| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| catscharm74 |
Posted - May 11 2008 : 9:24:18 PM
Well, we have faced the lion and boy, is it sure roaring at me!!!
I did a quick inventory of where the heck our money is actually going and here is an eye opener. Between the dates of March 15th until May 11th, we spent nearly $270.00 on just eating out. YIKES!!!   
I am really tweaking things and I plan on, once I get paid, to put that exact amount into our savings and take it out of the budget this month. I am also planning a price book on things I use all the time- dog food, eggs, milk, bread, cheese, juice, pasta, bananas, tomatoes, onions, diapers/wipes, etc...to see how the price goes up and down and how I can do best on each purchase and where to buy. I am thinking of heading back to Costco.
I am hoping to inspire you, not scare you  , to take a look at your finances, if you are not already. I want to help you and you can help me stay on track.
I must go lay down now.......
Heather
Yee-Haw, I am a cowgirl!!!
FARMGIRL #90 |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| BarnChickCecily |
Posted - May 30 2008 : 1:42:08 PM
Kate, I don't think you were a bad mommy at all... $10.00 for a dress is a pretty darn good deal! You may not have found a better deal thrifting. Great job! |
| kissmekate |
Posted - May 29 2008 : 10:03:20 PM
I was a bad Mommy and bought a new dress to wear to the weddings I am invited to this year.
I have been trying NOT to buy anything brand new, with the few exceptions (socks, underwear and DD's bathing suits to name a few...)
As I am replacing clothes that no longer fit me, I have been trying to shop at the thrift store first.
In my defense, I scoured my usual thrifts stores for a few months hoping to find a dress/outfit that would suffice or work with what I already have. The first wedding is Saturday afternoon.
Several things worked against me.
My old little black dress I wore to everything is now too big, hence the search for a new one.
I now wear a 12 (Yay!!) and apparently so does everyone else.
Cost. It couldn't cost more than fifteen bucks, AND it has to be washable.
I found a really cute and flattering dress at Target of all places for the hefty price of ten bucks on clearance. I am thinking it was meant to be.
Plus it "goes" with every thing I already own for real dress up. (shoes , cute little purse etc.)
Don't miss out on a blessing, just because it isn't packaged the way you expected. ~MaryJo Copeland |
| DearMildred |
Posted - May 27 2008 : 11:43:15 AM
Heather I like the debt chart idea!
I too have a power strip that my computer, modem, laptop, tv, dvd player, lamp, etc are all plugged into. I flip the switch on when I want to use the computer or watch tv, and leave it off the rest of the time.
Yesterday, I finally remembered to turn the hot water heater down. It's got an insulated jacket on it too since it's in the garage. Trying to train myself not to use a ton of hot water at the kitchen sink, too.
The hand-made clothesline is up and running (or, not running!) and I haven't had to use the dryer in a week or so.
Not doing as well with the "allowance" as I ended up giving myself more money for the holiday weekend, but I am back on track now.
~Amanda in OK~
Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered by your old nonsense. -Emerson |
| catscharm74 |
Posted - May 27 2008 : 10:18:42 AM
I looked over finances today and we are actually plus a few hundred dollars this month!! YIPPEE!! Finally can get back on track with savings. Things that have been working/helping:
1. Lists- whether grocery or things to do, this keeps me on track and in check with how much I am spending. Also, makes my trips to the grocery store faster.
2. Lights off/unplugging. It stays light here until around 8:30 now, so no reason to pop on a light at all until it is almost bedtime. If I leave the front door open and the window shades up, I can see just fine. I have unplugged 2 lamps we never use and moved all of my cell phone charges to a power strip I can turn off.
3. Clotheline drying- I did use my dryer this week a bit more as Charlie was sick and I had to do a lot of washing but today I laid out the whites on the porch and they were dry in an hour and VERY white.
4. Keeping a debt chart- I can watch it go down each month, which is way cool!!!
Heather
Yee-Haw, I am a cowgirl!!!
