Showing posts with label Frugal Friday File. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Frugal Friday File. Show all posts

Friday, December 19, 2025

2025 Frugal Friday File, December 19...

1.  Absolutely nothing frugal happening around here.

2.  Absolutely nothing frugal happening around here.

3.  Absolutely nothing frugal happening around here.

4.  Absolutely nothing frugal happening around here.

5.  Absolutely nothing frugal happening around here.

What we ate this past week:

Saturday:  Saturday family supper at Kasey & Beau's

Sunday:  Chili

Monday:  Chicken Curry w/ Rice (which did NOT boil over)

Tuesday:  Enchilada Casserole (using leftover chili)

Wednesday:  takeout burgers

Thursday:  leftovers

Friday:  grazed

**designates meatless meal

Friday, December 12, 2025

2025 Frugal Friday File, December 12...

 

I'm not going to kid you, the past month or so has not been very frugal (hence I missed a couple of Frugal Friday File posts).  Holidays, extra gasoline used, wedding duds, additions to fabric collection, etc.  But moving on...

1.  In another effort to use up what was in the fridge, I threw together some random ingredients for supper last night.  A head of cabbage, some smoked  sausage, and some carrots and beets from the garden (each of which were oddly shaped and stunted...as in the beets were the size of radishes 😂).  It would have been fine, if I hadn't over salted it, and scorched it a tiny bit.  But it was relatively healthy, frugal, and filling.  

Carey reminded me that excess salt is not a friend to my inner ears.

2.  Making a menu and grocery list.  Adding in edible gift ingredients and cookie exchange ingredients.

3.  Making a batch of Rudy food today.

4.  Switched over to thick, cozy, flannel sheets for the winter.  They are the thick/chunky flannel ones that we have had for years and will probably last forever.

5.  Our tree has been dressed with sentimental fragile ornaments; I still have small handmade and/or non-breakable ornaments to add to it before it is done.  Kasey wanted the small collection of snow village buildings and accessories, so I dropped two medium bins containing it off to live at her house. I can still enjoy seeing it at their house, but I'm happy to let her set it up, repack, and store it.  :)   I recently weeded out the decorations that weren't sentimental or hadn't been used for awhile intending to donate them.  Before I took it to Goodwill, Bobby (#1 grandson) stopped by and was happy to take it all home to use at his apartment...a large bin of garlands, ribbon, wreath and other assorted decorations went home with him (no backsies!)  I could probably pare it down more, but I'm happy with the space I've gained. 

Snow village in its new home.

What we ate this past week:

Saturday:  family supper at Kasey & Beau's

Sunday:   leftovers

Monday:  pot pies

Tuesday:  takeout sandwiches

Wednesday:  burgers out

Thursday:  Cabbage Sausage Skillet

Friday:  Breakfast for Supper

**designates meatless mealS

Friday, November 14, 2025

2025 Frugal Friday File, November 14...

 

1.  Reading two library books, and picking another one up tomorrow.

2.  Went to the city today for book club.  I was going to stop by The Container Store on my way home, but I talked myself out of it.  Ditto for Dollar Tree...I only needed toothpaste, and I can get buy for at least another week or two.

3.  I did stop on my way home from the city and got a Coke from Sonic.  It was their happy hour, so it was half price.

4.  Ordered groceries, and though I wanted to pick them up earlier rather than later, the earlier  time had a fee of $4.95, so I went at the earliest time with no fee.

5.  Paid bills on time, and paid credit card in full as I do every month so no interest accrues.  I haven't done any grocery shopping for Thanksgiving, but I do have a nice big bag of dried and crumbled cornbread bagged and in the freezer for the dressing/stuffing.  I've saved water by delaying laundry for another day or two (or three).


What we ate this past week:

Saturday:  Family supper at Kasey & Beau's

Sunday:  Home-grown Green Beans w/ Bacon and Red Ptatoes, Cornbread

Monday:  leftovers

Tuesday:  out for Tex-Mex

Wednesday:  Breakfast for supper, pancakes, bacon, & eggs

Thursday:  takeout chicken

Friday:  Spanish Rice

**designates meatless meal

Saturday, November 1, 2025

2025 Frugal Friday File, on Saturday 11/1...

 

1.  I read a library book and a book that had been on my Kindle forever.

2.  We rearranged a bedroom, and repurposed a piece of furniture.

3.  Took advantage of another free library program and learned how to make homemade soft pretzels.  The ones we made during the class turned out pretty good and were easy.  I will make them again at home, and may also try making bagels.


4.  Had my wellness visit w/ the doc on Friday.  Aced the 'draw a clock' exercise (by reading the entire directions this time), but couldn't resist having a little fun with it...it was Halloween after all.


