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"So we settled down...meanwhile doing the chores and whatever things we could to get ready for another winter of skimping."
"But we had a debt and it had to be paid. There were no two ways about it; you paid your debts. If you didn't owe money, you could go on short rations and make out somehow, but when you owed a debt you got to work and paid it back. It was more than a financial obligation, it was a moral obligation... You paid your bils, you squared yourself with the world and, if you were thrifty, you put enough aside to pay for your final illness and burial. It was more than a custom; it was a way of life."
Hal Borland High, Wide and Lonesome: Growing Up on the Colorado Frontier
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I've felt some like Mr. Borland this month, even though we're not homesteading in Colorado's boonies. (Well, maybe we ARE in the boonies...) But given last month's higher expenses, we decided to go on short rations in February.
And, other than the Brick's birthday celebration, which was quite modest... we did.
Not only did the economizing result in a healthy surplus -- it was enough (barely) for the final payment on the house loan, without taking from the emergency fund! Wonderful. It means we'll have to watch it in March, but I feel certain that's possible.
We've had only a few snowstorms -- one on Valentine's Day. No snow on the ground right now, except for some dirty patches. No new growth yet -- it's been too cold. But I think I'll plant some spinach in the deck planters, anyways, and see what happens.
FRUGAL HITS
*Money found: zip. Zero. Nada for the most of the month. Then a quick check revealed 72 cents from a coin counting machine at Safeway!
*Sold some Red Robin stock at a nice profit - again. (A bit more than $200.) I cycle in and out of this stock, probably because we like their burgers so much. BUT there's no location close by (boooo), and the company is not doing that well. I'll keep an eye on it, nonetheless.
I kept the profit in the stock account, but cycled the original amount invested back into the credit union account. This is typical, and gives me the mental freedom, at least, to experiment, stockwise. I just bought some Zeekr stock, based in part on this report. But it's not doing that good, so far.
*Another $25 Amazon giftcard. Added to a $20 Christmas present gift card, that makes $70 this year, thanks to Swagbucks. Didn't cost me a cent, either; I just use it for searches, a survey now and then, and points on an occasional purchase. You can benefit from this, too!
*Looked at Ebay items several times, especially books from my favorite Buy-3-Get-1-Free seller, Second Sale. Drooled, swallowed hard...then closed the shopping cart. After my multiple purchases last month, I promised myself -- and the Brick-- that I wouldn't buy anything in February. (Fortunately, I'd purchased his birthday presents already.)
*Vacuumed and-washed the truck inside. It needed it, too.
*Painted and shingled the 'Little Free Library' I'd initiated. Hopefully it can be installed soon. (The paint and shingles were house leftovers from the previous owner.)
*Valentine's Day: we kept this really frugal this year, in part because we were having a snow/ice storm much of the day. (And frankly, there's not much available close by except Dollar General.) The Brick printed off a lovely card for me; I made up a Snoopy house kit (thanks, Oriental Trading!) and included some of his favorite chocolates: Toblerone bars ($1.60 each from Amazon). Romance is in the air...
I left Toblerone bars for Daughter #1 and Adopted Son #1, and Daughter #2 and Son #1 got some when they stopped on their way home from Tucson. Plus a Snoopy house. (My piano student got one, too. What can I say...)
*Helped our friend out with propane -- we can buy it in quantity for approx. a third of what he would have had to pay.
*We saved money by spending money -- a two-pack of lasagna ($16.99...I think), a double salad kit ($7.99), blueberries ($4.99) and a cheesecake ($19.99), all from Costco, fed the kids and us for one supper in Denver. I realize this sounds like a lot -- but these members of our family enjoy higher-level restaurants than we normally patronize. Considering a meal with them usually runs between $120-200, $50 is a bargain!
I used the second pack of lasagna for a church potluck, plus a quart of ice cream already in the freezer. (Just didn't feel like cooking, after working to meet deadlines.) Another save!
Just a few grocery visits. The Brick picked up an extra gallon of milk at our local Dollar General, which I secretly stretched with a little water. Yes, he paid more...but it kept me from picking up extras at the grocery store.
*Kept Freya, our granddog, for much of the month, while her parents were working a booth for their rock business, Phenomenal Gems.
*The Brick did some hanging around: two prints and the Breakheart Pass poster. Sweet man.
*A $7.68 Walmart giftcard (refunded for the crumbly tatertots last month). I also got a $5 coupon for calling about some bland P.F Chang's honey chicken. (Their Mongolian beef dish was much better.)
Thrift shop buys: $5 heavy-duty turtleneck sweater (reg. $9.99), Orvus shirt (the Brick's) for $7.99; heavy wool afghan $5.99; small watercolor ($3.50) and a large ($20) print (ARC Thrift/Denver). Cast iron heavy pot ($14.99), two pairs of jeans for the Brick ($7 each), yellow/green plaid tablecloth ($4.99) and two heavy wooden boxes ($7.99 ea), a few shirts ($2.50 each) and four $1.99 budget-themed books (Goodwill/Colorado Springs). Filleting knife (50 cents), huge Tigger mug ($1), $5 black summer dress and a 50-cent paperback (Pet rescue thrift in Trinidad). Senior 20% discount for a few small things - sorry, can't remember what (Treasures in the Park, Castle Rock).
