Five things that make me happy:
- I made $100 selling a cool antique (but thrifted) coffee table that my mother wasn’t using. She and I had spent a few hours going through the back of her kitchen and she’d encouraged me to sell anything she’d otherwise be getting rid of. (I think she was more excited about the sale than I was!) Plus, it went to a collector of the Hispano Moresque style of tiled tables, so I know it went to a good home. #collegefund
- My sixteen-year-old son is learning to drive and we’ve started letting him do all of the driving for errands, which means that he’s getting better very quickly. It’s a joy to see him taking on adult responsibilities with confidence. Even if it means having my hair go completely white within a matter of months. (Seriously, I think being in the car with a new driver is the greatest gift of love a mother can give to her child!)
- Fred Meyer has had some very practical loss leader sales lately including milk, butter and eggs. Being able to inexpensively stock up on these staples frees up our grocery budget, which is very helpful.
- I came up with an absolutely amazing idea for my father’s 80th birthday gift. (I can’t share it here, but I will after June 23rd.) Not only will the gift be personalized, but it will also be very, very frugal.
- I am extremely happy that I was able to opt my son out of his university’s health insurance plan for the current quarter. The $694 I wasted last month still makes me burn.
One thing that’s pissing me off:
- I somehow spaced out Fred Meyer’s annual Fuchsia Saturday event where they sell fuchsia starts at 5-for-$3 and even include the potting soil! This is my one gardening expenditure for the year, and I love seeing my hanging baskets on the back porch. I already used last year’s soil in other areas, so the wire baskets are currently swinging empty in the breeze. I guess I’ll just figure out something that I already have to go in the baskets, but I’ll be sure to mark my calendar for next year’s fuchsia day! Seriously, I’m kicking myself over this!
Now your turn. What’s making you happy and conversely what’s pissing you off?
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
{ 34 comments… read them below or add one }
That stinks that you missed fuchsia day!
Making me happy:
1. Completed most of the demo of our coat closet with NO nasty surprises. In our 100 year old home, this is the FIRST time there have not been nasty surprises during one of our projects. There was, however, some seriously nasty filth – still shuddering.
2. Signed up for an free online electrical course. Since we are DIY-ing, I am educating myself beyond the how-to manuals. I will also be taking carpentry and plumbing courses.
3. Love my new towel warmer. It is my one “Princess Diva McSpoilederson” household item.
Pissing me off:
In installing the new towel warmer, I misread the directions for the spacing on the anchors. I measured MULTIPLE times, and the anchors are right where I marked, in the wrong spot! Then, two of the drywall screws cracked because they were super-cheap, so I had to use molly bolts. Now there are FOUR holes in the bathroom wall that I have to patch and paint.
I am totally stealing Princess Diva McSpoilederson from you!
LOL! I’ll be looking for your check in the mail to cover the trademark fees! 🙂
Awe man! I remember previous fuchsia day posts – I’ve always been envious that you have a store that does that!
Making me happy:
1. I had a nice long phone conversation today with a friend that is on hospice care. She sounded really good and her pain level is much lower with proper medication.
2. I was able to stop at Aldi while I was running errands. They had good prices on mushrooms, bananas, mandarins, baby carrots, and blackberries. That’s all I bought, The store is next door to Dollar Tree, I stopped in there and bought two Mother’s Day cards $.50/each).
3. I will be able to see additional family members when I go to visit my sister and her family this weekend, More family members will be there than I expected.
4. Even though it is raining, it truly looks and feels like spring (after a very long winter). The amount of green and other colors (budding trees, flowering shrubs, flowering bulbs) and increased daylight make life so much more pleasant.
5. There are leftovers in the refrigerator for dinner.
One thing that’s pissing me off:
1. I have not been sleeping well. Every day I am a bit more tired than the day before. There has been so much going on in life that sometimes I am not as relaxed at night as I should be.
Yep! I remembered About 5 pm. Really pissed me off!
Sigh . . . at least I wasn’t the only one who forgot. 🙁
I noticed “special” Heinz cleaning vinegar at Walmart today. It was a bit more expensive but possibly worth it if it means less elbow grease. Then I read the label. It’s regular vinegar diluted with water! So, diluted vinegar costs more than full strength. That really pissed me off.
