I can take the part off of that one if its any good and save some money, but will end up paying some one to haul out the washer that was left behind when I am done. I am asuming it doesnt work or they would not have left it, but I have never plugged it in to confirm my theory.

Originally posted by jjoj
Hello, everyone! What is Fly lady?


jjoj, FlyLady is a house cleaning mentor. Some love her and some hate her!(okay, maybe not hate, but, get annoyed by all her e-mails)
http://www.flylady.net

Lee, hope you enjoyed your afternoon at the spa. That sounds like fun, remember to tell us all about it!!

Frugal today, was going to DD's skating party for school. Only $2 for skate rental, and entrance was free. Only DH, and youngest DDs, and myself went. So only $8 for 3 hours of skating.

Frugal this week was finding oranges for around 59 cents a doz got 2 bags. Been staying at home mostly so that saves us money. This week did go out to dinner and goodwill afterwards. Found a couple of outfis for DD they look nice. Want to go to a scrapboking thing tomorrow but it's $30 so that's out of the question. Tomorrow going to go to church and we are staying home to watch the superbowl I'll mske snacks. I've made homemade bread today so I might use it to make little pizzas. Well I'm taking off here you all have a great and frugal day.

Love ya,
Rosey

I haven't had a problem with people picking up things, so far. But I have had a problem with people offering items that never respond one way or the other to my email. I offered my excess Avon lidded storage boxes on freecycle this week and had 6 people respond to it so now I have a waiting list. The first two that responded got the 17 boxes that were available. The last person that responded last night I sent back that it would be at least 3 weeks before I got to their name on the list.


Paintingnut
About the washer the previous owner may have just not wanted to bring it up stays and move it. If it is were you can hook it up you might try it while watching for the first sign of trouble.

Roberta

Bluebird

For your headboard, try this. Use one of those tap lights, you know the ones that are battery operated? They were the big rage several years ago, now you can get them for nothing. If you can't find one let me know as I have an extra that I'm not using. One of my friends several years ago bought a car that the dome light didn't work and I gave her one of those. she glued to the roof of the car and it worked just fine.

We've had a busy weekend and in fact I'm supposed to be getting ready to head out again but wanted to pop in here real quick and say hi to everyone.

We're car shopping again today.

Oh and telefile, last week when we did internet it said our check would be here on the 8th, rechecked today and now it's saying the 11th... that is weird.

Well I'm off to get ready, dh is such a task master... he is up and running the minute he gets out of bed, where I like to gradually get the day started. We're looking at a 1990 Cadillac today for $1500.00 looked at one yesterday 87 Cadillac Sedan DeVille $1700.00 but said would negotiate which he will need to . AC didn't work and it has a droopy roof thingy, ya know the liner and how they come loose on older cars? He had it tacked in 4 places but I know on ours we did everything trying to keep it up, glue, tacks, duct tape, nothing worked for long.

Anna

Nothing new here--I'm rearranging our "closet" to make myself a little sewing/crafts corner. The closet is actually a 7x10 room--dh has his clothes on one side and the desk with the computer. My clothes and a little cabinet where we keep our bedding is on the other. So with a bit of moving things around, I'll have a warm place to sew lol!!(I usually use the basement, but it's chilly down there!) My table is one the prvious owner of our house left--it has awful yellow contact paper covering the legs, but a bit of paint will take care of that lol!!

Washed even more laundry today--cold water and hanged to dry. Dh is using free scrap lumber to make a frame for a picture I got at Family Dollar--I love the picture but the frame was a cheapie. And the only ones I saw that I liked were about $50, so dh is making me one that eventually I will gold-leaf to get the look I want!!

Well, I have been to the grocery again.

I got a 16 oz. Nestle strawberry milk free, and a box of 16 waffles free at one store, 3 Green Giant boxed veggies for $2.00 after a coupon, together with some boneless, skinless chicken thighs for $.59 lb., and a pot roast. They are having a 10 for $10 sale on so many things. I picked up a couple 6packs of raisins, and some BBQ sauce too.

