October 2024 Frugal Chatter Thread

[SassyAshley]

Good Evening Everyone,
Right after I posted this morning I got an email from IT that our printers were set up and ready to be tested, I tried emailing our staff that was supposed to be on-site but did not hear back so I decided, nevermind I will just drive in, it is only about 30 minutes away.

Just as I pulled into our parking lot I got the email from our staff we are here, but I was there then. One printer worked, one was printing gibberish so what I was hoping would take me an hour or so took 4.

Plus Step-Mom was there so talked to her, let her know I cannot help her this weekend, I am just too far behind at work and Mom is really struggling, I think it is the weather change, plus she hurt herself well I was at work today.

Dad showed up just in time to watch me watch a shipper unload a truck as I was waiting for the printers to be ready to test again.

On my way home I went into Freshco and got:
Grapes $1.88/lb
5 x Classico $2.99 + $5 off for buying 5
All of this came to just over $9. I wanted some pasta sauce but they did not have the one we like, they did not even have a place for it on the self so I grabbed more Alfredo.

Then to Food Basics for:
2 x Romaine $2.76
2 x Broccoli $0.84
2 x Butternut Squash $0.98/lb
1 x Spaghetti Squash $0.98/lb
1 x Ivory Body Wash $4.99
1 x Popping Corn $2.76 (Mom asked for popping corn)
Spent just over $25.

Tomorrow I will need to deal with all of the groceries only what went in the fridge was put away because I am so far behind at work right now and now found out bro isn't available next week so I guess that is why I am on call for moving issues, that plus my boss is on vacation. Let's be honest I think work is just going to be insane from now until March, shipping moves this weekend and before we know it the plant will be moving and the chaos will happen. Although may just maybe we will get sort of calm weeks, maybe.

No idea on my plans for the weekend I had been planning to go hard on the house but now after my week I am not sure I have it in me and I have no idea what next week will bring. Who knows maybe tomorrow I will wake up with tons of ambition, we shall see.

[Ciel21]

Hey frugal Smartcanucks, news media stating that they have leaked information that around October 30, ON government is giving almost every Ontarian, $200+.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toron...tion-1.7354672

Just wondered what you thought about about the $200.
Thanks

Oooh, do post a poll in News, where we can really say things about this rumoured cash payout.
X is on fire about it.

[Shwa Girl]

Oooh, do post a poll in News, where we can really say things about this rumoured cash payout.
X is on fire about it.

If it's o.k., I want to keep it here with frugal shoppers
My 2 cents worth: if someone is really struggling each day, $200 is not going to make a difference to pay outstanding bills. If someone is making six figures and looking forward to their yearly bonus and their yearly cruise/Disney trip, they won't even notice $200. Ford should do the basic income guarantee to help folks who are really struggling with rent and food and bills and medical expenses. And those making six figures won't get benefits that struggling folks need right now.
*steps down from soapbox*

[Shwa Girl]

Last couple of weeks, lots of egg deals. Loblaws company. So having some bread and some milk would make a nice breakfast.
Lunch shop

(2) Lactancia pure filter 2% milk, 2 L, 50% off sticker
expires in 5 days
(2) Activia yogurt, 12 pack, 50% off sticker
expires in 6 days
Paid with 'egg' points
Out of pocket, $0.94

[SassyAshley]

Good Morning Everyone,
Woke up at 6:30 this morning and the emails were already flowing, yes, I know it is Saturday but turns out more people are working the move than I knew so I dove right into work. There were some loose ends to tie up and still so much more I need to get done.

Anyone else ever have moments where it is like can the world just stop spinning for a few hours so I can catch up?

Hoping now that the full moon has happened sleep will get easier again as I struggled hard with this one, even last night I woke up but atleast was able to get back to sleep without being awake for an hour or more. The only things that gets me through the insanity is my sleep.

I did think about defrosting my freezer today but as I thought about it I realized I don't know where my coolers are, they are supposed to be beside the freezer. I think I moved them when the hot water tank was replaced which makes me think they are in the other room and barricaded by all the stuff out of the dining room. So that is so not happening today I do not have time to deal with all the stuff plus defrost the freezer.

