This weekend has been a really unproductive. I graded two stacks of tests before Friday so that I can spend the weekend doing tasks at home, but as it happens sometimes, my best-laid plans went awry.
I did the usual things - cooking, laundry, cleaning etc.. So I did get a few things done.
While organizing a closet, I found two old pillow cases. I made these when I was in my twenties. So these are now over 20 years old. Back then my mom used to buy a women's newspaper where they had quilting lessons. I followed one article and made these Cathedral Window pillow covers.
 |
| Cathedral window pillow covers. |
On Saturday I went to a thrift store and found this crochet book ($1) and a piece of cross stitch fabric ($1).
 |
| Thrift store finds. |
The last weekend of every month I update my financial records. I check balance of bank accounts and retirement accounts, make sure there are no mistakes on credit card statements, and also review the monthly expenses.
I have spent 60% of take home salary so far. Because I still have enough vegetables for the week, and bought gas this weekend, unless there is an unexpected expense I hope to stay at 60%. After reading Stephenie's blog post about her annual costs for electric and gas, I added up my numbers to see how I did last year. In 2018 my average monthly electric bill was $62 and water & sewage bill was $21. I don't receive a bill for trash & recycling because it is included as a non-ad valorem assessment on the property tax bill. I like to be able to lower my electric bill a little bit more, may be around $55-$60. I think I will use the dryer less often and use fans more often. As I'm writing this I have the fan on because the weather is warming up again.
Now it's time for a cup of tea. 😊 I will relax a bit and then make lentil curry and sautéed Brussels sprouts.
How was your week? Do you do a monthly review of your expenses & bills?
1)
2) Mend clothes.
3)
4) Do yoga.
5)
Next week's to-do list:
1) Make at least one throw pillow.
2) Mend clothes.
3) Do yoga.
4) Sleep 7 hours.
XX
Nil
Sometimes it is not about being productive..sometimes it is just living! Good work on those tiny electricity and gas bills, Nil. The pillow covers in cathedral windows style are lovely -are you sure you can't just squish the current pillows into the covers?
ReplyDeleteNo earthmotherwithin. I tried, but these covers are too small. So I have to make new pillows. :)
DeleteHi Nil, Wow, your water bill is so low! I am charged $912.00 for the year, and that reflects a discount for paying for the entire year in January! Once we get our water system redone, we will have meters. I am hoping that my bill will be much lower when it isn't a charge per house. Your pillows are so pretty! I don't do a monthly total, but I should. I say that every year. Thanks for the mention. Enjoy your dinner. Sounds delicious.
ReplyDeleteWow, so your water bill is not really for the amount of water you use? How does the city calculate the cost without a meter and not knowing how much the usage is? With a meter your water bill will definitely go down.
DeleteI thought you were in your twenties now ~ would have never thought past thirties! I love your Cathedral Windows. I did a queen size coverlet and am uncertain of my sanity due to it 😉 Yours are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteHehee I wish I were still in my twenties, Lady Locust (as long as I don't have to take any more exams. :) )
DeleteA queen size coverlet in Cathedral Window pattern must have taken a long time. I'm sure it's very pretty. :)
Your Cathedral window cushion covers are lovely! I love the color scheme you picked! I'm glad you are going to make the pillows for them - they are too pretty to be hidden in a closet! And I see that you picked a patchwork pattern for your quilt! I, too, learned patchwork and quilting from reading a magazine that I borrowed from one of my aunts. :)
ReplyDeleteSeems to me that you had a productive weekend - organizing a closet and living room bookshelf, checking your monthly accounts, deciding on a quilt pattern, plus cooking, laundry, and thrift store shopping! You found some good buys, there! And, well done on keeping the spending to 60% of the take home pay! That's excellent!
Hope the week ahead is a good one, Nil.
Thanks Bless. When you look at it like that (listing everything I did) it does look productive. :) I can be hard on myself sometimes. I feel that I have too many things to do and too little time since I bought the house.
DeleteThe pillow covers are fab. When I first glanced at this post, on my phone, I thought it was just the pattern of the fabric. X
ReplyDeleteThank you Jules. :)
DeleteWe review our accounts at the end of each month, too. It helps me rest easier! Your electric bill IS low, but maybe lower is typical for your area. Your pillow cases are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI think my electric bill is low because I don't use AC a lot. It tends to be higher during winter, but luckily we rarely have too many cold days here in Florida. :)
DeleteWow.. $62 per month on electricity is really low compared to mine. I just got last month's bill for $312, which should be the worst for the year because it was the coldest month and that's with keeping my thermostat at 65 F. I looked up last year and my average was $137. I'm on a well, so no water bill. This is another reason I need to move, this house is way to big and the high ceilings definitely don't help with energy efficiency.
