This looks to be the second December in a row in which we have yet to get a frost. This has extended my warm-vegetable growing season.
I harvested cherry tomatoes, Swiss chard, Meyer lemons, a Serrano pepper, lemon verbena, and eggplant from my garden.
I listed and sold two items we weren’t using on Facebook Marketplace.
I sewed a blouse, a bag, and a belt, using fabric and thread I had on hand, to match a saree I bought on sale earlier this year. I wore these to attend the wedding of an Indian friend of mine.
I put up Christmas decorations that I already had. I still have a few remaining to put up, but most are up now.
I worked a catering job Saturday night, and got to take home some leftovers after the event, including a lot of green beans.
I gave two sons a haircut.
What did you do to save money last week?
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You look beautiful in your sari and all the coordinating accessories you made to go with it! Such creativity shows that you have that positive point of view and imagination ! Well done!
Using leftover cranberry sauce , 2 Flashfood oranges and some nonfat plain yogurt, I made a batch of Orange Cranberry muffins for breakfast on our snowy Tuesday! Recipe was on Kroger website and said it makes 12 muffins. Using my silicone muffin cups, it made 15! Delicious and a good way to use up leftovers from Thanksgiving!
One of my friends who works at a local Krogers texted me with a photo of a full pallet of case after case of Libby’s 100% pumpkin (16 Oz) for 25 cents a can rather than their marked $2.99 each. Before we left, (Hubs is so great about coming along and lifting and counting for me!) I texted 2 daughters and 4 other friends to get their “orders” . We brought home 110 cans (we are keeping 14)! Doing the calculation, their original cost would have been $328.90. Instead, I paid $27.50! A savings of $301.40!!!! Obviously that savings was spread through the 7 of us, but even if none of them paid me their portion of $27, it would still have been a small thing to do to help others.
I made homemade pizza for dinner the other night after we were gone all day . I found a recipe for an easy pizza dough that didn’t have to wait for rising. I used commercial pizza sauce I bought on FB Marketplace for $2 per 7 pound bag. ( I researched and tested and canned the pizza sauce a month ago into handy pint mason jars ) I used Flashfood pepperoni, bell peppers, onions and mozzarella on it. Cost well under $1 for all the ingredients used in that pizza and gave us 2 dinners for the 2 of us (8 hearty slices).
Raspberries and blackberries have also been on sale for 99 cents/carton so I did research and found that you can safely water bath can both easily (15 minutes processing at my altitude) and have them ready to go for muffins, yogurt, smoothies, or just eating “fresh” from jars! Whole berries, extra light sugar/water syrup- VOILA!!! Their regular price is listed as $3.79/ carton for raspberries and $3.29/carton for blackberries! I have the pint jars and lids so I am picked out up 3 flats of raspberries and 2 of blackberries!! Raspberries are processing in the steam canner right now. Looks like I will get 30 pints of raspberries when I finish!! These will be a treat in the coming year!
For your readers who are in cold, snowy places, stay warm and be grateful for all that you have done to prepare and all the opportunities you still can find around you to live abundantly while staying frugal!
Nice price on the pumpkin!
The photo from the wedding is beautiful!
1. Listed some more things on FB marketplace today, including a couple of items from the $1 sale at the thrift store
2. Talked with my sister about marketplace health insurance. For her and 4 kids their premium is rising from $1300 a month to $3500 a month. I gave her some strategies to look at. I am calling my representatives/senators incessantly about this.
3. Signed myself and my grandson up for the library reading program over winter break. Even though my grandson doesn’t live near me, the books we read on free video calls count for the reading program. Participants receive free books.
4. Using cookie dough I had frozen last month to make gift cookies for neighbors. I’m so glad I had the dough in the freezer, I’ve added that last to my November to-do list for next year.
5. Put up our same tree and decorations. They’re like good old friends. Made some paper stars for fun.
– My husband and I took advantage of a weekend of free admission to a local botanical garden, which saved us $16.
– I brought home an uncut fancy pumpkin that a neighbor put in her yard debris bin. I’ll bake it up and freeze the puree to use throughout the year.
