Here in central Texas, we had optimal viewing of the eclipse today. Carey punched a hole in the top right-hand corner of a sheet of paper to view its shadow
But I loved the view of it all around us as it showed its progress through the leaves overhead...on the patio...
1. Oddly, right after I wrote last week's Frugal Friday File about paying less for books by waiting and searching different borrow or purchase options, I received an email notice of Kindle Daily Deals that included a book I had placed on my 'wish list' about two years ago...regular Kindle price $20.99, Daily Deal price $1.99...even so, I checked the library website again (it wasn't there) before clicking 'buy now.' Delayed gratification can be hard, but it feels SO good in the end!
2. I washed the bath mats. After washing, I set up our portable hanging clothes rack and hung the mats over the two hanging rods to dry. Saved on running the dryer, and also protected the non-slip backing on the mats.
3. Comparison: rotisserie chicken (at store) vs stewed chicken (at home). This week's grocery shop included one of each. Rotisserie chicken $8.31. Whole uncooked chicken $8.70 (which I stewed in slow cooker with water, celery, onion, and a bay leaf). I deboned each, and each gave virtually the same amount of meat (though I didn't measure precisely). More was spent on the chicken prepared at home (added vegetables, electricity to cook), but it did produce over two quarts of tasty broth in addition to the meat. The store rotisserie version listed 490 mg of sodium per serving. An internet search found that home cooked version probably had a similar sodium content.
Conclusion: I'm not going to beat myself up over buying store rotisserie chicken occasionally.
4. Frugal fail, or was it? I purchased 5 identical metal pans (about 8" x 10") having snap-on lids with silicone seal. This was after struggling with homecooked frozen meals in various and sundry glass casseroles covered with foil. The new pans should be stackable and more stable in the freezer. This week I produced five (5!) meals for freezer by cooking-once-to-eat-twice.
5. Christmas gift shopping has begun. That expense is easier when it's spread over a longer period of time. And starting early helps avoid desperate impulse purchases as the holidays loom.
On the menu this week:
Saturday: takeout Schlotzky's sandwiches
Sunday: 15 bean soup (+ 2nd meal for the freezer)
Monday: Quiche
Tuesday: Chicken a la King casserole (+ 2nd meal for the freezer)
Wednesday: Chili (leftovers made enchilada casserole for the freezer)
Thursday: Pork Chops, squash casserole, green beans (+ 2nd meal for the freezer)
Friday: Chicken Spaghetti (+ 2nd meal for the freezer)
2. I'm not sure I've even been inside my preferred grocery store since before the pandemic. My husband goes every week or so to pick up milk or bread or his lunch preferences. But as far as menu planning and shopping lists, I do it all online and pick it up. My daughter, who lives by her spreadsheets, says that it saves money since there are no impulse purchases. I can believe that. We only have two grocery options locally, so shopping at different stores and sales isn't really an affordable option as it would involve a lot of gasoline which would eat up any savings.
3. I have been using lots of postage lately sending cards to family and friends. I went to the post office website to see if they had any new designs. They have a new snow globe Christmas stamp that I like, so I bought two books. It is getting to be time to think about mailing Christmas cards, and I thought I'd get some while they were still in stock. I also bought one book of a new Pinata stamp. I had other stamps in my cart, but I decided I could live without them for the immediate future, and reigned in my impulses.
4. According to the library, I have saved over $300 this year by checking out books rather than buying them. I rarely buy books at full price. I always try the library first. If they don't have what I'm looking for I check out used book sources. If all else fails, I just add the book to my Amazon wish list so I don't forget about it, and I watch the Kindle special offers to see if it might be offered at a discounted price. If I'm still interested after waiting for awhile, I start the process over by re-checking the library and used book sources. I'm pretty good at delayed gratification.
5. Speaking of delayed gratification, I've been shopping online for sofas. I'm narrowing down style and need preferences. Now I'm just waiting for the right time for us and/or a good sale price.
