Tips for Frugal Living

 

Perhaps the best tip one can give and use is to be organized. Knowing what you have to work with and what you can substitute for items you don't have is absolutely amazing. Even with a well stocked pantry, fridge and freezer if you let things get out of control you waste good money. It took me a few years to learn this, but now for the most part I have this under control.

Instead of allowing food to spoil, chop it up and freeze it or if you have a dehydrator dry it. This year instead of allowing the potatoes we dug out of the garden to go to waste, I made fries and hashbrowns for the freezer. Yes, a few still went to waste but not as much as other years. We really don't eat as many potatoes as we used to. I also diced many a green pepper and got those bagged up and in the freezer. We just could not eat them all.

Rethink having meat at every meal. Since the cost of groceries has risen (especially meat) I have been introducing meatless meals, or meals that use less meat. Leftovers of the meals with meat are kept to be used in another meal or two as well. Leftover roast beef for example, a few slices can be used in soups, some can be thinly sliced again and used in a stroganoff meal (which can be eaten over noodles and the leftovers over baked potatoes). Lots of interesting ways to use up leftover roasts of any kind. 

Most times unless you are working outside, getting dirty and sweaty clothing (not underclothes though) can be worn for more than one day. This cuts down on washing loads.

Find things you can do for free in your city. I live in a very small city in my province and other than the library, walking tract, joining some groups like our Great Create and the Fiber group I recently joined there isn't a great many free things to do. Instead I do hikes around the city, and go to the two free movie nights at a park that we can enjoy. 

Definitely combine errands. Not only does it save you fuel costs, but time as well.

If you can do most of your bill paying online.

I have many free streaming services on my television, plus a mini computer which means I can stream even more free entertainment. Take advantage of those, where I live the winters are long, cold, and quite often stormy. This is our free entertainment, and since we do not attend the cinema our main source of viewing pleasure.  

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Catch up Friday

 It has been a day of slowly getting things done that I have put off for a bit of time. Getting those tasks out of the way that I just don't like to do.

I usually leave the dusting of the entire living room until the end of the month. I really don't know why I dislike doing this so much (I do dust the TV, the tops of the tables, the bases of the lamps, and the fake fireplace three times a week). Yet to do under the tables, the bookcase, and the few shelves seem to be beyond me until the last minute. I think it could be because I have to remove everything, wipe the shelves down and then dust everything I have removed. So much work, but I managed to get that done and out of the way. 

Made those cookies that were on the list to get done earlier in the week. Now I will pull out the shredded zucchini, and some of the other fruits and make a couple of loaves (perhaps even 4) tomorrow. Kris can take some home with him. While he does cook, baking is not something he does with any regularity. So sending him home with some in the care package along with some buns and ready meals will be our Easter gift to him. 

Kurt will soon be taking his students to France. I believe they leave on either the 1st or 2nd of April. Visiting the war memorials for Canadian soldiers. 

Off to get supper into the toaster oven. I used up some leftover carrots, a package of dried cheese, and what was left of the shredded cheese making the tuna casserole. We will have the leftover salad that I made yesterday to round out the meal.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Thrifty and Frugal Thursday

 Thrifty and Frugal

This is the last Thursday of the month, and while I have been thinking and working on new ways to be thrifty and frugal I seem to be stuck on the old tried and true ways. 

1.  Hung clothing on lines downstairs to dry.

2.  Making sure I have full loads in the washer.

3.  I have been trying to fit as much as possible into the dishwasher as well.

4.  Using up bits and bobs when knitting those mittens for Kurt's school.

5.  Turning off lights in rooms not in use.

6.  Making sure the oven is full before using.

7.  Walking for free exercise.

8.  Trying to get at least two meatless meals a week in.

9.  Harvey has been working on repairing some of the garden decor.

10.  Decluttering my jewelry.

11.  Saving the plastic bags and plastic veggie containers to use to plant on seedlings.

12. Putting off errands where I need to drive until I can do many of them together.

Life is getting a bit more complicated now that the cost of fuel has gone up. Also winter seems to want to stick around much longer than usual which means the furnace is running a bit more.  

Groceries keep going up and so I am going to cook up and freeze some kidney beans, black eyed peas, and some other beans I seem to have collected dried. Really thinking of adding another meatless meal at some point during the upcoming month. Showing Harvey the prices of meat since he came with me shopping has been an eye opener for him and I believe has made him a bit more open to the idea of meatless meals as long as they are filling.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Midweek Ramblings

Quiet days here on the Phillips homestead. Perfect for getting things completed around the house. 

I have been slowly getting a few seeds planted to go under the grow lights. I have finished off the flowers (at least I think I have) and tomorrow will see a few herbs started as well. The next time I go shopping I will pick up some bulbs for the perennial bed.

My menu plan for next month is pretty much completed. I am hoping for not too many changes, though we may take a trip up to visit with Kris near the end of April which could mean a couple of changes will take place. Just have to figure out what will change when the time comes. 

The weather has been up and down lately, and once again the forecast is calling for snow come the Easter weekend. Actually it is calling for rain and snow. Keeping my fingers crossed that this changes once again before that weekend.

