HOT HOT HOT!

It is a hot Sunday afternoon. We were trying to be frugal and avoid turning the AC on but we had to give in since we are all home. With 5 bodies in the house it makes the house warm. Before you call us cheap, let me explain why we don't want to turn on the AC. First, we still haven't sold our house in NY and we are still paying the mortgage and bills that go along. What a pain but I am grateful we are in a circumstance to be able to pay the bills and live in So. California.
Second, I've been reading the Tightwad gazette and have found it addicting. I got the complete volumes I-III. I'm almost half way done and I find it hard to put down. Most things we do as a family are already pretty frugal. Some examples are, we avoid eating out and I try to make 91% of our meals from scratch. I've started line drying the laundry to avoid using the dryer (why not it freaking hot out here, clothes dry faster and I get my daily dose of vitamin D!) and I make sure we are not wasting electricity by leaving lights on around the house. I've also learned if I made a weekly menu of dinners and lunches and go grocery shopping for the items needed for the menu I save money on the grocery bill. Pretty simple idea but I wasn't doing it. I am guilty of going to the grocery store and buying what I needed but also what looked good and hmmmm, maybe I'll try this and buying things on sale just because. I've tried doing coupons but making my menu and going accordingly is what is working for me.
Anyhow, that was my little tid bit of what I've been reading and doing lately.
To all my NY and PA friends...I miss you guys a ton! Someday in this lifetime we will have to have a reunion of friends. Please keep in touch.