The Best Contest I Never Won

If you are new to this blog you may not know that as a side hobby I enter contests. They must be free and only for items I would actually like to win with companies I am familiar with.

I got the best email earlier this month letting me know that although I did not win the General Paint Canada's Got Colour contest (photo entry but final draw was picked out of entrants, they did not judge the photo entry)in appreciation for my entry I was given a free can of paint.

Our home is only four years old but there is still maintenance required to ensure it stays in good shape. There are two areas of trim paint that need touch-ups. We had them match the paint from a chip we peeled off of one of the door frames (they painted over plastic). Final cost? Zippo. Zilch. Nada!

This particular paint is $58 per can. So even though I did not win anything - I am counting it as a win. When the rains stop in Spring we can mark one item off the list without having to spend a dime!

In case you are interested in previous wins - check out these posts:

Trip to Whistler August 2012 Part 1, Part 2

Mirror April 2011

$4000 in furniture August 2010

Frugal Christmas - Inspiration Day

A lot of people are trying to do Christmas this year on less, so I thought I would help out with a list of possible gifts less than $10 which could work either as a stocking stuffer or a main gift for someone.

1. Candles. I love candles and love getting them as a gift. If unsure if someone can handle scents go for an unscented one. As a bonus unscented ones generally cost less and you can find good candles at most box stores cheaper than you can a gift shop. Add an inexpensive holder and some ribbon. Craft fairs often have handmade candles for less than $10. Better yet, if you are talented make some.

2. Food. Bake some cookies or cake, canned specialty food (my mother gives hubby canned smoked oysters as a treat every year), chocolates or candies, or special teas or coffee. Buy a re-us able container or basket and fill it full for a lovely gift. I have seen dried soups given away in pretty jars or baskets full of ingredients to make cookies with a cutter or two thrown in. Give away your homemade jam...be imaginative.

3. Socks. No one wants socks for Christmas? Wrong. Special woolly socks for that man in your life, colorful toe socks for the teen in your life.

4. Slippers. For those that would not like socks slippers might do the trick. Not all slippers fall into the under $10 category but if you shop well there are some that do.

5. Hand lotion or soaps. Many stores stock these items around Christmas at very reasonable prices. I happen to be a lover of Bath and Body Works (especially their scented candles) and you can usually buy two or three items in their store for less than $10.

6. Scarf or mittens. I actually bought my 15 year old Stepdaughter a fashion scarf this Christmas as part of her gift as she wears one almost every day. I paid $7.99 and it was purchased at a fair trade store. Infinity scarfs are popular this year - although not every scarf fall under the $10 mark many do. If you are talented and can knit or crochet the materials would cost less than $10 to make.

7. Vintage gift. For those vintage lovers in your family find out what they collect and add a piece to the collection. Vintage cookbooks, kitchen items, pyrex, most can be found for less than $10 even at an antique store.

8. A book. For the kindle lover, an Amazon gift card. You can buy these electronically and present them the code in an envelope to buy whatever they want. Or if the person on your list is an old fashioned book lover like me visit a used bookstore to get a couple of their favorite titles. My stepdaughter will be receiving $10 in free amazon.ca GCs that I got using Swagbucks for part of her gift but you can also purchase them online. $10 goes further in digital books than physical ones unless you buy used.

9. Fishing Flies. I throw this one in as my Mother is a professional fly tier (yes, really, my Stepfather taught her before he passed away) and you can buy beautiful hand tied flies and get several for less than $10. She often packages several different ones up and sells them at Christmas in $10 boxes at her flea market. Or if your fisher is not a fly fisherman, buy some lures.

10. Movie night package. 2 packages of microwave popcorn and an inexpensive DVD and you have movie night.

11. Kitchen gadget. Any specialty kitchen store has tons of small items for less than $10. Buy something unique!

12. Stationary and stamps. For the old fashioned letter writer, stationary and stamps. A very practical and appreciated gift, especially popular with seniors.

I have also come across some inspirational links to share:

1. TEN FREE AND ALMOST FREE CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS from one of my favorite bloggers, The Nonconsumer Advocate

2. Need wrapping ideas? Try out another favorite wrapping blogger OLDER AND WISOR (ps she can spell, Wisor is her last name). She has many many blog posts devoted to inexpensive wrapping so I have linked to her blog versus a specific post.

