Goal: Lowering our Utility Bills by 10%

Hello All,
  This Fall and Winter my DH and I are hoping to reduce our utility bills by 10% compared to last year by winterizing, etc.  This will be tough because last winter was a pretty mild one for us! I will be comparing cost this year vs. last year. Wish us luck!
  Here is our list:

1. Insulate and seal the basement door--Done
2. Insulate and seal the attic access opening
3. Put bubble wrap on all bedroom windows
4. Put bottle of water in toilet tank to save water each flush
5. Buy and install dryer vent bucket to let dryer vent help heat the house
6. Buy and install hot water heater blanket
7. Insulate hot water pipes
8. Caulk around all windows
9. Put weather stripping around front and back doors
10. Check both fans on fireplace inserts
11. Split firewood
12. Make draft dodger for front door
13. Insulate heat runs in basement
14. Replace air filter in furnace
15. Clean baseboard heater
16. Buy runner for slate hallway--floor is always extremely cold!
17. Make rice bags for bed warmers
18. Turn water heater down

Well that is our long list!  Can you think of anything else I may have missed?  Hopefully we will get it all completed!  I'll check back in later to let you know our progress!




Frugal Blessings,
Lisa

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Abundant Blessings to you all,
Lisa

DIY Room Fresheners

  Hello Dear Readers,


  I just love to have a faint hint of fragrance in every room of my  home. The sense of smell is an awesome thing.  Think back on any  memories you may have of Mom or Grandma baking cookies.  How did that smell make you feel- Joyful, happy, hungry? Can you help but smile when you remember this delicious aroma?  I know I can't!  Fragrance in a room can boost your mood so why not do anything you can do to be happier!
    Just ran across something so easy to freshen up a room and boost your moods!  Most of us will have everything needed for this little project: small mason jar and ring, scrap of fabric, baking soda, and essential oil. Nothing outlandish or pricey I promise!  
     Pour baking soda into jar and add 8-10 drops of essential oil. Put fabric scrap on top of jar and screw the ring onto it.  Don't use the center disk of the lid.  Then just shake to mix the soda and oil.  To quickly refresh/scent a room, just give it a shake every now and again!


   See....easy peasy, inexpensive, and no artificial anything!


Fragrant Blessings,
Lisa

Last Week's Frugality

            

 Hi Dear Readers,


  Last week was a pretty good week frugally!  We used some coupons that Meijer sent us and got a free box of Little Debbie's snacks along with savings on eggs, milk and butter! 


  I bought a bone in half ham that we stretched for 4 meals-- fried ham and homemade biscuits, then made a pot of pinto beans with some of the cut off ham(leftovers for third meal) and saved the bone for a pot of northern bean soup.  Waste not, want not! We had a pan of homemade cornbread with the beans! Can you say yummy?  Mmmm, mmm, good!


  We ate the leftover biscuits for breakfast and used some of the apple butter I canned week before last.  It was to die for good!  Home canned foods taste so much better than store bought!


  I started my Christmas shopping. Ordered several gifts that were half off online--cannot say what because of family that may read this! They sure smell good though!


  Ordered toilet paper from Amazon!  Cheap and delivered to your front door.  Win, win!


 My DH and I made up a list of things to do around the house before it gets cold in order to save money on utilities.  He worked on sealing and insulating our basement door. One thing down and 15 more to go, but it is a start!  We are hoping to reduce our utilities by 10% compared to last year.  A big goal but with our list of improvements,  I hope we will meet it!
 
  I'll share more about weatherproofing our home in a later post.


  That's about all for us last week.  What have you saved money on lately?


Frugal Blessings,
Lisa
 

All Things Pumpkin

Hello Dear Readers,

  Below you will find links to All things Pumpkin!  Enjoy!

Pumpkin Fudge  http://allrecipes.com/recipe/9432/pumpkin-fudge/

Pumpkin Pancakes  http://allrecipes.com/recipe/17036/pumpkin-pancakes/

Pumpkin Roll  https://www.verybestbaking.com/recipes/32372/libbys-pumpkin-roll/

Pumpkin Butter  http://allrecipes.com/recipe/13632/pumpkin-butter/

Pumpkin Muffins  https://herbandbotanicals.blogspot.com/2012/10/easy-pumpkin-muffins.html

Pumpkin Pie Spice  https://herbandbotanicals.blogspot.com/2012/10/easy-pumpkin-muffins.html

Pumpkin Bread  https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/pumpkin-bread

Pumpkin Puree  http://herbandbotanicals.blogspot.com/2011/11/pumpkin-puree.html

Pumpkin Pie  https://www.verybestbaking.com/recipes/18470/libbys-famous-pumpkin-pie/
Pumpkin Spiced Latte  http://allrecipes.com/recipe/127890/pumpkin-spiced-latte/
Pumpkin Bars  http://allrecipes.com/recipe/11646/pauls-pumpkin-bars/


Hope this helps this Fall!

