Thrifty Cheapskate

GARAGE SALE SEASON CAN NOT COME FAST ENOUGH

2012-02-10T09:35:00.001-06:00

Almost the middle of February and I am getting antsy for garage sale season. It can not come fast
enough for me. At this time of the year hubby and I limited to either thrift stores or the local auctions.

There is estate sales every once in awhile but they are always priced higher so I have to watch myself so I do not spent too much for an item. There is one estate sale today and bargain day tomorrow so maybe I will find some treasure to resell. Hubby and I went to one of the local auctions last night. Pickings were slim. I saw one mid century round shelf I liked was considering to resell but it went to high to buy and make any money. Then there was a cute little chair mid century also, I considered it until they moved it to go with a desk that it did not match. There were boxes of books but nothing caught my eye, hubby is more patient and dug a bit and found two boxes that he thought were worth while bidding on. He did the bidding and won the two boxes. We went through them and picked the ones we wanted and the remainder will be resold at another auction. After they finished with things we were interested in we left and headed home. Got home just about 9 pm and sat at our computer to check out our books. I ended up listing four of them on Amazon for an asking price of $ 75.00 . The treasure of the bunch in my opinion is this 1915 copy of Duluth Central High School yearbook. I had not bothered to look in these boxes because it looked like old junk. That behavior will change from this day forward. This is my high school and they closed it for good last year. Shame on the beings that chose to close my school and then sink money into the other two high schools. That is another rant for future days. Duluth Central opened up in 1892 in down town Duluth and it is a thing of beauty. This yearbook is fantastic, after all these years it is in amazing condition. There are 266 pages plus an index of the students and the quality of the pages is outstanding. This would make a great addition to any family history collection. I will be selling this vintage year book But until it is sold will enjoy looking through it. There are at least two memoriam's to students who died before the class graduated. One is a female named Rae Madge Abraham who died from illness and then two boys who drowned. The boys names were James Arthur Kelly and Gerald Francis McCormack. I did not have any family members living in Duluth at this time so no chance of finding family members. Have you found anything of interest to resell lately. I would love to hear your stories of found treasures.

THE 50 30 20 BUDGET PLAN ARE YOU SAVING ENOUGH FOR YOUR FUTURE ?

2012-02-08T14:36:00.001-06:00

Have you given any new thought to your budget and how to make a budget? Or are you like many and it is money in and money out. If you find yourself at a much younger age than this retired senior writer then you may want to take a good long look at your budget. Are you saving enough for an emergency or for your retirement? If not why not grab a cup of coffee or tea or what ever and sit down with your numbers.
What are your needs?
What are your wants?
Are you saving anything. ?

The following is directly from the Internet with a link to read more if you want of the article.

The first step to creating a 50-30-20 budget is to allocate 50% of your monthly income to your must have items in life. This is a roof over your head, food, clothing, water, medical care etc. You need to make sure you are allocating only must have items to this part of the budget. Must haves are not a new shirt, a cable bill, gym membership, or anything other than absolute must haves to survive. Once you have done this you have completed the 50 portion of the budget.

The second step to creating a 50-30-20 budget is to allocate is the 30 portion. The 30 portion is the 30% of your monthly income that you can spend on what you want. This list can include your gym membership, cable bill, eating out, a new pair of shoes etc.

The third step to creating a 50-30-20 budget is the 20 portion. This is 20% of your monthly income that you are going to set aside in case of an emergency, or to pay down any debts that you owe. You can use this money in the event of a medical emergency, or in case you ever lose your job and need to have money available.

I will not get into specifics about our income or our outgo but I can tell you that we are just squeeking by with our needs and wants. Problem is there is no money going into savings,
charity giving is very low which is not okay with either of us and our weekly allowance is not enough. This weekly allowance covers food at home, food out, gas for car or any kind of entertainment.

This leaves one way out and that is to make more money some how. How much money would that be a month is the key to all of it. I know what this figure is for us. It would be great if we could bring in $1200 to $1500 more a month net. To that you have to generate some sales some where. Means I may need to go and get a part time job some where which is something I do not want to do really.

