Post Your Wins

[Gailete]

I still like picking out my groceries and things myself, plus a chance to see real people. I have the pharmacy staff trained to more or less ignore me unless they want to chat, when I show up and sit in their chairs as I need to rest. When I'm ready to check out I tell them so. I live in a small town and so it is nice to have people to talk to. Like the day my sewing machine store burned down, even the employees at CVS were in shock. Everywhere in town I went that day people were talking about it. I get out so rarely and it is usually to CVS that it makes me feel like part of the town.

[FLA]

For the first time ever, my ex-husband settled an issue without dragging me to court (usually for something utterly ridiculous, I would win but I still had to pay the cost of bringing a lawyer to court). I was on the hook according to our separation agreement for 50% of the cost of a state school for 4 years for two kids. But then I got sick and am now on SSDI and don't make enough to do this. We settled on me paying 20% of tuition and room and board. It will be very tight but I can afford that. My son is kind of messing around and will only be going to community college part time so I don't have to pay for him until he goes to a 4 yr school.

I am happy with this settlement because I have 550k in retirement, a judge would probably have made me use that money to pay the 50%. I am also happy that for once there were no threatening phones calls or texts. At 62 I guess my ex is growing up, lol.

[disneysteve]

I was on the hook according to our separation agreement for 50% of the cost of a state school for 4 years for two kids. But then I got sick and am now on SSDI and don't make enough to do this. We settled on me paying 20% of tuition and room and board.

That's great to hear. I know how stressed you were about that 50% responsibility. 20% is still a lot given your situation but it's a whole lot better than 50%.

[MonkeyMama]

I am happy with this settlement because I have 550k in retirement, a judge would probably have made me use that money to pay the 50%. I am also happy that for once there were no threatening phones calls or texts. At 62 I guess my ex is growing up, lol.

That's great!

[msomnipotent]

Our camping trip was awful, but I managed to get a Mr Heater for $50 at a Gander Mountain that was closing. These are normally $85 and I have been asking for one for years. I had no idea Gander Mountain was closing stores.

[Gailete]

I won big at our thrift store this past weekend. I found some embroidery/needlepoint threads that are usually $3.50-$4.50/skein. Total 114 skeins. They plus some other things in the bag, totaled over $500 retail value. I paid $10. I now have 50 skeins of some beautiful variegated threads where I never expected to ever own one skein of this brand that isn't available anywhere in my county that I know of. The rest I'll be listing up for sale. Found another great deal at The Salvation Army thrift store, but that thread made my day.

[scfr]

I just wrapped up my "intense work period" (13 weeks of 60-65 hour weeks) with my health and sanity intact. I'm looking forward to working only part-time for the next couple weeks. I'll be watching some DVDs, reading some books, and doing "homebody things." This morning I made kale chips. Having time to do things like that feels like a luxury.

Also, last week I got my small annual bonus in the form of an extra contribution to my 401k.

Life is good.

[Gailete]

This morning I made kale chips.

After a work period like that I would be making brownies or chocolate chip cookies.

What is terrific about doing something like this is you never know what is down the road. I had been doing "24 hour weekend" (work two 12 hour shifts and get paid as if you worked 36 hours. But then they needed a day shift charge nurse so I ended up doing the 24 hour weekends and 4 8hour shifts. A total of 56 hours/week and got paid as if I worked 68. Several months later a work injuty forced me out on worker's comp for a year solid. My checks ended up being based on those couple months of working what felt like around the clock. Because workers comp is not taxed nor any eductions taken out (unfortantely NO helath insurance either) I was getting bigger checks than I normally took hom from my job!

[FLA]

I have this wealthy cousin who I cannot stand for many legitimate reasons, one example, I was out on disability making peanuts, college looming over my shoulder, when she complained about the stress of the job she does 3 days a week and really doesn't need the money but she would have "no luxuries" without the job. The next day she posted on Facebook how she quit her job and bought her daughter a horse. One minute she's telling me she can't make ends meet (lives in a 12000 sq ft home), the next she is buying a horse. Eye roll. I'm probably kind of jealous over how easy she has it to be totally honest.

Anyway, her DD's graduation party is Sun. For my parents' 50th Anniversary party a few weeks ago, she signed her name to her sister and brother-in laws' card with a $25 gift card in it. She is cheap with everyone else. So I thought I'd stick $20 in a card and be done with it. Then I got a $10 off $10 at Eddie Bauer and found a plain black wallet/purse thing on a string that would be good for flitting around campus with just money and your phone. It was 50% off and then the $10 off made it free. So I'm giving that to my cousin's DD. My DD is horrified and said her cousin would never carry such a thing and to absolutely not give it to her.

I'm totally giving it to her. She can return it for all I care. Not showing the best side of myself here, lol but a deals a deal!

[Thrif-t]

I have this wealthy cousin who I cannot stand for many legitimate reasons, one example, I was out on disability making peanuts, college looming over my shoulder, when she complained about the stress of the job she does 3 days a week and really doesn't need the money but she would have "no luxuries" without the job. The next day she posted on Facebook how she quit her job and bought her daughter a horse. One minute she's telling me she can't make ends meet (lives in a 12000 sq ft home), the next she is buying a horse. Eye roll. I'm probably kind of jealous over how easy she has it to be totally honest.

