What Did You Do Frugal Today??

[Lee]

Good morning everyone its wet out supposed to storm and is humid sticky out, so the unfrugal gods spoke to me to put the air on! I wish I had frugal things to report but noooope except yesterday ds joined the book club at the library we have to commit to reading 5 books to him a week. He gets a new diansaur sticker every week a chance to win a 20.00 gc from Borders Books or a stuffed animal (dinasaur) or a dinasaur pinata! Plus just for completing the program he gets a free meal at Home Town Buffett, which we go to every once in a blue moon! So thats my frugalness...
Now unfrugal started calling hotels for our vacation trying for sil discount however supposdly all the associate rate rooms are gone.....So hoping to find something cheaper but I booked at the airport Residence Inn for 119.00 a night however its a large room with a kitchen so we can do some meals there espically breakfast and probaly easy lite dinners.I imagine most of our lunchs will be out. Its actually probaly not a bad deal for a suite and also when the kids are asleep we wont have to sit in the bathroom as to not wake them lol! I also need to remember that we never vacation and probaly wont do something like this every year so I should just go for it...I have put enough money aside....Can you all tell I am still trying to convince myself!
Leighann

[OSI]

Leighann-

That's about what we paid for our hotel at Jekyll Island, Ga. with the dogs included and it had a kitchenette with frig. and microwave... which ended up being a good thing because meals on the island were pretty expensive and limited amount of restaurants. They had no McDonalds, Burger King, etc. just a Denneys. they did have a small grocery store so we cooked alot of our lunch meals in the microwave and just did dinner out. Vacationing isn't cheap... you did check about AAA discount right?

Anna

[Lee]

Anna,
We dont belong ...When we bought our van it came with Roadside assistance for 2yrs. This will be expiring in July and our vacation will be August 1 sooo maybe I should call for rates to join. Gosh I cant believe we have had our van for almost 2yrs. lol
I still plan to call more hotels that have suites but I booked just in case I didnt find that price. I can cancel without any penalties up to 6 pm the night before!
leighann

[mom2-4]

Think a gallon of gas is expensive?
This makes one think, and also puts things in perspective.
Diet Snapple 16 oz $1.29 ...... $10.32 per gallon
Lipton Ice Tea 16 oz $1.19 ..$9.52 per gallon
Gatorade 20 oz $1.59 .. $10.17 per gallon
Ocean Spray 16 oz $1.25 ....... $10.00 per gallon
Brake Fluid 12 oz $3.15 ........ $33.60 per gallon
Vick's Nyquil 6 oz $8.35 ... $178.13 per gallon
Pepto Bismol 4 oz $3.85 ....... $123.20 per gallon
Whiteout 7 oz $1.39 ..... . $25.42 per gallon
Scope 1.5 oz $0.99 ......$84.48 per gallon

And this is the REAL KICKER...

Evian water 9 oz $1.49..........$21.19 per gallon? $21.19 for WATER - and the buyers don't even know the source.

So, the next time you're at the pump, be glad your car doesn't run on water, Scope, or Whiteout, or God forbid Pepto Bismol or Nyquil.

Just a little humor to help ease the pain of your next trip to the pump...

Just thought I would share. I am sure we all need the pepto bismal every once in a while.

[OSI]

Leighann-

A normal AAA membership last year cost David and I $74.00, the plus is more but gives you longer towing miles and I think more towing trips? If I were traveling, I would have the Plus then drop it when I got back (the Plus, not the card).

You get a 15% discount on most hotels with AAA also discounts here in Ohio at the Zoo, The Wilds, and a bunch of other places. Jefferson Shopping Outlet some of their stores do AAA discounts, also Lens Crafters. I grumble every year when I have to dish out that money but when we had our old cars, it was sure worth it when we broke down. I've had nothing but excellant service from AAA for the past 14 years.

mom2-4

Thanks for sharing that, they should have it posted at the gas pumps.

