The
theme for this year is “Laser focused, hunkered down and spending as
little money as possible.”
(picture: an iris in my front yard.)
Let’s
see how we did this week …
In the Vegetable Garden: I planted storage onions and the last of the potatoes. I staggered the planting of our potatoes this year so that they wouldn't all be ready to harvest at the same time.
I also planted cabbage and broccoli along with spring onions. This finishes up our early spring planting.
Towards the end of March and the first half of April, we will do our 'Spring' planting which will include things like tomatoes, beans, squashes, okra, FLOWERS, etc.
In the Kitchen: I made what is becoming a weekly baking of sourdough crackers. Both of us enjoy them and they are so convenient to just reach in the jar and grab a few for a quick snack. They're really good with some kefir cheese spread on top too!
A quick meal I threw together from my pantry one night was:
Home-canned pulled pork (I opened the jar, dumped it in a pot and heated it up. I brought it to a boil and let it simmer for about 10 minutes, drained it and added BBQ sauce.)
Purple hull peas (I opened a jar, dumped into a pot, brought them to a boil and let them simmer for about 10 minutes. I set out a jar of home-canned pepper relish to be served with the peas.)
Fried pears (I opened a jar, drained them into a skillet, added a sweetener and fried them up in butter until they were caramelized.)
It was easy to prepare and quite delicious!
In the Pantry: My preserving day this week was on Monday, and I harvested the second cutting of nettles and parsley for the year. I used the dehydrator this time to dry them as it's too warm to have the wood stove burning. (Our high on Monday was 74, on Tuesday it was 78.) (pictured: nettles)
I also harvested tarragon.
My nettles have really taken off and I'm doing my best to harvest them as often as possible. The early spring cuttings are the most potent and I want to collect as many of them as I can.
Health/Fitness: I had gotten slack with my exercising due to my fall and was using it as an excuse long after it should have been used as an excuse, if you know what I mean. None of this health and fitness stuff comes easy for me which means I really have to set some hard and fast rules to help keep myself in line with my goals. You know the mindset I’m talking about; I want health and fitness, but I don’t want to do the work kind of thing! This week I reset myself to the goal of getting in 10,000 steps per day. This is what it looked like … (Sunday is my day off, so it’s not listed in the daily goals.)
Monday:
13,652 steps
Tuesday: 10,000 steps
Wednesday: 10,011 steps
Thursday: 10,260 steps
Friday: 13,677 steps
Saturday: 10,000
I have to be honest and tell you that my heart was not in exercising this week ... but I pushed through anyway and every single time I was so glad afterwards that I had! Sometimes, it's a mind over matter issue and that's what it was for me this week!
I read this quote yesterday, and it describes my week in regard to my health and fitness:
"You have to be determined to stay motivated and remain dedicated to get to your destination."
I wrote it in my fitness journal! Enough said!
Thrifting, Bargain, and/or Loss Leader Shopping: We found 1-pound rolls of sausage on markdown from $5.29 to $3.11 each. I can remember a time not too long ago that I would never have paid $3.11 for a pound of sausage ... now it's a 'clearance/markdown' price! I also found marked down overripe bananas for $.32/lb.
We went to three different stores looking for bargains and found so very few. In almost every 'mark-down' price, it was still more than we could afford to pay. There were 3 ladies, who were not together, but were behind us in one store shopping for bargains as well. We all struck up a conversation on food prices, people are really struggling with being able to afford to buy food. One of the ladies, she looked to be in her late 70's, early 80's, quite emphatically told us all that we were headed for a depression. It was quite the interesting conversation and was a glimpse of the heart of people everywhere who are struggling in this economy.
Needless to say, hubby and I left the stores today with a clearer view of why we do what we do, garden, stretch, save, sacrifice and keep on keeping on. At one point in the store, we looked at each other and hubby said, 'how do people afford to eat?' My reply was, "I don't know, but I think I'm more determined than ever to keep researching, learning and doing what we do!"
I really want us here at A Working Pantry to share and help each other as much as possible navigate these difficult times. We can do that by sharing what we're doing to save and stretch and not waste what we have. I so appreciate those who do that through commenting. I learn from each of you as I hope you learn from me.
From my Sewing Nook: I'm going to leave this here as a category, but truthfully, now that gardening season has started, there will be little time for sewing. We'll just take it one week at a time and see how things go!
