My Thrifty Retirement - Week 8

 

Today is Memorial Day here in the U.S. so a lot of people are enjoying a three day weekend and the kickoff to summer as we also remember those that have gone on before us.  We are going to remember our fallen heroes and lost loved ones today by getting together as a family and enjoying some quality time together.  A barbecue is planned and there will be plenty of good food to go with good company and good conversation.

 

My latest thrifty week began by canning the six pounds of ground beef I got on sale the week before.  I was able to put up twelve half pint jars of taco meat for long term storage along with a container of meat for the freezer and another one to enjoy throughout the week, which came in very handy.  All in all, a total of fourteen meal portions of cooked meat which averaged out to about 99¢ each.  You can't get canned beef at the store for that price so I am really pleased with this little project, not to mention all the easy to prepare meals that lie ahead.

 

I continued working on my latest landscaping projects.  We had beautiful weather all week long and I was eager to get back outside and play in the dirt, which I definitely did.  I was able to finish grading and preparing the ground, all by hand, for the new section of lawn, which I am very excited about.

 

I was able to complete the flower bed where our cute little pond is located.  It has now had a total revamp.  I left the boxwoods in place, even gave them a trim, but the rest of it is pretty much all new.  I'm delighted with how well it turned out and even happier to have the pond up and running once again.  I've been working on one section at a time and making really good progress, much faster than I expected.  So far, I am loving everything about this project.

 

Thursday was my youngest child's high school graduation.  I decorated with things I already had around the house, made her favorite cake, invited friends over and we enjoyed a very special day with her.  After the ceremony she and her friends all met back at our house before going out to dinner together for one last hurrah.  They invited me to tag along, but I politely declined so they good just go and be and enjoy themselves.  It was pretty much perfect.

 

My plan for the next few weeks is to continue working on the landscaping and tinkering around the house.  I have a feeling this summer is likely going to fly by and I'll be sending my girls off to their respective colleges before I know it.  And then it will just be me, the kitties and the chickens.  Is it bad that I'm really looking forward to it?

 

I hope you are all doing well, enjoying life as best as you can and that your worries are minimal.  Take care of yourselves and let me know in the comments what your plans for this summer are.  I do love hearing from you all.

 

This Month's Grocery Spending - May 2022

 

I am very proud of myself and even more excited about my grocery shopping this month.  I was itching to find some good deals at the grocery stores because like all of us I was sickened to see the prices on things lately, it's downright nauseating.  With no relief in sight anytime soon it is more important than ever to utilize whatever strategies we can in order to keep our costs as low as possible.  Especially now that I am retired it is even more important to me than ever.

 

My first trip to the store was for some fresh produce
Salad mix and bell peppers were on markdown while the other items were best price

My second trip to the store this month was for chicken & butter on sale
and a couple markdown items I found

 

This month I really shopped the sales, although the number of really good buys was far fewer than what I've experienced in the past, I ventured out and picked up what there was that I could use.  One of those things I got was a family pack of bone in chicken breasts for 99¢ a pound.  I packaged them individually and put them in the chest freezer to use later on.  They are large enough that I can easily make a whole meal with just one breast half.

 

My last trip to the store to pick up fresh produce, a couple FREE items
and we scored some meat on sale and markdown plus I had loads of coupons!

Some more fresh produce on markdown

On my last shopping trip I did really well with marked down meat, in particular on pound packages of ground turkey at 79¢ each.  What a steal!  I also bought two of the three pound packages of ground beef when they went on sale because I had two store paper coupons for $100 OFF on each one as well as a digital coupon for $2 OFF on meat bringing my total for six pounds of 80% lean ground beef to just $13.84.  I will be able to get a lot of mileage out of these, no doubt.

 

FREE digital coupon offers from Fred Meyer

I also took advantage of all the FREE offers I was given including a bottle of salad dressing and a carton of eggs.  Even though my chickens are laying right now FREE eggs is a hard one to pass up, especially given the current price on them right now.  I'll be incorporating more egg dishes into our meals now.

 

These were a real treat for us, regular price is $9.99
I cooked two and put the other two in the freezer for later

All of my fresh produce purchases were marked down, on sale or best price of all the stores I shopped at.  I decided if the prices weren't right I just didn't need it.  I waited until strawberries were on sale to buy them and we enjoyed one package fresh while the other package was sliced up and frozen to enjoy later.  We may not have had everything we wanted, but we still enjoyed plenty of fresh garden salads, fruit and veggies with our meals without breaking the bank.

 

Ground beef on sale for $8.97 per 3# package + two coupons $1.10 OFF & a digital coupon for $2 OFF meat!
Seven 1# packages of ground turkey on markdown for $.79 each!!!

