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More Treasures: The Fun Stuff
"I took two shoeboxes of change to a local supermarket that has a change machine (Genuardi's). After standing there feeding change into the machine for about 20 minutes, I glanced up and saw the number $256.00!!! I then went to a bank right next door, opened up a checking account in my name only, and sent $200.00 to my MasterCard account, almost paying it off. The lesson: change adds up! I feel a lot freer!" - Flybaby in PA
We all enjoy our fun time. This may be time spent with family and friends, or by ourselves to rest and reflect. This is also another area of our lives where little $15.00 nuggets are just waiting to be found. Books, magazines, craft supplies, restaurants, TV, shopping therapy, all of these are just waiting to suck up your excess (and sometimes not so excess funds)! Open your eyes wide, let the imagination run free (hint hint) and see what neat ideas for family and personal fun you can come up with that will not cost a dime. You will be amazed at what is out there. Start with a family meeting. You may be surprised to find that your children would like to dig out the Monopoly(TM) game and the popcorn popper instead of renting yet another movie and buying a ton of chips and pop to go with it. Perhaps an early spring hike on one of your local trails instead of a trip to the mall? Maybe a trip to the library to read the latest magazines instead of the instant grab and pay magazines at the grocery line up? The ideas are endless. Read on to see what our members suggest....
FACE: Financial Awareness Continuously Empowers - FlyLady
From our members....
"My best friend and I are swapping babysitting times instead of paying for a sitter (or two ) to watch our kids while we run errands. Instead we'll take turns!" - a Flybaby
"This is a double whammy--
I have stopped going to buy fresh craft supplies every other week. I thought at first that eyeballs would fall out, hands would shrivel up, and I'd die a gruesome death of abject boredom but as it turns out-- I already own enough to keep me in projects for a very long time.
Then I put everyone's special events into the calendar on my computer and set the notification to two weeks prior (plenty of time for me to make sure those special gifts are finished) so I'm not buying another gift at the last second to take the place of the gift that I didn't finish." - from Oregon
- Hello FlyCrew,
I am going to save about $50.00 or more this month by baking a present for a friend's birthday. Normally, I would buy her a Limoge, which she collects, and they are from 50-75 dollars. I have plenty of baking supplies and am going to bake her a loaf of bread and make her a Flan cake. She will just love them both, as she does not cook at all. These are time-consuming, made with love, and very thoughtful presents. She's not on a diet, so she won't get mad at me for the flour and sugar, lololol, as some of my other friends might. I am going to make an extra payment on my Home Depot credit card since it carries the highest interest rate.
Flybaby in South Florida
- My biggest money saving tip is to use the public library! Several ways
- Check out kid's videos for family movie night instead of renting or
buying them; Check out books you want to read instead of the
recreational Barnes & Noble trip; use interlibrary loan services for
harder to find books instead of Amazon; use the current periodicals room
to read the current fashion or decorating or cooking magazines instead
of impulse buying in the checkout line at the grocery store. Obviously
we are a family who reads a lot! P.S. Financial discipline pays off -
we are debt free except for our house, just paid cash for a new-to-us
Camry, and I get to work part time next year so my kids won't be in
daycare. Whee!
- When I am out shopping for necessities, or out for any reason, I make sure I
take a little snack from home and a drink. I do not stop at fast food
restaurants, even tho I am really tempted. I am very careful of what I
purchase, and check my cart before I check out to see if I am buying any
decor or unnecessary stuff. If so, I put it back. I am trying to use up
what is already in my freezer at home before buying any more meat. Staying
out of the stores as much as possible is really a great help. No more
recreational shopping!! - in Missouri
- Well to save money to pay off our remaining credit card balance, my husband and I have both quit smoking. Sadly, we were spending $300.00 per month (yes, EACH MONTH). Now we will have that money to pay off bills. And during my decluttering processes I have been listing things I didn't need on Ebay. I've made almost $200.00 the last couple of weeks. This is really going to lift us out of debt.
~FLYbaby in IL~
- I cancelled my cable subscription. We NEED a cable internet
connection for the work that I do from home however we had also
subscribed to basic, digital and HBO. We will be saving $40 a month by
not having any extra services above the internet service.
- FlyCrew,
DH and I changed our cable service from classic to basic 2 weeks ago.
