Frugal challenge Feb 25 - Mar 4

**my4littlebuffaloes** · 02-25-2007, 09:16 PM

I hope no one minds me starting this thread. it holds me accountable!

- washed a bunch of ziploc bags
- hung a load of laundry
- wrote an article for $ on organic veggies
- heat at 65
- only spent $16 at the grocery store, we just didn't need much this week, which is so nice!
- figured out 3 of the 4 taxes we have to file - moving makes things difficult!
- used the cell phone for long distance
- dh and I went out last night with our church group, babysitting was $12 at the church for 3 hours for 4 kids and appetizers were 1/2 price. It was a nice night out.
- got a package ready to ship, mailing all 3 birthday presents to my brother-in-laws house at the same time, their birthdays are scattered over the next month

**baxjul** · 02-25-2007, 09:22 PM

Jennifer, great article! I loved it!

2/25
~picked up prescriptions, insurance paid for most of them
~cooked from pantry and freezer for dinner
~went to Winn Dixie, and spent very little
~didn't have to get alot of groceries, dh will be working out of town so only dd and I will be home for the week.
~hung laundry outside, washed all but one load in cold

**my4littlebuffaloes** · 02-25-2007, 09:30 PM

Thanks Julie, you made my day!

**GMA21** · 02-25-2007, 10:22 PM

2/28
*cooked from freezer & pantry
*spent zero $ today
*have laundry done for a few more days
*started selling on ebay

**mom2hancj** · 02-25-2007, 10:44 PM

Thanks for starting this thread...it keeps me accountable too!!

~ Heat on 66 at night, off during the day
~ made birthday cake from ds from mix bought from thrift grocery for .59cents
~ got stuff for goodie bags from rec dept...spent $5 total for 15 bags
~ Had lemonade and tea for party instead of sodas or juice pouches
~ Yesterday...bought bed sets from hotel for $50 for mattress, box springs, frame, and head board. Was going to buy a new set for $289...saved $239 minus cost for a mattress cover. Also got a futon at Walmart for $99 instead of buying this expensive couch for $249 from furniture store...saved $149
~ Used cloth pads
~ Budgeting out tax refund to decorate the house in the most frugal way possible and resisting all urges to just blow the refund
~ Beginning to work on budget for March
~ Used fish that had been thawed out for two days..made fish sandwiches for lunch and have leftovers for the next few days...they were yummy!! Just as good as the ones I like from IHOP
~ All meals from home

02-25-2007, 10:48 PM

Sunday, Feb. 25th...

*DH and I are updating our MS Money software, entering receipts, paying bills, and shredding end of year stuff for some much needed financial housekeeping. (On a good note, we're only in the hole $1600 this month - and really up $1200 because of the way the program records our IRA contributions as an expense rather than a transfer)
*Got a bunch of checks and deposit slips ready for a trip to the bank tomorrow
*Looked at CVS and Stop & Shop flyers online, decided that I didn't need to go to CVS this week, and made a list for Stop & Shop
*Looked online and found two printable coupons to match up with sales at Stop & Shop
*Went through my coupons and threw out expired ones
*We had an emergency stop at CVS today and I lost the ECB's that printed on my receipt, so I went online and printed them out (can I say how much I appreciate the program for letting me do this?)
*Went to Petco and both cat litter and cat food were on sale. Saved $8 from the sale, I also had a $3 coupon for the food and there was a coupon on the bag for a free can of cat food so I saved another $.72. Made a note that the sale on the food and litter ends March 11th, so I need to go back and get more.
*Had a big dinner at my aunt's house for some family birthday, was sent home with lots of leftovers, will either eat them for lunch tomorrow or send them to work with DH for him to eat tomorrow.
*Filled up the car today on $.05 off Sunday (also get $.01/gallon for UPromise)
*Ate breakfast at home, so no money spent on coffee or muffins at church
*My mom bought DS some baby yogurt, so he ate mostly free today and we got a bunch to take home

