What are you doing this wk to save $$$?

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-20-2004
What are you doing this wk to save $$$?
13
Wed, 03-23-2005 - 9:29am
With Easter this coming weekend, it would be vey easy for me to go off course moneywise. Well, i told my dh we will have to find something nice to wear to church that is already hanging in our closet (mainly because we spent a little too mcuh on our vacation). Also, because i am switching over to third shift tomorrow, we will not be doing our traditional Easter dinner on Sunday (I will be sleeping). Just a nice breakfast. Today is eat what is in the house day, even though we don't have that much in the house. My paychecks will be short for the next couple of weeks because I did not have any vacation time accrued. Thankfully, coloring Easter eggs is a wonderful family activity that doesn't cost a lot of $$$. We also spent a few hours last night making a paper hat for our kindergarener's hat day at school. the project went wild, and all four of us spent a good hour decorating including stenciling, stamping, making little critters to glue on it. It was actually kind of fun. Anyhow, after an expensive month so far, i am ready to cut some corners and try to make up for lost ground. : ) Heather
So what do YOU have up your sleeve for this week???

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Wed, 03-23-2005 - 10:27am

My easter planning, like all the rest of my holiday planning, begins the previous year. After each major holiday, I hit the stores for 50-90% off everything seasonal. I stock up based on how old my kids will be the next year for less than half what it would cost to buy the stuff right before the holiday.

So, my easter eggs, coloring kits, baskets, etc. are up in the attic waiting to come down for the trip to Granna's house. It's a fun surprise for me, too, because by the time the holiday comes around, I've forgotten exactly what I bought the previous year, so it's like Christmas several times a year. :)

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-10-2004
Wed, 03-23-2005 - 10:37am

I am making ham this weekend and doing an Easter egg hunt at home for the kids.

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-25-2004
Wed, 03-23-2005 - 11:51am

Well tomato soup was on sale this week so like it or not 2 days this week dh and I will be having that for dinner w/grilled cheese. and because of some other things going on last night that prevented me from making dinner we ordered a pizza which had a buy one get one free deal tuesday thing - so we will have that for 2 nights using leftovers. And to finish off the week whatever bread we didn't use for grilled cheese will be used to make sandwiches for dinner.....I know it's not much but what I struggle the hardest to get under control is my groceries...so I figure if I can go lite this week and use leftovers and soup, etc. it should make some extra $$.

:)

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-06-2005
Wed, 03-23-2005 - 12:19pm

Let's see...I think I'm being pretty good this week....


1.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-14-2003
Wed, 03-23-2005 - 1:37pm
Well since I no longer have a job. I've been applying like crazy over the internet and dropping off resumes. I figure I'd better do it now while the baby has a sitter until Friday. I also listed some things on ebay so I'll be finding boxes to send things off. Since we are hoping to move at the end of the year I've been cleaning out things. I didn't realize how much crap we have! I'll be taking stuff to the consignment store and getting things ready for our yard sale. We are having a huge yardsale in a few weeks. Alot of groceries that I got for free after coupons are going in there. If we can't use it by December we don't need it in our house! I'm also calling to cancel the gas account. They are going to charge us for $30 base charge for having it connected and we only use it for heat. Oh! And we have been eating at home and trying to use up our groceries. We have a deep freeze full and it needs to be emptied out so we can sell our freezer before we move.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-22-1999
Wed, 03-23-2005 - 3:53pm

What a great question!

I have 2 days off this week and then the weekend...and I can't spend any money outside of the tight budget I have for the next several weeks. I have so much I can do at home that is low cost or pre-paid (ha, ha) like crafts and housecleaning, and GLORIOUS NAPS!!!!! I have to buy food and gas, but I do not plan any spending beyond that. I really have been working on being thriftier....This will be a good test. I keep reminding myself I just DO NOT have any easy cash right now...and I haven't used a credit card in 2 weeks for anything. That's pretty good for me!

I know I can keep myself busy until I go back to work on Monday without SPENDING.........I do have to admit I did want to take a daytrip, and it would be about $100.....but I think I need to be here rather than there............and I can do this in a couple weeks when the cash situation is better.

Let's see how I do......................

Looking forward to those naps!

Littlesbigs

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-02-2004
Wed, 03-23-2005 - 5:36pm

Good question to get people sharing ideas...

I cancelled Netflix...we weren't watching them, by the time they came, I forgot what was in the queue. I may sign up for the flat fee at Hollywood Video--it's much cheaper, and one's right around the corner. We ended up getting movies there in addition to netflix.

My next mission is to get cheaper cell phone--I'm considering getting a family plan with 2 or more phones and getting rid of land line. Anybody know a real cheap plan?

Must do tax return this weekend! My first quick calculation came out that Uncle Sam and I were about even, but maybe I can dig and find a little bit of a refund.

Cupcake

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-12-2003
Thu, 03-24-2005 - 12:19am

Not just this week! At the beginning of this month I decided to stop paying for parking at work (on campus of a local university). It was costing me $78/month. Now I drive to the non-metered street parking closest to the office and walk the rest of the way. It's about a mile and a quarter each way, so I get a little bit of exercise as well. And if it's raining the bus runs on the same route as I walk. A good deal all around...better for my health, better for my wallet, better for the environment.

That job is long term temp, and I interviewed for a permanent one today that I think I'll really like if I get it. Send good thoughts!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 03-24-2005 - 11:20am

DH and I have decided to no longer rent videos - we do get some from the library at no charge - the movies are a little older but they are free. We have also cut our "date night" to once a month. Date night is when older son is at his father's and younger son goes to grandpa & grandma's and DH and I go to dinner and a movie. We were doing this twice a month and dining out several days a month but we are trying to keep it to one time a month and no dining out (you know, grabbing Subway for lunch on Saturday or pizza on Friday nights - now its homemade sandwiches and frozen pizza). We put older son on an allowance. This helps save money because he knows he will not be getting any toys or candy from us except for his birthday and holidays. If we go to Target and he wants a toy - he knows he can buy it with his allowance money. This helps on my impulse spending - I no longer grab a little toy here or a book there. The allowance has also helped him be more responsible around the house - all-in-all the allowance experience has been positive. I will not buy "Dry Clean Only" clothes. I pretreat stains so clothes last longer. I sign up for every loyalty card available at any store I frequent (as long as they are free). We are lucky to have a Giant Eagle (grocery store) that has a GetGo (gas station). Whenever I buy $50 worth of groceries - I get $0.10 off each gallon of gas I get. I LOVE deals like that. Especially with today's gas prices. We buy bulk on paper items (toilet paper, paper towels, diapers) and a couple other things. The best investment we ever made is a deep freezer. I can buy food that is on sale in large quantities and freeze them - not just meats but butter, cheese, bread, etc. I LOVE my freezer.

Boy am I rambling - good question :-)

Christie

~ * ~ Sending good vibes your way, WRS707! Good Luck! ~ * ~

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-31-2003
Thu, 03-24-2005 - 2:08pm

I don't know that it's technically saving money, but I'm postponing purchases until after we close on the house in Maryland tomorrow. I want to buy another water bubbler for my kitties, and a cat tree. I'll wait to pick up my dry cleaning until April 4.

Also, I go directly to the ATM after teaching a dance lesson, to deposit the money. If it's in my wallet, I'll spend it.

And, I'll try to find the receipt for a meal I paid for at the office that work will reimburse me for. If I can't find it, I'll file the expense report with a missing receipt form.

I'm eating out of my cupboards and freezer until we move, which saves a little on groceries.

Lee Ann

Lee Ann

www.werenotafraid.com

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