March 2026 Frugal Chatter Thread

[lilo0003]

I thought maybe I was confused as I just go off the ship today but it’s really March 1st. So here is the new thread.
We are still in Puerto Rico and it’s a balmy 31 degrees. Going home tomorrow is going to hurt.

[lizzie bargain]

Yes it will Lilo! My sentiments exactly.

[walkonby]

March!? Who said March could arrive already? hee hee. Dr. appt. today for DH, not much else.

[harbie]

Well hello all. Another crazy few weeks (like always) but this ones definitely different. February went out like a LION and I’m praying March is going to be a lamb and a baby lamb at that.


On Feb 20th (my parents 61st wedding anniversary) Dh was in a car accident. Thankfully he is ok but unfortunately our Jetta isn’t . So we had to start the new vehicle purchasing search. It’s been an extremely challenging roller coaster ride to say the least. After it’s all said and done we purchased a new vehicle and we picked her up yesterday. So Feb 28th wasn’t frugal with paying for insurance and the replacement insurance for 5 yrs but everything else should be smooth sailing. Now to see if it fits at my clients homes (they have tight streets and I’m not used to the new size of the vehicle)

So with all that $$$$$ going out today will be a easy day and only Dh getting his haircut and then back to the grind to make more $$$$ with another busy week.

This situation just solidifies just how important living within our means really is. Saving, being frugal/cheap and being satisfied with what you have and having a plan place to weather the financial storms is what saved us for sure.

Have a great day everyone, stay safe and always be frugal

[SassyAshley]

Good Morning Everyone,
Oh my, she is chilly out there.

We had to move our cars because they are coming to clear the snow banks before the rain comes later this week. Mom's car was a little hesitant, but thankfully, she started. Oh my gosh I would have lost it if it did not, especially after just recently taking her to the mechanic. Let her run for about 20 minutes, I was going to take her for a drive but even though I went out early to move them everyone else came out to move there cars so I just need to get a spot. We have been told it will take about 4 hours so there is no sitting in the car waiting for them to be done.

I got some prep done yesterday, I took it slow but still got stuff done.
Washed the produce (we only had cucumbers and strawberries), I cut up the strawberries
Made a batch of rice which we actually used for dinner last night
Made another crustless cheesecake, we liked it the first time but wanted to make a few adjustments (less sugar, bigger pan) and I had raspberries to use up.
Cooked up the pack of Ground Beef and turned it into Taco Meat for the freezer
Cooked a pack of bacon

Also well I was in the kitchen I cleaned out the fridge, I had an off week so there was more food waste than normal, that is on me. There was cantaloupe, rice and some sliced peppers I cooked up. Well I was cleaning out the fridge I took everything out and wiped down the shelves.

Today, I am working on the work things, I logged in early to get one thing done before we opened.

Also washed my couch blanket because it was not done last week. As well I rewashed my fitted sheet because I stopped my mascara wand on it when I was getting ready for the baby shower. As well since I logged in early I took a break and vacuumed the hallway before I came back in with my wet shoes. Also vacuumed the couch.

Slowly working to get things done because I did not get a lot of cleaning done this weekend.

Happy Monday Everyone.

[SassyAshley]

@harbie , oh no, happy to hear your DH is okay, but that must have been scary.

[coupon girl]

Oh harbie thank goodness hubby is okay ,scary for sure.Yes it sure is nice to have a bit of savings on hand just incase life happens .

Walkonby my hubby is having his eyes checked today .

Love seeing it sunny here ,cold but sunny i will take the sun for sure.

[Frugalbigmama]

Morning! March! February really did fly by!

The weekend flew by....no housework was done. No shopping was done. DS asked to take my car to work today so I guess no shopping will be done today either.
So guess I better do some housework at some point.

Will make my breakfast soon and then figure out the dinner plan while I am in the kitchen. ( there are leftovers from a noodle place (free with points) but I'm over it) It won't go to waste as DS will polish it off. Planning to cook up a turkey from the freezer at some point this month...... and use the leftovers for meals so that will be nice to have out of the freezer. Then we have the giant ham to have another week. (toasted westerns will be great leftovers for me that week!)

