My simple life is growing by leaps and bounds, thus in fact helping my frugal life as well.
In Canada over the past few years there has been a push for Black Friday sales in many of our stores. Heck probably in all of the truth be told. Today I looked at some of the sales fliers and was not in the least tempted to go out and purchase more "stuff". Fact is our sales will continue into next week, much like our Boxing Day sales.
I am finding the more I really think about what is a need or a want, there is really very little I need. I will of course purchase replacements for things that are wearing out, and those items that will make decluttering so much easier, like the silicone molds I have purchased nothing that is no longer necessary will enter this house.
I enjoy cooking from scratch and trying new and interesting to me recipes. If they verge on vegan that is great, this is probably healthier for Harvey and I as well.
I have been reading many blogs and watching many YouTube channels that ask how long you could feed your family on what is in your pantry and freezers/fridge. Pretty sure we could manage many months with just going out to purchase dairy, eggs, fruit and veggies. Still I feel the urge to stock up even more. I think this is because prices have kept right on going up. Purchasing while costs are lower just makes sense to me, and I do have the room to store everything I do purchase. It is one way of keeping to my budget.
Rising prices don't matter as much if you have a well stocked pantry. I am also considering doing the $5.00 Emergency Pantry thing that some talk about.
I was asked for some links to the lentil recipes I use so here they are.
Brown lentil soup
www.recipecommunity.com.au/soups-recipes/tomato-and-brownlentil-soup
Red Lentil Moroccan Soup
www.acedarspoon.com/moroccan-red-lentil-soup
Red Lentil Curry
www.allrecipes.com/recipe16641/red-lentil-curry/
Hopefully there will be a few more as I try more lentil recipes.
Everybody have a wonderful evening.
God bless.
I must check out your red lentil recipes as we have a full jar in the cupboard that needs using. I did purchase something in the Black Friday sale, but it was a gift for LB's birthday in January - a starter sewing machine for around £100. I saved about £45 on the original price, so I was happy with this.
ReplyDeleteI was going through my pantry yesterday. I haven’t bought canned green beans in a while because I had so many but realized yesterday that I only have 5 cans, so since they are on sale at Walmart for 50 cents right now, I’ll pick up a dozen next week. I’m pretty sure we could go several months on what we have in our pantry too. Which is good as this food was purchased when the cost was lower like you said.
ReplyDeleteI remember learning about Boxing Day from an old episode of M*A*S*H. Very interesting! I hope you have a wonderful evening too!
Dear Jackie, thank you so much for sharing your recipes, dear friend. Unfortunately, the STM (Montreal transit)...the maintenance workers are planning yet another strike, the four one this year! This will be at the worst possible time for everyone, including stores and restaurants, because they are going to do their strike for 5 weeks, beginning December 9th until January 11th.
ReplyDeleteI would very much appreciate your prayers, as this will affect me, as I rely on public transit to get around. It will affect many people and businesses. Thank you so much for your posts, I really appreciate them.
Thank you for the links :-)
ReplyDeleteI am very content. It's a good way to live.
ReplyDeleteBlack Friday - which lasts for more than three weeks over here in the UK now - is mainly online, which was handy for grandchildren's Christmas presents but nothing else bought.
ReplyDeleteI like having a good store cupboard - you never know when something will happen to keep you at home and I shall look up that $5 pantry thing
On our recent trip to London I purchased nothing, did not enter many shops at all, just like you I'm not interested in getting more stuff. I sure we could survive for a couple of months on our store cupboard and freeze, but bread and veg would be an issue, we don't use much milk both taking our hot drinks black.
ReplyDeleteWe could go several months without going to the store except for fresh items. And, like you, i feel like i should keep stocking. We donate to the food pantry, as well.
ReplyDeleteI’ve not heard of the 5.00 challenge. I’ll have to look it up.
Thanks for sharing your recipes. I could also go quite a long time living on what I have in the pantry if needed. Grocery costs are outrageous! I participated in Buy Nothing Day yesterday, and I, too, have been in the process of decluttering. Have a nice weekend, and thank you for stopping by to visit.
ReplyDeleteThanks for links
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recipes. I'm not a soup fan, so I probably will try to find another use for them.
ReplyDeleteI think you do a marvelous job of keeping track of what is in your fridge and freezers to ensure things don't go to waste. Sadly, that isn't always the case. When mom passed away, I can't tell you how much we tossed out due to freezer burn or mystery containers. The oldest item we found in her fridge was a bottle of salad dressing with a best before date of 1989. She passed away in 2003.
We definitely go through cycles, and we are on a "full freezer" cycle currently. I need to make sure we continue to use things up in a thoughtful way & avoid waste. - Hawaii Planner
ReplyDeleteBlack Friday sales have now recently arrived here in New Zealand too. I had to ask Mr Google what it was all about, seems it is linked to Thanksgiving. Which is strange as it is not a holiday here. Guess it is a way for retailers to make more money.
ReplyDeleteI have never been to a Black Friday sale, nor have I been to a Boxing Day sale - primarily because I don't like crowds. I know I could order online but I'm not interested in the commercialism.
ReplyDeleteOur freezer downsized itself considerably today after we packaged up all the homemade goodies heading out in parcels to our family tomorrow. The Resident Chef wants the freezer space to start adding soups, hence the early mailing.
Another wonderful post, Jackie. They always make me think about how I am doing in the frugal and stocked up way around here. I think it's getting to be a good idea to buy now the things you know you can use for sure. Yes, the prices keep rising.
ReplyDelete