Tag Archives: Frugal

Five on Friday/Frugal Friday

Posted in budgeting, budgets, California, cancer, Credit cards, frugalism, husband, knee injury, Multiple myeloma, Myeloma, velcade, Walking by

Frugal-wise, I’m not in the Cotswolds like Mavis over at $100 a month. She probably should change the name of her blog. But she’s got the money, so why not enjoy it? Plus, she loves England.

Here in my neck of the woods, N. Ca, it’s been too hot to do much outside. The temps are much nicer in the coming week, but still some 90’s, and I saw it gets in the low 80’s, so that will be much nicer. I miss sitting outside in the mornings and afternoons.

Money-wise, just paying bills, and I had to pay the overpayment from SS. It’s ok, I’ll deal with it. It’s done, and I’m going forward. I just need to work the budget with the SS I’m getting. I’m still working on my credit card bill because I put the cremation on there. But I should be able to knock it down next month. I hate having a balance. But needs must.

After my Velcade shot, I stopped at Costco to pick up some lox for the bagels I bought at Noah’s. I also picked up some rose wine( my favorite) and a Gloria Ferrier champagne-type brut. I wanted Mumm rose, but they were out.

I gave my daughter $100 in cash to buy the paint for the studio. She’s really done a great job clearing it out and rearranging it to suit her. We might go get that today as long as she drives, since I’m on Dex. I don’t sleep well on Dex nights, and last night was no exception.

I also have a food bank donation to drop off and some more stuff for Goodwill.

I’ve almost finished most of my list of things to do related to B. If something comes up, it’ll be an outlier I don’t know about. I may take care of a few things today or not. It depends on my focusing on which Dex does affect. So we’ll see.

I’m still debating getting the next steroid shot for my knee. Mostly it’s ok. When I try and do a little extra walking or swimming, it acts up, but then I seem to recover the next day. The shot did help quite a bit, so there’s that.

Frugal Friday

Posted in California, cancer, cooking, frugalism, instant pot recipes, Myeloma by

Well, to continue the non- frugalness, our PGE bill estimate same in and it’s just under $400. OUCH!! The exact number isn’t there yet but I suspect at least $350. So with coolers running all day for the last 3 weeks, it’s understandable. Yesterday topped out at 109. So, still hot. And today, I believe is another scorcher and then temperatures start to drop. Next week the temperatures look to be in the 90’s and then an increase again next Saturday.

In frugalness though, I gassed up at Costco which is a significant savings. I only drove to the pool twice so that too saved money/gas.

I shopped at Costco and spent $125 or so but that included 2 bottles of wine. Nothing expensive, I like the Kirkland brand sauvignon and pinot grigio. The new Costco is so convenient and I was in and out in 20 minutes.

No other grocery shopping, if I recall. Today I need to pick up half and half and some corn tortillas and wine for the weekend.

As part of Amazon’s prePrime days, I bought an Instant Pot for 42% off. My instant pot died about 2 years ago and I’ve debated getting one but decided that if a deal came up, I’d get one. I think the end cost was $72. I plan on using it today as it’ll be hot and I can cook something without heating up the kitchen.

Yesterday, B had his ultrasound needle biopsy. We should get the official diagnosis next week, but certainly, cancer. The question is what treatment is there.? I’m not sure surgery is an option as there are multiple soft masses so chemo? radiation? I guess we’ll know soon enough. ( sad sigh)

Today, I’m meeting my library friends for coffee. One of them is the one whose husband died this past year of Myeloma. She’s done really well and has her two adult daughters as support. Being we’re meeting at the local cafe at 10, I won’t plan on the gym.

We had tacos and burritos from the Taco Tree after we came up from Sacramento so that was $22. But I didn’t need to cook dinner.

I got the notice that I need to renew my license and take the test etc. I’m not worried about that, just the eye exam as I don’t see much out of my right eye. I guess I’ll do my best and if necessary I’ll get my eye doctor to fill in the form that I can see 20-20 out of my left eye. Still being over 70 is challenging with these new things. But I guess, safety is key here.

I’m looking forward next week to being able to sit outside for dinner and afternoons. It feels like we’ve been stuck inside for weeks. Oh, we have:)

Frugal Friday

Posted in budgeting, budgets, California, cash envelopes, cooking, meal planning by

Well, we made it to December!! Hopefully, the month goes smoothly with no upsets. In the past, December has had both my back fracture T 10 in 2003 and B’s MDS diagnosis in 2019. So I often have anxiety about December probably remembering the emotions at those times.

On the frugal things.

I’m planning to do a No Spend/low spend December. I have bought enough from Amazon over the last month so I want to scale back that spending. Besides Christmas things, I bought Simple Human garbage bags, beeswax candles, and ??? I don’t include food or gas or other necessities but no extra things.

B got the oil changed in the Santa Fe, it needed some new filters so that added to the cost. I’ll up the cash envelope so it can fully cover those things.

We had the propane filled and that was $259 so really not bad at all. This is a quarterly bill and I plan to start and envelope for that. I’ve been watching some Youtubers cash envelopes and most fill the envelopes and then take to the bank. I was curious if that’s what they did because some of their envelopes were quite large. One woman had $600 in one for daycare and then moved that over when it was due. So I like that idea and it will keep me accountable. I like the cash envelope system and it’s working very well really.

I didn’t go to the grocery store this week, except I sent B to go down to the Holiday Market for sour cream and buttermilk I needed for recipe which I haven’t made yet.

Today is still a Dex/ no drive day for me so I’m going to make some cookies and plan next week’s menu. This week we had 3 freezer meals including stuffed peppers last night. So that really helps the budget. I also used the last pressure canned split pea soup and that was delicious.

Tonight we’re ordering pizza. I need to do an order from Central Milling for my 00 pizza flour. I think I missed their Cyber Monday sale but that’s ok.

Tomorrow, I’m planning on going to the pool and then to Trader Joe’s so money will be spent there. I don’t need a whole lot but TJ’s always has something interesting.

Here’s a look at our BIG BUCKIE. He’s circling our hilltop looking for girls. I hope he stays safe and out of the road. Last week on the freeway I counted 4 dead deer. On our main road, I saw 2 deer hit by cars. People drive too fast thru town here where the speed limit is posted at 25mph.

I’m pretty sure he’s limping on that leg in the back. I hope he’s safe. I would love if an antler fell off though since I collect them.

Being frugal, what does it mean ?

Posted in Uncategorized by

http://www.frugalqueen.co.uk/2013/12/do-you-really-need-to-be-frugal.html

this is a great post by Froogs. She is an inspiration on being frugal and taking the risks to live more simply.

We have always been inspired to live simply. We were Quakers when we first married and live by many of the queries. We have lived mostly in small houses and even a trailer. But, we have not been wise with money. It’s taken really most of our lives to figure out money and now on the eve of retirement ( for my husband) we will still have a mortgage and will not be free from that. We now work with a budget and save some. But, it’s maybe it’s a bit of a little too late. But we’re determined to make the best of it. Because of my cancer, I can’t really work much, but I do love my little job and hope to continue it. I’m probably adding Velcade to the mix in the next few months so well see how that plays out.

Being frugal at this point is only buying what is necessary. We don’t buy fancy clothes, or house goods. We try and plan for the expenditures. This is the first year we maxed his 401k contributions. It added up but again maybe a little too little too late. But I’m an optimist and will keep plugging away into 2014.