This week I received news about my health care coverage for 2022. The subsidies that made health insurance affordable for me that were put into place in 2021 will run out at the end of the year, but I want to continue my health care coverage. There will be a substantial increase in cost, so I have some decisions to make about that.
My laptop died this week and I don’t know what is wrong with it. I use my tablet more than anything, so I’m not too concerned about it. It’s not as easy to type the blog on the tablet, so if you see anything odd, that is what’s up with that.
I bought a new calendar the other day from Amazon. I used up some gift card money that I had and it only cost me $2.49 afterwards. It’s a five year calendar, so it should last a long time. If I use it all five years, it will only cost 50 cents per year.
I have several shirts that are the same design, but different colors that I use to wear around the house only. They are still in good shape, but two of them became stained and wouldn’t come clean in the washer, so I asked Bailey to tie dye them for me. Now there is no telling where the stains were and it saved me my favorite shirts for a little while longer.
Bailey and I cleaned out my bedroom closet and pulled all my sewing equipment up front where I can easily get to it. I want to start sewing again now that my eyesight is fixed. We tossed some things and donated other things. It looks so much better in there and I have better access to some of my favorite things.
Earning Money
This week I earned $5.00 in PayPal money from MobileXpression.
I received another survey from Consumer Survey with another $5 bill in it this week. It’s odd for them to send me two of those in the same quarter, but I’ll take it. :)
I sold one item, an apron, on eBay.
Avoiding Spending
I went out on Tuesday to run a few errands, but other than that I stayed home. Plus I haven’t spent any money this week other than using the gas in my car.
Saving Money In My Frugal Kitchen
It was chilly here on Saturday, so I decided a stockpot of vegetable soup would be perfect. I used up bits of this and that to make it as I had plenty of vegetables for it. I also used one cup of some dried yellow split peas that I had.
Soup is a very economical dish to feed your family. Even when you think you don’t have any food in the house there are usually items to make soup.
Granola Bars were also made this week using up the last of a jar of peanut butter. I rolled these into balls instead of making bars out of them.
I had a sweet tooth the other day, so I decided to make some chocolate syrup, so I could make myself a glass of chocolate almond milk. It hit the spot.
I’ve been making a grocery shopping list for this coming weekend and have been checking prices on items. I noticed that the 20 pound bag of potatoes from Fresh and Low went from $4.99 to $8.99 recently. This makes their ten pound bags for $3.59 cheaper.
I was watching a Frugal Queen video this week and she said she only buys generic items in her grocery shops. There are many items we can buy here in the states that are generic and more affordable.
I saw rice in either white or brown for 49 cents a pound this week. I saw a box of four envelopes for chicken noodle soup for $1.12. That is certainly cheaper than a can or two of chicken soup and there is more of it. As always, it pays to shop around and I love that it can be done online in the comfort of our homes these days.
I also perused the grocery store ads online this week making note of any especially good deals that were available. Food City has their meat deal on sale today and tomorrow. You can get 5 packages of meat for $14.99, which is $5 off the regular price. We are going to get in on the deal tomorrow.
Our microwave started not working a few weeks ago. I believe it had a short in the plug, but it wouldn’t work regularly and I felt it was a safety issue. I’ve been getting used to life without a microwave again, but Bailey really missed having one, so on Friday a new Farberware microwave will be delivered here.
This was a week of using up what we had on hand and so here are the meals we made this week.
Saturday: Homemade Chicken Sandwiches, French Fries, Broccoli
Friday: Chicken Sandwiches, French Fries, Broccoli
Freebies
I’m sure by now most of you have heard or read that Ibotta is doing the free Thanksgiving meal again this year, although you need a referral in order to get in on the deal. So, if you’re interested and are not a member of Ibotta already, here is a referral link from me to get you started.
I found two pennies at the gas station when I filled up my car last week.
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.
It seemed my health insurance would be too expensive as well but when I was finally able to log into the marketplace I found coverage for less than I am paying this year. I hope you can find coverage, too.
Nice week Belinda. I like he idea of saving a couple of shirts by tye dying! I keep watching the prices of all foods soar. I know most things are just a few cents here and a few cents there, but those few cents on everything add up quickly!.
Thank you, Anne. Yes, those few cents here and there adds up. We’ve been eating from our stockpile this week, but I will have to get some groceries soon.
Great week! I love soup and make a lot of it around here. Taco lentil soup, cauliflower potato soup, and vegetable/minestrone are our usual favorites that I make most often. Last night we had tortilla soup with black beans, which is always delicious, and a great way to use up those stale chips or hard tortillas!
I buy almost everything generic. I'm not a fan of generic Sriracha, but pretty much everything else, I start at the lowest-priced option and if I like it, then we're good to go! I'm usually never brand loyal, and it definitely helps keep costs down.
I am so sorry about the increase in health insurance. I hope you are able to find a more affordable alternative. I'm sorry about the laptop and the microwave. My Mom used to say if it wasn't one thing, it was 50 (of things going wrong or breaking :( Thanks for the Food City tip. I'll check to see if our store is running that meat deal. Our Kroger is having a weekly deal of 10 pounds of potatoes for $1.97, but I don't know if they are actually in stock. I love your wizardry soup concoction; sounds delicious. Soups, stews and chilis are so good in the fall/winter. Hope you have a good weekend.
