August (already) 2017 Frugal Chatter thread

[Ciel]

@Angela _273 -sorry to read about the bruised leg. Hope you have some Mg gel to apply to bruise to expedite healing. Super deals on your shopping stops! I have an idea for your Amazon card-I saw a tweet and I don't know if it will apply to Amazon.ca but Amazon plans to lower some Whole Foods prices on Monday and there is chat about changes to the loyalty (which I assume means the WF one). https://twitter.com/WSJ/status/901066918811095040

http://www.grubstreet.com/2017/08/am...&utm_medium=s1

US references so far. Amazon Prime members will benefit from the loyalty program.
@SassyAshley -insights gained help you handle human relations. Have you determined if there is an incident or possible jealousy cause for the colleague who is trying to always take credit for your contributions? You certainly got much done for Friday. Enjoy your weekend to the best of your opportunity!
@lilo0003 -great icy treat deal! Not sure Fortinos offers that kind of pricing but I'll have to see whats on clearance now that those big boxes of snack size chocolates for school lunches/advance Halloween stockup are in stores. Does your DH sometimes compile a task list for you that involves driving to places to or from work?

One time management tip from the First for Women magazine is to keep a basket in which returns with receipts, library books, shopping lists and other things that have to go somewhere are kept. Then take the basket when you head out the door and
deal with each item in turn and with everything in one place, there is no time spent looking for paperwork or things (think the PC collapsible black tote bag would be ideal for this purpose). Another tip-when you need to do something, ask if it's needed right now or can it wait when you are out later? Example was running out of diapers for child-go out and get more vs need gift for party next week-task can wait for later when you are near the store.

Can walk tally-70 cents. Bought a $1 scratch ticket and no win. Found out someone I know will be going to the CNE tomorrow-so lucky! Did a late evening walk to Walmart for a few items. Noticed one residence was loudly playing or cranking bass and drum tunes after 9pm-situated next to one church and behind another one (neighbours across the street). Glad I don't live nearby but the bass carried to my street and also partway up the sidewalk near Walmart-bylaw officers, where are you?

For the Gene Simmons fans, here's a Windsor paper article on how Simmons celebrated his birthday with the audience at the casino - http://windsorstar.com/news/local-ne...day-at-caesars

[Ciel]

@jasperandchar -think of you often. How many preserves have you done this summer? Usually you have apples and pears canned unless this summer is all about the freezer chickens and vegetables.

[Angela273]

Our twins are sick with a stomach bug this weekend. Twin boy yesterday morning, then he was fine. Twin girl threw up in her crib at 5am today. She is currently sleeping in my arms.

[SassyAshley]

Hope your little one feels better Angela

[Ciel]

Spent about 30minutes trying to figure out if I should spend $100 on groceries at Sobeys today to earn 100 bonus AM. Thing is, to get a $20 gift certificate from redeeming Air Miles, I need to earn 141 AM on this trip (have 49) and I don't see that total being reached even if I include regular AM pts and some personal offers.

Just realized one grocery item is $2.99 at Longos vs $3.49 at Sobeys. I'm keen to see if Sobey's Burger Bonanza-buy 2 any two burgers get 3rd free (same price or lower)-applies to the store brand veggie burgers. They are tasty but sell at about $6 for 3 or 4 patties. I have a 15bonus AM offer wus $40 on groceries and Sobeys would give 2 regular AM (1 per $20 spent). Noticed the seaweed snacks are 99 cents (paging @Sweetsparrow ) at Sobeys so it's stock up time. I can get 8 bonus AM for buying one Italpasta at $1.88 (personal AM offer) but think I'd be better off getting 99 cent pasta at Fortinos. So my Sobeys shop is likely meat (bison 1pkg if available), veggie burgers, seaweed snacks, the cat food (if Whiskas wet food FPC can be used), one box of ice cream cones (still have the tiny mini cones but want regular size ones) and any deals in natural foods.
Eggo Waffles are $2.99 and I have a couple of 50 cent off coupons-do I want to lug waffles.

BTW, Sobeys Ancaster will have its morning customer appreciation event on the first Thursday of September from 9-11 am. Expect bagel pieces, tiny pots of yogurt, fruit salad, coffee or tea. Boost of energy before you tackle your shopping. Check your local Sobeys store site online to see if an events calendar is listing the event at your store too.

Rexall is tempting too-will have to look at flyer again for AM opportunities.

[SassyAshley]

Working on prepping food for the week, so far I have cut up a cantaloupe, pineapple and some peaches. Not sure what it up with the peaches this year, a co worker told me her sister bought peaches on Thursday and by Saturday they were liquid in the fridge. We bought some Tuesday and they were rock hard by Friday a couple were starting to mold so Mom dealt with them, today more are molding I had to throw out 2 and then saved what I could from the rest.

Now it is time to move on to actual cooking, I am going to make a batch of rice (I love having sides in the fridge ready to go), cook up a package of bacon, and a chicken breast which can be used for salads or sandwiches. Might do some other stuff but we will see how it goes, I really am trying to cut back a bit both at home and work as lately I feel like I never stop and am always feeling worn out but at the same time I love to see things getting done.

Mom has committed to helping me clean the main floor of the house next week as she is off. I know she wants to do the basement but until we can get that wall unit out there really is no point and not sure if bros back is ready for that task yet. Also thinking if it is isn't going to be too hot we will cook a turkey or ham to free up some space in the freezer, this can just cook away well we clean.

