Thursday, January 27, 2022

Thrifty Thursday-Thrift Not Austerity

     


     Unless someone actively tries to ignore, we've all seen prices rise in goods and services across the globe. Interesting though, corporate profits seem to just be going up as well, so they must be immune to the inflation effect. Hmmm, but that's a different rant, I mean post. We all are belt tightening, trying to stretch our personal budgets and limit waste. I think we owe ourselves to still look for ways to get enjoyment from our money, even if it feels like the elastic is going to snap with all the stretching. I'm trying to think thrift- not austerity. Austerity makes me think I'm going without. Thrift makes me think I'm being money savvy.  Thrift gives me the mindset that I can eke just as much pleasure as I have in the past, by looking at my wants in a new light. With that, here's a few ways I navigated my personal economy in the last week without feeling like I have less. Some are the usual thrift, but it works for me.

  • Found freezer assets plus a few pantry lurkers for lunches. It was nice not just eating leftovers every day.
  • I found many movies on streaming services we pay for and enjoyed the bitter cold weekend in my own home with my stove popped popcorn.
  • We stayed home Saturday night, but I recreated DH's favorite pub sandwich, the chicken bacon ranch. I had two ciabatta buns left and tots in the air fryer. It was every bit as good and probably 1/3 the price. I even found a lingering beer and hard seltzer in the fridge. Plus, DH could watch the Packers lose in his own home.
  • A free  calendar I ordered several months ago arrived. I'm going to use it for blog planning.
  • The research DH asked about last week for our home owners insurance rate? Our agent was able to get us a slightly lower rate on combined home and auto. It'll save nearly $200 for the year.
  • My small raise was officially approved. It'll take a while to process but goes into effect mid February. I'll get back pay to July 1. Taxes will eat much of that up, but happy to take it.
  • Stayed fairly true to the meal plan two weeks in a row, and for me, that is a money saver. It helps me know exactly what we do need and not just shop. I also think I've made better and more nutritious meals because the drudgery of coming up with something is done. I'll likely do a February stock up shop this weekend, see if I can still get in in a few Ibotta wins. 
     There was normal spending on unavoidable things- DH filled up his car and that was painful. The utility bills that will be paid next week are arriving, and gas and electric are up this month and probably will be for February. It's what we're all facing but I'm happy to have a warm home, good food, and people in my life to share it with. I hope you had a couple thrifty wins.

18 comments:

  1. Nice work! I made brownies for the boys yesterday, using a boxed miss I was given via Buy Nothing (a neighbor was giving away cauliflower rice that's difficult to find & requested that I take a bunch of other things). I'm slowly working my way through the list of "other things"!

    Dh's pub sandwich sounds delicious!

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    1. I've not had a real chocolate brownie in ages. His sandwich was as a hit. I need to do something with the bacon now.

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  2. Yummm, chicken bacon ranch is one of my favorite sandwiches as well. I tend to do it a wrap for a few less calories...not much but a little.

    I hadn't grocery shopped for two weeks and went yesterday. AND I didn't double what I would have spent in a usual week's purchases so I'm counting that as a win.

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    1. I couldn't resist the delicious ciabatta buns!

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  3. Thanks for sharing the concept of a thrifty personal economy. That label really resonates with me.

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    1. We all get to decide our value we assign to things. I'm learning some low cost things have a lot of value, and many big splurges were not necessarily worth the money.

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  4. Highlighting a frugal win in the kitchen: Last weekend, I put a beef roast in the slow cooker. On Monday, the leftovers were used for a cottage pie. The only thing I added was half of an onion, a shallot, and a lurking can of green beans. Even the mashed potato topping was leftover from Sunday. That cottage pie fed us on Monday and Wednesday. So, I got three meals out of Sunday's roast dinner.
    My No-Spend January has turned in to a low-spend, with what I will call "no willful spending." On Saturday, I am scheduled to pick out lighting for our new build, so I am continuing this through February, with the goal to be no-spend.
    Yeah...prices are up, but corporate profits are at an all time high. But, prices are high because of labor shortages, (so we will be told) yet, somehow, self-checkouts don't lower the cost of my groceries. No, the supposed labor shortage is being used by corporations to justify gouging, and maintaining sekelton staff levels--which increase profits. (That's one reason I refuse to go to a self check out. Don't tell me you are pro-labor if you opt for those.) Also, don't tell me nobody wants to work. Nobody wants to do the work at the wages offered. If you are working full time, regardless of type of work, I think you should be able to afford housing in your market as well as food and health care. I'm not talking a 2,400 sf house and take out every night. I'm talking an apartment, food to cook, and health care.

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    1. Preach! I could not agree with you more across the board. Excellent job in the roast!

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  5. Well done!
    I think I make tastier meals when I refuse to shop and just use what is buried in the back of the fridge or freezer.
    I think you are right about thrift vs. austerity. I have a couple of acquaintances in my real life 3-d world who take their "thrifty" to a whole new level of stinginess.

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    1. I don't want to be thought of as stingy. I like being careful with funds but spend when it's worth it. I'll pick up my siblings happy hour tab Saturday no question, but I'm not paying $4.99 for a 10 ounce bag of Christmas M&M's in December. The clearance $1.25 bag will work in January! We've had some really good meals this week, little to no shopping.

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  6. Austerity/miserliness is just miserable. Thrift - now that's fun!

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    1. Who doesn't like value! It's where I get a little creativity.

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  7. I only do stock-up when the price on an item is lowered by bogo or such.I never do a stock-up just because I am low on things. This week, I bought fruits and today I bought pork tenderloins bogo and butter at $1.50/lb. I have one nub of butter.

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    1. I just don't have time or interest to go to different stores. I want to shop and be done.

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  8. I'm viewing this inflation as a challenge...and one that I will win! Game on!

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    1. I was going to say it's probably harder on people with a fixed income, but then again, with few people getting raises, that seems to be most people. Even with my raise, DH can take a dip at any time with his earnings. So if beef is high, it'll be more chicken, and if chicken is high, planning more plant based proteins. We have to see it as a challenge-and yes, game on!

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  9. You've seen my biggest win this week was the beautiful chair for my daughter.I've also renovated a butler tray and a bookcase for her, and have a stool to do too. All are items that we owned but weren't being used, and I already had the paint and materials for the revamp. I finished some more baby knitting using yarn I inherited from J's mother, and did very little grocery shopping. It's been a good week for my budget.

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    1. I really enjoyed thrift shopping with my daughter when she got her first solo apartment. The toaster had to finally be pitched, but she got four good years out of it. The trunk and wine rack are still beautifully used in her home. It's nice that things that were loved and previously used in your home, will have new life in hers.

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