Thursday, February 5, 2009

Random Thoughts

Here begins the brain purge...

  • I had no hot water in my apartment today so my morning shower was fun. Its a balmy 20 something degrees here and the window in my shower is not insulated well. So in addition to the icy water, I got a nice breeze to round out the experience.
  • Is everyone else luvin Lost as much as I am this season? I love finally getting some questions answered and its so cool to see more of the island's history. Love it! It totally makes up for last season and almost makes up for making me wait until January for the new season to start.
  • I was watching this week's episode of Jon and Kate Plus 8 and I really love their new house. The kitchen is so beautiful. I cracked up when Kate was "yelling" at Jon for not using a coupon for something he bought. She says to him - you know we don't buy anything without a coupon! Rock on Kate! And I really wish they'd show some footage of her stockpile. She said a couple weeks back the whole family could live off of her stockpile for two years. Can you imagine what that must look like?
  • And lastly, I'm feeling down about my savings lately. I hesitated to post this because I don't like to be too negative, but today's one of those days where I'm definitely not seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. I want a house like Jon and Kate gosh darn'd it! Kidding obviously...but I'd settle for something smaller. Any givers? ;) Sigh, sometimes I really hate waiting for things. I wish I had more wiggle room in my budget to save more. There are things I could cut I guess: cable - did that before and really hated it and Netflix - have done before, maybe I'll cut down to a lower plan. Sigh, sigh, sigh. Moving on...

Update - ok, you gals were right and I lowered my Netflix plan to $8.99 a month. Unfortunately, there are no Redbox machines near home and the closest to work would really be out of the way. I could cut Netflix all together I know, but I don't wanna. lol

Here ends the brain purge. Thank you for listening and have a lovely day. :)

19 comments:

spaghetti0625 said...

What happened that you didn't have hot water? I don't know if I can do a cold shower...it has to be steaming hot for me to get in. And I HATE getting out into the cold, so that breeze you got...man...I don't know how you survived :) Hope everything is good and you get your hot water back on soon!

Amanda Grant said...

Hang in there! You are doing so good and have been such an inspiration to so many who are trying to stretch our dollars as far as possible. Things will get better! Stay touch and dip into your cookie/candy stockpile. That always makes me feel better. :)

frugalsuz said...

I'm not sure, maybe something froze? The maintenance guys at the complex were working on it when I left for work so hopefully it will be fixed when I get home.

I hate cold showers too! I probably would have skipped it if my hair didn't get so dirty so fast. That was probably the quickest shower I've ever taken! lol

SwagGrabber said...

I feel your pain, we woke up this morning with no power, which means no heat. 20 degrees outside and just as cold inside...it sucked!

Luckily thought they got the power back on right as we needed to get ready!

Watched Lost last night but honestly I am sooo over it, all it is (and has been) is nothing but flash forwards, flashback, flash sideways and who knows what else. I am still watching but also still waiting to fall back in love, only watching because I am used to it...LOL.

Try Leverage - great new show!!!

I gotta an idea for you. Your stockpile gets insanely big and I know you donate it, which I think is great, but what if you did a garage sale with a few months worth and save the extra money. You could easily make a few hundred dollars off it..easy!

Sometimes the best person to donate too is yourself! You work for that stash use it to your advantage once in a while. I am not saying don't still donate, but maybe donate what you don't sell or else donate half of what you accumulate, profit off the rest!

Mindolla said...

hang in there. It is HARD. I read all these posts and think ugg why not me. I don't want a life thats not enjoyable. I didnt have cable for a while but yes love it. I do recommend maybe cancelling Netflix and using Redbox when you really want to see something and also checking you library as I rent quite a few DVDs there.
You are an inspiration though.
I have made may mistakes in the past (read as BAD credit) and now I have a family struggling to get even a little ahead. But I know it will be done...

Laurie said...

I'm feeling the same way about my savings! (I just figured out that everything that I saved by doing this budget thing went to pay for homeowners insurance for the year, renewal of my antivirus software, new wiper blades & a vet visit for the kitty.)

It will get better though!!! You've been doing so well. I agree w/the last poster about doing a yardsale and donating what you don't sell.

Stay warm!!

Slickcat said...

Aww, I know what you mean. It just seems like it will take sooo loong to do everything the "fiscally responsible" way, LOL. But you are in a WAY better place than so many other people, and you're doing great with your savings, so keep it up!

And if you have a minute, check out endofworld.net for some cheap amusement :)

Amiyrah said...

M and I think alike! I was just going to come on here and tell you to cancel that netflix and stick to redbox since we get it for free.

If you want to get really "pirates of the caribbean" about it, you can rent a good movie, copy it to your computer, return it the next day, and watch it at your leisure.

Or, if you want to stay legit, check out hulu.com. They post whole movies all the time and it's free to watch them.

I posted that quote that Kate said on Monday on the pound. No one responded but I see I wasn't the only one watching! lol....hate to break it to you, but unless you have 8 kids in the near future and decide to let them star in a reality show, you probably won't get that house(and many acres) that Jon and Kate got lol. You're so young! You have plenty of time to reach that level.

