In my new normal, I'm not going to do H&G challenges or track savings accounts. I will however, keep up with my normalizing through self encouragement of thrift in my life. I've expanded my definition of thrift beyond money to include, and perhaps more importantly, time and resources. Using time, resources, and yes, money wisely, helped generation after generation weather national and international emergencies. It will this one as well.
Time
- This falls under all three categories, but I'm starting it here. We're all thinking about supplies, aren't we? While this is in progres and still a "to do" I'm planning to go through all my cupboards and inventory what we have for personal and cleaning supplies. It will be a good use of time rather than binge watching more Netflix, I'll find items forgotten aobut, and have a cleaner house in the process.
- We took down some board games from the shelf and my sister dropped off puzzles. I'm taking more walks and using video Yoga. These will help me physically and mentally break from the news, work, and feeling of being boxed in.
- Enjoy some normalizing YouTube videos. I have a couple new channel favorites I've popped into to watch periodically. One is from a young gentleman based in London that does cooking, thrift, home DIY, and travel videos. Under the London Shelter in Place, his content will be quite different for a while, but there was something very calming and reassuring on his YouTube Vlog this past Sunday. It was just him doing basic things in his home, cleaning and saving food from waste, and replanting some succulent plants. Call me odd, but seeing other people making the most of this surreal situation, helps my emotional state.
Resources
- With all the fuss about hand soap not being available, I'm perfectly fine using bar soap. While I don't necessarily take the surplus items in the hotel, since I fly with just a carry on, I will bring the open bars of soap, as they were barely used. One of those bars is being used in the bathroom now.
- I can and will do better at maximizing all our food stores, but this past week we ate down a big pot of soup and used strawberry's that were getting soft in smoothies, and celery and mushrooms at the end of their freshness in strogonoff. I made a hotdish with leftover pasta, Sloppy Joe's, and a can of tomato paste, heavily seasoning with various stuff in the pantry.
- Saved two egg cartons to use to start the seeds I bought the other day. Since we can't plant outside until last frost, which might not be until mid to late May, I'm not in a hurry to start them, but I need to figure out the best place to store them once I do.
Money
- I contributed to the small funeral gathering withthe last of the grad Party Sloppy Joes. All the sisters contributed for my sister. Despite her not having the traditional visitation and service for her husband, she still had love and support, and saved several hundreds of dollars in catering costs.
- This week alone I've avoided three round trips so far to work, saving 62 miles round trip, or roughly two gallons of gas a day, not to mention wear and tear. That will help, maybe not a lot, for cash flow as less will go on the VISA.
- After watching the before mentioned YouTube, I decided I'd like more plants. I took a shoot from one of my better growing plants, though it desperately needs to be repotted into something bigger, and put the shoot in a clear vase. Fingers crossed I'll get a free plant. If nothing else, it is a bit more green on a window sill.
I'm keeping a running list of items we run out of, might want, so that when I do go to the store it will be a fast shop in and out. I'm trying to use up fresh food first for meals and snacks as it will be sort of a roulette wheel as to what is available in the stores. I know adaptability is called for. I haven't been in a store since writing about the win of finding two rolls of toilet paper, so that will be ever present on my list. Other than staying home, any savings wins for you? Any new ways you are making the most of your time and resources?
We are doing similar things... really focused on avoiding food waste & preserving what we have as much as possible. Staying at home, finding ways to help, donating to others, etc.
ReplyDeleteI've been saddened to see pictures of dumped foods on garbage day. The vspyions insinuated it was over buying food hoarding. Just no reason right now for the ridiculousness.
DeleteI worked in the yard all day yesterday. I read an article that said garden centers are booming right now as people are finding things to do in their yards. Hubby made a run to Lowe's to buy some decorative stone and sure enough it was full of people shopping for plants.
ReplyDeleteIronic isn't it? Fill stores to buy stuff that will keep uz busy while socially isolating.
DeleteI cut my hair and Tommy's because we really needed the cuts. I saved lots of money! However, both leave a lot to be desired, but they are not so horrible anyone would laugh.
ReplyDeleteDH's hair grows so fast. He had a cut om March 12th and it's already so long. He'll look like a member of the Grateful Dead by the time he barbers open.
DeleteI wish I could give you some brilliant ideas from my Homefront, but, really, it's business as usual. We did need to get chicken feed for my daughter's chicks, but since it was a warehouse order anyway, we called ahead, and she drove by the warehouse and they loaded it into the car. I figure this saved the minutes of going in the store to the register to pay then walking back to the car and driving to the warehouse.
ReplyDeleteToday is leftover turkey and stuffing casserole for dinner. I made a lemon pound cake with sour cream glaze a few days ago, and, yesterday, double chocolate chip muffins from a $0.48 box of cake mix and part of a $0.99 bag of chocolate chips. My h.s. freshman is squaring his shoulders and working through his math--little from any other subject has been sent. I know they were planning to cover "Romeo and Juliet"--they always begin with watching a version of it, (not a fan of that method, by the way), so I may have to find a PBS version on a streaming service, and encourage him to watch it with me. Really, the Homefront is the easy part! DD is managing just fine as well. I think this is hardest on my college freshman--he has a friend over on several occasions for target shooting--definitely social distancing there! He really wants to get back to class.
My girl was thriving at college and starting to feel the lonliness. Classes started and she has lots of work so there's that.
DeleteI am trying for zero food waste. Hubby is finally on board, he has always been a little picky in the past but not this week which is a nice thing to see. We are going down to minimal paychecks again(even lower than last time) to try and stretch our company funds so after our grocery order today I am going to try and not go grocery shopping for 30 days (except OTC and emergency items/possibly fruit and veg but have alot of those right now). I will also do some baking as think both us and Mom need some treats. She gave me 3 cans of expiring cherry pie filling so that is first to be used up. Maybe a Pie or a cobbler
ReplyDeleteWe've still stayed out of stores since Sunday. There are some Walmart items we need so thats where I'll fill the list so just one store, but we'll do take out at least once maybe for fish tonight.
DeleteI am aiming for no food waste, but I have to admit I threw out some cooked potatoes today. I am not eating them and they had been hanging around a little too long.
ReplyDeleteI am just slowly going through my house, reducing, restructuring and creating an ongoing Home Depot list. Seems I have a lot of time on my hand now.
When conscious of waste it hurts a bit to throw. I couldnt salvage shredded lettuce. After working the call center, Im on your track for rest of weekend.
DeleteJust trying to plan meals with what we have in the house. We really stocked up on fresh veggies as both Hubs and I are dieting. I am armed with many to do lists and trying to keep my anxiety at bay.
ReplyDeleteI have some apples no one likes as just eating so I'll do a crisp. I have zucchini so a crockpot past dish loaded with slices for sometime as well. I'm not sure if I've lost or gained.
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