Go Back   AmityMama.com > Keeping mama > Mama's Simplifying and Thrift forum

Mama's Simplifying and Thrift forum Want to cut your credit card bills? Want to live a simpler life? come on in...

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 04-09-2007, 02:29 PM   #1 (permalink)
JenTwo
Senior Member

iTrader: 36 / 100%
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Posts: 3,749
Tell me what you've accomplished since Apr. 1

What have you done that you're proud of?


Mine:
1) DH was on his back for two days because of his back. After being doped up for so long he loosened up and yesterday was running around like crazy cleaning out the house (with my help), organizing our room and then took a HUGE load of junk to salvation army. He took a bunch of "keepsakes" (read: family heirlooms that are kept shut in boxes taking up MY precious space) to his mom's so she could "keep them safe" (read: not freak out everytime she sees they've been removed from aforementioned boxes).

2) I'm nearly done cleaning up the kids' clothing/closet/nearly empty dresser.

3) My vehicle is loaded with recyclables that I'll drop off tomorrow on the way to run errands.

4) I have three boxes of things I compiled to send to various people who can use them.

Seriously, I don't know how we have ANYTHING left in our house.

5) I've been cooking nearly everything from scratch, and eating for my health (endocrine issues) and I'm finally off of my 20lb lost plateau- 22lbs down from last July.

6) DH and I have been watching everything we spend, checking out other possibilities and we've done great avoiding justifying wants vs. needs.
__________________
They say that time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.
Andy Warhol
JenTwo is offline   Reply With Quote

Sponsored Links (Become a Supporting Member to hide these :)
Old 04-09-2007, 03:01 PM   #2 (permalink)
Sandi
Mr. Grumpy Gills

iTrader: 34 / 100%
 
Sandi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: if this were the wrong decision you'd already know it
Posts: 40,853
BRAVO!!


We have:

Packed 90% of our house including food, clothes, EVERYTHING. I have a small bin under each sink for toiletries and last minute stuff, a very small assortment of clothes, and a small selection of cooking supplies.

Worked out our budget for this summer (with 2 mortgages)

Dropped off 9 bags of donate stuff at Goodwill - including some small appliances and a carseat

Traded and was gifted some wonderful Easter stuff for the kids

Have eaten a ton of stuff out of the pantry and freezer over the last month

Freecycled barbecue pit and cleaned off the deck so it's just a small table and chairs and some flowers

Drank WAY more coffee at home
__________________
Happy Thanksgiving


Christmas Weight Loss Challenge



Sandi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-09-2007, 03:47 PM   #3 (permalink)
ThirtySomething
About to burst

iTrader: 24 / 100%
 
ThirtySomething's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Somewhere between blister and bliss!
Posts: 10,212
Nice work ladies!

Most of my accomplishments are mainly outside since we have reverse seasons here. We have 2 acres of weed removal and all the flowerbeds to clean and weed.

I've done all around the house. We still have about 1.5 acres of weed removal left. I try to remember it is only hard until about June. Then, it all goes away.
__________________
************
My Parenting Blog!
Respond with Love

I ran the Inaugural Fresno Marathon and lived to tell the tale!


Love on granite

Let go of all your heart’s holding
Everything weighing you down
And lay here with me, let the world be
For now

~
Catie Curtis -For Now- from the Sweet Life album~
****************************************
ThirtySomething is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-09-2007, 04:40 PM   #4 (permalink)
jma924
Registered User

