Last Week's Frugality

Hello Dear Readers,

Icky the Pumpkin man!

     Last week I used my $5.00 off coupons at Big Lots.  I was able to get 2lbs. of pasta, a bag of sunflowers seeds, and 2 containers of marshmallow crème for free for spending $10.  My Mother used her coupon to start her Christmas shopping-$5 off a wallet!  Cha ching!
I hope to get another coupon in my email this week!


    We have yet to turn on the furnace. I try to wait as long as possible before turning it on.


  I stayed within my grocery budget this week--actually $12 under!  Our local Meijer had the 10 for 10 get the eleventh free sale starting Sunday and I got 3 things free!  I was also able to use my Meijer m-Perks to save $3.00 off of my order!


  We had chili for lunch and supper and have enough leftovers for one more meal out of it! 

  I received a ten dollar E-bates check in the mail!!  Was I ever surprised!  If you haven't joined E-bates, you should!  It is great if you order on line! 


  I increased my 403b contribution by one percent.  Not a lot I know, but every bit will help make our retirement better!  Save, save, save, for your retirement people!!!!


  Well that is about it for my family, what have you saved money on lately?  Inquiring minds do want to know!


Frugal Blessings,
Lisa




 

Quote of the Week

Blessings to you all,
Lisa

The Butterfly Effect

  In 2013 a news program first reported on a story about a man named Chris Rosati. He was diagnosed with ALS. His goal for his short life was "to make a difference". He  explained his motive for his quest by saying, "If we can't impact people, then this whole thing is a waste."

 Chris went about changing his little corner of the world with random acts of kindness and challenges to do the same. This was dubbed "the butterfly effect". The concept that one good deed inspires another.   What a simple but meaningful idea!

 

Chris Rosati's battle with ALS came to an end last week. I've followed his story off and on since watching that introduction to his life in 2013, I've wondered about updates on his health. He was 46. The originator of the story learned of Chris' death from an e-mail he received from Chris- Chris wrote, "I want to thank you again for everything, one last time. I'll die Tuesday. Keep living the dream." 

  Can we try to "Live his dream'?  Wouldn't the world be a much better place for everyone if we tried to make a difference by doing small random acts of kindness?  A smile, a compliment costs you nothing!  I challenge you to 'Make a difference' in your little corner of the world just as Chris Rosati did!

Butterfly Effect Blessings,

Lisa

 

Last Week's Frugality

  Last week was a pretty

frugal week.  Money was very tight, due to the wedding, and we didn't have much extra spending money after the bills were paid. That being said, we only spent about a third of our food budget so we had a little money to spend at the Goodwill and Save a lot!


  We went grocery shopping at our local Meijer and I was able to use my mPerks rewards for $8.00 off of our $31 total purchase.  Those mPerks sure add up!


   I used my Kroger points to get $.50 off per gallon of gas.  Savings of about $5 for the tank fill up!


   I cooked a pork roast that we found on sale, and made BBQ. We ate 3 meals out of it and then I froze two meals for future use. Batch cooking saves time and money--one prep, several meals cooked at one time! Win Win!!

  Every Saturday we have been going to Big Lots before going to the Goodwill.  I have been asked several times to join the rewards program there and turned them down.  This time the lady explained that every 3rd shopping trip they give you a $5.00 off coupon by email!  That is huge!  I can use the coupon to stock up on pasta, soups, and other things!  I checked my email  this morning,and there was a $5.00 off welcome coupon!!!  This will pay for my pantry stash additions this week!  I'll take free food!!


 I found a pair of black dress pants at the Goodwill for just $2.49!  Just what I needed for work!! And by having an extra pair of work pants, we will not have to wash my work clothes so often! Score!   My DH found a beautiful sweater for just $3.50! I love the Goodwill on Half off days!


 My Uncle gave us some tomatoes--the last of his garden!  Thanks Uncle Howard! His generosity with his garden produce has truly been a blessing to our family this summer and fall! He also sent me a few books on home hacks. Maybe I'll share some of these with you all in a future blog post!


  Well, that is about it for my family's savings last week!  How have you saved money lately?


Frugal Blessings,
Lisa
 
 
 


 
 








 

Quote of the Week

Positive Blessings,
Lisa

Last Week's Frugality

Icky the Pumpkin Man is back on the porch!

