2026-05 May Frugal Thread

[SassyAshley]

Good Morning Everyone,


@walkonby, thank you. Not going to lie going over the budget last night was a little eeek, only because I am so used to not spending I am still within Budget but spent more than I normally do.

My "what food, we need to eat" mood seems to be lifting and I am excited about food again (I know so funny to hear from a plus-size girl). I think that is why there has been more spending because now that I want to cook again I am stocking up. Also, I am trying to better at treating myself what I mean by this is if I need to make something for an event or if a family member asks for it within reason I will make it (I won't pay $5.99/lb. for grapes for a grazing board, but will use something we have hand without hesitation). But if it is something I want, I talk myself out of it telling myself it is better to not use it then we don't have to replace it or buy more.

An example of this is Croissants were part of the member coupons this time around, normally I only buy for special events because 12 croissants 2 people it is a lot. But I bought them and this morning I turned them into Chocolate Croissants (Croissant Filled with Chocolate Chips dip in a French Toast type mixture and baked), we made them one year for Christmas and I love them for a treat but talk myself out of it. The funny thing is they freeze well and are easy to reheat so today I made them for myself. I ate 2 this morning (oops, normally I only eat one) but I will package the rest into single serving and freeze.

It is odd because most of what I buy is on sale or the best price I can find (15 lbs. of Green Beans for $25.99, I know some will find this expensive but worth it for us). but I am feeling guilty. So now I am trying to turn my brain off and just tell myself the freezers are stocked up so is the fridge and this isn't a bad thing and isn't like we are going to need to rebuy anytime soon. I just I hate spending money.

Time to figure out where today will take me.

I wash the filter on the AC unit so I sound finish that. I need to clean the bathroom. I have 3 packages of Ground Beef and 1 package of Chicken Breast to deal with. No lack of things to do.

Happy Saturday Everyone.

[lizzie bargain]

Lilo-if you are not satisfied with your FF produce ask for a refund online in your account. I have received many.
We are still enjoying Alaska with lots of sunshine. We were in Hoonah yesterday and our guide said it was $14 per gallon of milk. We went bear watching yesterday with no luck-but a guy went whale watching and said he saw 3. Clearly we booked the wrong tour!

DD and I booked a Baltic cruise next summer going to Scandinavia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Estonia-sounds like an interesting itinerary.
Meanwhile back at the ranch hubs say it is snowing in Calgary. He spoke with his surgeon yesterday and the surgery is all systems go 2 months from today.

My new great nephew was born this morning-a full 2 weeks late! Named Heinrich Ernest-they used very old fashioned family names.

[walkonby]

welcome to the world little great nephew of lizzie!! Marketplace is on talking about the underhanded practices of
Metro, Sobeys and Loblaws. Food profits are soaring for them at customers expense. That $14.00 gallon of milk caught
my eye in your post!

[SassyAshley]

Good Morning Everyone,
I did not get a ton done yesterday but that is okay. The million dollar question is what will I get done today as the ambition it low but the fridge of full of things that need my attention.

Yesterday I made my Chocolate Croissant, forgot how good they are, so yum.

I cleaned the bathroom except the floors because Mom got up so I left the bathroom or her use.

Dinner last night was originally going to be Steak Sandwiches with Roasted Sweet Potatoes but after having Chocolate Croissants for Breakfast and a Sandwich for Lunch I decided a Sandwich felt like too much so instead I made Baked Chicken Sausage with Roasted Savoury Sweet Potatoes and Green Beans.

Tonight's dinner is a mystery but Chicken Parm did pop into my head so we will see.

We started cleaning out one of our kitchen pantries yesterday but only got 2 shelves done as it started to fall apart and it was clear to see pushing forward was not an option. But hey, we got 2 shelves done.

I have been up since 6, it is now 8:30, I really should try to get some things done.

Happy Sunday Everyone.

[lilo0003]

@lizzie bargain thanks for the tip. Knowing this maybe I will try a veg box again.
We are having awesome weather this long weekend. I spent yesterday doing nothing at my brother and SIL. Today I may do a load of laundry and put it on the line. We did hit up a few garage sales and I actually found something on my needs list.
They are coming to dinner tonight and I am using ribs that we vacuum sealed last fall. I picked up the sealer on FB for free and I am impressed at how well it works on meat.

