Thrifty and Frugal Thursday

 Thrifty and Frugal 

Life has been moving along and I am busy saving money and using items up. Perhaps using up way more than I have for a very long time. 

My mission this past week and probably next week as well, was and will be using up the bits and bobs from the fridge freezer as well as a few items in the chest freezer. Changing some items into meals to be used later, but others are being eaten. It is not frugal to have these items sitting in the freezers and not being used or made into something that can be used. Frugal is using all that you can and having no waste. 

Our garden is beginning to produce at least cucumbers, so a bit of saving on the fresh veggies happening. Some of the eggplant should be ready to be picked when we get back. 

My shopping has been done with a list, and the next shopping trip should be one where I can manage to stock up on a few items I have allowed to get a bit low. Some shelf stable canned meats are on sale, as well as pasta. Both of which need to replaced as I used up quite a bit making meals this week. 

Laundry was hung on the lines outside, no air conditioning for a couple of days, mending of some seams and I used up some of the backing fabric in making my quilt sandwiches. 

Yarn has been used in making another 10 mittens, and some embroidery thread has been used as well. 

I am definitely making do with what is in the house or garden for eating, and working on projects. 

Bills are paid online so I don't use gas to travel place to place through the city to pay them.

Walking for exercise each day. It may not be a great distance, but I am getting moving every day for building up my stamina. 

Downloaded some free books to my ereader. 

Using the Lux hand soap that I have had in the house for many years. Seems that it now works well and does not leave a soap scum in the bathroom sink. I think I have enough of this soap to last until the year 2035. LOL. I will still need to purchase Zest soap for the bath in the future (bought big packages a couple of years ago on sale) but for now no soap purchases for the foreseeable future.

I have some small samples of hand cream which I have started using more. 

That's about all I can remember. I hope you are all having a frugal and thrifty week. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless. 

Menu Monday

 

Oh my goodness, we are half way through the year already. Time sure flies.

Monday

Soup and sandwiches. I will be using up a container of soup from the fridge and stretching it with a bit more broth, some chicken pieces, and probably a bit of rice. Sandwiches are going to be grilled cheese.

Tuesday

A bag of leftover ham made into a casserole, and hopefully the remainder of the salad. Kurt leaves tomorrow so I think I just might make some appetizers for before the meal.

Wednesday

Stuffed chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans and sliced raw veggies or perhaps coleslaw. 

Thursday

Smoked hamburgers on homemade buns with coleslaw, pickles, and probably mini hash brown patties. Unless there are lots of leftover ham casserole then that plus the coleslaw will be the meal.

Friday

Perogies, fried onions and some sour cream.

Saturday

If we eat leftover ham casserole on Thursday, today will be the hamburger meal, if not I will pull a container of chili out of the freezer for supper. Serve it over macaroni.

Sunday

Roast beef, roasted potatoes, roasted carrots. The old roast meal. I may make gravy if there are enough drippings.

So I am hoping to make a few main dish salads for the month of July. Things will be getting very warm, and hopefully we will have some garden produce coming in.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Thrifty and Frugal Thursday

 Thrifty and Frugal

It has been a slow day. My list of household tasks were not many and since I had a slight backache upon arising I have put off cleaning and organizing the chest freezer.

So what thrifty and frugal things have been happening here on the Phillips homestead. 

1.  Sticking close to home. The only time I drove the vehicle was to go to the dentist on the other side of the city. I make that sound like a really long drive while it only takes me 10 minutes or less to get there.

2.  As usual using up all leftovers in either a new meal, or for lunches. 

3.  I bought some sandwich meat on sale and yuck is it ever salty. Quite a surprise to me as I haven't made a sandwich with processed luncheon meat for myself in a very, very long time. I think I will be sticking to leftover roasts, and making egg, tuna or salmon salad to use. 

4.  Mending a few stuffed toys and the Cabbage Patch doll. I also darned a pair of my socks. 

5.  I got free floss, free floss picks, and free interstitial brushes from my visit to the dentist. 

6.  Drapes open during the day for light and to heat the house. Right now it is 25C in here and 9C outside.

7.  Baked bread twice, and I even tried to make hotdog buns once again. Getting a bit better at the hotdog buns thing. Still need to work at it though. 

8.  Pulled the frozen cake and iced it for dessert the beginning of the week. I am now making a rhubarb crisp for dessert for the rest of the week. 

9.  Using up small bits of fabric from my stash to make cloth napkins. Only a few more to go and I will call that project done and dusted. 

So all in all a pretty decent frugal and thrifty week here. Hope all of you have had the same.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menu Monday

 

Before I give my menu plan.... Yes Maebeme the storm hit here at about 11 or so. High winds, pouring rain and hail the size of a toonie (perhaps larger as I could only reach one through the door without getting pelted). Some damage to our garden, but I couldn't tramp through to check more closely this morning as it was so wet. Damage to some of my flowers, which should be okay as they are small yet and have a good chance of coming back. Cherry trees lost many of their cherries though so no bumper crop this year (Sniff, sniff) and my poor kiwi vine lost a whole vine (sure hope that comes back). But the Riders won!!!!

