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Archive through September 18, 2008

Reality TVClubHouse Discussions: General Discussions ARCHIVES: Jan ~ Apr 2009: Savings for a Purpose Thread (ARCHIVES): Archive through September 18, 2008 users admin

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Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Sunday, August 17, 2008 - 11:47 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
Yep and so impersonal. No matter how hard I try to pick out something for someone it just seems kinda lazy. LOL, the other day I had to ask my sis when youngest nieces bday was. I could not for the life of me remember if she was 10 or 11 months old!

Happymom
Member

01-20-2003

Monday, August 18, 2008 - 12:48 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Happymom a private message Print Post    
War, thanks for the tip about Anna's. I think we'll just wander over there since we have to do all her shopping this week and hopefully find something good and inexpensive.

I always find such excellent deals at Kohl's too. Another great thing about Kohl's is that it isn't the mall! I hate going to the mall. My youngest is now at the age where she can go to the mall with her cell phone fully charged and with friends without me. I mostly hate shopping period.

War, sorry to hear about your bil and other family being out of work. That is really tough. I hope they are working again really soon. So glad for you that Darren is ok, bummer about the OT though. That is tough too. Sorry to hear that. Good for you for sticking with your budget!

My budget is just do without as much as possible and with as little as possible. My husband is worried that the kids are worried about our money. But we are ok and I've told them that. But also we need to teach our kids the reality of money and the economy right now and it is fine to do without. It really frustrates me, his bury head in sand not deal with it type of mentality. He just doesn't want to deal with it and if there is anything extra wants to buy fun stuff...well..extra needs to go to paying bills! We don't need a new tv etc! Sorry for the rant!

Homemade gifts are great! I hope someone bakes Christmas cookies for you War!

Bisc, I am going to steal that calendar idea from you! great idea! Even if our dollar store doesn't have them, I am sure I'll find some somewhere. I have seen calendars really inexpensively at Michael's in the past. I browse around our dollar store at times too. I don't usually find much in the way of gifts. I always come out with something useful though. The problem with our dollar store is that if you don't go in the early morning, there is a big line.

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Monday, August 18, 2008 - 1:46 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
My bil, his brothers, cousins, and most of our friends are in construction. Not the best business in Ca to be in right now. Most of them are union so they can't just take any job (not that there's been any) that comes along either. On the other hand, most are also working for companies that do commercial construction and not residential so that's a good thing. They could be back to work tomorrow...or not. Darren's company has actually been hit by the rising fuel prices. They make airplane paint and stuff, and as airlines cut back on flights, they cut back on their orders. Luckily the company also does other stuff and gets along with what they're doing so layoffs at all are unlikely and with his job and seniority, they'd pretty much have to close the plant down for him to be laid off. But, no need right now for those 12 hour days...hehe, we both griped about them non stop back when he was doing 5-6 of them a week, now we're griping cuz he isn't getting any (2-3 would be great!)

We have to be very careful what we say around the kids about money. Caleb is the type who takes something and turns it into something else (my little worrier.) I once told him I couldn't afford something, not a candy bar, but big expensive something, and next thing I knew he was ready to sell his stuff to help out. Our thing is now trying to let them know we're cutting out a lot fo the extras....but yep, we're still ok.

Good luck at Anna's Happymom! You really can find great deals there.

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Friday, August 22, 2008 - 1:22 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
HAPPYMOM! Did I get your attention?? I just got an email alert that Kohl's is having a denim sale. Not sure if you need to shop for clothes for your daughter, but don't think you can beat this: $12 Denim or $7 for kids. You're limited to 3 pairs and it's only on Saturday.

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Friday, August 22, 2008 - 6:37 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
Kohl's?? That link is to Old Navy. Or is it Old Navy jeans at Kohl's? I am confused...

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Friday, August 22, 2008 - 6:39 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
But what I came in here for is to post this link:

http://www.pumpandsave.com/

I can't find the thread about saving gas/money, so if any mod knows where it is, feel free to slide this post in that thread!

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Friday, August 22, 2008 - 8:38 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
LOL, you're right, Julie...Old Navy. It was late.

