Fifth & Final Friday of June 2023

Welcome to Friday! 
My Frugal Week
We finally had some rain this past week and we definitely needed it. Then on Sunday afternoon we had a thunderstorm and lost power for about six hours. I was grateful when it finally came back on that night.
We have a new to us Internet service provider, so I'm hoping my Internet connection will be better and I can comment easier on blogs and Facebook.  

Bailey bought an embroidery machine this week. The lady who sold it to her included all the looms and software that she bought when she first purchased the machine. Bailey is wanting to add to her income sources, so will be on a learning curve for this new endeavor. 

We went to a church yard sale last Friday. We've been wanting a couple of those blender bottles and we found two of them at this sale. we also found a Tervis handle for the Tervis cups we already have here. 

On Saturday there was a swap meet at one of our local parks. It was like the Trade Day event we go to monthly where people bring items and pick up items they need or want for free. We brought several things with us and ended up with several clothing items in return. 
Afterwards we went to a thrift store sale where clothes were selling for $5 per bag (Walmart size bag). Bailey was able to pick up 28 pieces in four different bags, so $20 for the lot or 71¢ per item. It’s great to be stocking up on inventory during summer yard sale season. 
One of the clothing lots Bailey bought a week ago included several pieces in my size. As we went through the clothes I tried on the ones that I liked and found two new to me shirts that are exactly the style I like, the material I like (cotton/poly blend, no rayon/viscose for me as it’s too clingy), and are in my size. I love it when that happens.
Sometimes we find after we buy items that some things need repairs or mending. For example, this week there was a button missing from a pair of pants, with a hook and eye clasp also, needed to fasten them. It only took a few minutes to sew another button to make them sellable. 

I used up a box of Yogi herbal tea the other day and noticed the inside was so beautiful that I decided to cut it up for book marks. They could even be colored if somone wanted to do that. 
When I went to the doctor last week we discussed several of my medications and I let her know that I wanted to take less medicine. Home health has noticed that my blood pressure has been running low, so she cut down on those and was able to eliminate another one as well. That will definitely save some money.
I refilled my cleaning spray bottles with a splash of concentrated Lysol and filled the rest of the way with water. I also added water to my Dawn dishwashing detergent bottle when I filled it up this week. 
This Weeks to do List
Daily Kitchen TasksWash EggsLaundryKitchen LaundrySteaming & Processing
Noteworthy News
Amazon’s Prime Day will be July 11th and 12th this year. Normally I don’t pay attention to this sort of sale, but I’ve had a power bank on my wishlist for a while now, and they are advertising one for this sale. So, I’m going to take a look at it and make a decision at that time. 
Freebies
We were gifted several big cans (12 ounces) of Starkist tuna this week, so in order to use up this gift and save money, I decided to incorporate the tuna into our menus. Normally I use  tuna for tuna salad or Tuna Pate, but we are out of cream cheese, so the tuna pate will have to wait. I do have a tried and true recipe for tuna macaroni salad though, which I’ve included as the recipe of the week. 
I received a free copy of the latest Good Housekeeping magazine in the mail. 

Saving Money In My Frugal Kitchen
The cost of living is hitting people really hard these days. Grocery prices continue to rise all around the globe. We gave up buying steak and roasts several years ago due to the cost and might only buy those things now for a special occasion. We do still buy hamburger, but we have cut way back on that as well and only have it a few times per month. 
One way we save money in the kitchen is watching portion sizes too. For example, I had a package of chicken breasts that weighed 20 ounces, so I split it into two packages, which gave both of us a generous five ounce portion for dinner. 
One night I used a one pound package of extra lean ground beef bought on mark down for $5.40. I divided that up into four, four ounce portions, which was enough for two dinners for both of us, and made each serving only $1.35. 
Bailey went to our local grocery store to pick up some cream cheese since we had so much tuna on hand, but walked out of the store without it when it cost $5.00. We will simply do without some of these extras with their exorbitant prices. 
Meals This Week
Friday ~ Chicken Fajitas with Onions & Peppers, Corn, and Cantaloupe. Saturday ~ Chicken Stir Fry, Asian Rice, Green Beans & Onions.Sunday ~ Sunday Chicken, Baked Apples, Macaroni and Cheese. Monday ~ Tacos, Corn, Honeydew Melon. Tuesday ~ Tuna Salad with Peppers, Carrots, Honeydew Melon. Wednesday ~ Chicken Stir Fry with Rice, Broccoli, Dragonfruit. Thursday ~ Hamburger Steaks, 15 Bean Cajun Soup Beans, Steamed Kale. 
Recipe of the Week
I’ve been making this tuna macaroni salad since we lived in Pikeville in the early nineties. It’s a great way to use up the tuna we have stored in our pantry and it’s a great, refreshing summertime salad. 

Tuna Macaroni Salad

Ingredients:

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 small can of tuna, drained and flaked  

1 cup sliced celery  

2 cups elbow macaroni, cooked and drained  

1/4 cup chopped red pepper  

1/4 cup sliced green onions  

2 tablespoons pimientos, chopped

Salt & Pepper

Lettuce, if desired

Directions:

Mix mayonnaise and tuna together.

Add macaroni, celery, red pepper, onions, and pimiento.  

Season to taste with pepper and salt .  

Refrigerate and allow to chill. 

Serve on lettuce leaves. 

Saving on Entertainment
We picked up a game at a yard sale last weekend called, A Game of Cat and Mouth. This was a really fun game and works for kids, teens and adults. The game involves 24 balls and two magnetic kitty paws that catapult your balls to your opponents side. The game is made by the makers of the Exploding Kitten games, which are so much fun. This would make a great Christmas present for someone on our Christmas list. 
On Saturday I guessed the Wordle with only two tries! I also did the Spelling Bee on this day, which was also fun. 

What I've been Reading This Week
The Ten Plant Based Burger Recipes You Need to Try

Thank you for dropping by my frugal blog, you are always welcome here. 

I hope and pray for each one reading here that we are good stewards of our time, talents and resources and that we have a very productive week. Fulfilling our roles as keepers of our homes is so very important to our wellbeing. 

BelindaMortgage & Debt Free~ Living within our Means ~My Linktree
~ She looketh well to the ways of her household ~Proverbs 31:27