Tuesday, April 30, 2019

So Much To Do! Here's My Elephant.

With Daughter moving out on May 19th(less than 3 weeks from now), we are in a holding pattern on home repairs/renovations until then.
This doesn't mean I can't take this couple of weeks to plan how to attack this elephant and what we will do and in what order these things will get done.


Over the past month I've been searching the house(other than her room)for Daughter's stuff that she is taking with her to Louisiana.  Here are the things I've found and gathered in the living room so far(not the turquoise book and the purple items under it).  This is hardly everything-the hanging torture rack takes up the whole side of the living room behind me from where I was standing taking this photo, the huge dog crate which her dog never uses is taking up 1/8 of the den floor space, there's a "dreadmill" folded up but still taking up lots of space in the garage(and blocking access to some of Hubs garage cabinets), a metal trash can full of her dog's food also in the garage, the automotive tools and such her Fiance left in the shed, plus everything in her bedroom. 

The only thing I think I'll miss is her portable deep fryer(makes some tasty pork tenderloins and shrimp tempura).lolz

So here are the things that will get done once Daughter leaves.  It's a big old game of Dominoes really. ;-)


*  Her old room gets cleaned(clear out furniture/vacuum/shampoo the carpeting/clean walls/trim/ceiling/ceiling fan/dressers she isn't taking.)  Then EX-CB moves in his crap and takes that room.  He was planning on moving out within the next few months but then the new job search happened so that's delayed.

* After EXCB vacates his room, rinse and repeat cleaning that bedroom(clear out furniture/vacuum/shampoo carpeting/clean walls, trim, ceiling, ceiling fan/dresser.  Then I am painting that room(hasn't been painted since 2005).  Once we get the room cleared out we can evaluate whether carpeting needs replacing.

*  Once that bedroom is cleaned out and up I can move all my crap into there-a combination of sewing crap and toiletries stockpile(what doesn't fit into upstairs hallway closet).


                 Hubs "man cave" aka the room of toiletries/books/fabric/brewing equipment.

*  Once my crap is out of Hubs' room then we clear that bedroom out and rinse and repeat all the cleaning/fixing.  This bedroom will definitely be getting new paint and carpet(original carpet from before the previous owner we bought from in 2000 so very old and nasty rug).
Hubs puts his room back together.

      One side of the master bedroom where a coffee table(Hubs refuses to get rid of)and a plastic etagere are stacked with my fabric stash(well, some of it).  Also I've got piles of clothing sitting there as well.

* Once all these bedrooms are done we can attack the master bedroom, the whole cleaning deal including the furniture.  We will be getting a new mattress and bed frame(adjustable one). 

* Also on my plate is the master bedroom walk-in closet.  I've used that closet to hold, besides clothing, some out of season clothing, my Xmas gift boxes(shopping all year round does have it's downsides in that you need places to keep all the things you are gifting until Dec. lol), as well as the bulk of the family photo albums.  I have NOT done the seasonal clothing change out from there yet because of the upcoming Domino game of cleaning/sorting.....I want to get it all done at once.

*  Then we can move on to the upstairs hallway.  Cleaning and clearing it.  We need to have someone come in and fix the drywall and finish painting the hallway(where I couldn't reach-especially the stair well).

* This leaves the laundry room and the main upstairs bathroom to fix/redo, both of which will wait until EX-CB moves out or we set a date to move from this house.(Update-EX-CB may be moving out before the year is out.  He wants to move but this leaving his job/finding a new job has delayed his move-out time table.)

These few projects, along with a few others, will keep us busy for most of the rest of the year.

The expenses on all this?
Paint supplies, carpeting and installation, paying for someone to fix and paint the upstairs hallway.  I'v got tons of cleaning supplies already so the rest is just physical labor which Hubs and I can handle.  Carpet(if only 1 small bedroom needs it)and paint will come in around $600 and no clue on having someone drywall/paint hallway.  The mattress/bed frame will cost about $1500.  I'm "optimistically" thinking of keeping all this under $3K total.
The big expense will be the main bathroom redo and isn't happening this year.  Perhaps next year so it's not THAT far down the road and once we get all this finished we need to start planning for that project(planning for the outlay and who we'll contract with to do the job like we did the master bathroom a few years ago).

So besides our trip to New Hampshire in June, this and the garden and Chester and other home projects will keep us busy and at home most of the Summer. 

It is feeling overwhelming right now but we'll take it one step at a time until it's all done...plus with Hubs retired most of it won't be left to me to do. 
Like the old saying, "How do you eat an elephant?  One bite at a time." 8-)

I'll share photos, progress reports and more laments as work begins in May.

Have you got home projects planned for this Summer?  Tell us about it.

