Frugal Challenge 5/20 - 5/26

**baxjul** · 05-20-2007, 10:25 AM

What are we doing this week?

~praying for

, to water the lawn and put out fires
~using samples of Tylenol for sore throat
~will do dh's laundry in cold (later when he gets home)
~hang to dry
~made my first ever menu plan for the week
~will try not to eat out at all this week
~a/c off, lights off, tv off

**Hollyhandi** · 05-20-2007, 12:01 PM

Lights will be off
Washing clothes except whites and barn clothes in cold
TV will be off
Hang clothes outside weather permitting
Cooking from scratch
Hope to spend most of my time outdoors working on the gardens

**lullaby80** · 05-20-2007, 08:09 PM

- only eating at home for the week
- mon-fri no spend days (not even gasoline)
- wash everything except baby clothes and diapers in cold
- list some stuff for sale on eBay

**my4littlebuffaloes** · 05-21-2007, 02:57 PM

this is for the weekend.

- washed ziploc baggies
- hung a load of laundry, although I did 3 yesterday and dried them in the dryer.
- dh's parents were in town and they took us out to lunch and then bought dh a pair of work shoes
- Made a list for the grocery store, but them decided against a few items on the list when I was at the store. Saved about $10 that way, just decided I didn't really need them.
- got 3 14 oz things of mustard free
- used a $10 giftcard from mypoints to go towards a pair of shorts and shirt at Kohls

I guess it wasn't a very frugal weekend after all. But we had a nice time with the inlaws.

Jennifer

**my4littlebuffaloes** · 05-21-2007, 06:16 PM

Some from today

- washed more ziploc baggies
- wrote an article about teaching kids about money through garage sales
- dinner from scratch and I am making double, 1 for the freezer
- scratch bread for breakfast this morning, and there should be enough for tomorrow morning too
- lights off
- I forgot that I got some great things garage saling this weekend

**baxjul** · 05-21-2007, 06:16 PM

5/21

~saved a baggie
~not using dryer
~laundry in cold
~no lights on, a/c off, windows open
~eating from refrig and freezer
~using samples of facial lotion
~going to list some clothes on ebay

**Jeannee** · 05-21-2007, 08:46 PM

5/21
All meals at home(except DH ate at Mcdonalds due to being out with fellow workers today. He chose a sandwich from dollar menu so not bad.
Used leftover juice from salmon to put on dogs food.
Used leftover water to water outside plants and leftover rinse water to put in washing machine.
Planted seeds instead of buying flowers for pots outside

**YankeeMom** · 05-22-2007, 02:34 PM

Gosh I haven't kept up all week!!
5/20
~no laundry
~no heat
~lights were out, blinds open
~breakfast, lunch, & dinner from the pantry
~only ran a full dishwasher load

5/21
~washed 6 loads of laundry in cold
~hung out 6 loads of laundry
~lights out, blinds open
~heat off, no fans on
~breakfast, lunch, & dinner at home (dh took lunch to work)
~only ran full dishwasher load

5/22
~washed 3 loads of laundry in cold
~hung out 3 loads of laundry
~lights out, tv off, blinds open
~heat off, no fans on
~baking ds's birthday cake myself rather than buy a store one
~dh gets free lunch at a meeting today
~only ran a full dishwasher load
~washed baggies to reuse (they had bakery bagels in them)

**tbs727** · 05-22-2007, 03:24 PM

I haven't joined in on this in a long time, so I'll add a few from this week...
* Hang clothes dry
* Served dinner at home for several friends last night
* picked up freecycle futon that was in great shape with a perfect mattress.
* Brought lunch to work
* ordering movies from Library to pick up
* drinking tea instead of soda

**lukesmama** · 05-22-2007, 04:43 PM

This week so far, I've...
-tried to use up odds and ends in the fridge, like some cheese that's nearing the end of its edible life
-cut back on coffee where possible, saving my half-cup remnant from brealfast to reheat after lunch
-made a bargain run today, combining errands to save gas, and picked up clearance pullups (and used coupons on them too) and really cheap formula by combining store coupon with manufacturer coupon
-watching our portions, we're all eating less, which is good (not 2yo, he still eats like a horse most days)
-washed hair with free shampoo this morning and bathed with free body wash
-bathing children only as needed (usually every 2 days for toddler, every 2-3 for the baby)
-letting DS use my old unwanted scrapbooking stuff for crafts (like not-so-lovely paper, kiddie stickers, etc)...keeps us from buying him too many art supplies and helps use up my overage
-putting an ounce or so less formula in baby's bottle (he has a bad spitting up problem, this seems to help, and he still doesn't ever finish it anyway...and yet he's still chunky...must be genes