5.  Our first beans were harvested from the fall garden.

What we ate this past week:

Saturday:  Family supper at Kasey & Beau's

Sunday:  Ham Loaf w/ Potatoes Au Gratin, Broccoli

Monday:  leftovers

Tuesday:  grazed

Wednesday:  Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes w/ Brisket

Thursday:  Deconstructed Kabobs w/ beef flavored rice

Friday:  out for Tex-Mex

**designates meatless meal

Friday, October 24, 2025

2025 Frugal Friday File, October 24...

1.  Taking advantage of the great opportunities at our public library.  Tuesday was Cook Book Club.  A different cook book is selected each month, and members sign up, choose a recipe out of it to cook, and bring the dish to the monthly meeting to share (potluck style).  Wednesday was chair yoga day.

2.  We decided not to take a vacation this year.  Carey had a rather expensive vacation this past summer with our son and Carey's brother and nephew.  We had kind of kicked around taking a road trip vacation in the fall, but I just don't feel good about it right now.  With all the skunks that have been around lately, I don't want Rudy spending all day and after dark outside by himself.  There have been rabid skunk and fox in the county, and I just don't feel right about leaving him.  Jared is always glad to take care of him, but he works different shifts throughout the week, so just not ideal right now.

3.  The dress I ordered to try for the December wedding arrived.  Ummm...  I haven't tried it on yet, but I can tell it is way too long, and so wrinkled from the shipping, I'm wondering what it would look like after driving to the wedding venue.  Thinking I might have to get back on the hunt.  The good news is that I can do the shortening myself, not that I want to.  More details later.

4.  Made a menu for next week, and placed grocery order.  

5.  I put out the autumn decorations.  Same ones I've had for years; some used in a new way.  I don't have a lot, but I love what I have.

     Now, we have a lot more Christmas decorations than autumn.  Between now and Thanksgiving, my plan is to decide what I will put out for Christmas THIS year.  All other Christmas decs WILL be donated in the next few weeks so that they can be useful items for someone else's holidays this year.  I say this every year, and I have donated some, but I need to be more ruthless about what goes and what stays.  I am putting it out here so that I will be accountable.  I would love it if decorating for Christmas was as easy as decorating for other holidays/seasons.

What we ate this past week:

Saturday:  Family supper at Kasey & Beau's

Sunday:  burgers out

Monday:  **takeout pizza

Tuesday:  Tuna Salad Sandwiches, Fruit

Wednesday:  lefovers

Thursday:  Quiche and Stir Fried Asparagus

Friday:  leftovers

**designates meatless meal

Friday, October 10, 2025

2025 Frugal Friday File, October 10...

1.  When I opened the refrigerator on Thursday, it made me so happy and proud.  The produce drawers were darn near empty; there were two apples in one, and a bag of onions in the other.  I somehow managed to use up a crazy stuffed-with-produce refrigerator with minimal food waste!  It took some inventive meal planning.

2.  Then I had to think about restocking, so I prepared a menu plan, and placed my grocery order.  I'll be picking it up later today.  We haven't really had any lower temperatures yet (accept in the early mornings), but I am SO ready to switch my menu plans to more slow cooker meals.

3.  Wednesday was mammogram day.  Health insurance is a wonderful thing that I wish everyone had.  

4.  Monday was quilting at the library day.  Love that the library offers the room for us to meet.  I worked on a baby quilt using fabrics I already own.  I decided not to attend the quilt retreat that will be next month.  Though it is a very low-cost retreat, I'm still trying to build back up our cash reserves after the car purchase earlier this year. 

5.  I love not having a car payment, so it was worth shopping within our budget so that we could pay cash for it.  Also worth sacrificing a few fun things to build savings back up.

What we ate this past week:

Saturday:  family supper at Kasey & Beau's

Sunday:  leftovers

Monday:  Cabbage Bacon Skillet

Tuesday:  takeout BBQ Baked Potatoes

Wednesday:  Omelets

Thursday:  Grilled Cheese and Bacon Sandwiches

Friday:  Chicken Burrito Bowls

Friday, September 26, 2025

2025 Frugal Friday File, September 26...

 

1.  I keep thinking of things I want to do.  Then when it comes down to it, I don't want to all that bad, and talk myself into putting it off a week.  :)

2.  Reading library book.

3.  Doin' chores.

4.  Haven't killed anybody...saved attorney's fees.

5.  Got my Covid and Flu vaccines.

What we ate this past week:

Saturday:  Family supper at Kasey & Beau's

Sunday:  Chili

Monday:  frozen beef & broccolli

Tuesday:  Grilled Cheddar & Beau's Smoked Turkey Breast sandwiches, chips, apple

Wednesday:  **Vegetable Stir Fry

Thursday:  Frito Pie (with leftover chili)

Friday:  takeout sandwiches

**designates meatless meal+

Friday, September 12, 2025

2025 Frugal Friday File, September 12...

 

1.  I haven't been cooking at all this week, since I'm still having a lot of knee pain.  But having frugal and/or homemade meals in the freezer and ready to pop in the oven helped limit the number of times we had to fall back on takeout.  

