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Friday, January 24, 2025

Fourth Frugal Friday of January 2025


Welcome to Frugal Friday! 

Quote of the Week
A time may come that every arrow in our frugal quiver will be needed so learning now will help you then. ~ Becky @ Frugal Measures
My Frugal Week

Frugal Things We’ve Done This Week Include:

- Leave the oven door open after using to let the heat into the house. 
- No eating out
- Made sure all our windows and doors are closed up tight. Rolled up towels placed at the bottom of the windows will stop cold air from coming in. Draft dodgers along the bottom of doors and a coat hung on the doorknob also help. Plastic window kits are also good as well as thermal or wool insulated curtains. 

Last Friday I met with a relator in order to sell my Dad's land across the road. When it does sell, Bailey & I will add this to our house fund for when we buy our own home. Unfortunately my brother has stopped a prospective sale, so now we are consulting an attorney in regards to partition. 

While the relator was here last Friday, he helped Bailey to get her car unstuck. They went downstairs into Dad's workshop and found a towing chain and pulled it right out. We were so thankful!



This week I replaced an infrared heater in my bedroom with a ceramic heater. This is the Lasko Oscillating Ceramic Space Heater. Years ago when I was subbing at the middle school the gym teacher had this heater in her office and it worked very well to heat her office. 

The reason I replaced the heater is because one of the bulbs had burned out in the infrared heater and it was blowing cold air. I did some reading and replacing a bulb isn't recommended, so I bought the ceramic heater instead. It has really made a difference in the temperature in my bedroom too. 


About two weeks I also purchased this Contour Leg & Knee Pillow for my knees. Ever since my knee surgery they hurt when I lay on my side at night and this has helped to alleviate the pain. I’ve used it every night since it came in the mail and it has really helped me sleep better.

Physical Therapy came on Monday, Wednesday & Friday of this week while Occupational Therapy came on Thursday. 

Eye Doctor News

On Tuesday I went to the retina specialist. He wanted me to try to go six weeks between my last injection and this one, That turned out to be a mistake. My eyesight started to fail last week and I couldn’t even read the book I was currently reading. So, I’m back to injections every four weeks and he is trying a new medication.

It’s frightening how fast my eyesight went downhill. So, if you see any typos on my comments on your posts just ignore them. I was having to zoom out to read much this past week, but by Thursday morning, my eyesight was so much better. Reading was much clearer too. 

Freebies

If you're interested, you can get a free copy of the Amish Schoolteacher's Escape book. When I signed up for it, the author also sent me a download to another one of her books for free, 
Martha, an Amish schoolteacher in Unity, Maine, loves her job and her community. When Jake Sullivan proposes to her and she turns him down, her parents think she is foolish for turning down such a good catch.
Joy of the Week

The nurse called from my surgeon’s office and told me I can try driving again if I felt ready to dive. Woo Hoo! 

Photo of the Week


It was definitely chilly here at six degrees this week, but no snow like further down south, so I'm counting our blessings. 

Question of the Week

I would like for Frugal Workshop to be a place where you can come to find solutions for dealing with the financial times in which we live.  If you're not alr3ady frugal, It's definitely time to get frugal in the real sense of the word. 

So, my question of the week is this, are you having to adjust your budget each month to make up for the latest price increases or no? How are you adjusting?

Avoiding Spending

We did very well not spending any money this week. Except for what gas we used on Tuesday for the eye doctor, we came home afterwards and didn’t spend any money. 

Saving Money YouTube Videos

25 Cheap Amish ways to Stay Warm Without Gas or Electricity

Saving Money on Entertainment

We are still enjoying our subscription to Hulu. I've always been a big fan of M*A*S*H and so I've spent the last week rewatching those episodes. 

What I've been Reading This Week

National Geographic The Secrets of Long Life ~ 12 page PDF on the secrets of the Blue Zones and living a long life. 

How was your week?


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

We would love to hear all about your week in the comment section.


