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Trying to Refinanace and a question

February 20th, 2013 at 08:26 pm

I am fiddling around with trying to refinance our home loan today. While I was checking my credit score at Credit Sesame, it offered a better deal on a home loan refinance from Bank of the Internet. I requested a contact and someone did call me. He was very polite and knowledgeable and after getting all my information said my husband and I can refinance our home at 3.125% for 15 year fixed loan.
Long story short. How do you know a company like this is credible? Everything seems legit.
Who would you suggest I try to refinance with?

Guess how much money I found

November 20th, 2012 at 06:34 pm

I knew my SavingAdvice friends would be interested to know the total of my "found money" for the past year. From Nov.15, 2011 to Nov. 15, 2012.

Drum roll please....

$12.54!!!

I found 109 pennies
9 nickles
25 dimes
6 quarters
1 $5
2 $1

Not bad for just looking at the ground and picking it up.

I started putting all my found money in a specific jar last year to keep up with it,


5-day no spend challenge

October 22nd, 2012 at 08:54 pm

Haven't posted anything for over a year, but I come here often and read and get motivation for saving and spending wisely.
I am doing a five-day no spend challenge this week. It has already saved me money. Everytime I think of something to purchase, I tell myself, "No, remeber your challenge."
It really does help, doesn't it?
Just some random things I have said no to today that have saved me money.
1. A diet coke out of the vending machine. I usually keep my office fridge stocked with canned diet cokes that I purchase on sale at about 30 cents a can as opposed to buying a 20 oz. bottle out of the machine for $1.75. I was out of cans today and thought about getting one out of the machine, but luckily, had to say no, because of my challenge.
2. I like to buy music and put on the Iphone and listen to music while I walk. I thought about buying some today and had to say no, not spending money today.
3. Monday is $5.99 pizza night at Papa John's. You can get a large single topping for $5.99. I like to do this sometimes for a cheap meal on Monday nights. As I was pondering what to have for supper tonight, I thought Pizza! No, can't buy pizza, not spending money today.
So, see these challenges really do help us, don't they.

DH home from Tennessee

June 11th, 2011 at 02:54 pm

My DH came home from working in Tennessee last night. He drove in the driveway about 12:30. He is still sleeping this morning after his 12 hour drive home yesterday.
He's been gone two months. He is an insurance adjuster and goes out after big storms.
We were happy he got to work. Happy he is home for awhile. He started doing this work about 6 years ago. He is very good at it with his background in construction and building material sales.
I always hate to see him go but I know he is going to help people. After a storm people need their hoems fixed as soon as possible. They are always glad to see him coming.
He's also a Christian man that lives his faith so he is honest and fair to the people he goes to see.
He has even been known to pray with them.
He makes good money when he's gone.
He refilled our coffers on this trip.
I'm off to the church to decorate for Vacation Bible School.

Day 3 of no spend challenge a Success

June 8th, 2011 at 11:27 pm

I decided to come home from work at noon today. This sickness that took me to the doctor on Monday is really dragging down my energy. Slept a lot this afternoon.
Picked up DGS on my way home so I didn't have to go back to town and get him. He enjoyed having a little down time as well.
So my day 3 of my challenge was a success!
No money spent today.

I have noticed that I am enjoying NOT going by the store for anything or even the fast food places. I have so many responsibilites and so little time to myself or at home. Eliminating shopping from my schedule is a win-win!

Day 2 of 10-day no spend challenge

June 8th, 2011 at 02:26 am

Today was day two of my challenge. I had a chiropractor appt. this afternoon. I have been going twice a week for a few weeks now. I paid for 3 visits today, $45. That will cover today, Thursday and next Tuesday. My challenge is over on Wednesday the 5th.
I know I spent money but this was a planned event and I am not counting it against my challenge.
So even though I spent my first two days of the challenge they were both doctor's appts. so I am not counting either of these days against me.
As far as I am concerned for my purposes of doing this challenge I am doing great so far.
I went to JC Penney and returned a ring today that I had purchased about a month ago. It was too big for me and got a $10 credit back on my JCPenney card.

