Great Smelling Clothes

I'm sure you've all heard of drawer liners.  You know,  those pretty fragranced papers that come in a box.  They are placed in the bottom of drawers to help your clothes smell nice.

I haven't found many drawer liners that I like.  They all seem to smell the same - musty and the scent doesn't last long either.

About a year ago I was opening some Dove soaps to use in both our bathrooms.  I love the smell of Dove soap,  especially the pink one.  After I put the soaps away I was looking at the empty boxes and trying to figure out if I could use them for something else. That's when I discovered the boxes have a beautiful fragrance too.

So I cut the Dove soap boxes until they lay flat.  Then I placed them between my jumpers and tshirts in the drawers.  A couple of days later I pulled an item of clothing out to put on and it smelled lovely.

The Dove soap boxes kept my clothes smelling lovely for about 4 - 5 months.  All for free.

So the next time you open a Dove soap box ( or any soap for that matter ),  pop it in your drawers.

Grocery Specials Starting Wednesday 15th March 2017

There's very little in the way of real food on sale this week.  The catalogues for full of chocolates for Easter and lots of rubbish / convenient foods.

Here are this week's best grocery specials -

COLES -

*  Golden Circle Tetra Fruit Drink 1 Litre1/2 PRICE Excludes Pineapple, Tomato & Nectar.

Was $2.15, Save $1.08  Now $1.07 each

*  Arnott’s Salada Crispbread 250gWas $3.00, Save $1.00  Now $2.00 each

*  15% Off $30, $50 & $100 iTunes Gift Cards

*  MasterFoods Squeezy Sauce 500mL1/2 PRICEWas $2.85, Save $1.43  Now $1.42 each

*  Praise Salad Dressing 330mL or Mayonnaise 365g-410g1/2 PRICE Was $3.50, Save $1.75  Now $1.75 each.  Stock up now so you don't pay full price during Winter.

*  Tip Top English Muffins 6 Pack1/2 PRICE Was $4.90, Save $2.45 Now $2.45 each

*  ASC Basa Fillets Thawed1/2 PRICE From the Deli.Was $11.00, Save $5.50 kg Now $5.50 kg

*  30% OFF Huggies Wipes

*  Rexona Antiperspirant Deodorant 150mL1/2 PRICE Was $5.00, Save $2.50  Now $2.50 each

*  30% OFF Head & Shoulders

*  30% OFF John Frieda

*  Dynamo Laundry Liquid 2 Litre or Professional 1.8 Litre1/2 PRICE Was $17.50, Save $8.75  Now $8.75 each. 

*  Duracell Ultra AA Batteries 10 Pack or Ultra AAA Batteries 8 Pack1/2 PRICE Was $16.25, Save $8.13  Now $8.12 each

*  1/2 PRICE Selected Décor Match Ups & Microsafe

*  1/2 PRICE Sistema To Go

*  Spam Ham 340g1/2 PRICE Was $4.90, Save $2.45  Now $2.45 each.  Great for emergencies,  stockpiling and camping.

*  25% OFF Easter Confectionery

WOOLWORTHS -

*  Vanish Gold Oxi Action or Crystal White 2 kg Now $9.99 each1/2 Price, Save $10.00

*  Nescafe Cafe Menu Coffee Sachets Pk 10 Now $3.29 each1/2 Price, Save $3.30.  Buy ahead for Mother's Day.

*  Arnott’s Shapes 160-190g or Savoy Crackers 180-225g Now $2.00 each Save $1.00

*   Nescafe Gold Blend 190-200g Now $9.00 each1/2 Price, Save $9.00

*  Old El Paso Mexican Premium Kits 275-370gNow $3.49 each1/2 Price, Save $3.50

*  25% off All Sharwood’s

*  1/2 Price All Bonds

*  40% off All Inspire Bathroom Manchester

*  1/2 Price All Dove Deodorant & Hair Care

This Week's Frugal Tasks Saturday 11th March 2017

Here are all the frugal things I completed this week -

*  Gratefully received a few lemons from a friend.  They will be used when we cook fish in foil.  We have a lemon tree but the lemons are still green.

