After doing a few entries here, I got addicted and setup a blog of a different sort- Check it out
http://frugalforlife.blogspot.com

Today we were going to go to a movie, but realized we had spent it al on bills. So we decided to go look at motorcycles and yahts. A nice couple hours in the sunlight, day dreaming about what we would do if....

Tommorrow morning is house cleaning... so back inside most of the day before I go to work- but that is always nice and relaxing.

So I have tried to get my roomie to think more frugally, that way we can have more money left over come the next paycheck. To no avail many times.

Yesterday, I wake and find her on the phone, calling around to different tire places, She told she had been up for an hour and found the perfect tires for the car online and wanted to get the best deal there was and had checked around and gotten the best deal. I was suprised, to say the least, since she fights me the hardest.

But It was nice to see a little change in her, and save ourselves 150-200 dollars in the meantime! later -d

I am just to tired to try to figure out what to save on and not.
I am still doing the stuff that comes second nature:
clip coupons and use them
use cold water on dishes and clothes
cut back on my eating out as best as can be
Stop being a consumer and be a conserver as best as I can

I am just tired of trying to find new ways, I know I can do better on the food thing, just very difficult with my roommate. Maybe I will get the bug back later. Everything comes in cycles

I've found out a few things

1> When I work I'm in too much of a rush to throw together anything more than a sandwich.
2> When I work, I'm too tired to fix a dinner, so I just grab snack food that is minimal
3>On the weekends I catch up of stuff that I rarely eat as well.

Ok this may not be a great way to save money, but it sure is a great way to loose weight!

Nothing else money saving going on, guess it is just a dryspell.

TATA- D

I was bored yesterday and had a few errands to run, so I checked out my coupons to see if there were any really good deals to stock up on.

Got some *Vlassic pickle relish free, A bottle of both Suave *shampoo and *conditioner free(I get the smaller bottles and put them in a bigger one to water down, way too concentrated for me) And got some quick oats *hot cereal packets free.

And since it was saturday the stores I hit had free samples, I skipped lunch and just drank some milk at home. All around a good day! I like those kind of days.

It is kinda funny how I push, push to get my savings in and how I can get a better deal for this or that and lose sight of why.

Why do I do this? Do enjoy more time to myself NOW, not when i'm retired. I've just put myself into a different rat race called the budgetting rat race and don't look up from my computer or coupons to see the beauty that exists now

My roomie broke her arm and has a cast on for a few weeks, this is bad because we are worried the job she was hired at will turn her away and say she can't work there since she can't use both hands at this time to type. Aarghh!

And do to the hospital stay and other little things coming up on bills we had to take out a loan that I pray will be paid off when she gets her first paycheck! please, please!

So no grocery shopping for the next few weeks and will be drinking a lot of water, macaroni, and dry cereal. I can only pray a miracle comes through.
We have made some bad mistakes and now we are trying to be more resposible and it seems that we are fighting a high tide.

Anyway, did get the chance to get away and enjoy a beautiful walk in the sunshine and perfect weather today... forgot life for a little while too! :-D

tata ya'll
-D

My job at work was getting a little mundane doing tech support for our company over the phone. So in order to keep me from falling asleep and work and both keep my job plus diversify my life, I now am training for tech support through chat and emails. LOL, ah well, it's money and keeps me going.

Ok, so I've started this coupon cutting,grocery ad saving, % off lifestyle. I've gotten really excited about the sunday paper and the ads in the Tuesday mailer. Weird, I', becoming my mother! HAHA

later -D

Ok- I cancelled the yahoo station and am now enjoying music on the live365.com site.

Now I'm going to look over all the little $2-7 per month charges I get and see if they are worth it.

1> Sunday paper only-3.25/mo --- Absolutely! Coupons!
2> Magazine subscriptions- none -- read all my news online
3> SodaPop at work- $1 a bottle --- stopped that yesterday, bought cans @ the grocery store that work out to 22¢ a piece.
4>$1 trial to Teri's List - $10/2mo --- That's all I'll be paying for, 1st week has been less than helpful at this time.
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Well I can't think of any other regular charges to my credit cards at this time.
I'm a very simple person- my ideal interior to a home would be of Japanese style( with a very comfy couch!)- I like the straight lines I guess.

