So, you run to the other end of the valley to take advantage of a great sale on golf balls.

Instead of paying $24.99, they are only $10...what a bargain!!!!

But, I think every other golfer in Southern Oregon must have thought so too...because they were all sold out.

So, using Flash's gentle nudge a few days ago about 'rain checks'...I marched to the front of the store and inquired about a few...(Hey, I didnt drive all this way for NOTHING!)

...so what does the store say...no, no rain checks..

...but we are matching the sale price of the GOLD golf balls with the TITANIUM golf balls!!!

Ok...so this sounded impressive enough to me...gold, titanium...all I cared was they were a nice set of golf balls...so I bought enough to give as gifts to each of the guys for Christmas and a bonus pack as a belated DH b-day gift.

Total spent $50...saved...$75 Ill take it!! and another checklist for the Christmas shopping list! HO HO HO

Lots on the docket today.

DH had to go to the now infamous DMV and renew his license and while he is there he is renewing my car registration. Both will be $110.

Then, I have to shuffle girls to/from color guard practice...so while Im in town Im going to stop by a sporting good sale and pick up a few boxes of golf balls that are on sale for $10 (reg. $24.99) for Christmas gifts for the golfers in the family.

DH requested vanilla ice cream to go with his left over b-day cake...so stopping by the grocery store for that.

Umm...I think thats it. I think I will kill the rest of my time at the library so that i am not tempted to spend anything else.

Otherwise, crockpot green chili pork for dinner...hung all laundry, did my stairs...and nothing exciting in the mail. Have a good one!

Ok y'all...time to do the happy dance...

The Oregon DMV finally reviewed the NY suspension and OVERRODE it!!!

They agreed it was ridiculous and DH will be renewing his license tomorrow.

FINALLY.

geeze.

DH was successful this time at the Oregon DMV...no his license is still not renewed and we are still in limbo with NY DMV...but this lady gave my DH a business card with her name so that if DH gets pulled over he can explain and drop her name...and that should keep him out of too much hot water. (umm, ok...)

She also made a call to Salem and they have promised to finally look into this with NY...but it will take a few more days... (umm, ok...)

But I am not complaining...at least someone was willing to treat us as a victim rather than a criminal.

On a hppier note, my rewards card had enough to cash out $20 today...so the check is in the mail. Lots of expected rebates, payouts etc...which will be most welcome in my challenge account!

Today:

NY DMV....The only way to release the suspension is to pay the fine..If the judge determines that the ticket was not issued to your husband, you will get a refund check...

Me: and when will the judge be reviewing this case?

NY DMV: Well they are currently reviewing items mailed at the beginning of APRIL 2006..(WTF!!)

Me: So, I should pay you $875 for a ticket my husband didnt get and you may pay it back by the end of the year IF the judge agrees with our claim. Do you see the absurdity of all this???

NY DMV: Thats all I can do for you. Would you like to pay the fine maam?

Me: (#)%(*&$#(*#&$*)_(#*$)(*#(*$)(#*

DH: Ok, this is family show, I wont even symbolize what he has to say...but he is headed for the Oregon DMV as I type...

Today is DHs birthday...which means that today is also the day that his drivers license expires.

You might remember that couple of months ago, we received notice from Oregon DMV that NEW YORK DMV had suspended DHs license because someone had gotten pulled over FOUR YEARS AGO, had NO ID, and gave my DHs first, last name (which is as common as John Smith) and date of birth. (why we werent notified 4 years ago is beyond me)

So, because it matched my DHs (who, by the way HAS NEVR BEEN TO NEW YORK), they suspended his license.

DHs job DEPENDS on a current ODL.

So, we mailed off all the proof a little over a month ago....and

DH called Oregon DMV yesterday and we were told they still couldnt/wouldnt do anything until NY releases this suspension, even though they also recieved copies of all the proof, including the statement that DH was AT WORK the night before and would have been impossible to get to NY by ticket time.

So, DH is calling NY DMV this morning...and we will see what they say. Next stop, an attorney....so much for being innocent until proven otherwise...

Happy Birthday DH!

I received $7.80 for the cans I returned and I also deposited the $3.92 rebate check that I received this weekend...which brings my challenge account to $612.20!!!

I did an online survey last night. It was one of those update surveys on our shopping habits.

Have you ate at any of the following places in the past 3 months... NO

Have you flew for business or pleasure in the last 12 months....NO

Have you stayed at any hotels in past 6 months... NO

Do you buy the following products.. NO

Do you plan to buy a car...NO

Do you plan to take a cruise... NO

Remodel... NO

Order Magazines...NO

No, No, No....

It was an enlightening experience to see just how much I dont spend money on...things that I never really even think about. I am sure the survey people put me on the "Is she even still alive list"...lol

DD1 has started her winter job and wont be working out here with me until after the first of the year.

She was our computer trouble shooter (as well as accountant- which she will still do)

On Saturday she came out to do something to the puter and our customer manager program crashed and burned. This is our brain center for our business and we had ZERO access.

So I called the support center and he walked me through and I am very happy to say that we are up and running again!!! I did it!! Who knew!!

Ok, so a big check mark for the day!!!

and no money spent in the process!!

It is day one of tracking of the spending!

We are out of milk, so I know there will be at least a small spend today.