I am up to 18 no spend days, including today for the month. Tomorrow I pay bills, do some banking and get my medication. I then hope to finish off the month with no more spending. 

This year I am going to really try hard to put money back into savings as I do not feel at all comfortable with what is in that account right now. I like to have enough to last us for almost a year if the worst happens, at this point in time we have enough to probably last us 2 months at the most. Depleted pretty badly when we paid for our trip. If I can manage to keep expenses down I should be able to build that account back up slowly. 

These are the books I am looking through to see what homemade cleaners suit our lifestyle. Hope to find a few to add to my frugal household. 

We have also been busy taking care of our usual infestation outside of Boxelder Bugs also known up here as Halloween Bugs.

They have decided to visit so much earlier this year.

Off to make supper, and perhaps visit with a few of you before we eat.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Tuesday Tidbits and Stuff

 

It has been a very windy and cold day, so both Harvey and I have been busy finding things to do inside with just a little going out to get a few things completed out there. 

Harvey has fixed a few of my drawers that he tiny nails were coming out of, took down his "Lazy Cats" off the deck railing and washed them down. He plans on trying to give them a bit of a facelift.

I have sewn the border onto Kris's rug, just have to add some fringe to the border, and planted a few seeds to start under the grow lights. Tomorrow I hope to finish off the seed planting. I also downloaded and printed off the last few bills for the month. Those will be paid on the 26th and then I get to forget about bills for a short period of time. 

I found a few series for Harvey to watch on Netflix, and I will be looking on CBC Gem for a couple of series that I missed the endings too over the past year. While we do pay for Netflix, Gem is free and carries many wonderful Canadian content shows. I am going to try and watch more of those free streaming channels. 

I know I will not finish all the projects this month, but I will make a good start on the carry over for next month. I will definitely be trying to accomplish a bit less project wise. At least at first, or perhaps add a few very quickly done projects rather than all those larger ones I seem to want to do.

Our fuel prices went up another $0.05 a liter. Before the Iran war started we were at $1.24.9 a liter. Now we are at $1.59.9 a liter. It just keeps going right on up. 

Off to get my Chicken Hot Pot in the oven. First time I have ever made this and I sure hope it turns out. There will be enough for two meals and perhaps a bit left for Kris to take home as well. I also made an Apple Crisp (Apple Crumble as some call it). This used up some apple pie filling from the fridge freezer, a bag of leftover chicken from the fridge freezer as well. Always great when a person can use items up and clear out a bit of room.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Menu Monday

 A new week of menus are here and soon I will be doing up the menu for the month of April. My goodness almost done three months of this year. Time is speeding right on by.

Monday

Wraps to use up some items in the fridge and fridge freezer. I will make a salad to go with.

Tuesday

One of the bags of frozen leftover chicken from Sunday. Since it is supposed to be cooler with some snow I will make a casserole. Served with the remains of the salad from yesterday.

Wednesday

Beef Vegetable Soup, and ham salad sandwiches.

Thursday

Any leftover casserole from Tuesday.

Friday 

Tuna Noodle Casserole.

Saturday

The bag of leftover pork roast made into a stir fry. Served over rice.

Sunday 

Roast Beef, roasted potatoes, and roasted carrots.

There are a few ideas percolating in my mind for next month. With Kris being home I want to visit and be able to send food home with him to give him a bit of help.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Sunday Ramblings

 It has been cloudy for most of the day. In fact the sun just came out from behind dense cloud cover 30 minutes or so ago. I am not sure how long the sun will be out, or if the sun will show its face tomorrow. We could be getting a bit more snow over the next week so it looks as if winter is not really relaxing its grip on the prairies of Canada. I am still hopeful that the weather will be decent for Kris to get home for Easter. 

My back withstood the hard wooden pews at Mass. I am always surprised when we arrive at the church. Lots of vehicles surround it, but upon entering there is hardly anyone there. Come time for Eucharist the line seems to be never ending. Today the school children did the readings, collection, and were the choir. Did an excellent job each and every one of them.

Now in case the lady who asked about a flimsy was and not check my response to her, I am going to answer it here. A flimsy is what quilters call the quilt top before "sandwiching" it with batting and a back and quilting it all together. Not sure why it is called a flimsy, other than in comparison to a quilt, it is flimsy and easily folded and put aside until ready for the next steps.

I am going to pull out some of my frugal books this week and see what else can be added to my frugal habits. I am really happy with how much we are saving by using cleaning rags, cloth napkins and my lady cloths. I am finding that a little bit here and there can add up to big savings over the entire year. Perhaps making some reusable cloth towels for the kitchen would be a great idea. I would still keep some paper towels for messy tasks. 

I am also thinking of making some more of my own cleaners. The orange and vinegar mixture works on a few things, but there are areas that could use a more potent cleaner. I have a book titled Green Up Your Cleanup  and another titled Baking soda, Banana Peels, Baby Oil and Beyond and it is time to make some use of them for cleaning mixtures.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.