Saturday, August 30, 2014

Saturday

Posting late now Sunday early am.

Saturday worked 8 to 4pm, busy day. I thought with the OSU game that we'd. die down after the game started, nope it got busier than ever.  Whew!  A no spend day though so that part was good.  I was tempted to pick up a few needed items but nothing that can't wait till I am back at work on Monday.. blah!  First time in my career that I have worked on Labor Day but time and a half so Yay! extra money next week's paycheck.  I will work 8am to 2pm that day.

Friday I hung laundry outside to dry so less time using the dryer.

Tomorrow is my day off so will do chores around the house, pick up any needed items since I'll work 4 out of 5 days this week and sure don't feel like doing anything after work.

Still waiting to connect with Dallas to get my truck tune up done.

Winter will be here soon so trying to get as much done as we can.

Surprise bill:  Our insurance agent told us our prices would only increase by $5 a month when we told him what type of vehicle we were going to get.. got the bill today $30 more a month.  I have a email in to him now with a copy of his quote.  GRRR! not happy about that little surprise.

Anna

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Thursday

This week has been busy as usual.  Our friend Dallas has been over several times this week working on our shed.. we had rats in there though fortunately none seem to be in there now.  They did some serious damage to the particle board walls so Dallas fixed those up and dug up around the outside foundation put in aluminum flashing 50 feet and then shored it up with cement blocks (the big ones) so hopefully no critters will get back in.  He also worked on my downspout, there was a huge bird's next in there that he removed but now we have discovered a honeybee nest up there.. groovy!  So I have to go and get bee spray and Dallas will go back up and spray the hive.  I hate to do that with bee's becoming endangered but they will eventually move into the roof and walls and then we'll have structural issues.

Dallas will be back over tomorrow if it doesn't rain to do a major tune up on my truck, it wouldn't start the other day so he's changing the oil, spark plugs, ignition switch module and ???? can't remember what else.

Frugal on all these is because we are friends he charges us a very small fee to do all this work.  Next up is fixing my kitchen pipes.

I am blessed to have a job to help pay for these extra expenses.

I am working this morning on apples I picked from my tree the other day.. picked 2 five gallon buckets, didn't weigh them though.  I gave one bucket to Wanda (she accidentally burned her apple butter) and am canning mine here in a little bit.

I have clothes hanging on the clothesline, peaceful day here in the holler.  Dh is taking tomorrow off work to spend the day with me, thinking of going to the Millersport Corn Festival.

Anna

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Wednesday Part II

Sharing with friends:

The apples I picked the other day.. I never have had time to can them so I gave them to my friend Wanda tonight to make a small batch of apple butter with.  Plenty more on the tree, hopefully next week I'll find time.

I didn't do the fundraising today.,.. I felt bad but there was just so much housework here to do, grocery shopping, etc. that I called off.  We have about 2 weeks left before the deadline so hopefully next week I'll have more time and be more energized.

We will be going to the candle store this weekend to buy new supplies.. they moved and are now 36 miles away from my house.  And we will be going to a farm supply store somewhere along that route, I need more pine tar.

Frugal:  Sold $25 worth of Pine Tar soap today.  Stock is very low hence the need to buy more Pine Tar.

Surprisingly the Pine Tar Soap and The Dirt Soap are my best sellers, both stinky soaps LOL!  But the Pine Tar helps with all kinds of skin rashes/itching and the Dirt Soap the hunters use, I have a steady base for both of these types.

Anna

Wednesday

I have been so busy with work, fundraising and housework I just have not had time to post anything.

We bought a new SUV on Monday so budgeting is really going to be in play for the next three years... it's a lease so we saved about half what it would have cost if we'd. bought it.  In 2 1/2 years we can turn it in for a new one and have the same payments.

I'm no longer doing food demo's at work, working days as a cashier now.. will be getting training for meat cutting soon.

I'm tired today, it's my day off but have to do a lot of housework and do some more fundraising today at some point.  Back to work Thurs. and Friday and hopefully off the weekend.  I got called in on Sunday my day off because someone called in sick.  I didn't have to but extra money is always good.

Anna

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Thursday

Just got back in from picking apples off my apple tree this morning.. will have to work hard to get those peeled and canned today (late afternoon).  The tree is loaded but most are in the upper branches so I'll need to get a ball to get them down and maybe some kids to help out.  My friend Wanda wants some to make apple butter.  I'm canning mine up in chunks to use for apple crisp or for just packing for dh's lunches.  Last year I opened a jar, heated it and put vanilla ice cream over top.. Yum!  These were from last years harvest.

