Monday, October 31, 2016

Last Week's Thrifty Moves


Happy Halloween!

Sunday proved to be a very busy day for me.  Since we had spent all of the day before at marching band competition I had to make up for lost time.  I began by getting both bread machines busy whipping up some whole wheat bread dough so I could get four loaves of bread baked.


I pulled a ham bone out of the freezer and put it in my slow cooker with some hot water and let it cook on high all day to make soup broth.  I removed the meat from the bone for soup too.  I allowed the broth to cool overnight in the refrigerator so I could remove the fat before I placed it in containers to put away in the freezer.  Now I have plenty of delicious ham broth to make soups and beans.


I used leftover applesauce in the refrigerator to make a delicious loaf of Applesauce Bread.  We enjoyed it for breakfast and snacks throughout the week.  The jar was odd shaped and difficult to scrape out so I poured the milk used in the recipe into the jar first and shook it well to get the rest of the applesauce out of it.


I have been seriously wanting a pumpkin pie.  I could easily eat pumpkin pie year round so I decided to make my grandma's No Crust Pumpkin Pie to satisfy my little craving.  I had frozen whipped topping in the freezer and everything I needed in the pantry to make this pie.  It was a slice of heaven!  Ha, ha.


Monday evening a storm blew in and we got a good drenching.  Much needed and appreciated.

I used a 75¢ coupon to purchase two packs of gum on sale for $1.00 each making them only 62¢ each.  I added them to my stash of stocking stuffers.


Tuesday evening the youngest and I loaded all of our glass into the back of the truck and took it to the recycling bin in the Albertson's parking lot.  After dropping that off we went inside to pick up a few items on sale to add to my pantry stash for holiday baking.  I also picked up two more pounds of butter and another big jar of peanut butter on sale for $5 and two packages of sausages marked down at 50% OFF.  That concluded our October grocery shopping quite nicely.

Wednesday we headed off to the high school after dinner for a wonderful band concert my oldest was in.  The Treasure Valley Concert Band was also part of the show.  It was a fabulous evening of entertainment at no cost to us.

This pretty witch all dressed up for a school dance

I dropped off two bills saving me the cost of postage.  One was the orthodontist, because we were there for an appointment, and the other was the water bill as it was pretty much on our way home one day.

I washed and reused several Ziploc bags.


I cut the bottom off of a tube of face cream and managed to use what was left inside all week.  I used a binder clip from my desk to help hold it closed so it didn't dry out.  I still have quite a bit left for this week as well.

I love the little derby hat on the gin

I picked up my two bottles of liquor this month to re-stock the empty cabinet for the holidays.  Now I am up to four bottles - Vodka, Gin, Brandy, Spiced Rum.  Next month I will pick up two more and again in December I'd like to as well.  I am very much looking forward to having little cocktail parties.


They were having a big sale at JC Penney.  I found winter dress coats for my daughters on sale for $26.99 and $32.99.  They didn't need new coats but I felt they should have an extra one, plus when formally dressed for orchestra and band concerts or dressed up for school dances these coats will be very nice to wear.  I put them on my JC Penney card and will pay it off next month.


While at the mall I treated my oldest daughter to lunch at Sizzler for our Mommy/Daughter date before taking her to do some birthday and Christmas shopping for her sister.  We had such a nice time together.

How was your thrifty week?



Friday, October 28, 2016

We Have A Winner!!!





Amy A.
Clarks Summit, PA

Congratulations Amy!  You are the big winner of that lovely set of holiday inspired hanging dish towels.  I hope you enjoy them.

Thank you so much to all of you wonderful readers that entered to win the giveaway.  I hope to have some more fun giveaways in the future.  

It is always fun to win stuff!



My Grocery Budget - September Update


This month started out amazing when I found coupons in my mailbox from Winco for free groceries.  Then we got the ones from our neighbor and I was beyond just a little happy.  Needless to say the first half of the month didn't see me spending much money at the grocery store at all.  Yaaay.


I waited until the middle of the month before I did any major grocery shopping and really only bought items on sale and markdown.  It is really nice when we are so well stocked that all I really need is a few fresh produce items and milk so I can take advantage and stock up on sales items which is exactly what we did.  Almost everything I bought this month was either on sale or marked down for clearance.  Or better yet, FREE!

Free eggs, free bacon, free orange juice & free English muffins
I've been concentrating on restocking the baking box in anticipation of the holidays.  We've added M & Ms, baking chips, coconut and powdered sugar to it, plus vegetable oil, butter (in the freezer), evaporated milk, sugar and flour to the pantry.


On the spur of the moment I got a bug to make apple butter.  I hadn't made any in years and it sounded so good.  I picked up the apples at a local fruit stand and used sugar and spices I already had on hand.  I was really pleased when Albertson's ran a coupon in their ad for sugar so I could replace what I used and add an extra bag for the holiday baking.


My non-food items included the usual cat food and litter.  I stocked up on toilet paper, which was on sale at Albertson's, and enough fabric softener to see us through winter at the dollar store.  I bought a large bottle of dish soap on sale and with a coupon too.  I spent a total of $35.45 of my $25.00 budget so I was definitely over budget this month on non food items.  I've been under enough times, however that it was well covered.


I was extra careful not to get carried away with all the great buys I've been seeing, which would have been really easy to do, and stuck to my $150.oo budget.  I came in just under and our pantry is stuffed right now.  I know with growing teenagers it won't stay that way for long, but for now it is really nice.