*  Sold two dozen eggs.

*  Made a batch of gravy powder mix in readiness for the cool weather meals I hope to cook soon.

*  Made a batch of natural yoghurt.  Then made a batch of sweetened yoghurt form the natural one.

*  Made a batch of Miracle Spray to sell to a cleaning client.

*  Sold a batch of white choc and raspberry muffins.

*  Saved the shower warm up water to pour on our pot plants.  Emptied the family's water bottles on a few plants too.

*  Stocked up on choc bits on a half price sale.  I now have enough until they come on sale again leading up to Christmas.

*  Gratefully received a jar of rhubarb and strawberry jam from a friend.

*  Froze three single serves of leftovers.

*  The family had frozen leftovers for dinner one night.  A free meal.

*  Picked lots of raspberries,  tomatoes and strawberries from the garden.  Soon I'll be able to make tomato relish.

*  I gave my pantry a tidy up.  From the tidy up I started writing this month's grocery shopping list.  It
's always good to know what I have on hand before I shop.

*  Cooked all meals from scratch.

*  Dried the washing on the line.

*  Some nights when the girls were out,  Darren and I used the " no light ' rule when we watched tv.

*  Filled up my car with petrol at $1.15 per litre and topped up again on Friday at the same price.

From the garden

The raspberries keep coming

New cards in my Etsy shop

Homemade churros

Freezing celery for winter stews etc

    What was on your frugal list this week ?

Scones

I just love a homemade scone.  Soft,  light and fluffy,  smothered in butter and homemade jam - mmmmmm.   Yes,  it has to be homemade jam for me.  I'm not one for cream on my scones but if it was offered  I'd eat it because I love scones.

I can't wrap my head around scone recipes that include lemonade.  Sorry but all that sugar and artificial rubbish included in soft drink has no place in the humble scone.  I'm all for eliminating artificial things from our diet,  not adding them for convenience.  I guess it helps that we don't have soft drink in our home except for special occasions ( and I don't drink it ).

There are recipes that include cream as an ingredient.  I generally don't have " spare " cream in the fridge just waiting to make scones.  The fat content is so much higher than milk and then you need to consider what you spread on your scones when eating.  Suddenly the humble scone should come with a health warning.  Ok,  maybe I'm going a bit over the top but I like traditional cooking and baking.

This recipe is for a basic scone with basic ingredients.


5 cups of self raising flour

2 tablespoons of icing sugar

75 grams of butter

1 3/4 cups of milk

3/4 cup of water


In a large bowl add the flour and icing sugar.  Combine well

Rub the butter in with your fingertips until well combined.  The mixture will have a slight crumbly texture.

Add the milk and almost all the water   Use a knife to combine the ingredients until it forms a dough.  Don't overwork the mixture.  If it looks a little dry then add small amounts of water until it becomes a sticky dough.

Lightly knead the dough on a floured surface and gently pat it out with the palm of your hand until it's approximately 3 cm thick.

Cut the dough with a floured round cookie / scone cutter in the size of your choice.  Cut as many as you can from the dough.

Very gently knead the dough scraps together and cut the rest of the scones out.

Place the scones side by side ( just touching ) in a greased lamington pan.  The pan should have sides approximately 5 cm high to allow the scones to rise straight up.

Brush the scones with a little extra milk.

Bake in a 220 degree Celsius oven for 15 - 20 minutes until golden on top.  They should sound hollow when you tap them with your fingertips.


Makes about 24 scones.  Can be frozen then warmed up in the microwave.

.

