Thrifty and Frugal Thursday

Thrifty and Frugal

I have really been trying to cut back on spending so far this year. Mainly because the trip we have planned for August is a bit more expensive than we thought it would be. Still I am not going to try and reclaim that money. Rather I will save where and how I can.

Frugal happenings around the old homestead have been more or less the usual for what I have been doing. 

I am continuing to use up all that I can and not purchasing things I do not need.

I actually managed to extend my shopping for groceries by four days, which is awesome. Still prices are rising and getting great deals are few and far between.

Making what I can from scratch, finding simple joys in making those things I need and saving for home improvements and the garden (what we call the backyard here) are making my life very enjoyable. Keeping things as simple as I possibly can.

Today I went shopping, and of course picked up my $10.00 for the pantry. I think next time it will be some canned fruit.

I managed to get 4 cans each of tuna and mushrooms to add to the collection.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

 

Midweek Ramblings

 I have a feeling that this month is going to whiz right by. I have so much to accomplish and I know there is not enough month to get it all done. 

I thought for a change I would share my project goals for the month with you once again. It has been awhile since I did so.

So here goes,

1.  Weave the rug for Kris.

2.  Embroider the last of the blocks for a quilt.

3.  Sew the totes for the Silent Auction.

4.  Make the ornaments for the Silent Auction.

5.  Knit mittens.

6.  Cut the buttons off of the shirts Harvey got rid of that are not decent enough to donate.

7.  Separate the usable fabric from those shirts.

Things are taking a bit longer than I thought they would so I am slightly worried that not all will be done this month. I will however try my best to get most done. 

Tomorrow we will go and pay off the trip, and I will go shopping. This means that not as much will be accomplished around the house other than the usual household tasks. I have been lucky enough to find large enough bits and bobs to make the smallest size mitts however and that is helping me to use things up nicely. Slowly but surely things are being cleared out of my stashes and that is an excellent thing. No matter how long things take I will get my stashes down to something easily handled.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Tuesday Tidbits and Stuff

 The weather has turned for the next while, we have melting and Harvey went for a drive to pick up more ice melt. We know that this will not last for very long, been through it many, many times. 

Yes, I did get my machine back and it works wonderfully. They even gave me a package of very expensive chrome needles to use. I told Harv that I would probably take my machines there to be serviced when needed. I think the next one to go will be my embroidery machine. Then the overlocker/serger will make the trip. I could probably get the less costly Brother machine done here in the city. I need decent machines for sure considering the mending and sewing that I do.

I tried the machine out on some mending that Kris needed done and everything was great. 

Last night and today, I went over the monthly menu and got things worked out. Just a few simple changes were necessary. Anything left from the meal tonight will be frozen for later on, or we will eat it two days in a row and not have any soup and sandwich night this week. No problem at all. 

My back is kind of kinky today. Not sure if it is because I have been trying to get lots of work done today, or if the change in air pressure is causing the problem. Perhaps it can even be because of the change in mattresses. Tonight I plan on using my heating pad and resting while knitting and listening/watching TV. 

I am almost finished the first half of Kris's rug and can hopefully start the second half and perhaps I can get the second half done quickly. I think once again I put much too much on my list to try and complete. We shall see what I manage.

Off to get supper in the oven. Try and visit all of you once again after folding the mountain of laundry.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

 

Home Sweet Home

 

The roads were great if a bit blowy on our way home today and I am glad we did not come home yesterday. I believe the roads would have been icy and snow covered.

However, we got into Estevan, pulled in the driveway and started to remove the items from the back of the car. I started to walk towards the sidewalk beside our vehicle shelter and started to slide!!! I managed to keep my balance, warned Harvey and made my way slowly down the path. This was actually the iciest part of our trip (well there was one fairly icy patch in Regina). 

Once all was inside, Harvey went out and sprinkled ice melt and then later went out to chip away at it. We definitely need more ice melt as the bag I purchased is now gone. Hope we can find some. 

No menu plan today as I need to do a bit of tweaking on it since we were gone and I just pulled whatever out of the fridge freezer to have for supper tonight. 

It has been snowing off and on since we got home, and between that and the icy roads in the city (and of course grocery shopping parking lots) I am going to give a few more days before I head out and pick up what we need. I also hope that we will have better sales as well. Good sales are few and far between and the new sale will start on Thursday. Flyers will come out today and tomorrow. Keeping my fingers crossed. 

Supper is almost ready. I will try and catch up with all of you a bit later tonight and tomorrow morning. I probably have lots of reading to do.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Arrived But Will We Have To Stay Longer?

 We made it into the city no problem. There was some drifting snow the closer we got to the city, but nothing that would cause a problem.

Now however the city we live in has pouring rain this morning, and from what I read on the weather app on my phone and on this laptop, the same is happening here. 

It is supposed to warm up though and hopefully get rid of the ice. I will need to keep track on both apps to see how things are clearing up. We could be here a bit longer than planned on. Thank heavens Kris has a great washing machine and a place in the basement to hang things.

And that's the news from here as blogger is being weird once again.

Thrifty and Frugal Thursday

 Thrifty and Frugal

I have been busy getting things done in order for our visit to Kris's. Everything that could be done ahead of time has now been completed. Lists made, prescriptions picked up and allowances gotten from the bank. Life is good, even though the forecast is calling for snow here in Estevan, and snow/rain on Saturday in Regina. Heck, we might have to stay an extra day to make sure the roads are passable and not covered in ice. 

So what frugal and thrifty things have I been up to over the past week.

1.  Added my leftover allowance to the savings envelope. Also added to the change jars.

2.  Cut up the peppers that were getting a bit soft and got them into the freezer to be used in soups and stews.

3.  Managed to get through all the leftovers from meals either by eating them a second time, or freezing them for a meal later. 

4.  Made use of some of the reclaimed yarn in making the rug. Also used up some of the yarn for the warp.

5.  Using up the smaller leftover yarn balls to continue knitting mittens.

6.  Combined errands to save on fuel and vehicle usage.

7.  Made sure lights were turned off in rooms not in use. I am even getting Harvey to make sure he does the same.

8.  Harvey started another batch of wine, so we will definitely be well supplied. 

Those combined with the usual thrifty and frugal happenings have made this week pass by with a bit of savings on various bills. 

My next post will be from Kris's tomorrow evening. At least that is what I hope.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Midweek and the Last Midweek of the Month

 I can not believe that it is the middle of the last week of the month. Once again days are flying by and I am not at all ready for the month to end.

I am trying to keep busy baking, cooking, prepping meals (soups) and working on my projects. All to keep from getting drawn into the chaos that people post. I made an error yesterday and got drawn into saying me piece on what a cousin had posted. Lord love me I really should have known better, and will know better next time around. Or at least I hope to have learned better. 

The weather is improving greatly, but as usual with the uptick in temperatures, snow is now being forecast. Not a lot for here or the city that youngest lives in so we will still be going. So looking forward to getting out and about in a bigger center. I think I will ask Harvey to stop at The Body Shop so I can pick up my favourite scrub and bath gel. I also want to look at their facial cleansing routines as well. 

Trying very hard not to waste anything, and I am getting better. This week I have had very little in that department. I am freezing anything leftover from our second meals and this should give us another meal from those leftovers. Neither Harvey or I can eat the same meal for days in a row. Tonight we will be having leftover beef stew, and from the looks of what is now in the pot to warm up there could be another meal had. The leftovers will be frozen and we will eat them later on. 

My project list for next month is made as is the monthly cleaning list. My menu plan is as well, subject of course to any changes that may occur due to trying to use things up. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.