[SassyAshley]

@lilo0003 , our vacuum sealer has been a real game changer when it comes to stocking up on many things not just meats.

On that note, 1 package of Ground Beef has been cooked and in the fridge, easier to package when cold. 1 package has been turned into Taco meat and again in the fridge.

Package of Chicken has been processed, 5 turned into Chicken Chunks, 4 cut into chunks but cooked (I love these for easy lunches or we use it for pizzas), waiting these to cool a bit and then they will go into the fridge to be packaged when cold. 1 pack of tenders to be frozen.

We just have one more package of Ground Beef to deal with and these will be turned into burger.

Still feel like there a bunch of things I should work on but we will see how the afternoon goes as right now I am ready for a nap LOL.

[harbie]

Good long weekend afternoon everyone.

I've been VERY frugal these last few days. ZERO spending! I’ve been home getting cleaning done, resting my back as it’s been acting up lately and cuddling the furry guest. She’s just so stinking cute.

Attachment 383648

[cath007]

@harbie :
I cannot see the picture.

[cath007]

Happy Long Week End Everyone,

Update about my father surgery:

Father recovery is doing good so far.
He have many appointments with a nurse for his change of cleaning and desinfector his scar and change of bandages.

This week he have an appointment to remove his stitches with a doctor who works with his surgeon.


And next week final appointment for check up with the surgeon doctor who did his surgery.

He have many pills to take with that surgery.

Its been 2 weeks since his surgery.

He did not have the right to drive for the first 2 weeks.

And recovering period is 1 month.

So in 2 weeks he will redo taxi the Saturday evening.

No lifting for 4 weeks...( well for 2 week since its been 2 week his surgery)

I was shocked when he said to me the problem with the leg is not causing by is smoking but by cholesterol (dates many years ago problem)

So this is apparently a good reason for him to continue to smoke....not happy about that.

Now ,finally he can walks without any pain.

I was losing my hope about that the last weeks and months so yay!!!

Doing the grocery is a real struggle for me right now...

I am not looking forward the heat for this summer...I am already suffering....

There not much to say about me I am struggling both mentally and physically ....

[walkonby]

Thanks for that update on your Father's surgery @cath007
The news was not all bad BUT I can sure see the struggles
you and him both face until he heals 100%.
The summer heat hit us today. It felt brutal! The vehicle has A/C
which thankfully is working and helped when we did our Sunday
grocery shopping.
Not that frugal of a shopping trip as we needed so many things.
All stocked up again and there are meals cooked in the fridge so
that helps get us through till Tuesday.

[SassyAshley]

Also already feeling the heat here. I haven't build the new fan yet (hope to get this done tomorrow) but pulled out the old one well I was making dinner. It was a little warm standing beside the stove well the waste was cooking.

Was also a little warm after I took out the garbage and recycling. It isn't super hot but the air is not moving out there at all.

After finishing all of the meat packaging I had no ambition to cook so I just used some of the cooked ground beef to make Pasta with Meat Sauce and of course had my cucumbers on the side.

Kitchen is clean and we will see what tomorrow brings.

[cath007]

@walkonby:

Thank you.
You are welcome.

No news from the health and eyes forms my father filled.
So I guess no news good news???

He have another practise driving test ( he had one before the accident) to do may 25 in order to keep his drivers license active.
He will take his sister(my aunt godmother) car.

And for the heat, my father suggested me to check on market place for an ac to put in my bedroom too..I guess I will see...
We have a 15 000 btu one for all the appart.

[harbie]

hopefully this works.

[harbie]

Saved a bit today. Had to fill up and got it at a steal of $179.9. Considering it’s been 206.9 lately. I’ll take it.

[walkonby]

AWWWWW.....that sweet puppy pic came through @harbie . It almost reminds me of the daily " Shameless Animal Video "
clips that come through on the CNN news feeds.. I ignore the news stories and scroll down to the video every time.....lol.
We totally forgot to get gas today after shopping. Not sure what price it'll be when we do.