January 2024 Frugal Chatter thread (it's a leap year!)

[Ciel21]

I have a simple weekly planner book from a dollar store already marked with important dates and when the next issue of LCBO Food & Drink will be in stores. I do need more Bic Glide Velocity Bold pens!

While reviewing most of my 2023 planner notes, it occurred to me to be more intentional about my spending and to try to choose Cdn products where possible as most of my personal care items are imported brands. The cost of things is having me check the clearance racks first in two major grocery stores because 50% off something I could use might have me discover a new brand or a find under $3 (like the 2kg No Name club pack elbow macaroni).

Digital flyer previews are SO IMPORTANT! Especially as I don't always get all print copies of local store flyers in the mail or they come after the weekend, causing a miss on weekend deals...

I'm in love with a taco seasoning mix I made recently. Now I can try Tex Mex stuffed peppers!

[SassyAshley]

Good Morning Everyone,
Happy New Year.

Yesterday I worked on my goal for January, not a fan of year long goals as I prefer to reflect monthly. I find yearly goals I leave them until the end of the year and then panic. For January I am going to:
Drink More Water - I always drink water usually 2 water bottles (24 oz) a day I am aiming for 3 to 4 bottles.
3 Meals - I need to get back on track with eating 3 meals a day, sound funny right, most do it but in Oct, Nov, Dec I was regularly skipping meals again.
More Fruit & Veg - I do okay with this but feel I can always have more, normally I get 2 servings a day, I am aiming for 3 to 5 per day.
New Recipe - I want to get back to trying 1 new recipe a week.
Weekly Project - To keep on track with the house I need to get back to completing one weekly project per week, could be cleaning organizing, purging whatever needs to be done. But I also want to keep them obtainable so break into smaller achieveable sections. The Dining Room is a lot but complete the shelves is doable.
Cleaning Routine - I want to get back into a cleaning routine so I am not leaving everything for the weekend. Again good at the start of the year fell off the second half of the year.
Morning Routine - Get back into my morning routine, start getting up again between 5 and 6 am. Giving me quiet mornings to start my day.
Work - 55 Hours, my goal is to work 55 hours or less each week. Hopefully allowing me time to get other things during the week and not just working from the time I get up until the time I go to bed. Now the trick is to stay on top of everything.

Are you resolution or goal type of person or neither?

Happy Monday and Happy New Years.

[Angela273]

The Air Miles app has a limited time offer to transfer any desired amount t of your Air Miles from Dresam to Cash, or vice versa!

[Angela273]

$4864.43 savings total from 2023.

$1300.17 in coupons
$840 - Scene+
$900 - PC Optimum
$200 - Air Miles
$75 - Swagbucks
$90 - Cashwalk
$315 - gift card promos
$208 - contests
rebate apps, a bit of stuff sold, SARCAN, SCOP, etc.

edit: I do not include the price difference on clearance items, store stickers, or price matching in my above savings total. I know that I would not have paid the original price on those items.

[coupon girl]

Wow angela so impressed with your almost 5,000 saving last year .

Just doing laundry today and resting as we watch the girls for 4 days tuesday on ,as my sons schedule got changed .

[Angela273]

Thanks coupon girl. I’m pretty happy with my savings amount, especially while working full time in another community.

My students return to the classroom on Thursday, so I’ll be travelling back on Wednesday. I currently do not feel prepared, so I’m going to work on some teacher stuff today. I’ve been procrastinating…teachers are never given enough support or credit.

[SassyAshley]

@Angela273 , WOW your savings are amazing.

[SassyAshley]

Decided to tackle a few things even though I want to savour this last day of Shutdown. I still cannot believe we have been off for 2 weeks, it does not feel like it.

Emptied the Dishwasher, no dishes to go back in, but there were some hand dishes I have washed up, I have been avoiding these, I do not know why, thinking I just needed to shut down for a couple of days.

Cleaned out the fridge, not much waste just some leftover Turkey Gravy and a few slices of leftover steak. Took out the garbage and recycling.

I have determined I need a lifestyle with 3-day weekends, they work best for me. Two days to rest, one to clean. But, I know not a reality, but a girl can dream.

Thinking I may spend some time in the Dining Room, see if I can get the shelves in some sort of order.

Had a discussion with Mom last night on things we want/need to get done around the house that we need to have quoted as they are things we cannot do ourselves. I have to admit, I know these things need to be done but the thought of spending the $$$ is freaking me out a little bit. I have a budget now the question is what all can we get done within that budget. Times like this I wish I was a little more handy and could tackle some of this myself but I think flooring is beyond me.

[SassyAshley]

Spent some time in the Dining Room moving things around on the shelves.

As much as I am a person who loves organization I am not the type of person who can look at a pile of stuff and empty shelves and just see how it will all fit. For me, there is a lot of moving around and trying things in different places, but I do eventually get there.

So far I have the small appliances, dutch ovens, braiser and our pot and pan from Bro put away. I think these will stay where they are but I must admit I am finding it hard since there are 2 shelves that are at the perfect height for Mom. She is on the shorter side so the top shelves are out but now with her mobility, she has a hard time bending and cannot lift when she bends so trying to get everything she might need on these 2 shelves is proving to be a challenge.

I also started to sort all of the glass jars. Mom has a thing for glass jars but I am hoping maybe just maybe some of them can go but we shall see. Right now I am working on putting the mason jars we use in the fridge and pantry in a bin to keep them easily accessible. The rest will probably have to go to the basement for storage.

Canadian Tire has some bins on sale I wanted to grab but my location is sold out, hoping maybe tomorrow or Wednesday they will get more stock. I want to use these for all of the glass in the basement.