iTrader: 4 / 100%
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Willow Spring, NC
Posts: 2,626
~We have finished prepping our garden (actually we finished planting some things and then got hit with about 4 nights of hard freezes unexpectedly, so even though we covered things, they might not make it! Worse case scenario, we'll have to re-plant our squash, zucchini, and cucumber seeds).
~Went thru all the "hand-me-down" baby clothes that we've been blessed with from friends; washed and put away. We shouldn't need anything else! Was also able to borrow a bouncy seat and swing (in case we decide to use them) from a friend and did some trades/swaps to get a few new slings/carriers/etc.
~Packed up all the Easter decorations/baskets/etc. today so dh can put the tubs back up in our attic! (I couldn't stand the clutter!)
~Made 15 meals for our freezer for after baby arrives.
~Washed, vacuumed and cleaned out our van. Installed new carseat for dd2 (we just got a Radian65 from Amazon for her).
~Gave away our extra push-lawnmower to a friend who needed one. Borrowed a tiller from another friend for tilling our garden!
~Dropped off a bag of stuff at the thrift store.
~mailed packages and bills that need to go out (would hate to have this little one early and have stuff fall thru the cracks and end up with late payments!).
~Went thru all the kids' clothing and got stuff ready for a consignment sale that starts on Sunday.
__________________
Jenn
homeschooling mama to my little brood...
~L (1997), M (2001), N (2004) and M (April 2007)~






Last edited by jma924 : 04-10-2007 at 04:24 PM.
jma924 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-09-2007, 10:31 PM   #5 (permalink)
WendyLouWho
the mama llama

iTrader: 1 / 100%
 
WendyLouWho's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Texas!
Posts: 348
Paid our income tax and a $1000 car repair bill

Oh, wait...this was supposed to be things I was proud of.

We listed a decent amount of ebay yesterday (still tons more to list), gathered 2 boxes for goodwill and have a stack of items to freecycle!

Jenni...I owe you an email
__________________
~Wendy~mama to three littles...Conrad (13) Noah (11) Finn (5)
WendyLouWho is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-09-2007, 11:27 PM   #6 (permalink)
xt
crashed

iTrader: 10 / 100%
 
xt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: just a stupid girl
Posts: 11,530
Paid my big extra check to the HELOC at the beginning of the month so I couldn't nickel and dime the amount down all month - I have no choice but to stick strictly to the budget.

Decluttered books - round 1. Chased down the poor AmVets donation guy while he was at a neighbor's and he took all my donation boxes and bags, plus Jodi's, and he gave me a receipt for her. He saved me a trip, which was just wonderful since I was trying to clean for Easter that day.

Got out a box of Dylan's hand-me-downs for Patrick that I forgot I put in the basement. I was wondering where it was. And the sad thing is, it's not like there's much in the basement. I just never go down there. Anyway, I think Patrick's pretty much set clothes-wise for the year.
xt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-09-2007, 11:47 PM   #7 (permalink)
ilfan96
Registered User

iTrader: 4 / 100%
 
ilfan96's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,777
1.made a meal plan for April and did the necessary grocery shopping for the month, will fill in fresh produce and dairy as needed

2.started organizing my basement storage room.

3.got maternity clothes ready for a friend to use
__________________
Cindy in IL-Mom to 5
ilfan96 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 04-10-2007, 01:53 PM   #8 (permalink)
Korwynne
Mama of Miracles

iTrader: 20 / 100%
 
Korwynne's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Home in the Pacific NW!
Posts: 20,599
working on decluttering/packing for our move.
got my cast off ans started physical therapy so its slow going
Korwynne is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 04-10-2007, 05:14 PM   #9 (permalink)
3Gs4Me
Blessed Beyond Belief!

iTrader: 13 / 100%
 
3Gs4Me's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Wrapped in the Loving Embrace of My Family
Posts: 5,794
:)

Glad you are all being productive. We were gone from the 3rd through the 9th and the first couple days were packing so I really haven't accomplished much of anything. My intent this week is to meal plan and re set our budget so that I can get back on track. I also need to get our crib, some end tables, and a few other things in the yard fs (we live on a busy street).
__________________
Bobbi Jo


16 pounds till SMEXY!!!!!!!!!!!


Joy to the World...

the Lord has come!


Today I will cherish myself, love myself, nurture myself, and take one more step towards achieving my goals!
3Gs4Me is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-10-2007, 10:30 PM   #10 (permalink)
BlueRoseMama
Registered User

iTrader: 3 / 100%
 
BlueRoseMama's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: When I dare to be powerful -- to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.
Posts: 9,502
You guys are doing great! Wow...

