4 Frugal Things (and one frugal fail)

1. Reimbursed the points for a $200 rebate (big pain to do it, but definitely worth it for a purchase of a year's worth of contacts for which I also used insurance.) 2. Have been slowly progressing with my twice annual closet clean. Divided discarded things into 4 piles; pile 1 earned me $250 from a sale, pile 2 went to a friend who has a younger child; pile 3 is waiting for a trip to the flee market; and pile 4 into trash/recycling/attic. 3. Borrowed a neighbor's power washer and my husband washed the siding of our house that looks now bright and new again. Meanwhile, I've been spending cooler evenings weeding and cleaning up the yard. 4. Have worked from home all week, saving money in gas, parking, and time to do the extra yard work/exercise. 5. My husband got a pay raise, so we are discussing how to direct the funds to pay off bills/increase savings. ---> But, bought an expensive smart phone after researching all the other options. Having gone through some cheaper phones that did not last as long with my teenager, wanted one that lasts (my old one that's still in great shape for my teenager) and has a great camera (the new one for me!).

I've only got 4 frugal things, but I was very proud of them and want to pass them along:

1. I've been doing a great job of cooling our house down this week by opening the windows overnight and closing them in the morning, as opposed to running the AC (it's been kind of an Indian Summer here).

2. I've been on the lookout for something to put on one of our plain white walls (we just moved and I'm still decorating the place, as I now have a lot more wall space to cover). I found a really nice oil painting at a local thrift shop that has red hues that match my couch perfectly - and it was $12!!! Patience paid off!

3. We've been needing to clean our carpets in the new place, and I Google searched around for carpet cleaners in my area looking for the best price on what we needed. I found one, with a little digging, that has a coupon tab on their website (https://www.carpetcleanerlafayetteindiana.com/coupons/). ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS look for online coupons when having service work done in your home - they're out there, and you'll be glad you did!

4. Instead of buying too much produce at the grocery store and then throwing a third of it out when it goes bad, I've purposefully under purchased produce. I figure, if I need more, a quick trip to the store to buy a head of lettuce and some apples will not be hard. And guess what? I have yet to actually have to return. Maybe I'm not under-purchasing after all.....

I'm not organized enough to do five, but I like one so much that I have to share it. My range, a visually lovely dual-oven Sears Classic from 1968, was slowly losing function. It would do surface-of-the-sun oven temps with no rhyme or reason, and none of the lights worked, and one burner was all-or-nothing. One of my 18 for 2018 (Happier with Gretchen Rubin podcast!) has been to shop assiduously for a stove, and I got a little more serious about it when the lights died — because who knows, really, what bit might be next. I clicked on an email from Sears, and with my ancient Sears credit card and that email deal and an additional coupon code, I got a way-too-good-for-our-kitchen range for 60 percent off — a price less than my original goal price and a model about three steps better than I was planning to buy. Oh, and $22 in ebates. It's spending, but planned spending, and wildly good savings. (I went back to check the dimensions the next morning, and it was already $500 more.)

It is stunning how a kitchen tool that works properly simplifies cooking.

My frugal fail is having McDonalds x 3 this week - I know... and yesterday the ring-pull on my soup broke off & I had to buy lunch instead.. Oh well, I am doing mostly better. 1. I am buying smaller amounts of fruit at a time & mostly getting through it; big achievement for me 2. Needed a new toaster & got the one I wanted on a good sale 3. Went to the movies with friends & we got cheap tickets 4. One of the friends made & brought us popcorn 5. Drove to the store on the way home tonight to get the toaster meaning no extra petrol used

So good to hear that debts are getting paid off! I'm helping our son with his student loan and I want him debt free so he doesn't feel this kind of burden.

Anywho, here are my frugalistic five:

1) Speaking of school loans....Our son has a direct debit every month from the bank for a designated amount to pay off the loan. I found out that the day his account is debited is the day I NEED to come in and pay more of that loan off. My money goes towards principal. Any other day of that month, my money only goes towards interest. The loan will get paid off quicker this way. Who knew?!

2) I found a organic rancher that sells their products cheaper than a place I sometimes buy meat.. Cool.

3) I've been asking the fam if we have any hams in the freezer. Nope. I've been holding off on buying a ham as they're expensive. I finally went into the freezer (it's a big upright in the basement) and found 2 hams. Along with 4 turkeys.....Guess what we're NOT buying during the holiday season?

4) I finally got my vacation time and decided to clean the house. Eh, purge. I was able to put things on ebay, donate some and trash some. Things are selling.....Good.

5) I found a sale at Target on bedding and had a gift card. So, it was free.