| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Alee |
Posted - May 24 2008 : 5:04:29 PM
We have all been talking about reducing fuel costs, tightening budgets, and generally living frugally. Many times I have read that we are all combining our errands to reduce extra trips.
So what _are_ your errands? And is there any way you can actually cut some out all together?
I run to the bank once to twice a week to deposit paychecks, I go to the grocery store once every two weeks.
I pay all of my bills online which cuts out an extraordinary amount of driving around and lessens my stamps/envelopes usage.
About once a month I go to the dollar store for mailing envelopes/packing tape etc etc. |
| 10 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| CabinCreek-Kentucky |
Posted - May 27 2008 : 6:05:34 PM
dAwn .. debt free truly is a wonderous feeling. neither of my girls have 'charge' accounts .. and only owe on their homes. our home is paid for cuz' it costs less than what we sold our home in maryland for .. just not having a 'mortgage payment' makes you feel like you are almost 'rich'. (operative word there being ALMOST!)
my husband has never owed a penny for anything other than a home ..
cars .. boats .. etc. .. he always paid cash for ..
lordy! if it weren't for him .. i'd probably be eating cat food outta' tin cans while sleeping on a park bench!
True Friends * Frannie
adopt a 'rag-chile'
http://sistermercysfoundlinhome.blogspot.com
treasures .. new and olde .. http://mudpiemanormercantile.blogspot.com
|
| Hideaway Farmgirl |
Posted - May 27 2008 : 07:10:48 AM
Dawn, HUGE congrats to you on having such a good handle on your finances ... debt free except for a mortgage, and that will be paid off in 5 years?
You go, girl!
Oh, yeah, and to answer the posting, DH and I do most of our errands to and from work as well. We've always lived about half an hour from any town, so we are used to not "running out to the corner for a gallon of milk" all the time.
Our farm (where we will retire soon) is 130 miles from where we live and work now, so we are trying to limit the number of trips we make out there, and we have started adding an extra day off whenever we do go. Just wish that the grass would grow in concert with our schedule...
Jo
"Wish I had time to work with herbs all day!" |
| ddmashayekhi |
Posted - May 26 2008 : 05:43:10 AM
I try to run errands once a week due to gas prices. Here in IL they are $4.12 or more a gallon. Why we are always higher then the rest of the country is beyond me. My parents gave us their '98 Tahoe which has been great except for the gas mileage. We also have a Toyota Camry that does pretty good on the mileage, so we use it the most. Last time the Tahoe got filled up it cost $100. We are debt free except for our mortgage, which will be paid off in 5 years, then we will by a hybrid. Hopefully they will have them perfected by then.
Dawn in IL |
| kissmekate |
Posted - May 25 2008 : 6:53:43 PM
I run most of my errands (if I have any) on my lunch hours. The city I work in has just about everything from Lowes to Walgreens so it is easy to do on my lunch hour.
The only consistent errand I have is I stop at the Grocery store on Thursdays or Fridays after work, because it is on the way home.
I am trying NOT to shop anymore than I have to save myself time, money and gas.
Once a month or so, I will stop at Goodwill/Arc with a friend. (Sundays are half off days at Goodwill) She and I will make a "day" off it, have a little lunch etc.
Most of my bills are paid automatically out of my checking account, so that saves on stamps and time too.
Don't miss out on a blessing, just because it isn't packaged the way you expected. ~MaryJo Copeland |
| CabinCreek-Kentucky |
Posted - May 25 2008 : 10:03:55 AM
WOWZER! gas is now $4.00 per gallon .. costs $60. to fill my VAN ... but i am not willing at this point in time to give up my beloved VAN .. it carries antiques and grandchildren and we can even 'camp out' in it if necessary.
not willing right now to cut back on 'travelling' to and fro to do errands .. but as a 'time' saver as much as a 'money saver' .. i have always pretty much done my shopping and errands when necessary .. but have a 'to do' list (which has also always been a part of my life) that i get done when out.
also we enjoy going to town (a 60 mile round trip at a minimum) to go out to dinner at a nice restaurant and to see a movie or other fun event .. won't cut back on those .. they are a joyful part of our life here in central kentucky.
DEFINITELY won't stop running up to Toledo or flying to Delaware to see that GRANDS whenever the whim hits me!!! THAT is NUMBER ONE on my life-list!!!!
Soooooooo .. as HATEFUL as prices are for gasoline .. with no end in sight .. SO FAR .. no major changes have occured in my life.
True Friends * Frannie
adopt a 'rag-chile'
http://sistermercysfoundlinhome.blogspot.com
treasures .. new and olde .. http://mudpiemanormercantile.blogspot.com
|
| graciegreeneyes |
Posted - May 25 2008 : 09:27:16 AM
This is one thing I really want to work on to save gas and time. I work in an organic grocery store so you would think I would have to run around so much but, it seems like I run errands every day. I go to the bank during my lunch on Wednesday then...Boy I guess if I made a specific plan it would work out better. With living so far out of town I have to buy milk in bulk so I go to Costco. I just really need help. Just when I think I can cut things down something happens like we buy a new lawnmower which quits in the middle of the backyard the first time we use it, which then means we have to make another trip to town to return it, then my son informs me he needs new shoes - which he does, he's not a super-materialistic kid - so there is another trip etc. etc. AAACK!! |
| La Patite Ferme |
Posted - May 24 2008 : 9:55:26 PM
Fourtnately most every place I go - post, bank, hardware store, grocery is on the way to or from work so I usually stop in route. I get gas at Costco once a week and it's on the way frm DD's school. Animal feed is purchased on the way home or on lunch. The thing I dislike is how long it takes to run errands - seems like hours and them I'm exhausted. |
| chicken necker |
Posted - May 24 2008 : 7:50:27 PM
OCD lady checkin in! LOL! I try to do "errands" on Thursday. (Union pay day) You'd really have to see where I live to understand, but if I don't so-call plan my trip, I end up crisscrossing the major highway adding mileage. So I go West - hit the post office, gas station, bank, then library, then turn around go East - hit the dollar store, thrift store,hardware store, farmer's market then the grocery store. Home.
FarmGirl Sister #123
Crafty Bay FarmGirls Chapter
Don't argue with an idiot; people watching may not be able to tell the difference. |
| catscharm74 |
Posted - May 24 2008 : 5:30:06 PM
I am trying to get this under control. The only thing that is consistent is going to the store on Thursdays and Laundry on Monday and Thursday. Cleaning- Mon and Friday.
Heather
Yee-Haw, I am a cowgirl!!!
FARMGIRL #90 |
| BarefootGoatGirl |
Posted - May 24 2008 : 5:07:10 PM
i have to make the grocery store atleast once a week (my fridge isn't big enough to hold more for a family of 5). i go to the library about once a week, usualy in conjunction with grocery shopping. the past few weeks i've been doing a little more with the kids needing to see the dr and all, but that is usualy it. about once a month, i go 20 miles to visit family in the area.
What we write today slipped into our souls some other day when we were alone and doing nothing.
-Brenda Ueland
http://quilandneedle.blogspot.com/
http://musingandmuttering.blogspot.com |
