Welcome to Friday! With the Covid numbers rising rapidly, we stayed home all week and have spent no money. The savings on gas this year has been huge as a result.
Saving Money In My Frugal Kitchen
The last time we bought groceries, I repackaged the ground beef into quart size freezer bags and used my rolling pin to get them as flat as possible. These have been a good addition to our freezer stash because they thaw much quicker than ground beef, which isn't flattened. It's been a good time saver.
Bailey made hot chocolate bombs this week, which turned out delicious.
I ran out of cornmeal recently and wanted to make salmon patties, so I looked online at what else I could use and found a recipe using dressing/stuffing. I mentioned it on the Living Simply Facebook group and Carol mentioned that I could use breadcrumbs. I hadn't even thought do that and I had a loaf of bread for just that purpose. They turned out well. :)
Saving on Entertainment
For movie night this week we watched the movie, Sing. The film is about a group of animals that enter a singing competition, hosted by a koala who is trying to save his theater. It was a cute movie and the singing was entertaining.
For game night we played Ticket to Ride, which we always enjoy.
What I've been Reading This Week
Mountain Folk Remedies: The Foxfire Americana Library
Poisoned Just Enough: Why I’m so Optimistic About 2021
Other Frugal Activities
I had a pair of pants that got bleach on them somehow. Bailey dyed them for me and now they look brand new.
We go for low maintenance and shorter hair styles to save on shampoo and hair products. We also dry our hair naturally to save on electricity.
Freebies
Free Christmas Gift Tags
If you are local to Chattanooga, the health department is giving free flu shots to adults 18 and older this Saturday, December 19, at Orchard Knob Baptist Church (1734 E. 3rd Street) from 10AM to 2PM.
I attended a plant based Zoom meeting this week from Nutrition Science Workshop. Each person who attended was emailed a coupon to redeem one free plant-based nutrition book. There are several to choose from, but I've not yet decided which one I want.
One freebie that came in the mail this week was a journal for Psoriatic Arthritis. It's a nice journal that came with an orange bookmarker/pen holder.
Other Stuff
Today is the last day to enter Wealthy Nickle's $250 Amazon gift card giveaway. If you're interested in entering, click here.
That is all the news to report from here this week. I hope you're doing well and enjoying the holidays. Until next time, stay healthy and safe!
Belinda
~ Living within our Means ~
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I always flatten my ground beef. It thaws lickedy-split and stacks so nicely. I have always used bread crumbs or crushed crackers for salmon or tuna patties. Funny you never thought of that and I never once thought of corn meal! I love how everyone has their own special recipes.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend.
I would have used cracker crumbs, but I was out of crackers too, Cheryl. LOL I use crushed cracker crumbs in meatloaf as I think it gives it good flavor. I love how we all have our variations too. It's fun to learn what each of us does. I hope you have a great weekend too.
DeleteI love finding alternatives. Carols page has good tips-people share their knowledge.
ReplyDeleteI do too, Sam. We really like the bread crumbs, so I can do that in a pinch if I need to again. :)
DeleteHave a Merry Christmas my friend, you mean so much to me. You give us all such wonderful advice.
ReplyDeleteYou are so sweet, Kim. Thank you. I hope you have a very Merry Christmas too.
DeleteI flatten out my ground beef too, defrosts quicker and saves a ton of freezer space too. Sounds like you had a great week. Enjoy the weekend :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Martha. I like how it stacked in the freezer too. Very nice. I hope you enjoy the weekend also. :)
DeleteI started flattening my ground beef as well, more for the storage factor than the quickness in thawing.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you had a wonderfully frugal week.
God bless.
Thank you, Jackie. I like how it stacks up in the freezer.
DeleteMama always used crushed saltines, so I did, too. But, in an effort to be more healthy, I started using oats.
ReplyDeleteThat is good idea too.
DeleteI flatten my ground beef also because it stacks well that way.
ReplyDeleteYes, that is so nice, Anne.
DeleteYou know I love that idea for stuffing for the pAtties. The flavor I bet would be so good! Sometimes we hit a great substitute and sometimes it's ho hum but at least it was eaten I say!
ReplyDeleteI thought that was a neat idea too, Vickie. Yes on the food getting eaten. Not wasting food is a big money saver for sure.
DeleteI had to look up what hot chocolate bombs were. 😊 They sound delicious. I’ve been drinking lots of hot chocolate lately, and I wish I had some hot chocolate bombs.
ReplyDeleteI’ve watched Sing and loved it.
Hope you have a wonderful week, Belinda.
Oh, the hot chocolate bombs are so good, Nil. Even better than regular hot chocolate if that is possible. LOL
DeleteI hope you have a good week too.
Congrats on a spend-free week Belinda! I've saved lots of money on gas too lately now that I'm committed to the monthly shopping trip. I love the savings. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!!
ReplyDelete