2026-08 August Frugal Thread

[Frugalbigmama]

yes!!! @Frugalbigmama I had a feeling you were talking about the Red Prince apples.
The first year DH told me about them ( probably 2012 or so? ) it was a real struggle to
find loose ones but once I saw those 2.5 lb. bags...yahoo!
Back then they were a bit pricey but since DH was crazy about the taste so I indulged him.
The last bag I bought him @NF for $4.99 was on July 23rd.

In case others are curious about why they suddenly disappear near August, here's why.

Availability of Red prince apples is seasonal. They're harvested in the fall and stored in cold cellars, hitting store shelves from January through mid-summer.
Because the storage season naturally winds down around mid-summer, they become harder to find or disappear completely just before the next harvest arrives.

That's what I was paying for them too! We have 2 No Frills and the other one sold them for $5.99. I may pop in there and see if they have any left!

[Frugalbigmama]

Today's oatmeal is topped with fresh strawberries and a green apple (picked up at GT a few weeks ago- $2 for 3lbs!)

I washed my office blanket and will hang it up to dry. Having a very productive work day clearing the piles off my desk

Dinner- We have leftover chicken from last night so I will plan to use that up tonight- I'm going to pick up a few zucchini's today (pm NF .99LB) and will try making lasagna with it for me tomorrow (I will use pasta for the others but make them try mine )

I really need to get a walk in today- Should have went this morning but time just flew by...and now I get to this point of the day and since I just showered I don't want to be out in the heat of the day! I do want to go to SDM in the next town so will park away from it and walk around to all the stores to get some steps in. Ok that is my plan! Will make a nice cold drink with my mio for a treat!

[SassyAshley]

@Frugalbigmama , We make Zucchini Roll-Up (basically lasagna in roll-up form), we have found the trick is to lightly salt the zucchini to draw out some liquid or else it waters everything down. The other option we like is Zucchini Boats, we cut out the middle and stuff them, I usually bake them first for a little bit upside down and then stuff and finish baking.

[flemeth]

@Frugalbigmama, We make Zucchini Roll-Up (basically lasagna in roll-up form), we have found the trick is to lightly salt the zucchini to draw out some liquid or else it waters everything down. The other option we like is Zucchini Boats, we cut out the middle and stuff them, I usually bake them first for a little bit upside down and then stuff and finish baking.

@SassyAshley my girls love Zucchini boats we also season the inside and pre bake them we cooked the inside of the zucchini that I scooped out with beyond grounds , black beans , corn , onions and other seasoning and that’s what stuffed the zucchini boats and we top it off with cheese. I have 2 vegetarians

[Frugalbigmama]

@sassy and Flemeth- Thanks for the tips! I am looking forward to tomorrow nights dinner

[Frugalbigmama]

@walkonby- I just went to RCSS and decided to check out the apples. $3.99Lb for honey crisp! Other apples ranged in price of $2.29-$3.49Lb. CRAZY!! Bags of apples $9.99!

10Lb white potatoes $6 I price matched NF for $1.99. Making cheap fries and baked potatoes for sides.

Honestly all the prices at RCSS seemed very high....Even more reason to shop the sales.

[coupon girl]

Hubby and i went to the hospital gift shop ,i needed to buy the cleanser E-Z scrub for the shower day of my surgery 3.99 .Then i looked at the counter and found 2 small needoh 3 pack of fuzzy balls 10.99 each (xmas gift for the grankids) the needoh are sold out most places and online the price is hiked up .So a deal.

[SassyAshley]

Good Afternoon Everyone,
Day 2 of trying to get back into my routine and just trying to be in a different mindset and we are already struggling.

I did not get up at 5 am this morning, my alarm went off and body said "nope, not happening."

In general today has been a struggle just because I am being pulled in 500 directions today, everyone seems to need me and people are getting annoyed having to wait. Just feeling a little like I cannot keep my head above water.

Last night after work I had to take back Mom's old cell phone. Oh what a process this has been originally we were told it had to be returned in person and I could not return it. Then they offered that we could courier it back but they never sent the instructions. Called and again nope have to drop it off but now I could if I was added to the account. I took it back, closest store to us is almost an hour away and in the end all of the things they warned us about didn't happen, they looked at the phone, I signed and I was done. Happy it was so easy but getting there was a struggle.

