Frugal Friday With Marsha--Income Tax Refund Time

For those of you like us who receive a refund, I'm sure it's an exciting time for you to get that chunk of money, but what do you do with it?

We usually pretty much blow it (which isn't necessarily frugal).  We treat ourselves to eating out a couple of times as well as a good stock up shopping trip to Aldi.
Then we buy something we want, but really don't need.  One year hubby bought a smoker.  One year we bought a porch swing and a patio set.  Some years ago we used it to buy a swimming pool for the back yard.

This past year hubby and I have taken on loans we shouldn't have. I hope a hard lesson learned on getting things that we didn't need--for example, new windows for the front of the house.   So, this year we are using our refund to catch the bills up to date.   Let's hope that hubby and I can KEEP the bills paid once they are paid up to date.  I will say wish us luck!

I have downloaded an ebook by Dave Ramsey and will send the file to my husband to read.  With that said, he will actually have to take the time to read it and implement the information to start working ourselves out of the debt hole we have dug.

What I would like to do from here on out for these Friday posts is to share different things we have done throughout each week that are frugal.  The motivation of knowing that I am going to be posting to you all will make me more mind conscience of what we are doing each week.  This will help us, and hopefully also give some of you some ideas of how to save and live a frugal life.

I will start this week with how I am saving money for something that I want.  The something that I want is to be able to attend the local quilt retreats.  I know this is a want and not a need to go to these.  But, at the same time, it is a need.  A need for me to get away from the chaos of our house....a need to be out socializing with others who share the same interests as me.....a need for the dedicated time to just sit and work on projects.
After each retreat I start my savings jar again.  I save all of my change.  I also save $1 from every check I might get or every time I get some babysitting money.  It works for me.  They are local in town retreats so cost from $50 to $65 to attend.
Each October I work a couple of days at the quilt shop for the shop hop.  That pays $50 of their fall retreat.

I will stop babbling now and prepare a notepad to take notes all week of what I want to share with you.  Until then, have a frugal week!

I will leave you with a link to Dave Ramsey's site for those interested in checking out what he has to offer.  I didn't pay for the ebook I downloaded, and if I can find where I was able to get it free, I will be sure to share it.  If you know where to find it free, please share it in the comments section.
http://www.daveramsey.com/home/

Frugal Friday with Marsha --Week in Review 7/10/15

I hope this post finds that you have had a good week. We've had rain here and cooler weather, which has been so nice. It's felt like a dry desert out there with triple digits temps and no rain.
My few sunflowers are starting to bloom. Here is a nice picture to share with you. Not near as many as I usual have, but still a delight to see when I am driving down the street to come home each time.

Not sure about the frugal week in itself. I still can't get hubby to understand that paying the bills comes first and we have to make due with what is left.
Again it's been babysitting grandchildren and my daughter bringing food for me to feed them that has mostly gotten us by.

Oh, I guess I should add that part of my problem with hubby is once again his grocery shopping without asking...and you know, without paying the bills first. He bought ground beef and ground turkey. It is hard to complain just because yes, having food is nice. But, what happens when we can't cook the food because he's not paid the gas and light bills?
He's also been doing the cooking with this food too.

I, on the other hand, am guilty too. For 2 months I spent the 2200 Swagbucks to redeem for $25 Walmart gift cards. My sole purpose....to buy us a new bedding set. We've had the other for 7 years and it was really past being worn out...plus it was brown and ugly. I know that could have waited and I should have been using the $50 at Walmart for food and other necessities over buying the bedding set. It sure was nice to get into bed last night though. I will continue to take swagbucks deal to get my choice of a $25 gift card for the discounted points of 2200 instead of 2500 once a month. Otherwise I am getting $25 paypal now, which I actually did use that to shop at Aldi.
p.s. I did buy the bedding set through Walmart.com and through swagbucks to earn a few more points there. I picked it up at the store.

How has your week been? I hope there are those of you out there who post your coupon deals that will link up and motivate me to get back to my couponing. ALL frugal type posts are welcome in the linky!

An InLinkz Link-up