Seasoning my cast iron pan today. Killing two birds with one stone, seasoning the pan and warming the apartment on a cold day. Have been getting some good scrap, brass and copper. Been watching canning videos. Picked up an amish canning book with a receipt for canned breads and cakes. Looking forward to trying to can some pumpkin bread.
Lately frugality has been feeling more like poverty, or maybe my poverty just feels like poverty, haha. It has been feeling a little austere lately. Damaged my knee so that is slowing me down and making me think about what my life is going to be like when I am older.
My pullets are starting to lay. I am going to make deviled eggs, tuna-egg salad sandwiches, and possibly potato salad.
Also, I have been sending snacks to my husbands very small boy scout troop, and tomorrow I have decided to send what I call "Fried bread". Basically, it is a bit like a doughnut hole. I add sugar and vanilla to bread dough, cut it into small pieces and let it raise, I fry it and drop the hot bread into cinnamon sugar. I figure one loaf worth of dough will give snacks to the scouts and their parents for less than $1.
Using fabric scraps to make Christmas gifts this year.
For little or no cost can make place mats, mug rugs,potholders,hot pads,quilts,kindergarten sleep mats. Cut up old jeans, make dog beds, dog coats, dog boots. Take the back pockets of jeans and make purses for walkers in nursing homes.
I had nearly $3,000 in unexpected expenses in September which means that I'm going to be living on a tighter budget for the next few months while I replace those savings. I am grateful that I do have savings for the unexpected so I'm not in debt, however I won't feel comfortable until that money is replaced.
I read through some of the last few months of entries for new inspiration and looked at my spending for places to pull back. I think it's going to be a month filled with cheap and cheerful soups and stews. Thanks to some good deals in the stores, and details from MoBookworm1957 about purchasing a meat box through a butcher, I think I'll need to spend less than $100/mth Canadian for fresh food for the next while. I'll consider it a challenge.
I also had unexpected medical expenses which took my savings.
So money will tight till it's back in savings.
Won't need groceries for a few months.
Just fresh produce which costs me $20.00 every two weeks.
Next big grocery bill will come from meat bundle in November or December.
I also had unexpected medical expenses which took my savings.
So money will tight till it's back in savings.
Won't need groceries for a few months.
Just fresh produce which costs me $20.00 every two weeks.
Next big grocery bill will come from meat bundle in November or December.
That meat bundle idea you referenced a while ago was a great savings to me. It took a few weeks to find a butcher in my area that participated in the program as it seems to be more popular in western Canada, but I did eventually find someone and took possession of the pack this past week. My reorganized freezer is pretty full now and I'll see how it all works out. Thank you again.
Hobbies can be useful. Homesteading and keeping up a pantry does save me money
I have had unexpected large bills for 2 years in a row now, but when I put my mind to it I can feed the 2 of us for $40 per week, and that includes pet food and TP and such. The reason I do not have to spend more is because there are vegetables in the garden, and also because I keep up a pantry for when I cannot get to the store.
The food in the pantry is bought on sale, so the more we eat out of the pantry the lower the food bill is. Tonight we are having tuna-egg salad sandwiches with watermelon and cole slaw. Cost will be about $3 for the 2 of us. Tomorrow I think I will cook some fish from the freezer and use some hushpuppy mix and I think make some pudding as well. Vegetable will likely be sliced cucumber.
The only thing we seem to be low on is mayo and milk. Though of course if some pantry food comes on sale I will buy some to restock.
Received some pears from a neighbor last week so this past weekend I made a pear cobbler. We usually give him dried sausage during hunting season.
Finally got some good, slow rain last week. I put out several buckets to collect the rain water. My indoor plants love it.
Still....
using what I have in the pantry/frig/freezer to make meals
taking lunches to work
using the sun to dry my clothes and make tea
sorting thru all our stuff....clean up, organize, sell stuff, donate stuff
mended some of my husband's work shirts to make them last longer
did some alterations of some of my blouses
driving a bit under the speed limit to conserve gas
finding ways to reuse all sorts of items...it's a fun challenge for me
Our Border Collie puppy (9 months old) seems to have an infection of some type in one ear. His ears have always been goofy anyway (normal for the breed) but one was always down when the other was up. A couple days ago he was shaking his head a lot. So we took a good look and cleaned it out well - brown gooey stuff.
Got on-line and researched with pics - looks to be a fungal infection of some kind. Found a site with home remedies for dogs. After each cleaning (twice a day) spray the inside of his ear with a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and water.
After the first day yesterday doing it twice he is much better. Today only a slight discharge left. The explanation was that if a dog's inner ear gets wet and can't dry out properly this will happen. What the vinegar does is changes the ph back to where it should be and the fungus won't be able to continue growing.
So my frugal moment was that I saved what would have likely been a minimum of a $50 vet visit plus a long trip to town.
I discovered a way that I could have saved money last week. I bought a big tube of sensitive teeth toothpaste at the grocery. Not on sale, just needed it. I discovered that the dollar store has sensitive teeth paste that is made in the USA. It was a smaller tube but for the short term use it would have been fine. Next time I will check the dollar store. I stay away from Chinese products when it comes to eating or using on my skin, etc.
We picked some free apples from a neighbor, and I'm baking a crisp now. The house is smelling good!
We are being frugal onour trip to the North Ga Mountains by spending 2 nights at Mercier Orchards thru the Harvest Host plan. Basically you MUST be self contained and you get to park overnight I their lodge. Of course we did some shopping in their humongous store, and ate dinner last night and breakfast today in their café. We spent the day driving about the small town of Blue Ridge and then walking the downtown. Also did laundry. IIt's late, I'm tired and going to sleep!
Trying to use my credit card less. My gut is telling me to stop trusting those credit card companies.
