tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post5795098379114502284..comments2024-03-26T19:10:34.328-08:00Comments on The "Make Do" Homemaker: When Life Gives You Lemons...: Frugal Friday: Money Saving Weekly RecapErika, "The Make Do Homemaker"http://www.blogger.com/profile/09303208981550053539noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-71039122308971093332020-02-12T22:02:08.388-09:002020-02-12T22:02:08.388-09:00Good information.Good information.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-18559988302894441372016-10-20T10:37:33.908-08:002016-10-20T10:37:33.908-08:00I am saving a bit on electric bill by using a batt...I am saving a bit on electric bill by using a battery candle in the bathroom. It shines enough at night so when we go to bathroom at night we don't have to use the full light. I have it placed so that the reflection hits the mirror. I also have one of those led lights on the sink top.Kimberlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12753632267580599652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-44146975741947389712016-10-16T13:51:09.221-08:002016-10-16T13:51:09.221-08:00Dorothy, it looks like an elephant with vampire fa...Dorothy, it looks like an elephant with vampire fangs in the middle of the night from my back deck while holding a flashlight. It is not eating any of my plants, just digging under everything. It might take to eating the plants after the grub worms are gone but I don't plan on waiting to find out. I have never seen chipmunks out here. I have seen them when I used to live in Nashville.<br />BLOOD MEAL! Yes, that just might do the trick! I used it years ago to run of something from the garden and it worked then...rabbits, I ran off rabbits using the blood meal. The garden did stink but who cares. Tomorrow I will go to the feed store to get a bag.<br />I have been using the sprinkler in hopes that some of the seedlings might survive in spite of all the damage. Oh well. Thanks for letting me whine. I do feel better.<br />JeannieJeanniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11333123227073032453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-50706053594213461492016-10-16T13:39:58.389-08:002016-10-16T13:39:58.389-08:00I think it is a ground hog but it is so dark and t...I think it is a ground hog but it is so dark and the garden is quite a distance from the back deck. We tried the catch-um-alive traps but could not figure out what they would go in it to want to eat. I think they are after the huge grub worms we have been seeing in the dirt. I have never seen as many as this year. I think hubby might finally have hit it. We found blood in the garden (yahoo!). I haven't gone back out today to look since I get so upset. <br />JeannieJeanniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11333123227073032453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-73568568239739324772016-10-15T17:10:31.485-08:002016-10-15T17:10:31.485-08:00121 over 83? That's ideal blood pressure!
So...121 over 83? That's ideal blood pressure! <br /><br />Sounds like you got some good deals this week! And yay on the free dinner!<br /><br />Speaking of free dinners, I got my dinner tonight almost free (99 cents), which totally made my day. I had a coupon that I received in the mail for $3 off of a new brand of frozen pizza, so I clipped it and put it in my purse as I was shopping. I checked out the price at a local store and it was $3.99 on sale -- making my large size deluxe pizza, normally at least $8, only $1! Also made for an easy dinner, which never hurts! I do love grocery serendipity. :)Approaching Foodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07758306507590214861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-10786575991500441282016-10-15T16:54:16.525-08:002016-10-15T16:54:16.525-08:00I'm not sure if there were any awesome deals a...I'm not sure if there were any awesome deals at the grocery for me last week. I did go out Thursday and get some groceries, I found some more blemished bell peppers I bought, I need to wash and slice those to freeze, and a used store had a small, size of a child's hand exquisitely detailed Paddington Bear. My oldest loves him, so it's going to go in his stocking. It looks as though it's brand new. I lucked out at Hobby Lobby today and got some nice yarn at about 70% off, and found these awesome fashionable looking tote bags for $3.99 each. My husband and I each used a 40% off coupon on them, and so one will be my much needed new primary bag, and the other an add on gift for my Sister in Law's January birthday. I pulled apart a baby blanket I had worked on for two weeks, because I just didn't like how that stitch was. It curled on all of the edges and just wasn't pretty. But I'll use that to combine with this ultra thin rainbow yarn my mom gave me, to make an even better baby blanket as a gift. My husband had a few free redbox codes, they expire at the end of the month so got my boys The Angry Birds movie, and the DC Super Girls dvd, and they've enjoyed those today. We also watched a tradition, Curious George's