A Simple, Frugal Life

 

I was watching one of my vlogs awhile ago and was slightly shocked when the woman who does it, said they were living an antiquated lifestyle by being frugal, living simply and mindful.... What!!

I have never thought that way as doing those things, while second nature now, I still am considering myself a beginner on the journey. It really seemed to me like she was not aware that being frugal, living a simple lifestyle and being mindful of what one spends is making a very dramatic comeback. 

There are lots of news agencies now posting ways to save your hard earned cash, ways to cut expenses and not feel deprived, and ways to make sure we are looking after mother earth. 

I am really not too sure of what she was getting at. She kept on and on about living in the same house since 1987, planting a garden since 1990, wearing secondhand clothes and decorating their home with mostly secondhand good. At one point she mentioned that their table was 40 years old... The one I am using now was Harvey's Mom and Dads and bought in 1979, I love the table and since Harvey refinished it, wow. 

There is often a thought in my mind that many people think that living simply and frugally is doing without, or trying to one up another person. I feel that we can all learn from each other and believe me there is always something we can learn. 

I had never realized that living simply actually took a great deal of organization and planning. I don't mean planning when and how to go down to beat our clothing on rocks to wash them, but planning how to downsize, what is a need and what is a want, and planning maintenance on our homes and yards. I have learned to organize my pantry (need to do so once again), small maintenance tasks that I can do on my own, and even how to store dried goods and frozen. 

Learning how to use things up, mend, and substitute in recipes when necessary. These are not easy things to do each and every day, but all of us do them mostly without thinking about it. 

Take today for instance. You all know my back often gives me grief when I work and today Harvey wet down the perennial bed to make it easier for me to pull quack/crab grass and other weeds. Let me tell you the whole bed is over run with weeds and grasses of all types. While I relished getting my hands into the soil and actually getting them dirty, I found I could only manage about 30 minutes of work with rests in between bouts of pulling weeds. This means I only got about 1/3 of the bed completed, but I so enjoyed that time out doing something. Simple and fulfilling. 

I came in, had some leftovers for my lunch and after resting a bit, decided to finish sewing the skirt. Got that done and started on a dress. I did have to get up and walk around, but the pleasure I found in the hum of my sewing machine was wonderful and eased the fact that I am slowing down task wise. Guess I need to learn to be frugal with what I expect to accomplish.

I, made my way around the garden and one of the pear trees (the oldest) is blossoming, the cherries are budding out and the haskap bushes are putting out flowers. Our garden is awakening and that brings me a great deal of happiness. The kiwi isn't putting out feelers yet, but will be soon. 

Noticed lots of dandelions starting so I may go out and forage this upcoming week to make some dandelion salve. I learned recently one should add some Vitamin E oil as a preservative to those homemade salves and lotions.  

As usual I have had a frugal week doing all the regular frugal things. Tomorrow I will wash off my umbrella clothesline and perhaps on Monday I will be able to hang clothing outside thus saving more on electrical costs. 

Using up leftovers and cooking from scratch (well except for the day I was so sore and tired that Harvey said order in but we got a free add on of dry ribs that would usually cost us $16.00).

Sewing to use up bits of fabric leftover from other projects made previously.

Working on the embroidered quilt blocks from Mom to make a second quilt.

Cut up some old socks to use in the garden to tie up plants. These socks are so darned I would be darning over darning.

Baked bread, made desserts, walked to pick up a prescription. 

I will be walking to the bank later next week (we live in a very small city of 10K and during daylight hours there really isn't much to fear) and picking up my script. 

I am pushing off shopping a few days once again as we are going to go and visit Kris next weekend. Probably won't go shopping until perhaps Tuesday which is about 3 days instead of 2 later. 

So that's how my week has been, and my thoughts on living an antiquated life style. How do all of you feel about that designation.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

  

Saving Money On Gas

 

I think that the days of just hopping in a vehicle and heading out for a Sunday drive are gone for a while. The cost of fuel is crazy, and there is really no end to how much higher it will get. 

Today I thought I would share some ways of saving and getting the most milage from your tank of gas.

1.  Plan your shopping so you only need to go out every two weeks.

2.  Walk to those places close to you. I will be starting to walk to the bank, and to pickup our prescriptions as those errands are close and I will not have to carry anything heavy back.

