May 2021 Frugal Chatter - Plant the seeds of Frugality now for harvest in summer

Good Morning Everyone,
Up early again and trying to get some work done. I am also doing Laundry. I have come up with a new plan for Laundry, we only do laundry once a week but on Laundry days the night before I am going to put the baskets in the hallway so I can start laundry right when I get up. I had been waiting for Mom to get up but since she gets up so late it feels like it takes all day to get laundry done because I do not start until noon or later. This way I can start it in the morning and just get it done.

Looks like it might be another grey day here, we did not get a lot of rain yesterday but it grey and cover cast all day. Oh well I won't be leaving the house today, I did my SDM shop yesterday and got the mail.

I am thinking next week I might do a Costco Shop, I could hold off a couple of more weeks but since I am not sure what will happen with the Stay-At-Home I would like to do before non-essentials reopen. I do not need any non-essentials from Costco and feel like it is going to be a madhouse when non-essentials reopen. I have heard from a few people (step-mom, bro's gf) right now with non-essentials closed even if you go at peak hours it is not busy.

I think my next shop will mostly be meats, we are running low on a few Ground Beef, Chicken, Pork Chops. I am also considering buying some Salmon, we really should get more fish in our diet, we are not big on fish but I have had Costco Salmon a few times at Dad's and do not mind it, we will see. I think the key will be how we prepare and cook it, marinades are always good. Plus I will look at produce since some items are not going on sale in the local stores it will make Costco the cheaper option.

Have a wonderful day everyone.

Good Morning! Another wet gloomy day here.

Will make mac and cheese and chicken fried rice today. DS will plow through it all quickly I am sure.
Need to putter in the garage and post stuff for sale today. Will go in there for 30 mins this morning to get started.

I am starving now so I need to make something to eat.

Ok I went in the garage and opened a few bins and posted a bunch of small things.

1st $2 item pending pick up! Love love porch pick ups :)

@coupon girl -I'll pray for you and your big brother. You have a wonderfully big heart.
@Angela _273 I'll also keep you in mind during your job search. Your current year of teaching experience is an asset given the mixed online/in-person formats used in schools across Canada. Dare I suggest if Ontario is on your radar if there are openings that appeal to you?
@GoodBoy -Thank you for starting May off on the forum!

Census stuff brings me back to post. After discovering that cancelling the e-mail address (and Twitter handle) attached to my previous id was a tad shortsighted (since I did not change the e-mail address before the other's deletion), I could not post/change password or e-mail after logging into my @Ciel profile. So time for a newer name and two more bean bun images (you've seen them in the past). I did manage to read the last two PMs to the previous account-many thanks! :flowers:

Our mail yesterday was late and I hadn't checked for it. Talking to a friend this morning, I learned she got the census card in her mail. I went to the box today and eureka-our card was there. Guess what-LONG census luck of the draw. All I can say if you are so fortunate (1 in 4 chance), you'll want a laptop or desktop computer and access to utility records (hence the genius of tracking monthly expenses, you can use three of them for the long census) and to family members whose particular education/work/other details only they might know. It took me over an hour including three short logouts (password and security question had to be entered) to get the census done. Don't forget to add any insights, pros or cons of the census in the last box at the end. And jot down the confirmation code on your card.

I've noticed that I will have an issue deleting an Outlook e-mail account (it would have been useful keeping it had I the means to afford a Microsoft 365 subscription for a year but the point is moot). Not sure why I had two other Yahoo accounts attached to it but it does not seem like there's an easy way to deleting said account. The Gmail account was a mistake from the outset and I won't pursue its deletion. Just grateful I redirected one of my laptop subscriptions from the Gmail account so all is well.

Two gifts sent out recently (one via store, one via Canada Post) both got delivered yesterday to recipients. I only hope they or someone at their homes collected the boxes out from the rain that was yesterday's weather. I did manage a walk in the morning just before the first few drops began at about 11 am.