We have different options since we buy and sell to suppliment our income. We do this either at Amazon, eBay and selling items either at the antique store or at the auction house. But how can I accomplish this in the time we have.

Now it is your turn to take a look at your budget, your needs, wants and are you saving enough for your future.

Thanks for stopping, I hope that you will be back some time and take a few minutes to look at some of my other postings. I will be sharing this over at Saved Quarter blog

Read more: How to Create A 50-30-20 Budget | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_5318525_create-budget.html#ixzz1lozUM300

MONDAY MENU PLAN ~ LETS MAKE SOME SPAGHETTI SAUCE

2012-02-06T09:39:00.000-06:00

It is Monday and time to plan what we will eat this next week. I like to make one item on Tuesday night and we can have left overs during the week.

Last week we had our Cheesy Lasagna Soup and ate it a couple of times.

Tomorrow night we will make our home made Spaghetti Sauce and that will be good for a couple of nights.

The rest of the week will be sandwiches at the auctions and either meatballs with gravy and potatoes or my home made sloppy joes or hubby's rich burgers.

Hope that your menu plan is tasty as I know ours will be. Grace

SUNDAY COUPON PREVIEW 2/5/12

2012-02-04T14:00:00.000-06:00

There will be (1) SmartSource, (1) Redplum and (1) General Mills insert in this Sunday’s newspaper. Just click on the Sunday Coupon Preview to see what you may find in your inserts.

Please remember that coupons can vary depending on where you live in the country.

ORGANIZING MY FAMILY PHOTOS STEP BY STEP

2012-02-02T09:44:00.000-06:00

I have over 100 years of photos, family photos of my ancestors both sides. Family photos of my children, photos of trips hubby and I have taken. Photos that I places I found interesting. Lake Minnetoka in Minnesota on a beautiful day, Minnihaha falls in the Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. At least I think I made it there every season. Photos of the Mississippi rising during the Spring thawing run off.

I need to really start on a day by day start to organize these. If I take only thirty minutes a day to do something I will be further ahead than I am now.

While at our down town library to do some family research I came across this book and brought it home.

Preserving Your Family Photographs by Maureen Taylor. I have had it three weeks with good intention. It is due in one week. Starting today I will start a commitment to read through it piece by piece starting at chapter 8 " Ways to Organize " Keep It Simple " and work day by day a few minutes a day to at least get a start.

Step 1. Look through all images and make a list of people, places and events
Step 2. Decide on an organizational plan and try it with a small group of images
Step 3. Estimate supplies you may need (storage boxes and sleeves)
Step 4. Purchase these in bulk to save money
Step 5. Set up a work space
Step 6. Begin sorting
Step 7. Create a file of images in need of identification
Step 8. Create a file of photo copies of pictures requiring conversation or restoring
Step 9. Start labeling and boxing
Step 10 Create an index if necessary

My first step will be to jump to step 5 and find a space for a work table. I have the perfect one to put into my office.
For today I will read through chapter 8 and clear out the space in my office for the table.

Over the next days I will set the timer for 30 minutes and start to do something with my photos. Anything I do will be better than doing nothing with them.
I will be sharing this over at my genealogy blog for those readers. Most of my photos have to do with family.

Thanks for stopping by.. Grace

WHATS FOR DINNER ~ HAVE YOU TRIED MY CHEESY LASAGNA SOUP YET?

2012-01-31T18:18:00.001-06:00

Several months ago I made and shared a recipe for Cheesy Lasagna Soup. Today while pondering what we should have I decided it was time to give it another try. Easy, simple and totally FANTASTIC tasting.

So if you want a good easy soup for a winter night or even for a pot luck dinner give this one a try real soon.

I am sharing this at Frugal Follies Thrifty recipes
thanks for stopping by Grace

TIDY TIP TUESDAY ~ GIVE UP UNREAD SUBSCRIPTIONS

2012-01-31T08:30:00.000-06:00

TIDY TIP TUESDAY IS TO GIVE UP UNREAD SUBSCRIPTIONS

You may notice that I do not offer deals on magazine subscriptions. I figure there is a lot of other blogs that offer magazines subscription deals and if you want them you will find them out.

I rarely order magazines and when I do they end up just sitting there and not being read like they should.

