2024 Frugal Friday File, December 20...

 

1.  Frugal Fail:  I am starting to freak out.  I went to the city today looking for a particular item.  Couldn't find it...rechecked the website...available for online order only.  So, of course, I did the only thing I could do under the circumstances.  I impulse shopped.  Found fabric for two baby quilts.  Do I have a baby needing a quilt?  Not yet, but with one grandson engaged, I figured it couldn't hurt to get started.  Plus I was watching quilting videos on YouTube while working on a gift last night.

2.  Frugal Fail:  Came home and ordered the particular item from Amazon making sure I ordered the one that had one-day shipping.  After I clicked "Place Order" it said it would be here in two days.  Oh well, I'm not gonna fret, it was only part of a gift and can be given later.  With my luck it will get caught up in the picket line anyway.

3.  Frugal Fail:  Ate out once and ordered in once this week.

4.  Frugally questionable:  I am having some nerve issue with my neck affecting my left hand.  I've had success with chiropractic care for this type of thing in the past, so I am on a plan to have treatment regularly for the next couple of months.  Could be frugal if I can avoid surgery.  

It is affecting my Christmas crafting and my typing.  I can't tell you how many times I have mis-typed in this post and had to correct.  My ring finger and pinkie are tingling, and weakness in grip.

5.  Frugal wins?  Working next week.  Still no haircut.  Needed 2 pizza boxes for a Christmas present...local Domino's gave me two unused boxes free of charge.  I made a decorative surround for the base of the Christmas tree by recycling an Amazon shipping box and some gift wrap; bonus...it will fold flat to store and reuse next year.

On the menu this week:

Saturday:  ???

Sunday:  Sunday family supper at Kasey & Beau's

Monday:  carry-out fried chicken

Tuesday:  out to our favorite Tex-Mex

Wednesday:  Chicken Curry w/ Rice

Thursday:  leftovers

Friday:  leftovers

2024 Frugal Friday File, December 13...

 

1.  The Christmas tree is still in excellent shape, and in working order.  I finished decorating it  with much-loved decorations; no purchases necessary.

2.  I've made our Christmas cards from supplies on hand.  I spent today finishing them up.  Even had enough envelopes. They will go out in tomorrow's mail.

3.  We had a car accident this week.  Carey was driving, and apparently we were in the blind spot of the driver on our left.  That driver began pulling into our lane and there was a minor collision and we were forced off the road.

    All things considered, this made the frugal list because it wasn't as bad as it could have been.  Nobody is hurt, and the car is still drivable (after purchasing a new rear passenger-side tire).  Carey has gone over it with a fine-toothed comb, and he's sure there is nothing more than a tiny bit of cosmetic damage, which we can live with as the car is ten years old.

4.  I washed my makeup brushes this week.  They have lasted forever, and are still in great shape.  

5.  I'm not sure when I had my last haircut.  

On the menu this week:

Saturday:  Ham, Squash Casserole, Green Beans

Sunday:  Sunday Family Supper @ Kasey & Beau's

Monday:  Lunch out, skipped supper

Tuesday:  Pasta w/ Shrimp

Wednesday:  out for burgers

Thursday:  15 Bean Soup w/ Cornbread

Friday:  Omelettes

**designates meatless meal

What I'm reading Wednesday...

The Friday Afternoon Club by Griffin Dunne

In general, I have not enjoyed very many memoirs that authors produce about their own families, even when I have loved their other works.  

This one is a pleasant surprise for me.  Mr. Dunne's writing style is very entertaining and is very well done.

I was wondering why, with my past experiences, I put this on reserve at the library.  I believe I had watched the documentary on Joan Didion (Mr. Dunne's aunt, and he directed the documentary), and I enjoyed it.  So if that is the reason, then I feel pretty safe recommending both the book and the documentary.

I'm about 1/3 of the way through the book.

 

2024 Frugal Friday File, November 29...

1.  Worked three days this week.

2.  Though I have made some Amazon purchases lately, they've not been impulse purchases because of Black Friday pricing.  I've bought some Christmas gifts.  I've bought a craft supply to make Christmas gifts that I couldn't find elsewhere. 

I did notice that the printer I bought earlier in the year was 40% off for Black Friday, so I sent its link to a friend who needs a printer and had discussed mine's capabilities with me several times.  Didn't save myself any money, but I am happy to help a friend save some.

3.  Bought T-shirts at Goodwill.  Made sure all the tags were the color of the day to get them for half price.  Will use them to make T-shirt yarn to make a Christmas gift.

4.  The end of fall semester is almost over, and the girls will be home from school.  They have contacted their former place of employment about working during the holiday, but weren't able to get on the schedule.  Hopefully I can hire them to help me get some tasks done around the house where young muscle will get needed things done.

5.  The only thing Kasey asked me to contribute to the Thanksgiving feast was a Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie for which I had all the ingredients on hand.  

On the menu this week:

Saturday:  C: leftovers, me: skipped supper

Sunday:  out for Chinese food

Monday:  homemade pizza

Tuesday:  leftovers

Wednesday:  pot pies

Thursday:  Thanksgiving feast at Kasey and Beau's

Friday:  Ham or turkey, Macaroni & Cheese, veg

The monster in the machine...

Blogger will not upload my photo.

That is a problem for another day. 

