A Day of No Spending, and Other Things

Today was my elderly friend, Ellen's day to visit the dentist for her initial consultation and I had promised her that I would accompany her for this visit.   Off we went in my little but very warm car for the one block drive to the dentist.  I am very grateful for underground parking.  While the car may be chilly it doesn't take long for the engine to warm and the interior to be toasty comfortable when it's sheltered inside. 

During her hour long visit/my wait, I took the time to familiarize myself with the settings on my camera.... oh the procrastination I have done over the years.  I learned a bit more how to operate it in different lights.  I feel just a little bit smarter today.  LOL! 

I had mentioned the needs to her at the drop-in shelter and she gathered up scarves, hats, gloves that she didn't use anymore, so we took the time to drive to the shelter for her to drop them off.  I took her inside so that she would be able to see the needs firsthand.  It is a real eye opener when viewed personally and she was troubled to see how many individuals were taking advantage of the opportunity to go indoors on this coldest day of the year so far.  Then on to our own simple soup and sandwich lunch which warmed us to the center of our being.  We both said a prayer of gratitude for it. 

Then followed a circuitous drive towards home along Lake Ontario, with a stop at Heydenshore Park to gaze over the frigid water.  I turned the car off for a bit so as to not waste gas but we didn't linger 'cause the car cooled off very quickly.  Off we headed toward home to snuggle into our cozy residences.  It was a simple, relaxed spend nothing day which I thoroughly enjoyed.  :)

Stay warm everyone, everywhere in the deep freeze!!

This and That From The Cat!!

Stoptober 7th

Another no spend day.  I fought the urge all day today to go out and buy a coffee, buy a chocolate bar, buy a dinner from a take out place, and I resisted the urge totally and completely (well at least until this point which is 7:15 p.m. as I write this). 

The rain has started so I'm staying in for the night.  Dinner was leftovers from the fridge and freezer.  I wished I'd remembered to take a pic before I ate it all.  I sauteed some green pepper and mushrooms in a little butter, then mixed in a bit of turkey leg that I found at the back of the freezer.  Languishing at the back on a rack in the refridge was a container of chicken fried rice from last week end so mixed that in with the "red" sweet & sour sauce sitting beside it.  Combined all of it and together with a glass of red wine, it filled me quite nicely.  I DO. NOT. LIKE. TO. WASTE. FOOD. at all.  It hurts to have to toss food.  I am tossing hard earned dollars.  It's easy to toss food when too much has been purchased, but vigilance by doing a stock taking of the fridge, the freezer,  the pantry, the dry storage cupboard in kitchen should avoid any need to garbage anything by first not overbuying.  But being human and not always vigilant, some stuff sometimes does get the heave ho.  Ugh!  Hurts to see it go. 

I am 3 days from retirement; vigilance will be enforced.... by me, who else.  LOL!  Limited income will do that.  I blame lack of vigilance on fatigue, little motivation or ???....... any number of reasons.

I have cleaned out the refridge today and will compile a list to restock on Thursday.  Like everywhere, America, Britain, and so on, Canada is experiencing rising prices for food.  I have already cut down on the amount of meat I buy. 

No spend this Stoptober 7th.  Yay!!!!!

Stoptober 5th

Friday, the end of the work week for me.  I left work at 5:45 instead of the usual 7:15 pm.  It is our opportunity to celebrate the Thanksgiving week-end in Canada and many of the students departed either late on Thursday or early Friday for their homes to spend the long week-end with their families.  The dining hall was almost deserted at 5:30 pm and the supervisor asked if I would be interested in leaving early.  For two reasons:  1)  the Company would save on labour costs, and 2)  there wasn't anything to do. 

I jumped at the opportunity to leave before my time ended as I was really tired yesterday, just an accumulation of fatigue from the week.  Home I went, feet elevated when I arrived and into a book until I couldn't keep my eyes open at 10 p.m.

Happy to report that Stop 5th was a no-spend day.  Hurray!  Allowable spending was for car insurance and condo insurance. 

Stoptober... Stop Spending in October

I have joined the Stoptober Challenge presented by this blogger in the UK

http://frugalincornwall.blogspot.ca/

She has thrown out the challenge to stop spending in October and it has come at an appropriate time for me as I will go into full out, full blown frugality.  I love the challenge and I look forward to only necessary spending.  I'll check in daily to update; accountability goes a long way to keep on the frugality path. 



Stoptober 1st - condo fee for October, otherwise no spend day.