Grocery Specials Starting Wednesday 8th March 2017

Here are this week's best grocery specials -

COLES -

*  1/2 PRICE Olay Skincare

*  Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain 290g1/2 PRICE Was $4.60, Save $2.30  Now $2.30 each

*  Cadbury Large Block 270g-350g1/2 PRICE Was $6.30, Save $3.15 Now $3.15 each

*  Golden Circle Beetroot Slices 450g1/2 PRICE Was $1.80, Save $0.90  Now $0.90 each

*  Nestlé Choc Bits 200g1/2 PRICE Was $3.95, Save $1.98  Now $1.97 each.  THIS IS A STOCKPILE WORTHY PRICE.  It doesn't get any cheaper.

*  Sanitarium Gluten Free Weet-Bix 375g1/2 PRICE Was $5.00, Save $2.50  Now $2.50 each

*  Mighty Mite Gluten Free Spread 290g1/2 PRICE Was $3.23, Save $1.62  Now $1.61 each

*  Nanna’s Frozen Fruit Pies 450g-600g1/2 PRICE Was $5.69, Save $2.85  Now $2.84 each

*   Nuttelex Spread 500gWas $3.30, Save $1.30  Now $2.00 each

*  1/2 PRICE Décor Match Ups & Microsafe

*  30% OFF Wiltshire Bakeware & Gadgets

*  1/2 PRICE Brut.

*   1/2 PRICE Norsca

*  1/2 PRICE Rimmel Make-Up

*  Schick Silk Effects + Razor Kit 1 Pack1/2 PRICE Was $6.72, Save $3.36  Now $3.36 each

*  30% OFF John Frieda Haircare

*  30% OFF Naty Baby Wipes & Nappies

*  White King Bleach 2.5 Litre Was $4.25, Save $1.75  Now $2.50 each

*  Morning Fresh Dishwashing Liquid 350mL-400mL1/2 PRICE Was $3.95, Save $1.98  Now $1.97 each

*  Mars M&M's or Maltesers 140g-180g1/2 PRICE Was $4.25, Save $2.13  Now $2.12 each

*  Arnott's Shapes Crackers 160g-190g1/2 PRICE Was $3.00, Save $1.50  Now $1.50 each

WOOLWORTHS

*    Luv-A-Duck Frozen Whole Duck 1.9 kg Now $9.99 each1/2 Price, Save $10.00

*  Cadbury Sharepacks 160-180g Now $2.30 each1/2 Price, Save $2.30

*  Smiths Crinkle Cut 150-170gNew Flavours .Now $1.64 each1/2 Price, Save $1.65

*  Edgell Corn 420g Now $0.88 each1/2 Price, Save $0.89

*  MasterFoods Tomato or BBQ Sauce 500mNow $l1.42 each 1/2 Price, Save $1.43

*  Heinz Condensed Soup 420g Now $1.10 each1/2 Price, Save $1.10.  Great for casseroles and pasta bakes.

*  Plumrose Spiced Ham 340g1/2 Price Off All Plumrose .Now $1.99 each1/2 Price, Save $2.00  Keep a few in your stockpile for emergencies.

*  Sabco All-Purpose Cloth Pk 3 Now $1.99 each1/2 Price, Save $2.00.  well worth buying a few packets at this price.

*  Seasol EZI-Spray Hose On 1 Litre or Powerfeed EZI Spray Hose On 1 Litre Now $3.50 each 1/2 Price, Save $3.50.  A fantastic price.

*  15% off iTunes Gift Cards* 15% Off $30, $50, $100 & Variable iTunes Gift Cards on loads between $30 and $500.

*  30% off All Inspire Bakeware & Brita

*  1/2 Price All Maybelline Cosmetics, Aveeno Skincare, Garnier Skincare & Facecare.

*  40% off All VO5

This Week's Frugal Tasks Saturday 4th March 2017

Our frugal life leaves us feeling content,  rich and meaningful.  Money is saved,  good food is enjoyed,  time in the garden is treasured and our home is our castle ( of sorts ).  Here's how we spent our week -

*  Cleaned the dishwasher using bi carb,  white vinegar and Miracle Spray.

