Cheap Vs. Frugal

Hubby, Miss Baby, and I spent some wonderful time with friends yesterday. We did some early cocktails at our favorite watering hole and then went back to their house for some delicious pizza, and wine. We had a conversation what is the difference between being cheap and being frugal. Cheap just sounds like such a negative word. Cheap to me is something made of poor quality or a person who is not willing to pay their share. Now frugal to me is someone who watches their money wisely and buys things on sale, and lives well below their means. If someone called me cheap I would be horrified, but if they called me frugal I would be pleased.

Hubby and I have really been evaluating how we live lately. We want to pay off some student loans, and in the next few years consider buying our dream home (which we'll find somewhere around here). We've often talked about how we could live more simply. This morning Miss Baby took a nice nap so we decided to do some early spring cleaning. It was interesting spring cleaning out closets together, because Hubby would say "oh I remember you had to have that at the yard sale we went to last summer" or "oh was that the thing that was on sale that you got because it was a "good deal" and now it is going to the thrift store." It really put things into perspective for me. We also looked around at the things we got from yard sales that we use everyday, and could not live without (but that's a whole other blog). This morning really showed me that even though I had been "frugal" with my purchases at the time, in the end it was a waste of money because many of the things I bought were never used and stored in a closet for a "someday project". Maybe it was times like that I should have been cheap and not bought the item because it was a good deal :) Maybe being cheap in some cases is not such a bad thing!

The World's Worst Cook Is Getting Better??

So i've heard all about these Ziploc omelets. I've been a little hesitant to try them I mean boiling water and plastic seems like a recipe for disaster at my house. I was getting sick of oatmeal so I figured what the hell, it's snowing out and I was craving a broccoli and cheese omelet. *Side note i've never had a broccoli and cheese omelet which scared the hell out of me that I was craving one.

I will say it was the best omelet i've ever made. Super easy clean up and it was delicious. I had 3 eggs, shredded cheese, broccoli, parmesan cheese, and fresh garlic. Yum Yum. I boiled my bag for 15 minutes and it came out perfectly. Please excuse the yellow plastic college plate that I refuse to throw away for some reason....

Stocking Up For The Big Storm With.. Chocolate

So Miss Baby and I decided to head out yesterday and run our errands because we knew today we would be getting snow.

My first stop:


I had a sweater I bought during pregnancy that I had planned on loving after pregnancy. Well I didn't love it after pregancy. One of my goals this year is to not let brand new clothes sit in my closet without being worn, and then a year from now hauled off to the thrift store. So I dragged the sweater back to Eddie Bauer and returned it for a useful long sleeve shirt and socks. I only had to pay $.78 overage, but a much better deal for something I will definitely get use out of. I never buy red, but I thought it would be a nice change.

Second Stop:

Walgreens. I love walgreens. The store is fairly new to our town, and I think i've been there more than any other drug store in town. Yesterday Walgreens had a deal that you could get an 8X10 collage for free. I made one and picked it up at the store, it is adorable! I also got free dove deoderant, hair elastics for $.75. My favorite buy was the lindt heart box of truffles. 48 truffles per box they were on clearence from $14.99 to $3.74. BUT WAIT I also had a $1.00 off coupon so that made them $2.74 a box. That is even cheaper than the Lindt outlet in town!

All these goodies for a total of $7.00 not bad at all!

Wednesday Finds

So Miss Baby and I had to venture out into crazy February vacation week alone, Gramie couldn't make it up this week. We didn't find too much at the doggie thrift store

2 brand new magazines for $1.00 and a shirt for $2.00

How I'm Being Frugal Right Now

It is the time of year that I hate. Right after the holidays, and it is cold and snowy. My bank account this time of year is always low, due to holiday overspending and retail therapy for the winter blues. My new year's resolution is to be more frugal and simplify my life. Here are the ten things I am doing right now to live frugally.

1. Shopping at thrift stores. For $7.00 I got a banana republic button down blouse (looks brand new), brown ann taylor work pants, a black sweater, and two books. This was from the doggie thrift store so all my money went towards my favorite animals. I couldn't have even bought the books for $7.00 at borders. After retail shopping the other day I had to get back to my roots.

2. I'm not buying magazines full price anymore. I can get them "used" at the thrift store for .50 or even better for free at the library. Our library has great subscriptions you can take out for 3 weeks at a time. Example: Glamour, Oprah, Consumer Reports, Martha Stewart, Rachael Ray, In Style.

3. Im using coupons for things we use. I got these dryer sheets for .52 with a coupon. Did we need dryer sheets no, but we will soon, i only bought one box so it wasnt a waste of $$ we'll use 'em.

4. I'm wearing slippers. This is from my mom telling me my whole childhood to wear slippers, it keeps the wear and tear on my socks down and my floors in better condition from winter shoes.

5. Im learning how to make a good cup of coffee. Don't laugh I make the worst cup of coffee ever! Too strong, too weak I can't get it right. Then I end up buying a D&D coffee for $2.09 so im attempting to save that $2.09 every day .

6. Miss Baby is wearing second hand clothes and playing with second hand toys.

7. I'm making our dog food. Our dog has a gluten allergy and needs specific food that is very expensive. Every week I make his food for a fraction of the cost. When Miss Baby is on solids I also will be making her food too!

8. Hubby and I are not eating out as much. If we do eat out we go for lunch which is cheaper, and a happier time of the day for Miss Baby.

9. We are only buying what we need for the week from the grocery store. I'm famous for letting vegetables, meat, and cheese go bad, which in turn is a waste of money.

10. Im not buying things I don't need because it is a "good deal". Im slowly getting better at this!

What are you doing to live frugally?

Retail Shopping

As you know I do not retail shop alot. But for Christmas I got gift cards to the retail outlets in our town. So hubby was gracious enough to go with me and take care of Miss Baby while I tried on clothes. I forget how much I hate brand new clothes shopping, it is not as rewarding as finding that perfect shirt for $1.00 that fits you perfectly! This is what I got for $38.00. Which is a ton of money to spend on clothes for me, but I didn't spend a cent :)

Everything I got was from Banana Republic

Grey Dress Pants $12.00

Sunglasses $6.00

Cardigan $20.00

It has been chilly here on Fairview Ave. Here is Miss Baby in her cheetah fleece vest and her Uggs. Yes real Uggs, They were hand me downs :)

Stay Warm!!

Sunday on Fairview Ave.

Im sitting here in my cozy living room reading blogs. All of a sudden I stop because I can hear this noise.... I think to myself what the hell is that noise, and it hits me the whole house is snoring. I can hear Miss Baby snoring peacefully over the baby monitor. Hubby and the T.C.F.H are snoring on the couch, T.C.F.H gets up and makes his way to the dog's bed and continues to snore there with the dog. There is not a more peaceful time on Fairview Ave.

It has been a busy day. Miss baby and I went to visit Gramie and Pepe today. They head to Florida next week for vacation so we wont see them for a while. I am so jealous I wish I were flying somewhere warm next week! It is so cute how much they both love her, and how content she is at their house.

Hopefully I'll get some thrifting in this week. I've been trying to clean out my house and live more simply. I am the type of person if the item is a "good deal" or free I take it, even if I will never use it. Then I let it sit in my house, and hubby complains how it is collecting dust. So my goal this year is to only buy or take from the dump things I will absolutely use. Wish me luck with my new year's resolution, I think it is obtainable, just might take some self control :)