On the menu this week:
Saturday: (I can't remember)
Sunday: supper at Kasey and Beau's; I took brownies
Monday: homemade Reuben sandwiches w/ chips
Tuesday: 2 different homecooked single-serving meals from freezer
Wednesday: subscription meal that has been in the freezer
Thursday: Spanish Rice
Friday: Roast, potatoes, carrots from freezer (homecooked cook-once-eat-twice option)
2. Watching a lot of PBS documentaries on YouTube (and also ones that I've had recorded forever, and need to watch so I can delete from the queue). I've learned a lot about Ireland (The Famine and the Troubles), Frida Kahlo, Edna St Vincent Millay, Oscar Wilde, Frank Baum. Has anyone else noticed how much more frequent the ads on YouTube are?
3. I received another check reimbursing part of chiropractic care. That should be the last one (I think) as I haven't been back for more care since we got back from vacation. Now I will start receiving 'explanation of benefits' for the hospital and surgeon, and probably bills for what wasn't covered, but I hope those won't be too high.
4. Didn't do too terribly this week in the kitchen. We did eat out tonight since I've been up since 3 a.m. and worked all day. I am ready for soup weather! I think next week we are supposed to have highs in the mid 80s. I'll take it. At least it shouldn't be over 100°. Could those 100° days be over for the year? Please?
5. On-called today at my old office and knocked out the majority of my annual training. I work next on 10/6, so fingers crossed I can finish the rest up then. Due date is 11/1,
On the menu this week:
Saturday: frozen meal from freezer
Sunday: supper at Kasey & Beau's
Monday: leftovers
Tuesday: meatloaf, baked potatoes, cabbage
Wednesday: homecooked meal from freezer
Thursday: leftovers from Tuesday
Friday: *barbecue baked potatoes w/ sliced brisket
1. Care package to college student. Contents of nominal value: snack crackers, sharpie, highlighter tape, a funny pin "Math: the only class that counts" (she's taking Calculus this semester), a pack of gum, a handmade card. Postage expense: $$$
I saved a box that I had received something in a couple of months ago, because it was sturdy, without exterior printing, and of a size that was handy for mailing a gift (somewhat shoebox size, but not as long); it was perfect for mailing this care package. I found an airtight storage container in my cupboard that exactly fit the box and held most of the batch of snack crackers I made on the weekend, and had enough room to slide in the other contents around the edges. Two sheets of reused tissue paper were all the padding necessary.
2. I have a rule about no ordering online between the hours of midnight and 8:00 a.m. It works most of the time. Earlier this week I woke up about 3:00 a.m. and decided it was time to order two chairs for the living room that I have been online researching recently. Of course, I hadn't known that I was going to click "BUY" so I hadn't discussed it with Carey...I had a few ruffled feathers to smooth when I broke it to him when he woke up...and rightly so. Ruffled feathers were quickly smoothed. The chairs arrived within two days with free shipping, and Carey has one of them put together. 💕 (I felt okay about ordering without doing an in-person comfort test, because my sister-in-law has this same chair, and I fell in love with its style and comfort when we were there recently. And with research I found them for 1/3 of the price the store sis purchased at advertises.)
3. I'd been holding off on depositing checks until I had other errands in the area of the credit union. Sunday I received email that a book I had reserved at the library was ready to be picked up, right nextdoor to the credit union. I immediately ordered prescription refills so I could pick those up in the same trip. And I ran across the street to Home Depot to pick up some magnetic sheets I needed. I felt so good getting all those done in less than an hour and in just one trip! It's 14 miles roundtrip to that part of town, so I like to batch errands.
4. So much running around for medical appointments this week. Monday had to go to neighboring town for a doctor appointment after a blood vessel burst in my eye. Doesn't hurt, but looks pretty gross. Just had to verify that it wouldn't risk procedure later in week.
Wednesday had to go have pre-op bloodwork done.
Thursday my portacath was replaced in outpatient surgery. Ouch.
5. I have four meals in the freezer from one-meal-to-eat/one-meal-to-freeze cooking in the last couple of weeks. It will be appreciated by my sore-incision self in the next few days.
On the menu this week:
Saturday: Roast, Potatoes, Carrots (2nd in freezer)
Sunday: Sunday supper at Kasey & Beau's
Monday: *Takeout burgers
Tuesday: Mexican Cornbread Casserole (2nd in freezer)
Wednesday: Ruben sandwiches
Thursday: *Takeout
Friday: Homecooked meal from the freezer
