Month End

Here it is the end of the first month of 2018 and time to see how well I did budget wise, decluttering, and using up the stash.

I'll start with the things I did well, or at least pretty good at.

Using up the stash went well. Lots of bits and bobs of yarn were used knitting the socks this month. I also managed to use up two cakes of yarn so far on the shawl I am making. Then of course there were the mitts and toques I made for my brother's twins that used up even more of the stash (the leftovers were used on the socks).

I started to go through my fall winter clothing with a ruthless eye. I managed to remove or recycle 29 items. Added to some household things 40 items left my home. I hope to increase that number in the month of February.

Now comes some fails. I did not manage to come in under budget for groceries, in fact I was $40.00 over. Harvey said that wasn't too bad considering that budget line also is used for over the counter medications, pet supplies, paper goods and laundry items. Next month I am going to try very hard to make up that overage and come under once again. It could mean my stock up shop gets put back a month, but we have lots of food and paper goods in the house.

The rest of the budget was mostly under. Fuel for the vehicles, gas to heat the house, electric costs, house maintenance, entertainment, my spending money, clothing, computer supplies, all under budgeted amounts.

Overall we were almost $600.00 under budget for the month, which is pretty darn good. I am hoping that next month will be even better.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Thrifty Tuesday and This/That

I gathered together all the partial bottles of hand lotion from our various stays in hotels and placed them where I am sure to use them. My goodness have I ever collected them. Slowly but surely I am working my way through them all. This way I get to save all the bigger tubes and bottles for later use.

The last couple of days I have cooked big batches of food at supper. Now I will have a few days down the road where I will not have to cook at all. Rather just warm things up in the microwave and add a side or two.

I did some baking as well and rather than have the cake dry out because we can't eat it all I made a smaller square cake and some small bundt cakes.

The square cake has been finished and the 5 small bundt cakes are packaged up and in the freezer. 

One of the big dishes I made this week has been tonight.

A very large Turkey Tetrazzini. We had some tonight, I made a TV dinner for Kris, and the rest is put into the fridge to be had on Thursday.

I also made Lazy Cabbage Rolls as a big casserole. We had it for supper last night, I portioned some out as a TV dinner for Kris (these are like a thank you for coming home and helping out whenever we need him, it also allows me to know he has something good to eat every so often), we have some for tomorrow, and there is even a package in the freezer for sometime in the future. No picture though as Harvey dug in before I could take one.

Here is the pile of 8 pairs of thick boot socks I made.

Some are very colourful, but since I was using up bits and bobs of yarn it was to be expected. At least this time I sort of put colours that go together reasonably well.

Here are some pictures of the moon tonight. Hopefully I will get some better ones as the moon gets closer. I really think a person needs an SLR camera to get those wonderful pictures one sees online.

Pretty sure this is not the super moon, but it is nice and bright. 

Best news of all though and while not a frugal undertaking at first glance, our venting from the furnace into the back where all we had was electric heat is done. This means our electric bills should begin to fall and that is thrifty and frugal in the long run.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Menu Monday

Another week and almost another month gone. Supposedly spring arrives in a few months, but here on the prairies of Canada, spring sometimes does not arrive until almost May.

Monday

Lazy Cabbage Rolls. This should see me using up the last of the cabbage and making a tray or two extra for the freezer and meals down the road.

Tuesday

Leftover turkey made into our favorite meal, turkey tetrazzini. Planning to make a bit extra of this as well (mostly for clean out the fridge night).

Wednesday

Soup and Sandwiches. Think it is time to doctor up some of the split pea soup from the freezer down stairs. Served with grilled cheese sandwiches.....

Thursday

Clean out the fridge night.

Friday

Salmon casserole, served with fresh veggies and dip.

Saturday

Leftover Ham made into scalloped potatoes and ham. I am hoping to make a bit extra for some lunches next week.

Sunday

Roast chicken, roasted carrots and potatoes.

Everybody have a wonderful day.

God bless.

Sunday Ramblings

It is late so this will be a quick post.

The weather is turning cold once again, so I am very content to stay home and work on this years budget. I finished it today (good thing as I will need to start entering data very soon). I tried to keep things the same but I did end up having to add a bit in certain areas. We are keeping our fingers crossed that perhaps as the year progresses we will be able to reduce some expenditures.

I also finished off February's menu plans. Since the first day of next month falls in the middle of the upcoming week this needed to be done. There are a few meals that I will be cooking larger amounts just so I can freeze the leftovers for another meal later. While not really batch cooking it is about as close as I get to doing so.

Everbody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Frugal Friday

Another week has sped by. We are entering the last week of January already.

1.  Gathered together all the partially used hotel shampoos, this is going to be my next use it up.

2.  The partially used hotel hand creams and body lotions are being used. The larger gift sized will be used when the smaller ones are finished.

3.  Used a $5.00 off of $40 shop.

4.  Used a $3.00 off the price of a beef roast (any size and any type).

5.  Recycled some well darned socks into plant ties or dust mitts.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Thursday Tidbits

While the last few mornings temperature wise have been very nice for this time of year, we have woken up to fog and hoar frost most days.

I really like the sparkly effects of hoar frost on the trees and shrubs. Everything sparkles like diamonds.

Harvey has been busy cleaning the basement in expectation of the furnace people arriving tomorrow. We haven't gotten a call as of yet so I am more inclined to think it will be next week. Of course the temperature is supposed to drop and we are supposed to get snow, but hey if anything the furnace will only be off for a short while so as long as the day is sunny everything should be just fine.

Still knitting those socks and doing a bit of decluttering. I took a bag and a box of items in on Wednesday and already have two more smallish bags of clothing to take in when I next run errands.

I also learned today that our provincial electrical company (whom we all have to purchase our electricity from as there is only one power company) plans on raising their rates by 3.5%. This will occur at the beginning of March so we have some time to prepare and figure out budget requirements.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

The Beginning of Hopefully What Will Be The End

Getting close to the end of the week and the promised arrival of our furnace guy to finish the job started almost a year and a half ago.

Harvey has spent the week bracing up one side of the hole in the wall and adding cement to level all sides. He did a marvelous job. Now we just wait.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.