The vinegar sold in stores has been diluted. Standard white vinegar used for cooking has been diluted with water to 5%. Cleaning vinegar is usually diluted to 6%, so it’s stronger than cooking vinegar. I don’t actually think you got ripped off. Check the label on standard vinegar if you have some.
Katy, I don’t know if Wilco is too far for you to go or not but they are doing the same potting thing this coming Saturday.
Doesn’t Portland have a compost making spot where they dump all the leaves, etc? Our town has one, and we can go and get free soil every spring. You’ll have to look around for other low cost flower deals, and maybe you’ll find some other $$ saving ideas at the same time.
KATIE! BiMart this Saturday. 10 am – 2 pm. Not sure about all stores, but for sure at the Gresham one.
Really? I think there’s one on Woodstock. Thanks!
Making me happy:
* Started the Turbo Fire program once again and I just love the energy of Chalean Johnson, the instructor. Plus, I can do the whole workouts in my living room.
* First BBQ of the year tonight! Prepared and cooked by DH.
* My work schedule : Monday to Friday 8h-11h30 am. No nights, no week-ends, no civic holidays.
* Selling a carseat after posting it for only a couple of hours. 60$ back in our pockets
* My little family. I am blessed with a great husband and 2 amazing little girls, and thanking life for them every day.
Pissing me off… hmmm…..
Don’t know. Nothing.
I am anxious about some changes at work soon, related to the way of doing things. And dissapointed that a holiday plan won’t work out this summer.
Have a great frugal day!
5 things making me happy:
1. I have a check coming this week from the Thrift Store I took items I couldn’t wear anymore (over 6 feet of clothes, gulp! Work clothes I won’t be wearing anymore) and from six boxes of garage sale items I knew I probably wouldn’t sell but would at the thrift store. They take a cut but it goes to charity and it helps me free myself of things weighing me down and cleared up closet space and garage space.
2. Just filled out a survey for Panda Express so next time will get one free entrée, lunch for the next day 🙂
3. Got paid today for a dog walking job my daughter and I do – the money paid for dinner tonight at Panda Express, a tank of gas and a small cut to my daughter for her to spend and save. WE get paid to get exercise and my daughter gets to see what owning a pet is like and earn some cash for her 8th grade trip to Washington DC which is 2 years from now – she at $100 so far. 🙂
4. We bought one bag of Easter Dove chocolate Easter candy at CVS and one bag of spice jelly beans for 75% off – tempted to buy more chocolate and freeze…the male cashier must have been laughing on the inside – I also bought a bottle of cheap wine and feminine products – everything was medicinal right and essential?
5. My energy bill went down a lot in the comparison from last year for this month, yeah! Pulling plugs, turning things off is paying off. Although when I finally get around to changing all the burned out bulbs it will probably go back up lol.
Hmmmm, thinking what am I pissed about? I guess drivers who don’t use turn signals and who are on their cell phones and driving unsafely and crappy!!! Both things that can easily be fixed, harump! I had a courtesy driver from the dealership tell me he never uses it turn signals, he doesn’t need to – what? You do when your driving me.
Ditto on remembering and enjoying previous fuchsia day posts!
1. Happy that when I went to Staples today to use my Rewards, I found a large framed dry erase magnetic board marked down from $29.99 to $3 and a LED gooseneck lamp marked down to $3 from $19.99. DS#2 will be leaving for college in the fall and these will be great for his dorm room! I’m trying to pick up the things he’ll need a little at a time when I find them at really deep discounts.
2. Enjoying the Greek Wedding Soup that I made for dinner. I’ve been wanting to try this recipe for quite awhile and realized I had everything I needed to make it. I cooked chicken breasts in the slow cooker yesterday and then put the bones back in the slow cooker with some water to make stock overnight. So I strained the broth when I got home, added in some of the chicken and some orzo and used a lemon that needed to be used soon. Cooked 20 minutes and added in a cup of milk. Really yummy and supposed to be even better the next day.
3. Glad to see all my daffodils come up and bloom. A lot of the bulbs I got from a fellow freecycler last spring when they needed to thin their beds so I’m glad to see what I what I planted!
4. So happy that I have been able to match sales and double coupons to keep my food budget low and to stock up on some items we use quite a lot of- pineapple, canned beans, tomatoes, pasta and seafood.
