April Showers of Savings the sequel - 2015 Frugal Chatter

[jasperandchar]

@bobbiegirl2010 perhaps you could look into being a lunch monitor at a school they pay pretty decent because of the short hours, it would be a little extra cash and the hours would work with your schedule. I think you have the mindset. When dh 1st got injured at work and we managed for 1 year on my salary, I will admit that I did make a fairly decent wage because I worked for the gov't but it's amazing how crafty & creative you become when you have to be. Search pinterest for ideas for everything, and fixing things yourself is so much cheaper. It will also give you perhaps time to tackle house projects that are simple enough for you do to do and add value to your home and build equity

[Granger]

@jas parandchar at least we are all in this together. I feel empowered knowing I am not alone.

[coupon girl]

-well today hung a few clothing out today my goodness it was so chilly what a difference form yesterday
well talked hubby into going to talize -got him nautica jeans 9.99-5o% cpn (came in with junk envelope )=4.99-see just saved a bunch of money-would have gotten him 2 pairs of jeans -but not many mens jeans
-then cooked pork chops for hubby fish for me for supper
-oh and I posted 19 items on kijii -some very nice clothing that doesn't fit me anymore -the dress form my son's wedding 4 year ago - a few knick nacks -oh already have one sale the shoes from my son's wedding -I will never wear again -4 inch heels I don't think so 12.00 for me on Tuesday
why give to value village or talize -if it is In very good condition -I will try to sell first

[SassyAshley]

And another blow, Mom has been fighting her work over the fact her vacation pay was not paid out like it was supposed to be the first week of April. Figured it was open and shut as the paper shows it is wrong. Nope never that easy, they are now saying she not entitled to her vacation pay which is why she was not paid out. The only thing we can think of is because she changed departments last year and now they are trying to claim that due to the change they are not recognizing that she has been there 10 years but instead are looking at the fact she has only been in her current department under a year. Needless to say the money has been spent (it was what she was counting on to pay for my bday so now I feel horrible, I knew we should have stayed home). Why oh why did I let my guard down and agrees to spend money we did not physically have in our hand.

Thinking it is time to bump up my overtime, I have two weeks before I go on the road again and no way to do over time when travelling. I am at a serious loss right now as to what we can do. Got a few one things to post has one more sale today but it seems like the list of things we need to buy is growing and I just do not think we have enough to sell to cover it all.

Off to push my gold personality on Mom and insist we write a budget to try to calm myself down a little.

[lilo0003]

Sadly incomes are not keeping pace with so many other costs. I picked up a few groceries today and noticed the same burgers I bought last summer for 10.00 a box are now 14. I think it's time to start making my own burgers. I typically eat turkey burgers. But everyone else eats beef. I was lucky to find Jennie O turkey burgers for 5.00 for a box of 12 when I was last in the US. So I picked up 2.
DH and I have good paying jobs but choose to live in one of the most expensive cities in Canada. We always thought this would be our retirement home, but have decided we will sell any move west back to the London area where we come from. With close to a million in equity it's just the smart thing to do. We stay here now becuase our kids are still in school and with no mortgage it is manageable to live here. But I often wonder how people can buy in this city.
I went shopping today and took advantage of my Bday bonuses, so bought a really nice pair of capris and a new black pants. I only looked at pants, i have no need for anymore tops. Then to the body shop for my face cream, regular 21.00 after discount 2.65.

[lizzie bargain]

J and C-agree on the lunch monitor idea. My husband does playground supervision 1.5 hrs per day@ $30 per hour so $45 per day-as you say it is hard to get people who live close by and willing to committ for just a short time. He loves it though as it gets him outdoors, exercising and interacting with the children and also puts a little money in his pocket( not that we are desperate for the money but the job was offered and certainly enough per year to easily say cover groceries for our family of three. He kind of sees it as a paid exercise program that he really can't skip-and I think there are only something like 190 school days per year. Short walk there and back. He told me he wore his pedometer the other day and did over 5,000 steps. Anyway given he is turning 62 this week he wants to keep fit and active. Speaking of which I spent 6 hrs with the little twins today while the Mum took the older ones out swimming etc so they kept me busy. I somehow pulled a muscle in my thigh when I stood up from the playmat with both of them in my arms at once-I guess I learned that at my age I shouldn't be trying to get up from the floor with 15 lbs of baby in each arm! Anyway I think it will be fine-just a good warning to me to just pick them up one at a time from now on!


