Frugal Accomplishments 4th Week of June

This week is all about summer fun for the family.  I have some professional development, but just one day this week.  That means that it's the boys day with my mom, and they've got some fun free things planned:  going to a local lake to walk and fish, and going to the public library for story time and checking out new books.  We're also planning some play dates with friends and spending some fun family time doing things.

Here are our accomplishments:

• I participated in a professional development opportunity, which included a $50 stipend.  It was training that will provide me professional renewal credits and some food was provided.
• The boys helped me clean out a lot of things for a group yard sale that we'll be a part of this week.  The back of my car is loaded with items, and we're hoping to bring home another $50 or more from that.  Whatever we don't sell will be donated to our church yard sale. (Our goal this summer is to make $1500 from side hustles like this, including eBay sales.)
• Used brown paper bags that we cut in order to drain meat, rather than using paper towels.
• Cooked chicken in a crock pot for mole chicken.  It was organic chicken from the food pantry and mole sauce from the food pantry, so there was no cost to us.  We used this for taco bowls using our CSA ingredients (greens, spring onions, squash, radishes) and refried beans, quinoa, and salsa from our pantry to make these.  This made enough for several meals of leftovers, which could be made into tacos or a casserole.
• Enjoyed a free meal at VBS last week, which yielded some free food.  We were able to take grapes and bananas.  I used these bananas to make banana nut chocolate chip muffins for a breakfast treat for the week.
• We chose to make a donation for the meal at VBS, as well as purchased a CD of the music from the week.  This music will sort of become our summer soundtrack.  It really helps us keep the boys entertained in the car and much more patient when trips are longer.
• Our pot of tomatoes had become water logged with the recent rains.  We realized that the drain holes weren't fully drilled, so we borrowed a drill and drilled the holes.  Hopefully, this will save the tomatoes, especially since they already had fruit.
• Used our laminated chore charts for the boys.  We use dry erase markers on these, so it saves the stickers.  These really help for summer routines and getting them going in the mornings.
• Used an earned Walmart gift card to purchase some needed groceries and a large pillow to replace one we had to toss.  I had a little left over on this card, so I'll save it for another purchase.
• I listened to a podcast for free while washing dishes.  I was getting a little disgruntled about having to do so many dishes (they multiply when we're home over the summer), and the podcast was about gratitude.  It helped me to reframe the opportunity to wash dishes and be grateful for the clean water and dishes we have.
• Enjoyed an "open house" at a community garden.  There were light snacks, and the boys loved the garden. We plan to go out and volunteer there this Friday.  It will give me a chance to do something with the boys outside, and is a free community event.
• Washed all laundry in cold water and hung to dry.  We find that this really saves our clothes, and electricity.
• Opened windows and used fans for cooling.  I also tried to be diligent about turning out lights when we're not in a room.
• I did some extra detox work at home for free.  This included Epsom salt baths, clay baths, and sauna.  I only do this once a day in order to not deplete necessary minerals.  I'm trying to do this at least 4-5 days a week.  It's nice that I can do all of this at home now, and it really is making me feel better.
• I resisted the impulse to buy some new flip flops.  They weren't expensive, but I knew it was $4 that we could save.
• Began planning a menu for next month focused on the things we have on hand and will be getting in our CSA.
• Planned free activities for the boys:  play date at a local park, children's council groups, use our membership to the local children's museum, activity at the community garden, picnic at a local park with live music in the evening.

What did you do to live and save green this past week?  I'd love to hear from you!

What did you 

Frugal Accomplishments 3rd Week of June

This has been our first official week of summer, and it's been great!  I've really enjoyed my time with the boys, even as a finished up a few things with school.  I'm still working toward my goal of getting up before they do, but we're getting there.  We've enjoyed some great community meals this week, and did some batch cooking, which has made meal prep easy.

