Thrifty Thursday- On Track

     

     December is a pricey month due to extra holiday plans, gifts, food, and the reprieve we've got from heating or cooling bills has ended. I still look for ways to economize. I'm on budget for the holiday, in fact under. While I spent a lot on groceries so far, much was restock because I had eaten down the pantry and freezer so well, avoiding waste. Even with holiday food, I'll stay close to our non holiday month budget. I'm under in household non-food spending to balance. That's because I'm using bits of shampoo, soaps, cleaning supplies, getting rid of clutter of partial bottles here and there. January will be expensive though with two more adults for nearly a week, plus sending my daughter to school with a few groceries to get her started. She'll do a small campus meal plan too, as I suspect she'll leap back into her hectic schedule. Here's a few thrifty things for the week:

• Kept thermostat to a lower temp, wore sweaters and socks
• Doubled up errands Saturday and stayed put Friday, saving time and gas
• We used a dining card to save a bit on our pizza night out. I had a headache earlier, so skipped having a beer and just drank water. Leftovers were Sunday's game watching lunch. 
• Cooked a few nights, but then plenty for a leftover night and lunches
• We placed first at Trivia so won a gift card again towards next week. I picked up my friend, which in hind sight should have been doing all along, as she's so close to the brewery. She brought cheese, meat and crackers, so a frugal snack. (Brewery does not serve food and welcomes take out or BYO)
• I received the two boxes, four tests, of Bionex antigen tests offered to each household in the state. We'll test ourselves semi regularly leading up to Christmas gatherings if we have been around a lot of people or have even slight symptoms. I do not want to inadvertently be a spreader, even though we're all boosted again with the latest and had the flu shot. No debating here; we chose what we felt was right for us, and others should do what they decide is best for them.
• Went with my sister to the Wild game. The ticket was already paid for, so nothing out of pocket. Definitely not frugal was the massive concession price for two beers,two bottled waters, popcorn, and a pretzel with cheese. I purchased these to thank her for the ticket. I don't go to many professional sporting events, but I do enjoy them when I do. I didn't enjoy seeing the drunk young man cartwheel over my head and arrive four rows forward, and almost did it again when he stood up, had the guy he landed on not pulled him back. 
• An early gift for DH was this inexpensive antenna, $7, and now he can get local channels upstairs. This may be the year we can ditch the satellite. I'd likely get a better one for the main TV because it's in the partially underground lower level,  but we can fit all televisions in the house for less than one month Direct TV costs. We'd have local stations plus streaming services that we can turn off anytime. This little antenna is the test for the rest of the month.

     We got the November books closed with exceeding the savings target. We'll delay December close too because while I'm happy for a three paycheck month, it changes the timing for the next month in terms of cash flow. That felt good and helps confirm the retirement decision for next fall. Tuition is due January 15 and there's a college savings account that should cover what her scholarships do not, so we're done with paying for college! We've been doing this since fall 2007, and two of those years, paying for two kids. We had a lull for seven years, but the inflation made up for the pause, sigh. 

     I hope your week was a good one with your saving, spending, doing for others,  and of course for yourself. Did you have any big frugal wins or find time to give to something worthwhile? 

Picture for cuteness.We love his Dobbie ears, but aren't sure if they'll stay floppy or stand up. He's now 8 months and so incredibly strong for still being a puppy. Pup still is not a fan.