Thursday, May 30, 2019

Thrifty Thursday-Simple Joys


The choir concert was so good last night. I was a teary, though not sobbing, ball of emotions. It isn’t just DD2 but seeing all her friends wearing their senior corsages and knowing after graduation, they all are moved into the land of adults. It was hard with my older two, but of course, I was still in full on parent mode for another decade. For the senior slide show song, a beautiful song I had not heard before, a former soccer kid of mine, also in girl scouts, show choir, plus a member of our church, signed the entire song directly to her parents, both of whom are deaf. I did feel tears actually run down my cheek in that song. I ordered the DVD and didn’t bother trying to video any of the concert.

 I’ve a full workday and then tomorrow is my alternate flex day since I worked last Friday. I’m hoping the vet has a spot for Pup. He needs his boosters, plus he gets his haircut there because he can be calmed while they do it. Overall, I think it doesn’t cost much more than a groomer and he is so agitated, this works much better. Not an inexpensive venture but needed. I’m trying to think of any thrift for the week. I was about to just bypass thrifty Thursday all together, but I did capture some economy here and there. Besides, if I get out of my thrifty mindset, I may not keep sight of the big picture and that small savings do add up.



·         We’ve made good use of leftovers this week. While I overspent heading to the lake, there were a lot of staples that I just left there for future use. While I’ve lost track of May spending and know it is high, we have eaten out less, and overall, I think our food budget is on track.

·         I wanted DD2 to have a college sweatshirt. While we had to pay for shipping, we used a 20% bookstore discount which not only paid for the shipping, dropped the price a few dollars as well.

·         Confirmed the borrowing of a friends chocolate fountain and decided not to order a cake. While the cost of the chocolate. It’s more a trade off than thrift, but I know the chocolate will go with fruit and inexpensive sponge cake and Rice Krispy treats while the cake would be at risk of waste.

·         I had ordered a new double trash can and rugs from Walmart with free pick-up at the store. I am pleased with the garbage can as I will no longer have the separate loose bag for recycling. The can was rated very high, and was $35 less than the closest model I found at either Target or Amazon.

·         Walmart gave me a 10% coupon for any on-line order. Of, course, I would need to buy something so it is not a savings yet, so perhaps shouldn’t be listed but I’m trying to get to five bullet points.

Not every week has major financial wins, but I’m not blowing our pay checks on stupid spending either. I’m often surprised at how little things, like a new double garbage can that solves a long-time kitchen annoyance, can please me so much. I guess a sign of a good life is when you don’t need to splash out big bucks for simple joy. My daughters’ concert is my number one example of that.

10 comments:

  1. You hit the nal on the head, Sam. It's surprising how little things can please us so much. I rearranged the furniture in my bedroom this week and needed a fan for cooling and comfort. We stopped at Lowe's and picked one up for $18 and I slept so much better last night. It's the little things in life that bring joy. I loved the story of your daughter's concert.

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    1. An open window on a mild, but coolish night-heaven! Simple, well prepared food is a delight. I find each year my appreciation for simple is increased.

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  2. You know what you are exactly right about the little things being able to please. Last week, I was leaving the house through our mudroom/pantry and I looked at our big window in there and was disgusted again by the curtain that one of the cats had shredded trying to get a fly LAST fall. I was headed to Walmart anyway so I decided to buy a replacement curtain (sheer white curtain so under $10 for the set) and now I smile everytime I walk by the window which is a lot considering I see it when I leave, when I get something out of the freezer or off the pantry shelves. It really is the little things.

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    1. I will relish in having a clean and organized house. Then, back to tackle my office. I do not want more-really want less and more simple. I love your example of small changes and big impact.

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  3. Heh. I have a wall mounted plastic bag dispenser on my Amazon wish list. I would be delighted if that was one of my Christmas gifts.

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    1. Yes-I'd like one that could go under my sink on the side of the cupboard.

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  4. Isn't that the truth. Simple things can bring you so much joy.

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    1. I'm trying to appreciate the simple more and more.

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  5. I know the choir concert was difficult. I think watching the kids at whatever they did is what I missed the most when they left home.
    And you are so right, the simple things do bring the most joy.

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    1. The concert was wonderful-realizing that was it, was the difficult part! I look forward to new adventures with her and my other two-maybe a Pip of my own some day.

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