Happymom
Member

01-20-2003

Monday, August 25, 2008 - 9:27 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Happymom a private message Print Post    
Oh... I missed it Thanks so much for trying though! I really appreciate it! You were up late! We took my oldest away to college on Friday. and . I refuse to let myself think about how much I miss her, it seeps in at times though. The other two start school on tues. and I'm keeping busy getting things ready for them. I'm taking them to San Fran shopping tomorrow. They've been wanting to go all summer. (They are mostly going to have to buy their own clothes though. They just don't need much.)

We never did make it to Anna's. We ran out of day! We shopped all day the other day, finally making it out of Target (for the second time that day!) as they were closing. The other two are finally going to get their own rooms soon (due to a remodel, not due to their sister going to college) and I am going to take them to Anna's first to see if they want any new bedding...at their expense! They each decided they wanted full size beds that they have to pay for instead of keeping their twin beds. So that is saving us money...them paying for their own new stuff!

While shopping with college daughter, I saved a bunch at Linens and Things. I got a credit card from there and saved 20% on everything! We got her two sets of extra long sheets and a comforter cover and some storage type things there for her dorm room. I didn't really want another credit card, but I will never run up a balance so it is ok.

I did the same thing at Macy's last spring and saved a bunch on a dress for my daughter's 8th grade dance or her 8th grade grad dress. It was already marked way down and she can wear one of them to a wedding this fall. I think she got the other one at Ross...always great prices there.

I heard on the radio today that Safeway is having a big sale on cereal. Some are only $1 per box. I haven't gone there or gone on the website, but if it is still going on...there are savings to be had there for sure! I never buy cereal unless it is on sale anyway. (except for at Costco)

We are saving almost $300 per 6 mos. on car insurance now that my daughter is away at college. She is still insured if she drives but they now have her listed as a part time or occasional driver. Also, we are now insuring our big SUV for fire and theft only and not driving it at all. My husband drives his pick up and I am now driving our little Chevy Malibu that is pretty good on gas. So, we'll actually save even more because the gas guzzler won't be driven. (I do miss the comfort of it though...)

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Monday, August 25, 2008 - 11:20 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
Oh, thanks for the cereal reminder! Vons is doing the same thing and when I was there the other day I forgot to take my coupon (I don't usually shop with coupons but that is a great sale!)

I didn't make the Old Navy sale, not that I really intended too, lol. The kids are pretty set on jeans.

Sounds like you were kept busy getting your daughter ready for college! And yay for saving so much! Wow on the insurance, that is a lot of moving to be saving!

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Thursday, August 28, 2008 - 1:29 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
Besides the cereal (which may be off sale now) Vons is having a sale on Pepsi/Coke products. Buy any 2 12 packs, get 3 free. Came out to be about $2.39 a 12 pack. I never buy sodas unless they're on sale so I don't know the regular price, but I think that's a pretty good price for name brand sodas.

Happymom
Member

01-20-2003

Thursday, September 04, 2008 - 1:02 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Happymom a private message Print Post    
That was a really good price on soda!

I recently read somewhere that a mom has a pastry sealer that she uses to make her own uncrustables (those frozen pb&js). My youngest takes one for lunch every day. My middle daughter takes them sometimes but prefers the pb&honey which are too expensive to buy often. They like them because they don't squish up like a sandwich in a baggie will do. (They both take sack lunches, I guess lunch boxes are too embarrassing.) I went to the Pampered Chef website and for $9 plus shipping, I will have one soon. Even the pb and grape jelly uncrustables at Costco are not exactly inexpensive compared to the price of making your own. Neither of the kids will take reusable plastic containers that would protect a sandwich. So, I'm happy I'm getting this pastry sealer! (I hope someday the feeling "weird because I have a plastic box in my lunch" will pass for them (grades 7 and 9), but it is here now. They are both super particular eaters too. I'll be able to make the uncrustables a bit healthier than the frozen kind. (I will still make them and freeze them though, that is what helps to keep them fresh for lunch.) I honestly think my youngest would rather go hungry by choice than eat something other than her regular lunch...uncrustable, fruit, and tortilla or sunchips. Well...she'd eat other chips but I won't buy them because of the nutrition content &/or price. Sunchips are a bit lower in fat and the costco tortilla chips are less than half the fat of other tortilla chips. They also have a bit of fiber in them too.

