Tightwad Diary October 19

I wish I knew what to say to my husband to get him on board with being frugal.  He tries in lots of ways like buying jeans at garage sales or Goodwill (scored some carharts for $3 each a couple years ago) and getting Coke Rewards from the recycling center.  But he WILL NOT turn off the air conditioner (did you know its 50 degrees outside????) nor will he unplug things rarely used.  I ask, prefer, beg to have the phone chargers, microwave and VCR (yes, VCR, did I tell you I'm a tightwad???) unplugged.  Even when these are not in use, there's a battery in the phone charger, there are lights on the microwave and VCR (I don't care if it blinks when you plug it back in, it takes 5 seconds to re-set the clock!!!) and well, it seems obvious to me that the air conditioner is redundant.  Its not going to cool already cool air, but the condenser is still sucking up that electricity.  Sidebar factoid:  Did you know Mitt Romney runs through his house every time they leave unplugs everything and turns down the hot water heater?  I don't have a link to where I read this, I just love fellow Tightwads!! Rice bag update: I'm still staring at the sewing machine willing it with my mind powers to sew them up real quick.  Internet Service Update:  The only other option here at my apartment complex is Uverse and its half the price of Cox, but I'm nervous about making the switch.  I've always used Cox, but they keep raising the prices and the customer service continues to deteriorate.  Soooooo, still deciding.

Tightwad Diary October 17

My hub and I traded in our $70 cable bill for a $9 Netflix account.  Now, a year and half later, I'm feeling resistant to the $80 internet bill.  Next on my Tightwad project list is Explore Alternate Internet Service to Cox.  The actual service is 59.99, but with the modem rental and taxes, its around $80 per month.  We live in an apartment so we cannot use Dish or AT&T.  I have heard of something called Uverse or something like this where a strip is placed near your computer or window or something like this which gives internet and I hope my router will still work for wifi.  Its supposed to be around $19 per month.  This goes on the list behind some rice bags I'm sewing for gifts and to sell on Ebay.