Happy Frugal Friday!
Here's how we saved money/spent money wisely/made extra money this week:
- Friday night we were ALL home for once! We caught up on a show we all watch together, took a walk, and enjoyed a slow, quiet evening which is a rare treat this time of year.
- Saturday and Sunday the kids danced at a competition at Pike High School. It was a 45 minute drive each way and even though we had a very early morning on Sunday, we opted to drive back and forth from home. I made a crock-pot dinner for Saturday night so it was hot and ready for us when we got home so we avoided eating out. Driving back and forth saved us the cost of a hotel and a dog sitter.
- I picked up our items from the Kids' Sale on Sunday afternoon. We had very little left. The extra toys went right to be donated at a local thrift shop, the books I put out in Free Little Libraries, and we divided the clothes between three families who might enjoy some hand-me-downs.
- We spent $72 at the grocery for the week. Our dinners were: Crock-Pot Beef Ramen, Chicken Alfredo, Chicken Fajita Nachos, Grilled Cod with Asparagus, and Breakfast Sandwiches and Fruit. We have eaten through our favorite cuts of meat in the freezer - ground pork, pork chops, and most of the ground beef so I am having to be more creative with our meals.
- We bought our lawn mower when we moved into this house in 2013. It's been used hard for many years and with us also mowing for the neighbors this year it needed some new parts. Thankfully Mark was able to source some affordable ones and do the work himself. I was thankful to have it back in great working order without having to pay a repair shop.
- We cleaned out our school room cube (a 9 opening shelving unit) ahead of the last day of school. I was amazed at the progress our kids have made in their attitudes about "stuff". They let go of so many little craft projects, finished coloring books, etc. They completely overhauled the shelves, happily and without much direction at all from me. They were also so excited to re-discover painting books and supplies they forgot that we had in the mess.
- Yesterday was Field Day at the kids' co-op. It was our last day there for the year AND our last day of school! We paid just $100 for the co-op for the year and it really is such a blessing in our lives! I am thankful for the leaders who work very hard to keep the group affordable and also worth working into our monthly school schedule. I am proud to serve on the Board alongside those ladies!
- Last night we did have dinner out. This is our annual tradition stemming from my own childhood tradition of eat-out dinner on the last night of school. We've been happy to continue this special treat with our kids.
2,024 in 2024 Update: We have cleared out 1,113 items and made over $300 from letting go!
This month was by far our slowest month of letting go as we looked in many spaces and found them quite empty and already rid of items that aren't serving us any more. Once we got close to 1,000 on the coloring chart, the kids were racing around trying to find items to get us to close out those boxes! Some people have said "Aren't you worried the kids are just doing it because you are making them?" I would be except for the fact that 2 Fridays ago, the kids willingly moved the furniture in their rooms, initiated their own deep cleans, and in the process got rid of over 2 dozen items quietly without me even knowing until I saw them in the donate bin. I hope that we are setting them up, especially in an era of buy more, get more, have more, to be content with less stuff and more experiences!
We are looking forward to horses and family on this Kentucky Derby Weekend!
Happy Savings to All!
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