)
-i am skipping breakfast some days, i never have time with two little ones to enjoy it anyway, and this makes lunch taste better
-trying to minimize afternoon snacking, we all enjoy dinner much more when we're hungry...and DS isn't quite so picky when he hasn't been running around with a baggie of goldfish crackers all afternoon!
-using my dishwasher 1x a day, sometimes less, but always air drying dishes
-returned some clothes i didn't like yesterday (and then promptly spent almost the entire amount on t-shirts for DS....smart, huh...)
-returned some defective diapers this morning, received store gift card which will be used to purchase more when they go back on sale

**Mamaw** · 05-22-2007, 05:14 PM

Not a frugal time so far. Went to visit DGD and spent tons between gas and dinner for everyone. Then yesterday took DD on a planned shopping trip and spent too much. Got good prices and buys but still spending anyway you look at it. So......to get back on track today
~Washing in cold and watching products being used
~dinner is leftovers from last week. Must go day!
~made menu for the rest of the week and the weekend. Will have DGD for the weekend so there will be some "special" items in the grocery list.
~Had DD take a car chock full of items to the local goodwill. Tax deduction at least
~Keeping AC at 77 and turning it off at night
~working on budget for next month as well as July
~continue to declutter and clean up
~received product to test

**warramra** · 05-22-2007, 05:45 PM

I am having a hard time coming up with anything new right. We seem to be doing the same things each day, with minor differences based on our routine. I like where we are, I just wish I could think of something new to try that would work with the family right now.

So far this week:
~ kept the ac off - have not turned it on yet this season
~ handwatering & spot-watering the garden every other day. Trying to reuse water from baths as much as possible.
~ Meals from our stockpile - have not shopped much at all this month. Last night made beef-a-roni using the leftover hm spaghetti sauce from Saturday night. Eating salads made with lettuce and spinach greens from our garden.
~ Hanging laundry to dry. Today was a NO Laundry day
~ Only the two-year-old gets a daily bath (because she is nasty by the end of the day) everyone else does every-other day.
~ Keeping lights off, except one CFL bulb in family room which we need since the curtains are pulled to reduce afternoon heating.
~ Unplugging electronics and using rechargable batteries where possible
~ Using cloth diapers
~ No driving/no spend day today

**smk0817** · 05-22-2007, 06:00 PM

5/20:
-cut coupons and matched them with sales
-lights out/air off
-didn't run the dishwasher
-went to Wal Mart and didn't go overboard (spent $20)
-did buy myself 2 new pairs of shoes for $60 but they are name brand and better last a LONG time
-gave myself a manicure
-entertainment was the kids swimming in a friend's pool
-received a "new" Slushie maker
-used sample of shampoo

5/21:
-went grocery shopping using coupons matched up with sales. Saved almost 50%. Would have been more if I hadn't needed to buy dog food.
-all meals at home
-blinds open/lights and TV off until late
-using "old" doggie water to water my plants
-joined a coupon train
-used sample of shampoo

5/22:
-ugh, went shopping today. Didn't do too bad but still... Got a graduation present, 2 birthday presents & a wedding present for around $40. It's the "extras" I bought that added up (a new bathing suit for me, swimming trunks for dh, etc...)
-went to library and got cooking magazines to liven up my menus! Also got a book about canning. I'm thinking I might want to give it a try. We'll see...
-DS was wanting a new video game. Told him I wasn't gonna pay for it. He decided to trade in some of his games that he doesn't play anymore. Out of pocket was $1.26. Not bad.
-did eat out for lunch but got 3 KFC snackers for us (me, dd,ds) costing $3
-breakfast and dinner at home
-blinds down to keep out heat, air up, fans on
-no laundry day
-had no late fees at the library even though I could have sworn I owed a dollar

That's all I can think of for now!
Stephanie

**Mom23boys** · 05-22-2007, 10:13 PM

~Hung laudry out to dry
~All meals from home
~Gave myself a free pedicure

**baxjul** · 05-23-2007, 08:02 AM

5/23

~no lights on
~a/c off
~windows open for breeze
~no laundry today
~lunches packed for everyone
~only working part time now, looking for one more child to babysit
~reading library books for entertainment