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How I Saved $748 Buying Secondhand: Week 2 Spending Recap

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Week two was a mix of careful planning and impulse spending. Some purchases were absolutely worth it; others reminded me how easy it is to get sidetracked.

My biggest win: $748 saved on a fabric cutter

Mom gave me $500 for Christmas. In past years, my sister and I often used that money toward winter heating oil. This year, I decided to spend my gift on something for myself.

A Facebook reel introduced me to the AccuQuilt GO! fabric cutter. New machines were expensive, so I watched demonstrations, researched the dies, and asked whether I’d use it enough to justify the purchase.

Then I found a secondhand machine with several dies for $450 on Facebook Marketplace. Comparable new equipment and accessories would have cost $1,198, making the difference $748. That’s a substantial saving—and the machine could help me turn my fabric stash into projects to sell at a farmers market.

Stocking up on groceries without coupons

I spent $112.19 on groceries, including 16 cans of soup, 12 boxes of pasta, and 12 jars of sauce. The soup makes easy after-school snacks or light meals for Froggy, and the pasta and sauce can support roughly one pasta dinner a month.

I also completed a grocery mystery shop that would pay $80 in fees and reimbursements. That offset brought my effective out-of-pocket spending to $32.19, though the shop payment is separate from the register price. I like using assignments like this to reduce household costs.

An unplanned $40 breakfast

I treated a coworker to breakfast. They often pay when we go out, and I wanted to return the kindness. The $40 wasn’t planned, but the time together mattered.

One habit that really worked

I brought lunch for every shift and used up leftovers before they became science projects in the fridge.

My takeaway? Frugal living isn’t just about saying no. It’s about finding savings where they matter so there’s room for purchases and experiences I value.

See ya next week!
—Chick

Trying to Replace My Day Job With Creative Side Hustles

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Hiya, frugal friends!

It’s been a long time since I last posted. Life got busy, things were going well for a while, and I let the writing habit slip. So much for my daily—or even weekly—posting promises!

Why I’m thinking about a different kind of work

As I looked toward 2025, I kept coming back to the same idea: could I make more money from creative, enjoyable projects and eventually replace my day job?

My regular work has left me feeling burned out. I’d love to spend more of my time doing things that bring me happiness, while still paying the bills. That’s a big goal, and I know enthusiasm alone won’t replace a paycheck.

My side-hustle experiment

I have plenty of ideas cooking. Rather than promise a perfect posting schedule again, I’d like to invite you along as I explore ways to earn more and make work fit my life better.

A simple savings challenge: make a piggy bank

Here’s a fun project to start with: a homemade papier-mâché piggy bank. All you need is a water balloon, newspaper strips, and glue. Build and decorate your pig, give it a name, and start putting a little money aside.

Share a photo and your piggy’s name if you make one. Let’s see how creative we can get—and how those small savings add up.

See ya around!
—Chick

Our Budget-Friendly Home Makeover: Doors, Paint, Heat, and a New Wall

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I’ve been quieter than I intended about our spending journey. Some days, it’s hard to admit how much I’ve spent lately, even when some of the projects were worth doing.

When the Potter went away on a short-term work assignment, my best friend came to visit. She’s a carpenter, and together we made serious progress on the house in three weeks.

Bedroom refresh: $240.78

I painted the bedroom, replaced the bedding, and built a new dresser and closet setup using cube storage and a curved bar. Total cost: $240.78.

Bathroom painting: $0

Froggy helped me paint the bathroom using leftover paint from an earlier kitchen-cabinet project. No new paint needed, which was a satisfying win.

New doors and a garage wall: $952.94

We replaced the front door, which had a huge gap that wasn’t doing us any favors during harsh winters. I also replaced a broken screen-door setup at the garage.

Then my best friend and I built a wall dividing the garage into storage space and a living/craft room. Materials for the door and wall projects totaled $952.94.

Restoring heat: $29.76

I repaired and reattached missing HVAC components so the bedroom and garage could actually get heat. Apparently, we’d been heating the basement instead for two winters! The fix cost $29.76.