Belinda
Homemaker at Heart
Mortgage & Debt Free
~ Living within our Means ~
My Linktree

~ She looketh well to the ways of her household ~
Proverbs 31:27


18 comments:

  1. I am not adjusting my spending, instead I find that I am not buying some of the things I have bought in the past. Some of those items are beef products, frozen processed foods, olive oil, butter is only bought from Sam's at lower than $15 for 4 lbs, cream cheese, sugar and sugar added products. I bought 25 lbs of sugar at Christmas and I am hoping it lasts. However I am clearly avoiding it but it that is what is next...it just is what it is. I honestly read your posts and wonder how you are doing. But you probably feel the same way.
    My son bought me the DVD set of MASH because he knows me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Your son did good! Yes, we do without some things too because of the cost. And sometimes when we run out of something we just do without until the time comes to go back to the store. I’m hoping things will get easier. We can certainly hope so anyway.

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  2. Hope you get to sell the land sooner than later. You made some good purchases this week.
    That is so scary with your eyes. Take care of them as needed. Glad they improved so much after the visit.
    I haven't changed my food budget - actually spending less. I have been delving into my pantry and freezer more - they are both quite full and much needs to be used, before buying additional.

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    Replies
    1. That’s great, Cheryl. We also dived into our freezer and pantry this month. It really does help us to spend less by doing that.

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  3. Thank you for your blog; it is an encouragement to many of us. "A light in dark places..." :)
    I am having to adjust our budget. We rarely eat out unless it is a special occasion. I try to buy groceries on sale with a coupon. Oh Food City has Luck's beans on sale for .50. I like having some cans on hand for chili , soups and such.
    I'm sorry that your eyesight got worse so quickly, and I hope the new meds help. Glad the pillow helps too; it is hard to get comfortable sometimes. Sorry about the troubles with your Dad's land; that is hard to deal with but I hope you can find a solution that makes everybody happy.
    Hope you have a good weekend. I think it is finally going to be a little warmer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are so sweet, Kathy. Thank you. I saw the sale on Lucks beans for 50 cents. I love their chili beans. My eyesight is already doing better. I can see the time on my tablet again. I’m looking forward to warmer weather. It’s already warmer than it was.

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  4. No real adjustment of my budget here. Instead I am trying to search out more sales, and make more items from scratch. I think if I do this I can cut some off the grocery budget. I did have to adjust up for some line items due to the rising costs of electric and natural gas. I am also trying to cook more using the appliances I have, rather than my oven (since that still isn't working I more or less have to).

    God bless.

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    1. Those all sound like real good solutions, Jackie. I’ve not been grocery shopping in a while but now that I’m driving again, I’ll be able to go and stock up on sale items again.

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  5. I am a new reader, and have been leading a frugal-centric life for decades. But I am always looking for ways to improve! Like you, I don't like to dine out because it is so expensive. We spent a weekend away as a treat and I was shocked when our restaurant bill suggested a 22% tip. With meal ingredients, menu prices are getting higher -- which would bring up the amount earned on a standard tip. But instead, we are being asked to add more onto the price of a meal. I can cook for the two of us for a lot less than the cost of even one entree. If you know how to find deals, eating at home doesn't mean eating a bare-bones diet either. Gonna have to work at it harder with what's in store for the future prices of eggs and poultry. So any savings I can find are a win!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Yes, we can eat at home much cheaper than we can eat out in at a restaurant. And like you said, it does have to be a bare bones diet. Welcome, Mrs. Murphy, it’s so nice to have you here.

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  6. Wishing you success with the land sale. I was very lucky when we sold Mom and Dad's house. My sister and I were both on the same page from start to finish. I realize how lucky I am/was.

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    1. Thank you, Anne. My sister and I are on the same page, but my brother is holding out, unfortunately. You were definitely blessed to be of the same mind.

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  7. I’m sure your eyesight change was disheartening, but so thankful there was a solution. That’s too bad your brother didn’t want to sell the land. I hope that works out for you very soon. It’s been cold here, too and the ceramic heater sounds like a great idea. I definitely shop the sales for our food these days. We haven’t stopped buying anything in particular, but definitely look for the best price!

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    1. We too, Penny, are looking for the best prices we can find. I went today and got chili beans for 50 cents a can, and added 10 to my pantry. Every little bit helps.

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  8. I've had a pretty good week, thank you, and I hope the injection really helps. xx

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  9. I always enjoy reading your blog dear friend, so many interesting and wise recommendations. We tend to go for months without eating out, and are happy to stay home and cook, since we are retired. The egg prices have gone through the roof, if you can even find them, it seems there is always something we have to work around.
    Hope your injections continue to keep your eyesight at it's best.
    Hugs,
    ~Jo

    ReplyDelete

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