One last thing, if you want to follow swaggrabber's advice on the "garage sale" and your complex doesn't allow you to do one, check yahoo groups for a "kit and kaboodle" group for your county. On there, you can sell anything to others in your area. It's like freecycle, but you actually pay for stuff. I haven't done it yet because I've had family members who needed my stockpile, but I plan on doing it soon for toothpaste and shampoo.

frugalsuz said...

Amanda,
Thank you so much! We all have ups and downs, today's just a down day. I'm going to do my taxes this weekend - hopefully a nice big fat refund will be headed my way and that will definitely cheer me up. :)

Swag,
Over Lost? Oh my gosh, definitely not in my house! lol
Hmm, the garage sale is a thought.

M,
Unfortunately, there are no Redbox machines close to me otherwise I'd be all over that. I did lower my plan to the next level down, so that will help a little.

Laurie,
I know, its always one step forward, two steps back. But at least for both of us, we were able to pay those bills out of savings instead of putting them on credit cards. That is really saying something! Its just frustrating to see so little in the savings account, although I know that will change eventually.

Emily,
Thanks for the kind words! It is amazing to be out of credit card debt, and I'm in a much better place financially than I was a year ago, so that's something.

Amiyrah,
I remember you posting that Jon and Kate quote the other day but I hadn't watched the episode yet. I love that show and how organized Kate is. She totally appeals to my OCD side. :) And oh, I would never want a house that big. Too much to clean, heat, cool, let alone pay for! I really would like a small manageable house. I just am sick of apartment living, but I'm not going anywhere any time soon.

I think I can do garage sales in my complex, I know other folks have. I'll definitely have to think about that. I could use all the help I can get!

Chicagolandia said...

I like the sunny spin you put on it - "the balmy breeze..." I feel your housing frustration, no matter how much you save, you're never quite close enough to getting what you want.
What I have learned about cutting expenses is to never cut back to the point where you can't have fun.

Anonymous said...

oh im one uping you on the cold shower lol Our furnance went out 2 nights ago!! So we have been freezing too. Sorry about your cold shower. Hope they get it fixed soon.

We also cut cable 8 months ago. We'll really we never actually signed up for it when we got married. But we are thinking about signing up for blockbuster so we can atleast have some movies to watch.

AH i forgot to watch LOST but so far I am LOVING this season!

frugalsuz said...

Chicagolandia,
That's so true! That's one of the reasons I'm hesitant to give up cable and netflix entirely. My boyfriend and I usually watch a movie each weekend and its our low budget date night.

Debtfree,
Wait a minute...did you just say you FORGOT to watch Lost? How is that even possible? Its not the pinnacle of your week? GASP! lol

Anonymous said...

I am loving Lost too!(Jack is so dreamy) There is no way I could take a cold shower! you are braver than I am :) I hope you get your hot water back soon!

frugalsuz said...

Missy,
I would totally go for Sawyer vs Jack! My sister loves Jack too, but I can't help but think of Party of Five when I see him! lol

I hope my hot water is back when I get home from work. I have to get up early on Fridays, so that plus ice cold water does not equal a good Friday. :)

Lindsay said...

Suz,
I'm a LOST fanatic too!!! <3 Sawyer! Can't believe last night's cliff hanger!!!!

Goodluck with your savings - it really does just take time. But don't forget to give yourself little treats now and then -otherwise you'll feel deprived.

You have netflix? My husband and I bought the Roku box for Christmas - it's absolutely amazing. We're thinking of getting rid of our cable!!! Seriously, check it out!

American Dreamer said...

I agree with what Chicagolandia said about cutting back so far that you don't have fun. I'm pretty frugal and don't have too many wants, but I have my days just like you and that is when I treat myself. So go do it and don't feel guilty!

Shelly said...

Just remember that it could always be worse! I know it's hard to do, but it really does help. DBF still has no electric and has been warming water on his kerosene heater for the past week! I completely understand about feeling down about your savings. Mine isn't bad, but I'm going to have two months of lousy checks (about 40% less than normal) due to school being out for spring break and Easter. Even with that I've decided that I'm going to have to get a wisdom tooth pulled before it completely breaks off. I LOVE Jon and Kate! I've seen glimpses of her stockpile, but I'd love to see more....oh that reminds me...I have pictures to post of mine! Hang in there---you are doing great!

Connie said...

I feel for you! I am going on 72 hours with NO HOT WATER! UGH! The part is supposed to be here tomorrow to fix it...It is affecting the furnace heating right too and the high today was 12degrees...

frugalsuz said...

Lindsay,
Roku box? Oh girlfriend, tell me more, tell me more!

Precious,
That's so true, and I do splurge from time to time.

Shelly,
That's horrible for your boyfriend. Ugh. Can't wait to see your stockpile pics!

Connie,
Oh yuck, keep warm houndfriend!