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: 08-20-2004
Thu, 03-24-2005 - 6:32pm

Starting monday, I begin to ride the motorbike
to work, also known as the 'deathbike'.

I realize commuting on a motorbike is the most
dangerous thing a human can do, but it saves
thousands per year, at 1.50/gal.

It's now 2.10/gal...and rising.

Thousands per year saved....

And yes, I have A LOT of life insurance....

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-06-2003
Fri, 03-25-2005 - 9:50am

Well I managed to save oodles of money this week by deciding not to purchase $6K of brand new furniture and appliances for the condo! I also got my deposit back of $650 from the store that will pay outright for the used fridge/stove we got instead.

My co-worker is selling her barely used fridge and stove, less than 4 years old for a pittance while I was going to buy them new and pay $1500!!!
I guess the shiny new look of everything at the store cast a spell on the dh and me; the salesman sure helped us along :0)

We decided we'll move with our Ikea stuff in the living room for now; work on one room at a time and try to find ways to reduce the spending and work out a spending budget for each room.
I told the dh we first need to adjust to our new home and mortgage payment as I don't want to create a situation where we feel we need to use the credit card to pay for stuff we don't need immediately!

The only thing we'll buy new is the bedroom set because we got an amazing price on a 8 piece solid pine set that will last us 20 years for sure. We already have someone who will buy our current set; the people who'll be renting our apartment so that's a plus.

I brought my lunch to work all this week so I didn't spend my weekly allowance - it's going in my savings account.

Kassandra

"It is said that life has its peaks and valleys.  The challenge is to accept them equally and experience them

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-20-2004
Fri, 03-25-2005 - 8:56pm

This goes back more than a week.

But for the bedroom, my aunt and uncle go to auctions a lot
and buy by the lot. They had this 70s style ugly dresser, like
14 in by 6 ft...but, the brass pulls were cool, so was the top,
and with the legs cut off it looked modern. So I painted it
bright blue. Got another dresser from my step dad, ugly ugly but
solid cherry. Painted it bright blue, and put new brass pulls on it.

For the bed, I designed a headboard to look like a castle gate,
from a really scary movie. Bought steel, welded it together, and then
got this paint that makes it look like wrought iron.

So, I'm into a bedroom set now for $200. It was about $150 to
paint ralph lauren sweuede 'chocolate', which goes really good
with the blue and the brass pulls.

I have dark blue curtains, $1000. <-- this is a joke my friend that
made them for me is like a VP at glaxo...5 hours x 200/hr lol...
but really, out of pocket like $60.

I do this kinda thing on almost everything in my life.

Kitchen - cabinets were horrible. I stripped down the 80s yuk,
restained it modern, with new handles ($100), and triple clear coated
it all. They look brand new. I've even had visitors say
'you didn't tell me you got new cabinets' !!!!!

p.s. I wasn't born handy, i made myself be handy.

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