Left my wallet at work (deep in the side drawer, so I'm not worrying too much).

Picked up the cat from the Boarding Kennel. Poor thing had to pull him out of this tiny "kitty condo" he was curled up in. They told me he loved this condo and they had to work to get him out of it. Visited with them a short while before leaving.

On the way home I went to Petvalu to check out kitty condo's. Of course I brought Mao in there with me - they always worship him nicely when I bring him there.

Checked out the kitty condo, one just like he was sleeping in. She'll give it to me tomorrow (after 6pm when the boss has gone) for $3 off the sticker price.

Forgetting the wallet can be a good thing savings wise

Sometimes I'm amazed at how hard it is to buy something. We went to Best Buy to look at an XM radio and I was ready to buy. Too bad they didn't have it in stock. Too bad the salesman waited until after I told him I wanted that item installed today to tell me he didn't have it in stock. After this announcement (and the salesman's silly smirk that accompanied it) I left.

Snr execs at Best Buy should take note. It's annoyances like this that drive consumers to take their money to a competitor. If your bottom line is hurting it is partly due to incidents like this one.

We drove up the road to Circuit City. I was able to buy it there for $10 more (including installation). The other one may have been a slightly better deal but without actually having the product it was no better than a mirage for my purposes.

I'm happy though, I have my radio, they did a nice job installing it and I've paid for a year of service. This will help make my drive tomorrow a lot nicer!

I'm still in the middle of contemplating whether to get satellite radio (yeah yeah so much for being frugal). My car radio is on the fritz. I drive so much a radio in the car is not optional. The car radio on the fritz is what is prompting this.

The cost of the unit is pretty comparable (spend as much as you want for the toys you want), but there is a subscription cost. I'm not so fond of that part of it. However it would be nice to have no huge reception issues.

Looking at both services I'm more interested in XM radio than Sirus

Checked out a local farmers' market today. This market actually had farmers at it. I found that noteworthy - I've been to some farmers' markets who have people selling stuff who go to the food terminal and who actually don't grow the food!

Bought some local apples, green beans, a tomato, chives, portabello mushrooms, and some locally grown raspberries that were frozen. Prices were good. Quality was excellent.

I got home and made a pie. Pie frustrates me. Causes much swearing angst and mess. I go through this everytime I make a pie. I swear, I scream and I act unlady like as curse it. I know I should just give in and buy one but pie is best home made. I warn my boyfriend and he makes sure to get out of harms way as he enjoys me fight with the dough.

But dang it, I do end up with good pies every time. Flakey light crust, tasty apple raspberry filling - a bit tart with a nice bite. I was happy with the result.

I might have saved $1 by making it rather than buying it. However its not really about being frugal, its about good pie! Good pie means homemade pie crust!

Today should be nice, though definitely not a no spend day.

Headed up to Sheetz to get a coffee this morning. This was the first morning I had to pay for a coffee. I now have a free one for tomorrow but its going to be a while until I buy enough coffees for more free coffee. Oh well, I love the stuff, and don't buy it cause of the coffee card program - but it is a nice bonus!

The boyfriend is heading home for lunch so I'm going to have to figure out what to make for that. Then this afternoon I'm going to head out to a local farmers market to pick up some fresh produce! A friend is coming over tonight and I'm hoping to make a curry full of fresh veggies!

I want to buy a swimsuit - one I have is old and while fitting its not fitting well. The other one has issues with the spandex coming out. I likely should go and see if any are on sale, but I bet they have been turfed out in favour of the back to school clothes.

Thanks to the free coffee this morning today was a no spend day! Yeah!

Did order something online now I think of it but I'm not counting that until they bill more for it - I need to have confirmation of the shipping before I can know how much its going to be.

I have had a 35 item to do list today! I'm proud to say that of the 35 items I'm down to a mere 10 left to do! Actually I'm pretty happy about how I'm doing on this list. Vacation nights are booked, the triptiks are printed from AA and I've even clipped coupons for some fast food places - I'll make sure I have those with me.

Anyways, during some searching I found this. Honest I didn't create it

Normally I don't buy shoes. Even if I go into a shoe store I normally walk out empty handed.

Today I bought four pairs of shoes. Ouchies! All were on sale but none were cheap - one pair of Cougar sandals, a pair of naturalizer heels, a pair of hush puppy heels and a pair of not sure who made them shoes!

OMG I'm offically getting OLD. I bought naturalizers


I'm a bit happier. The $50 for that pair of shoes wasn't a bad price compared to a few places I just saw on the web. And they are super comfie. But they better be.

The Hush puppies aren't too old lady like either



Ooh the price I paid for those is less than on the web too! I'm feeling happier now.

I stopped at a local drug store chain to pick up some items on sale I had coupons for - foil and some sponges/scrubby things.