The difference of cost between the 2 will save us about $30 a month.
This month that money plus a little less than $10 more will pay off our
smallest credit card debt.
- How will I save $15 (or more!) this month: EASY! I WON'T drop in to the
dollar store "just to see what's there" !! Maybe I'll use that time to
have a little fun with one of my half-started craft projects instead!
Love from an Amesbury, MA Flybaby
Surprise
Whew, you are reading the last list. Now, don't worry, if all these ideas are beginning to feel overwhelming. Remember, BabySteps. Just jot down one or two ideas that may work for you. I will add all these lists to the Table of Contents so they will be available for the rest of the year.
Now, for this Surprise, you need to dig out your calendar and mark ONE day that will be FREE FUN Day. It can be for you, you and a friend or spouse, or you and your family. The choice is yours. Write down what your are going to do. Perhaps a trip to the library, perhaps a spring walk. Me, I am going to set up a Porch Night with my DH. We enjoy sitting out on our porch in the evenings and sharing a bottle of wine (we still have one left from the holidays), some cheese, and whatever other snacks I can dig out. Friday night, here we come.
Let me know what you set up. Send an email to FlyCrew@flylady.net and put FACEFUN in the subject line.
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- Several everyday ways to save money and apply that to outstanding debt:
Instead of renting movies, borrow them from the library. You might not be able to get the current movie right away, but you just need to put your name on the reserve list and be patient.
Instead of paying to go to the gym, pay yourself $1 each day you carry out an exercise program of 30-60 min.
Instead of stopping each time you go by a coffee shop to pick up a coffee, bring your drink with you. Add up in a week how many times you stop at the coffee shop. It is not inexpensive.
If you stop when you are out to buy a bottle of water, pick up a 6-pack at the grocery store and remember to take a bottle when you go out. (I like the flavored waters, but I make 2 bottles of flavored water from one by dividing it and then adding water. I get 12 out of 6 that way.)
- That extra magazine I want in the grocery store line ($5), that glass of wine at dinner out with my husband ($5, 200 calories), a couple of fancy coffees ($5, more calories). It's amazing how little things add up--and I still get to have dinner with my husband. Fluttering in Winston-Salem, NC
- This month I am finally going to send that letter to the gym to cancel my subscription. I am paying close to $30 each month and haven't used it for several months on end. I discovered that I enjoyed aqua fitness much more and now go to the swimming pool once a week.
A flybaby in the Netherlands
- I am not sure if this counts, but I just started FLYing last month, and decided to finally start selling books and cd's online. I have bought things from Half.com and eBay before, and now I am selling these dust collectors that I pulled off the shelves in my Fling Boogies! So far I have made over $44.00 in my first week! So I am going to put all these sales on my credit card!
- I decided to do this for Lent, but since Lent will not be over until April
it will work for March too.
I am not purchasing any magazines this Lent. This is a wasteful habit on my
part. I subscribe to some fine well selected magazines about my interest in
quilting and sewing. These I find not to be clutter. It is the women's
weekly/monthly magazines and the decorating magazines that I purchase, look
at the pictures, and have learned to fling when I boogy fling. So I am not
wasting the money to bring them home only to fling them. This will save at
least 15 dollars this month.
- My husband and I signed up at our local video store to have unlimited
video rentals per month for 15.99. After a while, we realized that we
weren't using this resource. Instead, we were spending more time
reading with our kids, playing games with them, etc. Consequently, we
cancelled our rental membership, and apply that 15.99 to our credit
cards.
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flybaby in Alpine Utah
- Hi FLYlady and friends,
When the Super Fling Boogie came along, I decided to make a change in
my life.
I was a major collector of Rubber Stamp sets. I have stamps more than
I could possibly ever consider using, and well, the supplies to go
with, let's just say that it was so overwhelming that I was growing
into my kids' space at home. To make matters worse - I hadn't used any
of it in 10 months!
Anyhow, I decided to take the plunge, with my DH's help, I picked out
25 sets to keep and the rest are going to E-bay!!
Now, what am I doing with the funds collected?
I'm paying off my credit cards!!!
Every time an auction ends, I pay out the fees, shipping, etc, and then
make a direct pay from PayPal to my credit cards (no buzzing it through
my checking account to get spent wherever).
