On a much brighter and happier note, on Valentines Day this week, Jessica and Eugene announced their engagement. The wedding date is set for 2nd December this year with the reception / wedding venue booked and their engagement hall booked. There's lots to plan and many lists to write but we are well on the way to making the day special.
Here's what else we got up to this week -
* Made a couple of slabs of zucchini slice using the zucchinis we were blessed with last week. I now have 28 single portions in the freezer.
* Cooked up lots of tomatoes from our garden. I then weighed it into 410 gram portions which is the same as a small can of tomatoes. From the one big pot I was able to portion out the equivalent of 11 cans.
* Wrapped up the soaps I made last December using cellophane bags and scraps of ribbon . I'll be giving some as presents throughout the year.
* Fed the compost bin with kitchen scraps and Darren added lawn / grass clippings.
* Saved more bean seeds from our garden.
* Picked lots of tomatoes and raspberries each day.
* Made 22 jars of jam with a box of peaches given to us.
* Jessica found a few decorations in the supermarket for her engagement party . She went in the day after Valentines Day to find metallic balloons spelling the word " LOVE for 88 cents each.
* Saved lots of glass jars from spreads and mustard we'd used up. These were then reused for the jam making session.
* Made a quadruple batch of laundry powder.
* Donated a few bags of bits and pieces to the op shop and received a discount stamp.
* Wrote out our newly slashed budget to see exactly where we stand. I 've made a few minor adjustment to save more money.
* Kept the cooling and fans off all week which is fabulous considering it's Summer. Saving a few dollars and grateful for the mild weather.
* Telstra notified us to say we no longer have to pay $2.98 every bill ( 28 day cycle from memory ) to keep our home phone number silent. It's a small saving but $2.98 will feed Darren and I for 2 or 3 meals. Very grateful.
* Kept to the two light rule with most nights only using one light or none at all.
* Saved lots of water from the shower and poured it into the washing machine. We've also cut the washing down to 3 maybe 4 loads per week. We are hoping to see a saving on the next water bill.
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| Handmade soaps for gifts. |
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| Zucchini slice |
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| The sunset reflecting on a cloud from the other side of the sky |
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| Cooked tomatoes from our garden. |
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| Making laundry powder |
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| Peach jam. |
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| Jessica and Eugene. |
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| Showing the ring. |
Congratulations Wendy, what a beautiful time for your family. And what a productive week you had.
ReplyDeleteKind regards
Andrea
Thankyou Andrea. We've been busy.
DeleteCongratulations on Jessica and Eugene's engagement!
ReplyDeleteYou amaze me Wendy, to already be so frugal and careful with what little you have, and then to still find ways to get by, and with such a positive 'can do' attitude. Well done, I take my hat off to you both.
Thankyou Cheryl. I prefer to keep busy than worrying about our situation.
DeleteCongratulations to Jessica and Eugene. What a beautiful couple. All the very best for the future. Xx
ReplyDeleteI'll pass on your wishes Ronnie.
DeleteI found a cute blog
ReplyDeletemight help with wedding ideas
http://www.fromgreatbeginnings.com/
Glad you had a better week.
Cathy
I'll have a look Cathy.
DeleteYour daughter looks like she’s in love! So sweet!
ReplyDeleteYou accomplished a lot! My husband was laid off at Christmas and has been working very little since. So, we’ve had to tighten the belt, too. The most frugal thing i’ve done is stay home, even though I really, really wanted to go to the biggest town south of here. And, I also took another very small job where I watch three young children for one hour after school for two or three days a week. This will help til my Summer job kicks in and my husband gets called back to his job. I realize that we need to have a bigger cushion so we’re not caught unawares next year. This year will be all about saving as much as possible. The stocked pantry is a huge help!