3. Pinterest. I am not a Pinterest groupie but do have a Pinterest account for those times when I need inspiration. Check out their ideas for CHEAP CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS and RECYCLED CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS.

4. From Budget 101.com FRUGAL GAG GIFTS. My favorite is a Poor Woman's Boob Job (two balloons with instructions).

Feel free to add you own ideas! Cheers (or should I say HO HO HO!)

An Update On Our New Life

Mr. Brown Mouse likes pumpkin seeds!(yes, we realize he is a hamster, we named him brown mouse temporarily back in August and the name stuck)

Today's post is an update on our new life on Vancouver Island. We moved here in early June and have been loving it ever since. Our new home, which is less than half the size of our Alberta home, is just right and we have zero regrets. We love it. We have great neighbors, some of which are fast becoming friends. I see wildlife daily in the form of seagulls, herons, eagles, deer, geese, ducks and seals, and we can go to the Ocean any time we feel like it as it is a five minute drive from home.

There are four seasons here, just not as brutally cold as the Alberta we left. Hubby is on a business trip in Southern Alberta right now. It is minus 11 degrees celcius and he has a two hour drive in a snowstorm to get back to the airport to come home tonight. It is plus 11 degrees celcius here :) and we have yet to see a snowflake. There are grey skies in winter but once in a while it breaks and nature is glorious here in the sunshine. The rain does not bother me - some say it will over time. All I need to remind me this is paradise is a trip back to Alberta.

My disease, fibromyalgia(suffer from arthritis 13 points in my body, have cronic fatigue, skin and sound sensitivity, with insomnia thrown in for good measure), is much better since moving here. Alberta weather is not easy on those with this disease. My body hurts less and because I am now living where I want to, I am much happier. Cronic fatigue is not such an issue as I can now sleep longer if necessary and work when I feel good as long as the work gets done.

Mom only lives two hours away and we spent Canadian Thanksgiving with her for the first time in nine years this fall which was extremely nice. I do the drive almost every other week to see her and she has come to our home twice as well. One day soon she hopes to sell her place and move closer to us.

Hubby and I are working together at his company (he keeps saying ours), which is a awesome considering he only started in January and the original intent was for me to get a job to have an outside income. Since the business took right off in September he needed my help and I have had to learn some new skills to fill that role like power point and printing workbooks. The next job is figuring out a way to reduce office expenses as we do a lot of printing and ink cartridges and paper are expensive. We may have to have a weekend away in Washington to stock up on supplies as things cost 60% of what they do in Canada and it is a couple hour drive plus ferry to get there. Sounds like a holiday to me :)

Thank goodness for points - we have gotten nine free flights this year(we paid tax) from Airmiles and Avion. Everyone in the family is doing well, fingers crossed it all continues. Three of four kids have been to visit and the fourth is likely to fly out in early spring on a college break. We are flying back to Alberta for Christmas to spend it with the kids and my Mother-in-law.

Although I was born in the USA we moved to Canada when I was six months old so celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving which is early in October. Happy Thanksgiving today to all my relatives and fellow blogger friends living in the United States. Eat lots of turkey and be happy.

I am thankful today that due to hard work, saving, and being frugal we are living the good life. I am most thankful for my awesome hubby, my family (four kids stepkids, two moms), our hamster "Brown Mouse"(hence the gratuitous hamster shots), our new business, our cozy home, and our new beautiful life.

Is It Just Me....

Hubby took this photo with his iphone


We went to the pub and had burgers and beer on Friday night and then did some Christmas shopping afterwards. The problem was...we bought nothing. Nothing made the grade giftwise and we are very careful with the Christmas budget. Even though we were not looking to buy any more Christmas crap $9 for a Christmas ornament? Really? Mass produced yet and not even hand made. Obviously we are the minority as others seemed to be snapping this crap up in a somewhat economically depressed area. What is wrong with people? These are the same ones who are the first to complain when gasoline for their six cylinder truck shoots up from $1.08 CAD per litre to $1.29 CAD per litre overnight. Come to your senses!

