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Thank you all collectively for the warm thoughts and a few blunt realities. I was quite non-specific on what all is going on, but it's not all kid related. While I want them to be happy and life smooth, they've got good heads on their shoulders and will problem solve. There's extended family and work stress that is equally fueling my second hand anxiousness. But, I need to remember I can only put order where I have influence, and just be a support elsewhere. Keep telling me this, ok?
Order in my life needs to be focused on our retirement goals. Doing a mid year analysis showed holes in our spending, but I think they're fillable. I need to go back and read and watch some frugal mavens and get my mojo back. I'll start renewed focus by recapping Thrifty Thursday success.
- Receipts loaded in Fetch.
- Continued to earn MS Rewards points.
- We had free entertainment with concert and watched Free Guy. Free Guy was highly entertaining though I needed some narration for context I didn't understand.
- I could save this for Positively Tuesday, but what more thrifty way to start a day but s home brewed mug of coffee, a dog, and the sunrise coming through the trees.
- Used up a few items from my daughter's kitchen as she needs to eat down. We'll restock her kitchen once she finds and gets settled in a new home.
- She also passed on a full bag of coffee she's had a while. She tends to just have a coffee at work, then drinks tea and water.
- We won a t-shirt and hat at Vingo- nothing special to save money, but there's always a need for both at the lake. There's a tatty hat thing DH can toss!
- Meal planned options for at least two weeks. Used leftovers for lunch. Now, will we stick to these meal options? I vow not to go out for anymore meals except for our road trip as needed.
- Not mine, but my daughter negotiated an additional 75¢ an hour and no weekends if she would work the 4:00a.m.-12:00 shift. Since just summer, she figured it could work. Unless she has plans late, she should get a decent night of sleep, but could take a power nap if needed. She'll take home $200 more with this shift, and we and friends get her on weekends. She's training until Sunday, then starts her new early shift on June 20.
- I used a coupon for my gas. My daughter was low and running late, so she took my car but later I took hers to fill with a coupon as well. Not a fortune, but cumulatively saved $1.60. I combined errands as well to the bank, post office, and Dollar Tree for mailing envelope.
- Got her transcript mailed so she'll be set for her scholarship payment.
- Helped her set up her Frontline Worker pay request. Every bit she is able to save will be put towards relocating after college, grad school, or both. I know there's different opinions about these payments so not wanting a debate on the merits. She's entitled as she actually worked three front line jobs in the time period, and has needs like others do.
- I desperately needed decent sandals to replace a pair now four years old. I shopped around reviews on comfort and support, and ended up finding a pair at 40% off. Ok, I bought a cute strappy slide too, but also 40% off. Sometimes I am choosing not to do without, but still want good value. I desperately need to paint my toes.
Amazing! Look at your daughter go :) Look at you all go, really!
ReplyDeleteShe's motivated since she'll have 4 months without any side money coming in while she studies abroad.
DeleteThe sandals are super cute! Love the detailing on the front strap.
ReplyDeleteWe took M to dinner for his birthday, and brought our own wine. The restaurant has a $25 corkage fee, but we still saved quite a bit over the cost of purchasing from the restaurant. The markup on wine is significant.
The residential camp Nick was supposed to attend this week was moved (without notice) & I'm supposed to get a refund. It was very expensive, and no refund has been issued yet. I need to call & track that down, especially since I registered him for an alternative.
They are the added pair. The black look like a Birkenstock with a back strap. Comfortable but not fashionable. The mark up in wines is huge. Even our bar and grill has like a 75% mark-up, getting $20 for a $7 bottle of Barefoot Wine, but at $6 a glass, it's still cheaper by the bottle if two of us have wine.
DeleteI never had a picky eater except eating anything gritty (pears mostly) and squishy (mushrooms). My grandkids are not picky either. I think I have one great grandson that is a little picky but he loves raw veggies.
ReplyDeleteIt's boredom and really liking certain fast foods. Chipotle be damned! My husband loves Arby's. I'd rather eat leftovers or PB and J.
DeleteFirst of all, he has to be on the same page as far as saving money on eating out! Then, having things ready to eat will work. I finally got Tommy out of the Hardees for breakfast habit by just having the premade patties for him to eat. Now, we don't stop there and he does not eat the patties, either. He wants things he can wander in and microwave. But, if there is fruit in the refrigerator, he will eat some of that, too. He can now actually put together a pretty good lunch or snack just by going to the refrigerator. Before I came, he ate out buying burgers or biscuits five times a week, at least.
ReplyDeleteHe gets it- just when he takes breaks, he just really wants a break. He says he doesn't come home because the doesn't want to interrupt me.
DeleteDuring the winter we have a lot of soups/stews/chili in the freezer for lunches and during the summer it is usually salads, hummus and veggies or wraps. We also will eat left overs from the night before if there are any. I make a lot of egg rolls, empanadas, pizza pockets with various fillings and other hand held pocket sandwiches for the freezer to pull out for lunches also. Easy to pop in the ninja and heat up. I've found variety is the key especially for my husband.
ReplyDeleteI have four lunches prepared for my daughter- or alternative suppers if she's working. I need to plan ahead. She's a veggie eater but not salad eater.
DeleteBack in the day, my response to picky eating was "Eat what you want, leave what you don't want, but keep your comments to yourself." Never had the lunch issue with DH, as his meals at work were provided (pilot), so I didn't have the lunches out issue with him. As far as the kids went, I packed school lunches, and only allowed $25/year in their accounts for emergencies. (Forgot lunch, Mom not up to making them, preferred what the school was serving, etc.)When I worked, my lunch out money came from my weekly spending money. That said, DH LOVES eating out, and would always take the kids to eat when he picked them up. It sort of annoyed me, but in retrospect, I'm glad he did that. The two youngest still talk about the time he was driving them to school shortly before Christmas break, and, right before he should have turned right to the middle school, he turned left to take them to their favorite cafe for breakfast, then drove them home.
ReplyDeleteI think both my husband and daughter are suffering from food fatigue, so they want what they know they'll like. It needs to be reigned in though. DH does not need the sodium. She needs to adjust to a more simple home cooked menu.
DeleteYour daughter is doing well! I wonder if her picky friend is paying attention. Love the sandals!
ReplyDeleteShe works hard. All my kids do. No job for friend that I'm aware of.
DeleteSo hubs now has a "tatty hat thingy" which he can throw. Ah yes, but will he? Or will you have to break his fingers to wrench it from his hands?
ReplyDeleteIt's an old golf hat he keeps. Ugly and discolored. It can just get misplaced...
DeleteI get all my sandals on Poshmark. I only wear Dansko because of my arthritis and they are so expensive. But I have found new danskos for less than $40.00 compared to $140.00. Keep doing what you are doing.
ReplyDeleteGood for you. These are called comfort soles and work well for me.
DeleteGreat shoes. Yes, your feet are super important and worth every penny to support them so they can hold up your body in a healthy manner.
ReplyDeleteRetirement first! I know costs are up yet hitting that target has been top of mind for you and you have a date in mind. Keep your eye on that target! You won't regret it, I promise (says she who retired 3y ago at age 58).
Hang in there. You're doing terrific!
The picture was the "pretty shoes", but they have a good sole. The others are not so cute but are practical. I had a good talk with DH this morning about what I tallied in his quick lunches out, I think he was even a bit surprised at how much they added up to. Now, I won't get him to cut cold turkey, but if he reduces to not more than twice a week, and only 1 time on weeks he meets his friend for lunch, It'll cut $40-$60 a month.
DeleteThose sandals are gorgeous! xxx
ReplyDeleteI too like the sandals.
ReplyDelete