Some financial endeavors for the week:
* Our stove was leaking gas, among other things, but Matt was able to fix the problem(s) by himself with just a few replacement parts ordered online.
* Made homemade laundry detergent
* Making more maple syrup- (hit the 2 gallon mark this week!)
* paid bills, including our real estate taxes. Paid that bill in full before the first date, paying off the smallest balance without any additional fees/interest.
* went to a free knitting class at the library
* baked all our bread needs
* Matt worked on cutting down some trees to make fence posts for our spring project of FENCING OFF PASTURE! Yay!
* Picked up my cornmeal and wheat berries from the bulk food store. Also bought several bulk spices.
* picked up a scooter in a FREE pile along the side of the road.
* Needed a handle for my knitted cable purse but didn't like anything I saw at the craft store. I didn't want to pay from $5.99- $12.99 for a handle I didn't even like so I decided to make my own strap.
* While there, I noticed many buttons were on sale 70-75% off so I picked several very nice ones that I could use to make gifts with and stocked up.
* Also, used fabric from my stash to line the purse instead of buying new (and more lovely) fabric.
* ordered hoof trimmers so Matt can do Skeeters' hoof trimming himself (if all goes well.)
* Many moons ago, I was given several half used YANKEE candles which looked like they were used on burners because they didn't have any wicks. I kept them for those many moons because I thought I could still do something with them. This week I was clearing out the cupboard and kicked myself for having kept them around for so long, doing nothing with them. I tossed 'em in the garbage. Then, I took them out again because I NEVER buy Yankee candles. :-) I melted them down and added a wick to some small, vintage ball jars to make some new, useable candles.
* Set several boxes of stuff aside for a yard sale.
What about you? Any financial wisdom or woes you'd like to share?
The saying at the top of this post made me laugh. My husband and I lived and worked for an inner city ministry for years. We had no money and had to raise our own support. We didn't even own a television set. Someone broke into our apartment one day and stole a few things, but what kept running through my mind was, "HAH!!!" "That'll teach you to break in where there is no money!" lol
ReplyDeletePicked up 7 patterns on sale for 99c each. Added up what they were not on sale and I saved $120. I almost choked. I went to Kohls last night and picked up a few needed things for myself (which almost killed me. I feel like money spent on myself is wasted and I should just be happy with what I have. Even if it's stained and full of holes.) and matching sale shirts for the boys for Resurrection Sunday- saved $98! Today I'm making strawberry sauce? syrup? out of some leftover sad looking strawberries from last week (buy one get one- and ORGANIC!) that I'll sweeten with Stevia for myself. Lastly I mailed in the $35 rebate from my contacts. Well done Rebecca!
ReplyDeleteI love finding FREE treasures alongside the road! That little quote is so funny- I've thought many times if someone broke into our house, they'd stand there and think, "Well. This was a disappointment." lol
ReplyDeletelast year somebody broke into our house while we were on vacation and stole nothing, because there was nothing to steal... they literally opened a few drawers, pulled out boxes and books from our big shelves and left... the police said that there was a series of robberies and they looked for big cash and jewellery. not in our house ha! the only jewellery i own that is worth some $$$ i am wearing on my finger.
ReplyDeleteWow. Hearing about all your breaking-in stories makes me nervous! I mean, I guess robberies are more prevalent than maybe I thought! Like Lydia said- the only valuable jewelry I have is on my finger though and I just recently rolled up all my coins and took 'em to the bank. So I am good. ;-)
ReplyDeleteBonnie- I am glad you picked up a few things for yourself! But I know what you mean about feeling wasteful. I struggle with that too. Yum on the strawberries! I just made a blueberry pie this week with stevia instead of sugar. It was yum-o.
I hate to admit it but we are the biggest freebie scavenger. We have help in that my uncle owns a garbage route and you wouldn't believe the things people throw away. We have gotten brand new bikes, vintage Schwinn bike, snow boarding boots with tags on, loads and loads of homeschooling materials(a sales rep for national geographic threw out all of his old sales materials), antique beds, all the cabinets on one side of my kitchen...
ReplyDeleteI would guess that most moms with frugality in mind hate shopping for themselves. I was at the thrift shop looking for a few things for the baby and found the perfect skirt, so much so it was calling my name. I couldn't pass it up, knee length and only $5. I can't remember the last time that happened.
I love the inspiration that comes from Frugal Fridays :)
*Finances on Friday
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