Then it was home with the newspapers, because I had seen that they were supposed to hav $1.00 off a couple kinds of deodorant that would end up less than a quarter. Only the paper I subscribe to had them.

Then it was off to the other market. I got a whole roaster for $.89 lb, those 2 deodorants, 2-4 lb. bags of bbq wings for $7.99 each, napkins for $.50 a package. I found flashlights with the batteries for $1.49 each (Christmas shopping for next year).

But I have 43% overall with the coupons. But I better go, more chores before the big game.

Take care all!! Norma

Does anyone use Quicken program to do your checking account i just found it and installed it hope it helps me.

gosh I'm glad you asked about Quicken!!!

I LOVE it! I love it more than Turbo Tax which is quite a bit.


I keep all of my checking on there and my bank offers online banking so I can automatically download from the bank to my home. I also have my credit card info there and can download a statement straight from master card. I also keep my savings accounts and investment info and property equity there. Basically in a glance I can see exactly how much money I have wherever it may be. Bank reconcilation on the checking account takes about 10 minutes or less once you've got your info entered and everytime I come home from shopping and have used checks or atm or whatever i automatically enter it and so it's always ready to go. You can also catagorize household, grocery, gas and a gazillion other things so when it comes tax time that info from Quicken will transfer to Turbo Tax. It has been a lifesaver for me financially.

ethansamuel

thanks for the info i just started useing it just on my checking my bank dont have the online banking yet so i just wanted this to help me keep my account balanced

boggz...I haven't used the online download from my bank yet because they just started doing it and my paperwork is in process. It is still an awesome program!

im excited about trying it i liked how it showed in a pie graph how much you spend on each think like grocerys and so on

boggz...that pie chart thing really opened my eyes to some spending habits I had. Not that spending is wrong but I had no idea really where it went and how much and I sure do now. Now I go shopping with my eyes wide open.

I will be off for a while this week. My dad is having surgery tomorrow. We will drive to the hospital tomorrow morning, then I will return home tomorrow night or spend the night in a motel, then I will bring him home on Tuesday. Tuesday night is my board meeting.... my first as chairing the meeting. :-O I still hope dad will stay with us for a while ........ He is planning on staying with my sister Monday night after surgery... I have no idea if she knows about this or not. As far as I know she doesn't even call him. :madd: I don't want to stay at her house anyway....... I know I am not welcome there.... I will stay at a motel or come home. Dh is in charge of all while I am gone. Including a list of to dos at home and in town while dd is in water PT. Should be interesting.....

Oh on my MIL...... they have yet to return any of dh's phone calls. These people are unbeliveable. I don't plan on wasting any of my time keeping them informed with our kids.... just wait if they show up over here while I am gone I think I will blow...... but once again.... a wolf in sheeps clothing.....

Connie,

I will be thinking about you and your family. Please let me know how things are going.

Melly

paintingnut

On Freecycle

We have the same problem here in Columbus, Ohio.. in fact it has gotten really bad the larger the group gets. And oppurtunist who set their computer up to bid on every offer that is posted so they get more of a chance to win the good stuff. I got so disgusted with it I quit. There are a couple of branches off of Freecycle in our area that I may sign up for.

Anna

jjoj

What is Flylady?

She is a lady who has a program that teaches you how to clean house more efficiently and sends you notices to remind you to do it. I've never tried her program but alot of people rave about her methods. For me having my mil visit is all the motivation I need, lol!

Anna

Karen

Was the Quicken program a free download?

Anna

Well we bought the car today that we looked at yesterday.

It's a 1987 Cadillac Sedan DeVille with 119,000 miles. Price after negotiating $1595.00. We pick it up tommorow morning.

Heres a photo of it that I took today.

Oh the other one we looked at was a piece of junk. It had been repainted and the paint was peeling, had a deep gouge in the door, door fell down when dh opened it. Bald tires and all it took for me was looking at the interior it was all tore up and cracked. I walked away and told dh, we're not getting that. He still started the engine it was loud and he told the guy sorry we're not interested. Poor Caddy... he said it had been his Dad's car and well taken care of, we said to each other "Yeah, right"....!

