April 2025 – Frugal Things Every Day

Sorry I have been away for a while. Between cleaning and organizing, doctor appointments, Hubby’s therapy appointments twice a week, etc., I barely find enough time in the day.

This week had some good deals so I spent more than I usually do in a week. I went into Walmart for a change. I got broccoli florets(they are so good)for $ 1.16 and one case(12) of Cherry Limeade Clear Waters for $ .84 each for a total of $10.08 plus bottle deposits but I get those back when I return them. I also purchased 12 oz. of cooked shrimp for $5.47, a Chobani Vanilla Zero Sugar for $ 5.97, a box of Bubba Burgers for $ 13.97, Bison Onion Dip for $ 4.12, Lenders Onion Bagels for $ 2.46, 1 French Onion whipped cream cheese for the bagels for $ 3.97, and 2- 90 min white rice for quick meals for $ 1.42 each. Not shown in the picture besides the clear waters is a 20 count Scott Toilet Paper for $ 16.98 and a box of Hefty strong large black trash bags for $16.52. I left the trash bags in the garage so Hubby can bag our grass clippings, the toilet paper is in our master bath, and the clear waters were also left on a bench in the garage. Those sodas are heavy for me. I can just grab a few when I want them in the kitchen. The total including bottle deposits and tax was $90.59.

My next stop was Top’s where I purchased 1 tub of fresh grated Parmesan cheese for $2.99, 3 packages of Ronzoni pasta(pictured below) for $.99 each, 2 Margaritaville Coconut Shrimp (for this Friday’s meal) on B1G1F so both cost me $9.99, 1 hot dogs rolls for $2.19 and 1 hamburger rolls for $ 2.19, 3 lbs. of Sahlens’s hot dogs for $ 10.99 using a Supercoupon, 1 Rosina Homestyle meatballs for $ 7.99, 1 Roldgold pretzels for $ 3.50, 2.50 lbs. of green seedless grapes at $ 1.99 a lb. totaling $ 4.98, and 1 Diet Coke for Hubby for $.99 with a Supercoupon. My total for Top’s was $48.91 including tax and a deposit.

My last stop was Niagara Produce for the best deals. I got 3 dozen Extra Large Eggs for $ 3.99 each. Top’s had medium eggs on sale for $ 2.99 each but NP’s were the much better deal. I got a 3 pack of Romaine lettuce for $ 2.99, 2.84 lbs. of bananas at $ .59 a lb. totaling $ 1.68, 1.77 lbs. of beefsteak tomatoes for $ 3.52 for a total of $20.16.

All of these filled in the gaps I had in my stockpiles in my pantries, refrigerator, and freezers. I was getting very low on broccoli which is my very favorite vegetable. The eggs were too good to pass up even though now I have 8 dozen eggs. We eat a lot for snacks and brunches especially when my family comes on Sundays. This morning when I am done here, I will hard boil a dozen for the rest of the week in my Instant Pot. Hubby is craving banana salad. The pasta is a replacement for some we have used up.

Now that our gas grill is uncovered for the season, we will have many hamburgers and hot dogs. Yum!

Tonight I will use half of the meatballs to make Sweet and Sour Meatballs using those, pineapple chunks, and sweet and sour sauce.

We snack on the grapes and put them in chicken salad. We had everything to make another batch of our party mix except the stick pretzels. Now we can make a batch around Easter.

We were getting low on parmesan cheese and the soda is a treat for Hubby. I am now stocked on the cherry limeade for the summer. It is very refreshing on a hot summer day.

The bagels and cream cheese will be some breakfasts soon. The last time I bought a dozen at Panera, we couldn’t eat them all. So 6 is a better number.

The shrimp is already gone because I made our favorite Shrimp Fra Diavolo for dinner the last two nights.

Onion dip is a treat to dip veggies in. The yogurt I use for brunches with a little Keto granola sprinkled on top.

More blog posts coming soon.

