February 2020-Frugal Chatter

[Frugalbigmama]

Good Morning! Dry dull day here today. We got up shortly after 7 and had coffee and my guy made us really good oatmeal with blueberries, almond milk, hemp seed etc. It was really good. I am stuffed.

Tonight I plan on working on laundry and in the kitchen. Regular old boring stuff. I really need to clean out my closet. Maybe I will start tomorrow and do one section at a time. Pull it all out and just deal with it. Really need to toss/donate tons. Less is more.

[barbis9]

both ebates, and shopper army have changed thier amazon rebates.

I have noticed that Amazon seems to forget to report to Ebates now several times, I have had to make inquiries online.

[SassyAshley]

I saw a post on Facebook last night that Shopper's Army said this is because Amazon has made the change and Amazon is no longer offering the rebates they used too.

both ebates, and shopper army have changed thier amazon rebates.

[Ciel]

Thanks for sharing all the rebate updates-one of my friends is using Ebates but I'm not sure if she often shops with Amazon.

Speaking of clearing out things at home--the same friend (above) has been helping one of her friends organize/clean/donate things as the second person's home has been sold. Some things find their way to thrift stores, others are going elsewhere or end up in a bin. We were talking about uses for wire hangers-I recall the abacuses made in Grade 4 as students provided the hangers and the teachers cut the "shoulders" for us to insert into pre-drilled wooden bases. But given the quantity of hangers needing to be homed, I suggested that my friend ask at local dry cleaners if they'd like some or all of the hangers. The other option was to hold onto the hangers for a scrap metal drive in Dundas in April but my friend has another commitment that day (and since I don't drive, I could not offer to take the hangers off her hands).

[Ciel]

Grateful to have viewed Last Christmas and Downton Abbey movies last night. The latter movie would work much better on a large TV screen (we have a 27" one at home which suits our small living room) so I'm glad I experienced the movie on a theatre screen last Sept. The first movie disappointed Mom who was shocked at the swearing (especially in Croatian), so do have the subtitles turned on before the movie begins. Since I recognized how the parents in LC argued (some households know one parent will blame the other one for something one offspring does or says), I was able to find it kind of funny (despite the reality of living said way is not so funny at the time). Do make time for the bonus features on Last Christmas--some treats are found there. Michelle Yeoh is a card-don't think I've seen her play a role in this way before (and I've seen some of her Chinese-language films too as well as some of her international English language ones)! Emma Thompson and her husband make some sly and witty remarks in the script which they co-wrote.

I did not have time to watch the bonus features on Downton Abbey.

[Ciel]

Given the two consecutive winter romaine lettuce scares, how timely that the March 2020 issue of Consumer Reports discusses lettuce issues and how to protect your health with their consumption. Plus learn why advanced safety features in late-model personal vehicles adds to your repair bills--things are very complicated and recalibration is part of the repairs.

The past two dinners have involved eating pre-cooked spaghetti and meatballs and sauce that Mom stowed in the fridge. Handy on movie nights or when someone is using the kitchen and I know there's something in the fridge I can quickly heat up when the stove is free. I had to toss my full price dragonfruit-it had turned and the inner flesh was closer to newsprint colour than whitish and the taste was super-bland. Lesson learned-use fresh produce up within three days or stow in the fridge.

Did an evening walk to Value Village with $1.15 in my pocket and perused clothing, home decor, bedding and accessories-no luck with hosiery but I saw lots of little bags I'd want but do not need. Then over to Walmart to inquire about the $100 LG cellphone-I'd need to buy a tranfer cable elsewhere (so much for thinking phones come with all the cables) and check out the sewing needle selection (one sewing machine needle bundle had leather needles). Realized my leather gloves have a tear on one glove (sob! I paid full-retail for the pair in early Nov) and some discolouration on the other glove. Will condition the leather today with black shoe polish and wipe down as best I can the leather. Can't buy another pair online (on sale) without electronic means and budget says no right now.

In a couple of days, I'll have my new shoes. I laundered my current pair last night (evening walk went through muddy road shoulder areas) and did not get one in-sole to fully dry--I had to use some hairdryer time to get the wet area less annoyingly wet before I put the shoes to use this morning. Managed to find 60 cents' worth of containers plus a 20 cent one from home.

My $1.15 went to a bottle of Dr. Pepper this morning-the siren song of pop could not be averted.