Well I'm off to watch more Super Bowl commercials.

Anna

Hi, how is everyone doing on Superbowl night?! I am ashamed to say that I only watch for the commercials.
Thank you for explaining about the flylady. I've heard of it, but the name threw me off, I guess.
Anna, I love your new car! How exciting for you!:clapp: I believe Cadillacs are supposed to be one of the safest cars you can drive. Sounds like you got a sweet deal. Good going!
The Quicken program sounds great. It would be good for keeping everything organized. Is it difficult to learn?
My frugal thing was going to J.C. Penney yesterday to pick up socks and underwear. I didn't realize they had a 50% off sale going on. Anyway, I was able to get socks for half off and the underwear was already marked down to 3.77 for a three pack, so it ended up being 1.80. I couldn't believe it.:-O It was just kind of one of those unusual things that doesn't happen often. Usually I don't find shopping for underwear too exciting. LOL Unfrugal is we were gone for a few days and ds's cleaned out the fridge and pantry. We are Mother Hubbard right now, so tomorrow I will be shopping for everything, pretty much. I do love em though.

:heart: Well, take care, ladies, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.

After church we went to lunch with DH's parents they paid I did give them a coupon for a free kids meal. For dinner we had leftovers from Friday & Saturday.

I went to the grocery to pick up a pork loin for $1.99 lb, turkey breast for $.99 lb so those will be future frugal meals. My register tape says I saved 51% used 17 coupons woo woo. I got a Digorgio pepperoni pizza for $2.99, Reynolds wrap for $1.99 with a free 25 ft foil attached, Degree deod for $1.19, Speed Stick 24/7 for $.67, Purell hand gel for $.39, 2) $2.99 size Lays chips for $1.00 EACH, 4) Pasta-a-Roni for $.50 EACH, 2) Prego Sauce $1.25 EACH, Duncan Hines cake mix/icing/brownies for $1.69 total, 2) Pure Protein bars for FREE, and a free Tic Tac, & Dentyne Ice.

Did a load of laundry, dishes, vacuumed and worked around the house the rest of the day.

Roberta

jjoj....the Quicken program isn't too difficult. It isn't a complete snap but didn't have me tearing my hair out either. It is quite user friendly.

Originally posted by OSI
Karen

Was the Quicken program a free download?

Anna

Hi Anna no i had got the disk with my computer along time ago and just found it and installed it does that tell you how disorganized i am lol

sorry for back to back post but i just seen your car Anna Love it I love that color my car is white and so is dh's truck i hate white cars :tong:

I fell asleep in the middle of the game. My nephew woke me up when there was just a couple minutes let, so I could watch it end.

He was being punished for not calling in when I asked him to, and for breaking curfew last weekend. His punishment was that he had to root for the team he was not for. He wasn't happy about it, but I wasn't happy when he misbehaved, and rather than make him do something that he really would have resented, and might have sent him defiantly back to the same behavior, I tried to give him something that would only hurt his ego at the time he was doing it. Being 16 with raging hormones is never easy.

Frugal will be enjoying that pot roast with several options this week. I will also cook some of the thighs I got yesterday this evening so I will have a choice of foodds all week.

I went to the $1 store Saturday evening, and got all of the stuff I need for Valentine's day, including a large card that is musical. So, with the after-Christmas sales, and the dollar store, I am set until Easter.

Well ladies, I better go, I have a couple of things I would like to get dones befroe it is time to go to work.

