This Week's Frugal Tasks 17th October 2015

We've had some comings and goings in the Gower house this week.  Please read the frugal task list to find out what happened -

* Made 10 cards with supplies on hand to raise funds at our church for our hamper giveaway.

*  Megan went to a birthday dinner.  She was able to give some earrings she bought a while ago and didn't use.  She also used a homemade card from my stash.

*  Used the watering can all week to water all the fruit trees and veggie plants.  I used the shower warm up water to do this.

*  The family ate bits and pieces out of the fridge for dinner on Sunday night

*  Baked four loaves of wholemeal bread with extra goodness and two of white bread.

*  Made fruit icecream using bananas and cream given to us and a few raspberries I froze from last season.

*  Made a 1 kilo batch of Brown Sugar.

*  Dried all the washing on the line.

*  Darren fed our fruit trees with worm tea from our worm farm.

*  Froze two singles serves of left over beef stew and one of Tuna Casserole.

*  Stocked up on Lynx shower gel,  Lynx deod and Nature's Fruits body wash.  All were bought at half price and most will be put away for presents.

*  Darren is now the proud owner of a two year old Nissan Dualis after saying good bye to his 14 year old Nissan Pulsar ( the work horse ).  Some might wonder how this could fit into the frugal tasks post.  We saved hard for four years and paid cash ( bank cheque ).  No car loans for us.  Now we've started saving for when my 2008 Camry needs replacing. With our car history,  that won't be for quite a while.

*  Made Chunky Roast Beef and Vegetable soup using left over meat.

*  Darren picked a beautiful pink rose from the garden to put on my bedside table.  It smells so lovely.    

Darren and his new car

Banana and raspberry icecream

What does your frugal task list look like this week ?

Grocery Specials Wednesday 14th October 2015

It's time to start thinking about Christmas stocking treats.  This week's grocery specials provide a few bargains.

COLES -

*  Moccona Freeze Dried Coffee 200g 1/2 PRICE Was $18.36, Save $9.36  Now $9.00 each.  Don't forget to save the jars for food storage or gifts.

*  Cadbury Medium Bars 39g-60g 1/2 PRICE Was $2.00, Save $1.15  Now $0.85 each    A great price to pop a few in Christmas stockings.

* Mars Maltesers 360g or M&Ms Peanut 440g 1/2 PRICE Was $10.00, Save $5.00  Now $5.00 each .  These make a great Kris Kringle present or suitable for teenager birthday parties.

*    SunRice Basmati Rice 5kg 1/2 PRICE Was $18.00, Save $9.00  Now $9.00 each

*  BabyLove Nappy Pants 20 Pack-28 Pack Was $16.99, Save $6.99  Now $10.00 each

* Radox Antiperspirant Deodorant 250mL1/2 PRICE Was $5.99, Save $3.00  Now $2.99 each.  Great for a man's Christmas stocking

*   Bulla Ice Cream Multipacks 8 Pack-14 Pack 1/2 PRICE Was $6.15, Save $3.08  Now $3.07 each.  Great to put away for a Summer treat.

*  VIVA Paper Towel White 2 Pack Was $3.50, Save $1.50  Now $2.00 each.  Stock up now for the bbq season.

*  Pantene Shampoo or Conditioner 350mL1/2 PRICE Was $7.89, Save $3.95  Now $3.94 each

*  The Natural Confectionery Co. Family Bags, Sour Patch 200g-260g or Pascall Family Bags 260g-350g 1/2 PRICE Was $4.00, Save $2.00  Now $2.00 each


WOOLWORTHS -

*  Lynx Antiperspirant Deodorant Varieties 96-100g  .Now $2.99 each 1/2 Price, Save up to $3.00  1/2 Price on all Lynx Men's Care

*  Nestle Blocks 118-200g Now $2.25 each 1/2 Price, Save $2.25

*  Arnott’s Shapes Extreme 130g or Salada 250g Now $1.49 each 1/2 Price, Save $1.50

*  Sanitarium Weet Bix Gluten Free 375g – Available in the Health Foods Aisle Now $2.50 each 1/2 Price, Save $2.50

*  Imported Freshwater Basa Fillets ^Seafood may not be available in all stores. ^Thawed for your convenience.Now $5.49 kg 1/2 Price, Save $5.50 kg.  Always ask for frozen fish to take home and put in your freezer.

