This Week's Frugal Tasks 14th November 2015

There's always lots of money to be saved around the home.  Most of these tasks only take about 5 minutes to complete but the savings really add up.  Here's what we got up to this week -.

*  Made lots of jars of strawberry and apple jam.

*  Gratefully received some home maker magazines.  I'll be able to use some images in my card making.

*  Gratefully received some lemon cordial from a friend.

*  Gratefully received a beautiful hand made card with a gift suprise inside.  Thankyou to my friend  xoxo

*  Decorated some recycled gift bags

*  Baked a batch of Anzac biscuits.

*  Picked a handful of strawberries every couple of days.

*  Bought a loganberry plant of clearance for $5.  It's looking a bit sad so Darren put it in a bucket of water.

*  Sold excess eggs and two jars of jam

*  Dried the washing on clotheshorses.

*  Did lots of Christmas shopping.  Most things were on sale or scanned at cheaper prices. 

*  Repotted some raspberry plants that are growing a little wild.  They have good roots on them so I hope they survive.

*  Bought some Village movie gift cards with 10% off from Coles.  These will be Christmas presents.  Combined with the discount offered by Telstra or RACV,  the tickets will be quite cheap.

*  Saved the shower warm up water to use on the veggie seedlings.

*  Ate freezer meals two night this week.

*  Bought a 500 gram punnet of cherries for $1.99 and a 1 kilo container of apples also for $1.99.

* Jessica put together four Christmas presents for some of her friends.  She used recycled gift bags and tissue paper,  handmade cards from our card box and regifted toiletry packs.  Myself and the girls get given many toiletry packs as presents.  Unfortunately we can't use them due to skin allergies.  By regifting them,  we save money and reduce landfill

*  Picked some hydrangeas from the garden.  I've been watching the blooms form for the last couple of weeks.  They make such a beautiful cut flower.

*  Darren saved $125 on our home and contents insurance by going online  to our provider.  The online quote was pretty good but it asked if Darren was happy with the quote. he typed in " no'  an even better quote came up.  He's very happy with the savings.

From the garden

Along the driveway

Decorated gift bags

Jam making

The haul

Jessica's presents for fiends

What did you do to save time,  money or energy ?

Grocery Specials Wednesday 11th November 2015

Here are this week's best grocery specials -

COLES-

*  Peters Drumstick 4 Pack-6 Pack 475mL-490mL1/2 PRICE Was $7.99, Save $4.00  Now $3.99 each

*  Supercoat Dry Dog Food 8kg 1/2 PRICE Was $24.00, Save $12.00 Now $12.00 each

*  Cadbury Boxed Favourites or Mini Blocks 320g 1/2 PRICE Was $12.00, Save $6.00  Now $6.00 each

*  Arnott’s Shapes Light & Crispy 120g 1/2 PRICE Was $3.00, Save $1.50  Now $1.50 each

*  Smith’s Thinly Cut Potato Chips 175g 1/2 PRICE Was $3.20, Save $1.61  Now $1.59 each

*  Golden Circle Fruit Juice 2 Litre or 6x200mL, Fruit Drink 6x250mL or Cordial 2 Litre Save $2.20
Now 2 for $5.00

*  Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain 290g, Coco Pops 375g or Special K 300g Was $4.59, Save $1.59  Now $3.00 each

*  MasterFoods Tomato Sauce 500mL1/2 PRICE Was $2.85, Save $1.43  Now $1.42 each

*  Gold Choice Oil 4 Litre or La Española Rice Bran Oil 3 Litre 1/2 PRICE Was $18.00, Save $9.00 
Now $9.00 each

*  Nando’s Mild Peri Peri Sauce 125mL1/2 PRICE Was $3.65, Save $1.83  Now $1.82 each

*  Praise Dressings 330mL or Mayonnaise 365g-410g Was $3.39, Save $1.39  Now $2.00 each  This might be the best sale price you'll get over Summer.

*  Mission Burrito Tortilla 12 Pack 576g 1/2 PRICE Was $3.99, Save $2.00  Now $1.99 each

*  SunRice Brown or White Jasmine Rice 5kg 1/2 PRICE Was $13.60, Save $6.80  Now $6.80 each

*  Cottee’s Jam 500g Was $3.35, Save $1.35  Now $2.00 each.  A great price.  If you are a friend of mine and buy this,  could you please save the jar for me ?  I'll be making jam soon.

*  40% off Bonds.

*  Village Cinemas or Best Restaurants of Australia Gift Cards 10% OFF selected gift cards.   Combine this with the discounted tickets from RACV etc and Telstra to get a better deal.

*    Norsca Anti-Perspirant Deodorant 150g 1/2 PRICE Was $5.99, Save $3.00  Now $2.99 each

*   Palmolive Naturals Shower Milk 500mLWas $5.39, Save $2.39  Now $3.00 each.  A great price.

