* Rescued a half dead tomato plant from Bunnings for 50 cents. After cutting off the dead bits and giving it a good drink of water all week, it's looking much better.
* Saved all the washing machine rinse water for each next load. Saved the shower water for our pot plants and fruit bushes. Poured drink bottle water into the watering can.
* Kept the heater off as much as possible. With the changeable weather we're getting, the heater is only put on every now and then.
* Used a couple of Flybuys vouchers to get bonus points at Coles.
* Sold two dozen eggs and lots of white choc and raspberry muffins to my cleaning client.
* Mended holes in three socks.
* Picked silverbeet from the garden for three meals.
* Fed the compost bin with kitchen scraps.
* Picked up another fortnightly cleaning job this week. I'm very grateful for the work and God is certainly supplying our needs.
* Posted off a few Etsy sales from my shop.
* Made a batch of double strength Miracle Spray. I dilute it down to it's correct strength when filling up the spray bottles.
* Made a creamed rice dessert and egg custard dessert using mostly ingredients that were given to us. I'll be posting the recipes shortly.
* Dried the washing on the line. I'm so glad the weather has changed and I can put the clothes horses away ( most of the time )
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| From our chickens |
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| Egg custard |
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| Silverbeet from the garden |
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| Sorting toys at our church |
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| Toys boxed up and ready |
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| Christmas hampers Darren has organised. |
What was on your frugal list this week ?
We finally got some much needed rain where I live this week, it came down fast and heavy, and I noticed that one of our downpipes was overflowing at it's base, literally pouring out water in big heavy spurts, so I grabbed some helpers and some buckets and collected it, and watered an undercover garden I have (under our deck) which doesn't receive natural rainfall, I was able to give the garden a good soaking for free before the rain subsided!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great way to use the wasted water. Better than it all going down the drain.
DeleteEgg custard!!!! My all-time favourite from childhood to the present day. Save me a scoop will you? Ha!
ReplyDeleteIt's all gone now Phil I could have traded you one of your caramel scrolls.
DeleteDear Wendy,
ReplyDeleteWe haven't had cold weather for a while now. Yesterday we reached 41C! Today is cooler but still 28C. The strong winds and lightening yesterday caused a few fires. We are on edge here because of all the undergrowth and I guess it is the same where you are.
Christmas is such a busy time for churches. I am a member of the Salvation Army and they have so much to organise leading up to Christmas. Our church is small (about 30) and most of the members are older so it involves lots of work with just a few helpers, but we get it done :)
I love egg custard and rice cream too. It is a great way to use up excess eggs.
That is good news that you have more work, it all helps. The extra cash will come in handy.
Wishing you a lovely weekend,
xTania
Tania, we've had mostly cold to very mild weather here. Everything is green.
DeleteI'm glad you have a church with things to do for the community.
Greetings from Idaho, USA. These are the frugal things I did this week, other than the usual:
ReplyDelete(1) I was a poll worker. I worked 14-1/2 hours straight for $150. (I'd probably do it for free...but $150 is a nice perk). As you can imagine, it was one big zoo!
(2) My dishwasher was leaving residue all over the dishes. I cleaned the filter, which involves removing all of the guts, poking around for things that might be causing it, and putting back everything. Fortunately, there is only one way to do it...once you figure it out, LOL. This saved a $60 service call. Not bad for someone who doesn't have a mechanical bone in her body.
(BTW, Wendy, how do you clean your DW with vinegar and soda?)
(3) I sold a dog carrier for $35.
(4) I made an apple cake with apples from my own tree. I took it to the polling place and it was a big hit (the workers have a potluck going in the kitchen and everyone goes back and grabs a bite when things slow down enough...which, this time, was hardly ever).
It sounds like you were busy at the polls Maxine.
DeleteI clean the dishwasher by filling the tablet / powder dispenser with bi carb. Then I splash a couple of cups of vinegar around the inside and turn it on the hottest long cycle. When it's done I clean the inside of the door and seals with Miracle Spray. It's gets the gunk and finger marks off.
Hi, Wendy. Your egg custard looks delicious:) I like making homemade ice-creams and custards here too because they are cheaper made at home and have no artificial ingredients and no plastic required. I was busy during the week doing some relief teaching but still managed a few frugal things:
ReplyDelete* had homemade breakfast muffins (from freezer) on busy mornings
* used silverbeet and chives from garden in omelettes
* picked a few cucumbers and lots of beans from our garden
* made all the school and work lunches here at home
* resisted the urge to buy a new skirt ...I'm trying to sew my own
* made some more progress on my knitting (well, not much but enough)
My list isn't long this week but hopefully next week I'll do more because I am only working on Friday. It's lovely that you've picked up some more work too. Meg:)
Meg, silverbeet would be great in an omelette. I try to put silverbeet in anything I can.
DeleteI've very happy with the cleaning work. We really needed it.
Beautiful Christmas hampers and toys to give out Wendy. That is wonderful work.
ReplyDeleteI just love egg custard! And I am so pleased about the cleaning work coming in for you!
I hope next week is a good one also! Love Annabel.xxx
Annabel, egg custard is a favourite here too.
DeleteYes I'm very glad about the cleaning work. God really knew how much we needed it.
Well what a collection of hampers and toys for all those in need. Somehow I always feel it is so wrong that in our affluent society there are still people doing it hard. Just a shame that our governments don't help to fix the problem.