*    Victorian Whole Celery Bunch VIC Grown. Now $1.20 each.  Celery can be diced and frozen to put in stews,  casseroles and soups.

*  Nature’s Organics Fruits Shampoo, Conditioner or Bodywash 500ml Now $1.00 each Save $0.90.  This is a fantastic once or twice a year sale price.  If you don't want to use it for your hair,  the shampoo can be diluted and used in foaming hand wash dispensers.  Conditioner can be used for head lice and as a fabric softener for clothes

*  Cadbury Favourites or Favourites Mini Blocks 320g Now $6.00 each 1/2 Price, Save $6.00.  Great for Kris Kringles and those hard to buy for relatives and friends.

*  Golden Circle Juice 2 Litre Now $2.00 each Save $1.59  Great for making icypoles.

Feel free to add any great specials you find.

What's In My Freezer.

I guess the title of this post should read "What's In My Freezers " as I have three freezers.  No I don't collect freezers as a hobby but I do love having the space to freeze whatever I want.  I have a 660 litre side by side fridge / freezer   I think about 240 litres of it is freezer space.  I have a 120 litre freezer and a 180 litre freezer ( our latest addition to the freezer family ).

For ten years I fed my young family out of the 120 litre freezer and Darren's old fridge that had a small freezer compartment inside.  Space back then was at a premium and boy,  did I stack those freezers well.  Not one box of convenience food could fit in those freezers ( not that we could afford it back then ).    Bread,  rolls and icecubes went into the little freezer compartment in the fridge and mince, chicken  and a few meals went into the 120 litre freezer.

When we outgrew Darren's old fridge we upgraded to the 660 litre side by side.  About 2 1/2 years ago we were given another freezer but unfortunately it only lasted two years.  So a few months ago I bought the 180 litre freezer.

As you know we have a vegetable garden and fruit trees.  The freezers come in handy for storing excess  garden produce.  This saves us money as quite often we can eat our produce from the freezer when it's out of season and costs a fortune at the supermarket.


Here's a list of what we store in our freezers -                          LEGEND -

MEAT
                                                                                                  HM = homemade
Mince divided into 300 gram sizes
Lamb chops 4 per package                                                       C = convenience
Chicken fillets individually wrapped
Fish                                                                                           G = from our garden
Legs of Lamb bought in Spring on sale
Sausages 6 per package
Diced beef in 400gram snap lock bags
Roast beef cut in half to serve 4 people
Silverside cut in half to serve 4 people
Salmon patties 10 per package     HM
Fish fingers   C
Sliced ham
Hamburger patties     HM
Whole chickens
Chicken drumsticks 4 per package


SOUPS

Chicken stock     HM
Vegetable soup    HM
Pumpkin soup     HM
Chunky chicken and veg soup    HM
Chunky beef and veg soup    HM
Potato and leek soup     HM

MEALS

Spag bol sauce     HM
Lasagne portions    HM
Leftovers of casseroles in single serves     HM
Pie meat - ready to make a pie     HM
Meatloaves          HM

BAKING

Raspberry and white choc muffins     HM
Blueberry and white choc muffins      HM
Chocolate choc chip muffins              HM
Wholemeal bread with extra goodness      HM
Pita bread     C
Rolls      HM
Pumpkin scones        HM
Plain scones        HM
Chocolate brownies      HM
Cakes for church morning teas       HM
Biscuit dough - assorted varieties     HM
Saved bread crusts to be made into dried bread crumbs      HM
Raisin bread    C or HM
Pizza dough      HM
Hot cross buns      HM

VEGETABLES

Corn cobs     G
Beans           G
Corn kernels
Celery
Capsicum
Broccoli stalks diced     G
Broccoli       G
Cauliflower   G
Cooked and pureed pumpkin
Cooked tomatoes     G
Zucchini    G    