Here is the list of food I bought.  The items highlighted in red are my stock up items:

Groceries
 $$$
Smoked sausage
           3.89
Sale
Milk - 1 gal
           1.84
Sale
English muffins (2)
 FREE
Store Coupon
Bacon (2)
 FREE
Store Coupon
Eggs - 1 doz (2)
 FREE
Store Coupon
Bratwurst
           2.50
Markdown
Steak
           3.71
Markdown
English muffins (2)
 FREE
Store Coupon
Bacon (2)
 FREE
Store Coupon
Eggs - 1 doz (2)
 FREE
Store Coupon
Orange juice - 59oz. (4)
 FREE
Store Coupon
Flour - 20#
           5.96
Coconut
           1.42
Sale
Non stick pan spray
           1.68
Sale
Onions
           1.26
Sale
Tomatoes
           0.46
Sale
Lettuce
           0.98
Sale
Cole slaw mix
           0.98
Sale
Ground turkey - 1# (3)
           5.87
Markdown/Coupon
Summer sausage
           3.99
Sale
All Bran
           3.99
Coupon
Shredded wheat
           1.99
Sale
Cornflakes
           1.88
M&Ms (2)
           3.50
Store Coupon/Coupon
Sour cream
           0.85
Sale/Coupon
Tea
           2.24
Sale/Coupon
Tortilla chips
           0.60
Sale/Coupon
Potato chips
           1.19
Sale/Coupon
Bananas
           1.33
Apples - 8#
           8.00
Fruit Stand
Bell pepper
           0.69
Fruit Stand
Avocado (2)
           1.00
Fruit Stand
Clam chowder (8)
           5.92
Sale/Coupon
Frosting (2)
           1.98
Sale
Potatoes (8)
           5.52
Store Coupon
Pasta (6)
           2.94
Store Coupon
Noodles cups (12)
           2.40
Store Coupon
Cheddar - 2#
           5.00
Markdown
Tortilla chips (2)
           1.76
Sale
Potato chips
           1.56
Sale
Veggie tray
           5.99
Coupon
Spinach
           1.54
Coupon
Salad
           0.99
Markdown
Broccoli
           0.99
Markdown
Guacamole
           0.99
Markdown
Strawberries
           1.50
Sale
Clam chowder (4)
           2.96
Store Coupon/Coupon
Enchilada sauce
           1.67
Sale
Bananas
           1.03
Cream cheese (2)
           1.36
Sale/Coupon
Milk - 1/2 gal (3)
           2.37
Sale
Ham
           1.99
Sale
Turkey
           1.99
Sale
Bologna
           1.00
Sale
Salami
           1.00
Sale
Pudding cups (3)
           2.64
Sale
Spanish cupcakes - 6ct (4)
           1.16
Markdown
Balsamic vinegar (2)
           2.74
Sale
Sugar - 4# (2)
           3.38
Store Coupon
Baking chips (2)
           3.98
Store Coupon
Butter (2)
           4.98
Store Coupon
Peanut butter
           5.00
Sale
Sausages (2)
           5.00
Markdown
Total
 $     145.13

$145.13 ÷ 31 days ÷3 people = $1.56 per person per day!


Did you stock up on anything this month?  Any super deals?  Are you already squirreling things away for the holidays like I am?

This budget month runs from October 1 through October 31.




Thursday, October 27, 2016

Spring Cleaning Completed


I was able to finish up my semi-annual spring cleaning here at our humble abode.  I had started in the living room and dining room a few weeks ago before moving on to bedrooms and bathrooms.  The laundry room got a good cleaning too.

Along the way we de-cluttered and made sure we weren't getting back into old habits of collecting items we didn't need or use.  I was very happy to see we have been really good about staying on top of things.  I sent some stuff out to the recycle bin but I don't have anything to donate or toss.  How about that?

I need to refill that cookie jar

Spring cleaning the kitchen is always a chore as it sees a lot of activity.  I started on it a couple of weeks ago taking it in sections washing cabinets, straightening and organizing drawers and cupboards as I went along.

Saturday, before we headed off to marching band competition, I got up early determined to get this chore completed.  I started by cleaning and re-organizing the pantry and the freezer on the refrigerator.

Love this pantry!

I had already done inside and outside of the refrigerator as well as the walls around it and the floor underneath.  I had also done the stove inside and out as well as around and underneath.  Both are yucky chores.  I did the microwave inside and out last Friday before I went to work.

All clean and organized

I took a few things out to the recycle bin then came back in and took everything off of the counters on one side of the kitchen.  I scrubbed up the counters, backsplashes and walls and then did the same thing on the other side.  Lastly, I tackled the range hood over the stove.

I love a working kitchen with clean and shiny surfaces

I am happy to report my crazy repair to the backsplash behind the sink is holding up very well.  And I have to say my favorite home improvement project I've done so far this year is definitely the overhaul of the cabinet under the sink.  So much nicer and much, much easier to keep clean.  It has stayed nice and neat ever since my daughter and I finished that.  I love it under there.

Squeaky clean microwave

With the kitchen all cleaned up it didn’t take me long to get back in there and start cooking and baking.  Something about a super clean kitchen just makes it so nice to cook and bake.  I get really motivated.


How often do you deep clean the rooms in your house?



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