coffeegrl
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Joined: Dec 25, 2010 0:33:29 GMT -5
Posts: 383
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Post by coffeegrl on Jan 10, 2011 15:18:48 GMT -5
Last night I made Chicken & Cheese Enchiladas and Mexican Rice. I LOVE Mexican food (it's one of my biggest weaknesses) but is so expensive to eat out, especially after tip. I had my receipts that showed the price of what I paid for the ingredients, so added everything up and it turns out that one serving of the enchiladas and mexican rice (a true, healthful portion size--NOT restaurant size) is about $3. And I get 6 servings out of each dish that I make. So for about $18, I get to eat Mexican 6 times! I usually end up paying about $12 for one meal out.
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Post by mommy2twoal on Jan 10, 2011 17:10:42 GMT -5
I received a new quote on insurance that saved us about $11/mo. Not a lot but adds up over a years time. Last week I called cell provided and had them review account, made some changes that resulted in about $10/month savings. Add this to just before Christmas I switched home phone to same carrier as cable/internet to get bundle price as they just now offered phone in my area, this resulted in $25 decrease. All total in less than a month I have saved about $46. Not too bad. It really pays to keep a check on these things. Now I will put $50 month in account for Christmas/gifts for the year and now put $50 more into savings each month.
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Post by zbear on Jan 13, 2011 12:15:06 GMT -5
Wasn't today but this year DH and I are doing cash only for spending instead of debit card (which was out of control). Had planned dinner out yesterday as a reward for eating at home so much but then decided we didn't need it and ate leftovers at home again. Saved at least $20. Today, I lowered my cable bill by cutting out all the extra channels. Saved $40/month!
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998fbird
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 6, 2011 17:22:29 GMT -5
Posts: 138
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Post by 998fbird on Jan 14, 2011 18:54:24 GMT -5
I am exercising my out of shape saving muscles LOL. I canceled netflicks, checked to make sure my cable bill was correct and got a credit for canceling premium service and switched insurance carriers which should help me save appx. $300/year. Who hoo!
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Apple
Junior Associate
Always travel with a sense of humor
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 15:51:04 GMT -5
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Post by Apple on Jan 14, 2011 19:32:09 GMT -5
The other day I needed to make room in the freezer for some stuff, so I pulled out a turkey breast (that I had got for free around Thanksgiving). We're having it for dinner tonight with baked potatoes and salad. Cheap and easy dinner. I'm making it with Coke for the first time so we'll see how it turns out. Normally I'd season it up real nice but the recipe says to just pour the Coke on it and bake.
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Deleted
Joined: Mar 19, 2024 1:04:00 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2011 19:45:01 GMT -5
What did I do today to save money...... Ate the lunch I took instead of ordering out...And most people at work eat out everyday... Sorry, but $10.00 @ day for lunch is rediculus!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2011 20:42:18 GMT -5
I took the extra in my paycheck and stuck it into my Roth.
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Post by readsalot on Jan 15, 2011 10:56:54 GMT -5
We had no kids @ home last night and Hubby and I ate the leftovers instead of going out (which we tend to do occasionally when it's just the two of us). It was a nice, quiet night in.
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Post by desertmover on Jan 15, 2011 12:58:18 GMT -5
Ate leftovers, did 3 loads of laundry with homemade detergent, two using cold water, made muffins to take to work for breakfast. Fed kids leftovers. Making soup out of freezer/pantry contents to eat later today. Also going to the library and a museum on a membership. Said a prayer of Thanksgiving for the blessings in my life. I LOVE SATURDAYS!
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ambellamy
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Joined: Dec 23, 2010 10:05:26 GMT -5
Posts: 458
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Post by ambellamy on Jan 15, 2011 14:15:55 GMT -5
I'm doing a "no spend month" to save up enough to finish paying off my wedding dress. So far, i'm 15 days in without buying junk. Just gas, groceries, utilities, and bills I have to pay I'm also still going strong on my month of being a Vegitarian. I found a great calorie swap saver for myself too. I used to cover my celery and carrot sticks in ranch dressing... but i'm finding I really like using Humas instead... which I got a tub of for $0.99 the other day because its sell by date was approaching... but I knew i'd go through it in a week and I actually did! It was a brand I had never tried but wanted to because its cheaper then the brand I was currently buying. So that's a future swap i'll make permadent ;D
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Deleted
Joined: Mar 19, 2024 1:04:00 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2011 14:48:53 GMT -5
I got my oil changed on time. I tend to avoid mechanics and working on my but I am getting better. I might even learn to change my own oil.
I also made my second to last credit card payment. I will be able to finish paying it off next week.
And, there were some movies I wanted to see when they first came out. They've dropped significantly in price so I got them. I don't have cable, so I reuse the dvds as entertainment.
