February 2023 Frugal Chat

[Angela273]

@walkonby We had a cold snap earlier in the week with an extreme cold advisory. It warmed up yesterday and is currently melting. If the weather stays good, I’ll be able to drive the shorter route home next weekend.

[lilo0003]

@coupongirl I also received confirmation that my CO 51 cheque is on its way. I have never waited so long.
I do not know why I torture myself going to Costco on the weekend. I live close enough I could go before work and yet this time I tried a Saturday which is worse than a Sunday. It’s been a month so it was an expensive trip. I also bought an aero garden. Not sure if I am keeping it but they were on sale so I decided to buy it and then decide if it makes sense.

[cath007]

What is that?

A place like several stores regrouped and it is all local stores. I like to buy a little bit of meat,cheese and pastas,sauce I cannot find in grocery.It is more specialized.And more pricey lol!!!So I try to not buy too much.Many citys in QC have one.

[cath007]

Last week brag because I had to put 2 inquiry for missing points and I only get those added today...Lately points are a hit or miss for me...
Pharmaprix: Nescafé instant coffee 170 gr jar at 4,99$ (it was a deal in flyer reg : like 6,99$- 8,99$)(I went to the other Pharmaprix because the first only had the 100 gr jars grr)x4 minus 4000 pc points personnal offer in my points of 800 pc points per 4$ minus 6 000 for spending over 15$ in nestle products (It was in the flyer days of points and they added my 6000 points 2 times dont know why....with my inquiry..so very cheap I think 1,99$ for 4 jars .And it expire in 2 years lol.

[cath007]

Maxi and cie brag from last week:
-Pepsi x2 (24 per case) pm super c @9,99$(it was in flyer) +ax 6x 710 ml pack to reach the 20$ to have the 8000 pc points because i think they dont round up and did not want to take a chance...these will last forever as we drink less pop than before (this was my other inquiry)

-Special K vanilla almond small boxes x3 @4,50$ each minus 2 fpcs from cereal promo and a 2,00$ off coupon=2,50$ + 5 000 pc points ofr spending 12$ On kellogs cereals

-Activia 3 pack of 8 yogurts @4,00$ minus 3$wub3 coupon minus 6000 pc points for spending 12$ on yogurt=0,75$ each package..and bb march 2 ( I would have bought a lot more but saldy no more place in my fridge need a good clean and already stock up on yogurt)

-1 dozen of large eggs@2,44$
-Red and Green seedless grapes @1,88$ lbs
And asked raincheck because they did not have the jumbo package of dalissa sausages advertissed at 5,99$

[HermanH]

Found 3x unused General Admission tickets to Cineplex, while walking across the parking lot.

[SassyAshley]

Good Morning Everyone,
Slept in this morning which was probably needed but always leaves me feeling blah, or maybe that is life.

Not much going on here this morning.

Yesterday, I took a shower to try to find my ambition but it did not work. Honestly, I think I just need a weekend off but since I have been more on top of things lately taking a weekend off won't send me into a panic this week to get everything done.

I spent yesterday working on some personal stuff I needed to get done on my computer, which I have been putting off. I had planned to get a few works things done as well but I never got to them, oh well.

Last night we were going to have Pot Roast Stew for Dinner, a Pot Roast with all the flavours we normally put in our beef stew but at 5 when we went to have it, it was not ready. The meat was not tender so back in the oven it went until about 7 pm, needless to say, we needed a plan b which was Chicken Fingers and Fries but tonight we will have the Pot Roast Stew. I am so excited, I cannot remember the last time we made Pot Roast Stew, we have not made it yet this winter.

I tried to write a meal plan yesterday, but I was having one of those food was meh type of days. Nothing was jumping out at me, nothing looked good, not a good day to try to write a meal plan. So that needs to be done today.

Happy Sunday

[Frugalbigmama]

Morning!

I looked in the freezer and took out ground beef and BLSL chicken breasts. Dropped DS off at work and went to Walmart. Found BLSL chicken breasts on clearance and they looked good. Grabbed mushrooms and a cucumber.
Then No Frills. Grabbed a few things there.

Home and put the chicken back in freezer. Cooked up the package I just picked up. Cooked the beef into taco meat. Sauteed peppers, mushrooms and onions. Added peas and green beans from the freezer. Made a pot of rice. Will make up rice bowls for the next few days (heat and eat)
The taco meat is for taco salad for dinner tonight. Everything is in containers and will be put in fridge when cool. Some of the chicken is in a hidden container to make DS's fav pasta dish one night this week. Kitchen is clean!!

