In my own backyard

When I worked at the motel, I found it ironic that many of the guests were vacationing here and seeing the sites. I think of vacationing as going to New York City or Wyoming or someplace facinating or unusual.

I guess it is all a matter of perspective.

Anyway, this past weekend Mom, the roommate and I did the tourist thing and visited one of the state historic sites -- Montauk.

If you are ever in northeast Iowa, I definitely recommend this attraction. It has beautiful grounds, a great tour, and nice walking trails (although we didn't have the shoes to walk them this time).

And here is the best part: it is FREE!

A little taste . . .

Front Door

Parlor/Main Living Area

Library

Reader catch up

I just caught up on my reader feeds and thought I would share a few . . . a couple videos, a couple money-saving tips, and a little brain tease:

1.) This is very interesting -- especially since there are about 1,581,571,589 internet users worldwide today . . .

2.) A little bit of fun . . .

Bubblicious from Rex The Dog on Vimeo.

3.) Frugal relationship ideas -- money not emotions!

4.) Very useful financial checklist

5.) How observant are you? (I hate to say it but didn't do very well on this one!)

Garage Sale Results

The rain ended Friday evening so it was dry for Saturday's sale. It was a little cooler though.

I think the garage sale was a success. We only had three boxes for goodwill. And everyone made a little spending money.

Plus, my garage is clean and most of the boxes are out of my living and dining room!!

Garage Sale Day 1

4 pm - 7 pm



5:30 - 7 pm RAINING

:-(


Tomorrow the weather is going to be better. I just know I am going to sell out by noon!

I hope . . . :-)

What a deal

This past weekend I went up to the Cities to visit a friend from college. When we were discussing possible weekends for the visit she agreed to this past one with the condition that I be willing to attend some rummage sales with her.

I agreed, of course!

One of the best deals of the weekend:


It still had the store tag on it:


I bought it for $2.00! 94% off!

A deal and a question

My deal of the day:

I'm a purse fiend. I have stopped buying purses just because I like them because it is just no practical. But I am very picky about purses. I have been looking for a new one for a month or so.

I found one today at Goodwill for $1.25!

---

I have been listening to the audiobook The Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. One of the major themes of the story is time travel. It has got me wondering:

If you traveled in time, would you rather travel into the future or into the past and why?

Organizing

Over the years, I have accumulated a lot of junk. There are boxes here that I don't think I even opened when I moved in (4 years ago?) .

Blah.

I am planning on having a garage sale in a month or so to get rid of some of this junk. (By junk I mean stuff I have that I never look at, use, or think about.) Anything that isn't sold is going to GoodWill or the garbage.

Frugality

I'm starting to really enjoy this frugal life of mine.

It is almost a game . . . finding the best deal, talking myself out of buying something I really don't need, clipping coupons, etc.

I think the most difficult thing is getting rid of the stuff I already have but do not need or use. One of the major reasons I don't like to clean is all the stuff I have to clean, clean around, or put away.

As I continue to become a more frugal person one of my goals is to get rid of (and not replace) some of the stuff in my life.

So I have decided . . . just today as a matter of fact . . . that my focus this month is to get rid of stuff. My goal is to spend at least a half an hour going through the piles of things I keep telling myself I am going to NEED someday.

I am going to re-evaluate these NEEDS. My stuff is either going to go into the Garage Sale Pile (btw - did I mention I am having a garage sale this spring?), the Good Will Pile, the Garbage Pile, Gift Pile (re-gifting is a beautiful thing), or the Keep Pile. Hopefully, the Keep Pile will be very, very small.

Book-aholic

I was reminded today that I have an addiction to books. When I read this post, I thought "that's me." I have a compulsion to buy books when I step into bookstores. I have stacks of books I haven't read yet -- I'm waiting for a rainy day, of course -- and books I just can't wait to read that I just have to buy.

But I am trying to change my ways.

I have been 'weeding' my book collection. I am trying to even exchange my books. If I buy or receive one I try to sell or give on away. In fact, just this morning I was looking at my bookshelf thinking I needed to pull some of my books.