*  Used recycled bread bags to line the bathroom bins,  store food in the freezer and to  scoop the kitty litter.

*  Picked strawberries and lots of raspberries each day.

*  Planted a punnet of mixed lettuce seedlings.  Generally the punnets only have 8 seedlings.  This punnet had 15.  BONUS  !!! I always try to pick one with more than the usual amount.

*  Megan bought a whole new professional wardrobe from Savers for under $180 ( including a few pairs of shoes and a handbag ).  All the items look new and most are really good brands.  The retail value would be close to $1500.

*  Fed the chickens some kitchen scraps plus a couple of lettuce plants that have gone to seed.

*  Bought 3 cooked chickens form Coles on clearance for $6 each.  I used my saved flybuys dollars so they didn't cost me anything.

*  Picked a couple of tomatoes every few days.

*  Received our latest gas bill.  It was down by $16 for the same time last year.  I'm happy with that considering the supply and usage charges have increased.

*  Cleaned the kettle using citric acid.  I poured the boiled water on a few bits of grass growing in the concrete cracks.

*  Megan baked a batch of choc chip muffins.   Some have been frozen for future snacks.

*  I baked a big batch of scones for morning tea at church on Sunday.  They were served with my homemade plum jam.  A big hit.  The rest of the scones were frozen for our eating.

*  I spent a few hours making new cards to sell in my Etsy shop using supplies I have on hand.

*  Baked four loaves of wholemeal bread with extra goodness.

*  Refilled the kitchen foaming hand wash pump.  Then I made up another big bottle of diluted shower gel to use as a refill.

Megan's choc chip muffins

From the garden

Perfection

New cards in my Etsy shop

From the oven

With homemade plum jam.

How did you save money this week ?

Planning A Kitchen That Works - Part 2

A lot of thought should go into planning a new kitchen.  After all,  it is the heart of the home and probably the hardest working room.  A kitchen should function well and be easy to use.  Here are some of the ideas I've used in my kitchen and things I've learnt from cleaning for almost 18 years.

*  Side opening ovens.  Most people don't know side opening ovens exist.  Yes they do and they are fabulous.  Only a few brands offer this option and they can be hard to find on display in retail stores.  I found mine by searching on the internet and was pleasantly suprised to find Westinghouse makes them.  Then I went to a retailer and asked for them. They are a special order and cost a little more but so worth it.  I've only ever had side opening ovens ( they came with our house ).  They are great for safety reasons.  No burning your arms on the door.  Those who are older or have back problems will find them easy to use.

*  Deep drawers.  Switching from cupboards to drawers makes life easier.  No more digging into the back of a cupboard.  Be aware that drawers don't always come with full sides.  Generally the side of the drawer comes part of the way up with a rail at the top.  To fit all your appliances and crockery,  deep drawers hold more and are a better option .  Save the shallow drawers just for cutlery.

*  Shelf under sink.  When I was designing my kitchen, I was offered drawers and slide out bins under the sink.  When I had a look at the space these provided,  I knew I wouldn't be able to store all the bottles of dishwashing liquid,  Miracle Spray and assorted washing / cleaning items I stockpile.  The slide out bin was a waste of space and too large.  I like to empty my bin at the end of each day.  Adding an adjustable shelf under the sink gave me lots of space to use.

*  Pantry shelves.  Getting the right height of each shelf is very important.  I don't have a walk in pantry so space comes at a premium.  My old pantry shelves could fit three 410 g tins stacked on top of each other.  I made sure the kitchen builders took measurements to replicate what I had.  Don't leave it to the builders to design the shelves.  You know what you need and how you use each shelf.

*  Soft closing drawers.  Yes they cost just a little more but no one can slam the drawers anymore.  Suddenly the kitchen seems a little quieter.

*  Extra shelves in cupboards.  The cupboards above my stove hold the glasses,  mugs and teapots.  I requested an extra shelf in each cupboard to maximise space and make reaching things easier.  If you don't end up using them,  at least you have the option further down the track when you see how your kitchen works.

