Next Week's Goals

  Since things are getting back to our so called normal, I need to start getting more accomplished around the house.  Let me tell you it needs it!!  I feel if I post my goals, that you all will help me be more accountable and get more done. So here goes:

1.      Clean out refrigerator.

2.     Scrub bathroom top to bottom

3.     Cook pork roast with carrots and potatoes in crock pot

4.     Sew snaps on bibs and bring gift to work

5.     Purge stuff from Living room.

6.     Get rid of broken lamp

7.     Hang ladder on wall over TV

8.     Bag up 2 bags of clothes from my closet and take to Goodwill

9.     Clean kitchen window and sill

10.     Wash bedding

11.     Start embroidering pillowcases for upcoming birthdays

12.      Put 2 items on Facebook  yard sale site-use money to build pantry

13.     Complete 2 blog posts

14.      Buy garden seeds

15.       Get fabric for tv table skirt

 

Have you set your goals for this week?  If so what are they?  Remember, I love comments!

Blessings,

Lisa

Last Week's Frugality

    Last Week I packed my lunch 4 out of 5 days.  Still have to pack all week long.  I just am not planning early enough.  I hope to do better this week.  I have been taking my own tea bags and mug to work though.  A cup of hot tea costs $1.25 in the cafeteria at work so I saved over $6 by doing this!!

 

   I shopped the reduced bin at Meijer and found a pepper for 32 cents, five Roma tomatoes for 72 cents and got a bag(1 meals worth) of fresh green beans for 70 cents.  The 3lb bags of onions were just $1 so I picked up one bag of those also. We love onions in almost everything!

  We had bean soup this week using the ham bone from last week.  That made 5 meals out of one spiral ham.   I stretched that baby!!  We ate on the soup 2 meals, and I was able to freeze some for my lunches next week.

  We heat with propane and as many of you know, it is very expensive!!!!!  We had planned on using firewood and our fireplace insert, but my Mother broke her leg and is staying with us.  She has COPD and is on oxygen so we have not been able to use the fireplace this winter.  In order to save on the propane, we are using several space heaters and keeping the thermostat set on 62.  We have been using many warm blankets and wearing layers to make it work.  The electric bill has been high, but not as high as using propane only would have been. I do not advise anyone to go the route we have, as you know space heaters can be dangerous sometimes.   We turn them off and on through out the day.  Be careful.

  We only made one extra trip out this week.  I had to get my glasses ordered.  That was not a frugal trip by any means. Super expensive even with insurance helping pay for them.  How can 2 pieces of plastic cost $550?  I'll never understand and yes I am darned near blind and need bifocals also.

  By using my Kroger points, I saved 70 cents per gallon of gas!!!  I filled my tank for .......just $16!!!!  Awesome, but I understand gas prices are going up.  I knew it couldn't last!  Oh well, it was nice for a while anyway!

  That's about it for me.  What did you do to save money last week?
Frugal blessings,
Lisa

  PS   I received something wonderful in the mail Saturday! I  am going to share-HInt, Hint, Hint! You are gonna love them! Stop back soon to see what my giveaway will be!
 

The Circle of Life

     I have missed my blogging friends so much!   Life has been very difficult for my family for the last 6-8 months.  My Mother had a heart attack last August, then hurt her knee and went to PT for months.  Then on her 2nd to last PT  visit in December, she fell getting into my daughters car, broke her leg in 3 places and cracked a rib.  After being admitted to the hospital, she had another mild heart attack and was inpatient for 12 days followed by 20 days in Rehab.   In the midst of her hospital stay, my DH was in the hospital for days for Epilepsy testing. Sheww! Where did December go?   Mom has been staying with us since she was released from Rehab and it has been a pretty rough 6 weeks.

  I am just now feeling like we are living in some semblence of normal, or at least our new so called normal! So I decided to try and get back to my blogging.

 

   Kroger had small pots of tulips on sale last week.  I so NEEDED a breath of spring time!  Just a hint that Spring is just around the corner, and do you know what?  That little pot of yellow and red tulips, has helped tremendously!  I cannot look at them and not smile!  I cannot wait for the small green shoots of my perennials to start popping up through the cold earth.  Mother Nature waking up after a long Winter's rest and coming to life!  It will be so joyous to watch my favorite plants start a new life cycle this spring.  Many people don't like fall because they feel everything is dying, but I love that season as well becasue it is a part of the circle of life that promises new life in the Spring!  Everything  and everyone needs to rest  in order to bloom.  So I feel as though I have rested since August and  my blog is going to BLOOM this Spring!   I hope you all will enjoy this circle of life with me!

