2025-03 March Frugal Thread

[Arjon]

Did the early morning duty to grab the sale cream from GT, the sale onions from FB and redeem my raincheck for 10 lbs spuds at NF.
Then I discovered that marshmallows are NOT made in Canada! Well, I mean normal ones aren't. There is a Company out West that
makes fancy flavoured ones for an abhorrent price. No thanks.
I had already bought 2 x Family size of the Rice Krispies ( ALSO made in USA, grrr! ) to get the 3,000 PC points back, but now I am not
sure if I should just buy the cheapest marshmallows, enough to make this last batch for DH's co-workers.
Honestly, DH was just trying to do something nice and it's caused me some patriotic betrayal. ha ha

If you're talking about Rice Krispies squares, I've never made them, but googling will bring up recipes that don't use marshmallows.

[walkonby]

If you're talking about Rice Krispies squares, I've never made them, but googling will bring up recipes that don't use marshmallows.

Thanks for that suggestion @Arjon I looked at the recipes that use no marshmallows but then stumbled upon The Preppy Kitchen and his recipe for homemade marshmallows!
That seemed a perfect alternative since Crown clear Corn Syrup is a Canadian product and Dr. Oetker gelatin is manufactured in Mississauga.
Also I don't have to finish the last steps to make the formed marshmallows because once the " goopy " marshmallow stuff is ready it can just be dumped over the Rice Krispies!
I am going to try making a batch today!

[SassyAshley]

@harbie , I am jealous of your rage cleaning and reading the things you got done.

Those are all things that are on my to-do but the one thing that still upsets my face is cleaning. I still cannot bend and stay bend over and moderate lifting I can do but heavy and stairs still don't mix. But slowly we are getting there.

[coupon girl]

Off to the dentist for a crown ,more money .Thankfully i have been setting aside extra money each month .

Looks like a glourious day 7 degrees already at 8.30 a.m ,woke up at 4.am then back asleep til 8.00 a.m .

[SassyAshley]

Good Morning Everyone,
A surprise work from home day, I am having so many issues with my schedule right now just because so many things are going on at once and I keep getting pulled from my prioritizes but we are working through it. Well, I am working through it.

Taking advantage of being home to get a few things done.

I have laundry going, did the towels on Sunday, now I am doing our clothing and when once they are done I might throw in the couch blankets.

I have a batch of Chex Mix nuts in the oven, still trying to use up the Walnuts out of the freezer and this seems to one of the few things I can make where they get eaten. I tried adding them to snack mix and they were not eaten they got picked around and thrown out.

Need to figure out my schedule for the rest of the week and see when I can cross paths with Dad and drop off some baked goods for his bday. Still need to make a batch of peanut butter brownies.

Last night for dinner I made Air Fryer Chicken with was a breaded Chicken Breast I pop in the Air Fryer and it comes out so nice and crispy. On the side I made Roasted Potatoes and used up the last of the Asparagus to make Lemon Roasted Asparagus.

Thinking since I am working from home today I will make the Yogurt Curry Chicken, I will go put it in the marinate shortly and then I just need to figure out sides.

Happy Tuesday Everyone.

[Frugalbigmama]

Good Morning! Slow start for me (was feeling so tired!) Finally made coffee and feeling a little more motivated.

Need to get this work day out of the way and then can go enjoy some sunshine. This hope of nice weather puts me in planning vacation time off mode
So far I have booked Easter Monday off (hello 4 day weekend) and the week and Monday off after May 24 long weekend.
Debating if a trip to Mexico should happen next week.... Would have went in Feb but was too busy with work and then my brother in law was planning a group thing but he dropped the ball lol so maybe a last minute thing will happen...but then if it is nice here I am ok with staying here and doing a mini road trip.

ok I should go clean the kitchen and the fridge and then figure out the plan for dinner. Thinking it will be a leftovers/fend for yourself night. I need to do this more often so thing get eaten and not the new choice for dinner.

Have a wonderful day!

[Frugalbigmama]

Ok I found my second wind!

Work- Busy- Dealt with things as they came in.

Chicken cooked that needed to be cooked!
Laundry on the go.
Laundry sorted for the next load.
Cleaning a bathroom now.
Waiting on a courier delivery before I have a shower but he is either very late or not coming today....if I jump in the shower then he will show up lol

[coupon girl]

Well go back in a few weeks for my crown today was just the impression and picking the colour.
Then popped into dollarama 28 bucks later,i am working on easter small gifts got 2 nice lip items for the girls oh and one for me nyx 2.50 nice lipgloss hint of colour .Plus various other household items.


