April Showers of Savings the sequel - 2015 Frugal Chatter

[jasperandchar]

^^^May Frugal 2015 is fine with me JnC.

I am all over the cheap meals. Perhaps those who wish could post one or two ideas in a saved thread at the start (make it a wiki I think so all can add/edit) then we would only need to come up with one or two ideas each and could use other's for the other weeks. I am up for the challenge. My meal won't involve ground beef!!!

Great idea @Granger and where's the beef (lol) or better yet who can afford beef?

I noticed again in NF's flyer 1/2 ground pork and 1/2 ground beef $3.99lbs I believe , it's crazy, my kids will tell there kids about a short time that they ate ground beef and there kids will be like what does it taste like, dad? SAD BUT TRUE

[jasperandchar]

Well it's cold and rainy again...sigh...dh will make a fire again tonight as it's damp and chilly in the house AND my load of whites will dry .

Well listened to the budget and it sucks for the middle class...geez...I was hoping for something other than the income splitting.

Of course they increase the TFSA from $5500 per person to $10K per person like seriously - dh & I don't even have a TFSA as we can't afford to put anything aside with all the rising costs of everything.

END of budget rant .

I will put my thinking cap on and have another look at budgetbytes as suggest by @Lilo 003 and look through my old school cookbook and pinterest of course. I'm thinking a lot of side dishes/fillers such as scalloped potatoes and fried rice, bean salads, pasta salads and less meat and side dishes will be quick lunches for dh and I.

I have an appointment tomorrow late am but if the weather continues to be wet, dreary and cold I will be baking again this week better do it before the allowable hydro usage drops, May 1st we go from 1000kw to 600kw and the rates are going up thanks OEB.

[lilo0003]

I did not even pay attention to the budget, I am not sure I want to know how much more life is going to cost. I agree about the TFSA, I am trying to catch up to the amount that we are currently entitled to, how do I find another 10000.

[bobbiegirl2010]

@jasperandchar Did you hear the latest 19 kids news??!! Ben and Jessa are expecting and due Nov 1st (their wedding date)

http://www.people.com/article/jessa-...book_peoplemag

[Natalka]

Hello all - wow, there's been lots to read here. It's so nice to see you all able to be so busy with your families, and/or all of the other things which you do!

I've been keeping things on the down-low, feeling pretty crappy.
SKIP this part if you aren't into TMI old lady women's troubles....

I hadn't had my period since Jan., so figured yay, I'm on my way to the big M again. No, that wasn't to be - I got it at the beginning of April and it was a doozy and lasted long. Got like two days off, and I'm in the midst of another one. My periods are different usually because of my PCOS - there is a lot of pain.

So I'm hurting, I'm feeling yucky, and I'm totally feeling lifeless.

Anyway, because of this (I sometimes have flooding) I couldn't go to the prayers for the Sister who had passed away. However, my husband went and, as expected, the Cathedral was full to overflowing - there were three bishops, and he lost count at 20 priests concelebrating. My husband's brother, a priest, had come for it as well.
Usually prayers are 40 minutes or so, but they did the full old-fashioned monastery prayers, so it was an hour and a half.
The only reason I mention that is that later when my husband came home, he explained how he was flooded with memories - a younger sister of his was a nun in the old country, and she passed away after a brain tumour operation. She was 21, he was 25 then. So he explained to me how everything was done very similarly at the prayers, as she was in a monastery as well, and he was very touched by it all.
He was booked to come to Canada at that time, and had to delay it because of her death.
So we did a LOT of talking that evening.

Fast forward to today - and on a different topic - he calls me late afternoon with "I had an accident" - well, my heart dropped - but he said no it wasn't with the car, it was at work.
(well, geez, his last work accident last year was horrid!)
But he said he was okay, got hit on the head, and just had to see a doc.

So I was left wondering til he got home - and he has a gash on the top of his head, and got stitches. He was working on an overhead light fixture and he was just a few rungs down from the bottom of the ladder when a piece fell down from the ceiling and hit him.
He's okay, nothing like a concussion or even a headache.

I told him - and he knows - that I'm always worried about him getting electrocuted. Well, he said, not long before that happened, he had a ballast catch on fire. SHEESH!

