2024-12 December Frugal Thread

[SassyAshley]

Good Morning Everyone,
Was up early this morning, woke up just before 4 am and could not fall back asleep so I was logged into my laptop at 5 am to start my day.

Today is bedding day, my bedding is in the wash now and will do Mom's once she wakes up. Will also see if I have time for Couch Blankets.

I pulled a Pork Loin roast from the freezer and will put it in the Slow Cooker, going to make Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Sesame Pork Loin which I will server with Rice and some sort of veggies, I few options in the freezer.

Since I was up early and already knocked out the first draft of a manual I needed to write I made myself Blueberry Muffin Oatmeal for Breakfast, it will give me 3 breakfasts for the week.

They are calling for freezing rain here today, happy it is a work from home day but hoping all of those out on the roads stay safe. I was reading a warning about the freezing rain that made me laugh because they said a brief period of freezing right happen today, it is expected to start around 9 am and last into the mid to late afternoon. Maybe just me but that does not seem like a brief period to me, especially when freezing rain is involved.

Happy Monday Everyone

[coupon girl]

Morning we may have freezing rain so off i went to sobeys and dollarama .

Sobeys i got bartlett pears .99 a pound and apples as i had no fruit in the house.
General mills oatmeal crisp cereal 5.99-2.00 checkout51=3.99
and on the reduced shelf i got post cranberry cereal 2 pkg large box of cereal 6.45

In dollarama got a few stocking stuffers for the grandkids ,plus a few other items .

[walkonby]

Hi ladies, I got a real kick out of the clutching of the pearls over ridiculous the $5.00 a head broccoli at Metro. @SassyAshley you and I plan meals the same way, what's on sale this week? That might decide the main course.
No way in heaven I'm sticking to a recipe that I planned if the broccoli required is $5.00 . Shoppers come in all types.
I have seen it at Metro, those with clearly no money worries dropping crazy overpriced items in their carts.

Off topic but did anyone ever watch the show called Crime Scene Kitchen? I literally cried straight for about 5 minutes when
the winners on the competition were the gals I was rooting for all along. ( Amber Croom and Yassmeen Haskins )

Little did I know this was from Season 2 ( 2023 ) of the show!
I had recorded the episodes thinking I had discovered a NEW show. ha ha

[SassyAshley]

@walkonby , Season 3 of Crime Scene Kitchen just ended last week. We love this show.

[HermanH]

I checked out the prices of the big bags of frozen veggies..

I've heard the recommendation for frozen vegetables. However, that simply cannot be logically justified. I, too, check out frozen and have never seen better value from any retailer. The process of flash-freezing takes energy and that means added cost. I always compare equal weights and a pound of fresh produce is invariably cheaper than frozen. The only benefit, IMO, of frozen is that it does not spoil. Personally, I waste nothing, anyway, so the 'benefit' is moot.

The only reasonable alternative I have found is canned vegetables, which can come close to the price of fresh, if you find them on sale.

[SassyAshley]

Personally I like to keep frozen veggies on hand for week where the sales lack fresh options. Last week the only vegetables I got were mushrooms so tonight I pulled out a Stir Fry Blend I pick up at Costco. As well I prefer frozen Brussel Sprouts to Fresh.

Bedding is done just need to make the beds, going to go do that now so I don't have to do it right before bed. Nothing worse than being tired and having to make the beds.

Yesterday when I was picking up my clothing order I saw some leggings I thought would go really with one of the tops I got but they were $49.95 which is a little steep for leggings. For fun I went on their website today to see they are on sale online for $14 might have to order them.

I did also get the couch blankets done today, I wasn't going to vacuum the couches but oh they needed it so a quick vacuum was done. Then well making dinner I spilled rice all over the kitchen floor so that was also vacuumed.

Turns out our vacuum is broken, there is a crack in the canister that holds the dirt, I am hoping I can limp it through to Boxing Day and see if I can find a deal then.

[lilo0003]

Lol, @HermanH I had totally forgotten about the 8.00 cauliflower. Broccoli is a fan favourite in this house but so I will see what the bags are at Costco otherwise we will eat another vegetable.
I think Tuesday will be another batch of soup. I have some cream to use up and DH found an awesome corn chowder recipe earlier this year that we love. It’s a real comfort dish so perfect for this time of year.
I am now retired (not sure of this label as I am too young imo) so I have lots more time to cook and plan meals.

