These are my grandmother’s daffodils.
I’d like to give you a look into my previous weeks frugal accomplishments. This is to serve as encouragement and inspiration for you as well as me. I plan to attempt to do this on a weekly basis. Sometimes we need to take a moment and reflect on our week in order for us to find the strength and will to stay the course. I think frugal habits are a good thing to have and practice at any stage in life, but there are many, myself included, where they are a necessity right now, and I want us all to remember that we are not alone. God is not only providing for our needs, but also the creativity to stretch what we already have to make the most of it.
I would like to encourage you to take a few minutes and share your frugal accomplishments in the comments below. We all have knowledge to share, and you may have an idea that none of us had considered, or that we can tweak to fit our situation. Let’s use this as a place of inspiration and ‘ata girls’!
So let’s begin. Here are my frugal accomplishments from last week:
I had a couple of days that I was able to hang laundry out on the line instead of using the dryer.
I’ve been turning off the furnace during the day every day for the last week save one, when it was rainy and windy. We’ve been turning it on first thing in the morning to take the chill out of the air (it’s usually down to about 64-66 degrees in the morning) but by 10am or so, I turn it off for the day, and don’t turn it back on until we go to bed, and at that point I set it at 62 just in case the wind picks up during the night and really chills the house.
I tried the “no poo” method with my hair this week. I’m going to continue this for a few weeks and see where I’m at.
We only had one small shopping trip this week.
I picked my first daffodil this week and brought it in the house to brighten things up.
I brought foam trays from veggie packaging to use as paint trays during craft time at homschool group.
I turned off LOTS of lights the girls left on.
I cooked a double batch of beans and then made a double batch of black bean soup with them so we could have it for dinner twice.
I printed off some connect the dots sheets for Emma for free and put them in page protector sheets so they can be used over and over again. I found them here.
We planted tomato and pepper seedlings a couple weeks ago and the tomato seedlings have started coming up!
I made corn beef and cabbage with potatoes and carrots to share with Joel’s parents after church on Sunday. It was my first time making it. I cooked it in the crockpot so it would be ready after church and it turned out wonderful! Everyone loved it!
I Cooked two chickens in the crockpot to use the meat for sandwiches, salads and dinners. I saved the bones and will be making broth with them probably tomorrow.
I attended our church’s Ladies Night Out pajama party Monday night. I knew that one of the gals is gluten free, one was diabetic, and two others were doing a detox, so I made a gluten free, dairy free, sugar free chocolate pudding, and yes it is quite yummy! I also brought chocolate chip oatmeal cookies to share as well. We had a fun time as always!
That’s all for me. What frugal accomplishments did you have last week?
This is a bit involved but this is what I’ve done in the past month (my speediness is squashed by my lack energy with the pregnancy, no excuse I know…)
I made my own homemade laundry detergent for the first time. We are hoping Jeff isn’t allergic because it is such a huge cost cutter.
Biggest accomplishment:
We get bountiful baskets out here which are $20 each week for a ton of veggies. We eat off of these throughout the week. Stuff I can make stock from I chop and package together then throw in the freezer (carrots, onions, celery) I’ll make stir fry freezer packets with stuff I don’t like as much(cabbage) If we start to get squishy fruit/veggies I do a huge juicing session and freeze that in ice cube trays and thaw/drink 2-3 a day for more produce intake. The spent shavings I freeze or dry in batches to reconstitute in soups/sauces for later. When the baby comes instead of juicing I will purée and portion/freeze for baby food. I’m also starting my freezer meal collection for the first few months of after baby since I’m most likely not wanting to cook as much for my husband since he doesn’t eat unless I cook because of his work schedule. This week is tamales. I usually get cauliflower which I roast and purée for pizza dough. It’s quite the process of cooking and portioning which usually takes up my whole Saturday but it is so worth it.
Telia my dear, I am so sorry it took me so long to respond to this. First, a BIG thanks for participating, and doing so on the blog and not just on facebook!
Second you are a rock star, you beautiful pregnant woman you! You are totally on top of things with prepping meals for the freezer and for after the baby. Just don’t be surprised if you start dipping into them BEFORE the baby comes. I remember with Jack I put up four or five meals for after he arrived (which doesn’t seem like much but with already having three kids, I was pretty proud of myself). We went through ALL of them before he was even born. I was so tired at the end and was so thankful I already had them on hand.
It sounds like you’re getting an awesome deal with the bountiful baskets. Keep up the great work lady!