– A different neighbor brought over a huge bag of apples from her tree.
– I hit the bakery outlet store on the first Saturday of the month, when all “bargain wall” items are $1 apiece. My freezer is full!
– I took a single leftover piece of grilled salmon and transformed it into four salmon patties, which I served on bakery outlet buns that I picked up a couple months ago. I paid $1 for 24 buns.
– I’m listening to an audiobook from Libby and also reading a physical book from the library.
– I cashed out $35 in free Fred Meyer/Kroger gift cards that I earned from donating platelets at the American Red Cross.
– My daughter and I spent an afternoon at the Portland Art Museum for free, as I’d scored a free library pass. Normal price was $55!
Of course, I blogged about all this and other frugal activities over at my blog:
thenonconsumeradvocate.com
I made creamy winter soup with pumpkin, carrots, and potatoes, milk, butter, and spices. I made Baba ghanoush ( I love eggplant), tuna salad, spinach dip, lemon chicken, deviled eggs, and biscuits. I had terrible sewer problems but hopefully that will be resolved. I had to go to doctor but thankfully I have good insurance. I managed to start doing my walks again by late Sunday. I attempted to deep clean my house. That is still a work in progress.
Lovely picture of you and your friends Brandy! Wonderful that you have been able to grow more in your garden with the delayed frost-our first frost date is usually about Sept 15 so markedly different from yours!
I have continued to save money by buying many of our fruits and veggies on flash food and shopping the thrift store special sale days.
I wish I had sewing skills outside of mending. (Not that I need anymore hobbies, lol)
I promptly returned two Libby audiobooks when I was finished with them for the next people to borrow.
Amazon Music subscribers can borrow one audiobook a month for free, so this month I borrowed a set of three books. This helps save my Audible credits for something I want to keep.
Picked up a book from the library.
Tutoring wrapped up last week until January and I usually do snacks and a movie on the last day. This semester, I only had 2 kids, so I used points from Papa John’s to get pizza and 2 liter for under $4.
I should be done with Christmas shopping, minus the stocking stuff. The last present is supposed to be here Wednesday.
My boss is gone this month, so Im in charge. That means I get a higher hourly rate, and last week, I worked 11 hours more than normal. This is the time of year my husband’s work slows down, so extra money is appreciated.
I need to take my last final for the semester by Thursday of this week, then it’s a month long brain break. Hopefully, I can get a lot of reading in.
The teen purchased something she didn’t like on Black Friday, and promptly returned it for a refund.
Our biggest money saver last week was that I was too exhausted to go anywhere after work, so I didn’t spend a lot of money. We made sure to cook from what we had and eat leftovers.
You look beautiful in the photo. I am jealous of the fresh vegetables. We are bundling up and walking each day. I have been making pies and cookies for gifts. We have finished our Christmas shopping except for a few small things for stockings. We went to a local church’s live nativity scenes. It was a drive thru from birth to the cross. Our town had the annual Christmas parade this past Saturday. Lots of fun.
We got some free pheasants from a local estate. We had to pluck and gut them which was… an experience. We are quite squeamish, it turns out! But having done it once, it doesn’t seem so bad with bellies full of tasty pheasant. We roasted them and then made soup from the carcasses. We plan to accept more if offered again!
Plus I have a bag of feathers in the freezer which I am very excited about using! I plan to made some Christmas decorations with the medium ones, some jewellery/accessories with the tail feathers (a hat pin!), then top up an old feather pillow with the little ones. Any other ideas for pretty things to do with the big/medium feathers gratefully received!
I am also making Christmas decorations this year with the children only using things we already have: embroidering gold bells onto dark green felt. I made a dotted outline on the back with paint for them to follow.
We are spending money buying Christmas presents for them, but they each get only one present from us a year, so we can afford for buy something more expensive. One of my daughters has asked for a baby doll and I am wondering if I will have time to make it some extra clothes before Christmas. Probably not, but maybe in the new year…
Suzie, pheasant feathers are LOVELY as embellishments on quilts — preferably the wall display ones. Many of my Crazy quilt customers use them, particularly the smaller, fluffier ones. You can see a good example on the back cover of my book HANKY PANKY CRAZY QUILTS.