Monday

Chef's salad as it is bound to be hot and humid today.

Tuesday

Leftover roast beef thinly sliced with celery and onion, a mustard dressing and this will be served over a bed of lettuce. Should be enough left of the roast beef mixture to have later in the week.

Wednesday

Spaghetti and meat sauce. I need to use up the leftover sauce from a couple of weeks ago that is residing in my fridge freezer. I will make a Greek salad to use up some grape tomatoes, cucumber and onion. As well as the feta cheese in the fridge.

Thursday

The leftover beef concoction.

Friday

The container of frozen soup in the fridge with tuna sandwiches.

Saturday

The frozen sausage rolls from the fridge freezer and the remains of the Greek salad.

Sunday

Roast pork, roasted potatoes, roasted carrots. 

Dessert for this week will be Chocolate Zucchini cake.

Everybody have a wonderful day.

God bless.

Menu Monday

 

Monday

Drumsticks, corn and bacon carbonara noodles.

Tuesday

Lentil Curry from the freezer, rice and a cucumber, cherry tomato, and onion salad.

Wednesday

Soup and sandwiches. I need to use up some mushrooms so will be making Cream of Mushroom Soup along with the sandwiches.

Thursday

Smoked sausages, leftover salad, pasta.

Friday

Salmon patties, fried potatoes, mixed veggies.

Saturday

Smoked Pork ribs, potatoes, green beans.

Sunday

Roast chicken, roasted potatoes and roasted carrots.

Leftovers will be put aside and frozen or used for our lunches.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Menu Monday

 

Last week of the month is here, and it looks like winter will be sending us another blast. Today has been cloudy and windy, but none of the forecasted snow has hit. Clouds are building up though so we will probably get something later on.

Still having hearty winter type meals here and that will more than likely continue through most, if not all of next month. Winter never seems to leave the prairies too early lately.

Monday

Smoked sausages, baked beans, and leftover noodles.

Tuesday

Soup and sandwiches.

Wednesday

Chicken wings, onion rings, and green beans.

Thursday

The container of stew that is in the fridge freezer.

Friday

Lentil Curry and rice. I may try to make some flat breads to go along with this.

Saturday

Making a big pot of chili so I have some to take to Kris's when we go up for my appointment.

Sunday

Roast chicken, roast potatoes, and roasted carrots. I may make a salad as well which will last us for a few days.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menu Monday

 

Still a miserably cold day outside, so I am inside for another day at least. Though I really, really need to pick up the mail as it has been almost a week since last doing so. 

Tomorrow is to be slightly better which is a good thing as we have to venture out to our haircut appointments. I will phone in the prescription order before we leave and it will be ready for pick up after the haircuts (or at least I hope it will be). I also need to get at least some groceries, so after coming home and warming up slightly I will be off to get that completed and pick up our allowances at the bank (hmm another errand that could be done right after the haircuts as they are all in the general location we will be in).

Thanks to everyone who answered my question on reusable "paper towels". You have all given me much to think about this month. 

Enough chattering away and on with the menus for the week. There are some slight changes as I have once again have too many leftovers stored in my freezer. However to use up a few items that need using I will be adding to that collection this week. 

Monday

Baked spaghetti from the freezer, and the side will be the remainder of the raw veggies and dip.

Tuesday

The leftover ribs along with the scalloped potatoes from Sunday. I will more than likely make corn to go a

Wednesday

Leftover ham made into a casserole. I will make sure and pick a recipe that has lots of veggies included.

Thursday

In order to clean out the fridge a bit we will have leftovers from Wednesday.

Friday

Tuna Noodle Casserole and raw veggies and dip.

Saturday

A container of leftover stew from the fridge freezer. I will make some dumplings to go with this.

Sunday

Roast Chicken, roasted potatoes, roasted carrots. Our usual Sunday roast meal of some type, which of course adds leftover meat to the freezer.

Everybody have a wonderful day.

God bless.

Menu Plan Monday

 

This weeks menus are a mish mash of using items up and totally new meals.

Monday

Lentil Curry and buns.  The extra will be frozen to be used for another meal later on this month when things get rushed.

Tuesday

I will use up a bag of leftover roast beef and make hot beef sandwiches, mashed potatoes and coleslaw.

Wednesday

Soup and sandwiches. More than likely tomato soup from the jars in the freezer, and grilled cheese. Might even use up the coleslaw for more veggies.

Thursday

A quiche where I use up the last of the frozen ham. Serving this with sliced raw veggies and dip. I may slice up the leftover potatoes from the roast meal on Sunday and fry them. 

Friday

That Eggplant Parma we were supposed to have last week.

Saturday

Leftover quiche and more veggies and dip.

Sunday

Roast chicken, roasted potatoes, and roasted carrots.