Did you get any good deals this week?

Also for the person who wrote me but didn’t want me to publish it, the answer to your question is no. One of the problems I had using Google Blogger was things like that. I have never had a problem with Word Press.

How We Are Saving Dollars

I am using the cash station to fill up our SUV because the price is $ 2.83 per gallon vs. $ 2.99 at the Top’s station. With no gas points to use because of the lack of much shopping, we save $ .16 per gallon and it is much closer to my home.

I had to go to the Urgent Care on Monday. I was diagnosed with a sinus infection and 2 ear infections. The Urgent Care is only 3 miles from my home. My doctor is 17 miles and couldn’t get me in for a few days. The Urgent Care had me in and out in 15 minutes. Fortunately the 2 drugs they prescribed were cheap. So I picked those up along with another one that had been refilled for me and only had to pay $13.75 for all 3.

I got a $ 5.00 liquor rebate in the mail. I have more coming. Every little bit helps.

We earned a $100. cashback rebate by using my credit card. We never pay interest so this is a win-win.

We had a meal of the free potstickers last night. Hubby steamed them and they were so good. We finally finished up all the chicken I had cooked.

For dinner tonight, we will have Chef’s salads to use up some of the produce and meat in the refrigerator. I will hard boil some eggs in the Instant Pot.

Breakfasts this week have been eggs, French toast, and bacon and grilled cheese and meat sandwiches. I think today, I will have soup that is leftover in the freezer. Soup is my comfort food and I don’t have much of an appetite with these drugs that I am on.

We have decided to go to Applebee’s one night this week for dinner again. We have discounted gift cards that will pay for it to use up. I am worried that with all the restaurants going out of business, we will lose that money.

Hubby has been trimming our bushes little by little. He is doing it so that when the landscape crew comes they won’t have as much to do. Plus we won’t have to pay for trimming when they do the spring cleanup and mulching.

I am now using a larger box that I already had for Eloise’s cat litter. She was using a much smaller box and when she would go in there and kick to cover everything up, half of it would go on the litter rug that is underneath the box and on the tile floor. She is almost full grown now and she is a very long cat so this is working much better. The past two nights since I put it in there, she has not gotten any litter outside this box. Less for me to clean every night. When I made the change, I spring cleaned the entire laundry room that the box is in. It felt good to get that done. Besides working on the freezers and pantries, I am trying to spring clean a room every couple of days too. Today I will be cleaning our master bathroom.

I was going to go run some errands today because it is Senior Discount Day at Top’s. But I don’t feel that good today so I will have to do it another day this week. I lose that 6% off but I only have 4 items that we need and my health is much more important to me.

We are trying to be very careful with how much electricity and natural gas we are using. It is still cold here. Overnight it was 27. I think about it every time I go to cook, do laundry, take showers, use the computers, and the TV’s. I am very conscious of lighting. No lighting during the daytime unless it is stormy and dreary. It is sunny today so that will help the heating bill. I have the window coverings open when the sun is on them.

As I go through each room that I am spring cleaning, I am getting rid of clutter. I do this every year. Since it is garbage day on Thursday, it will go or be donated to Goodwill.

We had some big expenses in March. Our homeowner’s and auto insurance we pay yearly was due. It reminded me that we have been in our home here for 15 years. Time flies! But because of that we were only able to save $4500. towards our goal.

I hope you guys are saving what you can. I know it is hard because everything is so expensive. But if there was ever a time to be frugal, it is now. President Trump and Elon and Doge keep reminding us how fragile our economy is and the mess that they inherited from Biden. It is not an easy fix and the accountant in me is really worried that we could all lose everything if our economy collapses. Biden and his administration brought us right to the edge of the cliff. They are trying to fix it but only time will tell if they can. Personally I think these people who robbed us to enrich themselves should all go to prison.

What have you been doing lately to be frugal and save some money? It doesn’t have to be big. The little things add up faster than you think.