In fact, if I lived in your area, I’d put in a bid for some, too!
* * * * * *
For my part, we drove to town to get our new (to us) car an alignment — squeezed in two badly-needed haircuts beforehand. Then I bought nearly all marked-down or on sale items at our local City Market. And that, other than milk and maybe eggs, should be my last grocery trip of the month. I also met a client and passed on a baby quilt restoration that has literally been years in the doing. (Yes, it was that bad. I’d get discouraged and quit — set it aside — pick it up and start again. Wash and repeat.) I am free now to stop feeling guilty about it!! Yayy!!!!
Beautiful! I’d love to wear a sari one day!
– Snapping receipts for fetch rewards
– Composting
– using Christmas decorations we already had, plus some bought used, and the popcorn garland we madehttps://practicalwalk.com/2025/12/06/popcorn-garland/
Beautiful photos! The frost and snow has dulled the Arden colors for me here. I can taste that sun warm grape tomato from here.
I picked the last of my kale and maybe later this week when it is to get above freezing, I’m hoping to get some chard.
I asked for a few hours of service for gifts from family this year. They were tickled with this idea, so now instead of physical gifts, we made “request tickets” and will lay them out on a table for others to pick up what they can or want to help with.
We had zero food waste the last 10 days which feels great.
I’m a little late, but started making holiday cards (watercolor wreaths) for the small amount I mail out.
I made Brandy’s granola which is a bi weekly staple.
Hope everyone has calm and productive week.
I like your service ideas for gifts.
Such beautiful ladies and children. Your handmade accessories which complement the dress are icing on the cake!
For a frugal hack, I potted and brought indoors a celery plant which I grew from the base of a bunch of celery last spring. It is doing well indoors and it is convenient to cut some fresh stalks and leaves whenever I require it. I potted a pepper plant as well as I read that they are perennials. Unfortunately, there were some sort of little flies infesting it so I’ve lopped off and burned the top. Hoping that new shoots will develop from the stem.
I refurbished my front door wreath using my trusty hot glue gun and some marked down DG ornaments. Have been talking about doing this for a couple of years, but this year I actually did it!
Beautiful pictures Brandy! We haven’t got our Christmas decorations up yet. I can’t think of much that we did that was frugal other than eating at home and using cloth hankies, towels, and napkins. We have been good about using what we have. We haven’t really shopped much either. I have been using online sites for recipes. Then I may change them using what I have rather than buying things for the recipes. I look forward to decorating the tree with my family. It is a fun occasion every year. We also use the decorations that we have. But it is special. I will probably make some sugar-free hot chocolate and cookies that evening and we will play Christmas music. I may make something this year for my family for Christmas. Not sure what yet. Cookies, banana bread, pumpkin pie are all options. I have to think about it. We are enjoying Christmas lights and Christmas music on the car radio. I love this time of year!
What a gorgeous outfit for a wedding! You look lovely.
My husband wins the prize for frugality this week. He has been wanting to replace a certain power tool for a while but is physically incapable of paying full price (we are so alike!) He noticed that Lowe’s Hardware had this tool and its batteries and chargers listed on line for an extremely low price – as in $500 worth of tools and accessories for $112. He called the store nearest us to be sure they had it in stock (the website did not say) and they did not but the other store the next county over did. We headed that way (making another needed stop to make it worthwhile) and he bought the tools and accessories. The shelf tag did not reflect the price he saw online but, after showing it to the store manager, they honored the price. Turns out this store is no longer going to carry that brand of tool (it will still be available from the manufacturer) which was the reason for the steep discount. I admire and am grateful for his ability to research and find situations like this as it allows us to have the tools we need to do jobs ourselves, one of our greatest savings strategies.
Our family celebrates St. Nicholas Day which includes reading stories about his life and my boys setting their shoes outdoors to be filled with a few treats. Even at 13 and 14, they still enjoy this tradition which makes my heart glad. Each year is very similar – they get a new pair of socks (which they always need and I find on sale), something sweet (homemade) and some chocolate coins and real coins, usually something a little out of the ordinary like a half-dollar or coins that are “older” to them (meaning 20th century!)