        Last week was a very frugal week!  I was able to save $59.71 on my grocery bill!  I chose the loss leaders and used coupons for them as well! I stayed under my allotted $75 food budget --only spent $72.35.  I was able to get stocked up on Chunky soups, my hubby's pretzels,  Pillsbury biscuits and crescent rolls! 

      The weather was cool last week so we were able to turn off the A/C.

       I cooked a beef roast and stretched it for three meals. My Aunt gave it to me last Christmas.

We had roast beef and vegetables two nights and then beef and noodles another night.  It was a nice big roast and we enjoyed it tremendously! It is especially appreciated because I won't spend my food budget  on such expensive meat!

Two of my faux pumpkins!

        I resisted the urge to buy a pumpkin to carve.  I just put one of my faux pumpkins out on the porch instead--saved $3.99! 

       As some of you know, I take my mother to the Goodwill most Saturdays and this past Saturday was no exception.  I found an American Girl Doll($10) 2 weeks ago and low and behold, I found a box of 18" doll clothes last Saturday!  The box had maybe 12 outfits and 3 pairs of shoes/boots and was only $10!  I am so excited to find the doll and clothes for only $20!  My Granddaughter is going to love them!  Score and Cha ching!!

       I  found a cute little jar for $.50.  It will be adorable filled with small cookies or candy!

      I found a bag of gold mylar shred for $.50.  It will be perfect in a gift basket this Christmas!

      Since my Granddaughter loves to read, I picked up a Disney chapter book for her for a quarter!

This will be given for Christmas also! I try to give books every year to encourage her to read more!

    All in all I had a very good week and got some Christmas gifts purchased!
How did you save last week?


Frugal Blessings!
Lisa


      












        
        
          


        

Quote of the Week

Daily Blessings,
Lisa

Last Week's Frugality

Hello Dear Readers,

  I was off of work last week to get ready for my youngest daughter's wedding on Friday night.
I am sad to say last week was not very frugal. We ended up eating out most days because you couldn't see the tabletop or counter for wedding stuff!.  I made the cupcakes for the rehearsal dinner, made the wedding cake, made more cupcakes for the wedding, made a 5 pound cheese ball, made a batch of Oreo truffels, and finished up the flowers. I was busy--too busy to cook and had no place to cook! My kitchen was a mess!  I could say I was frugal by making the wedding cake and saving the $400, but the restaurant expenses were pretty high!  Good thing this is our last wedding to pay for!!!
   We were given lots of tomatoes, peppers and turnips by my cousin--thank you Charles!
   I did use my Kroger points for gas to save $.30 per gallon but that is about it for me!
   What did you save money on this week?
Frugal Blessings,
Lisa


PS I will post wedding pics soon!

Quote of the Week

Creative Blessings,
Lisa

Last Week's Frugality

Hello Dear Readers!

    Last week was a pretty frugal no spend week.  We ate supper at home every night but Sunday and my Dear Momma bought KFC for us.  We had a pint of mashed potatoes left over so they were refrigerated and warmed up for another meal.  I love using leftovers—I feel so virtuous for not having them go to waste!

    We didn’t go anywhere we didn’t have to go.  No pleasure drives, just work and back.

    My son cut my DH’s hair and trimmed his beard. He does a great job!

    For my daughter’s wedding this week, we want to serve appetizers—cheese cubes, crackers, and cheeseball.  I priced the cheese at Sam’s Club and the cubes were $9.99 per 2 lb bag. $5 per pound.  When I was at the grocery on Sunday, I realized that Meijer had their one lb cheese blocks on sale buy one get one free!  So I bought 8lbs. and got 8lbs free!  It was about $2.25 per pound! I saved over $45 by buying the blocks and cutting them myself.  It won’t take long to cut but what a savings!

   I made the backdrop swag of flowers from left over wedding flowers and some curly willow I had in a churn in my living room! So there was no out of pocket for it—just used what I had on hand and it is beautiful!

     I also bought cotton fabric and made the napkins to go in the baskets for the appetizer and dessert tables.  Spent less than $4 for all of the napkins(8).  Pretty reasonable and they were too easy!

  The only things we got completed on our winterizing list was to turn down the water heater thermostat and to put a bottle in the toilet tank to displace and save on water costs. But if it helps reduce the bills it all good! Every penny counts! We so need to get more accomplished on our list ASAP!  Cooler weather is coming soon!

  Well, that’s about it for me—What have you saved money on lately?

 Frugal Blessings,

Lisa