Friday, September 13, 2019

Frugal Friday ~ September 13, 2019




Last weekend we canned two dozen jars of green beans and two more jars of peppers. Jody bought a new pressure canner and we worked together to make this happen. We already have big plans for next year to do even more stuff now that we have a canner to use. 


This week I subbed four days and packed lunches and drinks all four days. One day was in the hot gym where I normally take my Bubba Keg with me, but something happened to it and the valve inside broke. 

I've already contacted the Bubba company and sent them photos. They'll let me know in a few weeks what they decide. These items have a lifetime warranty on them.

The hot weather continues to be an issue here, although it has cooled down a few degrees since the August heat wave. 

My daughter was able to get in on a good deal on Weber spices. Publix had them on sale and she combined them with a coupon, which made them 20¢ each. She stocked up on our favorite Garlic & Herb one and we were able to share with friends.


Yard Sale Saturday:


This notebook was priced at only 10¢, so I picked that up and put in my sub bag. I've already been using it this week. I also found three books. Two of them are older Southern Living cookbooks and one was a book to save money on electricity. 

We watched Aladdin and Manchester By The Sea for free online this week. 

So far this month I've bought four Christmas presents. Two of them were bought with Amazon gift cards. Christmas is only 103 days away from today. 

I want to have a frugal Christmas this year, paid in full and I'm starting early to do that as I only have four paychecks between now and Christmas. 

Planing ahead will help us have a debt free Christmas. All of these were shipped to my home for free, so no money spent on gas for them. 

This week I was running low on Ibuprofen, so rather than drive a forty mile round trip, I ordered some online and it was shipped for free to my home. That saves me time and gas money. 

In my Frugal Kitchen this week...

Tuesday was the day I was able to stay home this week and as usual I spent extra time in the kitchen. One of the things I made was apples in my Instant Pot. I had an abundance of apples and wanted to use them up before they went bad. 

We've been busy eating down our pantry and it's beginning to show. We're going grocery shopping on Saturday this week to replenish things. 

How was your week?

Belinda
~ Living within our Means ~
My Linktree

28 comments:

  1. I also started Christmas shopping. I had some Kohl's cash to use. I hit their clearance racks and found some great stuff. I also had a 15% off coupon. I got presents for 6 people and I spent $51. I got another $10 in Kohl's cash to use in 2 weeks. We do not go into debt for Christmas either.

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    1. Wow, that is great to get 6 presents for $51, Marybeth. That's the way to do it!

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  2. You have a great week! I hope they replace your Bubba Keg for free. It's in the 60's a rainy here today with a nice breeze...I'll take it! lolz

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    1. Oh, that weather sounds so nice, Sluggy. I hope they replace my Bubba Keg for free too. :)

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  3. Fresh green beans on the table for Christmas dinner, what could be better !
    You've caught some great bargains this week, congratulations.
    The yard sale looks like it had lots of nice items.
    ~Jo

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    1. Oh, that was the nicest yard sale, Jo. I hope we can find some like it tomorrow.

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  4. The beans look so pretty all lined up. I love looking at pictures of home canned food!
    Do you only get paid once a month? 4 paychecks before Christmas - oh my. No wonder you are getting busy!
    Have a nice 'hot' weekend.

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    1. I love looking at pictures of home canned food too, Cheryl. Yes, once a month is when we get paid. Wish it were different, but I will take what I can get. LOL

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  5. I don't can green beans any more. I eat them all summer fresh and buy them after Christmas at 3/1. I can't save money at that price, but I take comfort in knowing how to can them and in having the things needed to do so. It has been a busy week with sewing, sewing, and cleaning, mostly outdoors in my free time. I did get a good deal on yogurt. Albertson had a buy ten for $10.00, and get three bags of shredded cheese free. This was almost an $8.00 value. Well I found the yogurts had a 1/2 off sticker, so $5.00 and three free cheese. As I am not buying anything for my pantry until it is eaten down, this was a great buy.

