January 14 - 20
This week has been about getting myself in the right mindset. It was about reflecting on my goals and making decisions accordingly. It was about beginning to look a little harder, a little deeper to see what else I can do. It is about beginning to look at habits and contemplating developing new ones in an effort to get some traction as I progress on the road to financial fitness.
This week has been about getting myself in the right mindset. It was about reflecting on my goals and making decisions accordingly. It was about beginning to look a little harder, a little deeper to see what else I can do. It is about beginning to look at habits and contemplating developing new ones in an effort to get some traction as I progress on the road to financial fitness.
Monday:
-I used a coupon to get a free (still have to pay shipping) calendar. I made a calendar as a 2018 Christmas gift and only spent $7.56.
-I had $30 in Kohl's cash and $5 Yes2You Rewards that needed to be used so I shopped the Christmas/Winter clearance and purchased several Christmas gifts for 2018. I even got free shipping.
-I submitted by Swago board on Swagbucks. Last week I worked hard to get something really going in regards to swagbucks and the swago board was my incentive. Just working to get that board turned in, and the respective bonus points, I earned 272 points. Additionally, I earned 35 points this week. An additional bonus in regards to swagbucks this week is that my account was credited with a shop and earn points from some Christmas purchases that I made. Those bonus points are in the amount of 1,110. Altogether, I am getting close to another Amazon gift card.
-I submitted by Swago board on Swagbucks. Last week I worked hard to get something really going in regards to swagbucks and the swago board was my incentive. Just working to get that board turned in, and the respective bonus points, I earned 272 points. Additionally, I earned 35 points this week. An additional bonus in regards to swagbucks this week is that my account was credited with a shop and earn points from some Christmas purchases that I made. Those bonus points are in the amount of 1,110. Altogether, I am getting close to another Amazon gift card.
-I am definitely getting the crud so I tried to nurture myself with immune boosting goodies. I had three cans of chicken noodle soup in the pantry. Normally I would make homemade soup but I didn't have the energy and I needed to use these cans that have languished in the pantry for quite a bit. These cans were given to me when working at a food pantry as they were damaged but they worked just fine for me today. I also have been downing garlic and generic EmergenC that I purchased on a deep discount a while back.
-Knowing that my energy could be low for the days to come and, in fact, could get even lower, I summoned some energy to put a french toast casserole in the fridge. I typically use a sourdough bread, which I did this time but I also added some rolls that were on the verge of going bad. I also made some blueberry scones.
-Meals today were a hodge podge and, although we often eat at varied times, very staggered. Maceo had oatmeal while I began my day with chicken noodle soup, crackers, bread and butter pickles and hot tea. I treated Maceo to a purchased smoothie and I continued to eat the chicken noodle soup and crackers. Herb had a breaded chicken patty with cranberry chutney that was leftover from Christmas.
I made grilled cheese sandwiches using the abundance of cheese that we have and the last avocado for the boys. I had one mini one with my chicken noodle soup. Herb and Bishop ate an impromptu lo mein using noodles that have been in the drawer forever and leftover ham and such. After rehearsal the boys snacked on chips and queso and I snacked on some of the mini scones that I baked.
I spent approximately $10 on Panera bread and a smoothie and under $5 on queso and a gallon of water.
Tuesday:
I am still under the weather today and our internet is out. Herb spent the morning trying to get our internet up and running but to no avail. They will come out on Friday to fix it and they credited our account for a full week of service. In the meantime, I stayed on the couch, under the covers, reading a book for most of the day. The book was from the library (free and read in time to return with no late fees). The food I prepared yesterday came in handy today. I put the french toast casserole in the oven for breakfast and added some potatoes to the oven to put alongside some leftovers for dinner. I did go down the block to Panera for a smidge of time to access the internet and figure out science group lessons and I had to get out to get Maceo to rehearsal. Maceo was hungry after returning from rehearsal so I whipped up some pizza crazy crusts and the boys topped and baked their own pizzas. I snacked on some pepperonis topped with sauce and the leftover kale chips. (Pizza crazy crust is a simple flour, milk, egg based crust that cooks up crazy quick and is crazy floppy while being crazy good). As a whole it has been a low key, no spend day.
Wednesday:
Every commitment, with the exception of Maceo's rehearsal, were cancelled due to weather or to me being under the weather. So it was another low key day. Maceo's girlfriend came over to play games. They found a can of cinnamon rolls that didn't get baked at Christmas time that they baked up to munch on while playing games. I had some of the scones that I baked the other day. For lunch I had some leftover pasta and meat sauce. I think I will put that meat sauce in the freezer to make a lasagna out of. It is very hearty and will be perfect for a lasagna. Herb made slouvaki and greek salad for dinner. He did go to the store to get lettuce and eggs.