I still pay my monthly payment that we have budgeted, but WOW!! within
a few weeks, I shall be OUT, OUT, OUT of credit card debt.
How liberating!!
Working on Fluttering in Minnesota
- My tip is to cancel newspaper subscriptions and to read them or news
websites online instead.
Often you can get just as much information online, and it saves on recyling
too!!
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Sudbury, Ontario
- Hi FlyCrew!
Over the winter, with the weather being yucky, I have gotten in the habit of taking my DSs to the mall or to a fast food restaurant playplace to work off some energy. We go at least once a week and this always involves spending money!! Not to mention all those extra calories! This month, I will STOP that habit and we will go outside and work off the energy (and maybe some of the body clutter too J ).
FLYbaby in Staunton, Virginia
Surprise
Are you a crafter, a collector, a shopper? Hee hee. We are SHE's remember, the most creative people around!
This Surprise is going to be a little tougher than the last. Dig out your ANTI-SHOPPING LIST. Now head into your craft stash. Take a look at your yarns, fabrics, threads, stamps, stickers, albums, paper, pens (oooooo - my downfall LOL), paints, (little pause here, I have to run upstairs and look in my stash...), YIKES! I have a whole office supply store up there....binders, photos, brushes, markers, decorations, party wrap, crepe paper, tissue paper, tools....
OK (big smile on your face), write down on your ANTI-SHOPPING LIST, the things you have enough of, the things that will last you for the next few months (I have 10-year old stuff in my craft closet!!).
Your challenge for the next few months is to USE up the existing materials, and not stock up on the latest new fun stuff. It is going to be hard, but your pocket book (and your closet) will thank-you. Happy Crafting with the neat stuff we have already paid for!
Let me know how it goes. Send an email to FlyCrew@flylady.net and put FACEFUN in the subject line.
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- Hi FlyCrew-I live in Brooklyn, NY which is, of course, a very expensive
place. I read all the time, so I decided to save money in the books
I buy. I now go to Barnes & Noble and note down the books that I
normally would have purchased. Our Brooklyn Public Library
allows patrons to request books on-line. I tell them the books I
wish to borrow and at which branch I wish to pick them up. When
the books come in, the library sends me an email. I've already
saved around $50 starting two weeks ago!
flying in Brooklyn
- Hi FlyCrew...
I plan on not buying ANY scrapbook supplies until I complete 20 more pages,
or the end of March, whichever last the longest! (probably the 20 pages!).
I have so many supplies now, I could probably scrapbook every picture I
have! (thousands) More than the scrapbook store!
- I can save at least $5 this month by returning all of our library books back on time!!!
- in NJ
- I cancelled my fitness club membership (just under $15 a month) because I never managed to get there anyway. Now I bank the $15 and I get my exercise cycling to and from school with the kids (DD 9, DS 5). It's FREE and a lot more fun!
FLYing in Vancouver
- Discipline yourself to not pick up those magazines from the grocery store, but rather get your franny to your local library!
Most libraries have a wonderful selection of current magazines, and a cozy little nook where you can make yourself comfortable to flip through the glossy beauties, and read not just one, but you can freely peruse many magazines!
Not only do you save yourself money, but you do not have to fling anything!
When you conclude, just neatly place the magazines back into their places on the rack, and feel good about saving yourself dollars, and saving some trees of our environment.
Pgh. FlyBaby!
- Hi FlyCrew,
We have two birthdays in our family this month – ds, who is a college freshman, and dgs (dear grandson, celebrating his 5th). I have really and truly drawn the line on birthday spending for them both. DS has been told he may charge a pair of casual canvas shoes on his credit card (his choice of gifts) and I will pay the bill when it comes and dgs is getting clutter free gifts that will be necessities for kindergarten next year – a higher end lunch box, monogrammed, with special compartments to organize his lunch and help him on the road to become an independent “big boy” and an art smock that Nana has lovingly made, complete with a dinosaur appliqué from his leftover quilt fabric that I made for him. He’s also getting a big bag of sand toys to take on his vacation to Florida in a couple of weeks, with the instructions that he may leave them at the hotel to “bless” other young visitors who may have forgotten to bring sand toys to play with.
