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Here's where the rubber meets the road!

45K views 378 replies 70 participants last post by  joyofsix 
#1 ·
The stockpile is in place, the EF is doing better than it ever has. The snowball has been rolled forward.. and the layoff slip came in today.

So now it's time to see how all of this works out.

Wierd attitude probably, but silver linings and all that.

In theory he'll be off work until August 15th and then will go back to work full time.

So essentially we're going to lose approximately $1800 over 6 weeks in income.

I'm starting this thread because I intend to keep track of the parts of the frugality plan that work, the parts that need work, and the parts that I never even thought of.
 
#30 ·
It really is an adventure isn't it??

You learn all kinds of things about yourself in times like these, at least I do!!
 
#31 ·
At least you are prepared so good for you! I hope all goes well through this 'test' and you learn more to help you in case of future problems.... and please share with us the difficulties you face! Sending best wishes. :)
 
#32 ·
I am enjoying reading your adventures.
 
#33 ·
Ok, it's easier to spend money than one would like to think. Nearly $250 today for computer repair.. unexpected of course.
 
#35 ·
you are doing great!!i think in the long run the lay off was better than an hour cut. great job on all the things you are getting done when you have time...lol
 
#36 ·
We're doing pretty well. We're using up some of the stockpile, which is good, since I don't want it to go stale and the new 1/2 cow comes in early September.

August's house payment is in the bank! W00T!!

It's getting really hard fighting off the urge to go shopping just for something to do though...

BUT....

We've re-discovered something we'd forgotten from the "good old days" of milk crate furniture...

sex is FREE! Hee hee.. 'nuff said.
 
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#37 ·
I think you are doing a great job, and I enjoy your positive attitude. It is uplifting.I was so happy to see someone else that used the good old milk crates for furniture.
 
#39 ·
August's house payment is made!

We still have $3400 in savings.

All the bills are being paid the minute that they hit the door, so no worries there.

We do have one unexpected expense that seems to be ongoing though.. books! With all this free time, we're reading A LOT, which is good, but we've run through our credit at the local used book store. And even worse, we've read most of the stuff we wanted to read from the library.. one disastrous trip to Barnes and Noble (and $75 later), we have books again. For maybe the next week.... next time we'll have to make better plans for this part, maybe stock up all that store credit, but it's only good for so long so I'm not sure that will help.

We finished putting up a decorative fence in the back yard, another one of our "when we have time" projects bites the dust! We bought the fence panels earlier and stored them, so that part was free, but we spent another $112 on treated 4X4s and concrete and brackets. Still, the fence looks nice, and now I can NOT watch my neighbors sunbathing. (priceless!)

I cleared out the downstairs closet and took a bunch of stuff off to the local consignment store. (There comes a day when you realize that you really probably don't need a few silk opera gowns, and matching wraps, shoes, and bag). So far I've built up over $50 in trade credit (can be withdrawn as cash if I want to) which will most likely be used for the kid's school shopping.

I'm having trouble focusing the way I usually do on frugality. I think the whole concept of "vacation" may be the nemesis of frugality.

Vacationing seems to mean not dealing with stress, not sweating the details, just plain letting it all go floating off downstream somewhere.

Which as it turns out is the best way I've ever seen to spend WAAAY too much money on absolutely nothing.

I'll have to figure out a way to keep the stress free environment (which we're enjoying immensely), but still keep tabs on the finances and all the little stuff like impulsively eating out, grabbing a latte', picking up a book, etc.(which we're also enjoying, but which is just plain unsustainable in the long haul)

Just thought I'd check in, and let you guys know that the reason I'm not on as much is that I'm busy getting a tan! Hiking is also relatively free!

Love you guys! :chug:
 
#40 ·
Sounds like you are doing a fantastic job. You are getting so many things done it must feel good. Keep up the good work and after awhile the shopping urge will just disappear. :relieved:

Monner:sleepy:
 
#42 ·
I love the way you actually manage to do the 'when we have time' jobs. I think I'd still be reading up on how to do them, rather than actually doing them.
 
#43 ·
Oh, I HEAR you! I used to that all the time..
But I heard a great quote somewhere.. "Do not let the perfect, become the enemy of the possible."
Now I just get all "nike" on the project's butts..

"JUST DO IT."

Usually it turns out just fine.. not always, but once I've started something.. it'll drive me nuts looking at it until I finally finish it.
 
#45 ·
I would pay the bills before they arrive...just my two cents.
I so look forward to your posts as you go thru this journey.
 
#46 ·
Well, it's been a busy and productive week around here!

