Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud. ~ Maya Angelou
My Frugal Week
Our local thrift store had a buggy sale, so Bailey went on Friday and was able to get 24 items for her shops and a couple of things for home. They allow you to fill up a shopping cart for $15.00, so each piece was less than one dollar each.
We pray for the people In the path of the tornados that devastated areas in Arkansa, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Illinois last Friday evening. I have a lot of family in Mayfield, Kentucky. Two of my family members both lost their homes in the tornado that touch downed there. No one was hurt though and we are so grateful for that.
Over the weekend I finished processing and steaming what clothing we will do before Christmas for Bailey’s shops. She has all of her inventory from yard sales this summer listed and what remains is from consignment sales. She will definitely have to start sourcing again after Christmas.
So, I’m feeling excited just like the last day of school before Christmas break. I have plenty of things I want to do In the days we have left before Christmas, which include baking, cleaning, etc. I have all the presents wrapped that I’m giving out and the house is all decorated, so hot chocolate and Christmas music will enjoyed in the days ahead.
If you’re interested, McDonald's is having special offers on their app from now through Christmas. They are offering 1 free thing daily (with $1 purchase) now till December 24th if you have their app. On Tuesday we went to the post office and stopped in for a free Big Mac with a $1.00 purchase.
Simple Joy of the Week
Bailey and I were sitting on the back porch one day watching the cats play with each other in the yard and to our surprise several birds came to the bird feeder. It was so fun to sit there and watch them eat.
Avoiding Spending
On Wednesday I went to town for a follow up doctors appointment, but did not spend any money.
Saving Money In My Frugal Kitchen
On Tuesday I made a batch of granola in the crockpot. I like making it in the crockpot because it doesn’t have the potential to burn like it does in the oven. I had some dried fruit and nuts that I added to it at the end. I like making my own cereal at home to save money.
We enjoy this Weber Gourmet Burger Seasoning on our burgers. That and a splash of Worchestishire sauce and they are good.
Meals This Week
Friday: Beanie Weenies made from scratch with dried navy beans.
Saturday: Plant Based Vegetable Burgers, Baked Potatoes, Carrots, Green Beans
This is a recipe my friend, Linda Poole, gave to me back when we both worked at Rhea Medical Center in the early 1990s. She said this was her family’s recipe for cheesecake. This is a tried and true family favorite these days as you don’t have to bake this version of cheesecake.
Cheese Cake
Ingredients:
2 - 8 ounce packages cream cheese
1 - 16 ounce Cool Whip
1 - 8 ounce sour cream
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 cup sugar (may use less if desired, I use 1/2 cup)
Vanilla Wafers for the crust
Directions:
Line pan with vanilla wafers.
Mix all ingredients, except vanilla wafers, until blended.
Pour on top of vanilla wafers and chill well.
Saving on Entertainment
What I've been Reading This Week
I’ve been reading in the povertyfinance subreddit this week. There was a discussion on the cost of protein rising. Someone mentioned the price of Popeyes chicken. The conversation then steered towards buying fast food verses cooking at home.
Curious, I checked the Popeyes app and was offered a “deal” on a chicken sandwich, side item, and drink for $10.00. Wow, I wouldn’t want to see their regular prices if that was the deal of the day.
Another poster made the comment that companies are raising their prices to make up for lost revenue during Covid19. I’m not sure how this will all pan out, but I do know if this continues they are going to price themselves out of serving some of their customers.
Freebies
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.
Do you use any granola recipe but just switch to crockpot? I'll have leftover nuts and fruit after Christmas. Popeye's sounds pretty expensive. I'm only aware of one right now and not convenient so I won't be tempted.
This recipe was written to use in the crockpot. I’m pretty sure you can use any granola recipe in the crockpot though. I would be sure to grease the crockpot before adding the granola though.
Oh yes, those value meals have gone up quite a bit in price! I got a basic Wendy’s combo during the week and paid $8. I’m interested in the granola. Do you pour milk over it and eat it like cereal?
That is unreal to me that a combo is $8. I remember when $5 was too much for lunch. I guess that ages me. 😂
Yes, I pour milk over the granola and eat it like cereal. It’s so good. I have a friend who took some with her on an airplane as a snack and just used a spoon to eat it with no milk.
Glad to hear your family effected by the tornados are all okay. We ran through Chick fil A with gift cards for free milkshakes yesterday and the total would have been $8.43! I said to Hubby that it was our last milkshake from there!
Wow, that is a lot for milkshakes. I think Chick DIL a is expensive for fast food. It is easy to spend a lot of money there for just one meal. It’s too bad because they have good food.
Oh Belinda, how awful that you had family members that lost their homes, and how grateful you must be that they are okay. IS there anything I can do to help them?