2.  I remembered to make dental appointments for each of us this month (prompted by email reminder that we shouldn't let our insurance benefits go unused for the year).  We hadn't used this insurance before, as I think we had to have it for at least a year before coverage kicked in.  I'm not sure that's right, but it was something like that.  So I wasn't sure what it would actually cover, but a preliminary check by the dentist's office was that it would pay 80% of my visit today for exrays and cleaning.  The dentist came in to look at the images, and said I was blessed with really good teeth.  Boy, don't I know it!  Sixty-seven years old and no cavities!  (I did have one small cavity once, but I don't count it because I broke the root of that tooth grinding my teeth in my sleep about twenty years ago, so it is gone and has an implant in its place.)  Carey's appointment is next week.  It will probably be more expensive, because he wasn't quite as lucky in the teeth department.

3.  I have a book ready to pick up at the library tomorrow.  And I found another that I'm looking forward to, but I'm number sixteen in the reserve line for it.  But that's good, because I have plenty of others to finish in the mean time.

4.  We were going to go to the movie theater tomorrow for the Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale opening day.  But with my dodgy knee, I really don't want to do all that walking, so I think I'll wait for streaming release.  Besides, do I need all that expensive, salty, greasy popcorn?  No.  Want it?  YES, but I'll live.  :)

5.  I still have all the ingredients in the fridge, so tonight I think I'll try to replicate the omelet I made last week.

What we ate this past week:

Saturday:  Family supper at Kasey & Beau's

Sunday:  takeout barbecue baked potato

Monday:  frozen pot pies

Tuesday:  oven-ready meal from grocery: salmon, potatoes, green beans

Wednesday:  homemade meal from freezer: Jambalaya

Thursday:  takeout burgers

Friday:  omelet

**designates meatless meal

Friday, September 5, 2025

2025 Frugal Friday File, September 5...

1.  I have NOT been in the mood to cook lately.  Today at five forty-five p.m. I hadn't even thought about supper yet.  I had quite a few eggs in the fridge, some bacon ends and pieces, and colorful peppers.  Also had a variety of cubed cheese left from the charcuterie board I made for book club.  I fried some pieces of bacon in a non-stick skillet over medium heat. After cooked to fairly crisp, I set aside on paper towel to wick away grease.  I removed some of the bacon grease from the skillet, and added the chopped onion and pepper to the pan.  When they were tender, I crumbled the bacon and sprinkled it evenly over the top of the onion and peppers.  On top of the bacon, I added some cubes of smoked cheddar, gruyere, and jack cheese about every 3 inches across the top, as the cubes were about 1" cubes, I didn't want to over do it.  Then I poured six beaten eggs over the top.  As the edges cooked, I lifted them  with a spatula to let the uncooked egg flow to the bottom of the pan.  Then I lowered the heat to low, and put a lid on the skillet to let the eggs cook through.  

After a few minutes, I folded the omelet, cut it in half, then plonked the two halves on plates.  We were eating by six thirty.  And actually, this was the best meal I made this week.  The outside of the omelet was tender, but lightly browned from the bacon having been cooked in the pan first.  The cheese cubes melted into little cheesy pools.  The eggs were just perfectly cooked; still moist, but cooked through.

It was possibly the best omelet I've ever made, I didn't have to work too hard, and I used up things from the fridge that needed using.  I'm considering making another one for breakfast in the morning.  😋

2.  After bemoaning the sad state of my bra-drawer contents, I decided to buy a new model to give it a try.  If it passes the comfort and support test, I will get more before letting the old ones go.  

3.  I remembered to water the plants before they croaked.  Honestly, these monsteras are the hardiest plants ever!  

4.  I started the next book for book club.  It was one we chose because it had been an Amazon First Reads option that several of us had clicked on for free (for Prime members), and others of our group were able to get it for free as well after the club met.

5.  I have a 2026 calendar (23" x 34") in my shopping cart.  It's the whole year on one large sheet, and it has daily squares big enough to write a couple of appointments on.  It can just sit there till I have other things to add to the order.  

