Third Frugal Friday of April 2024

                                              

Welcome to Frugal Friday! 
My Frugal Week
I sold one item on eBay this week. 
I used up three packets of protein powder I bought to try out in the last year, so I'm glad to have used them up this week. 
The representative for my trunk pump never came last Friday. I waited for thirty minutes and called and was told someone would call me right back, but no one did. So, rather than clean downstairs, Bailey and I left for an adventure. 
We took the last of the books downstairs plus some of ours to McKay Used Books. They will only let you process three bins of books at  time and we had six, so we left some to be processed the next day. 
While they processed our books, we shopped for new ones for us. I found Dr. Fuhrman's book, Eat For Life, for $6, which made me happy as I had it on my wish list on Amazon. I'll be reading it once I finish A Man Called Ove. 
Afterwards we went to our favorite Chinese buffet for lunch/dinner, and then went thrift store shopping in Fort Oglethorpe. I didn't buy anything from the thrift store. I looked, but nothing caught my fancy. 
After that we stopped and got specialty drinks from Sonic. They sell half price drinks all day long on their app. I got a Blackberry Lemonade, which was delicious.
On Monday I steamed forty pieces of clothing for Bailey to photograph for her shops.  On Tuesday I measured them in order for her to list them for sale.
Rather than let it languish in my drawer, I returned a clothing item that didn't fit me well.
I stopped in at Whole foods after an appointment on thursday, I saved 46 cents using my Amazon Prime membership. 
Freebies
We received four free calendars from the USDA Defend the Flock series. I also received a free issue of Southern Living magazine. 
That's all the news to report from here this week. I hope you've had a very good week. I'd love to hear all about it in the comment section. 

Thank you for dropping by my frugal blog, you are always welcome here. 
We would love to hear all about your week in the comment section.

BelindaHomemaker at HeartMortgage & Debt Free~ Living within our Means ~My Linktree
~ She looketh well to the ways of her household ~Proverbs 31:27

Menu Plan Monday ~ April 15, 2024

                                                                                                                                                                                                         

What’s for Dinner

Monday ~ Grilled Chicken, Lettuce , Tomato and Corn Salad. 

Tuesday ~ Minestrone Soup

Wednesday ~ Pulled Pork, Honey Carrots, Corn, and Lord Chesterfield Beans. 

Thursday ~ Orange Chicken from Trader Joes, Broccoli, and Oven Roasted Potatoes. 

Friday ~ Chinese food... I had Shrimp, Crab Rangoon, Broccoli, and Pineapple. Bailey had her favorite Cajun Chicken and Coconut Shrimp. 

Saturday ~ A concoction I created using canned beef, canned potatoes, onions, corn, and some cheese. It was a big hit and I had three servings left for lunches this week. It used up some canned goods from the pantry and fed us inexpensively. A win-win in my book. 

Sunday ~ Salisbury Steaks, Mashed Potatoes, and Green Beans with Onions. 

What’s been on the menu in your home this past week?

Belinda

Homemaker at Heart

Mortgage & Debt Free~ Living within our Means ~My Linktree
~ She looketh well to the ways of her household ~Proverbs 31:27

Second Frugal Friday of April 2024

                                                   

Welcome to Frugal Friday! 
Quote of the Week

Laugh More, Gripe Less, Ignore Critics, Say Yes, Order Dessert, Love Life ~ Gretchen Scott

My Frugal Week
Last Friday evening Bailey had a book club meeting in the North Shore area of Chattanooga. They were serving drinks, so I drove for her and the meeting was only two miles from Whole Foods, so I went and looked around. 
I ended up buying several things, including olive oil, green tea, red peppers, almond milk, power greens, spinach, carrots, mangos, and one Dekopon orange to try. Total spent was $76.87.  
I sold three items this week without really even trying. One of them was a book I found in Dad's office that sold for $50 on eBay. 
On Monday I went to the retina specialist for two eye injections and they gave me a pair of eclipse glasses. I had my eyes dilated, so I didn't want to look at the sun, but Bailey did and she was able to see the crescent shape of the sun from where we are located. 
On Tuesday I worked on several things such as laundry, cleaning, mailing packages, and measuring clothes to sell. This is Bailey's movie night, so I have the night off from cooking, so I just heated up  some of the soup I made on Sunday for my dinner. 
Wednesday was my physical therapy appointment and I went to Target afterwards. I found a container of the protein powder we use on the clearance rack for $9, so I bought that, which was a $10 savings. 