I didn't spend any money today. I sure wanted to look around in JCPenney but I just tried to keep my blinders on and got out of there as fast as I could.

So tomorrow it is on to day three of my challenge. And it will be challenging. DGS and I always go to church on Wednesday night and always go to McDonalds before church. So I am going to have to come up with something innovative to convince him it is okay to skip McDonalds night.
After church we always stop back by McDonalds for an ice cream cone.
Challengeing indeed!

Darn computer

June 7th, 2011 at 01:02 am

I typed up a long entry and my computer blimped out and I lost the whole thing. It was weird.
Let me continue.

So, I went to the doctor around 4:30 and he did give me a prescription for a Z-pack of antibiotics and a steroid shot for inflamation. (I didn't know I needed steroids for inflamation but that's what I got).

I went to the pharmacy that is closest to my doctor's office to get the prescription filled so I wouldn't use a lot more gas going out of my way.
Then I went immediately to pick up DGS and drove home

Copay at doctor = $25
prescription = $13.29
Total = $38.29
cost of feeling better = Priceless!

I was pondering, before I went to the doctor, where I would go to get my prescription filled if he gave me one. I thought about Target. If I wasn't doing this challenge I would have gone to Target to "shop around" while my prescription was being filled.
I am a shopaholic. I don't spend a lot of money on big ticket items or anything, but I love a sale. I love the clearance aisles at Target. A few small purchases here and there add up.
So my goal is to stay out of stores for 10-days.
The pharmacy I went to had plenty of stuff to look at but I chose to sit in one of the chairs they had provided for waiting.
Yay me!
So, I am going to continue my 10-day no spend challenge because it is working for me to get me back into frugalness.


Day One of 10-day no spend challenge

June 6th, 2011 at 03:03 pm

Well, as they say, the best laid plans of mice and men oft go astray.
This is my first day of my 10-day no spend challenge and I am already challenged.
An emergency has come up and I will have to spend today.
I have been suffering from a sore throat and laryngitis about the last 5 days and this morning it is very painful.
Strept throat is going around my office so I had to make a dr. appt. today.
I will probably have to get a prescription too.
Luckily, I do have an emergency fund in place.

I spent a lot of the weekend planning meals and shopping. It will be quite a feat if I am able to go 10 days without going to the grocery store.
I have already seen ways this challenge has been good for my pocket book.
As I was doing dishes this morning, I was careful to be more sparing with the dish soap because I forgot to buy any more this weekend.
Same with the toothpaste.
Normally I don't think about it and just squeeze probably too much in.
I will end cooking things out of my freezer instead of going out to the store and buying more.
I'm excited about this challenge.

10-day no spend challenge

June 4th, 2011 at 07:53 pm

Hi everyone, I have been away again, but I'm ready to back on the train.

Have a new challenge.
I saw this on the Yahoo Business blog. The author said she and some of her online buddies do a challenge where you don't spend any money for 10-days. I guess it's like a 10-day extreme cleanse or something. LOL.

I'm going get my meals planned and shopping done. I filled up with gas today.
I'm going to go ahead and pay any bills early that are due in the next 10 days.
I have a couple of things I know I need to spend money on. I have prepaid my DGS child care with the Y for the next month, but they don't do Fridays so I have to get someone to keep him on Friday. Or, I might just take the day off. That is the easiest way to have a no spend day. Just stay home.

I'm excited about it. I will let you know how I'm doing each day.



Car Needs Transmission Repair

November 19th, 2010 at 04:09 pm

AArrgghhh!!
My 2003 Dodge Stratus has disappointed me once again. They say it needs to have the transmission rebuilt for $1250. With 104,000 miles on it I guess it hasn't been that bad of a car. I was really hoping to drive it for at least one more year to get some more of our debt paid off.
DH and I went to the Ford Dealership after work yesterday. They actually sell Hyundai also. So I test drove a Hyundai Santa Fe just for the heck of it.
It was new and the price tag was about $24,000. Ugh.
Not ready to add a lot more debt right now. I think we are going to get the Stratus fixed.
They will guarantee the transmission for a year or 24,000 miles.
A year would be a good goal to get ourselves in line to buy a new vehicle.
Hopefully the car won't have any more problems. I would not recommend the Dodge Stratus. I have had too many problems with it.