What we ate this past week:

Saturday:  Family supper at Kasey & Beau's

Sunday:  leftovers

Monday:  takeout Tex-Mex

Tuesday:  Poppy Seed Chicken, Cranberry Sauce

Wednesday:  grazed the fridge

Thursday:  leftovers

Friday:  Omelet: bacon, onion, yellow bell pepper, variety cubed cheese, eggs

Friday, August 29, 2025

2025 Frugal Friday File, August 29...

 

1.  Received a notice about my 401k.  I thought it had all been rolled over to an IRA, but I must have earned more last year before I retired from part-time work.  Sure, I'll take another $1,500!

2.  While talking with financial planner (former boss) about rolling it over, we couldn't help talking books.  He asked how many I had read so far this year.  When I told him, he groaned a bit that I was ahead of him again.  We talked about best books we had read this year, and he told me about his favorite so far.  I looked it up later, and it is one of a trilogy about traveling in the U.S.  None are available at our library, so I ordered used, "very good condition" copies of each of the three to put away for somebody's Christmas present.  We've always enjoyed his book recommendations.  (That makes three Christmas gifts so far.)

3.  We still had a $50+ credit at the vet, so that was nice to get subtracted from our bill for Rudy's annual exam and vaccines.

4.  I've lost fifty pounds since I retired from full-time work, and my blue jeans are too big.  I've put off buying new ones, but the time was now or have them fall down.  I received an email this week that offered 40% off denim items, so I took advantage.

5.  I don't frequent Starbucks.  I don't get manis or pedis.  I've gone a loooong time since my last hair cut.  I use the lilbrary as my first choice of obtaining books.

What we ate this past week:

Saturday:  leftovers

Sunday:  takeout barbecue

Monday:  pot pies

Tuesday:  Homecooked meal from the freezer (curry)

Wednesday:  Homecooked meal from the freezer (meatloaf & twice baked potatoes)

Thursday:  15 Bean Soup

Friday:  Linguini with Lemon Cream Sauce w/ Chicken

**designates meatless meal

Friday, August 8, 2025

2025 Frugal Friday File, August 8...

 

1.  Still doing a bit of decluttering each day.  I'm going pretty deep doing master bathroom cabinets and drawers.  Donated and discarded lots.  Today I started working in the craft room.  That is the worst room in the house.  Oy vey!  (Can't just keep the door closed, because that is where the most convenient restroom for guests is located.)

2.  My sweet husband cleaned the window exteriors; something I would not even think about doing in the summer heat, and I didn't ask him to do it either, but that's just the kind of guy he is, always looking for something to be doing.  Sometimes his hyperactivity makes me crazy (because it makes me feel like a slug staying in air conditioning and reading a good portion of the day, LOL).  I can honestly say that I have never ever nagged him about doing anything...because if I even mention that I'm thinking about doing something, it's done before I know it.

3. As I was doing laundry, I pulled the step stool in and dusted the open shelving and neatened them up.  I wanted something pretty, so looked through the china cabinet and found a hand-painted plate and plate stand.  I was happy for cheap.  Shopped my own inventory. 

4.  I have another Christmas present ticked off the list.  That makes two so far.  :)

5.   Aside from an appointment last week, volunteering at the library, dropping off at Goodwill, and picking up prescriptions and grocery order.  I'm not venturing out much.  This is my estevation season (definition:  [zoology] prolonged torpor or dormancy of an animal during a hot or dry period.  

What we ate this past week:

Saturday:  Family supper at Kasey & Beau's

Sunday:  out for Mexican food (and was extremely ill that evening and next day).  Our favorite place was closed, so we tried a different place.  :(

Monday:  Turkey & Rice Soup (homemade)

Tuesday:  Spanish Rice

Wednesday:  Charcuterie Board  (test run)

Thursday:  Breakfast for supper

Friday:  Sausage, Rice, & Green Beans stovetop skillet dinner

**designates meatless meal

Friday, August 1, 2025

2025 Frugal Friday File, August 1...

 

1.  On Sunday I made a huge pasta, vegetables, and turkey salad; I had to get the BIG stainless steel bowl down from the top of the pantry to be able to toss the salad in.  I mixed together salad dressings that were a couple of weeks in the fridge and needed to be used: cilantro lime, salsa ranch, and some mayonnaise to tone down the salsa ranch which would have been too spicy for Carey.  After we ate, the leftovers were down to what would fit in a large salad bowl (large but not BIG) with a snap on lid.  We'll be eating leftovers for lunches and/or dinners through the week.