My total spent for food for two people in the month of May came in at $67.67.  I spent $1.96 on nonfood items which included a bottle of aspirin and a bottle of acetaminophen to add as backups to our medicine bin.  Both of those totals make me very happy and I have zero complaints.  I am very grateful that there are still good options to feed my family with a tiny grocery budget.

 

Our lunch one day was a markdown Angus burger & markdown salad kit
It was delicious and total for lunch for two people came in at just $1.75!
We had half the salad kit left for another meal the next day

How did you do?  Have you found any really great bargains lately?  What are some tactics you are using to combat the rising prices?

 

 

 

Getting The Garden Beds Ready & Planted

 

Over the past few weeks, in between all of the crazy weather we've been having, I've been turning the soil and adding compost from our backyard bin to get my four raised beds ready to plant.  As I've worked on these beds I've seen loads of fat and happy earthworms in the rich dark soil.

 

Not pretty yet, but eventually it will be

With my daughter's help I was able to get seeds planted as well as my plants I started back in March.  They had been hanging outside during the day for a while getting used to wind and changing temperatures and then I left them overnight a few days prior to planting.  With me it is always a question as to whether anything will grow, but I'm hopeful this year.

 

A bell pepper I started from seed

We have planted tomato, bell pepper, cucumber and squash starts as well as peas, beans, beets and radish seeds.  I will water them, pull any weeds that pop up and keep an eye on things, but for the most part I know I am at the mercy of Mother Nature right now.  Our fingers are crossed.  Have any of you put your garden in yet?

 

My Thrifty Retirement - Week 7

 

We had some fabulous weather over the previous weekend, especially last Sunday.  I was able to get outside and get to work on my big landscape project that I've been wanting to do for a very long time.  Finally!  I get to do it!  Needless to say it dominated the majority of my week.  I used a couple gift cards to help keep my expenses as low as possible.  I'll be putting up posts on my other blog with updates and progress.

 

My youngest's last day of school was Wednesday, her graduation is this week.  Thursday morning she and I ran some errands together which included a trip to the grocery store for a few sales items and whatever else we could find for a good deal.  We lucked out when we found seven of the one pound packages of ground turkey for 79¢ each!  It was a wonderful score for us and we were both very excited.  I also picked up two of the three pound packages of their lean ground beef on sale for $8.97.  I had two coupons for $1.10 OFF on each one plus a $2 OFF digital coupon for their meat department making each one of those packages of ground beef cost only $6.87.  We also got some marked down produce and ice cream on sale.  Tortillas chips were on sale too and I had coupons for both the ice cream and the chips.  My daughter is ready to start her summer!

 

Friday morning my daughter and I got the garden planted.  It has been a crazy spring weather wise so I'm hopeful things will do well and we'll have some fresh homegrown produce to show for our efforts.  I'll keep you updated on the progress of the garden.  Let's hope I have something to update you with.

 

I Saturday off from yard work and gardening as it was my oldest daughter's college graduation.  We got up early and made the drive over and it was a beautiful day.  Good thing as the ceremony was outside.  I'm so proud of my girls I can't even tell you.  It's hard to believe that we are at this point right now.  It seems like just the other day I was helping her move into her dorm.

 

A proud mama with her little ducklings

I will apologize in advance if it sounds like I am bragging, because I am.  She received her Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and physics in only three years.  She has worked very hard and is wicked smart, that one.  And now I get to share with you that my oldest daughter will be doing an internship with NASA this summer and that she got accepted to Columbia University in NYC to complete her second degree in mechanical engineering and quite possibly graduate school!  I could just about burst, I'm so happy for her and beyond proud.  She has worked so hard for this opportunity.

 

Our meals were a continuation of the prior week using up more leftover leftovers I had in the fridge as well as squirreled away in the freezer.  I'm finally seeing some space opening up in that freezer now.  I finished up refrigerator leftovers the first part of the week (taco salads, black bean burgers) and then pulled out some split pea soup, for quick and easy meal midweek and I turned two leftover hotdogs and some veggies into Poor Man's Meal, or at least my version of it anyway.  I used the deli ham I got on markdown the week prior to make ham sandwiches and eggs benedict a couple of times too.  I used veggies I had in the crisper drawer to make a huge salad that lasted us several days.  It was a great week of thrifty, tasty and nutritious meals with no food waste.

I made an apple rhubarb crisp with rhubarb grown in our garden

I hope you are all doing well.  Let me know what exciting things you've been up to.

 

 

Keeping Backyard Chickens

 

I've been actively keeping chickens in my backyard for ten years now.  My family raised chickens when I was in high school and I fell in love with them and all of their quirky antics.  While my patents kept chickens as a food source I always had a stronger attachment to them.  My hens now are first and foremost considered our pets and as such they are pretty spoiled.  They enjoy a good life with plenty of nutritious food and treats and loads of daily interaction.  I find them to be an enormous source of entertainment.