Found the foil, and honestly couldn't remember if I needed it or I was buying to stock up. Never did find the scrubby things.

So I saved a bit of money and walked out of there empty handed.

I need to spend some time thinking about stocking up and how much of it really makes sense for me to do. I don't want, if something should happen, for people to find a 5 year supply of foil and toilet paper. I decent supply is one thing.

Anyways, today I didn't stock up. It wsn't a bad thing. Sales will come again and I'll be more focussed on buying because I need something and not because it is a good deal.

My total spending was under $2 - bread from the local "rip off" corner store. But I wasn't up to walking further to get some. And I wanted toast.

Definitely is food poisioning that I had last night. Feeling hung over but otherwise okay today. Was going to go into work but realised I wasn't up to it.Not sleeping most of the night and being ill takes it out of one. I phoned in twice (once to say I'd be in late, and once to say I'm not coming in) and got sympathy rather than anyone upset at me.

I've been putzing around doing some tidying up. Have been really taking it easy but it is surprising how doing 5 minutes here and there and picking up a few things and putting them away (or in the garbage) when I get up adds up after a few hours of doing so.

Dear Stupid,

Next time you cook up a huge batch of chicken, make sure you freeze part of it. Leaving in in the fridge and eating it a week and 2 days after you made it leads to nights like this one. Nights when you suffer the effects of food poisoning. This was not enjoyable and to it again voluntarily would be well, really stupid

Luv,

Me

PS. don't forget to throw the rest of the chicken out

Sigh

I knew when they were due. I knew I would renew them online. I didn't. I procrastinated. Later, later I thought

I'm proud today to say I made a donation to the library of $9.40 cents. I'll think of it as a donation, cause had I gotten off of my duff I'd have not had to make it.

What does it say to me when one of the book's was Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover?

Filled up my tank twice yesterday. Did 8 hours of driving - Yikes! $40 first fill up and $29.90 for the second one - it wasn't all the way empty yet.

Yikes. Add to that about $15 for food for me to eat on the journey, and it was an expensive day.

Started the day with a flat tire. Had to call for Roadside Assistance. They very nicely (NOT) gave me a window of 2 hours for someone to come and put on the doughnut. Yikes.

Luckily I only had a 45 minute wait. The Tow Truck Guy for $25 under the table actually plugged the leak - caused by an errant screw. I don't know if this was a good price but worth it to me cause it saved me time. I missed most of the morning at work though.

We had lunch for a departing coworker. I gave $20 to the person doing the bill cause I left early. I didn't see any change. Expensive for a BLT and a diet coke.

Running around packing tonight to go see my parents this weekend. Didn't help I stayed late to make up for not being at work this morning.

I am starting to get myself together. Today I actually managed to bring my lunch to work. After I write this I'm going to put my lunch together for tomorrow!

I spent less than I planned to today. I thought something was on sale at a grocery store but when I got there it wasn't. So I didn't buy it! Save, don't spend! Works for me! I bought a big bag of perogies. The small one was 1.69 and the at least double size large "club pack" was 1.99. I got the club pack. That was easy math. Though the perogies I had before were better - I had some of each for supper when I got home.

Doing some decluttering tonight. Nothing exciting. Got my coupon folder back from my BF so I'm updating that!

Oh isn't my life oh so exciting?

GT was visiting and he is always up for helping get my place nicer. He's "born organized" and incredibly neat. I'm not quite that structured in how I do things.

He had noticed a smell from the fridge. In 15 minutes we went through the fridge and I disposed of all foodstuffs that were ick.

I have a chest freezer I'm trying to clear out. I'd like to get a small upright. I've had this freezer for nearly 20 years and I got it used then. It could be well over 35 years old. So time to get my freezer cleaned out.

We threw out of a ton of stuff including two roasts that had best before dates from 2002. I didn't need to check a book to figure that was too old for me to want to eat.

My fridge and freezer look great. I through out the equivalent of 2 packed garbage bags. We actually spread it out over 4 bags cause it is all so heavy.

I feel bad about throwing out food. Waste not want not etc. I feel good now though cause in a sense I am starting over. I can't influence what I did in the past but I can make sure that this is the last time this happens.

I don't know if this is a good thing or not but I put an empty rubbermaid container in the bottom of the freezer. This means I can actually reach all the food. Before I'd go into the freezer and not be able to get anything on the bottom.

We went to the Sally Ann (aka Salvation army to look for some curtains for GT's second bedroom. Found a nice set of blue curtains for 7.99 each (each panel was $7.99 so the total was $15.98).

We weren't sold on the them and there was no exchange or money back if you wanted to bring them back. So we left them. Headed to a Goodwill that was closing. Their stock was well picked over. Nothing.

Then to Value Village. Which of all of these is actually a for profit organization.

Got a pair of panels for $3.99 total - includes both panels and 2 tie backs.

