I got to spend two days at therapy with my brother, one at the beginning of the week and one at the end. There was a big difference in following directions by the end of week. I see it as a positive!
Yesterday I went to the Farmer's Market up the street again. The 100 year old neighborhood around the park, was having a neighborhood garage sale. Well, I had to go!!! That was my first yard sales of the year - but man was it cold. It was in the 40's, very windy, and gray skies. I was wishing for my winter jacket by the time I quit. I got some great deals - I will list below.
I met a couple gals at one sale that I over heard talking about being frugal. I told them about this little blog - and they seemed excited. I hope they stop by and join in the conversation.
Frugal this week:
- I stopped at a greenhouse and got some cell packs of flowers to make my own hanging baskets. So much cheaper than buying the baskets ready made.
- Bought lettuce and salad turnips at the FM. I think I will try cooking the salad turnip greens as well!
- All meals from home and from scratch
- Used up ALL leftovers
- Brought in a small bouquet of flowers from the yard. Cut the first 3 peonies that opened - and the house smells just lovely because of them.
- Did a lot of yard work on nice days - FREE exercise
- Of course I have been doing all the usual stuff like making tea, filtering water, laundry in cold water, etc.
I will tell you what items were originally marked or what I looked up and what I paid!
- A bag of 50 giant brown lunch bags (will use for gift bags) - retail $6.59 - I paid 50 cents
- Box of 40 fancy all occasion cards (solid re-usable box as well) - marked 11.99 - I paid 50 cents
- 2 handmade pottery soup mugs with lids (will be a gift with a jar mix of soup) - owner said they cost $20 each at high end specialty store - I paid $1 ea.
- An informative book - Amazon $4.99 - I paid 50 cents
- 2 pillow forms (will make for gifts) 50 cents each
- Tortilla warmer (I now make my own) - retail 5.99 - I paid 2.00
- 4 new rolls of bendable Christmas ribbon marked 3.99 each for 50 cents each
- Velveeta cheese keeper - $9 - $20 on Amazon - I paid 50 cents
- 9 packs of decorative holiday napkins (I use cloth except for large gatherings) - total price marked $12 - I paid 10 cents for 3 packs or a total of 30 cents! These will last years.
- Never opened cake pop pans and kits (for gifts) - Amazon $12 ea. - I paid $5
- MY BEST PURCHASE - A Soda Stream machine (retail 79.99), carbonizer (retail 29.99), extra bottle (retail 7.49), and 14 Pepsi mixes (retail $17 for 16 pack) .................ALL FOR $15!!!!!!!!! (Only used 2x) WOOHOO!!! Not a big pop drinker, but I love sparkling fruit flavored water. I will keep the Pepsi mixes for company.
I spent around $31 for everything and it has a retail of approximately $235!!!!!!!!!!!!!
****************************************************************************
Meals this week were varied, yet easy. We had taco salad one night, smothered fries (leftover taco meat & cheese) and chicken strips, homemade biscuits and sausage gravy, grilled cheese and salad, homemade pizza, and homemade lasagna (2X). Leftover gravy was used at breakfast another day. Extra pizza for lunch.
Had a small homemade banana split a couple times, and finished last weeks small cake, and made popcorn for snacks.
I think I will make chili for dinner tonight, as it is still cool outside. I never thought I'd make chili in May - I usually only make it during cold weather!
How was your week?
Check in and let us know what you have been up to. It's fun for all of us to see what others are doing to save a buck or two!
Many blessings to each of you in the coming week. Take care my friends.
Hi Cheryl, Glad to here your brother is doing a bit better. I lit a candle for him at church last Sunday and am keeping him in my prayers. There seems to be a lot more special sales and discounts in the US than in Oz and we don't have discount coupons. Everything is so expensive here. I do enjoy hearing about all your bargains and what you are up to. Sometimes I'm not sure about some things all you U.S. and Canadian ladies talk about and have to google certain things as they are sometimes called by different names here (for example I read in one of your stories about cleaning registers and had no idea what they were until I googled!!). It is fun to hear about your everyday lives. We all might live in different parts of the world but we are all so alike and have the same worries and enjoy similar things. Hope you have a good week. Cheers from Liz in Cranebrook Australia.
ReplyDeleteHello Liz. Thank you for lighting a candle for my brother and your prayers! That means so much.
DeleteYes, it is funny how many things are different yet the same around the world. I am the same way when I read about certain this - I need to look them up!
In the end, we ALL want a happy home, we want to do what we can with what we have, and we all want to save money.
Thanks for stopping by and wishing you a wonderful week as well.
Yea Cheryl, You got some awesome finds at the garage sale! I love going to garage sales that are put on by a church or organization there is so much more a variety of things and prices are usually really good.
ReplyDeleteSo glad to hear your brother is improving. Glad to hear he is persevering.
It has rained here the last 2 days, good for the garden although the weeds are doing well too.
Been eating leftovers here also.
Church sales are usually good here too. This neighborhood does this once a year - so generally good finds. It was so nasty out - I think a lot of people stayed home!!! Good for me.
DeleteI truly hope to get our garden planted soon.
I envy your finds! I think this year will be the year of knitting for me, but next year I hope to have enough spare cash to begin giving the kinds of wonderful gift baskets you do at the holidays! What a great buy you got on the soda stream, and wow on the other items!
ReplyDeleteTGMan brought home a cast iron warming trivet from his mother's house and we found a power cord to make it work. I am sure it will become a useful object for us in the kitchen, perhaps with a stoneware bowl to keep cheese fondue warm. We shall see how we can use it.
I envy your finds! I think this year will be the year of knitting for me, but next year I hope to have enough spare cash to begin giving the kinds of wonderful gift baskets you do at the holidays! What a great buy you got on the soda stream, and wow on the other items!
ReplyDeleteTGMan brought home a cast iron warming trivet from his mother's house and we found a power cord to make it work. I am sure it will become a useful object for us in the kitchen, perhaps with a stoneware bowl to keep cheese fondue warm. We shall see how we can use it.
Ellen - I have been looking for cheap finds like I got for gifts. I am going to be cutting back some on holiday gifts - just seems silly when most of the people ONLY show up at Christmas!! So I am definitely cutting back.
DeleteThe trivet sounds neat and I am sure you will find lots of uses for it.