30 June 2017

Cath's Meal Plan 2nd - 8th July 2017

Homemade chilli con carne with oven fresh cornbread
This week we will be eating:

Sunday: Roast Beef

Monday: Porcupines, mash

Tuesday: Spag bol

Wednesday: Chilli Con Carne, corn bread

Thursday: MOO Pizza

Friday: Tacos

Saturday: Oven baked pumpkin risotto

25 June 2017

The Week that Was 25th June 2017


I haven't posted my frugal achievements for a few weeks; that's not to say I haven't had any, I have. But I've also been super busy, super tired and battling vertigo and this 100 day flu that's going around. So, this is a list of what I've accomplished over the last few weeks, a bit of a mish mash, and in no particular order. Somethings I do without thinking every week (like collecting the shower warm up water) and then there are the other one off things, done to save money, time and energy for our household.

This last week I've spent mostly at home, one of my favourite things to do.

That means of course that there has been more time to putter around, doing small jobs that get put off when I'm busy.

This week all our meals have been cooked at home, from scratch, using ingredients in the pantry, fridge and freezer (they have for the last three weeks).

I bought 10kg of potatoes from Pellegrino's for $1.80 (we have enough potatoes to last us about two months now, three if we eat more rice and pasta as the starch in our meals).

I made three loaves of wholemeal bread.

I made a big pot of pumpkin soup and chopped the other half of the pumpkin into single portions then vacuum sealed in meal sizes. Four meals of pumpkin in the crisper and being vacuum sealed they'll keep for at least four weeks.

Took the hem up on a pair of dress pants I was given.

Saved the shower water and used it to fill the washing machine.

Used craft materials I had to make some cards to send to a friend.

Made 10 twist'n'pop cards for an order and sent them off.

Gratefully accepted two dozen eggs from Wendy.

Took a load of things from the boys to the op shop.

Was surprised with a beautiful bouquet of flowers (thank you Karen) and some very yummy salted caramel fudge (which I kept for myself, thank you Joy).

Bought 30kg chicken fillets for $3.89/kg. Skinned, bagged in meal portions, vac sealed and put them into the freezer.

Bought a whole rump and the butcher sliced it for me. $12/kg - not cheap but we haven't had steak for ages. Used Wayne's after-hours pay for this treat. Six meals vac sealed and in the freezer.

Made three pots of pumpkin soup. Two were eaten during the week, one will did lunches over the weekend.

Made a double potato bake, had one with tea on Friday night, cut the other one into singles serves and froze them.

Made a double batch of vegetable moussaka. We ate one on Friday and Saturday nights, the other one is in the freezer.

Bought 1.5kg capsicums for $3. Whipped out the Nicer Dicer knock off and had them all diced in no time. Bagged in 1/2 cup portions and froze them.

Worked on our spending plan - May was expensive for us, June looks like it is going to be. Thank goodness we not only have a spending plan but actually use it, all expenses will be covered.

Emptied the bottom drawer in the kitchen. It's the "junk" drawer and I can't remember the last time it was opened or we needed anything in it so out it all went. Rearranged the order of the kitchen drawers and put the everyday tea towels in the third drawer.

Took Hannah to DFO at Moorabbin where she bought her suitcase for her trip saving $290 - we were both so excited. The case was already reduced as it was the end of that particular case in the colour she chose, then for the long weekend DFO has a massive sale and there was another 25% off!

Dried the washing by the fire or outside on the two sunny days we had.
Kept the ducted heating off all week and the fire going. We haven't had the ducted heating on at all this winter - a huge saving on our gas bill. Even when we have bought firewood it works out to around $14 a week cheaper than running the ducted heating! We usually go firewood collecting, but this past year because I've been sick we haven't, so we're using a combination of bought and collected firewood.

Murphy came to visit. In the course of four days the dryer stopped working and can't be fixed, the TV in our bedroom has gone wonky (yes, that's the technical term for what's happened) and, horror of horrors, the iron stopped working!

Good thing is I rarely use the dryer for anything other than extra storage, we can do without TV in the bedroom for a while and seriously, a broken iron? Not my favourite household chore and if the washing is hung carefully and folded properly we can get away without it for a while.

Then last Monday I had a fall and landed on my laptop, cracking the screen (that was a very expensive fall!). I'm looking at whether I can claim it on our contents insurance.

Found a leak under the laundry trough. Rescued my supply of laundry soap. Found a container to hold all 44 bars of soap. Decanted borax and washing soda into containers.

Made a big batch of crumbs for schnitzels and parmas, using broken crackers, Weetbix crumbs and dried breadcrumbs.

Made a double batch of KFC mix.

Made a double batch of Shake'n'Bake.

Made a double batch of Miracle Spray.
Made and then stitched name labels into some jumpers and winter blouses for my mother.

Added to the stockpile with half-price groceries from Woolworths after checking Aldi prices to make sure they were cheaper at Woolworths.

Looked at the Flybuys offers and activated the ones that worked with the shopping list, then shopped at Coles after checking Aldi prices to make sure Coles were cheaper. Added 3000 points to our account and saved $48.

Used vouchers to buy petrol for all the cars and made sure my Flybuys card was swiped each time.

Took a box of craft materials and two bags of clothes to the op shop.

That was my last few weeks. What did you do to save money, time and energy this week?


