2022 Frugal Challenge

Finally getting some warmer weather here...it's 66 and the sun is shining....we just aren't prepared for freezing weather....it got down to 16 one night...husband brought plants from front patio into garage so they were safe. I have two big ferns I would hate to lose.

Oldest grandson came for dinner last night since his gf is visiting her family. Made pork chops in crock pot, stuffing, mac and cheese (cleaned out the cheese drawer), green beans, fresh fruit, naan bread with dipping sauce and ice cream cake and pecan tarts for dessert. Have plenty left for tonight.

We had a nice Christmas. Went to daughters house. Her husband seems to be feeling better and is getting some color back. I think he was doing too much even tho he thought he was doing nothing....hoping his ribs are finally able to heal. Had a wonderful brunch and nice visit. She is amazing....she made a ton of cookies and candy....a ton..... We stopped at son's house and had a nice visit with them. We got ready to leave and this is the first time in over 20 years, my dil called me mom!!! Almost made me cry.

My neighbor brought me a Christmas gift....this time it was a coach purse.....it's really nice....she got a plate of cookies...doesn't seem like an even exchange does it???

We are going to husband side of family for brunch on Saturday. She sent text early this morning with list of what to bring but I got the message about 11 and everything was taken so I am making sausage crescent rolls....fry up sausage, add a block of cream cheese, mix and place teaspoon on crescent roll, roll up and bake.......

No sure how this event will go as some of family is upset that I didn't respond to invitation to Thanksgiving day dinner....came in group text and I thought we got it by mistake. Thanksgiving is a family thing and we have kids and grandkids....they were not invited...so I did not respond thinking it had to be a mistake.....nope, only husband and I were invited. Always drama....leave me out of it....

I ran to Aldi's the other day and picked up some Rollo and M&M's had expiration date Dec. 2023 so will freeze and give to daughter for her baking next year. Also picked up GM cereal family size box for $2.24....got four boxes for food pantry and stuffing mix was .38 so got a case of that....I've been slacking on my donation sot his will get it off to a good start for 2023.

Husband isn't feeling well....hope it's just a cold....he hardly ever gets sick.

Got a new light weight vacuum.....my Dyson is nice but it's heavy.....I'm not as strong as I use to be and it's hard for me to push the heavy vacuum.....this one is very light and will be good for quick clean up.....

Jos sounds like a great way to make money. Hope it works out for you....
So many older people have no one....but some of them have pushed their family and friends out of their lives....I had a friend in the country and she sees no one, calls no one, won't send a card or letter, ..doesn't go out...just sits in her house and does nothing... Her son and dil live next door and they check on her and she treats the dil soooo bad.....it's really sad....I stopped visiting her because she was so nasty to me that I would come home crying. Don't need the drama....

CR I would love to live in a log cabin. Hope they don't take your view....I live in a subdivision and just read on Neighborhood that a coyote has been spotted just a few streets over....we have no woods around here so I am wondering where he is hanging out....probably with my possum under the neighbor's boat in their back yard....lol

Hope everyone is well and warm.....have a great day.....

Jos - what a nice side hustle, you get to feel good helping folks and get paid for it! I would love to do something like that.
jetts - it’s frustrating dealing with elderly parents. I feel your pain, my mom is not very nice to me.

I don’t shop much except for Costco and grocery stores. A couple of months ago I went to Target and purchased a framed wall art for our bedroom. We are going to be painting and I wanted something new. The two pictures I had up I bought at resale years ago and never really was that happy with them but they worked with the paint color and comforter. I asked at the time I purchased it how long I had to return it and was told 3 months. It’s been 2 months and I decided against it so returned it yesterday. Apparently they forgot to tell me I would only be getting my refund in a gift card. Really didn’t want a gift card since I don’t really shop there. Maybe I can use it for gifts or something.

Today at work there was a hurt buck outside the window. His hoof and leg was all swollen and he couldn’t bear weight on it. I asked on my rescue FB if anyone knew who I could call to see if he could get help and was given a number of a rescue outreach but unfortunately they could not help because it is against the law according to the DNR. They felt really bad because they said repairing broken legs in deer is fairly simple but their hands were tied. Poor buck, I did what I could.

Stopped at Kroger to pick up some sale items ( I hate that their sale starts on Wednesday) and saw they had all of the puzzles marked down to $3 a piece. Picked up two 1000 piece but should have picked up more. Didn’t know what to do for dinner tonight so threw some bone-in chicken thighs in the crockpot this morning and found some sweet and sour sauce and poured that on them. It sure smelled good when I got home, hope it tastes as good as it smells.

Jos sounds like a great little side job. Too bad about the buck Rabbit. Hopefully it heals. Lots of coyotes live here in cities in dens in unlived old homes etc. under trees. if they are aren't nabbing cats etc they do keep the rat population down. in the low 40s and pouring rain. was sunny yesterday so that was nice. Bookworm I agree older you get the less drama. Funny how a lot of older people don't realize that people don't need to be around anyone just cus they are old. just had long text convo about that w cousin lots of drama going around us but just staying out of it.

We are not a motivated family today almost 2 and we are all still in pjs. of course always a long list of should do could do..but no one has to go to work today and outside stuff is off the list like xmas lights at lake. I did my stores and banking so that is done. tomorrow just one work meeting and a musical at night. thought about going and picking up package but can wait.

dd and dh did the floors yesterday ..dh is rediscovering all the stuff that goes to running a house. he knows but when he is off gets a reminder and happy to go to work lol said he swept up a couple of cats worth of hair. said that was only a couple of days worth. but nice they did it. got him to cut up all the ham too for family to eat ..fat and bits a few days food worth for the crows and I made a ham and lentil soup w the bone so dinner. dd said hotdog buns gone moldy so that will go out later for raccoons. noticed cats have been peeing on screen door so wiped it yesterday but still smells so poured vinegar on it.

watching new show from library harry wild w jane seymour so far so good. retired teacher starts solving murders. We finished Wednesday last night.

Good morning, still warming up here - nice. Started a new skein of yarn for hats, pretty blue. Did some small project sewing and other random stuff yesterday. Hubby says he will stop at the grocery today. I had decided cheese & crackers + lobster bisque for N.Y. Eve, which the store carries in the prepared foods section. Won't break the bank at least.

Safeway posted a $5 off $5 coupon which I added to my account (their sale starts on Fridays). I foresee a trip to Safeway next week.

Rabbit - Target has very good prices for staple foods and you can get shipping free at $35. Things like protein bars, vitamins, peanut butter, dry goods are all good value. I have a store nearby and usually do pickup now. I don't buy meat or much produce there but everything else I compare the grocery store to Target price, and Target is usually better. In fact when someone alerted me to their usual 10% off GC sale in December, I bought myself a $100 Target GC for $90 because I knew I would be spending it for groceries.

I hope everyone has a good weekend.