Friday, March 5, 2021

Friday, You can always do more


 It is very easy when one is trying to get out of debt, to get complacent and think you are doing everything you can.  But I have found out over the years, that I can always find ways to make money stretch farther.  I can cut more out of the budget when I try.  I can always save more money than I had planned.

Using the grocery challenge this last month has really pointed this out to me.  I really only spent $24.00 yesterday and we are set for the week.  In fact looking at our fresh veggies, I wonder if we are set for the next two weeks.  I am out of olive oil, but I can get by until next week.

Tonight Hubs and I cooked popcorn on the stove top.  This is not something we have done for years.  But we do enjoy a bag of popcorn every once in a while.  Those dang bags are expensive.  Now that we have tried it and it was successful, I don't think we will buy microwave anymore.  One more way to save.

Refusing to buy mixes for tacos, enchiladas, shake and bake, spaghetti, really saves when you are cooking.  Look up how to make those mixes and then store in a recycled jar.  You will always have it on hand and it is much cheaper than spend .89 to a $1 something on a powdered mix.  I do love a gravy mix, and I do buy them when they are 4/1.  Which only happens once a year here.  Then I stock up.

My hair needs to be colored, but I am waiting for Lil sis to get home to do it.  I can get by in order to save the money.  I can let my nails go one more week.  I can stretch that manicure to 5-6 weeks. I needed to buy some white bridal cording and I found a spool at Joanns for $4.99 for three yards, but you could buy it cut for $1.49 a yard and since it was a cut item get 50% off, so buy the yardage even though you have to stand in line.  Sometimes it costs time  and effort to save a little money, but it all adds up.

I purchased some things today to start my seedlings.  I actually had these trays that I had used for years and when we were moving they slipped off a stack of things and got stepped on.  I had to throw them out.  They are meant to be disposable, but I had reused mine for several years and I will do the same with these.  It costs $3.99 for a plant start and I can get seeds for .20 a package.  I always do 3 starts just in case some don't germinate.  The leftovers I give away.  I started all my beans, corn, herbs, squashes, peppers, pumpkins, lettuces last year and they all came up fine.  This will save money. I do buy onion sets, and tomato plants.  This year I am going to try and start eggplant, as I love it.

You can cut expenses if you try. Use less gas, use less water, use less power.  Be conscience of what you consume.( unless it is chocolate) For years I flew through life not really paying attention, but I do now and it helps so much.

Learn to enjoy cooking with basic ingredients.  My Sissie is a great cook.  But on the whole she uses basic ingredients. It is rather amazing. Just whipping up a batch of popovers, which are very basic is so impressive and so good.  Making up a batch of piecrusts, then a yummy cream filling is easy, just takes some time. Look at the great cookies SAM made recently.  They were vegan.  Can you imagine what those would have cost at a store?  Even if you cook in a specialized way you save money.  Anne in the Kitchen, usually has a Keto version in most of her menus. Cheryl can make a meal out of anything and she has shown us how.  Sluggy is also a good cook.  She made me collards. Bless her heart I did not like them, but I love her anyway. 

Learn to quickly chop up salad greens and veggies.  Those kits are covered in preservatives and are so expensive. Salad dressings are easy to  make.  I look up recipes for things on my phone all the time.  When I think I need a mix, I now look it up.

Have a you found over the years you have found ways to save more, cut more, stretch things more, by doing a little more?

Have a great and productive day staying positive while you are in the negative.

Kim

20 comments:

  1. My greens hating kids love spinach dip. I grow mustard greens in my front yard since my back yard is completely shaded and a swamp when it rains. The crockpot is my cheap best friend. Dried beans (red beans or pinto) for the win!!!

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    1. I think most kids hate greens. Kind of like an acquired taste.

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  2. Kim, really nice post, and thank you for the nod. Much of what you add os better for the environment and our health, so more wins. I want to teach my youngest more skills. The older two have many thrifty skills mastered out of their own necessity.

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    1. I think my youngest is the same way. We had more to give when she was growing up. The oldest went to college when the youngest was in kindergarten. Then when she entered jr. high the next was off to college. She just got more and I did more for her and it shows.

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  3. If we all just take time to stop and think before making purchases, and try to get creative - we can save a bundle.
    Good post.

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    1. I know so why do we not do it most of the time? I ask myself...

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  4. Excellent post about how to stretch that dollar, Kim. Great job.

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  5. Hello from Kansas. You're so frugal. I hope your husband knows how frugal you are and appreciates this.
    Blessings,
    d

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    1. Well no, he doesn't but he is the main reason I am frugal. He didn't work for many years 10and when he did work it was at a job that was not enough for a family to live on and then he commuted 100 miles a day and his job was more of a hobby.

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  6. I gave up hair cuts, I trim my own hair, manicures, hair dye, nail polish . Buying jewelry when I realized I wasn't wearing what I had, clothes was hung backwards on hangers, if I didn't wear them I sold them. I do have dried gravy mix in large bottles. I only use it when I want 1/2 cup of gravy for Hubby. I never was one for box or mixes. I always google to see if there is something I can make with what I have.We have gorilla glued shoes and boots, duct taped others. Did without, used it up, wore it out and went with out most of our younger lives. When the kids left home, we went a bit nuts on spending. Hard times kicked our ass and we now stay frugal with knowing what the costs of a nursing home ran for Daddy.

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    1. When our youngest left home, I actually bought myself some clothes. She came home from college and said, Mom I knew you would go nuts when I left.

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  7. I am all for thrifty! Cooking meat in bulk is my secret...lol. I have a #10 can of collards sitting on the counter to share with you, Kim. For popcorn I buy Orville Redenbacher air popcorn and put it in a bowl in the microwave. You can buy a popcorn popper for the microwave.

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    1. I did not know that, bur our stove method was very easy and I loved the taste.

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  8. We do pretty well, but with the kids needing a quick lunch/snack during the day, I find we keep too many prepped things on hand. Currently, Sam is obsessed with bagged caesar salad & greek yogurt with granola/bananas. I'm happy they are healthy choices, but when I've tired to get him to take a few minutes to assemble the salad, or scoop the yogurt from a large container to a bowl....suddenly, the fridge is empty. They are hopefully going back to school soon enough, and lunches will once again need to be packed & pre-planned. Maybe that will help.

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    1. Well I hate to say this but they are men and I think it is genetic. Hubs will eat a large salad every night but if he has to make it, his hands are broken.

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  9. I am so glad that you made the chocolate exception! Currently I am having to order keto chocolate and it is terribly expensive, so I only get one small bite a day. It is amazing though how much good that one piece does for me.
    There is just no doubt cooking from scratch is the way to go to save money. it is pretty easy to ketofy just about any recipe once you learn how the acceptable replacements work.
    You are so spot on about making the spice blends. (Though I will always by Cavander's Greek Seasoning, Angelo's steak seasoning and Hardin's. They come in huge containers and last forever. We use all three all the time and as much as I have tried I can't duplicate them. In face they are such family favorites I send them when requested to Oregon and New York)
    And Sluggy, look out! You just got the dreaded "Bless her heart"

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    1. I seriously can't wait to get my second shot so I can go see my sister and Slugs. We have just got to get together. We could have so much fun and laugh until we are sick.

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