Take care!!! Norma

Great deal. Wasnt very frugal today. Somehow my cat got locked in my room, and tinkled onmy bed! Yuck, so I had to wash every blanket and quilt and air the bed out. Its a king size bed, so one blanket about took up the washer, I was washing all day. GRR!!:madd:
Went looking at property this weekend. Found one with all the shops and horse facilites we want on 80 acres , the house needs some updating for sure, but the price is pretty low, so thats a good option. Has new siding and a roof which is a plus. Then saw a really really nice place in move in condition but at the top of our price range. Just waiting for the person who placed an offer on our place to get his (if he does) financing. So, Have plenty of time.
WEather is back to almost zero, so had to plug all the tank heaters back in, and put chicken lite on. Trying to save energy, but hard to do in the winter!
Anyone hear from Leasmom? I hope shes ok, Havent seen her on in a long time.

Nothing frugal this weekend except staying home and not spending any money.
There is a couple things I want for scrapbooking but will have to wait until payday to see if there is enough money for it...trying not to use the credit card but it is very hard....need lots of support from you guys. Winter is hard for us with rising bills but I'm doing better this year. My sister and friends don't know how we can raise a family of 5 on our little income I just tell them you have too you don't have a choice. The best thing for us is with hubby's new job we have health benifits so no more state health care....you don't know how good that makes me feel. Well I hope you all have a very frugal day

love ya,
Rosey

Good morning, everybody! Thanks, Sandra, for the Quicken info. We actually have had the program for a while, but I've been afraid to use it. Thank you for motivating me to check it out again.
Bluebird, I hope your Dad's surgery goes well and things are going better with you.
Roberta, good going on your sales.:clapp: Sounds like you cleaned up! Hopefully, I will have a frugal shopping day today. I am going to try to get almost everything at Aldi. It helps if I go there first. I do the list while ds does the calculator, He is a great help and keeps me in check. He usually tells me when he thinks something is a waste of money and I should put it back. Sometimes it drives me nuts, but I am pleased that he is frugal at a young age. It will save him from some of the struggles I went through, hopefully!:. Well, anyway, sorry for the rambling. Have a fun day and I'll be back later!:coffees:

Great car, Anna! I hope it works out well for you and is a reliable machine.

We use Quicken here too. It is not a free download but often you can get it bundled with other programs pretty cheaply. I think the same company makes Turbo Tax.

This morning I went to the supermarket. Spent $39 and saved $50! :jump2: :jump2: Included in there was a bag of GREEN-colored bagels, 6 for 99 cents! I guess the Eagles fans didn't buy enough colorful bread. They were still fresh so I got a bag. Luke enjoyed a colorful lunch ROFLMAO Usually they charge 43 cents per bagel so this was a real bargain.

Anna,

Loved the car!!!

I had a kind of frugal weekend. My cousin did my taxes, no charge and as she works for an accountant she found a few deductions for me I NEVER would have found! Also, my brother came down to move some more things into his trailer in West Frankfort and he had brought lots of stuff he'd stockpiled, soap, toothpaste. I got a full unopened tupe of AquaFresh, two bars of Dove soap, a curling iron (his former girlfriend's) and a few shirts he didn't want anymore. Yesterday was frugal as the gals and I just stayed in the house, I made a banana cake and some blueberry muffins and just watched old home movies. We laughed, snacked, laughed, snacked and just generally enjoyed being together, nice and warm in the house on a dreary, rainy day.

I better move it and get home. Rachel, dd 12 yrs, is home not feeling good and babysitting her two younger sisters, ages 8 and 5 so I need to get home to take over. Thank goodness she's such a responsible 12 year old, she saves me hundreds a week in babysitting just after school!

Take care all, see you in here tomorrow.

Lisa
:catdrink:

Anna,
Nice looking car, which one of you gets to drive it?

I had a great time on Saturday with my 2 hr spa treatment. If only everyone could do that all the time it would be a happy world. lol Have to admit I was a bit ticked on my b-day that dh spent money on that for me though I did enjoy.
He even made dinner on Saturday night!

Had to go to the dentist today for a crown had the old one removed I think I got it when I was 12!

Made gravy bread from leftover roast beef and mashed potatoes Very good and used everything up. Frugal!

Barb,
Sorry your Eagles didnt win. Glad to hear Luke enjoyed the green bagels though! Good job at the grocery and you to Roberta!