I built the coop and their pen area myself and true to my thrifty nature it was constructed mostly from wood I already had on hand left over from other projects.  Over the years I've updated and maintained it, even adding on to the size of the covered pen area so we could keep more chickens at one time.  I always have plans to make improvements so my flock continues to be happy and content.

 

Currently I have four hens.  Edith is my oldest and has been the one in charge for the past seven years so she is getting up there, but continues to lay eggs.  She and I bonded when she was a chick and we are definitely buddies.  The other three ladies are now three years old so next spring I may add a couple more girls to the flock, although right now they lay enough eggs to keep me well supplied.  When I have extra eggs I sell them to friends and use the money towards their upkeep.

 

Not only are the eggs a benefit, but they provide me with manure for the compost bin and they are very efficient and helping me break down leaves and yard debris for mulch and compost as well.  They are also excellent with pest and slug control.  I am fortunate right now that because I keep chickens I am not as affected by the high prices of eggs at the stores or the current fertilizer shortage.  They've got me covered.  My ladies bless me in many, many ways.

 

Tour My Laundry Room

 

I am very fortunate with my little home that I have an actual laundry room.  It isn't overly large, but it is a room dedicated for doing laundry and big enough to house my large capacity front load washer and dryer.  And it makes me very happy.

 

The rod across the top here is super handy and a great place to hang items to dry

There was a time when this room didn't make me so happy.  I resented the nonstop loads of laundry and the room had become quite the dumping ground.  Everything that didn't really have a home seemed destined to end up on top of the appliances or on the floor.  I never wanted to come in here and I avoided it like the plague.  After several years of living in our home I realized what I really needed was to change my mind set… about a lot of things.  Not the least of which was my relationship with this "room of doom".

 

The area next to the dryer houses our drying rack plus a shelf unit with
laundry & cleaning supplies, light bulbs & extra pet supplies as well as the kitties' food bowls

Instead of resenting that I had to do laundry I needed to be grateful that I had laundry needing to be done.  I also had a place to do it, working appliances with which to accomplish it and all of the supplies I needed to get it done.  Not only that, I also had the ability (functioning arms and legs) and the cognition (knowledge and understanding) required to complete the task.  In a nutshell, I am extremely blessed.  I had nothing to complain about.

 

This rack for the iron and both of my ironing boards has been a true blessing

Then I had the very real in your face moment of the simple fact that the current condition of this room was entirely my fault.  I was the only one responsible for why I dreaded to come in here and struggled to get things done.  But, I also had the skill and aptitude to do something about it.  So I did.

 

There is a small bathroom off of the laundry room, another true blessing!

Over the course of time I've cleared, cleaned, painted, decorated and maintained this room and everything that resides in here.  I don't allow clutter to accumulate and I keep it neat and tidy.  I have established laundry and cleaning routines.  I've paired down our laundry supplies to the basic essentials and keep them organized.  I custom built and installed a coat rack on one wall to solve a storage problem.  I bought and installed an ironing board organizer to take care of that issue as well.  I got rid of things I really didn't need or use.  On a rolling wire rack that fits perfectly next to my dryer I keep our laundry supplies and there is just enough space to keep the drying rack next to it when not in use.

 

One of my very first home improvement projects was to put in this coat rack

I made this space pretty and a reflection of my taste and style.  I searched high and low until I found the perfect laundry themed wallpaper border and I made some art work to hang on the walls.  To make it even more inviting I hung up pictures of my grandparents and used my great grandmother's glass washboard and kitchen scale as decorative pieces.  I love this space.

 

I treasure my great grandmother's washboard
and the vintage wash pan I found at a thrift store

This room has taught me a lot.  For one thing, if you have a space in your home that you aren't in love with figure out a way to make it better and then do it.  Take care of that space and nurture it, keep it clean and maintain what you have in there.  Don't complain or feel resentful.  Remember to be grateful what you have and how blessed you are for what you are able to do.  I love to come in here and I truly do enjoy doing the laundry.

My Thrifty Retirement - Week 6

 

Six weeks in and my weeks feel like they are flying by.  My week began by celebrating Mother's Day with my beautiful daughters.  We enjoyed a great meal together, made Friendship bread and did a lot of girl talk.  I was a very special day.  I followed that up with dinner out with my girlfriends Wednesday night and more girl talk.  I love when we can get together and visit while enjoying a glass of wine and a great meal.

 

All neat & tidy, ready for more creative work

I spent most of my week dodging our crazy weather, we actually had a snowstorm Monday morning, and puttering around my house.  I've decided I love to putter.  I spent some good quality time in my craft room making a couple of gifts and then did some cleaning and reorganizing in there.  I don't know how long it will stay this way as I'm a pretty messy crafter, but for now I'll enjoy how neat and tidy it is.