I do have this to report which is sewing related. I had some money left on a Hobby Lobby gift card I got for Christmas so stopped in at one while running errands on day and found some marked down fabric from $6.99 to $2.00 per yard. I checked it thoroughly, it was a tightly woven, thick fabric that felt like decent quality, so I purchased it. I have in mind a nice summer skirt made out of it ... if I can find the time.
What I’m Reading: I started reading Prairie Fires, the American
Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder by Caroline Fraser. I’ve had this book requested for several months
and have been patiently waiting for my turn via the Libby app to read it. It came this week and I’ve been enjoying it
very much. It only has 1,341 pages,
which means I need to be diligent about getting it read in my time allotment
(21 days) as there are others waiting for me to finish.
Bible Study: I completed and posted lesson 21 in our ladies Bible study on Esther. It can be found HERE. There are 2 more lessons in this study and then we’ll be ready to move on to something else.
I started a 12-week in-depth study on the book of Proverbs being taught online by the ladies at Come Fill Your Cup. I learned several things in the introductory lesson last week that I didn't know and worked on one part of the homework which was to memorize Proverbs 1:7 ... The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. I do love an in-depth Bible study that uses the Bible as it's textbook.
Continuing Education and Skills: I learned how to make kefir cheese this week. You can read about how I did it HERE.
I spied new baby elderberry bushes coming up (pictured)!
In the Flower Garden: still waiting on that 'warm enough weather' to plant the seeds.
This week’s frugal quote/discussion topic … For a lot of people, it's becoming a real challenge to stay out of debt because of continued rising prices, what are your thoughts?
That’s
it for this week, what has your week looked like? What are your thoughts?
until
next time,
mrs.
patsi @ A Working Pantry
She
looketh well to the ways of her household … Proverbs 31:27
Sharing 44 years' experience of frugal, prudent living
and pantry building
My second blog: From This Heart of Mine, where I share my love for God and
His Word through my personal Bibe study. Physical preparedness is
important, but not near as important as spiritual preparedness. Ladies,
join me over at From This Heart of Mine and study God's Word with me.
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I always enjoy and appreciate your posts. The pears sound delicious!
ReplyDeleteThank you and the pears are delicious!
DeleteGood morning, Patsi
ReplyDeleteI love reading about your productive days, The quick and easy meal you prepared sounded so delicious, especially the fried pears. Those pears will be on our dinner menu tonight. I made note of the book you're reading and will try to get it from our library. This week was certain a mixed bag of weather, heavy rains that had us staying in, sunshine and temps in the 60s, which saw us out walking for our exercise, temp drops back into the 40s and more heavy rain and creek and stream flooding and snow squalls, and now freezing temps with 50 mile an hour wind this morning. Tomorrow it all changes yet again and back up into the 60s and 70s all week until Saturday when the temps will plummet back down, so we are planning our week accordingly.
Miraculously, the volunteer lettuce that we put under mason jars has survived it all and is large enough to start picking leaves for sandwiches. These particular seeds are amazing and I will intentionally sow for winter growth next year. Stretched meals this week were pizza with a side of chicken ceasar salad using the last of the romaine and left over chicken, meatloaf from the freezer with colcannon made into potato cakes and broccoli. I made a batch of no roll crackers for quick snacks and baked 3 dz. banana chocolate chip muffins for the marked down bananas. Pulled out my recipe for uncured pepperoni and will be making some this week. It is so easy to do. After it's done I slice it up and flash freeze the slices and vacuum seal it in portions.
Have a blessed week. Cookie
Cookie, I love reading about your productiveness too, I always come away learning something! Our weather is up and down too minus the snow squalls. I'm interested in your uncured pepperoni recipe. I bought pepperoni slices this week and the price was more than the last time I purchased them.
DeleteYes! I agree! People are struggling and the homeless and those who have sad story signs are everywhere here. As long as we can afford it we will keep handing water out our car windows. I have come to the conclusion that it is not the water but the fact that we 'saw' them and recognized their situation that makes them so grateful.
ReplyDeleteI did see that prices are down at Sam's and it may be more of our go to store than ever before. I went on the app and pulled up categories such as 'fruit' and 'vegetable' and 'cheese' and looked at what they had and the prices and it helped me to make a list of those items that were a savings over anywhere else. They seem to be holding the line on meat prices. We paid more at the salvage store for some items than ever before but they were great deals in comparison to other stores.
