*Accepted a free box spring for my son's bed. He decided he did not want the smaller room with the bunk bed, so he accepted the bed frame my husband got from a customer instead that we were originally going to use for our daughter. I was blessed when my best friend had one in her attic. With the bunk bed he had not needed a box spring for his mattress.
* My husband was given a sack of snacks from a coworker that had like 8 or 9 bags of chips that my daughter and I can eat during the week for snack or lunch
* I inventoried our cupboards and freezer and I made a MEAL PLAN! It is just a little two week one....but it's a start. We are just using up what we have for a bit, but I have already made a shopping plan for our tiny grocery budget for the month ( I won't shop till the 15th)
* We continued to make some home made dog food out of stuff we have on hand.
*Collected a few feathers from the chicken pen to use on craft projects
*Made homemade stain remover using blue Dawn, and peroxide. It did a decent job. I rubbed it in with a toothbrush and put a little baking soda on top and let it sit for an hour.
*Have gotten my daughter to drink more water...she always says she hates it but here is what we did. One day she was throwing a fit about how she didn't want water...well I always stick a glass in the freezer cause I like mine as cold as it can get....it froze some and I told her that Elsa must have snuck out of her room and froze my water. So now we pretend and call it Elsa water. She likes the thought, and she will drink it.
Frugal Flop: I fell off the No Spenduary band wagon and bought two little Ceasar's Pizza's the other night....I was disappointed in myself, but here is my confession in an effort to "keep it real." Even though this happened, if this is the only thing we do it's still a huge difference compared to what we usually might spend.
Things to consider. I also belong to a group where we are doing a declutter challenge....and I usually just donate the stuff to get it out of the house, but I can't decide if I want to try and sell any of it to make extra cash....it's not always easy....the kids see stuff of theirs and they want it back etc...so is it worth the hassle, or should I just donate it to the church thrift store where they sell each bag for $1.00 and let it bless someone else.
How was your week?
Hi MJ!! Elsa water is genius!! Way to go!!
ReplyDeleteFrugal flop....pizza, doesn't sound like a flop to me....sounds like making memories! It is ok to to detour as long as you get back on track. This applies to all of life lessons.
As for the declutter chalenge, I have been decluttering myself, I almost put everything in the building for a spring yard sale. But then I made a sudden decision to throw it in hubby's truck to take to a thrift store that will help single mothers in Kentucky. I now have peace knowing that I don't have to have the sale, and I am putting my trust in God's hands for our circumstances.
Also, great job on the menu plan!! I have been wanting to do one, but have been avoiding it like the plague....lol. I hate the stress of having to throw something together last minute. So, my friend, you have encouraged me to step out of the box to do a 2 week menu plan....thank you!! Hope you and your family have a delightful week!! God bless! Lona
Lona thank you for the encouragement...you are right I like that you chose to bless others and trust God for your circumstances....so you have encouraged me to do the same...I will drop it all off later this week. Good Luck with the menu plan! I avoided it like the plague too...but a couple of readers encouraged me strongly...I am glad it's done now...I hope it goes well for you!
DeleteUpdate....I completed a generic 7day menu including breakfast! I can just pick what I want to cook....no pressure! It only took 10 minutes and I was dreading it so bad! Thank you!
Deleteway to go...you are right once you get past the thought and into action it does not take that long. I am sure it will make a big difference for both of us!
DeleteGood job on the menu plan. I usually just donate stuff to Goodwill these days. I have had 3-4 yards sales and after the last one, I decided its not worth the hassle of still having to do something with the leftovers. So I just take it on and it's gone and I don't have to think about it anymore. I hope you make it til the 15th. It's been a month or more since I did a really big stock up. I've just run in maybe every week or two to get necessities like milk & eggs. My list is getting pretty lengthy. I want to try and make it just a little while longer. I had stocked up on sale items in November (also used coupons). It is amazing how much you go through when you really cook every meal at home. Plus we like country "cookin' " with a meat, bread & 2-3 sides. We do eat leftovers and repurpose leftovers where possible. I made a great vegetable soup the other day after I'd saved up leftover vegetables ...you know, just a few bites, but not enough for a serving. I would add them to a container in the freezer until it was full. It was really good & we got at least 2 meals out of it. There are ways to stretch everything. You're doing great. Happy new year & best wishes with the children's rooms. I'm sure they will enjoy their space.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you too Vicky....the kids are enjoying their space, we are still working on final touches....I hope to do a type of home tour in the near future. We do the scraps of veggies and what not in the freezer too...my son calls it "mystery soup". We did that this past week too...although something in it was spicy..some meatballs or something.(didn't know they were spicy)....but we still ate it for two nights. That is awesome you stocked up in November ...my stock is almost non existent with the exception of spices and cocoa. I think I have decided to donate the stuff now...thanks to the comments from you two lovely ladies.