Later -D

I was rereading a previous post of my own about paying 3.99a month for Yahoo Radio... I've decided to look into other F*R*E*E radio stations.
For christian radio stations: http://www.christiannetcast.com/stations.asp

For ANY type of station:
http://www.live365.com/listen/index.live

http://www.frn.net/links/

http://www.theradiolady.com/ (these are not free, but I love them)

So As I try to get used to these I will probably cancel my yahoo membership- 4*12-$48yr. Is it worth it, I'll see.
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I checked out the cutouthunger.org and am SOooo glad Nate and Jeffrey advised this site... It is the perfect place to go. I was feeling like I wasn't making full use of my coupons in the Sunday paper or what exactly was out there. Thanx guys! :hug:
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Thank God for paydays... and that I was able to pay bills one more month....I now have water, electricity, a roof over my head and entertainment at my finger tips.

Tata - D

I love to find ways to save money with coupon codes, discount codes and getting free stuff. I found a wonderful site and thought others might be interested in it as well.

http://www.currentcodes.com

Have a great time saving

Tata- D

The first place to start is finding out what your score is and what shows on your reports.

To get a free report from each agency- (just choose the button that says you were declined credit.)
Here are the numbers:
EQUIFAX-- 800-685-1111
EXPERIAN-- 800-311-4769
TRANSUNION-- 800-888-4213
and a 4th one:INNOVIS-- 800-457-0247

And for your score there are two ways to check it:
for a fee of 10.36(for each credit reports score) using code(valuedcustomer) you can go to
www.myfico.com - the official score info.

And for $1 for two months of review(remember to remove in 2months or you pay $179)- go to
www.privacyguard.com - the non official site that comes pretty close

Happy hunting
-D

After a bankruptcy some 6 years ago, I decided to try and fix up my credit since I was getting some crappy interest rates. I stumbled upon - www.creditinfocenter.com
They have a forum to help with the little details, but the main page is the most helpful.
My credit isn't great yet...but over the last 2years I've been able to bring my score up 90-110points and aquired 2 cards that will help with the score being brought up as well.

A couple things I've learned from this site:
1> Credit cards are good as long as your balance is less than 30% used based on the credit line.

2> There are so many laws that can help you fight/sue the credit bureaus, collection agencies and the false info on your account.

3> You don't need someone else to fix your credit (unless you sue-even then maybe not) it is very easy to do, just takes time!

Some ways in which I have saved money:
1>No CD buying- I pay 3.99 to listen to a HUGE variety of music online through Yahoo. http://launch.yahoo.com/launchcast/stations/default.asp

2> I have found that I can lose myself easily in surfing the internet, listening to shows online and taking a zillion surveys/ Thus saving my Gas money, forgetting to eat and Frankly not spending money period.

Well Tata
-D

I have finally found out where Murphy resides, he hangs out out our place, eats our food and when he gets in a bad mood he takes a look at his list of laws and checks out which one he hasn't used yet. AAaargh!

My roomie slipped off the rocks while fishing, laid there for about 10 minutes she says and got herself to the car and drove herself home with her elbow broken in two spots! She is currently in surgery to get a plate put in to heal the pieces- but she most of all looks forward to the cast while in training(if they still take her) and the Arthiritis that will dog her. Thanks Murphy!

The ER docs moved quick as well- a job well done! So we look forward to the bills in the mail. All I can do is laugh about it and thank God we have doctors to heal us and a nice comfy bed to crash in after sitting in hard ER chairs!

Later Dude - D

I sent off two more SASE for perfume samples from some very kind ladies who sell Avon and Mary Kay. I have bought any perfume for the last 2 years, thanks to aquiring many samples from these great people.
I love to get Shampoo/conditioner samples as well- I know I hate combo hair stuff, thanks to the samples. And the grocery list paper I write on are samples I've aquired through this and that. It all may not be much but I get to mix it up with the perfume and shampoo and I will NEVER run out of grocery list paper!

well, off to work -D

When my roomie and I became friends; we each had very differing ideas of what a successful life would be. She believed that it was a large house with pillars in the front- the kind you might see on a lot of land in the south- an RV, A boat, Water toys and motorcycles.... My ideas of a successful life was working PT in a low cost of living location near a beach and able to learn new hobbies with money being no object.