[Frugalbigmama]

Hi all. Got some things done today. Decided to wait till after 7pm tonight do do laundry even though I was off but nothing was urgent so not a big deal. HAve it going now so will make sure to go down and fold the stuff in dryer and transfer washer stuff to dryer. Made $40 today in sales. 2 no shows but one has rescheduled again for tomorrow. I just leave on porch so it doesn't bother me. Made bacon and eggs and toast for dinner. Fried up eggs for kids breakfast sandwich. Made oatmeal for me for breakfast. That's about it for me for the day.

[momof5boys]

Went through my youngest son's clothes with him....what to get rid of and what not....he's 17 now and has grown loads this past year. Well, there isn't much left in his clothes closet lol but he insists he doesn't need to buy anything. He just waits for his brothers to hand him stuff Too funny. Anyway, he's graduating this year and he finds his brother's grad suit and says it fits fine. Can a parent have it any easier? lol

[lizzie bargain]

Sorry Natalka to hear about your health issues-is there anything the doctor can prescribe or do? You could also be becoming anemic perhaps? My doctor said that naproxen reduces the bleeding but I don't know if you can take that or not. I had a hysterectomy due to heavy bleeding at the age of 49 as it was seriously impacting my quality of life-glad I did it although of course the recovery from abdominal surgery is hardly a walk in the park( I was definitely sucking back those Percocets)-some women can have it done less invasively but I was not one of those fortunate ones. At least perhaps a chat with your doctor may be in order and some bloodwork perhaps to assess your iron and hormone levels? Glad your hubby is okay.

I spent 5 hrs wrangling those 4 little boys this afternoon and boy they sure keep you hopping. Not quite sure how the parents and I will wrangle all 4 down to Disneyland but I am sure we will find a way-I will be staying back at the condo with the 6 month olds while the parents take the big boys out to see the sights.

[avoncallingu]

Anyway I am looking at each stores meat counter for markdowns when I am in-however if the price was really high to begin with sometimes I find you are better to just stock up when meat is on sale. My very favourite is when all the stars align and I find 50% off stickers on meat at10% off day at Safeway on the first Tuesday of the month, so I end up with 60% off-but that does not happen too often on meats I want to buy.


I, like everyone else, am finding meat prices high-my DD requested a taco salad the other day so I picked up a small package of lean ground beef round which of course was over $5.00. Who would ever have thought that buying hamburger would be a treat?[/QUOTE]

I know what you mean, Lizzie! I picked up some MEDIUM ground beef tonight to make spaghetti - WOW! I couldn't BELIEVE the price of ground beef!

[Angela273]

I received my Sample Source today, which was fun. I should eventually get around to posting some new mail out coupons for trade.

We weren't able to get a babysitter for this Friday night. We wanted to attend an awards banquet, but I guess not this year. Our regular babysitter is working the evening shift at the CO-OP, and her friend (who has spent some time with LO) is also unavailable.

The guy was here before 5pm today to buy the weight bench for $50. Dh had approved the price, but after I ended up with 6 people in line for the item it became obvious that I could have asked for more money. Oh well, it made for an easy and quick sale.

[Natalka]

lizzie, I have a prescription for naproxen for pain, but it really hurts my guts so I don't use it. I can take Ty3 for pain as well - but I try make do with x-strength ty.

I frequently get my hormone levels and get bloodwork done because of my PCOS - regular bloodwork is fine, but hormones are wacky, which is why I've been in this mess all these years - I'm 54, but have been peri-menopausal since my late 30s. I was on a medication for two years which regulated my periods at least. The only other 'fix' was getting a hormonal IUD (Mirena) which once I researched there was NO way I was going to go through that at all. So I'm doing the lesser of two evils...
I just really thought I'd hit menopause already, I'm 54. My other sisters did, but found out my mom didn't til 61 - and she had a child at 45.

So on to 'good' news - my son brought over TONS of clothes for me to try, and there are more to come. The mom of the wife of his boss (got it?) passed away a while back.
Some of the clothes are totally new, others gently used - but I'll have to see what fits and what doesn't; I know some are below my size plus apparently she was short so pants might be a miss. The boss's wife just asked that I further pass those I can't use to someone else, so that was kind of her.