On Thursday I reused a pump bottle from body wash and cleaned it out thoroughly. I then drained my prescription shampoo bottles into the larger bottle, which has a pump. I made sure to use a funnel and let each one drain fully. 
The larger bottle and pump will make it easier to use in the shower, and I have way less containers of the small prescription bottles now. I also covered my homemade label with tape, so it won't get ruined in the shower. 
Today we are heading downstairs after Bailey shops the buggy sale at our local thrift store and I have an in-home appointment to be measured for a trunk pump for my lymphedema, so a busy day is one hand. I hope you have a wonderful day and a beautiful weekend. 

Thank you for dropping by my frugal blog, you are always welcome here. 
We would love to hear all about your week in the comment section.

BelindaHomemaker at HeartMortgage & Debt Free~ Living within our Means ~My Linktree
~ She looketh well to the ways of her household ~Proverbs 31:27

Menu Plan Monday ~ April 8, 2024

                                   

My Frugal Week

I inventoried my pantry again this week as I've been using up a lot of what we have on hand, and my previous numbers were off, so now it has been updated. 

Recipe of the Week

The Blue Zones are seven areas in the world where people live very long and healthy lives and part of that is the diet they've eaten over the years. Here is one such recipe for Sardinia Minestrone, which you can find on their website here. 

I made my own version of this on Sunday and it made sixteen cups worth of soup, so I'll have plenty for lunches this week and even some to put in the freezer. 

Sardinia Minestrone

Ingredients:

1⁄2 cup dried fava beans

1⁄2 cup dried cranberry beans

1⁄3 cup dried chickpeas

7 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 medium yellow or white onion, chopped (about 1 cup)

2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped (about 2⁄3 cup)

4 medium celery stalks, chopped

2 teaspoons minced garlic

1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes

3 medium yellow potatoes, peeled and diced (about 11⁄2 cups)

1 1⁄2 cups chopped fennel or 2 tablespoons fennel seed

1⁄4 cup loosely packed fresh Italian flat-leaf parsley leaves, chopped 2 tablespoons

chopped fresh basil leaves

2⁄3 cup of Sardinian fregula, Israeli couscous, or acini di pepe pasta

1⁄2 teaspoon salt

1⁄2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1⁄4 cup finely grated pecorino Romano (about 2 ounces)

Directions: 

Soak the fava beans, cranberry beans, and chickpeas in a large bowl of water for at least 8 hours or up to 16 hours (that is, overnight).

Drain in a colander set in the sink. Rinse well.

Warm 3 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large soup pot or Dutch oven set over medium-high heat.

Add the onion, carrots, and celery; cook, stirring often, until soft but not browned, about 5 minutes.

Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 20 seconds.

Stir in the tomatoes, potatoes, fennel, parsley, and basil, as well as the drained beans and chickpeas.

Add enough water (6 to 8 cups) so that everything is submerged by 1 inch.

Raise the heat to high and bring to a full boil.

Reduce the heat to low and simmer slowly, uncovered, until the beans are tender, adding more water as necessary if the mixture gets too thick, about 1 1⁄2 hours.

Stir in the pasta, salt, and pepper.

Add up to 2 cups water if the soup seems too dry.

Continue simmering, uncovered, until the pasta is tender, about 10 minutes.

Pour 1 tablespoon of olive oil into each off our serving bowls.

Divide the soup among them and top each with 1 tablespoon of the grated cheese.

Tip: You can vary the beans in the minestrone: pinto beans make a good substitute for cranberry beans; great northern or cannellini beans, for the favas.

Tip: Use the stalks and fronds that come off a fennel bulb for the most intense flavor. No feathery fronds on the bulb? Add a teaspoon of fennel seeds to the aromatic vegetables you sauté to begin the dish.

Tip: Add other fresh vegetables from the garden or market, such as zucchini, cabbage, green beans, and cauliflower or broccoli florets.

Tip: Want a stronger tomato taste? Stir in a tablespoon or two of tomato paste.

Photo of the Week

What’s for Dinner

Monday ~ I took ground chuck out of the freezer to thaw and gathered up cans of beans and tomatoes to make chili for dinner tonight and for the next few days.  I had so many different varieties of beans and tomatoes, so decided to use them up and make a big pot of chili. 

I ended up with enough chil that I was able to put eight bowls (2 cups each) into the freezer. 

Tuesday ~ This is movie night for Bailey, so she had BBQ Chicken Pizza while I had a simple bowl of chili. Even though I enjoy being in the kitchen, I do enjoy days when I don't need to cook too. 

Wednesday ~ Chili

Thursday ~ Dirty Rice, Potato Salad, and Coleslaw. 

Friday ~ Macaroni & Cheese, Steamed Broccoli. 

Saturday ~ Fish, Butternut Squash, Brussel Sprouts. 

Sunday ~ Sardinia Minestrone was made for lunch, but I also made BBQ Pork Ribs, and served that with Green Beans and Onions for dinner.

