Singles Only

Re: Weird frugal behavior for singles

juditur — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:28:29 GMT

Look at that...your full-on energy made me so tired that my limp hand pressed the Post button before I got a message written.

Glad there are people like you in the world - if we were all like me, nothing would ever get done.

My mom used to have to yell at me to go out and play! (I'd stick what I was reading under my shirt and sidle out and find a nice quiet place to hide.) She was a Doer and hard worker like you, bless her, as were my sisters and dad. No way did a Sitter like me fit into that family.

juditur

Re: Weird frugal behavior for singles

juditur — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:19:37 GMT

Re: Weird frugal behavior for singles

truepeacenik — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 04:52:41 GMT

should mention that I was a full time student with a ft job as well, although the hours were condensed into thre shifts. Overnight alarm monitor...lots of homework got done then.

Re: Weird frugal behavior for singles

juditur — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:45:10 GMT

Dear True -

This is all so admirable, and shows what applying energy to a problem can do.

And I'll bet your boy was healthier than most others his age, too.

juditur

Re: Weird frugal behavior for singles

truepeacenik — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 18:40:20 GMT

no longer single, but we run pretty independently of each other, still.

when I was single, and dealing with almost no income and a kiddo to feed in a split week, I would make one vegetable stew and whole grain bread, rice or pasta for me to eat half the week, a fresh soup (kiddo was not that into texture, so a blended soup was a way to get all the things he thought he hated in him), dried or fresh fruit and oatmeal for breakfast, and a real dinner each night (ok, does 4 p,m, count?) for the kiddo.

I baked my own goodies, did some judicious dumpster diving (like mushrooms that were unatractive but fine for drying, plus books and tapes), ate wild greens in spring, harvested fruit from "decorative" fruit trees in the neighborhood-- usually with permission-- and learned where the nut trees grew.

No garden space, some sprouting, when I could afford the seeds.

No food stamps, not WIC, no gov't help at all, and NO support (this is why the ex liked split custody, and Oklahoma judges basically use it as a default.)

I probably got by on 1/3 what the WIC-using mom next door was spending for a very similar schedule.

Re: Weird frugal behavior for singles

juditur — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 23:14:43 GMT

Nkenga,

We are very much alike! But I love leftovers, eat WAY more than you do, and don't care what toothpaste I use. Everything else you said is very familiar. Last Christmas I wore a dress I bought at an outlet store one lunch hour - in 1981. It helps that I have no fashion sense whatsoever; but I was complimented by a couple of art designers at that party, so.... I suppose my clothes are now Retro.

I'm glad you WALK; I've been kicking myself (not literally - wish I still could move my legs like that!) for all those times in younger life when I drove instead of walking. Could have postponed a lot of joint pain, and knee replacements (one down, one to go). In a way, keeping as active as possible when young & middle-aged is a Very Frugal Idea. Think of the medical costs we can save!

Glad to hear from you other Frugals that my pet is not the only judgmental, bed-hogging one.

--juditur

Re: Weird frugal behavior for singles

Nkenga — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 18:04:29 GMT

I'm not nearly as frugal as I could be - the things that are important to me are also the things I can save the most money on! I LOVE living alone, so I haven't had a roommate since shortly after college (well, I do now, but only for a few months). I love food, and I dislike leftovers, so I eat out a LOT more often than I should.

I do eat breakfast at home (or, more like, as I WALK to work). I boil 6 eggs on Sunday, put them in a bowl in the fridge, and eat one egg and one apple each morning. Healthy, cheap and FAST! Sundays I usually eat lunch out with my fellowship, so I skip breakfast.

I could barely care less about clothes, so I hardly ever buy new clothes, except underwear and socks. I buy good quality clothes on sale, clearance, or in consigment shops and thrift stores, and have them last as long as possible. I have suits from over 10 years ago that still look GREAT. I also make sure I can wear my clothes in a variety of combinations, so I can get the most out of them.

I don't like having a car, so when my last one went out on me, I started walking and riding the bus to most places. And in THIS city, that is WEIRD! I am going to buy a car in the next week or two - in CASH! - because my new part-time job involves going to various places around town, and the buses don't got out that far in a few cases. BUT, I WILL be counting the miles for a tax deduction! In addition, my oldest brother and I will live near each other (about a mile apart), and he works at night, so we will share the car. AND, since he owns his home, we'll have the insurance under his name, with BOTH of us listed, so we will save a LOAD of money on that!