Also agree with Andit that, at least here, it is easy to get private work to assist with a senior/disabled person if the family likes you and you have a criminal record check.


J and C-do I understand you correctly that you have to pay per person in your household extra on your hydro bill to subsidize lower income folks-I have never heard of such a thing being based on how many people there are in your family.

[jasperandchar]

J and C-do I understand you correctly that you have to pay per person in your household extra on your hydro bill to subsidize lower income folks-I have never heard of such a thing being based on how many people there are in your family.

@lizzie bargain yes we are going to be charged so much per household over $50K , they are being quite quiet about the whole thing not specifying how we will be paying for this, whether it's .70 per month per working adult or .70 per household. I don't believe it will be through Hydro One as it's none of their business how much a household makes and that would open a whole different kettle of fish with regards to privacy etc. So I'm guessing it will somehow done through income taxes BUT again they are not saying exactly how they will be making us pay at this time other than it will be starting in January 2016, there have been a few protests in Ottawa on this matter. I really wish I could find an article that states how it will be charged.

My hydro bill is $150 or more a month and that's just fridge, stove, washer, 2 freezers and lights (I never use my dryer even in the winter) and we struggle with the obscene hydro bills we receive when 70% is the stupid delivery fees, I wish they would cut the delivery fee and give everyone some relief.

[jasperandchar]

@sassy Ashley I think we can all relate to counting our chickens before they hatch so to speak. I recently in the last month had wonderful plans for my tax refund only to not receive it which sucked as I really need to replace a window in the dinning room. I took a step back and instead of getting myself down about it, I made a mental note that nothing is certain until it's in your hand or in the bank.

I still don't understand why your mom's changing departments does not entitle her to her vacation pay, it really makes no sense. I thought vacation pay needed to be paid every week if not permanent or paid out just before the new year but I've been out of the workforce for several years now so I may very well be wrong. I would suggest asking your payroll person at your dad's store if this is allowed they should have a better understanding, I truly don't think it's legal to be honest with you. AND sadly it sounds like your mom's employer are doing everything to make her move on or so it seems reading your post, I hope that is not the case

My FIL for example cuts firewood and sells it, he spoke to someone the other day that asked for a price for so many cords of wood, FIL got all excited and told dh he will order another truck load BUT like I told dh he better wait until he actually sells the wood and gets the cash in hand AS we all know people say 1 thing and then do another. I can't tell you how many people reply to adds for items posted for sale, ask me to hold the items which I no longer do and they don't show up. Sorry for the long story.....BUT don't beat yourself up over something you had no control over and perhaps the trip could temporarily be put on hold. .

[thriftygranny]

Wow Lizzie our public schools only pay 15.00 an hour for lunch room supervision, and they wonder why no one wants to break up their day to do this. My granddaughter hasn't had a lunch room supervisor for two years, one lonely lady that walks the hall and peaks in to check on the rooms. Sad but true.

Ashley I do payroll, and transferring depts is not a reason to not get vacation pay, someone is being dishonest or made a mistake, and some thing doesn't' add up. All it takes is for your mom to approach the payroll dept and get an explanation, if she works for a big box store (chain) she is just a number to payroll personal so it is highly unlikely they would screw her over for personal reasons, too much to lose for a bit of holiday pay. Like I said something isn't adding up, hopefully just an oversight or accounting error.

Avon i have been thinking about you,i hope things are turning around for your husband.
Hope everyone has a wonderful week!!

[lizzie bargain]

TG-perhaps it is because my DH works at a private school that his rate is higher-and there are two supervisors working together outside for playground supervision. He does have to keep a close eye on one little boy who is diabetic and once or twice has had to intervene when his sugars dropped unexpectedly.

[thriftygranny]

TG-perhaps it is because my DH works at a private school that his rate is higher-and there are two supervisors working together outside for playground supervision. He does have to keep a close eye on one little boy who is diabetic and once or twice has had to intervene when his sugars dropped unexpectedly.

I am sure a private school is able to pay more. I did inside and outside supervision on my lunch hours ( I use that term loosely it was more like a 2 hour lunch break)!!for 10 years for my last two kids. We had many different health issues that we had to be aware of not to mention behavioral issues. I enjoyed it but the pay is so pathetic I considered it volunteering!!

