I just checked my kwh for today only used 38 yesterday - just last week we were averaging 62!! So a savings of 29!!

Here's a few tips I have done recently:

~I have unplugged everything except major appliances
~flipped the breaker for the dryer and bought a bigger drying rack - now I have 2 and can do most laundry with those and the outside line
~wash only in cold, 1 time a week I wash whites in warm
~I still use the dishwasher - it would save another 6 to 8 kwh but I HATE to see dishes on the counter and I don't always have time to dry them - thanks to flylady and that shiney sink. LOL
~reset my hot water heater timer - which I had unset for awhile
~when baking do several items at one time
~Will be putting black out lining on the french doors soon, gonna do it yesterday and forgot..............
~I even unplug the computer and modem at night before going to bed

It will be a no spend day here. Day 11 so far
I just found out we will be aunt/uncles to a new little boy in about 6 weeks time. We actually have never met dh's sister (longgggggg story) but talk to her on the phone and through letters. I guess that trip to Ct. that we have been wanting to plan will definitely happen sometime this year. Gotta see the new bundle!!

I made this little chart to keep track of my kwh- but I love it. Yesterday dh was sanding something for his restoration project - with an electric sander - and I was like can't you hand sand it. Ok maybe I am taking it just a little tooooooo far!! LOL He was like yeah - but it would take me a year - this way will take me a few hours - ok for the peace of my marriage - he can have those kwh.

Dinner will be from the freezer, laundry washed in cold with 1/8 cup of laundry soap and hung on the racks as it's gonna rain.

Need to call the insurance company today and get a quote on 2 different cars we are interested in. Dh is so funny - he was like - I want the one with the lower car insurance. He's coming around!

No spending today - so we now have 10 no spend days for the month of Feb. Sure not doing as well in Feb as I did in Jan. Oh well.

Today I will drag the sewing machine out and sew up 2 small holes in my favorite blanket. It's a comforter I got in 1987 for $1 - but I LOVE it!!! I don't want to get rid of it, even though most of the insides have come out throughout the years. It's been sewn soooooo many times! LOL I am just not ready to give my blankie up.

I washed and hung up a load on the racks before I went to bed - they are dry so I folded those and have washed 2 loads and one load to go. Those will all go on the line in a few minutes.

Dinner will be from the pantry/freezer.

I made this spreadsheet last night for the last medical bill - actually it's an updated version to keep me motivated!

I flipped the breaker for the dryer, since I won't be using it. Having reset the water heater timer has lowered the kwh daily. I unplug everything that is not in use - I have even started unplugging the computer at night. All lights are off, when not needed. I will be hanging the blackout lining over the french doors today - as it got 83 degrees in the house yesterday!! If it got over 80 before I would flip the a/c on - but I didn't. I want to this to be the first year the a/c doesn't get flipped on in Feb - in 10 years!! Actually I want to stretch it out as long as possible this year.

Will be making up homemade furniture polish and dusting later.

Need to make up some homemade snacks also.

Well I wished there was a magic pill, but honestly most people would find themselves right back in debt, if it were that easy.

It take good old fashion planning and hard work.

We have cut everything that we could from our budget, any extra $ get's sent to our medical bill. We started out with $14000 in medical bills (very bad insurance at the time). That was 2 1/2 years ago. We are down to 1659.xx . WOOHOO!! Yes it's hard work, but it will be great to be debt free except the mortgage. We have saved cash on top of paying this off and will use it and part of our tax refund to get a new to us car, hopefully soon!

It's not easy, and sure there are plenty of days that we felt like, well everyone else is in debt, we'll just be that way too. Now that we know this can be done on our income and family size. We will continue to make those *payments* just not to the medical bills - it will go toward the home mortgage. I can't wait to shout we're totally debt free.

Trust me - you will become debt free. I guess it depends on how fast you want to and what sacrafices are you willing to make to have that dream become a reality.

Today I have to take dson to the dentist for a cleaning. No copay on that.

I have a terrible cold and need to get some daytime meds - as I have an over abundance of the night time stuff - but really need to stay awake today. So that will be a little $$.

Spent 5.05 at Walgreens.

I need to run by the bank and deposit $75 that came in the mail yesterday.

Frugal today:
NOTHING LOL - just going to rest!! Seriously I will track the kwh as our billing cycle ends in a few days. Arrange for a couple of bills to be paid through bill pay with our bank - saving stamps.
Keeping everything uplugged or off when not in use. Washing in cold water. Dinner from the pantry/freezer.
Need to do a little more internet window shopping - we are looking for a new car to us. I think we found one, and will go look at it on Friday, I think.

