2024-12 December Frugal Thread

[SassyAshley]

Good Morning Everyone,
Was wide awake just before 5 am. I had a bit of a slow start to morning, it is weird I used to hate silence but now some days I love the silence.

I am feeling the freezer defrost today, I am a little sore this morning.

I think I might run to No Frills this morning, we don't need a lot but the weather over the next few days looks iffy so thinking I will run and grab a few things just to be safe. The main thing I need to grab is milk and will probably grab some Half & Half and a few things we need to fill in some gaps.

Not sure of my plan for today yet, thinking I might try out my steam cleaner. I bought it a few months ago in hopes of helping with deep cleaning the Bathroom and Kitchen. Maybe I will put it out and see how it works on the Kitchen Cabinets.

Happy Saturday Everyone.

[SassyAshley]

Not bad, 8:45 and grocery shopping is done. When I pulled in there literally was not a single car in the parking lot except for employee parking, I was wondering if they were open. Another woman pulled in and got inside well I was looking for my quarter. I knew I took it out of my car when I switched cars but for the life of me could I remember where I put it??? Luckily I found one.

Of course I bought more than I had planned but I am trying to set us up for success going into the new year, I got:
Milk
Half & Half (it is soup season)
Mushrooms
Limes (thinking a mexican night is coming)
Garlic
Apples (In Store special 6lbs $5)
Cherry Tomatoes
Pepperoni (we only have one pack left)
Sun Dried Tomatoes (A little annoyed my store literally carries one type of PC Brand, will have to check other stores another time)
Gnocchi (I think mine is expired)
Cake Mixes (I want to make my own but for now nice to have on hand for those baking emergencies, yes they exist)
Earl Grey Tea (On sale but not in the flyer)
Chai Tea (Price Matched Zehrs)
Tortillas (we have some in the freezer but I think my stash is getting low and I might want to make enchiladas)
Bagels $3 - 50%

My store had a bunch of stuff on sale that wasn't in the flyer so happy it was quiet and I could just wonder around a bit.

Now it is time for food.

[harbie]

Good morning. I played the Starbucks for Life contest this morning and won 200 stars. I get excited over small things.

Today I’m going to organize the fridge ( it’s pretty empty but needs straightening), think about a rough meal plan and check out the flyers after the gym this morning.

[lizzie bargain]

DD, boyfriend and pup are enroute from Ontario-I think they will soon cross into Manitoba but still a long way to go. Apparently they ran low on gas just outside Thunder Bay and had to wait outside a gas station for it to open-how annoying. Bet they won't let that happen again!
We are having a quiet post Christmas so far. Played Scrabble with my sis and sis in law yesterday. Picked up some beef ribs from Food Hero which is my first time using that app-they will be going in the crockpot shortly with some BBQ sauce.

[coupon girl]

Afternoon my daughter and Sebastian left at 11.00 a.m ,car full .

Even thou my knee is killing me i wanted to see what was left at shoppers got a few small toys for easter for the girls ,large wrapping paper 3.99 and milk,chocolate peppermint p.c tea 2.09 treat for me last one .All the gift sets were gone-ugggg.

Then on to indigo 5 minutes away

dino wrapping paper for next year 2.00
adult mittens marked wrong 7.99 which i got them for Maybe a gift for someone next xmas
coconut body set 9.99 for daughter-in-laws birthday next year
(2 hello kitty bracelet making kits 5.99 reduced for easter

[Giseledta]

I'm like Sassy, I'm looking at every single aspect of my groceries and looking for a better way to do it. Lower the costs .
I really want to find a decent ranch dip/ dressing. It's. My current hunt..

I was able to get to the farmers market today. I got strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, spinach, Gr onions, banana, ginger, and peppers . Spent under 40.00 very happy with the amounts I got.
Not any fabulous deals this week, and I am stocked so that's probably all the shopping I need.. hugs to all

Sent from my SM-A526W using Tapatalk

[Ciel21]

@SassyAshley, I joined your 5ish club because I could not get to rest for long and kept tossing. Made it time for laundering my bedding with fabric softener rinse, a bit of basement sweeping, discovering that my usb headphones do not turn off the tv speakers on the new tv (grr- went through settings and no remedy to locate usb port and say in use), then getting breakfast (bacon sandwiches).

[Ciel21]

Sounds like a scrumptious market haul, @Giseledta !

One produce bag of clementines for $3 and $2 bag of opened grape tomatoes, half wilted spinach and a small beet had to come home with me. I have plans for all. Did slice up the seedless cucumber in order to not forget it in the fridge and lose its quality.

One 545g pkg of medium ground beef is $7.49 but I looked at the bottom shelf, where 3 pkgs of40% off extra lean ground turkey sat (Food Basics). Two for me and one for the next attentive shopper. Tacos tomorrow! Need to get in habit of looking for ground turkey or chicken deals because beef is pricey.

[SassyAshley]

Turns out I must have had a feeling or something because Mom came down and said "What do you think of Enchiladas for dinner tonight?" Sure, I grabbed Tortillas and Limes, let do it. So we had Chicken Enchiladas with Mushrooms, Peppers in homemade sauce and topped with Cheddar. Plus my cheater Mexican Corn, frozen corn with Lime and Feta.

Once I got home I did not want to do anything, this is why I do not like running errands on weekends, when I get home I lack ambition. But I forced myself to go downstairs and sort the potatoes and onions and package them for storage. There were also a few things I wanted to check expiry dates on (sweetened condensed milk, gnocchi and some cereal) all but the cereal were way past their expiry date so out they went.

I was going to organize the chest freeze until I realized I really need to defrost it and I did not have that in me today so I just closed the lid. My back could not take a second freezer defrost.

