July 2015 Frugal Chatter

[sweet sparrow]

Inquiring Minds Want to know!!!

How are you staying cool?

What things do you do to keep the house cool?

We're probably the unfrugalist in this category. DH gets hot very easily so we have the thermostat at normal temperatures while we're home (23 or lower) and I think it's 25 when we're out. He also has the fans running constantly in the bedroom and I just freeze at night.

We still have no curtains anywhere, so our home, with the largest facing windows to the south suck up all the heat.

I'm still trying to decide on wndow coverings, but I would ones that collect the least amount of grime and dust. Those thin aluminum ones seem too heavy and difficult to clean without bending, but we have them on a front window and one bedroom window. Maybe I should look into the insulating properties of different window coverings. Is there anywhere you can even find that?

[sweet sparrow]

QOTD: If you were to go on a shopping diet, but could allow yourself three to five areas to spend on, what would they be? All necessities are excluded like food, home repair, winter tires, winter boots, replacements for broken items, etc., but eating out, cable, or hobbies are fair game.

[Andit]

Good morning, everyone.

Brats and I can't seem to get moving this morning - must be the rain.

If I can stay awake, I think I'll sit by the window with Lily dog & watch the athletes wait for the buses to take them to their events. Have to make it up to my girl, since we couldn't sit outside this morning & spy on the usual neighbours.

On the plus side, my Mom sent me home with enough food that I don't have to cook all week. Is it wrong that I feel no guilt about letting my soon-to-be 80 yr old Mom (who has more energy than I had at 20) spoil me rotten?

Better get started with my chores (carpets either need vacuuming or a haircut). Blech.

Hope everyone has a wonderful day.

[Frugalbigmama]

Good morning! I broke down and put the A/C on for the first time this year on Saturday late afternoon. It was good timing I think So took advantage of the heat outside and dried all my laundry/sheets I washed on the weekend.

[Frugalbigmama]

I dug around and sorted the deep freeze on the weekend. I tossed 6 containers of cottage cheese that have been in there for over 18 mths (we just never got around to using them- they were free with coupons) and a pack of janes chicken and a ham- old and freezer burnt. So now I know what I have to use up and not to buy bacon for awhile lol. I think if I don't buy much I may be able to unplug it at the end of the month! I may buy more whole chickens but will wrap them good and put them in my moms freezer for future use. Another good reminder to use up what I have so it doesn't become garbage. At least we are really good at using up all the veggies in the fridge. We never waste the fresh stuff.

[Granger]

DD1 is sick with runs. I don't know if it is Celiac or GI bug. Either way it has been about 3 weeks of health which is good for our little autoimmune girl. She seems to get something once a month.

Had to cancel my pedicure with sister since I can't send her to Vacation Bible School today. Will probably have to cancel haircut tomorrow (it has be a year and half so I am a little disappointed).

On the bright side, I am refreshed from our weekend break of children and being positive.

QOTDs
Keeping cool - AC, but it doesn't run much due to our crawl space which keeps things cool; I just signed up for equal billing for gas so that should help with heat frugality; decided not to do electricity as it didn't fluctuate too much.

Extra budgeting - RESPs, home renos and Christmas savings (all part of the budget that are getting no love right now so I would like to have extra for these areas)...vacation fund would be nice too!

[bobbiegirl2010]

To cool our house we have a large window a/c unit in the kitchen which cools the whole main floor, a small window a/c in the girls bedroom and a floor model a/c in the master bedroom.

We live in an old stone house with 2 large walnut trees shading it so generally the main floor does not get very hot. That and having darkening blinds in all the rooms help too. I rarely turn the main floor a/c on and if I do I set it at 24 C (75 F).

The upstairs does get very hot and stuffy during the day so we'll run the bedroom a/c's at night also set at 24 C (75 F).

IMO having window a/c units and just cooling the rooms that we are using when we need to saves us a lot of $$ on hydro. When we had central a/c in our old house our hydro bills were double in the summer months compared to now.

