Cutting Back In 2026

 

It feels prudent to cut back and be really intentional about my spending as I make my way through 2026.  Our economy is in the toilet, people are losing their jobs, prices are steadily rising and it doesn’t seem like any of this is going to improve anytime soon.  Fortunately, my monthly expenses are fairly minimal and I don’t feel constantly pulled to consume and spend.  A lifetime of living a thrifty lifestyle has taught me how to be resourceful.  Years of downsizing, decluttering and simplifying my needs and wants has helped me to feel content and happy with what I have.

 

I've got a replacement plan mapped out

My focus this year is to maintain my current inventory with regard to good quality food as well as the nonfood items I need to keep my house clean and take care of myself.  Everything else feels negligible so I can pretty much take it or leave it.  This year I think I will leave it.  What I already have is good enough.

 

I'm sticking to the basics when it comes to groceries - REAL food for the win!

In order to better afford my lifestyle, even when prices are rising, I need to be resourceful.  I try to only buy food and nonfood items when they are on sale or come from a store that offers them at the best prices.  I also utilize paper coupons, digital coupons, special offers and gift cards to shave even more off the overall cost.  I will definitely continue to do that.

 

Fuel prices are skyrocketing so I plan to purchase less of it now

 

With gas prices leaping, I am choosing to park the car and ride the bus to and from work again.  My city ID allows me FREE access to the bus.  I am going to be walking from work to the grocery stores nearby and stopping in along my bus route to get my groceries.  Once a week I will use my car to run errands and when I do I will map out my route for maximum efficiency to save money, mileage, fuel consumption and my time.  I think that if I am efficient enough I won’t even need to do this every week.  I am looking forward to getting back to using public transportation because I’ve actually missed it.  I want the exercise and fresh air that I’ve been missing out on too.

 

I am blessed to be in good physical shape so I will be walking more
and using public transportation as well

I have plans for some fun outings and travel this spring and summer.  I think that by reining in my expenses I’ll be better able to afford to do these things despite the rise in prices without busting my budget or having to give it up altogether.  I am also working on resourceful planning to keep costs down when I go about my travels.  I can hardly wait to get going.

 

I plan to fully plant my garden beds this year

As many of you know I am, in no way, a good gardener.  Even still, I am going to do my best this year and give it another try.  I took last year off to give the garden beds a rest and add in more amendments and it was good timing too as I was getting frustrated.  I am hopeful, once again, that I can make it happen.  We shall see.  Plus, it is a good outdoor activity.

 

There are loads of FREE things to go and do in my city
I'll be packing my own drinks, snacks and picnic lunches to enjoy on my outings

Are you feeling the need to cut back and economize this year?  What are some of the things you do to save money?  Does it feel like the rise in prices are giving you more of a pinch?

 

Yard Work Begins

 

It is a little earlier than usual but we never really had winter here this year so the weeds have been growing with reckless abandon.  The new plum tree was budding out the last week of February, highly unusual.  I knew I had to get outside and finish up pruning the fruit trees as my window of opportunity was going to close early this year.

 

Pear tree

This year I worked on the fruit trees a little at a time so the job wasn’t overwhelming me or overly exhausting.  I took a little off here and there, stepped back, took off something else, then cleaned up my mess and called it a day.  Then I came back and did some more another day.  I was able to give the bunny apple and pear branches to munch on too, which makes her very happy.  In the future I think this is how I am going to approach all of the tree trimming and yard work in general.

 

Chrysanthemum

Rhubarb is poking up from the ground

I cleaned up the flower beds trimming back and removing old growth.  There were some leaves to clean up as well.  I can already see the beginnings of new growth on my rhubarb plants as well as tulips popping up all over.

 

The weeds are crazy!

I’ve been pulling weeds about every two days and once the old Kirkland detergent bucket is full I feed that pile to the chickens.  Free chicken food, they love it and the weeds are useful instead of a chore that needs to be dealt with.  It may take me a while to get them all pulled up this way, but in the end it works well for all parties involved.

 

Happy hens!

Indoors I potted up seeds to grow four tomato plants and four pepper plants.  I am using seeds I already had and amended soil from my garden.  In each of the cups I planted the tomatoes in I placed crushed up eggs shells in the bottom as tomatoes require extra calcium.  I am saving more eggs shells for when I plant them outdoors later.

 

With my garden fork I was able to turn all of the amendments I’ve been adding to the garden beds all winter as well as compost from the bin in the backyard.  Then I raked it all smooth so the beds are ready for planting in a couple months.  I typically start planting my garden the first week or two in May.  Last year I let the beds rest and did not plant anything.  This year I have plans to grow quite a few things.

 

Not the prettiest time of year, but spring is right around the corner

Have you started your yard work yet?  Do you have any big plans for landscaping or gardening this year?

