Saturday 16 August 2014

This Week's Frugal Tasks

The Gower household is back into the normal routine this week.  School runs,  work,  house work,  gardening and food shopping have filled our days.  Oh what joy  !  Oh what blss  !  It was great to do the everyday tasks that gives me a sense of accomplishment.  Simple living also gives me a chance to stop and enjoy the abundant blessings in my life.

Here are my frugal tasks for the week -

*  Topped up my car with petrol at $1.36 a litre when petrol was selling for $1.55 a litre everywhere else.

*  Cleaned the dishwasher with bi carb and white vinegar.

*  I shared a bag of lemons with some ladies from my street.  A christian lady a few doors down from me invited all the ladies in our street to a high tea last Saturday. We had a fabulous time together with lots and lots of food,  talking and a game.

*  Cleaned the kettle with citric acid.  It looks like new again.

*  Baked some chocolate peanut butter biscuits to go with a present for a birthday party Darren and I went to.

*  Accepted some capsicums from my Dad.  Darren used some on his homemade pizza.

*  Refilled a travel sized shampoo and conditioner bottle.  The toiletry bag I use when I travel has now been restocked.  It's one less thing I need to think about when I'm packing for a holiday.

*  Picked three more heads of broccoli.  At the moment broccoli is selling for $7.98 a kilo in the supermarkets.  I'm saving a small fortune by growing my own.

*  Picked some lettuce for the chicken wraps the family had for tea one night.

*  Baked three loaves of wholemeal bread.

*  Picked some silverbeet to hide in a pasta bake for tea one night.  My girls don't like silverbeet but will eat it if it's cut finely and hidden .

*  Recycled 10 bread bags that my husband bought home from a bbq.

*  Made a menu plan for the next five weeks and wrote my shopping list from it.

*  I had enough leftovers for two single serves of beef stew.  It's now in the freezer for another meal.

*  Cut up a cereal packet to use as go between for when I'm making and freezing hamburger patties.

*  Used the carpet sweeper to wizz around the house instead of using the vacuum cleaner.



Beef stew simmering away in the slow cooker.  The lid is off to take the photo.



Broccoli that has been blanched and is ready for the freezer



Freshly picked silverbeet




What frugal tasks have you completed this week ?

Do you keep a list of your frugal tasks ?  Maybe this could be your challenge for next week.  I'd love for you to share your list.


13 comments:

  1. Stuck to $80 at Coles to qualify for bonus, added half price items to stockpile. Carpooled to a meeting. Cooked lambsfry at 99c each - Husband and Cat very happy. teenagers not so. Bought a pair of jeans at opshop for $1. Baked two loaves of gingerbread - teenagers very happy finally.

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  2. Always nice to be back in a daily routine, you can start to breathe normally again! The afternoon tea at your kind neighbours sounded lovely, I almost think we have lost the art of taking the time to stop for an afternoon cuppa and a piece of cake with friends/family/neighbours, it's like we always have an excuse of something "Has to be done"! Wendy I think you might enjoy reading the blog by Frugal Queen, a UK lady living in Cornwall, if you get the chance stop bye. Simone

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    Replies
    1. Simone, the afternoon tea was the first event to be held in our street in the 18 1/2 years we've been here. I'm going to hold one in November to keep the momentum going.

      I've heard of the frugal queen and will check it out.

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  3. hello wendy,
    petrol is very cheap in your country in germany cost a litre petrol 2,16 australische dollar's.
    but the broccoli is very cheap.at the moment. cost a kilo of broccoli1,98 ausDollar
    i wash my curtains,
    i made a homemade pizza
    i made a lot blackberry and raspberry jelly
    i freeze zucchini from my garden.
    can you share your meal plan?
    greetings from germany,
    regina

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  4. Made 2 loaves of bread, made naan bread, made up biscuits for 4 year old daughters allergy, froze 2 meals, started using face washers for kitchen, made up foaming handwash, joined your mailing list. Look forward to receiving my emails each week as this is keeping me motivated, so thank you Wendy.

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    Replies
    1. What a productive week you had. I hope to hear from you often.

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  5. Wendy, Your silverbeet looks as good as it gets! Mine always ends up feeding a lot of grubs! Do you use pesticide at all?
    This week I have reviewed my need to buy grocery items - as we're moving it's kind of a less is more thing at the moment.
    I've begun the cleaning to try and remove the need for the vacate clean.
    I've also planned ahead regarding transport when arranging what's happening for Ms11 for the next two weekends. This will save me money and time, which will be put to use saving me more money!!

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    Replies
    1. Shadow, I use the pet friendly snail bait on the odd occassion ( when I remember ).. Other than that I don't use anything else in my veg garden.

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  6. Hi Wendy, my plans this week (if I put it in writing I'll be more motivated and obligated to do it)! Monday clean bathrooms x 2, I'm going to use the miracle spray, do a load of laundry. Tuesday; Clean kitchen top to toe this will include my fridge and pantry, Wednesday; change sheets and do all washing that is required. Thursday; clean lounge-room and teenage girls bedrooms, Friday; general tidy for the week! Wendy as you are a professional cleaner do you have any tips of your own. Simone

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  7. I use Miracle Spray for bathrooms, toilets and ktchens. I also use microfibre cloths ( the cheap ones ) for cleaning and cheap chux cloths for toilets. Then the cloths can be washed over and over again. I always damp dust too.

    For my own home I have certain jobs for each day. That way my home is always reasonably tidy and clean.

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  8. Hi Wendy thanks to you I have continued on with my mission to save my family's budget and enjoyed myself at the same time. Our menu planning is well underway with only a few meals to work out then the month is complete! Made own laundry powder and will add essential lavender oil to the wash. Recycled paper through the printer if the other side can be used. Using a 2 litre plastic milk bottle to water my plants instead of buying a watering can. Purchased a bulk pack of mince and made pasta sauce and, homemade burgers for meals. Froze some sauce for meals during the week and also froze leftover pasta sauce for meals. Made muffins and froze some for snacks. The vege garden is coming along so some fresh food almost ready! I'm not sure how much I have saved already but I'm sure there are a few $$$'s which does add up. Thanks again for sharing your invaluable tips! Wendy from Pottsville Beach northern NSW x

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  9. I've had a reader ask about cleaning the kettle. Add two teaspoons of citric acid to a kettle full of tap water. Boil the kettle and tip the water out. Boil again with fresh water and tip it out ( or save it to water plants ) Now the kettle is clean and ready for use.

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  10. Sue B8 August 2014 15:59

    Great blog, Wendy! Something for everyone.

    Cheers
    Sue B

    ReplyDelete

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