Thursday-Money Meh!

      I keep saying thrift is a great way to feel ok with splurges and treats from time to time. We've had splurges and treats this month, and will have more as we enter September. For that reason, I'm going to do a couple money challenges, but they won't be " no eating out" or "extreme grocery budget" challenge. I'll push any challenge out until after September 7th too. I'm going to have all three kids within 25 miles of me for the first time in 32 months for five days. It's possible it'll be another year or more before that happens again. I  will not worry about nickels and dimes over labor day weekend. 

     But even with a meh attitude towards money, I still don't want to waste, and I want to take advantage of opportunities to save or earn when presented. Here's a few of those.

• Used misfit tomatoes and onions from my daughter's garden to make pasta sauce. Used a huge beef steak variety from her garden for grilled bacon and cheese with tomato sandwiches. The remnants we're tossed in masala. 
• Used $20 Kohls cash towards basic towels. They'll ship to store near my daughter's work and she'll pick up if I'm not nearby, avoiding shipping costs. 
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  Airfare was not cheap, but helped DS find the best flight option and price that allowed for a good travel schedule. 
• Our KwikTrip was completely out of bananas so stopped on route to my daughter's at a different one. I hadn't had coffee and was pleased that I had reached free coffee status. They make a good cup! Get those loyalty cards. I get points for every stop and we use KwikTrip a lot for top offs. 
• I gave my daughter my Menards receipt to add to hers for a 11% rebate. She'll need this and that household items like a rake, gardening tools, mulch, etc. and will put the voucher to good use. She'll get over $17 back after her essential buys of garden hose and dehumidifier.
• We both found great prices on home cleaning basics at Menards, less than any other store, even before the 11% rebate. My daughter was awed by how much other than building, remodeling, and appliances the store carried, including a  grocery section. I found cargo shorts at a great price for DS for part of a Christmas present too. If Menards doesn't have it, you don't need it. 
  
  
  
• Fetch receipts loaded; MS Rewards points earned. 
• On two seperate stops by my daughter's, I bought  five, I pound bags of cheeses curds at $2.00 each at the cheese store ( what I call it). These had a short sell date, but I'll freeze. They might not taste as fresh eating plain, but for cooking, I'll gladly use at that price. Even store brand cheese is topping $4 per pound.  Two were plain, but also got a sour cream, a taco, and buffalo seasoned which will be great for chicken dishes. 
• Starting to think about labor day weekend meals, so cooked up both black and pinto beans for tacos and fajitas. They taste so much better than canned and will help feed the masses.

     September has me thinking cooking budget challenges as new school year seems ripe for new learning. We'll keep tightening our belts this fall with perhaps an October challenge too, freeing up funds as the holidays approach. How about your thrifty wins?