DeleteHi MJ! I have to tell you that the idea of "Elsa Water" is pure genius!! My daughter will drink water but it is not her first choice. She doesn't have an Elsa doll but I am still going to use your idea to get her to want to drink more water- thank you for sharing that brilliance with your readers! ;)
ReplyDeleteAlso, high five to you on the menu plan! I know that it can seem like work but once you do it a few times it will be second nature- or at least seem easier to do. :)
MJ, you do very well at saving your family money and resources. I don't think the pizza thing is a big deal- it sounds pretty delicious actually! :)
Hope you are having a great weekend!!
I hope you are having a great weekend too Dawn, you will have to let me know how the "Elsa" water experiment goes...it is working wonderfully here! You and another reader were the inspiration for the menu plan....i have it right next to the computer. You do great at savings and using your resources too!...
Deleteyes - we too tried the yard sales and i even sold some stuff on ebay but what with my work and all....ive just started donating it all....it didn't seem worth the effort to me but i know some people are really great at making money those ways!
ReplyDeleteand i agree the pizza didn't sound like a flop!!! we splurge/treat with the any size/any toppings $11 pizza hut pizza sometimes. you have to order on line for the deal but we can get a large with any amount of toppings for $11 and come on - pizza! the universe has to cut us a little slack with a pizza break! happy new year to you and all of yours!! I've got to read back and see if you mention a recipe for the dog food.....or do you just do leftovers? i was doing homemade food for awhile with my dogs. i still do food for the cats but I've gotten lazy with the dogs - plus it was time consuming with my two dogs (76lbs & 30lbs) they go through a lot...no excuses though, i need to get back to doing some of their meals homemade....it does save money!!!
I will have to check out the pizza hut deal sometimes...thanks for the tip....although the one near us burnt down...but there is another one in the next town...so maybe the next time I am in the area....I will try that one. Happy New Year to you and Yours too...with all that work don't forget to take a little time for you! I have not posted a recipe for the dog food....I just researched some and have tried different ones when we make it....sometimes I do incorporate left overs....or things we don't eat. I have not tried homemade cat food yet...I am so afraid my cat will have a sensitive stomach, so i have not been brave enough to give it to him. We have been adding the homemade with the kibble sometimes trying to stretch it. I will have to share a couple of the ones I have tried. I have used brown rice in some. My goal this year is to live better on less...if it's possible. I hope to find out....
DeleteWhen my oldest daughter was two she went through a green phase. She didn't like milk or water but I put it in a sprite bottle and she drank it right up, lol Your Elsa water is nothing short of inspired genius, lol.
ReplyDeleteI only plan my meals one week at a time. I read in a 1920's BH&G magazine of a woman who suggested you go through the fridge towards the end of the week and plan to use those leftovers. She inspired me to start using up my leftovers in creative ways. And if I plan by the week I'm more than likely going to find I have more than enough leftovers to stretch my budget.
Terri, I will keep the green idea in mind in the event that the Elsa approach stops working. One week at a time meal planning sounds good. I suppose should I find it overwhelming, one week at a time I shall try. We try to make sure we use our left overs too.
ReplyDeleteSmart idea about the Eliza water...
ReplyDeleteI know how you feel about selling stuff- I was going through the toys and the grandson came in and asked me what I was doing. I told him that he was probably too big for some of this stuff and he told me no he wasn't. He then took them all out of the bag and started playing with them! I will do it sometime when I know he won't be here.