I've been thinking a lot about my four great aunts lately. They sure knew how to stretch pennies. The most hilarious story was all of them downtown shopping together and one felt her underwear slipping down as they were crossing the street because the elastic was worn out. She got to the other side and kicked those panties in the gutter and kept on walking with her head held high. That is the perfect description of all of them. Make do and keep on going with your head held high!
Lana, I laughed so hard at your great aunt's underwear story!! Thank you for sharing! I'd love to hear about your four great aunts' frugality, I'm all about learning from those who have gone before us.
DeleteThe homeless population seems to be increasing in the cities around us too along with those who are taking advantage of the generosity of those trying to help the homeless. It can sometimes be hard to discern whether they have a true need or if it is as one sign holder's sign said, 'why lie, I want a beer.'
Patsy, I love that it's warm enough in your area to begin some planting. Onions in are currently 69 cents each here. The potato starts at a local store were all but sold out. It seems more people are looking at growing as much of their own food as possible. Hurray on the elderberry babies!
ReplyDeleteI cooked out of the freezer this week and added fresh to the freezer. Like you, not much sales or markdowns here, but I do have a tip for anyone out in the country where there are small food markets. They're usually little places, independently owned. Heber Market is one of those. Most in Heber/Overgaard drive 30+ minutes into town to shop at Safeway, Basha's or Walmart, which are the only big grocery stores. Dollar General and Family Dollar stores are dotted throughout our region. Many folks buy groceries there. The manager at Heber Market decided to try something new, offering a "case sale" for staples. Canned veggies were less than $10 per case. In other words, pricing at less than dollar stores. Many retirees live in Heber/Overgaard. A case of peanut butter was $26.10, but that could be enough to last a year! So... those living truly rural could ask the manager of a small market if it would be possible to order cases of food at a discount? It's a win/win.
At the food pantry, when we dropped off cases of things, we were told donations are down and need is up. It had been announced a few weeks ago at the end of service what things were low in stock. It was good to be able to order a case of dry milk; that was on the list and shelf prices even at Walmart are crazy. Every time we're in a grocery store now you see sticker shock on the faces of others, too. The boxed cereal aisle is often empty of shoppers. Ditto aisles with crackers, cookies and chips. All of which to say, YES, we're seeing 1st hand how our local folks are struggling to make ends meet. Fresh produce in stores is well stocked and not moving because prices are just too high; I don't want to think of how much winds up in a store dumpster each week. To use a cliché, "it's not sustainable." Yet GOOD can come out of it. It makes it motivating to learn and do whatever we can to rely less on store prices. Hunting is really picking up here. Turkey season is about to open. The ranch store is selling out of baby chicks and ducks. Bartering is becoming a thing again on our local FB page. Seed swaps.
With interest rates as high--or higher--than during the Great Recession of 2007+ it's going to take borrowers much longer to pay off debts that have blown past record levels in America. What I'm seeing 1st hand is consumers (in our area) buying less. Making do or doing without. More are working sideline jobs, too, often odd jobs with cash or other payment. Ex. our son "hired" a guy from his gaming group to remove an old water heater and install a new one son bought, paying him via barter system... son had something the guy wanted. I see God working. Just my 2 cents. --Elise
Elise, that's a good idea to look for stores that do case sales. I don't know of any in our area that do, but then again, I haven't been actively looking. I will start looking now that you've brought it to my attention.
DeleteI like the idea of bartering and with prices continuing to increase, it just might make a comeback. Good for your son for utilize a bartering system.
That's a good point about fresh produce, I'll keep my eye on those for mark down prices as well.
Thanks for all the tips!
Patsy, if there's a truly small, independent market in your area (or for other readers), it wouldn't hurt to ask about discounts if you order cases of things like canned goods or peanut butter. One could also ask to get a call or text before produce, dairy or meat is discarded. While that wouldn't be likely in a bigger, traditional grocery store, small markets run on a tighter budget; any loss is BIG to them.
DeleteYears ago, when our youngest son was working at an independent grocery store, I got to know the butcher who told me what day/time he marked down meats for quick sale. Ditto the produce guy. They *loved* that I'd be there those mornings and stock up--less $ loss for the store! Eventually, the store manager would hand me new-to-the-store products or brands of things to try out (free) in exchange for an honest opinion. I'd often cook it up (or bake it up) and bring it in for workers to sample, letting him know if I felt it was/wasn't worth the retail price. You just never know what doors the Lord will open for you. --Elise
I learn so much from your blog, Patsi, and your comment about sharing struck a chord this morning.