FARMGIRL #90 |
| KYgurlsrbest |
Posted - May 27 2008 : 10:13:48 AM
Amanda, you and I have the same house, I think! Only, the "original" house had one bedroom/one closet, a linen closet and pantry. It was built in 1946 for returning GI's and is called a "honeymoon cottage"....I really like it, though, and when they added on in the 1950's, they put in a silly little closet that I took out in our "remodel" of 2007. So, back to one closet!!!!
We are not so great at streamlining items. I seem to keep lots of papers and cards.
I'm getting ready to buy a sleigh bed with a storage drawer built underneath. Makes sense for sweaters and the like.
Farmgirl Sister #80, thanks to a very special farmgirl from the Bluegrass..."She was built like a watch, a study in balance ... with a neck and head so refined, like a drawing by DaVinci"...
NY Newsday sportswriter Bill Nack describing filly, Ruffian.
http://www.buyhandmade.org/ |
| DearMildred |
Posted - May 26 2008 : 7:43:39 PM
My house has a whopping two closets - one in each bedroom. And that's all she wrote. I have learned to be pretty good at keeping my possessions organized and paring down stuff I don't need.
I have a 1946 "war house" so it's a pretty straightforward little thing, but I like to think my decorating gives it much personality. LOVE the hot pink closets idea! :D
~Amanda in OK~
Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered by your old nonsense. -Emerson |
| Alee |
Posted - May 26 2008 : 10:36:55 AM
I am thinking the older generations had it right and I am thinning my closet down and am planning on only buying high quality, organic when possible from now on. I will probably have a clothes trunk as well for things that I hand make as I learn how! :D
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our new blog:
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com |
| catscharm74 |
Posted - May 26 2008 : 07:07:57 AM
When I did the tour on one of the houses, the closets are very short in height because the builder (smartly) built them into corners where they wouldn't waste floor space. I was excited-the realtor kept telling me "well you can re-do." HA!! I would paint the inside hot pink or turquoise and install 2 bars across to increase space- cost less than $50. Remodel- $$$$$thousands$$$~~~
Heather
Yee-Haw, I am a cowgirl!!!
FARMGIRL #90 |
| Alee |
Posted - May 26 2008 : 06:57:14 AM
Kate- Isn't it funny to see how small the closets are in older houses as compared to now?
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our new blog:
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com |
| kissmekate |
Posted - May 25 2008 : 8:15:24 PM
I LOVE little houses. My house is tiny and funky, and I love it. It makes you keep your "stuff" down to a minimum.
It was built late forties, early fifties and has a lot of "character."
Don't miss out on a blessing, just because it isn't packaged the way you expected. ~MaryJo Copeland |
| catscharm74 |
Posted - May 24 2008 : 4:21:04 PM
Maybe I am a dreamer, but I see a little house and I can "see" a little cottage style house in the rough. I am so excited even though we won't be moving for at least a year, I can start looking and planning and dreaming!!!
Heather
Yee-Haw, I am a cowgirl!!!
FARMGIRL #90 |
| Alee |
Posted - May 24 2008 : 3:57:15 PM
I want a little house! Our apartment is about the perfect size. If you could slap on a basement for storage and possible extra rooms added later- it would be just about perfect!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our new blog:
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com |
| catscharm74 |
Posted - May 24 2008 : 3:25:54 PM
I thinking it would probably need structural but that will be factored into purchase price (after a FULL inspection) and then updated from the original 1960's style and finishes.
Heather
Yee-Haw, I am a cowgirl!!!
FARMGIRL #90 |
| DearMildred |
Posted - May 24 2008 : 3:12:05 PM
Heather, isn't it fun when you finally find a gem? :D Does it need structural work (beware) or the finishes just haven't been "updated"? I like them better when they still have the original stuff. When I bought my house it was structurally sound, it was just small (900 sq ft) and boring. But it was a great investment if you ask me! I've spent some money on paint and new tile (to replace cheap rolled vinyl, over several years) and, oh baby... now I get compliments. It was so worth it, and now I have a little patch of ground to call my own.
Good luck with your house hunting!