I can't stand the taste of most toothpastes, or baking soda, so I buy my favorite toothpaste on sale, with a coupon, and make it last a LOOONG time. I think I've gone a year or more without buying toothpaste before.

I don't sweat a lot, so I use baking soda or a CHEAP deodorant. And I only apply every other day. Sounds gross, but it works for me!

My furnace went out this past winter, and my landlord was being a butt about fixing it, so I got a space heater with a timer. I would sleep in flannel pajamas, socks, and a hat, with two blankets on the bed! My utlity bill was less than HALF what it was the year before! I may do the same this year!

Right now, I live with my brother, to help him with bills, but when I move out in a couple of months, I will move into an apartment. The utility bills in an apartment are a lot cheaper (usually) than in a house.

I rarely wear makeup, so I buy a $1-2 lipstick that lasts forever. I'm lucky in that lipstick alone makes me look completely made up! (Or maybe it's in comparison to my non-madeup face!)

My cell phone is my only phone, and I carefully watch my minutes to make sure I don't go over. I use the internet a lot, so I have internet access through my cell phone company. Instead of a land line, AND internet, AND a cell phone, AND cable, etc. I just have a cell phone and internet - wireless broadband specifically. And my part-time job covers part of the cost of both.

I LOVE to read, but I refuse to pay a lot for books. I check out stacks of books from the library, and get several on interlibrary loan. I still occasionally splurge on a book, but it's pretty rare - maybe twice a year. And a spulrge for me is $15! I also like used book stores, but the library is my main source of reading material.

I don't own a television, so I don't have cable, and I never feel deprived becuase I see this commercial or that sit com telling me I don't have enough. I have MORE than I need!

Re: Weird frugal behavior for singles

sueellen — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 11:11:49 GMT

juditur:

Do the rest of you feel that our animals are continually thinking we're nuts? Or that they could run things better than we do?

I have to keep reminding the cat that she's not in charge of my schedule and if I want to sleep past 5:30, I will. So there!

juditur

Yes, my dachshund thinks I am nuts and often cocks his head to the side to let me know that he thinks so.

Re: Weird frugal behavior for singles

cheapChic — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 18:38:16 GMT

way ta go there you go karean teacher thats the way to do it also...

Re: Weird frugal behavior for singles

karenteacher — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 15:35:33 GMT

Well... I don't know if this is a "single" frugal behavior - but when my mother asked me what I wanted for my birthday later this month, I asked for a gift card to Home Depot, to buy the paint I'm going to need for the bedroom in the basement, so I can paint it after the drywall is hung on the ceiling.

Re: Weird frugal behavior for singles

seaturtle — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 04:34:54 GMT

My cats consider me somewhat mentally deficient, no capable of makng decisions, so they make them for me. They decide which side of the bed I can sleep on, whether I can sit on "my" computer chair, and when they will eat.

They also consider it unhealthy for me to even consider eating any fish, so they take care of any inclination I might develop for me.[

I have to say I am 100% compliant.

Re: Weird frugal behavior for singles

cheapChic — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 03:06:40 GMT

lol -juditur good one as long as my dog gets fed her tummy rub and fed a cookie now and then she care less what happens...

And your cat sounds ok by me...lol

Re: Weird frugal behavior for singles

karenteacher — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 23:46:54 GMT

juditur:
Do the rest of you feel that our animals are continually thinking we're nuts? Or that they could run things better than we do?

I don't think my dog cares, as long as he's fed and let out on a regular basis.

Re: Weird frugal behavior for singles

juditur — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 15:34:19 GMT

Do the rest of you feel that our animals are continually thinking we're nuts? Or that they could run things better than we do?

I have to keep reminding the cat that she's not in charge of my schedule and if I want to sleep past 5:30, I will. So there!

juditur

Re: Weird frugal behavior for singles

cheapChic — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 02:40:36 GMT

Juditur thats not weird at all now running in ice water like the polar bear swimers in colorado is weird...

Like me I stick every thing that needs to go in the fridge out side saves electric bill was to many plastic bags out and reuse them until they wear out last but not least is cut soda bottles in half to use as planter to starter plant and use the top part to make it like a hot house so on so on...

And since I don't have a man around the ouse I can run around the house with sweats on and a silly over sized tee-shirt on and have my hair in curler if I want I just have to put up with the weird look from my dacshund ...