My goal is to go to the little town about 10 minutes away, get the milk, return some soda cans, stop by the bank and drop some books by the library.

Ive been using alot more gas the last couple of weeks with all the shuffling of DD3 to and from her color guard practice...its appx 30 miles round trip each time...and I am making the trip 2X most days...yikes! Anyways, I am hoping to conserve by doing all the errands together today.

Uncle Leon passed away this morning. He was nana's brother, the one who was closest to her. He has been up and down for a while with an illness that runs in nana's family and has claimed almost all her cousins and now 2 of her brothers.

Nana always said that Leon was the 'sister' she never had (no, he wasnt gay, they were just very, very close). (Nana was the oldest and only girl of 4 kids)

Poor nanas heart is broke tonight. I know how she feels, as I lost my only sibling- my older brother 17 years ago.

Yes, we are grateful that Uncle Leon is no longer suffering...but it doesnt make it any easier on those who will forever miss him.

Go in peace Uncle Leon...you were a cherished brother, husband, father, Uncle and friend and you lived a good life. Say hello to Lyn for me.

This week has been full of great freebies.

I received a nice 'sample" from Clean Home Journal- an OFF! mosquito repellant lamp. I do not remember signing up for this one...but it is pretty cool...I got a similarly nice Walmart 'sample' a few weeks ago...which was a 'Woolite Oxy Pod" for spot carpet cleaning. These samples are actual full sized products to try.

Then, this weekend I received the Olay sample and Infusium hair care samples.

Last night I went on one of my survey sights and had enough points to cash out a $6 check...which is on the way now!!

and I am real close to having $35 in my points gift cards!!!

My DH and DS both had a good laugh during coffee this morning over my freebies...but I am pretty happy with the things I am recieving for a few clicks on the computer.

I have tried so many products that I probably would never splurge on...and it is nice to be able to indulge...if only for a sample-sized moment or two. I am actually saving a few of the nicer ones to use for an at home 'spa day' on one of the upcoming 'hunter widow weekends' that I enjoy during the fall.

So they can laugh away at my sample silliness...I on the other hand will continue to enjoy my freebies!

I have my GS today. He and I have had lots of fun and now he is up napping in the big bed.

He and I went to the dollar store this morning and I learned just how fun a mirror and a rack of sunglasses can be when you're 2. Because he was a good boy we came home with a new ball and a truck.

I came home with a 15 month student calendar that starts on Monday Aug. 28th. I thought Id follow Boomeyers footsteps and start the little black book of my spending tracking.

I made beef and barley soup last night for the first time...It turned out pretty good considering 1. Id never made it before and 2. I didnt have a few of the ingredients (including beef stock) to make it. I also made a big batch of chicken breasts for salads this weekend.

Checked on Anna and she is getting such a big tummy...just a few more weeks til those puppies arrive!
Ready or not, here they'll come!

I was thinking...


Each year between Halloween and Christmas, I try to keep a decorated container by the front door that our family deposits change into. Visitors have been known to contribute too.

The amount is always a surprise when we open and count it at the beginning of December...and then we pull a name off the Foster Care tree and 'adopt' a child who is in foster care.

However, Im willing to use the money for any good cause.

Is anyone else wanting to do this as a collective effort?? Not so much that the money is given to the same place...but rather we keep track of how much was accumulated in our individual coin boxes for donations. and then see what the saving advice members grand total was?

We could set up a thread to communicate about it...and then tally up the money on a set day...and then everyone could report where their money went to.

Hmm....Is this against any savings advice rules?? Is this something you already do??

Objections?

Takers?

I received the Advil PM rebate in the mail and will add this to my challenge account.

3.92 + 586-20 = 590.12!!!

We registered DD3 in HS this morning...deposits, yearbooks, color guard, pics, student body card...and I handed over a check for $111.

I passed about 4 coffee stands on the way home...boy did a mocha sound good! But I was good and came home without tossing another $3+ out the window.

I think I have the whole 'no spending' thing down...that is, for me. But what about these two other 'money-sucking-without-thinking' persons who live in my home?

Here is a typical day in our home:

I happily make my coffee in my lil ol years old $9.99 coffee pot. I happily clip coupons, peruse the sales ads, click my points, hang laundry, wear 1990 something fashion, bake from scratch, cook from scratch, dole out laundry soap and ammonia as tho they were gold, use free samples to wash my hair, and read books from the library.

In this midst, the two other occupants (DH and DD3- aka "me and mini me') somehow silently conspire against me in my quest for no spend days...

golf, lunch, uniforms, candy, clothes, socks, beer, soda, downloaded music, overdue fines, hunting and fishing supplies (ok, but where's the beef? he and his buddies go hunting with empty guns...no, just a suspicion, but why do they never come home with anything?? and a case of beer...so why do we need that license?)

and on and on....

I would proudly say that Ive had many, many no spend days...but the emphasis would be "I" not 'we'.

Sigh....

Im not upset. Im not giving up. and I am going to continue on my quest for no spend days in the hopes that my frugalness is rubbing off at least a little on these co-habitants of mine.

In the meantime, I will happily continue my frugal routines and plant frugal seeds in the minds of the non-frugal with the hopes that with enough cultivation we will eventually celebrate a few no- spenders as a family!