Saturday 19 July 2014

This Week's Frugal Tasks

Quite often it's hard to remember all the things I've done during the week to save time,  money and energy. Some days can be crazy busy.  So this week I decided to keep a list on the fridge.  Each time I complete a frugal task I write it down.  Here's this week's list -

*  When the heater was on during the day we had the temperture set at 18.5 degree instead of 20 degrees.  We are getting use to this new setting.  Some days when the sun was shinning we had the heater off.

*  Bought Jap pumpkin for 69 cents kg.  I bought two whole ones.  I cooked,  drained and froze lots of pumpkin.  This will be used to make pumpkin scones - my all time favourite morning tea.  I'm hoping to have enough in the freezer for when the price goes up during Summer.

*  Grated 8 bars of no name laundry soap using the food processor.  I've stored it in a lidded bucket to be used to make laundry powder.  This should be enough for the next eight months.

*  Saved the warm up water from the showers and poured it into the washing machine.   It's rained so much this week that the garden didn't need the shower water.

*  Used the timer for shorter showers.

*  Bought 8 bottles of Pantene shampoo and conditioner on sale at better than half price in Woolworths.  This saved me $32 on the full price.

*  Bought apples and pears at the fruit shop for 99 cents a kilo.

*  Cut up cereal boxes to make page dividers for my new price book.

*  Made pita chips for snacks using pita bread. They are great for dips and making nachos.

*  Baked an orange cake using a whole orange I blitzed in the food processor and froze at the end of last Winter when oranges were cheap.

*  Made 21 pumpkin scones with cheap pumpkin  These are now in the freezer for future morning teas.



*  Made 3 loaves of wholemeal bread.

*  Fed the chooks bread crusts and plate scraps.

*  Made a double batch of Miracle Spray ( surface cleaner ).

*  Bought roast beef on sale at Tasman Meats for $6.99 kilo.  I cut each roast in half as they are too big for the four of us.  They are in the freezer fo future meals.

*  Made chunky beef soup with three slices left over from Wednesday's roast beef dinner.  This soup fed the four of us with 7 serves left to freeze.

*  Froze  a single serve of left over tuna pasta bake.  When I get a good stash of frozen meals,  I incorporate them into my menu plan.  Everyone gets to choose what they are having.

*  Mended holes in 3 pairs of socks.  A saving of $10 if I'd thrown them out and bought new ones.


What have you done this week to save time,  money and energy ?  I'd love to see your list.  Please post it in the comments section.



12 comments:

  1. You are very inspirational. I came across your blog via Cath's.
    I have a 18 lemon muffins in the oven from a glut that were given to me.
    Have made a batch of yoghurt - I use 1 tablespoon of yoghurt powder and 1 cup milk powder in my Easiyo thermos for 1 litre yoghurt.
    Have some vege soup (clean out the crisper variety) on the stove.
    Yesterday made 2L miracle spray.
    Put some orange peels in vinegar to sit for a couple of week for a new batch of citrus/vinegar cleaning spray.
    Had a friend here for morning tea rather than the coffee shop and had some cake from the freezer.
    All the little things do help!

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  2. Lemon muffins - they sound yummy. It looks like you had a very productive week. Well done. Thankyou for your comment. I hope to hear from you again.

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  3. I love the sound of the lemon muffins, too.
    There are quite a few lemon trees around with fruit hanging over the fence free for the picking that I just might make some, too.

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  4. Hello Wendy,
    i picked my first blackberry and freeze it for later, when i have enough to make jelly and cordial., made joghurt and buttermilk scones.
    Great blog!!
    Have a nice week,
    Regina

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  5. Thankyou for your comment Regina. I hope to hear from you again.

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  6. Oh, I love the cereal boxes for page dividers idea. I hadn't thought of that! I have never kept a price book, but you have inspired me to consider one!

    Nice to meet you, I watched you on TV recently and really enjoyed your message. I am a single parent with grand plans for financial independence.

    Best wishes
    Brish

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  7. Hi Brish and thankyou so much for your lovely comment. i'll do a post on the price book shortly to explain how it works.

    I'm glad you have grand plans and I wish you the very best in achieving them. Keep watching the tv. You'll never know when I'll pop up again.

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  8. Hi Wendy - Just looking at your Bread recipe. For making the 16 rolls can you tell me, how long to bake them as well as the oven temperature please.

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  9. I turn the oven down just a little to 200 degrees and bake the rolls for 20 minutes then check to see if they are brown enough for your liking.

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  10. Hi Wendy I was just re reading about you cooking and freezing your pumpkin. I live in a rural community and only have access to fruit and veg about every one and a half weeks, I was wondering if you cook and mash your pumpkin as I am thinking I could do this in batches for our dinners instead of pumpkin scones
    Thanks from Al

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  11. I haven't used the frozen pumpkn for a dinner. It might be ok if you mix it with mashed potato and don't add milk.

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  12. 1. Free haircut at tafe
    2. Became a friend of the farm Harris farms veg shop sms my email you get 5% off veg and fruit
    3..dolmio pasta sauce $1 at reject store a long with some of their sauce bases
    4. Dove soap $1 reject store
    5. Salvation army store in Sydney give an extra.10% off Thursdays to anyone holding a centrelink card. Saw some brand new sneakers I needed $20 but didn't have my size !!!
    6. Bought my dog brand wet food at aldi 75c compared to Coles $1.
    7. Ate eggs n beans one night
    8. Doing a freezer and fridge challenge.eating what's in their.
    Wendy you inspire me every day . Two questions : 1. How do I grow broccoli in a pot as I'm in a unit.
    2. Please post your soap recipes
    3. Can you please put more recipes up especially soups and cold winter recipes. Thanks, sonia mackellar

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