2012 Frugal Challenge!

**warramra** · 02-08-2012, 09:35 PM

Everyone is finally feeling better and DH went back to work. We still stayed close to home today except for a quick trip to the grocery store to pick up milk, chicken breasts and ham that were on sale.

Spent my day moving furniture and repurposing furniture. Now that the children are older I am trying to make our house look more like a home and less like a preschool-gone-wild. Pulling out all MY stuff is a free way to make me feel better about my environment.
- heat off all day
- lights kept to a minimum
- realized that we have not bought cold cereal in more than three months. The kids are learning to enjoy other things for breakfast and are not even missing it.
- all meals at home
- Spent some time reworking some of my photos to print off for wall art. My mom is bringing up some used frames for me and we will have basically free artwork for our walls.
- no laundry today (after two days of constant washing with everyone being sick)
- Collected 4 more eggs from the ladies

**oheoh's momma** · 02-09-2012, 09:29 PM

I am late to the party but may I join u?..
today I washed a load of colors in cold and hung dry...
I fluffed a load of sheets for mins on dryer..
grandma cooked supper tonite with what was here
used coupons on eggs that was on sale....
bought grandma's breafast sammies store brand was cheaper so that is what she got. comaprsion shopped for cottage cheese name brand was cheaper and bigger in size
turned off all light and tvs today.
heat on 70
wore 2 pairs of socks
watched movie bought off of 3 dollar rack while back

spent 58 dollars on groceries...got milk, 2 dozen eggs, 1 pack cheese, cottage cheese, 12 pack diet pepsi, 3 packs of lunchmeat, 5 lbs of apples, banannas, 4 pks of breakfast sammies, and 2 bags of pot . chip store brand buy 1 get 1 free.
seems like too much ugh......

**brennasmom** · 02-09-2012, 11:02 PM

Thursday

* got a $2.50 rebate check in the mail
* all meals from home
* have a bit of leftover for tomorrow
* ate up some leftovers for lunch
* no $$ spent

**Telephus44** · 02-10-2012, 11:23 AM

*Dinner last night was pasta. Cheap and easy. Made HM meat sauce and saved some for next week.
*Took coffee to work today
*One load of laundry in cold
*Paid 2 bills online.
*Paid a medical bill from the FSA, and got a 20% prompt pay discount for paying it - saved about $63.

**brennasmom** · 02-10-2012, 07:45 PM

Friday:

* called cable and cancelled a $7.95 sports package DH had for football
* clipped coupons and cleaned out my coupon holder
* bought 11# apples for .68 per #
* making homemade pizza
* prepared a rebate to put in the mail tomorrow
* got my taxes paperwork together and have an appt to get them done next week (hopefully next year I can go back to doing them myself)

**bunnys** · 02-10-2012, 08:17 PM

Brenna--way to go on getting rid of cable. You will so get used to it--so quick!
I got rid of cable and TV's 18 months ago and stopped mourning about a week later.
It may be a little tougher with kids but they'll adjust.

All food from home spent no money.

I don't have a problem not spending money for food @ work bc I have a mini-kitchen in my classroom. Fridge, microwave and coffeemaker. Planning starts every day @ 8:45A so I can get my breakfast then and lunch when school lets out @ 2P. Very easy way to not buy lunch/coffee/breakie out. Also, as I'm usually running late, I don't have time to stop to buy anything, anyway.

**Telephus44** · 02-10-2012, 08:42 PM

Just wanted to add - listed 3 items on eBay AND won another contest for a free Pasta Prima entree. I'll take free food!

**oheoh's momma** · 02-10-2012, 08:49 PM

today 2 loads washed and hung on drying racks
was supose to cook supper but took grandma to hospital so planned b it wraps with cheese lunchmeat and leftover coleslaw, chips and apples with p-nut butter cheaper than going out and tastier.
been wearing 2 pairs of socks
use grocery sacks for bathroom bags.
left all light off during day and tv off up here all day.
giving self mani and clay mask. watching Grimm and drinking tea for entertainment and snack...love my frugal life

**smk0817** · 02-11-2012, 10:13 AM

I haven't posted this week, so I'll just break it down into the good and the bad.

Good:
-tried to stay out of stores for the most part
-hung out laundry on the line a couple of times
-being mindful of light and heat usage
-trying to keep driving at a minimum since it's $3.59 a gallon now...yikes!
-paid off my dentist bill. HUGE relief that is gone!
-paid more on my DD's dance competition bills
-paid more on her private fees
-transferring $600 to savings from state tax refund
-most meals at home
-DD and her BFF are having a bake sale today to try to earn money for dance convention. They came up with this all on their own.