I did some shopping at a discount grocery store in town. Our Christmas stockings are usually very practical in the sense that they are mostly filled with food (we all have to eat!) but maybe unusual varieties of things we like or things we like but don’t often have. I also look for things that come in pretty jars that I can reuse in my kitchen and pantry. For example, I found a well-known French brand of preserves we all like on a B1G1 free deal even though the price was already reduced from typical grocery stores. I love the jars and will make good use of them when we’ve enjoyed the contents.
Walks in the woods are always free and I’ve loved walking through a snowy winter wonderland this week. So peaceful – and peace of mind is worth a lot!
Looking forward to hearing everyone’s successes this week.
Hi Brandy and everyone
You look beautiful in the wedding photo and so do your friends. The pink flowers you made are so pretty, the whole outfit looked good.
So handy that the frost hasn’t taken all your fresh veg yet.
This week a friend brought over a big bag of free wool she had been given and offered me some.I took a few skeins of colours I knew I could use and mended three pairs of woollen gloves.
I cut up last year’s Christmas cards and turned them into gift tags.
I needed a bag to transport a present and stuck Christmas images over the advertising on a big brown bag with handles and it did the job.
I bought some nice quality children’s clothes in TK Maxx. I had to wade through a lot of ‘ sparkly tat’ to find it but it was worth persevering.
I helped cater at an event and was given a floral table arrangement to bring home.
Oh Brandy, fresh tomatoes! They look so good. We are already missing ours. My husband has been wishing for one every morning on his eggs. He opened a jar of canned ones but it isn’t the same. You are quite creative with your sewing and seeing your success encourages me to tackle the waist high pile of mending. The fun projects must wait until I get the chores done.
* I bundled up and harvested napa cabbage and lettuce from the winter garden.
*The winter squash is piled up in the basement and will last until spring but I won’t bother using it unless it is convenient. So, this week 20 pint jars were canned with many more to go. When finished, I will move to either canning, freezing, or dehydrating the other varieties. It isn’t a rush like in summer so there is time to experiment with new recipes.
*Each week I send out a group email to my sons telling them what is on sale at the grocery stores. They have NO idea if something really is a good deal and can be easily tricked by the marketing departments. Each one is in a different city and has various stores and also dissimilar prices at the same chain stores. All of their options are checked then the coupons are loaded on our different accounts. Price comparisons are made, my opinions are stated (I love stating my opinions), and then they choose which store to use. It takes a few hours but has saved each one a fortune. They have seen the difference it makes in their grocery budgets and share pictures of their receipts bragging to each other.
So, last Wednesday I sent out the “Mama’s Money-saving Memo” then went to Kroger and used the coupon for 5 dozen eggs for $1.49. A few days later a picture was posted in the group text of eggs at Aldis for $1.29. I was stunned! First of all, whoever thought eggs would really get back down to that price so why check and how could I have been beaten at money saving by my son?! Have I finally succeeded at mothering? Surely not. Must be a fluke. (We went and got 4 more dozen and will celebrate an actual price drop with egg salads and quiches.)
* We returned the free hot spot to the library. It is a bother but we do it to save money. We are in a place in the country where there has been no internet since the 2020 Christmas bombing of the AT&T building in Nashville. It destroyed a major trunk line. After it first happened we had to drive in town and sit in our car under a cell tower to even get phone reception! Our only option has been to sign a contract for a hot spot that cost $92 a month for not much data. Free hot spots are available to check out from the local library and we stay on the waiting list. We usually get it for at least one week during each billing cycle which saves us from being charged for running over our limit. They are putting fiber optics in and it should be ready in the spring. I danced when the men came down our driveway and hooked us up. We are waiting for the switch to be flipped. The cost will be much less.
