Saturday, January 17, 2009
Practically Free TP! How much better can life get?
Friday, January 16, 2009
Day 5 -- Debt Wrecking Blitz
This is the last day of debt wrecking and I must say this week has been fruitful. We are $832 over our goal of reducing our financial burden by $2,000 for the year. We have given up a few things but nothing that will be missed in the larger scheme. Most are items that we should never have grown so dependent on in the first place. It feels good to lighten the load and start the year with some proactive financial decisions. So, the last entry for the blitz focuses on something that will improve our lives over the coming year and it's free!!!
We are getting a little chest freezer from friends who are revamping their kitchen into a gorgeous space which will enable them to continue to entertain us in high style for years to come. We appreciate both their wish to keep us in the style to which we have become accustomed at their house and their gift of a no longer needed appliance. It will keep it out of the landfill and allow us to stock up on bargains and freeze summer fruits and vegetables which is something I've been doing less and less since moving from our old house and having to leave the upright freezer behind.
So, we end the 5-day, 5-way Debt Wrecking Blitz with a gift that has no concrete value so I am assigning it a cost of $168 which is roughly what it would cost to buy one new. That makes our total debt whacking $3,000!! What a week! How are you getting rid of debt this year? Just because we've done this blitz doesn't mean we're finished so any new ideas are always welcome.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Quick Louisville Deals for the Weekend
I can't speak for anyone else, but my week has been cold and crappy. Every day has brought more grumps and vacant-eyed clients who are wondering where their life savings went. Everyone seems to be holding their collective breath waiting for fairer winds and better news. If you, like me, need a little socializing this weekend in an effort to forget the cold and the economy, here are a couple of choices:
- Limestone Restaurant is offering Southern Suppers on Fridays in January for $12.95. This is a bargain and one of the few trips outside the Watterson that seem worth it. Meals are served family style with a meat or fish and three side items. This is a no-brainer for those of us who refuse to spend $27 for an entree in these trying times. I am sure the quality that Limestone has always proudly been known for will stay intact even during bargain season.
- Avalon has Ladies night every night in January and February. They are offering $5 appetizers and 1/2 price drink specials on selected drinks. They are also offering a 20% Gratitude Card for purchases at Luna Boutique next door. And make sure you take a look at Tom Cannady's artwork gracing the walls this month in the restaurant. His retro automotive themed paintings are fantastic.
- For the truly frugal and downright cheap, make your hot dinner date breakfast and stop by the new Chik-fil-A on Shelbyville Road through Saturday, January 17. They are offering free chicken biscuits on Friday and Chick-n-minis on Saturday from 6:30-10:30 a.m. Who doesn't want a free chicken biscuit?
Day 4--Debt Wrecking Blitz
The fourth day of debt-whacking brings us to a reckoning. I am getting rid of the YMCA membership. Of all the people in the world who need one, I am high on the list. However, it is expensive and there are many ways to not exercise rather than spend $80/month to not do it. While everyone else is reveling in their new resolutions and membership, I'm cutting mine off at the knees. I was swimming for a while which I love but got a nasty ear infection from the pool and am now a little less enamored with it. So this is a two-fold issue. Giving up the high cost is helpful in the long run, but I will have to replace the gym with some other form of movement designed to keep me alive and healthy a little longer. I promise to revisit this issue later, but for now am just happy to whack another $960, yes, let's see that again, $960 off of our debt load for the year. That surpasses the goal of $2000 by $832!!!!!!! We are on a roll! See you tomorrow.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Day 3 - Debt Wrecking Blitz
So, in the interest of not tolerating bad service and the current wave of frugality, it's bye-bye New York Times. Savings for a year-----$312!!!! $128 left to go and only halfway through the week! See you tomorrow for more debt-whacking!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Day 2 --- Debt Wrecking Blitz
Monday, January 12, 2009
DAY 1 - Debt Wrecking Blitz!
Day one. The debt has got to go. There are so many ways that money escapes us. Little extras here and there add up. Sometimes it is as simple as taking a hard look at those bills we pay every month and slashing on them a bit. I started with the cable. Obvious, I know. But it is also one of those tedious phone calls that takes effort and usually I'm still not sure what I'm getting when I'm done. This time I simply stated that I wanted local channels, TNT and USA (can't live without my Burn Notice), and that was it. Anything else was a bonus. This took our bill from $115 to $60. Whoooohooooo!! We had recently come off a yearlong special and the cost had gone up so this was a perfect time to do it. We still have XM which my husband loves, and lots of other channels but no LOGO and no Ovation, two of our favorites and no HBO or Showtime (see ya Dexter). Total savings for a year----------$ 660!!!! $1340 to go! Tomorrow--that damn cell phone bill gets whacked.