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On gas & food prices....
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<blockquote data-quote="gcvmom" data-source="post: 161420" data-attributes="member: 3444"><p>Great thread, TL!</p><p> </p><p>I need to break out my bread machine -- thanks for reminding me <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p><p> </p><p>I am definitely not out roaming the stores or malls when bored or running unnecessary errands any more. So I'm spending less on impulse buys and saving gas to boot <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /> I'll often ask husband to pick up stuff at the store on his way home from work so I don't have to make an extra trip. And although difficult child 1 starts school later than the other two, I make him leave when I take them and I drop him off near their school and he just walks the rest of the way -- just enough time for him to get there without having to rush, and I only have to make one trip down the hill <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /> Wish their pickup times weren't an hour apart. Next year we'll have three separate schedules, so we may look harder at busing or carpooling.</p><p> </p><p>As for shopping, even though husband has been doing most of it after work, I wish I could say we are saving money -- but husband tends to buy on impulse and doesn't price compare <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite3" alt=":(" title="Frown :(" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":(" /> He's getting a wee bit better, though (medications are helping that).</p><p> </p><p>We've always recycled our cans and bottles. Usually pays for a fastfood lunch, although we could do better to just cut out the bottled drinks, in my opinion!</p><p> </p><p>Our yard is 99&#37; organic -- I'll occasionally use ant spray or specific fertilizer for roses and citrus. I've got three composte bins and a worm bin, so I've started using the worm "tea" and castings for fertilizer. And of course, now we've got Herbert to roam the yard and deposit her own brand of fertilizer <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite8" alt=":D" title="Big Grin :D" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":D" /></p><p> </p><p>We've got a large back yard and small front. About 75% of the back is planted with drought-tolerant natives so we don't need to irrigate them. I do a lot of hand watering too -- lets me see what's going on in the yard and tailor the amount of water we use. I turn off the automatic sprinklers periodically, especially if the weather is cool. They really only need to be on every day when the weather's hot -- and even then, they are set to go off early in the day to prevent evaporative loss.</p><p> </p><p>The yard only gets mowed once or twice a month (if husband remembers), and it's on the highest setting (helps prevent weeds, too). I prefer to hand weed than use herbicides -- thus my lousy manicure! We planted the yard with lady bugs and praying mantids a few years ago, and since it's virtually organic back there, they've multiplied and given us great natural pest control.</p><p> </p><p>We are eating at home more often and the kids rarely buy lunch at school, so that helps.</p><p> </p><p>I still splurge to have husband's shirts laundered and pressed (I can never get them looking as good as they do) since he needs to look polished for work. </p><p> </p><p>husband has only been to a casino ONCE this year, and THAT ALONE saves us tons of money in gas and wasted money (he blew about $10K last year which put us into debt). Again, another blessing from medication.</p><p> </p><p>I've held off on buying a new car and am limping along in my gas-guzzling Astro van with 120,000 miles, a bad electrical system, a borderline rear end (well, yeah, mine's in pretty bad shape too), and multiple "little" things that are broken. husband's truck pays off in July, so we'll be able to swing a new payment then. I'm torn between getting him a Prius (which he doesn't want -- he likes his Explorer) for the gas savings or a minivan for me (which would probably get better mileage than my full-size van).</p><p> </p><p>We already utilize his company's medical flex spending account which saves us money by setting up to $5,000 pre-tax aside for use on co-pays, deductibles and other qualified expenses. It's almost all used up already because of all our medical issues this year.</p><p> </p><p>I'm paying cash for everything and questioning everything I put in my basket -- Do I REALLY need this? Do I really need this NOW or can it wait? Can I find it for LESS somewhere else? Helps cut down those impulse buys. </p><p> </p><p>I really, really wanted to get periodic help with the housework earlier this year because of husband's surgery, difficult child issues and me just feeling overwhelmed. I never did do it and decided to just lower my standards and accept that things will never ever be perfect around here. So I guess I spared us an additional expense by choosing apathy!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="gcvmom, post: 161420, member: 3444"] Great thread, TL! I need to break out my bread machine -- thanks for reminding me :) I am definitely not out roaming the stores or malls when bored or running unnecessary errands any more. So I'm spending less on impulse buys and saving gas to boot :) I'll often ask husband to pick up stuff at the store on his way home from work so I don't have to make an extra trip. And although difficult child 1 starts school later than the other two, I make him leave when I take them and I drop him off near their school and he just walks the rest of the way -- just enough time for him to get there without having to rush, and I only have to make one trip down the hill :) Wish their pickup times weren't an hour apart. Next year we'll have three separate schedules, so we may look harder at busing or carpooling. As for shopping, even though husband has been doing most of it after work, I wish I could say we are saving money -- but husband tends to buy on impulse and doesn't price compare :( He's getting a wee bit better, though (medications are helping that). We've always recycled our cans and bottles. Usually pays for a fastfood lunch, although we could do better to just cut out the bottled drinks, in my opinion! Our yard is 99% organic -- I'll occasionally use ant spray or specific fertilizer for roses and citrus. I've got three composte bins and a worm bin, so I've started using the worm "tea" and castings for fertilizer. And of course, now we've got Herbert to roam the yard and deposit her own brand of fertilizer :D We've got a large back yard and small front. About 75% of the back is planted with drought-tolerant natives so we don't need to irrigate them. I do a lot of hand watering too -- lets me see what's going on in the yard and tailor the amount of water we use. I turn off the automatic sprinklers periodically, especially if the weather is cool. They really only need to be on every day when the weather's hot -- and even then, they are set to go off early in the day to prevent evaporative loss. The yard only gets mowed once or twice a month (if husband remembers), and it's on the highest setting (helps prevent weeds, too). I prefer to hand weed than use herbicides -- thus my lousy manicure! We planted the yard with lady bugs and praying mantids a few years ago, and since it's virtually organic back there, they've multiplied and given us great natural pest control. We are eating at home more often and the kids rarely buy lunch at school, so that helps. I still splurge to have husband's shirts laundered and pressed (I can never get them looking as good as they do) since he needs to look polished for work. husband has only been to a casino ONCE this year, and THAT ALONE saves us tons of money in gas and wasted money (he blew about $10K last year which put us into debt). Again, another blessing from medication. I've held off on buying a new car and am limping along in my gas-guzzling Astro van with 120,000 miles, a bad electrical system, a borderline rear end (well, yeah, mine's in pretty bad shape too), and multiple "little" things that are broken. husband's truck pays off in July, so we'll be able to swing a new payment then. I'm torn between getting him a Prius (which he doesn't want -- he likes his Explorer) for the gas savings or a minivan for me (which would probably get better mileage than my full-size van). We already utilize his company's medical flex spending account which saves us money by setting up to $5,000 pre-tax aside for use on co-pays, deductibles and other qualified expenses. It's almost all used up already because of all our medical issues this year. I'm paying cash for everything and questioning everything I put in my basket -- Do I REALLY need this? Do I really need this NOW or can it wait? Can I find it for LESS somewhere else? Helps cut down those impulse buys. I really, really wanted to get periodic help with the housework earlier this year because of husband's surgery, difficult child issues and me just feeling overwhelmed. I never did do it and decided to just lower my standards and accept that things will never ever be perfect around here. So I guess I spared us an additional expense by choosing apathy! [/QUOTE]
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