Thursday:
The day came and went with not much activity at all. I am still recovering from the crud and slept in tremendously late. I took Maceo to his chiropractor appointment. His chiropractor has a really cool set up. He has a membership to the chiropractor that covers one adjustment per month and discounted chiropractic, acupuncture and massage. They also have really fabulous massage chairs and snacks. We both took advantage of the chairs and the snacks. Herb made a really fabulous chicken curry with what we had on hand. When the chicken was almost depleted Bishop stretched it by adding potatoes. For dinner I made breakfast burritos including shredded fried potatoes that used the leftover baked potatoes. So satisfying.
Friday:
Maceo's show opens this evening and he needs a new pair of black pants for the show. He and I went to Kohl's and purchased him those pants. While there I found a cardigan and button up shirt on clearance that I picked up to stash in my gift bin for next year's Christmas. I had a 20% off coupon that I used as well. Herb made a humongous pot of white bean soup. He allowed me to use half of it to make a different sort of white bean soup by adding some stewed tomatoes and the remainder of kale that was sitting in the fridge. Both soups were very good. There are leftovers to be consumed and some of it will have to go into the freezer. I joined my sister at Panera while she at her dinner and I didn't buy a thing. I was given a free tea by the manager and enjoyed the conversation. My most favorite frugal moment of the week, however, was attending a Shakespeare production for free at our art museum. An additional perk (ok, big time perk!) was that Maceo is in the production, he is Aaron in Titus Andronicus, and he was fantastic!
Saturday:
Herb bought sausage and biscuits for breakfast but he used his allowance for it instead of using our regular account. For lunch we had leftovers and, as a special treat, for dinner I got a pizza from Papa Murphy's for free. I had a filled up punch card just waiting for some special moment and this was it!
52 Week Challenge: As I deposited already for all four weeks of January, the balance remains $47.
Learning Jar O' Change: The previous balance was $64.14. To that I add $1.66, consisting largely of pennies found in the Jeep. My new balance is $ 65.80.
Wednesday:
Every commitment, with the exception of Maceo's rehearsal, were cancelled due to weather or to me being under the weather. So it was another low key day. Maceo's girlfriend came over to play games. They found a can of cinnamon rolls that didn't get baked at Christmas time that they baked up to munch on while playing games. I had some of the scones that I baked the other day. For lunch I had some leftover pasta and meat sauce. I think I will put that meat sauce in the freezer to make a lasagna out of. It is very hearty and will be perfect for a lasagna. Herb made slouvaki and greek salad for dinner. He did go to the store to get lettuce and eggs.
Thursday:
The day came and went with not much activity at all. I am still recovering from the crud and slept in tremendously late. I took Maceo to his chiropractor appointment. His chiropractor has a really cool set up. He has a membership to the chiropractor that covers one adjustment per month and discounted chiropractic, acupuncture and massage. They also have really fabulous massage chairs and snacks. We both took advantage of the chairs and the snacks. Herb made a really fabulous chicken curry with what we had on hand. When the chicken was almost depleted Bishop stretched it by adding potatoes. For dinner I made breakfast burritos including shredded fried potatoes that used the leftover baked potatoes. So satisfying.
Friday:
Maceo's show opens this evening and he needs a new pair of black pants for the show. He and I went to Kohl's and purchased him those pants. While there I found a cardigan and button up shirt on clearance that I picked up to stash in my gift bin for next year's Christmas. I had a 20% off coupon that I used as well. Herb made a humongous pot of white bean soup. He allowed me to use half of it to make a different sort of white bean soup by adding some stewed tomatoes and the remainder of kale that was sitting in the fridge. Both soups were very good. There are leftovers to be consumed and some of it will have to go into the freezer. I joined my sister at Panera while she at her dinner and I didn't buy a thing. I was given a free tea by the manager and enjoyed the conversation. My most favorite frugal moment of the week, however, was attending a Shakespeare production for free at our art museum. An additional perk (ok, big time perk!) was that Maceo is in the production, he is Aaron in Titus Andronicus, and he was fantastic!
Saturday:
Herb bought sausage and biscuits for breakfast but he used his allowance for it instead of using our regular account. For lunch we had leftovers and, as a special treat, for dinner I got a pizza from Papa Murphy's for free. I had a filled up punch card just waiting for some special moment and this was it!
52 Week Challenge: As I deposited already for all four weeks of January, the balance remains $47.
Learning Jar O' Change: The previous balance was $64.14. To that I add $1.66, consisting largely of pennies found in the Jeep. My new balance is $ 65.80.
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