5 Things I Did That Were Frugal This Week

1. Went on a dinner date with my hubby. used coupons and saved us $4.

2. Found the PBS tv show Call The Midwife on Netflix. Watched the first 2 season. Used a service we pay for and got my money's worth for the month :) Anyone watch this series? I love it!

3. Finished decluttering Kid # closet? have a box to donate to Goodwill. Have a few items to give to Kid # 1. Gave some other items away to friends who I know can use them.

4. Utilized items I already owned in the organizing and decluttering of the closet mentioned in #3. I love to find new ways to use thing I already have!

5. I made Kid # 3 a chocolate birthday cake from scratch using pantry items I already had.

*almost forgot my no spend days :)

2-no spend = 7 for March

5 Things I Did That Were Frugal This Week

1. Repurposed a container to hold 10 lbs of popcorn kernels instead of buying one. 

2. Went for my first dental cleaning of the year even though I hate going to the dentist. This saves me money by taking care of my teeth.

3. Asked for a sample tube of sensitive teeth tooth paste while at the dentist. My husband is the only one who uses it so the sample lasts a long while and saves me from having to buy it.

4.  I brought home some food items from work that were destined for the garbage. They won't make whole meals but will add to what we already have.

5. I did most of our grocery shopping at Aldi and with a list :)

2-No Spend Days this week = 5 for March

5 Things I Did That Were Frugal This Week

1. Had money left in our two week gas budget. Moved it to savings.

2. Ad matched fot the first time at Target. Then also used Target Cartwheel app to get cheap coffee.

3.  Made this "new" storage box for Kid # 5's room. Using duck tape and a shoe box.  I will for sure be making some more :)

4. Had Hubby stop and pick up Kid # 4 on his way home from work. This saved me time and us money combining trips.

5. We had a leftovers night again this week.

* I kinda lost track of my no spend days this month but this week I had 3 :)

Bathroom Remodel

I can't believe I haven't shared this on here before now.....

About 10 months or so ago I got a wild hair and decided I could not stand our main floor bathroom any longer.  It was one of the only rooms we had not remodeled or done much of anything to.

Here is what it looked like before:

Here is what it looks like now :)

This is what we did.  First I painted the stripes.  One gallon of Queens Anne Lace white paint from Lowes $30.  One 3/4 gallon of paint I bought off a local facebook site for $5, that is the tan color.  I have no idea what the name of that color is.  

My husband had removed the vanity so that I could paint the stripes and I had planned to paint the vanity anyway.  Along time ago I had found the new medicine cabinet on clearence at Lowes for $20.  I knew I wanted the vanity to match so I took a shelf out of it and had it color match at Lowes.  I then primed it with 2 coat of Zinsser primer and then 2 coats of the color matched paint $25.  We added new knobs from Hobby Lobby 50% off around $10 and eventually will add a new faucet when the funds are available.

I found the light above the medicine cabinet on clearence at Walmart for $35. My husband added the glass tile backsplash for $ 40 . The circle towel ring was free from my sister who replaced hers. 

I painted the closet door the same color white as the white stripe and all the trim.  I added a new handle and hinges purchased from ebay for $20.   

We replaced the floor, door casings and base boards for about $200. 

We also replaced the light switch plate, toliet paper holder and outlet cover all bought at Walmart for  $18.

The curved shower curtain rod was bought at Gordmans with a 20% off coupon for $15.  The shower curtain I already had and the hooks were bought at a yard sale for a $1.  The stool I bought at a flea market for $5 and the bath mat I already had also.

My husbad made the shelves above the toliet for me.  The brackets I got at Hobby Lobby 50% off and the wood tops he made from scrap wood we already had.  I painted them white with the paint we already had.  Total $15

The towel "hooks" my husband also made me.  I can't remember the exact cost of it.  I want to say around $20.  The knobs used as hooks were purchased at Hobby Lobby 50% off.  The sign above it was purchased at a store in my home town called Country Junction.  I think it was around $30.  

This whole project I worked on for about 5 months.  As you can see I tried my best to save as much money on it as I could.  This summer we would like to purchase a new faucet, possibly a new sink, a fan/light combo for the ceiling and put crown molding. Then the room will be officially done.  

Oh all the accersories on the shelves I shopped my house for also :)

Birthday Present For My Mom

Several months ago my Mom and I were at a local craft fair and she wanted to buy this purse like thing to hold her water bottle.  I talked her out of it.  I thought it was to much to pay and also something I could easily make for her.

Fast forward to her birthday a few weeks ago and here is what I made for her.

I thought it turned out well.  She really liked it.  I had everything on hand and did not have to purchase anything for this present.

I used this tutorial  for the measurements only.  Otherwise I didn't use any batting and lined the inside with terry cloth and used a canvas strap all of which I already had. 

5 Things I Did That Were Frugal This Week

1. Had 100,000 mile maintance done on my car.  This was expensive but I need my car to last a good long time.  It did however end up costing me $200 less then anticipated and I also had a $10 off coupon for any work done over $50 at the place we go.

2. Kid # 5 is in her school play and needed a shirt with ruffles down the front.  The school play is done with grant money so the parents are asked to help with the costumes if we can.  I found her a white ruffle shirt which she liked and will wear again at Goodwill for $3.26.

3. We ate a leftover buffet night.  Helped get rid of the leftovers and keep us from throwing food away.

4. Started to finally clean out Kid # 5's closet.  I have a box almost full of out grown clothes which I should be able to sell most of.  I love clearing out clutter and making some cash with it.

5.  A few months ago I read this post at One Income Family Living about buying chicken in bulk at GFS.  Well it just so happens that we also have a GFS store here.  I happen to be close to the store a few days ago and also had a $5 off coupon so I decide to check and see if ours also carried the bulk chicken at the same price.  Turns out, ours does, so I bought a case.  I now have some prepped freezer meals and several bags of our size family portions of chicken in the freezer.   I think I will be doing this from now on but I will definitely be pairing it with the $5 off $50 coupon they put out regularly.