More nice news - just got a wedding invitation for a niece of ours getting married in June - the one I mentioned before who is in medicine and will be moving to London ON to do her surgical residency. They have been dating since high school, so it was just waiting for it to come... It will be very nice to have a family wedding to look forward to!

Well, Milan had come over unexpectedly but we had food from supper left to feed him, so that was nice.
Husband feels okay - his head doesn't even hurt, so that's really good.

Goodnight, all - thanks for listening to my extra bursts today! Luv you all!

[avoncallingu]

Hi folks! We get to see an appropriate specialist tomorrow for DH. He's almost out of this double dose of antibiotics and things really haven't changed much, sorry to say. Hopefully we'll get some alternatives and answers tomorrow.

For all you gardeners, I have a question. I did an experiment with my carrot tops this week. I put the tops, some of which had started to sprout in some water and now they are REALLY sprouting and sending out some little "hairy" root thingies. Can I plant these things in our tiny little garden? Can I plant them in a container? Will they actually produce carrots?

I'm going to try to get organized to sell some of my summer clothes which now are not fitting. It was Senior's day today at Value Village. I have been trying to find a plastic "tower" thingy to hold some of my scrapbooking things. I went in yesterday and saw 2 pictures that I just loved to use in my bathroom. But decided to take the chance and come back today when I would get 30% off.
They had a 40% off short sleeved shirts and blouses for card holders and I found one that I liked - a T-shirt but after I waited in line, the cashier told me that "T-shirts" didn't count - so I left it. It was still there today - so I also got it for 30% off and I found a candlewicking kit in the craft area for $1.99 -30%. I have a pillow that I absolutely LOVE that has a candlewick pattern and I've often thought I'd like to try it. So 11 years into retirement - maybe I've got the time. LOL!

I am NOT liking the fact that our hydro is going up! We've had to use our dishwasher while DH has been ill to make sure everything is sanitized. But, truthfully....I'm enjoying not having to clean up - especially after dinner - by that time of the day, I'm usually so tired! I was going to suggest to DH that we make this a little "lifestyle" change for us - to run the dishwasher once a day. I wonder how much difference it has made in our hydro bill? I guess I'll find out soon.

I've picked up a couple of other weddings for May and June. That will be good. I have a meeting tomorrow with a bride that I will marry on May 2 at a very small wedding.

I received a notice of a couple who wish to be married as soon as they can get a licence. So that will be a fast turn around!

Natalka, I am so sorry you are having such trouble. At some point it does come to an end. I'm so sorry to hear about your husband!!! Even though he's feeling ok, I'm sure you'll keep an eye out for concussion symptoms. Ouch! stitches in the head!!!

The cost of child care is SO exorbitant! I'm surprised people can afford to work!

Well, I must get to bed.
Good night ladies!

[coupon girl]

-got my hydro bill on line to view today -yippee its 38.00 cheaper than 2months ago -must be all the easy times I put loads in before 7.00 a.m and after 7.00 p.m
-lets hope the rain stays light today or not at all-I have to bundle 4 sets of wood to put out for bulk pickup
-woke up at 5.0 a.m today
-here's a question how much sleep do you ladies average a night?? I am getting 6 hours-give or take (age 55 here to)either my hot flashes wake me or my dry gums

[bobbiegirl2010]

Here's a link to the article in the Toronto Star summarizing the Federal Budget and the benefits for Canadian Families:

http://www.thestar.com/business/pers...s-roseman.html

[Natalka]

avon, wishing all the best for your husband, and keeping him (and you) in my prayers!

Had a relatively pain-free night, actually slept til 3 instead of 2! Yay!

So I'm starting the day positively!



Hopefully by the afternoon, will go through whatever flyers are available for next week, to compare and see what shopping needs to be finished up tonight.

Ah, meat - what a bugaboo! It's absolutely crazy. I find it hard enough to be creative and frugal with cooking as it is - but sheesh, I sure miss some things... like beef! We eat many meatless meals, so that's not a problem usually, but since I need to restrict dairy, that limits things as well.

Have a great day, everyone!