Frugal Friday-With Some Seriously Unfrugal Additions!

The dog is sitting in the chair opposite me (the one near the window), and whimpering and moaning and making all kinds of sounds in his sleep while his foot jerks. I can only assume that whatever rabbit or squirrel or duck he is chasing in his dream, he's enjoying the chase whether he catches anything or not. Or maybe he's dreaming about food inadvertently left in his reach, who knows!

So,  in the interests of honesty and forthrightness ...........let's face the unfrugal first, shall we?. I did a stupid thing. A very stupid thing. I authorized a payment for a large amount for now instead of the tenth when it was due (and when I get paid). Which meant that no matter how quick I was at transferring money, no doubt about it I was going to have some charges-quite a few charge actually. Lesson learned on the scheduling ahead stuff perhaps? This was not one of those things I can automate a withdrawal for. 

Fortunately the second less than frugal error was at least a conscious decision, and one that involved a much smaller amount. While doing my mall walking yesterday, I purchased a pair of new Skechers at the full price-no discounts and no deals. Not a need in capital letters as such, but a cooler weather pair of shoes or so were due to me, since the old ones were dead. They have the stretchable ties (the only kind I can wear), and while they are not comfortable for hours on end, my heavier socks fit in them and they are comfortable for walking and stable in the slush for some time.

Those admissions aside, on to the frugal stuff and money spent:

1.  Today I am getting ready to cook two small (two and a quarter pound each) boneless pork loins that I  purchased at mark down and froze (see them thawing in water). I could have cooked just one, but I think I am going to slice both and after cook and then freeze the sliced meat in the leftover cooking material (I'm thinking brown sugar or maple and mustard with rosemary but haven't gotten there yet). 

2.   The consignment and thrift market has moved online with a vengeance. In contrast to the above purchase, I ordered these $168 dollar gently used SAS shoes for 17 bucks and basically free shipping. Yes, I occasionally buy used shoes. I sit them in the sun and spray them and have never have an issue and I have sensitive skin. I can only do this with SAS shoes, because they all fit the same once they have measured your feet. 

3.  I spent some time hanging up all my sweaters and tops in my closet to see what I actually had, knowledge being power and all that. I also reclaimed some of the things that I had been willing to let go that fit me and I enjoyed even if they were not my perfect color. While I am going to write a long missive and put it as a page above, I've decided that getting rid of comfortable, presentable things to fit a "wardrobe guideline" or whatever is silly and I will do that, if ever, through attrition. 

4. I downloaded my free Amazon first read for the month of November, and I'll review the author once I've read the book. 

5. In an effort to waste nothing and make do with the Christmas fabric I have, which is not actually an enormous amount, I've moved from the ornaments to making patchwork candle mats or large mug rugs/coasters for the gals in my knitting group and my meetup group. I'm determined to both be budget wise, and give everyone something they can actually use and appreciate during the holidays.

6. I did not order the previously mentioned meat bundle. Not that I won't at sometime in the future, but I would rather check out the individual items they make one at a time before I commit to a big bundle. I plan on trying their meatloaf mix and the chicken cordon bleu in the next ten days.

7.  I got both my pneumonia booster and my flu shot. Frugal because........illness. And then attendant doctor visits, specialty foods and just plain miserable-ness.

8.  At my meetup group, I am spending the month of November passing around the can so to speak-donations are voluntary but the meetup costs $23 dollars a month and so I ask for donations twice a year. I don't want to charge a membership free but cannot pay the freight alone so this subsidizes the social activity.

9. I cut down my Christmas list to a reasonable amount, both in terms of effort and gifting and made serious limits on both and the schedule as well for the next two months. Both offspring now make more than I do (although both have student debt in painful amounts) and I helped with the wedding and am returning to see my daughter graduate from grad school. Moderation and creativity are my theme this year, starting with working on those liqueur gifts (and sharing recipes) that I talked about earlier.

10. I kept mainly to my first of the month spending plan (see below), knowing that I will have some alternate week meat buying and such.

And now it's time to stop eating the filberts and Brazil nuts from the mixed nut jar, feed the canines and decide on that pork recipe.

What I spent this week:

$ 138 Grocery spending without meat (includes personal and paper and most food for two weeks).

$100 on clothing for two heavy sweaters and a pair of super comfortable shoes PLUS an extra $50 for a second pair of shoes that was not in the original plans

$8 on a single prescription-I planned on $24  but the others still have a month of their 90 days left.

$ 45 on filling the tank spending

$ 20 Haircut

$ 100 pulled for entertainment, out of which 35 was spent this weekend.

There was no $100 meat order, instead we will use up what we have and will experiment with one or two of the butcher's meals, and the $40 for my copay for urgent care will be paid on the 12th. Because of my error I will also put the Amazon order off to the 12th and by then may have some Christmas gifts or supplies to add.

Next weeks spending should only include a happy hour (I have a movie card for the movie to see the Terminator) and possibly some meat and fruit.