April 2015 Frugals

[chrissieq]

The women I work for have recently offered me dinner (lunch leftovers) on the days I put my dog in day care - because I put him there to be available for their longer work days Today was not a doggie day care day but they packed up what will be at least 5 meals of split pea and ham soup ( yum)! The chef said "not enough to use for another meal here but too much to throw out". I did agree to come in 2 hours earlier tomorrow (for $$ of course) and stop to buy Starbucks for the chef (reimbursed of course) on my way in and the dog will have a longer day (which costs me nothing more than usual) and I will bring lunch leftovers/dinner home tomorrow. I love my job!!!

[cdttmm]

We held a small celebration at work yesterday for our administrative professionals. There was a fruit platter so I got to enjoy some free fruit. I opted for the grapes and pineapple since those are two things I very rarely buy.

Discovered a tick crawling up my arm the other night. It had clearly been brought into the house by one of our dogs. Turns out we're out of Frontline (the expensive flea/tick prevention that we use on our dogs). The next day I got coupons for Frontline in the mail. Off to the vet tomorrow to make my now less expensive purchase. I'm generally against putting poisons on my animals, but I've had Lyme disease and my dogs have had two different tick-borne diseases. So flea/tick prevention it is!

Managed to eat up another pound of pasta in the great eat-all-the-pasta-in-my-pantry crusade of 2015. Of course this meant I also ate a lot of cheese in the past few days. Four more pounds of pasta to go.

[rosarugosa]

It hasn't been too frugal around here lately, we've eaten out a few times and went to the theater last night. Got to get back on track!
I did get free public transportation Fri because it was "Customer Appreciation Day" to make up for how bad service was during the winter. So that kept $5.25 in my pocket. We also took advantage of the free parking for employees at the office garage last night, which saved us about $20.
I did up my 401K contribution as planned, so I feel good about that.

[whisperingpines]

Lessisbest,

Do you have a recipe you can share for the Gummies?? Please!

They changed the type of paper towels and dispensers used in bathrooms where hubby works and he brought home bundles of obsolete towels since they were going to throw them away. We avoid using paper towels (we have a roll in a really cute holder, we just don't use it, we are cloth rag kinda' folks), so we'll be able to use these small paper towels for icky things.

I was inspired by Danna's frugal use of a sports drink for a gelatin dessert, but I'm with Tussiemussies about it being "toxic". We consume a LOT of gelatin (the dry unflavored type), but I'm more inclined to mix it with real fruit juice, and for each cup of liquid, I'll add 1 cup of plain yogurt (homemade, or plain kefir curd - also homemade). You can also make a small box of flavored gelatin by adding the 1-cup of hot water and dissolving it, then add 1-cup of plain yogurt. I also use unflavored gelatin to make "Herbal Tea Gummies", "Pumpkin Pie Gummies", "Creamy Pumpkin Mousse", and a snack favorite - "Coconut-Pineapple Gummies". There is even a "fudge" like recipe I make at Christmas. Unflavored gelatin powder is a real frugal pantry item that is much overlooked these days.

[lessisbest]

Here you go whisperingpines. You'll find lots more on-line.

Homemade Gummy Candy
http://wholenewmom.com/recipes/yummy...turned-to-yum/

Pumpkin Pie Gummies
http://fastpaleo.com/recipe/pumpkin-pie-gummies/

Creamsicle Gummy Fruit Snacks
http://thecoconutmama.com/2013/02/cr...-fruit-snacks/

Coconut-Pineapple Gummies (This is a favorite recipe and I make it when we have orange/pineapple juice on hand.)
http://www.healthhomeandhappiness.co...-homemade.html

[frugal-one]

Thanks lessisbest! I learn SO much from you. I appreciate your sharing of recipes and sites!!

My frugal day was.... went to the thrift store that had 40% off all short sleeve tops and 25% all else since it was senior day. I got 7 tops and a pair of Lands End capris.... total $30.62!! I am thrilled. The only tops I had were t-shirts and now I have a few "nice' tops to wear too. Score!

[whisperingpines]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

Here you go whisperingpines. You'll find lots more on-line.

Homemade Gummy Candy
http://wholenewmom.com/recipes/yummy...turned-to-yum/

Pumpkin Pie Gummies
http://fastpaleo.com/recipe/pumpkin-pie-gummies/

Creamsicle Gummy Fruit Snacks
http://thecoconutmama.com/2013/02/cr...-fruit-snacks/

Coconut-Pineapple Gummies (This is a favorite recipe and I make it when we have orange/pineapple juice on hand.)
http://www.healthhomeandhappiness.co...-homemade.html

[lessisbest]

Not much to report for the last grocery shopping day of April. Bargains for things I use have been lacking the whole month......

Spent today: $19.11 (of which $8.85 was meat)
Total spent for April: $62.10 (out of a $125/month budget)
Surplus for the year: +$116.97

The good news - the garden is producing kale, several kinds of lettuce, spinach, and herbs, so I don't have to purchase those. I planted the root end of celery, root end of a head of napa cabbage, and leaf lettuce and they are all growing and I'll be able to harvest those in the near future (it's like you buy one and get one "free"). Don't forget, you can also grow the root end of green onions (scallions).