Saturday, February 4, 2017

Frugal Friday Wrap Ups 1/28-2/3 2017

   
Seeds for our Garden.  4/$1


   Before getting into this week's Frugal Friday Wrap Up, I want to first thank you all who have been so supportive by both reading and/or commenting on my little blog here.  I had no idea when I started documenting this new chapter of my life that I would both meet and become friends online with so many wonderful people.  You have enriched my life in so many ways and I just feel so blessed by each and every one of you. 💗  Now onto the frugal doings for this week...

Gifts and education aids for Bradley and Isaiah.


~Saturday Jeff and I went to the thrift store and found lots of CDs that he wanted for $1.50 each, some brand new Star Wars items that our soon to be 5 year old grandson is going to love for his Star Wars themed birthday party this year, a gorgeous book on flowers and some homeschooling things for the little boys.
~We watched a movie Saturday night here at home.  It was nice to just be able to cuddle on the couch, snack on goodies and pause the movie when we needed to use the bathroom. ;)  Yes, age has a way of sneaking up on you. ;)  LOL!
~Sunday Jaysn and Rachel came over and we sent them home with lots of fresh fruit, canned goods and chicken fried steaks.  I had a brand new nice Chaps shirt in the closet that fit Jaysn so he went home with that too. :)  I love being able to share what we all have been blessed with with our family and friends.
~Monday morning Jeff and I settled in to watch the movie "Sully".  Oh my goodness, it was so good!  Jeff returned it to the library when we were done watching it.
~Looking ahead to Spring and starting seeds indoors, I have decided to save all the clear plastic salad containers.  They make great mini greenhouses if you just cut some ventilation holes in them.

Saving salad containers to use to start seeds in.  They make great mini greenhouses.

~Jeff and I made the loop on Wednesday to pick up his paycheck, go deposit it and then do some grocery shopping.  We treated ourselves to dinner out and used our customer loyalty reward card to get one of our meals free.  We also took his little car instead of mine since it gets way better gas mileage and the roads were clear.
~Dollar Tree just put out their garden seeds in our area.  I stocked up on things that I know I will be growing.  The seeds were 4 packages for a $1.00 .
~Dollar Tree also got some dvds in and I was able to find a movie that looks pretty good for $1.00 .  That is cheaper than even the thrift store prices.
~I mixed up some more spray in conditioner for my hair using some sample packages of conditioner that had been sent to me.

Some of my Dollar Tree finds this week.  The salt was just .50 .

~One of the grocery stores has 2 lb bricks of Cheddar cheese on sale for $3.99 each limit of 2.  Jeff picked some up on his way home from work since he drives right by that store. He picked up 3 of them and they honored the $3.99 price for all three.  They know that he is a good customer. 😉
~I cashed in at Swagbucks for a discounted $25 amazon.com gift card.  I also added the remainder of a prepaid credit card balance to my amazon.com gift card balance.  We need to buy more filters for our hot tub and I get them through amazon.com

DVDs, CDs and golf balls found at the thrift store.

~We needed more supplements so I placed an order at Vitacost.com going through the link at Mypoints who will give me 2 points per dollar spent.  I used a code I found online to get 15% off, also ordered something for my DIL who was out of one of the things she uses, hit a buy one get one half price for my menopause support supplement and got free shipping.
~I wore through another pair of fuzzy house slipper/socks so I looked in my gift closet and found another new pair in there.  I was saving them to give as a gift for someone special but decided that "I" was someone special and would enjoy them too. :)  So now they are on my feet keeping them warm.
~After hot tubbing on Thursday night I was craving something cool and fruity.  I rummaged through the freezer that is above the refrigerator and found some homemade nectarine sorbet that was hiding behind the frozen blueberries.  I served myself a small bowl of it and topped it with a maraschino cherry.  Perfect, fruity and fun!

Homemade nectarine sorbet.

~Jeff picked up a box of Wheat Thins at Safeway for me since he was going right by there on his way to his bowling league.  I had a coupon loaded on my Safeway card to get a box for .99 .
~We were craving ham so Jeff checked one of the freezers in the garage and found several packages of sliced ham that I had put in there from our last ham that I cooked.  We are using them in salads and making sandwiches with them. YUM!

