Have fun at Keepsake, Eileen!!

Just me being home on workers comp is saving us money. I used to put 250 miles on my car every week!! Driving school bus meant I went home in between runs. And no, we weren't allowed to take our buses home.
I'm tagging along with DH next week. He's going to a conference and I'm going to explore Concord, MA. The only time I'm really going to be spending much money will be when I go to Keepsake Quilting-and I sold some stuff on ebay to make the money for that! I'm beginning to think that ebay will be a good resource for some of my stuff. Other people will pay me to add to their accumulation .
I've been going to the coupon sites posted earlier in this thread. They haven't posted new coupons in quite a while. Does anyone know how often they change them?
eileenkny

Rachel, I think your neighbors must have lived next door to me in the past! I share your grief! And, Florence, I hate HOA's, too, and when my husband retires we can't wait to buy a house without a HOA. We're in a small condo and my husband has to be on the Board just to keep a few people from acting like the gestapo! We believe in live and let live. I can't believe how many people out there want to police everything their neighbors do! Well, I'm off topic--but I HAVE been recycling my Diet Vanilla Pepsi cans and the refund really adds up!

Well you're probably not going to believe this but not only are my neighbors having issues with my clothesline but with my garden too. Apparently it is too close to the property line. :shock: Yes this is the same neighbor who called the cops for my lawn mower being too loud, and for mowing their lawn while they were on vacation for 3 weeks. But this thread is not for complaining. I just thought I would give you all a good laugh. Be thankful you don't have my neighbors. Rachel

Unfortunately...in my area I am hard pressed to find a 'hood that doesn't have an HOA of some type. I live in an historic town...
I still have not heard from the HOA. But have continued to hang my clothes out. Who knew I was such a REBEL!! LOL

On the savings front...the windows are open!! My electric bill was HALF..HALF of what my neighbors received. Plus...I saved 32% off my grocery bill again with menu planning, coupons, and store savings. I have been averaging about $200 every two weeks.
I have only filled up my car ONCE since May 20th. I have been using my bike for most of my trips. Yes...it does take longer to do errands...but the benefits are showing. I have lost 7 pounds!!

FW

Oh I'd missed several pages of this thread too! LOVE Freecycle, DETEST HOA's!! That actually was one criteria when we bought this house, I said I would NOT live in a neighborhood w/ covenants. All somebody'd have to do was tell me I couldn't paint my house purple, and I'd be out there painting! Funny (or shame) how in America we think we're SOOOO individualistic but we choose to live in homogenous neighborhoods and shop in national chain stores so we all look the same.
My sister lives in the heart of town, nice area, & her DH illegally keeps chickens. They give all the neighbors free eggs, no one complains!
Florence

Take you printer ink cartidges to Staples the will usually take them and give you credit towards new ones. By the way they mail you the credits now instead of giving them on the spot. But at least the will take them. Also many office supply stores will take them if you don't live near a staples. Also bag up your batteries especially car batteries many recycle centers give good money for these. My friend last week took in about 10 old car batteries and was given about $75-100 I forgot what she told me. But I do know later she was told that another one gives more money towards old batteries. You never know what junk will get you. Rachel

FreeCycle is great! I've gotten a CD player to use when walking, a new-used telephone for DH when his bit the dust, new/used gardenhose (who cares) and have gotten furniture for a formerly homeless guy our church is helping. Also have given away yarn, a printer (that worked) broken garden tools (handles broken) .....all kinds of stuff changes hands............

Oh, yes, gave away a pet cage I wasn't using, some Christmas decorations I downsized and eliminated. Wire coat hangers to a lady who crochets around them for children's clothes.

Check it out!

I got a sample pack of batting from Quilters Dream on Thursday. They have a new "green" batting and it really is a very light green! It's made from recycled plastic bottles, and it has a fantastic drape. Now, I wouldn't use it for baby quilts, since it has NO cotton in it. But for wallhangings, table runners, or if you happen to like poly batting, it looks like it would be a winner.

I'm a member of our local FreeCycle. I've gotten some cool stuff and gotten rid of the beginning of my clutter clearing.
eileenkny

Great to have a recycler on this string!

My daughter is an environmental toxicologist and has been an avid recycler for years! She has gradually indoctrinated me to being one too.

Sometimes it is hard to find places to get rid of things though, like Styrofoam that is packed around new electronics ie. sewing machines? Never did find a place for that. But now save all old batteries (still haven't converted to rechargeable ones!), send old cell phones to "Phones for Soldiers" - save all printer cartridges and then have to find a place to send them .. of course all kitchen stuff and plastics is easier.

Every little bit we do adds up even if it might seem it doesn't matter!
Lynn

I haven't been keeping up on the Forums for quilt awhile, but what a great topic with so many great suggestions in the string. A few things we have been doing -

- living in Colorado, the sun is strong and hot (afterall, we are one mile closer to the sun than a lot of places in the US). We installed window film that resists 50%+ of the heat and our air conditioning and winter heating bills were much lower
- we have really been focused on food in-take and not wasting anything. Smaller portions when shopping and just enough for the 3 of us
- we ride our bikes more for the short trip to the store (and my cute basket on the front of my bike is finally coming in handy)
- my hubby is using Craig's List (an on line selling community - set up for just your local community/town/city) to sell things that we just aren't using anymore
- we have really reduced our family gift giving to important things that we know we will use - no gag gifts, no things that will get tossed out after a short use, etc
- always purchase gas at Sam's Club (luckily they offer it in the Denver area stores)
- I work for the biggest recycling company in the US, so we recycle everything that we possibly can..... it's great for the environment and I know I am wasting less!!!

Great topic! Thanks for sharing all your ideas.... I saw a few that I am going to try!

Mary Kay

I have found that I get better gas mileage by not starting my car until I'm all buckled in and the sunshade is removed from the windshield.

I continually see people racing from a stopped position and hurrying to get to the next stoplight. What a waste of gas. Taking your foot off the gas when approaching a stoplight and starting slowly after a stop really helps. One or two more miles per gallon adds up!

JoAnne in sunny southern California

We go food shopping every 2 weeks because that's how Mike gets paid. We have done very well the past 2 times we've shopped. Once was at the local supermarket and last night was at the commissary. We buy extra of what we need when it's on sale so that we don't have to pay top price.
My only problem is storage space. I'm going to have to repurpose my hall closet.
eileenkny

Another thing you can do living rural is have chickens! Oh, I miss their conversation and even my rooster's morning call!

And having your own 'egg machine' saves money!