August Frugal chatter

School starts on friday for my kids. Summer is behind us. I started packing up all the summer stuff and getting out all the winter stuff. It's getting cold here. I'm pretty happy that aside from a few sweaters for my oldest, they won't need any clothes. The oldest is going to need a new coat. He's outgrown his kid's XL goose parka. Men's parkas are $700-800. I've been looking and posting for a used one, but no luck so far. I just might buy him a different brand this year, maybe a Northface. It'll be way cheaper. #2 needs a new snowsuit too. I scored a cute handmade parka at the flea market for $12. I'd like to add fur to it, but it looks like it's going to be more than I'd like. She'll just need snowpants now.


Went to go get #1 his bus pass (you have to buy them here). They have 2 rates, regular rate for those inside the "walk zone" and subsidized for those outside the walk zone. Last year, he was inside the walk zone so it was going to be $500. And he'd only be using it some of the time. Since I was off on mat leave, he just walked/biked the 2km and I picked him up when it was super cold or when he had squash. This year his squash will be 4 times a week. It's all the way on the otherside of town, so very much not in the walk zone. But alas, it goes by home address. The real kicker...they changed the zones and had he been in gr6 like last year, now he'd get the subsidized rate of $225. If we lived across the street, he'd get the subsidized rate. So eventhough he won't be taking the bus home, I have to pay more than twice. I seriously have half a mind to just tell them he's in gr6 or tell them we live across the street. They don't check. I find dealing with the bus people ssssooo frustrating. Sigh, but that'd be dishonest.

so thought hmm maybe dh and i can go on a date this weekend .. bowling.. $34.99 an hour to rent a lane.. really??

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Originally Posted by cath007

sorry to not posting often these last days I got sick and have again difficulties with familly....:(

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Hoping you feel better soon and families can certainly be difficult I hope things work themselves out smoothly if possible.

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Originally Posted by thriftygranny

I am in for the challenge jasperanchar. My goals are;
1. Try making my own pita bread, I have had a recipe on the fridge for a month that I want to try.
2. Cut more processed food out of our diet, especially lunch meat.
3. Start exercising more regularly
4. Christmas organization, i have bought a lot so I need to designate what I have and for whom and make a list of gifts i still need

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Thanks taking on the September challenge portion, great to have you on board.

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Originally Posted by MrsSunshine

well... it seems my september goal is going to be completed this weekend if dh has Monday off.. so guess i must come up with a new one.. if this is done. lol

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wow that would be an awesome way to end August and "fall" into September (lol).

frugal chatter members who are accepting September CHALLENGE: MrsSunshine, Caseythegoalie, jasperandchar, Frugalbibmama, Coupon girl (secret), Thrifygrannyhttps://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/i...YsYe3DZ1ggLu6V https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/i...5ikw2pWtRJXcyA

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Originally Posted by MrsSunshine

so thought hmm maybe dh and i can go on a date this weekend .. bowling.. $34.99 an hour to rent a lane.. really??

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That would be lovely to have a date night, why not? Have fun and you might get quite a few chuckles if you do go bowling.

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Originally Posted by jasperandchar

Is anyone changing up their game or starting some new routines or goals for September???? Once the boys are back in school I will start my baking again, using my crockpot for spaghettis, chilis etc. I plan to can apples come the 2nd week of September as the apples that I will be foragin (along the sides of the road) are still not quite ready. Here is a tip to know if an apple is ripe and ready to eat, cut the apple so that the seeds are exposed if they are a dark brown they are ready if not....wait a week or so and check again. Anyone else can apples? It's such an easy and cheap thing to can (just hot water bath). You make an apple syrup cut your apples, peel and core and put in bottles - mason jars) put in hot water bath and voila. I am challenging everyone for the month of September to try something new (weekly or once a month - whatever everyone is comfortable with), something that you have been putting off/trying. Please post if you wish to accept the challenge and what your goal/challenge will be. It could be starting to bake like Frugalbigmama, or a trying a new recipe, talking your freezer (clean-out), learning to crochet, start your Christmas shopping, having your meals made ahead of time, etc....ANYTHING GOES!!!!

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Do you have a recipe for the syrup?
How do you use the apples after they have been canned?
This sounds interesting but we eat very little apple sauce. Can they be used in apple pie or muffins?

We just started picking wild Blackberries. We got about a quart last weekend and will be going out again most likely this weekend.
There are lots of berries but since we have had so little rain this summer a lot of them are still green. I will be making Blackberry Jelly. It's one of my dad's favorites and I give him a big batch of it for Christmas every year.

