Future Plans...What Do You Think?

 


I was standing at the counter prepping the vegetables for supper the other night and I let my thoughts take flight.  I'll vouch that in the space of the hour I worked on those vegetables and seasonings, that I thought dozens of things followed by, "I ought to share that...".   I started jotting down those ideas as they came.

Then I ruminated a bit over the fact that right now prices and costs and how to manage are forefront of everyone's minds.    I want to share all things.  I want to share the season I'm in, and the environment I live in and the atmosphere about me.  I want to share what I've come to understand about our roles in life.  I want to share the things that never change, despite the world outside our doors. We are the peacemakers, the home keepers, the cheerleaders, the shining lights.    I want to be an encouragement to you who work hard every day being all those things to all those you love.  


And I want to share all those little saving ways I learned by largely trial and error and a little later still gleaned from the reading of hundreds of emails, books, newsletters, blogs and now vlogs.  I often feel I get out of balance with my little blog.  I too often lean to heavily on what I've done in one area and not at all in another.

I don't want to just dwell on the money saving side of things but...Oh this is a big but at the moment!...But, I definitely feel that right now is a time to instruct and teach and share with others so that they too might be prepared or at least knowledgeable about how to save, how to stretch, how to make do with integrity and loveliness in difficult financial times.   And frankly, while I share my weekly diary and my weekly plans for what I hope to get done, I don't think I share nearly ENOUGH of the how, why, when and what then sorts of things.  I don't share enough about what knowledge I've found on my own.

So here's what I'm thinking of doing.  I've said I want to write more often and I do.  I'm going to try to share every Wednesday about whatever is on my mind that week.  It might be about the price of gasoline and it might be about the color of the sky on Monday.  It will be whatever random wandering thought I dwelt on most strongly that week.  

And I'm going to try and write another post weekly about some aspect of saving on food or some sort of savings made in the home.  I might take a subject and turn it into a mini-series.  It might be something so basic that you seasoned savers look and say, "Now why on earth do I want to read that?"  You might not!  But perhaps someone who needs that very information will stumble on it in a search online and be blessed with needed information.  Maybe at some point a daughter or daughter in law will sit down and read and think, "I'm so glad Mama shared that!  I always wondered why she did (----insert whatever skill or method---).

Sometimes I may not manage the two extra post.  Some weeks I might be very brief and some weeks I might run overlong.   But I did want to let you know what you might expect now that I'm in a season where I could possibly write a little more.

12 comments:

Cindi Myers said...

I always enjoy your writing, so more of it is a good thing!

Lana said...

Yes, at the start of the pandemic our middle son reminded me that so much had not changed. That we still had a roof over our heads and an income and good neighbors and a good church and our friends were still our friends. It was a comfort to be reminded and so it is in these high priced times as well. Just because gas is too expensive to go out joy riding is not a reason to think our life has changed. Just because food is expensive is no reason to think we cannot eat well.

In looking at the Publix ad preview the starts mid week I realized that some foods are now fully double in price compared to what I used to pay. That was sobering because they were on sale prices. We are still stocking but really none of it to speak of is convenience foods because they are too expensive. We are getting back to cooking from scratch more than we have done in many years. We did get a $5 rotisserie chicken at Sam's last week but it fed the two of us six meals so that was a bargain for meat! I also used Swagbucks earnings to buy an Air fryer because it will help with making things on the cheap like French fries from fresh potatoes. I am practically flying past the deli and bakery in every store to avoid a high priced temptation! Publix has those lovely bakery bagels on sale next week for 4/$1.79 and we love them but we know that the discount store has Pepperidge Farm bagels in bags of six for $1. Those bagels are very good and I get 12 for $2. Twelve Publix bagels would cost me $5.37! That extra $3.37 can buy me staple foods that will make a lot of meals or buy the ingredients for salads to go with our meals.

Anyway.....that's where my thoughts wandered today.

Chari said...

I have been meaning to ask you how you reheat your fried chicken. When I make a big family meal a few times a month I have to cook over 2 days to get it done. This last Sunday dinner we had fried chicken that I actually cooked on Saturday. I feed about 20 people. I wasn’t sure how long or what temp to reheat but they did eat it. 😂I’m elderly & it takes me longer to cook because I get tired easily. I try to stretch my foods & right now chicken is cheaper than beef pretty much. I cook from scratch too. I enjoy whatever you choose to write about so I’m looking forward to future posts. We went to the TMobile store today & migrated over from Sprint. TMobile has a good senior plan that you avoid surcharges etc for anyone that’s interested. We are old enough we should have checked this out years ago. Every little bit helps.

Conni said...

I am smiling broadly, Terri, because the tone of this post is so UP! You have your ‘mojo’ back and I know (mojo or not) that we, your readers, will be blessed!

Lana said...

I am wondering about reheating the chicken too because I have never found a good way. Either it is soggy or dried out.

Rhonda said...

Hi Terri, I’m happy you are going to write and will read all your posts ❤️

Unknown said...

Hello! I do not usually comment but let me say whatever you post I enjoy reading.
I do miss seeing how you set up outfits.

Thank You!

Mable said...

Looking forward to more posts, especially on food savings.

Louise said...

I think this is a wonderful idea!!!! We are NEVER too old to learn something new. I can't wait to start learning.. I've been looking through my Tightwad Gazette book again too.
Your Canadian reader,
Weezie from Alberta, Canada

terricheney said...

Cindi M: Thank you!

Lana: Your son spoke truth, that's for sure.
I'm just going to buy what I'd buy at the best price I can find it. Since I typically run into four stores (the discount place, Aldi, Kroger and Publix) I will do the best I can at those. At one point I did do about 90% or better of my shopping at Aldi, but I can no longer do that. I'd love to add Walmart into my rotation but I seldom go near one. I don't want to add miles in order to shop smarter. There is a Piggly Wiggly in the county seat here and we do go in that direction on occasion so I'm watching those ads to see how their prices come up against others.

Chari: To reheat fried chicken. Remember I sometimes freeze mine, so I let it thaw 24 hours in the fridge first. Then I line a baking sheet with paper towels, and place a wire rack over that. I lay the chicken out on the rack. I heat at 350F for about 25 minutes. Anymore will dry it out. Any less and it will still be cool in the thicker pieces. I will say though that reheating once is about as far as it goes. If there are any leftovers then I either strip the skin and use the meat in a different way or I just eat it cold from the fridge.

We have a hot spot internet server with AT&T and I expect we'll be sticking with them because we got on that 'Unlimited data for life' deal they ran as a promotion. The service has gone up only $5 over the last five years. Our tv is an Amazon Fire so we dropped cable, were able to drop an internet carrier and now spend less than half what we did 20 years ago for internet, cable and a landline with a pay as you go cell phone.

I have heard that Metro(?maybe) and another phone service are also great options for seniors, too.

Rhonda, Unknown, Mable, Louise, Thank all of you, as well.

Lana said...

Terri, I have discovered online shopping for groceries at Walmart. If you spend $35 it ships free. It is pointless to go to actual store here because the shelves are so bare but I was able to order all the things I wanted and they brought them to me. Win, win! The prices were great!

terricheney said...

Lana, I was wondering if I could order flour via mail...I will say that most all items that Walmart packages to mail they wrap super well. I wonder if they would for flour?

The Long Quiet: Day 21