Stardust,
Wishing you the best!
Lis,
Glad to hear you got some xtra deductions.
Off to get Joshie ready for bed. Have a good evening.
Leighann

Hi Gal's
My frugal thing today was buying my kellie 4 pair of pants and a shirt at the Goodwill for $10.00. She's growing up on me:bawl: She turned 5 in Jan. 19th. She a whole handful now LOL's. Had to get her a size 7. You should of seen her:* in the fitting room showing off like a model. We had fun. We then went to Gullion's book store bought used books for $5.oo. Then us girl's went to have lunch before going home. We got back by 1:30.

This be Tree:)

ok..i had a decnt weekend. my auntie came and went to look at my trailer..its still setting in the lot where i got it from. sigh. i can at least go visit it some. lol. on a good point, my sil gave me her 3 yr old fridge..im so excited. mine was so old and yucky. this is so nice, and has an ice maker. im happy to get it. plus on saturday, mom got me a set of living room furnature for 130 at an auction. its black with lots of color swashed over it. if i think about it ill post a picture of it..right now its setting in my moms storage shed. i can visit it too. so on sunday my auntie came and spent the day with us at moms place. we watched the super bowl, and she gave me a 100 for my birthday next month to help me get soemthing i want for my trailer. mom is getting me all kinds of htings too. im tired and im on my way to bed now, but ill try to rember to post my good weekend shopping deals. hope you all have a good night.

thanks
ericka

Barb, your shopping trip was better than mine - I am so jealous!!
I tried going back to the market with the 10/$10 sale - no waffles left - boo hoo! And they won't be getting a shipment in until Saturday either. That means they won't be putting it out until overnight into Sunday.

But there won't be any more shopping this week. I have everything I need for a couple of weeks, except for the fresh stuff.

Frugal for me last night was cooking chicken thighs, coating it first with some flavored mayonnaise and brown sugar, and then into the flavored bread crumbs. The flavored mayo was practically free after a sale and coupon, but was just awful in my opinion. Still, I had not wanted to throw it out. So I thought about it almost all day at work to figure out what I thought would help it out. I had thought about honey, but then I figured it might brown too quickly, so i decided to mix the mayo with brown sugar. It turned out great. I do oven fried, so this was a great solution.

I had had too much asparagus left over for just an omelet, so I put it into some vinegrette. Made a nice crisp sald with that using some cucumbers and grape tomatoes.

We get flowers delivered at work each week, and we can keep the vases if we want. A couple of weeks ago, we got them in a tall red plastic one. I plan on getting a hole in the bottom, digging into the dirt a few inches, somewhere in my yard, and planting several kinds of small flowers. Maybe just a vase full of mini roses. I have several baskets also, from yard sales, etc. to plant in also.

Can you tell, I am looking forward to spring? I was so tempted this weekend - QVC had a garden show, with lots of plants. I need to check out the mini roses again, as they are my favorites. But I was good. I know it is too early, as they are predicting more snow tomorrow night into Thursday. I try to add a few new perrienials every year. Not so much to break my budget, but enough to add to the collection.

Well ladies, I better go, got to get ready for work.

Take care all!! Norma

I am so looking forward to spring too! I want to start digging in the dirt, but I know I have a couple of months before that can start. I love having all of the fresh vegetables in my backyard. So much easier and cheaper than getting them from the grocery store! And they always taste better!
Did my grocery shopping at Aldi's yesterday, so I have all of my meals planned for the week--hopefully plannning ahead will keep me from being tempted to order out!
Hope everybody has a great day!
--Chris

I really wish I had waited to do our taxes until I saw some of your posts! I started with turbo tax on the irs site, getting my fed. done for free. Thought I would then go to our state site and do our state for free. Nope! When I inputted the info.--the adjusted gross incomes didn't come out the same. Now I think it's too late to go back and import the fed. data and just do the state with Turbo Tax. Will have to spend some time working on it this afternoon. AND--it will cost us $20 if we do it that way! Still better than having a preparer do it, I guess.