*  Garnier Fructis Shampoo or Conditioner 250mL 1/2 PRICE Was $5.45, Save $2.73  Now $2.72 each

*  Garnier Fructis Shampoo or Conditioner 700mL 1/2 PRICE Was $12.00, Save $6.00  Now $6.00 each

*  U By Kotex Ultrathin Pads with Wings 14 Pack Buy 2 & get the 3rd FREE on U By Kotex Pads, Tampons & Liners.Lowest priced item free.Excludes clearance items.$5.00 each.  This works out to $3.33 per item,

*  Glen 20 Disinfectant Spray 300g Was $6.79, Save $2.79  Now $4.00 each

*  Energizer Max Batteries AA 10 Pack 1/2 PRICE Was $13.19, Save $6.60  Now $6.59 each

WOOLWORTHS -

*   Arnott’s Shapes 160-190g, Extreme 130g, Savoy Crackers 180-250g or Vita Weat Rice Crackers 90g Now $2.00 each Save up to $1.00

*  Lipton Tea Bags Cup Black Pk 100 Now $3.00 each 30% off, Save $1.69 30% off All Lipton.*Offer excludes Lipton Value Pack 3 x 100 Pk & Lipton Tea Leaf Quality Tips 250g.

*  Lavazza Coffee Beans or Ground 500g Now $9.70 each 1/2 Price, Save $9.72
 
*    Cadbury Roses Christmas Tin 620g Now $14.00 each  Save $14.00

*   Nestle Bits 250g, Melts 375g, Chunks 180g, Plaistowe 180-200g or Cocoa 190g Now $2.00 each Save up to $2.75

*   Energizer Max Battery AA Pk 16 or Energizer Max Battery AAA Pk 14 Now $9.74 each 1/2 Price, Save up to $9.76

*  Carefree Ultra Thin Pads Pk 7-10 or Sweet Dreams Night Pad Pk 7 Now $2.20 each 1/2 Price, Save $2.29

* Dynamo Laundry Liquid 900ml/1 Litre Now $5.00 each 1/2 Price, Save $5.00

*  Mars Maltesers Box 360g Now $5.00 each 1/2 Price, Save $5.00

*  Dr Oetker Ristorante Pizza 310-390g Now $3.75 each 1/2 Price, Save $3.75

*   Kelloggs Nutri-Grain 500g, Coco Pops 650g, Sultana Bran 730g, Special K 535g, Nutri-Grain Edge Clusters 500g or Nutri-Grain Bars Pk 10 2 for $9.00 Save from $3.00  $5.00 each Save up to $2.29

How I Freeze Food

A couple of weeks ago I showed you what was in my freezers and gave you the list.

This week I thought I'd explain how I store the food to avoid spoilage and waste.

Here's what I use -

*  Plastic containers of all sizes.

*  Takeaway food containers

*  Cling wrap

*  Foil

*  Freezer bags,  large and small

*  Cereal packets cut up into squares are used as go between to stop cut of meat or soup sticking together.

*  Masking tape and permanent markers for labels

*  Recycled plastic fruit and veg bags

*  Recycled bread bags
 

When I make soup,  I always make a big pot to save time and energy.  As yummy as it is,  we can't eat it quick enough.  So I always make sure I freeze some.  I have small flat containers that I use for this purpose.  They are the Starmaid brand but I don't think they are sold any more.  I fill up each container as this represents one single serve.  Once cooled in the fridge,  the lids are put on and frozen in a stack.  Once frozen,  I pop the soup out of the container.  I slip a piece of cereal packet on top of the soup and pop another soup serve on top.  Then they are double wrapped in freezer bags and placed back in the freezer.  If I have multiple types of soup in the freezer,  I label the soups and date them.

I pop the soups out of their containers because even though I have lots of containers,  I very quickly run out.

Lamb chops are taken off their trays and portioned into meal sizes which is usually one chop per person.  Once again I slip a piece of cereal packet between each chop then double wrap in freezer bags.

Mince is portioned into 300 gram and 400 gram serves.  300 grams is for chop suey and spag bol, 3 x 300 gram does lasagne.  $00 grams is used for meat pie,  meatloaf and cassroles.  Each portion is wrapped in cling wrap.  Then a few portions are put into large freezer bags and labelled and dated.

Diced beef is portioned into 500 gram lots for stew.  I pack it into a snap lock bag,  flatten and label.

Roast beef and silverside is always cut in half as it's way to big for the four of us.  I wrap it in cling warp, label and date then wrap in a freezer bag.

Sausages are portioned into meal sizes which is six for us.  I wrap in cling wrap then multiple portions are put into a large freezer bag.

Single serves of leftovers are put into the flat takeaway food containers.  They are dated and labelled.

