Frugal Happenings 11/20

Oh baby it's cold outside!!!!!!  It sure feels more like winter than fall today.  We went from record breaking highs to frigid in a 24 hour period!  Friday out thermometer registered 80* and Saturday never got out of the 30's.  The wind Friday night was horrid, we had 60 mph winds, torrential rain, then plummeting temps.  All in a typical Indiana day!

This has been quite a stressful, emotional, and physically exhausting week.  Thursday evening I fell asleep at 9:15PM (something I haven't done in years) and slept till 7AM.  Now it is time to get used to a "new normal" for the entire family.  That is going to take some time to get used to.  Sadly, it is something we all have to do in our lives.

Friday I ran a bunch of errands that I have put off for a while.  I have been doing a lot of cleaning, de-cluttering, and tossing in the past couple days.  It is very therapeutic for some reason!

My frugal week:

• Exceptionally warm temps meant having the windows open a couple days, and no AC or heat. Love airing out the house
• Took extra blankets out to the greenhouse for the kitties beds.  Babies got to stay warm!
• Filled all the bird and squirrel feeders before the cold snap happened.
• Did laundry in cold water and with dehumidifier water.  Dried some in dryer, most was hung in the basement to air dry (this happened after it got so cold).
• Hard boiled a dozen eggs
• Used a $10 off $40 coupon that came in the paper for Aldi.  Used for Thanksgiving specials and more stocking up.  Out of pocket spent was $36.
• Dried more bread for the dressing bread stash
• Resupplied upstairs pantry from stock in basement
• Received a gift card of $50 from a wonderful friend this week.  Note said "when you don't feel like cooking".  Touched my heart!!!!!

Meals this week:
Used leftover meat/bean mix and made 2 more crunch wraps and had with a nice salad
Tuna patties and mac n cheese
Loaded baked potatoes
Canned soup (got home late)
Church sent home dinner for both of us.  Fried chicken and lots of sides and desserts.
Homemade pizza
Dirty rice and chicken strips with side salad
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I have my big old frozen bird in the frig. to thaw, and I have all my ingredients ready for cooking and baking this week.  Most of the ingredients have come from the pantry with the exception of the turkey and ham. 
I am going to keep it pretty simple.  Looking forward to re-using leftovers for many days in many ways!!!   (I will post some leftover ideas this week).

Are all of my U.S. readers ready for Thanksgiving?  Do you have any special plans?  Any unusual or family recipes that will be used?
Hope everyone is staying frugal!!!

May God bless you all in this coming week.  Praying all stay safe and healthy.


 5 WEEKS TILL CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!