3.  If you see a light getting ready to change to red, or already red,  slow down well before and you might not have to stop and idle wasting fuel.

4.  Do not do hard accelerations.

5.  Consolidate trips/errands to be done on one day.

6.  Make sure the engine air filter is clean.

7.  Maintain proper tire pressure.

8.  Use cruise control on the highway.

9.  Do not let your speed fluctuate. Try and keep it steady.

Those are the ways we save on fuel costs. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

A New Beginning

 

The sun was shining today and even though it is cooler than spring should be, I felt joy when the sun warmed my face as I stood by the window sipping my coffee. That joy has followed me through my frugal, but simple day. 

First on the list of to do's was to put the clean dishes away and clean out emails from overnight. Neither of those took very long, and soon I was in the basement taking the clothes off the lines downstairs and getting them folded. 

I started the dough for two loaves of bread for the freezer and while that was going on cleaned the bathroom, swept my floors (I really need a new broom as this one is getting pretty worn out), did the ironing and collected those items that need to be mended for the mending basket (will do that next week). 

Simple things to keep the house running smoothly really. Nothing too difficult or time consuming. Those things seem to happen on a Monday.

Checked the fridge to see what needs to be used up in the crispers or at least processed so it does not spoil. I have some green onions that will be chopped up and used on our supper tonight as well as some cheese. Must get that grated and ready very soon. 

Then I got to play. I pulled out the small sewing table so I could watch some free shows that I enjoy and started sewing. I am afraid that I can no longer sew as quickly as I used to, as I must get up and walk around every so often to ease the pain in my back from sitting. 

Frugally, my sewing projects are using leftover pieces of fabric from other projects. The only one not is a knit dress and I bought the fabric a few years back at a deep discount at Fabricland. I am really trying to use up what I can and the smaller pieces are going to be saved and used in quilts or makeup remover pads/toner applying pads. While those you purchase in a store are not really expensive, they do seem to be climbing in price.

Still I did manage to get a pair of capris sewn, and start on a pair of bermuda shorts. Those I should be able to finish tomorrow and even get a pair of shorts done. Not as long a to do list to complete on Wednesdays so more time to play. The weather is still going to be cooler and so I do not plan on spending time outside other than a bit of a walk for some fresh air and exercise. 

Supper will be using up some leftovers. I made chili a little while ago and some was put in the mold to freeze and store for later, there was also some just put in a glass container in the fridge to be used tonight. Harvey likes chili and toast, but is willing to let me have chili on pasta for our second meal. A little change, but it really makes a difference. 

When I went shopping I did my usual $10.00 purchase for the pantry. I got 4 cans of tomato soup at 77 cents a can, and three cans of cream of mushroom for the same price. Those are used in cooking as I would much rather make my tomato and cream of mushroom soups for eating. I then bought some corned beef to bring the cost up to the mark. We do love a good corned beef hash. 

No money spent today, using things up, and enjoying the sunshine and the house smelling like freshly baked bread. Could anything be better?

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menu Monday

I am working on how the blog will be set up from now on. I think I will probably post Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. There could be a weekend post if something exciting happens, or if I have any news.

Other than Menu Monday, I am still not sure what the other days will hold. I do know there will be frugal tips, frugal cooking ideas, project completions, and my journey towards a simple life. 

I was asked why I make so many mittens for the school my son teaches at. It is a K to Grade 12 school and it is in a rather depressed area of Alberta. Yes, there is oil but there have been many layoffs over the years, and lots of the coal mines shut down many years ago. This is one reason and the other is after having worked in schools here, children are always losing their mittens up to a certain age. I want their little fingers to stay nice and warm.

I am also amazed that so many of you read my little blog and have given me a reason to keep on blogging. At one point I was considering taking a long break, but now I figure 4 times a week will be enough for awhile. Perhaps once I have reached a point where I have reached that simple life, I will go back to blogging a bit more often.

On to menu plans for the week, and considering we had a few snowflakes meandering down from the sky this morning, I am pretty happy I did not plan on any BBQ meals this week.

Monday

Hamburger soup, and buns or crackers.

Tuesday

Leftover chili served over pasta. 

Wednesday

Leftover Roast beef slices made into a casserole. Served with a salad.

Thursday

Leftover beef casserole from Wednesday along with leftover salad.