Sluggy


Monday, April 29, 2019

This Week on the Dining Table

The "It's a Week Late" Edition....


Above is my plate from our Easter dinner(sans deviled eggs). I forgot to share this last Monday.....
We still have heaps of food from that meal leftover so it will figure largely into this week's menu.

Moving On....

Onward to the meal planning!

This is what was planned--

1. Sunday---Ham, Mac and Cheese, Green Beans, Deviled Eggs, Rolls, Apple Pie(Easter)
2. Monday-Leftovers
3. Tuesday--Leftovers
4. Wednesday--French Onion Soup or Leftovers
5. Thursday--Leftovers
6. Friday--Pizza, Salad
7. Saturday--Leftovers

And this is what actually happened--

1. Sunday---Ham, Mac and Cheese, Green Beans, Deviled Eggs, Rolls, Apple Pie(Easter)
2. Monday-Leftovers
3. Tuesday--Leftovers
4. Wednesday--Leftovers
5. Thursday--Shrimp Stir-fry w/Noodles
6. Friday--Leftovers
7. Saturday--Steak, Tossed Salad, Baked Potatoes

Last week saw 3 nights of home cooked dinners, 4 nights of leftovers/fend for yourself, 0 nights of Eating Out/Take-Out.  
We were able to dig through the bulk of the leftovers from last week(and some from the week before) this past week.  After 3 nights in a row of leftovers though, "leftover fatigue" hit us(and most of the leftovers were gone except for the Easter dinner items)so I cooked 2 nights and we got another leftover night in between those 2 cooked meals.
I am calling this week a success in the using stuff up column. ;-)

What got put into the freezer last week.....
* 2 packs of corn dogs
* 2 small top round steaks
* 2 bags of shrimp stir-fry

What got taken out of the freezer and used last week.....
* 1 bag of shrimp stir-fry

Two small trips to Weis and a trip to the Shurfine market and a small trip to Maines brought the food spending last week to $62.28 and my April total to $387.72.

My savings percentage last week was 45.25%(without Rite-Aid trips)and April's monthly savings total came to 54.06%(w/out R-A). 

I have 2 more food shopping/spending days in April but I am done grocery shopping for the month.

Leftovers going into this week.... potato salad, some barbecue, Cole slaw, ham, green beans, rolls, mac and cheese.

Here is this week's "food plan".....

1. Sunday--Homemade Pizza, Salad for those that wants it
2. Monday--Mac and Cheese w/Ham and BBQ), leftover Green Beans, leftover rolls
3. Tuesday--More Pizza, Salad
4. Wednesday--Chicken Fajitas, Rice, Beans
5. Thursday--Ham and Beans, leftover rolls
6. Friday--Leftovers
7. Saturday--Breakfast for Dinner(maybe)

This week will see 6 new meals cooked, 1 nights of leftovers/FFY, and 0 nights of Take-Out/Eating Out.
We are going to be using up the Easter foods(ham, mac/cheese, green beans)and putting leftover bbq in the freezer. 
Monday....I'll dress up the leftover mac and cheese with more cheese sauce and add bbq and ham bits to it and serve leftover green beans and rolls.
Tuesday....I made a big ball of pizza dough(made 2 large pizzas which are gone already) but I had enough dough left for another large pizza which I'll put together on Tuesday.
Wednesday....I have some red bell peppers that need using thus the early Cinco de Mayo type chicken fajita meal plus chicken will be a welcomed change at that point in the week. lol
Thursday....I'll take the ham bone and some ham and soaked beans and make a pot of ham and beans.  Depending on what we are hungry for it will either be a thick pot of beans and ham(slightly sweetened)or a pot of non-sweet soup/stew...stay tuned.
Friday....can't tell this far out what leftovers will be left or if we'll just do a Fend For Yourself night.  There most probably will be Fajita fixings and ham left(ham sandwiches anyone?).
Saturday....Calls for a change-Breakfast for Dinner or ?

What needs buying for this menu? Nothing except mushrooms(as I put those in Fajitas, yes I am strange that way!lolz).

What is getting fixed and served at your house this week?

Was last week's plan successful, did you go off plan or did you not even plan what was going to be eaten last week?

Any great deals on food at your stores this week? 

Sluggy  

Friday, April 26, 2019

Frugal Friday.....the April 26th Edition

Let's take a took at the frugal wins we had here at Chez Sluggy this past week.......


*  I got the Weis freebie last Friday.........


a bucket of fake whipped cream.  I'll put this in the freezer so I can use it to make a chocolate peanut butter cream pie this Summer to go with a cook-out.

*  I bought some ramen noodle cups at Weis........