 

Thursday morning I went grocery shopping and dropped off a full glass bin of recycling while I was at it.  I picked up a pound of butter ($2 with a digital coupon), chicken breasts on sale for 99¢ a pound and a couple of packages of lunchmeat on markdown 50% OFF.  I used my last bit on a gift card to reduce the cost of my final bill too.

 

I organized all of my office supplies in the TV cabinet

I did some more decluttering throughout the house and used a container I already had on hand in the garage to reorganized my office supplies.  I had the girls go through our school supply bin and pick out what they wanted and we are donating the rest to a neighborhood grade school.

 

The second drawer keeps paper, labels, envelopes, folders & notebooks

Meals were super thrifty and super easy last week.  I went through the kitchen freezer and pulled an assortment of leftover items to reheat and prepare for super simple meals.  I made a half batch of blueberry muffins for Mother's Day morning using up the last of a bag of blueberries I had.  I made a minestrone soup with cooked stew meat and pasta I'd squirreled away in the freezer and a can of seasoned diced tomatoes.  I served it with corn muffins, also from the freezer.  Leftover crack chicken and rice from the prior week was enough for two meals.

 

I packaged these four large chicken breasts up for the garage chest freezer
I've started writing the price on the packages now to keep track of how much it costs to prepare a meal

I made a small pizza with a dough ball from the freezer, a piece of leftover chicken breast my daughter had from a work lunch, some pesto and a bit of grated mozzarella cheese.  Leftover taco meat from the freezer was used to make taco salads and I took a container of black bean burgers out of the freezer as well as whole wheat hamburger buns to make another meal.  We enjoyed fresh salads all week too.  Now that I've used up all of those leftover items I actually have a bare spot in the freezer and I'll need to get cooking too.

 

We are quite pleased with how well this detergent has been working

I made homemade foaming hand soap solution to refill the kitchen dispenser and one in the downstairs bathroom.  I made a new batch of our new recipe for laundry detergent and filled up my one gallon Mason jar with it.  The last batch I made lasted for eight months and we really do like using it.  It gets our laundry very clean and doesn't cost much (about $3 per batch at today's prices) or take much time (5 minutes) at all to prepare.  I do add some Purex scent beads to mine which adds a little bit to the overall cost ($1 per batch), but it isn't necessary, just my personal preference.

 

Every time I get up from my chair Jack steals my seat

I hope you all had a wonderful week last week and are off to a great start this week.  Let me know how it went.

 

 

Time Blocking

 

Time blocking is where you create a written schedule and block out a set time of day for certain tasks.  It is an interesting concept and one I've used on occasion whenever I've needed to be super productive and get a lot of things accomplished within a designated period of time.  At that time I was trying to do a time budget so I would be able to get those things done and not waste my time.  My main goal was usually to make the most of my weekends or vacation time and really get things done.

 

Now I'm looking at time blocking with a new set of eyes as a useful tool for retirement.  Not that I want to be uber productive, but I don't want to waste my days.  I want them to be fulfilling and I want to make sure the things I want to accomplish happen.  The last thing I want is for my days to slip away from me.  Sadly, I see that happen to a lot of my retired friends and relatives.  I do not want to sit on the couch and watch Judge Judy all day.  For me that would be the beginning of the end.

 

One issue I have is that when I get going on a project I just keep going.  I forget to eat, drink or stop to rest.  I'll even put off going to the bathroom.  I'm just that focused on the matter at hand.  I am learning to pace myself and allow myself time to get things done.  I am no longer confined to just a weekend or a few vacations days so things are not as pressing.  I have broader finishing dates.  On the other hand, I don't want to get in the habit of pushing things off or procrastinating either.  And, most importantly, I don't want to forget to do something.  That has always been a bit of a struggle for me.

 

Time blocking can be done on an hourly, daily, weekly or even a monthly basis.  I am doing a daily time block.  I created a form in Excel (which I'd be happy to share) so I can edit it as I need to.  I am working in two and three hour timeframes and my "schedule" is pretty broad.  I just want to accomplish things within that block of time, but I can define it more if I need to.  I've been tinkering with it for a few months now to come up with just the right method that will work for me and then I implemented it on May 1st.  I gave myself permission to take it easy and just do whatever I felt like in April, but after a couple weeks I was over it.  I was ready to have a schedule and develop my new routines.

 

Time blocking needs to be individual and flexible in order to be effective.  I will definitely need to tweak it from time to time as things develop and change, and that is completely okay.  So far it seems to be working very well for me and I'm quite pleased with it.  If you would like a workable copy of my Excel spreadsheet you can email me:  tireless.retirement@gmail.com.  I will be happy to send you one to tweak and make your own.