Frugal Challenge week #10

I feel good about this week.  We had a cost set back, apparently the place that has been rotating our times cross threaded 3 lug nuts and we had to have three replaced on my husbands car.  $139!  So much for free tire rotations!  I don't feel to bad though if we had done it at the dealer it would have been $900!  YIKES!
I also got a electric bill and we used 500 Kw less this year than the same month last year, so yay for that!  Here is hoping the next bill  looks so good.

-Cloth diaper when home.
-Reusable swim diapers at pool.
-Made homemade pizza instead of frozen or take out.
-Cut out and started 4 pairs of pajama bottoms.
-Finished one pair of pajama bottoms.-Packed lunches for two of the days we planned to be out for lunch.  Remembered water bottles every time we went out.
-Started a dress for Middlest
-Refilled foam soap dispensers with watered down soap.
-Still working on keeping lights off.
-Successfully did not turn down air conditioner.
-Signed up for YMCA for free use of pool, this pays for itself after 4 visits to the pool.  We are going twice a week.  Happy kids makes a happy house.  Will cancel this when summer is over.
-Used a bell pepper and some onions from my garden. 

-I also harvested these peppers, not sure what kind they are but they are way to spicy for us, for now I am deseeding them and freezing till I figure out what to do with them, I have picked 4 and have 7 more on the plant, sure wish my bell peppers did that well!
-Managed to make dinner all but 2 nights and those where planned outings.
-Took the kids to see a movie and only spent $5 on the tickets plus the cost of drinks and popcorn.  Saved money by only getting one large popcorn and refilling it.
-Used swagbucks Amazon gift cards to order free to me black and white and color ink plus free paper.
-From the grocery store I got free or almost free hamburger, bread, cheese, and ribs.
-Using my husbands coffee grounds in my garden, we will see if it helps.
-Used gift cards to get discount on gas.  Watch gas prices and found that this week Bastrop prices where higher than Austin or hometown, glad I pay attention saved us some money.

Frugal Challenge Week #9

So I am well on my way to settling into a routine.  I'm resisting temptation more frequently, I am getting my kids on board to not nag or beg for fast food treats.  We are working together to remember water bottles snacks and lunch when needed.  Yet, I am constantly finding lights on in rooms we are not using.  This is a frustration.  I am not sure on the impact to our electric bill. 

 Since this will be the first summer with our new air conditioner I am trying to be more vigilant on all our uses of electricity.  If I can keep our electric  bill in check, it will help make all our finances more comfortable.  Previously my bill would top out at $350, I managed to keep my actual payments at $250-$275 by paying more starting in May, I'd pay $250 each month May thru Oct, and only once did  my bill go up to $275.

So in addition to keeping the daytime temp set at 79, I will be working on not turning the oven on after noon.  Also, trying to run my dryer before noon, this won't always happen, but I am going to make an effort to try.  Being more on top of my laundry so that I am not rewashing things.

As part of the not turning on the oven, I need to start putting my menu plan on paper.  Some meals require the oven and I just can't get out of that altogether, but I can limit it.

My list:
-cloth diaper when I am home
-cloth swim diapers at the pool
-limited eating out to planned events
-continue to refill foam pumps for hand soap and dish soap
-only run full dishwasher
-only run full clothes washer
-hang up the clothes that I can
-used rewards money to buy ink for printer.
-turn lights off when I see them on
-Got $50 grocery store card as a reward for turning my grocery money into store cards at  my girls old school.  The school gets a small percent of the value of cards they sell, and they split that twice a year with those who commit to a minimum monthly purchase.  I can choose between cash or a card, I'll have a small balance roll forward to the next reward period, at that time I'll either get another card or they will just send me a check depending on how close to $50 it is.  It is not a lot but is money I wouldn't have otherwise, also the store often has gas discounts for paying with the store cards, right now it is .12 off
-Topped off our cars in Bastrop during planned trips into that town, saves us an additional .10-.20 a gallon.
-Weaning 2 year old off of so much milk.  She has been a very picky eater, and only know really getting into solid foods, I was just making smoothies to make sure she was getting a variety, yogurt + fruit puree + topped off with milk. 
-Weaning 2 year old off of grazing.  I was feeding her when she asked and what she asked for, now she eats all her meals with the family, and she is eating more variety and more at one time.
-Pulled and used several onions from my garden, picked and used on small green bell pepper.
-got a deal on eggs, large brown organic eggs marked down to $1.50/dozen, med regular eggs are $1.59.  Not awesome but I was out.
-Got some free groceries 2 lbs of wild Salmon, bacon, cheese, bread rolls, and hamburger.

Anyone else feel like they had a good week.  Want to share your success, or blog post I'd love to see what others are doing to be more frugal and maybe learn something new!

Frugal Challenge #8

It is funny how we always have good intentions, its the following thru that goes awry.  Last week, the day after I posted about habits, I gave into temptation and we had not only lunch out but take out pizza for dinner.  I had a good excuse, but as I tell my children excuses are just ways we justify doing something we know we shouldn't be doing.  Planning to eat out doesn't have to be justified.  Life just happening is not an excuse but, well, life happening.   Eating out do to poor planning or laziness on my part is something that I just shouldn't do.