Asian style salad with ham and peppers.

~Friday morning I was working on our taxes online when we lost our internet service.  So frustrating!  It finally came back and I was relieved to see that the information I had submitted was saved.  Such a relief.  I was able to file for free and we are getting a nice refund that will cover the cost of new glasses for my hubby and still give us some to put towards our property taxes too. :)
~I cooked up a pot of brown rice and then zapped some Asian style entrees in the microwave for dinner.  That was followed by ice cream complete with whipped cream.  Comfort food on a cold Winter day.
~I baked up 2 more loaves of bread for sandwiches for Jeff for work.
~I've been working my points programs as much as time allows.

Vanilla ice cream with chocolate fudge bits, whipped cream and cherries on top.  Lovely treat at the end of a rough week.



   I feel pretty good about our savings this week.  It's not my best ever, but it's not too shabby either.   Be blessed!







28 comments:

  1. I, too, am amazed by my on-line friends. For me,I believe it is the Lord providing friendships for me when I haven't been able to get out and make them locally. I am truly blessed by the blogs I read.
    Well done on your week. I need to check out the Dollar store here for those seeds. Not today, though. It's been snowing here since yesterday morning. We're at 10inches or so with no let up in sight. I'm cheerfully tucked away at home. Cheers, SJ

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    1. Hi SJ, apparently the blogspot gremlins are at work today because the first response I wrote to you disappeared into cyber space. ;) I hope your Dollar Tree has the seeds too. And YIKES on your snow. Stay safe my friend!

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  2. That's great your taxes were saved! My husband hit "save" on my daughter's taxes online and her info disappeared! So you were lucky! I like your bargains! I love chicken-fried steak. I'm not real good at making it look neat though! We get so many plastic containers that are great for planting seeds in. And for using with Easter grass for Easter baskets! etc etc. Someone could just start a blog and show us what to use these for! ha. Andrea

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    1. Andrea, you have some great ideas and I think YOU should start sharing those ideas on blog. :) You are one creative and talented lady. Be blessed!

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  3. Thanks for the heads up on seeds at Dollar Tree-- going in Tuesday-- have to go past it on way to recycling center--will run in and see if the store here has. Hubby and I went to dinner with his aunt tonight-- she was just going to leave 1/2 of a catfish fillet and 2 hush puppies to be trashed. Yep it came home with me in carryout container-- I can not bear food waste--if by some chance we don't eat--our dog will gobble up. Thought our medical budget was going to have to be reevaluated--when I picked up 2 new prescriptions for hubby thought the cost was for 30 day supply. I guess the pharmacy tech saw my mouth fall open, as she quickly said - " that's for 90 days supply." Oh what sweet words to my ears. Hubby has dental appointment on Monday- fingers crossed for a good checkup. Have a great Sunday.

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    1. Hi Delorise, good for you for not wasting food. We always take home our leftovers for another meal. We just got our statement from our health insurance company about my colonoscopy. The procedure itself was covered but the "medical supplies" and anaesthetist fees were not. :( Looks like we have to buckle down yet again to pay off more medical bills...this is getting old. Praying your hubby's dental appointment went well. :)

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  4. Dollar Tree has some good garden seeds. They have one of the lettuces we love, Four Seasons, for a lot less than a famous seed company known for it's heirloom seeds.

    Looks like you found a lot of inexpensive entertainment this week. Hope you will be able to unwind and escape through them.

    Great idea about the plastic containers. Thanks for the tip! Have a peaceful week!

    Hugs
    Jane

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    1. Hi Jane, they really do! I found some more seeds on clearance that the hardware store for the ones that the Dollar Tree did not carry. I am very pleased about that! :)

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  5. I picked up some of the veggie seeds at Dollar Tree last week too. I'm ready for spring! You did great on all of your shopping and the ice cream and sorbet look yummy!