~Amanda in OK~
Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered by your old nonsense. -Emerson |
| catscharm74 |
Posted - May 24 2008 : 07:04:01 AM
I went looking at houses yesterday, just to get an idea. I am amazed at how people try to sell to you that you need all this "space". I am talking over 2000 for 3 people. I just keep thinking about heating and cooling, taxes, maintenance. I found another fixer upper and the real estate agent told me no one wanted it because it was too small or not modern enough. I loved it!! I look at my bank account and that house and think it is gold!!!
Heather
Yee-Haw, I am a cowgirl!!!
FARMGIRL #90 |
| Alee |
Posted - May 24 2008 : 06:57:01 AM
That's great Cecily! I hope my yard sale goes as well!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our new blog:
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com |
| BarnChickCecily |
Posted - May 24 2008 : 05:28:31 AM
Well, I had my yard sale yesterday and made a little over $200.00. I am VERY happy about that. Plus, my aunt bought a couch from us for $100.00. So, in all, we raked in $300.00. It's going towards paying off my car so my hubby won't have that extra payment while i'm on maternity leave. Not bad for a day's work! |
| DearMildred |
Posted - May 22 2008 : 6:43:55 PM
Well, I made it all the way to "pay day" - aka the day I pay myself my allowance for the week. I decided that keeping 2 weeks worth of cash on hand was probably not a great idea for a beginner like me. So, I'm happy about that! 1 week of budget down, many more to go.
How long until it starts to feel normal?
If gas prices keep going up at this rate I will have to adjust the budget already! Ouch.
~Amanda in OK~
Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered by your old nonsense. -Emerson |
| CountryBorn |
Posted - May 21 2008 : 2:01:26 PM
Boy, Jonni, you are so right about the cost of fuel. I got a call this morning about a small credit I had with the oil company. So I asked her what the price of fuel oil is right now. $4.39 a gallon! Thank God we use very little oil, but I keep the tank full. Plus we get fuel for the tractor too. I figure it will be close to $700. for just what we will need. I think I may get it now though since the word is it will be $5. a gallon by July. We heat mostly with wood, I am waiting to see how much that goes up.We will for sure be getting some of wood out of our forest this year.
MJ
There can be no happiness if the things we believe in are different from the things we do. Freya Stark |
| DearMildred |
Posted - May 21 2008 : 1:46:31 PM
I need to have a garage sale, too. One instance where living on a tiny dead-end street does NOT pay off! Maybe I can get together with a friend and do it at her house. Good call, Cecily.
My mom said she was at Macy's today and it was totally dead, the salespeople were just standing around talking to each other. On the other hand, she said Sam's Club was hopping. But people weren't buying the books and furniture and misc. junk, they were all buying groceries.
I'm bummed that I wasn't able to ride my bike to work at all this week, due to meetings and such, but I have managed to keep my driving to a bare minimum. And I *love* to drive my ratty old convertible in this weather. (Come July it will be intolerable.) But the bike is great. Now I just need a basket to make it more practical.
~Amanda in OK~
Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered by your old nonsense. -Emerson |
| BarnChickCecily |
Posted - May 21 2008 : 12:58:03 PM
Alee, THANKS!!!! I printed your post for reference. You have helped me so much! |
| Alee |
Posted - May 21 2008 : 12:53:47 PM
Cecily-
I could write a book about cloth diapering! There are some great threads down in the parenting section, but here is the run down:
Types of Diapers:
Flat Fold- a Square of all cotton fabric that when folded in various ways is pinned into a diaper shape. Requires a diaper wrap
Chinese/Indian Pre-Folds- You still need to know how to fold the diaper- Prefold is a misnomer. Pinning and wraps required.
Contoured Diapers- Cut and sewn to look like disposables. These can be pinned, closed with velcro snaps or some can be sewn as "pull ons" for older munchkins. Need a wrap unless designated "AIO"
"AIO" Or "All In One"- Just like the Contoured Diaper but has PUL fabric for the outer layer not touching the skin. This eliminates the need for a diaper wrap, however they take longer to dry.
Some people say you need to "soak" the diapers in a pail, but with today's efficient washers you don't really need to. Baby poop washes clean. If I wash a large load of messy diapers I will run a rinse through first and then wash as normal. Once they get older and are on solid foods you can dump the solid stuff in the toilet without any issues.
