Friday, February 26, 2021

Frugal Friday


Welcome to Friday!  The weather here this week warmed up into the 50s and 60s, and I was so happy about that after last week's cold spell. The sun came out on multiple days and sure felt better than those gloomy days before. 

This week I received a call to sub for Thursday. I explained to her that I was still waiting on the Covid vaccine and it would be March or April before I got the vaccine, but that I would let her know when that happened. 

Hardly anyone wears masks at school evidenced by the photos I have seen online. The county I live in has the third highest rate of Covid in the state of Tennessee. That is a risk I am still not willing to take even though it will be one year on March 13th, so I will continue to wait. 

Quote of the Week 
Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting. ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt
My Frugal Week

Bailey had a pick up on Saturday and checked to see if Aldi had a grocery pickup for the same time, and they did, so we were able to get some eggs for 89 cents. I boiled one dozen of them to have for egg salad and boiled eggs. 

She also used a Panera gift card she had to pick us up two cookies and brownies for the weekend. 


I sewed a button that had fallen off back onto a favorite shirt of mine. I did this as I was on a phone call with a family friend, so I used my time wisely. 

We continue to declutter here and on Saturday had two printers that we no longer use donated to our local charity thrift store. 

We dressed warmer for the cold weather we had last week wearing sweaters and socks around the house to avoid turning up the heat. We stayed warm and snug in our home with extra blankets and hot tea. I even pulled out my electric heating pad to warm up one evening. 

This week I planned out what I will be doing with my income tax refund, which has been approved, and the stimulus check, if we happen to get one of those. Planning ahead ensures that the money I receive will be spent in the best possible way rather than having no plan where it would be easy to spend the money willy nilly. 

Every year when my daughter was growing up I kept a list of items we needed to do with our income tax refund and it served me well over the years. One item that has been on my wish list is an electric pressure canner, so I will be saving up my money to buy one of those, hopefully this year. 

On Tuesday I had a telemed conference call with my doctor's office. They told me last month that I was going to have to come in for blood work to get my prescriptions refilled. I asked them today if I could get the refills without an appointment, hoping that the vaccine will be available to me soon and she agreed. 

Last week I had an order from Target that was not delivered due to inclement weather. I called them on Saturday to ask about the package. They decided to resend the items and told me that if the other package did show up that I could keep it and not return the items. 

Both packages showed up at the same time on Tuesday evening. Here is a photo of the items and a list of them. The total amount of the groceries we received but did not have to pay for was $31.55.


6 Grated Parmesan Cheese 16oz - Market Pantry™
4 Del Monte Whole Kernel Fire-Roasted Corn Blend 14.5oz
4 Golden Sweet Whole Kernel Corn - 15.25oz - Good & Gather™
4 Del Monte Summer Crisp Whole Kernel Golden Sweet Corn 11oz
4 McCormick Chili Seasoning Mix Original 1.25oz
8 Muir Glen Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes - 14oz
4 Lay's Stax Sour Cream & Onion Potato Chips - 5.5oz

Earning Money

Cashed in Swagbucks for $10 in PayPal money. 

Rakuten sent me a big fat check for $1.23. This site allows you to shop online at your favorite stores and get automatic cash back. If you use our referral link here you can help support this blog. Plus if you sign up with this link, you can get a $20 cash back bonus.

Saving Money In My Frugal Kitchen


This week I decided to make some chocolate syrup since I had all of the ingredients on hand. Afterwards, I made a cup of hot cocoa with it. 

My regular choice of drink is water, and so I rarely drink soda, but every now and then I do want one, but not a whole can. What Bailey and I do is split one with each other. Instead of us drinking two drinks, we only drink one, which saves us money. 

To avoid food waste, one day for breakfast I warmed up a lone baked potato from the refrigerator. I topped it with salt and a square of butter. 

Meals This Week

All meals were eaten at home this week using cloth napkins instead of disposable napkins.  Look at your last two months grocery bills…what could you have bought cheaper? What did you end up throwing away?  Resolve to do better and meal plan your week. Try buying only what you need it can make a huge difference.