*Last week I mentioned being able to set up my sewing area in my husband’s old office. Well, after getting everything ready and then sitting down to sew, my machine wouldn’t work. I was not happy! My husband immediately drove me to another city to find a repair shop (because I was in a very bad mood). They repaired it on the spot! A needle had broken a long time ago and a tiny piece had become wedged inside. They only charged $24. What a fantastic deal! I was so grateful it wouldn’t be sent off forever and it wasn’t a fortune that I offered her more money. She declined and my shocked husband was relieved.
My goals for this week are to do more mending, can another batch of butternut squash, and try one new recipe from just pantry items.
Jeannie@GetMeToTheCountry
https://getmetothecountry.blogspot.com/
I just stopped by our local high end market to pick up their Xmas freebie for Ellie’s friend and I. It was a 750 ml jar of Pomodoro pasta sauce which looks very nice. Regular price is $11.99 which I don’t think either of us would pay.
How fun to customize your sari for yourself! The photo is lovely!
And as always, I appreciate the photo of the red amaryllis. They can be used as cut flowers as well as potted ones, such as if they tip over and break off. Poinsettias also make good cut flowers, would be pretty in a clear bottle or vase.
Brandy, have you changed the way photos are sized in the blog? They seem wider– I work on a laptop. I mention it only if they are using up storage space more quickly.
They are all phone photos now. They used to be from my camera. I can choose a display size, but I don’t think it changes my storage size for the file itself.
I will be ironing on denim patches to fix two pairs of jeans. I really love the jeans — designed in Canada and made in Italy. I got a good deal on the denim iron on patches from Amazon. “I” texted me and asked if I had received the free gift card from an upscale grocery store — I had not so she phoned about it. Apparently, they didn’t have the cards delivered this year due to the possible postal strike. The store has attached the gift card electronically to our accounts – well, I never really look at my account soo would have missed it but for “I’s” perseverance. This year’s gift is a lovely looking jar of pasta sauce. Thanks to “I” who picked up mine and hers. Now to figure out what ro do with it. I bought Laura Secord peanut free chocolate chips on sale. I spent about &8 for 2 packages and saved $6. It is hard to get peanut free chocolates except at Christmas, Hallowe’en and Easter so it’s an indulgence for me. I took a break and went outside to watch the birds. Mostly free entertainment. I found a bottle of 50 year old unopened brandy in the basement – I may sell it online but just locally. I have to do a bit of research about its kind – some are worth a lot, others not that much. I’m cutting back drastically for the rest of the month – I am well-stocked up on canned foods. i dont like eating canned foods but it’s good for an emergency back up. I inherited a lot of tracing paper so I’m going to trace some of the flower photos and then see if I can paint them. The Christmas bird count is this weekend, here. it is free and a good way to spend time outdoors. i have a great supply of butternut squash, potatoes, beets that I got on sale at the beginning of fall. Should be well-provisioned and not need to buy anything now for a while.
I am so glad to have thought to check back in tonight. Happy to see the community is back! (And Brandy, those photos, blown up on a desktop….amazing!!!)
We’ve had our share of ups and downs in 2025, and I’m grateful some things are coming to a close. I am nearly finished paying off one medical bill from three years ago, and I’m hoping that if my child needs a second surgery that it will hit in 2025 while we’re still on the plan year. (In truth, I would rather she would not at all, but sometimes life doesn’t go quite as planned.)
If I can ask for prayers/happy thoughts/good vibes, I will be having my fourth interview for a position with another company on Thursday. It will be a lifechanging raise, not to mention a role more in line with what I would like to do career-wise.
How I’m saving money this week:
– Van is in the shop. (Yes, and I saved money!) The parking brake froze (which we learned when trying to unpark it to move the vehicle to replace the brakes, sigh.) USAA paid for the tow to the shop. As fortune would have it, I had learned that week about a local ministry that does car repair work for widows, single parents and disabled people in our county. They do it for the cost of parts. I had sent it to several people I knew to keep in their pocket in case of a rainy day. Anyway, I reached out and said while I’m not technically single parent or disabled (though spouse was), I had parts and was willing to pay for their time to fix it if they had an opening. They offered to do the work at no extra charge!
– Still volunteering at the work food pantry once a month. I try to hit up the spices and seasoning sales for families when I see them. So got some $1 spices at Penzeys when I was on that side of town. (Also, this is your reminder, that if you are food insecure, seek out help!)
