Frugal Hits & Misses: December Report

     You may have a mental picture of  Colorado looking like this during the holidays -- 

Photo from Forbes.com

     I hate to burst your bubble. It usually looks like this, instead.

Although the ski resorts would love to have you think differently. (They MAKE snow when it isn't coming from the sky.)

    We've been surprisingly lucky with snow this fall-into-winter season. There have been a few 'dumpers,' but they melt off quickly. In general, though, we've kept a scraping of snow. Makes it look very Christmasy, though you couldn't ski on the white stuff to save your life. (We make up for it later in the season -- especially early spring.)

     Usually we have a brown Christmas. This year, it was different, with a skiff of snow. (Areas further up north got considerably more -- so did the mountains we enjoy looking at every day.) The Brick and I celebrated by ourselves, thanks to kid commitments. We'll meet up with them later this week. It happens.

FRUGAL HITS

*No money spent on our usual gifts for orphanage kids -- because I'd already bought them back in January. (We enjoy giving presents to a Mexican orphanage that our Sedalia friends often visit.)

*Paper sacks of goodies given out at church to everyone --each had an  orange, apple, and vintage-style candies. (I asked the Brick, "Did they ever do this for kids in your area, growing up?" He couldn't remember anything like that. Neither could I, though I've read about it plenty of times in my pioneer books. Maybe our generation missed out.) 

*Money spent on mail order health-related items, thanks to our Humana benefits plan. I thought I'd have $75 -- but got $150! I was able to stock up on items, like back patches, ibuprofen and toothpaste. Hey, it helps. (And if you don't use it by year's end -- you lose it.)

*I earned a $5 giftcard for volunteering. One more for exercising regularly, thanks to the Medicare health plan. (Both were slipped into the Brick's Christmas stocking.) I also made $2 for taking a survey.

*I put a wreath on our 'Hawk's Nest' entrance piece -- and called it good for holiday decorating. (The previous owner's name was Hawkins. Get it?) I put up a few dollar store decorations purchased earlier...that was about it. (Most of our decorations, including our Nativity set and a ceramic tree, are in the storage trailer in Michigan.)

Here was last year's version. Note the distinctly un-snowy landscape.

*Other than videos and other presents I'd collected throughout the year, I only got presents that the Brick really needed. I usually saved at least $5 on each (or more), and ordered them all from Amazon, with free shipping. It makes a real difference if you have to travel for a while to get to a store -- although technically we're not going much further than we did on trips to Denver.

    With a few exceptions, I did the same for the kids. We really need to watch our purchases right now.

*Office Depot had a special! 10 reams of paper -- $3.99 each, and free shipping. (We were down to our last 1 or 2 reams.)

*We had the propane tank filled -- the price barely below $2/gallon. (That's considerably less than what we were paying in Sedalia.) Slightly more than $500 to have the tank topped off, but it should last for a long time. 

*Used a free 7-day trial of Fubo to watch the Michigan/Iowa game...then cancelled it a few hours before the trial ended. We weren't impressed, anyways -- $77 monthly for a channel that couldn't get its sound and picture in sync??

    A chance comment to a new friend got us an invite to see the Rose Bowl New Year's Day at his house. Hooray!  (I promised to bring snacks.)

*Sent Christmas cards, a bunch of them -- telling friends and family we love them, while giving out our new address, as well. 

*Held off from making big purchases-- we're still paying off some moving expenses. That's keeping credit card bills in early January lower. (They'll be even lower in early February.) Reading other bloggers' past holiday posts helped, rather than hanging out on Amazon and looking for 'bargains.'

*Finished getting the mailbox in -- it took the Brick quite a while. But it's solidly anchored, and looks good. (Our mailbox is a bit more than 1/2 mile down the road -- but at least we have a mailbox.)

*Supper with new neighbors. (I brought blueberry pie and ice cream.) Other new neighbors gave us a dozen eggs. (Thanks, guys!) We also enjoyed a Christmas lunch at our new church. (Our contribution: mashed potatoes, an apple pie and Davy's Delight brownies. Which turned out to be more fudge than brownie. (See below.)

*Half off autumn-themed napkins and candles at Dollar General. Many of our Christmas cards came from there, as well -- on sale. (Hey, if that's what you've got to choose from 'in town' -- that's what you do.) This Dollar General has a generous array of milk, eggs and frozen items, in addition to the usual stuff. A lot of Mexican-related groceries, which makes sense, given the high Hispanic population in this area. (Reminds me a lot of McNeal's Dollar General.) 

*A Shark vacuum cleaner from Walmart.com -- we spent a little more than $200, but saved $150. (We also got Swagbucks points -- almost enough for a $10 giftcard!) The Brick took it on a spin within an hour of its delivery...and it works great.

*A very nice antique quilt photo -- because I had the courage to offer much less. (Frankly, I didn't think they would take it.) NOTE:  ALWAYS make an offer on 'best price' -- unless you're absolutely sure and/or desperate.

'Try holding my hand, Fred -- and I'll smack you."

*Found money! A dime at the post office parking lot, a quarter in another parking lot --and a penny in the truck. Way more found this month than any since the bonanza. Also: the last bit of money from The Mama's estate: $10.