I know, I know, I am talking to already converted people on this blog but the public just keep burying themselves in more debt.

People are still losing jobs. More charities than ever before are vying for the same dollars.

I just needed to vent....

Great Day to Be Alive!

Part of living on the Pacific Coast of Canada is dealing with grey wet winters. We knew what we were getting ourselves into when we moved here and are enjoying the warm rainy days versus a foot of snow and minus 10 degrees (yes, really, Alberta already has full on winter). After a long hot dry summer the rains are here. Occasionally though the grey days make way for a sunny georgeous day like this past Saturday. We took a walk on the beach to celebrate.

Mr. Seal out enjoying the sunshine.

The ducks were loving the beautiful weather as well.

After this sunny Saturday we had three days of socked in rain-but the sun came out again today and I got to mow the lawn. Quite a treat in November for me as in the past I have been freezing and shovelling snow! Cheers!

Vintage Christmas

First of all, I did not fall off the No More Christmas Crap campaign. I have gazed longingly at baubles and pretties as the stores stock their shelves with Christmas goodies - but not given in to the commercialization. Then came the trip to the thrift store this week - temptation!

Under Section 2 and 7 these items were not purchased brand new but found in a most grubby thrift store and purchased at a fraction of retail cost. Yes, I really don't need them, but I collect vintage Christmas ornaments and have been scouring ETSY and EBAY to steer hubby in that direction for my Christmas present. He shall now have to look at something else as I found all the ornaments below - plus brand new Christmas paper napkins for $1.97. I have no idea how they came to that price as this particular thrift store does not tag items with prices. I had to dig through six boxes to find these mercury glass ornaments - American Picker style. They don't even bother to place some items on shelves at this store, it is a real mess including broken and dirty items mixed in. No wonder I love going there as I find something great every time.

First I found the icicle. I knew it was vintage and where there is one - there must be other vintage goodness!

SFT's Sealed Pot Challenge

Snow Goose that has just arrived to winter in the Comox Valley from the Arctic

Time to join SFT for the sealed pot challenge that starts Dec 4th. Throw any extra money throughout the year in the sealed pot and open it next year Dec 4th.

I have joined and we plan to use ours on travel spending money.

Will you join? Sign up over at SFT's Life After Mortgage.

By the way, if you have not had the pleasure of reading her blog - please do! All my favorite things - frugality, photography, travel and best of all she and her hubby just managed to pay off their mortgage through hard work and discipline!

Save Money - Join The No More Christmas Crap Campaign

Two years ago I came to a realization that I could both save money and make Christmas a little bit less commercial by refraining from buying anymore Christmas crap (decorations, cards, wrapping materials). It definitely takes some creativity to continue this campaign on year 3. See the original post HERE.

The original campaign guidelines:
1. Use up what I have
2. Recycle
3. Get creative when I run low or run out by using alternatives we already have


Today I have expanded the guidelines and am opening up the campaign for anyone who wants to join.

The No More Christmas Crap Guidelines:

1. Save your money strictly for gifts and food items for the Christmas entertaining season. This also means if you want to buy Christmas crap for another person as a gift - it is permitted. I am not crafty so generally buy presents or gift cards. If you make gifts you would be permitted to buy supplies under this guideline.

2. If you feel you must buy some Christmas decorations - they should be obtained free (freecycle, nature, family) or purchased second hand at garage sales or thrift stores to pay a fraction of retail cost. Our local thrift stores have a great selection of decorations, lights, and even Christmas bows, wrapping and bags. Nature is also a great supplier - leaves, branches, shells, driftwood, get your CREATIVE on. Here on Vancouver Island we have wild holly which I intend to cut and bring indoors to make the season more festive.

3. After Christmas each year recycle wrappings, bows, baubles, baskets, and ribbons for use the following year. Re-make Christmas cards into gift tags. Re-use all gift bags. Obviously if this is your first year you will have to plan to do this. The easiest way is the day you open presents get a fresh garbage bag, gather all the wrappings and put them in one bag. Stash it somewhere safe until you can sort it after Christmas when you have time - no food garbage allowed in this bag. See last year's post HERE on what I have been able to recycle.

