Great now I want to watch that movie again!

My son wants gumbo with shrimp, sausage and chicken so I'll be making that this week sometime, since the cook and the maid are off for an infinite amount of time

I do too.

I'll be requesting the shrimp scampi, shrimp with steamed vegetables and brown rice, shrimp stir fry, and shrimp pasta. Give me the dinner schedule, i'll be over.

^^^ Nice one, Hottest!

I just performed do-it-yourself cosmetic surgery on a block of moldy Co-Jack cheese.

There was a time I would have just tossed it.....but have you seen the price of food lately?

Wow! I had $4.05 in Giant Eagle fuel perks! For every $50 you spend you get .10 off per gallon of gas. And the store has specials sometimes where you get .20 cents off per gallon of gas etc. Well with all of the groceries and other stuff combined, I managed to get 28 gallons of gas for F-R-E-E! $107 worth of gas in the SUV for free. This has totally made my day!

I've taken all my aunts and uncles recycle cans and plastics out of the recycle garbage can. We share that recycle garbage can anyways. they always just toss em. I take em and save em. My mom took them to the recycle place today...45 extra dallors. I dont care if anyone wants to say it's dumpster diving. thats free gas for the next week or 2

^^^Good for you, Becca!

One of my friends used to be a manager at Hickory Farms. the first thing they did every morning was cut the mold off the cheese, weigh it, and log it on to the inventory sheets.


I love fuel perks! We get them at Foodland, Shop 'N' Save and Giant Eagle.


I dropped an old lipstick on the floor, and Tinsel started batting it around. Free cat toy!

We do this too. Last weekend, we were able to deposit $940 into the girl's savings account. That's a combination of bottles and cans, and our spare change. We empty our pockets, my purse, etc. into a jar. Those pennies and dimes add up. It probably would have been more, but sometimes I have to raid the jar. Shhhh. Don't tell.

After today's shopping trip, I am determined to go into extreme cheapskate mode for a while.

I am going to try to avoid grocery shopping (except for milk, eggs, bread and lettuce) until my pantry and freezer are almost empty. I have soups, pasta, tuna, chicken, fish and cheese to use up.

You know I was thinking about trying this. We have 2 refrigerators(w/freezers) and both are full, along with 2 pantries. I wonder besides bread, fruit, milk, eggs would I need anything else? I could open up a small town food store w/all that I have I could save over $500 in one month if I tried this for one month. *thinks*

I just cant pass up a $ale

Little backstory here-- I have been thinking about all the Mets games I have attended as Shea Stadium is being torn down at the end of the season.

I clearly remember one day, a family of five was in front of us and the three kids wanted pretzels. The mom was on the aisle, then the three kids and then the dad. The mom ordered the pretzels and passed them down the aisle. The vendor said, "that'll be $25" and she screamed "WHAT?!" and made the kids pass the pretzels back because she thought it was too much money.

The father was so embarrassed, the kids were crying, and my friend and I just felt terrible. I wanted to buy the kids the pretzels but I didn't want to get in the middle of anything. The guy was wearing the button that said $5.00 a pretzel. She could have at least bought one.

Boy, did I feel sorry for those kids.

We went school clothes shopping yesterday and shopped at 6 or more stores. Out of everything we bought only 2 things were not on sale. Everything else was on sale or on clearance. My kids know the first place i look is the clearance section.

The one thing that was NOT on sale was an Office teeshirt from Kohls

So why does the website say, "Sale $12.99?" Maybe it went on sale today....

I haven't watched some dvds in more than 3 months....they go up on sale at amazon. Atleast I'm making some money instead of them collecting dust

We had Chinese food the other day, and I used the leftover rice for my stuffed peppers that I made today.

Hubby and I just celebrated our 25th anniversary, a little late. I had figured we would do something big or fancy (meaning expensive). But we've had two big vacation trips this summer and we were both tired of going places and spending money.

So instead of a weekend away, or a fancy restaurant downtown, we sent the kids off to a movie and grandma's, and we went to Chili's. We had a great time. We ate in the bar, it was relaxed, and we didn't cringe at the bill. I had a Presidente margarita, but no, I did not fall off my stool. It was just fun. A fancier restaurant would not have made our evening any more special.

That sounds perfect. Relaxing and casual and fun.

I have been collecting Pepsi points via caps that are on 24oz bottles and 24pk's. I have finally inputed all of the codes via Amazon.com that is working with Pepsi, where you can turn your points into buying song singles, dvds, small electronics etc.

Finally have enough to get a dvd and I think i'm going to go with Moonlightings Season 1 and Season 2 to spend my points on. If i'm going to spend my points its going to be on something with a lot to watch

Pepsi Stuff home(via Amazon)

^^I should donate my points to you!

Pepsi points? Free stuff? Hmm, maybe I could make the switch from Coke...

I didnt want to spend 3 bucks on shampoo cause I know it will go on sale after sunday. I bought a travel size tonight LOL

When ever I get a pastry from Panera Bread I cut it in half and eat one part of it on the day I got it and I finish the rest of it the next day.

They are finishing up the Panera's they are building here, hopefully within a month it should be open! I cant wait!

That's awesome! I'm sure you'll love it.

We had Panera bagels at work one day last week. They had them cut in 1/2 inch slices before serving. I'd never seen them do that before but I thought it was a great idea. The bagels are huge and I usually don't need to eat a whole one.

Now I am really hungry for broccoli cheddar soup!!!!

Our past few months of water bills have been thru the roof Since I know we havent been watering the grass at all and the garden not that often, there was only one culprit. Showers!

There is now a timer in the bathroom for everyone to take 10 minute showers. It took a good week or so of nagging to get everyone to remember to use the timer. Although I have one hold out who refuses the 10 minutes.

