Frugal Frugal ~ October 29, 2021

Welcome to Friday! 
My Frugal Week

Last Thursday evening we had a bad storm come through our area. During the storm we heard a loud noise and the whole house shook. Turns out a tree fell in the storm and landed on our front deck and stairs. We’ve asked our handyman Timmy to take care of it and he will when he has some extra time. 

Last Friday we were up early to go to a church yard sale where I was able to pick up some fabric, cloth napkin, dish towels, apron, and Minnie Mouse potholder. They didn't have any prices on items, but were accepting donations for a missionary instead, so we filled up a box of items and gave them a nice contribution.

Also pictured are three reusable cloth sandwich bags, which we picked up on Saturday for 50 cents, two Rubbermaid bowls and one pitcher, and a hand held shaker cup.   
One of the items was an Angry Mama Microwave Cleaner which you fill with vinegar and water and then run in the microwave for 7 minutes. Honestly, you can do the same thing with a glass bowl, so no need to go and buy one. 

On the cleaning front we took down the bathroom curtains this week and washed them. I steamed them before Bailey put them back up and they look so much better. 
I’ve been deep cleaning lately since I can see the dirt so much better now. The nurse at the eye doctors office said more people say they can see the dirt so much better after eye surgery than anything else.
I cleaned out my closet this week to get some sewing projects out of there, so I can work on them this week. The fabric I bought at the church yard sale would make a good large casserole potholder for Thanksgiving. 
On Wednesday I had a doctors appointment and left early to get some errands done. I took my car in for an oil change and one of my headlights was out, so they replaced that for me and aired up one of my tires that needed it since the cold weather started. 
Earning Money
I listed one item for sale on eBay this week. 
I cashed in my Checkpoints for $3.00 in Amazon gift cards this week. It's been hard to do this app since we haven't been driving during the pandemic as much as we used too, so it was good to be able to use this again. 
Avoiding Spending
I couldn't avoid spending money as I had the oil changed in my car and a headlight replaced.
Saving Money In My Frugal Kitchen
We’ve been doing the usual things, keeping a check on the leftovers. Checking the fridge every day before making new food. I soaked a two pound bag of pinto beans this week and made homemade chili with that. This chili will last us several days of different meals, which makes this such an affordable option. 
Meals This Week
Friday: The last of the Taco stuff. It was good while it lasted. 
Saturday: Pork Chops, Fried Potatoes, Green Beans with Onions 
Sunday:  I had chicken in the refrigerator to thaw and I was going to make BBQ with it, but Bailey requested Sticky Pineapple Chicken again. I served this with rice and corn on the cob. 
Monday: For breakfast I heated up the last of the rice and added some cheese for protein. It tasted great and is such an affordable meal. Many people the world over eat rice as a staple in their diets. It is an inexpensive way to fill your family up without it costing a lot of money. 
We also had chicken left from Sunday dinner, so I served that for dinner with corn on the cob and baked potatoes.  
Tuesday: We ate lemon pepper tuna sandwiches for lunch and then made pizzas for dinner for movie night. 
Wednesday: Hamburgers, Lettuce, Tomatoes, Onions
Thursday: Homemade Chili
Friday: Chili Tacos
Recipe of the Week
Cheddar Muffins
This is a good recipe to use up any leftover mashed potatoes you may have on hand. 
Ingredients:
2 cups mashed potatoes1 egg1/3 cup vegetable oil1 cup shredded cheddar cheese1 & 2/3 cups flour3 Tablespoons sugar2 Tablespoons diced chives1 Tablespoon dried parsley1 Tablespoon baking powder1 teaspoon salt
Directions:
Combine beaten egg, cheese, vegetable oil and mashed potatoes.Combine remaining ingredients & stir in potato mixture just until moistened.Fill muffin cups 3/4 full.Bake at 400° for 20 - 25 minutes.

Saving on Entertainment
We cut cable TV back in 1998 and have never looked back. There is nothing wrong with having cable TV if you can afford it, but most Americans live paycheck to paycheck, have very little retirement savings, student loan debt, credit card, and other consumer debt. Entertainment is something that you can do for almost free, so if you are looking to save money there are plenty of resources to entertain yourself without spending too much. 
What I've been Reading This Week
60 Comforting Fall Meals to Make from Southern Living
Freebies

- Another birthday freebie this week was this half gallon container of ice cream from Publix. I just can't get over them offering a big container of ice cream to people on their birthdays. 
- From Stedi.org, which is a substitute teaching resource, here is a Harvest Activities Book. It's 23 pages of fun activities for children.
- A base was stolen in the World Series, which means you get a free Doritos Locos Taco from Taco Bell on Thursday, November 4 all day, in-store, online, or in the app. 

That is all the news to report on our frugal week in Tennessee. Thank you for dropping by, you are always welcome here. We would love to hear about your week in the comment section.

Belinda~ Living within our Means ~My Linktree

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