Paying my friend back in meals: $261.22

My friend generously traded much of her labor for meals and time together, with me pitching in on the projects. We spent $261.22 on dinners out. It wasn’t free labor, and I wouldn’t have wanted it to be. I got time with someone I missed, hands-on lessons, and a more useful home.

What the projects cost

The amounts I listed add up to $1,484.70. That’s a meaningful expense, even with most of the work handled ourselves.

The spending I’m less happy about

February was expensive. I’d planned and worked side gigs to cover much of the remodeling, but spending the money still hurt. More frustrating was realizing how easily I could lose $270 playing slots at a casino while agonizing over purchases for the house.

I’m considering returning to occasional low-cost bingo and possibly cutting back on casino mystery shops if they’re making it harder to stick to my limits.

What’s next for our new room?

I’m enjoying the garage living room already. I still want to finish the sheetrock and seams, paint, and maybe find some inexpensive wallpaper.

It’s amazing what you can accomplish with a capable friend, a few supplies, and a willingness to learn.

See ya after the next project!
—Chick

January 2024 Money Recap: Side Hustles, Dividends, Spending, and Savings

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One month down, eleven to go! It’s time to look at how January 2024 actually went.

January income sources

  • Main job: $52.76.94 (figure as originally recorded; needs verification)
  • Part-time job: $265
  • Side hustles: $520
  • Dividend income: $997.60

That main-job number contains a formatting error in my original notes, so I’m leaving it uncorrected rather than guessing the amount.

January household expenses

  • Housing: $398.48 in annual property taxes
  • Utilities: $384.93
  • Groceries: $179.51

Reimbursements that helped offset costs

  • Phone: $50
  • Electric: $30
  • Groceries: $80

These reimbursements are separate from the expense figures above; they’re not reductions to the amounts originally paid.

Where I went overboard

I spent more on hobbies than I’d planned and took on some unexpected home-improvement expenses. When my best friend offered to help build things, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity.

I also noticed a bad habit: mindlessly scrolling Temu and finding little things that suddenly seemed useful. The sale price gives me a quick thrill, but all those little purchases add up. Once my outstanding order arrived and I knew nothing needed returning, my plan was to delete the app.

Savings and investment progress

My savings increased by $2,136.77 during January, and the value of my investments increased by $2,815.95 overall. Not a bad start to the year.

My February goals

  • Remove shopping apps that encourage impulse purchases
  • Add more money to my investment account
  • Finish my taxes by the end of the month, assuming the documents arrive
  • Capture receipts weekly so I don’t miss available rewards

What money habit are you hoping to improve next month?

I Earned $150 Mystery Shopping Casinos—and Learned a Lesson About Gambling

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Welcome to week four! With the Potter away on a short-term work assignment, Froggy and I had the place to ourselves. I paid the monthly bills, picked up casino mystery shops, and squeezed in a bingo session.

Making money at the casino—without gambling

I visited four nearby casinos because they needed mystery shoppers to evaluate their cage-handling process. The assignments offered $150 for about 20 minutes of actual shop work, making them an appealing way to supplement my part-time income. That’s the work portion—not a guarantee that every minute of travel and reporting is paid at the same rate.

How I played bingo for $8 instead of $53

At one casino, I joined a bingo game. Discounts, coupons, and frequent-player rewards reduced what would have been a $53 bill to $8. For a few hours of entertainment with a known cost, that felt reasonable.

Then the slot machines got involved

Slots are where I struggle. Even losing $10 feels wasteful when I think about what else that money could do.

This time, I started with $40 for the slots and was down to my last $5 when I hit a $400 win. The lights and sounds were exciting! Usually, I’d cash out and leave. Because I was with other people, though, I kept playing longer than I wanted.

I eventually took home about $280 and calculated that I was $232 ahead from the outing. I planned to save that money for future bingo trips rather than treat a lucky win as a reason to keep betting.

The real takeaway

I enjoyed spending time with friends, and I was feeling better emotionally than I had in a long time. I also noticed how easily a group can influence my spending.

