Oct frugal mamas thread - Page 2

[root*children]

My husband is a major spendthrift, too! Has honestly caused major marital difficulties. But we're working on it. I don't "feel deprived" because I've always lived frugally. DH on the other hand, has folks who were never rich, but always bought whatever he wanted. They still do, it drives me NUTS! I don't see how he can look at their spending habits as an adult, and it not drive him nuts that they have no savings, no retirement, etc.
I hardly have any good suggestions, except for showing him how well you live on little money. I have to lecture him every once-in-a-while when he has his new weekly big-spendy item he "needs" to buy. I also am getting my own savings account, as he was just withdrawing all the money I was saving in our joint account.
Another weird thing about not feeling deprived, and being used to the frugal living lifestyle, is that my dad (who was not living in my frugal family growing up) is visiting us right now, and as my b-day is coming up, so he wants to buy me something while he's here. He saw my DH sweeping the carpet (very small house ) and bought us a vacuum cleaner today! woo-hoo! I thought this was a great b-day present! Extravagent really. But he insisted that was for the whole family and not just for me. He took me to Walmart to buy new clothes, but I just couldn't find anything there that wasn't of crappy quality and overpriced (well, I only buy clothes at YS's and thrift shops, so anything over $5 is over priced ). Hey, maybe I should have him take me to a thrift!

[root*children]

Do any of you mamas use a menstrual cup? I am wanting to buy one, but of course, want to know where (if there is anywhere) I can buy one on the cheap? I haven't seen many on eBay. Any other suggestions?

Busy canning applesauce over here... Hope everyone's having a good Autumn!

[Throkmorton]

I went searching for a divacup at the local HFS yesterday, which is apprently a retailer. I asked a girl, but she was new and had never seen it on the shelves. Suppose I should just order one from the web site and will have it just in time to get PG again.

[Indigo73]

Anyone subscribe to or have read The Frugal Environmentalist http://www.frugalgreen.com? I am wondering if it's work a look. Of course it isn't available anywhere close to me...

[pilesoflaundry]

I have a diva cup, I bought it a few months ago when some wahm site was having a sale. I forgot who know though.. possibly post a spam post asking in natural home and body care??

My dh is thrifty but not, he will buy anything that is on sale even if we don't need it!! Especially dvds eesh! The running joke around here is dog food is on sale why don't you buy some? (we don't have a dog) But if it's something we NEED and it's not on sale he won't buy it :.

I love yard sales he hates them . How is everyone doing?

[root*children]

Hey everyone~ Glad someone bumped this up ... I was just thinking this morning, of doing the same
We're doing alright. The Albertsons had a 25c/lb. sale on bananas, and they sent us these coupons in the mail for $5 off of a $30 purchase. So we bought ALOT of bananas . So I'm up to my ears in them. I used up all the freezer boxes, and finally got brains about me, and measured them into ziplocks to freeze flat.

I'm also procrastinating on putting up the rest of my apples. I did half of them. But it took *forever* b/c my apple peeler/slicer/corer/thingy is missing a spring and is a pain to use. I did make some pie filling with some, but the syrup was ridiculously thick (anyone else ever done this? any suggestions?).

I am sending in my mail order form for a diva cup today, since I found it's quite a bit cheaper than the Keeper cup. I didn't find it on sale anymore, but it was $28 (i think) from the company.

I'm getting that w/ B-day money from my folks, as well as a soymilk maker. So both should save LOTS of $$ in the long run

Oh, one more thing - for my B-day, DH wanted to get me a saw ( how romantic...). So I suggested he not spend any money and just clean the house! He agreed, and on the morn of my b-day, he's sitting on the couch reading a new book about his car. I asked about it, and he says "You didn't want me to spend money on YOU for your birthday, and I had money saved up, so I bought this..." AAAGH! Where the heck is the smilie for strangling someone!? Well, this will do... :

[Divina]

So, Dready, did he at least clean the house?! :
Since you now know that he'll spend the money anyway, maybe next time you can get him to give it to you so you can "enjoy spending it yourself", save it, and if he asks about it, tell him you're enjoying planning how you'll spend it and haven't made your mind up yet!