Dreaming of Spring Blessings,
Lisa

Quote of the Week

                            

                                             "Despite the forecast, live like it's Spring.” 
                                                                        ― Lilly Pulitzer

Blessings,
Lisa

Record, Records, and More Records!

  

   Baby it’s cold outside!  Our area (NKY) has had snow,  more snow and frigid temps for the last 2 weeks!  It has been FRIGID!  

    The NKY area has broken 7 records with snowfall and low temps in the last 2 weeks.  I pray we do not break any more!  I am so over it!

    We are blessed with many quilts and blankets to keep us toasty. We have not lost power as of yet, but I have my oil lamps, candles, matches, and flashlights ready to go if needed.   Please pray for the folks that are suffering without power during these ferocious winter storms!  I hope they have prepped for such an emergency. How are you staying warm and toasty during this long, cold winter?  How have you prepared for Winter emergencies?

Warm Winter Blessings,

Lisa

Last Week's Frugality

  Last week I was able to pack my lunch all 5 days!  Yippee for me!  I just have to continue this forever!!

   I love getting together on the holidays, so we had a cook out for Labor Day.  My brother and his family, my Mom and all of my family were there.  Because we are short on funds, still…… I used meats from the freezer, and made mac n cheese from the pantry as well.  I didn’t buy any soda for the cookout, I used the crystal light I had in my stash.  We had pink lemonade and peach tea and both went over very well!  I used a gift card for Target from my birthday to buy the buns and paper plates.  All I had left to get was a bag of ice, a watermelon, potatoes, and napkins!  My Mother brought baked beans, my daughter brought her specialty—buffalo chicken dip and chips, and my SIL brought homemade guacamole and chips. We had a feast! I had all of the condiments in the pantry-mustard, ketchup and home canned relish that was to die for!  All in all it was a great cookout!  Even if it was frugal!

  I used my Kroger points to get 30 cents off per gallon of gas—filled up my tank!

   My MIL fell and broke her arm so we ended up eating out several times (after ED visit and after visiting her in the hospital)—I am happy to say we used B1G1 coupons that a friend gave to me and ordered only water to drink.  I really didn’t think I would get to use them, but they came in so very handy!

  We live next to the county fairgrounds and the fair was Labor Day weekend.  We chose not to attend in order to save money.  It’s basically the same thing every year so I don’t think we missed much!  My SIL did bring Tom a funnel cake though!  Thanks Ellen!

  I received a facial cleanser sample and signed up for several more samples along with a coupon for a Sugardale ham.  Gotta start thinking about ham for the holidays!

 I still catch cold water in a bucket while the shower is heating up.  We use it to manually flush the toilet in our bathroom. 

  Thanks to my Mom’s friend; He gave her a bunch of tomatoes.  Mom graciously shared her bounty with me and I will be canning more tomatoes for the pantry.

  I used the Target Gift Card to get a box of regular mouth canning lids.  I had wide mouth lids but no regular lids for canning my tomatoes. 

    That is just about it for me!  How did you save money last week?

Frugal blessings,

Lisa

 

 

 

Last Week'sFrugality

      Last week we had a very lean week because of taking my Mother to her class reunion out of town.  I hadn’t planned on the trip but after her heart attack 2 weeks ago, she asked me to drive her down.  She was still worried after the surgery.  The Dr. wasn’t thrilled with her going, but she is very determined! And besides, she had already paid for the 2 tickets!  LOL!  I just had to stop and let her walk every so often.

  I packed my lunch 4 out of the 5 days—really I packed 5 days but forgot to take lunch to work one day.   I’d forget my head if it weren’t attached!

    I lucked out and found about 10 lbs. of roma tomatoes marked down to just a little over $5!  I was able to can 6 pints of tomato sauce and about a quart of fresh salsa that we have devoured over the weekend.  What a bargain!  Canning is so satisfying!

