August 1st marked Colorado's 150th birthday.
It has been around much longer than that, of course, but was part of a Territory for decades...after Mexico, Spain and other countries claimed it, that is. Our part of Colorado, Costilla County, still occasionally thinks that Spain still has a foothold. That makes life interesting for gringoes like us -- but we do get wonderful restaurants and some interesting culture out of it.
This is my tenth year of posting Frugal Hits & Misses reports! Here's the very first one, back when we still lived on Collins Street in Castle Rock. Now we live 2 1/2 hours south, in our seventh home. (House #6 was a fifth-wheel.) It seems incredible, but that's what nearly 45 years of marriage will get you. This summer has been one of the dryest, dull times I can remember. Fortunately, it rains every now and then, and the air seems to be getting cooler at night. The Brick says it's a sign that fall's coming...but I wonder.
Frugal Hits
(Some of these were from late July)
Bought two 'Colorado 150th birthday' totebags ($1.99 each). These will eventually go into quilts.
A quadruple batch of 'Buy 3/Get 1 Free' books. These came from my favorite Ebay spot, SecondSale. Still free shipping, though I'm not sure how. I split 17 books into three different orders: one with $4 books, and two in the $5-ish category. (The last book was discount priced -- but not offered in the same special.)That way, I save on each order...and still get the 'free' books. These included birthday and Christmas presents. A few were on saving money -- nothing's funnier than paying frugally to buy books on this subject!
Watered regularly, though it didn't seem to matter. A friend traveled by some of Colorado's biggest reservoirs, and said they were empty -- or nearly so. This drought really has us by the throat.
Church potluck, lunch with friends -- and a birthday supper for Daughter #2 at Chili's. (No cake in the parking lot, though. Eating it outside has become a weird family tradition.) Daughter #1 had a birthday supper at a sushi place...and cheesecake in the parking lot. Both our daughters have August birthdays. (So did The Mama.) It makes for a busy month, in that respect.
Stopped twice at the St. Ives Grill and their Tuesday Twofers: two-for-one beers, plus $1.50/$1.75 tacos and chicken wings! (They were delicious.) If you're headed to Alamosa, CO, this is a great place to try.
Gave a dozen eggs away to friends. With the kids gone, our two-dozen-a-week were starting to pile up. Took supper to a friend who'd had surgery. We were also able to donate a case each of tuna and applesauce to the La Puenta food bank in Alamosa...which felt wonderful. Took supper to another friend who'd had surgery.
Collected hollyhock seeds -- I'll use these for future planting and presents. Planted spinach seeds; my zucchini seedlings are no more. (Chipmunks, we think.)
Tiger Brick -- master chipmunk hunter. (Not a chipmunk catcher.)
Bought two Red Robin giftcards -- 20% off.
We took the Blues Train in Durango -- and stayed overnight. The Brick saved $20 by picking the right website to order a hotel stay. (They did promise a pool -- which was closed. Sigh.) Our favorite group on the train: Weary Ramblers. Here they are, at an international blues competition. (They won.)
After a leisurely lunch, we headed home -- with a stop at Durango's Goodwill, plus groceries in Alamosa. (One trip: multiple errands!) Thanks for the tickets, Daughter #1 and Adopted Son #1! It was hot, sweaty, bumpy -- and quite wonderful.
The Brick installed the light fixture purchased at the thrift shop, over our kitchen island. The stronger light makes for easier food prep!
Cut up a bunch of cardboard boxes and tidied up. Emptied two more bins and washed them out. Restocked and inventoried the pantry. Cleaned house because our friend was coming to dogsit -- and we didn't want her seeing it so messy. (This really was the reason, sadly.)
Thrift shop deals: a Bridgewater mug ($1.50) and a fork for a quarter (Bargain Box, Pueblo). A London-designed custom shirt ($4.99) and half-priced jeans for the Brick (Durango Goodwill). Clive Cussler novels for a buck each; sheets for roughly $3 each (half price), a 9 x 13 pan ($1.75, also half price) and three Blue Blood video sets for $2.50 each -- plus a senior discount. But no free bread! (Treasures in the Park, Castle Rock). We went to thrift shops more this month, mostly because we were in the neighborhood already for other reasons. Ironically, I spent less at each than I normally do!
Used up $9.87 in credit card points - one of our accounts is switching credit card companies, and I had a sneaking feeling these points would disappear. Used a $5 rewards coupon at Michael's; the Brick used up a $25 giftcard from Lowe's.