[bobbiegirl2010]

QOTD:

We seem to be always on a spending diet lol but in addition to necessities we also set aside money for:

- camping/swimming/other fun frugal family activities
- gifts for family b-days etc...
- kids sports
- gardening
- going out to eat once every couple of months

[Crochetlady]

Saw my rheumatologist this morning. The news was not good. My inflamation levels are elevated again...didn`t say how high. I`ve been having some head pain again but he says that`s not related. I know that it is. Last fall when I had that excruciating head pain my inflamation levels were through the roof. Will talk to my family Dr. when I see him in a couple weeks.They can`t raise my methotrxate dose because my hemoglobin is low.

I guess the one thing I would allow spending on would be eating out. We do very little in the way of entertainment, don`t travel etc.

We have a window AC but it hasn`t been hot enough to put it in yet. We can`t do it ourselves so hate to bother anyone unless it gets really bad. We have a window fan in the bedroom and I often wake up cold.

[Frugalbigmama]

How long does bacon keep in the freezer? Honestly I have never pulled out a package that was bad lol. I have about 5 in the freezer but considering this is a great meal for my kids mid-week (with eggs and toast etc) and a pretty cheap meal at that when compared to other options I'm thinking of doing the SDM 20X the pts on Saturday and but the Maple Leaf bacon on for $2.99 less $1 WUB 2 coupon. Stock up the freezer and pump up my SDM pts for the fall/winter/Christmas redemption.

[Frugalbigmama]

Oh and Dove soap is on for $1.99 less $1.50 WUB 2 coupon. Think I should do 20x the pts for sure this Sat since I actually have coupons to use to get more then the regular shop pts.

[Angela273]

I think baby A (boy) dropped this week. I had an excruciating amount of pelvic pain yesterday which resulted in us eating out for supper. Got Chinese food and there is lots of leftovers for tonight's supper. Yesterday's dinner plans are being moved to tomorrow night, as long as I am feeling ok. I'm still pretty uncomfortable today, but my pelvis isn't hurting nearly as much.

I've been looking around for a photographer to do maternity and newborn pictures. I knew it wouldn't be cheap, but it is something that I really want. Some photographers are booking well into the fall and are rediculously expensive. I've found a new place in town that isn't busy. Here work is ok (not the best, she used to be a photographer at WM), but the packages are adjustable. It looks like we will do an "on site" family and maternity shoot on Saturday morning. I only want a CD of all the edited pictures, so it will only cost us $50. Most photographers won't provide an edited CD with their packages, charge you per print, etc. I mostly want the maternity pictures for myself. I still have to decide exactly what prints we want of the newborn/family pictures, but it will still cost a lot less than other photographers. She said that if I bring in my own flash drive she will put a copy of the pictures on it too, for free. I am aware that I might be somewhat disappointed in the end product, but it will cost us less than half what everyone else is charging. Some photographers that I was considering have "bump to baby packages" for $600 and does not give me a CD of all the pictures. Sorry for the rambling explanation.

I spoke with my hematologist this morning and everything looks pretty good. I will switch to 12hr injections of blood thinners whenever the pharmacy gets the meds in for me. I just have to do follow-up CBC bloodwork to make sure that my body is handling the new meds just fine...I don't anticipate any problems because I took this med with LO and everything was just fine.

[jasperandchar]

@Natalka hope Milan feels better soon, hope you got your rash checked out again @saundyl very kind of your neighbours to return the favor of outdoor maintenance and your thoughtful niece for the clean trailer & leftovers @avoncallingu I have been known to open the windows in the winter while sleeping due to hot flashes otherwise they stay closed, does your dh have a condition that cause the always being hot.

[jasperandchar]

QOTD: If you were to go on a shopping diet, but could allow yourself three to five areas to spend on, what would they be? All necessities are excluded like food, home repair, winter tires, winter boots, replacements for broken items, etc., but eating out, cable, or hobbies are fair game.

satellite tv
landline as I don't want a cellphone
internet
the odd take out treat

[jasperandchar]

@Andit mom's are mom's and are meant to spoilt their kids so don't let it bother you, she enjoys the company and the brats @Frugalbigmama I don't know about expiry date on bacon, they don't last all that long in our house even when in the freezer (haha) I would say atleast 5 months. @Angela273 hope you feel some relief soon @Crochetlady hope your head pain subsides soon