February is over and I’m ready to go over what little lessons I have learned this last month. It has been quite a month, most recently is that I have been fighting with my cold.

1. I love “taste guarantees” on packaging – I’ve gotten a free can of Progresso soup (the split pea wasn’t that great) and a protein bar from this. It wasn’t any great amount of refund in each.
Learned: Take the companies up on their refunds if you don’t like something, also let them know what you didn’t like about it.

2. Wohoo, I saved 22% on my cell phone bill each month by using my employee discount. It equals to just over $7 a month, but that is over 85.00 a year that I don’t have to pay.
Learned: Check with your employer to find out if you can get discounts on thing that you already pay for.

3. Do you go by the serving size on the side of the cereal box? I tried it, I’m always 2-3x the amount without measuring. No wonder I’m not dropping weight like I was hoping.
Learned: Diets that reduce calories lead to weight loss, regardless of carbohydrate, protein or fat content

4. What percent of people do you think will stick with the frugal things they learned from this economy?
Learned: It is nice to see interviews with people on tv, radio say that they are turning over a new leaf. The prognosis for the future may be better than I anticipated.

5. There are days I wish I had the cojones of my mother … one time she picked up the tv and tossed it in the metal trashcan.
Learned: Since I have lived without tv before for years, I can do it again.. and welcome the change in April.

6. Free day – free day at the Denver Zoo – 3 hours of walking around in the cold and watched Big Bang Theory online for free-ish (have to pay for cable)
Learned: Fun things can be had for free, just have to take the time to look

7. Figured my taxes and I owe federal but get a refund for state.
Learned: Continue tweaking my w-4 form and I should be almost even.

8. Looking for a table and chairs; I’m loving the notify.me email option for tracking down table and chairs off of craigslist.
Learned: If I wait long enough I will find what I need and want for a good price.

9. My electric bill is a set amount each month ($95) and this is the second year we got a free month plus out of it because we stayed below the limit.
Learned: We are reducing our electricity little by little and this is one way to keep track of our baby steps and get a little pat on the back – a free month plus. This year we are aiming to stay below $86 to get our one month plus surplus.

10. QUOTE: Time is like money, the less we have of it to spare the further we make it go. ~Josh Billings
Learned: This is a wonderful quote to remember and I thought I would pass it along to you as well.

11. Got my Showtime rebate and two of my three bills needed – one will come in next week – I want my $25 rebate before I shut off cable.
Learned: Keep your eyes peeled for good deals, this one I stumbled on and didn’t even know it existed.

If you like this information and don’t want to wait until the end of the month to read them, you can follow me on Twitter – It’s like a party line for instant messaging.

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Dawn C. is site owner of FrugalforLife.com where this is a repost from: Personal Thoughts From February. Dawn resides in Colorado with her spouse, Teri, of 12 years.

Photo credit: FrugalforLife.com.