   I only spent $48 at the super market last week.  That included the tomatoes that I canned.  I am trying to use up the food in the freezer and after last weekend, the savings sure were appreciated. 

  I filled my car up at Kroger and got $.30 per gallon off.

  After getting my rear end handed to me by my diabetes Doc last month, I have been walking several miles per day in order to try and get off of some of my meds and improve my glucose levels.  I have been trying to eat better and reduce my carb consumption.  It’s been a lot of hard work but it is paying off. My goal is to lose weight and be off of the fast acting insulin and off of the blood pressure meds by Christmas. This will be a savings of about $65 per month and will potentially save a bunch on future medical bills!   I am determined to do this!

 How did you save last week?

Frugal blessings,
Lisa 

      

Fast and Frugal Christmad Gifts

    Did you know that Christmas is only 154 days away as of today?  Well, I have been keeping track of it and have gotten lots of gifts made and ordered,   I have been making Sashay scarves for the females on my Christmas list. This is a fast, easy, too cute scarf you can make with minimal, and I do mean minimal crochet skills. The Sashay yarn costs anywhere from $3.29-$4 79 in my area and you can whip one out in about an hour and a half. This is a  fast project for my short attention span!
Here is the tutorial I used: sahay scarf .  I found it to be the easiest method.  You should really give it a try!  Fast and easy gifts!

Sisters market tote 

    If you are looking to buy inexpensive gifts for  the females in your life, Longaberger has some adorable cloth purses on sale.  Click here to see some great purses  and accessories that would be great,  cheap gifts for Christmas!  I took care of my Mother's gift, my MIL's gift, and my SIL's gifts for Christmas along with a purse or two for me for less than $50! And they are Longaberger!!!  Check out the Sisters market tote--just $4.50!
 
   Have you gotten your Christmas shopping started yet?  I start  looking for gifts the day after Christmas so I can get my shopping done by Thanksgiving--makes for a more relaxing Holiday season!
   
 
  Blessings,
Lisa

Last Week's Frugality

Hello !  Hope this post finds you well and happy!

     Last week, just so you know, I was on vacation  so we did eat out several times....make that a lot!
What kind of vacation would it be if I were chained to the stove every meal, I ask you.  Not a very good one for me! I did use coupons when it was possible if that helps any!

   I did get 4 jars of peach jam canned along with 3 jars of cherry jam and 2 pints of blueberry syrup!
All of the fruit used was found on sale at the market. Goodness, I feel so much satisfaction when I can......I just love it and small batch canning is perfect for me.  You see, I get bored quickly, so small batches are perfect for me and my short attention span.

  I have been watching the blackberries along my Mother's drive and our barn.  I see lots of blackberry jam and blackberry cobbler in my future.

  Vacation is over!  Back to life, back to frugality!

Blessings,
Lisa

 

Last .Week's Frugality

   

Hello to my dear Readers! Thought I fell off of the face of the Earth, didn't you!  I just needed to take a break from the blogging for a while.....a long while! 
  My blog may look different to you these days-no ads or other moneymaking gimmicks.  I have decided to change the scope of my blog.  I have been trying to monetize it for years with little success so now I am just blogging when I feel like it for the fun of it.  So you may see some different things or you may see some old stuff--just never know. So on to Last Week's Frugality.
   I only packed my lunch 3 days last week. I know. I know, I must get back to my good habits of packing.  Hospital food is expensive!
  I found a pair of dress pants for less than $2 at the Goodwill.  I also picked up a couple of tops for my Granddaughter Jordy. They are just adorable and only $1.00 each. She needed some for school this fall.
  I took advantage of some great sale loss leaders at the local County Market.  I was able to add 4 jars of olives($.50 each), 8 cans of diced tomatoes($.50 each), 24 boxes of cake mix(3/$1), and 4 cans of fancy mixed nuts for $2.50 each to my pantry this week.
 I also picked up some peaches that were on sale.  I would like to make some jam with them.  Also, Bing cherries were on sale for  $1.99 a pound so I bought oodles of them--my favorite fruit! If I have any left over from my nibbles, I would love to make some cherry jam for my pantry.

Well, as you can see, frugality hasn't been at the forefront of my mind lately but I hope to get back to it asap!

Frugal Blessings to you all,
Lisa












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