Mystery shopping is work. Gambling is entertainment with a real risk of losing money. I need to keep those categories separate—and stick to limits I choose before walking in.

Hope you’re doing well!
—Chick

Week 3 Spending Recap: Mystery Shop Meals, Craft Supplies, and Casino Temptation

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Well, friends, I thought I was doing better at avoiding unnecessary purchases. Then week three turned into hobby week.

A $47 dinner that cost me $12 after reimbursement

Froggy and I went out for dinner while I completed a restaurant mystery shop. Our meal was $47, and the assignment reimbursed $35, leaving us with a $12 net meal cost.

That’s a pretty reasonable dinner for two on a night I didn’t want to cook. Still, I know that relying on mystery shops shouldn’t become an excuse to abandon our at-home meal plan.

Craft supplies with a possible payoff

Since the restaurant was near Dollar Tree, I stopped for a cutting mat and bought enough to cover the dinner table while working on fabric projects.

I also picked up fat-quarter fabric rolls to use with my AccuQuilt GO! cutter. I’m hoping to sell handmade items at a farmers market in the summer. Finding discounted dies and supplies has been a fun winter project—but I’m trying to remember that a potential business expense is still an expense.

One purchase I could have avoided

I bought a small bag of potting soil for a few struggling plants and still had half left. With better planning, I might have picked up compost at the dump when taking out the trash.

Casino shops and the cost of temptation

A scheduler also offered me casino mystery shops. I spent $31.01 gambling during the week, which bothers me more than I’d like to admit. I usually prefer occasional bingo for under $10, but being at a casino for work makes the slots tempting.

I’ve told myself an uneven cash-out slip makes me less recognizable as a shopper, but that’s not a good reason to spend money I didn’t intend to. I may need to accept fewer casino assignments if they keep pulling me off track.

The lesson from week three

Discounts and reimbursements help, but they don’t erase spending. Next week, I want to be more deliberate about what I buy—and why.

Here’s hoping for a less expensive week!
—Chick

Week 1 Spending Recap: Lunch Prep Wins, Snacks, and $56 on Temu

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New Year’s resolutions have a way of falling apart in the first week. I’m certainly not immune.

My first goal for 2024 was simple: spend less on food at work, eat at home more often, and stop wasting so many leftovers. Here’s how week one actually went.

The win: I packed my work lunches

I usually work three days a week, and our break room snacks are expensive. I prepared meals in advance and brought lunches to work. That part of the plan worked.

I still bought soda and snacks, though, spending about $20 across three shifts. That’s less than usual, so I’ll take the progress. I also redeemed McDonald’s rewards for a free Happy Meal before one shift—but, of course, earning those points required plenty of previous spending.

Can one big casserole cut food waste?

My Potter and I want to stop throwing out food. We discussed cooking a big casserole at the start of the week and eating it for lunches or quick meals.

We’ve tried this before. The problem wasn’t making the casserole—it was getting everyone to eat it. We ended up tossing about half. I’m willing to experiment again, but the plan only saves money if the food gets eaten.

The temptation: online craft shopping

My biggest discretionary spending came from Amazon and Temu. I spent $56 on Temu, mostly on craft tools that were wants rather than needs. Crafting brings me joy, but cheap items add up quickly.

I’ve decided that after my outstanding order arrives, I should delete the Temu app. Making temptation a little less convenient might help.

Other spending and next week’s focus

I also enjoyed planned time with friends and an unexpected visit from Mom. One outing went over budget; my goal is to keep similar get-togethers to about $20 per visit.

For week two, I want to keep packing lunches, reduce break-room purchases, and make a better dent in the leftovers. Small, repeatable wins beat a perfect plan that lasts three days.

See ya around!
—Chick

Three Days Into My No-Spend Plan—and Already Off Track

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Three days into my new spending plan, and it’s already gone sideways. That didn’t take long!

At the start of 2024, I promised myself I would spend more intentionally and eat at home more often. Then my mom came to visit.

A family visit—and an unplanned dinner

Mom drove four hours to bring some furniture she no longer needed. I’ve wanted to turn our garage into a family room, so the couch and shelving were welcome additions. Even better, it was a chance to spend time together; nobody from back home had visited in the 18 months since our move.