I just emailed a bunch of my friends with an idea for Christmas. A lot of us exchange gifts every year, and my DP and I usually make something for this, but this year I asked if everyone would like to pool the money we would normally spend on each other and send it to Heifer International. I was thinking, even being frugal, we spend somewhere between $15 and $30 on gifts for friends, and if all of us got together, we might be able to buy some family out there a milk goat. And some of my friends, who aren't particularly frugal, spend a lot more than that, so if they put in what they really would spend, we might even get to buy two goats! I called it a "gift to each other of love and time". (Since we then save all the time for shopping, crafting or cooking, wrapping, etc.)

I'm interested in the Diva Cup, too--thanks for the info. I will have to see if it's available around here and if it's better to just mail order it ... I like to support my local stores, but within a certain price range! Although I haven't had a real period yet since B was born--I guess tandem nursing can do that for ya!

[pilesoflaundry]

dready, I would have strangled him and then looked for the smilie later : That sounds sooo much like my dh grrr.

[luna-mia]

I know I hate being the budget police in this family too! Something that might work for you guys would be to set up an allowance. My dh gets $20 a week to spend on pops, coffees, a mag etc. That way he's not feeling deprived, we're staying on track and I'm not the bad guy.

Anyway just wanted to add....great thread! Very inspirin to see a frugal tribe thread!

Right now really trying to stay in grocery budget. Getting so burned out on food and cooking!

[2BMamaof3]

Subscribing.

Hey all. I had no idea an October thread started...sigh. I need to "visit" this more often.

I'm still reading and getting many ideas.

Abby

[Divina]

Anyone going to or hosting holiday dinners? Are you doing potlucks? Any frugal yet festive ideas/recipes? I have some good recipes, but I don't know how frugal they are, at least when it comes to calories! (For example, sour cream and dill mashed potatoes, yum).

[Throkmorton]

We did our holiday dinners a couple weeks ago, here in Canada. Total, we spent about $80 to feed 15 people with leftovers. Turkey goes on sale for 68c/lb right before, so we got a 25 lb turkey and roasted it up. We share the cost and work between families, and everyone takes home some of the leftovers.
Turkey is seriously a bargain. You get all of the meat (slice thin, and freeze for lunch meat) plus turkey bone soup! Turkey bone soup is, around here, simply boiling the turkey carcass, fishing it out then throwing all of the leftover mashed potatoes, veggies and yams in, seasoning and serving or freezing it for later.
Could you use no-fat sour cream in the potatoes? it really is good stuff for cooking. Give it a try, but don't tell anyone.

[Divina]

Start a November thread?

Think it's time? Doing them monthly seems to keep them manageable ... although there's some loss of continuity.

I'm considering splurging on a free-range turkey this year. Even with the higher price, it's still a deal compared to other forms of meat (our local Vitamin Cottage has them for $1.39/lb). But I'll want to be careful elsewhere ...

I've gone no-poo, three weeks now! So far, so good. My hair hasn't freaked out ... possibly because I had already increased the time between shampooings to about 4-5 days, so my scalp is used to that. Hard to get used to no suds, but not too big a deal. We'll see how my hair does as time goes on. I'm hoping it's good, 'cause I just get p-o'd at shampoo and conditioner prices!

[root*children]

A new thread sounds good to me! We had such a frugal Halloween, I'm feeling awfully proud of myself! Trying to keep an eye out for those Turkeys to go on sale, too!

[luna-mia]

Anyone new to the Diva cup?? I ordered mine on line and still haven't gotten to use it yet. Something to look forward to in a twisted way this month!

[Throkmorton]

I am still waiting for mine to get here. By all emans, give a review when you get it!

[root*children]

I'm waiting on my diva cup, too! Let you know when it gets here! It should get to me the same time as my soymilk maker.. woo-hoo! It's gonna be like an early chistmas!

Well, I'm going to go start a November Frugal Mamas thread. I'll post the link in a minute. C'mon over!!

Here's the new thread:
http://www.mothering.com/discussions...29#post2260329