For chicken fillets,  I take the skin off,  trim the sinues off  and place individually into frezer bags.  Multiple fillets are then placed into a larger freezer bag.  It's easy to grab the amount of fillets needed when they are single.

Hamburger patties are stacked on top of each other with the cereal bag squares put inbetween.  We only have one atty per person and they are double wrapped.

Lemon ice cubes are placed either in snaplock bags or takeaway food containers.  Same with tomato paste.

Any baking is double wrapped.  Cakes are dated and labelled so I know what the flavour is.

Final notes -

*  Bread bags are used  for the outer wrapping for many items
*  I always rotate all meat,  baking and meals to avoid food being frozen for too long.
*  I delegate one shelf for each type of meat where possible.  All beef mince and hamburgers on one shelf,  all chicken on one shelf,  all roasts on one shelf,  all soup on one shelf,  leftovers in one drawaer etc etc,
*. I label meat with masking tape on the first layer of plastic then wrap again.  It prevents the label falling off.
*  I don't have glass containers in my freezer because they are too expensive and I'd need so many.
*  It sounds like I use a lot of plastic bags and wrap but I try to recycle where I can.  I bought a big roll of large freezer bags from Tasman Meats a couple of years ago.  This has saved a lot of money and I reuse them..
* I use everything within one year. 


I think that's explained most of the ways I freeze things.  I guess the most important things to do is to double wrap,  rotate and label.

If you have any questions,  please feel free to ask.

Freezer meals - free food

Chicken curry ready for the freezer

Pasta sauce in meal sizes

One of my freezers

Freezer equipment

Starmaid containers

Takeaway food containers given to us.

This Week's Frugal Tasks 7th November 2015

It was a bit hit and miss trying to get into the garden this week.  Although we are very grateful for the rain,  we had so much we wanted to do outside.  Here's our frugal list for the week -

*  Gratefully received some mini Christmas puddings / cake from a friend

*  Made dried bread crumbs out of saved bread crusts.  I love free items and no waste.

*  Made wholemeal bread rolls.  Some were used for homemade hamburgers.

*  Kept the heater off as much as possible.  It would be easier if we had real Spring weather not hot then cold.

*  Saved the bread bags from a charity bbq.  Some were use to line the bathroom bins.

*  Picked silverbeet and spinach for a couple of meals.

*  Dried all the washing on clotheshorses and the line.  I can't remember the last time i used the dryer.  It's still good to have one just in case.

*  Gratefully received some water crackers and chocolates.

*  Diluted the last of the cheap laundry liquid I bought years ago from Sam's Warehouse for 97 cents a bottle.  Each bottle gives me about 30 washes.  When diluted I get 60.  It smells so nice that I save it for when the washing is a little smelly.

*  Bought a huge head of cauliflower for 99 cents.  I haven't been able to buy cauliflower for so long as it's been expensive.  I also bought a small whole Kent pumpkin for 99 cents a kilo.

*  .Gratefully received about 3 - 4 kilos of strawberries from a friend.  I'll be making lots of jam for eating and present giving. Thankyou to my friend.  The strawberries are a real blessing  xoxo

*  Cut out some rose pictures from wrapping paper.  These will be used to decorate gift bags "Annabel style. "

*  Planted out lots of bean seedlings.  I also planted more dwarf bean and lettuce seeds.  Five minutes later the heavens opened up and down came the rain.

*  Ate out of the freezer two nights this week.

*  Gratefully received some bbq sausages.  I made them into a sausage casserole that gave us 10 serves ( 6 for the freezer ).

*  Made a double batch of Anzac biscuit dough for the freezer.  I'll be baking some of this on Christmas Eve for presents.

*  Saved the shower warm up water for the garden.

*  Fed the compost and worm farm with kitchen scraps.

*  Picked the first of our strawberries for the season.

In the garden

Raspberry bushes

Raspberries growing

Our first strawberries

From the garden ( chicken coop )

Bread rolls

Biscuit ( cookie ) dough

Our blessing

Darren sorting out his bulbs and Princess having fun

Wrapping paper roses from Annabel's birthday gift

What fugal tasks did you complete this week ?

Grocery Specials Wednesday 4th November 2015

As you can imagine,  at this time of the year there are lots of specials on chocolates,  drinks,  chips and other party food.  I couldn't post them all so I picked the best.  Here are this week's best grocery specials -

COLES -

*  Ferrero Rocher Collection 15 Pack 172g or 16 Pack 200g 1/2 PRICE Was $12.60, Save $6.30  Now $6.30 each

*  Real Foods Corn Thins 125g-150g 1/2 PRICE Was $2.00, Save $1.00  Now $1.00 each

*  Toblerone Milk Chocolate 400g 1/2 PRICE Was $10.60, Save $5.30 Now $5.30 each

*  Nutella Hazelnut Spread 750g Was $8.55, Save $3.55  Now$5.00 each   i don't buy this any more but it seems like a good price.