Outside of my eating out slip I think I had a good week.
-I used up meat from our freezer.
-I packed our lunches or served a late lunch on days we where not home for lunch.
-We are drinking water not soda, koolaid, or juice.
-I sewed up another 10 napkins, bigger and more evenly sized this time.
-Read some free books on my Nook.
-Borrowed the elementary Life of Fred books to decide if we want to use those in the Fall.
-Stocked up on spaghetti noodles my store had a Buy One Get One Free sale making them .65 a lb, I need to check Sam's before I buy more.
-This week I got free brisket, hamburger, bread, sausage, bacon and orange juice.
-Used some coupons I found in the store to make regular purchases cheaper.(I no longer get the paper or order coupons, I also limit what I print to things I plan to use that week), I found that I was wasting a lot of time and money on coupons that didn't get used, or for products we can live without.
-Working on using less ketchup and bbq sauce, I monitor what each child gets and serve more meals that do not require these items.
-Started a weight loss challenge, this is frugal because I did not join a gym or program, just made a challenge with my friends.  Hopefully by eating less and being more active I will be healthier and spend less on food for myself.
-Being more aware of lights being left on, I am trying to not have lights on without a purpose.
-We have ceiling fans and I am trying to use those and not touch the thermostat, we have it set for 79 during the day, and some days that feels way to high.
-I am clearing out my garage, it is amazing what can accumulate in years at one residence, I made a big drop at goodwill and resisted the urge to go in and shop.  I also made a list of what I donated and got a receipt, so a tax write off and personal kudos for self control.
-I earned enough points this week for $10 in Barnes and Nobles gift cards from swag bucks, I'll be gifting those to Oona for her 12 th birthday this summer.  She has a nook and a wish list, sadly not as much free reading for her as there is for me.
-Ordered the free mug from York Photo, it came in very quickly within a week and looks good, very comparable to the other sites I have gotten mugs from.  This cost shipping but will be a Fathers Day gift.(if you click on my banner you can get a mug to for shipping and handling, and I get a kickback if you link from my banner).
-Limited our trips to town saving gas.
-Filled up my gas in Bastrop, gas there is .12-.15 cents cheaper and I go once a week anyways.
-Used store gift card to buy gas saving another .12 per gallon.
-Used cloth diapers when home
-Used cloth mentral pads.

Frugal Challenge Week #7

The Making of Habits

I am starting to really get my frugal groove back.  It is so easy to fall into bad habits and to lose good habits.  It amazes me how giving in to my impulse or desire to eat out for lunch or for dinner makes it easier to do it again a few days later.  So here is to making good habits and shedding bad ones!

-Combined errands when I did drive to town. Saving gas.
-Got some free groceries at the grocery store.  Also found some great coupons on pantry essentials  making them cheap or free.  Used one of my $10 off $30 coupons when I bought more diapers for my baby and combined that with manufacturer coupons and sale prices.
-Packed snacks and lunches and water for our trips to town
-Resisted the urge to eat out when I got home exhausted. Cooked all but one lunch all week.
-Got free sample of face scrub and wash at the mall for my preteen
-Got some clothes at the Children's place for really good prices.  Asked if there was any email coupons I missed out on because I have not been getting emails from them, they gave me 15% off.  The best deal was flip flops I needed for $1.70, the other was a super cute summer church dress for my hard to fit child for $8.50.
-cut out baby blankets for a baby gift from some flannel I have had for a while.  Resisted the urge to buy flat fold diapers to make burp clothes and will make those as well.
-Took all the girls for walk to take my oldest daughter to a "Gods Gals" meeting saving gas and getting exercise.(we walked two trips once to drop off and once to pick up).  This is our girls from our Church youth group.  We took a snack, I had two packages of free to me brownie mix and some free to me eggs and I let my daughter back them up.  One for us and one for the group.
-Made up two batches of muffins and froze half of them.  I made pumpkin muffins and blueberry muffins both with ingredients I mostly got for free or very reduced.
-Also when baking muffins I use my stoneware and don't use paper cups, my kids prefer no paper cups.
-cut up my top sheet to make more fabric napkins.  These are a more standard 15" by 15"  we are now using way less paper towels.
-It rained so I saved water.
-The temp also dropped when it rained saving electricity.
-The overall temp has been way up this week in the 90's with over 50% humidity and I resisted the urge to turn down the airconditioner.


What have you done this week?  Are you feeling frugal, starting some good frugal habits?  Share with me in the comments.

{pretty, happy, funny, real}

   

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~    Pretty

 

Really this is Pretty and Happy and Real!  I am just thrilled with myself this week, I finished a new tote/purse for myself!

I posted about it here with links to the free pattern tutorial, and directions to the modifications I made.   I have been wanting a new purse for a year, have really NEEDED a new purse for over 6 months, now I have one and it so pretty!

