- I helped DD1 clean every inch of her apartment, leaving it looking better than when she moved in. If she doesn't get every penny back from her security deposit I will go Mama Bear for her.
- I hate selling things for fundraisers, but the annual poinsettia/winter sale I did share via my Facebook page. With no real effort as people just contacted me if they were interested, she had quite a few sales and earned about $50 to off set show choir expenses.
- We had to winterize and get new tires for my car, the necessary evil in my life. While it came in at $700 (set aside in our tax, insurance, house and care maintenance account), DH learned a couple days later he would get a $100 rebate on the tires.
- I took advantage of the last free coffee Tuesday at Holiday this week when I got gas.
- DH, though his negotiating over the phone drives me crazy, finagled a $10 a month discount on our Direct TV bill. It's painful to listen to, but he usually scores something like a bonus channel or two for a few months. Discounts are much better.
We have bills to pay this weekend and another installment of show choir. We went out for dinner last night for our anniversary at a local Mexican restaurant we hadn't been to for a while. It was just OK, and I was reminded why it has been a while since we last ate there. Money was spent on business lunches this week for both of us, plus meals last weekend and pizza for moving, so I'm tightening my belt this weekend on meals. How did you all do in frugality and thrift this last week? Did you have any big or little wins to help you keep motivated?
I thought I'd try to do a little linking up this week with some bloggers I read regularly on thrift and frugality. This week, I’m linking up with Cass, Emma and Becky in this week’s ‘Five Fabulously Frugal things I’ve done this week linky.
I spent a fair chunk of money last Friday and Saturday (the first days of my financial week) because I went out with friends on Friday and bought myself a (small) collectible on Saturday. Then I had another $30 expense (which currently eludes me) on Monday. But since then things have evened out, and the "week" should last 8-9 days at this rate. So overall I'd say it was a successful one.
ReplyDeleteI hate when the purchases elude me. I'm trying to figure out where $20 went last week. Oh well.
DeleteIt is hard to be really thrifty when you still have kids to care for. But alas they are so worth it. Wish I was close I would buy poinsettias!
ReplyDeleteThey are lovely flowers, but pricey. I don't want to push them, but just make people that would be buying anyway aware that they can order from her and proceeds support her costs. She is worth every penny!
DeleteThat's unfortunate about your anniversary meal out - that is the main reason we don't often eat out here. There is really only one restaurant that has never dissappointed, the expensive greek restaurant but I would rather go for one of those dinners than 5 of the other kind. Happy Anniversary!
ReplyDeleteI could have made us a nice meal at home with a nice bottle of wine-might be just the thing next year.
DeleteWinter tires are so expensive!
ReplyDeleteThis week I got a free cappuccino with my reward card at my favorite coffee shop and a tank top with leftover money on a gift card. I spend $0 between Monday and Friday, it felt great!
I thought I misheard him when he said the amount! I always forget, but when you drive 25,000 miles a year, the car needs to be safe. Good on you1 I need a no spend week, but not likely. I'll settle for low spend and humble meals form my kitchen.
DeleteI guess it is a comfort to see haggling and negotiating still gets results. no harm asking I suppose.
ReplyDeleteIt is cringe worthy though. "How come if I was a new customer I would only pay ,,,Why don't you treat your long term customers better..."
DeleteLove your thrifty things. I hate haggling with the tv service and I am doing it next week. I have been a long customer but they seem to only place value on new subscribers.
ReplyDeleteThat is DH's thought, so about every 9=12 months, he gets on the phone with various companies and does his shopping around spiel. He always comes out with something, but it still would be hard for me so I just try and stay away!
DeleteI like the idea of Frugal Friday.:-) Anything for motivation and cheering one another on. Tires are expensive, but a 100 dollar rebate is a huge win, yay!
ReplyDeleteThe rebate being a surprise a couple days later helps the sting of the tire cost considerably! I too like to read peoples Frugal Fridays, and Thrifty Thursdays. I bounce between the two.
DeletePretty poor job of economizing here this week. DS only has one class at the high school, and for some reason doesn't want to drive himself in, so DH drives him, waits in the car reading, then takes him out to eat afterwards. Add that to his evening class on the college campus two evenings/week and a quick bite after, and, well, you see where this is going! I don't see this changing until the quarter ends, and, frankly, seeing DS actually ENJOY heading to a class makes it worth it. Wednesday, they let DD accompany them to campus, where she wandered about, watched part of an anatomy lab, and had a quick conversation with the Spanish professor. At dinner afterwards, she gushed about how she couldn't wait for her turn to get on campus! I am not adding up the cost of meals out, because I am afraid they will surpass the tuition! (Tuition waived in this program.) On the homefront, I'm still in use-it-up-mode in preparation for our spring move. I am also in throw-it-out mode. If there is an item (clothing, toy, book, furniture) we don't have heartstrings to, it gets donated or tossed. I have been doing weekly purges of my own stuff, and the kids are, for the most part, on board. DD has done a stellar job of paring down her things. DH is the real holdout. Fortunately, he doesn't have much stuff! Knowing I am trying to scale back possessions make economizing a lot easier.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend!