Frugal Friday......the January 12th Edition

A few Frugal things that happened around here last week--

*  I received a $5 rebate in the mail for buying Chester's heart worm pills last year.

 

*  I was overcharged for a head of lettuce last week at Weis(PMITA)Markets by .10¢.
The lettuce was on sale for $1.49 a head but it rang up at $1.59.  I took the receipt and sales ad from that week in and got $1.59 cash back for my troubles.

*  When I went to Weis this week I only got credit for doing the Mix and Match Deal(Buy 6 items/Get $3 off Instantly)one time, when I had bought 12 items that qualified.  Before I left the store I brought this to the attention of the CS person.  I got $3 in cash.  This, along with the $1.59 for the overcharge on the lettuce, goes into the Post Coupon/Rebates envelope for 2018 to apply to the grocery bills at the end of the year.

The lesson here--It pays to check your store receipts!

*  Hubs and I went to the movies this week during a matinee. I tried to use my very old cinema gift card but when I whipped it out I found out that this theater is no longer affiliated with that company.  Good thing it was Bargain Tuesday though and the tickets are only $5 OOP(I used some of my WAM money to pay.)
Just some light comedy with filthy language and some accomplished actors-Glenn Close, JK Simmons and Christopher Walken being among my favs.  Worth the 5 bucks IMHO.

* I also received $3 in online Saving Star rebates from last week's shopping-$2 for buying 2 Maxwell House coffees and $1 for buying 4 Progresso soups.  I also earned .25¢ for buying anything at Rite-Aid last week.  These online rebate schemes haven't been panning out with large rebates for me in the last 6 months or so.  Seems they limit a purchase to a specific store(usually Walmart, where I don't shop), you can't use a coupon on the item and get the rebate too, the number of rebates available are quickly filled, or it's just for stuff I don't usually buy.  These all limit my participation.  Oh well.

*  We finally got over to the other side of downtown W-B to return a bag of puppy food we bought from the pet store we got Chester from.  He won't eat it anymore so we got a store credit since it's been 3 months since it was bought.  I am sure we can get some flea and tick or chewy bones with it in a couple of months from now.  It was worth the trip(we also hit Dollar Tree while we were in that neighborhood)instead of just throwing the puppy chow out or letting it sit in the garage.

*  Since it's my birthday month I received a $10 freebie offer from Kohl's in my email.  I'll hopefully combine this with some Holiday clearance deals there to pick up something needed for one of the folks living here(if not me)or for a gift to use later that costs as close to $10 as possible.  More on what I got before January is out.

What frugal things happened in your house this past week?

 Sluggy

How 2017--The Year of Austerity--Ended Up

Going into 2017 we were confronting financial difficulties.  Hubs broke his leg and was off work for 2 full months(including all of January and 2 weeks in February), which meant much lower disability income for the first month+ of 2017.

Due to this I adjusted my Savings Challenge for 2017 down $3K from $38K to $35K.

Then Hubs decided to retire in the middle of the year which changed up our finances yet again.

I ended my Savings Challenge when he left his job at the end of June.
The Savings Challenge, modified to 6 months worth of savings hit $21,100.42 when hitting $17,500 was the goal for that length of time.

Even with this, going into 2017, I had no clue how austere it would become around here by the end of the year. 8-(

I had a few action plans to try to cut expenses going into 2017(before the retirement thing happened).  They were--

* Dining Out  Consciously using the stockpile of restaurant gift cards.  

We did use them more but I still added to the pile of cards at the back end of the year. *sigh*

* Alcohol  Don't buy more booze, use up what is here.

I may have bought 8 bottles of liquor/wine(other than for cooking)total in 2017.  I also let the kids drink some of what I already had here since I don't drink much anymore(just special occasions really).  I don't think Hubs went lighter on alcohol buying however so just me reducing what I bought still helped our bottom line on that line item of spending.

*  Clothing  Don't buy new clothing unless it's a need.