We have tons of produce to prep but I am going to leave that for tomorrow, I am hoping to come up with a plan this afternoon because I think I also want to do some cooking and maybe some baking. The fall weather has me wanting homemade breads and cakes and all the things.

I think tonight's dinner will be Homemade Pizza and Salad, I had planned to make pizza last night as it was supposed to be a work from home day but since I went in I got home too late.

Happy Saturday Everyone.

[coupon girl]

Morning sleep has been hard for me feel asleep for 2 and half hours then up ,then back asleep later -dont wish to take sleeping pills either.
Such is life .

May pop over to sobeys pears are on 1.99 and dollarama ,i dont have my get up and go today.

[lizzie bargain]

SA-I have found that unless you are willing to set very firm boundaries on your personal time, the world will keep spinning. Time for you to take control-unless of course you want to live the rest of your life this way.

[crafter]

Well, I stayed up late last night to take advantage of Magic Hour on Shoppers online. I had a cart full of some really good points values and I noticed "something" changed prior to midnight...where the points tagged looked better. Double checked an old post about Magic hour on a FB group and waited until midnight.
Well, yep magic did happen...all of the items in my cart, magically changed to full price and the points value dropped LOL

Oh well, I had fun virtually shopping for nothing and I'll probably try again next time the SDM stars align but I may pull the trigger prior to midnight if my points offers and prices look decent.

Have a wonderful weekend all!

[Ciel21]

Had issues last night after trying to log into the forum after 8pm. Error rate limited 1200 code. Might be related to me, not the forum? Then a 504 Gateway timeout.
After the one post in this thread, I could not get the Reply to thread button to let me post more. Grr, off to Deals thread and editing the current gift card deals. Did read other posts in this thread. I did see the Anycard in Food Basics yesterday to glance at which stores are listed on card front, as I was looking for flyers (someone left their copy in a cart outside) and lemon juice. Fortinos does not seem to stock print flyers in customer service on the newspaper rack?

Got my bag of textiles off to the local group collecting them this morning. Managed to get time with friend. Discovering even the library computer is making it near impossible to log into Yahoo without 2FA. I seem to have created another Yahoo account by trying to link my Gmail (Sign in with Google button used after two attempts to get second Yahoo addy to open to get recovery code for first Yahoo addy)to one of the two. Managed to get one Yahoo addy accessed on the phone over wifi. Been impossible for past three months. Prior to having a cellphone plan, there was no issues accessing Yahoo on public wifi. Now it is issue city to access Yahoo except on the tablet at home. Will need to link my accounts or perhaps just change some site accounts over to Gmail address and reduce where Yahoo is used.

I deleted the Walmart app after deleting the Walmart account, which is a 2 step process! Had to press Delete account, access code in my Gmail and add to Walmart code field, then press Delete account again. It was fun using the price checker but the app updates helped to drain the data limit I set for current cycle. I also went through the Play store apps and only allowed two browser apps to auto update and unchecked the option on other apps. The Phone app had background updated again and I had to uninstall that update to see my contacts again. Fourth time.

Has anyone found details about how the Save.ca cashback program will work? I had seen another print ad for the program recently.

BTW, I am loving the Wise app ad on Global. That same ad has been rampant on Youtube since last week. @walkonby the ad reminds me of that movie with the actress we discussed, where she finds a bag with money on the casino trip bus and proceeds to spend it.

Mobile Syrup wrote how Rogers and Fido are ending their prepaid plans on Dec.16. The flanker brand Chatr will still offer prepaid plans. All three major cellular telcos are charging $70 connection fees for phone upgrades or plan changes... I am trying to convince someone to give Freedom a try soon.

[SassyAshley]

@lizzie bargain , thank you.

I was having a moment this morning but actually once I sat down and looked at everything I felt a lot better. I think it is just the move and IT issues stressing me out. The paperwork for this move has been a lot more than I anticipated and that fell to me and production to handle but luckily I have two people helping who are always there to help.

I originally felt bad telling Step-Mom I couldn't help as neither bro is going today so only sis is going, then tomorrow bros are going but not sis, but honestly it was what was best for me.

