March 2023 Frugal Chat

[barbis9]

@barbis9, she has looked into but our local pool is still on Covid restrictions so it is impossible to get in, you can go on the waitlist but from what we have read unless our town decides to remove the restrictions which they are saying are the new normal it is pointless. They are opening a new public pool hopefully sometime in 2023 or 2024 so we will wait.

But thank you for the suggestion. This is why I thinking of the float tank but again we do not have one close. I love small-town living but it also has its drawbacks.

@SassyAshley still limited due to covid restrictions? That is very strange as most pools - city/town run and Y is open with no restrictions. Whereabouts do you live?

[SassyAshley]

Good Morning Everyone,
A much better day today. although I was feeling much better by bedtime yesterday which was a relief.

I made dinner. Then got 3 manuals completed and saved them to the server and dealt with some other day-to-day stuff. I am not saying I am caught up, I do not think that will happen until April after go-live but I feel more like I can handle this today.

Well, I made my breakfast I tidied the Kitchen. Mom washed the Dutch Oven for me last night which was a nice surprise, I forgot to do it before I went to bed.

It was snowing here earlier, it looked like a snow globe. It has stopped now so I will head out shortly and shovel and clear off the cars.

I need to run to the Post Office and drop off a return, out of the 8 pairs of leggings I got from Old Navy, Mom is keeping the 2 pairs I ordered for her, I am keeping 3 of the 6 pairs I ordered for myself. I am sending back the 3-pack I ordered which makes me a little sad as those were the ones I ordered to wear outside the house. The 2 pairs for Mom and 2 of my 3 pairs were on clearance, I got them for under $10/pair and are in colours/styles we would not wear out. One pair, I can wear out. The 3-pack although the same size as all of the other leggings fit a little too snug for my liking.

I really need to go through my clothes and be brutally honest with myself and get rid of some clothing. I just hate going through my clothes because I always worry I am going to get rid of something and then need it and have to replace it. So I tend to keep more than I should but I need to be realistic so I can look at what I have and if there are any holes I need to fill.

Happy Tuesday.

[SassyAshley]

@barbis9 , Yes, we seem to be the only town still on restriction. Welcome to small-town living. I am in Northern York Region.

From what I have read public swim is limited to 40 people and opens 1 week before and within 5 minutes it is full as you now have to pre-register to get in.

There is a community center near the branch I work at often, it is out of town for us but I have heard great things from people at work and even people on Facebook have said they now go here as you can get in. Might see if that interests Mom as I have even heard people say you are the only one there a lot of times as she could go at off times. I have noticed she doesn't like going places when it might be busy. If I am going somewhere after work she won't go with me because it might be busy or if she does, she stays in the car.

@SassyAshley still limited due to covid restrictions? That is very strange as most pools - city/town run and Y is open with no restrictions. Whereabouts do you live?

[barbis9]

@SassyAshley I don't recommend public swim as that means lots of kids, splashing, etc. I doubt your Mom would like that, as I know public swim gives me a headache, and I hate getting my hair wet! I usually go to lane swim, and exercise in the slow lane (which is usually empty) when I miss hydrotherapy.

[barbis9]

Busy decluttering. Can't believe how many freebies I have in my linen closet. I'm on my fifth bag of paperwork that I am shredding. After my last car accident, I let everything pile up, and now lots to clear up. Note to self: if I bring something into the house, something needs to go out.

Going through my canned food, as the prices in the stores are crazy. I can't believe Mr. Weston saying that supermarket profits are not causing inflation. How does one explain the large price discrepancies between Fortinos and Shoppers - both owned by the same company? And saying he doesn't know the breakdown in profits??? Meanwhile, PC optimum is able to track your spending, and customize offers.....

While my ankle still hurts, I'm waiting for a brace from Amazon (dollarama didn't have any) and will go to the pool today. In spite of pain, I always feel better after being in the water.

Time to walk the dog, have a great afternoon everyone.

[Frugalbigmama]

Good Morning Everyone,
A much better day today. although I was feeling much better by bedtime yesterday which was a relief.

I made dinner. Then got 3 manuals completed and saved them to the server and dealt with some other day-to-day stuff. I am not saying I am caught up, I do not think that will happen until April after go-live but I feel more like I can handle this today.

Well, I made my breakfast I tidied the Kitchen. Mom washed the Dutch Oven for me last night which was a nice surprise, I forgot to do it before I went to bed.

It was snowing here earlier, it looked like a snow globe. It has stopped now so I will head out shortly and shovel and clear off the cars.