I haven't done much, but I did:

1. Stay sane through another week of Don being gone.

2. Don finished the third and FINAL pepper spray test and didn't end up in the hospital! YAY!

3. Got a bunch of stuff on freecycle and got most of it taken.

4. Sold the Armoire that I have been wanting to sell forever.

5. Finished the tops of 3 quilts and finished one completely (inside and back too)

6. Cleaned off my patio and had a kick a$$ Easter egg hunt back there with the kiddos.

7. Started cooking much more from the pantry and using what we have stored up. Eating more at home for sure.

8. Sent my daughter to WI, and my son to FL without crying (much).

9. Organised Cyan's closet with a sweater shelf and a plastic drawer thingy. Still have more to do, but at least her clothes are much easier.

10. Took a huge load to goodwill the first of the month.

11. Kept $150 in the bank for the last month. When we had to borrow $50 from it for something I put it back the second we got paid. That is a big thing.

12. Took all the dvd's and put them in book like folders... cd's are next.
__________________
Val; Living the dream we have been working towards for over 5 years.
Mama to Alex, Cyan, and Logan. Wife to my very best friend.

*The New and Improved* Homeschooling in the Rose Garden
And the blog about me.... please stop by...

(and don't forget to feed the fish.)




Last edited by BlueRoseMama : 04-10-2007 at 10:34 PM.
BlueRoseMama is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-11-2007, 02:51 AM   #11 (permalink)
Katie
Registered User

iTrader: 5 / 100%
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 7,399
oops, I made a separate post before seeing this. lol.

I declutted the house. completely.

Now I'm working on making my life orderly and *gasp* structured.

I'm down a few pounds.
__________________
Katie
The Wool Food Mama




Of course I blog
Katie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2007, 10:41 AM   #12 (permalink)
JenTwo
Senior Member

iTrader: 36 / 100%
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Posts: 3,749
Seems like everyone has spring cleaning fever!



Another big success for us: we rec'd our electric and gas bill: $66!!! And that's with pretty high rates! We've been unplugging the pc and tv when not in use and using passive solar to our benefit as much as possible. Oh, turning down the water heater and doing all water-heater-things at once. The $66 bill is half of last month's bill. Sounds drastic but the bill speaks for itself and makes these few-minute solutions worth it.
JenTwo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-16-2007, 11:35 AM   #13 (permalink)
WendyLouWho
the mama llama

iTrader: 1 / 100%
 
WendyLouWho's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Texas!
Posts: 348
Jenni that is super news on the electric bill. The business has two networked computers, fax, scanner, phone system, etc. and you really have me thinking about unplugging everything in the evening when I "leave work" (lol, turn off the ringer on the business phone).

I just decuttered some of my craft supplies and magazines and listed $200+ on ebay Our first round closed last night at $160+. I'm a happy girl with several newly empty drawers
WendyLouWho is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-16-2007, 02:38 PM   #14 (permalink)
JenTwo
Senior Member

iTrader: 36 / 100%
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Posts: 3,749
Quote:
Originally Posted by WendyLouWho View Post
Jenni that is super news on the electric bill. The business has two networked computers, fax, scanner, phone system, etc. and you really have me thinking about unplugging everything in the evening when I "leave work" (lol, turn off the ringer on the business phone).

I just decuttered some of my craft supplies and magazines and listed $200+ on ebay Our first round closed last night at $160+. I'm a happy girl with several newly empty drawers
Hey, don't you owe me an email? :P

It would probably make a dent in your bill to turn them off. Brian has always talked about the trickling of energy into machines that "stand-by" (computers, faxes, phone systems, televisions, clocks) and we're now seeing that it's a bigger hit than we thought. We don't have many things plugged in normally.
JenTwo is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Advertisements

Directory Sponsor



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:35 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.5
Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
SEO by vBSEO 3.0.0 RC8
Amitymama.com (c) 1998-2005