Live frugally in 2009

something out . . . grrrr . . . had to get a whole ream just to print eight or ten sheets.

Anyway, while I was at Staples, I bought two reams of 8 1/2×11 which, after the rebate (already submitted), will only cost me a penny each. I use this size paper all the time, and even though I had plenty at home, it will be used.

I also bought two packs of a dozen pencils, also a penny each, no rebate involved. Really not very frugal, since I seldom use pencils at home. But I can always take them to work to lend to my pencil-less students.

I go to the Bath and Body biannual sale and buy bath gel and hand soap for Nick and me, enough to last six months. I try to get as much as possible from the 75 percent off bin. I just bought enough to last until January, with a couple of nice candles at 75 percent off, too!

We get yummy-smelling baths at a very nice price!

in this category, but I have done a few frugal things lately:

1. I just purchased my yearly $10 worth of minutes for my cell phone. I have over 400 minutes and would not buy at all if they were not about to expire. I buy minutes once a year, pay no monthly fee, and have bought one new cell phone in ten years, and paid about $10 for it. The first one was free. Definitely a frugal cell phone plan.

2. I have given myself two pedicures lately. I hear they cost $20 at the salon. I paid for nail polish and remover. I already have foot cream on hand. Okay, it’s not foot cream, but cream is cream.

3. I am buying about 10 pairs of pants on sale, to wear around home. I will not have to worry about buying pants again until these get frayed. I love to buy in bulk and not worry about it for a while.

Put this on my list and buy a car. Way to be frugal!

PB Basic armchair for $175, roughly one third of the $499 plus tax plus S&H that it is on the PB site.

I have been wanting a slipcover for a while, but have been balking at the price. Yay for bargains!

then I have done quite well in January.

1. I have bought new cushions for my outdoor furniture at 75% off.
2. I have bought six new nice outdoor chairs to replace the cheap, rusty ones I had, also 75 percent off.
3. I have bought a new chair for my living room to match the new sofa. Also on sale, great chair but discontinued fabric and color.
4. I have bought clothes for myself and hubby, on sale of course.
5. I have bought other small, incidental things on sale—shower gel, candles, and so on, stocking up because it was on sale.

Now, for February, maybe it’s time to try the kind of frugality that means “not spending money.”

I used to be a pretty frugal soul. I clipped coupons, I did not spend much, yadayada.

Since Nick’s illness, I have not had time to be frugal. Clip coupons? Get real! Make dinner? Pffft!

We also have extra expenses: a caregiver for Nick, Nick’s medical/health supplies, and anything else that goes into keeping him alive, happy, and improving. Those things I cannot skimp on.

Also, I will not stop doing things such as buying frozen convenience foods, rotisserie chickens, and ready made foods. I work very hard between my job and my care of Nick, and I have no desire to turn myself into some sniveling martyr, tied to a kitchen stove. Like that would ever happen anyway. :)

So, what can I do? I already spend a bare minimum on gas and do no unnecessary driving. We don’t eat out and seldom get fast food. We have just enough cable channels so that Nick can watch the Braves in the spring . . . no HBO or anything like that. I already buy all our clothing, household furnishings, towels, sheets, and so on when they are on sale, usually end-of-season clearance. We go the maximum time between haircuts, and are usually approaching “shaggy” by the time we get them. I take my lunch to work rather than buying it out, and I never drink those famous $5 lattes that all the finance books are always telling you to cut back on.

The only place I can really think to cut back are my clothing expenses, which are pretty modest anyway, what with the sale shopping. And, well, earrings, but I had to get a bunch of those when I got my ears pierced this past September.

I guess Step 1 is to see how much comes in, and how much goes out and where. Then I can think about where to economize.