ReplyDeleteWhenever I have family and friends over for the holidays, someone always brings beer. And I'm not really a beer drinker (yes, maybe one or two on a very hot summer day, but not often). Friends brought a 12-pack at Christmas, and I've got at least 6 bottles that have been sitting there. I've found that, these days, beer and soda go flat rather quickly and tends to get tossed after it sits there for months on end. With St. Patrick's Day coming up, last night I opened a bottle of beer (letover from Christmas) to see if it was still good enough to serve this weekend -- nope, it was flat! In the spirit of nothing going to waste, I use flat beer in bread. I found a very easy bread machine recipe and am sharing it, in case anyone else can use it.
BEER BREAD
Add to your bread machine in the order your machine directions state (mine is dry ingredients, followed by wet ingredients, with yeast in the top dispenser) --
3 1/2 cups four
1/4 cup sugar
2 1/4 tsp yeast (1 packet)
2 Tbsp. olive oil
12 oz. flat beer of your choice (if you don't have flat beer, pour it into a large measuring cup or mixing bowl and add 1 tsp. salt; stir and let it sit for about 15 mins.)
Close your bread machine and set it for a 2 lb. loaf, basic bread, dark crust if you prefer.
I've made this with Miller Lite, Corona, Stella, whatever I have on hand. Today, I'm trying it with a stale bottle of a Chicago-area craft beer that was leftover from Christmas. When I opened a bottle and found it flat, I just left it on the counter overnight and started my breadmaker this morning. While I've not tried it, I'm pretty sure you could substitute any non-carbonated or flat beverage for the beer. Maybe apple cider? I'll experiment with that come Fall. Enjoy!
UPDATE -- I'd measure the yeast. I may have used one packet of yeast for a half-loaf. Also, not sure I'd use a craft beer again. Not my personal taste, but in a pinch or to eliminate waste it will do.
DeleteLori, that's a good idea for anyone who has access to beer or keeps it on hand. Waste not, want not!
DeleteI am seeing the same thing in my area. Friday afternoon I went into a couple stores and I noticed immediately that there were very few people shopping. I bought only what I needed-nothing extra. In our home, we are using up every last crumb of food-nothing is going to waste. Once a week we are having a 'light' dinner which is crackers, cheese and fruit, sometimes smoked fish or sausage. I'm also not giving out as much candy in the Easter eggs for the kids as I normally do. They will still be very happy with the candy they do get and there should be less waste. I do miss the expensive snacks so I am now baking more often.
ReplyDeleteKim-Pacific Northwest
Kim, your comment is so inspiring! I am baking more too and for the same reason! Thank you for sharing!
DeleteTerri from BlueHouseJournal here. I was in the grocery on Thursday snagging some sale items and noted that many prices were higher. That was just the stuff on the outer perimeter of the store. I haven't walked down an aisle in any store in nearly a month. Just shopping produce, meat and dairy for the most part. I'm going to have to go down an aisle sooner than later because my canned goods are running out. I have one can of tomatoes just now.
ReplyDeleteBut to highlight the 'money' side of things, and not bragging but sharing true information here, our church is not a well to do church, but it is large and the people in it are giving folks. In our denomination we often top national giving for the denomination. Sunday a week ago was our 'giving' Sunday when the church asks each family to make a pledge for what they can give in the current year towards missions. For the first time ever, our pastor came on stage yesterday and asked if everyone would please consider what they pledged and whether or not it could be increased. Apparently, we were far below our usual giving level! John and I have been attending this church for years now and it's the first time we have ever heard one of our pastors ask us to 'think again'. We both agreed that we think it's a sign of the current financial state of most people at the moment.
Terri, sadly, when things get tight financially, giving is the first thing that people cut. It then creates a domino effect. It's happening everywhere, it's another piece of our economic dilemma.
DeleteWe are making a concentrated effort to look for the bargains, but only on the things we use.
Patsy, thanks for posting your exercise journey as well. I’m struggling to keep on track. I made myself go out on my lunch break and walk today.
ReplyDeleteI also cringe at food prices these days. I’m amazed that people actually pay 5.99 or more for a bag of Doritos. I can guarantee my kids would be snacking on pretzels and popcorn at those prices.