$1.39 corn

November 12th, 2010 at 07:03 pm

Wow! I couldn't believe what a can or corn cost at a local grocery store I went to this week.
I had some time to kill before going to an appt. so I went in a nearby grocery store to do a little couponing..
I had seen their ad and it looked like they had some good Thanksgiving specials.
I was browsing the canned food aisle, comparing the coupons I had for canned vegetable.
I had a coupon for Green Giant canned vegetables so I got two cans of whole kernal corn; nothing at all special about the corn.
When I went to pay I noticed they rang up $1.39 a piece!
I thought the shelf label had said they were on sale for $.59 a can. I called it to her attention and she went to look at the shelf. No, she said, the correct price for the corn is $1.39 a can.
Of course I told her I would pass on the corn. But, I just couldn't imagine why they would have it priced so high. I guess that's how they make their money. They advertise good loss leaders, then hike up the prices of the everyday stuff.
Wow!

Tuesday Financial News...

September 29th, 2010 at 01:24 pm

Spending --

J. C. Penney-- Had a coupon for $10 off a $10 or more purchase, so I bought two bath towels on sale for 5.99 each. I only had to spend $2.12 for two super nice, brand new bath towels. I get these great coupons from JCP regularly and this is how I like to use them. I update my bath linens this way with very little out-of-pocket money.

I also got a $15 off a $15 or more purchase from JCP in the mail yesterday for my birthday. I really need a new set of bed sheets so I will probably use this one for sheets.

$4.85 = Grilled chicken salad for lunch at McDonald's.
I usually bring salad already prepared from home but was gone all weekend and haven't made it to the store yet. I will have to make it a point to go by the store on my way home from work today before I pickup DGS from after-school care. I don't like paying too much for my food. I could have bought a cheaper lunch but I just spent the past few months working very hard to lose 25 lbs. I feel so much better

$20.00 co-pay for my prescription for Allegra.

Savings --

I moved $13,000.00 from our checking account to an HSBC online savings account today so it will earn some interest until we need it to pay bills.
It is paying 1.10% and my checking account pays nothing. I will see how long I can leave it there.
This online savings is what I use for an auto-deduction from the checking once per week. Just $25 per week, but it adds up.

Made it by the store on the way home and spent $28.00 on groceries.
Found a penney on the ground on the way in the store.
New found money total = $ .27.

A long, long, time ago......

September 27th, 2010 at 05:38 pm

Hello Saving Advice Friends!

It has been a very long time since I updated my blog. But, I hope to start coming here daily with a few words about my financial life.
When I come here I pay more attention to my saving and spending wisely. I can't do it perfectly like so many of you seem to be able to do, so I think I felt a little intimidated by writing about my financial life here. But, after further review, I know I need whatever help I can get to pay more attention to my money.
So, hopefully, my blog will begin to grow again.
I have credit cards to pay off, a house that needs to be refinanced at a better rate, and savings accounts that needs to grow.
I have recently lost 25 pounds! So that goal has been reached. Now, on to the finances.
My short term goal is to get our travel trailer refinanced at a better rate or simply transfer the entire balance to a 0% for a year credit card. I don't have a working computer at home right now, so I will be posting on my blog from work and there is limited time for that.

Question?.... How do I update my sidebar?

Cranky Cashier. What would you do?