Pumpkin Blessings,
Lisa

Happy Fall!

I love Fall......pumpkin everything, sweater weather, colorful foliage, warm apple cider, crisp cool air, and everything else that goes with it! I hope you enjoy this new season as much as I do!

Autumnal blessings,

Lisa 

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Sunshine Blessings,
Lisa

Last Week's Frugality

    

    I have to confess......we ate out one night last week. I know, I know, we shouldn't have, but I had to go shopping for the wedding. So my Dh ordered hoagies for everyone. We paid for convenience big time!  My daughter's wedding is costing us more and more one way or another!! :)
  My uncle gifted us with cabbage and tomatoes fresh from his garden!  Thanks so much Uncle Howard!!
 We used the rest of the chicken I cooked last week.  I love stretching meat into several meals, don't you?

  I found my dress for the wedding on clearance at Dillard's.  It was originally $169.99 but marked down to $39.99 plus tax! Savings of $130.00! I must give credit to my daughter's for finding it-Thanks Jess and Kait!

  I made the cake stand for my daughters wedding cake--cost me $2.00.  I found a large vase and a large plate at the Goodwill and glued them together with E6000 glue.  Her cake isn't too big so that will work just fine!  $2 beats the cheapest one we could find at $29.99! Score one for me!

  Finished the silk flowers for the wedding.  I think they are beautiful if I do say so myself!  They cost about $165 to make all of them except the bridal bouquet.  6 bouquets, 9 boutonnieres, 5 corsages, 2 kissing balls and other décor would have cost well over $500, so we have saved a ton on the flowers alone!  Cha Ching!  The bridal brooch bouquet cost about $40 for the brooches(Gma furnished most) and flowers so that is a great savings as well--Some are over $300 on Etsy!

  I was given about a half bushel of apples so, with my Mother's help, we canned 7 pints plus of apple butter!  Yummy!
  It has been a busy but productive week--the wedding is getting closer!  I am getting so nervous but looking forward to it!  Maybe when it is over we can get back to normal! But hey, what is NORMAL????



Blessings,
Lisa

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Happy Blessings to you all!
Lisa

Super Deal At Walmart

Hi,

  I came across a super deal for those of you that stockpile or keep a pantry well stocked!  Walmart has the Augason Farms Dehydrated Sliced potatoes on roll back.  They are regularly $11.99 but are now just $4.99 each!  Hurry and order yours, they may not be on rollback too long!  https://www.walmart.com/ip/Augason-Farms-Emergency-Food-Dehydrated-Potato-Slices-20-oz/22985135

Frugal Blessings,

Lisa

Last Week's Frugality

  Last week was a no spend week except for our budgeted food costs.  We actually spent less than we budgeted for therefore saving over $20 in groceries. It was basically a bread, milk, and eggs run! Then  I was able to use a $4 rewards on my grocery order saving even more! Cha ching!!!

  We ate at home every night.

  I cooked a whole chicken and used the broth to make chicken and dumplings.  Then with the extra chicken, I made a casserole and  I have enough to use for 2 meals this week!  $4.08 for the meat for 4 meals for 4 adults! Go Me!  But that isn't all, I cooked the carcass and made a small pot of bone broth flavored with celery, onions and carrots.  Remember to add vinegar to the pot to help leach out the bone goodness! I got 3 quart baggies full of mouthwatering, nutritious bone broth for soups this winter. SO much goodness from one chicken I found on sale!  Now that is stretching the budget!! Lol!

  I got several tomatoes from my volunteer tomato plant!  

  We made banana bread out of several VERY ripe bananas so as not to let them go to waste!

  I made home made Rice a Roni last week. Got 3 times as much for less than the price of a store bought package. Love my homemade Rice a Roni--I added a little chicken that I cooked to make the Rice a Roni an entrée!  Stretching the chicken some more!!

  Since I didn't spend my budgeted food amount, I ordered my Knorr chicken and beef bouillon  from Walmart to stock up my pantry.  2 large jars for only $9.76.  This is my stock up my stash purchase for the last 2 weeks! I use it for soup base and for gravy flavoring during the winter! 
    What have you added to your stash/pantry lately?

 

They are just $ 4.88 each at Wally world.

I am not an affiliate of Walmart, just like low prices!

What did you save money on last week?

Frugal Blessings,

Lisa



  

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