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Here is a roundup of this week's frugal wins1) My food rescue group received a very large seed donation for last year's seeds. So, a volunteer made up bundles of seeds for the members (we have almost a thousand households in the group). I receieved a bundle of 50 seed packets. While they are last year's seeds, seeds often remain viable for several years. I already had planned and collected seeds for about a half of next year's garden, and will certainly use many of these seeds....
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My x-ray results came back and there is significantly more degeration due to arthritis in the L-4 and L-5 vertabrae, which is the lower spine, but no bulging discs.  So that is probably what is causing all the pain in the hip, pelvis, and down the leg.  I still think there is something else wrong, like with ligaments or tendons, but I have to do more physical therapy before I can get an MRI.
He is referring me to a different physical therapist's office this time. ...
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Australia has had no community covid cases for a week now...I know its only a week but that means the whole of australia has no covid cases in the community at all...hopefully will stay that way....we do have some in the quarantine hotels but they aren't in the community...so happy all the lockdowns and protocols we have been doing are working!!
I hope the US adopts some of these and your cases drop and you can start having your numbers drop...unfortunately I can't see this happening...
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My daughter started a new job a couple weeks ago they had trouble with the system so she didn't get paid and wont till the next pay cycle (2 weeks) so we have had to lend her money for her bills/food/gas...she will pay it back when she gets paid but it is a pain for us...she also won't get paid till 2 days before christmas...hopefully after that things will be fine...my mom was over yesterday and said how much my budgeting has not only helped her financially but the way she views...
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As a condo owner, I pay assessment fees each month.  I just got notice that my fees are going up by 5%, which will make them $445.00.  This will begin just before Christmas.  I've made the adjustment in my budget.  Add to this the rise in laundry cost -- from $1.50 per load to $2 -- it is clear the HOA is feeling the pinch.  These are small amounts but I will have to make up the difference somewhere.
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So I looked at Mint which I only  have one accounts added there but  I like the  credit score feature on Mint. 
I recently looked and found BAD info on their credit breakdown they say they use Transunion ........so i went to them to get my free credit report they offer.  One free weekly this year due to Covid.... but the item that shows on Mint does not show on transunion or experian  reports....... since it is not on my real credit reports i wonder...
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I calculated that I have been working nearly 80 hours every week between my three jobs. Tomorrow is payday (x2) and I decided to take the day off. I have 21.5 hours to use-or-lose before the end of the year. Tomorrow I will pay my credit card & car loan. I am down to my last 2 car payments. I owe less than $400. My credit card debt has gone from $22k earlier this year to $4k currently.
Since my family isn't coming home for the holidays I'm sending gifts their way. I calculated...
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I do have a bit of good news in all the upheaval of 2020.  There will be a Christmas contribution to the 401K and a small bonus at DH's work.  And I do mean small in comparison to past years.  $500 after taxes is nothing to sneeze at and will go directly to the Emergency Fund.  Unless DH works overtime between now and the end of the year the 401K contribution will be $813.17 because it is based on a percentage of hours worked during the year.
Starting next...
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Paying bills advance and getting discounts for doing so!
Far, I have paid my Chiro for the next 12 visits with a saving 10% off per year than paying it monthly as well as getting a pensioner discount of 10% and I also get my medical fund rebate on top of that amount.    Normal price is around $66.00 per visit.   With all discounts and doing this way I’m only paying $20.50 per visit in the end around 30% of each visit.  I average 13 visits per...
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Since things will be changing as some people have lost their minds over this virus etc it has made me think about where to park my cash in the future.  I think many places and past items may be gone for goodfor investing purposes.   i know if i invest in the MANY people ( mask producers/ sanitizer and even packaging for take out etc. ) making money off panic it will eventually end.....I hope soon this has been nuts. 
i think having a good amount liquid is ok...
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I'm gradually retiring my previous budgeting system and gearing up for a new one that will hopefully be flexible for our new income situation yet still enable us to maintain control, so I wanted to share it with you.
I'm excited and hopeful but also nervous because we've done things the same way for several years. It worked when we had two fixed incomes and one variable, but it won't work for one fixed and two variable. And there are other unknowns in our future as well, so I'm...
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Hi Everyone,
I've been hearing a lot about Rakuten. I have not used it, but I am sure someone here has. Is it simple to use? I don't do cumbersome things, but if this is easy, then I would like to join. I think they have good referral bonuses as well.
That being said, does anyone here have a referral link to share with me so that if I sign up, you get something too. 
Thanks.
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So last night around 5:30 I got a message notification.  Not sure why my phone didn't ring, but it wouldn't have mattered since I was not in the room with my phone at the time.  Usually my fitbit tells me when my phone is ringing, but this time it just told me missed call.  Technology, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.  Anyway it was from the Virginia Mason surgery center scheduler.
Bear in mind that my daughter's liver daughter met with the liver tumor...
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We're having one of those days here.
My wife started getting more serious about her sewing business a couple of months ago. She updated her website. We had a friend design a new logo. I then designed and we had printed business cards. I also printed hang tags to put on her items. She reconnected with a shop owner who is selling her items on consignment, and she has already sold a bunch of things. That's all good.
Today, my task was to update the hang tags with a different email...
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The kids on back on home ground again. They have quite a few stories to tell. The GF had worked in apartment management and experienced three deaths during her short time (probably 18 months) the last two of them being in the last 6 months. They are back in flyover country and rents are half of what they were paying on the coast. I think that definitely brings my son a bit of relief to figure out their next steps in life. I guess I'm a bit suprised at how much I'm enjoying watching...
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I am reading a series right now, Ann Cleeves' Shetland series.  The next book in line is not available at my library.  I looked it up on Amazon, and it was available in the Kindle edition, and with credits that I already had it was only $2.98.  So I ordered it, and it's already on my phone.  A little Christmas present for me.
Variables are at 35%.
My BFF, with whom I usually exchange modest Christmas gifts, suggested that we just exchange love this year. ...
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Went and saw an intergrated doctor today...they listened...they need to get my records from my other doc that I see regularly so I don't have to have unnecessary tests..it was suppose to cost $300 for the consult but I got a discount so it costs $240 then I got a rebate of around $215 but the meds he gave me cost around $239...so it cost me a lot less than I thought it would...next year it will cost me more until we hit our threshhold...but i am hoping to get some answers. They...
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Let's see; what's happened?  I'm in full grading mode and not doing much else.
We got a tree on Saturday.  The local nursery was out of Frasiers so we got a pretty balsam.
Half the lights are on as that's DH's task and he's torn between work, school, and home chores.
Honestly, we're all very cranky.  My DD is waiting to take her exams, DH is busy, and I don't have enough time in the day to get everything done.  We keep getting stalled on things like replacing...
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I mentioned before that I had about $8k more than I needed in my Ally savings account (which I use as my EF). So, this week I ended up moving it to my brokerage account and buying more index funds. Wish I had done this at the beginning of November so I could have benefitted from the markets rising. Oh well...This leaves my EF at $20k which will pay for 6 months of expenses including mortgage payments.
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It's been a while since I've posted a meal plan and even longer since I've made one.  Some weeks have been so last minute lately and others so much easier to grab takeout, but we are on a firm no take out meals agenda for the next two weeks and I need to not have that last minute case of what do I make?  So here we go:
Monday:  Tacos (hard shells, lettuce, tomato, homemade seasoning, ground sirloin) and fresh pineapple
Tuesday:  Meatloaf, mashed potatoes,...
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