Sunday, July 29, 2018

Frugal Happenings 7/29

Well here we are approaching the end of another month. 
It appears that we will end this month with some below average temperatures!  It has been cooler for a couple days and will stay so, through about Wednesday.  We also have a chance of rain or storms for the next few days.

Cooler weather always gets me more motivated to do things.  It seems a lot has been accomplished over the past few days.  I had a little help here and there, but things are getting done.  G got out in the garage and worked on some projects as well.

My frugal week:
  • Well, our truck is gone!!!!  No more plate renewals and no more insurance payments.  A savings of about $500 a year.  NO  we didn't end up selling it.  We gave it to our young neighbors.  They have a small baby, and only have one vehicle - so it helps them greatly.  She now can have a vehicle for any emergencies or errands, and he has one for work.  Their happiness was all  the payment we needed!
  • I got a FREE 20 lb. bag of bird seed with my punch card at the feed store this week.
  • Picked about 21 pounds of produce from the garden.
  • Froze more okra for winter use
  • Used the crockpot this week
  • Made a nice big bowl of broccoli salad
  • Ran to the Super Kroger this week (have only been there a time or two).  Went to get G new socks (I can't believe we had no packages put back!).  I did get a 25% price reduction on socks - and I also bought 2 cantaloupes in the .99 bags.  That was it.  
  • Bought gas - needed less than a half tank.  Used last months points (mainly bonus points) and got .30/gallon off
  • Our friend helped me put up a new security light on the garage.  We have had the light for ages - I just needed a little help with it.  DONE
  • Power washed the back of the house, the whole garage, the shed, and all the metal furniture and brick on patio area.  It looks fantastic!!!!!!  The back of the garage was in desperate need of cleaning and it looks brand new now!
  • Worked on cleaning out some spent flowers from one flower garden
  • Our groceries came from the garden and pantry - extras brought up for long term pantry.
 

Meals this past week:
Steak burger over rice, cooked kale and sliced tomatoes
Smoked spicy sausage and cabbage and mashed potatoes
Ground sausage and garden veggie stir fry & side salad
Crockpot beef fillets/potato/carrot/onion
Hotdogs and broccoli salad
Tuna salad sandwiches, sliced tomatoes and broccoli salad
Taco salad
***********************

That's it!  Some of the jobs  were very tiring, but I do feel accomplished this week.  It is nice to get some of our big projects done.  It seems there is always something that needs done.
Work is never done!

How was your week?  How are the gardens doing?  Any canning yet?
Did you get any frugal deals this week?

I hope you all have a wonderful week ahead.  Prayers for health and safety for you all.
Blessings from our humble home to yours.

26 comments:

  1. They have one of those super Krogers not too far from us. I can never find anything! This weather is so nice -we work ourselves to death though. Have a great Sunday Cheryl!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It would seem so. We take advantage of weather when we can - and boy oh boy - over work!

      I saw where the undies were so I got socks. I still have not been through that whole store. It is just too big. Most often I like a regular grocery - if going to buy groceries - that is all I want - not everything in the world.
      Have a good one!

      Delete
  2. Aww that is so sweet of you to give your truck to the young couple. I know it was a blessing to them, and I think you will be blessed in return. That reminds me of an old song, "keep on casting your bread upon the water...soon it's going come back home on every wave."
    Hope you have a wonderful week.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks. It was given to us - so it was only right to pass it on to someone else.
      Their joy has blessed us.
      Have a good week.

      Delete
  3. Hi Cheryl so love your updates and wise words of advice. This week we picked beans from my aunts garden. She got 52 pints, my mom got 59 pints and I got 30 half pints and 30 pints! We picked again this morning don't know what the Talley will be in the end. The zucchini ad always is out of control lol so far I have 5 gallons of shredded zucchini in the freezer! And picked more this morning ! It's been a good season so far. Jam making is next for me this week peach, plum blackberry from free berries and fruit...gotta love it ! Thank ypu for all your inspiring words!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow you and yours have been blessed! I am so happy the garden is yielding so much. Those goodies will taste so wonderful this winter and will save you much money.

      Thank you for your kind words.
      I am blessed by everyone that visits here.
      Have a wonderful week.

      Delete
  4. That was so nice that you gave that couple your truck. As a young couple starting out I know they really appreciate it. Congratulations on getting so much accomplished. May you have a good week. Nancy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was just the right thing to do. Everyone needs a hand up at some point in their lives. I know we were blessed over the years.

      Wishing you a lovely week.

      Delete
  5. I vote you Generosity Gal of the year! that was so nice to donate the truck, you did change the tags over, right? And I am sure they will let you use it when needed?

