Just chilling in January (2015 frugal chatter)

[thriftygranny]

Lizzie, so glad your mom is doing well!

[Natalka]

Money saved from lower gas prices just gives us more leeway to spend on groceries, etc.

Here, gas is 80. I have a brother in northern AB who was in Edmonton yesterday and got gas for 66 cents!

Husband got a raise and his annual bonus - the latter hurts because of the tax taken off! They also have some sort of new investment program, so they've put money in that for the second year. I have yet to read the info about it - gah!

He works very hard and they know he's valuable, so it's well deserved.

Have a great evening, everyone!

My sweet husband is just on his way to pick up supper!

[bobbiegirl2010]

Inquring Minds want to know!!!

With gas prices going down in most provinces.....

are you putting the difference between your original budgeted amount and the new gas prices in savings, buying more groceries, tax free savings account, vacation, anything goes. There Could be no difference

hope that makes some sense....all is all what are you doing with the extra savings if anything different??

For Nov/Dec we did a lot of driving so even though there was no gas savings the cheaper gas rates kept us within budget Lots of out of town trips for a funeral for DH's uncle and also for visiting FIL in the hospital in Kitchener (1 hour away). A lot of trips to Kitchener - I don't know how many times, as he was in the hospital most of Nov and Dec). FIL is doing better and at home so we can talk to him on the phone instead

For Jan any gas savings will go into our car repair account or into my income tax account (towards 2014 taxes as I am self employed). If I have any surplus after filing my 2014 taxes (which I hope lol) I will pay it onto the line of credit.

[Frugalbigmama]

Dinner done (thawed boneless skinless chicken breasts quick in the microwave) and chopped up in small chunks. Cooked in frying pan with olive oil and garlic. Made perogies and canned corn for side. Was quick enough and both kids loved it! So while I was washing up the dishes I made homemade Mac and cheese. Will send with youngest in his lunch next two days and freeze the rest if we don't eat it all. It doesn't seem to last long. Put all clean laundry away and cleaned one bathroom. My hockey player is tucked in bed since 5 am comes early. I am officially out of eggs! So hoping grilled cheese is ok for breakfast! With cut up Apple and a clementine!

[Frugalbigmama]

Mac and cheese is cooling on the stove. Took a small bit to taste ( and I tend to give kids more dinner and not as much for me) so I'm a bit hungry! Taste good! Can't believe I just started making this a few months ago. So easy!

[Granger]

Gas - we can now afford to drive our truck...lol...so no real savings, just driving it more for convenience.

We do most of our driving in a diesel vehicle, so while no real savings (maybe 5 to 10 cents) we still save overall with better fuel economy. I get double the distance than with gas in similar vehicle, so still saving $. Diesel will drop in the summer, the winter fuel is always more expensive.

[jasperandchar]

Money saved from lower gas prices just gives us more leeway to spend on groceries, etc.

Here, gas is 80. I have a brother in northern AB who was in Edmonton yesterday and got gas for 66 cents!

Husband got a raise and his annual bonus - the latter hurts because of the tax taken off! They also have some sort of new investment program, so they've put money in that for the second year. I have yet to read the info about it - gah!

He works very hard and they know he's valuable, so it's well deserved.

Have a great evening, everyone!

My sweet husband is just on his way to pick up supper!

congrats to your dh on his raise and bonus, well deserved indeed, enjoy your dinner treat

[jasperandchar]

oh lilo poor thing, I've had that happen over the years with the dogs, Jasper got his nail caught once they had to put him to sleep and take it completely off poor guy, I felt so bad, it was a freak accident (caught between the deck board) I felt horrible. Hoping your dog heals quickly

[coupon girl]

lizzie nice that your mom is doing good after surgery -I had it done last april
-nat nice treating yourselves to supper after hubbys raise

-nancy -all the savings from gas-gives us more to put into our savingsaccount -as we are planning to rent a cottage this summer with the grown kids and ashlyn

[lilo0003]

Angela: nice to get some work close to home especially this time of year.
CouponGirl: If I had known Squawkfox (Kerry Taylor) was coming to Hamilton I would have made the drive. She does not blog as much now as she adopted a daughter a few years back. But I still get her email whenever she has a new post and there is a lots of interesting ideas. She has a great post about what to buy or not buy at Costco. Even Gail Vaz Oxlade supports the idea of a loyalty credit cards so we do what works for us.
QoD: We have had a huge drop in our gas costs as DH has been working at home a lot more. His office is 100 km round trip and a toll road. So it was not cheap. About 6 months ago he changed roles so spends more time at home or on the GO train. I have been just moving the money into our TFSA. We did not start as soon as they were introduced so have been playing catch up. I think by the end of this year we will finally be all caught up.

