October Frugal Chatter - Harvest the Savings

[saundyl]

Challenges & Goals

Frugalbigmama - My goal for October for laundry is to not use the dryer

Caseythegoalie -
Make an additional $500 to pay down my MC (yep its up there again) and
$250 towards Christmas,
$175 for nursing license. So I guess I will just say I need an additional $1000.
I'm also hoping to rack up 50000 optimum points this month through various promotions without buying stuff I don't need. I want to build up enough for two top level redemptions for Christmas. I have two niece birthday giftcards to buy in October too-$25 each=$50 total.

MaddensMomma
- Find a chance to shower every day... honestly I have to make this a GOAL with the new baby here that doesn't sleep some days
- Start making homemade Christmas gifts... DS' felt food is the main priority but also want to start making some greeting card sets that I am going to give away.
- Use up foods in the freezer to make room for sales. We are packed full already even after the big defrost and have no room to stock up on Turkeys this week So far I dug out a Shepherd's pie for lunch this week, 2 bbq chicken packets for dinner tonight and a bag of chicken noodle soup and stew for 1 dinner and 1 lunch. Now at least I can buy ONE turkey this week and a couple pizzas lol.
- Get creative with stockpile foods to use up stock and save money. DS will soon start receiving waffles in his school lunches, bagels/cream cheese, frozen yogurt tubes, canned pineapple, random crackers, etc.
- Organize coupon binder and incoming coupons at least once per week and do more trades
- Organize closets (baby's, front hall, back patio, DS') and purge as much as possible
- Organize stockpile room (once DH cleans out all his tools, etc from fixing the furnace)
- Organize and purge papers, bills, etc.

My Goals for October
-Pay $300 on credit cards - most going to prepayment of Christmas gifts except for the $86 already spent on the card.
- Finish 2 more scarves, a few dish cloths and my wrap for knitting. - next year i'd like to have enough knitted for scarves, dish cloths, wraps, baby blankets to participate in a craft sale
- Put my entire GST refund into savings
- Another $25 in Gift cards for Swagbucks/Amazon.ca
-Put an extra non christmas related $75 on my capital one
-Have 10 of the 15 christmas gifts ordered and completed - I got 4 done in September and 1 done yesterday. plus stay under budget.
-catchup on the last 50 of the late part of the power bill.

[avoncallingu]

coupon girl - I'm passing on all my good wishes for your daughter-in-law and the babe. I'm sure the little one just took a "wrong turn" on his /her way to finding he/hisr way into the world! S/he must be getting pretty "antsy" in there - time to get out! almost.

Also - I'm glad you approached your relative. Family stresses are so hard. My dear departed mum used to be "on the outs" with THIS part of her family and then THAT part of her family! Which was tough because they were in England and she was here - and the only form of communication back then was letter, since the phone was so expensive.
I couldn't keep track so I just kept sending Christmas Cards to EVERYONE! Which I still do. They think I'm so great because I never took sides! I hate to say it, but I never knew what they were fighting ABOUT! Families are a question, aren't they?

hey all I am a little stressed -my son called last night my daughter-in-law may have to have a C-section -baby is breech position-lets hope she moves into right position-I will go with my daughter-in-law for a ultrasound on Friday-they seem okay with the outcome-I just want a healthy granddaughter -oh yes and daughter and her hubby go to Chicago on Friday for a few days -well on a better note talked to my niece who is 18 yesterday -I called to wish her a happy birthday -haven't talked to her in 6 and a half years -due to family problems -see kath most everybody has family problems with brothers or sisters -she may come with her mom for a visit on sat night

[jasperandchar]

hey all I am a little stressed -my son called last night my daughter-in-law may have to have a C-section -baby is breech position-lets hope she moves into right position-I will go with my daughter-in-law for a ultrasound on Friday-they seem okay with the outcome-I just want a healthy granddaughter -oh yes and daughter and her hubby go to Chicago on Friday for a few days -well on a better note talked to my niece who is 18 yesterday -I called to wish her a happy birthday -haven't talked to her in 6 and a half years -due to family problems -see kath most everybody has family problems with brothers or sisters -she may come with her mom for a visit on sat night

hope the little angel flips over/turns around and let us know what the ultra sound says. Great of you to take the higher road and call your niece after all this time.

[MrsSunshine]

LOL @ Avon about the cards. i send calendar cards (with magnets i put on them) to selected few last year, (free on vistaprint + like $5 shipping with 5 other personalized items free).. man i hope they have that offer again this year.
anyway.. i didn't send to two of my sisters. well. they called my mom.. complained. i was like .. oh they must have been ruined in the mail from the magnets. im SO bad LOL.
this year if its affordable im just going to do my whole side. so much easier..no hurt feelings.

as for frugalness.. saved a little money today after getting into an argument with a cashier at WM.. my word.. im trying to do a good deed as cheaply as I can.. so far its not working. i will persevere!
never take hubbies shopping.. they hit that stupid reduced baked good section.. crap. i'll learn.. THEN he offers to take my son and him to get hair cuts at the barbers-$40 freakin dollars later. cause he can't wait to get his done at my hairdressers - $7!!
wish they'd learn some patience. oh well he's the one working so much. but still.

[PammieD]

Just got home from the bulk barn-did you all know they offer student/seniors 10% discount on Wednesdays? I have a student card so I saved 10% on my pickling spices (and gummie candy-I'm an addict). Just threw my sons bedding in (I know time of use is not in my favor) to hang outside and dry in the sunshine. I really have trouble doing laundry after 7 pm, does anyone else? I'm just too darn tired. I'm going to make pickled eggs, then have an appointment at my son's school at 2pm as they want to discuss his learning plan for the year.