You're welcome. I seem to go through seasons of struggling to keep on track. For me, it's part of my journey so I have to accept it and put things in place to help me work through it. The one thing I cannot do, is allow myself to give up. I've worked too hard to get where I'm at now and I'm not giving it up without a hard fight. When I worked outside my home, I would go out and walk on my lunch bread, it was the only time I had to get it done so that's when I did it!
DeleteI've found myself shopping more like I did during early marriage years when our children were small. We were on a very tight budget and my grocery shopping consisted of fresh fruit and vegetables, dairy products ,a little chicken and ground beef, and the pantry basics. All snacks were homemade. I remember looking at other shopper's carts and wishing I could afford all their store bought snacks, not realizing I was actually feeding my family a better diet.
ReplyDeleteNow that it's just the two of us I could have the extras but refuse to pay the ridiculous prices, so once again I'm sticking to the vegetables, fruits, dairy and meat aisles, making my own breads, snacks and yogurt. This time around it's a lot more satisfying!.....Glenda
Glenda, YES! That is what we're doing! Love your comment, it is inspiring to hear that others are doing what we're doing. Bringing back the home baking in our home to save money and our health.
DeleteI agree, prices here in Minnesota have also increased. I am grateful for my pantry, home canned jars, and bulk grass fed meat. Sale prices are higher than regular prices a year ago. I used to be able to find clearance priced meats, produce, and dairy, they are hard to find now. Not sure if stores are buying less so there’s less to discount or more people are looking for deals. I know both my daughter’s grocery bills have doubled, they each have preteen kids. And they cook from scratch most of the time. They are grateful this is what was taught to them as they were growing up. I continue to stock and prepare as I can because I agree I think it will continue to become even more difficult as gas and groceries continue to rise. JulieT from Minnesota
ReplyDeleteJulie, hubby and I have had the same discussion on what the reason for fewer deals and mark downs are in the grocery stores. We came to the same conclusion as you, more people shopping for the deals and stores carrying less inventory.
DeleteLike you, we continue to do what we can, the best we can.
Hi Patsy and love your post and frugal discussion topic and know I am a bit late to the post to reply :). Well done on your exercising you are doing well. I am also on an exercise regime after exacerbating already old bulged back disc injuries last year in an incident so I have lost a lot of strength and agility that I used to have.
ReplyDeleteAs I am in Australia I thought I would tell you that we are also seeing huge price rises on groceries, fuel, rents and mortgage interest rates being on average on a fixed interest rate of 7.45 % comparison rates with all the fees added in :o . Rents are sky high here too and we are also seeing so many struggling. I am hearing parents saying to their children in the supermarkets I would love to get that for you but we don't have the money at the moment. Many pensioners on old age pensions are doing side gigs cash in hand jobs to make ends meet as insurances, electricity have skyrocketed along with food and fuel as well. I am also noticing most people having less and less items in their trolleys and the treats like potato chips etc are being bought less.
Also noticing that markdowns are far less as well as half price sales on items far less often. I do believe more people are hunting the bargains and we are noticing when there are half price sales on items that are regularly used they do sell out quickly so you have to get in mid week when the sales start to pick up these bargains.
In regard to exercise DH and I have started hydrotherapy classes and doing exercises in the magnesium water and finding it is really helping and we are also doing stretching core strengthening exercises together at home too. Yes we ache and hurt but we will get stronger by doing it.
We have been concentrating on topping up on half price sales on items we are using. Fortunately we have built up a supply of food storage so can wait for these good sales to come around to replace items we have used.
Have a great week :) .
Lorna.
Lorna, those hydrotherapy classes sound good.
DeleteHaving a well-stocked pantry is allowing us not to panic at the prices, like you we shop to re-stock and in the current economy the work that has made this possible is paying off.
Technically, we are already in a Depression according to the real, but hidden statistics. It has even been named, "The Silent Depression" - named so because it is not being discussed by those in power and the media who are intentionally covering up the truth. The poverty numbers are already much worse than in the Great Depression. During the Great Depression, families who lost their jobs returned to their Grandparents' small farms with waiting tractors and root cellars full of empty canning jars. They roared back to life feeding them and their neighbors. It is different today. Most small farms have been swallowed up by commercial farms. Not many people today know how to garden, preserve or even cook from scratch.
ReplyDeletePatsy, planting a garden and learning new skills is the wisest thing anyone can do.
Jeannie@GetMeToTheCountry