March 13th, 2008 at 07:32 pm

Went to Walmart last night for a few grocery items and I take my coupons and I do price matching there. I showed the checker a grocery store circular where items were offered at a cheaper price than at Walmart. They say they will match the price so I do that. Then I had a few coupons too. Two of the coupons were declined by the cash register. She pushed them back at me without saying a word. I pushed them back at her asking what was up. She said ma'm those are no good. I said "well, they should be." I looked at them, not out of date . . . I knew I bought the items I had presented the coupons for. So I start digging back through my bags to show her and sure enough I had bought the right product. She called a manager over to look at the coupons. All the while she is sighing. You know getting this tired look on her face and rolling her eyes at me. And doing that great big "sigh" thing. Well, the manager looks at the coupons and the products and says yes she would just have to enter the coupons manually because they were good. This brings on more eye rolling and sighing, but she complies.
It was just obvious by her body language that she thought I was a total jerk or something.
I just got so offended by that. I guess I should have gone and reported her to a manager or something.
If the store is going to offer price-matching and honoring coupons, then it is not my fault if things get slowed down a bit.
This is not the first time this has happened to me at Walmart.
Should I call the store and report it?
What would you do?

some news, but not a whole lot to say

February 17th, 2008 at 12:39 am

I was treated to some very nice meals on Valentine's Day via my work. I am on a search committee to hire a new worker and we get to "wine and dine" them. So it was out for a nice lunch and an even nicer dinner. Chocolate cream brulee for dessert. It was so rich I couldn't finish it.

Meanwhile, I have been searching the ground for change when I am out and about and I can report I have found $.16 in the past week.
Old FOTG total = $.27 + .16 = $.43, new FOTG total.


I have not been doing much toward couponing lately, but I haven't been spending much money either.
My husband has gone to grocery shop as I write this. And it is pouring down rain, so I am glad I am here typing and dry.
Thank God for sweet husbands.
Late winter is such a trying time. Cold, snow, ice, wind and rain. Cloudy days on end. It's like Mother Nature is having birthing pains to get us into Spring.
I will put up the groceries when my husband comes home and we will find us a snack and try to find something good to watch on TV tonight.

Last night we went out to see "There will be blood." It is up for Best Picture. Daniel Day Lewis was really good in it. But it was so dark and theatrical I can't really say I enjoyed.

I'm so sorry for those affected by the Northern Illinois school shootings. It is such a waste!!! Those poor people didn't do anything wrong. Stupid!

I, like many of you, have a dog. Her name is Abby. She is a mix of Austrailian Sheperd and some other good breeds. She is the sweetest thing. She weighs about 50 pounds, and she is tri-color, with golden eyes. She follows me wherever I go in the house. And since I have been here at the computer so long, she is sleeping on the floor beside me.
She is a great companion.


Deal or No Deal?????

February 9th, 2008 at 07:05 pm

I was going through a stack of mail today that had accumulated on the kitchen counter, sorting through the credit card offers, bills, junk mail, and other stuff.
I came across an offer to renew a car warranty on my daugters car. I tossed it in the garbage saying in my best game-show voice, "No deal."
Amusing myself, I went on to an offer for a magazine subscription. Tossing it into the garbage I shouted, "No deal."
I was getting good at this.
I love watching Howie Mandel and the Deal or No Deal show. I sure would like to get picked to be on that show. I don't think I would blow my chance at some big money like some people to do at the end. It seems like they just get greedy or insane I'm not sure which. But it just kills me when they give up a $100,000 offer and end getting $10 or something.
I've even thought, "Maybe on the first offer if they offered me $25,000, I might just quit while I was ahead. "Deal, deal." I would say. No, just kidding.
But going through my junk mail today, I was thinking how these companies are trying to get me to give up my money.
So, NO DEAL! Capitol One. NO DEAL! Chase. NO DEAL! Magazine subscriptions.
I'll just keep my money thank you.

Free Lunch

February 5th, 2008 at 03:49 pm

My friend treated me to lunch yesterday. She won the football pool and got $50!
I saved $14 with coupons last weekend so that will go to the challenge, and I found 12 cents on the ground.
Have been trying to stay home and not even look at advertising, so I can stay out of temptation.
Old total $15.78 New total = $29.78.
Old "FOTG" total (found on the ground) total = .15. New FOTG total = .27

Spent $13 at resale shop

January 24th, 2008 at 01:28 am

I bought my 3-year-old grandson a John Deer hoodie, a sweat shirt with Superman and other super heroes on it, and a plain white long sleeved knit shirt.
I thought he would like all of them, but instead he only liked the sweat shirt with the super heroes.
Of the others he said, "Nannie, I told you I didn't want these, just the superman shirt."
I buy almost all of his clothes at resale shops, and he always looks good!