A few last things to tweak on the laptop, then it's ready to hand off to my friend this week. I have a health book that is helping me focus on what changes to make this month in order to stave off pain issues I expect to surface on hot or humid days. Hence the "MacGyvering the situation" line in my profile.

Wendy's coupons accompanied the census card and admail and addressed mail yesterday. Same bunch as last time, but with early July expiry dates.

Just sold a bunch of toys for my daughter-in-law and daughter on kijiji,it would have came to $34 but he asked me if i would take $25 ,so i countered back with $27 (he said yes)so i woundnt take any money from my stacking blocks that was in the bunch .I will give my daughter $13 and my daughter-in-law $14 at least it gets rid of a bunch of toys 7 of them .

I am trying to find more items in the house to sell.

I just cleaned out my make up bag. Haven't done that in years. All I wear is BB cream and mascara so I tossed so much crap. And I found $53.90 in cold hard cash. I knew I had tucked a few $20's in it one night at the casino for a rainy day lol. Guess today is the day.
I washed it and it is drying now. Happy I finally did that. It's been on my mental list for a long time.

In Hamilton, the trick to getting rid of an old trash can is to bag and tag it. The past two weeks, I put out the old can with a taped note and trash tag on it (week 2; no tag on week1). Can never gets into garbage truck. Did the clear bag with fresh new tag this week and the crew took the container! I got 30 years of use from that Rubbermaid container but its dings and some dents were showing its age. Dad left behind a somewhat newer and rarely used can of the same style-just need to give the can a good wash (mystery stain on lid-oil?) and add house number to container.

When there was a recent windy day, I noticed who had secured their items in their yard (or not). Things flew. Fortunately no damage but no treasure was found either.

Mom cut up a cantaloupe for dessert tonight. The fruit is a great treat.

I miss reading a newspaper. Bro has not bought any during his time off (4th week now). I plan to get a paper on my grocery trip tomorrow.

Those of you with Scene points sitting idly on your card-check to see if you have enough points to get an e-gift card for stores other than restaurants (which offer takeout only unless you want those cards).
Chapters Indigo is one of the card options you can redeem Scene points for-and I just noticed that Indigo has a collection of Lee Valley x Oui gardening tools on its website. Can order online or shop at stores (curbside pickup if stock is at your location).
There's also a selection of face masks up to 60% off (online until May 16). The Baggu 3 pk are now $18 (down from $22.50; reg $45).

I’m open to teaching contracts in other provinces and school divisions, especially if they are fully online.

I had a very rough day today. I am scheduled to get my first vaccine dose tomorrow. Supper plan is either leftovers or KFC. Ds has been asking for KFC and I have a decent coupon that’s expiring soon. It’ll make for an easy supper while my immune system works overboard.

I just went for a 25 minute walk ,even thou it is cloudy and dreary .I walk thru a 10 minute walk thru some woods in my suburbs which is nice .

I also managed to chat with my sister-in-laws sister who lives around the corner from me outside from the roadway ,soo nice to chat with other people even for a few minutes .

Good Afternoon Everyone,
Weird couple of days, yesterday afternoon I started to not feel well, but by dinner I was fine. Thinking it was maybe a no Gallbladder thing. The today around lunch time I got a horrible, I think it is because I was looking for a needle in a haystack all morning, literally all morning. I think I was sitting funny looking for little finer details in some screen shots and it messed up my neck and shoulders. I ended up laying down for about half an hour, I did not fall asleep but my headache subsided.

Tonight for dinner we are having Fajitas, for the last 3 nights Fajitas were discussed but then we made something else. Tonight we will have fajitas with some sort of Salad on the side, maybe I will try making some Homemade Ranch.

I feel like my whole day has gotten away from me as I thought my needle in a haystack would take me maybe 2 hours nope, I worked on it for 6 HOURS. So there went half my day. Oh well it is done and on to other things.

There is some stuff I need to around the house but think I might just relax tonight and tackle it tomorrow.

Have a great day everyone

Good Evening Everyone,
Tried making my Homemade Ranch Dressing tonight, it is okay but needs some work, not quite sure how I am going to tweak it yet but it needs something.