 

 

Cottage Pie

 

If you want a delicious and healthy comfort meal look no further than the Cottage Pie.  I know there are many ways to make one.  Some like to make it using leftovers while some make it from scratch like me.  However you choose to make it I’m sure it will be delicious.

 

I like to start by peeling a few russet potatoes and a carrot and then cut them in one inch chunks to boil until fork tender.  While my potatoes and carrots cook I will make the filling by browning a pound of lean ground beef with a chopped onion.  Once it is cooked through I sprinkle two tablespoons of flour over the meat and stir well to coat the meat in the flour.  Next a I add a cup of beef broth, some peas and carrots, sliced mushrooms, salt and pepper to taste and let the mixture thicken and simmer.

 

Once the potatoes and carrots are cooked I drain them and then mash with whole milk and a bit of butter.  In a deep baking dish I place the meat mixture and then spread the mashed potato mixture over the top.  By running the tines of a fork over the top of the potatoes you can make grooves that crisp up when you place the pie in a preheated oven at 375° and bake until the top is browned and the pie is bubbly.  I let it sit for about ten to fifteen minutes and then serve.  

A one dish meal that truly satisfies.

 

 

My Tireless Retirement - Week 206

 

Hello friends!  Oh my goodness, Friday was beautiful, sunny, warm and calm.  The key word here is calm.  I worked all day before meeting up with friends for beers and appetizers afterward.  Great conversation and a lot of laughter as well as mutual teasing and fun with our server.  It was great.

 

Saturday was gray and gloomy outside once again, but I didn’t let that stop me.  I got busy, did the laundry and puttered around the house until it warmed up a bit outside.  Then I headed out to prune the fruit trees and pulled up a big pile of weeds and fed them to the chickens.  After all of the rain the chicken run was a bit muddy so I gave them the bin of mulched leaves I had saved for just this occasion.  Now the pen is dry and the hens are happy and well fed.

 

Later that day, I was feeling crafty so I made up a set of 2027 calendar pages and printed them off.  I used cardstock and some lined paper I also printed off to create a new day planner for next year.  I used my binding machine to put it together and spent a fair amount of time decorating the pages.  I also added a page with a pocket to tuck in postage stamps, coupons or whatever I need.  It was a lot of fun and I just love it.

 

Sunday was sunny and warmer too.  I got up, reset the clocks for Daylight Savings Time and settled in with a hot cup of coffee to sit quietly, do some writing and slowly come to life.  I love that Sundays are set aside for me to focus on myself and recharge my batteries.  Outside I was able to pull more weeds, give the raised garden beds their first turning, breathe fresh air and enjoy the sunshine.  In the garage I aired up the bike tires in preparation of a first bike ride.

 

I was able to spend some time with my LTFS dusting the shelves and home canned goods, taking an inventory (looking good!) and making some decisions about what I want to work on as far as canning and restocking.  I have a short list made up and plans for adding more home canned beef and chicken in the not too distant future.  I also added more organic grass fed lean ground beef to my next Butcher Box order.  It was on sale for a really good price if you bought it in bulk.

 

I worked all day Monday with TTO and it went fairly well, it does appear she is trying.  I just continue to take it one day at a time with that one.  I worked Tuesday morning taking a group of seniors two towns over to visit the Warhawk Museum and it was great.  Fun and very informative (although the new wing with the 911 exhibit made me tear up a bit) plus we had a wonderful guide.  Both days I rode the bus to and from work to help alleviate some of the pain from the recent jump in fuel prices.  After work on Tuesday I walked over to Trader Joes to pick up a few grocery items before getting on the bus to come home.  I finally got to use the gift card I got for Christmas.

 

Wednesday and Thursday I worked my tail off around the house getting a lot of little things done and a BIG meal prep completed using items I already had in my pantry, fridge and freezer.  Along with meals I made condiments too.  I also got outside to pull some more big weeds, another bucket full, for the chickens.  It was a very productive two days to end the week on and I was very happy with everything I managed to get done.  It was a really great week!

 

What If The SHTF?

 

With all of the crazy crap that is going on in our world right now you may be wondering what if the $hi! hits the fan and things get really bad?  I personally am not wondering what if?  I’m watching, and wondering when and I don’t think it is far off into our future.  All you have to do is pay attention with eyes and ears wide open and use common sense to realize things aren’t good.  The rest of the world sees it, but a large portion of our population has been in denial and that is the part that worries me the most because ignorance creates chaos.

 

My home is my sanctuary and I relish the time I spend in it  Quality time spent with good friends, creative endeavors, writing and journaling as well as relaxation and quiet time is my focus.  While I am using a lot of what I already have on hand I am also adding a few more items and restocking my supplies like ink, tape, glue and copy paper to make sure I am able to continue my creative activities.

 

I am also trying to eat well (I tend to be an emotional eater) and get good sleep, although I must admit my sleep has been compromised these days as I often wake up with a busy mind.  I’m rolling with it by taking a catnap (literally, there is usually a cat in my lap) here and there when I feel tired.  I am also putting a lot of focus into stocking my home with wholesome, good quality whole foods, enough food to last me several months to a year should I need to, the same thing with pet food and supplies, toiletries and cleaning products.