23 June 2017

Cath's Meal Plan 25/06/2017 - 01/07/2017

This week we will be eating:

Sunday: Roast Chicken

Monday: Nutmeat loaf, veggies

Tuesday: Vegetable Lasagne

Wednesday: Kransky, hot potato salad

Thursday: MOO Pizza

Friday: Stir-fry

Saturday: Toasted sandwiches, tomato soup

16 June 2017

Cath's Meal Plan 18/06/2017 - 24/06/2017

This week we will be eating:

Sunday: Roast Lamb

Monday: Vegetable Moussaka

Tuesday: Spaghetti Soup

Wednesday: Sweet Curry with left-over lamb & rice

Thursday: MOO Pizza

Friday: Haystacks

Saturday: Stuffed potatoes with cheese, coleslaw, pineapple, sour cream

12 June 2017

Honey Do List Update


Well here it is Monday night and what have we accomplished?  Only one thing on my list!

But it was a big thing. Wayne and I completely emptied, cleaned, sorted and tidied our wardrobe. That may not sound like a big job, but we have a big wardrobe, almost the same size as our bathroom. It took us hours and hours - three all up.

It's so nice now I've been walking into it every few minutes and just standing there.

Other than that, we've done nothing that was on the list and lots of things that weren't. It seems to go like that around here. We've talked to friends via Skype, entertained unexpected visitors, walked down memory lane looking at some photos we found, had lots of cups of tea and coffee and enjoyed brownies Hannah made.

The list is still on the fridge and I'll still cross things off as they get done but I'm not going to stress about the when or how, because in all honesty, in the grand scheme of things, they're just jobs that aren't vital to life, health or well-being, unlike spending time with the people who are important to us.

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11 June 2017

MOO Condensed Milk, Cross it Off Your Shopping List and Save a Fortune

I've just been browsing the Coles catalogue for this week and notice that condensed milk is on sale for $2.50, save 70 cents. I was gobsmacked! It's obviously been a while since I bought condensed milk because the last time (I just checked my notes) it was $1.69!

I do use condensed milk quite often, in baking and to make Russian caramels, but I can assure you I wouldn't be if I had to pay $2.50, let alone $3.20, a can (and those cans are about 30g smaller than they were when they were $1.69!).

MOO condensed milk has been a staple in my pantry for years. It's easy to make, tastes and works exactly like the tinned version and costs less than $2 to make more than double the quantity you'd be paing $3.20 for.

Here's my go to condensed milk recipe - and don't worry about being able to store it before it goes yellow. It will keep in the fridge for at least a week, longer if you turn the container upside down. But it freezes! Yes, put any extra in the freezer until you're ready to use it in another recipe.

MOO Condensed Milk

Ingredients:
1 cup hot water
2 cups skim milk powder
2 cups white sugar
6 tbsp butter or margarine

Method:
Place all ingredients in a food processor and mix for about 3 minutes. The mixture will be quite thin, but thickens on standing for about an hour. Use immediately or refrigerate for up to one week. Can be frozen, thaw before use.

Makes 3 cups.

Seriously, it is so quick and easy to make and so cheap - why would you ever spend your hard earned dollars on tinned condensed milk?


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09 June 2017

Cath's Meal Plan 11/06/2017 - 17/06/2017

This week we will be eating:

Sunday: Roast Chicken

Monday: Curried tuna Slice, salad

Tuesday: Refrigerator Lasagne

Wednesday: Shredded beef & gravy pan fried sandwiches

Thursday: MOO Pizza

Friday: Hamburgers

Saturday: Fish, chips, salad

The Honey Do List for a Long Weekend

We have a long weekend this weekend (happy birthday Your Majesty) and for the first time in ages Wayne is on call all weekend so we will be home.

That means we'll have time to get some things done (and there are plenty!) so I've made a honey do list and posted it on the fridge.

I know we won't get it all done, but if we get at least half of the things on the list crossed off I'll be doing a happy dance on Monday night.

On the list:


  • Put up the shelves in the laundry
  • Move the  clotheshorse hooks
  • Paint the laundry
  • Hang the hand towel ring in the bathroom (finally!)
  • Move the shelves in our wardrobe to a better, more space efficient layout
  • Add the extra shelf in the cupboard under the oven
  • Finish off the pelmets and drapes in the lounge and diningroom (OK, this is me - I've had the fabric and tape for so long, I just haven't had the motivation to sit at the sewing machine and finish the job)
  • Make the drapes for our bedroom (see above!)
  • Hang the new curtains in the bathroom, toilet and ensuite (they're made, they just need to be put up)
  • Go through the kitchen dresser, donate what we don't need or want and put away the good dishes
  • Defrost and inventory all four freezers 

I'm going to come back and cross things off as they get done. I love seeing things crossed off to do lists so that will keep me motivated, and if I'm motivated then I can keep Wayne and the kids motivated.

What are your plans for the long weekend?

02 June 2017

Cath's Meal Plan 04/06/2017 - 10/06/2017

This week we will be eating:

Sunday: Roast Beef

Monday: Mexican Meatballs

Tuesday: Spag bol

Wednesday: Chicken parmigiana, salad, french fries

Thursday: MOO Pizza

Friday: Tacos

Saturday: Toasted Sandwiches