We use wash clothes as wipes- you can get 18 for $5 at Wally World. The flat folds are great- for a newborn you can start out with a 22-26 inch square. So you can get roughly 4 per yard. Flannel which is what we used runs about $2-4 a yard. We needed to have about 24 flat folds on hand so 6 yards of fabric was needed so for $12-24 we had diapers for the first 3 months. Diaper wraps run about $9 a piece and we like to have 3-4 on hand. The small squares lasted until Nora was about 4 months old, then we had to up to about 30 inch squares.
Now that she is walking we do the contoured diapers. I would be glad to tell you more or bump the cloth diapering threads for you if you want! Doug and I both love cloth diapers! I don't know what we would have done if we had to buy disposables all the time!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our new blog:
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com |
| KYgurlsrbest |
Posted - May 21 2008 : 12:46:51 PM
I had a little "chat" with Justin about our expenditures and told him that I'd really like to track our usage on the gas and electric this month. We just got our bill today, and the balance is going down, but that's because we have had the furnace turned on in a bit.
Like Amanda, my home is shaded, and we have a covered porch, so the front room stays cool for the dogs--I too leave on the radio for them, and a hall light when we go away at night. I don't trust lamps :)...
We've been talking about all the "extras" we spend money on. After our weekend trip at the end of May, which I consider our last big "brewhaha!", I am going to start putting money back instead of spending $10 here and there on silly stuff or a bottle of wine, or whatever. I don't want us to not have any fun, just maybe not take our fun for granted.
Aside from that, our only issue is gasoline (still). It's 3.90 here today, and that's up from last week. It really cuts into any money that I could save....gosh, when I think that we'll be married 7 years this August, and that when we were first together it cost me $9.00 to fill up my car, I just cringe--now it's $32.00.
Farmgirl Sister #80, thanks to a very special farmgirl from the Bluegrass..."She was built like a watch, a study in balance ... with a neck and head so refined, like a drawing by DaVinci"...
NY Newsday sportswriter Bill Nack describing filly, Ruffian.
http://www.buyhandmade.org/ |
| BarnChickCecily |
Posted - May 21 2008 : 12:38:54 PM
Hey Everyone, haven't been able to join in here in a few days... going on my 7th straight day of work... on an Alzheimer's unit... 32 weeks pregnant. I am EXHAUSTED! However, I just got done reading all the posts and I checked out all the links you all told me about... GREAT STUFF. I have been doing a good job cutting back on my expenses. I am also 'greener.' With my baby on the way, I am doing the best I can to save! I am also having a yard sale this Friday to make some extra money :o) I hope I have a good turn-out... I am selling a TON of stuff. Alee, do you have some info on cloth diapering? I am planning to do that with Cooper. It's so amazing that you saved so much $ cloth diapering Nora. Also, I have 3 crocheted stuffed animals (Pooh bear, Eeyore, and a CareBear). Does anyone have any idea how much I should ask for them if I put them up for sale in our forum where we sell stuff? |
| DearMildred |
Posted - May 20 2008 : 6:14:12 PM
I have to follow my housemaate around like I'm her mom, shut off that light, did you close the door? etc etc. She's 26 years old! I love her, though, because she cleans the bathroom and empties the dishwasher, two of my least favorite chores.
I'm lucky in that my house is largely shaded... Jonni my house is about 900 square feet - and that's being generous! - so it's frustrating when the gas and electric are so high. One thing is, with a house that size you have outside walls touching almost all of your square footage so it's probably harder for your house to hold heat or a/c.
Martha I like your suggestions about weatherstripping and insulating. I really, really need to do that. I need new storms, too. Mine are pretty bad!
Been trying NOT to use the A/C - opening the windows in the evening and shutting them in the morning. Does anybody know how much electric the ceiling fans use? I do love my ceiling fans so.
Alee I have to confess, I don't leave lights on for the dog but sometimes I do leave the radio on when I'm gone all day! That mutt Mildred is spoiled. Though I think all she does all day is sit on the couch (since i'm not there to shoo her off) and look out the window, waiting for me to come home.
~Amanda in OK~
Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered by your old nonsense. -Emerson |
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