I'm back to my thrifty ways while using the overly repeated phrase, living my best life on a budget. Regularly I get reminders that sometimes being thrifty isn't the good deals, but avoiding the bad ones. The following recaps a mix of bargains, good decisions, and avoiding spending for things with few wows.
- Watched the new Ghostbusters film on plane to DC. So very glad we didn't waste the money to see in a movie theater. It wasn't horrible, but not worth the Covid precautions or funds in a theater.
- Took advantage of breakfast, particularly fruit, oatmeal cups, and coffee in hotel. Most days it was enough to power through our site seeing and wandering. We bypassed a lot of coffee shops and kept refilling water bottles.
- Used the last of the baby carrots and mushrooms in chicken noodle soup before the mushrooms went bad. I had "splurged" on egg noodle instead of just whatever cheap pasta was in the pantry when we stocked up two weeks ago. Egg noodles make all the difference in a good soup, but even the store brand is quite a bit more than equivalent regular pasta.
- Movie night at home Saturday was the Eternals, free on Disney Plus, plus treats were smoothies made with yogurt, fruit from the freezer, and bananas past regular eating prime.
- DH used coupons to save on fill up for our daughter's car before she went back. I'm not bemoaning the price of gas. I'm thankful we have a safe car for her to use to go to and from school. I've seen gas get this high or more before. She rarely uses her car at school, and I'm still fortunate to be working from home.
- Sent daughter back to school with frozen chili, chicken noodle soup, sleeve of saltines, chickpea masala and rice, and homemade oatmeal, pb, chocolate chip cookies. This will save her meal plan swipes and time her first couple days back on campus.
- Menu planned, and maximized needing to be used up items including last of the milk. We too often throw milk because 1/2 gallon is too much and quart too little. I know I should freeze for cooking. The meal plan actually has ideas from DH which I appreciated. It's coming up with ideas for making meals that gets so old.
- Used free YouTube videos for light morning work outs. I have a short round of core exercise I've started up again, and hope each week to increase the repetitions.
- Maybe this borders on cheap and not frugal, but after getting pup for his walk which is tricky with melting and refreezing snow-ice patches and puddles on the normal walking path, I knew I needed more of a walk. Wednesday night I drove to Walmart to buy nothing, but walked the perimeter of the store several times to get some safe steps in. The school walking track, to my knowledge is still not open to the public.
- Home brewed coffee to start my day. I went "fancy" and used the milk frother. Pictures for fun.
I've used leftovers for my lunches and cooked DH meals he's been happy to eat, and even came home for lunch a couple days. These sort of small savings are a way of life again. How were you thrifty this past week?
Sounds like you had some good thrifty days! Great job saving money on food, and I'm sure your girl will enjoy her homecooked goodies.
ReplyDeleteWe watched Eternals on Disney+, and thought it was ok. Not the best Marvel movie, but glad we didn't pay for it in the theater. We watched Ghostbusters on Amazon, so $5.99, but we liked it ok. Still haven't been to see Spiderman in the theater, and I think our time is running out to see it which will make hubby sad, but we may watch FreeGuy on Disney+ this weekend anyway.
Hope you have a good weekend.
I saw Free Guy was on Disney so a possible weekend watch. We're paying for all the streaming services- might as well take advantage.
DeleteCute picture!
ReplyDeleteNeed my coffee. Glad it was a nice big mug to cover my big mug.
DeleteI noticed my potatoes were starting to sprout so I made a quick soup, using leftover diced onions from a fundraiser sub that I stuck in the freezer, a lingering can of condensed milk, and the bottom of a bag of bacon bits. Pretty tasty! Ground meat was $2.99/lb again so I grabbed two big packs. Making tacos today and then a hearty meatloaf over the weekend We’re getting a winter storm on Saturday so that will be perfect comfort food. I’ve been making breakfast sandwiches using toasted bakery buns that my husband spent too much on. I’m getting a nice bonus tomorrow but a chunk was already spent on flowers for a funeral. I’d like to knock out the rest of the small items my kiddo needs for her dorm as well. JoAnn
ReplyDeleteI have to use up the massive bag of potatoes now too. If my sister can have soup, that would be a good use. Caution to not over buy. You might be able to get things from others that are moving from dorm to apartments. For example, we have two circle folding chairs that could be us d by someone else. My daughter really only used year one, a bit year two and they're bin perfect shape, just folded and set aside.
DeleteNice picture of you enjoying your Ninja!
ReplyDeleteI think I have the ground ratio right. It takes more Coffee than I would have thought, but turns out so rich.
DeleteMy biggest thrift was making up soup with leftover spaghetti and meat sauce. I add the meat sauce to beef broth concentrate and water, a bit of Italian spices, add in cut up carrots, and simmer for 20 minutes. The spaghetti is added about 5 minutes before serving. I do cut it up into smaller pieces. Normally I would do a pasta bake with the leftovers but the last couple of times I've made it there hasn't been enough to do so...so soup it is. Since my son doesn't like soup, it's all for me.
ReplyDeleteCreative! I have sauce and hamburger to use up tonight. It's going to be a pasta bake.
DeleteI don't think walking in WM was cheap at all. Maybe it is frugal to not hurt yourself and need medical care. I went to a food giveaway and am cooking the four cabbages, four butternut squashes and four acorn squash. The other stuff I will not eat, I gave to a neighbor. What neither of us will eat goes to someone at Piggly Wiggly that I find in the parking lot of Piggly Wiggly. Nothing is wasted.
ReplyDeleteI try to never buy anything unless it is bogo at Publix, has a coupon, or is on sale.
Things I do buy are for savings in other places. I bought the divided Tupperware to keep salad and sandwich items where we can reach them. Otherwise, we cannot find and eat them, resulting in reduced nutrition and food waste.
Thankfully, Tommy is not too picky about food I make. Plus, there is always enough that he can find something he likes and leave the other for me.
Yes, getting hurt and sidelined would not be frugal. Tupperware purchase, but do you have a pair of socks yet? I suppose now you're getting to warm southern weather again.
DeleteWe've walked on 2 journeys this week instead of using the car, and I used a £12 voucher at the supermarket to stock up on staple goods. I did succumb to buying an outfit for the baby, but it was only £5.50 and I bought it from the shop at the hospital which raises money for the neonatal unit there... maybe I can view it as a charitable donation :)
ReplyDeleteBaby cuteness is exempt from frugal and thrift. Buying from a good cause is a bonus.
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