October 2024 Frugal Chatter Thread

[Ciel21]

Ok took a long break from raking leaves. Going to give it another hour then find supper and tea.
Did laundry in the morning. Feeling stressed about not having done the semi-annual fridge and pantry vacuuming yet. Want that freezer section checked out because I cannot deal with the droning sound the fan makes. This weekend will be get it done indoors rally event. 🙌

Some tree branches will be coming down too this week.
Spent an hour scrolling cute clothing for tots yesterday. Went to one brand's site and found adult pj set for women in one print I like on kids clothing but not so much on the knit pjs. Want an adult version of tops I have been admiring using floral prints on burgundy background.

[coupon girl]

Today i shopped at the gap online (2 codes worked on top of 40% off sale price)The codes were addon 20% and family 10% off)only works on certain sale items not the ones ending in 00(19.00)

I spent $33 -.66 raketan and got 4 items and free shipping for xmas and easter for the grandkids.

[HermanH]

Want that freezer section checked out because I cannot deal with the droning sound the fan makes.

Sounds like some kind of disruption with the fan. Does your freezer have a fan? If so, a hair or dust might have gotten into the shaft or blades, thereby causing them to be out of balance. You might be able to clear such obstructions by yourself and save yourself some heartache, in the long run. I had a similar high-pitched squealing/whirring from my desktop computer. A good vacuum job on the fan seems to have fixed it for a number of years. Regular cleaning/maintenance pays dividends.

[SassyAshley]

Good Morning Everyone,
Yesterday was the Mondayest Monday I have had in a long time.

I was in Head Office as it was shippings first day in their new warehouse and even though I got the printers working Friday which was the concern they did not make my day easy. They would not print one more than one document without jamming and I was going through paper, it was insane. But I won the battle and the printers are now working.

Then it was about 1 and I was going to leave but got pulled into a meeting next thing I knew it was 4 pm. When I was going to leave at 1 my plan for dinner was Meatloaf, Mac & Cheese and Green Beans but since I left at 4 it was switched to Chicken Alfredo Bake with Broccoli and Mushrooms which was probably a better option as I had broccoli and mushrooms to use up. Also realized well cooking dinner I have some heavy whipping cream I need to use up as well.

I ended up working all night to try to get caught up. I logged in Sunday night to write my to-do list like I try to do every Sunday and wound up with nothing for my to-do list just a lot of answers I needed to send. I went into yesterday feeling good but that went downhill quickly. Today is a work from home day so we shall see how it goes.

Need to figure out dinner for tonight, not sure what I am feeling. Will see how the day goes, maybe I will make Chicken Shawarma, hmmm, maybe.

Happy Tuesday Everyone.

[SassyAshley]

@crafter and @walkonby , thank you.

I know I need rest I just feel like with everything going on with Mom right now I need to be on top of everything not to mention she is a funk right now and I get it she is always in pain, not sleeping. But I just feel like I have to try to make everything I can control perfect which includes our house which is a disaster, Mom has really been pushing for me (well she says us, but she can't help) to finally get the house in order. So when a weekend comes (or let's be honest right now, all weekends) and I crash I feel horrible.

I think it comes down to Mom feels like she can't invite people over and since she can't leave the house it is bothering her but I cannot clean this house in a day or a weekend or even a week. But I guess she feels like this is something she should be able to control but since I am the one doing the work it is hard because I am the one working full time where she is the one home all the time.

We have so much going on at work that but the time the weekend hits I am done and I feel guilty that I am not getting the house stuff done. So now I feel like I am slacking and that I need to force myself to push through and just get it done but honestly, right now mentally and physically I do not have it in me which I hate. In my mind I can do anything and that is not the reality and kind of sucks.

But, move 1 should be done this week so hopefully things will calm down for a few weeks and I can knock out a few things.

[crafter]

@SassyAshley a heartfelt hug. It's REALLY important that you get enough rest and some time to enjoy your weekends and time off.

It sounds like you've been taking on more of a caretaker role with your Mom. YOU as a caretaker need to take care of yourself first in order to take care of your Mom.

1) Do you have access to counselling services yourself via your work? Therapist can really help guide you and be objective too. I had one that was a little blunt for my liking once but he told me something that I didn't expect to hear...That my family was too dependent on me and relied on me to do way too much. He reiterated that I couldn't help someone else unless I had enough strength and I needed to focus more on myself.

2) You work long hours and already do a lot for the household prepping meals etc. Has your Mom considered hiring a cleaning service to do a fall clean up. i.e. not your regular stuff but the time consuming harder stuff like cleaning windows etc.
It sucks that your Mom is going through so much pain. Advice on tidying is to focus on tidying "where you both spend most of your time". I used to start in the front hall and was usually too exhausted by the time I hit the kitchen

Hugs and hope things improve for you soon.

[coupon girl]

Sassy hugs to you ,i hear it from my dear daughter i wish you were here mom to help sometimes.She works 50 hours a week ,plus has to go into the office 4 days a week now .So sebastian has to go to an after care program fro 3.30 to 6.00 2 days a week so her and her ex can work their jobs.

My daughter does have a maid come in once a month ,money well spent she told me .
She did batch cooking on the weekend of 2 pots of soup and bone broth.I told her take some time for herself .She has an 8 year old son that needs her time too .

She got him to help her chop the veggies hey and he takes the garbage out for her -small bags down the 20 stairs .

I wish she was in the same city ,but they are not .They have no family in toronto her or her ex,so they need to rely on each other and he is a great parent .

