Frugal Friday with Marsha-- What's Been Going On

Things got crazy last Friday and I didn't get my post done.  More about that later.

Let's see how this week has been.

1.  I found out when my daughter bought some that Dollar Tree sells anti-freeze.  Yes, they are small bottles--14 oz.  It comes out to be about the same cost of buying a gallon, but it's a lot easier for me to come up with a few dollars to buy a few small bottles at a time.  It's also all I can add to my radiator anyway as there is a leak somewhere.  (Much more frugal if I had the money to have a mechanic fix the leak, but I don't have that money all at one time.)

2.  We went to the Salvation Army to have our taxes done free.  As long as you earn less than $50,000 a year you can get them done there free.  I'm sure glad I finally talked my husband into stop paying H&R Block over $200 each year to get them done!

3.  Speaking of my husband, that is why I missed last Friday.  Thursday night our cable was shut off for non-payment of the bill.  Friday I did some needed housework, then packed up my things and "moved" over to my mom's house to use her internet.  Thankful that she had just put internet at her house the week before as it's my way of earning.

On this subject, hubby has finally came to the conclusion that we've been paying too much for cable.  Yep, he's one of those men that unless he thinks he had the idea, it's a no go.  I've been telling him for many months that $277 a month for the cable bill is just WAY too much!!   I don't even know why it's that much.  It used to be $150 a month and that included internet, home phone, and the DVR.   I just wish it hadn't taken it being shut off and me leaving the house for him to finally decide it was his idea to do something about it.  It will be awhile before he can pay what he currently owes.

4.  How about hand me downs?  This past week my tennis shoes had a blow out.  I was wearing the last pair I had in the closet.  Oh gosh.   I hadn't had a chance to check the Goodwill store or Salvation Army for a pair, but my middle daughter gave me a pair of Puma's that were my step grandson's.  They didn't fit him and had been laying around their house.

I've probably went on longer than I should, so will stop for this week.  I wonder what this week will bring to report next week.

Have a happy and frugal week!

Frugal Friday With Marsha--Income Tax Refund

Our income tax refund has been a long time coming in, but finally got here Wednesday.
First my husband says "we  are going to be busy all day shopping", to which I replied, "just because we have money doesn't mean we need to go out and just blow it."

Well.......we didn't "blow" it all.  We did pay off the credit card, which we will use again because for another month we get an additional .25 off per gallon of gas when we use it.  I know gas is going up everywhere, so you all can relate to us wanting the additional off.  There is no interest on the card until after Dec. 31, 2013 so we will pay  back what we use for gas.

I want to put back $500 to have for vacation week in July.  As of right now there is still more then enough left to do that.....it's a matter of getting hubby to the bank to get the cash and then him not touching it!

We bought some household needs such as light bulbs and such.  I got a dress and my daughter got pants.  We bought small birthday gifts for the 3 grandchildren who have birthdays around the corner (May 29, June 1 and June 5)

We went grocery shopping at Aldi.  We spent $138 there.  If you have opportunity to shop Aldi, you know how much that $138 can get you.  I feel so much better with a stocked deep freeze and cabinet of canned goods.
Look at this banana pepper plant that we bought at Aldi for $7.99!  I wish now we have bought the tomato plant and bell pepper plants as well.  There are 3 plants. (you can see the blender that we bought too as ours had quit working.  We found this one at Target on sale for $16, down from $29.99!)

 Our big purchases were at Walmart.  A porch swing for $148.  A patio set for $198 plus $49 for the umbrella.  There we also bought tubeless tire inserts for Jasmine's bicycle.  We have too many stickers and thorns around here.  She can ride her bike again!  And, we bought 2 power cords.  You know, one for when we are on the swing with our laptops and the other for when we are on the deck using the patio set.

We tried to buy a tv at Walmart too because ours is acting up.  They didn't have it in stock and we found out yesterday that they can't order any more of that set in.  We are now considering buying the 50" one that they have on close out.  It was a demo model and has no remote, but it's fairly cheap and we can buy a universal remote.

What do you think?     I look forward to your comments.
I also look forward to seeing what others link up this week.
 

Monday February 9

Good morning! We got that rain and now wind with it, although the high is still supposed to be 64 today. It drops to the 50's tomorrow, but we are to have snow by Wednesday.
I am in hopes of getting my federal income tax refund in the mail today....the check in site states it was to be mailed February 6. If it does come then I want to make my trip to Wal Mart, pay the cable bill, pay rent to my mom, put money into savings and then see how much is possibly left to buy a running vehicle. There won't be much left.

I did my cleaning before getting on the computer, then I've spend the last 2 hours working on clearing posts in my own group on gather.
Here is my weekly mail call post: Mail Call! Week of February 1

Not sure right now which of my squidoo lenses will get updated today, but I am heading to do that next. I don't even know which one to feature today. I think I will do Sample Gal as it's only gotten like 2 views since I built it. Sample Gal

Have a great day!
Marsha


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Sunday January 25

Good Morning...and I say that after I had this all typed in, but then somehow highlighted and deleted everything I had typed!!
The weather is cold and now they say for sure the icy drizzle will start after midnight. I hope the roads aren't too bad in the morning. I got my state income tax refund in the mail yesterday. I need to ride along when they take Allen to school in the morning and get to the bank and cash it.

Yesterday I did find my crochet hook finally, under one of the rugs of all places.
I also ordered the wireless router and 2 cards from amazon. I can't wait until they come in and try that out, although I am still a long ways from saving to get my laptop.
Mo real plans today other than doing what I can here on the computer.

I posted my weekly Mail Call post on gather. I sure wish I could get that much every week, I would then be wealthy LOL Mail Call! Week of January 18

For today's squidoo lens I want to feature another fun music one. This one is on Aerosmith. I hope you will enjoy the videos and lyrics that I chose. Aerosmith Fans

Now here I am back to where I was when I deleted it all, so I will day have a great day!
Marsha

Wednesday January 14

Good Morning!
As I suspected, I did not get to my coupons yesterday, but I will today! I got 2 headbands crocheted yesterday and have 1 more to day today to list a set of 3 on blujay. I won't start crocheting on the shopping bag until my coupons are all cut and sorted.

Tomorrow I will put in my info to e-file my taxes. At least I will know how much I am getting back even though the e-file won't go through until the 19th. I picked up a state income tax book last night too, and that can be mailed in as soon as I have the figures from the federal to put in. I look forward to getting this money in hopes of buying some sort of vehicle. I don't even care what it is, how large it is, what it looks like, as long as it runs and gets us from point a to point b and back again.

I need to get busy and get some more squidoo lenses built. I want to get my other 9 built by the end of February at the latest and get my application in for giant squid. Today I am featuring the lens that I made on the book The Vision Board. I just got this back from a friend at work, and want to read it again to inspire me to keep pushing. The Vision Board book review

I better move along here, so have a great day!
Marsha