After unloading everything, we went to Texas Roadhouse and shared a few dishes. I enjoyed the visit, but later I caught myself feeling guilty about eating out while our fridge was full.

My planned bingo night got more expensive

The next evening, I met up with work friends for bingo. I’d set a $30 limit and managed to stay close to it, helped by a surprise discount. But during intermission, I bought food at the onsite bakery and food hall—another $36 I hadn’t planned.

On the positive side, I didn’t follow my friends into extra games or more gambling afterward. I enjoyed their company without copying all of their spending.

What I learned from an imperfect start

It wasn’t the flawless week I’d imagined. But an unplanned expense doesn’t mean the entire plan is worthless. I can appreciate time with family and friends while also noticing which choices I want to change next time.

Tomorrow is a new day, and I’m going to keep working on more deliberate choices.

When a goal slips, do you abandon it or adjust your approach?

—Chick

My Journey Toward Financial Independence: From Food Banks to a Paid-Off Home

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“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” That sounds right to me—but it helps to know where you started and where you’re headed.

My financial independence journey didn’t begin in 2024. It started years ago, long before I knew the term FIRE (financial independence, retire early).

Starting out with very little

When I was 26 and pregnant with Froggy, I was living with family and facing the possibility of raising a child on my own. I worried about how I would provide food, housing, clothes, and everything else a tiny human needs.

In our early years, we relied on subsidized housing, WIC, SNAP, and local food banks—even while I worked full-time. Family support made a huge difference. My dad, especially, was my rock and shared what he knew about money.

How I began building financial security

When Froggy was four, I bought my first house with help from an Individual Development Program. I saved wherever I could: coupons, returned bottles, and every spare penny mattered.

Over time, I used my employment income to buy four more houses. By 2023, I was back down to one. There were wins and mistakes along the way, including the realization that being a landlord wasn’t for me.

In 2021, I considered a move closer to a new work location. I sold my two remaining homes, making a combined $120,000 profit, and relocated with my family to a paid-off house and relatively low monthly bills.

The part financial spreadsheets don’t show

On paper, the move worked. In real life, it was complicated. I hoped for more family time, educational opportunities for Froggy, and peace of mind. Instead, I also experienced isolation, loneliness, anxiety, and depression.

Financial security matters, but it doesn’t automatically deliver happiness. That’s been one of my biggest lessons.

My financial starting point in 2024

  • Investments: $96,994.90
  • Retirement savings: $39,518.62
  • 2023 expenses: $24,689.12
  • Employment income: $90,397 from my full-time and part-time jobs

These are figures from my original January 2024 snapshot, not current balances.

What I wanted to accomplish in 2024

  • Reduce annual expenses to $10,000
  • Grow investments past $100,000
  • Increase retirement savings to $50,000
  • Build additional income streams
  • Work toward losing 70 pounds, around five pounds a month
  • Exercise more consistently and take better care of my mental health

Big goals? Absolutely. Some may need adjusting. But sharing them gives me a starting line I can measure against.

What does financial freedom mean to you beyond the numbers?

See ya around!
—Chick

My 2024 Frugal Living Goals: Spending Less and Finding Direction

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Hey there, 2024!

A new year always makes me want to take stock of where I’m going. Throughout much of 2023, I felt like I was drifting without clear goals. I’m happiest when I have something meaningful to work toward, so it’s time to change that.

Why I’m sharing my goals

This blog is my accountability partner. I want to document the successes and the setbacks as I work toward financial independence and early retirement—FIRE for short. I’m already partway down that road, but there’s plenty left to learn.

What I plan to share

Expect updates on spending and saving, the financial decisions I’m making, and what I learn along the way. I also want to share recipes with cost breakdowns, homesteading skills, and practical ways to get back to basics.

My ambitious starting plan is a weekly recap and two recipes each week. We’ll see how it goes; the important part is showing up and being honest about the process.

Join me

What are you working toward this year? I’d love to hear your goals.

See ya around!
—Chick