2.  I found a way to pay almost half for the bacon I prefer, at least some of the time.  (see Monday's post).

3.  I've reached the end of my rope waiting to get the motivation to get the house decluttered.  My friend Catherine was scheduled to host the next book club meeting, even though she is booked up till just a few days before the meeting.  So I asked her if I could have it at my house this month instead.  I have a serious case of clutter blindness, so I need outside motivation, like public humiliation if it's a wreck when people show up.  :)  Let me assure you in case you are worried, there's no trash, I do throw trash away.  Nor is stuff all over the floor with paths through it.  Good grief, Carey would not put up with that.  It's just that I cover tables, desktops, a couple of chairs, with mail, packages, crafts, books, etc.  Oddly, my closets stay mostly neat and organized...it's the horizontal surfaces out in the open that are a jumble.

So far I'm doing a little bit every day.  The whole house won't be completely decluttered by the 20th, but the rooms people see should be.  And hopefully the forward progress will propel me forward on my journey.

4.  I've already read this month's book club selection, but it's been several years.  I just checked out the audiobook from the library so I can listen while I declutter.

5.  On Fridays after 5pm, Schlotzky pizzas are only $5.  Carey had one of their sandwiches, but I got the personal veggie pizza.  (I know, I know, that is hardly even a fringe frugality.)

What we ate this past week:

Saturday:  Family Supper at Kasey & Beau's

Sunday:  Pasta Salad with red, yellow, and green bell peppers, golden Greek peppers, grape tomatoes, red onion, carrot, celery, yellow squash, zuchini, cubed turkey, & dressing

Monday:  Shrimp Gumbo

Tuesday:  leftover pasta salad

Wednesday:  Carey made a sandwich; I ate more pasta salad.

Thursday:  we can't remember...possibly pasta salad...don't judge me, please

Friday:  takeout sandwich/pizza

**designates meatless meal

Friday, July 25, 2025

2025 Frugal Friday File, July 25...

 

1.  Carey loves meatloaf.  This week instead of making it in a loaf pan like I usually do, I made it in a smallish (maybe 8" x 10") metal baking pan that has a snap on plastic lid with a silicone sealed rim.  I usually use these pans for casseroles that I put in the freezer.  This time I divided the uncooked meatloaf into two loaves and placed them in the pan running from short side to short side.  Leaving the lid off, I put them in the oven to bake along with four potatoes.  

     When the potatoes were fully baked, I removed all from the oven.  I added ketchup to the top of the meatloaves and put them back in the oven.  Then I removed the flesh from the jackets of the potatoes.  I mashed the potato flesh with butter, shredded cheese, sour cream, and dry ranch dressing mix.  I put the seasoned potato flesh back into the potato jackets, added a little more cheese to the top, and put them back into the oven to warm through again.

     We ate about half of one of the meatloaves, and two of the potatoes for dinner.  After which I removed the partial meatloaf from the pan to a small plate, and stored it in the fridge for sandwiches.  I placed the two twice-baked potatoes that were left into the same pan with the remaining uncut meatloaf.  Once cooled I snapped the lid into place, and labeled with the contents, then it went straight into the freezer.  

     Yay for taking a very few minutes in today's meal prep, so that we can have a repeat homecooked meal another night with absolutely no effort at all on my part.

2.  Received an Amazon purchase this week.  Quite frequently, if I know what's in the package and I don't have an immediate need for its contents, I will leave the box unopened until a more convenient time.  Happily I didn't do that this time; I'm trying to practice the "Do It Now" rule more frequently.    Once open, I realized that I had ordered a different item than the one intended.  RIGHT then, I repackaged it, printed the return label, and got the package sealed up and ready to return.  Dropped it off at UPS store the next morning while out running errands.  Already have been refunded, and reordered and received the correct item.

3.  I've resisted the temptation to pre-order the new Ken Follett book coming out in September.  I know the library will get it pretty quickly, so I'll just watch the new acquisitions list to get on the reserve list early.

4.  I haven't purchased any craft and/or hobby items.  I'm not being very creatively productive since I've spent so much time reading this year.

5.  Received a refund check of $89 from dealership where new car was purchased.  Not sure why, but I'll take it!

What we ate this past week:

Saturday:  Family Supper at Kasey & Beau's

Sunday:  leftover quiche for C; turkey sandwich for me

Monday:  frozen pot pies

Tuesday:  Meatloaf, Twice Baked Potatoes, Corn

Wednesday:  Salmon, Rice Pilaf, Green Beans

Thursday:  out for burgers

Friday:  Spanish Rice

**designates meatless meal

Friday, July 18, 2025

2025 Frugal Friday File, July 18...

 

1.  I came across two puzzles from when the grandkids were little that I thought I could donate to the library if all the pieces were in their boxes.  One was less than 50 pieces, and featured Elsa and Olaf from Frozen.  I put it together, and it was missing one piece.  :(  The other was a round puzzle with 101 pieces and was an image of a U.S. penny.  I started putting it together and found all the edge pieces.  When Carey came in, he finished putting it together, and all the pieces were there.  As he was dissassembling the puzzle and putting the pieces back in the box, he turns to me and says, "You know, it would have been a lot quicker to just count the pieces instead of putting them together."  Head slap moment!  

