Friday Funny

From our church bulletin in July advertising the Empty Nester Family Home Evening group picnic.

(Check the second line)

Friday's Frugal Roundup

Okay, so there's not much frugal about Legos, unless you get them at a thrift store or yard sale, but they are sure fun. This is the set "Santa" gave me for Christmas this year. I thoroughly enjoyed putting it all together and can fully understand why our boys love them so much, even as adults.

On to the roundup--

• I stuck to my menu plan, including a "clean out the fridge" dinner. 
• I used thrifted wrapping paper for Lt. Lehi and Jellybean's birthday presents.
• Used cold water for laundry
• Made lunches each day for TopDad and Mr. Movie
• Took a snack and water with me for my day of errands and shopping
• Stuck to my shopping list, except for a couple of unadvertised deals on stock up items, such as Potatoes 5 lbs. $.99; eggs $.50/dozen; 
• Enjoyed glorious sunrises and sunsets
• Enjoyed seeing the full moon veiled by misty clouds

It doesn't look like much, but every bit adds up over time.

Thrifted gift wrap

What have you done to save money or not spend this week?

Sunday's Spiritual Thought

Grain Elevator lit by the morning sun. Taken from our front porch.

Genesis 41:47-48 And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls. And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same.

Friday's Frugal Roundup

Long time no see . . .

Happy New Year! I've got some plans that I'll reveal along the way. How about you? I do want to get back to doing a regular post about all my frugal activities. Particularly as I'll be working harder on that this year. I have a goal to reach and I need to be more serious and creative about not spending.

So here's the roundup:

• My husband and I had a little get away for my birthday and stayed two nights at a AirBnB which was much cheaper and way nicer than any hotel we've ever stayed in.
• I used cold water for most of my laundry this week (whites do better for me in warm)
• Cleaned out and organized 2 refrigerators with freezers and 1 chest freezer; inventoried the food for menu planning
• Made bread crumbs from all the collected ends and crusts from the freezer
• Bought navy blue shoe polish so I can maintain my expensive dress pumps
• Made lunches for my husband and son to take to work
• Got out my cloth handkerchiefs to use instead of paper tissues
• Made next week's menu plan using up items from the fridges and freezer
• Returned library books on time to avoid any fines

One of my goals this year is to have a No Spend year--meaning I won't spend on any of my vices such as books, patterns, fabric, movies, music, dishes, pretties, etc. I don't need any clothes either, except the ones I'm going to sew from patterns and fabric I already have. I have a goal to save a specific amount for a specific project (to be revealed later) so I'm motivated to stay disciplined and deliberate in my spending this year.

I also did all my usual things of keeping the thermostat low and wearing a sweater or hoodie; opening the curtains to let the sun in, closing them when the sun isn't shining to hold the heat in; planning errands to minimize gas usage; turning off lights, and water, etc.

What did you do to save money or not spend this week?