Tacos with all the Fixings
Chili - Used the last of the taco meat and added cooked beans, tomatoes, and chili powder. Served with cheese, sour cream, and corn chips for those who wanted that. 
Bean and Cheese or Cheese Enchiladas, Mexican Rice, Salad
Homemade Pizzas
Sticky Pineapple Chicken - This time I added the cashews and it really made the dish. Yum!
Tamale Pie

Saving on Entertainment

I spent Thursday processing clothes for Bailey's online shop and while I was doing that I listened to my YouTube song playlist. The songs are a mixture of old favorites, new stuff and stuff in between. Oftentimes the songs bring me back to a certain time and place and I think about fond memories. It's a good experience and free to listen since they are on YouTube. 

I continue to enjoy Downton Abbey on Amazon Prime.

I also watched the first two episodes of Poldark on Prime after reading several positive comments about it. 

What I've been Reading This Week

Young people drowning in debt: 'Don't borrow your way out of a recession'
The latest OECD figures show the ratio of Australian household debt to net disposable income stands at 217% – meaning the average household owes twice what it makes in the year.

9 Important Strategies to Help You Manage Financial Risks


Freebies

Knorr Cookbook

Free Printable.com

How was your week? I’m grateful for all of you and the inspiration and support you bring in to my life every week. What is your frugal highlight of the week? Please share with us in the comment section, I would love to hear about it!

Belinda
~ Living within our Means ~
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32 comments:

  1. It looks like you had a very successful week, especially scoring the double Target order. Our lives and how we conduct business are so different now!

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    1. Thank you, Anne. Our lives are definitely different than they were a year ago. In the past I would not have ordered as much online as I do now. The free shipping with Amazon and Walmart have definitely saved us money this past year.

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  2. Great on the double delivery and one pay for Target stuff. FREE is always nice.

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    1. Thank you, Cheryl. I agree, free is always nice.

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  3. All I can think of is my last frugal win yesterday--cheap Kraft Parmesan and Miracle Whip, both from Publix.

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    1. Oh, those are both nice items to have on hand.

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  4. The double Target order sue had to be a boost to your pantry. I hope you get closer tot he vaccine list-I know subs are needed in schools, but I am of the same mind as you on risk. I' getting cranky about it actually. Your meal plan sounds good. I hope to do reading-library free to read book, plug away at my embroidery project, and take a few walks-all frugal for my entertainment. And of course-screen time.

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    1. Yes, the double Target order was a big boost to the pantry here, Sam.

      Bailey is getting down about the vaccine too. She wants to get it now and start developing immunity rather than in a month or two. sigh.

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  5. What happened to your podcast?

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    1. All ten episodes are there for anyone to listen. I put it on the back burner at the time as I didn't feel like it was my cup of tea at that time. Thank yo for asking though. :)

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  6. Fingers crossed you are able to get a vaccine quickly! Our teachers are up next week, for which I'm grateful. My kids haven't been learning in person for a year, and I'm very, very, VERY ready for them to go back. :-)

    Keeping on top of the food waste is a never ending struggle, but really important, budget wise. I've thought a lot about it with our meal delivery service, as there is no food waste. I'll want to think about how to keep costs low after we are done with the promo offers & figure out more creative ways to reduce food waste.

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    1. Thank you, I know the secretary at the high school got hers on Wednesday, so they are slowly coming here.

      The schools are offering voluntary summer school here for students who feel like they have missed out on learning this year. It would be hard, but if I one in school they would have been home for the past year too.

      Sounds like you are right of top of the food waste. The meal kits are good for that as far as not wasting food.

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  7. Please do your research as regards electric pressure canners. Despite the claims on the box that make the consumer believe that they are safe for home canning, NONE have passed the National center for home food preservation tests and they fail to consistently keep the food in the jars at the proper temperature. Far better to get a traditional, stove top pressure canner, now much more readily found since the start of CV. Love my Presto!

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    1. Thank you vey much for the safety information, Carol. I will definitely do my research before buying. I can't use a manual on the stove we have now because both bigger eyes are not working, but will still keep this in mind for the future. Thank you again for letting me know

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  8. BTW, I would never have thought to look at Target for delivered dry goods. I just peaked at their canned goods: private label veg are 55 cents! Not bad at all!

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    1. Yes, very decent prices and free shipping if you spend $35 or more.

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  9. I don't blame you for waiting until you get a vaccine to sub again. VA covid rates are going down, except for our area. I think it is all the VT students partying. Hopefully we will get a vaccine in a month or two.
    Glad you were able to get your pkgs. Sounds like they have great customer service. Your sticky pineapple chicken sounds good, and I think I have everything to make it. Thanks!
    Hope you get your pressure canner this year. Glad you were able to get a med refill without going in to the Dr.
    Hope you have a great weekend.

