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Friday, March 4, 2011

Confessions of a tightwad

  • This week I purchased a 50lb bag of quick oats because they went on sale for $0.56/lb. My husband thinks I'm crazy, who am I to argue?
  • Completely contrary to my thrifty purchase, I am also looking into the possibility of purchasing one of these. Go ahead, roll your eyes. You know you want to. But really, you don't know how cool they are until one well meaning friend lets you borrow theirs. And then, presto chango, you're hooked.
  • I have spent the past 5 years of my married life purchasing laundry detergent without having a SINGLE CLUE that it was so easy to make. And how cheap! And make it I will. I got a few recipes here (it's the duggar family's website)
  • As of my last count (last week, when they went on sale for $0.99/ea) I have 52 one-pound chubs of lean ground turkey in my deep freezer. One of my dear friend's assures me that in the case of nuclear fall-out, she will be headed to my house for shelter and sustenance.
  • My son, yes, my delightful almost-two-year-old, is STILL NAPPING. There, now I've likely jinxed myself It has been 3 hours.
  • I e-filed our taxes the 3rd of Feb. My refund has not yet arrived. I am grouchy - so grouchy about this that I have in fact changed our witholding status such that we will recieve very little of a refund next year. I am SO SICK of the government holding on to well over $3,000 of our money when we could be earning interest on it throughout the year OURSELVES. Hmph.
  • This week I spent $15.00 at the grocery store on fresh produce alone. I can't help myself. Sometimes, fresh cauliflower, brussles sprouts, broccoli, and peppers call to me in my sleep. If we ever decide to religiously follow a local food movement, I'm hosed, because I'm reasonably sure nobody in Nebraska grows mangos.
  • If we go through yogurt any faster in this house I am going to write a book titled "How to go through a half gallon of yogurt in less than a week". It's outrageous. It rivals our banana complex. At least it's cheap to make, that's what I keep telling myself.
  • Gas prices have doubled here in the last two weeks. Don't I live in the Mid-west? Arent things supposed to be cheaper here? Try 3.59/g. So, I tried to walk to the library with my son a few days ago. Epic fail. please note, you really shouldn't take your toddlers for walks in sub-zero temps. Without gloves. Enough said.
Naturally, my prediction was correct, and my toddler is awake.
Cheerio. (or, if you're me, oatmeal)

6 comments:

Neil said...

One of the funnest ways to make soap flakes is to microwave ivory soap - I don't know if that will help you in your quest to make soap - but let me know if it does!

Learning to Parent said...

WOW if that soap is as cheap as they say it is...640 loads for approximately $2? Really? I am kind of confused about the recipe for the liquid soap one. You'll have to let me know if you try it out. :)

Chelsie Hardy said...

Your posts make me lol! Have you made your own laundry soap, yet? I did recently and it works and is cheap! Yay for all your cheapness- I like it. :)

Julie said...

Let me know how the laundry detergent goes! We buy so much fresh fruit. We need to buy fresh veggies sometimes. Yay for walking, Maybe one day I'll take the jogging stroller down to MW, that's only a few miles, right?

Brian said...

Gas prices doubled? Where in the heck where you getting gas for $1.80/gal? I agree though, the price skyrocketed from $3.19 to $3.54 in two weeks!

The interest that you could expect on that $3,000 refund is likely no more than $30 at current rates, and that's if you were able to deposit all $3,000 at the beginning of the year. Of course that's not how it works, you would deposit small amounts over time up to the $3,000 by the end of the year. At most you're probably looking at $20 in interest? The real deal behind refunds is more of a cash-flow thing - who wouldn't like an extra $200+ per month to slip into the ol' budget instead of having to wait all year?

Chelsie Hardy said...

ah, forgot to mention that I make powdered detergent. Easier than the liquid-don't the Duggar's use liquid?- and takes up less space.