If I had of gone I would have helped all day, come home exhausted and needing to do my housework so I could go back tomorrow to help again then come home and try to prep for week. Then I would probably end up working late all of next week to catch up. So as much as I did not want to work this weekend it will save my sanity next week. Bonus, I knocked out the big thing I had to have done by Monday in record time, I thought it was going to take me hours and I got it done in under an hour, yay me!!!!!!!

Then once I was done I decided to go over my budget, I am a little behind again but I also know we aren't overspending. I was just worried as there have been a few purchases for Mom recently that I had the $$$ to cover but just seeing the numbers, it gives me anxiety. But, when I laid it all out we spent less than I thought and are still doing well.

One of the things I picked up for Mom was a walker, she was hesitant but right now anything we can do to get her out of the house more often. More than anything she just needs that place to sit because she cannot stand or walk for long periods of time which always concerns me when she wants to go a store alone (which usually doesn't happen and I go) this way if need be in the store she can sit down. Now we just have to build it.

Now to write a meal plan and a prep list, I have been on Pinterest so now I need to narrow things down.

[Ciel21]

H&M Members weekend to Oct 20. Today's offer is 20% off $80 or more spend plus free shipping. Cleo keeps cranking out daily specials too.

Olsen Europe women's clothing is no longer on the Bay's website!

[SassyAshley]

@Ciel21 , when I was in No Frills someone was looking for a flyer and they were told by a staff member as per Head Office they are no longer allowed to have flyers in store. They said it is part of Loblaws initiative to reduce waste along with no longer offer plastic bags in store (I thought that was a government thing???). They said they now have one print copy if they stick on a free standing tower at the door.

Although this brings up another question, I saw an article that I forgot to share and now cannot remember where the article was from but basically it was saying that the reusable bags are actually worse for the environment than the plastic bags were. A few points they brought up were:

That people do not re-use the reusable bags for various reasons the big ones were that discussed were people not taking them with them when they shop (one point brought up was a 20 something living in Toronto who does not drive so she does not carry her bags with her so if she run in after work or goes without planning she does not have bags on her). The other point was for those who order to delivery and the store always bags their groceries.

They said that the reusable bags are worse for the environment because they actual take longer than to break down than plastic bags. They do not have other uses so they just go to the landfill (the same 20 something said once they fill a reusable bag with bags they throw the bag out).

One of the theories they brought up was that grocery stores are actually making selling the reusable bags. They did ask all the major grocers how much they make per bag but no one responded except for I believe Wal-Mart who would not provide numbers but said they do not make money on reusable bags.

I always take my bags with me as I keep them in my car and I am too cheap to pay for bags if I am being honest. Although I do miss the ability to buy a plastic bag when I am buy meats.

[walkonby]

[QUOTE=Ciel21;7252827]
BTW, I am loving the Wise app ad on Global. That same ad has been rampant on Youtube since last week. @walkonby the ad reminds me of that movie with the actress we discussed, where she finds a bag with money on the casino trip bus and proceeds to spend it.

UGH!! @Ciel21 my brain is a slow draining sieve !! I watched the ad on Youtube but cannot recall the film OR the actress? This is me everyday now......wander from room to room at times hoping to remember what I forgot. No frugal news atm or maybe I just don't remember any.

[HermanH]

They said that the reusable bags are worse for the environment because they actual take longer than to break down than plastic bags. They do not have other uses so they just go to the landfill (the same 20 something said once they fill a reusable bag with bags they throw the bag out).

One of the theories they brought up was that grocery stores are actually making selling the reusable bags. They did ask all the major grocers how much they make per bag but no one responded except for I believe Wal-Mart who would not provide numbers but said they do not make money on reusable bags.

Not only are the re-useable bags making money for the stores, but the number of garbage bags sold has actually gone up, according to one news interview I saw regarding Walmart.

[Shwa Girl]

Morning sleep has been hard for me feel asleep for 2 and half hours then up ,then back asleep later -dont wish to take sleeping pills either.
Such is life .

May pop over to sobeys pears are on 1.99 and dollarama ,i dont have my get up and go today.

sleep problems? pumpkin seeds couple of hours before bed. lots of magnesium. so long as you are not allergic.