Recently one of our grandsons was selling magazines for a fund raising. Hubby and I went through the list and found only one of any interest to us. Anything that may of interest us was not listed of course. We finally decided on the Money magazine. We can find it interesting but the truth is it really is not read enough to justify the cost.

I would rather go to the bookstore, sit and look at them for half an hour and leave. I there one I really want I will just buy that one magazine right then.

Hubby and I decided that the next time grandson is selling magazines we will just suggest they pick one their family would enjoy and we will pay for it.

If I was to get a magazine at home it would be one to do with genealogy and hubby would want one on his favorite collecting hobby.

How many magazines do you get in the mail? If they are read every month great if not you could tidy up by giving up unread magazine subscriptions.

Thanks for stopping by..Grace

TWO BEST CATS IN THE WORLD I THINK Here is Blue The Siamese and Gypsy Rose The Albino

2012-01-23T09:22:00.000-06:00

We had Spooky the cat for about 16 years and finally her health gave out. We sobbed as we knew we were letting her go. We could not think of getting another cat for over a year. It hurt to bad.

Here is spooky, she is in the back of the van that is piled high with stuff as we moved from Houston back to Minnesota in August 2010. She found what she thought was a safe place my wicker trash can.

Finally I started to get the feeling it was time to open up our heart to another cat. We talked about it for several weeks and finally one weekend stopped at the animal shelter to JUST LOOK at what they had for cats.

We looked at the dogs and which we could get one, but knew that with our life style of being gone so often it would not be fair to a dog. A cat fits best with our life style of spending time gone. We are out searching thrift stores, garage sales ( when it is not winter in Minnesota) and going to the auctions two nights a week.

So we wandered the rooms looking at the cats and reading their short biographies. Well if one cat is good, two would be great. They can be friends and keep each other company. Question was which cats of the many should we choose to take home.

We decided and told them we wanted two cats that others may not want. Those that were hard to adopt. But we wanted them to get along of course. I can dream I guess.

Blue is a 14 year old chubby Siamese female. Loveable, cuddly and purrs on command. She is crossed eyed and beautiful. Loves to sleep any where she wants, usually on my desk chair if I am not sitting in it. She loves to eat as you can see in her picture. Early in the morning she will jump up on the bed ( if Gypsy Rose has departed) and gets between hubby and me. She wants to be petted, told how beautiful she is and how much she is loved. Blue does not get on the tables as of yet so no cute pictures of her there.

And this is our princess Gypsy Rose. She is a 10 year old albino female who is deaf. We were told she was a spy, would hide and watch us but we would not know she was around. Wrong, she is out wandering alot. Sleeps by my feet or head every night. She does hide at times in the closets but we know where to find her if we want to. She sits where she wants to and I have to move all my pretty stuff together so there is room for her to lay on any table she chooses.

Sadly they really do not like each other. They do not cuddle or clean each other. They some times pass each other at a distance and at other times Gypsy looks at Blue and chases her to show her who rules the roost.

I hope that over time they will bond but I really have little hope for that.

They are wonderful additions to our family and are the best cats in the world I think. But of course I am sure you think the same about your pets. If you are looking for a pet please check out the Animal Shelter. A new friend could be waiting for you.

SUNDAY COUPON PREVIEW 1/22/11

2012-01-20T18:37:00.000-06:00

This week we can expect 2 inserts, a Smart Source and a Red Plum in the Sunday newspaper.

You can go here to see what you may see in your coupon inserts.
Please remember that coupons can vary depending on where you live. My local paper has very little coupons but if I buy paper from one of our larger cities I can get almost all the coupons offered out there this week.
Thanks for stopping by.. Grace

FRUGAL FRIDAY TIP SAVE MONEY USE THE LIBRARY

2012-01-20T18:14:00.000-06:00

One of the best ways to save money is to use your local library. Rather than buying a book new you can go to your local library and sign it out. Besides books they also have movies for you to rent.
We were involved in a reading group and borrowed the book.

Now a new book has been chosen so hubby and I will go to the library tomorrow to take out the new book. It is also the book that the city wide reading group has chosen to read. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot.