Lunches will be sandwiches, or leftovers.... Breakfasts will be oatmeal, yogurt, fruit, and muffins. Perhaps a slice of toast once in awhile as well. I do try to alternate my breakfasts.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Frugal Friday

 

Frugal Friday's seem to come around quicker and quicker. Finding things that I have done this week in a frugal manner has been a bit of a chore. Hopefully I can find 5 frugal things that are not in my thrifty post.

1.  Hung three loads on the lines downstairs. 

2.  Used up the leftover bag of frozen roast pork. We managed two meals each from the stir fry, and there is enough left for Harvey to have for lunch tomorrow.

3.  There is enough of the chicken and noodles for me to have for lunch tomorrow. 

4.  Used up some of the items in the crisper making a salad, and used up a bottle of salad dressing to marinate it in.

5.  Paid all remaining end of the month bills online.

6.  Getting much better at making sure the lights are off in rooms not in use.

Pretty sure there are more, but that is all I can think of right now.

Next week will not be the most frugal of weeks as I will be undergoing surgery at the Endodontist 2 hours away. Thank heavens we no longer have to get a hotel room, Kris is more than happy to have us stay with him. I usually take something with us to make for supper and will do so again. Saves us loads of cash that way.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menu Monday

 

Before I start on my menu plans for this week, I want to say thank you to all those members of the forum I moderated for their lovely comments. So sweet of all of you.

So what is on the menu for this week? Once again I will be trying to use things up from the fridge and fridge freezer before we go away. Yesterday I went through the freezer drawers and found lots of items to be used up. I will of course have to bring up some main dish meats just to shake things up a bit, but man once again I have let things stack up.

Monday

Leftover ribs, served with green beans, cherry tomatoes, leftover coleslaw, and of course sliced cucumbers.

Tuesday

There are two small steaks in the freezer so I am going to slice them thinly and make a stir fry. This will be served over rice. I will also make the stuffed jalapeno's tonight (though I would do them Monday, but missing the cream cheese). 

Wednesday

Lazy perogies, though I am tempted to spend the hours necessary to make perogies once again and have a few bags in the freezer for meals later....

Thursday

Leftovers from Tuesday. 

Friday

Tuna casserole will be served, along with sliced cucumbers and sliced tomatoes.

Saturday

Pulling out a package of the leftover ham and making a casserole. If I can get into the garden (we actually got rain today, and quite a bit more could come tomorrow) green beans and cherry tomatoes.

Sunday

Porkchops, mashed potatoes, carrots and coleslaw.

I have been asked what I stuff my jalapeno's with and so I will tell you all.

I soften cream cheese and mix it with some garlic powder, some of the insides of the jalapeno's for a bit of heat, and regular grated cheddar. Then the halves are wrapped with some bacon and cooked in the oven until the bacon is cooked.

Kris taught me this as it is how he did the ones we had earlier this summer. Harvey has decided he just loves them this way. 

Yes, Maebeme this is really early for the garden this year. I just can't believe how much is ready to be picked....

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menu Monday

 

My goodness the weeks go by very quickly lately. This is something I just can't seem to get used to.

Monday

Sweet and Sour Ribs, rice and sliced cucumbers with drip.

Tuesday

Leftover roast beef from Sunday's supper. I think I will be making a kind of stroganoff and serve it over noodles. The remaining sliced cucumbers will be the side.

Wednesday

The leftover ribs and rice. I will probably make corn to go along with it.

Thursday

The leftovers from Tuesday but instead of noodles I will make mashed potatoes and serve with a side of peas.

Friday

Maple glazed salmon fillets (perhaps done on the smoker) along with tinfoil potatoes and a salad.

Saturday

BBQ Chicken Breasts and potato salad and the remains of whatever type of veggie salad that is left.

Sunday

Our usual Sunday roast meal. This time chicken along with the remains of the potato salad and green beans.

I was going to make chili, but I think I will do so next week (well unless there isn't enough of the leftover beef stroganoff).

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menu Monday

 

We are home from our short visit with Kris, and before I post my menus I want to share a picture of how his hydroponic growing is going along. 

These peppers are from one of his plants (which by the way is huge).

These are Hot Portugal peppers, he does have some regular bell peppers growing as well as a very small watermelon started. Kris got his green thumb for veggies from his Dad.

Now on to the menu's for this week.

Monday

Spaghetti and meat sauce with raw veggies and dip.

Tuesday

Soup and sandwiches. I will pull out one of the cans of vegetable soup that needs using and make grilled cheese or tuna melts to go along with it. I am leaning towards tuna melts.

Wednesday

Baked spaghetti and salad. Perhaps if I remember to pick up French bread I will use half to make garlic bread.

Thursday

The remains of the Baked spaghetti and salad.

Friday

A casserole that uses up a package of fake lobster or crab. Served with asparagus.

Saturday

Leftovers from Friday.

Sunday

Turkey Tetrazzini, and mixed veggies.

It is going to be chilly and rainy so hearty it goes once again.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.