miss frugally

Outrage!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Really can you believe this? Really????

Fantasy is out the window!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 10:50:00 +0000

Well today I read that Smith & Hawken is closing all its stores. Not really shocking considering their prices, but there things were beautiful and high quality. I always dreamed I would buy something here or there from them when I got money. Of course those were in the great days when the economy was good and people were buying!

They are no longer taking orders online so get to the stores quick if that was a dream you wanted to fulfill!

Great quiz it made me younger!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 12:52:00 +0000

Quizzes Girls Games

Ha Ha! Someone sent this to me to take and it made me younger!

Woman gets running water

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 15 May 2009 16:00:00 +0000

Wow this woman had no running water.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

What a waste of money

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 10 May 2009 08:00:00 +0000

Incredible! The bank is now demolishing BRAND NEW homes!

Read more about it here

Living Simply

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 02 May 2009 13:10:00 +0000

Real Simple magazine gives some tips for saving money.

Cheap Make up video

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 02 May 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Someone put together this video to show that you can get very inexpensive make up that works as well as the expensive brands. Just shop Target, Walmart, etc! Gotta love the cheap!

Time to bring these back?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 01 May 2009 20:55:00 +0000

Perhaps we should bring back ladies gloves from the 1960's?! In fact why don't we just quit shaking hands with everyone everytime we meet? Isn't a hello nice to meet you enough?! I for one never really liked shaking hands with people anyways.

I am kind of like an episode of "MONK", I am a bit of a freak about other peoples germs.

Thinking of renting one of these

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 01 May 2009 20:00:00 +0000

To save some money I am thinking of renting one of these! I took a look at it today and the guy said they are easy to use, as long as you follow the instructions! I would like to hire one of my friends to give me a hand, and also it gives him some extra money. It is cheaper than having someone come and do it, I have found after a few quotes.

The bonus is I probally can get more work done too for a lot less money!

Peter Walsh

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 08:30:00 +0000

This looks like a book that I should read!

Here is a quote from an Oprah interview:

O:One of the unnerving things about physical clutter is that it's stealthy. You clean the house, but two days later it's a wreck again, and you don't know how it happened.

Walsh: Ah, that's the cycle problem. If you put a load of clothes in the wash, and halfway through you turn the machine off and leave it for a few days, you will come back to a mound of smelly laundry. You have to finish the cycle. When you have a bowl of cereal, does the box go back in the cupboard? When you bring in the mail, do you immediately open and sort it? At night, do your clothes go in the hamper or on the floor? We have a choice: to be mindful and complete the cycle, or to end up with a stinky load of washing in the metaphorical machine. Inside we're all 8-year-olds expecting someone to pick up after us. Those days are gone.

Isn't that so true? I guess I just want someone to pick up after me too!

Fence on my property

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 08:00:00 +0000

I had some trees cleared on my property that really needed it. Now that I have opened up this area a bit, my neighbor is bothered by the lights from the cars and wants to install a few panels of fence that would basically benefit him, not really me.

So now there is a gap between fences, since I still have a chain link fence on part of my property line and then the gap and then my neighbors fence begins. I would love to install a privacy fence there but if would probably cost about $5,000 dollars. And probably not where I should be spending my money. I would even be happy with a chain link fence right now but that would still be expensive!

This fence company I talked to said they can always do it in sections which I was thinking was an idea to my neighbors issue and possibly work a bit for me. The section I was thinking I could start with involves a gate that I want to put up as part of the fencing.

I think it would block the lights for my neighbor and then it would be a start for my fence. I am going to see about showing this to my neighbor as an idea. Who knows, perhaps he would split the cost!

Spending money

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 20:00:00 +0000

One thing I guess I have known all along is that you do have to spend money sometimes for important things that you really should not blow off!

Like the dentist. I can't tell you the last time I had my teeth cleaned and even if I did, who would really want to know! So I had my teeth cleaned today. I also had x rays done which again has been awhile. So there goes about $400.00. But I need about $2000.00 more dollars worth of work done. The big expense is a crown for the root canal that I had done about 5 years ago. I just could not afford it after the root canal and I was in major credit card debit of around $14,000.00 ( I am happy to say I don't have the credit card debt at this point kind of, read on!).