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    1. Thank you so much, Kathy. I hope you have a great weekend too. Bailey loves that Sticky Pineapple Chicken. She had some for lunch today.

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  10. Definitely a smart idea to wait for your vaccine, we are doing the same here before going back to work. It sucks to have the emergency account depleting but our health is more important.

    It sounds like you had a really successful week, and nice score on the double Target orders!

    Have a great weekend :)

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    1. Thank you, Martha. As least we are not alone as we wait on the vaccine along with others are are also waiting.

      I hope you have a great weekend too.

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  11. Wow how nice that you got to keep the order, now I call that good service. I am happy you did not go sub. I would have been worried sick. We rarely have any food waste as I make sure everything is eaten. It does bother my that my food scraps have no where to go, but I think we are getting chicks tomorrow!

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    1. Oh, how exciting to be getting chicks! We loved it when we had ours. That is so great that you all have hardly any food waste. That is the best way.

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  12. Belinda that is crazy your school is not masking up. Yeah, don't go back ever! :) I am crossing fingers you get your vaccine in March. I bet you miss teaching. The masking things is bonkers. I am sorry your district is not being more strict.
    That is great you got a frugal Panera treat in this week.
    I love YouTube music too. I can't do Spotify. It's so confusing to me. I am a computer geek girl. YT is organized better for me plus I like looking at the sidebar at other recommendations. I have found a lot of good artists that way.
    I am with Bailey. I want my vaccine now. The State booted me & DH higher on the list since we are under-insured. It's a thing, lol. I am grateful. I do want the vaccine ASAP.

    Frugal week I made an order at WalMart. I ordered a candle that arrived shattered. They wanted me to return it to store. I told them it would hurt somebody if I did. I was going to take a loss because I didn't want anybody to get hurt. They refunded me without returning. I was grateful.
    Big Lots if you are a Reward member this weekend they have a nice big bottle of hand sanitizer for free. I got mine tonight.

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  13. We know how you feel bout the vaccine, Safyne. I just wish the rollout could be fast,e rbut know they are trying, so we continue to be patient.

    I know it is crazy that they are not masking up at schools. I do not understand it all all. There are over 400 students at the high school alone. Bailey does not want me to go back either.

    You were good not to return the candle. When a jar of pickles broke on us, Target wanted us to return the jar and Bailey refused as she did not want to hurt someone with the broke glass.

    How neat on the hand sanitizer at Big Lots! I love that.

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  14. I was allowed to keep a “wrong size” bedspread once from Wayfair. It’s still in my closet. I hope you get your vaccine soon.

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  15. I can't wait to get the vaccine. I'm so glad you decided on waiting to go back till you get the vaccine too. We can't let our guard down yet! Have a great weekend Belinda!

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    1. Thank you, Vickie. Yes, we cannot let our guard down, we are almost there.

      I hope you have a great weekend too.

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  16. Glad to hear you're holding out for the vaccine. So many people put their lives at risk for their paycheck because they feel they have to, so sad! The teachers and parents here have been bickering for months. The school boards keep wavering and the parents in many districts are now demanding the teachers return even if they can't get vaccines. I think it's unconscionable!
    I'm impressed you make your own chocolate syrup; I switched to the cheap stuff from Aldi because I'm too lazy to make it. I do, however, make my own hot fudge because the recipe takes only 3 ingredients and 3 minutes! ;-)

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    1. Thank you, Bobi. The chocolate syrup is vey easy to make. I like those three and five ingredient recipes as they seem really easy to make.

      From what I saw online yesterday some of our teachers received the vaccine here yesterday, which is great. I would not expect anyone to risk their life during this pandemic. It is unconscionable for parents to expect that from teachers. I am willing to wait, I might not like it, but the risk is not worth it to me.

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  17. I hope you will soon get the vaccine, Belinda. I plan to teach on campus in fall, assuming the college will follow all safety protocols. Hopefully I’ll be able to get the vaccine as well. Even then, I think we have to be careful because the new strains.

    Yesterday I e-filed taxes. I used free filing available at IRS.gov.

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    1. That's great, Nil I used the free IRS tax filing also.

      I hope we can both get vaccinated before too long.

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