Enjoy the day!

[walkonby]

@harbie We know that pain. A new vehicle being imposed on drivers due to either a rear end minor thing with an older vehicle.
Makes no difference the older vehicle was all paid for, owed us nothing. It can be very exciting to start off again in a new vehicle
so I won't dump on that.
It's the darn cost of a new vehicle that drives me to drink! So glad your DH was unhurt in the accident, we were also spared injury
BOTH times. Two different vehicles deemed " totaled " by our Insurance Co. Thanks for nuthin!

Today is a treat, legal vacation day for my guys. That extra day with a weekend is just lovely. Enjoy the day all, I heard gas prices
will be jumping UP,UP,UP like the lyrics from the song Golden. ( due to the " pseudo " war in Iran. )

[coupon girl]

Well hubby doesnt need any glasses ,had a eye exam .The doctor told him cateracts are starting in right eye .Then we stopped into my son's for a coffee as he is around the corner.

[SassyAshley]

Good Morning Everyone,
A little annoyed over yesterday, so I moved the cars, they came they plowed which really didn't do much because everything was frozen, salted which was much needed and left. They were here for 15 minutes, I could have taken Mom's car for a drive and not need to worry about a spot to park. They are now saying due to the cost they are not going to have the snowbanks removed.

Yesterday got super busy with work so I did not get anything else done around the house. I finally got my work project off to my boss at 7 pm last night, although I did stop at 5 to make dinner, have dinner, clean the kitchen and then proofed it and sent it off.

Today I have the regular laundry going and hoping on my lunch I can knock out a few more house things.

I was going to go out to take the car for a drive and to get out but honestly, I just want to stay home and try to get a few things done so I think that will be the plan.

Hoping to hear my new laptop for work is ready because mine shut itself down last night and I thought I lost the document for my boss (I cannot turn on autosave or Work and Excel crash). I had a new laptop but it was the wrong one so I gave it back and I heard last week the new, new one was in and just waiting to be set up.

Guess we will see where this day take me.

Happy Tuesday Everyone.

[harbie]

Thanks everyone. As long as Dh was ok is all that mattered.

It's such an uncomfortable feeling to now have car payments after over 10 years without them .

Another good thing is that I got a Rakuten cheque arrive yesterday . It’s going towards the car fund

I'm off to work now so have a great day everyone and stay safe

[coupon girl]

Morning i am in a cleaning mode ,cleaned one cupboard out thru out some stuff ,2 microfibre cloths for donating (cant stand those cloths)
I may make muffins bran with raisins .

It is a no spend day here ,not going out only to the mailbox and back .

[Frugalbigmama]

Morning!

I didn't leave the house yesterday at all so another $0 spend day.
Dinner was our back up fish and fries Filled the take out need. Cheap. And quick and easy!

Coffee was ready when I got up which was nice..... once done I will go tidy the kitchen and then have a shower to wake up! Feels like a slow day...

[walkonby]

I love a giggle, got one from your post @coupon girl . So with microfibre cloths, is the reason you cannot stand them because
of the way hang nails and/or rough fingertips snag on them? That's my reason for disliking them. I could always moisturize more
but I need to have pet peeves in my back pocket at the ready! ha ha
@harbie I almost reported your post for the foul language....2 words... car payments. UGH! I just know that fate awaits us too
after going so long not paying every month to drive. Your attitude is the best though. Acceptance and grateful for what really matters.
@SassyAshley We can send out vibes to the Universe to melt those snowbanks asap! Our small front lawn still holds piled up snow.

So today I was all set to hit a different Metro to get the Franco American beef gravy that's on for .99 a can and the 1 kg jars of Casablanca
honey @$6.99 , my closest store was out of both. Only allowed a rain-check for the gravy. So that was my plan BUT I often have inner
dialogue that finds ways NOT put on street clothes and go out. It worked!
I have an hygienist appt. on Wednesday morning so I can just do it after I'm out of the chair. See Sassy? Inner dialogue is great! ha ha

Enjoy Tuesday all.