$4 for the challenge

January 22nd, 2008 at 06:18 pm

Not anything very interesting to report today. Except we did save $4 with coupons when we did grocery shopping yesterday.
New total $15.78
FOTG (found on the ground) total = .15

Use it up

January 20th, 2008 at 03:55 am

WE have been trying, since the first of Jan., to use up food, cleaners, etc., that we have at the house instead of going to the store so often. Since I do most of the cooking/cleaning I guess it is really me doing it, but anyway, it is working.
I have always liked to buy things on sale and stock up, but our pantry has been just full to overflowing so much, I thought we really need to use what we have for awhile.
It has made me come up with meals using just what we have and it has really helped out the old food budget this month.
I definitely believe in buying sales and using coupons, but we were going to the store too often and thus spending too much. And some of our food was spoiling/getting too old before it could be used.
I made a chocolate cake from scratch tonight with a homemade frosting so we wouldn't be tempted to head to the store when we wanted something sweet later on.
DH was impressed and followed behind me cleaning up the kitchen.
What a team!

Random Writings

January 8th, 2008 at 03:46 pm

We are going to pay off a big chunk of debt in the coming weeks with a gift from DH's mom.
A car loan in the amount of $1630.00 and another payoff of $3800.00.
This will free-up monthly minimum payments of $275 and $200, for a total of $475.00. Wow! Almost $500 per month that can be thrown at the credit card debt.
I have had about six no spend days this month.
I have been thinking of my 2008 financial goals and I am ready to start recording them here.
1. My main financial goal is to be debt free by the end of the year. I think this is a realistic goal, IF, DH gets some good work in this year.
My other goals will be small to make this big year-end goal possible.

2. Don't acquire any more debt.
I listen to Dave Ramsey a lot and read a lot of financial advice here at savingsadvice.com. That keeps me from taking on any more debt. We have used the credit cards in a pinch but I'm not counting that.
Our Christmas was very frugal this year, and I am proud of the progress we have made.

No magazine subscription for me

January 7th, 2008 at 03:32 am

I had a telephone call from Dial-America-Marketing on Saturday. They wanted me to renew my magazine subscription to Reader's Digest. The proceeds also benefit MD Anderson Cancer Center. I have ordered magazines through Dial-America several times, but this year, I am trying to be a lot more frugal, thus I told the salesman no on the phone. He went on to say how surprised he was by my declining the offer.
I told him that I since gasoline and groceries have gone up so much, I just did not feel like I could afford a magazine subscription at this time.
He again tried to "sell" me.
Then I said, "I am trying not to spend too much so that I can have some money some day and retire with dignity."
He just laughed and thanked me for my past support.
I thought it was funny that he started laughing. I don't guess anyone is ever that honest about it.
At least I didn't yell his head off. Smile
Besides, my mother gave me a lot of her old magazines that will last me several weeks, and I'm sure I can get others for free as well. So yea me!

$7000 windfall (in a way)

May 21st, 2007 at 08:16 pm

I have exciting news! But first let me give you some background.

My son has been going to a technical school for about a year, and he still has a year to go. He gets pretty down about the daily grind of it all.
He has to get up at 5 am and drive an hour, five days a week, to get to his school. Then drive home, or go to work at his fast food job. And sometimes he doesn't get home from his job until very late at night and then do it all again.

My son is raising his 3-year-old son. The mother is not in the picture. They live with us and I help raise my grandson.

When my son first started the school he had to get some student loans, and if my husband or I co-signed for him, he got a lot better interest rate. So I did co-sign with him.

