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Frugal Choices

January 27th, 2019 at 04:01 am

Frugal choices this week:

- I lost my sunglasses (not frugal, but it happens). I bought a new pair at Target for $14 (100% UV protection) rather than the very enticing pair of super-expensive Ray Bans I saw online; I need the sunglasses - not optional here in the high desert!

- My friend who is moving (wahhhhh!) gave me a book on back pain and a foam roller. I am going to try it out after I finish this post.

- Got a new book from the library by Liane Moriarty who I love!

- I got a 50% off coupon for an oil change at the dealer. They said I probably need new brake pads soon, but instead of getting the work done there, I called the other place I go, and it's a lot less!

- My husband found a driver that may work with our old scanner, so I am going to try that out before I buy a new one! I am digitizing all of my old photos.

- I just upgraded to Mac High Sierra (not Mojave yet) which of course is free, but I was worried that none of my old programs would work. They all do!

- Put together a frugal menu for next week (we have $89 left in the grocery budget):
Chinese chicken salad with cabbage and almonds - have everything I need! Nothing to buy!
Stuffed red peppers (black beans, corn, quinoa) - Need beans, red peppers and salsa but have everything else
Elote pasta with corn, green onions, feta and cilantro - Have everything!
Potatoes dauphinoise and a salad - Need potatoes (might try yukon golds this time) and lettuce and cream
Coleslaw and baked potatoes with chile on top - Have pretty much everything for this, too except potatoes
Veggie spring rolls in rice paper wrappers with dipping sauce (I have the wrappers and some red cabbage, everything for the sauce, probably need cucumbers and more carrots)

- Entertainment this weekend: walking the dog, reading my book, chatting with the parents at F's karate class, relaxing.

- Cleaned the house. This is not really frugal, but EVERY one of my friends has a cleaner, so I'm counting this. (I'm serious - everyone has a cleaner; it can't be that way in the general population, right? I just have friends who prioritize this?).

6 Responses to “Frugal Choices”

  1. CB in the City Says:
    1548562077

    My BFF, my SIL, my DIL, my cousin -- all have cleaners. We are all of a certain age, but I am still cleaning my house myself. I dream of having a cleaner, though! I think it is a lot more common now than it was when I was growing up. Back then it was ONLY for rich people!

  2. LuckyRobin Says:
    1548569217

    I think it is probably fairly common with two income families in the middle of the middle class. I doubt lower middle class would be. I would love to have someone come in to deep clean the shower/tub, windows, and scrub the floors once a month, just because those are really hard for me with my physical limitations, but it is not really something we can afford with paying off debt. And as long as I can do it myself, I don't see paying someone for it.

  3. Jane Says:
    1548570507

    I was surprised to learn a lot of people I know hire cleaners too, though it isn't as common here as it seems to be where you are.

  4. creditcardfree Says:
    1548599722

    Only one person I know finally called in a house cleaner twice per month. She does have a really large home. I know my sister thinks about it, but I think she's embarrassed by their clutter to do it. It is much more common, and while we could look at it as the expense that it is, we could also see it is also providing someone a job, or potential side gig for someone. As long as one isn't going into debt over it, it doesn't bother me if that's how someone chooses to spend their money.

  5. rob62521 Says:
    1548626706

    I clean my own house too. I try to say I'm saving money and exercising, but there are days I dream of having someone come clean.

    Hope you enjoy your book!

  6. livingalmostlarge Says:
    1548696187

    I've had one and most people I know have one. Very few people I know don't. But it's where I live and income. 100% of 2 income couples have it. Single income well you need a certain level of income. It's probably one of those things you can save money on if you only have 1 income from 2. But at the same time it is a choice you make. I've had a cleaner since 2010. However I will say we didn't have a cleaner for about 9 months when DH wasn't working in 2015-2016. But that was the first thing back when he did. We both hate cleaning. of course we could have someone every week and afford it. but we just can't get our act together to clean our house weekly to have someone else come in and scrub it. It's terrible but we are not particularly neat.

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