[HermanH]

I think Tuesday will be another batch of soup. I have some cream to use up and DH found an awesome corn chowder recipe earlier this year that we love. It’s a real comfort dish so perfect for this time of year.

Yeah, nothing better than curling up with a steaming hot bowl of soup, chowder, or chili. It almost feels as though, the colder it gets, the better the chowder tastes!

[flemeth]

Lol, @HermanH I had totally forgotten about the 8.00 cauliflower. Broccoli is a fan favourite in this house but so I will see what the bags are at Costco otherwise we will eat another vegetable.
I think Tuesday will be another batch of soup. I have some cream to use up and DH found an awesome corn chowder recipe earlier this year that we love. It’s a real comfort dish so perfect for this time of year.
I am now retired (not sure of this label as I am too young imo) so I have lots more time to cook and plan meals.

Congrats on your retirement @lilo0003 enjoy all your free time

[Giseledta]

Good morning all. Christmas crafts with my loves and prob a good walk.
Frugal note... restated my sour dough starter today.. back later

Sent from my SM-A526W using Tapatalk

[Frugalbigmama]

Good Morning! The school busses are running so I take that as a sign that I can do some running around today?

My lovely sister sent me a text this morning with the news that my area is expecting 60 cm or more of snow Wednesday night/Thursday. When I read it last night it said 50 cm + so they changed it already! Will load up on groceries today (fresh stuff) so when snowed in we have good food
Suppose to go to Toronto Thursday for a work function....not sure if I will make it or not now.

Today- Wash a load of laundry and hang to dry. Tidy kitchen and clean out fridge before shopping.
Continue cleaning up work paperwork. Finish 3 work reports by the end of the day and send out via email.
I will be happy if I get all that done today.

Christmas shopping- I need to get rolling. Don't need much really but do have a mental list of some things I want to pick up. One couple gift I am doing is Wine/cheese/snacks/nuts/chocolate etc. All on sale with coupons/PC pts so picking up lots of that tonight.
Grandma- Have lots for her Christmas box already (tea/crackers/cookies/jam etc) Will load her up with cheese and nuts and chocolate too! Feel like I can finish these 2 gifts today/tomorrow.

Have a great day!

[coupon girl]

Lilo congrats on your retirement -i retired early (then babysat Ashlyn when she was a baby for a few years)and i have never felt any better-well except now my health with my arthritis at age 65 .I am starting to feel it .

Today i will get out and get the beer and wine for xmas .Son is now coming on boxing day (not just in the evening)-yeah he got put on a different shift .That makes my xmas even better.

[lizzie bargain]

Hubs and I are planning a quiet Xmas with no need to decorate for just the two of us-no need for gifts either since we each just buy what we want/need at the time-especially me. My SIL invited us to Xmas dinner so that will be nice. DD and boyfriend will be arriving after Xmas for a little visit-no need to buy her a gift either since we got her a car this year. Will make a special meal when they come.
DH just told me we had $3,000 US farm income coming in today-perfect timing as the 3,000 payment for my Road scholar week long trip whale watching to Mexico is due this week!

[lizzie bargain]

Lilo-enjoy your early retirement-I know you have been planning it for some time. I was laid off just before I turned 52 and received a generous 2 year severance package, then some EI and then my pension once I hit 55. Also CPP at 60 and OAS at 65-decided to spread it out a bit to help reduce the taxes. I have never looked back and enjoyed every minute of it! I still do work PT just for fun and a little travel money.

[Frugalbigmama]

Lilo congrats on your retirement -i retired early (then babysat Ashlyn when she was a baby for a few years)and i have never felt any better-well except now my health with my arthritis at age 65 .I am starting to feel it .

Today i will get out and get the beer and wine for xmas .Son is now coming on boxing day (not just in the evening)-yeah he got put on a different shift .That makes my xmas even better.

Is the no tax on alcohol starting December 14th? Not sure what the final say was? May want to wait if so!