I keep thinking today is Thursday, I have a feeling I am going to be very sad tomorrow when it is not Friday LOL. Thinking about asking for Friday before the long weekend off to make it an extra long weekend. We will see. I do not know why but I am always afraid I am going to use my vacation days but need them later.

I am starting to really put some thought into what we need from Costco, I know we will need to stock up on meat for sure. I have to admit watching these Vloggers from US, I get really jealous of the prices they pay for meat. Calling $1.99/lb for Boneless Chicken Breast expensive, I wish, I could get that price but I think it is long gone in my area. Will also look at produce, oh how I miss the Chinese Market but not at the point of going back yet. I will check this week's sales and see but I am thinking more Romaine, maybe Baby Carrots, Zucchini and maybe just maybe they will have a couple produce mark downs on stuff we like. I really am finding even with shopping the sales it is getting harder and harder to come in under budget.

I taught myself how to add music to my videos tonight. Happy about that, this journey is still a work in process but I am having fun.

I am feeling much better but I think it will be early to bed for me, I am still super tired. I think I might do a melatonin reset and see if it helps.

Hope everyone has a wonderful night.

Last night, I made a point to check digital flyers for three grocery stores and compiled lists for two stores. Tonight I made the trip to Fortinos but ended up skipping Food Basics since the 4 packs of yard waste bags were on sale ($2.99 is sale priced vs new reg. price of $3.29; saves me the hassle of waiting for Lowe's to reopen later in month to buy their cheaper bags) and my cart was heavy with them and food purchases. Was thrilled to see the bags stacked in a spot at back of store; usually only the regular shelf spot has them or is empty. Used two coupons-glad to have had the B1G1 free Vileda scrunge coupon as the last fresh sponge was put out on the counter about a week ago. I hadn't listed the sponge on my shopping list but when I checked my scant coupon selection, I realized I needed the product.

I'll look at the new Food Basics flyer to see which of the produce items I wanted might still be featured as on sale.

Was glad to return 3 empty wine bottles and apply the refund against a single can of beer (it's been about 4 months since I had beer).

Wore glasses hoping to spot any treasure finds. No luck but I did work up a bit of a sweat and was glad I made the grocery run. Had I not napped during the afternoon (it's almost a regular thing now), I might have managed a second grocery walk after Fortinos.

Have to make myself spend 30min outdoors in yard or walking daily. If I get bogged down in my head, nothing really gets accomplished (gray days don't help me).

This week, the last of the Up & Up unscented dryer sheets got used. I am very unlikely to find another surprise find of the product at a liquidation store. A friend told me that the former Calendar Club location in town has a sign for an upcoming Extreme Liquidation store. If anyone has experience shopping at that store, do share any finds or pricing or comments on inventory assortment. I'm hoping it'll be similar to Brantford Surplus (if you have a chance to go, there are some deals there but expect to put lots of stuff into your basket or cart but social distancing can be a challenge in the narrow (former grocery store) aisles.

Just two pieces of admail landed in the mailbox today. Had a chat with neighbour-rare occasion to talk rather than just exchange greetings. Community paper might have landed tonight (it hadn't when I got home near 8pm). Part of the street got their copies, just not my section of the street yet.

Did not get into the garden today. Did gather fallen branches and used the last yard bag I had on hand. Swept sidewalk. Did some morning washing and drying plus the vacuuming. Made sure to open three windows to get some fresh air into the house. Wish I had roasted potatos. Did get Bro's ok to heat up frozen chicken burgers-seems I craved them and leftovers did not last long 3hr later!

@SassyAshley I spent yesterday with my shirt on inside out and I thought it was Wednesday so I agree this is going to hard when I realize tomorrow is not Friday. :lol: I went to Costco Monday because dog food was on sale and it’s been weeks since I was in so it was a stock up. Still expensive even with only foodstuffs. I checked out the garden centre but it’s still too early. I did buy a huge rosemary plant and may go back next week for some pots. It’s going to be tough with the lockdown and limits so I may end up spending a lot less on plants this year.