Thursday, Mom!Come back from Hawaii, Thrifty Thursday

 Here is my Jim Jams by a very interesting tree.

Here is Danny climbing a coconut tree. He is fearless.

Danny and James playing in the surf.

Here I am with a few of the kids and of course we found a Mcd's so I could have my $1.00 diet coke the only thing that was the same price as it is on the continent

. We visited the Arizona memorial so we could show James who he was named after.  His grandpa's great uncle who went down with the ship.  James William Haverfield.  Both SCHMILLS AND James were named after this Uncle.

You must get a pineapple when in Hawaii!  I came home very jet lagged and with a bad head cold.  But I am home and I had a most wonderful time. Lots of time on the beach and site seeing. It is very expensive in Hawaii, but now that I have been there I could do it much cheaper next time. I have lots of tips to keep the costs down. Slugs you are going, I mean it.....

I am happy to be home, and I miss the sun it is drizzle overcast and rainy, but praise the lord for the rain. It rained almost every day while I was gone so we are catching up on the drought status here in Idaho.

Poor hubs missed me dreadfully. Especially cooking, and he did not know how to use the dryer so had to call daughter to come show him how.  He is truly a taken care of man and is like a ship without at rudder when I am gone.

He picks up but does not clean.  IF SOMETHING FALLS OF THE FLOOR IT STAYS THERE. Nothing is wiped off, he just doesn't see that kind of dirt. SO this place is pretty scuzzy and we have relatives coming to stay on Saturday and I need to unpack and do laundry.  Then the cat is mad because I was gone so he retaliates by wetting Hubs side of the bed on purpose. ( hubs side, hee hee)  SO cat is now outside and I had to spend almost $10.00 washing and drying the bedspread this morning at a laundry mat.

I missed you guys and was wondering how things were going with everyone.  I will try and catch up if I can.   But right now it is wipe my drippy nose, and try to catch up around here.

In the mean time Thrifty Thursday:

1. saved all my change on my trip and added to my pig bank Only 26 more days until I get to open this.

2. saved all my $5.00 bills while traveling now have $2355.00 had. $55.00 for the trip in 5's

3. found over $2 in change at varies locations on trip.  Las Vegas airport is a great place to find money found over a dollar there mostly pennies. We had a 6 hour layover and I walked the airport.

4. They were giving away free pumpkins that had not sold at Winco in Twin Falls on November 1st  and both daughter and I got one.  I stored them in daughter's car at airport  and with the two I have here I will have plenty of pumpkin to freeze for pies.That is on tomorrows agenda, hopefully hubs will clean and cut them up for me.

5. We ate at hole in the wall mm pa places in Hawaii where it was much cheaper than regular restaurants.

6. Daughter and I usually split meals and split the boys so never bought more than two entrees'

7. We did stop at a grocer to buy some food stuffs to save money.  But I am telling you groceries are very expensive. We bought bread,butter, jams and eggs , peanut butter for quick breakfasts.  Also bought water bottles and some fruit and snacks. We used up almost everything we bought and left the rest for the maid and she was grateful for our leftovers.

8. We tried to use only cash at ma pa places and to buy souvenirs from locals so the money would stay in the hands of local people. I only used the CC for things that would go to business off shore

9. Came home and got all of my free Abotta things for Thanksgiving

10. downloaded all receipts to fetch. 

11. received a $25.00 refund from LOREAL Paris for hair dye that came out the wrong color.  I had pictures and proof. I contacted the # on the can and they refunded my money.

12. finally was able to use the rain check for the .88 a pound chickens they finally got in from a month ago.

13. stopped and bought onions for .25 a pound at road side stands outside of Nampa.  Both white and yellow. We could have picked them from the side of road but husband does not like to stop and says the Mexican women who run the stands need our money and I agreed.

14. Always used gas buddy for the cheapest gas.  Gas is .79 higher in the Boise area than it is here.

15.  Went to a large sale of vendors in Waikiki for all our gifts.  They meet once a week and it is called the swap meet.  Things were much cheaper there.

16. I was able to get  eldest daughter's Christmas gift there much less and better quality than ordering online here.  It was a pair of grey pearl studs.

My house is a wreck and I feel like I have been run over.  At least the bedding is clean and now I just have to take it one step at a time.

 

So happy to be home, but also sad and miss the sunshine.

 

I am so blessed I tell you.

Have a great and productive day staying positivist while you are in the negative.  

Kim