Since I was out and had to basically drive by Costco to get home I decided to run in as there are a few things we ran out of. I will need to shop again before the sales changes but now we are stocked for the weekend (mainly, we needed cheese).

I have stopped buying Hot Dogs due to their price but I realized last night, I was refusing to buy Hot Dogs because they were $30 (3x12 packs) but because I was out and didn't have time to cook I was going to pay $40 to $50 for Take-out which would give us 2 meals vs way more from the Hot Dogs. Yes, the math was not mathing so I grabbed the Hot Dogs because it made more sense LOL.

Still need to look at the flyers and see if there is anything I want to pick up before the weekend but right now I am just trying to knock out a few more things so hopefully I can call it a day.

Happy Wednesday Everyone.

[coupon girl]

So you all know we have only had our cell phone a year now ,honestly i got a message from my charts and it talks about my knee and measurements and doesnt say anything more but my rant is why didnt it say call to book your appt for xrays by the 12th .Honestly i was just there today at the hospital i could have gotten my xrays then.
Next week i have preop and a phone call one day plus i have to get the pharmacy to fax my meds to a number .

My anxiety is up there.PLus this my charts i cant access on our phone as it states its on another device (my notebook) .My daughter wants us to visit her this weekend and i would love to ,just so many thin gs on my mind that i have to do .I guess cause i already had this done i am suppose to remember everything.Uggggg

[Frugalbigmama]

Good Morning! Woke up to a wet dark morning! Really was looking forward to a walk by the lake this morning and hopefully go kayaking after work...Will have to look at the weather app and see what the plan is.

I put on the same clothes as yesterday....will do my running around (FB Raspberries!!!!) work out and then have a shower after dinner and put the laundry in the washing machine then.

The grass needs the rain but it also needs to be cut so hopefully DS can do it tomorrow. The weeds seem to grow well in the heat too!! So much weeding to do but who wants to weed in the heat...not me!

Enjoying my coffee and will get thorough my emails- many people decided to work after hours last night!! Seems to be the summer ritual.

Enjoy the day!

[Frugalbigmama]

Just went and took out of the freezer the needed items for dinner- Jar of tomato sauce/bag of sauce/cottage cheese/1Lb ground beef/1Lb ground pork (this needs to be used up-paid $1 for it- have another for another meal) Along with the mozz cheese I bought on a deal.
Will prep the onions/pepper this morning so I it is already when I want to start cooking later this afternoon.
I will make 2 lasagnas- one with the zucchini and the other with lasagna noodles. I am really looking forward to this!

[Frugalbigmama]

The potatoes I purchased yesterday were garbage- tons of black spots. (Pm'd NF $1.99)
While looking over the flyers this morning I was reminded of their produce policy- Fresh or Free Guarantee.
Was thankful I found the receipt in my purse- Went to customer service and she refunded $4 without hesitation (their price this week) ....she didn't ask me for the receipt and then I grabbed a new bag. (I looked at few bags before finding one that was ok)

FB- Crispy mini's are on for $2.44 so bought 4 and got 1 free with the coupon I found on the display (buy 3 get 1 free) (My treat when I feel like chips)
They had lots of the raspberries available for the $1.68 price. I grabbed 3 and will get more next week.

Walked over to SDM to mail a letter and grabbed 2 of the rice crackers on sale for $1.88. My snack drawer is full!

[cath007]

Does anyone have problems with Ontario mail???

I am waiting a important letter and things and they dont come.....

My father said it is because the Ontario fires and Post Canada strike but I am not sure about that.

[flemeth]

Does anyone have problems with Ontario mail???

I am waiting a important letter and things and they dont come.....

My father said it is because the Ontario fires and Post Canada strike but I am not sure about that.

We are getting mail every day and packages are coming from BC with Canada post on time so not sure where in Ontario your mail is coming from to be delayec

[cath007]

@flemeth:

When I order compagny coupons I writhe my adress correctly.
Same with coupons .
But they are not coming ....???
I am really starting to think to make a complain to Canada Post....