5 Odd Ways I'm Saving $$$$

1. Cutting Out Haircuts for Myself

Yep it sucks. I found out I could get an $8 trim at the local beauty school. But they couldn't make my cut that I loved, short stacked back and longer front look right. I just ended up, well wrong.  And with my regular hairdresser being $40.00 a cut plus a tip, it was impossible to go every 4-6 weeks. So now I'm growing it out and hoping to go longer between good cuts.

And right now I'm ready to chop it off and say F&&k it.

2. Cell Phone Service

I was using Straight Talk's service for $30.00 a month. But in an effort to save, I found out I qualified based on my salary for a free phone with Assurance Wireless with 250 minutes and 250 free texts. Not the way I wanted to go. But until I get my bills paid down, or salary goes up, its my helpful option.

3. The Library and Free Kindle Books

I have a reading obsession and when I can, I read. I can read a whole book in 2 hours. I was into .99 cent books and I found myself buying $5.00 worth of Kindle books in a week.  Now I find some great ones that are free, and I still have my love affair with the library.  Because really, the sound of opening a book, and smelling the ink and pages, it's just heaven. (The kindle was a Christmas gift 2 years ago!)

4. Clearance sales for Gifts

There's always a birthday party for relatives kids, Christmas, etc, to shop for.  I find that when I can, I hunt the sales for some great deals and put them away.  My cousin's son is turning 3 next week, and she always asks for clothes for him.  I had put away 3 outfits that retail would have been $32.00, but on clearance came to a grand total of..........................$5.75!

5. Writing to Companies

If I find a great product, or if I have an idea, or the product sucks, I email the "contact us" section.  Sometimes I just ask if they have samples or coupons so I can try something without having to spend money needlessly.  Many times they have sent back coupons for free items, or high dollar off items.  If I'm at the library,  I pop on the computer with my list and email 2 or 3 companies and see what happens.

Money Saved for the Wedding

Sold a Breadbox (It was Coca-Cola. I loved it) 30.00

           Profit from kids spring clothes sold at a consignment shop--43.00

Sold a large candleholder that I had at my wedding--34.00

 

Total as of today----107.00

How to Save Money at the Movies

I don't take the kids often to the movies. I decided to take them as a surprise yesterday to see Despicable Me 2 as a treat.

The cost of the movies is ridiculous especially on a budget.

Now on top of 3 weeks of utter heat and humidity, it was also a good excuse to get into some good, cool air for a while.

I found out that if you go to the first showing which was at 10:00 am, ticket prices were $5.75.

So $5.75 x 3=$17.25

We all had breakfast before we left so none of us were hungry when we got there.

During the film, the kids did get a bit munchy and thirsty, so I got one of the kids snack pack.  It comes with a pretty good amount of popcorn, a small drink, and a small bag of gummy fruit.

The kids split the drink and the popcorn and I always have an extra bag of gummies in my purse for snacks so they were happy.

The snack pack was $5.30.

So all total it was $22.55. Not bad considering the last time we went to a movie was October.

They had a blast, we all laughed and I was rated "the best mommy in the whole world!"

Flowergirl Frenzy and the Jerk

I've been working on finding dresses for my 2 little princesses that are flowergirls in my brothers wedding.

The cost of dress for girls more than half my size are the practically the same cost as my grown up dress!! So I went to one of my catch all budget happy finders. EBAY!!  I found a super cute dress with the ribbon in the exact color of the bridesmaids dresses.  And the cost?  Less than $16.00 per dress!!  With tax and shipping it came to less than $45.00 for 2 dresses.  What a fabulous deal!

 

This find made my day a bit better. My downstairs air conditioner bought the farm last night in the middle of a soupy, humid heat wave.  It's been in the high 80s and humid for 2 weeks and doesn't seem to have an end in sight.  I found one on Craigslist for $30 and set up a deal to look at it tonight.  I went 30 minutes out of my way and he wasn't home.  At least he had the kindness to call 2 hours later to tell me he sold it at 3pm and wasn't I just going to call on my way there?  A big giant eyeroll to him. 

 

Maybe I can just make paper fans like we did in grammar school and get the kids to make wind....

Debt

Not a fan of it.

When I split with my husband in 2010, I had exhausted my unemployment. I was a stay at home mom looking for a job.

I used up my 401k and savings to pay bills and put my kids in day care while I returned to school and waited for some assistance.

Unfortunately, that was the only choice I had. Returning home was never an option. I had too much pride and even if I didn't, my parents didn't have the room.

My husband made dangerous and unhealthy choices. Due to those choices, he doesn't pay child support. So basically right now, my bills, which are normal bills, rent, child care, insurances, loans, credit card, etc. equal my pay. I don't own a smartphone. I have basic cable. I don't own a computer at home, nor have internet.

So in comes Frumpy mom.  My brother is getting married in October. My 2 kids and I are in the wedding. I need to pay for my part of the shower. I have no money put aside as I have no extra.
My goal is to pay for it without having to tap into my $1,000 emergency fund I was able to set aside with my tax refund.  How? I mystery shop. By selling items. Saving change. Barter for what I need.

I haven't bought myself new clothes in about a year except for the bridesmaids dress. I buy what my kids need and search for ways to do it cheaper.

And once that's paid, I will continue to work on my debt. Being frugal and frumpy will win. :)

So...

Money saved for Brothers wedding--$0. 






  

An Introduction...

Who I am. I am the Frumpy Mom. 

I'm the Mom you see in stores that doesn't look put together. I'm the mom who tries to look good and fails.

My hair isn't perfect. It's in that in between stage of "I'm chopping it off!!" and "Dammit grow, I need a clippie!!"

I thought I left acne behind 20+ years ago.

I don't care for technology, fancy cars, furniture you can't sit on, and plants I can't pronounce.

I hate Facebook. I think its full of people with nothing to do but post random thoughts of how they are living life to the fullest and making sure people know it. On their facebook page. And throwing in the random food/drink/gym/selfie to say how much they are living life.

I hate the term YOLO. Yep you do. But if you screw up that face and die while your doing something incredibly stupid and didn't get to finish what you were doing, was it worth it? And now you can't do anything else. Why can't it just be, "I really want to try that and give it a go?"

I do a lot of things I keep quiet. Good things. I do stupid things.

I live for my kids. I believe its my job to keep them on the straight and narrow and make them great adults. I'm doing it alone. And its the hardest, but most awesomest job ever.

I love milk and can't have dairy.

I have a cat on Prozac.

I'm frugal, frumpy and frustrating. And this is my guide to the universe. :)