I didn't want to waste the money for shipping, so I checked out the outlet section. They were selling some things at very reduced prices! So I got a couple of Christmas gifts taken care of at really good prices! I ordered enough to be just under the next level of shipping price increase. (does that make sense?) Everything was at a great price!

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Thursday, September 04, 2008 - 2:20 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
Oh that's cool Happymom! We make our own hot pockets (just take premade bisquits, roll them out flat, put whatever you want in the middle then fold over and squish the edges with a fork and cook however long the bisquit can tells you to cook the bisquits.) They freeze great, easy to microwave later, you can make them however big you want to and the kids/Darren will take them to lunch and eat them cold.

Yay for Christmas shopping!!!

Happymom
Member

01-20-2003

Saturday, September 06, 2008 - 9:48 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Happymom a private message Print Post    
War, what a great idea for hot pockets! Thanks for sharing! I would never have thought of that! I love hot pockets but they are not inexpensive and even if they are on sale, I try to steer clear of frozen premade food because of the sodium. Now I can control it! What do you put in there that your kids will eat cold?

I love saving money. I was listening to Clark Howard once say that he gets a lot of satisfaction from saving money whereas some people feel deprived. I'm like Clark Howard.

On the news this morning, while talking about the slow economy, they said to start holiday shopping now.

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Saturday, September 06, 2008 - 11:01 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
Wish I could take credit, Happy, but Darren's buddy shared the idea with him (and I think he got it off the bisquit can, lol.)

The kids love pizza hot pockets (they pick their own fixings.) Put a little bit of pizza sauce on the flattened bisquit, then whatever they want: pepporoni, sausage, ham, cheese, etc. Those are good cold. They also like the taco ones: little bit of salsa, seasoned meat, cheese. I've also done the taco ones with refried beans (those aren't as good cold) and done ham and cheese hot pockets (also not good cold.)

That's the thing I like about that recipe, you can do anything that sounds good. And you can make them whatever size you want, if I'm making them for dinner I use a whole bisquit, for lunches or parties I cut the bisquits into halves or quarters (need to watch them in the oven cuz the smaller ones don't take as long to cook.) Talk about stretching a buck...two cans of bisquits and you have dinner for a night and lunches/snacks for at least a week.

I have to wait til the end of the month to think about Christmas shopping, nieces birthday is tomorrow and Kota's next weekend, have to get through those first. Dangit, I was at Costco yesterday and saw something and thought, wow that'd make a great Christmas present! And now I can't remember what it was, lol, good thing I have to go back later this week so I can look.

I'm like you, I love saving, it makes me feel so good. When I first started to get serious about it, I had ideas about what I wanted to do when I reached my goals, but I find myself more and more questioning...how badly do I need this or that???

Happymom
Member

01-20-2003

Thursday, September 11, 2008 - 2:22 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Happymom a private message Print Post    
Thanks War, I am hoping to make biscuit dough this weekend to make the hot pockets! I may try making them with pizza dough too.

My Pampered Chef box just arrived! So I hope to stock up on homemade uncrustables too! I have to actually buy some sliced bread for those, so, I'll have to go to Costco. I haven't been able to bake bread like that yet.

I was at Kohl's last night and saved a bunch! Everything I bought was on sale and I had a 20% of coupon that I get to keep and use again before 9/16 if I want. I got some great deals (mostly 50% off and then the 20% off after that!) and got some Christmas shopping done! Also got a wedding and bridal shower gift.

There was an interesting article in Reader's Digest about a family who agreed to spend no money for one mo. They even turned off their internet. (They did make an exception for milk and fresh fruit though.) They had a terrible plumbing problem and were able to fix it themselves for free. They did it for a month, but I try to live my life that way generally...wish my husband would cooperate with me. We are just so different...

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Thursday, September 11, 2008 - 2:32 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
I read that article too! There's also a group on msn money boards (another article) that did something similar and when it was over a lot of the posters have continued, though not neccessarily spending none if I remember right but as little as possible once the month was over. I would love to try it but I'm not sure I could, lol.