*  Bin cut out.  In the cupboard under the sink I asked for a bin cut out from the shelf.  This gives me options for bin sizes and a swing top lid.  The bin I have now won't last forever and a replacement might not be the same size

*  What  to put in each drawer / cupboard.  When designing a new kitchen,  think about where you have things stored and if there is a better option.  I had my stand mixer on top of the fridge because it was too tall for any of my cupboards.  The corner cupboard was designed with a shelf tall enough to accommodate the mixer.

*  Handles that are easy on the hands. Remember,  a good kitchen should last more than 20 years.  Tiny round knobs might not be suitable on your hands as you get older.  The same is true for vintage door pulls.  Modern slick handles with sharp ends REALLY,  REALLY hurt when you knock yourself on them.  I've been bruised many times when cleaning people's kitchens..

*  Extra power points.  If you don't have enough power points then now is the time to request more.

This deep drawer holds crockery for 12

Extra shelves

A bi cut out on the shelf

Easy use handles

Side opening ovens

If you missed the first kitchen planning installment here's the link  http://myabundantlife07.blogspot.com.au/2016/09/planning-kitchen-that-works-part-1.html

Grocery Specials Starting Wednesday 1st March 2017

Here are this week's best grocery specials -

COLES -

*  Edgell Corn Kernels 420g Was $1.77, Save $0.77 Now $1.00 each

*  Vitasoy Almond Unsweetened Long Life Milk 1 Litre1/2 PRICE Was $3.79, Save $1.90 Now $1.89 each

*  Devondale Long Life Milk 2 Litre Was $2.86, Save $0.86  Now $2.00 each

*  ASC Basa Fillets Thawed1/2 PRICE From the Deli.Was $11.00, Save $5.50 kg Now $5.50 kg

*  1/2 PRICE Oral B Toothpastes & Power Brushes

*  Pantene Shampoo or Conditioner 900mL1/2 PRICE Was $15.70, Save $7.85  Now $7.85 each

*  30% OFF John Frieda Haircare

*  40% OFF OGX Haircare

*  Oates Tilt-A-Matic Squeeze Mop1/2 PRICE Was $16.49, Save $8.25  Now $8.24 each

*  1/2 PRICE Selected Bonds

*  30% OFF Deeko

*  1/2 PRICE Oral B Toothpastes & Power Brushes

WOOLWORTHS -

*  1/2 Price All Nivea* Excludes Travel & Convenience Minis, Deodorant Twin Packs & Gift Packs.

*  Vittoria Mount Grown Ground or Beans 1 kg Now $18.00 each 1/2 Price, Save $18.50

*  Uncle Tobys Plus 690-820g Now $3.37 each1/2 Price, Save $3.38

*  Devondale Longlife Milk 2 Litre Proudly VIC.Now $2.00 each Save $0.85

*   Pure Coconut Cooking Oil 500ml Now $3.49 each1/2 Price, Save $3.50

*  Morning Fresh Dishwashing Liquid 900ml Now $3.47 each1/2 Price, Save $3.48

*  1/2 Price All Sistema Klip It & To Go

*  30% off All Pyrex, Corelle & Jamie Oliver Kitchenware

*  1/2 Price All Nivea

*  1/2 Price All Pears Hand & Body Wash

* Listerine Freshburst Mouthwash 500ml Now $3.75 each1/2 Price, Save $3.75

*   30% off All Platinum Cosmetic Brushes

*  30% off All Manicare

*  25% off All Nailene

*  30% off All Rimmel Face Range

*  1/2 Price All Dermaveen

*  Brunnings Pine Bark or Potting Mix 25 Litre Now $3.00 each1/2 Price, Save $3.00

            

This Week's Frugal Tasks Saturday 25th February 2017

A frugal week can include all sorts of tasks.  Just when we think we have our week planned out,  a special pops up at the supermarket,  the veg garden takes off or a blessing comes our way that saves us  money.   Darren and I love our frugal life.  It's rich,  varied and full of interesting tasks.  Here's how we saved money this week -  

*  Gratefully received two bunches of rhubarb,  a small bag of passionfruit,  lots of cardstock and cardboard at the Crafty Mums card making day.