FRUIT

Lemon juice in ice cubes    G
Raspberries     G
Strawberries     G
Cooked apple
Oranges - blitzed
Blueberries
Bananas
Fruit icecream      HM

OTHER

English muffins    C
Crumpets     C
Sweetened condensed milk in 1/2 and whole can portions     HM
Tomato paste in ice cube size
Mini quiches / flans     HM
Sausage rolls      HM
Rice - cooked leftovers
Icecream    C
Yoghurt - to be used as a starter      HM
Butter
Vegetable stock ( given to me )     HM
Icypoles    C or HM
Pastry    C
Zucchini slice    HM


I think that the entire contents of our freezers.  Of course we don't have everything stocked at the same time,  but we do try to keep as much a possible.

In a few weeks I'll talk about the best way to store food in the freezer

This is the freezer part of my side by side fridge.  That's pita bread on the top shelf bought at a market.  Baking is on the next shelf with the lemon ice cubes and sweetened condensed milk. Crumpets are on the third shelf with cooked rice stored in the white container. Veggies are on the next shelf.  .

Then there is the bread shelf and below that are two slide out drawers with frozen fruit and biscuit dough

  

The 120 litre 23 year old freezer and our new 180 litre freezer.  They hold the meat, soups,   garden produce and freezer meals

                                                 Our 660 litre side by side fridge / freezer

This Week's Frugal Tasks 10th October 2015

Here are this week's frugal tasks.  A bit of a mixed bag.  I like variety and my home life certainly gives me that.


*  Dug up the wayward raspberry plants and re-potted them.  If they survive,  I'll be giving some as presents.

*  Made up a birthday present for a friend using things I had on hand.  I gave a jar of tomato relish and a couple of packs of cards I'd made.

*   Made a big pot of curried sausage casserole out of sausages given to us.  We got 12 serves from it.  Lots went into the freezer.

*  'Stocked up on teabags, choc melts,  choc share bags and tinned beetroot all at half price.  I used my food slush fund for these bargains.

*  Made a batch of Dried Seasoned Bread Crumbs.

*  Saved the shower water for the washing machine.  Also saved the washing machine water for each next load.

*  Dried all the washing on the line.

*  Planted out the tomato plants my Dad gave me.  Also planted lettuce,  dwarf beans and climbing bean seeds.  I'm using an old plastic doona cover packet as a mini hot house to get the seeds growing quickly.

*  Grated up 8 bars of laundry soap for when I need to make laundry powder.  I like to have a bucket full of grated soap ready to use.  By doing it now,  I don't need to do it during Summer in the heat.

*  Ate free freezer meals ( leftovers ) two nights this week.

*  Made pizza for one meal using pita bread and ham that was given to us a while ago and frozen.

*  Spent under $10 this week for milk,  fruit and veg.

*  Picked silverbeet for one meal.

*  Sorted out my Christmas present list for this year and made a great start on next year's birthday and Christmas list.  I've added lots of homemade goodies to save money.

*  Used frozen cooked apple to make apple crumble using the crumble topping mix.

*  Didn't vacuum and mop on Wednesday like I usually do.  This saved 20 minutes of electricity plus boiling the kettle twice to mop the floors.  I usually vac and mop twice a week so it will still get done over the weekend.

*  Used my watering can to water the veggie plants and seedlings.  This saves heaps of water as I'm only watering the plants.  If I used the hose ,  I'd be watering grass and dirt as I move the hose.

*  Ripped up school notices for my little magnetic clipboard note pad

*  Lined the bathroom bins with recycled freezer bags.  Usually I use bread bags but I was getting too many freezer bags stashed away.

* Saved dish washing liquid bottles for future workshops.

*  Darren poured worm tea on our fruit trees.

*  Started using my homemade soap this week.

 Princess loves being right near me. This is the view looking down from my chair at the dining table while on the computer.  You can see the computer cord in the photo.  She loves to play with it.

