Last Week's Thrifty Moves

It was another wet and rainy week here in Boise.   Except for Thursday, which was sunny and hot, with temperatures nearing 90!  How crazy is that?!

First thing Sunday morning I put a batch of meat sauce in my slow cooker and let it cook on low all day knowing it was going to be another project filled day.  After a pancake breakfast we started a load of laundry and then we each headed off to finish our various projects.

The girls had some final clean up on the gutters and they also spring cleaned the front porch getting rid of cobwebs and a layer of winter grime.  It looks very nice.  I finished up some of the motorhome projects I had started the day before and then cleaned out the cabinets.

I moved some of our camping equipment into the motorhome and three boxes of stuff I had collected and was storing in the closet under our stairs for the retirement house.  I am literally shopping the house for additional items as well.  No point in buying things I already have.

I started making a first aid kit for the motorhome with items I picked up
mostly at Dollar Tree and a plastic container I had out in the garage

Monday I went back to work so I could get some rest - ha, ha.  My poor hands were so stiff and sore.  But before I left I put a huge pot roast in the slow cooker.  What a wonderful aroma to be greeted with when I came home.  I cut up the last of a bag of potatoes, an onion, the rest of a package of celery and six carrots to add to it.  An hour later dinner was served!

I stopped in at Fred Meyer to pick up something and found quite a few markdown items.  So I loaded up.

Tuesday I had to run to the post office as I needed stamps and didn't want to use my leftover Christmas stamps (I'm weird like that).  Afterward I swung by Albertson's to pick up two jars of mayonnaise for $1.99 each since it was the last day of the sale and we are on our last jar.  I also grabbed two tomatoes and a bag of baby spinach.

I cleared out the crisper drawer and made a nice big salad using up most of what we already had - the markdown greens, the last of the markdown snow peas, the last of the cauliflower and broccoli, a handful of baby carrots.  I then added some of the spinach and one of the tomatoes I bought.  My youngest made more homemade Ranch dressing.  She consumes it by the bucketful and puts it on nearly everything.

We heated up the leftover meat sauce and boiled up a new box of penne and invited a friend over for dinner.  It wasn't too shabby for a bunch of Tuesday night leftovers, if I do say so myself.

Not a bad haul

Thursday was our busiest day.  On the way home from work one of the companies nearby makes molding and had just filled up the "FREE WOOD" bin they have set up in their parking lot.  I grabbed the youngest and the truck and we headed on over to take a look.  We picked up quite a bit of molding and some boards for projects as well as board ends to burn in our firepot in the backyard.

Trader Joe's

My oldest had a robotics meeting so I decided to use that time to get some errands run before I had to pick her up.  First thing was to get the car washed and vacuumed out.  I was so happy to get all that road grime off the car after all of the rain we have had.  After the carwash we headed over to Trader Joes to pick up some fresh produce.

Dollar Tree

Albertson's

I did some bargain shopping after that.  First, I stopped into the dollar store to pick up some things on  my list for the motorhome and I took a quick tour of the grocery section.  Pop Tarts and vanilla wafers somehow made it into the basket.  My girls are so spoiled.  Then Albertsons for butter and clam chowder that were on sale.  Then back to BSU to pick up the kid from her meeting.

On the way home we stopped into ShopKo to return something I didn't need and to pick up a set of throw rugs on sale for $14.99.  When I paid for the rugs they handed me a voucher for $10 on my next visit, no minimum purchase required.  Score!

Saturday I decided I had better get myself back on track with the early morning grocery shopping.  I was seriously talking myself out of it when my oldest came downstairs and asked me if she could go with me.  Rather than sleep in (her favorite weekend task) she wanted to hang out with her mom!  Let's go!

Fred Meyer

We started out with a stop at the dollar store to pick up a few toiletries she needed and a couple items on my list for Laverne and then off to Fred Meyer to pick up a few items on my grocery list.  I found some more great markdowns in the produce department as well as some cream cheese.

I spent the rest of the day on motorhome projects.

My oldest made a batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies.  They were fantastic!  She is such a great little baker.

Our Friday freebies!

In all of my crisper drawer clearing out the chickens got quite a few kitchen scraps which always makes them very happy.  They loaded us up with eggs again last week.  I hardboiled half a dozen and made egg salad.

Teaser photo!
What on earth could I have planned for this?

I ordered a free Energy Savings Kit offered by the power company.  I'm excited to find out what is in it.  And heck, it's free!

I washed out a couple of ziploc bags to reuse.

How was your thrifty week?