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    1. Oh my, what great deals, Kim. Free Cheese!! I like that. Sounds like you had a good and productive week. I hope your weekend is a good one.

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  6. We are doing a large Christmas gift this year (ski passes), but an experience gift vs "things". We did the math, and last year we would have saved money buy purchasing a seasons pass vs paying for each trip. The kids will be thrilled. However, the passes are very expensive. In good news, our Christmas will be paid for well in advance (by the end of this month).

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    1. Oh, that is great gift! I would love a membership to the YMCA as a gift like that.

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  7. I start Christmas shopping the week after Christmas and continue all year. It is time for me to see everything I have and start sorting what goes to whom.
    I don't can green beans either but I love home canned beans. Maybe next year

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    1. That's great to start so early, Anne. You can't beat that. I need to do that too.

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  8. I love yard sales. I especially love when I can find great deals! Yes Christmas is coming up on us. We usually put a little bit of money away each week throughout the year so we don't feel the pinch when it comes time to buy gifts.

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    1. That's a great way to handle that, Nana. A little bit at a time. :)

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  9. It sounds like a really good week for you, Belinda. Good work on getting a couple of Christmas gifts. We, also do most of our shopping and crafting in advance. This way we don't feel overcome by the intense pressure to buy stuff between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

    For us, I finished up September's grocery shopping. I won't buy any other food items until October. I spent $123.57 for food for our family of four adults for the month. We seemed to have hit a good spot with our now low grocery budget. Our freezers and pantry look pretty full. That's such a good feeling. I continued to make more pieces of jewelry for Christmas gifts and sold a couple of pairs of earrings. I cashed out on some surveys (I have you to thank for introducing me to paid survey work many years ago - thanks!). I made another batch of blackberry jam using foraged blackberries. I think this is the end of season for wild blackberries for our area. And we ate all of our meals for the week from our kitchen. That's probably one of our biggest money-savers -- eating from home.

    Have a restful weekend, Belinda!

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    1. You've been very busy, Lili. That's great. I want to make some apple butter this fall, but time will tell. You did great for your September grocery shopping. We finally bought some bread today and that is the first we've spent this month, but we will be back before the end of the month. I hope you have a great weekend too.

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  10. It’s great that you are buying Christmas gifts in advance. This year I’m planning to make crocheted items as gifts. 😊
    Have a great weekend, Belinda.

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    1. Oh those will be so nice, Nil. I rcvd two in an Christmas exchange last year and just love them.

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  11. What caught my attention Belinda was Manchester by the Sea. I had never heard of that movie and the funniest part of the whole thing is that I live less than 15 miles from Manchester by the sea.

    I will have to see if I can watch it on some device since I read the description online and it sounds interesting and it was all made in my area.

    Small world as they say!

    Have a good weekend!!

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    1. How neat, Mary Lou. You'll have to let me know what you think of the movie. It's definitely a small world.

      I hope you have a good weekend too.

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  12. Sounds like a great week. We order our routine meds online too. Ibuprofen, melatonin, and allergy meds... it's so convenient.

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    1. Yes, Penny...it is so convenient to order online these days. I love it.

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  13. Hi Belinda,

    Some good deals this week for you! Have you heard of the $5 meal challenge ($5 for 3 days/3 meals a day for 1 person) The Fundamental Home / Ellen's Abundant Life or the "What if" Challenge from Mornings with Granny. They really test one's frugal-ness.

    Nichole

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    1. Oh my, I'd say that does test your frugalness. I will have to check that out, Nichole, thanks. :)

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  14. Hi Belinda,
    I've been canning today -just 9 pints but tomorrow will be a lot more. I bet it helps the time go by with a good helper. Have a great night.

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    1. Oh, that is so neat, Vickie. You have the sweetest blog and I enjoy reading there so much. A good helper is a blessing for sure. I hope you have a great day. :)

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