I did spend a little on clothing in 2017(6 tops, a coat which was sorely needed, 2 dresses, some underwear which was also sorely needed)and I think Hubs only bought socks and two pair of shoes(more supportive footwear due to the leg break).  I bought no new shoes.  A few souvenir t-shirts were bought on our road trip for us.  The rest of the clothing was bought for the kids as souvenir items or for Xmas presents.

* Vacations/Trips  Do less trips/vacations.

We took 1 big road trip to Idaho in 2017 that's where most of the vacation $$ went this year. I went to VA to mother in-law sit for my brother for two weeks in May but my brother paid my gas/tolls and paid for some of my food while I was there.  I visited my Eldest son on the way home and paid for all gas/tolls on my return trip and stayed at his apartment so not many expenses on that trip other than some food out.  There was a trip to see Eldest son in the Fall which wasn't planned, but needed at the time. Hubs and I went to see College Boy's recital but that was a day trip, not an overnight.  So we did less trips in number but with retiring we took one very long trip.

* Stockpile  Reduce and use up some items.

I tightened up on the stockpile amounts.  Stopped buying certain items we were drowning in, gave some to the food bank, to the brother in-law who lives in town, took bags down to my brother to give out to various family and friends and then took a couple of boxes of toiletries on our road trip to hand out(much to the irritation of Hubs).
We did end up spending around $1K less on food/toiletries/paper goods compared to 2016 numbers.

With Hubs retiring suddenly mid-year it brought home the necessity of cutting expenses in 2017.  
The short term disability pay sort of prepared us to keep spending in check once he decided to retire in 2017.

Overall, we did end up spending less on "wants" in 2017.  I think not having to access the 401K the last 3 months of 2017 was a big win for us.  A few expenses came up-the rescue mission was the biggest but we also had college tuition and living expenses to cover in Fall 2017.  These but a small dent into our savings but we emerged from the year in good shape.

But sometimes it seemed like I had to drag Hubs kicking and screaming through the year.

I won't say it was pleasant at times as Hubs wasn't ready to stop spending so much on wants(WAM, alcohol and Eating Out mostly)so we did argue over finances for awhile.  By October we seemed to have settled down into a spending routine now that keeps up both happy and satisfied.

I am still working on him about having a Sinking Fund to fund each month.  He was surprised by how much we are committed to paying out on irregular but fixed bills.  Once you remove the chunk to fund the Sinking Account the annuity income each month looks quite sparse.    
While we "can" live on just the annuity income neither of us want to live that life if we don't have to.

Striking a balance between where the spending happens and how much to withdraw from the 401K in 2018 is our main goal financially we are working on at the moment.


Sluggy

January-the Expensive Month

This is the temperature outside from my car dashboard on Sunday morning when I went to Rite-Aid.
It was 3 degrees HIGHER than when Hubs went out at 8 am that same day.....WTF?!?!
Meanwhile in Alaska it was in the 40's?

January is kicking my ass in the expense department this year.
Between what everyone calls Murphy and a new medical insurance coverage year(yes, I'm looking at you high medical deductibles!)January can be expensive at Chez Sluggy.

* We had 14 days of being below freezing here, many of the nights were in the negative single digits(and that's BEFORE wind chill).  This means my electric/heating bill is going to be ridiculously high for January.  Not sure yet what it will turn out to be but it's trending toward $500+.  ick

* Last August, College Boy, had taken my car to work and returned it with a crack in the windshield.  It was small and down at the base of the windshield so didn't hinder my vision while driving said car so I just left it to repair later.
Over the next few months the crack grew and then "spider-ed" and by December the area involved was quite large, but still contained to the lower left side of  the windshield and still didn't impinge on my field of vision for driving.
But it needed to be fixed, so Hubs took it to the local glass place and our deductible for the complete new windshield was $100.
* $100

* Then Hubs car tire kept losing air.  This long subfreezing cold snap in NEPA has just exacerbated the problem.  He took the car up to the local tire/car repair shop and it was deemed that both front tires needed to be replaced.  So he came home with new rubber x two and a nice, new shiny bill for said tires.
* $208