Grocery deals: $1 coupon; $5 off produce; $1.94 for 3 pounds of yellow onions; BOGO half-gallons of milk; a huge bin of ice cream, $5.99; 8-pks of chimichangas, $4.49 (City Market). Payday and Mr. Goodbar candy bars -- each 20% off. Coffee beans, 16-17% off. (These factored out to approx. $7.50/lb - a steal for coffee.) Baby Ruth mini candy bars, a stunning 21 cents/oz. Update: I didn't check the math! They SAID it was 21 cents/oz, but the math said 67 cents/oz. Cancelled the order pronto (Amazon). Brunswick stew and chili, 99 cents each; ice cream cake, $2.99; frozen bulogi dumplings, $1.79; coffee beverages, 3 for $1; dog food (the fancy kind) $21.99 (SLV Grocery). A BIG watermelon ($4.69); blueberry pie ($3.69) and two chocolate croissants, 84 cents each (Walmart).
Free Stuff: some hamburger patties from Son #1 and Daughter #2 -- thank you, Dears! Also an extra jar of garlic powder mistakenly included in the Amazon order. (They said to keep it.) A big bag of lettuce from friends at church, and zucchini from another friend.
Mostly used the Devoted debit cards to buy our groceries. (We each get $54/month.) I did get a few discounted necessaries from Amazon, specifically candy bars, coffee, mixed nuts -- and garlic. (Stocking up for winter.) I also took a business survey for $60 in Amazon credit.
Bought a REALLY rare 19th century handkerchief: 1831, to be exact. It's full of printed homilies -- because it was meant as a school primer. ("Primary Lessons #5") Think Dick and Jane, but in Jane Austen's time.
Facebook class action checks -- a bit more than $7 each. Enough for one lunch at Calvillo's, at least.
Did a few appraisals... and finished up more. I often take this month to rest, but it's not happening this year, so far. (Maybe September.) The extra $$ is helping pay off June's trip expenses, though. Picked up another big appraisal job -- and a speaking gig. One more appraisal helped pay for a Denver trip to celebrate Daughter #1's birthday.
Took care of granddog Freya a LOT. Summer is a very busy time for the kids' business, Phenomenal Gems. (So far, the booth sales are good.) The kids took care of Bo and Tiger several times, too.
Found money: a dime and four pennies, in the truck. (What the kids leave is fair game, they told me.) Durango finds: a penny in the hotel room, and a quarter and two pennies at McDonald's. Go figure.
Foods made (besides the usual): apple-cranberry tart, black bean soup, iced tea concentrate, lasagna (for the church potluck), another apple tart (for Daughter #2's birthday), banana bread, various cookies, egg custard, enchiladas...and lots of smoothies. Mostly peach and strawberry.
The Brick replaced the dryer vent at our house, dug a trench for pipe to empty the hot water heater, and did some electrical work for friends. That man-- Husband is incredibly talented in the DIY department, among other things. As a thank you, our friends gave us MEAT -- including hamburger, sausage and a package of t-bones!
The Brick volunteered at a Convention of States booth during the Western Conservative Summit in the Denver area. He saved by staying overnight at our friends' house in the Springs, before heading home the next day. He ran some errands on the way home, including stores we normally can't access. He also dropped off a bagful of birthday presents at Daughter #1 and Adopted Son's house.
We did a Thursday night concert at Lu's: Lu's Diner in Blanca, that is. The music was mostly country and light rock -- and fun. This is the same band that does worship music on Sundays at Calvary Blanca. But when we play at Lu's, we're known as the Ritardandos. (Music lovers, you should have no trouble figuring this title out.)
Continued to get 13 cents discount/gallon for gas at Love's. We knew our rewards account got us 10 cents off a gallon -- but it turns out that our AAA membership (a necessary evil) gives us an additional 3 cents off!
Frugal Misses
Paid the final tolls from our June trip. Wasn't cheap, either. We also figured out the final $$ of the June trip with our dear friends. It does help a lot to split expenses down the middle. (See July's Frugal Hits & Misses, if you're curious.)
Forgot our swimsuits in a hotel room...and didn't realize it until early July. At least the suits were old and worn -- and their replacements (Land's End and Walmart) were on sale.
Bought a share of McDonalds stock (MCD). Man, those shares are expensive!! At least it's moderating, and going up. Who knows whether this will be a hit or a miss in the future. I also bought more shares of a silver stock.
Bad mushrooms. (Bad mushrooms...bad!) Also: a moldy loaf of garlic bread. Returned them for credit. Had to make a special trip to use up our Devoted debit cards -- because I forgot to bring them with the first time. (sigh...)
A doctor's visit in Pueblo -- and a stop at a wonderfully scruffy Italian deli. (The food was great -- the prices weren't.)
Got an invite to my 50th school reunion in Michigan. I can't go - I have a speaking gig that exact day in Pueblo, CO.
Fought restlessness, a week of flu and the black dog all month. Not fun. Reading, projects and cold drinks helped some.
Here's last month's report. (More of same, sadly, in the hot & dry department.) Here's August 2025, and a year before that. But life goes on, heat or no...