Friday

Salmon Fillets, rice, and mixed veggies.

Saturday

Chicken Pasta Bake. This is a ready meal pulled from the freezer downstairs. I think we will probably have some green beans with this. The weather should be better and I hope to get the perennial bed dug over and some of the weeds out. 

Sunday

Baked chicken thighs, homemade fries, and peas. 

As you can all see I am still making my way through various bits and bobs from the freezers. Also anything left over will be frozen to be used later in another meal, or perhaps taken up when we visit with Kris to share or for him to have for another meal when we are not there. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

 

Thoughts and Plans

 

As life and living becomes simpler, I am considering changing up my blog. I will probably keep my menu plan Monday, and the thrifty and frugal Thursdays, but the rest of my posts just might be changing just a tad. 

Don't worry, I will always follow a frugal and thrifty lifestyle, but times are changing. I will perhaps be adding more shopping tips, working on project tips (clearing out our stashes) and how to live a simpler life. 

The other thing is I might not be posting every day anymore. In entering a simpler life things are changing in my world and some of them really are not at all very interesting, or something I care to blog about. 

While I have been open about my lifestyle and spending, over the years I have found that not as many people are interested in a day to day lifestyle. People would much rather see things about decluttering, saving money, or living a much simpler life style. 

Forgive me if I miss a few posts over the next while, I will be working behind the scenes to get things to the point where I don't feel almost forced to post, and figuring out what my readers really want.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless. 

Friday, Moving Towards A Simple Life

 

I am loving that most of my days move along smoothly and simply. I get to take walks, not only do big things to get our lives in order, but do those little things that just make life a tiny bit simpler. 

Whether it be having a ready meal to pull out of the freezer on those busier days, or forming buns to bake in the oven. Each small step or increment moves me that much closer to enjoying life even more. 

One of the ways I have made our lives a bit simpler is only going shopping every two weeks. My back might cause me angst after the shopping trip, but one day out of 14 or more is not something that I can't live with. 

Having to rest after serious cleaning is awesome. It gives me the time to enjoy my home, or the outside. And really that 15 minute rest helps me concentrate on getting little things straight in my mind. 

The weather is warming and soon we will be planting outside. I am a little sad that not as much will be planted this year, due to us going on our trip and not wanting to bother anyone to, well water the garden and flowers. I may ask Kris if he would be willing to come home on the weekend and water all for us, and I might have figured out a way to keep many things watered, but we shall see. 

Life is good, and even with costs rising, one can find joy and pleasure in a sunrise, a sunset, sunshine throughout the day, smiling at strangers, and just taking the time to be grateful.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Thrifty and Frugal Thursday

 Thrifty and Frugal 

I can't remember another month where the last day coincided with Thrifty and Frugal Thursday. Mind you my mind might be going a little bit.

We have had a few frugal and thrifty wins here on the old homestead, but of course there is always a catch and that was today. We needed to have 2 batteries put into the tire sensors, and they were ridiculously expensive. However there was one thrifty/frugal thing that happened while the vehicle was in.

On to my list.

1.  Straightened up some cupboards and managed to fill a few containers. Thank heavens for step ladders as I would never be able to reach these two cupboards without it.

2.  I managed to go 24 days without spending any money. May is going to be a tougher month, but I will try my best to get at least 20 no spend days. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

3.  Working on my projects and using up more yarn. Slowly but surely that stash is kind of shrinking. Hoping to have even more gone very soon. One would think after what will be 120 pairs of mittens knitted, things would really be used up.... Not true in reality. So I will knit some hats next for the school. They should be kind of funky looking and all sorts of colours.

4.  I put another $100.00 in the savings envelope. I also put $2.35 in the change jars. 

5.  Leftovers are being made into new meals, and those new meals actually end up feeding us another time. Nothing is being tossed. 

6.  Making bread and buns and eventually I will try and make bagels once again. 

7.  Darned another pair of my socks, and fixed a seam on one of Harvey's shirts.

8.  Now while this was not an inexpensive trip to the dealership for our vehicle. My advisor did not charge for his labour in replacing the sensor batteries. That was more than likely a savings of around $50.00. So nice of him.

So that is some of the new things happening here on the old homestead. Of course we are still following the tried and true frugal and thrifty things we have been doing for years.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.