-refused to buy WetJet solution or laundry softener. Gonna find some homemade ideas and use them instead.
-In charge of the consignment store at DD's studio. Earned a little extra $ this week.

-DH and I decided not to buy each other Valentine's presents. We don't really need or want anything. I told him to write me a love note. Hmm...we'll see if that really happens or not! <3

Bad:
-have some leftover chicken from Monday that I was going to turn into something else. I'm thinking it's past its prime now and I'm gonna have to toss it. Boo!
-ate out once because I was too unmotivated to cook. Thinking I'm in a rut and need some inspiration. Got a new book from the library for help.
-I have no "fun" money for the next two weeks because I used it to pay off the above bills. Family finances are fine. I just hope I don't feel deprived because I don't have any extra $ and break down and use my debit card.
-Spending extra $ on this dance season getting ready for comps. $ for new leotard, shoes, body tape, skinny jeans, makeup, shoe inserts, undergarments. That all adds up! So far that's an extra $70 this week and I still have to order the leotard and shoes.

-used the dryer more than I wanted because it's been cold and overcast

That's all I can think of right now! Whew.

Stephanie

**bunnys** · 02-11-2012, 09:37 PM

smk--yeah, the price of gas is over $3.50 here today, too. God awful.

Oheoh--I can put 5 pairs of socks on cold feet and they'll still be cold.

Making dog food today and tomorrow.
Eating all meals from food in my kitchen.
Renewed books today (the due date) so I wouldn't have to go to library and avoid a fee. Then I went to library anyway! Without the books!
Watched Ghost Hunters on Youtube (no TV or cable.)
No money spent in FOREVER with the exception of food/gas/bills.

**oheoh's momma** · 02-11-2012, 11:51 PM

dyed my own hair today. hubby cooked supper with what was here. it was a spend day hubby got a six pack and we watched uk..he brought in firewood and built a fire and we turned the heat down.. tomorrow is spend day need coffee, 2 gallons of milk and a loaf of bread...thank goodness we don't pay for gas that hubby uses for his job... and the stolen tools were turned in to the insurance company and we may get some of it back....

**bunnys** · 02-12-2012, 07:59 AM

Penny:

What is UK?

**Maine Girl** · 02-12-2012, 08:52 AM

2-10-12

All meals were from home
did stop at the grocery store and spent $29
also stopped at cvs for prescription
once i got home i was not going anywhere

02-11-12

All meals from home
never left the house
lots of reading and catching up on my favorite shows

02-12-12

Today I believe i am staying home
All meals from home
making chilli for dinner
laundry, dishes, changing bed on the agenda
will find time to get back to my book

**warramra** · 02-12-2012, 09:22 AM

2/12/12
I spoke too soon a few days ago about everybody feeling better. I got the stomach bug on Friday and DH is sick today. I am feeling so wrung out after the last couple of weeks between sinus infection, shingles and the stomach flu.
- saved gas by mostly staying home
- eating very little and all from home
- we did go pick up a free boxspring off of craigslist yesterday, only need to find one more but am willing to wait to get from craigslist
- DH filled the van with gas yesterday when he found it for 3.49 instead of the 3.63 around here
- had a fire last night instead of immediately cranking the heat up when the cold front moved through
- collecting eggs from our hens

Hoping we are all better in the next couple of days so that my mom will still come to visit. She has to be careful because my step-father is in fragile health and can't take illnesses home with her if she can help it. Have not seen her since Christmas.

**Mamaw** · 02-12-2012, 10:23 AM

*HM buttermilk cupcakes with real buttercreme icing...yummy
*Used freezer cauliflower, gifted carrots and gifted canned milk to make cauliflower soup
*sold 1 item on ebay. posted a couple more last night
*Received free family circle and US magazines in the mail
*Paying bills online to save stamps
*laundry only if a full load and monitoring the amount of product used
*using up samples of body lotion and shaving creme
*Using freezer cabbage and ham to make ham and cabbage for tonights dinner
*girls are still giving us eggs which is quite nice
*reading library books and magazines for entertainment
*cut coupons
*wearing 2 pairs of socks...feet are always cold
*spent yesterday afternoon at valentines party with Mom. free snacks and a nice time