I need to run to the Post Office and drop off a return, out of the 8 pairs of leggings I got from Old Navy, Mom is keeping the 2 pairs I ordered for her, I am keeping 3 of the 6 pairs I ordered for myself. I am sending back the 3-pack I ordered which makes me a little sad as those were the ones I ordered to wear outside the house. The 2 pairs for Mom and 2 of my 3 pairs were on clearance, I got them for under $10/pair and are in colours/styles we would not wear out. One pair, I can wear out. The 3-pack although the same size as all of the other leggings fit a little too snug for my liking.

I really need to go through my clothes and be brutally honest with myself and get rid of some clothing. I just hate going through my clothes because I always worry I am going to get rid of something and then need it and have to replace it. So I tend to keep more than I should but I need to be realistic so I can look at what I have and if there are any holes I need to fill.

Happy Tuesday.

I did a huge purge during covid. I took everything out and put it on racks and went through it one by one. I sold so much on FB and did porch pick up.
Doing it again in the next month. If I don't love it, it goes. Honestly even if you need something down the road will it fit? Be dated? I tossed all my work clothes but kept one pair of black dress pants. I still haven't worn them since before covid!
Good luck!

[Frugalbigmama]

Busy decluttering. Can't believe how many freebies I have in my linen closet. I'm on my fifth bag of paperwork that I am shredding. After my last car accident, I let everything pile up, and now lots to clear up. Note to self: if I bring something into the house, something needs to go out.

Going through my canned food, as the prices in the stores are crazy. I can't believe Mr. Weston saying that supermarket profits are not causing inflation. How does one explain the large price discrepancies between Fortinos and Shoppers - both owned by the same company? And saying he doesn't know the breakdown in profits??? Meanwhile, PC optimum is able to track your spending, and customize offers.....

While my ankle still hurts, I'm waiting for a brace from Amazon (dollarama didn't have any) and will go to the pool today. In spite of pain, I always feel better after being in the water.

Time to walk the dog, have a great afternoon everyone.

I cleaned out our linen closet last month and tossed so much!! Bins of "freebies" that no one wanted to use finally tossed them. It really was nice to organize it and see what we have and have been using this stuff up. Feels good!

I stocked us up on canned goods before/start of inflation.
Noticed the price on the canned beans at Walmart are $1.47 now (they were $1.19 for the longest while) Some of the prices are crazy and I feel sorry for anyone that has to buy it (some of the pasta sauce we paid .99 for is $4.99 and up!!!) Just crazy.

[harbie]

I hope your mom gets the relief she deserves @SassyAshley . It’s sad that some doctors seem to be only in pushing scripts or surgeries. Not everything needs to be treated that way especially when other avenues aren’t exhausted first.

Weight loss is obviously a good thing but it isn’t the silver bullet. I can speak from experience. I’ve struggled with my weight in my early 20’s onwards and yes since I’ve gone plant based my inflammation has drastically reduced, I’ve lost several pant sizes(not sure exactly since I’m not focused on numbers), I exercise daily, run and strength training I still have back issues. I was crushed by a guy in a ladies when I was a kid and been in a car accident in high school so unfortunately that will always be with me.

The doctor pushing weight loss surgery is a bit scary for me. That is only for EXTREME cases. Too bad it’s not as easy to just find another doctor . Wishing your mom all the best.

[Ciel21]

Ms Sunshine is beaming again-bodes well for the week. Bit of ice and slush on last third of walk to the library today. I remembered the minus2C will feel like minus 9C forecast but completely forgot about ice. Have been careful as a result.

SO thrilled to hear of the purging and sorting going on! Could you swing by my town and show Bro how fast you'd shred/recycle/toss his stuff in the basement and room?

[Ciel21]

Last night, while walking home with my frozen meals and pasta from Food Basics, I spotted a small kitchen cart in natural wood finish (top was about 1'x1' and had two legs and two wheels) parked at end of a townhouse driveway for today's collection. I had thoughts of all of @Frugalbigmama 's curbside finds for free and thought I could score a cart! But hands were full. Went home. Mom was on the phone so I couldn't get her consider driving me back to collect cart (I argued with her later about how I always find her on the phone when I come back from my library sessions-she does not live a monarch's live socially so what is there to talk about every day???)

Put a meal in the toaster oven and walked back with a dolly and two bags (to protect top and to buffer noise against dolly handle. Cart was gone! Saw a shoe organizer? narrow box in its place. Either owner retrieved the cart or someone else took the kitchen cart by foot or car. I was about ready to cry--it was the perfect size for Bro's Keurig machine to be relocated from the kitchen counter. Or the cart could go into the garage to be a refreshment stand/snack table.

