2025-04 April Frugal Thread

[SassyAshley]

Good Morning Everyone,
Today is supposed to be prep day but not going to lie, I am lacking a little ambition. I woke up at 4:30 and was going to get up but I started reading some articles that popped up on grocery prices and somehow I fell back asleep.

I am not a political person but I find it fascinating what people think/believe. One article I saw was from the US and it was about how some of Costco's most popular products were going to go up because of the tariffs. The number of people in the comments who were saying the article was "wrong" because the tariffs are to help the US not punish them and think the country sending the product has the pay the tariff. One example was Olive Oil which I believe they said had a 34% tariff (don't quote me on the number it was 4:30 am) because it comes from Italy the number of people who think Italy has to pay that amount and it won't change the price at the store in the US.

Not going to lie I have stocked up a few things but sadly I do not see this turmoil ending any time soon.

I think I am going to do a light prep today, nothing too big, keep it simple. I want the food prepped but I don't want to do the work (story of my life LOL).

Happy Sunday Everyone.

[coupon girl]

Sassy, i have stocked up on a few products too like the purex laundry soap the huge jug .I paid 7.10 with a rainncheck about 2 months ago and got 6,now its 10.99 to 14.99 in price.

Watched the girls last night,it was fun i was dancing with them to music ,colouring ,just all round fun .I also did 2 loads of laundry for my son and put away.
So when i got home at midnight was tired slept 7 hours last night .

[Ciel21]

@walkonby Suggest you check your Loblaws affliated stores' clearance sections for 50% off Tassimo coffee discs. My local Fortinos has Great Canadian coffee and light to medium roast coffee discs at 50% off. Do not know what regular price was as I am noticing prices are not always marked on the stickers, which will stump cashiers if upcs are not in the registers' database.

[Ciel21]

@lizzie bargain The lazy river sounds like fun, just like the Ontario Lottery Gaming ad about two dreamers one-upping each other on their dream additions to their homes! Johnny Strides mentioned that there was a similar ride at his Hard Rock Cafe resort in Mexico this winter.
By the way, the EU travel authorisation program will not begin until late 2026, so no more paperwork for your Malta trip this summer! https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en

My lottery dreams did not result in any Lotto Max or scratch ticket wins this weekend. I know that I just supported funding provincial healthcare and education.

[Ciel21]

@SassyAshley did you use the frozen butternut squash in a rosemary casserole? Or just even with some oil and seasoning, you can roast the squash at 400F for about 35-40 min.
When you mentioned the amount of movement you can do with nose injury, I thought that you must have experienced a lot of pressure changes before, during, and after the recent storm/snow this week. Hamilton has flurries in its forecast twice this week...

[Ciel21]

Today is your LAST DAY for Hudson Bay gift card use. Physical or digital (ahem, Roll Up winners) cards; online orders may still be subject to two gift cards per order limit.

Today is also last day for Giant Tiger's save $10 wus $50 VIP program members offer, which includes grocery!
Tomorrow, Giant Tiger has its 10% off Senior's Day.

[Ciel21]

👋Great to see members posting on the board! @Angela273 , @cath007 , @Giseledta , @lilo0003 , @Coupon_girl , @Frugalbigmama

[walkonby]

o.k. NOT sure what the heck happened ( inspiration from Sassy maybe? ) but about 45 minutes ago I cleared out the 4 shelves that had ice build up on them from the stand up freezer.
I never unplug and wait, plus where would I put all the frozen stuff while it defrosts. Nope, I lay thick towels down and pour hot tap water over each shelf. The shelves are like grates, so it all melts down and drops through to the next shelf, then I remove that sopping wet towel and repeat. Fun? wow!! lol.

[coupon girl]

Well finished buying the easter chocolate for the grandkids all on sale

got grapes reduced for .80
cranberry watermelon drink 3 reduced 3.59
cesar salad reduced 2.48

oikos yogurt 3.33-50checkout51=2.83
scruncies reduced to 3.13 Gonna give every girl one 4 one left over for me


THen went to canadian tire got a new nozzle ,loaded 2 offers so got back 2.30 in points .Told hubby please dont toss this one as that is when they break .

[lilo0003]

@SassyAshley I find it so disheartening how many Americans do not understand how tariffs work, including their leaders. I think we are well positioned to manage because we are all such frugal folks. ButI do worry about those that blindly shop with no idea of sales.

[walkonby]

@lilo0003 I'll be watching even MORE than before ( every week ) how much the costs at the grocery store increase. Forget about thinking of getting a replacement vehicle ( ours is old and has way too many kms on it ) but the prices were insane before the tariffs came.
Sigh..... thank goodness we can share ways to save with each other on here!

[SassyAshley]

Even before all of this I could not imagine walking into a store and just buying it because I always buy it. Now, I have no words.

I was reading another article about a Woman who's Husband lowered their grocery bills from over $2,000 a month down to between $400 to $500 a month. The secret was looking at prices. She admitted she just went in bought what she always bought based on what the family liked and to her it was what it was.

Her husband took over and started looking at pricing and trying alternatives and within a few months they were down to spending $400 to $500 per month.

I know some will look at this and think how was she not looking at prices but that is how so many people shop. I know so many people who feel groceries are a need and it is what it is, I have to spend this much, what else can I do. I also realize not everyone put as much time into there shopping as some of us do but, we are at a point where some won't have a choice.

[SassyAshley]

Well, I am just not feeling it today. I tried, I failed and I am good with it.

I did make some waffles for breakfast, I will leave those in the fridge until later in the week and then whatever is left will go in the freezer.

Well the waffles were cooking I cleaned out the fridge, I had the pasta sauce I made last weekend for the Chicken Parm I never made. I was going to freeze it but decided to make a Lazy Lasagna instead for dinner tonight. I am also testing putting them in our Soup Cubes to make a single serve size. I have heard oven ready noodles work really in freezer dishes so we will see. Although it took way more to fill them then expect so we really only had enough for dinner plus one serving as a leftover (which is what I was kind of going for, because as much as I love lasagna, I hate eating it for a week).

Once I clean out the Stand up freezer I want to make space for Single serve meals we can pull as needed. Testing Lasagna, not sure what else I will try making yet but sure there are many options out there.

After my shower, Mom cut my hair for me, it ended up a little (ok, a lot) shorter than I wanted but once the first cut is made you gotta go with it. But so happy to have it cut we cut off about 5", it was WAY too long.

Dishwasher is running, dishes are done and it is time to relax.

[HermanH]

She admitted she just went in bought what she always bought based on what the family liked and to her it was what it was.

That's pretty much everyone's mentality. "It's in my basket. Therefore, it MUST be a necessity."

[SassyAshley]

I am not sure what is up with Mother Nature but it looks like another blast of winter is coming for our area this coming weekend (I know there is time for it to change but it is depressing looking at the long range forecast and seeing snow).

I was thinking about asking for this Friday off but my plan was to go out, get out of the house but if the weather is going to be bad, I might as well work.

Guess this is a sign to just work this Friday.