What’s on the Menu for This Coming Week

We have plenty of ground beef, fish, chicken, and pork on hand to make meals this week. I'll probably make salmon patties, pulled pork, chicken fajitas, and tacos. 

What’s been on the menu in your home this past week?

Belinda

Homemaker at Heart

Mortgage & Debt Free~ Living within our Means ~My Linktree
~ She looketh well to the ways of her household ~Proverbs 31:27

First Frugal Friday of April 2024

 

Welcome to Frugal Friday! 

Quote of the Week & Music 

Hey, 'cause I will soar away like the blackbird
I will blow in the wind like a seed
I will plant my heart in the garden of my dreams
And I will grow up where I want, wild and free ~ Sara Evans
My Frugal Week & Joy of the Week

On Monday morning bright and early our friend Timmy came with help to take down the Bradford Pear tree that was growing and laying on the roof of the house. I had estimates of having the tree removed for both $2,000 and $700, so Timmy 0ffered to do it for $200. A real bargain in my book! It was a beautiful spring day too and perfect weather for this job. 
My Dad had been wanting the tree removed off the house ever since he came back in August. I know, if he were here, he would be glad to have it gone, and I told Timmy that as he and my Dad were friends too. They used Dad's four wheeler to move the limbs to the woods and it  was so great to see so much activity here and it did my heart good. 
On Tuesday I started physical therapy for six weeks on my right shoulder. The orthopedic doctor thinks it's a torn rotator cuff while the physical therapist thinks it's an impingement. I don't relish the idea of going twice a week for six weeks, but it is what it is and I would like some improvement in my pain level. 

I received an Easter card with a very sweet note from my friend and blog reader, Bobi. She also sent me this $2 bill in the card. Wasn't that sweet of her?
I went to my second physical therapy session on Wednesday and had some other errands to run too such as going to Lowe's for wasp traps. We had sprayed all the windows downstairs with Spectracide Wasp Killer, but there were still more wasps. 
Cleaning Dad's Spaces
Last Friday we went downstairs to work on cleaning and decluttering more of Dad's things. We skipped the Friday before as Bailey had book club that evening. We cleaned more in his workshop than his office, and while I was cleaning, I realized that I was sad for him. 

Back when we were growing up, we often cleaned his workshop for him, but as we grew up and moved out, that didn't happen. As I have aged, I realized he was very independent and a private person, so he would not have wanted me to see these areas in the latter years of his life. But, I would have helped him in a heartbeat if he wanted me to help, and it just made me very sad to realize that. 
The summer that the sink/water heater malfunctioned downstairs he was living in Illinois, so Bailey, Mom and I cleaned down there because his office had a couple of inches of water in there. When Dad finally came back a few months later and saw how much we had cleaned he was very impressed. 
So, I do know he would have liked having his areas cleaned and straightened up. I just found it sad that we didn't intervene sooner, although he may not have wanted us to, which is the vibe we felt.  
If you've ever watched any of the Hoarder TV shows, you will probably understand the mental thinking of a hoarder. Mom was the same way, she didn't want people to go through her things. If I emptied a space out, it wasn't long before she would fill the space back up again. 
Freebies
One of the local churches was having a free food giveaway on Saturday. I like to go to these because sometimes they give out fresh fruits and vegetables. Anything that I receive that we can't use, I always donate to the little free pantries around here. 
They gave us Powerades, green chilies, tomatillos, bacon, yogurt, Rice Krispie treats, Hershey kisses, several bags of snacks, carrots, and fruit punch to name some of the items. 
Photo of the Week

It's hard to get my work done when Archie is sitting directly on my clipboard. LOL
Savings of the Week
Walmart had their foil packages of meats like salmon, chicken and tuna on markdown this week, so I took advantage of several of those. 
Avoiding Spending
Bills were paid on Wednesday, so I couldn't avoid any spending this week and we were low on cat food, so I needed to buy some and also bought gas for my car. 

I will say that I was floored when I saw the price of Great Value EVOO for the one gallon bottle is now priced at $$32.97. Volatile weather patterns in the Mediterranean have impacted the countries that generate olive oil, which hampered the amount produced, which has led to these higher prices. Needless to say, I did not buy any this day.  
What I've been Reading This Week

I finished Little Fires Everywhere book over the weekend and started on A Man Called Ove this week. The Little Fires Everywhere was a very good story, which made it easy to read. Bailey is reading it with me, but she reads more than one book at a time, and is a member of multiple book clubs. It's fun to read books together and then discuss them later. 

Thank you for dropping by my frugal blog, you are always welcome here. 
We would love to hear all about your week in the comment section.

BelindaHomemaker at HeartMortgage & Debt Free~ Living within our Means ~My Linktree
~ She looketh well to the ways of her household ~Proverbs 31:27