We just sold our old 1993 Lincoln Mark VIII! Hooray. The maintenance on that car was killing us. All the electronic gewgaws meant we couldn't even work on the simple stuff ourselves, and the high performance engine and undercarriage parts and pieces are soo expensive. And 18 miles to the gallon was no picnic either.

We paid $3,500 for the car 3 years ago.. had it as our "spare car". (We always have a "spare car", because we buy only used cars, and DH has got to get to work somehow, no matter what.)

We got $2000 cash and a 1978 Volvo station wagon (runs and drives) for it. We already have an offer for $500 for the Volvo, but we may hold out for a bit more, we'll see)

So if all goes well it will only have "cost us" $1000 for the car for 3 years, about $28/month. That doesn't include maintenance, but all cars have maintenance.

Meanwhile we've secured the deal for the 2003 Toyota Echo for $4000 with new tabs and the extended warranty. It gets about 46 mpg! That extra 28 mpg is really going to save us money long term! W00T!

Now even though DH is laid off, we can take the $2000 cash and use that as the down on the Echo.. nothing out of pocket, and it's simple zero interest payments of $167/mo for one year to pay it off, although we'll probably pay it off a good deal sooner than that once DH goes back to work.

It's a bit financially risky setting ourselves up for the new bill of $167/mo while DH is unemployed, but it's buy the car or lose the deal, so we're just trying to keep the financing to a dull roar.

As an added bonus this means the 16 year old will get DH's little 1998 Ford Escort which gets about 31/mpg and is in great shape. We only paid $1000 for that car two years ago so we won't go insane when she dings it.
It's in great shape and with care should last another 5 years easy, thus putting her in the position of needing to get a new one when she's 21 or so.. seems fair enough. If she can keep it going for longer than that she'll just save more money!

(We were really sweating the idea of little miss thing using the car that goes 160 miles per hour top speed!)

We had a little bit harder time selling the Lincoln after DH and I agreed we wouldn't sell it to any kids either. But if it's too dangerous for my kid... then it's too dangerous for yours. Finally sold it to the happiest 72 year old man you ever saw. Boy will his wife be surprised!

We finally finished the library.. hee hee.. another stupid project bites the dust! Found an awesome handmade oak library table (it's a huge 39" X 39" double sized chest inside) for $15 on Craigslist. Sturdy enough to put your feet on and.. it holds ALL my sewing stuff! (I missed my kitchen table!)

And finished my knitted dish cloths for the dish cloth swap and mailed them off yesterday... another one down!

We spent some more money that we shouldn't have though. I've been trying to convince DH to buy a decent suit for well over a decade.. and gotten nowhere.

Finally he caved in and decided he wanted one.. so it was time to strike while the iron was hot!

We got 2 Ralph Lauren suits, 3 shirts, and 3 silk ties for $670. I know, it's A LOT, but he has to have size Tall everything including ties, and he'll probably never buy another suit in his life so I guess it's worth it. One plain black 2 button suit with flat front pants and one charcoal gray pinstripe. Should cover anything he ever needs to wear one for. So $335 per suit isn't too bad I suppose, since we never could find one in a thrift store anyway.

EEK.. savings dwindling...
 
#48 ·
You're doing great. I thought we were the only people who kept a 'spare' car. As for the free, remember the chinese proverb.
"It is senseless to save money on candles by going to bed early if the result is twins." :lol3:
 
#49 ·
Be careful. If you keep spending all your savings on "wants" and not true "needs" while out of work, you might find yourself in a really bad situation soon!


Murphy has a way of favoring people who get too "comfy".
 
#50 ·
Point well made... and graciously taken!

It's hard to be really clear about our situation right now.

He is laid off, so we need to conserve, etc. etc.
BUT it's the first vacation we've had in over 6 years, or are likely to have for a long while so we want to have fun and not spend the whole time stressed out about money.

So we're trying to do a lot of useful stuff like projects, which cost money...

And have some fun, which also costs money..

And attend to the regular changing situations of life, like the 16 year old needs a car for commuting, has a bunch of fees for college classes and books..

all at the same time.. it does seem to be creating a flushing sound in the vicinity of our bank account though, and your advice is well taken.
 
#51 ·
Whoo Hoo! We sold the volvo station wagon for an additional $650! And put it right back into the EF to replace the money we spent on the suits.

That means the two suits etc.. cost us only $30

We've also made arrangements to barter work on our other vehicles for help putting the neighbor's patio in. Freebie!
 
#52 ·
August 13th 2009

Well, we got the Echo!

It's in great shape too, ultra bonus!

All the bills are paid including college fees and books for the fall quarter for Dd!

