5 Things I Want And 5 Things I'm Happy About

I want

- A clothes line outside
- A compost bin
- An outdoor dining table
- An overnight date with my husband
- Less spiders in my basement


I'm Happy About

- Not having anywhere to be today
- A library book on hold for me to pick up today The Penny Pincher's Club by Sarah Strohmeyer (thank you to the Non Consumer Advocate FB group)
- The very loud sound of my bread machine making a loaf of what I hope is tasty orange spice bread
- The mini vacation we took this weekend where we got to swim in a hotel pool,  take the kids to George Washing Carver National Monument, The Precious Moments Chapel,  and for my aunt and uncle who put us up in a pop up rv and took us for a boat ride/swim on the lake
- An easy to please hubby who's happy with a $5 take out pizza or a quick spaghetti dinner

What Money Can't Buy

    This is my Mom on the beach in Galveston, Texas taking a break from her cancer treatments. 

     I wonder if she knows how much I miss her. 

Debt Free At last

Yesterday I wrote the biggest check of my life and paid off our mortgage.

Goodbye bank account, hello owning my own life.  Now, here's the fun part where I realize how foot loose and fancy free I've been the last few months with our money.  I just checked our credit card account and had a moment of clarity.  I shop too much and I eat out too much.
I signed up for the July rewards deal, picked out a gift card from our cash back rewards for my MIL's bday next month and put the balance towards what we owe.

Dollar Tree, thrift stores, and McDonald's sodas and ice cream cones- I will miss you.  But, not that much.

Ok, so there's more.

I've been bored with Netflix and since we don't have cable when I want to be lazy I turn to youtube.

Sometimes it gets lonely around here and I like to have voices in the background when I'm clipping coupons, doing dishes, etc. 

I like to look at people's Dollar Tree coupon hauls.  Did you know they take MFR coupons now?  I like to see how people organize.   I like to watch decluttering and cleaning vlogs. 
My favorite vlog of the day is about how to make your own Lean Cuisines.  I used to save my plastic  trays and use them to fill up a lunch of frozen leftovers for Hubby.  I am starting a new collection of plastic containers and never realized that I could use them for make ahead meals rather than leftovers. 

I have been a shopping fool at Dollar Tree lately.  I love buying the organizing bins and the cleaning supplies there.  My best find yet has been the LiteLife Black Bean patties I bought yesterday.  $1 for a four pack.  That's a steal when they are normally $3-4 a package. 

I also bought a SkinnyGirl tinted moisturizer in Sand.  I tried it for the first time today and it seems pretty good.  I hate wearing foundation and this isn't heavy at all.  It was weird at first because the applicator is a brush but it works pretty good.  It normally retails at Walmart for $10. 

Hi

Just popping in for a bit to say I am still alive. 

I have battled depression the last few months when I haven't been incredibly busy.  My entire life suffers when I am sad.  Anyhoo, feeling a bit more myself but I definitely haven't felt like I could write anything about frugality.  I am not going to be an inspiration to those who want to live on less.
Maybe soon in the future.

I can say we are this/close to being debt free.  We finally sold our old house last month and have enough to pay off our current house.  And then we can begin college/retirement savings. 
Most of that is due to inheritance and generous in-laws.  I wish I could take credit for the most of it.


Off to conquer Mt. Washmore. 

Less Than Extreme

February almost went by without a blog post. 

This is what's on my mind:

I've been watching Extreme Couponing on Netflix.  I'm tempted to try my hand a minor version of this but I don't really want a huge stockpile.  I only want to get a few extra items of what we need and use.  When we moved I threw out too many boxes of expired food items that we never got around to eating.  I spent part of my day clipping and sorting coupons for a small trip tomorrow.  My closest grocery store only doubles up to 15 coupons (40 cents and under). 


I've been doing a little bit more of a Flylady routine.  Not that you could tell with the pile of birthday toys that my children brought home from their parties this year.  But, my sink is mostly clean. 

I want to cook at home more and am thinking about a refrigerator clean out challenge.  I don't know what's in the back of my fridge and I can't see what's in the back of my freezer.

My Tiny Baby Princess Has Turned Into A Goth Gal

The era of buying ahead when I see a good deal is pretty much over.  My almost ten year old girl -is not having it- anymore.  No more pastels.  No more puppy dog prints.  No more anything cutesy or girly. 

I filled a laundry basket with clothes that she doesn't like.  Yes, I could make her wear them anyway.  She would do it so she wouldn't hurt my feelings.  She is a nice kid like that.  But, I do think she should have a lot of say over what she wears as long as it's appropriate and covers her parts.  She's allowed to express her individuality.  I know what it's like to have to wear clothes you don't like.  It's no fun.

So, I turned to Thred Up to help me find plain black and red clothes for her.  I've always had good luck with my purchases from there.  Today I bought eight kid's items for about $40 including shipping and I ordered a bag to fill with our outcasts. 

There are some pretty good coupon codes for first time users.  If you go through this link we can both get $10 on our next purchases too. 
http://www.thredup.com/r/BTGXTF