And if you are into genealogy like or have been thinking about starting to do research, check out the research section they have. I am like a kid in a candy store.

So much can be found at your local library and as long as you return them on time there is no cost to you.

Thanks for stopping by for a Frugal Friday tip.. Grace

MONDAY MENU PLAN What's For Dinner Saving Money Eating At Home

2012-01-14T17:56:00.000-06:00

With going to the local auctions twice a week I want simple easy dinners for hubby and me.
This week menu is
Monday auction night we will pack a tuna fish sandwich and a few potato chips to eat at auction. Otherwise we get hungry and spend money on food there.
Tuesday Calico bean hot dish and mash potatoes. Perfect for a cold night at home.

Wednesday home made pea soup with hot bread
Thursday auction night egg salad sandwiches and chips
Friday left overs
Saturday Frozen pizza night
Sunday Tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches

The Saved Quarter Challenge: Make a Budget For The Coming Year Income

2012-01-14T10:31:00.002-06:00

Good morning everyone. This posting is on the first and second week of the New Years Saved Quarter Challenge
My sweet hubby takes care of the budget of our fixed income. Money comes in, money goes out. Every penny is counted and spent. Of course there is not enough money. When you are retired and did not really plan for retirement things are tight. This is a HINT for all you younger than us SAVE today and SPEND less than you make.
I can not really complain there are so many who do not have the income we have and still attempt to support a family the best they can. For this very reason I look for ways to share with others food and personal items when I find them at a good price. They will go to the food shelf via the church.
As I have shared before one of our biggest expenses is health insurance and will stay that way until I reach 65. It then will go down some. I am in no hurry to age to 65, but it is coming faster than I like.
So what is someone to do.? What we do is work at making extra money selling on eBay and Amazon.
We go to the local auctions to buy items to resell at those on line venues plus at the antique stores.
I always estimate that about one third of what we make on eBay goes to fees from eBay and Paypal.
Amazon is totally different, at this time we do not sell enough in a month to warrent paying a fixed monthly fee, so instead it cost us an extra $1.00 to sell. We would need to sell more than 40 books a month to make it pay, the sellers fee is $39.95 a month.
Besides eBay and Amazon we are selling at two different antique mall. We have a glass case in mall #1 and a case and small space in mall #2. We just expanded to the all of the small space the beginning of this year. Before that we had a glass case, a book case and few things in the area. Time will tell how we do but I feel it will be a good thing.
Payment to us at the antique stores is every two weeks. A friend of ours who has been in the antique business for over 30 years that we should set a goal to make at least three times our rent. One third is the cost of the space, one third is cost of goods returned and one third to us to add to our living expense.
My goals are to attempt to find more GOOD books to sell on Amazon. Finding good books is tough. To make it worth while you want a book that you can sell for at least $10.00. So many sellers on Amazon are penny sellers, this is not worth my time.
I look forward to increasing our sales at eBay. We sold about $6,000 gross last year. I would like to see this double if possible. At one time we did sell at least $1,000 a month but we have slipped from that sales amount.
Another way we make extra money is during the garage sale season we find items to resell at the local auctions to make some fast cash. Rather than wait for it to sell at the antique stores we turn some cash fast. We even do this during the winter time if we come across something at a thrift store or at one of our local book stores. I some times can find some good books that I can sell at the auction house for a profit. Just this week we have some gun books at one auction house and this next monday we have a few items to sell at the other auction house.
So my goal for this coming year is to bring in at least $1,000 a month to us after expenses at ebay, amazon and the antique stores.
1/4 would go into savings.
1/4 would be added to our income for the extras like eating out, a movie or just something fun.
1/4 would go towards paying extra on what debt we have
1/4 would go back into making more money

Week 1 and 2 are over and nothing went into savings as of yet. Money coming in has not been as good as needed, but that can change over night.

During the first half of the month on eBay we grossed $73.88
Amazon we sold 4 books for gross amont of $58.32
More time and effort need to go into our internet work.
I will update this after I find out what happened at the antique stores during the first two weeks of the month.
I was asked recently if I had tried etsy. My answer was with antique stores, auctions and internet business I have enough on my plate already.
Add into this time with family and work on my family research and my days are pretty full.
I am sharing all of this at Saved Quarter Challenge. Take a moment to see what others are doing.