    Oh well, the one with all the pieces can be donated to the library now.  LOL

2.  I did a rough inventory of the chest freezer.  I had a sale turkey from 2024 holiday season in there taking up a good portion of the space.  I decided to bite the bullet and roast it and use the FoodSaver to prepare small, usable amounts of the meat, and freeze them ready to use  for casseroles and salads and sandwiches.  

     Additionally there is 20 pounds of flour in the freezer, along with several packages of bacon,  sausages, a couple of large bags of pecans from Costco, various bags of frozen vegetables, and three Dreamsicles.  

      In my opinion upright freezers are much more efficient to organize and access, and the most useful thing about a chest freezer would be a scenario where you might have a dead body that need's hiding. I would dearly love to have an upright freezer, but as long as this one does the job it can stay. 

3.  Grocery total this month is lower than expected.  I'm not sure why, but I've been a little creative in cooking with what we have.  Mostly because I don't want to go out into the heat to restock.  

4.  Frugal fail: Carey took the new car in to get an estimate on replacing the passenger side external rearview mirror.  Wish I didn't have to claim responsibility for that one...it was sheared off by the menu board/speaker while I was backing out of a Sonic parking spot.  $1,200+.

5.  Frugal fail: I caved and resubscribed to Audible.  I have projects to do, but I need to be reading!  I checked the library for the audio book, but I was something like 21 on the waiting list.  :(  Now if I can just find my earbuds.  Found 'em!  :)

On the menu this week:

Saturday:  Family supper at Kasey & Beau's

Sunday:  BLTs

Monday:  Quiche (red onion, bell pepper, broccoli, cheddar & parm)

Tuesday:  leftovers

Wednesday:  Turkey Penne Casserole

Thursday:  out for Tex-Mex

Friday:  leftovers

Friday, July 11, 2025

2025 Frugal Friday File, July 11...

 

1.  My first grandson's birthday was this week, and we celebrated it on Saturday night at Kasey and Beau's.  I made him a card, a batch of Snack Crackers, and a pair of funny socks I had put back for him.  He works with special-needs kids, and him wearing funny socks is one way to engage them.

2.  Drove 500 miles to spend my sister's birthday with her.  She broke her wrist a couple of weeks ago, so I was hoping I could be helpful to her, but she didn't let me do much.  It was very nice to visit with her, and I loved getting to see her grandson (whom I hadn't seen since he was a little guy) and got to meet his wife and kiddoes.

    My sister had supper planned for all of us, and only needed a little help in the kitchen.  I had baked a cake at home before we left, and took it to have.  I also took a couple of homecooked meals from our freezer, so she could take a couple of nights off from cooking when she wants to.  Went back to see sis again, and got in another afternoon visit before heading back home.

3.  A great friend of mine lives near my sister, so we got to meet for lunch while I was there, and talked non-stop.

4.  While we were gone, Jared took care of Rudy for us.  

5.  Picked up sewing machines (2) from repairman yesterday.  Not cheap, but worth it; and I'm really pleased to have found a good repair option.  I have a backlog of projects to get going on.

What we ate this week:

Saturday:  Family supper at Kasey & Beau's

Sunday:  leftovers

Monday:  supper at my sister's house

Tuesday:  big lunch out w/ friend, so skipped supper

Wednesday:  Tuna Salad Sandwiches

Thursday:  Tuna Salad Sandwiches again (we love them)

Friday:  Green Salad w/ remainders of vegetable tray I took to book club today.

**designates meatless meal

Friday, July 4, 2025

2025 Frugal Friday File, July 4...

 

Happy 4th of July!  Hope everyone has a fun and safe long weekend.

1.  I've mentioned before that our phone/internet/cable are provided by a co-op which we have belonged to since 1999.  They just had their annual meeting, and released their/our capital credits which they apply to our account.  Last year the capital credits paid for all but $10 of our June 2024 bill.  This year it paid for ALL of our June bill ($236.22), and carries forward a credit of  $28+/- to pay toward next month's bill.  It's not all rainbows and sunshine with this co-op, but it's the only game in town, so I'm always glad to get credits applied to the bill.  Husband insists on keeping cable, and I'm keeping landline, just because who knows what is going to happen these days.