I have also been using Bookins to swap my books. This is a much cheaper alternative to purchasing books -- even though I may have to wait a few months longer.

And of course I use the library. I do have easy access! :-)

One thing I will have to finish this year is the commitment I have to purchase books from the book club I joined. I only have one book yet to purchase on that commitment and then I will discontinue the membership.

I do know that I have spent a whole lot less this year on books than I did last year.

60 percent less. Not too bad I'm thinking. And next year maybe 60 percent less than this year?

I could make that my New Year's Resolution!

Penny pinching

I'm always on the lookout for ways to save some money. I really enjoy The Simple Dollar blog -- there is some great advice and super ideas!

Today's post was especially interesting, I thought.

"For the last few months, my wife and I have been doing something every other weekend or so that we call a “money free” weekend, in an effort to live more frugally. It’s actually quite fun - here’s how we do it.

We are not allowed to spend any money on anything, no matter what. In other words, we can’t make a run to the store to buy food, we can’t spend money on any sort of entertainment, and so on. Since we often do our grocery shopping on Saturdays, on a “money free” weekend, we delay it to Monday or Tuesday.

We can use our utilities, but no extra expenses on these utilities. No renting movies on cable, no text messages that aren’t already covered by our cell phone plan, and so on."

Interesting concept, no? I think it would be harder in a family environment rather than my single life. Then again it would probably be more money-saving too. I'm trying to think if I have done this -- it is entirely possible but I can't think of weekend I didn't pick up some milk, or fill up my tank, or some other errand.

I have really cut back on my entertainment spending. There were two expenditures that kept popping up.

1. I was spending too much on eating out -- picking up a quick meal. I plan a little bit better and use the foodstuff in my pantry. Imagine that! :-)
2. I was spending too much on books. This was really hard to give up. But I have. I buy maybe three or four books a year compared with 2-3 books a month. I am using my library and being patient and not buying books as soon as they are published.

I know I still have a ways to go but I think I have a solid start.

Laundry anyone?

Tonight I mixed up some laundry detergent using the recipe from this site.

My friend tried this out (actually she recommended the site), telling me it was simple and worked very well. She was right! It is so simple to do.

My initial investment for all the supplies: $14. One batch washes 48 loads of laundry. I have enough supplies for 12 + batches. That's some great savings.

I have to leave the mixture set overnight. Tomorrow it should be a gelatinous pail of goo.

I can't wait to try it out on my laundry!

5 things that made my day

1. Spending the day with my mom!

2. Having fish and scallops at Red Lobster!

3. Coffee chiller!


4. Spending an hour in Barnes & Noble!

5. Not spending any more than I budgeted!

The loot

Shopping list

With my new thrifty lifestyle, I have to rethink how I go shopping.

My mom and I are going shopping tomorrow and I am sitting here trying to make a list of things I need. Then prioritizing those items by how much I need them.

We will probably go to Sam's. Although this is a great store because of the bulk savings, it is easy to talk yourself into buying much more than you need. So you end up spending more anyway!

I am planning out exactly how much I can spend and I AM going to stick to it!

Another good thing about going shopping tomorrow . . . it will get me away from the internet. I have been gorging myself on it. I have gotten caught up on all the sites that I have missed since my service was suspended.

Next week I am planning on regulating my usage better.

One good thing . . . I have "talked" to the sister a lot this week! (Maybe not so good for her!) :-)

50 cents off (Redux)

Ah, the satisfaction of using coupons. I saved $3.50 on my grocery bill today! Yea! It wasn't painful at all. I even remembered to bring them with me!

My next goal is to save $5.00 on my grocery bill. Stay tuned for the results!

50 cents off

Coupons are a girl's best friend. My new goal is to use them more. Save some dough.

Since I don't subscribe to the Sunday paper, my mom is sharing the coupons she doesn't use. I got my first batch today. However, because I am not yet practiced in the art of coupon shopping, I failed to bring them with me when I went grocery shopping. I know, I know, I'm an idiot! But I have to give myself a little break . . . I mean it's my first day!

I am kicking myself because there were a couple coupons that I could have used. Next time.

Now, back to my clipping!