Thanks for stopping by.. check back in a few days to see how the antique stores did. Grace

SUNDAY COUPON PREVIEW 1/15/12

2012-01-14T08:28:00.000-06:00

This Sunday there will only be one coupon insert. You can see what may be in your coupon insert here.
Please do remember that coupons can differ around the country..

Thanks for stopping by..Grace

Free tax return help at Wal-Mart For 1040 EZ plus Low Cost Check Cashing

2012-01-11T08:51:00.000-06:00

Now that the New Year is here it is time to start thinking about preparing our income taxes. As usual both H R Block and Jackson Hewitt are offering to do the 1040 EZ for free. So if you fall into this catagory that can be a benefit for you.
And as they have in the past Walmart is having kiosks in their stores for Jackson Hewitt and H R Block will have 250 of these kiosks.

Of course if you have children, own a home or any thing else that takes you past the EZ return you will pay to have your tax return prepared.

Plus Walmart is offering low cost check cashing for their customers who receive their refund in the mail.

Smart move for Walmart, they get the customer in their store and that same customer may very well spend some of their money at that same time.

Hopefully you are starting to pull your own financial papers together to get ready to have your taxes prepared.
Thanks for stopping by.. Grace

WHATS FOR DINNER HOW ABOUT HOME MADE CHICKEN PASTA SOUP WITH VEGGIES

2012-01-10T22:02:00.000-06:00

Whats for dinner? How about a bowl of chicken soup with pasta and mixed veggies. Add some hot garlic bread and everything is warm and comfy around here.

Thanks for stopping by.. lets keep saving together.. Grace

TIDY TIP OF THE DAY BY THRIFTY CHEAPSKATE

2012-01-08T15:29:00.000-06:00

Today's Tidy Tip Of The Day is to store your sheets inside your pillowcase. Keeps every thing neat in your linen closet and easy to grab to put new sheets on your bed. Plus add a bar of open bath soap to your linen closet will make everything smell much fresher.

Thanks for stopping by.. lets keep saving together.. Grace

TIDY TIP FROM THRIFTY CHEAPSKATE TAP UNUSED FREEZER SPACE

2012-01-07T09:23:00.002-06:00

Here is a clever tip from 1001 Timely Tips for Clutter Control.

Tap into unused freezer space. Lack of shelves steals away lots of space in the top half of your freezer. Learn a lesson from side by side refrigerators. They have handy space saving freezer shelves and yours can too. The same inexpensive wire racks and baskets that organize cabinets can help you use all the storage space in your freezer instead of just the bottom shelf.

What a clever tip to organize your freezer. Thanks for stopping by.. lets keep saving together.. Grace

PRINTABLE INTERNATIONAL DELIGHT PRODUCT

2012-01-07T08:47:00.000-06:00

There is a new printable coupon for International Delight. I was able to print twice. Expires30 days from print.

Thanks for stopping by.. lets keep saving together. Grace

WOW SUPER COUPON INSERT PREVIEW 1/8/11

2012-01-06T17:51:00.000-06:00

Wow what a weekend this will be. Our Sunday paper will hve 6 coupon inserts.
6 Huge Inserts This Week To Get You Back To Couponing In 2012

1-8 RedPlum Coupon Preview
1-8 Smarsource Coupon Preview Insert 1 & 2
1-8 General Mills Coupon Preview
1-8 Target Johnson & Johnson Coupon Preview
1-8 Walmart Coupon Preview

We will be starting the new year off with a bunch of coupons. So lets grab our scissors and start cutting some coupons.
Thanks for stopping by lets keep saving together.. Grace

WHATS FOR DINNER HOW ABOUT Yummy HAMBURGER HOT DISH AND GARLIC BREAD

2012-01-04T20:52:00.000-06:00

What's for dinner? Tonight it is home made hamburger hot dish and garlic bread on the side. Easy to make and warms up not only my home but my tummy.
Easy to make just brown the hamburger and take out the grease to this I add some salt , pepper and basil to taste and one can of tomato soup and can of diced tomatoes.
While hamburger is browning I boil up a big pot of water and cook my pasta of choice. Mine is egg noodles. Once drained we add another can of tomato soup. After mixing hamburger mixture and noodle mixture we pour into a casserole and add a handful or two of shredded cheese. Bake for 45 minutes and dinner is done. Yummy