    Our garden beans are just coming on, along with ripe tomatoes. I need to get the dehydrator out for the herbs before they flower, although I have come to like basil flowers in my salad. Dill is starting to seed, so I hope the cucumbers don't succumb to wilt too soon!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh yes everything has been changed and canceled. It was the right thing to do.

      Glad your garden is starting to produce. Those tomatoes tastes so good, don't they?
      I need to work on some produce today. You never want to see it waste or END!

      Have a great week.

      Delete
  6. Your generosity warms my heart! I love paying it forward.

    Our garden is starting to give us back some tomatoes and cucumbers, it seems like such a long wait.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Paying it forward is what makes things right in the world.
      YAY!!!! Tomatoes and cukes are the best. So much good eating. ENJOY my friend.
      Have a great one!

      Delete
  7. That was very generous of you. It will be a story that they tell their grandchildren. Glad your garden is doing so well. We have been picking lettuce, peppers, cucumbers, peas, string beans and herbs. The rest of my list is here: https://mcoia.blogspot.com/2018/07/my-frugal-list-week-of-july-23-2018.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you.
      Wonderful!!! Sounds like you are really reaping the benefits of gardening. My lettuce is done - will have to plant more later.
      Have a good one.

      Delete
  8. How sweet of you to bless your neighbors with the truck. You've been busy; isn't it fun to see how clean the garage and furniture looks after a job well done? I hope to use my crockpot more this week!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can not believe the difference. It looks so fresh and pretty. Every time I go out back I stand there and stare!!! LOL
      Crockpots are fantastic!
      ENJOY

      Delete
  9. One day this week I went outside to feed the cats and it was 65 degrees outside and cool. It felt so good. I love that you gave the truck to your neighbors. I'm sure it was a tremendous blessing to them. How wonderful that we have people in this world that bless others in ways like this. Our neighbor fixed our driveway for us this week and we are so grateful and have been blessed by this. It made me so happy I wanted to cry. I hope you have another wonderful week, Cheryl. I love how much prouce you got out of your garden this week. SO wonderful. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cooler temps feel so good after having 90's for so long!
      I love that your neighbor fixed your driveway. Sounds like you have 'keeper' neighbors.
      It is so special in life for each of us to do something to help another. It can be tiny or larger - it doesn't matter.
      Blessings are blessings - and they come in all sizes.

      Have wonderful week.

      Delete
  10. I've finally gotten to a good place with my pantry. I also am just buying up weekly staples such as milk, and then stock up on what is on sale. Kroger has been having some good deals this summer. So I may buy 5 boxes of cereal and 5 cans of coffee and then a gallon of milk for the week- that's it. And the cereal and coffee go in storage. The next week I may buy cake mixes, 5 packages of frozen veggies and a gallon of milk. It's been very nice.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is fantastic that you have gotten your pantry in a good place. That should make you very proud.
      Kroger has had some great deals this summer. I keep hearing about grocery prices going up - but I do believe Kroger has gone the other way for several months.

      I love it that you are strictly in stock up mode except for milk. You are doing a great job.
      Keep up the good work!!!!!

      Delete
  11. So sweet of you to give the truck away. What a blessing you are to others. I know you are a blessing to me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aaah that is sweet of you. I just try to live the way I think God wants me to.
      You are all my blessings!

      Delete
  12. Cheryl, you are so very kind and generous all the time. I am so sure those young people will always remember you for what you did for them. Sounds like you had a great week with the power washing and the new security light. I have learned not to be too proud to ask for help with something like a light that I can't do myself. My pantry got a couple more bottles of spices - ground corriander and a bottle of sweet Thai chili sauce (mix a little in with tuna, along with your mayo, onions and relish for something a little different). I can't shop Aldi for those, they just don't carry them. I wanted the coriander as an ingredient in sazon. We are also on the downward turn of the hot season. 90 today (not 97), so that is like a breath of fresh air. Take care and enjoy the day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Norma for your sweet words.
      I do not believe I have ever used coriander. Not even sure what it tastes like. I think it is neat that others use some different stuff and tell us all about them. Neat use on the Thai chili sauce!

      Glad you are getting a respite from the heat (a bit). We are in 70's & low 80's till end of week - then back to 90. It is still summer after all!
      Have a lovely week.

      Delete
  13. God bless you for blessing that young couple with your truck! I am sure they were just overwhelmed with gratitude at your loving generosity. :) You rock!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was the right thing to do. It was given to us - so we returned the favor.
      Thanks

      Delete