Then I started listening to Dave Ramsey, who you know says "never co-sign for anyone."
Well, I hated to tell my son no about co-signing for him the last time around -- when the school wanted some more money; but I had faith in what Dave Ramsey said, because I really did not want to have that debt on my financial record anyway.

Well, it seems my son has been doing some talking to some of his school friends about their loans, and questioning the financial aid office at his school.

Then this morning they tell him that they overlooked, or made a mistake or something like that. And they failed to offer him a $7000.00 PELL GRANT that he was entitled to.

Whoa Baby! $7000.00 that my son or me will not have to pay back on student loans!!!!! Now that is some good news!!!

So, I get to wondering about this. Did this happen because I did not co-sign for my son, maybe he started paying more attention to these loans he is incurring, and asking the questions he should have asked in the first place. I have let him handle all of the financial aid people. Anyway, I am very proud of my son for finding this error and bringing it to their attention.

Or maybe, as I have talked about before, the rule is true. That when you start taking care of and respecting your money, then more money can unexpectantly come to you.
Now, I absolutely believe in the power of prayer. And I no that God does take care of those who help themselves.
I am very grateful to God for this occurence in our lives at this time.

This made my son feel a lot better about his life and the hard work he has done toward this educational goal with family obligations, and financial hardhsips.
(Not to mention $3.00 per gallon gasoline)

Suze Orman said there is plenty of money in the world, more than you would ever need, but you do have to pay attention, and attract more of it to you.


Mother's Day Trip

May 14th, 2007 at 05:54 pm

DGS and I went to visit relatives for mother's day and we had an excellent time.
It was a 4 1/2 hour drive, and three-year-old DGS was really good. He didn't sleep any on the way over, but had a good 3-hour nap on the way home yesterday.
I was exhausted when we got back and didn't make it in to work until noon today. Good thing my work is easy to get along with.
We did very well with our spending while gone. I brought snacks and drinks for us and didn't spend very much money for eating along the road.
I got to be with my mother for her mother's day. She is 84 so that was very special to me.
She is in very good health and her mind is still very good. Such a blessing.

Talking to adult children about money

May 9th, 2007 at 04:27 pm

I am going to ask my kids DD (26 years old, but still going to college)
and DS (23-years-old, going to trade school and raising my grandchild) to start paying their car insurance and their part of our Cingular phone bill if they can.
My DH is working again (claims adjuster) but we have had to put stuff on the cc's and we are having to pay interest on them again. Yuck!!!!
We have helped our kids a lot money wise, now if they could help us out while DH gets back to bringing in some money it would be so helpful.
I am thinking of getting a second job if something doesn't change soon, but I really think I should try to get our adult children to pay their bills before their 53-year-old mother has to work a second job.
I am venting a little here, and it does feel good to get it out.
WE have a good relationship with our kids but I'm not sure how they are going to take this.
DD is working full time while going to college and DS is also working a food service job and raising his son.
I know neither one of them has a lot of extra money, but neither do I and we (hubby and I) need to be saving for retirement.
Both kids have their own student loans to pay back too.
But they have the rest of their lives to pay it back, and we are not that for away from retirement.
So, wish we luck as I talk to my kids about money.
But. it's time.

$6 for the kitty

April 9th, 2007 at 08:10 pm

I have been very, very bad lately about eating out at lunch again.
Today I ate a can of tuna fish I had in my drawer and some peanut butter and crackers. Saved myself the 6 bucks and change I would have spent on a salad and diet coke.
So, hopefully, I am back to my saving ways.

starting again

March 9th, 2007 at 03:48 am

Well, don't know if I'm really starting again, or just catching up, but I haven't been posting on my blog lately, and I want to get back to it.
DH is almost finished with our new fence. It is beautiful! Complete with an arbor, a reatining wall with flower beds, the works. But he sure ended up spending a lot more money than I was expecting. Oh well, he will be going back to work soon. He is an insurance adjuster, He was gone for a year last time and he has got to be home for three whole months without having to go make a living, so he did some things he has wanted to do for a long, long time. He is very creative and artistic and a carpenter, but he never had much time or money to build things the way he wanted to. Now he has had the time and the money, and he has created some beautiful things for us to enjoy in our yard.
He will be working again soon and hopefully making lots of money again, so we shall see.
Meantime. . . on my $20 challenge I will add 75 cents more today since I did not visit the vending machine today at work for M&M's.
old balance: $202.75
plus: $.75 :
new balance: $203.50

I'm Frugal ! ! !