[lilo0003]

Lizzie: Its great your mom is recovering nicely & it’sa good thing you are there to help with the drops. The post cataract surgery drop regime was a challenge for me at 45, I had both eyes done within 7 days of each other so two drop routines going on was a bit crazy.

[MrsSunshine]

i guess for us personally for us, dh is the only one that really benefits from the gas prices.
i try to not go far, i take the bus to save on that as well.
as for the savings. probably only see it when it comes to bills or food expense. a little extra always helps.

[Andit]

Good evening, everyone.

Got home last night, but have spent the day catching up with folks and running around doing errands (had to go pick up medication in this minus gazillion celsius weather ). I needed an escape from the computer who decided to do unauthorized upgrades. Grrrr. Just getting on the computer now, which is rare for me.

B-day celebrations were lots of fun - good food, even better company. I went home to my Mom's & she spoiled us rotten (I got home-cooked schnitzel for my b-day, one of my favourites!). Hate coming back to reality and having to be the one spoiling the brats (you'd think they'd wait on me just once ).

Brats are already in their beds, sleeping soundly, well, Quincy cat is sleeping soundly, Lily dog is trying to ignore someone's snoring.

Night all.

[saundyl]

Hi all
Iilo poor pup!

Glad the coat isnt stinky any more nancy!

We used frozen tomatoes that were from our garden today to make a sauce with sausages and pasta for supper.

I picked up a pork roast gor pulled pork for supper tomorrow. Thursday will be leftovers.

Gas savings December we traveled more so there were no real savings. I budget 60 per month for my car. ...anything leftover i tend to carry over into the next months available funds to re work into the budget if pay is short or something unexpected comes up.

Next month i have to somehow work a hotel for hockey into our budget. Bf us responsible for gas to get there.

[avoncallingu]

Hello ladies! Thriftygranny - and Mrs. S - I, too, have been trying to organize the basement and unpack some things that didn't get unpacked in our move before I pack away the Christmas decorations and then get rid of the ones we didn't use.

DH went to London today for his pre-op - his surgery will happen Feb. 9.
On another front, they are still trying to figure out what is causing his vertigo. It has diminished since he has stopped the clinical trial cancer drug last week, but not disappeared entirely. He has been instructed to stay off for another week and then they will re-assess. He was totally tuckered out by after supper and didn't feel well so went to bed early (which he never does!)

I have been taking over some of the cooking -suppers because he has been busy early in the day and then gets extremely tired. He has a hard time accepting that he can't do all the things that he used to be able to.

I am trying to get a real handle on just what we spend where. But haven't teased out the specifics yet. The gas prices are certainly helping with the bottom line, but may affect our investments in the long run, they say.

I HATE our new fridge as the shelves are so small that things get pushed to the back and then go un-noticed and we wind up throwing things out. Last night I cleaned out the whole crisper because dh had put a jar of 4 Bean Salad in there sideways and the vinegar all leaked out and yucked everything up! Blah!

We are, like a lot of you, trying to use up what we ALREADY HAVE as far as food goes. I haven't told my dh yet but I bought a $100 GC for Food Basics from a church program before Christmas and it sure will come in handy this month.

Well, I am a captain for a local Heart and Stroke team. - This is a new one, since I've moved. Tomorrow is the "Rally" where people are supposed to pick up their kits but I don't have a full team yet and I don't know people in this area. I'll do as much as I can. But with dh having surgery in Feb, I'm not sure I'll be very effective.

Well, I should get off to bed.

Take care, my friends! This winter is sinking it's teeth in around here!