On Top of Mount Washmore....

The holidays and a bout of stomach flu have not been kind to our laundry.

Today I hauled six loads to the nearby Laundromat. This is after I filled our own washer with a load of whites. Ten dollars lighter and all of our laundry is waiting to be put away.

I really love going to the laundromat though. I love getting all of my laundry done at once, the big folding tables, the hot fresh smell of clean linens, and the rolling carts. Not that I'm going to make a habit of going to the laundromat but today I don't regret it.

I used to work at a laundromat in college and loved to smell peoples different soaps and softeners. Gain and Fab were favorites. I helped instruct a freshman on how to use a washing machine. It apparently was his first time doing his own laundry and he was very embarrassed to ask for help and really wanted me to do it on the sly so no one would know. I found rifle bullets in the dryer vents and pieces of cilantro and lime in the washers of the local Mexican restaurant owner. Is this too much information?

Anyway, I've got the washing machine halfway filled with miscellaneous items that got missed. Tomorrow I'll be back on my game.

What I have to change about my spending.

Two things have got to happen for us to truly stretch every penny.

1. I need a budget for household and food expenses. I'll be discussing this with hubby but I think we'll probably do $60 a week for food and house and $50 (a month) for entertainment. That's less than $300 a month for everything but if I stick to it I know we can make it work.
2. I need to price book.

A few years ago I purchased a Dollar Stretcher price book and used it sporadically to track the price of diapers. It's time to dust that off because even though I'm pretty price savvy there's nothing like hard facts written down to show me whether or not I'm getting a good price.

Menu for the Week

Monday- We had banana french toast, scrambled eggs and veggie sausage.

Tuesday- Stir Fry with crisper and leftover veggies and a bit of burger and egg. Baked spring rolls from freezer. Finish the rest of the Aldi pineapple.

Wednesday- We're going out to Chuck E. Cheese for lunch. If we're hungry later we'll eat the Velveeta and Rotel that I have saved from Christmas.

Thursday- Leftovers or a packet of Hungarian soup with some veggies thrown in.

Friday- Homemade pizza night with bread machine crust.


Things to do:
Make cranberry bread with the leftover sauce.
Eat the buttermilk bread before it spoils.
Freeze extra rice.
Use up the cup of buttermilk.
Cook the crisper apples.
Make yogurt.

Schnucks Grocery Trip Today

Before Coupons and $35 Gift Card from Hubby's work: $63.27
After Coupons and Gift Card (OOP): $12.33

This is in no way representative of a balanced diet or even what we need this week (which is very little). Coupons made the holiday clearance candy too irresistible. And it's great for those party favor bags I'll be assembling in a month or so for the kid's joint birthday. The advent calendar is a great way for my kid to count down the days until their February birthdays. They'll simply have to share the tiny chocolate or take turns each night. And Hubby will just have to ignore the snowflakes on his box of Valentine's day candy.

Frugality 1- PIzza Hut 0

Hubby and I were planning on finding a pizza coupon in our Entertainment Guide last night because neither one of us wanted to cook.

Five minutes after reading this post by artofthecoupon.com and I'm in the kitchen mixing up my first batch of homemade pasta.

Even though the dough was too thick we all really enjoyed it. And I found one more reason to keep my pantry stocked with essentials so I can avoid a last minute trip to the grocery store.

Getting a head start on next Christmas.

Maybe it's the impending spending cuts slated for our family budget but I started buying small presents for next year.

Dollar General supplied the kid's 2009 ornaments for .50 cents apiece. This time we went with a religious theme.


I also found a 6 pack of Rayovak AAA batteries on clearance for $1.50 and used a $1 off coupon.

Walgreens supplied:
Peanuts Christmas themed activity pads stocking stuffers for .12 cents apiece.
Lip Smackers sets for $1.24 (small gifts for little girls I know)
A Glade Wisp Flameless Candle (.99 cents after coupon/rebate)
Glade Scented Oil Candle Holder set (.50 cents after coupon/rebate)


I also got Dawn dish washing detergent for .49 cents after MFR and store coupon.


Now that Walgreens has online rebate redemption the cost of a stamp is no longer a factor. I just have to wait for my Walgreens to get out their Revlon Matte collection out so I can get one more freebie for the gift tote.

FYI- the two Walgreens I went in today had a lot of make up clearance and mark downs. If you need new make up and have coupons you could really clean up in there. I however have more make up than I can ever wear and have taken to simply applying some old red lipstick or chapstick after I get out of the shower. Maybe another one of my resolutions will be to actually use my make up so people won't confuse me with my (handsome but still manly looking) husband. ; )

What 2009 will bring

I've considered a no spend year where we just don't buy anything unless it's food or health related. But truth be told, I want to go on vacation this year with my family and I don't really want to give up even frugal gift giving. Plus, Hubby is taking me on another business trip with him in a few weeks and I will have to spend money on a few meals out.

So, what's a frugal family to do when they want to seriously cut back their spending?
1. Use up what we already own. (tea, anyone?)
2. Don't buy anything unless it's budgeted for or a necessary need. Exhaust all second hand options first before buying new.

I still want to continue my stockpile as we never know what the future holds. I'll just have to fit into the budget and buy when the price is right.

I know this plan seems simplistic. It is. I've been rather lazy with our money the last few years since we've eliminated all debt except our mortgage. I'm still naturally frugal so we're in good shape but I am an admitted boredom/entertainment shopper. I have better ways to spend my time and money than shopping for the sake of shopping. Plus, those times when I really do need to purchase something (Easter basket goodies, Christmas) it will seem so much more enjoyable.

On a related note, I was gifted with $125 in Christmas money and I'm not sure what to spend it on. Right now I've got it socked away but I'm thinking it might be my garage sale budget for next summer.