So I had to put the $400.00 on my credit card along with another $400.00 of a bill I found out my insurance does not cover for allergy testing. I also found out I have another bill of around $500.00 on the way, again for the second part of the allergy testing. As far as the dentist, maintenance is very important and I plan on going to get my teeth cleaned regularly from now on. I am going to have to slowly work on getting cavities done, one wisdom tooth pulled and of course the big crown! Yikes! What I really want is my teeth whitened so people will say I have a pretty smile :)!

But for now I have to settle for this I guess. At least I am taking some action.

I think I have been so involved in my legal battles, I have just put everything off thinking things would be finished soon etc. I can't wait for that anymore. I have to move on with my life the best I can. I just hope I have some money left after all the legal business is done with!

My house

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 18:00:00 +0000

This could be a picture of the inside of my house. I kid you not. I was reading this story online about it happening in a neighborhood in Detroit, MI.

It makes me wonder what my house is really worth and if I am in an upside mortgage right now. This is still something I should look into. The frustrating part is that this house was paid for almost when I inherited it, but do to the problems and legal issues with my sibling I had to refinance it just to save the rest of the real estate we inherited. It really makes me mad.

I have a bedroom that looks just like that photo with the lathe all exposed. I also have that happening on my ceilings.

The $69.00 cup of mocha!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 06:00:00 +0000

My microwave broke. I am not sure if I am going to get it fixed. It was very expensive back in 1977 when my parents bought it! I am wondering if it is something simple though. In the meantime, I went and bought a new microwave for $69.00 at Lowes. I really only use it to heat up water for mocha drinks and also I make my breakfast in it. I guess I do use it more for other things like frozen dinners too.

I really was thinking of getting a convection oven before this broke. I spotted one at Lowes for $49.00 and I think I am going to get it as well. I haven't had a toaster in years and I really don't cook, but I think I would get good use out of one of these, and save a bit of money too!

For example, I buy the Lean Cuisine dinners and eat them for lunch, but if I had this convection oven I might just make a grilled cheese sandwich. The food would also not be so processed which would be healthier! They also use a lot less energy than a regular oven. I really don't use my regular oven anyways though since it is really old and I am concerned about the wiring.

House Assessment

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:00:00 +0000

I got my house assessment. It is alot lower. The S.E.V. is now 130,000. Which means they think my house is worth about $260,000. Yikes! The S.E.V. was at about 155,000.
The great news is I'll save about $900.00 on taxes this year. But now I don't know what that means for refinancing.

I want to talk to a good friend of mine who owns a mortgage company and get his advice on if I should try to get the assessment lower if I can or not. I know that the housing market is going to come back up in my neighborhood eventually. I live in a great area with a lot of people who are very wealthy (I am at the poorer end of people around here!).

Sewing

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 23:10:00 +0000

I am starting to think I should learn to sew, then I can make slipcovers for all the furniture that is falling apart. Although, the price of fabric is not that cheap either. It seems to me, and I could be wrong about this, but it used to be cheaper to sew something than buy it, now I am not so sure. Maybe it is because a lot of things are not made here anymore.

When you start to factor in your time, cost of materials etc., sometimes it is easier just to buy something. If you already have what you need to make it, then it probably makes more sense.

Real Housewives of Orange County

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 18:00:00 +0000

OK I have to admit this is funny! Bravo is selling this t-shirt promoting "The real housewives of Orange County". The t shirt by the way is currently sold out!

Below the Oranges it says the word "Real". Somehow I doubt most of these woman on the show can honestly wear this t shirt! There are a lot of things that don't seem "Real" about them!

Here is a video from the show.

Made in the U.S.A.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 17:00:00 +0000

www.stillmadeinUSA.com

www.usstuff.com

www.buyamericanmart.com

www.madeinusaforever.com

With the economy doing what it is doing here a lot of people who are losing their jobs. The topic of what is made in the U.S.A. comes up, since a lot of things are no longer made in the country. So here are a list of a few places that sell products that are made in the U.S.A.

Freebies!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Here are a few freebies. I have not signed up for these yet, but I thought I would share for anyone who would like them!

Free reusable grocery bags

Free ohshot.com t shirt

Free Quiznos sub, yum!

Free 10 night supply of face cream

Free Victoria secret lotion

Be happy

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 17:51:00 +0000

I remember when I was a kid and life seemed so easy. I am going to try to get back those feelings and not take on all the worries of the world. Even if it is only for 10 minutes a day, after all that kid is still in all of us! I am going to get some crayons and a coloring book and color for 10 minutes. Or draw. I used to do this when I was a kid and I loved it.