What a difference in pricing eh? Doing the searching saved us $12.00. Took an extra hour or so but still worth it I think.

I guess even for thift stores one has to be careful. Things can be overpriced there too.

I've lived here a long time - probably 10 years or more. Today I blew a fuse for the first time.

Seeing the hour, and not wanting to head out I played with my fuses. I thought I had an extra fuse. I'm sure I do. But it is no where to be found. I'm sure it will show up when it is no longer needed.

I played with my fuses. The kitchen, including fridge and freezer now has a working fuse. The bathroom is dark.

Note to self: Buy extra fuses tomorrow and make sure they go with the tools.

I had a good weekend!

Saturday we visited a small local museum that as holding a quilt exhibit. Very nice work. I took a ton of pictures. I'll find some place to host them on the web and post a link for any quilt fans. They also had a lady there showing off old fashioned rug hooking. For the sake of my wallet (and the clutter factor) I refused to pay too much attention. New crafty hobbies are not a good idea when I already have so many!

After the quilt show we went to a quilt store. I have wanted to make a bag for quite some time. I found a great pattern and some material. They had a store sample made in the nicest material that I'd have bought but they didn't have it in stock. They told me the name of the fabric but to be honest I don't think they told me the right name. I googled it a few times to no success (I did find material named that by that designer but it looked significantly different). Very annoying. I did buy the pattern and some of another material. Kept my spending under $20. I was proud of me!

That was it for me for the weekend! 2 Quilt related actities and less than $20 spent WOO HOO.

More good mail today. An envie of coupons again! Someone was more than generous with me. Cheered me up after a busy stress filled day.

Went to buy GT tea on the way home. He likes Typhoo Tea (decaf). I brought in my debit card cause that stuff is pricey. Dang store didn't have it. Not many stores do. I'll bring him the rest of what I have and make a note to buy some next week. As I was walking through the store I saw they had raspberries on sale for $2.00 for wee little container. I splurged. But had only grabbed my debit card and keys when I went into the store. The cashier was a young fellow who was incredibly sweet. He said not to worry about it he's done debit on a 25cent can of pop!

I got two things in the mail today. Both coupons.

The first was from someone who I did a private trade with. She was oh so generous and sent me more than we'd agreed upon. All coupons i can use.

The second was indirectly from the same person. A "Healthy" train. Some good coupons for products I buy from time to time. Coupons that I so far haven't found. I will get that one back into the mail on Thursday.

I sent out 2 trades today too.

One of them will be sending me some other coupons that I've not been able to find.

Focussing more on what I buy and searching for coupons more agressively I think is starting to make a difference.

I had one of those cashiers today. You know the type. Carefully reads every coupon to make sure its good. Slowly checks the cash register receipt. Gives you heck for not giving her the coupons at the proper time.

When I started in the line there was no one behind me. By the time I was finished there were two huge lines.

One day I'm sure we are going to hear about someone going postal cause some lady had one too many coupons and they broke under the strain of waiting.

Its gonna happen, I know its gonna happen. I just hope its not me they get. No one said anything to me but I could feel the tension.

And to think I thought this was a safe hobby with no real dangers other than a papercut or lost coupon

Did two stops today.

Dropped into one grocery store to pick up a huge container of field greens. This normally sells for $4.99 and was on for $2.99 on a two day only sale. Only picked up one because it is perishable and not sure I'll go through two.

Then hit the drug store. Total of my shopping was $181. Used coupons totalling $18.75 and cashed in points - they had a deal on today where if you cashed in enough points for $75 off your bill you actually got $100. I spent in cash about $61 for a lot of stuff. A couple of splurges but in all I kept it to stuff I need.

Lipstick needs to come with an expiry date on it.

I bought some lipstick the other week. My colour, my preferred brand, on sale, and it was indicaed that there was a coupon in it.

Open it up and bonanza .. not one coupon but two.

Read the coupons. OMG. This was bad. The coupon copyright date was 2004. The coupon expiry date was 2/28/05.

Just how old is this "new" lipstick?

I wrote to the manufacturer today to ask. Also asked for new coupons. And asked if the lipstick was safe to use.

These people, a large firm, that sells internationally have this wonderful form that you fill out to contact them. You get 255 letters to make your comment. WTF? Their servers can't handle a longer email? Their customer service people have short attention spans?

I am totally annoyed now

Goals for this weekend.

Actually do the paperwork to open an ING account for savings

Call the bank and find out why my internet banking doesn't work.

complete registration for airmiles and either send in or complete online.

Yikes, to retire at about age 62 with savings that will allow me to retire on my current income I'll need to save about 30% of my gross salary. OUCH

That doesn't factor into account savings, pension plans or government benefits. Still. Its going to be a scary number. A number I really need to calculate.

First task though, set up a savings account so I can start squirrelling extra money away.

Off to research banks.