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Post by bobbysgirl on Jan 15, 2011 15:07:56 GMT -5
I have been staying home since Wednesday. I logged 2/3 of the EF food and have been cooking frugal meals. Not too exciting, but I'm content.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2011 15:13:59 GMT -5
I have been staying home since Wednesday. I logged 2/3 of the EF food and have been cooking frugal meals. Not too exciting, but I'm content. I love stretches like that! They relax me and I feel so adult, taking care of business and all. Never underestimate content.
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Post by texaspn on Jan 15, 2011 15:32:41 GMT -5
Cooked a huge roasting hen yesterday and divided it into packets for about 6-7 meals, plus stewed the bones for a lot of chicken broth!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2011 16:41:21 GMT -5
I fixed my signal light!!!! Okay, I had help from a friend, but I did it!! He picked up the light bulb and then wouldn't take payment so that car repair was totally free!!!
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NancysSummerSip
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 19:19:42 GMT -5
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Today's Mood: Full of piss and vinegar
Favorite Drink: Anything with ice
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Post by NancysSummerSip on Jan 15, 2011 20:08:31 GMT -5
Instead of buying black beans in cans, I checked my pantry and found I had a bag of dried black beans already there. I put them in water for five hours, then into the crockpot with a carton of stock and some sauteed garlic, onion and green pepper, all of which I already had in the house. Served with rice (from the pantry) and enchiladas (beef, sauce, tortillas and cheese all on sale last week). Cost of dinner tonight: not an additional penny!
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rubyslippers
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Joined: Jan 2, 2011 19:32:42 GMT -5
Posts: 1,001
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Post by rubyslippers on Jan 15, 2011 20:39:19 GMT -5
DH reminded me that I already had a certain marinade in the pantry so he saved me a little money at the grocery store since I didn't end up buying it. I also deposited a couple rebate checks into my vacation fund.
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motherto2
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Joined: Dec 18, 2010 15:42:27 GMT -5
Posts: 1,719
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Post by motherto2 on Jan 15, 2011 21:30:28 GMT -5
The only money I spent this week was Monday on gas taking DS back to college. I also splurged on a coffee Monday for $1.52 to stay awake on the way home!
AND, a huge leap of faith, took the cc out of my wallet. That way I have to think long and hard about whether I want to buy something. I also talked myself out of buying a body monitor.
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Post by readsalot on Jan 16, 2011 10:47:07 GMT -5
No kids again tonight! Took meat out of freezer and told DH we are eating at home! Got the bill for our childs college (our portion) and need to re-stock the EF. It still has money in it, I just want more money in it!
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coffeegrl
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Joined: Dec 25, 2010 0:33:29 GMT -5
Posts: 383
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Post by coffeegrl on Jan 16, 2011 11:53:58 GMT -5
I am starting Grad School on Tuesday at my university. I also work as an Orientation Leader for incoming freshmen for First Step (a day long event all students have to go through before starting their first semester with us. There'll be about a dozen First Steps beginning in February and going through mid August for those coming in for the Fall 2011 Semester. We also have First Steps in the fall semester for those entering in the spring semester). We get paid 3 times/year (at the end of the fall, spring, and summer semesters). At yesterday's Orientation, the director of New Student Programs and the 2 grad assistants announced the MVP from the last First Step we had, back in November (for those entering as Freshmen for the spring 2011 semester). And it was me! I received a $25 gift card to our college bookstore. That will definitely help, as I have to buy my books for grad school. (As an undergrad, you rent your books for about $20/book. So having to buy them becomes a bit of sticker shock!)
I had already purchased my books for the spring, but will definitely have to buy more books for the fall!
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rubyslippers
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Joined: Jan 2, 2011 19:32:42 GMT -5
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Post by rubyslippers on Jan 16, 2011 19:26:45 GMT -5
I cooked 2 lbs. of brown rice I bought at Rite Aid for $.35 and will bag it up for the freezer.
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donnafreedman
Junior Member
Smart Spending Host
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 19:09:39 GMT -5
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Post by donnafreedman on Jan 16, 2011 19:30:35 GMT -5
Apple: Hope you're improving. And yeah, you probably shouldn't have been driving, but I know how it is since I live alone and anything that gets done gets done by me.