Debbie
Hi Debbie, I'm glad you found a little bit of work to help out. A stocked pantry is really a blessing indeed
DeleteCongratulations to Jessica and Eugene. Love is truly a very wonderful thing! We had a fairly frugal week considering we had a bit of a mini-break (while our son was on camp). I took morning teas, lunch for the first day and fruit & crackers from home here then stretched out a bbq chicken and salads for nights. We took water bottles too so all up kept the costs down. While we were away, the decking of our verandahs was sanded back and restained. The difference in quotes for this was $3000! Buy phoning around, asking questions and gathering quotes, we saved a lot for this work to be done. Meg:)
ReplyDeleteRinging around usually pays off doesn't it Meg.
DeleteLooks like you had a great week Wendy! Your soaps are so pretty. Congratulations to Jessica and Eugene! Have a good weekend.
ReplyDeleteThankyou Vickie.
DeleteWendy, I am going to pm you thorough facebook with some suggestions. I quit my job last year. I only worked 2 days per week but was miserable and just couldn't continue despite the decent pay. I am still following your blog and still living the frugal live. DD1 finished year 12 last year which means less expenses and catholic school fees, so savings should improve this year.
ReplyDeleteTricia
Thanks for your ideas Tricia.
DeleteOur week has been good as well! All meals were from our pantry and freezer this week. I did buy 5 jars of peanut butter and 5 (64 oz) bottles of 100% apple juice for 89 cents each to add to my pantry!
ReplyDeleteWe built and were paid for 2 simple table display shelves for a client to market her soaps with a more professional look which added $150 to our account. We will be paid another $150 tomorrow for a soap cutter which hubby designed and built for another client who makes and sells soaps! I got a text from a friend who wanted to buy one of my quilts for her 90 year old mom who is in a rehab facility due to a broken clavicle and ankle. She picked out a quilt top that I had already pieced so I quilted it up and bound it today for a pick up tomorrow! Same client is picking up 2 bookcases that we built for her!
After that, I will finish up the truck quilt I’ve been working on for a client- I just need to add final border and then quilt it up. This little side gig of ours has been a steady source of income for a year now and it is generating a nice amount of additional $$ that we are using to pay off last two debts and build up our savings at the same time. Half of our profit goes to debt reduction and the other half goes to our savings account! It’s amazing how that starts to really add up!! By tomorrow, our side gig will have brought in $700 for the week. To us, that is enormous!!
Dave is going into the hospital on Monday morning to have some heart surgery (on our 47th anniversary!!) so I’m trying to get things organized at home to make it a bit easier. I’ll pack some food for myself so that I don’t need to spend money at the hospital since I’ll be waiting all day and will stay in his room overnight.
I love the inspiration and motivation you all give me!
Pat, that's such wonderful news about your little side business. I love seeing what the two of you create. This is something I'll be working on this year with my blog shop and workshops. You give me so much hope for our future.
DeleteI hope everything went well with Dave and he recovers well xoxo
Regarding Telstra's unlisted number service: does this prevent nuisance calls such as those from India.
ReplyDeleteIt sure does. It's been many many years since we've had a nuisance call and that one was asking us to buy raffle tickets.
DeleteCongratulations to the happy couple - what a wonderful time for all the family.
ReplyDeleteYou've taught your daughters well, Wendy! Jessica's deal with the engagement decorations was a great saving.
I admire your ability to "make lemonade from lemons", Wendy. You are one amazing lady to be able to rejig your already tight budget, and your cooking and baking looks wonderful.
Best wishes, Janine
Thankyou Janine. Our girls love a bargain too. Our budget always seems to be tight but we recognise the difference between and need and want.
DeleteCongratulations to Jessica and Eugene. Such a sweet couple. Sounds like you are well on your way with wedding plans. Your had such a frugal week and got so much done. I am glad you were able to tweek your budget and make it work.It always a mazes me just when we think nothing else can be cut. We find something else to cut. I love your blog thank you for sharing all the frugal things you do. We had frugal week. Ate all meals at home. We are on use it up challenge to save some money. We were gifted a beautiful area rug, some succulents, an end table and a banner for a bridal shower. We were able gift something's we no longer needed. It blessed someone and we were able clear some things out. We belong to a local buy nothing Facebook group.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Patti
A use it up challenge sounds fabulous. Maybe that's something we could all do this year.