I 'think' the email issue is figured out.  I have lost count of how many techs I have spoken to.  The last one spent at least an hour trying to figure it out.  He said that my email was working fine, but that it was a problem with Google.  I had tried to relog into Google, but it insisted on sending a code to my email address on file...you guessed it, that email wouldn't go through to my inbox.  A wicked, WICKED circle of doo-doo.  (Doo-doo is apparently a technical term, as I once had a gastroenterologist use it in response to my question to him about my mother's colonoscopy scans.  I then asked him how many years he attended school to use such big words.  I mean seriously did I look like such a rube that I wouldn't understand if he said fecal matter?)

But I digress.

I finally told the tech at my email service to enter a note on my 'ticket' that customer went into hysterics and asked to please end the call, because her head was exploding as I cunningly let my voice crack with the sound of impending tears.  He was appropriately sympathetic, and did as I asked.

After a short cooling off period, I went back to Google and requested the sign in code be sent to my phone, and miracle of miracles it somehow worked.  It previously had NOT worked because I had to be signed in for my phone to receive new messages also.

Anyway, I am still not sure what I did wrong, or right, or when it will all happen again.  At least maybe I will feel a little better when I enter my new password, because it includes a bad work, and it's not DOO-DOO!

2024 Frugal Friday File, Nov 22...

 

1.  Grocery order this week was made with an eye for the future.  'Tis the season for turkey, and my receipt shows that I paid $2.17 for a 14.5 pound frozen turkey.  It went straight into our freezer to be roasted at a later date, for sandwiches, soups, and casseroles.  Hams were also on special, so splurged on one to go with my homemade mac & cheese, and then more sandwiches and soups.  Large package of boneless beef rib meat was cubed by me, then half went into a slow cooker beef stew, and the other half was vacuum sealed and put in freezer for another stew later.

    This week's grocery order total was way higher than usual, but the proteins purchased will stretch much further than just one week of meals.  The high total also included the purchase of mixed nuts and other snack items which made a big batch of trail mix, which I packaged into grab-and-go individual servings.  We frequently skip lunch, and just grab a high protein snack instead.

2.  Using the same holiday decorations collected over a lifetime.  Will make an attempt (again) to  downsize the collection by donating some.  

3.  The trip was an inexpensive one aside from transportation (which was budgeted and paid for months ago).  We entertained ourselves with our craft supplies (I took my own with me), and talking.    My friend doesn't claim to be a good cook, but she IS.  The first night I was there she made a delicious meatloaf dinner, and since meatloaf sandwiches are one of my favorite things ever (and I discovered they are one of hers as well), we ate those on other days, along with crackers and cheese, pumpkin scones, and other treats I know I'm forgetting.  She made some shrimp tacos one evening when her family came over; SO good.  I have already made those for Carey since I've been home.

4.  We dropped off our recycling, and got our DQ treat.  Rudy loves recycling trips and treats!  Fun for the whole family, and cheap as "dates" go.  :)

5.  I'm having a challenge with my e-mail.  Almost nothing is coming into my inbox.  I've called our provider each of the past two days.  I've done what they suggested.  It is still not accepting most e-mails.  Very frustrating.  I've had the same email account for 25 years, and am not excited about having to change.  Is this frugal?  Meh.  Not really, but it was on my mind.  And if anyone leaves a comment, I won't get an email reminder to publish the comment.  :(

On the menu this week:

Saturday:  Homecooked meal from freezer

Sunday:  Family Supper at Kasey & Beau's

Monday:  me: Hot & Sour Soup, C: pot pie

Tuesday:  Shrimp Tacos

Wednesday:  Honey Roasted Veg & Sausage sheet-pan meal

Thursday:  Beef Stew and Cornbread

Friday:  leftovers

**designates meatless meal

A lovely visit and back home...

 

I was gone last week to visit my friend Debbie.  We laughed, and made cards, and laughed, and ate, and laughed.  I was able to attend a book group with her, and also tour the inside of their beautiful Orthodox Church.  

The photo above is of me and her cat...talk about a balancing act!  I bent over to get some stamp supplies out of my case, and he jumped up on my shoulders.  :)  I would have shown a photo of Debbie and I together, but since I didn't ask permission, I figured I'd stick with the cat.

We worked on Christmas cards.  I made five or so prototypes, but haven't settled on one that I will mass produce to send out.  Debbie is aiming to make one hundred cards to mail out!  I will be making well less than that (if I get them done at all).  I've got to decide and get busy, as I want to mail them the end of November.

I made my menu for the week, and ordered and picked up my groceries.  The tab was high, but there are planned overs included into the menu plan, so will restock the freezer with homecooked meals.   My order included a turkey since they were on sale; it is in the freezer to use later.  I also bought a large package of beef boneless shoulder ribs, which I cubed for stew meat.  I put half into the crock pot with vegetables, and at six o'clock tonight I will be thanking myself for the supper already being done.  The other half of the cubed meat I vacuum sealed and put in the freezer for another future meal.

The girls will be home this weekend, and we will be making pizza together.  They are both good cooks, but haven't tried their hand at pizza dough yet, so I thought I'd share the quick and easy method I've been using for awhile now.

I put up the Christmas tree on Tuesday.  I don't like to do it before Thanksgiving, but with Thanksgiving late this year, and me having to work all of Thanksgiving week, I wanted to get it done.  I haven't added the ornaments yet, but hoping to later today.  I have presents to wrap and get under it too.

So that's what I've been doing.  How 'bout you?