Lesson learned-see an opportunity, move on it right away. Don't wait for a return chance! I should have put my bags on the cart and slowly tilt-walked the cart home when I saw it!

Really thought the Universe was giving me a happy day yesterday...let's give chance another kick at the Wins & Opportunities wheel today.

[Ciel21]

Popped onto the Bay's website to see announcement of baby/kid's line Rise Little Earthling is now exclusive to the Bay. Wait a sec-that line was at ToysRUs/BabiesRUs where I only see one item on clearance still listed on the website.
Is today Topsy-Turvy Tuesday? One person I know has a garment listed on their gift registry from that line but I found the gray clothing very drab indeed.

Carter's Osh Kosh has a flash sale. Noticed that all of the Skip Hop snack cups are 25% off! I did not manage to visit the Dixie Outlet Mall location to see if one version of the snack cup is in stock-it's not at the Ancaster store.

I will continue the spring coat find and seek online quest today. Need to get three places of possibilities determined as I know I'm pressing my luck waiting until early April to buy a coat. That's financial 101 reality-wait until the money is on hand before buying something.

Yesterday's mail-three ad pieces and lettermail for the other family members. The home reno/living magazine had a code for 10% off a Big Yellow Bag of soil for delivery by end of March. I don't have money set aside for it but took the page out for the fridge to see if other family members are going to put money where their speech was in 2021 and 2022 about how THEY'D order soil (only said that after I bought the one bag in 2021 and Bro made a play to reuse the empty bag for something but I said no).

I am waiting for the spring issue of Hamilton City Magazine as it features local Food & Drink. Hope there's coverage of places at the Food & Drink festival-I plan on going early on Friday (Happy St. Patrick's Day) for a quick look around and maybe catch some music or talk too. Rain is in the forecast and temperature will be about 7C-think I will be fine as long as there's no downpour or I will have to cancel going (no wish to be in a soaked coat; bus options are better on Friday than Saturday for my trip). March is becoming memorable for things to do somehow and I'm grateful!

Found out that I cannot make photo prints at the library. At least I know now and will have to trek to a photo printer in the near future (maybe wait for a Burlington trip to visit a certain Shoppers with working photo centre!) for the cheaper print price.

Off to see if I missed any WalmartPhoto weekend offers and see what new contests need posting for our fun and our wish fulfillment! Happy Tuesday to all!

[HermanH]

Found out that I cannot make photo prints at the library. At least I know now and will have to trek to a photo printer in the near future (maybe wait for a Burlington trip to visit a certain Shoppers with working photo centre!) for the cheaper print price.

What about using the colour printers at Staples? They have USB ports. Is the paper/image quality so much worse?

[coupon girl]

Afternoon yes i got 2 tops for myself at giant tiger one 3/4 purple reduced rack 14.99 i paid 6.99 and a t-shirt that was in flyer 9.00(lady in change room told me they wash well also and keep their shape ).I got caras easter dress $6.00 only one in her size 5-6.

I also price matched my strawberries to food basics for 1.68
and lays chips for $2.65
I got a 2lb of pears for 5.97-1.00 vip program for 4.97
(3)applesnax applesauce on sale 1.99-.25 no expiry cpn=1.74
plus a few other reg priced foods at giant tiger

At rexall i got 3 goody hair items 15% off came to 14.10 -7,500 be well points -2 are for the girls for easter ,one pkg of scrunchies is for me.
plus got beaver conditioner reg 7.94-3.00 clearance =$4.94

[harbie]

Grabbed a few things at Safeway on sale. Used my last 2 Sobeys/Silk promo gift cards so saved $20 and got a whopping 250 scene points whatever that gets me ( most likely nothing). Also another Silk Free coupon from the offer once I submit the receipt.

Question for anyone that did that promo. When you got the link to print ( which is written English) had the coupon print in French . I have had problems with some cashiers accepting printed coupons at the best of times but don’t want to try it with one that’s in French. What did you do? Maybe I could contact Danone.

[Ciel21]

What about using the colour printers at Staples? They have USB ports. Is the paper/image quality so much worse?

I'd have to bus to the local Staples. When I still had access to sibling's printer, I had the inks and photo paper to use up for printing their trip photos and such. no more access at home as of Dec.

If I had a reason to visit Chapters as well (more impulse buys and books!), then I can make a case for Staples. Easier to hike 30min to the local WM Supercentre and use the lone printer there. Just don't have a working Shoppers photo kiosk-the local store has left the screen on the blue screen for over 2 years. I have no answers why!