Frugal Challenge December 4-10

**Mom23boys** · 12-04-2005, 05:29 PM

How much can you save on this week?

I am starting with:
~clipping coupons
~using last year's 75% off wrapping paper to wrap this year's presents
~trading some coupons
~DH is bringing home some barrels from work. They were going to toss them away. We will use one for a burn barrel. Going to end our $30 a month trash removal service.
~DH received a $20 GC from Wal-Mart last night.

~used last years Christmas cards, cut the picture out with craft scissors to make gift tags for the presents

**Telephus44** · 12-04-2005, 09:29 PM

Well, I have a lot of prep work for the dinner we're hosting on Saturday, but I'm sure I can find some ways to save!

Today:
*Got our tree at the grocery store rather than at our usual tree place. The tree dost $30 instead of $40-$50.
*Ate out for lunch, but we split one appetizer and each had a bowl of soup, then split a dessert. Much cheaper than we usually do.
*Went over my in-laws and got some sale flyers and coupon inserts without actually buying the paper
*Heat is still off - trying to keep lights off

**dwallyfam** · 12-04-2005, 10:26 PM

Today ate leftovers from our annual Christmas party. That was done very cheaply.

Did mountains of laundry. Did have to dry though. Got behind.

**Mojjo** · 12-04-2005, 10:45 PM

Sunday

~all laundry in cold
~prepped for meals all week so we won't be tempted to order out
~prepped for lunches all week so we won't be tempted to order out (notice a theme)
~balanced checkbook
~talked to Dept. of Ed. and the forebared (sic) my past due amount on my loan so I'm current
~cut coupons
~found christmas cards in box that I forgot we bought last year so now I don't have to buy them this year...just need stamps
~drank water...not soda

**hollyhill** · 12-04-2005, 11:49 PM

~missed Church this morning because of snow/ice

~had pancakes for breakfast
~made soup for lunch
~snow finally began to thaw in pm
~sister came to take oldest Dd to her theater Christmas show this afternoon so That I could take youngest Dd to a fiddling recital/fddling show in the park. I had tried in vain to get a ticket for Dsis to see Dd's show as a thank-you, but it was sold out. Today Dsis just stood by the door and someone GAVE her a ticket they didn't need !

So she got to see the show and I didn't have to pay for the ticket!!!!
~Little Dd was given a gingham red checked ruffled skirt for fiddling (it is part of the uniform) by a parent whose child had outgrown it

. She looked so cute in it.
~Dd also got free glowsticks and hotdogs. We both had free cider and popcorn.
~recieved an RAOK, a huge box of food and baking supplies.

**SHOPGIRL** · 12-05-2005, 12:37 AM

Sunday, December 4

~Stayed home all day
~Cooked brunch at home from scratch, thawed out chicken-we'll eat it tomorrow night, ended up ordering pizza, but used a coupon.
~Thoroughly cleaned the kitchen, used amonia and liquid soap to clean 3 mini-blinds. They are such a pain to clean, I'm going to be looking for roman shades to replace them.
~Did a major overall on one of my rooms, found xmas gifts I had previously purchased but totally forgot about!
~I was able to buy two Harry Potter DVD's for $20 for a friend's Christmas gift.
~Cooked up a bunch of squash and put it in the freezer for meals throughout the winter. The squash was given to me.

**i.m.cheap** · 12-05-2005, 01:25 AM

Sunday, December 4

Cooked pancakes and sausage for brunch
Went thrift store shopping for some new clothes for dd. We did really well, finding a great pair of black leather boots just like we had been looking for, a Christmas dress, two other very nice two piece dress outfits, two shirts, a National Geographic hardcover book called "Our Amazing World" filled with awesome photos (for our homeschool), a computer book for DH (cover price $19.99, we paid 39¢), a Fantasy novel for dd, and a neat pair of bookends for Molly's room. Total spent was $11.86

Came home and did three loads of laundry, then went to purchase a few groceries. Spent $14.92 at the grocery store.

For dinner we had fish fillets (purchased on sale with a coupon), coleslaw, cottage cheese and fruit.

After dinner, went through dd's closet and dresser, pulling out all the clothes that no longer fit, and organizing what was left. Wrapped three Christmas presents using paper purchased at 90% off after last Christmas.

**ChristineLynne** · 12-05-2005, 09:28 AM

Sunday:

Returned a rug to World Market, came home with more money than I left with (a rarity!).

Kept up with DH, turning off lights after him.

Ate in all day.

Finally put stupid "programmable" thermostat on manual (66 degrees) until I can figure out why it keeps defying me and running the heat at 75!

Worked on a scarf for Xmas gift. (Total cost of yarn was about $12, and I'll have plenty left over after I'm done.)

**peanut** · 12-05-2005, 10:58 AM

~ work on dd's wedding outfit

~ do Christmas baking

~ make meals from scratch

~ permanent grocery exile

~ make up a menu plan for December

**PrairieRose** · 12-05-2005, 11:31 AM

~Laundry in cold
~Lites and computer off when not in use
~Drinking water only
~Eating leftovers from last nite for lunch and supper
~Heat down
~Blinds open to let sun shine in to warm living room

**beckanoah** · 12-05-2005, 12:01 PM

Frugal today.

Straight to and from dd's school dropping and picking her up.
Warming car up for 5 minutes first (grr) but it was only 10 degrees.
Work from home (boring) but forcing myself to do it.
Eating leftovers (POTATO SALAD) for breakfast. MMMM, homemade too.
Turning leftover Pork roast and mashed potatoes into BBQ Pork Sandwiches and potato pancakes for supper
Cleaning
Heat low (it's still 20 out) brrrrrrrr.
Lights off
Limiting computer time.
Took 12 cans in for a food drive (bought cheaply, I may add) for dd's school.
Resisting urge to shop online...biggie here.

**Mamaw** · 12-05-2005, 05:04 PM

Not a frugal weekend. finished holiday shopping and ate out with dh. Splurged on a lighted snowman for the deck that I did not need but fell in love with. Should not have spent for that but since I did, I intend to enjoy it! And he does make me smile..
But back on track today

Left over chile, salad and baked apples for dinner today. Using up the leftovers!
Washed 1 load in cold
Hoping to put up christmas tree tonight
Might be able to begin wrapping gifts. Have old cards cut up for tags and sale wrapping paper as well as left over bags etc from last year.
Resisting urge to shop more tonight
Trying very hard to count my blessings

**Mojjo** · 12-05-2005, 05:16 PM

~all meals from home
~laundry in cold
~DH had to go to doctor and have x-rays...thanks to insurance it was only $10
~going to write out christmas cards tonight...by definition can't do that and spend money at the same time
~had a good evaluation this period at work - will help get better job
~got free holiday envelopes from credit union - will work well with envelope system

**celina** · 12-05-2005, 05:36 PM

if i may jump in

yesterday NOT frugal seen where i went wrong hopefully wont get caught again

today
-used all old paper and tags to wrap gifts...
-REFUSE to buy paper this year until 75% off even if i have to get creative
-actually am making the supper i planned instead of letting meat rot in fridge
-took a shift to bartend tonight, DO NOT FEEL like going but an extra 50$ to pay down debt is good.
-when i was sad (mom is ill) i did not indulge in shopping online...i took a nap instead....

so here's to a good week for all of us and i hope to most on this thread often if you'll have me

**Mom23boys** · 12-05-2005, 09:25 PM

~heat off while noone home
~took lunch to work
~DH took lunch to work
~put draft stoppers aroud the doors
~received 3-$10 GC to walmart (redeemed MyPoints points)