2012 Frugal Challenge!

**brennasmom** · 04-23-2012, 10:01 AM

* packed a lunch to eat during DS's flag football yesterday
* used up some raspberries from the freezer to make homemade sorbet (yum!)
* no spending on Sunday
* stopped for a walk around the lake on our way to football (combining errands)
* requested a sample of dog treats for Sadie

**Mom23boys** · 04-23-2012, 06:50 PM

~Packed lunches for all of us for work/school
~Drinking water
~No money being spent today
~DH got some estimates for a new roof --- shopping around for the best deal

**smk0817** · 04-24-2012, 10:11 AM

Monday 4/23:

-no spend day

-minimal driving
-all meals at home
-had to turn on the heat cause it was freezing. More like January temps.
-DH switched a DVR to a room where we will actually use it. No more wasting $6 a month for it to just sit there.
-used peppers from last year's garden in dinner
-salvaged an onion that was on its last leg
-fed seeds/rinds from honeydew and cantaloupe to chickens...no waste and they loved it.
-had leftovers for lunch
-packaged leftovers from breakfast for use later in the week
-no laundry day
-started using my refillable Kcup again. So much cheaper.

Stephanie

**Telephus44** · 04-24-2012, 10:25 AM

*Took coffee to work today and yesterday
*Had free lunch on work yesterday (got stuck at a noontime press check)
*Got reimbursement for childbirth classes - paperwork said $20, but they sent me a check for $40. Woo-hoo!
*SA came and took our hutch yesterday. Wouldn't take the table and chairs. Kind of bummed, now I have to figure out what to do with them. Will probably Craigslist them.
*Put aside some more stuff for SA.
*Got a coupon for a free drink at Starbucks for my birthday.
*Used up 2 gift cards and a coupon at Pier One this weekend. Didn't get anything practical, but was nice to have a little splurge that cost a little less.
*Ran all errands this weekend at Target. I'm not sure if everything was cheaper there, but at least it was all in one stop. I think the pricing on DH's soap was great, but realized that this is one item I've forgotten to track in my price book. Will have to add it.
*Took water with me while I was out running errands.
*Dinner on Sunday was leftovers. Still haven't figured out a good evening meal plan for us. DS has ABA therapy from 4:30 to 6:30pm M/W/F so this really throws off dinner during the week.

**Starlight9803** · 04-24-2012, 05:07 PM

catching up....4/19-4/23:

* stayed home, no spending, no gas used, all meals from home
* heat on 60 a few nights, otherwise off, no a/c use, limited lights/electronics use
* laundry with 1/2 detergent hung outside to dry
* library books and board games for entertainment
* bathed/groomed dogs myself instead of sending to groomer

Today 4/24:

* ran errands in a loop to save on gas
* picked up more library books for entertainment
* laundry in 1/2 detergent, hung outside to dry
* no heat/ac use, limited lights on
* put $20 gas in the car, filled it to 3/4 tank, and it's the first time I've put gas in the car in 3 1/2 weeks
* planning errands for tomorrow to save on gas, writing lists to prevent me from forgetting something
* all meals from home, leftovers for lunch

**smk0817** · 04-24-2012, 09:21 PM

Tuesday 4/24--

-another no spend day

-minimal driving
-all meals at home
-fought the urge to go out for dinner. Used items from freezer and pantry to have a nice, quick dinner.
-made a menu plan for the next few days. I haven't done this in forever and hopefully it will keep me from wanting to eat out.
-heat used for a bit this morning, off the rest of the day.
-paid bill online
-used up some ends of bread, spread cinnamon butter on them, toasted it and gave it to the kids for a snack
-took laundry out of dryer right when it stopped to avoid having to turn it on again to dewrinkle laundry (a bad habit of mine)
-didn't have to water gardens again, rained yesterday

Stephanie

**brennasmom** · 04-24-2012, 10:16 PM

Tuesday:

* ran to the grocery why DD was at dance
* ate dinner at home even though I didn't want to cook
* lights are off
* DS had a friend over for entertainment (kids were out of school yesterday & today)
* making a grocery list of things I still need that I will pick up from Fred Meyer tomorrow
* ordered my bountiful basket for Sat. pickup

**Telephus44** · 04-25-2012, 05:14 PM

*took lunch and coffee to work today
*agreed with DH on some things to sell on eBay
*did laundry in cold on express wash with a detergent sample
*using skin care and hair styling product samples
*made cookies for entertainment

**brennasmom** · 04-25-2012, 06:56 PM

Hmmm.

* Went to the grocery store and stuck to my list
* making dinner @ home
* all meals at home or packed
* lights are off
* got a free tea bag sample
* hope to finish my book for entertainment tonight

I am bummed that one bag of groceries plus a bag of flour cost me $32.xx Hrmph.

**Maine Girl** · 04-25-2012, 07:49 PM

04/23/12 - 04/25/12
All meals from home
have leftovers to eat up
been a tad bit chilly at night going to bed to read instead of turning up the heat.tonight did some meal planning for weekend and upcoming week
Still reading my library books

**Starlight9803** · 04-26-2012, 08:17 AM

Wednesday 4/25:

* stayed home, no spending
* no heat or ac use, limited lights, blinds open for heat / light
* laundry in 1/2 detergent, hung outside to dry
* planning errands/clipping coupons for Thursday, to save gas
* used up odds and ends to make a veggie casserole for dinner last night
* baked cookies to last over the weekend for snacks, unfortunately DH ate them ALL when he got home from work. I swear he is worse than the kids lol
* exercising at home instead of joining a gym
* re-organized the pantry so that I don't keep "losing" things in the back of it

**smk0817** · 04-26-2012, 09:37 AM

Wed. 4/25

-no spend day
-minimal driving
-all meals from home
-refused to turn on heat in the morning even though there was a chill in the air. Told everyone to put on a sweatshirt. They were all walking around here in T shirts. Good grief!
-looked through all the grocery ads, nothing too exciting except 80% ground beef is $1.99 a pound. That's my stock up price.
-used an onion from our garden with dinner
-used up some sandwich meat for homemade lunchables for the kids
-got DH on board with using refillable KCup. That will save us atleast $30 a month!
-DD and DS are doing extra chores around the house to earn some spending money. I end up saving $ in the long run when I do this. It's much harder for them to spend their money vs. mine.

-did laundry and dishes during off peak hours
-didn't water gardens because it rained again
-used homemade cleaner on kitchen counters

Stephanie

**Telephus44** · 04-26-2012, 05:43 PM

*took coffee and lunch to work today
*dinner at my mom's house tonight
*found someone to take 3 bags of cat litter from us - working on getting ready for the baby and trying to declutter, and this woman is also giving us her swing and high chair - so good karma all around.

Not much I know - I'm 5 weeks away from my due date, and just having a hard time keeping my energy up.

**oheoh's momma** · 04-26-2012, 06:24 PM

telephus every bit helps helps... baby stuff helps a lot..
not frugal week at all used dryer more..
new family members are not keeping lights off and tvs off when not in room...
someone stepped in dog poop had to shampoo carpets...
wet towels put into clothes hampers to sour....washed and dryed.

frugal failure....

tele thank u for the update wondering how u were new it was close..prayers for a safe delievery.....

**brennasmom** · 04-26-2012, 07:45 PM

Hang in there Telephus!

* took lunch to work
* kids took packed lunches
* pulled out spaghetti sauce from freezer for dinner
* ate up an orange that was in the fridge
* made peach sorbet with some frozen peaches from last summer
* reading a book on my kindle that I downloaded for free from Amazon