We were as opposite as they come.. she fought me everyway; she had never had a budget, clipped coupons, or found the sale items and travelled to different stores to get them. I must admit, I am not the best and if she persisted enough, I was easily worn down to go out to eat! lol

But we laugh now; I have slowly "brainwashed" her to think of the cost of things(if we get a A then that will put off doing B).
I guess it is a matter of who can hold onto their dreams better...I believe a frugalista like myself will win in the end. :-D

Tata- D

I was at work all day talking to people to about a getting my lateral transfer to a new dept. in the company. I was approved!
Also my roomie applied for a FT job with the company at the time and she also got an offer for a position. Yeah!

So more money coming into the house. We can finally get some bills paid off and work on getting a freezer so we can stock up. And also make extra meals for those night neither of us want to cook.

And we can also staying paying off the bills we are accumulating on our that is 13 years old and getting heart conditions and "sprained" legs.
Later- D

Man I love those rebates! just when you've forgotten about the rebate coming it shows up and is a wonderful sight to see. Even though you've spent the money to buy the product, it still feels like you've found money.
I'm also trying to repair my credit from a bad few years in the 90's. So got another credit card- activated it and threw it in the drawer. I charge about 25% on it every so often to make sure my points move up in my credit score. I've added some 50points over the last 6months and that has really helped me. I'd rather pay as little in interest when I buy my 1st house.

The website I've used for help is: http://www.debt-consolidation-credit-repair-service.com/phpBB2/

You may have to copy and paste-a great sight about anything credit/mortgage/lawyer/etc!

well, going to watch the Broncos second half
Tata- D

I had two Gift Cards from Lowe's and sold them in a matter of hours. I'm trying to establish a little 911 fund, in case. Moneyrant had a good comment on the discussion board.
"why put your money in a bank, where they get to use it" And we earn 1-3%-less than inflation. I guess I put mine there to keep out of my reach. It takes a few steps to move money from my savings to my checking and that giving me time to think and not do something :rash:.

My dog is doing better- the limping was not a cause of a chip floating around(surgery) or a fracture(cast) but simply a soft tissue pull (lots of rest and pills)like we humans gets. I'm so very thankful!

I got a call from my older brother who I haven't heard from in 6 years. He wrote an article in a magazine back in our home state and wanted to send me a copy. He was a wonderful writer in high school and it is nice to see him get back into it. Now you want to talk about frugality- That IS my brother.
He had a driver's license for about 1 month when he was 16 and never kept one. He just takes a bus and rides a bike everywhere. He lives in a room and helps the landlord fix up the place to keep his rent down. He doesn't buy new gifts, if he finds something that might appeal to you at a thrift store he will pick it up- if not, you won't get anything.
And he only works enough to keep himself fed, clothed, and a roof over his head. His traveled quite a bit around the states and even went to New Zealand on a work vacation for 8 months. I'm very proud of him, even though we don't always agree on philosphies much.

Well anyway enough rambling for this one
-D

Clipping coupons from the paper and going through the grocery ads for the week. We have a store that will double coupons up to 50¢, so that is nice when they have sales. Otherwise I just bounce between 3 different grocery stores and wal-mart occasionally.

Time to clean the house and straighten things up; don't you find it amazing that in a technologically advanced country and with more and more people getting computers, I still have way to much paper lying around that needs to be read, filed or chucked! :arghhh:

I'm in my 30's and I have learned this last week a couple of things.
I think my parents knew that I would eventually turn into them, that's why they kept repeating themselves when I was a teenager- so it would stick!
Finding Grey hairs is worse than any scary movie! The sickening feeling when you find it, the expediate way in which it is removed like something abnormal, and overwhelming relief that you are young and beautiful again now that it is gone.