Dinner tonight was Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Shells and I made Cheesy Garlic Bread Focaccia. OH MY GOSH, the Focaccia was amazing, first time I made it but definitely a keeper we will be making again.

Then I did something I have not done in almost a year, I picked up my crochet hooks and started making a scarf. I am torn between wanting to get it done and wanting this project to last.

Time to relax a little and to bed early, goal is to be up at 5 am tomorrow so I can clean up my emails and write a to-do list before the day starts (branches open), because it always happens something won't be working tomorrow.

[walkonby]

Fresh new page for January frugalness. I've not embraced the flyers and savings just yet only because we need so little. Freezers, fridge, storeroom and cupboards all have plenty in them to invent entrees. The tough part is trying to return to my diet. January Resolutions are a trap!! ha ha

[SassyAshley]

Good Morning Everyone,
Did not get up at 5 am but was up at 6 am which is when the "issues" started rolling in. I think everyone is now logged in and all printers are working, my email is cleaned up and I can start my day.

I have my bedding in the wash so I can switch to my new sheets today. Will do Mom's once she gets up. Will wash our old sheets and store them in an oversized Ziploc Baggie. Eventually, they will go in the Linen Closet but that still needs to be cleaned out.

I can admit I did not get as much done as I had hoped over Shutdown but I am okay with it. I am trying to give myself more grace and remind myself there is a lot to get done and it won't be done in a week but if I keep chipping away at it, I will get it done.

I did mention getting rid of some of the glass jars in the Dining Room last night and response back was "We are not getting rid of perfectly good jars." So guess I will start boxing up the extras to move them to the basement.

Thinking Dinner tonight will be Baked Sausage with Sweet Potatoes and Green Beans, unless Mom wakes up with a craving.

Happy Tuesday Everyone.

[Frugalbigmama]

Happy New Year!

Back to the swing of things! Started off making my coffee and now looking at my work list of "to do's".
I feel like today will be a quiet work day (hoping) since I think many people in my firm are off today/this week.

House- Filled up the sink with hot soapy water and have dishes soaking. The kitchen was neglected yesterday so that is my first thing on the list!
We have leftovers to eat today. (beef dip sandwiches for the guys) I have a Stir-fry with shrimp.)
Will take out BLSL chicken from the freezer tonight so I can prep some chicken/veggies tomorrow. Will pull ground beef from the freezer too and make taco meat since we have everything for tacos . Then that will set us up for a few days of not worrying what is for dinner.
I bought a fridge storage basket for the cheese. Now it is organized by expiry date and I don't have to worry about people opening it in the wrong order .
Groceries- Only buying fresh stuff this month. Healthy only!! Using up protein from freezer to plan meals around. Really going to try not over shopping so we use up what we have already. Planning the meals around the stuff we have to use up. So the fresh mushrooms/onions/peppers will be add to the veggie mix I make tomorrow to go with the chicken. This is the year for no food waste!

Ok so today's list tackle is sort laundry and put at least one load in washer and hang to dry.
Clean kitchen.
Move TP from spare room closet and put gifts bought for upcoming events on that shelf.
Hand wash powder room floor.
Hand wash office floor.
Move dog bed to office.
Tidy washrooms.

If I get all that done today then I will be happy. Also will get out for a walk since the sidewalks still look dry.
Aiming for a walk each morning at 10am for a work break. Trying to make a work schedule for myself that makes the work day productive and gets me out of my space for a bit.

Have a wonderful day!

[harbie]

Good morning all. Can’t believe it’s 2024 already!

We ended the year with a bang( in bed by 9:30pm) . Dh and I worked out. Running and big weight lifting session and then a the same on New Year’s Day. We drove to the beach to watch the sunrise, fed my duckies, grabbed a couple of Starbucks ( I was shocked they were open).

Today’s the last day off before another busy week ahead. Nothing like starting slow . I’m going to tackle some laundry and a quick vacuum and probably a light bathroom cleaning but that’s it ( plus a workout of course).

Hope everyone is having a great day and week ahead.

[Frugalbigmama]

Kitchen is clean. 1 load of laundry washed and hung to dry. 1 load of towels in washer.
Showered. And now enjoying my shrimp stir-fry (my 1st meal of the day)
Went to the upright freezer and took out a package of chicken, sausage and 2 x Lean ground beef.
Will make chicken/veggie bowls, sausage and pasta and taco meat for tacos and taco salad. That will set us up for the next few days.
No floor washing for me today. Tomorrow maybe

I need to get out for some fresh air so going for a walk once I am finished my lunch.

[SassyAshley]

Beds are made but some of the old sheets are still in the basement to be washed. Will work through those throughout the week and get them bagged up.

The new sheets are bigger and fit Mom's Mattress but are a bit big on mine but oh my gosh are they soft. I cannot wait for bed tonight to get all cozy and curl up.

I also washed the couch blankets but did not get the couches vacuumed, will do that tomorrow.

I spoke too soon this morning, I do not know what was up with our server, I swear it does not like shutdown. After another hour of fighting with one location at a time going down, I rebooted it and that seems to have fixed it, we are now closed and it did not go down again.

I tidied up my work basket, it has been overflowing since about November and I kept starting to clean it but got distracted. Tonight I emptied it, sorted everything and got it back in order. Everything now fits in the basket which will make vacuuming the couch tomorrow so much easier.

I did not get anything done in the Dining Romm today, maybe after dinner, we will see how I feel.

I stopped work just after 4, I am trying.

Dinner is Baked Sausages, Roasted Sweet Potatoeds & Green Beans plus a few Roasted Potatoes we need to use up. Had not planned on the potatoes but do not want them to go bad.