DeleteI'll look into the Facebook group you mentioned.
congratulations,if you need any frugal wedding advice I can help,ours was beautiful and cheap.
ReplyDeleteThanks. Do you have a name or Facebook page ?
DeleteHi Wendy
ReplyDeleteCan you explain how $2.98 can feed you and your husband for 1 or 2 meals what would you cook that costs so little I am a bit confused
thankyou
Jenny from Tassie
We buy chicken drumsticks for $1.99 kg and only have one per person. This costs under $1.00 and we grow some of our own veggies to go with it. Spag bol is dirt cheap for two people. Salad from our garden with a couple of slices of silverside each with a baked potato cost about $1 for the two of us.
DeleteWe don't buy expensive cuts of meat or put huge amounts of meat on our plates so this helps with costs.
Thankyou Wendy you do brillant job we are remote in Tassie and food is a shocking price it is 125kms to the shopping center
Deletehave a great day
Jenny Tassie
Tassie is surprisingly expensive for fruit and veg considering so much is grown there.
DeleteCongratulations to the happy couple and the either relieved or terrified parents! Just joking. Such happiness....don't you wish it could be bottle too?
ReplyDeleteHeather XXX
It certainly brings back very happy memories of when Darren and I got engaged and planned for our big day.
DeleteHello Wendy, Congratulations to Jessica and Eugene. Very exciting times ahead with a wedding coming up. Beautiful pictures. They look very happy together. All the best with your budget stretching and the challenges facing you at present. Thank-you for sharing your journey and your strategies. They are so very helpful to many of us. Cheers Jo
ReplyDeleteThankyou Jo. It's so good to hear from you again xoxo
DeleteHi Wendy,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to the happy couple. I am sorry to hear you had to tighten the belt. Remember when you were on ACA and you went into some peoples homes and went shopping with others to help/ show them how to save? I would love this as a service and is something I would pay for (only I am in Sydney) why don't you start up one day a week where people can book an appt with you to come to their home or go shopping with them and show them how and where they could save? You could charge for your appointment/ services. That way you make money and whilst people have to pay they will be shown ways to save in the long run. Just a thought as I think you have a lot to offer.
I just had a baby girl 2 weeks ago and I am enjoying being home with her and not going out to spend money. I was so worried about not working however it's funny I am saving over $100 on not using tolls and petrol or buying lunch/ coffee out. I am enjoying the newborn bubble and will be living the frugal life from now on.
Enjoy your week.
Samantha
Congratulations on your new arrival Samantha. That's wonderful news and you've made my week. I loved being a stay at home mum and was blessed to be one for 8 years. It felt like Christmas each day. With all the frugal tips available on the internet these days, you'll be streets ahead of where I was as a new mum.
DeleteI'll put some thought into what I can offer people to see if it's viable or interesting enough. I'm even considering You Tube videos on how to make things and demonstrating frugal tips.
Dear Wendy,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to Jessica and Eugene! They look very happy.
Your soaps are so pretty. Making soap is one of my goals this year, I even have the rose molds. I just need to get to it.
I read the comment above and would love if you had a YouTube channel. I'm in the US but watched your tv segments when you posted the link a while back and I really enjoyed them.
Well done on persevering during this financially challenging time. I'm hoping things will get easier and cheering you along as we continue to save as well.
Love, Kelsey
Please give the soaps a go Kelsey. They are not hard to make. You just need to be careful and organised with all the equipment.
DeleteI'll have to see who in the family can film me for YouTube and then set it up. It's certainly something I'll work on shortly.
Congratulations to the happy couple! Shirley
ReplyDelete