Last Week's Thrifty Moves

Our Thanksgiving Day table

I had lunch and played pinochle with my girlfriends Sunday afternoon.  We usually each bring something so this time I made a fresh tossed green salad to take.  We had a wonderful time visiting and playing cards.

I did our grocery shopping on Tuesday and fortunately I didn’t need much.  I waited to go until quite late as the stores were crowded with shoppers getting their Thanksgiving Day groceries.  I picked up two packages of cream cheese, a tub of sour cream and a tub of cottage cheese for 99¢ each with a store coupon.  I also picked up lettuce, 2 cans of olives and three bags of chips.  I had a coupon for the chips.  Total spent $12.19!

I polished my work shoes and sprayed them with leather spray to protect them from the elements now that the snowy weather has arrived.

A friend gave us a loaf of pumpkin bread for the chickens she had made that was doughy in the center.  They really enjoyed their Thanksgiving day treat.  We also gave them a special salad I made up for them and some stale tortilla chips.  They had quite a feast.

Mmmmmmmm.

I baked a loaf of homemade French bread and a loaf of whole wheat bread.

Friday we went to our friends house to watch the Boise State /San Jose State football game.  I took ingredients to make egg rolls and some home brewed beer to share.

We enjoyed our Thanksgiving Day leftovers on Saturday.

I put on a big pot of beans to cook so I could make a batch of delicious homemade refried beans.  I put up four containers to freeze and then set aside enough to make up some beef and bean burritos to keep in the freezer for quick meals on days when our schedule gets tight.

These are the beans I purchased at the dollar store

I washed out a one gallon Ziploc bag to reuse.  I rinsed out an empty dish soap bottle and the residue that had accumulated on the cap giving me plenty of soapy water to wash a large load of dishes.  I also rinsed out the laundry detergent bottle adding that to the little bit of soap left which was enough to do a load of laundry.

I took my old computer, which is almost six years old, and desk upstairs to my youngest's bedroom and set it up for her.  I ran updates (it took forever) and got the internet on it so she now has full access to everything she needs to get her school work done.  Now she doesn't have to borrow her sister's or my laptop to do her homework.  She can also play her favorite games.

I composted coffee grounds, tea bags, onion skins and trimmings, garlic skins and egg shells.

I sold one dozen eggs.  Despite the recent cold snap the chickens still blessed us with 11 eggs.  We currently have 2 1/2 dozen eggs in the fridge.  Not too shabby.

How thrifty were you last week?