Thrifty Thursday Returns: Week 1

Saturday:  I packed snacks for the drive down to the coast, but we were both hungry as could be one hour into our journey.  John opted to go through the drive-thru at McDonald's which provided us with a reasonably priced hot meal.  I provided the fruit we ate after that meal.  

We were pleased to find our son had cooked a meal for us to eat upon our arrival.  This is unprecedented.  His meal was simple and basic and quite good.  He is not a cook.  He apparently polled his sisters and brother to determine what was within his scope.  

At the hotel we indulged in a second cup of coffee (John) and a nice cup of cocoa for me.  Both were complimentary items.

Sunday:  We opted to eat from the Continental breakfast provided by the hotel.  Gone are the days of bread and coffee.  They offered a full range of items, from fresh fruit to hot entrees.  There's a great range of choices for everyone.  This too is a complimentary thing the hotel provides.  

We stopped at a small-town Dairy Queen that is about halfway between the coast and home.   The $5 meal deal is now $7 but still a good value.  We ate more fruit that I'd brought from home to finish off the meal.

I think for the entire trip we spent something like $30 for food.  I consider that a pretty decent sum for two hot meals.  We were hungry, the food was all good and hot and I think worth every penny we paid for it.

When we got home today, I took an entree frozen back in May of this year (2023) and put it in the oven to reheat.  I made a salad, opened a can of peas and sliced bread.  It was easy and filled our desire for real fresh foods.  

I found that the paint I wanted to use to paint my curtain rod for the bathroom won't work on metal.  Phooey.  Then I remembered I had a gift card from October purchases made through my affiliate link on Amazon.  I bought both a curtain rod of the right size (with a spare one to set aside) and a new trash can for the bathroom with no money out of pocket.  

Monday:  The children refused my offers of food today and all asked for peanut butter sandwiches. I said "OK".  

I was going to be out of bread once the kids had their sandwiches, so I made up a quick roll dough for buns and then started bread dough in the bread machine, too.  Our rolls were ready in time for us to eat lunch.

I had taken out a half pound of ground beef to make tacos, but they said they were having tacos for supper.  I cooked the meat with a bit of onion and ketchup for a quick take on Sloppy Joe.  

I sorted out the pile of stuff in the guest bedroom and decided what to donate and what to keep.  Turns out the donate pile grew and grew.  

I used the very last of my cabbage today making creamed cabbage to go with our supper tonight.  I didn't think it was enough for two, but it was just enough.

Tuesday:  I emptied the canisters I wanted to give away and used jars I had on hand to hold the flour, sugar and such that needed to be contained.  

I made my first change of the kitchen cabinets today. I realized that my original plan for the baking supplies was faulty, so I moved them to the space where I plan to have my baking center.  Ideally, I'd have my bread machine in the same area but at present, I have no place to put it except on the counter.  I'd continue to tweak things until I'm satisfied with how the kitchen works.  

We stopped at the grocery to pick up lunch which was silly.  But we did.  And that meant I suddenly had a short list in mind which grew after looking at the ad.  I'm not going to fuss too hard at myself.  I spent about $69 today, but other than sandwich meats and cheese, and cat food, the bulk of it went into the pantry not to be used this month but next month or a further in the future.  Nearly everything we bought was a buy one get one free item so there was some substantial savings involved today, despite the spending.  

There was also a short list of things I knew I needed and didn't even pick up.  We were at that pricey grocery which John loves shopping at so well and I am going to try to avoid, because it's pricey on so many basic items.

We made lunch at home using some of the deli purchased bologna, canned tomato soup from the pantry and mandarins we'd bought today.  Supper we kept very simple: Toast and eggs.  It was enough after out late lunch.

I noted as I put the chicken I'd thawed to roast into the fridge, that I have some cubed steak that I need to cook. I'd taken it out and put in the fridge to thaw before we left home on Saturday.  I'll make sure to use that tomorrow.

Wednesday:  It's cold here.  So cold that at 2am this morning I lay awake listening to the heat pump run and run and run.  At 3am I got out of bed, opened doors on the sink cabinets in the kitchen and bath, put water to heat on the stove to add moisture to the air, then turned the propane heat on low.  I also added a blanket to our bed.  The moment I got warm once more, I went right back to sleep and slept well.  I think I actually woke because I wasn't quite warm enough.

