Thrifty Thursday-Out of the Deep Freeze

      My sincere sympathies for anyone living in states or countries and are experiencing weather that has been too much for your power systems and road care. We've had over a week of multiple digit negatives at night, biting wind shields, and day time highs barely reaching 0F, but our infrastructure is made for these winters. Sure, we'll all grouse, but its rare to lose power, but the black ice can create havoc on our roads as well, so there are sanding trucks even when there is not snow and ice. I pray it is resolved for you all soon and stay safe. I've stayed snug-having been grocery shopping  and a few other pick-ups last Wednesday. I've only ventured out for Pup's walks. The last two days we were at 7 and 9 and the sun was out and it felt  nice in comparison. This weekend we are above freezing, so the thaw, snow, rain, freeze, and thaw again  dance of approaching spring in Minnesota begins. With going no where, I've had to make the most of my time, resources, and money in my own home. Here's my thrifty recap. 

Time

• I spent several hours looking through and marking with post it notes recipes I want to try from both the cookbook my son gave me, and the cookbook that  my youngest daughter got from her grandma. She'll take it to her first real home  rather than a dorm room, along with a couple others I've tucked on my shelf for her. I've been in a cooking rut and hope to find some things to jazz up our dinner table.
•  My older daughter stopped briefly after work on Tuesday. She showed me a couple photos of the dog they cared for on her weekend, and picked up a package she had delivered to my house as she wasn't sure when it would arrive. She didn't stay for dinner, but it was nice to see her in person. 
  
• Had a text conversation with my son and a text and quick phone call with the youngest. I'm doing pretty well with the empty nest, and it helps to know my kids still want or at least are willing to  keep in touch. 
• I baked  Valentines cupcakes and cut out paper hearts, just because I wanted a little cheer. DH brought cupcakes to his mom and she appreciated them. 
• Made use of  items I already had, foot and face masks, deep hair conditioner, to pamper myself a bit on Monday. I had to work quite a bit of the day despite it being a holiday, but the self care helped make it feel like a day off. 

Resources  

• I didn't have a no waste week-found black beans lingering in the refrigerator, but that was the only casualty. 
• Made a successful crockpot soup/stew concoction with broth from the Thanksgiving Turkey, bits of leftover and new vegetables, already cooked chicken, and the remaining  cup or so of pasta in a box. We both ate well for supper Saturday, and then I had a portion for lunch on Monday, and froze another. Using up so many remnants made this a very resourceful meal that was tasty and comforting on such a cold night. 
• We made use of leftovers for Tuesday dinner, and 1/2 batch of chili from freezer for last nights dinner. I think on the Living Simply Facebook group Carol refers to these freezer meals as assets. It sure was nice to have a meal ready to pull out of the freezer. 
• DD2 had wanted Berry Cheerios when she was home, but didn't finish the box. I was in a cereal mood Sunday mid-morning, and thankfully, she had closed the bag tightly when she last ate them in early January and they were still fresh. (we have a waste problem with cereal going stale before the box is finished)
• Another lurker, a cup of oatmeal from the last box, but needed space for the new cylinder. It was too much for one meal (my late breakfast/lunch, but I cooked it all and saved for myself on another day, and as little treats for pup. He loves oatmeal, but we only give him a round tablespoon or so at a time.,

Money

• Redeemed  Microsoft points for another $5 gift card
• Didn't drive anywhere for the week, Friday to today, saving gas and wear and tear
• No Valentines gifts for each other in the  commercial sense but, I made a nice dinner and used construction paper I had for the heart decorations. DH cleared the snow, at home and at his mom's, then made us both cups of tea mid afternoon.
• With it being so cold on Monday, my daughter and I didn't get take out coffee-she actually wanted to stay home after she had been gone all weekend, and her early morning trip to work out at her gym. So while I didn't get to hang out, we saved money on not getting coffee out.
• The house insurance and umbrella policy was due last month. DH had paid by credit card so we get the points. The Visa is due a the end of the month, so DH will transfer to our main account, from the account we use to make monthly deposits for  annual and semi-annual expenses. We started this after we paid off the mortgage, so minimally we put 1/12th of our property taxes and insurance each month. Also, when we paid off a car in 2012, we made payments to ourselves in this account, and have not stopped doing so, even though we make our current no interest car payment from our regular cash flow. DH gets a monthly car allowance that covers the bulk of that payment, which will be paid off by the time he retires. 

     As is the norm in 2021, we are not seeing big financial wins, but we're not bleeding money either. You may remember our expensive fall with the  water heater and then the  under kitchen/outdoor leak. We don't forget how all of a sudden thousands can run unexpectedly from a bank account, so these uneventful months on the house side are gifts. I've found more than enough to keep me busy and moderately amused this past week. Even if we weren't in a pandemic, with it being so cold, I doubt I would have wanted to leave the house much anyway. With a warm weekend predicted, I plan to get out and about-meaning, walking in places not right outside my door step. It will feel like a vacation after my homebound stay. How about you? Have you had any weather related expenses or burdens? Are you able to keep yourself busy as we now are at the year mark for all intents and purposes of the pandemic in the US?