December 2025 - Frugal Chatter

[Angela273]

Each year we reuse gift bags for all of our presents. The last of the gifts arrived from Amazon a week ago. The gifts were promptly organized and “wrapped” under the tree. I’m always excited to see our kids open the gifts.

Today I took twin girl grocery shopping with me to Sobeys. I lucked out with an in store sale on lean ground beef, plus some personal offers .
$4.94/lb lean ground beef + 100pts/$5 = 3,300pts
eggs 18ct + 165pts + 3Air Miles
$1.99/lb broccoli crowns + 4 Air Miles wub $4 + 2 Swagbucks
155 other points

$167 in lean ground beef worked out to $3.70/lb lean ground beef after points. 17 packages in ziploc bags squished flat, labeled, and already in the freezer. One tray of meat is in the fridge for Monday/Tuesday meals. That’ll help offset the $0.90/lb lean ground pork that I purchased from Sobeys in August. I like to combine lean ground beef & lean ground pork for some recipes.

[flemeth]

@cath007 so sorry to read that Eve passed (((HUGS))). Take as much time for your self through the grieving process . Be kind to yourself and know that you did your best for your fur baby.


I also did not find the Royale $2.00 Bathroom tissue and Paper Towel coupon hoping some one will trade with me.

[Frugalbigmama]

Happy Monday! The sun is shining!


Yesterday I did a favor for oldest DS and drove out of town to pick up something for him (for his GF) He found a vintage chair for her make up table. It is beautiful but I think the seat should be reupholstered. So looking into finding the perfect fabric for it.
So since I was near the casino I picked up dinner to take home (use points or lose them!) Brought home a round of beef dip sandwiches (figured this was the best choice since they heat up nicely) with everyone's fav side (onion rings x 2 yam fries x 1) I only ate 1/2 my sandwich so told DS he could have the other half (which I see he did but didn't eat the yam fries lol)
So the steak I bought for dinner for last night may be tonight's dinner....Unless I decide to make something else. We will see what we feel like later today.

Today is wrapping day! I finally set up my portable table and will sort and wrap today!
Have a box ready to wrap and add all Grandma's food items! I will plan to go visit for a night over the holidays and take her out shopping and for dinner and spend the night.

Have a great day!

[coupon girl]

Morning was off to freshco at 8.30 a.m wanted to beat the crowds .Spent 100.00 saved 10.00 in scene points saved 3.00 on cpn.

Still waking up at 4.00 a.m wish i could sleep later.uggggg

Still need to go to the LCBO,maybe later.

[coupon girl]

Just went to the LCBO saved 20.00 in aeroplan points ,that was nice.

Then popped into sobeys for the ice cream 2 kashi bars -i paid 1.74 each after 2 sets of scene points 2 leclerc cookies i paid 1.70 each after scene points,so a few good deals .

[Frugalbigmama]

I just went out to pick up a few things....It is super busy everywhere!!

Also just made plans for my sister to come pick me up early afternoon tomorrow- Then I will be able to help Christmas eve day with prep for the dinner they host every year. I can never go early because I am the DD for my family so we only want to take one vehicle- So I asked if my sister would pick me up and then the guys can come down Christmas Eve in one vehicle and then I can drive back!
So now we have plans tomorrow night to take my mom out for dinner and depending when my niece gets back home watch the Gremlin movie
I will borrow a car and pop out Wednesday morning to pick up fresh bread for dinner.

Now I have to get everything ready! Finish wrapping- pack my overnight bag- get the food ready I am bringing for Christmas eve dinner- Make sure all the stuff is ready for Christmas morning brunch. I guess I should go to the LCBO too to buy a bottle of wine.... I need it for a gift. I think that is really the last gift thing to buy.. I need DS to open his Amazon boxes...I need one!!

The good thing is I will get everything done tonight so then it is all done and ready!

[SassyAshley]

Good Afternoon,
I am feeling "better" but not Better, if that makes sense. I feel better than I did yesterday but still sick. Today is weird, I cannot explain how I feel one minute it is my sinuses the next it is something else so I cannot decide what to take.

I did go back to Wal-Mart today, I decided last night to try taking Mucinex to see if it woud help me sleep and not feel like everything settled overnight. Good idea but would of help if I had of slept. Ever since I got sick I cannot sleep and it is driving me insane. But discovered we only had 2 pills left. It did help so off I went this morning.

Although I do feel Wal-Mart did me dirty a little. I looked up the price online and it said $9.98, great, got the store and the shelf said $11.98, um what???? I look again in fine print it says price valid for online orders only. Seriously, we now have online only pricing. A little annoyed as I was going to order for pick-up but wasn't sure I could spend $35, UGH!!!!!!

