Shelley ... GOOD FOR YOU .... I brought 3 more boxes to the thrift store yesterday ...

because I have such a small place - the sooner it's OUT the door .. the more room I have ... and I've already found more stuff that I don't need - and someone else can have some nice goodies ... lots of lighthouse things ...

and after this week ... clothes .... and tax season has helped me breath a bit better!

Journey .. thanks ... still weighing options about the car ... I know - we all have some great ideas .. but then :Wheel: the income issue makes a BIG difference!! LOL

about the pea soup ... it turned out great! ... and the Mormon thing? I'm not sure .. maybe because it was make with pork sausage meatballs mixed with sage ... but, it tastes really really good!! let me know if you'd like the recipe - and you can always make it .. and then 'share' the rest ... that's what I'm doing!! I have 3 extra qts ... and 2 I'm giving away!

Bumping this thread back up cause I need the encouragement!!

I almost purchased a rug this morning (on the Internet). It was a great deal on a really well made rug (Royal Palace wool rug) and I had the order form completely filled out and was ready to press the "send" button and stopped. Did I really need to be spending $145 on a rug? Granted - it was a good deal on a 5' x 8' rug and that cost included shipping, too. But it was going underneath my dining room table - the dining room table in the dining room that we NEVER USE! :o

I didn't order it - it will be there tomorrow or next week or next year if I decide I can't live without it. But I was SO proud of myself that I waited.

Yes, I got a tax refund and yes I could buy this without causing too much financial stress but I don't really need it. $145 will buy a lot of groceries for us. And nearly 4 tanks of gasoline. :Rich:

So.....I think I did OK. I just need to remember that just because I may have a little extra money today doesn't mean I won't need it tomorrow.

Necessities I will buy. Non-necessary items can wait. Now, I deserve a cookie........:D :Starvin:

Kelly .. thanks .. ya - dun - good!! :) :Thanks:

for me - still trying to keep my head from swimming and dealing with the 'assistance' people ... who are VERY rude and belittling ...

I have to appeal again (this is my 3rd appeal) for SSI/SSDI .. .and will be contacting one of those SS specialist lawyers so they can pad their pockets more .. oh well.

I'm doing okay - sorting thru the pile of unpaid bills .. I was able to make a car payment (after getting it fixed last week of another $400) ... but, I kept my cool ... and no one will touch me to refinance ...

OH - and I met someone ... and he may help me with cutting boards to paint my lighthouses on for the show this fall!

Hi everyone
Think i should join in here....
I have a MAJOR addiction lately with shopping!
Since i don't make much at all,this gets me into BIG TROUBLE with my hubby!
Soon i'll be out of work completely.sOOOOO,i think it would be a great idea to join in here.
I already shop at thrift store and ALWAYS try to get w/ever i need on clearance.However...I buy things i could def live w/out all too often!
So..Here i am,i'll try and check in daily,if not every other day.
Since i'm still working,noit sure i can hop on here daily,but everyother is doable..
Best of luck to all of you.
TTYL
Kell

We'll help you, Kell.

It was very hard for me to give up shopping - as soon as I couldn't get out and go as often as I liked I found QVC and vegetated on the couch racking up my credit card bill while watching TV.

Well, I've conquered that so it's become somewhat of a challenge for me to see just how much money I can actually save. It's amazing what you discover you spend on items that you truly don't need. :sad-dollar:

I started writing down everything I spent - even if it was $2 at the Dollar store!

Now, I only shop sales and only grocery shop once a month with plenty of coupons. Anything we need inbetween (milk, bread, fruit) I ask my son to pickup because I KNOW he will not remain in the grocery store longer than in absolutely necessary!

It's hard at first but once you get into the "saving mode" it's actually kinda fun. It's even more fun to see how much $$ you've saved at the end of the month!! :Rich:

check for online coupons too.

i'm a sample freak. i get 4 or 5 in the mail per day.

Today we had a car bill. :( Luckily it only cost us $200 instead of our usual $400. :) We haven't had a car bill in 6 months so we are very very lucky. (Finding wood to knock on.) We are trying to make this car last until forever so we can save up a good chunk of money for a down payment.

My problem now is we are trying to eat healthier and my daughter is now on a milk free diet. We go shopping and barely get anything and the bill is so high I could just scream! We do shop around for the best prices, wherever we can find them, but it still hurts. So what we were saving by budgeting is being eaten up by healthy and specialty foods. I feel like we are just beating our heads against a wall. :Bang-Head: Okay, I'm done for now. Thank you for letting me vent!

Me too! I love Startsampling. I have 3 totally free magazine subcriptions I got from them... Better Homes and Garden, Country Home, and Computer Gaming World. You just never know what will pop up and be offered.