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Originally Posted by jasperandchar

Is anyone changing up their game or starting some new routines or goals for September???? Once the boys are back in school I will start my baking again, using my crockpot for spaghettis, chilis etc. I plan to can apples come the 2nd week of September as the apples that I will be foragin (along the sides of the road) are still not quite ready. Here is a tip to know if an apple is ripe and ready to eat, cut the apple so that the seeds are exposed if they are a dark brown they are ready if not....wait a week or so and check again. Anyone else can apples? It's such an easy and cheap thing to can (just hot water bath). You make an apple syrup cut your apples, peel and core and put in bottles - mason jars) put in hot water bath and voila. I am challenging everyone for the month of September to try something new (weekly or once a month - whatever everyone is comfortable with), something that you have been putting off/trying. Please post if you wish to accept the challenge and what your goal/challenge will be. It could be starting to bake like Frugalbigmama, or a trying a new recipe, talking your freezer (clean-out), learning to crochet, start your Christmas shopping, having your meals made ahead of time, etc....ANYTHING GOES!!!!

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I'm up for the challenge :top:.
I need to think about it for a bit before I come up with my plan of attack, lol.
A few things that come to mind are:

I have some sewing for Christmas that needs to be done, get back to meal planning.. that has been sadly lacking, finish a family cookbook for dh's niece for Christmas.
I'm sure there are more but I need to think about it a little longer:rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by dreamcatcher1962

Do you have a recipe for the syrup?
How do you use the apples after they have been canned?
This sounds interesting but we eat very little apple sauce. Can they be used in apple pie or muffins?

We just started picking wild Blackberries. We got about a quart last weekend and will be going out again most likely this weekend.
There are lots of berries but since we have had so little rain this summer a lot of them are still green. I will be making Blackberry Jelly. It's one of my dad's favorites and I give him a big batch of it for Christmas every year.

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I use the apples in pies, apple crisp, the kids like them in their lunches, muffins anything that you can put apples in just need to drain the liquid and your recipe will still be quite moist because of the apples themselves and a little bit of the syrup from the apples eventhough drained. This is not apple sauce but you could make applesauce. Here's the recipe for the recipe that I use from the Beranadin cookbook however it depends on how tart the apples are, I go with the recipe for the sweet apples so Medium syrup - 4 cups of water, 1 3/4 cups of white sugar (not brown). So you bring the sugar/water syrup to a roiling boil and then either decide hot (add apples to syrup then jar) or cold pack (raw apples in jars before adding syrup). I prefer hot pack vs. cold pack but to each their own. The cold pack the apples will remain more firm than the hot pack. SO CUT THE APPLES INTO WHATEVER SIZES YOU WANT SMALL OR BIG, I NORMALLY CUT THE APPLE IN 1/4'S AND THEN SLICE, REMOVE THE CORE(SEEDS). VERY YUMMY AND QUICK WHEN YOU WANT TO THROW AN APPLE RECIPE TOGETHER.

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Originally Posted by dreamcatcher1962

I'm up for the challenge :top:.
I need to think about it for a bit before I come up with my plan of attack, lol.
A few things that come to mind are:

I have some sewing for Christmas that needs to be done, get back to meal planning.. that has been sadly lacking, finish a family cookbook for dh's niece for Christmas.
I'm sure there are more but I need to think about it a little longer:rolleyes:

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Fantastic to have you on board for the challenge(s)/goal(s) for September, I figure the more the merrier' and more positive motivation/feedback from a great bunch of ladies.

frugal chatter members who are accepting September CHALLENGE: MrsSunshine, Caseythegoalie, jasperandchar, Frugalbibmama, Coupon girl (secret), Thriftygranny, dreamcather1962https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/i...YsYe3DZ1ggLu6V https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/i...5ikw2pWtRJXcyA

here is the link to the September frugal chatter (name pending) http://forum.smartcanucks.ca/365077-...ending-canada/. PLEASE GET YOUR NAME SUGGESTIONS IN BY NOON TODAY WHEN THE VOTING WILL START

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Originally Posted by MrsSunshine

so thought hmm maybe dh and i can go on a date this weekend .. bowling.. $34.99 an hour to rent a lane.. really??

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Monday's at Palasad are a buck a bowl and half price pizzas. Great date night! Not sure if this applies to the holiday monday or not, I would call and ask :)

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Originally Posted by MrsSunshine

so thought hmm maybe dh and i can go on a date this weekend .. bowling.. $34.99 an hour to rent a lane.. really??

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NVM just saw on their website...

LABOUR DAY WEEKEND!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You work hard ... now play hard! $1 BOWLING GAMES AND HALF PRICE CLASSIC PIZZAS, ALL LABOUR DAY WEEKEND from Fri-Mon!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Guess we know where you are going for date night this weekend ;)