Frugal Hits & Misses: March Report

      Much of the month was spent working on The Mama's estate in Michigan...but by the 21st we were in Prescott, AZ, getting the trailer's roof replaced. We had planned to ramble some, including revisiting the Adams Diggings, but the truck wasn't cooperating. We didn't take chances, but headed for home, instead.

     Five months in Michigan, and more weeks on the road, but it was necessary. Not sorry...but glad to be back in Colorado. We hope/plan to stay here through early fall -- and hunting season.

FRUGAL HITS

*Two wood urns, made from layered wood (including apple crates!) by our dear friend, Doc. We'll enjoy them now for storage, and use them in later years. 

*Cooked the turkey I'd bought back at Thanksgiving.(it was sitting in the freezer)...and planned to serve during the Brick's birthday party in February. (Covid cancelled that one.) We and Ruby were able to use most of it before the remainder started to 'go.' (A miss on that.)

*Sold a big batch of Red Robin stock (RRGB) at a $500+ profit = gaining $1-$5 on each share. (The $5 came after just a few weeks, when its third quarter earnings/losses were better than projected. The stock's down again...but what's new.)

*Fat quarters from Spoonflower, one of the most interesting sources of unusual fabrics  -- 50% off and free shipping. (I bought a ton of Bigfoot prints.)

*From The Mama's estate:

      *Kept a number of books. I love books.

      *Collected a quart jar full of change -- and a few dollar bills, plus some tens and twenties-- from The Mama's squirreling-away habit.  Nephew found $3 and change I'd missed...ironically, the money was inside a 'money counting' kit! Niece also found a 1950 penny inside an antique 'purse' necklace in The Mama's jewelry box. The kids also found four stashes I'd missed; their uncle and the Brick found more. Total:  $111 and change, not counting the kit, some Canadian money and the marks/schillings I'd brought home from my college trip to Austria. (The treasure hunters got $5 each, as an incentive.)

     *Used up items in The Mama's freezer and pantry -- and gave more away to family who could use it. Also gave away the elk meat we'd brought from home. 

     *Kept various tchotchkes (including a few bobbleheads and wall plaques), knitting and crochet needles and some embellishments, mugs, quilting and sewing items, some historical stuff...and retrieved the books I'd written. (The Mama had carefully put each in a plastic bag, and stacked them in her sewing room. Boy, that felt strange.) Plus jewelry, ceramic chickens, a dresser for Daughter #2 -- and a miniature Case AgriKing tractor for us. 

      Also: a small rocking chair my great-aunt Charlotte had used. Ironically, there are at least two other cousins who treasure 'Aunt Charlotte's rocking chair.' Aunt Charlotte was a maiden aunt who stayed with various relatives, including my grandma, to help out with the kids. All I can figure is that she didn't insist on much...except her own rocking chair to rest in at night. And her family gratefully accommodated her.

     *Donated more clothes, shoes, etc., along with some clothes of our own.

     *Gave The Mama's computer desk to North Chester Baptist -- the church we've been helping out, doing music, in Michigan.

     *Donated an antique buffet and dining room glass display case to the Sparta Historical Society. The pieces were late Victorian/early Edwardian period, with Sparta origins from before The Mama; her old neighbor, Ruth Kent, had given them to her decades ago. Donated a treadle sewing machine used by Clara Halstead, who lived in Sparta, that our uncle had given me long ago. These were too old and fragile for me to trust in the fifth-wheel -- or in storage. I know that the historical society will put them to good use.

     *Cleaned out a binful of DVDs from our collection, and added 20 or so videos from The Mama's collection. Ordered a fourth 400-slot holder (we have three already), to make these easy to access, with minimum space.

     *Salvaged Bicentennial era fabric from a dress The Mama wore in 1976.

     *Gave food from the freezer and pantry shelves to cousins and other family members, who could use it. Also returned household items they'd given The Mama over the years, plus more. (See below.)

    *Gave family members three of The Mama's giftcards...and kept two, including a $1 Home Depot card, for ourselves.

*Got an $18.90 debit card through a settlement -- on milk purchases! (I wasted a penny redeeming it-- so sue me.)

*Did an investment survey -- and earned a $30 Amazon giftcard. 

*Saved a few bucks on DVDs of the series Rat Patrol by offering less on Ebay-- and a Father's Day present from Amazon Warehouse. I'm looking forward to revisiting my chief source of pennywise DVDs: Castle Rock library's used bookroom.

*Grocery bargains: [Daily Deals] organic Wheat Thins (79 cents), almond cookies (99 cents), chopped salad kits (1.49), deli ham (79 cents for 8 oz). Plus two-packs of gluten-free pizza for $5.98!  I don't ]need this, but a niece and cousin do...and they were thrilled. [Amazon  Warehouse] specials: a quart of maple syrup ($16.39) and rice crackers (1.40 each).