Having been busy all morning long, I scrambled to come up with lunch when I realized I was well and truly hungry.  I took two leftovers and combined them into something that resembled a dish Mama used to make now and then: Baked Beans and leftover Hamburger Scramble were combined.  Mama used Pork and Beans in her dish, but it's a use what you have life this month.  I'm just happy to find that what I had ended up tasting so very good.  

I'm beginning to think this week's thrift will be a listing of meals only...Ho hum.  However, I shall share that what I made for each meal in part to show how I've chosen to use up items in an effort to have no waste.

Supper: Cubed Venison Steak, Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Collard Greens (canned) and finished it off by making a rice pudding from the leftover rice from Monday.  John was very pleased over the rice pudding.  I don't think I've made it even once since 2015 when I was diagnosed with diabetes.  It was lovely and delicious.  I cut down on my serving of potatoes and had a smaller portion of the pudding to balance things out.  

This evening, I went online to Target to order the bins I wanted for the bathroom and then thought, "Might as well look at trash cans." I had grand ideas...Ha.  I just don't see my paying over $100 for a trash can of all things, so I ended up with the usual plastic type, but it does have a flip lid on it.  While on the site I noted that they had a gift card with purchase for household items so I ordered trash bags and toilet paper both of which we will most certainly use in the year ahead.  I was going to have to get toilet paper within the next week or so anyway.  Might as well get something back.  

I opted for store pick-up.  We're going to Warner Robins tomorrow to return those Amazon items to UPS.  Target is about 5 miles from that store, so I'll save postage by running over there while we're in town.

I went ahead and looked up how to go about returning a pair of pajamas I'd meant to give Josh that were too small for him.  I've now got that bar code in my phone so I can return them while I'm picking up my order tomorrow.  I'll get that small amount of money back as well.  That will count towards my 'in pocket' funds since I used a gift card to pay for them.

Thursday:  We headed out this morning and took the packages to UPS.  I'm waiting to hear from Amazon that it's been scanned.  That will put $42 or so back in my account.

Then over to Target to both return and pick up.  I got my $15 gift card for spending $50 on household items (toilet paper and trash bags), the new trash can with flip top lid, and the bins I wanted to organize the shelves in the bathroom in a nicer way.

When I made the return part of it was refunded to my credit card ($17) and the rest was put on a gift card.  I've no clue why, other than I paid for this partially with a gift card. ($6.90).  

So I'm counting the 'in my pocket' portion of today's Target transaction as $21.90.  Those cards are tucked away for a rainy day.

I asked John to go by Kroger after Target since it was on our way out.  Here I picked up produce: spinach, navel oranges, red onions, broccoli, cabbage, romaine and bananas; meat: kielbasa and andouille sausage, turkey pepperoni, and hot dogs for the kids when they are visiting (everything on sale); dairy: cheese bars, shredded Mozzarella, lactose free milk, milk, half and half.    My purchases netted me $4 in my pocket for picking up $20 in produce.  I spent $81 total, rounding me up to $150 total paid out for groceries this week.  The dairy and produce will likely be used this month, but the meats will be saved for future use.  Fingers crossed...I really hope that these are all the necessities required for our use for at least 2 more weeks.

We came home and made lunch here.

I have a whole chicken thawed in the fridge that I plan to put into the oven with a load of root vegetables.  I have sweet potato, onion, carrot, potatoes.  I'll serve this with a salad and bread and some of the rice pudding for dessert.

Was this week frugal?  A trip away from home, meals out, extra gasoline, late fees (possible) on bills, and groceries?  I don't think it was, but I've tried hard to balance expenses with savings wherever I could.  

John and I put $100 each from Christmas gift money into an envelope for a future vacation.  The trip will be partly covered by a gift from a reader. I do still have some of last month's allowance in my purse (about $35) so I'm not feeling too unbalanced, despite it all.

How was your frugal week?  Did you make anything especially tasty and inexpensive?  Did you join in the pantry challenge with me?  Did you find any bargains too good to pass by or set money aside?  Come share with us!

P. S. I loved the comments about the SOS/Hamburger Gravy.  Peggy S. had a great idea to use up any leftovers by spreading on a bun, then topping with cheese and running under the broiler.  That sounds really good.  And then Donna mentioned that her mom added carrot slices and served it over mashed potatoes.

That made me think of how I made pasties a few times.  With the same ground meat, onion, gravy and cubed diced potatoes cooked together.  I made a pie crust dough and cut into rounds; then put a bit of the meat/veg mixture on the pastry round, seal edges with a fork and bake until pastry is done.   These are really good, too!

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