[Frugalbigmama]

I haven't had almond butter forever! Finally bought one today and just had some with an apple. Best sweet healthy snack ever (well no almond butter with fresh strawberries is the best )

I had an offer for $2.99 for a dozen eggs at SDM so thought I better keep us stocked up incase prices go crazier.

Found some coupons while running around this afternoon. Also washed my vehicle. So nice to run around all afternoon and come home to a clean kitchen and know dinner is 95% done.

[harbie]

Headed out to RCSS for the grocery shop. Wish me luck. I always have a rough time with stock levels, pming, coupons…..you name it. First a quick shower after our workout.

[HermanH]

First a quick shower after our workout.

You should wait until you return from RCSS. That way, you will force everyone to maintain a 2m Zone of Separation from you.

[lilo0003]

I did a pretty big shop at No Frills today. That’s what happens with a month of eating for the pantry. It was 120.00 but I earned almost 20.00 in PCO and submitted 1.00 to elipsia and used 4.50 in coupons. I did find a coupon 2.00 off my favourite yogurt. It is a pretty short date but I will be sure to use it.
ds1 made chicken parm for dinner and it was nice to have Caesar salad again.

[Frugalbigmama]

Good Morning and Happy Monday! The sun is shining here.

Just sipping my coffee and starting work. Glad its a work from home day since it sure feels like a Monday!

Dinner last night was so good! (taco salad) Hadn't had that in a long time so it was really a treat. Then went and watched my friends son's hockey game. Nothing like sitting in a cold arena to make your bed feel extra cozy warm after

Since we have food ready in the fridge for meals today I will make sure to get some extra chores done around the house later today. Laundry needs to be put away. I will toss a load in the washer and hang to dry to keep up on it. I also need to take the mat out of the back of my SUV and take it to the tub and spray it clean. (My friend gave me homemade soup before I went away and it spilled a bit!) No wonder my vehicle smells lol. If its warmer today I may take a bucket of soapy hot water and wipe the dashboard etc down in my car.

Enjoy the day!

[harbie]

Question for those out east that shop at RCSS.

What is the quality of the store? I mean, the produce quality, the staff helpfulness (and just being present), and most importantly the cleanliness?

I’m not sure if it’s a west coast thing but here they are horrible, especially the one we went to last night. I have never been so grossed out and frustrated that I wanted to abandon my cart with the few things in in and walk out! Dh even broke and said he was done with RCSS and we will shop at save on foods (pm if needed), Safeway (they have good sales) and Costco.

I did an online order first as I was planning to pick up since I was going to get bonus points but they expired so I changed the order and we shopped in store. I knew the prices, quantities, and nothing was low stock according to online and the total of my shop since I printed it out. I planned a $154.38 spend and could only get $46 and change and that was pushing it as I added crackers that were not on the original list.

NI mushrooms. 3 packs of the white ones left were wet and starting to turn brown and one package was ripped open with mushrooms spilled out and another was poked with finger holes. Good luck asking a staff member for more beyond sausage so I could get the points (mumbles and turns away), price for corn was listed at $1.50/can yet online order states $1.33. No pming WM just egg. Lastly the store was FREEZING and I kid you not it looked like a bomb went off at the beginning of the pandemic when the hoarders shopped! Random foods and clothing dumped down isles and shelves filled with nothing but empty cardboard boxes (no product).

I wonder if it’s west coast thing like CT . Years ago CT was such a great place to shop and work. If you were hired at CT you were extremely lucky because they had very high standards and unfortunately now the stores here look like a glorified dirty dollar store.

We ended up crossing the street to WM and getting some other things not only cheaper and with coupons but the store was cleaner and stocked! Go figure. Still need to get tart cherry juice at Safeway for $7.99(regular price) instead of the $11.49 at RCSS ( that was $9.99 last week!).

Hope everyone has a great day

[Frugalbigmama]

@harbie . RCSS use to be my fav store. I have avoided it for weeks up until this weekend.
Ours is a big store and I find all the cottagers shop there so it is crazy busy. Lately everytime I think of going there I talk myself out of it because I just don't like it anymore . It helps that January was a low spend month for me and I was really trying not to shop so will see how I shop over the next few months.