5. Looking forward to that Art show tomorrow at the high school. It’s held every year for the entire feeder system of this area’s schools. My son’s work has been displayed each of his 12 years and since he will be graduating next month this is the last one for us. I love to see all the talent displayed and we always take a picture with his Elementary school and Middle school Art teachers.
~Ticked off that it has taken me 2 weeks to get over a virus I caught when a corporate person came to our office and used my computer. She kept coughing into her hands and then using my keyboard and mouse! It aggravated my asthma and I ended up at the doctor and then a few days later in the ER. I will be rude in the future and Lysol my computer right in front of them! Today was my first day back to work since then and I am still so tired!
Hooray for you that you somehow were able to convince them to drop the university healthcare “fee.” My second daughter went to the university clinic with an infected cyst after falling off her bicycle out of state in Virginia. They took one look and told her to go to a “regular” doctor. The doctor who was on the list for Anthem Blue Cross told my daughter she had to pay $68 CASH even though we have an HRA plan with no upfront copay or deductible. When she said she didn’t have any cash on her, they told her to go to Rite-Aid and buy something with her debit card so she could get cash. Then they submitted the visit to insurance and got paid TWICE. I found out and was furious! And the university healthcare fee was a complete rip off! The worst part was I complained to Anthem, and I couldn’t get anyone there to even act to reprimand this doctor’s office!
1. Took the final tax papers in. I wait later every year, and I don’t know why. We’re poor enough that we don’t owe. I think it’s because we’re so poor these days. And for anyone over 50, or poor. AARP does your taxes for free, and they are wonderful people there.
2. wasn’t clear Katy, about the fuchsia’s? If you wanted the free potting soil or the fuchias? They usually have fuschia’s for a few day’s after, and they are usually marked down even more.
3.Wandered into Wal-mart today looking for something advertised that they didn’t have, but found 2 6 packs of annuals marked down 50%.
4. The goal this year is to replace lightbulbs. I want LED’s in every fixture that is used alot.Bought 2 more today at Target, after coupon $4.99 each.That’s 7 I have now.
5.My hens are finally done moulting and laying. Came home to 3 eggs. makes me very happy. I equate checking for eggs, like checking the mail. You never know what you’ll get.
6. The new puppy hasn’t peed on the floor in 3 days Yahoo!
okay that was 6 things, nothing is pissing me off!!!
total bummer you missed it!
They haven’t been 5 for $3 in a LONG time. This year they were on sale for $0.79 the week before the big event. Then $.75 last week leading up to Fuchsia saturday.
Mark your calendar: first full week of April and that Saturday is the planting event. They had a limit this year. 8 pots. 16″ maximum.
My costco executive member check came today, so now I have an extra $53 to spend on groceries for the month! Woot!!!
I am, however, pissed like you for missing an awesome sale. A friend noticed that airfare back to our old city (which we are going to for a party at the end of the month) was only $19/way, and of course, being lazy I waiting until the next day. It was a one day sale 🙁 I guess we are driving the 12 hours now…bummer.
airfare for 19$?????????!!
1. My husband’s first SS check arrived today. He took early SS because he’s been unemployed for four years now, and because his health is not that good (decades of Type I “juvenile” diabetes). He’s afraid to wait until 67 for a full check, because of his health. This check isn’t much, but we sure can use the extra money.
2. We sat down and had a talk about how to spend less money and what we needed to cut out of expenses that we haven’t already, and no one got mad! I think it was a first.
3. We were able to cut out some insurance coverage that we no longer need, saving us $50 a month. We also saw a slight drop in our auto coverage rates.
4. The weather is muggy, but not as hot, so we can still hold off on turning on the A/C. At least, until we start molding over, anyway!
5. I’m realizing the joy of having a sewing machine always set up in the bedroom. There’s enough room for it, and I do much more repairing, hemming, and creating needed things (like curtains) if I don’t have to lug the machine out, set it up on the dining table, then take it back down for every meal. My bedroom may not look like House Beautiful, but I’m getting things done without all the hassle.
Pissing me off — thanks to the new insurance mandates, the insulin I could get for $10 a bottle last year now has a once yearly deductible and a larger co-pay. To order our usual 3 bottles, my first order of the year has to cover the deductible along with the co-pay, and the cost will be $290! Compared to $30 per order for all of my 3 bottle orders last year, this is outrageous. The deductible and larger co-pay are now required for brand name drugs on our plan — the fact that there is no generic insulin doesn’t matter. With previous insurance plans I had, if there was no generic, the brand name came with a generic co-pay and no deductible, but not now. I am so p.o.’d.