That is so sweet of you, Kim. Thank you. My cousin Bessie and her husband just got finished rebuilding their home after a fire 18 months ago only to lose it to the tornado. My heart just goes out to them.
Here is the link to her Facebook page. There is a fundraiser on there if you are interested.
https://www.facebook.com/bessiebball
And there isn’t a fundraiser for my cousin Austin at this time.
I am so sorry that your family in KY was affected by the tornadoes. So sad, but I'm glad they are ok. Seems like there have been so many disasters this year. :( Thanks for the granola recipe, and I love cheesecake. Hope you have a fun weekend. I think we are going to relax and watch Christmas movies this weekend. It is a rainy day here.
I'm thinking of and praying for your family who were affected by the tornadoes. That's a great sale that Bailey found! Hope she finds lots more good items after the holidays.
Thank you for sharing your granola recipe. I actually have all the ingredients on hand, so I'm gonna try it sometime.
Yikes on those Popeyes prices!! I always think of how I can buy at least 4-5 lbs non GMO chicken breasts at Sams for the same price. Making my own food tastes much better and we get lots of meals out of that $10 store chicken. I do buy Sams 16" cooked pizzas at their cafe every other month though. I usually buy 2 pizzas and freeze the rest for when we want 'junk food'. Only costs $19 for 2 and lasts us for several meals. Those slices are so big, you only need one. I just add a salad to our pizza meal. I just can't pay ridiculous prices to eat junk anymore. We used to do that for years, but we don't even like the taste of fast food anymore.
That is a great idea to buy and freeze the pizzas from Sams Club. Those are big slices and one slice is more than enough for a meal.
I think KFC chicken prices has risen as well. You’re right about getting the bigger packages of chicken at the store and making your own at home being cheaper. That is definitely the way to do it right now while prices are high. I’m usually disappointed in fast food anyway thinking to myself that I could make this better at home.
Belinda, I am so sorry for your family in Mayfield. I am glad they were not hurt. I am so heartbroken for them. Mayfield seems like a close knit community where they are all family. I am glad you are ok too. Was worred about you in TN.
I read R/PovertyFinance too. I will admit DH & I have been eating out more than usual lately. We all have those times even when we have a well stocked home. With the move transition, new job transition & just new life transition we are giving ourselves a break and treating this eating out thing like a bit of vacation for only this month. Honestly, the stress is going to break us.The food price gouging is insane. I understand that some is definitely because of the shortages, new hiring increase wages and things like that. I also think some places are gouging. I can say for certain that they are pricing themselves out of serving their customers. Taco Bell was $10 for a value meal and they made it smaller. That's crazy! I have two other restaurants that they only went up to an extra dollar for their value meals. They have notes on their drive through windows apologizing to their customers. Isn't that so sad? Taco Bell needs to be ashamed of themselves. ;)
I did my grocery order a couple of hours ago. DH & I agreed just get some snack type foods because we refuse to pay these prices any more. We support businesses but not going to do that. We are still going to eat out at our places we know they need help to stay afloat. There is wrong and there is fair. My DH old job had to raise prices too. They had to pay more for their employees. They did it fair. This new company he's at is doing the same thing. Both companies were/are not gouging customers.
Thank you, Safyne. Yes, Mayfield is a small, tight knit community in western Kentucky.
The price gouging is not right. We know of a landlord here who has two buildings for businesses. He likes to get a new business in there and then raise the rent on them. He did that to the last two businesses and they both moved out. Now the buildings sit empty, but it is his own fault for being greedy. Shame on him.
I’m all for eating out if people have the money. I myself enjoy it, more so before COVID than now though. I didn’t know that about Taco Bell. That is Bailey’s favorite fast food.
So sorry for your family in Mayfield. It is all just heartbreaking.
ReplyDeleteSo happy they are safe.
Thank you, Cheryl. Yes, praise the Lord they are safe.
DeleteDo you use any granola recipe but just switch to crockpot? I'll have leftover nuts and fruit after Christmas. Popeye's sounds pretty expensive. I'm only aware of one right now and not convenient so I won't be tempted.
ReplyDeleteThis recipe was written to use in the crockpot. I’m pretty sure you can use any granola recipe in the crockpot though. I would be sure to grease the crockpot before adding the granola though.
DeleteOh yes, those value meals have gone up quite a bit in price! I got a basic Wendy’s combo during the week and paid $8. I’m interested in the granola. Do you pour milk over it and eat it like cereal?
ReplyDeleteThat is unreal to me that a combo is $8. I remember when $5 was too much for lunch. I guess that ages me. 😂
DeleteYes, I pour milk over the granola and eat it like cereal. It’s so good. I have a friend who took some with her on an airplane as a snack and just used a spoon to eat it with no milk.