*Our 'spare coins' piggy bank cashed in at the credit union: $51-plus. Now THAT's a nice 'chunk of change.' And, as Donna Freedman points out, it can be used to help change lives. 

*Some appraisal work -- surprising to have so much this time of year, but I'm grateful for it. Fortunately, it can be worked on into January. But because of it, I was able to pay several bills early, thanks to extra $$ in our account. That always feels wonderful.

*An N.C. Wyeth-look painting via Ebay, after negotiating for less shipping $$. It looks very much like this one, commemorating an Alaskan mailman's fight for life against a wolfpack. (I have a feeling about this painting...if I'm right, will pass on my suspicions.)

*A $30+ mistake from Safeway, corrected at Customer Service. (They mispriced the ham on sale, and I got the wrong milk. Yes, these add up! Otherwise, purchases have been very minimal -- mostly milk and eggs, plus meat that's on sale. (If it is.)

*Cleaned out the underbed area in the fifth-wheel, where I kept presents -- and found a number I'd forgotten about. (No need to go shopping for more!) Gave an Advent calendar to a neighbor; I found two more that went to our pastor and a friend. Oops... found a box of Christmas cards I'd gotten this summer. (What isn't used this season will work for next Christmas.)

         We also moved more items from the fifth-wheel...this is taking longer than we both thought, but it is gradually emptying out. 

*Two books finally cancelled from the Castle Rock library. They thought I had them -- I thought I'd returned them. 

*Cut a Christmas tree from our own property. Ten acres of woods -- we should have been able to find at least one!  Surprisingly, it ended up 8 feet tall -- AFTER the Brick trimmed it. (I asked both the girlies if they wanted one, too... 'Nope, Mom, we have an artificial tree.') 

*We sang a few weeks at church, including special music. I also went out for caroling. We were given a kind thank you gift for our work there, as well.

*Continued to keep the inside temps low, and relied heavily on the woodstove to warm up the house in the morning. We've been getting a nice boost, solar-wise, from the windows, as well. We've kept our electricity use low, as well. The fifth-wheel's heat is down to the bare minimum, and will be turned off completely, as soon as we finish unloading.

*Used a notebook I already had for 2024's appointment calendar. 

*Set up my membership payment for ASA for monthly payments -- and no fees! (This is $650 -- and a lot to come up with if you have to make one large payment.)

*A $12 credit for 'string' issues on Safeway's Three Meat Sicilian Recipe pizzas. (They didn't get rid of the casings when they cut the sausages -- so you ended up with a mouthful of plastic.) I made one phone call -- that's all it took. 

*Wonderful Bigfoot Christmas ornaments. Everyone on our present list got some!

*The Red Green dvd collection, 'Stuffed and Mounted,' for $14.99.   It usually says for four times that price. (I also took advantage to get more, using the Ebay seller's buy 2, get 1 free special.)

*A quiet anniversary. Found out that our area restaurants were closed on Dec. 26 -- the special day. (Forty-two years!) Enjoyed a Mexican buffet on the 27th, instead. (There aren't many fancy places in our neck of the woods.) The food was wonderful -- and we got a dozen tamales for future meals. ($16 -- a bargain around here.) 

     We also visited the Alamosa library (woo hoo!), a new to us thrift shop (nada) -- and took a nice long drive out in the Valley. It may not have been our flashiest year, but going anywhere with the Brick, Ruby in tow, is nice. 

*Grocery buys: cans of kidney beans and imported large chocolate bars, about 86 cents each, plus a second batch for less than $2 each ; bags of coffee beans for up to 55% off. (Amazon Warehouse Deals). $1.97 whole milk (gallon), a free drink and a free dozen eggs, $1.57/lb spiral-cut ham.* (Safeway)

*Although it was slightly higher-priced than the regular ham ($1.27/lb), I really think this is better-processed, and goes further. The next week, they offered spiral-cut for $1.27/lb -- so I bought a second one for the freezer.

FRUGAL MISSES

*We finally got internet...it only took a month! (Ironically, we'd had the optical network installed, all along -- the company just didn't seem to know it.)

*It's harder than ever to get access to one of my favorite places -- the library. The Fort Garland library is a joke, and the Alamosa one closes early on Saturdays and Sundays -- generally the only days we go to town. (sigh) At least I was able to check out a dozen book from the Alamosa library that aren't due for three weeks.

*We both had to pay $34 monthly for the same Medicare supplement plan (free) as in Denver. Don't worry -- we'll get the money back and more, after taking advantage of the benefits. The one thing I can't figure: why is this plan free, when we lived in one of the richest counties (Douglas) in the state...and now that we live in one of the poorest (Costilla County), it costs $34 extra?

*Expenses are coming -- an oil change (about $300) and new tires for the truck. Our stove is doing something odd, as well --it bakes fine at 400 degrees and more, and just doodles around at lower temperatures. (I thought I was doing something wrong, baking brownies at high altitude -- we live at 8600 ft. now. Turns out they just weren't being baked at the proper temperature!)

*My new glasses fell apart. (Lucky I got two pairs.) A missing screw. A trip to America's Best  was fruitless. (A letter to the manager is in the doing.) But still... that meant a trip to Denver.

Last month's post is here.  And last year's December post is here. (2021's version, too -- we were in Michigan, not long before The Mama's death.) 

May there be a very happy New Year in your near-future.