Tuesday, March 2, 2021

Thrifty Tuesday-Sort Of

Note that there are some new blogs, one of them almost brand new. Trying not to remove any, but I have removed a few that were well over a month old for now as well as one from a Covid denier. I'm thinking about making a second, non-retirement blog list on the other side. We'll see.

Some weeks there is more spending than others here at the Frugal Retiree Apartment. This week and last were of  "I spent here and I saved there" types. In general, I tell myself that since I'm not the social butterfly or or the traveler of the former times, I can loosen up. Or I have till recently.

Of course, now that I've gotten vaccine two, I see the possibilities of movement (and the accompanying spending) opening up. More slowly than surely, and later than sooner, but still, it's time to start thinking about those expenses. And of course apartment spending. I brought none of the outdoor furniture down south, and I need one and maybe two club chairs on the patio, plus decor and so on. And spring is here.

So in the future I'll want to make a couple more trade offs and consider if there are any of my clients looking for research work to be done.

On current spending front, however.

1. Foodwise,  there has been no ordering of prepared meals since before the Great Texas Freeze. Not that I won't do so again.  It's been cold enough that the slow cooker soups have kept me happy. I expect to get on that limited bandwagon next week. After I've emptied out the freezer so full that I can't use the ice maker. Buying packages of chops, chicken breasts/tenders/ and steaks and such and dividing them up is helping with the cooking options. That plus alot of ready to go sides.

2. One the creative side, I purchased the previously mentioned fabric collection and am ready to start on my cut and sew improv wall hanging (planning with those matching pencil colors, also purchased not so long ago) On the other hand, I now have said unfinished old quilt under my needles, and a bathroom matching wash cloth ON my needles with previously purchased yarn from my stash, making my use what you already have quotient fairly high. I expect finishes soon.

3. I forgot to cancel the pre-order of the new CJ Box Joe Picket mystery and decided to keep it. I do this about once a month, last month it was a JA Jance book. But the rest of my reading has been library, Kindle Unlimited, or Amazon Prime Reads. I finished everything watchable on Acorn and let that subscription and the one to CBS access die off (The Stand and Clarice were both painful to watch). I'm finishing everything worthwhile on PBS Masterpiece and then will let that go as well. Right now I'm watching Though Shalt Not Kill and bingeing through the four seasons. Let's just say I have yet to run out of things to watch or read.

4. I avoided using any of those $10 off 10 or $25 off $25 coupons I have gotten in the mail, knowing in each case I would end up spending more than the $10 or the $25 and that I would have needed to pay shipping or gotten into my car. I also avoided going to either Christopher and Banks  or the Macy's near me both of which are going out of business. I will need clothes, but warm weather clothes rather than the winter ones on sale, unfortunately.

5. My health insurance has a rewards program for doing things like getting shots, screenings, filling out an online health assessment and other good stuff. I got a gift card worth $100 in the mail to purchase over the counter products online. I'll get a blood pressure monitor if they have one. If not as queen of the dry skin crowd I'll purchase Aquaphor and whatever other options they have and fill in with first aid products. I also got another check reimbursement for my Medicar B for this month.

6. Late this afternoon I'm heading to my daughter's house to take advantage of her very expensive, very new and very large top loaders (so deep I can't reach the bottom) to wash everything including my bedding. I'll probably break down and get takeout on the way home, spending all my paid laundry savings on food. She just accidentally butt dialed me while she was dealing with a patient (I could hear the "one, two, three of the lifting count in the background). Hilarious.

My quilt is calling me....

 

23 comments:

  1. February always teases us with an early spring, then the rain comes and temps drop to the low 40's. I never know if I should start the day in summer duds or start in winter ones.
    I hope you enjoy your clean fresh laundry! It truly is a luxury we don't think of as being one.
    I too, am trying to use what I have here first. Even though I have had both shots I am still being careful about going anywhere.

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    1. I am being cautious but it will give me a small level of comfort

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  2. Sounds like you are back to feeling normal and busy with new and old projects.

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  3. Can't get over how much your insurance rewards program is giving you!

    I've never been much of a coupon user but I'll probably start paying more attention to them once I move and I have a more limited budget.

    So many people I know are or have gotten their vaccines. It's really encouraging to think by summer we can start moving around a little more.

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    1. I usually only get one of these big ones annually cause the health assessment reward is 75. All the other things like mammogram and flu shot are in the range.

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  4. The reopening of your state and the lifting of mask mandates by your Governor is frightening. Seems awfully premature but hoping for the best. Glad you are vaccinated. Hoping everyone is soon.

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    1. I approve of businesses opening. The economy is desperate. Stupid mask rule but it looks like at least in my area business will still require. We shall see. In general Greg abbot us an idiot.

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  5. A thrifty week Barb. I hope you are going to show us a picture of your quilt when done.

    God bless.

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  6. Sometimes staying out of the stores is the most frugal option!

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    1. In theory it's is. Although I do most of my spending online....

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  7. Barb, I interrupted the reading of your post to place a library hold on Dark Sky. I didn't know he had a new one out. Thanks for the tip - however unintentional it may have been!

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    1. Haha. Glad to be of some help! You may want to go to the website Fantastic Fiction which had a coming soon for the next 90 days section and a new book section.

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  8. I have a similar (same as you perhaps, although I am in Canada) health insurance program that rewards healthy behaviours like exercise, dental visits and vaccinations. I even got a discounted Apple Watch out of the deal. Someone at Manulife did the math and realized that rewarding people to stay/get healthy is cheaper than paying out for someone's medications and illness...and I am here for it!

    Deb

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    1. Yes. They also offer webinars and classes in various topics on health.

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  9. Be careful with those deep top-loaders. When my sister-in-law was visiting she was unloading laundry and fell into the tub. She badly hurt her shoulder. My recommendation is to unload small handfuls of wet laundry. I'm only a bit taller than 5 feet (and shrinking with age) which means that I stand on a step stool to unload laundry! All that said, I still love my big tub washer!

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    1. My daughter does it for me when I am at her house, and I won't be getting something that big for myself.

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  10. Staying out of the stores has been a boon to my bank account, but I suspect that won't last forever. I had my annual mammogram this morning and stopped at a nearby dollar store and tomorrow I need to pick up groceries. So that's twice in one week I'll be out.

    Enjoy your projects!

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    1. I have to be careful because of the online ordering thing...

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  11. During the freeze, I began using more paper towels again--unbleached, tear off a hunk kind--and now I've got to retrain myself again. My husband had his second immunization on Saturday. Sunday, he ran a low temp and was shivering but woke good as new on Monday. I hope your experience as just as mild, if you had any reaction at all.

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Thanks for stopping by! I love to hear from others, and I also love to hear all points of view.. Just leave the profanity and insults at home, OK? Thanks!!