Made a list of what to do with our tax refund when it get's here. Dh is finally coming around totally about being debt free. We have a car fund we have been sticking $$ in and figure we will use part of our tax refund as we don't finance cars - if we can't pay cash we don't want them. Well the rest of tax refund he was telling me a couple weeks ago what he wanted to buy for his 66 mustang restoration project - I was like NO!! But didn't say anything. WELL.............. yesterday he asked if we could pay the escrow off on the mortgage or if we should pay the last medical bill off first with the leftover $$. I about fainted!! We will be running some numbers tonight to see which would be best (right now thinking the escrow- because we could add that to the medical bill and it would be more $$ monthly to pay that off. ) Anyways I asked about the mustang (stupid girl! LOL:howl He said he wanted to be debt free (except the mortgage) before he worked on it anymore. WOW!! Not sure WHO has jumped in my dh's body - but lets get this done - before the real dh comes back.

It's a beautiful day here in florida today! Today will be a spending day. The older 2 boys and I went out to breakfast as we had to travel an hour and half one way this morning for a dr appt. That was 8.46 - not bad considering I fed myself and a 16, 17 year old boys.

Dh and the boys took a load of stuff to the dump. Then dh is coming home and he and I are going out to lunch. That will probably be under $10 as we are going to an all you can eat pizza place for 3.99 each (includes drink too!)

~Dinner is from the freezer/pantry.
~Laundry is washing in cold water, with 1/8 cup of laundry soap.
~Sent homemade brownies in to school with 2 younger boys, instead of getting something premade and sending it in.
~lunch packed from home for 3 out of 4 kids.

That's all the frugal stuff I am doing today as I am realllllllly tired today.

KWH's are down this month!!I have 3 more days in my billing cycle - and today my reading was 1588 - with the average of what we are using it will 1762 probably or lower by the end of our billing cycle. Our reading last month was 2251!! Saving almost 500 kwh!!!! A savings of $40!!!!!!
Little things really add up!

I am half way to my goal of no spend days today! 9/18 WOOHOO!!!

No $$ being spent today as I don't count our tithe. We won't be spending any other money today.

I love days where no spending dollars leave our pocket. The more I can save- the more that I can save or put on the medical bill!!

I got the receipt for the next to last medical bill I just paid a couple days ago - it's great to have another one paid!!!!!!
Now working on the last one, and want it gone NOW!! Then I can start working full time on the mortgage.

WOW my 2nd oldest is 16 today!

I already had his gift so today will be a no spend day for me. Day 8 for this month. Not bad!!!!

WOOHOO! I went to this garage sale a couple blocks from my home this morning. It was for a pregnancy crisis center all the kids clothes 25 cents each. Also got a brand new toddler car seat still in the box for 2.00!! And a brand new pair of shoes for Easter (for youngest dd) I spent 5.50 total!!

I get there and they tell me our insurance has been terminated - NOT! Well they finally got through to blue cross and they told them we were covered - 45 minutes later we go into the room - 45 minutes after that we see the dr. It's hives and no reason for it except maybe the school lunch??? That's the only thing that was different - I let ds eat at school on Wed. But he didn't have school lunch today- so I don't know why it would be worse today. I have been giving dson benadryl but it was liquid - dr. gave me a HUGE bag of benadryl chewable tablets. WOOHOO!! As I was almost out of the liquid. No $$ spent at the dr or for meds.
I will be packing dson's lunch from now on............

But dson stayed home from school today - he broke out into hives on his cheek at school yesterday. He seemed fine this morning but I kept him home as a precaution - well he has hives covering his back now. I called the dr. and they will see us this afternoon - there isn't a copay as long as we use our dr. But if he prescribes anything other than benadryl then I will have to pay for it. Glad it's on a spending day. LOL

Also paid off a small medical bill!! YES!! but it's paid in full now!! I have been paying $25 a month forever LOL I only owed 45.51 so I paid if off today!!! WOOHOO- Now more money for the last medical bill.

I spent 169.59 at the grocery store today. Not too bad, considering I really needed to stock up a few things.

Total is 199.xx for the month - goal was 450.00

Ok I finally got around to resetting this thing. I have already seen a drop in my kwh since yesterday. WOOHOO!!

Been hanging laundry out too, I think I am only saving about 10 kwh a day on that - but the big picture is saving $24 a month!! I will need to redirect that so it's not eaten up by something else.

Today will be another no spend day here.
Also need to make out a grocery list/menu so I can shop tomorrow.
I need to work on the budget for tomorrow also.
Will work on cleaning out the linen closet if I get in a decluttering mood.

_______________
~Tammy~
No spend days: 30/6 first # is total for the year/total for this month
Groceries:~$29.82~goal:$450
Saving Pennies for Christmas '05

There is a freecycle group in the next county that I joined. I love it. I have given away a ton of stuff the last couple of days. It's been great!
I also signed up to organize one in our area - so I am in the process of doing that right now.

Orgnization is DEFINITELY the key to frugality and saving $$ for me!

Our kwh's are still down. I am using the solar dryer (clothesline or drying racks), unplugged the big freezer right now, washed only in cold water. Went back to using the dishwasher - I know I could save more - but I hate looking at dishes on the counter and I don't always have time to dry and put them away right then.

Also no heat or a/c going. I will continue with these and try to find a few more electricty leaks.