     Prices have definitely gone up, even in the discount arena. (sigh)

*Half-price meals at The Outback -- because Cousins (who work there) were eating with us, and got the employee discount.

*Saw a movie at Taco Tuesday -- Uncharted. But came home and ate supper at home first, instead of going out to eat.

*Used a coupon at Great Clips - $10 off. Considering I hadn't gotten my hair cut since October (or maybe late September), it was more than time.

*Royalties for Colorado Curiosities and Ghosts & Legends finally came through! And they were more than I'd hoped for. 

*Found money -- a penny at Outback. (That was good enough, considering all the stashes The Mama had hidden -- and we found. I can only hope we unearthed them all.)

*The Brick fixed leaks on both the toilet and kitchen sink. That's what happens when we don't live in the trailer in the winter, I guess. A handy man is a wonderful guy to have around.

*Picked up a speaking gig -- I'll be talking about Colorado's Curiosities for the statewide DAR chapter in late April, near May 1st. (More info on this soon.) 

 *Turned down the chance to work at a resort in Michigan for the summer -- when we realized we could go home, instead!

FRUGAL MISSES

*Lost more appraisal and work gigs.  I hope to change this in coming months. (In fact, I did some appraising only three days after we returned. So that's nice.)

*Went out to eat THREE TIMES -- and no discount! Shame on us. But we did go back once to our cousins' house once for coffee and dessert.  (We also got $5 off one meal by signing up for their loyalty program.)

*Had to buy a storage trailer for our stuff, which had been in The Mama's garage. We ended up with a 27-foot snowmobile trailer, then paid licensing fees, tax, etc. etc.  Our nephew and his family have bought the farm -- literally. They graciously let us keep the trailer on the property, plus put some of the overflow back in the garage. They'll borrow some of it this summer while they live in the garage...and we'll clear the rest out this fall.

     We did save a thousand dollars on our storage trailer -- because the Brick dickered on the price. (We had to pay $40 in fees to wire the money from our Colorado account to Michigan. Ergh.)

*Reimbursed for our share of The Mama's funeral. (It wasn't cheap.) The one bright note: we were able to get a little cash back by using a credit card. (This one has been effective for us for years.)

*Donated several Colorado Curiosities books, plus items from The Mama's estate --books, photos and mementos  -- to people who would appreciate them. 

*Left behind some things in The Mama's estate that we would have taken -- had we the room. 

*A $200 towing bill...as a final goodbye from Michigan.  It helped make the rear view of the state line that much sweeter.

*Replaced the roof on the fifth-wheel. AZ Roofing in Prescott, AZ did the work...they were careful, checked in with us frequently, and did a wonderful job. We recommend them highly. However, the work took almost a week, so that meant we:

*Booked a hotel in Chino Valley, AZ -- but got the best price possible. The Brick argued for an upgrade, rather than taking the cheapest place -- then we extended it for one more night. (The final night, we stayed in the parking lot of AZ Roofing.) The Days Inn was a considerable upgrade from its earlier budget days. It was not only dog-friendly, but included an indoor pool, comfortable beds, free breakfast...and the chance to watch Michigan play in the Sweet Sixteen. (Too bad they lost.)

*Went out to eat a lot during the homeward stop and trip home -- twice to Mexican restaurants, but mostly to Pizza Hut, Little Caesar's and McDonald's. What can I say.

*The truck broke down. A thousand dollars later, it ran well enough to get us to Prescott...but then it started acting up again on the way home. (It goes into the shop next week. I don't want to know.)

*Gas prices were INSANE. About the very cheapest we found was $4.38/gallon for diesel...and most times, we paid more than $5/gallon. (And this was while pulling the fifth-wheel: about 10 miles or less to the gallon)  One Maverick station was cause for rejoicing at $4.78/gal -- we stopped there twice. I really wish President Biden and Co. would see how much of a bite this takes out of anyone's budget...but the only way to understand that would be to actually have to live on a budget.

If you're thinking that a lot of these items are minor, you're right. But not only do these 'bits' add up -- they  contribute a lot of contentment and pleasure to life. I'm grateful for every nickel saved. During discouraging times, these economies -- and our faith in each other and our King -- were sometimes the only positive things in our lives. I am so grateful, as well, for family, including cousins and friends at our church, who kept us going. Somehow, in spite of the greatly increased costs, we still had enough to cover bills. God is good -- all the time.

For last month's report, go here.  For last year's, here. Upward, onward...and finally home.