Everytime I say I'm not spending money one of the kids gets sick and costs me $100 in medical and prescription prices or something breaks or someone needs something for school or or or.

I have to do some clothes shopping for the kidlets soon but should have another 4-5 weeks before it becomes really neccessary. It won't get truly cold here til after Halloween. Caleb's good on winter clothes, but Kota's outgrown everything.

Oldtex
Member

03-06-2006

Thursday, September 11, 2008 - 9:01 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Oldtex a private message Print Post    
Haven't mentioned it, but I've been saving for a relaxing vacation for dh & I. And looks like my goal is very near.

Only thing, we want to go to South Padre Island again. We just loved how relaxing and stressfree we both felt there a couple of years ago. But I guess we will now have to wait and see how "Ike" may affect that area. We are not planning on going until right after Thanksgiving, so hopefully if there is any damage, we can enjoy our vacation.

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Thursday, September 11, 2008 - 9:34 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
Congratulations Oldtex!!!! I'm excited that you are near your goal. I hope Ike won't effect your plans and that you'll be able to go when you want to.

Happymom
Member

01-20-2003

Saturday, September 13, 2008 - 9:16 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Happymom a private message Print Post    
Oldtex, that's great!

War, I know what you mean...I feel like I am bleeding money! Gas is going to go up again. My youngest needs clothes too, (and her birthday is soon), and I just spent hundreds of $ on vet bills for one of our cats and our dog. They are ok, it's those lab fees and meds that cost so much.

I look at the grocery store ads that come in the mail every week. I finally realized that I'm not going to get stuff we don't need or won't need soon just because it is a good deal. I don't mind stocking up on some things but I am pretty well stocked up on that stuff for awhile. A good deal is still not free.

My Pampered Chef pastry sealer works great for making uncrustables! They look the same and the one kid who got a homemade one didn't even notice!

I came across something called Value Benefits of America http://www.vbamembers.com/ I don't know a lot about it yet or if it is worth becoming a member. But, they show on that webpage some things available to anyone (so you don't have to be a member to use these)...a Rx discount card and also discounts for labs, and imaging even if you have insurance. So I am going to check it out sometime when I have more time.

I'm also checking into firewood for our woodstove. It always saves us so much money when we don't use our furnace. Luckily we don't need lots of heat in northern CA, but we do need it. I feel bad for burning wood and don't burn on spare the air days, but our money is so tight right now and will be for years that we have to burn wood at least this winter. I hope it is mild enough that the wood we buy will last for next winter too.

Serate
Member

08-21-2001

Wednesday, September 17, 2008 - 1:21 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Serate a private message Print Post    
I saved money - and time - today by eating "lunch" at Sam's Club. Thankfully today wasn't fish and seafood sample day. The past few times we've been there that's what they had. Blech.

My main reason for posting in here today is to "save" this thread from the ax! I might not post in here but I read and get ideas all the time.

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Wednesday, September 17, 2008 - 1:26 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
Hehe, Serate, Darren worked at Costco for a while. During the week just a few hours a night, but full 8 hour shifts on the weekends. I never had to pack him a lunch cuz he'd just go around at lunch break collecting samples. We go shopping on the weekends now and it's the same with the kids, by the time we're done and ready for lunch, they are full.

Happymom
Member

01-20-2003

Wednesday, September 17, 2008 - 6:23 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Happymom a private message Print Post    
what?! oh no, why might it get the ax?

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Wednesday, September 17, 2008 - 6:27 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
No fears Happymom. As far as I know, this thread is safe.

This weekend we're moving the board to a new server, a pretty major undertaking (ok, major to this totally non techy mod,) and to help with the process the mods have been archiving threads that aren't used or haven't been in a while. There's a reason behind it but it's pretty foreign to me.

Serate
Member

08-21-2001

Wednesday, September 17, 2008 - 8:23 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Serate a private message Print Post    
I didn't pay any attention [imagine that!] to the last date posted in here. Just saw it was way down on the list and was afraid it would get chopped.

Happymom
Member

01-20-2003

Thursday, September 18, 2008 - 1:29 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Happymom a private message Print Post    
phew! Thanks War. Good luck to you all with the move, I hope it goes smoothly.

Thanks to you too Serate for planning in advance!