Yes crafter only do what you can .i need to do inside cleaning dusting ,vacuum but hey yesterday my brother came to visit.We sat talking inside and out for 2 hours.

On another note my dear older brother in london,ont is set to come home on nov27- almost 3 months in hospital and rehab in total.He is now feeding himself and doing rehab every day .

Off to pay the dentist and pick up the bathing suit i got ashlyn at carters for xmas.

[Frugalbigmama]

Nice pants shwa girl ,way to go on that deal.

Popped over to sobeys got my 1.50 back on my bread,was an old sign up.
On to walley parrs got chicken tenders strips 20.99 as i refuse to pay m&m"s price we will see if we like them.

Micheals had crayola buy 1 get 50% off so got 2 paint palettes 3.00 each ,small wooden coffin with a light inside -ashlyn can paint herself 4.99 on for 2.40

Of course went into dollarama and spent 25.00 got another fridge liner roll to cover all my glass shelves ,so they will have no scratches can beat 4.00 a roll,plus a few other items.

As much as I dislike Loblaws (and stores) they have a 1.2KG bag of Buttermilk chicken fingers for $10.00. We love them.
They have other bagged items as well. Check them out!

[coupon girl]

Thanks fruglbigmama no loblaws in my city ,but i may look at fortinos.If they taste like janes nuggets i am not interested .
Hubby and i really liked these ones i bought from Walley Pars and they have a points program there .Thanks for the tip may check it out.

[Frugalbigmama]

Good Morning! Looks like another beautiful day outside. Yesterday I enjoyed my coffee on the dock at the lake. It was so peaceful. Think I will take my afternoon break there today. (I was off yesterday)

So my week off last week didn't go as per plan but made new plans. Went to Niagara Falls for a few days. Enjoyed the sights and did lots of walking.
Left home around 6:30am on the holiday Monday and arrived in NF about 9:30am. (had to stop and drop off my sister's dog on the way)
Smoothest drive there ever! Which made it hard to decide when to drive back since it always rush hour it seems. Decided on leaving at 7pm Wednesday night and it was perfect (a little slow on 401 of course because of an accident) but other then that home by 10pm which meant starting the day Thursday at home which was nice. Filled trailer with more branches and did a dump run.
Friday- started the door painting- worked on that over the weekend and it is done.
Saturday- Did errands- went for walk at water.
Sunday- Went for drive to beach and had breakfast.
Monday- Cleaned out the garage. It is ready for the boys to change the tires and then for winter parking. DS hung out in the garage cleaning up his tools (He worked Sunday night at 10pm till 7am Monday- Double time) So he slept for a bit and then was up for the day to get back to his regular schedule of days when back at work today.
Also grabbed some groceries and the fresh broccoli from FB so pulled steak from the freezer and made that with the broccoli, potatoes and salad.

Today- Catch up on work while away (wasn't so bad- I dealt with emails on Thursday night so made it easier today)
Have a few things to complete work wise and then I am totally cleaning my office. Tired of it being the dumping ground. Dealing with every item in here-will work my way through it today!

Have a wonderful day!

[Frugalbigmama]

Thanks fruglbigmama no loblaws in my city ,but i may look at fortinos.If they taste like janes nuggets i am not interested .
Hubby and i really liked these ones i bought from Walley Pars and they have a points program there .Thanks for the tip may check it out.

/RCSS/No Frills have them. No they are above restaurant quality in my opinion. I don't like Janes either.

[coupon girl]

I will check out no frills one day soon for the chicken strips-thanks.

Paid my dentist bill,popped into dollarama got a metal montoy dino you put together for Sebastian $4.75-montoy makes pretty good toys also as he gave out the small dinos$1.50 you put together for his birthday in the boodle bag.

Then picked up my carters order the bathing suit is so cute for Ashlyn -pink with a bow $14.99(i couldnt find a bathing suit for the life of me just not that time of year )plus she doesnt like bikinis-the 50% summer clearance is off now so i lucked out a week ago.

Taken advantage of the nice weather just pruned some bushes and did one load now put my throw in another load.

[HermanH]

/RCSS/No Frills have them. No they are above restaurant quality in my opinion. I don't like Janes either.

That's two members stating their dislike of Janes. I have never tried them. Could someone elaborate why they taste badly? Are they dry? Too much breading? Stringy? Not tasting like 'white meat'?

[Shwa Girl]

Today i shopped at the gap online (2 codes worked on top of 40% off sale price)The codes were addon 20% and family 10% off)only works on certain sale items not the ones ending in 00(19.00)

I spent $33 -.66 raketan and got 4 items and free shipping for xmas and easter for the grandkids.

Did I read 'Easter'? Wtg on getting the deals and thinking ahead. The stores won't trap you with their high prices.

[harbie]

So today was Dh’s first day back after vacation (I go tomorrow). We spent a whopping $24.00 for the weeks vacation! Talk about being frugal and a smart canuck . $20 to reload my Starbucks card and $4.00 in parking in Vancouver. The anniversary GC was how we paid for one of 4 lunches we will use it for. There’s nothing like a staycation with some treats, pickleball and spending the days with your favourite person .

This afternoon I’m looking after a friends pup while she works. She drops her off at 2:50 and picks her up by 7pm and takes her back to her workplace which I can see from our place. Reminds me of having our Harley .

Soup is simmering away, laundry is 90% done and whe Dh gets home I’m hitting the treadmill for a hill walk with my weighted vest and gets some of the sunshine that’s out there finally.