Thanks for stopping by to see what's for dinner.. Grace

MONDAY MENU PLAN 1/2/11 to 1/8/11 Spaghetti and Home made Chicken Soup planned

2012-01-02T09:04:00.000-06:00

The fact is we normally go to the auction house 2 to 3 times a week to hunt for items to buy and sell. Yes you can call us pickers. We have easy meals those days or eat left overs when we come home.

This week I plan to make Spaghetti and home made sauce or just use frozen meat balls depending on how I feel. We are suffering from light colds and while not feeling totally horrible just do not feel perfect.
That is the reason another night will be home made chicken soup with frozen vegetables and some pasta from the cupboard.
If my cold gets better I hope to pick a new recipe from one of my cook books. If so will share that with you then.

Take a peek at my recipes on the side bar. There is some good tasting recipes there. Thanks for stopping by Grace

WALGREEN'S SHOPPING PLAN WEEK 1/1/12 to 1/7/12

2012-01-02T08:24:00.000-06:00

Since I happened to buy the out of town paper so I could get better coupon inserts than is in my local paper I did not receive any ads.
That of course included the Walgreens ad. I was able to look at the Walgreens ad on line.
Not a lot of interest to me. All those deals are for products I do not need or want. I do not use Alka Seltzer so why would I buy it just to get it at a low price. All the other products that give register rewards is also not of interest.
I will take a look at the toothpaste deal and see if I want to purchase that.
What I did see is I can buy low dose asprin which is good for the heart at a low price with my coupon from Sunday's paper.
Coffee mate with the printable coupon I printed a while back is a okay deal also. 2 for $3.00 minuse my two 75 cent coupons and ends up costing me 75 cents each.
Grab your ad and see what there is for you. I feel it is important to only buy what is of use or what I can buy at a good price to give to the food shelf.

Thanks for stopping by.. lets keep saving together. Grace

WHATS FOR DINNER PURE COMFORT FOOD GRILLED CHEESE AND TOMATO SOUP

2012-01-01T19:28:00.000-06:00

Weather is cold and lightly snowing. What we needed tonight was comfort food, something to warm us up. My idea of a perfect choice was tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. Add a hand full of ripple potato chips and supper is done.
Fast, easy and thrifty choice. Thanks for stopping by.. Grace

BOOK LIST 2012 READING MORE THIS NEXT YEAR

2012-01-01T19:22:00.000-06:00

One of my goals is to read more this next year. I hope to read a fiction and a non fiction every month. I also plan to read the 5 Minute New Testiment. Just read day one.
I am adding Proverbs to my daily list. A chapter a month this month and every month. There are 31 chapters in Proverbs. David Ramsey says he reads it every month, a chapter a day. Plan to add that to this list.
Since one of my main interests is my genealogy project some of my non fiction reading will be something historical or to do with working on my family tree.
For my first non fiction book I will read Lincolnites and Rebels A Divided Town In The American Civil War by Robert Tracy McKenzie. The divided town is Knoxville Tennesee. This will give me an idea to what life was like for my ancestors. My 2nd and 3rd great grandparents lived during this period with three of my great grandparents being born during this period of the civil war. I had one great great grandfather fight in the civil war. Two were born in Tennessee but by the time of the civil war had moved to Iowa.
I just finished John Sandford's Storm Prey and will now move to his next prey book Buried Prey.
What are you planning to read this year. Do you stack a pile of books together or just go month by month. I tend to go month by month since I never can decide what I want to read till I pick up the book.
Have a great night and happy reading. Grace

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERY ONE ~ MAY GOOD FORTUNE FAVOR YOU

2012-01-01T07:48:00.000-06:00

Here is a wonderful vintage New Year's post card in my collection. Young child sitting on a horseshoe swing.

Telling us Good Luck and a Happy New Year postmarked Dec 30 1911. One hundred years old. How great is that.

Grace