Each one costs .93¢ OOP.  I bought 5 but Ex-College Boy got into them before I got a photo. lolz
I claimed 5 x $1 cash rebates on Ibotta so I got paid .35¢ to bring these home.


This same Ibotta rebate was back in my gallery on Wednesday when I went back to Weis so I did it again.  Another 5 cups and .35¢ back in my pocket.  ;-)

*  I got a $10 certificate to use with my fat lady clothes company.....


It doesn't expire until sometime in July so I'll tuck it back to pick up some clearance clothing then.
It will be enough to cover the shipping on what I buy.

*  I kept from cooking until Thursday and we plowed through TONS of leftovers between Monday through Wednesday.  We are now down to a bit of spaghetti and meatballs(which Hubs will make quick work of!lol)and the Sunday's Easter dinner leftovers.  Thursday made NO leftovers so I'll probably make 2 pizzas tonight, we'll cook steaks out at some point this weekend and then it's back to leftovers again for a couple of days.  Stay tuned.

*  I found some money!


A penny in the parking lot before I went into Rite-Aid early in the week.

*  I found more money inside of Rite-Aid........

A quarter and then another penny near the register counter.  That makes .27¢ this week for the change envelope.  I need a new envelope as this year's is getting too heavy at this point with coins! lolz

*

I already reported on the better than free cosmetic brushes I got at Rite-Aid.  Paid $5.09 in Bonus Cash and earned back $6 in new BC for each 6 I bought.


*  I bit the bullet and bought myself some "real" luggage this past week.  Kohl's had a good deal on this American Tourister stuff so I put it in my online cart and left it there.  I had a $5 reward to use, plus a $10 off $50 Q but I couldn't pull the trigger.


The last night of the sale Kohl's sent me an email for an additional 30% off so I bit.

I got a 20" carry on bag in purple and a 24" bag in lime green(the green bag hasn't gotten here yet so I pulled this image from online to show).
Green and purple, my fav colors!

Both bags came to $359.98 reg. price(but who pays full retail for luggage, right?).
$186.92(w/sales tax)but for $122.41 w/sale prices, discounts, free shipping and reward used.
I also earned $20 in Kohl's Cash which I will be spending as soon as I get this done. ;-)
Oh and I used a rebate portal company to purchase so I'll get a couple of cents on the dollar back in a cash rebate too.  8-))

So that's it from here this past week.


What frugal wins did y'all have this past week?


Sluggy

Thursday, April 25, 2019

Should I or Shouldn't I?

I got these two credit card offers in the mail recently, on the same day.


An offer for a Capital One Visa and an offer for a Bank of America Mastercard.
Each came with the incentive of a $150 Cash Bonus if I put $500 worth of charges on the card within the first 3 months of having it.

1 has a permanent 1.5% cash back on everything you purchase and the other has a varying schedule of cash back(between 1 and 3%)depending on where you spend your money.

As for interest rates.....those don't matter to me as we NEVER carry a balance and we don't take cash advances either.
And I am not one of those people who can't resist using a credit card when they can't pay off the balance each cycle.

I don't NEED another credit card(I have two already)so I'd just get these for that $300 cash bonus. 
I know $300 is not much in the scheme of things but still it's free money and that calls my name. lolz

I would cancel the credit cards at some point(whenever it was safe to do so)or maybe keep one of these and cancel one of my other 2 cards, depending on which one was better for my needs.
I don't worry about dinging my credit score at this point in my life as I don't buy anything on credit so don't need to have a high rating really.

So should I get these cards just for the cash or not?

Have you ever gotten a credit card for some incentive?  What did you do if anything?

Sluggy




Wednesday, April 24, 2019

And the Winners Are.........



So I nabbed Ex-College Boy a little bit ago before he flew out the door to a job interview.
Be thankful he had one today or this post might not have gone live until after 5pm. lololz

He picked the winners by drawing names out of a hat.

For Giveaway #1 for new readers and all non-winners.
The Winner is.........



Crystal K!!!

And for Giveaway #2 for folks who have already won before and folks who sent new readers to enter Giveaway #1.
The Winner is.......


Belinda who blogs at Frugal Workshop!!!

Congratulations to both Crystal K and Belinda! 

Now I need both of you to email me with your full names and mailing addresses.
Belinda I also need to you to give me a list of what you want in your box too. ;-)

And as always thank you to everyone who plays along and everyone who reads this tiny blog(some days I don't know why you do but I am humbled and thankful that y'all do).

And thanks for all the good suggestions y'all sent in with your entries and/or emailed to me.  I'll be going through all those comments/ideas and writing up some stuff in the coming weeks.

Now I am off to the grocery store as it's Wednesday and that's what I do on Wednesday dontchaknow. ;-)

Have a great day everyone!

Sluggy