I am buying gift cards for xmas and I'm buying gift cards that are 2 for one from a local tv station. It's a great way to try new resturants and shops. 25 dallors for 50 bucks worth is too good to pass up

This is unintentionally a cheapskate move:

Back in November we went to see an Off-Broadway play. Two tickets with applicable surcharges cost us $106.00 total. The show is moving to Broadway in April. Minium ticket price? $110 before surcharges.

So by seeing it Off Broadway in a smaller theater, we probably saved about $150.

For anyone who is , or would like to be frugal, check out the thread that chazee started over on The Biggest Loser forum. She's a maniac when it comes to getting things for free!

awesome veebs.

I will collect free sample sites on most things so I dont have to pay for stuff.

I buy mark down nail polish and mix my own colors.

I've been washing and reusing plastic silverware and plates at the new house.

I got an Advent calendar at Rite Aid for 40 cents--Christmas stuff 90% off.

I empty and reuse vacuum cleaner filter bags a couple of times before throwing them out.

Life Lesson:

For best results take it outside.

^^^

I'm not getting new eyeglasses for the fourth year in a row (even though insurance would have paid for most of them)(and even though I was practically drooling over a pair of Dior frames ).

I keep saying I am going to do this but I am going to 99% try to do this starting in April. I want to not have to go grocery shopping except for milk, eggs, fresh bread and veggies. And use up two pantries and two freezers worth of frozen meat/food.

Maybe I should blog about 'not' shopping?

^^^That's what I was trying to do at my sister's house. I cleaned out the freezer and organized it, just so I could see what was in there, and figure out what to cook for dinner. Next, the 2 (yes 2) pantries.

My coat is now 2 sizes too big so I got it taken in for 15 dollars. The coat is 4 years old. (and thats just where I left off counting)

Instead of running out a buying a new washer, I have discovered that if I repeatedly whack the area around the timer motor with the proper amount of frustration pressure, the washer will slowly come back to life.

I'm calm again, my clothes are clean, and I've saved $500.

Win-win-win.

This can qualify for part of "Accountability" as well!

Been there, done that with "silverware".

Instead of buying a new mailbox. I used duct tape to keep the door from dropping. It's a professional duct tape job, if I do say so myself.

I have come to the conclusion that I really am a cheapskate. I looked at my checking account the other day and I have quite a bit of discretionary income there. And I cannot think of a damn thing to spend it on. I keep saying I want my massage (and I will probably do it next week) but when it comes to pulling the trigger on something, I can't seem to bring myself to do it. I just found out that I will be getting a surprise check next week and I can't think of anything to do with it.

Do you need my address?

My female friends think I'm crazy because I could never, ever fathom spending money on something like a massage, pedicure, manicure, etc. It's not in my genetic make-up. (Oh yeah...and it might also have something having to do with the idea of a stranger touching me making my skin crawl...) I can think of about ten thousand other things I would spend my money on first.

I've gotten quite good at using homemade cleaning concoctions (baking soda, vinegar, and boiling water is a great alternative to Drain-o, and works for getting deodorant buildup out of hubby's undershirts), and I make homemade facial scrubs and masks from recipes I've found online.

I changed grocery stores recently. I now shop in the ghetto a few miles away, but the store is soooo much cheaper, and they sell in bulk, with no membership fees. I save more than $30 a week from what I used to spend, and I'm buying more than I used to because my three kids are total bottomless pits.

Since we moved into our house last year, I've saved several hundred dollars on home repairs by doing it all myself, and I even saved money on parts by finding ebay stores who were closing out their inventories.

Hunting for coupons on coupon websites has become one of my favorite pastimes. I can find free shipping on almost everything online through those sites.

Being cheap isn't just a game, it's a way of life.

muffy, you'll like this. And yes, I am considering making my own laundry soap when we move.

As it is, I really like the moisturizing hand soap from Bath and Body Works, but the soap is really thick, so I dilute it and it lasts at least twice as long as it normally would. The pump spits out too much soap.

chazee, over on the BL board is really good at finding us freebies and coupon deals - check it out here. Go to the first page of the thread for all the details. I chided her for not using coupons and spending too much on groceries - now she's a wild woman when it comes to finding deals, and her grocery bill went from $800/month down to $300.

Some guy in the grocery line was complaining under his breath about the cashier ringing though all my coupons. I heard him and I said, "That's why I'll be able to retire at 50* and you'll be working til you're 85."


*Note: I will not be retiring at 50, I lied because the man annoyed me.

I may get the Wii and Wii Fit but I'm not sure.




! We'll see!

My cheapness has bit me in the ass. Back in Nov 2006 I bought a double pack of ink for my photo printer. Then I discovered Kodak Gallery and sent the majority of my pics off to be printed. But we still use the printer for quick pics or emergencies, like when Jay was in school and he came home and needed a pic right away. Anyway, so the ink just ended and I refilled with the other. Which expired 9/2008. Which doesn't work now. Which is $25 down the drain.

So, I ordered one more and I am going to check the expiration date. Hopefully it is good for at least a year.

I spent about 2 weeks looking for curtains/panels for our remodeled bathroom. We have four windows that are 4' x 6' high, they are large windows to say the least. Either the items were cheap looking or the ones I did like were way way too much times 4 windows.

Going to TJMaxx I managed to find high quality cotton cloth shower curtains that were very very nice with a simple bottom pattern and would do nicely. $19.99 times four windows was also in my budget. I spent about 2 hours ironing down the top of the shower curtains to make a sleeve for the curtain rod. There are sheers behind these curtains/shower curtain and you cant see thru at all.

Is TJ Maxx a good store for home decor? We have one next to the Whorish Orange Store, but I've never been there.