While I continue to struggle with identifying areas to save money, I am trying to find more ways to be thrifty with my time and resources. I'm also trying to find places to shift expenses and where we might be able to do without in order to do more elsewhere. Take for instance, shopping at Aldi for a major shop last week, which left me more money that I could put towards buying diapers, and personal products, and flashlights with batteries. Those were for the women's shelter, a safety measure for helping to move women out often in the darkness of the night. It made it easier to throw the third package of wipes, diapers, and pads without thinking about into my cart. I know others are way more generous than myself, so I share this just as a way of how I redirected an expenses in order to spend more elsewhere. Really though, as several of you have put in comments, saving is about what we aren't doing as much about what we are.
Time
- Friday night Happy Hour was a nice treat. We took our time making mini flat bread pizzas and lingered on the deck on a perfect June evening with wine, and hard lemonades. I hardly missed Happy Hour at our local bar and grill.
- I have read ore the last 2 weeks than I did the first 12 weeks combined of Stay at Home. The inexpsisinve investment in chiars and seat pads for the porch has gotten me away from screens andmy nose in books. I think it is a better use of time.
Resources
- I reheated some pasta on Saturday, and realized as I was eating it was way more than I could eat, but was already in my bowl. I could have tossed, but put n a freezer container, labeled with my name so no one else would eat (and get my germs.) It was too good to throw, but I would have been unwell had I eaten any more.
- Finally used the reserve/check-out on line, curbpick up for the public library. DD2 had one book in her hands the next day, one is on route, and one she is third in line for. I think I might give it a go as well for July 4th weekend and treat myself to some new reads.
Money
- A whopping $119.26 paid out for AdSense. Sorry folks, I still haven't figured out how to make the ads there, but less annoying. I've had some nice eanrings for me though, so I hope you'll bear with it a bit longer.
- I did another on-line survey for a $2 reward, this one through Amazon. .
- This weeks FreebieShark Samples were for Dove and Degree Dry Deodorant. We use deodorant and I am not brand loyal so if it works so happy to try samples. THese are nice to have tucked in our drawersat the lake, or in a closet when DS visits if something is forgotten.
- I used a Walgreens code to get another free 8X10 from our trip two summers ago. I will have some nice memories for my home or work office of my family. This one was from the Central Square in Brussels, Belgium. The version I printed was a close up, but this is same space, cropped to get the guy walk by with a back pack out.
- I won't get a lot of use form this becasue with workign form home, I'm not near a Panera, but I singe dup for the free coffee club for the summer by going here.HERE. I havne't been there for a while and couldn't figure out my old accoutn so I just created a new one, and eanred a free pastry y 8/22. I'll cancel the coffee subscription by September 7th, but it might be a nice freebie break if I happen to drive by one over the summer. It is a favorite lunch place once we do start lunching again.
I'm going to try and be a bit more conscientious about throwing an extra item or two in my cart or basket when I shop so that I regularly have stuff to support local drives. We'll see where our fiances are at the end of June and look to make an updated donation to our local family service. I've continuing to drive very little, so I that savings can go towards additional donations. Things are still rough for so many people and I think it will stay that way for a long while. It's double edge sword though-we need to spend to help the same businesses who employ the people who are hurting. At least if I am frugal for our family, I can keep buying to help others and the economy.
Thank you for helping out the women's shelter. As someone who has used their services when my husband's violence got beyond bearable I know how much they really need it!
ReplyDeleteOne of my first jobs was with an Information and referral program which was attached to a shelter. It is near and dear to me.
DeleteI sometimes feel bad about making small donations - but they sure add up. Even in the last few months I have made a $20 here, $20 there donation. It counts and in Canada $20 is the minimum you get a tax receipt for. I also made a couple non deductible donations to a food relief effort in Mexico through friends. I do need to make a food bank donation one of these days. All charities are hurting right now. And yes, frugality definitely is more about what you don't do!
ReplyDeleteIt's little donations that cumulatively keep so many charities afloat. These are also the donations likely to help our neighbors and communities and go directly tot he need. We're all doing what we can I think.
DeleteI imagine it is not the amount you give to the shelter. It all adds up, so many people helping a little is great.
ReplyDeleteNo matter how hard the economy is on my family right now, others are actually physically hurting with abuse, hunger, pain. I do what I can, but know I should try to do more, even if little by little.
DeleteI try to always remember the words of one of our past ministers. He always said "It is a blessing to be a blessing" Such true words!
ReplyDeleteThose sure are true words. Having extra to give is truly a blessing.
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