* The day after New Year's we saw a big puddle on the kitchen floor in front of the dishwasher.  Sometimes this happens if someone opens said dishwasher after starting it(a bunch of water falls out when you open the door).  It was discovered that no one had opened said door while the dishwasher was cycling so it was thought something was leaking.  After another running of the dishwasher, just to make sure it wasn't just someone opening the door mid-cycle, it make another nice puddle.  Conclusion-the dishwasher needs a new gasket, is rusted out somewhere or ?  Whether it's a repair issue or a replacement issue is still to be determined.  Either way it's going to cost $$.
Personally, I am in no hurry to repair/replace the appliance and since Hubs is the kitchen cleaner-upper/dishwasher as long as he will hand wash the dishes I am good with being in status quo mode on this one.  I won't be calling a repairman and I'll wait for Hubs to get fed up doing dishes by hand.  This should buy us some time before we had to dump money into a repair or replacement.
* No $ spent(for now)

* With a new year for the medical insurance and a $3K deductible to pay before seeing any benefits on visits, tests or meds I had to refill a pricey Rx.  I try to time refills/visits/tests so we do all we can by December 31st but this maintenance drug comes up early each month unfortunately.
It's funny that the druggist calls the house in January to break the news that I owe hundreds of $s for the script every year and the cashier at the pharmacy counter also prepares me that I'll owe big bucks for it.  I've been on this drug for years now so I know what's coming but they don't remember and handle me with kid gloves. lolz  I'll be so glad when our deductible is met for the year......
* $306 for 1 month's worth of 1 drug

I am behind for the year already.  I still need to close out the December, Christmas and 2017 spending books.  It just seems like I have so much to deal with in January from the previous month/year.
I'll get there if I put up multiple postings per day for awhile.....if I can find the time to write them all. lolz


Sluggy

To-Do List.....December Update

Here's the December To-Do List and the outcome for the month......

*  Pay Bills  DONE  Everything paid and early or on time.

*  Read 1, 2, 3 Books  DONE

This book was very good.  Lots of often overlooked and obscure stories about US history.  I learned much.....mostly that Thomas Edison was a colossal asshole! lolz

This one seemed promising at first but then it turned into a snoozefest.  There were nuggets in there but you had to mine them.  It was mostly about the growth of the animal rights/laws movement.  Like I said, zzzzzzzzzzzzzz. 
The best thing was the cover art. *snort*

This one was a short read and I was able to fit it in under the December 31st wire.  I think it's a YA fiction...if not, it should be.  Some lightweight reading worth a look.

*  Sell Stuff  DONE

I sold 5 items on eBay.  Profit after fees/shipping/cost of goods was $300+/-.  Woohoo!!
I didn't get around to using the local FB yardsale site to sell locally in December.

*  Write Xmas Cards  DONE  26 cards were written.

*  Mail Xmas Cards  DONE  26 cards were mailed out, 2 inside of packages/24 separately in envelopes.

*  Ship 2 Xmas Presents  DONE  Since eldest was home for Christmas I didn't have to mail his, only my brother and his wife's gifts and 1 package to a friend. 8-)

*  Hold Giveaway 1, 2  DONE  A December box was offered up......

......as well as a restaurant gift card 

*  Mail Giveaway 1, 2  DONE  Both mailed out and both received.

*  Load to Sallies(Salvation Army)  FAIL  Just didn't get my act together and get the stuff into the trunk of the car and have Hubs do it.  Too much other stuff going on around here and then it got too cold/bad weather so not worth driving there.  It will go up at some point in January and this is staying on the To-Do List for now.

*  Bring CB and his stuff Home   DONE  Hubs got home from the rescue mission and the next day I drove him in a snowstorm up to U-Haul to rent another cargo van. Hubs, College Boy and all his crap got back late that afternoon/early evening.  We shouldn't be having to rent trucks again until we move away from PA but that's at least 1.5 years off in the future.

*  Go to Dr. Appt. 1, 2  DONE  Got those visits marked off during the first week of December.  My weight continues to go down and I got off 1 more medication. rah!  Now I am on semi-annual check-ins with these two docs.