ReplyDeleteI use heating only when the temperature drops below 70F and that happens only several times during Florida winter. 65 F is too cold for me. :)
DeleteMy house is small, less than 1000 sq ft, so that helps too.
The pillowcases are beautiful. I hope to see a photo of the finished pillows soon! Our water bill is fairly low considering that over half of it goes to sewer and maintenance of water lines. We have absolutely no control over that cost. Our city water department is embroiled in a huge billing and personnel scandal right now which makes for exciting reading. Ah-local government! We try to make every drop count in the yard.
ReplyDeleteI've heard that there are water restrictions in CA.
DeleteI don't have a lawn, so my water usage is pretty low compared to my neighbors. :)
Your pillows will be lovely... Fun, to re-use something, from "the past."
ReplyDeleteDon't really keep close track, like this. But we pay, using net web wise, so everything is right there, to look at.
Guess we are pretty set in our ways now.... So things don't change that much. We've never been big spenders. ,-) So thankfully, we can do something, like what is going on now.... The necessary inside changes, to allow us to move our bedroom downstairs, and live all on one floor. Finally!!!!!
Hooray that you are getting sleep!!! I always look, to see how you are doing, on this. It is so important, for health, to get enough sleep.
It's great that you plan ahead and prepare a bedroom and bathroom downstairs Wisps of Words.
DeleteYes, it's important to have enough sleep. I'm still trying to make it a habit. :)
I noticed too that you'd chosen a quilt pattern but you forgot to tell us what it is :) You did a great job on your cushions and I'm glad you're going to use them, too pretty to hide away. I don't use the dryer, heating or aircon so my power bill is around 60-70/month. Our bill shows a graph to compare previous months usage, how much greenhouse gas you produced, and how your usage compares to others in the neighbourhood. I'm always amazed at the amou t some people are using.....and pleased mine is low. Have a good week Nil
ReplyDeleteOh, the pattern is very basic Nanette. :) I was too lazy and decided to simply make diagonal rows with alternating light and dark colors. I might change the color arrangement, but most probably will stick to diagonal rows as it seems easier. If I choose a complex pattern, I know I will spend years doing it. Heheee I will definitely post a photo once I complete it.
DeleteIt's great you have low power bills. My bill shows my past usage, but not a comparison to neighbors. I know some of them must have higher water bills because they have immaculate lawns.
Those pillow cases are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThank you Anne. :)
DeleteYour cushion covers are lovely, Nil. I love the colours of red and white together. I am finding myself constantly under piles of work without any time for handiwork at all. It's something I'm missing very much. Meg:)
ReplyDeleteThank you Meg.
DeleteI hope soon you will find a schedule that works well. It took me a while to find a better way to manage time between work and home chores. I'm sure after a semester or two you will find an equilibrium. :)
We do not do a monthly budget report, Nil. When we lived in VA, the monthly heating and then cooling expenses were much more than we pay here in the mill apts, sometimes twice as much as we used propane gas and oil for heating. We did not have to pay for garbage pickup which was included in the annual town tax and we brought recyclables to a recyling center ourselves. In the apts, the garbage disposal room is nearby our apt and recyling room is on another floor and there are also dumpsters in the back of the building for larger items.
ReplyDeleteMy bills were also not high when I rented apartments. Expenses went up once I bought the house. I must do a monthly budget to make sure I save enough. One day when I retire (or hopefully way before that) I look forward to not having a tight budget. :)
DeleteThose pillow covers are awesome!!!! Your water bill is very good! If the temps are good one can always place laundry to dry outdoors. Around here the great outdoors is a dream only for we are having low temps...got up to 1 degree at the moment. Take care!
ReplyDeleteThank you Angela. :)
DeleteI don't have a clothesline yet, but sometimes I do dry clothes outdoors on a rack. I usually hang them in the shower stall because I'm hesitant to leave clothes outside when I'm not at home.
Oh dear, it's too cold in your area. It's hot and humid again here.
I hope you stay warm. :)