A very big pot of curried sausage casserole

From the garden

Homemade soap

My watering can

What did you do this week that saved you time,  money or energy ?

Grocery Specials Wednesday 7th October 2015

There are some fantastic specials on offer.  I hope you have lots of money in your food slush fund. Here are this week's best specials -

COLES -

*  Peters Connoisseur 4 Pack-6 Pack 360mL-455mL 1/2 PRICE Was $7.99, Save $4.00  Now $3.99 each.  I've tried the salted caranel and it's divine.

*  Nestlé Cooking Chocolate 180g-375g 1/2 PRICE Was $3.98, Save $1.99  Now $1.99 each.  At this price it's worth getting a years supply or a rain check if out of stock.

*   Mars Medium Funsize 144g-216g 1/2 PRICE Was $4.50, Save $2.25  Now $2.25 each.  A bargain price.

*  Cheezels Cheese Snacks 110g 1/2 PRICE Was $2.00, Save $1.00 Now $1.00 each.  We don't usually eat these but they are great to have on hand for school break up parties.

*  Natural Chip Company Potato Chips 175g 1/2 PRICE Was $3.25, Save $1.63  Now $1.62 each.  I think this is cheaper than no name.

*  Cottee’s Jam 500g Was $3.35, Save $1.35 Now $2.00 each.  If you don't make jam,  this is a great price.  Maybe put one in a Christmas hamper

*  Maharajah’s Choice Basmati Rice 5kg 1/2 PRICE Was $17.50, Save $8.75  Now $8.75 each

*  Golden Circle Beetroot 450g or Corn 410g 1/2 PRICE Was $1.65, Save $0.83  Now $0.82 each.  At this price,  stock up for Summer.

*  40% off Pyrex

*  1/2 price on Decor

*   Morning Fresh Dishwashing Liquid 900mL 1/2 PRICE Was $6.95, Save $3.48  Now $3.47 each

*  1/2 PRICE on Garnier Skincare, Shampoo & Conditioner


WOOLWORTHS -

*  Mars Sharepacks 144-216g Now $2.24 each 1/2 Price, Save $2.25

*    Arnott's Shapes Light & Crispy 120g Try new flavours. Now $1.49 each 1/2 Price, Save $1.50

*  Lipton Tea Bags Black Pk 100 Now $2.34 each 1/2 Price, Save $2.35.  One of the few staples that comes on sale at 1/2 price.  Well worth stocking up.

*  Imported Smoked Cod Seafood may not be available in all stores.Now $9.99 kg Save $5.01 kg

*  Pantene Shampoo or Conditioner 350ml Now $3.94 each 1/2 Price, Save $3.95

*  Palmolive Dishwashing Liquid 700-750ml Now $2.74 each 1/2 Price, Save $2.75

*  Dickies Plain Bath Towel 68x130cm 1/2 price all Dickies Towels.Now $7.99 each 1/2 Price, Save $8.00

*  Tontine I'm a Low Allergenic Medium Pillow Pk 2 Now $11.00 each 1/2 Price, Save $11.00

*  40% off Sistema Home Storage

Soap Making

For a few years now I've been wanting to make soap but was too frightened.  I think I was frightened of the safety aspect and the unknown.

Soap making was one of my goals for this year so I thought it was time to take the plunge. I came across a very simple and cheap recipe from a blog I follow called House of Simple.  Phil is the blog writer and he promised it would be easy.  So one Saturday I followed the instructions ( to the letter ) and the soap turned out beautifully.

Here are the instructions from House of Simple ( used with permission )  


Blended Vegetable Oil Soap
Safety Note: Wear eye protection, mask and gloves, keep kids and pets away, perform in close proximity to running water in case of spills, keep a window open for ventilation.



