2024 Frugal Friday File, Sept 27...

1.  Made a menu for the week and grocery order.

2.  Made another batch of homemade dog food for Rudy, and I had all the ingredients in the pantry and freezer, so no outlay this time.

3.  Reserved two library books from the list of their recent acquisitions.  I've had my eye on both of these, so was happy to get on the list early.

4.  Carey got home from a baseball road trip with his sister and brother-in-law.  (You may have wondered why I was cleaning out the garage without his help.  I like to do these clean-out projects on my own when he's not around, so was happy he had this trip coming up.  And it was a surprise for him when he got home.)  They had a great time, and attended games in Kansas City, St. Louis, and Chicago.  They split the gasoline, game tickets, meals, etc. three ways.  Sis and b-i-l have a new hybrid car that they wanted to take on the road, so mileage was not horrible.

5.  Worked two days.  Money in.

On the menu this week:

Saturday:  Takeout 

Sunday:  Takeout

Monday:  Fried Rice

Tuesday:  Chicken Burrito Bowls

Wednesday: Pork Chop, Scalloped Potatoes, Squash

Thursday:  leftovers

Friday:  pot pies

**designates meatless meal

What I'm STILL reading Wednesday...

 

Hild by Nicola Griffith

OMG this is taking forever!  I listen to the Audible version, then move back to my Kindle, and trust it to sync.  I read for a looooooong while, then realize that I've already heard what I'm reading.  Which I guess it's okay that I'm re-reading, because obviously listening to Audible version while I'm working meant I was too distracted by the job being done to pay attention.  So I'm plugging along.

Honestly, I'm not loving it, but I'm almost 3/4 through it and hate to stop now.  It has been keeping me company while I'm recovering from the garage clean out.  THAT was incredibly hard on my body.  Sore muscles and joints are slowing me down, and I'm still doing things like laundering found items (some to keep and some to donate) and finding homes for things that I want to use in the house.   Working also for a paycheck on Th/Fr and then Mo/Tu/Wed.  I will get back to a follow up on the garage results, but, you know, I also have a book to finish.

And did I mention this book is 700+ pages?  Oh, I did?  Well, okay.

2024 Frugal Friday File, September 20...

 

1.  It hasn't been a particularly thrifty week.  I've picked up takeout rather than cooking after days spent sweating in the garage.  I haven't weighed lately, but there should be about a stone of water weight lost due to the sweat of my brow (and neck, shoulders, back, and legs) over the past week.

2.  Free shredding:  I went through thirty years of my parents' financial paperwork (that has filled a 30 gallon storage bin for twenty-five years without being opened).  It was so heavy it could not be moved by me.  I had to sit down beside it where it was and just go through it.  It took two full afternoons.  I don't know that it needed to be shredded...all of the bank accounts have been closed for years, and the owners of the Social Security numbers have been deceased for decades...but I just couldn't put it in the trash.  For one thing, we would not have had room for our household trash if it went into our weekly pick up; also I think there is a weight limit for our pick up which would have been gone over.  I removed things like documents from things like envelopes, and put everything I knew was harmless into the trash.  Anything with personal info, etc. went into bags.  I took those to my old office, and was allowed to put them in their locked bins which a shredding service picks up and shreds on site.  The office never comes close to filling their bins, and we've accepted documents for shredding from clients over the years.  That felt SO good to get that done and gone!  

I did keep maybe a half dozen documents, some of which will be shredded at home at a later time.  I just couldn't do it at present.  My parents rarely put things in writing unless work related.  Seeing their signatures exactly as I remember them just makes me feel a little emotional.

3.  Free drop-off unloading:  So far I have taken two FULL carloads (SUV) to Goodwill, and the third load is ready to be  Ioaded.  I could have had a garage sale, but in past experience, they are a lot of work for very little reward.  I have a busy couple of months coming up, and I just want this stuff GONE!  I suppose I could ask Kasey to list a few things on FB Marketplace or Nextdoor, but I haven't come across anything yet that even made me think about doing that.

4.  Not so free entertainment:  I've been listening to the Audible book I wrote about previously.  I listened all Wednesday afternoon...all Thursday afternoon...in the bathtub at night...and some Friday morning.    I still have twelve hours of listening to go (even though the speed setting has been set to an accelerated speed).  SO glad to have taken this method of keeping myself working and 'reading' at the same time.