NOTE: Check out alibris online for textbooks.. soooo cheap!

We're on track for Septembers housepayment/ eye surgery payment/insurance ($900 currently in bank for it and we add $450 each week)

All the bills are paid up until September 15th, with gas, electric, and Union dues through the end of the year.

We still have $2100 cash on hand, and will get another $1200 this month.

And the stockpile is still going strong.. you never realize how far a case of mac and cheese can go!

Thanks for all the support guys! It's helping me stay focused in on the goals.

Meanwhile Hubby and I have finally actually had time to have the "deep" talks about life that everyday schedules seem to squeeze out. We've both realized that a lot of the things we were doing were kinda silly.

It isn't that we were spending a boatload of money on ourselves, we kept trying to spend it all on each other. Which, while sweet, is still not good for the finances.

He kept looking at buying new furniture and better cars because he thought it would make me happy.
(Honestly, I'm fine with nice slip covers on what we have.)

I kept trying to arrange more "fun" because he works so hard and I worry that he must feel like some sort of pyramid building slave all the time.
(Turns out he'd really just like some quiet time lying on the sofa.)

So we've decided that we're done.. I mean we have enough stuff, we do enough things, we have enough clothes, and cars, etc. for a long time. We just can't really think of anything else major that we want.

We decided that we have successfully completed the acquisition phase.

What we want now is $20,000 ... cash.

So hopefully over the next 2 years we'll be able to do that.

Oh man, am I gonna need you guys for willpower support!
 
#53 ·
TV - this is such an inspiring time for you - and through you - for us!! Reminds me I should really check in with DH before I do more of what I think he wants/needs. I admire your planning and then focusing on what needs to be done to get it done. The next part of your journey is going to be even more interesting - as you build forward!! :teddy2:
 
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#54 ·
Started the "winter projects" today..

Cutting up old blankets gotten for $1 apiece at yard sales into the right sizes to use as window insulators.
We have old wood casement (good) single pane (bad) windows from 1924. So every window in the place is a "custom" size. They're far too expensive to replace right now without incurring massive debt. :(

So every winter we go out and staple 10 mil plastic up over almost all the windows in the house which works pretty well, but the heat loss is still horrid.

So this year we're going to try cutting thick older blankets to exactly fit the inside of each window and hang them on little dowel rods mounted inside the frame.

I'm sure this isn't exactly new, but we finally have enough blankets to do it with! I've been buying old wool blankets that someone washed and therefor felted. And I won't pay more than a buck for them so it's taken a while to get enough of them.

Darning any winter clothes that need it.

Cleaning all the insulated carpets for the hardwood and vinyl floors. It makes the hugest difference in the winter, maybe because we have an unheated basement, although I'm not sure most crawl spaces are heated either.

It's time to get focused on keeping the house cozy this winter!

I keep threatening to knit a "house cozy".
 
#65 ·
Started the "winter projects" today..

Cutting up old blankets gotten for $1 apiece at yard sales into the right sizes to use as window insulators.
We have old wood casement (good) single pane (bad) windows from 1924. So every window in the place is a "custom" size. They're far too expensive to replace right now without incurring massive debt. :(

So every winter we go out and staple 10 mil plastic up over almost all the windows in the house which works pretty well, but the heat loss is still horrid.

So this year we're going to try cutting thick older blankets to exactly fit the inside of each window and hang them on little dowel rods mounted inside the frame.

I'm sure this isn't exactly new, but we finally have enough blankets to do it with! I've been buying old wool blankets that someone washed and therefor felted. And I won't pay more than a buck for them so it's taken a while to get enough of them.



It's time to get focused on keeping the house cozy this winter!

I keep threatening to knit a "house cozy".
What a great idea I remember in the 70's they sold window quilts and they were sealed at the window edges I wonder if you put plastic to keep the drafts out and then put the sandwich of plastic and wool in the window with velcro it that would work

I also remember that one inch foam insulation being covered with cloth and then tucked in the windows at night but that cost money and you have the blankets.
 
#55 ·
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#56 ·
I think just knowing that I'm going to come and report to you guys is doing as much as anything else to keep me on the financial straight and narrow!

I know it's a crutch and in a perfect world I'd be this sensible for no other reason, but you guys sure help!
 
#57 ·
Wednesday August 26th

It's getting a little scary around the edges around here. Hubby was supposed to be back to work around the 15th and he's still off work.

Hopefully soon, meanwhile September's house payment and bill's are OK!

And the vacation is over! But we've finished school shopping. And we're pretty well set for winter stuff, clothes, boots, hats, etc.
We're on day three of no-spend.
 
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