*  Froze lots of plums that were given to us.  I've frozen them into 1.5 kg bags to make more plum jam later in the year.

*  Picked a handful of raspberries each day.  These have been frozen to make muffins.

*  Stocked up on Pineocleen disinfectant,  Glen 20,  hair gel and Saladas ( a treat ) all bought at half price.

*  Bought petrol at $1.15 per litre

* Bought lamb chops at $7.99 kg.  I've portioned them into single and double chops and froze.  This will make meal planning a little easier.  Sometimes we don't know who will be home for dinner.

*  Picked about 600 g of strawberries from our patch.

*  Saved the shower and washing machine water.

*  Due to the cooler weather we didn't have the cooling or heating on for many days.  Yes,  it was cold enough to put the heater on but due to our heater needing a service and parts,  this wasn't an option.  We even dug out blankets a few times.

*  Donated two bags of clothes to Savers and received a discount stamp.

*  Filled in a form for compensation due to our freezer failing ( it had a melt down - hehehe ).  Hopefully the cheque will arrive next week.

*  Sold two dozen eggs.

*  Megan made a batch of raspberry and white choc muffins using our raspberries.

*  Picked one tomato each day.  Hopefully we'll be picking lots more each day.  I'm busting to make another batch of tomato relish.

*  Carried muesli bars and a bottle of water in my handbag when I was out and about.  I've avoided cafes and shopping centres by doing this and saving a small fortune.

*  Darren fed the compost bin with kitchen scraps and grass clippings.

   

A blessing

From the garden

In the kitchen with Megan

A delightful afternoon tea.

How did you save money this week ?

10 Ideas To Save You Money This Week

Are you looking for a bit of extra cash ?  Is your budget feeling a little tight ?  Then try some of these dollar stretching ideas.  Together these ideas could save you a few hundred dollars depending on how you value things.

*  Keep your curtains closed when you turn on the air conditioning.  I know this is common sense but you'd be suprised at the amount of homes I've visited or cleaned over the years with the Sun streaming in on a hot day.

*  Mend an item of clothing. Sew on a missing button,  mend a hole in a pair of socks or even take up a pair of trousers.  All these tasks don't require sewing skills except threading a needle and pushing it in and out of the item.  This task alone could save you $2 on a pair of socks,  $20 for hemming trousers or the $$ amount on the item you would otherwise throw out.

*  Avoid having drinks out with the girls,  coffee out with the mums or beers with the mates.  Drinks can lead to dinner,  coffee can lead to cake or lunch as well and beers can lead to food.  If you enjoy these activities then perhaps invite your friends around and share the cost. 

*  Try buying a generic brand of food for the first time.  You might be suprised how good the quality is.  The price difference will surprise you too.

*  Turn your fridge leftovers into a tasty casserole or pasta bake.    Anything with grated cheese on top is a winner.  This could be the making of a new family favourite.

*  Eat out of the fridge,  freezer and pantry for a week and only buy milk.  I'm sure you've got plenty of food on hand.

*  Turn the lights off and have a candlelit dinner for the whole family.  Dig out all those candles you've been hoarding.  Yes,  the ones your family and friends give you every birthday and Mother's Day.

*  Watch the petrol price cycle and only fill up when it's cheap.

*  Carry a  bottle of water with you when you go out.  Refilling at home costs less than 1 cent.  Buying a bottle costs up to $4.

*  Pick a flower ( or two or three ) from the garden instead of buying them.  You don't have any flowers ?  Then pick some green foliage and place it in a vase.  Wrap a bit of kitchen twine around the vase and you have yourself a boutique looking arrangement.  

Morning tea at home

Flowers in a pasta sauce jar.