* Bought a punnet of Cos lettuce seedlings from Big W for 50 cents. They were on clearance because they had a few dry leaves on them. I picked a punnet with 10 seedlings
* Picked a couple of raspberries per day. It doesn't sound like much but in the middle of the season I'll be picking handfuls twice a day
* Continued to pick a handful of strawberries each day.
* Picked silverbeet for two meals.
* Made a double batch of raspberry and white choc muffins and sold most of them
* Sold excess eggs.
* .Jessica made a double batch of chocolate choc chip muffins for snacks. Most were frozen straight away.
* Darren cooked up some beetroot he'd been growing. He's even pickled it to be eaten in sandwiches and with salads. Thankyou to Annabel for the seeds.
* Watered the veggie seedlings with saved shower warm up water.
* Hand washed the dinner dishes a couple of nights this week. There wasn't enough to put the dishwasher on.
* Unplugged the Wii to keep the standby light off. The girls don't use it too often these days.
* Picked a bunch of hydrangeas from the garden for a friend who was in need of a " pick me up '.
* Darren used shredded paper in the chicken coop instead of hay.
* Made chocolate cakes for a church morning tea
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| Strawberries and raspberries |
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| Darren's cooked beetroot |
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| Muffins |
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| Cakes for church morning tea. |
Hi Wendy
ReplyDeleteYou are getting more strawberries than I am out of my container garden… oh the days when I had a huge strawberry patch and could freeze ten kilo’s or more after eating our fill and supplying family and friends until they got sick of them lol… Our blackberries are slowly coming along but a long way from ripening.
I have not been very busy this week. The flu knocked me for six the other day and I spent a few days in bed. Luckily we had a lot of precooked meals in the freezer and veg and salad ready in the garden.
Purchased 2 ½ kilos of beetroot for $4. I bottled them (before I got sick) and now have 8 jars of beetroot for the future. (lol just read your post and see you guys have done the same thing). I will continue to buy the cheap beets in the hopes of bottling enough for the year… I estimate we need 52 jars for the year. Lol we are big beets eaters.
Made perfume soap in small bags to be used for heel elbow etc exfoliators for gifts I put a verse on each one “Use me on your elbows, use me on your heels, scrub between your toes and see how it feels”
Have a great week Wendy… thanks for sharing your week. I always enjoy reading it, especially when I am down and out and cant do much myself …
Linda
Wow, you need a lot of beetroot. How do you bottle yours ? Darren just put it in the fridge in containers. I'm not happy with the liquid as it's too tart.
DeleteHoping you feel beeter this week.
Wendy, I've been looking at planners for 2016 and just haven't found anything that was in my price range that meet my needs so ... I purchased a spiral bound notebook with enough pages in it for a year and am designing/making my own planner out of it at a fraction of the cost. I plan to do a blog post on it when I have it finished. By the way, your baked goods look delicious!
ReplyDeleteI look froward to your blog post.
DeleteHi Wendy,
ReplyDeleteGreat buy on the seedlings and it's so wonderful to be able to pick your own vegies and fruit. Your Beetroot looks yum, love homemade Beetroot.
Made this week Castor and brown sugar, bread in the bread maker, Anzac bickies, cupcakes, muffins Muesli slice, choc chip bickies Cranberry hootie creek bickies, choc chip bickies, Anzac slice and Lemon cake. Trying to fill the freezer for summer while the weather is cooler for cooking.
I used a sachet of Vanilla paste in the baking which I received at the Royal Show this year. Picked Lettuce and silverbeet, Cleaned the washing machine out, made Spag Bolg and had 4 serves of leftovers for the freezer and had some "catch can " meals as DH away in S.A with the SES fighting fires and DS1 in and out with functions.
I shopped some of the specials but slush fund low so being very careful. Checked out a new party supply shop near me and it's the same sort of shop as Arthur Daly's Wendy and just as cheap, it's great for card making supplies. I did the Grocery shopping for the month although I had to be very frugal as I had used some of the shopping money for the grocery specials so it was tight but inventive. Menu plan is interesting this month as not as much meat being used each week. Gratefully received 5 loaves of bread, muffins and lemons, very blessed.
Unfortunately, our credit card was broken into this week and we had to cancel the card so everything is being paid in cash. I check our accounts everyday, so I was able to catch it quickly and the bank will refund the $1500.00 they gambled away. Check your accounts everyone on a regular basis. But on the flip side, We were granted the Camps, sport , excursions fee of $225.00 off of our school fees which we applied for back in August and also found out we can get a sibling discount off the school fees as both boys will be at the same secondary school next year saving $316.00 per child. It pays to ask.
I cancelled a contribution to a church where we used to attend as we were doubling up also paying where we have been attending for the last 2 years. Received some school uniforms for DS's from a friend for free. What a blessed life, xxx
Have a great week,
Maureen
You always ave such a productive weeks Maureen. So much baking WOW !!!
DeleteLove freezer meals too. They save so much money on takeaway and the food budget.
Hi Wendy, you have had a great frugal week.those strawberries and raspberries look delicious. The muffins and cakes look yum too. My week has included:
ReplyDeleteI Bought some dove beauty bars to wrap like Annabel does to give as part of gifts . The dove bars were $1 each at my local pharmacy.
Gratefully received a cottage pie and some savoury mince from my parents.
Used some steel off cuts that were given to me free to sit some plants in pots on.
Was invited to dinner by a neighbour and friend , I had a lovely time
Shopped mostly the specials included buying 3 gifts marked down .