2.  Speaking of phone bills...back in the day, my sister and I would have to try to never let our husbands get the mail for fear they would see our phone bills.  Those were some big phone bills.  In the past week, I have talked to her for about three hours (combined total), and to the other Kathleen for about an hour and a half (combined total).  I am SO very happy we have unlimited talk and text nowadays. 

     I don't care that Carey gets the mail these days.  Because not only are the phone bills lower now than they used to be, the bills come to my email inbox not the post box.  LOL

3.  There wasn't anything on the calendar this week, so mostly hung around the house; read,  laundry, repeat.

4.  I've been using the dregs of a bottle of shower gel (diluted) to clean the toilet.  I don't do that if the toilet gets really dirty, but as per my FlyLady days, if you 'swish and swipe' the toilet daily, it never gets really dirty, and she also said "Soap is soap, so use up what you have."

5.  I've kept the houseplants that I bought in spring 2024 alive for over a year now.  My son thought all this time that the large monsteras (2) in the living room were artificial!  He has not paid attention to how much they've grown!  I saw a really large monstera either on the web or tv recently, and it scared me how big they get!  If mine get much bigger, I may have to adopt them out to new homes before we have to carry machetes to hack our way through the jungle.  :)

What we ate this week:

Saturday:  Family supper at Kasey & Beau's

Sunday:  Tortilla Soup

Monday:  leftovers

Tuesday:  takeout fried chicken

Wednesday:  leftover Tortilla Soup

Thursday:  takeout sandwiches

Friday:  Chicken Curry

**designates meatless meal

Friday, June 27, 2025

2025 Frugal Friday File, June 27...

 

1.  Sunday I put four chicken breast halves in the slow cooker with part of a jar of picante sauce and a packet of Italian dressing mix.  After four hours, I shredded two of them and diced two of them.  The diced meat was added to a pasta salad to be eaten through the week.  The shredded meat will be added to quesadillas another night and maybe some soup (which I saved the liquid from the slow cooker for) another night.  I love having a headstart on meals for the week.

2.  Aside from groceries and bills, I only spent $2.15 for a Kindle book.

3.  No takeout or meals out this week.  

4.  I put two birthday cards in the mail this week.  One of them late, but oh well.  

Speaking of mail, the postage rates are going up again on July 13 -- a one ounce letter will go from 73¢ to 78¢.  I still have plenty of forever stamps to last a good while.

5.  I have thought about getting my hair cut every day this week, but I continue to put it off.  It's hot, and all I do is pull it up off my neck anyway.  For sure I'll get it cut sometime before grandson's December's wedding.  :)

This week we ate:

Saturday:  Family dinner at Kasey & Beau's

Sunday:  Summery Pasta Salad w/ Chicken

Monday:  Honey Garlic Chicken

Tuesday:  Quesadillas w/ Guacamole

Wednesday:  leftover pasta salad

Thursday:  Mexican Cornbread Casserole

Friday:  leftovers

**designates meatless meal

Friday, June 20, 2025

2025 Frugal Friday File, June 20...

 

1.  Doctor appointment Wednesday.  Afterward I left them a pint of my blood; sadly, they just throw it away.  This is a pretty regular thing for my "condition".  Though in the past I have always felt fine afterward, this time I did not feel good, and felt pretty wrung out Thursday as well.  I don't remember having that reaction before, but I'm drinking extra fluids (as I have been for the past week).  I'm not upping intake of red meat or green vegetables, because I don't need any more iron, that's why I had to give up the blood in the first place.  Have to keep the amounts pretty consistently balanced since I'm also on blood thinner for yet another "condition". 

    Essential self care is frugal when it reduces the risk of organ damage (in my case).  My mother had lost eighty percent of her liver function before she ever went to the doctor.  They never diagnosed her with what I have, but since they can tell that I got the same mutated gene from each of my parents, I suspect that she did, since liver damage is a not-infrequent result, and mom was essentially a teetotaler.

2.  I have not given up Sonic ice, but I've given up getting it from my local drive-in where the customer service is sorely lacking.  I only stop by ones in other communities when I have a valid reason to be there.  That means the frequency and ice outlay has been drastically reduced.

    (Attention Gina:  this is one of those times my mother would say, "You would bite off your nose to spite your face!)  😉

3.  Today is book club, and this time it is in the city.  Carpooling with friends.

4.  Saw a new book is coming out in September that I know Carey would like.  I don't want to pay full price for pre-ordering, so I added it to my book wish list on Amazon so I won't forget about it.  I'll cross my fingers that it is on Amazon First Reads, but if it's not I'll see if the library will order it, or barring all else I will get it for him for Christmas.