Throughout the year save ribbon, packing materials, boxes, wrapping paper and bags for use. I have practised this for three years now and have no intent on buying any more NEW wrapping paper or bows EVER! If you are consciously thinking ahead on saving these items, you will be surprised at what you end up with at the end of the year. On your first year of the campaign try and use up what you have - or buy at thrift stores.

4. You are permitted to attend Christmas related functions - even when they cost money. Last year to get a Christmas fix hubby and I took my stepdaughter to Edmonton's Festival of Trees (photo above is from that day). It was beautiful. I felt absolutely no need to buy anything there afterwards nor rush out and try and copy. Christmas at our house is mishmash of items collected over a lifetime. We all enjoyed the day - this Campaign is not about being Scrooge, just about taking some of the commercialization out of Christmas.

5. If you just completely fall in love with something Christmas related - make it known to those who are buying you gifts as receiving Christmas crap as a gift is allowed.


6. If you get invited to a Christmas party that you need a dressy outfit for - use what you already have, borrow something from a friend or family member, or buy it second hand at a thrift store or consignment store. Save your money!

7. The Out. If one hopes of complying with this campaign there has to be at least one GET OUT OF JAIL FREE card. If you must - you are permitted to buy one single new item valued at less than $15 CAD. Last year - I bought 50 holiday themed paper napkins as had a very large family to feed and don't have enough cloth napkins. This cost me $2.99. This year I am likely to buy the same thing. This might also include a package of reduced wrapping paper after Christmas for next year's campaign or that special something handmade off of ETSY.

Prior to the campaign I was always frugal at Christmas but since the campaign have saved at least $100 over the past two years by using these guidelines. If you like the campaign but want to tweak it for yourself - by all means do!

Please post your name below - at anytime - to join up. Don't feel guilty if you already have bought a stash of Christmas crap this year - the campaign starts TODAY forward!

Joining The Thrifty Home's Penny Pinching Party to Spread the word.

October Budget Results

October's Grocery Budget $425
Year to date overage prior to October $182.65
Actual October grocery spend $503.60. Over by $78.60 this month for year to date overage now at $261.25. No shock, I am still working at getting my freezer and cupboards full and grocery prices seem to be increasing. This month included Canadian Thanksgiving which added a bit of extra expense as well.

If you are a new follower the grocery budget includes all over counter medications, grooming and cleaning products.

Coupons Used $13.

Annual Clothing Budget $200
Remainder after September $30
($105 was transferred out of clothing to cover part of grocery overage in September)

Bought new pantyhose, and thrift shopped pants, belt, and shoes for a monthly total of $23.60 (see post here)and balance remaining for the rest of the year $6.40.

Annual Hair Budget $400
Balance after September $104.73.
The only expense in this category for October was a root colour kit bought on sale for $5.60 which has yet to be used.
Balance remaining for rest of year $99.13.

Goal this month - stay on budget!! Hubby is out of town on business for a few day so my goal is not go buy any groceries at all until Friday to restock for his return. That should save a few bucks.

Halloween & Fall Pics on Vancouver Island

Today is picture day - first some photos of a nearby lake we drove to a few weeks ago - Comox Lake. Yes, Vancouver Island has some big freshwater lakes! The leaves were georgous.

The next photos are of our home for Halloween last night. We had a scary wreath, red lights, scary music blasting from the garage along with a fiber optic pumpkin that we've had for years. We had 50 trick or treaters and all were very polite except one 3 year old who didn't like the first candies I picked out of the bowl so I let him choose - too little to know better and his Mom was probably mortified.

It rained all day but stopped at 7pm and the little ghouls and goblins came out in droves then. We were pretty lame this year compared to years past as we got rid of a lot of our large Halloween stuff before the big move this past June. Forgive some of the blurry shots - I have no tripod for night shots (on my Christmas list). It makes for ghosts in some of these shots.

Our neighbors, however, outdid themselves. Hubby was green with envy. Next year as we share a front yard we hope to create a joint display. They are pretty creative! I think the flaming pumpkins (3 on fire at a time with the yard taped off so no little ones could get near plus two adults supervising) were my favorite - apparently they found the idea on google and it involves real pumpkins, kerosene and toilet paper???