Will be using some scrapbooking paper from my stash to make some cards and wrap the dove beauty bars for gifts.
My unit got cleaned by one of my centa care ladies and only costs me $14 for 2 hours, I really appreciate this subsidised assistance.
Gratefully accepted my Dads help with a few tasks which saved me money and time and energy.
I made 10 more cards to give as gifts.
I will be re using some cardboard packaging in my craft projects.
I think that is all Wendy, I hope you have a great week.
Love Barb.
Sounds like you had a good week Barbara. I hope you post some photos of your cards on the Cheapskate's forum. I'd love to see them.
DeleteHi Wendy, love the look of that beetroot.
ReplyDeleteThis week I saved by:
Booking an RACV resort caravan site 4 nights for the price of 3 in December, just $123, bargain!
Bought a large bag of blood oranges for $1 and made marmalade - probably will be teachers gifts.
Made your Honey soy chicken with drumsticks we had frozen and was delicious - thankyou.
Shopped the gift shelf at home for a teen birthday party.
Sold some textbooks - money will help pay for next years school books.
Also made your pumpkin scones with some pumpkin that needed to be used - perfect for school morning teas - cut and buttered and froze them. Thanks again.
Bought a large bag of potatoes for $1.
We had leftovers on one busy night this week.
Another busy crazy night I just said to family get whatever you like and I got served 2 minute noodles, haven't had them in years. Family were thrilled to be eating that for dinner! 99c for a pack of 5 I think. OK for an emergency I guess.
Bought a new novel at the op shop for DD1 Christmas stocking, one she will appreciate.
Marie
Marie, I'm not a fan of the noodles as a meal but they are cheap and great for chop suey etc. I'm sure you were glad for the night off.
DeleteLove pumpkin scones. I'm lost if there's none in the freezer.
My husband loves pickled beets. Imagine my dismay when I went to the basement yesterday, and it looks like I'm out of canned ones! Our summer is over, it is fall, and I guess I am sad:( I intended to can some this summer and ran out of time. There were a few jars of plain, canned ones. I may put pickling juice over them.
ReplyDeleteMy husband loves beetroot. On the rare times we have Mc Donalds or Hungry Jacks he always asks for beetroot on his burger. Not many people know you can order it and it's free.
DeleteHi Wendy!
ReplyDeleteYour muffins and cakes look yummy! I got my grandson an outfit for Christmas using store rewards and only paid $2.00 for it and got a Christmas tin filled with popcorn free using store rewards. And some free crackers from another store. I was so proud of myself our dinner for Thanksgiving cost less than $25! We use newspaper in our chicken coop too. The nesting boxes are right below the roost so we have boards covering the nesting boxes that slide in and out and I cover those with newspaper and when they need cleaned I slide the boards out and dump in the compost and put them back. I also put some squares in the nesting boxes and put a little straw on top and just pull the paper and straw out and replace. It all goes in the compost and then the garden come spring. I will be working on making stock this next week with what's left of the turkey. Have a great week!
XOXO
Vicky
Yes, the straw was costing too much. We get plenty of local newspapers for free so it's better to use them.
DeleteDear Wendy,
ReplyDeleteI am so happy to hear the seeds produced! That is so nice to know. Your garden is very productive. I love the cakes and muffins too!
Well, as you know, my week wasnt normal but overall we kept things going and ok. We are tired. This weekend I am trying to catch up on a few things. I also had computer problems but I am happy to report it only cost me $35 due to the girls being able to help me with most things.
Our first cherry tomatoes of the season are ready. I have hundreds coming on.
I hope you are having a good weekend! With love, Annabel.xxx
Annabel, I'm sure you were glad for your freezer meals. They are such a blessing and money saver.
DeleteI bet those cherry tomatoes are rich in flavour. So much better than anything you can buy. xoxo.
Baked bread as usual, only 3 loaves this week as I forgot to put yeast in one lot lol. Made some biscuits, they are very similar to shortbread, and easy to make.
ReplyDeleteSaved a couple of boxes to wrap, these will decorate the front veranda and under the Christmas tree.
Did not buy anything not on the shopping list, I even visited 2 op shops and didn't spend a cent. The tight budget means that we are thinking about every purchase, even the 50c ones from op shops.
Bought some seeds for cat grass, hopefully this will reduce the cost of frequently buying seedlings for the cats. I also bought some bean and tomato seeds, these will be put in tomorrow. The cherry tomatoes I planted a few weeks ago already have a few tomatoes on them but I want normal sized ones for sandwiches.
Stuck to the meal plan despite not always feeling like it.
I understand the tight budget Meg. It really makes you appreciate everything you have.
DeleteHi Wendy
ReplyDeleteAnother great week for you. This time of the year is so busy and has definitely tested me frugally speaking! I managed to:
- Repaired a handbag I use everyday - a few stitches and it was as good as new
- Made hummus - I always thought this was cheap to buy from Aldi until I realised I could make three times as much for the same price in 5 minutes
- Bought some shoes for my daughter half price
- Made spaghetti bolognese for my sister in law who just had a baby. In days past I would have bought her an expensive meal voucher but cooking for someone is a much nicer gesture
- Made all meals from scratch and wholemeal apple pikelets and peanut butter biscuits for snacks
- Drastically reduced the amount of meat we eat and more than halved our grocery spend from the previous month
Have a lovely weekend.
Jo
Well done on the grocery budget. Bet you are feeling very proud and so you should.
DeleteMending a handbag saves so much money and time. Now you don't need to shop for another one.