Successes:
1. Low-spend holiday. Partly because without a car I didn't get out to shop; partly because the specter of having to buy a new vehicle kept me from wanting to shop. Adults and teens got some of the $50 Amazon gift cards purchased with credit card reward points, wrapped with small gifts of candy or handmade item. Tweens got gifts purchased well before holidays. Zero charged, so no bills looming.
3. I noticed that our monthly cable/phone/internet bill went up by $13+. I called our rural telephone cooperative to renegotiate price. They offered me $10 off per month. I held out, and they offered to lower the bill by $15 per month...so slightly lower than we have been paying for the past year.
4. Continued mild weather should make for another low electric bill.
5. Cooking from pantry and fridge; cooking once to eat twice by putting extra dinner in freezer; also freezing individual servings of leftovers for hubs to take to work.
Keep Tryings:
1. We finally got confirmation that our car was deemed a total loss. We have taken care of required signatures and received and deposited check. Now we begin the hunt for a replacement which I just can't psych myself up for. :(
2. I've had to turn down several days of work due to not having transportation.
Frugal From the Kitchen This Week:
Saturday: roasted chicken, diy rice-a-roni, broccoli
Sunday: Chicken Pot Pie for lunch, sandwiches for supper
Monday: family Christmas dinner at Kasey's (shrimp gumbo)
Tuesday: Salisbury steak, noodles & gravy, corn
Wednesday: roast, dumplings/gravy, green beans
Thursday: leftovers
Friday: chili
(*not-frugal takeout or dinner out)
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I always have liked your frugal posts, even when I can't try them out. It's your call if you want to try something different. I am so sorry about your car, I can't imagine having to replace my old van.
ReplyDeleteIt sure has kept me thinking about it.
DeletePlease please don't quit; your posts inspire me and I clearly have to work on this harder in 2017; I need your ideas.
ReplyDeleteBTW, how do you make DIY Rice-A-Roni? Is it still a San Francisco treat?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the affirmation, Other Kathleen. I'll give it some more thought.
DeleteHere's the link to the recipe for the DIY Rice-A-Roni mix: https://fabulesslyfrugal.com/diy-rice-a-roni-mix-recipe/
I love your frugal friday posts they make me think.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I’ve decided to keep doing them this year as well. They make me think twice as I am spending or wanting to.
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