Glad to hear your family effected by the tornados are all okay. We ran through Chick fil A with gift cards for free milkshakes yesterday and the total would have been $8.43! I said to Hubby that it was our last milkshake from there!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lana.
DeleteWow, that is a lot for milkshakes. I think Chick DIL a is expensive for fast food. It is easy to spend a lot of money there for just one meal. It’s too bad because they have good food.
Oh Belinda, how awful that you had family members that lost their homes, and how grateful you must be that they are okay. IS there anything I can do to help them?
ReplyDeleteThat is so sweet of you, Kim. Thank you. My cousin Bessie and her husband just got finished rebuilding their home after a fire 18 months ago only to lose it to the tornado. My heart just goes out to them.
DeleteHere is the link to her Facebook page. There is a fundraiser on there if you are interested.
https://www.facebook.com/bessiebball
And there isn’t a fundraiser for my cousin Austin at this time.
I am so sorry for your family in Mayfield. What a horrible thing to happen at any time of year, but especially during this season.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you had a great frugal week.
God bless.
Thank you, Jackie. I was thinking the same thing about the timing. It’s so sad.
DeleteHi. Thinking of you and your family. I enjoy having you in my inbox. Wishing you a joyful and prosperous New Year.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Arlene. I wish you a joyful and prosperous New Year as well.
DeleteI am so sorry that your family in KY was affected by the tornadoes. So sad, but I'm glad they are ok. Seems like there have been so many disasters this year. :(
ReplyDeleteThanks for the granola recipe, and I love cheesecake.
Hope you have a fun weekend. I think we are going to relax and watch Christmas movies this weekend. It is a rainy day here.
Thank you, Kathy. Relaxing and watching Christmas movies sounds like fun! I would enjoy that for sure. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
DeleteI'm thinking of and praying for your family who were affected by the tornadoes. That's a great sale that Bailey found! Hope she finds lots more good items after the holidays.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your granola recipe. I actually have all the ingredients on hand, so I'm gonna try it sometime.
Yikes on those Popeyes prices!! I always think of how I can buy at least 4-5 lbs non GMO chicken breasts at Sams for the same price. Making my own food tastes much better and we get lots of meals out of that $10 store chicken. I do buy Sams 16" cooked pizzas at their cafe every other month though. I usually buy 2 pizzas and freeze the rest for when we want 'junk food'. Only costs $19 for 2 and lasts us for several meals. Those slices are so big, you only need one. I just add a salad to our pizza meal. I just can't pay ridiculous prices to eat junk anymore. We used to do that for years, but we don't even like the taste of fast food anymore.
Thank you, Ms. Goose.
DeleteThat is a great idea to buy and freeze the pizzas from Sams Club. Those are big slices and one slice is more than enough for a meal.
I think KFC chicken prices has risen as well. You’re right about getting the bigger packages of chicken at the store and making your own at home being cheaper. That is definitely the way to do it right now while prices are high. I’m usually disappointed in fast food anyway thinking to myself that I could make this better at home.
Belinda, I am so sorry for your family in Mayfield. I am glad they were not hurt. I am so heartbroken for them. Mayfield seems like a close knit community where they are all family. I am glad you are ok too. Was worred about you in TN.
ReplyDeleteI read R/PovertyFinance too. I will admit DH & I have been eating out more than usual lately. We all have those times even when we have a well stocked home. With the move transition, new job transition & just new life transition we are giving ourselves a break and treating this eating out thing like a bit of vacation for only this month. Honestly, the stress is going to break us.The food price gouging is insane. I understand that some is definitely because of the shortages, new hiring increase wages and things like that. I also think some places are gouging. I can say for certain that they are pricing themselves out of serving their customers. Taco Bell was $10 for a value meal and they made it smaller. That's crazy! I have two other restaurants that they only went up to an extra dollar for their value meals. They have notes on their drive through windows apologizing to their customers. Isn't that so sad? Taco Bell needs to be ashamed of themselves. ;)
I did my grocery order a couple of hours ago. DH & I agreed just get some snack type foods because we refuse to pay these prices any more. We support businesses but not going to do that. We are still going to eat out at our places we know they need help to stay afloat. There is wrong and there is fair. My DH old job had to raise prices too. They had to pay more for their employees. They did it fair. This new company he's at is doing the same thing. Both companies were/are not gouging customers.
Thank you, Safyne. Yes, Mayfield is a small, tight knit community in western Kentucky.
DeleteThe price gouging is not right. We know of a landlord here who has two buildings for businesses. He likes to get a new business in there and then raise the rent on them. He did that to the last two businesses and they both moved out. Now the buildings sit empty, but it is his own fault for being greedy. Shame on him.
I’m all for eating out if people have the money. I myself enjoy it, more so before COVID than now though. I didn’t know that about Taco Bell. That is Bailey’s favorite fast food.
I hope you both have a wonderful week!