Homebody Getting Back to My Roots

We are debt free.... except for the mortgage!

r.c.brown@sbcglobal.net (Cheryl B.) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:03:41 PST

I thought my 0% lasted until the end of the year. I was surprised with my last statement from our last credit card to see that I owed over $100 in finance charges. That's it. I transferred the money from ING and just paid it off in full.

I am embarrassed at how long it took...

Can I do it?

r.c.brown@sbcglobal.net (Cheryl B.) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 05:45:32 PST

Attempting work today. Hopefully I make it through my 7 hours. That's all.

Swine flu is bad

r.c.brown@sbcglobal.net (Cheryl B.) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:35:23 PST

I think I am going to survive, Tamiflu seems to be helping, that's all.

Umm maybe that Oregon trip was not so frugal after all

r.c.brown@sbcglobal.net (Cheryl B.) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 05:58:53 PST

Yesterday was payday and since I woke up a little early I decided to get up and check the bank accounts and go ahead and pay for the new washer and dryer. I process that payment at my bank web site, then I consider maybe I should go ahead and pay my AMEX bill.

Then the dilemma...

Another trip is planned, turns out to be frugal too!

r.c.brown@sbcglobal.net (Cheryl B.) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:05:07 PST

The Marine Corp 234th Birthday Marine Ball is on November 6th this year. Last year my granddaughter was 3 months old and I went back to take care of her so my YD and her DH could go (I had just flown home for 8 weeks after being there the first month after she was born).

This...

A frugal trip is planned

r.c.brown@sbcglobal.net (Cheryl B.) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 10:37:28 PST

We are leaving soon for a trip up to Oregon to see my 10-year-old nephew participate in the US Figure Skating 2010 Western Regionals.

Our local radio station has a Saturday morning advertising/shopping show in which I obtained 6 nights (2 for us, 2 for my brother, 2 for my mom)...

Okay I confess....

r.c.brown@sbcglobal.net (Cheryl B.) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:36:26 PST

I bought a new washer and dryer set on Saturday. However, we paid cash for the Whirlpool Duet set with the steam option. I am hoping to save money on dry cleaning and the water savings should pay for our garden next year. This was a planned purchase so should not count for the no...

Dodged my first bullet

r.c.brown@sbcglobal.net (Cheryl B.) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 14:39:01 PST

A new Kohl's opened this week in our area. While this may not be a difficult challenge for some of you, we have Ross, Sears, Target and K-Mart and now a Kohl's.

We received a $10.00 off coupon in the mail and DH needed some new T-shirts so we decided to go yesterday. First we...

Today is the day...

r.c.brown@sbcglobal.net (Cheryl B.) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:47:48 PST

My self-imposed 1 year not buying anything that I don't absolutely genuinely need. No clothes, no shoes, no socks, no undergarments. No new makeup, unless I actually run out of something. No new moisturizers (I probably have enough assorted brands to last 5 years). No books, no...

Thoughts on September

r.c.brown@sbcglobal.net (Cheryl B.) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:30:59 PST

September is traditionally the most beautiful month here on the North Coast of California and this year was no exception. However, looks like the temperature is going below 50 the next couple of nights so we need to harvest our butternut squash.

We have decided to not waste our...

Nice surprise

r.c.brown@sbcglobal.net (Cheryl B.) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:33:03 PST

We order DH's work boots every couple of years and when ordering today, the online store gave me 10% off for no apparent reason. Of course the fact that they cost $227.00 a pair might have had something to do with it and my wait on hold....

Anyway what a nice surprise. ...

My beauty money saving tip

r.c.brown@sbcglobal.net (Cheryl B.) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 05:26:49 PST

Have your husband, partner, significant other or friend color and cut your hair for you. I waited for DH to get home from work Saturday morning to color my hair. He has never done it before and the last time I did it myself, when I washed it out I still had gray, so I figured he...

Oatmeal and apples

r.c.brown@sbcglobal.net (Cheryl B.) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:12:39 PST

I have been buying oatmeal every morning at work for $1.00, but I know my Irish oats bought in bulk at Winco and cooked at home is even cheaper than that. So I have 4 days worth cooking on the stove right now. I have successfully frozen it and microwaved it at work in the past. I...

I miss being here...

r.c.brown@sbcglobal.net (Cheryl B.) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 15:06:23 PST

I so wish I could keep up with posts. If only I could get on at lunch time at work, but practically every site is blocked, even ones I need sometimes.

Yesterday was DH's birthday and tomorrow is our 31st anniversary.

Not sure what my problem is, but this is the 2nd month in...

THIS JOB IS SERIOUSLY CUTTING INTO MY FREE TIME!

r.c.brown@sbcglobal.net (Cheryl B.) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 13:58:18 PST

I absolutely hate working full-time. I just don't have the time to keep up anymore. Like Ceejay I read nearly every entry each day. I still read as often and as many as possible.

In the meantime, the garden is in, the new budget/plan is in place and I am on my second successful...

Coupons??

r.c.brown@sbcglobal.net (Cheryl B.) — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 15:42:45 PST

This is the reason I do not use coupons:
This week's Sunday newspaper coupons:
1. Ken's Dressing 3-$1.00 off various products.
2. Trident Gum, 2 coupons, 1 for 75 cents and 1 for $1.00 off 3 packs.
3. $4.00 off a DVD when you buy Sunmaid raisens.
4. $3.00 off Mega Red (better...

Quick money saving tip

r.c.brown@sbcglobal.net (Cheryl B.) — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 08:35:43 PST

Smell cleaning products before buying. I just, thank goodness, finished up my one and only bottle of Clorox Greenworks "Natural" toilet bowl cleaner cleaning both bathrooms this morning.

It stinks like a skilled nursing facility, seriously. Will never buy it again. The...

Weekly spending/Valentine's Day

r.c.brown@sbcglobal.net (Cheryl B.) — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 20:44:51 PST

My Valentine's Day was uneventful except for 1 big thing! DH was out of town working, but he called to say he wished he could be home to make me a nice dinner. He then told me how much he appreciated how hard I was trying to stick to the budget and get our savings back up.

Now...

Quick weekly update

r.c.brown@sbcglobal.net (Cheryl B.) — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 08:13:53 PST

This would have been a total no spend week, but my doctor called and between the 2 of us, decided I needed a few more days of Bactrim. Otherwise, no spend week!

DH was out of town again for a few days, splurged and stayed at the Motel 6 one night. I deposited $138.00 in rolled...

The Costco Butcher

r.c.brown@sbcglobal.net (Cheryl B.) — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 20:34:47 PST

DH is at Costco so much that he got to know the head butcher. Turns out he lives around the corner from us. One day he was at our car wash and DH turned on the self-serve for him. A week later he brings us a huge package of pork chops on his way home.

Today DH is in Costco and...