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donnafreedman
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Smart Spending Host
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Post by donnafreedman on Jan 16, 2011 19:41:56 GMT -5
Congratulations to all the folks who are quitting smoking! Don't be discouraged if you backslide. They say it takes something like seven tries on average. What I did today: Took my first real walk (four blocks) without crutches after spraining my ankle two weeks ago, over to the Asian market. I bought a dozen eggs, an acorn squash, an onion and two pounds of carrots. When I got home I boiled six of the eggs for egg salad for lunches (to be served with carrot sticks). I took a package of chicken drumsticks out to thaw (on sale for 59 cents a pound so I stocked up). Tomorrow I will make a vegetable curry with squash, carrots, onions and garlic; in place of coconut milk I will use organic chicken broth (49 cents per quart with coupons) and a chunk of "coconut butter" (which I bought to write about on my site, thus a business expense). When the curry is done I will toss in some leftover corn and the baked chicken. This will feed me for two to three meals, with some organic quinoa on the side (free, since DD left it with me when she moved). The chicken bones and the defatted pan juices will go into the slow cooker with some water and cook all day on low. I'll strain the liquid, in the leftover organic chicken broth and turn it into soup with spices, some frozen mixed vegetables (50 cents per pound on sale) and a handful of pasta (9 cents for a 12-ounce bag with coupon). That will make another few lunches, served with crackers and fruit.
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❤ mollymouser ❤
Senior Associate
Sarcasm is my Superpower
Crazy Cat Lady
Joined: Dec 18, 2010 16:09:58 GMT -5
Posts: 12,857
Today's Mood: Gen X ... so I'm sarcastic and annoyed
Location: Central California
Favorite Drink: Diet Mountain Dew
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Post by ❤ mollymouser ❤ on Jan 16, 2011 21:53:47 GMT -5
Donna ... glad your ankle is healing.
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merryheart
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Post by merryheart on Jan 17, 2011 15:19:45 GMT -5
I resisted going on an online yarn site to join the "sock" club. Yeah, I know I'm a total nerd - I knit socks. I love this certain website and have wanted to join the sock club for forever and I probably could have been in time to make it (places are limited). But I really can't justify the cost when CCs aren't paid off and I have enough sock yarn for a while. They are saying this will probably be the last year that they do it. I'll survive and be that much better off financially!
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Apple
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Always travel with a sense of humor
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Post by Apple on Jan 17, 2011 20:20:00 GMT -5
Donna--thanks, I am, hope you are too!
merryheart--my mom knits socks too! I don't know what the sock club is, but she's part of a "meow" group that gets together once a month and has some big event every summer for a long weekend. The years she and my dad couldn't afford to send her all us kids pitched in (there are 5 of us) to pay for her trip. A group of them usually carpool together to save money and have time to "gab." Is the sock club like a "fruit of the month club" type thing? If so, just think, you won't be spending money on a yarn you don't like and you'll be able to look for sales and things when you use up more of yours.
This weekend we ate completely from the fridge/freezer/pantry. I convinced myself not to go to the store (a little cabin fever going) because I'd just want to spend money I need to save.
Got a call from the builder, he wants to start warming up the mill and cut logs in February, I need to get back on track with setting things up!
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merryheart
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Post by merryheart on Jan 18, 2011 12:18:38 GMT -5
Yes, Apple, kind of like a Fruit of the Month club. Depending on which club, you get enough yarn to make a pair of socks and a special pattern. Most of the yarn is special order (you can't just go buy it) and most of the patterns are special designs just for the club. This one sends the special yarn, two patterns suitable for the yarn and usually lots of extras. It is pricey but generally, if all of the items are added up, you get way more for the cost of the club than what you would pay for the individual items if you could buy them that way.
I did fall down on the saving thing as I went to a book store last night and bought my own "birthday" present. I should have just gone home as I was feeling sorry for myself (no need to, just was) and that always leads to less than stellar decisions. Its done and I'm through being a sad sack.
Today will be a no spend day and that will help with the guilt and the budget!
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4hendricks
New Member
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Post by 4hendricks on Jan 18, 2011 12:21:36 GMT -5
I love this thread - I was very new to the Smart Spending Boards, thank you to all who got them up and running over here. What I did today to save money, called and reduced my land-line, cable, and Internet bill - by 20% for six months, and then 10% for a year. Will call after that. I am calling to refinance my mortgage - to 3.96 for 15years, from 6.086 - Have to get my cell phone out of my husband's name into mine for a 22% savings through my employer - overall goal - reduce our output by 10% for utilities, use that money to pay down mortgages early. Fund retirement accounts, build EF - and get grocery/HH bill down to $100. per month for a family of 4 (could be impossible if I don't find some good coupons and deals). Any help and encouragement is WELCOME
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Post by montanatransplant on Jan 19, 2011 11:40:42 GMT -5
What did I do to save money??? Stayed home!!
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NancysSummerSip
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 19:19:42 GMT -5
Posts: 36,277
Today's Mood: Full of piss and vinegar
Favorite Drink: Anything with ice
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Post by NancysSummerSip on Jan 19, 2011 12:42:41 GMT -5
Finished off the leftover 1/2 cup of homemade black beans by adding them to a can of meatball and vegetable soup from my pantry.
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