On Quicken: We've used it for a long time for reconciling the checkbook. But our program is a bit older and I don't think it has the pie chart option. That would be great for budgeting.

I got the upstairs bedrooms organized and well vacuumed and dusted. Boy! Does THAT feel good! This place is actually pretty decently clean right now. Also bought a more expensive furnace filter in an attempt to cut down on dust--and I think it's working. Still a little dusty, but not nearly as bad as with the cheap, cheap, cheap filters. Definitely worth my sanity for the extra (unfrugal) bucks!

Going to get some appts out of the way today and then work on state taxes and laundry this aft. Thinking about making meatloaf, mashed potatoes, tossed salad for dinner. Haven't had that for awhile... Wednesday p.m. there's a soup supper at church before ash services--may just partake in that. Been making/having alot of soup here this winter---a very frugal and healthy meal.

Have a great day, all! rivermom

Rivermom, if you don't mind my asking, what kind of furnace filter did you find that works better than those cheap blue ones? I have asthma that has developed in the last 6 years. 7 years ago we moved to this house that has forced-air heat. My doctor and I don't think there is a coincidence! Anyway, in the interest of better breathing and less inhaler need, I'd rather buy the furnace filters! And if it cuts down on the dust, so much the better :)

good morning everyone

sorry I didn't get on yesterday we were so busy most of the day buying the car, changing the title, going to the bank, washing the car ( a cat had climbed on it and left dirty paw prints all over it), got new floor mats for it as it is rainy and muddy here in Cols. and the floor interior is gold carpet and the mats in it were yucky.

I didn't feel well last night and went to bed at 7pm. I think I ate that chili from last week and it had started to go bad. I feel much better today though.

Sounds like you all have been finding some really good deals at the stores.

I for once stayed in budget this week at the grocery stores and didn't buy anything that wasn't an absolute must have. My bank account looks so empty right now as we scraped every spare penny together to buy the new car. And so glad you all liked it.

Leighann

Dh will mostly drive the Caddy at least till we see if it has any "bugs" in it. It has so many bells and whistles it scares me. It's all digital and the gas gauge is weird instead of E to F, it shows how many gallons you have. It's supposed to get 25 miles to the gallon but we'll have to wait and see. We are a little suspect if the gauge is actually working correctly? It also has a car leveler on it so it distributes weight evenly and a delayed timer thingy... totally freaked dh out. He shut the car off and got out and it was still running. It shuts off after 1 minute. Why anyone would want that feature????

My other frugalness this weekend. I went to Aldi's Sat. evening and they had whole grain bread marked down to 10 cents a loaf. I bought 10 loafs and put them in the deep freezer. We use less than a loaf a week but for that price, I stocked up! Too bad they didn't have this at Christmas and Thanksgiving when we made homemade stuffing.

Well I'm off to get some work done. Talk with everyone again later.

Anna

Good morning all. I have been frugal by staying out of store even though I have had to got to town every day here lately. Just going where I have had to go and nowhere else. Gosh but that was hard. I need to go grocery shopping soon. I just haven't been in the mood to do it yet.

Anna nice car. It sure has a lot of bells and whistles. Glad you like it.

Ericka, hope you get to move into your house soon.

Good job on all the deals you all made at the grocery store.

On the up side the blaa feeling has lifted and so has the 6 pounds that I blouted with on Friday, looked like I was 5 months pregnant over the weekend. On the down side I've lost my voice, not that the kids mind LOL.

DD2 had her last therapy session at the rehab center today as she turns 3 on Monday and "graduated" (they kick them out at 3), she starts a special needs pre-school on Monday so she will continue to get her PT and speech therapy there.

We are going to a meatloaf potluck dinner today and I'm taking leftover blueberry & apple pies from the dinner last night that DH went to. There is about 2/3 of the blueberry and 1/2 of the apple left. Got to get the pies out of the house before I eat them.

Roberta