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    1. Thanks! I am ready for Spring too. A lot of our snow melted off but now we have high winds bringing in yet more later today. Spring cannot come soon enough for me. ;)
      Be blessed!

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  6. You had another great week. Good job.
    Blessings my friend

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    1. Thank you Cheryl! Praying all is well with you...you have been on my heart a lot lately. Be blessed!

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  7. Now you have me craving ice cream!

    Sounds like a nice, frugal week, Debbie. Glad you found lots of goodies at great prices and you treated yourself to the new fuzzy slipper-socks. Take good care of yourself.

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    1. LOL! Sorry Bless. ;) I am trying to be kind to myself and am doing more to eliminate toxic and uncaring people from my life. It feels good to close the book on certain relationships and situations. Be blessed!

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  8. I got by Dollar Tree (brand new- just opened in Byron) this afternoon and picked up some of the 25 cents packets of lettuce seeds. Also found boxes of flower seeds for $1.00 (the boxes had $2.99 in the top corner). Also went into JC Penneys-- had 2 $10/10 coupons for myself and my sister sent me her 2 to pick up for her. She got the best deal. 2 men's Foundry flannel shirts for only $1.49 each (regular price $38.00)--- dirt cheap. That may be my best deal of the year--I'm taking credit since I did the purchase.

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    1. YOu did amazing on your deals! Good for you! I love hearing about stuff like this...it inspires me. :)

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  9. Eating icecream and sorbet in the Winter? I love icecream but cant go anywhere near it when it's our version of cold.

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    1. LOL Jane...well we were sitting by a warm fire and I was hot flashing too so it kind of balanced it all out. ;)

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  10. Hello Debbie,

    Great finds at the Dollar Tree. I don't get by one too often as the closest one is more than 100 miles from our home. I love the idea of saving the salad containers for mini greenhouses ... What a great idea!
    Thanks for sharing with us today.

    Blessings,
    Mrs.B

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    1. Hi Mrs. B. I would suspect that you make good use of your trips into larger towns and hit all the places that have good deals. ;) I do wish you had a Dollar Tree closer to you...I have 2 within 30 miles of me. Be blessed!

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  11. Hi. I want to share what I learned today.
    A little background - one of the national grocery stores will price match. They also have a day once a month where they give an additional 10% off. So today was their 10% off day and it's when I really try to price match as well.

    Here's what I learned - if they have an item on sale, they apply their 'card saver' amount even when it's been price matched!!
    In the past, I either didn't notice or didn't price match something already on sale.
    So, for example, the vitamins I buy were already on sale at the grocery store for 15% off. But I had found a lower price at WalMart. So I did the price match. But then noticed on my receipt, a card saver 'savings' of 15% also had been applied. And on top of all that, I got the 10% off. So my vitamins were 60%off retail. Score.
    Anyway, I could hardly wait to tell you. Cheers, SJ

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    1. That is awesome SJ! Thank you for sharing that with me. I am very excited and happy for you my friend! :)

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  12. I need to go check the dollar store for seeds here. I have used some of the most common ones from there, such as Danvers carrots and have been pleased. I also get plenty of zinnias from there usually.

    I'm sorry you have had a tough week or so. I will pray that things perk up for you.

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    1. I hope you find some Becky. :) My weekend and so far this week are much better already...thank you!

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  13. Those greens containers do make great little greenhouses. I also use shortening containers for my Wintersown seeds. I'm with you on watching movies at home. Don't you love finding treasures at thrift stores!

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    1. Laurie, that is a great idea on using the shortening containers also. :) Thanks for sharing that idea with me! :) And yes, I do love finding treasures at the thrift store!

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  14. I hope your week continues to improve. We're bracing for another storm tonight. We already had a foot of now on Monday night. Yikes. I'm off to run a few errands and get ready.
    Yea for a deep pantry!! The grocery store is not where I want to be today.
    Cheers, SJ

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    1. Hi SJ, that storm you are bracing for has hit here today already and it has been snowing nonstop since I got up this morning. I'm glad I got our shopping done yesterday! Be safe my friend!

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