Spring into Savings - April Frugal Chatter

[jasperandchar]

Okey dokey don't laugh I have so many bank accounts

checking (where all fixed payments come out like mortgage, car insurance, etc)
Satelitte/Phone (no cell) $120.00 month
Gas $150x 4 weeks = $600.00 month
Internet $56.50 month
Hydro $160-$200.00 varies (I pay $200.00 each month regardless) I am now 1 month prepaid
Groceries $100.00 week x 4 = $400.00 includes everything from cleaners, pet food, our food)
$25.00 Splurge jar weekly
$25.00 Miscellaneous jar weekly
$60.00 bi-weekly into savings account for household items (furniture, christmas, anything really)
$25.00 a week x2 boys into savings account = $50.00 week x 4 weeks = $200.00
$74.00 automatic mortgage prepayment weekly = $296.00 month
$100.00 Vehicle maintenance account (just started at end of March
$100.00 Renovations account
$100.00 Family vacation - monthly
$1000.00 into my income tax/savings account

[saundyl]

I received a surprise refund yesterday - quite a surprise becsause i really didnt think my health plan covered birth control AND i didnt know the pharmacy using the auto pay card and it saying i ahd to pay upfront put a claim in for me. I had actually just printed off the claim form and checked the mail before i went back to work (can mail stuff on the work mail run) and was shocked to find a check for something i hadnt sent in myself.

I sent it to my savings account because i really really hadnt expected to get that money back.

I kind of "broke" my 52 week savings challenge today - i had final intentions for it which i decided that now when my challenge (still following it) gets to 300 saved I'll deposit the money to where the final intention was as it helps someone else out now when they need it. So i deposited the first $300 to that account today. I'm still saving it but its not sitting in the jar not helping where it needs to now.

[jasperandchar]

congrats on the refund,

what was your 52 week savings challenge if you want to share?

I received a surprise refund yesterday - quite a surprise becsause i really didnt think my health plan covered birth control AND i didnt know the pharmacy using the auto pay card and it saying i ahd to pay upfront put a claim in for me. I had actually just printed off the claim form and checked the mail before i went back to work (can mail stuff on the work mail run) and was shocked to find a check for something i hadnt sent in myself.

I sent it to my savings account because i really really hadnt expected to get that money back.

I kind of "broke" my 52 week savings challenge today - i had final intentions for it which i decided that now when my challenge (still following it) gets to 300 saved I'll deposit the money to where the final intention was as it helps someone else out now when they need it. So i deposited the first $300 to that account today. I'm still saving it but its not sitting in the jar not helping where it needs to now.

[gourmetsue]

Got a frugal deal on a new outfit for DH today. Since he isn't customer facing at the bank he can go in business casual. Picked up a pair of Chinos (gosh that sounds so snotty and preppy) and a new golf shirt for him from Marks. I had a $25 g/c I got for my birthday and they were both on clearance so my cost was only $8.88 . An entire outfit for under $10. Very happy.

AND!!! the best part of all, when I called him to make sure I had the right inseam, he said, do we really need to get them, we are saving (before I told him the price)

[jasperandchar]

So your dh is on board (lol), great bargains.

Got a frugal deal on a new outfit for DH today. Since he isn't customer facing at the bank he can go in business casual. Picked up a pair of Chinos (gosh that sounds so snotty and preppy) and a new golf shirt for him from Marks. I had a $25 g/c I got for my birthday and they were both on clearance so my cost was only $8.88 . An entire outfit for under $10. Very happy.

AND!!! the best part of all, when I called him to make sure I had the right inseam, he said, do we really need to get them, we are saving (before I told him the price)

[gourmetsue]

So your dh is on board (lol), great bargains.

yes finally on board. Now let's see if he can get through his first Big Mac craving. I swear he'd run me down to get to a big mac (shudder!)

[Insane]

Home with a sick baby today. Had to get prescriptions filled for him. I am so, so, so thankful for having drug plans (both me and hubby). Hubby's meds are super expensive. We used to struggle to pay the $200+ a month for his meds. I'll never again in my life take drug plans for granted!

As the kids get older, I actually buy more expensive but better quality clothes. The reason being that as they got older, they wear their clothes longer before outgrowing them. So rather than replace cheap clothes when they wear through them, I buy quality that they wear until they outgrow and are usually in good enough shape for the next one.

I also buy name brand snowsuits. Living North of 60, I find a Walmart brand snowsuit just won't cut it.

And shoes. I never buy 2nd hand shoes and try to buy quality shoes for the kiddies.

[Bronwen]

Well we are officially moving tmw even though I'm here now with the kids. Been a long day but I'm so glad we are here and getting settled.

[jasperandchar]

Print him off some coupons for his cravings (lol)

yes finally on board. Now let's see if he can get through his first Big Mac craving. I swear he'd run me down to get to a big mac (shudder!)

[jasperandchar]

WIshing you the best in your new house. You obviously have internet (lol) already!

Well we are officially moving tmw even though I'm here now with the kids. Been a long day but I'm so glad we are here and getting settled.

[saundyl]

congrats on the refund,

what was your 52 week savings challenge if you want to share?

I found it online basically you start with week one and put a dollar away the next week you put $2 away then $3 increasing the value saved each week by a dollar for 52 weeks. The end result is having $1378. I altered it a bit by putting in "extra so far for the beginning weeks so that when i get to around Christmas time the higher value saved is offset. I was on week 14 but also had week 50 51 and 52 accounted for as well.


a bit better explanation is http://www.savingadvice.com/articles...challenge.html

[sweet sparrow]

yes finally on board. Now let's see if he can get through his first Big Mac craving. I swear he'd run me down to get to a big mac (shudder!)

Please don't mention the words Big Mac around pregnant women..... DH's are not the only ones with cravings.

[gourmetsue]

Please don't mention the words Big Mac around pregnant women..... DH's are not the only ones with cravings.

LOL. sorry

AHAH JasperandChar If he had coupons for McD's I may never see him again.

Bronwen - Good luck with the move today! Hope things go well.

Maybe tomato sauce for a veggie lasagna yesterday so I'm cleaning out the freezer which is taking up a big spot on my To Do list at the moment.

Wishing you all a great start to the weekend!

[walkonby]

well, the money spent shopping today will take a bigger hit, as I have to purchase a few extra gluten free supplies ( I actually have coupons for Glutino too, hooray) and I am going back on my 6wbmo eating plan, so there will be separate items I buying for just myself. Who knows what DH, and the 2 kids will want to eat while I am trying to lose that weight ( again!) This time I am leaving them to fend for themselves since Univ is over I figure they can upgrade their cooking skills a bit.

[Granger]

Bought a crib rail bc DD was biting. Didn't fit. Made my own with a receiving blanket and now am saving us $20. I think it was Anna Michele who posted the idea in another thread.