[Ciel]

PC Optimum fans-I copied from the SC Blog to the PC Optimum thread the bonus pts offer when you sign up for online Pharmacy accounts (only some provinces get this offer). Deal expires tomorrow.

[Ciel]

International Auctions will be in Hamilton this weekend for two different locations. If you have silver coins pre-1965, gold, vintage memorabilia or ad signs, collectibles and want cash, this is your event (the vendor comes 2-3x per year).
I spotted vintage Pepsi signs in the photo accompanying the Spectator article about Cheapies Records closing and tweeted to their account about the weekend event. I have to ask Mom about something we have in the basement if she'll let me take them in for a valuation.

[SassyAshley]

Good Afternoon Everyone,
Last night's dinner was a success, as in I could make it again yippee. I have to be honest the photo looked really good but I was worried about the sauce as it had Heavy Cream in it, not that I dislike cream. But it went from looking like a French Onion Soup with Mushrooms to Cream of Mushroom with Onions and that worried me but it was so good. I am actually looking forward to when I can bring the leftovers but first I have to eat what we made on the weekend.

I did not get much else done last week, I am not sure why but I was so tired and all of a sudden started getting a headache so I took that as a sign it was time to just go to bed.

I think tonight I am going to see if Mom has any ideas on how we can deal with the stuff in our Dinning Room. We need to buy a Hutch to put everything in but right now we just do not have the $$$ for the hutch so now the stuff is just in my way when I am trying to clean. It also needs to be moved so I can be sure mice have not been in this area. Not to mention I still need to try to determine if we have any mice friends right now. I did not hear anything last night but did not get a chance to move the stuff in the area Mom thought she heard them in. I will add this to my list for tonight.

I am feeling much better mentally which I am thankful for but I gotta say I am really overwhelmed right now. All of a sudden we have a ton going on at work and it is making me spin a bit just because I feel like I cannot get on top of it. It seems like every time I get one thing off my desk I go back into my email and find about 5 more things I need to tackle and none of them are quick oh I can get that done in 5 minutes, most will take me at least an hour to get through.

I know Mom is hoping to get Sunday off and she wants to go out this weekend but I am hoping she gets Sunday off and we can just stay in this weekend.

Alright well better back to work. Have a wonderful day everyone.

[Ciel]

If you receive e-mails from Indigo Chapters, read the end of the Feb. 9 one (sent Sunday) as there is an Indigo Events Survey and chance to win 1 of 5 $100 gift cards. Just completed my survey.

[Giseledta]

busy night last night. dentist went.. sorta the way i expected. sorta not. but it is what it is.

then we had a family issue to take care of . and that will be ongoing into today ..

hubby starts his physio in a bit . its his first time. i am really hoping it goes well.

tonight will pretty much be a write off... re family issue.
i am taking care of some stuff i need to do while kids are sleeping. oldest wants to make cookies. ..

i am trying to figure out the best way to get a rebate on my amazon orders.. any hints .. welcomed.

[lizzie bargain]

Getting organized to take DD to Hawaii next week for reading week-not sure how much reading she will get done but I am sure we will have a blast. Thankfully breakfast and evening snacks are included with our hotel as food is expensive there-being an island and all.

[Ciel]

How out of the loop I am to the wonderful beverages or meals one can enjoy with a Keurig coffee machine-there's a broth in K-cup format:
https://www.facebook.com/ecscoffee/p...type=3&theater

That is the perfect idea for meals in a mug during winter at a workplace...not sure that doctors' offices that have this machine in their reception areas (i.e. optometrists) will stock the broths but hey, bring your own K-cup pod and be ready to enjoy your waiting time.

[Ciel]

Getting organized to take DD to Hawaii next week for reading week-not sure how much reading she will get done but I am sure we will have a blast. Thankfully breakfast and evening snacks are included with our hotel as food is expensive there-being an island and all.

Have you perused any sections of Hawaii Magazine? There might be something to help you with meal deals or events with included meals. https://www.hawaiimagazine.com/

Apparently plate lunches are a big deal in Hawaii.

[Frugalbigmama]

Laundry is on the go. I cant wait till 7pm. Folded the towels that were sitting in the dryer. Loading the dishwasher. Have steak thawing. Will make up the veggies and steak for ready to heat and wat fahitas. I am also thawing chicken wings. Cooking them up for chicken fried rice. On a mission to use stuff up in the freezer.