5.  Menu planned and placed grocery order.  Easier to resist takeout when a plan is in place and groceries in the pantry/fridge.

This week we ate:

Saturday:  Chicken Burgers and leftover Tomato Pie

Sunday:  Sunday family supper at Kasey & Beau's

Monday:  Spanish Rice    

Tuesday:  **frozen eggplant parmesan w/ salad

Wednesday:  takeout Schlotzky sandwiches

Thursday: grocery store sushi

Friday:  potluck for me, baseball park hot dogs for C

**designates meatless meal

Saturday, June 14, 2025

2025 Frugal Friday File on Saturday, June 14...

 

1.  Last Saturday was Caitlyn's birthday and all but the oldest sibling was home for family supper.  Beau grilled/smoked a carnivore's feast with absolutely delicious ribs, beans, and jalapeno poppers, while Kasey made everybody's favorite potato salad.  

    Since we had kind of OD'ed on meat on Saturday, we then had two meatless meals in a row with breakfast for dinner on Sunday, and Tomato Pie on Monday.  Both were using things that were on hand, and didn't require a grocery run.  I used our harvested cherry tomatoes plus the remainder of store-bought cherry tomatoes purchased before our homegrown ones started producing every day...they were just on the verge of old age, so needed to use them up.  Also used jalapenos from our container garden, along with onions, and corn from fridge/freezer.  I sauteed the onions & jalapeno, when they were soft I added the halved cherry tomatoes, then when they cooked down a bit, I added about a third of a bag of frozen corn that I came across.  This was different from the Tomato Pie I usually make, but again, wanted to make do with what I had here at home.

2.  Made a menu plan for the next week or so, and I placed my grocery order.  Picked it up on Wednesday, so we are set for awhile now.  I even have a plan for dessert for Saturday's family supper...I usually don't decide till Saturday morning.  :)

3.  Tax refund finally arrived...only three weeks since proving my identity...not the nine they said it might be.  Saving it to go toward our annual LTC insurance premium.

4.  Placed one single online order this week; it is for a Christmas gift for family member.  Starting early.

5.  I signed up to take a salad for the coming week's pot luck lunch.  The person bringing the main dish said it would be a southwest-type casserole.  So I thought I'd try something new, and looked for something that seemed to be a good match, Mexican Rice Salad.  I don't like to take things that I haven't tested ahead of time, so I made it this week.  It was okay, but not great.  We ate it accompanying two meals on separate nights.  I think I'll take a green salad to book club.  :)


This week we ate:

Saturday:  Family supper at Kasey & Beau's

Sunday:  **Pancakes & Eggs (no bacon thawed, so did without)

Monday:  **Tomato Pie

Tuesday:  out for Tex-Mex

Wednesday:  Salmon, Rice Pilaf, Salad

Thursday:  Homemade hamburgers, Mexican Rice Salad

Friday:  Frozen Enchiladas and leftover Mexican Rice Salad

**designates meatless meal

Saturday, June 7, 2025

2025 Frugal Friday File on Saturday, June 7...

 

1.  I took two sewing machines in for repairs, or tune ups, or whatever they need.  Hopefully he will be able to have them ready to pick up in a couple of weeks.

The repair service is in the next town over.  Which also has the nearest locksmith, so to make the most I could out of errand batching miles, I took my great-great-grandfather's document box to see if they could open it for me.  They said they could not without breaking the lock.  So I will have to hope I come across the key (which I actually thought I had stored inside the box, so I don't know how the box was locked), or do some research to find a specialist in antique locks.  It does not have anything of monetary value locked inside, just sentimental family photos and WWII war souveniers of my dad's.  :(  

2.  A whole lotta leftovers were eaten here this week.

3.  Cherry tomatoes are continuing to produce, and now we have some peppers ripening as well.

4.  Reading, reading, reading.  Again.  Still.

5.  Except for food and monthly bills, it's been a no spend week.

On the menu this week:

Saturday:  Saturday family supper at Kasey & Beau's

Sunday:  leftover pasta salad

Monday:  leftover pasta salad (yes, I made him eat it again!  But I kept adding fresh fruit/veg.  It was the never-ending pasta salad!)

Tuesday:   Sheet pan dinner: Smoked sausage, sweet potatoes, 1" thick cabbage slices; and from the stove top, creamed corn (not canned...frozen corn in a homemade bechamel sauce)

Wednesday: takeout burgers

Thursday:  leftovers

Friday:  pot pies

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