– I am gifting sourdough (regular and a nutella sourdough recipe I found online) to friends for the holidays, as well as “random acts of sourdough” to treat other people I know who are having a rough week. This lets me bake and not overwhelm with sweets. I found cute bread bags on sale in bulk on Amazon to help with packaging.
– I got a second job! I know, not exciting, but as I have a master’s I started adjunct teaching one class online. So it allows me to earn extra money to make ends meet while working from home. You will not get rich by adjuncting, but pay is better than many second jobs.
– My friend gifted me her wheat chex bags from her bulk chex boxes she got at the warehouse. So I got 3 bags. I like eating it, and it’s good for when I have a low blood sugar. For whatever reason, despite the fiber, it spikes my glucose levels.
I hope everyone is well!
Robbie
The fabric flower is beautiful. I especially love the color!
On the frugal front:
DD2 flew home for her college fall break. The return flight was not the best departure time, but it cost $300 less than the more convenient departure time. We batched errands near the airport at arrival and departure.
We are in the beginning phases of a house remodel. We took advantage of the Black Friday sales to purchase kitchen appliances.
I purchased most of my holiday gifts during Black Friday and Cyber Monday using added savings through Rakuten when available. I also selected slower shipping to earn digital rewards on Amazon.
I baked six dozen gingersnaps for a cookie exchange and made six dozen banana mini chocolate chip muffins using ripe bananas purchased on sale. I brought muffins to two neighbors going through difficult times and froze the rest.
We went to our neighbors house to play cards with several couples. The hosts treated us to dinner, drinks and dessert. It was a fun evening.
I am making a point to schedule my remaining paid time off days this year as they cannot roll over into next year.
HH2 and DD2 scheduled doctors appointments before year end which are covered completely through our health insurance.
I am enjoying two books on the Libby app. I am reading an ebook called Paper girl by Beth Macy and listening to the audiobook of Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins.
I look forward to reading everyone’s frugal feats.
You look spectacular in your sari!
Frugal: I made a point of doing no purchases the week of thanksgiving through cyber Monday. Made sure not to look at any “deals”.
I ordered parts and fixed the broken handle on my vacuum myself.
Working on major declutter to get rid of bibs and bobs and only keep what I truly love. Put up my Christmas dish display in my China hutch. Now it feels like Christmas. Swapped out my regular dishes to my Christmas dishes to use as my everyday till new years. Found 6 extra cups/saucers at thrift store to match (we have a big family and my niece wants the set when I pass it down, so adding extras.
Found a set of 4 dinner, salad, soup china dishes I’ll use for new years/winter at goodwill on sale day, and same day a matching platter at thrift store. White w silver rim and center star originally from target. I want seasonal dish ware and decided this is the year I’m doing it.
I’m really enjoying serving myself breakfast everyday w china on a tray. It’s been a mood booster.
Cracked a tooth and can’t get in to the specialty dentist for another week. Meanwhile, all soft foods and fingers crossed on costs and hear’s hoping they can save the tooth. She’s listed as specifically in a low rent area to pass saving on, so we shall see.
Tomorrow have to call plumber for kitchen sink clog I can no longer ignore.
Got in a mini car accident today. We were in parking spaces across from each other and backed out at the same time. No damage. We both pulled back into our spaces, got out saw there was no damage…she walked to me w arms outstretched, we hugged, got in our cars and drove off…never uttering a single word to each other. It was such a lovely moment.
Ohhhh I just realized you were back blogging. I have missed you so much!! My favorite frugal thing for the week will be not reading your blog tonight! My daughter takes the ACT in the next town over tomorrow so I will pack a snack and a thermos full of hot chocolate and sit in my car and catch up with this community while I wait on her! Perfect morning.
Also is there anything we as a community can do to help your platform? Does commenting help more than reading? I would love to help anyway I can.
Everyone always appreciates reading everyone else’s comments! Please join in!
I’ve been asked to provide a donate button (there are costs for hosting my blog). I just need to learn how to do it.