Cheapskate!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 09:33:00 +0000

Here is a book that I think I would like to read. It is the ultimate cheapskate's road map to true riches: A practical (and fun) guide to enjoying life more by spending less.
Probably a great lesson for all, since everyone these days has to tighten their belts. Even when I don't want to spend money, I still want nice things! I want a nice home, a nice car etc. I think that is only normal for most people.

I want these things I guess I just don't want to spend the money on them sometimes (I guess that is me being cheap instead of frugal!).

Sometimes the best things in life are really free!

Earn Money & Home projects

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 14:53:00 +0000

Well now that things are slowing down I am going to have to find a way to earn some money! (yes me and the rest of the world!)
I am going to keep organizing though and if I don't find extra work, I am going to use this time to keep organizing and cleaning.

When I make some progress with that, and the weather gets a bit nicer where I can open up windows etc. I am going to possibly do some painting inside the house. Only on parts that I know are worth doing right now. Parts of the house need wall and ceiling work, but I can't do that till I get electricity and plumbing done!

With that I should make an announcement: (ha ha)

If anyone reading this works for HGTV, OPRAH, Home Improvement shows, This OLD house, Nate Berkus or Carter Oosterhouse (Nate and Carter are both hot by the way!)

My house would be a great show for you! It was built in 1926 and was once part of a wealthy man's (there is some history to this man who owned it) summer home estate. All the other buildings are still here. I live in the gatehouse. It is a decorators dream!

I would like my house to be decorated like Pottery Barn or IKEA. I have simple tastes and want it to be cozy. I also like a bit of Shabby Chic.

Ho hum well I guess it is back to reality!

Progress!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 02:00:00 +0000

I have made some progress orgazining. Yeah for me today! It really feels good. I watched OPRAH yesterday and she had a show on about clutter again. Not really any new information, but it's fun to see the before and after. Besides that, you can tell that the people feel happier when their house is clean. After all who wants to come home and take care of a lot of junk everyday?

It is stressful to look at, knowing that you have to go through and clean it. Each time you start and fail again I think it makes a person more stressed.

I like the advice of two trash bags everyday in 10 minutes. One to throw out and one to give away. Seems like a great way to tackle it for the busy person!

OPRAH and the container store are offering a 20% coupon till March 1, 2009, click here or visit OPRAH's website for more info.

Lower standard of living

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 14:00:00 +0000

I was watching a video where Chairman Howard Davidowitz of Davidowitz & Associates, says that a lower standard of living may be permanent.
That is going to be hard for many people who through the years have been able to just go out and buy what they wanted, when they wanted. I really don't think that is is such a bad thing at all for some people who were clearly out of control with their spending.
When you look back to even the 1970's there was a lot less pressure to keep up with the Joneses. Most house's you would drive by just had bushes outside and perhaps a few flowers in a pot. Now it seems if you don't have a huge landscaped garden with a waterfall (I'm exaggerating a bit here) you are the loser of the neighborhood! Same with home entertainment systems. When I grew up we had a TV and only one color TV in the house. Later we did get basic cable and a VCR but that was after everyone else had it for a while already. And outside, most people don't even cut their own lawns anymore ( I do cut my own lawn).

It seems to me that people say they have to have these things because they don't have anytime to do it themselves. So they work harder to earn more money so they can pay these people to do these things for them. Perhaps it would be good for their children to cut the lawn and make some money so they can see how hard you have to work to buy something.

I see teenagers coming out of Starbucks with their lattes and cell phones and think to myself there is no way my parents would have ever paid for those things for me as a teenager! For these kids this is normal. Of course I am sure our parents thought we had it easy as kids too. After all we rode the school bus and did not have to walk miles to school everyday like they did!

Need or a Want?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 14:00:00 +0000

I have been thinking about things I want or need to buy with much more thought these days. It really is interesting when you ask yourself a few questions.

1. Do I NEED this or is it a WANT?
2. I worked hard for my money, do really want to spend it on this?
3. Do I already have something like this at home?
4. Is this all I would have to buy or would I need more accessories to go with this item?
5. Am I buying this item for myself or just to keep up appearances with everyone else?

I have put a lot of things back on the rack or shelves at the stores!