 

Happy  

Did I mention how happy I was with my new purse?  Okay, beyond my purse I am thrilled that my apple tree has finally leafed out. 

 I was getting worried about it, It is very very unlikely I will see any apples this year, but at least it is not dead!

 

Funny

 Middlest had a writing assignment this week, that was quite funny.  It was name a family trait that someone could be known by,  She decided it was Oona being silly.  She is known for it far and wide.  She even listed all the reasons and examples for this.  Loved it!

    Real

My husband and daughters gave me a wonderful Mother's Day!  Along with some darling hand made cards, I got some charms for my James Avery Necklace, between our Anniversary and Mother's Day it is starting to look like a charm necklace.

Frugal Challenge Week #6

We had a good week I think.  I did well at the grocery store and not throwing in the towel and ordering take out.  We spent money, however I feel I spent it well.   Made myself a new much needed diaper bag/purse.

 I have some more sewing on my todo list for this upcoming week, but we will be out quite a bit so hopefully I can remember to pack lunches and keep my spending under control. 

I buy some frozen chicken to help with the not eating out or getting take out.  I know it is not the most for my money, but it saves a lot when I am not paying restaurant prices.  I listed some deals I found on frozen chicken.

-Keep poking away at my garden, the plants look healthier this year than last, but smaller.  We have had a very mild/cold spring for us.  I have timers and doublers(new this year) on my two spigots this year, so I can water everything with less water waste, that is frugal.

-Made a mental menu for the week and stayed with it.
-Only ate out 2x this week and those where planned and not spur of the moment, that is a big step for us.
-Used $29 in amazon gift cards I got threw swag bucks to buy Life of fred algebra, so free school book for next year!
-This doesn't sound frugal, but for me it was, I got a $100 matercard, from Randalls for $90.95
-I bought three boxes of General Tso Chicken at Sam's club, this is frugal because with this in my freezer I don't order Chinese take out.  I also will make dinner if I  know I have this because it is a meal that my oldest daughter can make for us.
-I  bought lots  toilet paper and dishwasher detergent, the prices where okay, and I got a $10 coupon back, this with this I get the brand I want and don't get stuck paying full price with no bonus coupon.
-I got a lb of hamburger,  lb of ground buffalo, bread, milk, some yogurt and cheese, and some bacon free at the grocery store.
-I got $5 more of free music from emusic.com, then remember to cancel the account before getting charged, so yay.
-I used $10 of free coupon credits at Randalls.  I know I could have used the money more frugally, but I got 6 bottles of soda(only hubby really drinks it), but if I don't find deals on it, he will pick it up full price.  They had the soda for .59 a 2L bottle, 2 bags of Tyson popcorn frozen chicken, they where Buy one Get one Free, plus they had $1 off coupons on them, Duncan Hines frosting flavor packet, one tub frosting, 1 tub ice cream, all for less than $10 out of pocket.
-Refilled our foam soap dispensers with watered down soap.
-Used gift cards to get gas saving .12 a gallon
-Used up left overs.

 

 

Super Easy, Super Cute tote

Since I am not one to reinvent the wheel (who am I kidding I do it all the time!).  I decided I need a new purse to replace my ragged torn up and frankly gross diaper bag that I have been using for the last 2 years.  Can we say cookie crumbs, torn liner, unwrapped candy....  Tell me you've been there too....

I know I need a new diaper bag, should maybe even go back to a purse.  Except for two problems, I don't want to spend the money, and I just have not had one scream out at me when shopping or browsing.  I have looked, really looked.  Between Christmas, my birthday, anniversary, and up coming Mother's Day I would have loved to point to a purse, tote, or bag and say hey I'm worth the splurge someone get me that.  Nothing not one.  But I saw this fabric on the clearance rack, and I wanted it for my next purse.  I had a vision in my head of what I wanted.  Then I decided to be lazy and let someone else do the work, I searched the web for a tutorial of what I wanted, and found it!

sample tote I made first

My new purse!

Over at Poppyseed fabrics!  Super simple measurements, super simple construction.  Well of course I changed a few things, I don't think I am capable of not changing things.  So here is mine and here are the things I did differently.  First I wanted a zipper  I've tried purse's, tote's, diaper bag's, you name it... without zippers and they just don't work for me.
I made this sample tote, practicing the top zipper close.  I'll be giving this tote to Timmie for Christmas, so not wasted and testing my pattern and additions just makes sense to me.  I found that just as a thought this tote is to small for me.
 Okay, so again I searched the web instead of reinventing and found this.  I also wanted an inside zipper pocket, found here.

 

 

 

Now I wanted my bag bigger so I first made one from fabric I had no plans for, before making the bigger one for me using this super cute fabric I found on the clearance rack at Hobby Lobby.  For my kids tote I used some left over ribbon that just happened to match the fibric, and a zipper that also matched, well matched in my eyes.  I need something more heavy duty for my tote, Hopefully I will find a color I like.

Here are the construction pictures I took of the larger bag.