I had to change my plan for tonight's dinner as we are out of beef broth so now I am making a pork roast with roasted potatoes and carrots, as well as I think I will also roast up some broccoli and cauliflower. Hoping this goes well as I do not think I have ever cooked a pork roast but I found a recipe online I will follow and the seasoning match what I will put on the potatoes and carrots.

Well better get back to the kitchen and keep going. Have a wonderful day everyone.

[Ciel]

@SassyAshley - good you spotted the peaches and saved what you could. I'd love to be able to freeze some but don't have the space. Thus I will buy Longos bite size frozen fruit blend bags instead when I need fruit with peaches.

Kikkoman sauces on sale at Longos does not include the regular or less sodium sauces however the teriyaki and sweet and sour sauces are on sale for $2.99.
Produce find-in the prepared salad mixes in cooler case, there are $3.99 sale stickered organic spring mixes (exp Sept1) so nab them if you are in the area. Regular price is $6.99 or 7.99.
Also found a really small Nappa cabbage (just under a pound) so purchased it.
Not sure what the grilled sausages outside the store were selling for but they smelt wonderful in the patio area!

Clearance groceries in back hallway of Longos Ancaster (between dairy and seafood): 99cent cans of ChefBoyardee four cheese ravioli or Whole Grain ABCs & 123s minis. Sorry, forgot to check the dates. Bags of peas (one of yellow split, several green split) are 95 cents and there are bags of lima beans and at least one kidney bean at about $2.95. Only lot numbers are on the back so they must be coming up for expiry. There are 3 PopTart cases left for sale. Some condiments are on sale, Dare Birthday Cookies and the Wilton rotary cutters.

Think I'll have to check M&M food markets. Not going for the 1kg fruit on sale (I wish) but to get a few small sides for the freezer. The 4 day flash sale ends today. The 1kg fruit in flyer showed strawberries or wild Cdn blueberries.

Shoppers Home Healthcare flyer deals end today (from 2 weeks ago)-if you want a Kabooti cushion on sale, this is the day. Check to see if local stores are open.

Did find a McCafe sticker and a refundable container on my walk!

[saundyl]

Friday and Saturday turned out to be heartbreaking and expensive. One of our dogs scootee, had fallen off the couch last Saturday and thought he had hurt himself because he was moving stiff. Sunday he wouldn't eat food unless we added water. Then Monday he refused to eat. Tuesday we were at the lake and he was back to normal running playing chasing birds n sticks n swimming. Ate normal too and tried to mooch from me. The only abnormal was he had peed by the French doors in our bedroom before bf had taken him to the lake. Wednesday was normal eating but he had 3 accidents on our room and 2 in the kitchen bf said he was moving stiff and thought he didn't want out because the stairs were hurting... Thursday he refused to eat except one price of roast beef. Drank tons of water. And gad more accidents. We put him in the entrance way with his bed so he didn't try the stairs, have accidents or fall off the couch again. Friday morning he refused to even drink.

We made an emergency 5 hour drive to the nearest vet. Only to find out he had a very agressive tumor on his spleen cutting off the digestive system. He might make it thru surgery but it would be back within a couple weeks on his liver lungs or brain and he might make it 2 more months in pain. We had to make the decision to have him put to sleep or attempt a surgery. Just from the way the vet talked....surgery sounded like a painful short time for him and we decided for his sake it was time to say good bye. We paid to hace scooter cremated so will get his ashes in a month. We both and dragon were there for him in his last moments.

Hoteled it for the night and came home with one pup instead of 2. Dragon seems at a loss and has been pretty close to me all day.

Sent from my SM-T530NU using Tapatalk

[Natalka]

@saundyl Oh, so very sorry for your loss, it's heartbreaking. Big for you, and give Dragon a big scratch behind the ears for me.

[Frugalbigmama]

@saundyl . Hugs.

[Frugalbigmama]

@saundyl . Hugs.

[Ciel]

@saundyl -I'm sorry to read of the loss of one family pet. Very sad news.

[Ciel]

Afternoon shopping went mostly to plan at Sobeys, Staples, M&M Food Market and Rexall(glad to see original version of the store brand dish detergent as the citrus ones would not have found favour at home). Seems that low-sodium soy sauce is rather hard to find in stores. Have you noticed the price of a small bottle of pure vanilla extract? $5.99 in all the stores so far. If anyone still has that 50 cents off coupon on Club House items (from a calendar or booklet many months ago) that expires at the end of the month, make sure to put it to use.

Found 3 more refundable containers and a nickel. It looks like I got at least one bug bite. Have to make sure to give it the rubbing alcohol/ointment/bandage routine soon. The rubbing alcohol bottle from Sobeys is taller than the one from Fortinos-bottle won't fit on a shelf and the bottle is 27ml less in volume. Not going to repeat that purchase again (it also has a childproof cap and inner seal-too much effort).

There were visitors departing and I had a chance to get the dishes done prior to supper (canned flavoured tuna and Tostitos). Also when the parents were diverted by the television, I nabbed a paper LCBO bag and removed all the visibly changed tomatoes and parked them in the green cart.

[lilo0003]

@saundyl , so sorry to hear about you fur babies passing.

[Angela273]

I had another $5 pick up today.

I took our son out to the free slip 'n slide party this afternoon. Dh stayed home with our twins, we're hoping the stomach bug is gone. I boufht him a kids size icecream cone while we were out. He tried the slip 'n slide, played at the spray park, and had a water fight. There were 2 bouncy castles too, but he didn't want to go on them. We had leftover KFC, fresh oven French fries, and cucumber slices for supper when we got home.