Boofest. I realized my oldest has only one pair of long sleeved pajamas, so I managed to use a coupon and a $5 reward from Kohls to get him a new pair for $7, those will be delivered in time for his birthday, but then today discovered right before we left for gymnastics, that he outgrew the pants I had in the next size up bin. Walmart was of course, out of his size, and I refuse to pay more than $10 for a pair, so i'll have to keep an eye out, but he will need them soon. <br /><br />I got my third paycheck this week. They aren't the biggest, not even $150 each twice a month, but it's helping. I just wish I could stop worrying all of the time and feeling discouraged when I listen to Dave Ramsey and hear those people talking about how they paid off like $200k of debt in two years making 90 or 150k. I'm like...sheesh. Who couldn't??!! And that just makes me so worried about everything. Did you know, I get so incredibly paranoid about if there's going to be fog or not the days before I work?? Where I have to go is towards the mountains, and as of late the fog is sooo dense, it scares me a bit. And all I can worry about is another accident, like that snowy one I had a year and a half ago. Then that reminds me that it will start snowing soon. And I'll have to go to work. I'm just an absolute mess. And it just all boils down to money in the end I think, and that pressure I feel. Just awful. I feel like before I got so ancient and had kids, I wasn't a worry wart. Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09360397522677275215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-7890805345388823972016-10-15T10:44:54.284-08:002016-10-15T10:44:54.284-08:00Your grocery haul is impressive. I think I would ...Your grocery haul is impressive. I think I would complain about the nurse. She had no right lecturing you about your diet, exercise, and blood pressure. With her complaining who wouldn't have high blood pressure. Every time I go to my surgeon, my blood pressure rises a lot. Between the long commute and being afraid the cancer will come back, I am a bundle of nerves. Medicine is not that woman's calling. Glad you are trying with the sleep center, they need to help you and make sure it doesn't happen again. CherylCherylhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03532160415343676858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-78758750572756926122016-10-15T09:14:39.842-08:002016-10-15T09:14:39.842-08:00Wow, that nurse was really on a power trip for som...Wow, that nurse was really on a power trip for some odd reason. Sorry you had to put up with that kind of attitude. That certainly wasn't necessary or needed! Glad you were able to get the blood work done at a great discount though. You found some great grocery deals too! I'm glad you were able to walk away from some deals, too, especially when they were not necessary and you're already tight on budget. It's for that very reason I find shopping every week is not so frugal! Too temping to buy the "great deal" even when you know you shouldn't.<br /><br />I had a really great frugal win this weekend. My daughter has a project for school where she needs to make a "plant cell" and all the components a cell are represented with edible material. She had to write up her idea with list of supplies as part of the project. Her list of ingredients included jelly beans, gummy worms, chocolate egg, cherry pie filling, cake mix, food colouring, sprinkles and chocolate and white frosting. I often buy candy when they are super cheap during or after various holidays and stash them away for the next holiday. I had chocolate eggs stashed away from Easter and I convinced her to suppliment the jelly beans for skittles or gummy lifesavers which I had bought on sale after last Christmas (candy has a long shelf life). I already had the pie filling, cake mix, frosting, sprinkles and food colouring in the pantry too. So the only thing we had to buy was the gummy worms, which I bought at the dollar store for $1! I don't want to even guess how much it would have cost if we had to buy it all just for the project!!! <br /><br />On Friday, I participated in a beading workshop to learned how to bead on a loom, plus received a container of seed beads, a loom, and a beading needle for only $15(offered to volunteers and staff at a huge discount so they could fill spaces in the class). It was super easy to do and so much fun! I really enjoyed learning this craft and hope to use my new skill to make gifts in the future.<br /><br />Made my daughter's Halloween costume this week. Last year she was an angel, which she won best costume with (wasn't even my best costume work, either...did I mention I love Halloween like others love Christmas?). So this year she decided to be the devil. I bought a red "devil" adult sized onsie for the main part of the costume. To give it a bit more "pizazz" I sewed a long devil's tail using a coat hanger inside to make it bendable, then attached it to the bum of the onsie. I will use fishing line to hold the tail more upright which also allows it to swing back and forth. I did this with a cat costume a few years ago and it was very animated. We'll see if this gets her another first prize this year! I found a devil horns headband that lights up at the dollar store. Haven't bought it yet, but heavily thinking about it since it is dance she will be attending.