 

This is not a political post, it is a reality post.  I feel strongly that it is time to prepare for the worst and pray for the best.  It is easy to feel helpless and give into despair and depression, but we can’t do that.  I’m doing all that I can to protect my physical and mental health in the while battening down the hatches and making sure I have everything I need to weather this impending storm.  I feel very uneasy about the future of our country right now.  With proper planning and preparation I hope it will be enough to make a difference and give me the peace of mind and confidence to make it through.  How are you feeling?

 

My Simple Thrifty Kitchen

This year, as in years past, I am focusing on keeping a simple and thrifty kitchen.  At the first of the year I went through all of the cupboards and drawers to declutter items I no longer need, want or use and to take an inventory of what I have left.  Taking an inventory allowed me to also make a mindful decision about my needs for 2026.

 

One of the items I knew I would need soon was a new set of potholders.  This time, rather than go to the store or hop online and purchase new potholders, I pulled leftover yarn I had in my craft room and crocheted myself a new set.  Not only did I save money by not purchasing something, but I used up something I already had on hand plus I had the added benefit of enjoying a crafty project while being resourceful too.

 

After going through the refrigerator and freezer, cleaning it out and reorganizing I had a good idea of what I had and what needed to be used up.  I also went through the pantry the same way.  With an inventory of what I had I focused on pulling items I knew needed to be used up and created my meals using those items so they did not go to waste.  Along with preventing food waste this tested my creativity to make some delicious meals and saved me from needing to spend more money at the grocery store to replace wasted items.

 

I cleaned the cabinet underneath the kitchen sink where I keep my trash bin and a plastic bin for storing my kitchen cleaning supplies and tools.  I refilled my dish soap dispenser as well as the hand soap dispenser using up the last bit of soap left in those refill containers.  I used a bit of water and a good shake to make sure I was able to utilize every drop prior to adding those containers to my recycle bin.  After restocking the cleaning supply bin I took an inventory of my stock I keep in the linen closet and came up with a mindful plan for purchasing cleaning supplies in 2026.

 

As I move forward this year I am focusing first on using the items I already have, including the appliances, and making sure I am no longer keeping and storing things I no longer need, use or want.  The same goes for food.  I am making sure I only purchase what I need, mainly to replace the items I am using to cook or bake with, so I maintain my inventory without over purchasing.  Meal prepping at least two main dishes at once allows me to simplify my cooking and clean up routine as I find I only need to cook about every five days.

 

Canning my own convenience items such as soup, meat, sauces, condiments, jams, jellies and syrups allows me to control the ingredients while maintaining a shelf stable food supply.  I also use a vacuum sealer to keep my frozen foods better protected so they last longer in the freezer.  Both practices also save me time and money over the long haul, especially as I am able to buy in bulk at a lower price per unit or weight.  I only buy in bulk items I use and consume on a regular basis, in particular meats and produce.

 

I keep my kitchen simple by eliminating clutter and making sure items are rotated in and out on a regular basis.  By keeping things uncluttered it makes it much easier to navigate and see what is inside my cupboards and drawers as well the refrigerator/freezer and the pantry.  It is also much easier to keep my kitchen clean and tidy too which makes cooking and baking so much easier and more enjoyable.  Saving money is important as well.  I love my simple thrifty kitchen.

  

Low Carb Almond Butter Cookies

 

If you are in need of a nice, easy to make and tasty low carb, gluten free sweet treat look no further than this recipe.  I often make these at Christmastime as well as to give as gifts to my friends and loved ones with dietary restrictions.

 

Low Carb Almond Butter Cookies

 

1 cup almond butter

3 Tbs. melted butter

1/2 cup sweetener of choice – monk fruit, allulose or stevia or a blend

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla

1/4 tsp. almond extract

 

In a large mixing bowl use a mixer to combine almond butter, sweetener and baking soda.  Add egg, vanilla and almond extra.  Continue mixing until it dough comes together.  Roll dough into 1 inch balls and place on an ungreased baking sheet.  Flatten each ball with a fork to form a crosshatch pattern.  Bake at 350° for 10 minutes until lightly brown.  Let rest at least 5 minutes before removing to a rack to cool.  Makes 18 to 20 cookies.

 

Variation – melt 1/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips.  With the tip of a knife light frost the top of each cookie.  Add a sliced almond on top of the melted chocolate, if desired.

Peanut butter variation – substitute one cup peanut butter, creamy or chunky, for the almond butter and omit the almond extract and the butter.  Add 1/4 cup of mini chocolate chips added to the batter, if desired.

 

I like the flavor of these almond cookies, especially with the melted chocolate.  The almond extract makes it.  The peanut butter variation is really good also.  These are so easy to make and very yummy.  I hope you will give them a try.