[avoncallingu]

I have been out of the education system now for 3 years but here, teachers are lunchroom and playtime supervisors. They were only guaranteed 40 consective minutes for their lunch time. I'm so glad that your boards hire people - it's a win-win situation, it seems.

We are on day 10 of anti-biotic #3 and day 3 of taking both. Maybe SOME positive change - but minimally so. DH is to phone a specialist by Tuesday if they do not phone us.

I FINISHED the remembrance album for our minister and sent it to both churches today so that the members who had contributed could see it. I feel such a load off my shoulders! I have given up on being able to be part of the Garage Sale this weekend and they are doing well in getting everything organized.

Today I was tidying up the "mess" that I haven't gotten to while I was working on the album and while we've been spending so much time at hospitals.

I got an e-mail from my cousin in England that her dad, my uncle, had passed away on Friday. He was my mother's brother-in-law. I have now only 3 relatives left from that generation - My mother's 2 sister-in-laws and her cousin's wife. I always send Christmas Cards to all these people. It makes me really sad, as I knew this person when I lived in England for 2 years when I was a little girl.

They are going to have a funeral during the week of May 4 so that all their relatives can get home. Some of my cousin's children live as far away as Hong Kong. My other cousin - her brother lives in France. The last time saw them all was at his wedding in 1975. - Yikes 40 years ago!

We heard from dh's daughter today that her friends are having a baby shower for her in Denver on the long weekend. She said that I'd get an invitation but that she knew that I probably couldn't make it. She has prepared a baby registry in two stores so I have a good idea what we will send. I was hoping that there would be a Canadian Shower as she has lots of friends in London that she keeps in touch with. Nope. Even if I had the money, I don't relish spending the weekend with her mother - who will be there. (Not a lot of love lost there even though I was nowhere around when she and my dh were divorced.)

I know what people mean about prices going up - AND, I feel coupons are getting more stingy. It seems you now have to buy 2 of a product to get a decent value for the coupon.

Our car has to go in tomorrow - tune-up and tire rotation - ca-ching!

Bobbiegirl - I don't do this any more, but selling Avon can "fill-in-the-gaps" and what I found was that Avon Reps who came from small towns actually did very well, as people didn't have a lot of retail outlets to chose from.

House checking while people are away. Do you sew? My mother always had lots of business doing alterations for people. It kept food on our table during hard times.

How about scrapbooking or organizing pictures for people who just have piles of photos unorganized? (Like me)
Actually, volunteering can help sometimes as you can get fed or paid for mileage.

I'm just droning on... Should hit the sack! Good-night folks!

[Frugalbigmama]

Happy Monday! Windy day here today! Would be stuck in the house all day anyway so good day to be at work. It was so nice to get into the vehicle this morning in the clean garage! It looks so nice! We moved the shelves to the back of garage so DS's hockey net is near the opening and easy to pull out. Made some shelves from scrap wood so his hockey sticks have a spot and no more piling crap on the net! All the goalie equipment for road hockey is hanging up high too so it's all nice and neat! Even have an extra shelf now. So will move it up to the spareroom "selling room" and use it to organize stuff as I post it so it's easy to pull for a sale. I have a pick up today and another one pending once they say when they can come. (with a second person inline Love that then it makes the 1st person decide quick!) I will keep posting tonight too, gotta get this stuff gone and get that room back.

[Frugalbigmama]

RE: HYDRO. I had no idea about this new thing they were doing. What an unfair idea.

[Andit]

Good rainy morning, everyone.

Poor Lily dog was not impressed with the great outdoors - apparently, it's my fault that the rain is keeping us from spying on the neighbours. Quincy, being his normal cat self, hissed at us when we came in looking like drowned rats.

Can use any prayers that you can spare - bff's Dad went into hospital yesterday, they're running tests & still aren't sure what's going on. Too similar to what I went through with my Dad, so needless to say, I got nothing done yesterday, besides the essential squishing of critters. Hoping things went well overnight & they have a diagnosis soon (really really hoping that my theory is right & it's a simple infection that can be treated easily).

Better go sort through some papers & find that one darn missing item I need for my taxes. Or squish the brats. Or both.

Hope everyone has a wonderful day.