*  Decorate the Tree, House   DONE  

The extent of inside decorating this year was putting the tree up, hanging up the Xmas cards we received in the kitchen window and putting a garland strand on the stair railing.  One of our numerous nativity sets did NOT get put out once CB brought home his ceramic class projects and they were deposited on the top of my new dining room buffet. sigh.

*  Wrap all Presents  DONE  Most were wrapped before CB came home for Thanksgiving.  Last minute gifties were wrapped and bowed a good week before Xmas day, but not put under the tree as Chester was too interesting in them.  Many lost bows to Chester once they hit the floor. lolz

*  Fill Stockings  DONE  I had to get a stocking for Chester(since Daughter's dog has a stocking too)so I picked one up at the Dollar Tree.  Next year, if I get ambitious, I'll use glue and glitter and write his name on it.
Santa was very good to everyone as this photo attests.

*  Work on 2018 Goals  DONE  Goals were worked on but not finished.  This week is all about finalizing those.

*  Work on 2018 Budget  DONE  Hubs and I had a money meeting and came to some agreement on some of the budget.  The man doesn't want to be pinned down or commit to an itemized list of spending so I can only do so much on the budget. *sigh*  

How did your December goals turn out?

Sluggy

The Diaper Queen of NEPA--Updated!

Ok, so this week when you buy $30 worth of Huggies(diapers, wipes, pull-ups)in one transaction at the Rite-Aids in my region you get a $10 OYNO Catalina(good on anything you buy at Rite-Aid).
Plus the diapers and pull-ups are on sale for 2 packages for $17 this week, there are also $2/1 Qs both online(coupons dotcom and pickupthevalues dotcom)and in Sunday's inserts AND these products count toward earning a $20 BC wyspend $50 on certain items(limit 2 $20 BC Deals per card/account).

I have access to three Wellness cards/accounts so I decided to get lots of diaper/pull-ups this week.

I finished off the deals on two of the cards and did 1 round of 4 packs of diaper/pull-ups on the third card on Sunday.  That photo is of 28 packs of diapers/pull-ups.

Here are my seven receipts and the lone $10 Catalina I still have after rolling 5 other $10 Catalinas.
I'll most probably do two more transactions of 4 diaper/pull-ups each and end up with a $10 Catalina to spend in the next two weeks at Rite-Aid.

So far I've spent $116.50 in Plenti Points/Bonus Cash and earned back $80 in new BC.  I have 28 packs of diapers/pull-ups to sell which will get me between $140 and $154 cash.
Add those 28 to the 13 packs I had already(12 from Rite-Aid in October and 1 pack I paid $1.99 OOP at Weis). ;-)

*Of course after I came home on Sunday I saw that the $10 Catalina was printing when you bought only 2 packs, which would have lowered my OOP substantially.  Oh well....still a great deal!

*UPDATE*
 I ran up to Rite-Aid this morning before the weather got bad and tried the "Buy 2 Packs & Se if the $10 Catalina still prints for just 2 packs of diapers".  I figured if the Cat didn't print I only needed 2 packs to get that card to the $20 Bonus Cash so I'd just stop at $20 BC and not do the second $20 BC.

But.....it was still printing as of 11 am ET for just 2 packs of diapers/pull-ups!!

So I finished off the Deal buying 8 more packs in increments of two per transaction.  3 of the transactions "cost" me $3 in Plenti Points and 1 "cost" me $4 in PPs. (I had to resort to $1.50/1 Qs as I was out of the $2/1 Qs.)

$13 spent in PPs and I got $40 in Bonus Cash back and have 1 $10 Catalina to spent in the next two weeks at Rite-Aid.

So here are the results--

Plenti Points and Bonus Cash spent.....$129.50
Bonus Cash earned..........$120($40 per card)
Other..........$10 Catalina left
Diapers/Pull-Ups to sell.......36 packs
At $5-$5.50 per pack I'll get $180-$198 for all 36.
Add the 13 packs I already had and that's another $65-$71.50 cash.

Sluggy