5.  Free help:  Friday Jared helped me by sweeping cobwebs off of everything before I loaded it into the car.  He is kind and patient and does whatever I ask.  Today (Saturday) his sister {Kasey) came over and she is a MEAN OVERLORD!  She has worked me non-stop.  She has given me a short break presently, then she is coming back and assures me we WILL be getting done tonight!  Help!  (But seriously, we have made amazing progress that would not have been accomplished without her.  Now I will post this before she comes back and chains me up again to finish sorting donations from keeps.  

I have brought a few things in the house to find a place for...some old towels and bedspreads that will be washed before taking them to the animal shelter....and also some framed artwork and photos.  I have been pretty ruthless about donations and discards.  I may make my goal of not over filling the shelf I purchased for the garage.

On the menu this past week:

Saturday:  Omelette

Sunday:  Sunday family supper at Kasey & Beau's

Monday:  Late takeout lunch, skipped supper

Tuesday:  Late takeout lunch, skipped supper

Wednesday:  Late takeout lunch, skipped supper

Thursday:  Late takeout lunch, skipped supper

Friday:  Late takeout lunch, skipped supper

**designates meatless meal

What I'm reading Wednesday...

Hild by Nicola Griffith

The setting is 7th century Britain.  I bought the ebook for $1.99 awhile back.  I read for a couple of days, and only racked up 8% according to my Kindle reading progress.  The names and other words in Old English are a stumbling block for me.  Oh, and did I mention that it is over 700 pages long?

Since I'm working in the garage this week, I sprung for a month of Audible.  (I previously used the free 30-day subscription years ago, and apparently that is a one-time offer.)  I also bought the audible version of the book since it wasn't on their free-credit list.  Those two things are a chunk of my entertainment budget for the month, but I cut myself some slack since it will keep me working in the garage more than if I was wanting to come inside to the A/C and read.  Plus having it narrated should do away with my struggle with the Old English.

Garage...found some surprises...

So far I have found...

My original Ken and Barbie!  I gave all of their wardrobes to a niece along with Midge and Skipper, etc.  I thought these went along with the rest, but I guess not.  

Barbie is wearing a classic little vintage handmade number, but Ken appears to have become a nudist in his dotage.

Three hanging bags of jewelry.  Lots of my mom's. Lots from the 80s (buh-bye!)  Most will go, but I'm waiting to go through later.

But I was happy to find these special ones.  The pendant of the one on the left was my high-school-graduation gift from my first grade teacher.💝  I added the cord and beads.  I'll be taking the pendant off, shine it up, and put it on a chain.

The two on the right are hand carvings by the father of a dear friend.  He was a sweet and talented man.

These are crocheted bead necklaces.  My mother made the one on the right.  The left and middle ones were given to me by a former brother-in-law.  I believe he said his grandmother made them.  My impression of them from the beads themselves used in the strands is that they could be from the 1920s or 30s.  I have texted my niece a photo and stated my intent to give them to her.  I also asked her to talk to her father about who exactly made them and when (if he knows) so she has that information.

This little pin measures about one inch square.  I'm pretty sure it was a birthday gift to my mother since she was born on St. Patrick's Day.  I've always loved it...even though it is a four-leaf clover and not a shamrock.

Garage clean out...

 

This is my parking spot in our garage.  I have been parking outside for years because of this mess.  Carey parks in his spot, and in bad weather he moves my car into his workshop, but my clutter remains where I should be parking my car.

A lot of these things are from my mother's house.  When we lived in the country, we had storage buildings it could stay out of sight and out of mind.  When we moved here, we rented storage for awhile...too long.  Carey finally put it where he thought I would have to deal with it.    Over the years I have let go of some things, but as you can see there's a lot I haven't.  This week I am making another go of it...GO being the operative word here.

I bought a metal shelving unit.  I am determined to ONLY keep what will fit on the shelves.  I spent today assembling them and putting them into place (though the unit rolls, and Carey can move it later if he wants to).  I moved some chairs and some other large-ish things from the edges of the stash;  I am ready to let them go, so I dusted them off and they will be taken to Goodwill.

It was in the high 90s again today, and will be in the mid 90s for the rest of the week (forecast to go down by about 1 degree each day).  I know, I know, my mojo shows up at very unexpected times.  I am taking breaks often, and staying hydrated.

If I find anything interesting, I'll share.  If I can park inside by the end of the week (fingers crossed), I'll share that too.