<br /><br />For the last 2 weeks, I've been going for walks around the neighbourhood to get some free exercise. The weather is perfect for it right now, but I'm hoping to keep up the habit and momentum into winter somehow. I go for the walk by myself and I'm really enjoying the "me time" quite a bit.<br /><br />Trying to avoid shopping too much this week as I spent a bit too much lately. I did a Costco run earlier in the week and picked up some supplies I don't buy often, which spent most of what I had for this weeks groceries. Since I don't really need anything major food wise, I'm trying to keep myself out of the grocery store. <br /><br />So, that's about it for me. Hope you get this sleep clinic issue settled soon, Erika! Until then, don't let it get you too down. You can, and will, cope with whatever outcome happens, so no point in letting it ruin your outlook on life! Have a great week!!!<br /><br />Rhonda A.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00448188064878559345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-74846185654628354862016-10-15T09:11:46.024-08:002016-10-15T09:11:46.024-08:00Don't feel bad. I don't separate out my c...Don't feel bad. I don't separate out my cleaning supplies and things from my grocery budget either, so sometimes when you have to buy batteries you just figure really fast that the budget got tighter for that week.<br /><br />I have found that good old soap and water and cheap scrub sponges (I buy mine locally at our bulk store because single sponges are actually cheaper than buying the bulk things of them, but you can get the bulk things of sponges on Amazon for decently cheap too). Also check out Amazon for batteries. I bought their generic "Amazon brand" batteries a few years ago and they actually held up pretty good and were pretty cheap too. I know that doesn't help when bad weather is breathing down your neck, but might be something to look into for future stock up precautions :).<br /><br />Bright side with the propane is at least it is cheap right now, right? <br /><br />Thanks for commenting and reading :).Erika, "The Make Do Homemaker"https://www.blogger.com/profile/09303208981550053539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-77162551688407939832016-10-15T09:07:12.929-08:002016-10-15T09:07:12.929-08:00Oh man, Jeannie I'm so sorry :(. Could it be ...Oh man, Jeannie I'm so sorry :(. Could it be a ground hog? Those stupid things used to decimate my grandfather's garden if given a chance. He'd sit out there for hours smoking a cigarette with a shotgun sitting on his lawn mower just waiting for those little suckers to rear their ugly little heads.<br /><br />He finally started setting up snares around the plants. Wiped out about five rabbits and three ground hogs in the span of a week. It was impressive, but he didn't have problems for quite a while after that. He'd also set catch-um-alive traps up around the perimeter of the garden to catch them (and then make sure they didn't stay alive after that). Give a call to your local cooperative extension service. Maybe someone in the area could lend you traps to catch the little blighters!Erika, "The Make Do Homemaker"https://www.blogger.com/profile/09303208981550053539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-42168465143376311092016-10-15T07:14:48.001-08:002016-10-15T07:14:48.001-08:00Hello- I'm Jessica! I've been reading your...Hello- I'm Jessica! I've been reading your blog for some time now and I really appreciate what you do to sustain your frugality and family. It gives me something to strive for. <br />Last week and this week both of my grocery bills were way higher than the usual. However I don't separate our cleaning supplies from our groceries so every few months I spend about 40-50 dollars more on supplies. And this week I needed to buy some propane $12, batteries $9, and a few other things that weren't typically on my list due to unforseen weather here in Oregon. I am just grateful that I was able to do that. Even if it meant holding off on my extra credit card payment a little longer. Jessicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15453557737999986706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-75768169288998985542016-10-15T06:55:35.647-08:002016-10-15T06:55:35.647-08:00Jane,
