Snow Day

School is closed today due to inclement weather aka snow. They've already called school off for tomorrow too. I'm scheduled to work the rest of this week, but with the snow that might not happen. 
Either way it's a good day for soup, so I made a batch of vegetable soup today in my Instapot. It will be good warm food on this snowy day. 
I've gotten a lot done around the house today since we've stayed home. That's the positive side of a snow day.
What's the weather like where you are?
Belinda ~ Living within our Means ~

Frugal Saturday

Pictured below are two free items I received in the mail this week. One was for a full size can of Axe dry spray deodorant and a coupon for $1.50 off the same item from Target. 

The other free item was for flushable wipes from Cottonelle along with a $1.00 off coupon for Cottonelle toilet paper or wipes. 

We've had some snow in the weather here this week and ended up using four snow days as a result. Unfortunately I missed two days of subbing as a result. 

Some frugal things we did this week include:
Paid $1.38 per gallon for gas at Sam's Club in Chattanooga. I filled up my car for $17.71, which tickled me. However, my brother, who lives in Illinois, is buying gas for 99¢ per gallon! 
Went to Sam's Club this past week and bought pizza making items. I noticed an increase in price on two of the items I normally buy, but did see a decrease in the price of mozzarella cheese. 
August 2012 Pepperoni - $7.98 Black Olives - $6.25
February 2016  Pepperoni - $10.18 - an increase of $2.12 Black Olives - $9.48 - an increase of $3.23
Mozzarella Cheese (5 pound bag) June 2010 - $10.37 March 2011 - $11.29 April 2011 - $12.98 January 2012 - $11.98 August 2012 - $11.26 February 2016 - $10.48
I also bought two packages cole slaw, three Asian salad kits, mozzarella cheese, cheddar cheese, pepperoni, sour cream, worcestershire sauce, tortillas, cottage cheese, and yeast.
Today I am making chili for dinner. I used this opportunity to use up a few things that I had lingering in my pantry. 

I used the taco seasoning and sauce from this taco kit and used the shells and a little bit of the hamburger from the chili to make oven baked tacos for lunch today. I also used up the last of three cartons of tomato sauce. It's good to use these items up and get them out of the pantry. 
How is your Saturday shaping up?
Belinda ~ Living within my means in Southern Tennessee ~
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Saturday Snow Day

Welcome Saturday!
Breakfast today was leftovers of the fried rice I made for dinner one night this week.  Using up what I have on hand to save money. 
The snow did not amount to much here, around two inches at the most, which is what the weathermen were predicting for our area. We won't be going anywhere though as the area we live does not plow or salt the secondary roads, so they can be dicey to travel. We will be staying home safe and sound today. 
So what to do when you are stuck in the house with no where to go? Why make food of course. 
I have an abundance of oatmeal, graham crackers and peanut butter in my kitchen, so I made the following items today...

- Made & wrapped 17 Granola Bars

- Made Peanut Butter Bars

I also made Egg Salad for Lunches.

- Made Spaghetti and Garlic Bread for Dinner. There is enough Spaghetti left for another meal or two, so I may just make Baked Spaghetti with it for dinner tomorrow or dinner another night. 
We also warmed up with Hot Chocolate today.  
Belinda ~ Living within my means in Southern Tennessee ~
Earn with Swagbucks

Friday ~ January 22,2016

We went to school today and hadn't been there more than one hour when the principal announced that we would be dismissing at 1 o'clock due to the impending snowstorm. The students were so excited. :)

Once school let out my daughter and I headed to town, ahead of the snow, to run errands and head to Food City for their sale. It was a madhouse at Food City with people trying to get groceries before the snow came. 

I wasn't there to get groceries because of the snow, I just wanted two items that were on the Friday one day ONLY sale. I think I looked kind of funny with canned tomatoes and bleach in my cart when others were buying groceries to survive the snow, but that was all I needed. 
12 cans tomatoes (28 ounces) at 88¢ = $10.56 2 jugs of bleach  (64 ounces) at 99¢ = $1.98 Total spent with Tax = $13.76
We made it home in plenty of time before the snow came. :)
Belinda ~ Living within my means in Southern Tennessee ~

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The View From My Window Today

We had more snow last night, so there was no school again today, and they've already called school off for tomorrow too, so I've missed six days of work in the last two weeks. One of the other subs & I were joking on Facebook that maybe we would get to work in March. :)

What's for Dinner

On Thursday I made what might seem like an odd combination for dinner. In my defense, I am it use it up mode since we have been snowed in so many days in the last two weeks, I've not been able to make a trip to the grocery store. So, I made a package of popcorn shrimp from the freezer, mashed up the last of the potatoes and served some beefy mushroom gravy over the top, and cooked five ears of corn I had on hand, cut them off the cob and served them with butter. Even though it was an odd combo, it was a big hit.

On Wednesday, (Prince Spaghetti Day) I made spaghetti for dinner. I sweated some onions and garlic in olive oil before adding some canned tomatoes, tomato paste, and red peppers from the freezer. I also add some spaghetti sauce seasoning that I pick up from Sam's Club. There was still some left after dinner, so that will probably be lunch today. 

Sam's Club 

Speaking of Sam's Club, I need to make a trip soon and also renew my membership. The savings we earn on OTC medicine there more than pays for our membership there each year. I already have a list of items I've been needing, so I can avoid any impulse purchases. 

How is your Thursday shaping up?

Belinda
Live simply by not spending money you don't have.
© Belinda & Frugal Workshop, 2011 - 2015.

Snow Day ~ Good Day for Chili

Today marks the 3rd day in a row we've had no school due to inclement weather. With snow on the ground it made the perfect day for chili, and I had several containers of leftovers that I could sneak into the chili pot.  

Onions & tomatoes from the tacos this week, canned tomatoes left from some I put in the meatloaf this week, two small containers of spaghetti sauce, and the leftover beans from one day this week. 

This is a good example of the "use it up" philosophy we subscribe to at the Frugal Workshop. No food waste here this week and no one was the wiser that these things were added. 

Here is what the chili looked like afterwards: 

Here is my daughter's bowl:

Afterwards, we settled down to play a game of Crazy Eights. 

School has been cancelled again for tomorrow, and law enforcement officials are telling people to stay off the roads as they are dangerous.  Looks like I will have gas leftover at the end of this week too, just like last week. I think by the time this is over I am going to have cabin fever, lol. 

Hope you all are staying warm where ever you are. 

Belinda
CFO ~ Chief Frugal Officer
© Belinda & Frugal Workshop, 2011-2014.
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do, do without”