Yikes! My daughter has food allergies so we carry an epi pen for her. She is in daycare so there are two sets of pens. This year I refilled both sets (at the same time) and the co pay was $225. I feel your pain.
Ask your pharmacist if there are any discount plans that can help you pay for your meds. Tell them that with the new costs you are having trouble affording the co pays. You would be shocked at the plans that the drug companies have that will help lower your costs. Either that or go to the drug companies website and see if there are any savings they can offer you.
Thanks, I may do that. We are hoping the VA, which he just started using, will be able to help us here, but he’s running low and we don’t have his endocrinologist appointment set up yet. It’s so aggravating — insulin is a life support, and yet they can do this to the cost. ( And Epi pens are life-savers, too — I have a friend whose sister died when she used her Epi pen for a bee sting and had not bought another yet when she was stung again, only a week later.)
1. Happy the weather is beautiful. I can go for a walk without worrying about slipping on the ice or diving into a snowbank when the cars get to close.
2. Happy my husband has finished painting our basement DIY project. Lights are installed and everything is working. Yeah for a handy husband.
3. Happy that my insurance agent said the $200 rise in my house insurance was just a paperwork glitch.
4. Happy I booked our trip last weekend for this summer. The price just went up $500 a person.
5.Very happy everyone in our family is happy and healthy.
6. One thing that’s pissing me off. After purchasing eight gallons of paint at Lowes, they now have a rebate on their paint. I missed the dates by a week or two. Boo!!
The same thing that is making me happy is also pissing me off! I’m happy we have 6 deer roaming our neighborhood. I’m happy my tulips have begun blooming. I’m seriously pissed off that last evening our 6 friendly deer wandered through our yard and munched up all the blossoms. There. I just needed to vent!
1) I’m happy we received over 3″ of rain this week. We desperately needed it and I can actually see the top of the pond from my kitchen window now!
2) I love the audiobook I’ve been listing to, “Aunt Diminity and the Wishing Well” – it’s a lighthearted and funny novel.
3) I love that hubby gave me more money to deposit than usual this week. I was able to buy more critter food, instead having to wait until next week.
4) I love that my daughter has found a home church that she and the kids love – it’s refreshing to see them excited and involved in activities within their own age groups.
5) I’m glad that I finally have a payflex account that allows me to afford the fillings I need in my teeth. I’m going to get that over with tomorrow.
One thing that’s irritating me – the system I’m using to get some work done here on the job keeps timing out. I wish they’d get something that doesn’t waste so much time.
HAPPY: 1) I just helped a first-time car owner buy her first pre-owned car in her budget and the model she wanted. 2) I took the time to prep our week’s meals last Sun. so dinners are easy this week & there’s no unplanned eating out. 3) Teen #2, at age 18, is meeting with our financial planner! (Teen #1 did so at this age, too!) 3) Hubby received enough Amazon GCs for his recent b.day that he was able to replace 2 Kindles in our house that recently died. ROYALLY PISSED OFF: 1) Some yahoo in FL charged nearly $6,000 on our BECU Visa card….AAARRRGGGHHHH!!!!
yes, bi-mart is doing the fuchsia thing here on the west side of pdx, so I imagine that w Gresham on the east doing it as well, you will likely get the deal in your neighborhood.
but, I wonder–what happens to your fuchsias that you need new ones every year? do you leave them out and they freeze? I have two that live inside year round. they make pretty houseplants. I have a 3rd that spends most of the year out and just the cold weather in. it tends to go dormant, so I cut back on its water after it comes in about Halloween, and then water normally from about valentine’s day until it goes out after last frost.
Dave Ramsey calls things like your sons health insurance $694 in “Stupid Tax”
Once you’ve paid stupid tax you seldom do it again.
Colossally stupid tax!
Putting your 16 year old in charge of errands is sheer genius! A win-win for everyone.
I agree, sitting in the car with your kid behind the wheel learning to drive is terrifying. The only thing I found *more* terrifying? When he actually got his license and then he left in the car without me. This whole ‘letting them grow up’ thing is hard!