Daily Frugal Activity Savings???

[many houseapes]

Have you ever sat down & added up all of your savings from the day's frugal activities?? I decided to do this yesterday & this is how much I saved just doing what I do without thinking about it:

Hung 2 full loads of laundry out to dry = $4 (not kidding, my dryer is a hog)

cut Zachary's hair = 8.95

2 boys needed new swimmimg trunks -found what we needed in our clothing stockpile =$20

dh repaired a broken hose on the pool =12.99

used the $10 gift card from Dollar tree for my dads bd presents & toiletries(only paid tax) =$10

bought 26 lbs of bologna & 14 pkgs of hotdogs that were on sale/combined with coupons =$20

grand total of 75.94 savings.I'm amazed

[Cricketlegs]

I wanna play!

This was yesterday and today--just the savings not the spending as yesterday was the day I run errands/pay bills etc.

I will try and balance it....yowza.

Went to the bank and deposited $1235 of dhs check and got $800 in cash.

Out of the $800, $75 was my allowance, $75 was dh's allowance.

I spent $68.52 cash from my allowance at Hobby Lobby on scrapbooking supplies and quilting fabric. I also ate lunch out for $12ish so my allowance was gone but I stayed on budget and out of the checking account. I had a few dollars left from last checks allowance. Actually I have $30 left.

Next I went to get dry dog food. 35lbs is $45.45 I get special food as my lab has food allergies(I have 2 dogs) and when you buy 5 bags you get the 6th free so I got a $45 bag of food along with the free $45 bag of food so that puts me up $45 so far.

Next I went to the pet store to buy cat food and the dogs canned food. Cat food is $40 for 11lbs(would you believe I have a lab allergic to beef corn wheat and soy and a cat allergic to chicken????) Used my pals card and got it $5 off so that puts me $5 up on the dry food. Got 8 cans cat food and 24 cans dog food. I SAVED.24 a can on the cat food and .50 a can on the dog food. My total was $101.48 and I saved $13.92 using my pals card savings. As a side note i split a can of cat food between both cats once a week and I split a can of the canned dog food and mix it with the dry food for both dogs. I will not buy any more pet food this month. My monthly pet food, cat litter, bird seed etc budget is $165. I spent $30 ish more at walmart on cat litter and fish filter. I did go a little over month but I only buy fish filters every 6 months.

So $13.92+$45.00=$50.92 so far.

Next I went to books a million to get dds books. I got her 5 books that totaled $62.95(before taxes). I used my membership card and a $10 off a $50 purchase and paid $51.59. I saved $5.30 using my card and then $10 on the coupon--then they taxed me to death lol. So a $15.30 savings there. DD has a book budget for the month of $100 to $125 depending on the month.

So now I saved $74.22.

Went to the grocery store. I spent $110.38. I had coupon savings and store deals of around $14.

Now my savings are up to $88 on Tuesday.

Today...blah. I paid some bills. A lot of bills.Then I took Suesue to the vet. Shots for the year, 6 months of heart worm preventative, eyedrops and ear drops(dumb allergies) and spent $213. Both dogs are now vetted for the year except heartworm meds in 6 months.

Took dd to lunch. I planned on using my allowance. Ran into my sisters inlaws and aunt and uncle in law there and her uncle INSISTED on(he took the bill out of my hand!!) paying for our lunch! $22. I didn't know what to do! He loves my bbq ribs and said next time we have them at our camper at the lake to call them. So I will but I also plan to make Pat(the Aunt) a quilted table runner out of scraps so it will be free and a good use of left over fabric.

So add $22 which brings us up to $110.22.

Then dd and I went to the quilt shop to get fabric for HER quilt I am making her. (I am making quilts for my family--11 total plus the above table runner. 2 are done for my sisters. 1 is in hand quilting stage for my niece and nephew in law to share, and then this one for dd will be the 4th.) I got 2 yards each of 5 fabrics. I spent $71.99. They were all 26% off so I saved $23.40.

That brings me up to $133.62.

I put $100 aside for this weekends camping food($400 a month is the budget as we go every weekend we can. Our camper is parked on the lake year round. We rent a spot so it sits there waiting for us.)

Finally, I put $400 into oldest dds wedding fund bringing her total to $1000. I am half way to the $2000 I promised her!

All our bills are paid for the month except the camper payment, the cell phone, the camper electric bill, gas for my car, allowances and the rest of dds books for the month.

So I saved $133.62 so far this week although I don't have any spending to do except the camper food which I have cash for and I still have $30 allowance if I want to buy backing fabric or batting for dds quilt.

[nuisance26]

~Oh what fun! Yesterday was my Fling and Organize Day so I wasn't exactly focused on saving money but I can think of a few things I did that saved.~

-I also cut my ds's hair: $13
-froze 8 speckled bananas(made b. bread his morning): $2
-had an 11:30am appointment for dd 2 towns away but resisted the urge to get fast food while out. We had lunch late but at home: $8
-made tacos at home instead of having DH pick up Moe's(huge craving lately!): $9
-turned the AC off for 3 hours in the morning: $1

Total: $33

[druthb00]

Oo this IS fun Great thread idea.

Thursdays are my shopping days so....
-I paired BOGOS and coupons at Publix this morning - $22.75 (bill would have been $42.66)
-I packed BF's lunch...which we do everyday but it still counts! lol - $ 5.00
-I turn the A/C up (down?) to 79 instead of 78 when BF isn't around. Muahahah. - $ 1.00?
-I didn't use the A/C in the car (yet lol) today. - $ 1.00?