Hoping I sleep tonight and tomorrow I feel better because I have to figure out if I am going to Christmas. I decided yesterday gifts are going to have to wait so I am crocheting everyone a Christmas Mug that will come with an IOU a Christmas Basket in the new year because homemade gifts and getting sick 5 days before Christmas do not mix.

I got 2 mugs done yesterday and about 1/3 of the third, still need to make a 4th. Mom agreed to do the embroidery for me, I can embroider but it isn't my "thing." Plus it gives Mom something to work on as I know she is going a little stir crazy. I was hoping we would get some nice weather over shutdown and I could get her out of the house but looks snow tomorrow, no snow in Christmas Eve or Day and then Boxing day. back into the snow.

Time to figure out this dinner thing, good new I must be getting because I am not exhausted and the thought of cooking dinner doesn't feel like too much LOL.

Happy Monday Everyone.

[coupon girl]

Sassy -i feel like i still have this cold a bit ,i am constantly blowing my nose and i still sneeze the odd time .I am in the second week.

I just got off the phone with scene i didnt recieve my 160 pts for buying 2 leclerc cookies ,so i sent the reciept as usual .Then i got another email saying i had to sent the picture of my offer ,well i dont have a gmail i told the guy ,my husband does and i wanted to speak to a manager .He gave me the points a a one time deal (so tired of hearing this one time deal)He told me a lot of older people are frustrated with this extra step,so why do it !

I then told him i rely on my points lately as i cant find any coupons in my area -always gone the good ones anyway .I saved 160.00 last year in scene points i told him .I may think twice now about where i shop .I then told him P.C points are not hard to get .He sai they are taking your word on the points .I am not out to scam a bunch of points but really i have to jump thru hoops to get 160 points .

Sorry just a rant to my smart canucks friends .How does everyone else feel about this ,just curious?

[HermanH]

Bought 2 pairs of trousers from Walmart for $15 each. They were on clearance, but fit me, so I gambled. I hope to just wear the life out of them. At this price, they aren't even worth the time to repair.

[lilo0003]

@coupongirl I feel like all the programs make you work. Scene is the worst for missing points so I just don’t bother. PCO is easy to submit but then it’s a crap shoot if they will actually give you the points. But at least the online process is easy.
I baked a batch of shortbread today. Not to see if we have any left at Christmas. The magic cookie bar squares are in the freezer so they are safe. Tomorrow we face the grocery store for the last items we need for the Christmas dinner. It’s beef Wellington and omg the cost this year was insane. Worth it because my son does the meal. I will bake the dessert tomorrow and then Wednesday and I am driving to pick up my mom.

[lizzie bargain]

Canadian blood services is asking for donors so that will be my last Xmas gift for somebody tomorrow morning. Quiet Xmas planned here with dinner at my brothers. We will travel to visit friends over New Years. Happy Holidays all.

[SassyAshley]

@coupon girl , I have only had to contact Scene once for points and it wasn't as bad as I was expecting, I got my points but the process could use some work. I was waiting for them to ask for DNA sample with all the questions LOL.

Although I did get a giggle, one day driving home from work the people on the radio were talking about the theft at the Louver and their lack of security measures in place. The guy said they may want to take tips from Scene, everytime he logs in he cannot remember his password because of their security measures and resetting it he is waiting for it to ask for DNA sample. He ended it by saying all I want is my points for buying groceries.

[SassyAshley]

Good Morning Everyone.
Finally starting to feel better, today is the first day where I feel semi-normal. Although I am still coughing.

Sent a message to the fam asking if they want me to come tomorrow or not. I just don't want to get anyone else sick.

Depending on what they say will depend on how my day looks as I have not made the desserts yet, but if I am not going I will hold off as I don't need 9 mini cheesecakes if I am not going.

Trying to tie up all the lose ends at work but it started quiet and now things are picking up. Will see where the day takes us.

Happy Tuesday Everyone.

[Frugalbigmama]

Morning!

Just back in from cleaning the drive-way. It was snowy/slushy but glad it is done. To add more chaos to my morning I booked a massage this morning that I need to shower and leave for in mins. My massage therapist had cancellations today and texted me so I took one appt. I know she relies on her bookings so I try to help her out when I can.

Enjoy the day!

[coupon girl]

Morning, Sassy i laughed when the guy said all i want is my points for buying my groceries .True ...

Roads are slushy and slippery as i drove over to walmart at 8.30 a.m .My girlfriend envited us for supper xmas eve anytime after 6.00 p.m .So i had to get her 4 grandkids a few small gifts -kids look forward to this .I managed to keep all their gifts under 10.00 each. along with a herseys chocolate cane .Walmart had snakes and ladders game for 5.97 each on sale ,plus i already had 2 gifts for the girls .

Of course i managed to look at clearance got 6 rolls of wrapping paper for $4.18 for next year ,cereal for 4.18 some protein one and hanes 2 pairs of ladies briefs for me 5.98.

Then came right home .Now i need to clean and do laundry ,