Hubby is out sweeping and putting out the wicker chairs ,i guess he thinks winter is over.lol

[walkonby]

Nice @Frugalbigmama Great when that energy level kicks in after a slow a.m. start. My guys also have a 4 day Easter weekend. ( negotiated a deal, lol ) .
This particular holiday is a little melancholy for me since there are no little ones around to hide eggs for. Also I'm reminded that we got " that " call on Easter
Sunday of 2013 that my brother had just suffered a fatal heart attack at 59.
Now it's marked by a family dinner ( whoever can be here ? ) with an unspoken sort of acceptance about life.

[Ciel21]

Three days of sunshine has helped to adjust to the clock change.
Yesterday felt like a start on some cleaning, not thorough, but enough to get moving on tossing some items that cannot be used, vacuuming baseboards and any spider webs in corners or near curtain rods. Wish I had spongecloths that were on sale at Indigo but the particular pack of interest sold out. Have small cellulose sponges to work on drips and stains that seem so obvious on cupboards and walls.

Gave another section of basement vacuum attention and replaced the two filters and bag in the vacuum cleaner today. Breakfast was milky tea and about 10 Lifestyle cookies.

This afternoon, I went to a cemetery to add two candles to candleholders at gravesites of family friends. Saw wide track marks between rows, suggesting heavy machinery likely went to remove snow recently. Grass is half mud, half frozen. Water was streaming towards catchbasins. Noticed that Turner Park public library has removed the 3-4 computers that were used for catalogue searches. Went to Once Upon A child to see if a certain car seat adapter might be in the stroller area-no. Store had a spring dress event on March 8-9. Puttered around store to glance at some bins of merchandise and tops.
Over to bank to see if I had money in my account-yes under $20. Talize had kids &toys on flash sale, 25% off green tags and 50% off blue tags. Could not find any baby gear things. Noticed store has removed some fixtures in the purse and textiles area. Only puffer coats or waist length car coats on the coat rack. Some store sections have less stock. No luck finding photo paper in arts and crafts bags. Bit of a wait to return my $1 of containers at beer store as duo before me had a wedding's worth of empties to send to the lone staffer on duty. Bused back to Meadowlands. Marshalls and Homesense are showing some empty spots in their foods sections due to the US tariffs. Noticed mens' underwear on clearance were US brands CK, Bench and Tommy Hilfiger.
Staples-recycled two print cartridges, looked at clearance (Kikkerland purse lights and webcam covers, Cricut Joy smart vinyls in small boxes plus two sizes of insert cards) before getting photo paper and my Lego order. Then a slow shop at Sobeys for a few things-caved in for the $4.97 Kraft peanut butter as it is cheap protein and it is great on toast. Forgot to stop at clearance rack and forgot the waxed paper-the perils of not reading the list in each aisle. At least I took it out after I got my cart.

[Ciel21]

Value Village-Savers members get a $10 off $30 clothing coupon good for one use until
Sunday. Students with school id get 30% off purchases this week.

Staples has a $10 off $40+ purchase offer on Kids Learn and Play items. https://www.staples.ca/collections/c...ducation-10203

Sobeys Extra has $2 1L pop (Coke, Coke Zero, Sprite) until March 26.

Giant Tiger will have $4.97 Kraft peanut butter-limit 3, Giant Value 2.5kg all-purpose flour $3.77, Mr.Noodles $0.27, 454g Primo pasta $1, Primo canned tomatoes $1.97, and solid bandanas with white print $3.50 in-store only tomorrow.

[Ciel21]

If you have Hudson Bay gift cards, please use them ASAP. The store chain is in creditor protection. You cannot use or access Rewards points-I remain hopeful that chain/creditor monitor may offer some access or redemption opportunity but creditor filing states rewards program's liability value.

[HermanH]

What a crappy day. Can't log into my MSN hotmail account from my WinXP computer any longer. Sigh. What nonsense. I still have a Win7 laptop for access, but my WinXP is just so much more convenient, user-friendly, and functional, IMO.

[Frugalbigmama]

Good Morning! Gray day to start...hope the sun makes an appearance.

Was up too late last night and up early this morning so I am sure I will crash early today!

Need to do some running around today. Banking. I should wash my vehicle. Maybe today is a good day to give the inside a good clean. Will top up the gas tank to keep it full (should take less then $20) I also need new wipers (I just have to pick up the inserts from the dealer.) Will try and get there today because they are really bad!

Time for coffee so I can wake up and get rolling!

Have a great day!

[coupon girl]

Ciel-i am so ticked off about the bay ,as i took countless bottles to their makeup section for points .I must have about $18 in points ,i hope we can use them up ,maybe not .

I just told my hubby about a month ago i dont see the bay lasting more than 2 years ,the zellers pop-up inside was a bust i think.Not at all zellers pricing.