I spent some time this afternoon organizing my life. Went through Pinterest and copied some recipes we really like (we have had a few disappear so now when we like something I copy it into word so we don't lose it) and finding some new recipes to try.

Well I was organizing my life we have been watching all the Deadpool movies, I am not a Marvel person but I like Deadpool and we haven't seen the third one yet. But decided to watch all 3.

Now time to work on my Bullet Journal.

[Angela273]

I did a quick Sobeys trip with twin girl.
2x $1.99 French bread
$6.99 Mann’s sugar snap peas - healthy treat
$5.99 Earthbound organic romaine lettuce - FPC
2x $1.49 Taylor Farms dill pickle bagged salad (best by Dec 31)
4x $2 gnocchi + 100pts each (best by Jan 5)
3x $5.65 milk 4L
I used the $5 off wub $40 scannable coupon on the transaction.

Twin girl was pushing the cart out to the parking lot with me when a retired gentleman came up behind us and gave her $1.35 in change for helping me. She was shocked. Her brothers were jealous when she told them about it.

I got 40L of gas at Mobil today. There’s an offer in the app to get an additional 100pts/L on top of the base points and MasterCard bonus. Our location is also a Waypoint, so I redeemed for another free chocolate bar that I won through their online contest.

[Giseledta]

Sounds like a scrumptious market haul, @Giseledta !

One produce bag of clementines for $3 and $2 bag of opened grape tomatoes, half wilted spinach and a small beet had to come home with me. I have plans for all. Did slice up the seedless cucumber in order to not forget it in the fridge and lose its quality.

One 545g pkg of medium ground beef is $7.49 but I looked at the bottom shelf, where 3 pkgs of40% off extra lean ground turkey sat (Food Basics). Two for me and one for the next attentive shopper. Tacos tomorrow! Need to get in habit of looking for ground turkey or chicken deals because beef is pricey.

Thanks! The deals were really good. The berries were 1.00 per pkg. I bought lots.

Thanks for the hint, I need to start looking at other ground meats besides beef.. meat is so expensive!!!

Sent from my SM-A526W using Tapatalk

[Giseledta]

Turns out I must have had a feeling or something because Mom came down and said "What do you think of Enchiladas for dinner tonight?" Sure, I grabbed Tortillas and Limes, let do it. So we had Chicken Enchiladas with Mushrooms, Peppers in homemade sauce and topped with Cheddar. Plus my cheater Mexican Corn, frozen corn with Lime and Feta.

Once I got home I did not want to do anything, this is why I do not like running errands on weekends, when I get home I lack ambition. But I forced myself to go downstairs and sort the potatoes and onions and package them for storage. There were also a few things I wanted to check expiry dates on (sweetened condensed milk, gnocchi and some cereal) all but the cereal were way past their expiry date so out they went.

I was going to organize the chest freeze until I realized I really need to defrost it and I did not have that in me today so I just closed the lid. My back could not take a second freezer defrost.

I spent some time this afternoon organizing my life. Went through Pinterest and copied some recipes we really like (we have had a few disappear so now when we like something I copy it into word so we don't lose it) and finding some new recipes to try.

Well I was organizing my life we have been watching all the Deadpool movies, I am not a Marvel person but I like Deadpool and we haven't seen the third one yet. But decided to watch all 3.

Now time to work on my Bullet Journal.

Can you share your street corn recipe using frozen corn please!.


And your supper sounds amazing

Sent from my SM-A526W using Tapatalk

[Giseledta]

Good morning.. a very very cold rain here today. All day. Ugh.
Got up did a 15 min walk.. pla on a bit of house work.... then
Working on goals for the next 3 / months.

Prob thinking of the garden as well. With groceries going up... this is a need.

Hugs to all

Sent from my SM-A526W using Tapatalk

[coupon girl]

Morning ,yesterday was lying around with a heating pad and ice .Today is a good day no pain in my knees so wish to go visit hubbys brother and his wife.

Then may make homemade soup when i get home,miss it.

Today i will make the bed with my 1,000 thread count sheets a gift from my daughter .I have never owned such a set,cant wait to sleep in them !

[Frugalbigmama]

Good day! Rainy damp day here today as well! I did park the car this morning and made myself walk to a few different stores just to get some steps in.

Our fridge is packed and needs a good clean out- Tomorrow! Will chop up all the veggies from Christmas dinner (tons of mini peppers!) for dinner tomorrow night which will be Chicken/shrimp stir-fry. Extra veggies will go in the freezer for a future meal. I am on a mission to shop less/plan and use up what we have with the focus on clean eating. We have dinner for tonight (chicken choy mein) from Friday night- Picked it up for everyone for last night but we had other stuff to eat so that is tonight's dinner.

Really looking forward to cleaning/organizing the house in January. Think my plan is to go room by room with my portable tables and empty everything out and toss/sell/donate what I can with the focus on less is more!

Yesterday I wanted to do a load of laundry but I also wanted to get a good walk in so I went to the laundromat! (and can use up the scented beads my sister gave me) I like drying and folding it all while there and then it is so easy to just put away when I get home (even though lots of my stuff I had to separate and hang to dry at home). Ended up running into someone I knew when I was in my late teens and he talked my head off so didn't get to look around the grocery store much (had just walked in and grabbed raspberries and melon) so had to wait in line to pay since my laundry would have been done by then!

Finally made it to Costco on Saturday morning. Returned the protein bars (cash back!) and bought bacon bits and 4 bath towels! Our white towels are being tossed in the garbage one by one (what was I thinking!!!) The towels are in a bin in the back of my SUV and I will wait till I sort the linen closet before I bring them in. Then DS will be given one and told to use it for the week! I got him blue- his fav colour!