Today I spent 11.28 at the grocery store and 4.26 for breakfast for dh and I. Total of 15.54. Probably will need to put some gas in my truck- but I won't fill it until Thursday.
__________________
~Tammy~
No spend days: 29/5 first # is total for the year/total for this month
Groceries:~$29.82~goal:$450
Saving Pennies for Christmas '05

Well our computer has been acting up lately. Wasn't running right, ran the virus scan and it didn't work. So I decided to reformat the whole thing - now when you do this - you lose everything in the computer. Sooooooooo I wrote down all the favorites and then any pics I wanted to save I saved to disks.

Then I took it apart (yep you read that right) on the side I took the panel off and hand vacuumed it out and dusted it. Then I hooked it back and reformatted it.

It is like a new computer now. I really want a new computer but really don't see it in the cards right now. But I really love my computer and now it's as good as new.

Saving some $$ and I can still be online.

Well today I had to get up super early to take dson to work. He could of taken the car on mondays but my truck is needing some work - so we didn't want him having the only other vehicle.

Today I am cleaning and decluttering the linen closet and the boys' closet - again

No money will be spent today. So that will make 5 days in Feb so far.

Today some $ will be spent, not alot but some. Dh wants some snacks for the game tonight. I will look through the ads and see what I can get. I don't want to spend more than $10 on snacks. *MIGHT* order pizza tonight - not sure yet - If we do that will be $20.
Giving at church today also.
Have a great day!
______________________
Tammy~
No spend days: 28/4 first # is total for the year/total for this month
Groceries:~$18.54~goal:$450
Saving Pennies for Christmas '05

Yesterday I wasn't able to get online, but it was a no spend day!
Just cleaned up around here and did some laundry.

________________________
Tammy~
No spend days: 28/4 first # is total for the year/total for this month
Groceries:~$18.54~goal:$450
Saving Pennies for Christmas '05

Well I spent some money today. I got 18.54 in groceries. Then I spent 4.20 for valentines stuff for the kids' class parties next week. Got each boy a package of valentine cards and a huge bag of tootsie roll pops (80 in there) enough for both classes and some left over.

On the way home, I went by a garage sale - I haven't been going because we don't need anything really...... Well I saw this really cool office chair high back, figuring he probably wanted at least $20 for it I went home. But then I went back down there,(because I really needed a new chair) right down the block from us and he only wanted $5 and he throw in an item from his $ table - I got a huge snowman cookie jar. (I collect snowmen) Both items for $5 and this chair is soooooooooo nice!!

So my total today:27.75
__________________

No spend days: 27/3 first # is total for the year/total for this month
Groceries:~$18.54~goal:$450
Saving Pennies for Christmas '05

Taxes are done!! WOOHOO!!! Finally they are done! Now just to wait for confirmation from the irs.

If you haven't done your taxes yet, go to irs.gov and click on file for free.

I went through h&R block who I went through last year - they were able to import our records and it saved me $24.95 over what I paid last year!! Another WOOHOO!!!!!!!

Also filed oldest dson's for him through the site.

What is your outlook on saving?

Dave Ramsey has a saying "Live like no one else now, so you can live like no one else later!"

I love that, and it's sooooo true. We are using that saying now, as we build up our savings. The little things that we cut, can sometimes add up to big $$ (especially over time). Ok so it's only $5 a month savings - or what's $2 on the coffee? It all adds up and you would be surprised how fast it adds up if you don't spend it and set it aside. Even the little things add up.

If you haven't tracked your spending that is an excellent way to find where your money goes and where you can save.
We began tracking over 2 years ago, and it sure is eye-opening.
It's funny to see what we *thought* were priorities over 2 years ago and thought we had to have and how we have downsized (because of choice mostly) and it's been great.

So I will make up a batch of homemade handcleaner (like purell)

1/2 rubbing alcohol
1/2 aloe vera gel

My little container in my purse needs to be refilled. I also saved a huge Catsup bottle yesterday I will put it in. My son thought that I was crazy to save the bottle but it was huge and very sturdy. I didn't know what I would use it for yesterday but I do today.

No money being spent today. Day 3 in February of no spending!!

Still don't have our w2's I was hoping to file our taxes by now. Normally we have our refund by the first friday of February.
So if it shows up today - then I will efile tonight........ Hoping!!!

Being frugal today:
~using only cold water to wash
~1/8 cup of laundry soap per load
~making my own furniture polish
~making syrup
~looking online for some books dd wants me to buy, to see if we can get them through the library
~go through coupon file and discard the ones that are expired
~*THROW* away the sales ads that came in yesterday's mail - no great sales and am committed to eating what we have here first.
~eating from the pantry/freezer

I count a day as a no spend day if I don't spend any $$ except for fixed items - (such as mortgage, lights, insurance)
Everything else is counted, all groceries, gas, basically anything that is flexible or that is non essential (haircuts, manicures, car washes etc) Actually normally my fixed bills are all paid on one of the thursday that I go grocery shopping normally.
Some people will count if they go anywhere that uses gas as an expense - I take the kids to school everyday and fill up once every two weeks so I only count it when I fill up.

I think anyone who wants to track these, just needs to decide before hand wht you will count.