Frugal Freaks - whatcha been up to? week of June 15

[amyamanda]

Inspire us with your frugal adventures and discoveries! I am enjoying these threads; I learn so much from them.

I've been working my butt off (as much as possible with lots of kids) to get my garden planted so we'll have free food soon. Also trying to stretch my pantry food as much as possible. I networked for hand-me-downs this week and got a whole trunkful of boys' clothes that look to be in good shape (more than we need, so we'll spread some around to friends). Also discovered a friend has a pressure canner she doesn't want - and she's going to give it to me! That has to be my favorite frugal thing that has happened this week. I don't have it yet, but should in a week or two. I want to pressure-can dried (cooked) beans for convenience, among other things.

Gotta run, but tell us what you've been up to!

[mightymoo]

I don't qualify for 'freak' status, but I'm going to sub for good ideas, maybe I can get closer...

[quirkylayne]

Lets see-

I'm making a price book a la the frugal meal planning thread.

I'm working even harder to convince DH to at least try cloth diapers. I decided to do them myself during the day after he said "you can do whatever you want to do". So I'm checking out the TP, trying to get some good deals to see if it will work out.

I'm buying an extra container of blueberries or other produce each week and freezing it for later (fall/winter) use.

I'm thinking of canning some of our tomatoes - I bought a few jars but I'm still trying to figure out how to do it small scale. If anyone has any websites that they like, I would love links.

ILs gave DS $ for a swing set for his bday. It isn't enough for an actual swing set and he already has a tree swing so I'm checking craigslist daily for a little tikes gym or something similar, I will put any left over $ in his savings.

We changed our thermostat settings. It gets a little warm in here around 4 but it is only for a hour.

[justmama]

Well we defintely need a kick in the pants to get back to frugal. DH's income increased 3-fold a few months ago and I"m working part-time as well so yeah, we've been spending a LOT! : But we just found out we are expecting and have to size up in cars and find a new place to live since we are cramped as a family of four already. So we've got a lot to spend on and need to save up for the things we need. PLUS we have NO maternity clothing and no baby carseat and no crib(we plan on co-sleeping at first but will need one towards the very end of the first year, beginning of the second I think. DH is getting less tolerant with each kid) and no baby clothing and little dd will need a new carseat soon. Mostly our downfall is dh's coffee and fast food(yes 've tried the automatic coffee maker and packing his lunches) and our date night once every 2 weeks. We need to find cheaper alternatives than dinner out at a restaurant for date night. Any thoughts???

Frugal things so far this week:
-landlord just put up outdoor clothesline
-MIL babysat instead of us spending on sitter for date night
-DH and co-worker decided to start carpooling next week to work(45 minutes one way!)
-started buying gn baby stuff now little bit by little bit from diaperswappers and consignment shops(searching for best prices on what we really NEED)
-convinced friend to mail me her unopened Zyrtec that her son won't use for my girls. I pay just shipping instead of $78.80 for one bottle that will last less than a month!!!!!
-have brought my dinner for work at night every night for 2 weeks instead of grabbing fast food
-spending more time at home and less shopping

[Leta]

I have really been needing a new robe. I found a high quality, like new, soft, thick. 100% cotton terrycloth robe at a yard sale for $1. I even like the color.

I got really sick of all my hodge podge picture frames. I bought two from Vinnie's for $1 each, and then I bought three cans of black spray paint for $1 each. So for $5, I got thirteen matching frames.

I made insect repellant out of essential oils. I spent $12 on the oils, and got enough to make 200 oz. of bug repellant.

We found canning tongs (up until now, we've been struggling along with regular tongs) at Vinnie's for fifty cents. And we got an oil pump for twenty five cents.

Best of all, we have not bought ANYTHING all month that did not come off a well thought out, planned in advance list.

[kristia]

I bought my 19mo dd 3 brand new outfits (with tags still on) and 2 almost new onsies at a yard sale yesterday for a grand total of $1.50!!!! I told my husband that I don't think I will ever buy her clothes at a dept store again!!

I also found this week "The Discipline Book" by Dr Sears at the Salvation Army for .69!!! I haven't started to read it yet, but I loved his " the Birth Book and The Baby Book". I need to stop there more often. For myself, I found a brand new Adidas workout top and a brand new ralph lauren hoody. Wed is 50% off clothes day so they were each $1.50. I am trying to not be so brand conscious but for that price I'll wear it.

We just got home from a free children's event at a local Community college. My dd had so much fun. There were lots of vendors with activities and fun prizes and no $$ was spent.

Kristia

[quirkylayne]

faerybugmady - Congrats! We used froogle.com to help find the best price and free shipping when we bought DS's new car seat. I got it for about $80 less than retail. Also check out Once Upon a Child for deals on baby stuff and maternity clothing. I'm always finding good maternity stuff at garage sales, espcially church sales and craigslist too. For date night how about coffee and dessert out? You could go to Barnes and Nobel or somewhere and browse books too. Or a romantic packed picnic? Or MIL watches the kids at her place while you have a candlelit dinner at home?

[serenetabbie]

I found out that the kids can go to a free movie and get a free lunch at the mall on Tuesdays I am encouraging DH to take them over (I am at work during lunch). The free lunch program started up in town so Dh has been taking the kids over to play with the other kids for a few hours and eat the bag lunch provided.

I got an awesome deal on Chèvre today at the store (mmmm goat cheese!). It was almost out of date (most were sell by the 18th) so was marked down to $2.50 a package. Then DS spotted a little hangtag thing with $1 off coupons on it. I got the two packages with the sell by date of 7/08 that were marked down, plus the coupons and paid only $1.50 each for normally $5 cheese

I also helped out a lady with cleaning, and she gave me a HUGE still life painting of "fall flowers". It looks like one of those paintings that hangs in hotel lobbys I can't decide if I love it or not, but it really does look great on our huge blank wall.

[mama kate]

I have NOT been very frugal lately! : Oy vey.
Monday is my start over date. DH's Father's Day gift was very non frugal - he is definately excited but the $ could have been spent elsewhere.

[quirkylayne]

Woo hoo!

I got a pair of robeez sandals 1/2 off!
http://www.amazon.com/Robeez-Infants...040871&sr=1-42

I guess they are last season. I'm having the worst luck finding shoes for DS and these will at least tide us over until I can order some.

But the bad news is these were on sale too (also half off) and I couldn't resist. We might have a girl next...or I can use them as a gift...
http://www.comfykid.com/cgi-bin/ck-s..._code=ROBIRDNA

[serenetabbie]

Oh! I meant to say congrats on the pressure canner Amanda What a great thing to get for free!

Quirkylayne- It is easy to can small amounts of tomatoes at a time. You just cold pack them into the jars, then process them in a water bath for 30 minutes more or less depending on the size of your jars. All you need is a pot big enough so the water is an inch over the top of the jars. I can give you specific directions/links for all of the steps if you need them I usually try to do all of mine at once since I plant a few tomato plants... but when I only had a one or two I would can as they came ripe one or two batches a day.

[Leta]

We have stayed well within our grocery budget this month. We give ourselves $250 per month for groceries- which for us, groceries include all consumable items. Food, toothpaste, pet food, cleaning supplies, etc. all comes out of the grocery budget. Our house is groaning with food right now and we still have $22 and WIC coupons left, so we've done really well.

Oh, and I made some reusable string bags for produce, using yarn and bags that onions/apples/lemons come in. It was easy, and FREE!

[meandk0610]

i also need to get back on the wagon. i've been using fans instead of a/c, but i meant to cut up FC last week and kept putting it off. i definitely need to get more freakish!

sarah