I hear you on the laundry -but between 5 and 7 p.m it is mid price -I managed to get mine in at 6.30 this morning couldn't sleep -then went back to sleep-and hubg it out cause its beautifull here -nice warm day

I hate it. This thread just reminded me that I started a load Monday night. Ffs. Now I'm going to need to rewash because I'm sure it stinks like nasty. This is part of why I have my goal of using the hanging rack more. I'm currently home during the day so usually can get a few loads done early- mid morning at mid rate. If I throw it in before bed though, I pretty regularly forget about it. Then the winter will come along and make morning and 5-7 peak rate again. Lovely!

[jasperandchar]

How to you make pickled cabbage? I make my own sauerkraut because I like the taste of home-made one, but it's also a very good source of pro-biotics.

Thanks for the tip on the price. I should start myself another batch of sauerkraut. Even though it's just my husband and me, I never seem to make enough.

I did get to make the red pickled cabbage today but got the apples all done...phew, I will pm you the recipe for the red pickled cabbage this evening.

[jasperandchar]

LOL @ Avon about the cards. i send calendar cards (with magnets i put on them) to selected few last year, (free on vistaprint + like $5 shipping with 5 other personalized items free).. man i hope they have that offer again this year.
anyway.. i didn't send to two of my sisters. well. they called my mom.. complained. i was like .. oh they must have been ruined in the mail from the magnets. im SO bad LOL.
this year if its affordable im just going to do my whole side. so much easier..no hurt feelings.

as for frugalness.. saved a little money today after getting into an argument with a cashier at WM.. my word.. im trying to do a good deed as cheaply as I can.. so far its not working. i will persevere!
never take hubbies shopping.. they hit that stupid reduced baked good section.. crap. i'll learn.. THEN he offers to take my son and him to get hair cuts at the barbers-$40 freakin dollars later. cause he can't wait to get his done at my hairdressers - $7!!
wish they'd learn some patience. oh well he's the one working so much. but still.

oh my goodness I bursted out laughing reading this part never take hubbies shopping.. they hit that stupid reduced baked good section.. crap. i'll learn.. I must say atleast he checked the reduce baked goods and not the full price ones like my hubby....grrrr....My dh must have the sweetest tooth there is around. If there is nothing sweet in the house he's like a bear and keeps saying I wish we had something sweet to eat....really... you don't say.

[jasperandchar]

I hate it. This thread just reminded me that I started a load Monday night. Ffs. Now I'm going to need to rewash because I'm sure it stinks like nasty. This is part of why I have my goal of using the hanging rack more. I'm currently home during the day so usually can get a few loads done early- mid morning at mid rate. If I throw it in before bed though, I pretty regularly forget about it. Then the winter will come along and make morning and 5-7 peak rate again. Lovely!

Don't feel bad I do also forget about leaving laundry for a day or so and wow does it stink, so you are not alone. I now set the stove timer for 1 hour by then the clothes should be done washing and ready to throw on the line or if you use a dryer. I find it's just a good reminder especially in the evenings when things get chaotic.

[jasperandchar]

well after nearly 30 minutes sitting in the osap office.. we think someone may have screwed up somewhere.. ya think.. hoping to hear back in the next few days what to do.. OI!!!!
on a very upsetting note.. someone took some property from our home..wow. nerve.. hope whoever took it.. has karma bite them in the ass.
thank goodness for buses and passes provided by the school.. my son has his first job interview tomorrow. crossing my fingers.
was going to head to Metro today to see if they had any glade warmers. nope still out.. geez i only want 3.

Are you saying that someone stole something from your house? Inside or outside, either way that' so not proper. Hope your son's OSAP gets all worked out soon. Let us know how your son's job interview goes!

[jasperandchar]

Okay need to check the September thread to see if someone posted there thread name vote after I posted it was a tie, sorry for my tardiness but things are absolutely busy by choice and some shopping.

[Crochetlady]

We picked up our cider at noon today. Hubby says it`s really good. I don`t drink the stuff myself so I`ll take his word for it. Has anyone tried making apple syrup? I love the stuff but I`m not sure if you can buy it anymore. Might try to talk hubby into letting me experiment with a jug of cider.
I haven`t set any goals for myself this month. I know I`ll be busy with crocheting...have to replace all the baby afghans that sold last month besides doing more towels. One of the stores that sells my things has their annual sale this month so I try to have extra things there.
This month I have an extra $100 to pay on my CC. The balance is slowly coming down.Can`t wait til I can get rid of it but that won`t happen for at least a couple more years.

[Crochetlady]

Okay need to check the September thread to see if someone posted there thread name vote after I posted it was a tie, sorry for my tardiness but things are absolutely busy by choice and some shopping.

I didn`t get around to voting...not even sure what the tie was. I`ll be happy with whatever name you choose.

[cath007]

I did a lots of progress for searching solutions for my cleaning,bigs rubbermaid containers of things I want to kept and dont use will go in the locker,things who will have to trash too,this way I will put them away when the green bin pass,tp ,kleenex will go on the shelves of the entrance closet,and I will probably built a storage unit for stockpile,so now my plan is on control I just have to stick to those changes,I have to adapte myself but it is positive.It is crazy when we think how the solutions come.
Father made supper so I can advance more on my things.Really productive day.

[jasperandchar]

okay ladies since there was a tie for this thread title I decided to create a voting poll below is the link and it will only last 1 day so please place your choice http://forum.smartcanucks.ca/368160-...a/#post5659325

[jasperandchar]

I didn`t get around to voting...not even sure what the tie was. I`ll be happy with whatever name you choose.

well now's your chance (lol), I just created a voting poll