I’ve always overspent on everyone in my family in the past I believe, in part, because I was in search of the perfect gift, and just kept buying things, hoping to find it. All of the efforts by the Flylady Crew have helped to bring such clarity to my life. I can now see that the things I do for my family on an ongoing basis are the true gifts in life, both for them, and me. A care package sent to my ds at school, a visit to the SPCA with my grandson to visit “the pets”, a favorite story, a phone call just to say I’m thinking about you, are the things I want them both to remember about me when I’m gone, not some dumb video game cartridge or overpriced outfit. The best “job” I’ve ever had in my life is caretaking my family. I’ve always been pretty proficient at that but since you’ve shown me how to care for and love ME, I do an even better job of caring for THEM.
The path walked in babysteps to establish PEACE in my home has brought me to the next step of my journey. I’m on my way to facing my finances and am encouraged by what I’m starting to see. Gifts for both birthdays are coming in at less than $100. In past years, I would spend at least that much on EACH of them! My extra hundred bucks is being plunked right down on the one credit card I have a balance on. April will bring Easter. I plan on doing the same thing with the Easter Baskets. Last year I spent over $100 on chocolate from a school fundraiser. Much of it got flung last fall. The baskets will have some token chocolate and other small items that are useful and/or consumable, such as gift cards. May brings dh’s and older ds’s birthdays. The same theory will apply.
This gift thing in my family adds up to big numbers fast, but I am not forgetting that even a few pennies or loose change here and there, adds up to dollars. Big or small, it’s the consistency, or “routine”, that will make the difference. We’ve all seen what a shiny sink can do for us.
Thank you all for all that you do for us. God Bless!
WNY Flybaby
- I've decided to stop playing the Florida lottery. Not even scratch-off tickets! I only spend $3 or $4 a week. I doesn't sound like a lot, but I always lose. By not playing, I'm an automatic winner!
Flying in West Palm Beach
- I just cancelled an on-line subscription to a weight loss program that was
making me feel guilty everyday for not following it. I am losing weight
slowly but beating myself up over not following their plan and losing
faster. Time to fling that guilt, put a smile on my face and $14.95 towards
credit card debt each month! I also paid off $1003.66 cents over the
minimum payment by applying my income tax refund towards debt!
"Hey FlyCrew,
I just put in the debt I paid off last week - it was $6036. I didn't want you to think I was making it up. My husband and I had some major changes to our income over the past year and we ended up getting that much back from the government. (To be honest I could have used it in my pocket during the year so we have made sure we aren't overpaying this year).
There were a million things that kept running through my mind when I heard how much we were getting back. A new couch. Paint the exterior of the house. Shopping Spree! But I kept hearing a little voice in my head remind me of the debt we had. And in the end I paid off four credit cards, and another credit card in half. By taking all of the money that I have been paying to the five cards a month in minimum payments, I will be able to pay off the final card in 10 months.
That feeling of freedom from debt feels a million times better than a new couch, a fresh coat of paint and a shopping spree combined!" - Flyer in CT
- My husband and I got married five years ago and among our presents were a
few double-ups (several photoalbums, a couple of eggbeaters, several sets of
cutlery). I didn't get around to exchanging these gifts in time so they have
sat in my hall cupboard for five years.
This year we have had several sets of friends get married. So instead of
going out and buying lots of expensive presents I have given them some fo
the extra beautiful presents that have been blessing nobody in my hall
cupboard.
My friends are delighted, my hall cupboard is less cluttered, and my bank
balance is more..well balanced!
Thanks flylady
Flybaby in NZ
P.S. A tip for beginners - make sure you don't give a gift BACK to the
person who gave it to you. I had a flyguy friend who did this - very
embarrassing!
- Plan a family game night instead of going to the movies or even just renting. Popcorn is cheap at home and the time together is priceless. in Charlotte, NC
- My DS has been sick the last few days. DH and myself have been up all night for several nights. We were tempted to stop at a fast food restaurant on the way home from the doctor. I then remembered that I had spaghetti and meatballs in the freezer. I figure I saved at least $10 in fast food - even with a sick baby.
Secondly, I decided that I would color my hair myself instead of paying the hairdresser $60 to have my hair foiled. The cost for the materials was $10 to do it myself. It wasn't perfect, but with a little practice, I think it will look as good as a professional job. This will save me about $200 a year.
