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Home > Extra$, Helping out Dad, spending, gas

Extra$, Helping out Dad, spending, gas

August 7th, 2008 at 02:51 am

I posted the Brita pitcher that I'd had listed on Craigslist on another site I frequent. Someone bought it - $15 + shipping and handling. Great!

So yesterday I took off from work a bit early and stopped by the PO to mail it. The postal worker was miffed at me because I hadn't taped the box. Understandable I guess, but I also remembered from when I was selling my teacher supplies that they always wanted to check what was being mailed ++ I didn't have any tape. So . . . I ended up mailing it Priority to get the "free" tape (I also misjudged the weight of it w/the box - so an extra $5.40 in shipping alone).

So, $21.10 - $.92 paypal fee - $11.60 Priority Shipping = net profit of $8.62. Frown

I think I'm about ready to take all my Spanish materials to half-price and see what they'll give me for them. Even if it's only $10 for the lot, it'll be more than I have now, right?

Or . . if anyone is interested in various computer programs for learning Spanish + books, let me know. I also have a box of 10 Brita Pitcher filters I want to sell.

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Last night when I got home I was all settled in and reading "Hard Eight" by Janet Evanovich when I got a call from my dad. He was needing new ink for his printer, and he couldn't get his old cartridge refilled at Walgreen's because it was leaking.

So, he'd found one on ebay for $8 and wanted to know if it was a good deal. We spent the next hour talking it through over the phone, then eventually yahoo messenger when his phone died. I tried to talk him through using my paypal account to buy the item because he wanted to do "buy it now" but it wasn't letting him add his address. Finally I told him to email the seller, apologize, and say he was a newbie ebayer and would pay as soon as possible.

Tonight I went ahead and set up a paypal account for him (with his input over the phone) and paid for the item via his account.

Trying to help someone do this over the phone is NOT my idea of a nice relaxing evening. But at least it is now done - hopefully the ink cartridge will come quickly.

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I've done some spending the last few days - unnecessary spending - mostly on food.

Sunday - Tuesday: $35.96
Wed - no spending Smile

$4.56 of that was lunch on Tuesday because I forgot to bring my lunch to work. The remainder of the money was almost completely not needed and not good for me. Frown

I'm going to deduct it from my grocery budget and move on - but one way or another, I'm NOT going over budget this month. I've got more than enough food already in the house that needs to be eaten.

*Almost forgot -- I got out one of my last large containers of eggs on Monday morning to make my oatmeal/egg breakfast. I didn't get back into the kitchen till Tuesday night (other than to grab a banana). Guess what was still out on the counter? Frown At least it was only 1/4 full, so not a whole container wasted.

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My gas gage has been acting funky on me, so I'm not really sure what to think. But today it was hovering between 1/2 full and a bit more than 3/4 of a 1/2 full after having driven 220 miles. Normally 1/2 tank gives me around 160 miles.

So, either my gas gage is acting *really* funky OR I'm getting darn good gas mileage!

I'll find out the real story on Friday when I fill up again. Smile

--
I think I've decided to go with the Garmin Nuvia 200. I'm going to wait until my current cc statement closes to buy it - that way I can budget money in August and September for it. That'll happen around the 15th of the month.

7 Responses to “Extra$, Helping out Dad, spending, gas”

  1. wyozozo Says:
    1218077307

    I might be interested in your learning Spanish materials. You can reach me at wyozozo@sweetwaterhsa.com

  2. frugaltexan75 Says:
    1218077726

    wyozozo,

    Cool! I'll email you a list of what I have. You might want to edit out your email address so an email bot doesn't pick it up. Smile

  3. sillyoleme Says:
    1218080942

    Sounds like you had a fun time helping your dad! I always know it's going to be an exciting time when I go home, and my grandma starts a sentence with "Hey XXX, on that computer, I can't..."

    I always have to fight the urge to throw BF under the bus with a "I'm not sure, but BF knows more than me!"

  4. luxlivingfrugalis Says:
    1218118277

    Hubster is great at talking people thru these things over the phone, I'm horrid at it - so good on you for sticking in there with your Dad!

    Postage is killing everyone selling on ebay right now!

  5. frugaltexan75 Says:
    1218129719

    sillyoleme,

    My brother would be able to help my dad - but he is so elusive and difficult to get in touch with - that computer questions generally fall to me. Smile
    lux,
    Postal rates are crazy, aren't they? I heard this morning that they're planning on hiking the rates again in a few months. Ugh!

  6. dmontngrey Says:
    1218151204

    re: your gas mileage - my dad used to have a car that would get insanely good gas mileage when something was about to break! Sure hope your car is just being funky though! Smile
    If it's a ford or lincoln, don't panic. They're notorious for that.

  7. frugaltexan75 Says:
    1218153675

    dmontngrey,

    Oh my! I sure hope that's not the case with my car! I have a 97' Honda Civic. I'm really hoping that by slowing down it's actually making a real difference.

    I'll see the real picture when I fill up tomorrow after work.

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