INGREDIENTS

1.25 litres of cheap blended vegetable oil (no name is perfect)
173 grams of caustic soda
450 mils of water


METHOD(please follow method exactly in this order)


1. Place water into a very large plastic mixing bowl
2. Pour caustic soda very slowly into water whilst stirring continually with a wooden or plastic spoon until dissolved
3. Add in vegetable oil slowly, stirring all the while with a wooden or plastic spoon
4. Mix with stick blender till a firm trace has occurred - must look like thick custard.
5. Place into large plastic flat-bottomed container - cover with an old towel.
6. Leave totally undisturbed for 24 hours7. Remove from plastic container (twist the container slightly - turn upside down to pop out).8. Cut into bars with the sharpest knife you have

9. Put bars away on a wire rack in a cool airy place to cure for 6 weeks

This recipe will make about 12 bars of simple, frugal and lovely-to-use soap. This recipe is a great one to start with if you have not made soap before as there is no oil blending required, no thermometers required, no special molds or perfumes required either. The ingredients are not expensive which is important for a first time soap maker and vegetable oil is very forgiving

Wendy's notes -

*  I used silicon baking moulds as well as small oblong cake tins.  Silicon baking moulds can be found really cheap at op shops.

*  If using metal cake tins,  line them with cling wrap first for easy removal of the soap when it sets.

*  If the soap hasn't set enough within 24 hours, leave it for another 24 hours then you should be able to remove it from the moulds.

*  If you have an Aldi near you,  they have the cheapest blended vegetable oil at under $8 for 4 litres.

*  I bought the Caustic Soda from Bunnings.  I think it was in the paint section.  Make sure the container has the words "  for soap making " on it.

*  Make sure you have all your moulds close by and ready to use straight after the mixture reaches trace.

*  These soaps will make wonderful presents when added to a fancy face washer or hand towel.

*  I did not put a coloring or fragrance in the soap as I have skin allergies.

Some of the soaps I made

Reaching trace.  It looks like thick custard

Rose moulds

Waiting for the soap  to set

This was from Bunnings

This Week's Frugal Tasks 3rd October 2015

I've come to the end of my week and I'm feeling good about what I've achieved.  Here's my frugal  list -

*  Picked,  blanched and froze some broccoli from our garden.  I also diced the stalks and froze it to be used in casseroles.

*  Picked silverbeet for a couple of meals.

*  Made Raspberry and White Chocolate Muffins and sold them to a cleaning client.

*  Fed the compost with all kitchen scraps.

*  Sold four dozen eggs to friends and neighbours.

*  Made lots of cards for up coming birthdays.

*  Mended two pairs of socks.

*  I thought my broccoli was almost finished.  When I went out to check on it I found enough florets for another meal.

*  Sold four of my handmade cards.

*  Bought four packs of 16 roll Kleenex Cottonelle on clearance in Big W for $5 a pack.  This was reduced from $15 and the rolls are extra long with 270 sheets each.  I don't usually buy this brand but the price was too good to refuse.

*  Bought some binder books in Big W for 20 cents each.  These will be good for the girls for school and Uni.

*  Darren emptied a compost bin onto a veg garden bed.  This lifted the soil level for free.

*  Gratefully received some teabag samples from Cath.

*  Went craft shopping with Cath and picked up some bargain card making supplies.  I bought lots of embossing folders for $3.38 each  These retail for $6 in Spotlight.  At one shop they had lots of free card making brochures.  Some had images I can cut out to use on cards.  Some even had free papers to use.

*  Only spent $5.50 this week on milk and bananas.

*  Bought some clearance bargains in Big W.  Packs of 5 cards and envelopes for 50 cents.  Packs of AA batteries 10 per pack for 50 cents,   iphone screen protectors 3 per pack for $1.  Packets of Bic pens 25 per pack for 50 cents.  Plastic sheet protectors ( for paper ) 100 per pack for 50 cents.  I was very careful to only buy what we can use.

*  Dried the washing on the line and clothes horses.  Saved lots of shower water and washing machine water for each next load.

*  Made a quadruple batch of laundry powder.

My birthday photo

Cards I made and sold

Broccoli florets

Our chicken's pretty eggs.

Pear tree in blossom

Darren's cherry tree

Cherry blossom

More flowers

What frugal tasks did you complete this week ?