Anyway, her DD's graduation party is Sun. For my parents' 50th Anniversary party a few weeks ago, she signed her name to her sister and brother-in laws' card with a $25 gift card in it. She is cheap with everyone else. So I thought I'd stick $20 in a card and be done with it. Then I got a $10 off $10 at Eddie Bauer and found a plain black wallet/purse thing on a string that would be good for flitting around campus with just money and your phone. It was 50% off and then the $10 off made it free. So I'm giving that to my cousin's DD. My DD is horrified and said her cousin would never carry such a thing and to absolutely not give it to her.

I'm totally giving it to her. She can return it for all I care. Not showing the best side of myself here, lol but a deals a deal!

Good for! I'd totally give that too.

[Gailete]

I have this wealthy cousin who I cannot stand for many legitimate reasons, one example, I was out on disability making peanuts, college looming over my shoulder, when she complained about the stress of the job she does 3 days a week and really doesn't need the money but she would have "no luxuries" without the job. The next day she posted on Facebook how she quit her job and bought her daughter a horse. One minute she's telling me she can't make ends meet (lives in a 12000 sq ft home), the next she is buying a horse. Eye roll. I'm probably kind of jealous over how easy she has it to be totally honest.

Anyway, her DD's graduation party is Sun. For my parents' 50th Anniversary party a few weeks ago, she signed her name to her sister and brother-in laws' card with a $25 gift card in it. She is cheap with everyone else. So I thought I'd stick $20 in a card and be done with it. Then I got a $10 off $10 at Eddie Bauer and found a plain black wallet/purse thing on a string that would be good for flitting around campus with just money and your phone. It was 50% off and then the $10 off made it free. So I'm giving that to my cousin's DD. My DD is horrified and said her cousin would never carry such a thing and to absolutely not give it to her.

I'm totally giving it to her. She can return it for all I care. Not showing the best side of myself here, lol but a deals a deal!

Go for it! I am tired of people thinking they get to tell you what you can give them for a present! Especially moochers like this family seems to be. I made my ex-DIL a beautiful purse made out of satin brocade, Monogrammed with her initial on an embroidery machine so it wasn't cheap looking. It proabably would have sold for $25-50+ in a boutique somewhere. She looked at it like I had given her a box of poo. Before she and my son (who had temporarily lost his mind) got married, she told us they could use a new queen size bed for a Christmas present! I told son to explain to her about gifts at our house. At that point I was already not able to work and on disability with limited income, the last thing I would have bought her was a bed!

MY new DIL is a sweetheart and if son said they needed anything, I would try my best to help them out. But that crazy thing - no way.

[Gailete]

After I pressed post I remembered something else. Have you ever noticed that those who have plenty always get more and better presents than the same person would give to a poorer relation? It is like if they don't do something good for the brats, they will be condemned within the family and the poor are used to not much, so who cares?

[FLA]

I've noticed that. When my cousin has holidays at her home, she tells us exactly what to bring, how much and from where, usually a $47 tray of eggplant parm. When she offered to bring something to my parents' party, I threw out some suggestions of things she cooks really well and aren't hard to make. She brought a block of Kraft cheddar cheese and Ritz crackers. I won't be doing $47 eggplant anymore.

I stopped going to her kids' bday parties because of the excess. Louis Vuitton bags for freshmen in high school, trips to Italy, horses, the latest tech stuff. My aunt and uncle bought into it and gave those types of gifts as well and they really aren't those type of people. I was really surprised at their buy in that gifts must be expensive to matter.

the part that brings out my green eyed monster is she lucked into this job at a local private college being a support person to female students 3 days a week. So both her very academically mediocre DDs get to go there free. They never would've gotten into this school. Whereas my DD has worked her butt off to get into a good school and ultimately gave up the private school dream because she would've had some loans. I'd give anything for Claire to be able to go to this college. Oh well, my kids pride themselves on being anti-materialistic and being thrifty. Time to put the green eyed monster away.

I can't believe your DIL asked for a bed for Christmas! Good riddance

[Gailete]

My son and his wife don't talk about how much they spend for Christmas presents, but they know things are tight here and with younger son. The younger does surveys and other internet things all year to get enough to buy presents. I try to never spend more than $200-300. But if I find a book in great condition at the thrift or book sale, I will get it for her, I found a lovely never used tea table tablecloth and napkins, hand embroidered for $2 at the thrift store. She loved it and is thrilled when I can find nice presents for practically nothing. Between one thing and another I gave her about $300 worth of presents for this past Christmas and had spent just about $10 maybe! My boys are used to not getting horribly expensive presents either.

For a long time my mom used to give Christmas Eve parties and a young lady and her husband that were friends of my niece for some reason would show up every year for our FAMILY party. She might bring a loaf of Italian bread and that was their contribution to the food and when they would leave, they would take the rest of the loaf back with them. That is if they brought anything at all! Even my autistic son makes sure when the office is having a party he takes an appropriate food contribution. The other day he mentioned he had gotten doughnuts for the office and I asked if they had been having a party and he said no, just because. If he could get a concept like that straight, why can't supposedly 'normal' folks?

Incidentally due to his autism, for many years, I did have to go along with what he wanted or would actually use or play with, since if he didn't like or want something it would sit in a corner for the next 100 years. I would love to see him in a red sweater at Christmas time because he looks so good in red, but since the day he could dress himself he has absolutely refused to wear red as he thinks he looks terrible in it. So it is a case of waste your money at your own peril. He was 19 the first time he was excited about opening presents at Christmas even though he had no clue what would be in them. The total joy of raising an autistic child.

[FLA]

kudos to your thriftiness and the way you raised your kids not to value things over people. It must've been wonderful when DS was 19 and was excited about Christmas presents.

lol at bringing a loaf of bread and taking the leftovers home