I never know how my thrifty week will look. There are so many ways to save money that no week is ever the same. We sure do get variety in the Gower Abundant Cottage.
Here's is my thrifty list -
* Picked large spinach leaves from the garden to put in a chicken and veggie flan. The veggies were leftover from dinner the night before.
* Made a big pot of chunky chicken and veg soup from stock I'd made in the slow cooker. The chicken used was 1.7kg that I purchased on clearance for $3.40. So far I've stretched that chicken for 23 serves.
* Used recycled bread bags as bin liners for our bathroom bin.
* Pulled up the last of my eyeliner from the retractable tube to get every last bit.
* Picked lemons from our tree.
* Sold an 80's style snow suit / overalls on Marketplace. They were mine when I was about 15 years old.
* Filled the thermos with boiling water each day and used it for our cuppas or dinner preparations.
* Made a car air freshener with cotton balls and essential oils.
* Cleaned / descaled the kettle with citric acid. It always amazes me how clean it looks afterwards.
* Baked three loaves of wholemeal bread with extra goodness.
* Baked two chocolate brownies at the same time by doubling the recipe. I have two functions I'm helping to cater for over the next couple of weeks so it was easy to get them done this way. I'll be freezing them until needed. Once baked I popped the bread in the oven while it was still hot.
* Picked up a few meat bargains at the supermarket. The crumbed steaks in the picture below wouldn't scan so a staff member put it through for me. She accidently put it through for $1 instead of $1.80 and looked at and said " oh well ".
* Saved washing machine water, shower warm up water and water from our drink bottles to reuse where possible.
* Reused saved plastic from bunches of flowers to wrap a birthday present. The bow in the picture below is made from a cut up sheer curtain purchased from a op shop years ago.
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| The mandarins are almost ready |
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| The broccoli is growing |
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| We are picking spinach for our meals |
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| Presents with recycled wrapping and bows |
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| Meat bargains |
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| A little bit of color in the garden |
Here's the link to my chocolate brownie recipe Chocolate brownie
Here's the link to my chunky chicken and veg soup Chunky chicken and veg soup
Here's the link to my bread recipe Wholemeal bread with extra goodness
Love the idea for car air fresheners. So simple.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing Wendy. Your meat bargains are a fantastic score. Here Woolies and Coles only take off a dollar or two. But it is better than nothing. I’m still unwell after Covid so I’ve only worked one day this week. I’m hoping and praying to be much better by Monday. My family jumped into action and have cooked dinners and completed the errands etc. This also meant we didn’t have any takeaway or unnecessary spending. I’m very grateful they could take charge.
ReplyDeleteI hope you and your readers take care out there. Prep some meals and have some OTC medicines handy in case they become unwell.
Take care. Rachel :)
Oh Rachel, I hope you feel better soon. I'm sure you are proud of your family for stepping in the helping.
DeleteUsually Coles doesn't reduce meat by much. Sometimes it's only 50 cents cheaper. We found another Coles nearby and they have better meat bargains. Still, we only buy what we can use and always check that's it a good deal per kilo.
Your homegrown fruit & veg looks good, Wendy. Great bargains on the meat!
ReplyDeleteI am growing spinach too along with sliverbeet, kale and spring onions. I have cherry toms in pots but they haven't done well with all the rain we've had up here. At our place this week:
* Used $15off on a $120shop from Coles which was available if we tried home delivery. I bought multiples of a few items as well as things on my shop list.
* Picked greens from our garden to make 2x impossible pies
* Received a big bag of oranges from my friend's garden - we've been enjoying fresh orange juice (I never buy juice) as well as cooking with the oranges.
* Baked orange cake, a double batch of ginger ANZAC biscuits and choc-chip almond slice. All flour, rolled oats, almond meal etc from my pantry.
* Made all meals at home - spaghetti bolognese, chicken stir fry, omelettes - plus used a stew from the freezer and made dumplings to have with it.
* Went op-shopping and found a very light cotton top for Summer ($5), a pair of Country Road pants ($12) in excellent condition (for work) and a little clip lock sandwich container ($2). This cost me $19 in total. Far less expensive than buying any of this new.
* Rugged up in layers and also used blankets and throws to keep warm when reading or watching tv on the lounge. We haven't used the heater at all so far this Winter.
* Tipped shower warm-up water into washing machine.
* We received a really good tax refund and all of it went straight onto our home loan.
Today, I am going to make a big pot of split pea and bacon soup and a zucchini slice. This will be nice to have for dinner and then lunches during the week. Have a lovely week, Wendy.
Meg
Wow Meg, to go through winter without using the heater is a major achievement. Well done.
DeleteI love op shopping too. It sounds like you got some really good items.