I was also going to go get a pedicure and then decided to buy a pumice stone at the beauty supply and do it myself. The cost of the stone was $2.00. I used the foot scrub and lotion that I didn't fling because I knew it could be part of a pamper mission. So, I saved $22 and pampered myself at the same time!! Who knew?? Thanks FlyLady - for making us more aware of the everyday things that can save us money.
- Well, I'm just a Flybaby, my mom actually got me hooked on your wonderful program.
This month I plan to save $15.00 by staying in on a weekend night and having a movie night, rather than going out to the movies with friends. As a university student this will help LOADS by trying to pay off my credit card!
Thanks so much for the support!
- Toronto, ON, CANADA
Surprise
This is the last Surprise. I hope your imagination is brimming with neat and new ideas to help you FACE your finances.
This last Surprise is for you and just for you. All of us have some pampering thing in our home, just waiting to be used up. It may be a gift certificate for a facial, a massage, or a spa (I know Kelly and FlyLady have one of these - which is about to expire...), maybe it is some bubble bath, or a new lotion. Me, I have several beautiful candles that I keep forgetting to light (and I keep buying more....sheesk!). So, right now, I am going to light one of those candles, and put it on my desk to watch while I am updating FlyLady.net.
Your mission is to find one of those pampering treats you have been hoarding for the "perfect" day, and use it! Enjoy it! And don't let it go to waste. If you did the SHE thing and waited until the certificate expired, try calling up the place, pehaps they will extend the date. If not, toss the certificate in the trash - no guilt.
Let me know what you set up. Send an email to FlyCrew@flylady.net and put FACEFUN in the subject line.
Thank-you everyone who sent in their FACE tips. We wish we could have posted them all! - FlyCrew
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- Use the library instead of buying subscriptions and books. Saves paper, money, and clutter!
Invite a friend over for lunch or tea instead of eating out. Especially if you have kids, it's a whole lot less stressful to converse with kids at home or the park than a restaurant, and who says egg salad can't make for a meaningful visit? Our grandmas did this regularly and didn't have to go out to have a nice time with a friend.
Get to know a few neighbors, and then offer to trade services for tool use, etc. There are no rules here- it's whatever works for you. We caretake for a seasonal neighbor, and plow in exchange for good friendship and an occasional favor and thank you dinner. We also pitch in as a neighborhood to do pothole patrol, saving alot of money and wear and tear on our vehicles.
Skip the brandname coupons unless it's an item you must have over the no brand. Even with the coupon, you'll likely pay as much or more, unless you can get triple coupon discounts (those stores are usually more expensive overall anyway, so I don't waste my time there. These places rely on coupons and loss leaders to hook you in. Who wants to go to 3 different stores to buy groceries, afterall? ) Comparison shop for produce and meat prices- the most perishable foods. These are the areas the stores take the hits because they have to throw alot of it out. The store with the best prices and selection on meat and produce are in my opinion the places to shop.
Rent a movie or go for a hike instead of the theatre or other high cost entertainment. This is a definite fluff area that can be cut. Most people spend way too much money on entertainment, at the expense of a healthy diet and lifestyle.
- I took a job working three weekends a month at a local department store. I work no more than three and a half hours a shift, so the pay doesn't amount to much, but keeping us from gallavanting around and spending money certainly does.
Selinsgrove, PA
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Hi FlyCrew
I'm sorry I cannot help you with any tips this time, because we do not have any debts LOL, except our mortgage. I really dislike having debts, so this is how I do it:
I pay my bills right away. If I owe people money for their products or services, they are entitled to my money as soon as possible.
I only use my credit card for a single overnight stay in a hotel during our vacation or the campground and pay those bills right away too. I hardly ever order somehting via internet from abroad with my creditcard, and here the rule is just as simple: pay them NOW.
Most of my bills for energy or mortgage or any bill that comes in every month, is paid for automatically, so I cannot forget them but I do keep track of those amounts.
I also reduced the amount of magazines and memberships.
If we don't have the money at any time, we will not purchase things we can do without. And we certainly do not order from mail order businesses or make deals like: get it now and pay later!
This strategy has helped us save enough money to deal with certain calamities, like a broken down washing machine, a car that needs to be fixed and stuff like that. We may not be very rich, but we have no debts and we can pay for our needs without having anyone waiting for money!" - Financially FLYing in the Netherlands
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