Anna

Wednesday

Wednesday I went out again for awhile after working more on my basement decluttering project.. I organized all my canning jars by size and put them in plastic sweater boxes all in one place so I can find them when I need them.  Stopped at the shelter and dropped off a gift card (Thank You Lowes) and notes on other places I had been to and loved on the kitties including Mrs. Beasley who has been with the shelter the longest, sure can't understand why such a sweet kitty has never been adopted out.

Frugal has been continuing to resist fast food in the restaurants I'm stopping in at, sure hard to do.

Anna

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Monday and Tuesday

Spent yesterday again door to door soliciting gift cards for the shelter.. got $220.00 in cards, Yay!  Will be doing it again today for a little while, have to work tonight.  Frugal is resisting buying all the good stuff at the restaurants I have been stopping in at.. better for my waistline and my budget LOL!  Such a wonderful generous community I live in!

Next fundraiser is the Home and Garden Show but will most likely pass on that one though I'd love to do it.. it falls on the weekend of our wedding anniversary, have to spend some time with the hubby for that one.

I'm blessed to have found the talent in myself to get out there and not be shy about asking for donations.  It truly helps when I believe in what we are doing which is saving cats from being euthanized and hopefully adopted in to loving homes, it's so very hard to resist taking one or twelve home with me they are all so beautiful and loving.

All meals from home.. yesterday was baked chicken and potato salad.  Today I will make dh Rigatoni to have ready to heat and eat when he gets home tonight.  I cooked 2 lbs. of chicken burger yesterday morning in preparation for this.  I like working the night shift but I don't like the coming home in the dark and the whole evening is pretty well shot.

Have a great day everyone.

Anna

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Sunday~Day of Rest

Ran to Krogers to pick up meds. and Weilands Mkt. for a couple Ohio tomatoes.

Made BLT's for lunch and homemade choc. milk shakes.

Staying close to home today, reading and taking a nap spending time with dh as this is the only day of the week we have off together.  Been a rough week with dh working OT every day and then the truck repairs.

Anna

Friday, August 8, 2014

Thursday

I guess the only frugal thing yesterday was getting my friend Wanda's son Beau to give me a ride to and from the auto mechanics.

Dh drove the truck to work, got in the lot and steam was coming out of it and antifreeze pouring out from underneath.  I drove out there, dropped off the car, called AAA and got the truck towed to the auto shop.  $670.00 later we now have a new serpentine belt and water pump.  Told us we need a new muffler too another $226 dollars.  Not in danger of falling off, no holes in it so it can wait till we get this bill paid off.

Frugal today (Friday) paid $100 towards that bill.  Dh is working OT and we should be able to pay it off in a months time but no money being saved for now towards a new car.

Next month I change jobs.. full time cashier and I think will be working days instead of nights and weekends. I have a meeting with my store mgr. tomorrow.

Frugal today also making pizzas at home tonight.  And found the discount bin at work, got buffalo chicken wraps (mini) marked down from $12 to $2.  I bought 4 boxes as I'm not sure what size mini means, they are awfully thin boxes.

Anna

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Hitting the Pavement For Charity

Today I donated my time and energy to going to local businesses for donations for our raffle fund at the 5k Cat Caper on Sept. 21st.  I got either gift cards or services for subs, meals and even 5 half hour massages from a Chiropractor totalling around $400 in pledges or gift cards so far.  That is so awesome that there are so many people who care about the cats and our shelter.  I still have more businesses I want to contact but it'll have to be later this week and next week as I'll be going back to work.  All the businesses were so incredibly nice to me.. I did not get one No.  I even got a free lunch from one sub shop in addition to the gift cards.

Unfrugal is I stopped at Krogers, bought a whole chicken for the girls, came home and forgot it was in the car trunk all afternoon in the sun.. had to throw it out so I lost $5 today.  I was talking to dh on the cell phone when I pulled in the drive, came in talking to him, doodled around the house and took a nap.

So... sigh!  Had to go to Aldi's for more chicken after dinner, girls got stuck eating our leftover spaghetti for dinner till I could get over there.

Two friends of mine who own businesses also donated to the Cat Caper in goods or gift certificates.  Thank you to Barb and Terri.


Anna