Anna

[jrztomato]

Frugal today..I am at the Library...using their pc is cheaper than repairing mine right now...pain but since I also rent the free DVD's and VCR tapes..it makes it worth while...I did enerything to mine today..Disc Clean, Disc Defrag..and then remembered I hadn't done Windows update in awhile and now guess what it won't even come to the menu stage...and it took almost 3 hrs on line to do the above to boot....
Then went for gas..I hate pumping gas even if it is free...NJ spoiled me..it's against the law there to pump your own gas...anyway it was 2.049 and then cut me off as full after 5 gallons..when I started the car up found I have only a 3/4 qtrs. of a tank...so now I have to go do it again sooner..yee gads...
So I will get some more free videos and go home and watch them and work on Christmas presents and stay off line....
Tomorrow is another day.....

[LisLynn18]

Hi all. Was unfrugal here too and put on the central air. I felt sorry for the kids coming home to a steaming house. We're watching every penny as I got approved for a car loan, my car is limping along. We have a place here in Southern IL that's Auto Credit of So. IL, my credit is shot thanks to the ex and the divorce so I have to come up with a hefty chunk of $$$. They'll give me $500 for my car and I put $200 down and I have 30 days to come up with the rest. I chose a 1999 Dodge Caravan, white with only 88,885 miles on it. I can't wait to come up with the rest of the $$$. It will probably take the full 30 days though, darn it. So...working as much OT as I can, meaning working at least 6 hours each day this weekend and working through my lunch and maybe 1/2 an hour to an hour more during the week. I WILL have the money for this new automobile!!

Have been eating out of the freezer and cabinets and making lots of jello for the kids (Mom gave me about 30 boxes last year when we moved down here) but we'll do it!!! Wish me luck.

Lisa

[OSI]

Lislynn-

Good for you... I admire anyone who sets a goal and sets out to achieve it. You seem to be doing just fine and I always look forward to hearing how things are going with you.

We have our ac on too.... dh set it at 76 this morning, that's a temp I suppose I'll be comfortable with until the new electric bill comes. We are on the budget plan so that helps.

Not much frugal again today. Made my pine tar soap last night with pine tar I bought from one of the bosses here at work. He sold me a brand new pint for $4.00 whereas a new one is $6.00. It will make alot of soap. I made about 24 bars last night, haven't cut them yet am waiting for them to set up good. Pine Tar in case some of you don't know about it is good for eczema, psirossis (sp?) that's where you get those red, splotchy spots on your skin, dandruff and acne. It's a brown colored soap similiar to the coffee soap some of you got from me although it smells kind of mediciny/piney.

Have been working on the purses, have another one on order, one of the Angel ones sold to one of the janitor's assistants for his 9 year old daughter.

Anna

[Lee]

Okay ladies you wouldnt beleive the storm that just flew through here! WOW it was sunny and in about 5 seconds it was dark and I mean 10 oclock pm dark....

Anna,
I called our local AAA right now rates are 98/2 for plus or 84 for 1. Reg card is 62.00 for one. According to the internet the hotel we are staying at isnt honoring AAA for those dates I will wait a little longer to see if there are better promotions.... Today I did more research about the hotel, they offer free hot breakfast and a weekly bar b que plus nightly social hrs at the pool, where I guess they have snacks of some sort...This is sounding better all the time as I dont want to eat out every day! Plus they have a pool, whirlpool, and a gym. Free newspaper everyday...Sounds good to me!
Barb their website says they are only about 8 miles from the aquiarim in NJ. Is that near you? If its not far maybe your family could come visit us at the hotel one night and the kids could all go swimming. Luke and Evan would have a good time. I know one day is going to be reserved for the Philly zoo as well. Maybe we could even meet there??
Lis,
Glad to hear things are going well for you!
Leighann
Leighann

I am glad I have the air on today we are also on budget with elect so I am not going to freak out about the bill. I set ours at 79 and I think is comfy in here with the ceiling fan going as well.

[barbszy]

Lee, I can take a train and be right at the Aquarium! It takes me about 25 minutes on the light rail and then I don't have to park. I also know how to get to the Zoo. Either of those are great places to meet....

I don't know about the Aquarium but at the Zoo you can bring your own lunch! Even if you buy sandwiches & bring them in, it's cheaper than Zoo food.