Tuesday, January 25, 2022

2021 Linus Project: October-December

 Operation Gratitude Scarves:  26

Linus Project Blankets:   21

Pet Blankets:  9


9 skeins for $8.18  Goodwill


Yearly Totals:

Linus Project:  71

Operation Gratitude:  68

Pet Blankets:  20


Yarn Bought:

349 skeins

Cost:  $196.22

Average Cost/ skein  $0.56

104 skeins were Also donated

I have about a year's worth of yarn in inventory.

Thursday, January 20, 2022

2021 Household and Personal Care: December

 Household:  

Laundry detergent (4)  $3.08  Price Rite

Spic and Span (2), toilet cleaner (2), foil sheets (3)  $7.42  Dollar Tree


Personal Care:

Toothpaste (2)  2.12  Dollar Tree


Yearly Totals:

Household:$329.82 or $27.49/month (over the $25/month budget)

Personal Care:  $176.21 or $14.71/ month (well under the $30/ month budget)

Sunday, January 16, 2022

2022 Buying and Eating: Jan 1-15

 Allocation: $310

Cushion: -0-

YTD Groceries:

YTD Eating Out:

YTD Total:

What We Ate:  bbq pork ribs, carrot and pineapple salad, butter beans, cabbage salad with mandarins and poppy seed dressing; smoked pulled pork, sweet potato fries, leftover sides; polenta with marinara and sausage; stuffed pepper soup and cornbread; baked potato bar and leftover sides; pork fried rice and fruit; homemade sausage pizza; chili spaghetti;  chicken cordon bleu casserole, scalloped cabbage, dilled carrots, apple salad; creamed chicken and vegetables over cornbread, apple salad; vegetation tikki masala, nann, pears; corned beef and Swiss sandwiches with homemade pretzel bites; vegetable pancakes, scalloped cabbage, green beans, yogurt; beef stroganoff and leftover sides; stuffed pepper soup and homemade bread


What We Bought:  

Aldi:  corn syrup  $3.55

Amazon:  mamade Seville oranges for marmalade  (3)  $33.00

Bread Store:  bagels (2), cinnamon raisin bread  $3.29

Sam's:  parmesan  $9.78

Groceries:  $49.62


Eating Out:

Holiday lunch with Joyce  $12.00

Mike lunch Cleveland  $1.61

Eating Out:  $13.61


Two Week Total:  $63.23

Remaining Allocation:  $246.77

Tuesday, January 11, 2022

2021 Frugal Things in December

 1.  Used points to get a free coffee with an extra shot of expresso at Starbucks.

2.  We needed to feed ourselves a few times while in DC.  Instead of eating out, we bought sandwich fixings and ate in our room.

3.  I used a $5 coupon at Aldi.  Every little bit helps.

4.  Mike saved $22 on this year's tax software by taking advantage of a preseason sale.

5.  We saved $34 by having our new passport photos taken at AAA rather than the drugstore.

6.  We used a $10 gift card to help pay for lunch at the yacht club.

7.  We needed to renew our passports.  The price was due to increase, so we did it a little earlier and saved $24.

8.  We purchased cards and gift bags for next Christmas, taking advantage of the sales.  We saved $35.83.



Thursday, January 6, 2022

2022 New Budget Amounts

 Buying and Eating:  $10/day, the same as last year.  I had a sizeable amount left over in 2021.  It does not carry over, but I hope it is enough to allow for inflation and more meals out with friends.  I may regret this!  We shall see.  But the math will continue to be easy.


Clothing:  $12/month /person (up from $10) to allow for their prices, which have been rising.


Household:  I am increasing the monthly amount to $30 (from $25) to account for our overage in 2021.


Personal Care:  I am lowering the monthly amount to $20 (from $25) to more accurately reflect spending levels of 2021.


Linus:  I am fairly well stocked with yarn.  So, my max cost/ skein will stay at $1.

Saturday, January 1, 2022

2021 Buying and Eating: December 16-31

 Remaining Allocation:  $126.79

Cushion:  $901.23

YTD (287 days)  $1800.14 or $6.27/day

What We Ate:  baked ziti with salad and Italian bread; cheeseburger salad and cheese bread; chicken cordon bleu casserole, salad; ham baked sweet potato, salad; Joyce's chicken salad, garlic bread; beef stroganoff, noodles, baked Brussels sprouts, spinach salad; pizza; leftovers; assorted appetizers; rib roast, mashed potatoes with brie, spinach salad, roasted carrots, pumpkin cheesecake; roast beef sandwiches; Sausage stuffed mushrooms hasselback potato, corn, Greek salad; beef sandwiches on homemade rye; chili; like lasagna pasta; assorted appetizers

What We Bought:

Aldi:  butter (6), ribeye roast (4.71#), yellow onions (3#),sweet potatoes (3#), potatoes (10#)  $45.61

Food co-op:  tarragon   $1.20

Tops:  Italian bread  $0.99

Aldi:  butter (6) spiral ham (11#)  $21.34

Aldi:  butter (6), spinach  $12.73

Price Rite:  onions (6#), carrots (5#), minced onion, onion powder, garlic powder  $5.97

Groceries:  $87.84


Eating Out:

Lunch with Jim, Robin and MJ:  $16.40  Panera

Erie Yacht Club:  Mike's birthday lunch  $33.13

Sam's:  lunch coming home from Cleveland  $5.96

Eating Out:  $55.49


Two Week Total:  $143.33

Monthly Total :  $326.54 or $12.56/day, $6.28/person/day.


We are over and into the cushion by $16.54

Final Cushion Amount:  $884.69


YTD:  313 days; $2126.68 total spent or $ 6.79/day; $3.40/person/day