2024 Frugal Friday File, September 13...

 

1.  I worked one day this week.  I was supposed to work two, but the elevator was out on Monday, and I (and my knees) just didn't feel up to making several trips up and down the stairs through the day, and my boss took pity on me.  The second day the techs fixed it before lunch, so I just had to contend with one trip up the stairs.

2.  I rebooked flight reservations to take the trip that I had to cancel in May.  I had been able to cancel the first trip with no penalties, prices were about the same when I rebooked, and the flight schedule is much more to my liking than the first booking.  So excited to see my friend!

3.  I finished a book that was purchased at $1.99 for Kindle a year ago.  I'm terrible about forgetting about digital books.  Out of sight, out of mind.  I'm trying to remember to check my backlog before choosing something to read.

4.  I managed to convince Carey to try a flavor of store-brand ice cream.  He ONLY wants Blue Bell, but I saw a flavor of the store brand that I knew he couldn't resist trying.  I thought it was fine.  He said it was 'almost' fine, but has a different texture.  The store has drastically cut back on the number of flavors of Blue Bell they carry, and I am getting bored with the ones available.  The store brand offers some different flavors, a lower price per half gallon, AND earning 5% back on its price on the store's credit card.

5.  I checked subscriptions to make sure I'm not paying for something we are no longer using.

On the menu this week:

Saturday:  ?

Sunday:  Sunday family supper at Kasey & Beau's

Monday:  subscription meal that has been in the freezer, and a salad

Tuesday:  A homecooked meal from the freezer

Wednesday:  ?

Thursday:  Dinner out with family

Friday:  Spanish Rice

**designates meatless meal

What I'm reading Wednesday...

 

Blood & Ink by Joe Pompeo

I've had this one on my Kindle for quite awhile.  I'm trying to read the ones that have been lingering.  I originally bought it because a friend thought it sounded like something I'd like.  I put it on my Amazon book wish list, and eventually it went on sale for a dollar or two.

It's not bad, but I don't love it.  It follows the case in the early 1920s, of an Episcopal priest and one of his church members who were shot dead on a lovers' lane.  The tabloid newspapers were brand new to the media, and they and the other newspapers kept reporters on the case continually.

2024 Frugal Friday File, September 6...

 

1.  I have worked four (4!) days this week.  It gets harder every time to get up early and get ready.  :)  But still, it's money in.

2.  This week exhausted me (insomnia played a big part in that), and no way did I feel able to cook at the end of the day.  Thankful for the forethought of homecooked meals in the freezer.

3.  No shopping happened this week (online or otherwise).

4.  Another week has gone by without needing to refill the car's gas tank.

5.  I realized that something I have been stressing the importance of to my grandchildren could be accomplished if I made it my birthday wish!  I texted my daughter and granddaughters, telling them that the only gift I wanted from them was that the girls come home from college at the end of their classes that week, and as it falls during early voting, that we go as a group and all vote together!  They all agreed, and so we have a plan!  

I clearly remember the first time I voted in a presidential election, and it will mean a lot to me to be part of the grandgirls' memories of the first time they vote.  The boys/men can come with us if they like, but frankly if they don't want to that would be fine with me, because I don't want my vote cancelled out as quick as I cast it.  We are a bipartisan family.  :)

On the menu this week:

Saturday:  family supper at Kasey & Beau's

Sunday:  pot pies

Monday:  grazed the fridge

Tuesday:  takeout burgers

Wednesday:  homemade meal from the freezer

Thursday:  homemade meal from the freezer

Friday:  homemade meal from the freezer

**designates meatless meal

Fall decor...

A friend told me the other day that she was going to put out her fall decor and hope it would bring some cooler weather...or at least fool our minds into feeling cooler?

This weekend I put out this autumn leaves arrangement, and our framed pumpkin jigsaw puzzle  went on the mantle.

Today our high temperature was only 86°, and now after dark it's in the 70s!  That is the earliest little cool front we've had in my memory.  Usually it is around September 20.

I think I have a new Labor Day tradition!  :)

PS:  I just texted my friend to tell her it worked for me.  She admitted that she had not followed through on decorating, but they had cooler weather too.  Of course, she's in Colorado, and I'm in South Texas, so I think her cooler temps might have been location, but mine was definitely the decor!  LOL

 

What I'm reading Wednesday...

 

Standing Dead - Timber Creek K-9 Mystery #8

by Margaret Mizushima

This is the last book in this series...so far...but the newest one will be out in October, so thought I could read this one without fear that I might be saying goodbye to the characters for a long while.