2025-01 January Frugal Thread

[walkonby]

It's frugal free Tuesday here, my rule for NOT going out when the recycle stuff is in my way at the end of the driveway. As Sassy says " NOPE ! " lol.
There was a time I had tons of energy and just flipped those 2 extra large bins around like nuthin, then backed the vehicle out, got out, put the bins back,
hopped back in and drove away. Just the thought now makes me curl up and surrender. ha ha Enjoy any shopping ventures today everyone.

[Frugalbigmama]

Day#2 School bus service cancelation for our area. It is clear and sunny at the moment but I know they are worried about blowing snow.

Enjoying my coffee and hoping it will wake me up. I need to get out in the fresh air today. Will bundle up later and park and walk downtown- hopefully the sidewalks are clear and salted down there.

Will wash and hang to dry one load of laundry today to keep up on it.

I just made an order on Flash food. Just downloaded the app again last week and this is my 1st purchase in a long time. What's up with this .25 service charge and then tax on that ugh. Oh well I need peppers and onions and found a good box with both plus lots of apples and mandarins so made it worth the $5.
Tonight I am making fahitas! Will go pull some chicken (BLSL) or steak from the freezer.

ok off to make this day productive!

[Frugalbigmama]

Kitchen is clean.
Laundry in the washer.
Clean laundry put away.
Clothing left laying around in family room tossed in garbage or put away.
Odd socks spread out on table and will add to it this week. Then once all the pairs are put together the rest are put in a bag for cleaning cloths!

[SassyAshley]

On my gosh @walkonby talking about recycling reminded me of driving home last night. The winds were still very strong when I came home so many people put out their garbage and recycling last night.

Driving down one of the main roads in town was a bit of a slalom to avoid the stuff blowing around. There was one piece of Strayform that seem to be following me down the road.

[SassyAshley]

For those using Flash Food, are you local stores now freezing products?

I do not buy from them often now that I am not working in our plant as often as the store closest to them had the best deals but when I look now all of the meat say product was frozen before expiry date. They used to do the same on bakery items but now I think they are donated to the community fridge.

[harbie]

Good morning. I’m off today ( last day since I’m working this weekend). It’s also the last 2 days of sunshine before the rain comes and possible wet flurries so I’m taking advantage of it. One of my SIL’s is taking her mom to the hospital for a “simple procedure” and since it’s across the street from us she’s coming over so we’re headed for a walk and coffee ( maybe here or out).

I've been busy and have stripped the bedding, new bedding put on, kitchen cleaned, 1 load washed and one load finished drying and put away, 1/2 the bathroom cleaned ( toilet and sink/counter) all by 6:30am.

Now just need to vacuum and I’m done for a bit.

[Frugalbigmama]

For those using Flash Food, are you local stores now freezing products?

I do not buy from them often now that I am not working in our plant as often as the store closest to them had the best deals but when I look now all of the meat say product was frozen before expiry date. They used to do the same on bakery items but now I think they are donated to the community fridge.

Yes I am noticing the meat shows "frozen". This must be a new thing because it was never frozen when I purchased meat

[HermanH]

Everytime I discover a family of whatever size only spends $xxx on monthly groceries post, I wonder how cheap are the personal care products in that tally (sometimes one has to spend $ not to feel awful with such products) and what say do kids have in family groceries?

Personally, I consider only items actually consumed as food for daily nutritional requirements to be groceries in my $100 / month target. (Toilet paper does not count, even though I buy it at a grocery store. )

I, too, question some of the frugal claims made, as details are rarely provided. For example, the video depicting a family spending $700/month for a group of seven also showed the kids eating a snack that included Ritz crackers. Those things are definitely not cheap and there are less expensive alternatives.

Without receipts or precise step-by-step instructions on how to replicate the results, I tend to take claims with a grain of salt. Like any scientific process, only proven reproducible data can be considered fact.

[HermanH]

I bought yeast for bread maybe 6 months ago in a 1 lb package for about $7. It will keep for years in the freezer. I make a crusty hearth-style bread - so not the fluffy white stuff. The base recipe uses 3 gm yeast, 500 gm flour, 8-10 gm salt, water and nothing else. I almost always add something like cheese, seeds, etc. but they are obviously optional. When I baked more regularly, I used natural yeast, which is basically no cost since it's just water plus flour that count as part of the total ingredients.

That's a great recipe and would reduce the cost for a 1-pound loaf of bread to about $0.70; a bit lower than the discounted $0.80 I can get.

What is natural yeast?

[HermanH]

In keeping with custom and tradition, I vacuumed my house in preparation for the upcoming Chinese New Year, even though I had to stay up to 0100H to finish.

[Arjon]

That's a great recipe and would reduce the cost for a 1-pound loaf of bread to about $0.70; a bit lower than the discounted $0.80 I can get.

What is natural yeast?

sourdough. Btw, depending largely on how a starter is fed / maintained, the level of sourness it produces can be low enough so most people won't even notice it unless they're told before eating it.

[Frugalbigmama]

Just returned from picking up my flash food box. More in it then expected. peppers, onions, tomatoes, mini cucumbers, oranges, nectarines, apples and kiwi.
Will make fruit bowls for everyone tonight. 2 Peppers and onion will be used for dinner.

[flemeth]

For those using Flash Food, are you local stores now freezing products?

I do not buy from them often now that I am not working in our plant as often as the store closest to them had the best deals but when I look now all of the meat say product was frozen before expiry date. They used to do the same on bakery items but now I think they are donated to the community fridge.

@sassy Ashely. flashfood start freezing meat and fish a few months back but even though it says frozen sometimes it’s not . Like the chicken I picked up on Sunday was not .

[Giseledta]

Goodmorning. Going to spend some time looking over the flyers. I need to decide if I'm doing a Costco run this weekend. Final decision will prob be tomorrow after I look at offers , co 51 ect.

Trying a new recipe for ranch dressing. Fingers crossed.

This weather is so confusing.. I expected to wake to 15 cm. Woke to nothing.
Off to have a tea.

Sent from my SM-A526W using Tapatalk

[Frugalbigmama]

Morning! Day#3 this week for the school bus service canceled.
DS's work partner didn't make it in today so he gets the day off.

Dinner- We have leftovers from the fahitas last night so they can fight for that.

Sale flyers starting tomorrow- Nothing really on my list. Will take a walk in the stores at some point I am sure and see if any deals we need. But for the most part will plan meals with food on hand. We have lots of fruit/lettuce etc that needs to be eaten before we shop for that.

I'm not feeling like working today... Will make myself get a few things done this morning and hopefully it motivates me.

Have a great day!