ReplyDeleteI had a few shifts booked which evaporated as the people either were able to go home or needed to stay in hospital longer. I will need to see if there is any other places to apply for work. Not looking forward to Christmas as it will be a bit lean for our family but the true spirit of Christmas will be celebrated and that is more important.
Congrats on securing some more work and also on the sales from your etsy store.
Still needing to put the heater on at times which is really strange for November.
I had to go to Geelong for a specialist appointment the other day and managed to fill my car up with petrol at 109.5 which is a lot cheaper than the 119.9 we are paying in Colac. Only using the car for essential trips and combining errands with these trips.
Happily my chickens are still laying a couple of eggs a day. Cooking all meals at home and limiting the amount of meat we are eating.
I sold some of Caitlin's old school uniforms and I have purchased some of the books she needs second hand which has saved us heaps.
Have a blessed week
Janine, I would love it if the government fined politicians for wasting money and gave it to the charities to help the needy. There is so little money available for charities to help those who need it most.
DeleteJanine, while you still have time, do a little planning for your Christmas. As you said, celebrating is more important than the glitz ( and debt ).
Thanks also about the job and Etsy sales. They came in just when we really needed it. xoxo
DeleteHi Wendy,
ReplyDeleteBusy week here this week. Card making galore as DS2 had a couple of birthday parties and we had a weddding , birthday party to attend and more orders for cards.
I've been walking for an hour a day and not as much baking this week as i had alot i the freezer. No heater used this week and washing water saved and tank water was also used. Still charging my mobile in the car and picking heaps of peas from the garden and lettuce. Mooed bread and all meals.
Froze leftovers from 2 meals and cut flowers from the garden to bring inside.
DS2 sold some of his things on Ebay this week and DS1, working now, started to buy his own shoes and clothing out of his own money, Yeah!
Anyway, have a great week,
Maureen
Maureen, isn't it great when the kids start providing for their own needs ?
DeleteHi Wendy, the egg custard looks lovely as does your silverbeet! I have been sorting out My pre-baby clothes (which no longer fit but are in good condition) and donated it to a clothibg bin. I hope this helps them. My frugal list this week is a bit smaller as I had dental work done and have had to rest a lot. Here's what I managed to get up to:
ReplyDelete* Made a big batch of Bolognese for two nights, this saved me cooking when I felt my worst
* The hot weather means I've been drying everything on the clothes line
* Used the air con in the house and car only if really needed
* Had two over ripe bananas and lots of crumbled weetbix at the bottom of the box, made banana weetbix muffins to prevent waste.
* Planted some corn
* Shopped around for the best greenslip deal online
* Gratefully received a dozen eggs
* grateful that I had savings to pay for dental work up front with out any worry, it's worth being frugal!
Have a great week!
Amy
Amy it certainly IS worth being frugal. It gives us peace of mind when things crop up. I hope you are over the worst of the pain from the dental work.
DeleteHi Wendy,
ReplyDeleteYou always seem to have silverbeet! What is your planting regime with it? I had lovely plants over winter but they all went to seed in spring and the seeds I have sown are taking a long time to go anywhere. Do you sow seeds regularly throughout the year?
Peach
Peach, I generally only plant silverbeet seedlings in late Summer / early Autumn Yes mine is going to seed right now which is a shame as we love to eat it. I know it's cheaper to grow from seed but it takes longer. The punnet of seedlings cost under $3 for 8 plants and we save that money many times over.
DeleteWe also grow Silverbeet from seedlings, which this week we added to spaghetti sauce and quiches. Also parsley.
ReplyDeleteHad fun at a school fete where DD got lots of free clothing at the end of the day, all of which she'll wear.
Getting the teens to do more cooking and housework is saving me time and money. They made risotto and spaghetti this week.
Made soup, fruit slice and all meals from scratch.
Cleaned the shower with 50% vinegar and 50% dishliquid, works well.
Gratefully accepted lemons from a neighbour.
Gifted a friend homemade pickles.
Bought a jam funnel from General Trader on a 15% off sale on Saturday - you have no idea how excited I am about this $15 purchase - should save lots of sticky mess.
Getting stuck on presents for 16year old boys - it seems to be birthday party season - movie tickets, box of chocs, any ideas????
Have a great week,
Marie.
Marie, when I need presents for teen boys I usually give a Lynx deod and shower gel bought on a half price sale. To this I add a couple of giant biscuits wrapped in a cellophane bag and tied with a tartan ribbon. I put all of these things into a gift bag. The lynx cost about $3 each and the biscuits cost under a dollar. They are always well received with the boy's friends drooling over the biscuits. The peanut butter choc chip biscuit in the recipe section works well.
DeleteHi Wendy, Your egg custard looks yummy, can't wait for your recipe so we can try it out. We have gotten so many fantastic tips and recipes from you, thank you so much for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWendy...it might be some where else, but is it possible to share the brand of your side opening ovens? And are they gas or electric or does it matter?
ReplyDeleteI would be most grateful for the information. Cordially, Heather
Heather, the ovens are electric Westinghouse ones. I bought them from The Good Guys but they are not on display. They need to be ordered specifically. There are a couple of other brands available as side opening but they were the high end brands and didn't look nice either.
DeleteI love my side opening ovens. I've never had the conventional top opening ones and don't like using them when I'm at other people's homes. Side opening are safer to use.
Wendy thanks very much for the info. Filed for reference as our life may be changing soon and may well include a kitchen reno in another house so this is on my big item wish list. You are wonderful. Ta muchly...Heather XXX
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