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 ?

Grocery Specials Wednesday 30th September 2015

The caralogues are full of footy finals food.  I'll let you decide if you think it's a bargain.

Here are this week's best specials -

COLES -

*  Cadbury Sharepacks 160g-180g 1/2 PRICE Was $4.59, Save $2.30  Now $2.29 each.  Might be worth stocking up now for Christmas stockings.

*    Fountain Tomato Sauce 2 Litre 1/2 PRICE Was $5.50, Save $2.75  Now $2.75 each.  A great itme to stock up for Summer bbqs.

*  Willow Cooler 25 Litre 1/2 PRICE Was $42.00, Save $22.00  Now $20.00 each  A Christmas present maybe ?

*  Mars Celebrations Box Chocolate 300g 1/2 PRICE Was $10.00, Save $5.00 Now $5.00 each.  Great for Kris Kringles

*  Alfa One Rice Bran Oil 3 Litre, Gold Choice Canola, Vegetable or Sunflower Oil 4 Litre
1/2 PRICE Was $18.00, Save $9.00  Now $9.00 each

*  40% off all Bonds underwear and socks.

*  Dove Body Wash 1 Litre 1/2 PRICE Was $13.70, Save $6.85  Now $6.85 each


WOOLWORTHS -

*  U by Kotex Tampons Pk 16 2 for $7.00 Save $2.38

*  Morning Fresh Dishwashing Liquid 900ml Now $3.49 each 1/2 Price, Save $3.50

*  Energizer Max Battery AA Pk 10 Now $6.58 each 1/2 Price, Save $6.59

*  Energizer Max Battery AAA Pk 8 Now $6.79 each 1/2 Price, Save $6.79

*  20% Off iTunes Gift Cards Excludes iTunes $20 & variable cards.

*  John Frieda Precision Foam Haircolour 2 for $25.00 Save $20.98

My stockpile.

Whole Orange Cake

This cake uses the whole orange - yes,  rind and all.  To save costs,  buy oranges in Winter when they are cheap,  whiz in the food processor and freeze in containers.   The fragrance of this cake is just lovely and the texture is rustic.  There's nothing artificial and the flavour is real.

1 whole orange cut into eighths
1  cup of  sugar
3 eggs
1 cup of Canola oil or 1/2 and 1/2 with olive oil
2 cups SR flour

In a food processor whiz one whole orange.  Make sure there are no pips.

Add the eggs,  sugar and oil and whiz until well combined

.

Add the flour and whiz again.

Pour into a large greased fluted ring cake tin or two medium loaf tins

Bake in a 180 degrees Celsius oven for about 40 minutes until  the middle springs back

.

Turn onto a cake rack when cool

This cake can be iced with lemon icing and dusted with coconut.

Notes -

*  This cake freezes well without the icing.

* The batter can be made into cupcakes.

This Week's Frugal Tasks 26th September 2015

*  Saved the Wheat Bix crumbs from the bottom of the bag and poured them into the Dried Seasoned Bread Crumbs container.

*  Fed the compost with lots of leafy greens and veggie scraps.

*  We went to the Melbourne Show on Tuesday.  Darren went for free as his sister's companion ( she has a disability ).  Megan and I bought our tickets online and got the early bird discount on a student ticket and a concession ticket.

*  Baked Cranberry Hootycreek biscuits to take to the show as snacks.  We also took our water bottles.

*  Ate freezer meals one night this week and also added to the stockpile with two single serves of sausage casserole.

*  Saved lots of water from the shower to pour into the washing machine. Also saved the final rinse water for the next load.

*  Cleaned the dishwasher and filters with Miracle Spray,  bi carb and vinegar.  I try to do this once a month and run it on an empty hot cycle.

* Baked four loaves of wholemeal bread.

*  Dried all the washing on the line and clothes horses.  The weather has been lovely.

*  Went to a Cheapskates card making afternoon.  I learnt to make a few different cards and flowers.  We also had a swap table.  I was blessed with some material,  plants and craft supplies.  I blessed other with glass jars and lemons.

*  Washed out some snap lock bags that were given to me.

* Picked broccoli and spinach to go in a few meals.

*  Sold two dozen eggs at the card making afternoon.

*  Bought four crumpet rings from Savers for $1.80.  I think they usually retail for about $4 per ring.  As soon as we've finished eating our store bought crumpets,  I'll try making my own with a recipe on the Cheapskates website.

*  Only spent $4 on groceries this week and that was on milk.  With all the fruit and veg bargains I bought  1 1/2 weeks ago,  we didn't need anything else.

*  Continued de- cluttering and took two bags of goodies to the op shop and received two discount stamps for future purchases.

*  Turned the heater off when possible and made sure the curtains were wide open to let the sun stream in.

Our raspberry plants are growing so quickly.

This photo was taken 11 days ago

Darren's proud of his flowers grown from cuttings.

Little raspberry plants popping up everywhere

Gracie

Dixie

Sophie

The girls who won't keep still for a photo

Crumpet rings

Princess - the only place to rest.

What's on your frugal list for this week ?