**bumplett** · 02-26-2007, 02:32 AM

Sunday 2/25

~ re-used bath water for the laundry
~ gave little j a haircut at home
~ went to one yard sale but was bummed when someone went shopping out of the goodies that I had in my basket - so disheartened, I bought nothing
~ picked up Rxs on the way home from yard sale, paid cash
~ cleaned out fridge - just because it needed it

~ started my 'to do' list for tomorrow

**smk0817** · 02-26-2007, 09:14 AM

Sunday:

-still sick and miserable so I didn't go anywhere today. No money spent
-all meals from home. Had chili for lunch that I had made back in the fall. DH taking the rest for lunch on Monday.
-watched race and read for entertainment
-I had the gas logs on quite a bit. Our central heat is making a funny sound upstairs so we shut if off. Didn't want to spend atleast $200 for a weekend service call. DH will attempt to fix it on Tuesday when he's off work.
-DH asked me when did I plan on buying a new leather sofa for the living room. We have a microsuede one now (about 1 1/2) years old that he somehow broke. He currently has a wooden block under it to make it level. This was not a cheap couch $ wise. I guess it was poorly constructed. Anyways, I told him I was not going to go buy a new sofa until he finds out if he can fix the upstairs heat. I think he was floored.

Stephanie

**mrsvargas** · 02-26-2007, 04:58 PM

2/25
- friends couldn't fly here from Chicago, so didn't go out no money spent
- ate all meals at home
- washed 2 loads in cold, hung to dry

2/26
- took DS( 7mos) to well baby visit. Questioned having to pay co-pay due to change in policy. I was right, visit was free.
- ate leftovers for lunch
- eating from freezer and pantry for dinner

**bumplett** · 02-26-2007, 05:16 PM

Monday 2/26

~ meals at home
~ laundry in cold with homemade laundry det
~ washed dishes by hand
~ I was given a stack of jeans from a friend for my big J to wear - I'm going to make shorts out of them

~ Cherry starts her doggy ob training class tonight - if she doesn't get kicked out

This was a 6 week class for $40 through the county school system

02-26-2007, 05:23 PM

Monday, Feb. 26th...

*All meals at home
*Leftovers for lunch
*Only driving was to my dr's appt, and I did not stop at the farm stand for a snack on the way home.
*Only money spent was on my co-pay ($15)
*Got a coupon in the mail for a free VS panty and $10 off any bra - I was hoping for one of these. I want to go in and get fitted to see what my real size is, then I'll buy one in the store and more on eBay.
*Sold a book on Half.com
*Got a free listing of daycare providers in my area from a state agency, went through and did some elimination based on hours and location, have a list of 11 left to work from.

**Nada.Leona** · 02-26-2007, 06:16 PM

26/02:

~ breakfast and lunch made at home
~ drank water all day
~ had to buy two cards and get a money order, plus S&H -- $21.68
~ going to join the gym tonight -- $20
~ supper was going to be stir-fry, but that would send me overbudget on the Grocery Challenge, I just realized, so supper will probably be roasted butternut squash soup

**geckoace** · 02-26-2007, 08:22 PM

had a no spend day cause DH took my car, his is in the shop
ate lots of leftovers
used my dryer balls, as always
also went through the storage room and pulled out a ton of stuff we dont need to keep. tomorrow i will sort through and see whats sellable, whats freecyclable and whats donatable.
made a sale on half will get DH to ship it tomorrow from work.
made a spreadsheet for upcoming expenses and where the money is saved for them.

**Libby** · 02-26-2007, 09:43 PM

My attempt at staying frugal this week?

* entertainment is playing on the net and watching DVD's or reading

* washing laundry ahead of when I'll need it so its all done air drying on the racks!

* nightly home spa treatments (soaking feet in epsom salts to prevent further issues with my feet) may do the clay mask after?

* making my list of things I NEED to buy this Saturday when I finally get to spend some QT with the bf - havent seen him in 2 wks b/c of our schedules and one of us being sick - its going back and forth

*adjust budget yet again! hopefully march will be a better month with 3 pay days!

* bringing lunch to work & staying in for dinner vs going out