*Freebie dinners: The monthly church potluck, and Sunday dinner at a friend's house. (Daughter #1 and Adopted Son #1 also made a chili meal for us.) We got a free concert, as well, in return for eating supper at Lu's, a local diner. (The music was great.)
*Several appraisals -- in both the Denver area and Trinidad.
*One big snowstorm that filled the driveway. The Brick figured out how to 'plow' with the truck, which will do...until we can save for a Kubota!
*Meet-and-greet for ASA -- appetizers and free drinks at a Cherry Creek restaurant while we met and greeted, and I gained a few learning credits for my appraisal certification.
*Kept the wood rack filled, thanks in part to the truckload of aspen we got last month. When things got chilly in the office, I just used a blanket. Our down comforter, a 2022 Goodwill buy still going strong, kept us warm at night.
*The Brick helped an older couple in the Valley figure out their heating problems -- and was given $75. (And a Coke!) He also worked on the Little Free Library.
*Daughter #1 got a huge promotion at work! We are so proud of her. (And yes, I did the "poor and needy" business for her, too. She just laughed.)
*Used a second ham up, purchased during the holidays: fried ham for several breakfasts, plus ham and navy beans. Baked the pumpkins used for decorations in October -- and used some of the pulp to help Ruby's constipation. My goal is to keep using down the pantry and freezer food as much as possible. (One more pumpkin to go.)
*Grocery buys: Cans of 36-cent organic kidney beans...really! (Amazon). Cans of corned beef hash and pea soup (79 cents) , 2 1/2 pound pkg of beer bratwurst ($3.99), Jimmy Dean sausage (about $1.50/lb) -- and 18 farm eggs for $5.99 -- a steal here in Colorado. We got a few extra cartons for the kids, too (SLV Amish grocery).
*An absolutely wnderful 1796 framed newspaper of one of George Washington's addresses -- for a buck! (And it wasn't Mount Vernon, either, you dad-jokers out there.) This was a birthday present for the Brick.
I got some discounts on other birthday presents for him, as well, thanks to Amazon and Ebay. Plus free shipping.
*Earned $15 in giftcard credits from our Humana Go365 health plan -- thanks to exercising and volunteering.
*Got a library card from the Broomfield Public Library, in north Denver. Now I have another place to go when I need to reserve a free study room.
*Watched THE NEWTON BOYS -- about four brothers who hit dozens of banks in the late Teens and 1920s -- as well as All The Queen's Horses and about a billion episodes of American Greed. All for free.
*No 70th birthday party for the Brick. (His decision, not mine.) We did spend a luxurious -- for us -- afternoon at the nearby Hooper hot springs -- we even paid extra to use the enclosed tropical (i.e., 'greenhouse') area! A great lunch at My Brother's Pizza was part of the day, as well as a fried pie from the local Amish bakery, Worth the Drive. (I'm not making this up. That's the place's name -- and it's definitely worth it.)
I bought a box of bubble gum cigars to hand out at church to friends. ("You're weird," said the Brick..) I ordered two pound cakes from our friend for the party...but those will go in the freezer, instead. We did have a very nice Mexican lunch with the kids. (thanks, Dears!) Son #1 and Daughter #2 gave their dad a delicious tiramisu cake, as well as a new strap for his mandolin.
FRUGAL MISSES
*The lemon/lime trees were showing sticky leaves (bugs) -- pulled those off and kept spritzing to a minimum. (Mites love moisture, and these little buggers were apparently taking advantage of the misting.) We sprayed neem oil on them, too. These were partly inspired by The Prudent Homemaker's Meyer lemon trees -- my lemon tree is the same kind. (Yes, each has several little fruits on it.)
*We may have to wait UP TO A YEAR to get our adjustments, thanks to the passing of the Social Security Fairness Act. The bill passed in late December, and we haven't seen anything yet. Update: Social Security is now posting that these may come as early as late March/April. I hope they're right!
*Missed out on two Lord & Richards events -- fancy suppers and all. Ah well.
*We needed a money order. for a county fee..a real problem, when your personal bank account is a few hours drive away. We got it at the post office, but I am wondering... what's wrong with cash?
*Same old story - ordered 2 jars of mixed nuts on Amazon, got just one. I did eventually get credited for the missing jar.
*Hot water heater repairs made, by my in-house handyman. The Brick ordered a humidifier, as well. (It does get dry here.)
*Dr's visit for my knee, which still gives problems. Joyous. (He is a nice guy, but still...)
*Had to re-send my sales tax form. I forgot to put on the last four digits, showing where we live now. Of course the state mailed the letter to our current address, so they KNOW where we live.
*Lots of appraisal reports to catch up on. Had better get to it...
Last month's report is here. February 2024's report is here, and the report from 2023 is here.
And Spring is on its way. Hopefully.
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