*  Vitasoy Almond Unsweetened Long Life Milk or Coconut Unsweetened Long Life Milk 1 Litre
1/2 PRICE Was $3.79, Save $1.90  Now $1.89 each

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

*  Golden Circle Beetroot 450g.Save $1.60  Now 2 for $2.00

*  Harvest 425g 1/2 PRICE Was $3.49, Save $1.75 Now $1.74 each.  I don't buy these meals but if you don't cook or want a few ready made meals,  this is a great price.  Certainly cheaper that takeaway food.

*  Selected DVDs 1/2 PRICE The Box Trolls, Despicable Me & Despicable Me 2.Was $16.00, Save $8.00  Now $8.00 each

*  Décor Microsafe Container Oblong 900mLWas $6.00, Save $3.00  Now $3.00 each
1/2 PRICE Decor Microsafe.On sale for 2 weeks.

*  Carefree Regular Tampons 20 Pack Was $5.00, Save $2.00  Now $3.00 each.  From memory,  this is the best sale price.

*  L’Oréal Elvive Shampoo or Conditioner 700mL1/2 PRICE Was $13.95, Save $6.98  Now $6.97 each

*  Imperial Leather Body Wash 1 Litre 1/2 PRICE Was $9.00, Save $4.50  Now $4.50 each

*  Kleenex 3 Ply Soothing Care Aloe Vera or Eucalyptus Facial Tissues 95 Pack 1/2 PRICE Was $2.50, Save $1.25  Now $1.25 each.  I know these are dearer than Aldi or no name but they might be handy to have for colds.

*    Mars M&Ms or Maltesers 140g-200g 1/2 PRICE Was $4.25, Save $2.13  Now $2.12 each.  Great for Christmas stockings.


WOOLWORTHS -

*  Cadbury Dairy Milk Blocks 190-200g or Cadbury Old Gold Blocks 200g Now $2.49 each 1/2 Price, Save $2.50  

*  Coca-Cola, Sprite or Fanta Varieties 2 Litre Now $1.99 each 1/2 Price, Save $2.00

*  Cadbury Favourites or Mini Blocks 320g Now $6.00 each 1/2 Price, Save $6.00

*  Golden Circle Juice or Cordial Varieties 2 Litre Now $2.00 each Save up to $2.00

*  All Nescafe 25% off

*  Golden Circle Sliced Beetroot 450g or Corn 410g Now $0.85 each 1/2 Price, Save up to $0.95

*  Cinnamon Donuts Pk 12 Now $2.00 each 1/2 Price, Save $2.00 

*  Mission Round Pizza Bases 200g Pk 2 Now $1.99 each 1/2 Price, Save $2.00

*   1/2 Price All Sistema Klip It.

*  Fuji Xerox Performer Copy Paper A4 500 Sheets Now $3.00 each1/2 Price, Save $3.00

*  Vaseline Body Lotion 400ml Variants Now $4.49 each 1/2 Price, Save $4.50

*    1/2 Price All Dove Hair Care

*  Handee Paper Towel Pk 2 Now $2.00 each Save $1.50

*  All Old El Paso Mexican Kits 279-520g – Excludes Old El Paso Taco Hard Kit 290g or Old El Paso Fajita Kit 485g 1/2 Price All Old El Paso Mexican Kits.Now $3.00 each 1/2 Price, Save up to $3.99

*  Cheese & Bacon, Spicy Mexican, Cheese or Cheese & Caramelised Onion Rolls Pk 4 Now $2.10 each 1/2 Price, Save $2.10



TASMAN MEATS -

*  Lamb BBQ chops $6.99 kg.  On sale until 16 / 11 / 2015

Honey Soy Chicken

Once upon a time I was one of those people who bought sauces to pour over chicken to make a tasty meal.  This recipe was one of the first I attempted to make from scratch so I could save a little money and reduce our consumption of preservatives.  Once cooked,  the chicken is tasty,  sticky and worthy of licking your fingers.  

3 tablespoon of plain flour 

2 tablespoons of honey

2 tablespoons of soy sauce

Dried onion flakes

Dried chives

Pepper to taste

Garlic powder or granules

Chicken pieces – any piece will do.

Aprox. 2 tablespoons of olive oil

Coat the chicken pieces in flour.

Brown the chicken in a fry pan with the olive oil.  Transfer to an oven dish.

Melt the honey in the microwave for 20 seconds until runny.  

Add the soy sauce and stir.  

Using a pastry brush,  brush the sauce over the chicken pieces 

Sprinkle the seasonings over the chicken.

Cook covered in the oven for 20 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius   
Turn the chicken over,  baste with the juices and cook for another 20 minutes uncovered. . 

Serve with rice or mash and vegetables.

Ready to eat

Browned and seasoned

Half way through cooking in the oven.