February 7th, 2007 at 03:19 pm

I started listening to Dave Ramsey last May and ever since I have been into paying off the debt and getting fiscally fit!
But until I started reading everyone's blogs here I was still not being very frugal. But I am now!
I spent $4.75 on lunch at Sonic yesterday while I was out running errands, and it bothered me so much.
Two months ago I would not have thought twice about spending that or more for lunch, but now it really bothers me!
I was like, "$4.75, that is outrageous!"
I was always the type who would not order water in a restaurant. I would always order iced tea or soft drink, but now I am rethinking that. Now, I realize it is the little things that make the difference.
Hey, old dogs really can learn new tricks!
Thank you bloggers for having a very positive effect on me.

Frustrated, but committed

January 29th, 2007 at 10:06 pm

I am a little frustrated with trying to save money right now.
I tried to implement the envelope system with our food for one week.
I put $200 in the envelope and DH and I headed to Walmart. We buy all of our groceries there because it is cheaper than the other three grocery stores in town. Up to $1 or more cheaper on items that we buy all the time.
We do buy other things there as well. Diapers for our grandson, paper products, cleaners, persoanl hygiene items, things like that. hink $200 per week will be about right. Our total bill was $166. Then we went to another store and spent $25 more. For a total of $191. So we have $9 left until next Saturday for any other food items.
We have never tried this before and DH is not as gung ho about it as I am. He says he is, but then he bought a huge packagae of rib-eyes. $28 worth. I guess as long as we don't buy spend more than $9 before Saturday on food, then it will be a success.
I am learning here on the SA website and other bloggers that it doesn't have to be perfect.
Just the act of paying attention and trying to save is helpful.
We always spent whatever we wanted to on food. DH never wanted to spend too much money eating out. But buying groceries, he never griped about. But I always noticed that our biggest expenditures every month were at the grocery store.
The envelope method will probably help us not spend so much.
But then there is my son, who seems to be in la la land about money, and we are supporting him and his son, while our son finishes his education.
I will have to educate him about money, but he has so much going on right now with his X and trying to raise a 2-year old . . . that my finances are not the most important topic to him right now.
I gave him $100 cash in an envelope on Saturday and told him that was his money for the next week and to try to make it last. ( He has to drive an hour both ways to his school five days per week.)
I will be interested to know how long it lasts him.
He did get his part time job back this week, so maybe that will help.
DH is doing insurance adjusting and will have to go back to work soon as we are running out of money.
I hate for him to be gone for several months but we have to have an income.
I didn't spend .75 in the candy machine at work today on those M&Ms I was craving, so I will add that to my $20 challenge money. Good for my savings and good for my diet. Hoooorrrayyy!
Spent$3.50 on Sunday newspapers yesterday for the ads and coupons.
Spent $7.56 at the P.O. today for postage and to stock up on stamps.
Otherwise I have been sticking close to home and saving money.

My dad was a tight wad

January 17th, 2007 at 03:58 pm

Turn the thermostat down a degree or two.

Make sure all unnecesary lights are turned off in the house.

Fewer trips to town in the car.

Packing a lunch for work.

All things I have been doing since I started my blog a few days ago.
It's just making myself aware of saving money and making it a focus that I am working on right now.

Another thing I have heard about for gas saving.
Make sure the car tires are at the right air pressure.

I have been a frivolous spender most of my life concerning many of these things.
My DH always wanted me to be more conservative in these ways, now that I am I know he likes it.
My father was such a tight wad. He was really a sweetheart but very saving, grew up in the depression.
So I really grew tired of that growing up.
Always said, when I get married, I'm going to have "fresh bread whenever I want it." And I have too.





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