So approximately $29.75

[Cricketlegs]

Today I went back to the grocery as the ads came out and they had some great sales.

I spent $110.68 but saved $31.65. I had a coupon, there were sales and they are doing their save 5% off your total if you buy 5 food club items---no problem there they had .50 can goods!

Spent $25 on a new purse that was marked $40.00. So $15 there saved.

Then I found a scrapbook tool marked $4.99 off of $17.99
$46.65+ $13.00= $59.65 Savings Thursday.

[shoiji]

This is a good topic.

Other day gave myself some bangs. BAD!!!!!! Idea!!!!!!! Can't wait to try and explain it to my hairdresser. Saved $35. lol

Walked to the grocery store with cart. Saved $1.40 in bus fare.

[ravenmaniac]

Today was a frugal day. I stayed home and worked on home renovation projects with my husband and son. We purchased the items a while ago on sale. I'm reusing paint I've had on hand. It feels good to finally accomplish something. I vacuumed my pool. I bought the pool with birthday money may dad sent to me and BJ's was offering an instant rebate. I love that pool.

Yesterday was not such a frugal day but I needed to do a major trip to Costco. I bought my daughter 2 cans of powder formula for Parker so that added to the cost, but I was happy to do it. I am happy to say I purchased only what I needed so maybe I was a little frugal. When I was putting away my purchases I took note of my pantry, cleaning, and health and beauty stock, which is good. This always helps with being frugal, noting the stock.

I like this thread.

[Momto5RN]

rather then take 6 of us to the movies ( goodness knows how much) i rented a movie from redbox for 1$ popped a bag of popcorn from a 1$ box that had 3 bags in it and the kids drank ice water .

so 1.33 instead of what would have probably been close to 50$ for 6 of us with popcorn and drinks .

[druthb00]

rather then take 6 of us to the movies ( goodness knows how much) i rented a movie from redbox for 1$ popped a bag of popcorn from a 1$ box that had 3 bags in it and the kids drank ice water .

so 1.33 instead of what would have probably been close to 50$ for 6 of us with popcorn and drinks .

I bet if you looked up prices it would have run you more like $65 or $70 for 6 people. It's just insane what they charge anymore!

[AnW819]

Wow great thread!!!

I have been reading and watching DVDs and VHS at home instead of renting or going to the movies. Playing games with DH instead of going out for something to do. Using everything in the cabnits including ramen noodles for food so we are saving on groceries. Washed a few clothes in the bathtub so we did not have to find money to go to the laundry mat. In WV my MIL got me some books at a yard sale for .25c so thats keeping me busy.

Hmm...I think thats it?

[Liane]

Took dd to library for her book chat-book club for teens. She got a 17.00 book for free for the next book chat. I borrowed two dvd's for free. Made dinner, even though I got home late. Tuna macaroni salad with a side of Jersey tomatoes-aah heaven. Leftovers will be lunch tomorrow too. Figure I saved maybe $40.00 without really trying.

[nuisance26]

~I think this would be a fun exercise to do for an entire week! Yesterday was my Baking, Cooking and Sewing Day so I did better than Wednesday. And I thought of a couple new ones.

-turned the AC off for 7 hours: $2
-made 3 loaves of banana bread for DH's lunches(I'll say the alternative is buying Tastycakes, savings minus ingredients) :$4
-fixed a popped seam on our couch: $25?(probably way more if I had the couch taken out and repaired)
-made a double batch of wheat waffles for the freezer/kids' breakfasts(savings minus ingredients): $10
-used lettuce from my container garden for dinner: $.25
-hand-quilted for an hour instead of browsing on my laptop: $.02
-used washed out freezer baggies for my baked goods: $.20
-had leftovers for lunch: $.50
-read from a book I borrowed from the library: $4(cost of book at discount store)
-watched a video with the kids that we rented from Netflix instead of buying: $5
-showered fast : $.04
-bathed the kids with bubble bath and shampoo we got free: $.05
-used our towels for the third time: $.40

Total: $51.46

Cool. ~

[TheresaRHPS]

I think I'll also do this for the week...

1. Parked in the free lot instead of the parking building when taking my son to his doctor's appointment. Saved $3.00

2. Ate leftovers for lunch all this week. I'm guessing it saved at least $10, since I used to grab fast food a few times a week.

3. Checked a book out of the library for free. Saved me $2.50 (local used bookstore price).

4. Switched the dogs to a cheaper canned dog food. After my grandma died, we got her little spoiled wiener dog who would ONLY eat Mighty Dog. My dogs developed a taste for Mighty Dog, even though they're BIG dogs. I finally convinced my mom to switch to bigger cans of cheaper food designed for bigger dogs...and they haven't noticed a difference, lol. I'm saving at least $12 a week now, and possibly more. The two littler dogs don't really eat much canned food, so they can share one can mixed in with their dry, while the biggest dog (yellow lab) can have a whole can to herself.

5. Used a $2.00 off coupon for diapers

So...$29.50 for the week? Not bad

[lilyrose]

This is all amazing! I'm wondering, though, just how much we are saving on stuff that is hard to put into dollars and cents.

Everytime we turn off a light.
Using fans instead of A/C.
Using the microwave instead of the oven for small items.
Making sure a load of laundry is full.

I wish there was a way to magically quantify all that.
Oh well.

[AnW819]

I was wondering the same thing. How do you all know you save like .7c every hour you have the AC off or something?