I don't know how big your varmint is but...Jane,<br />I don't know how big your varmint is but we had a similar experience and it was vols (unlike the Tennessee Vols). They eat the roots of the plants. They totally destroyed some of my treasured irises and things in the vegetable garden. Sometimes chipmunks will tunnel as well and while cute are mega destructive. After you get rid of the current ones I found it useful to lay down blood meal as varmints hate the smell of it. I agree, gardening is not for the faint of heart. Dorothy Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-31918432628539288422016-10-15T05:26:36.831-08:002016-10-15T05:26:36.831-08:00*Also, did all the usual money saving activities l...*Also, did all the usual money saving activities like washing out baggies, using less detergent by stopping the washing machine and soaking clothes overnight, cutting out coupons, opened the windows since it is cool at night, fixed lunches for son # 3 plus driving to the Amish to get milk.<br /><br />EPIC FAILS<br />*My garden has been destroyed by some type of a varmint. I almost started crying when I posted that statement. In August I started my fall garden plants in paper cups (which I made) because bugs would eat everything as soon as it sprouted. This year I started about 200 seedlings, broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, winter cabbages, Chinese vegetables, the list goes on. About a week ago I went out and noticed about 25 holes in my garden about 6 inches wide and 12 inches deep. They were under the freshly planted seedlings. I figured whatever was doing the damage was after the water so I left bowls of water around the garden. The next morning, just as many holes but in other areas. That night we went out after dark and shone a light on the garden and something ran away into the woods. Once again holes all over the garden. The next night we went out again, me holding the flashlight and my husband aiming a shotgun. We saw it digging again. It ran after my husband shot at it. I was hoping it was scared away; it was not, it is getting smarter. The next night we went out and did not see it but the next morning there were even more holes. I think he brought in his friends. We continued going out but could not catch it. Yesterday I just sat in the garden and cried. Of all the 200 plants I had tenderly watered and watched since August, maybe six are left. It has dug up the carrots, turnip greens, sugar beets, lettuce, onions, strawberries, garlic, kale...everything. All that work for nothing. I told my husband to just plow the garden under because I was giving up. He said if we don't get it now, it will hang around all winter and get next years garden also. So last night we went out every two hours and finally caught it early in the morning. Hubby got a shot at it but it kept running. Once again, I hope it is gone. We will continue to get up every few hours all night long and look but it is so discouraging. Gardening is not for the faint of heart.<br />JeannieJeanniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11333123227073032453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-17523385065024485162016-10-15T05:25:45.833-08:002016-10-15T05:25:45.833-08:00Way to go on catching all the sale items. I think...Way to go on catching all the sale items. I think buying the bread instead of using your arm to make bread is a wise decision.<br />My money saving this week has been successful.<br />*I went to Goodwill's half off day and bought a gown for $3. It replaces the rag I have been wearing. It was becoming so worn it was almost indecent. Sometimes I am a bit too cheap.<br />*I also hit Dollar General's fall clearance plus I used the $5 off $25. I ended up with all sorts of things, shoes, pasta, cloth bags...all types of odds and ends.<br />*Harvested from garden: tomatoes, okra, Lima beans, white and pinto beans, cabbages, Chinese vegetables, paprika peppers, peanuts, sweet potatoes, basil and feverfew.<br />*Canned salsa and tomato sauce. The tomatoes are almost finished for the year.<br />*Son #3 was gifted two pumpkins that are good for eating. I have instructed my sons to always accept any gifts from people. If we can't use it, we pass it on.<br />*Son #2 came home this past weekend for fall break. I sent him home with everything in the refrigerator plus about 25 frozen meals and 6 gallons of frozen raw milk. He is struggling with the difficult senior level engineering classes and just does not have time to fix food. Eating in the school cafeteria is VERY EXPENSIVE. The restaurants in walking distance of the school also have high prices since they know the students can't go far. I figure each meal I send saves him at least seven dollars, he says it is more. He appreciates and misses my home cooking. As I cook a meal here, I go ahead and fix a plate or two and put it in the freezer. It saves me having unused leftovers. <br />*Yesterday Son #3 stopped by Save-a-lot on the way home from school to hit their three day meat sale. I don't have a Save-a-lot in my town but I watch their sales on-line. This is the list I sent him to get: 50 pounds of potatoes $7.99, chicken leg quarters $.39, ground hamburger meat $1.59, ham $1.19, bone-in pork butt roast $1.19, boneless beef pot roast $2.79. They were out of the hamburger meat but he was able to get everything else. They were in family packs so I have ended up with quite a bit of meat. Today I will need to repackage it into smaller portions. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Jeanniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11333123227073032453noreply@blogger.com