Ahh, the joys of being grown-up; the things I would tell my 10yr old self if I had the chance :hehe:

Tata- D

Animals are wonderful pets, but they aren't covered well enough like humans for medical- so the bills are through the roof. Still waiting of X-ray results from the Vet Hospital. I hope and pray that it is something that will just take time to heal and only need medication.

So I've moved from living from paycheck to paycheck to now being behind do to these doggone medical bills. Since my dog is not young, I'm sure there will be more. Next time I want an animal, it will be a fish!

Other than that life moves on and ya just figure it out as ya go.
tata- D

So I'm trying to save a little money here and there- Got my $5 from Pinecone Research and it goes to savings. Then I sold a few items on Ebay for an extra $40+/ Good day.

My mini doxie hurt her leg somehow and I'm unsure what is wrong. I'll try wrapping it tonight to see if that will help her. But do need to take her to the Vet. I hate those bills. Does anyone have pet insurance and who through?

Looks like I'll be picking up a second job to cover extra expenses. Drat!

Later -D

I keep forgetting to take my sheet so I can write down what I buy- very discouraging. Did get some good news; the company I work for is now paying for our phone service- so that saves $25/mo-300/yr.

My roomie is trying to get a job at my company, she has had some severe health trouble, so I'm really praying that all goes well. Her interview is Aug. 10. If she gets this it will really help her feel better about herself.

later- D

As I have been keeping track with what I pay for, I've found that I buy more junk when I have my debit card handy. I'm going try a few tests- the first one is for 1 week I will only carry my checkbook, and then the next week I will only carry cash and see which one I use less money on.
My bet is the checkbook, cause they cost money to buy and a pain to write out. The cash is easier to throw around for me.

Later -D

Still working on the couch cleaning and getting the legs on the couch-also using Gorilla Glue to make sure they don't fall off. Ran to the hardware store to get some wood cut to put under the cushions so the springs won't go bad and help keep from sinking down so far.

Also got my first survey from Pinecone Research- they pay $5 for every survey completed online. Been looking for a worthy companies to get money from. We'll see how often they will send those out.

Keeping track of my spending sure is an eye opener- makes me want to be more stingy than my Scottish blood will allow(lol-thanks Grandma).

That's all folx -D

Here's the 411 on the sofa and loveseat; I went to a local furniture store and took one of the bent legs, asked if they had any and received all 8 that I needed-Free! Then went to the hardware store to get some locking washers and plastic anchors to make them more solid. All together I spent $2.05

Then proceeded to start looking at the furniture store for a coffee table and end tables. That was a waste as I'll probrably get something from Freecycle or craigslist that I can sand down and paint the way I want it to look.

I was so happy with myself I bought a $3 meal at McD's- I justified it that I was hungry NOW and even $5 would be ok for a sofa and loveseat. Now all I have to do is put together my own homemade recipe for furniture cleaner and I'm done. YEAH!

Tata- D

For over two years I have been living without any livingroom furniture. So as my roomie and I came back from our VERY HOT day tramping around the Rockies Front range; by the dumpster was a sofa sleeper(full) and a loveseat. A Very nice Plaid blue with white,green and yellow.

Oh man was I excited, So I was the stronger of the two of us and we set one edge on the trunk and I walked behind the car with the other side of the furniture. What a silly sight that was I'm sure! Any way washed the cushion covers and the pillows and will need to do a little touch up- like getting some legs- But $700 worth of furniture (gently used) for the price of some legs and a lot of sweat and aching muscles. Well worth it.

The trip to the mountainy area was good, found some wonderful parks and water areas to fish. Did spend $6 buying 5 rolls of film though, that should last quite a few months.
tata- D

I am going to start writing down all of the expenses I make in a month and see where I can cut. Thanks to FrugalVillage.com I was able to print out an expense sheet and keep it handy for writing.

My rommie and I are going on one of our Nature drives and have packed a lunch to keep us from buying Wendy's or MacD's. Look forward to getting out of here eventually- supposed to be high of 98 today in Denver Metro.

See ya when I get back -D