So, instead of using my credit card I have been trying to plan and save more. For example, I want a rolling tool chest from harbor freight that is $300. I don't have the money for it now. What I would do in the past is pay for it on the card then pay half off on the first bill then the second half on the second bill. Rather then do that, I am just saving up for it. It might take me a while to save for it but I feel it is the best way to go.
I personally think we are headed for hard times in the economy and I think the credit card companies are going to withdraw and cut back on credit. So, I think it is good to start living on what I have before that crunch comes.
Try to live below my income.
Some months are harder than others.
Unexpected medical bills doesn't help.
Put set amount of money in savings, then don't touch it.
Half of any money that is left after bills are paid goes straight into savings.
Pay myself $25.00 monthly for spending money.
Anything left each month goes to savings.
Trying to use my credit card less. My gut is telling me to stop trusting those credit card companies.
So, instead of using my credit card I have been trying to plan and save more. For example, I want a rolling tool chest from harbor freight that is $300. I don't have the money for it now. What I would do in the past is pay for it on the card then pay half off on the first bill then the second half on the second bill. Rather then do that, I am just saving up for it. It might take me a while to save for it but I feel it is the best way to go.
I personally think we are headed for hard times in the economy and I think the credit card companies are going to withdraw and cut back on credit. So, I think it is good to start living on what I have before that crunch comes.
You have to get out of that habit. If you don’t have the money for something like a tool chest just don’t buy it. That is a WANT not a NEED!
The only time I use a credit card is for an emergency like a truck break down that is a costly repair - or the water pump in the house. To me those are NEEDS.
COOKING FROM SCRATCH TODAY WITH GARDEN PRODUCE & FRESH VEGS. SPENT MINIMAL ON GROCERIES LAST SATURDAY TO FILL IN THE "OUT OF" GROCERIES NEEDED. WILL FILL IN MORE BARE SPOTS THIS WEEK WITH SOME GREAT SALES IN THE WEEKLY GROCERY FLYERS. WILL ONLY BUY WHAT WE NORMALLY USE & WHAT WE ARE OUT OF.
Listening to dave ramsey to hopefully get some new ideas and some frugal refreshment. Have the oil lamps on tonight to cut back on bills. Considering saving up for an aladin lamp for light instead of paying electric all the time. Guess I can save up for one in a year. $15 a month for a year will pay for the lamp and the shade.
You are right, the tool chest can be considered a want and not a need but the truth is that from a functional stand point I do need it. It is low and has a work station on it that I can mount my drill press and band saw. Right now I have the drill press sitting in my tiny bedroom blocking the door. I cant use it because there is no space to mount it yet. I need the card to roll because I get flooded and I have leaks in heavy rain, so I need to be able to move it to mop and clean on occasion. Can I live without it? Yes. If I can save for two or three month and buy it though it will help me organize, declutter, and function better. So, I think that is worth it. I am just not going to put it on credit so I can pay it off in instalments. I am going to save in instalments, instead and wait.
City Bound Might want to consider getting solar outdoor lights. Just let them charge during day and use at night. Can put several of them in a large vase for more light. Only caution I have is, wouldn't go too cheap. Don't think those lights will last long. You're resourceful; maybe could find free ones. Good Luck.
I had nearly $3,000 in unexpected expenses in September which means that I'm going to be living on a tighter budget for the next few months while I replace those savings. I am grateful that I do have savings for the unexpected so I'm not in debt, however I won't feel comfortable until that money is replaced.
I read through some of the last few months of entries for new inspiration and looked at my spending for places to pull back. I think it's going to be a month filled with cheap and cheerful soups and stews. Thanks to some good deals in the stores, and details from MoBookworm1957 about purchasing a meat box through a butcher, I think I'll need to spend less than $100/mth Canadian for fresh food for the next while. I'll consider it a challenge.
My pullets are starting to lay. I am going to make deviled eggs, tuna-egg salad sandwiches, and possibly potato salad.
Also, I have been sending snacks to my husbands very small boy scout troop, and tomorrow I have decided to send what I call "Fried bread". Basically, it is a bit like a doughnut hole. I add sugar and vanilla to bread dough, cut it into small pieces and let it raise, I fry it and drop the hot bread into cinnamon sugar. I figure one loaf worth of dough will give snacks to the scouts and their parents for less than $1.
Took inventory of freezer and pantry today. Made my meal plan for the month. Really makes life easier and helps me to save on the grocery bill. Between the three of us we don't have many doctor appointments this month (all of us have several doctors we see on a regular basis due to health issues) so this should help with gas money. Had dd computer repaired and will pick up Monday when I go back to work instead of making a separate trip; used the warranty so unsure how much this saved money wise but sure quite a bit.
Haven't grocery shopped this month yet.
Hope to put it off as long as I can.
Just need coffee opened last can yesterday.
Filled up cannisters so will need tea bags too.
Got my list going not to big yet.
Still got tomatoes plants producing.
got Sage to dry yet.
BOT A NEW/USED DISHWASHER FOR DD'S KITCHEN FOR $50 TODAY. NOT SURE IT HAS EVEN BEEN USED. NEIGHBORS RE-DOING THEIR KITCHEN & THEY BOT IT FROM TH FRIEND NEW AS THE FRIEND BOT THE HOUSE BUT WANTED SS APPIANCES. MY NEIGHBOR NEVER DID USE IT SO IT'S LIKE NEW. DD NEEDS ONE BADLY SO TOM DH WILL TAKE IT UP THERE & INSTALL FOR THEM. NOT SURE HOW THEY WILL GET RID OF THE OLD ONE BUT THINK THEY HAVE A RECYLE CENTER THERE THEY CAN TAKE IT TO. EVEYONE IS HAPPY ALL THE WAY AROUND.
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