Thank you, Kathy. Yes, it always seems like several things break at once. The new microwave came today, so that made us happy. I saw the deal on potatoes at Kroger, such a great price on those.
I hope you are able to find reasonably priced health insurance. Do you have plans to go back to subbing? I can't remember what the latest was there - perhaps after your eye recovery?
You had a lot of wins. I've been very much on a soup kick, but my husband isn't a fan, so it's mostly just for me. :-)
I haven’t decided if I’m going back to subbing or not. If I did, it won’t be until after February for sure. I would like to be able to work from home, so that is what I am working towards now.
I know what you mean about the soup. Not everyone here will eat it either.
Sounds like a very good week Belinda! Great idea to tie-dye the shirts. I've been wanting to dye our UA pants & hoodies that have faded, since they're still in great condition. I don't want to get rid of it yet. Great deal on the calendar. I never knew you get 5 year ones.
I'm sorry about the laptop & microwave. We've had to replace DS's laptop that we purchased last year. That thing wasn't worth all the money we spent and it's a Dell. I bought a new one for him for Christmas at half the price.
Im not surprised on the Dell computer, Bailey had one too and it didn’t last as long as her HP one did. We replaced the microwave today and it’s nice to be back in business with it again. :)
It seemed my health insurance would be too expensive as well but when I was finally able to log into the marketplace I found coverage for less than I am paying this year. I hope you can find coverage, too.
ReplyDeleteLana, I hadn’t even thought of that. Thank you so much for mentioning it. I will be sure to look into that.
DeleteNice week Belinda. I like he idea of saving a couple of shirts by tye dying! I keep watching the prices of all foods soar. I know most things are just a few cents here and a few cents there, but those few cents on everything add up quickly!.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Anne. Yes, those few cents here and there adds up. We’ve been eating from our stockpile this week, but I will have to get some groceries soon.
DeleteIf I didn't wear stained clothes around the house, this girl would be naked ;-) Goes right into "use it up".
ReplyDeleteHappy Friday!
LOL, Elle...definitely goes into use it up! :)
DeleteGreat week! I love soup and make a lot of it around here. Taco lentil soup, cauliflower potato soup, and vegetable/minestrone are our usual favorites that I make most often. Last night we had tortilla soup with black beans, which is always delicious, and a great way to use up those stale chips or hard tortillas!
ReplyDeleteI buy almost everything generic. I'm not a fan of generic Sriracha, but pretty much everything else, I start at the lowest-priced option and if I like it, then we're good to go! I'm usually never brand loyal, and it definitely helps keep costs down.
Enjoy your weekend! :)
Thank you, Stephanie. Your soups sound so good and it is definitely soup weather right now.
DeleteStarting at the lowest priced option is a good way to save on generics. I like that tip, thank you.
I am so sorry about the increase in health insurance. I hope you are able to find a more affordable alternative.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry about the laptop and the microwave. My Mom used to say if it wasn't one thing, it was 50 (of things going wrong or breaking :(
Thanks for the Food City tip. I'll check to see if our store is running that meat deal. Our Kroger is having a weekly deal of 10 pounds of potatoes for $1.97, but I don't know if they are actually in stock.
I love your wizardry soup concoction; sounds delicious. Soups, stews and chilis are so good in the fall/winter.
Hope you have a good weekend.
Thank you, Kathy. Yes, it always seems like several things break at once. The new microwave came today, so that made us happy. I saw the deal on potatoes at Kroger, such a great price on those.
DeleteI hope you have a great weekend too.
Good frugal week Belinda. I really like the save on the t-shirts.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Thank you, Jackie. :)
DeleteWe have a saying - 'it never rains but it pours'. Troubles never some singly, do they.
ReplyDeleteHopefully, all of yours will work out OK for you.
Soup is very frugal, I agree, and very delicious and good for you too. Now that winter is round the corner, I must get back to making it again.
xx
Thank you, Joy. Yes, it is definitely soup making weather.
DeleteI hope you are able to find reasonably priced health insurance. Do you have plans to go back to subbing? I can't remember what the latest was there - perhaps after your eye recovery?
ReplyDeleteYou had a lot of wins. I've been very much on a soup kick, but my husband isn't a fan, so it's mostly just for me. :-)
I haven’t decided if I’m going back to subbing or not. If I did, it won’t be until after February for sure. I would like to be able to work from home, so that is what I am working towards now.
DeleteI know what you mean about the soup. Not everyone here will eat it either.
Sounds like a very good week Belinda! Great idea to tie-dye the shirts. I've been wanting to dye our UA pants & hoodies that have faded, since they're still in great condition. I don't want to get rid of it yet. Great deal on the calendar. I never knew you get 5 year ones.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry about the laptop & microwave. We've had to replace DS's laptop that we purchased last year. That thing wasn't worth all the money we spent and it's a Dell. I bought a new one for him for Christmas at half the price.
Hope you & Bailey have a great weekend!
Im not surprised on the Dell computer, Bailey had one too and it didn’t last as long as her HP one did. We replaced the microwave today and it’s nice to be back in business with it again. :)
Delete