Here's how we saved this week:

• Did our usual thing with hanging laundry and washing in cold water.
• Baby is doing awesome with potty training, so we're having to wash fewer loads of training pants.
• Meals were made at home including:  double batch of quiche (made at Mom's for Sunday dinner), salads, snack plates with fresh fruits and veggies, oatmeal, smoothies, roasted veggies, and Asian slaw.
• Community meals included our Children's Council meals, which I brought home a serving of leftovers, Bible school cook out, a meal at a workshop I had one day, and Benny had lunch provided at work one day.
• We are grateful for our CSA share this week with loads of spring/summer veggies and greens, as well as eggs.  (We pay for this with our eBay sales each year.)
• Picked currants for free at my mom's place.  These, plus oranges from the food pantry, have been our fruit for the week, primarily.  One kiddo added them to his oatmeal, which was a great thought!
• Made a batch of spiced nuts as a snack, as well as some guacamole using salsa, avocados salvages from the food pantry, and spring onions.  I also made a batch of energy bites using things we had on hand.
• I made a batch of veggie and chicken stock.  I've been trying to have some daily, about two cups.  It does seem to be helping my gut, and it's tasty, as well as fulfilling some of my liquids for the day.
• Helped out with the food pantry pick up and salvaged a few cartons of organic blackberries, avocados, rutabagas, turnips, and some broccoli and onions.  We also got some mini pitas, which I used to make breakfast pocket sandwiches for those who can do gluten.
• Signed up to help with pick up again this Saturday.  We enjoy helping, and it's nice to come home with things we can salvage.
• I cashed in baby bucks for a Walmart card, and earned one for my service as a parent leader with the group.  We will use that $20 to pay for toiletries and supplements that we don't account for in our grocery budget.  I also got free diapers/overnight pull ups for the boys.  
• Gathered items for a group yard sale next week.  We will price those this weekend.
• Continued to take pictures of items to post on eBay or Craigslist.
• The boys wanted to earn some money for the mission project that VBS is supporting, so they helped me clean the bathroom and kitchen floor.  It was a great help to me, and taught them the importance of hard work.  They were really pleased to put their money in the basket today.
• The boys were at VBS this week, which was free and great programming for them.  It's a daytime model, so it meant that I could get some work done on National Boards renewal while they were there.
• I attended a workshop one day that has a stipend, which will be paid in my check later this month.
• We got the new house estimate from the builder.  It's still a bit more than we'd like to pay, but we think that we can change a few things and get the numbers down.  We're also exploring more side hustles to build up our funds again after medical expenses.
• Little man and I had dentist appointments this week.  We opted to wait to pay the bill until our HSA card is reloaded so that we can use those pretax funds.
• I'm finishing up some insurance claims forms, which should put a little bit of cash back into savings for us.
• Our accountant got our taxes to us, after filing an extension.  We'll use that refund to pay medical expenses.  If there's anything left, it will go to savings.

Overall, I think we have made some good headway this week.  I really look forward to selling some things at the yard sale and decluttering our house a bit, while putting some money into savings.  I'm also planning some free play dates with friends for next week with the boys.

What did you do to live and save green this past week?  I'd love to hear from you!

Frugal Accomplishments First Week of June

This past week we've worked really hard to keep spending to a minimum and increase our side gig business.  I did have a doctor's appointment out of town, but was able to combine it with a visit with my in-laws and stay with them, saving hotel costs.  They also took me to Costco while there and refused to let me pay for the things I got, which is a gracious gift. 

Here's what we did this past week to save:

• Made all meals at home including tacos with chicken from the freezer, salads, smoothies, snack plates with veggies, nuts, hard boiled eggs, etc., and breakfast for dinner (Paleo pancakes, fruit, bacon, and egg scramble with greens and mushrooms).
• Enjoyed shared meal with the Children's Council at their annual summer bash.  The boys had a great time playing and Benny got some real visit time in with friends.
• Had another shared meal with Mom, as well as a fundraiser benefit meal for Benny's aunt who recently passed away (the fundraiser will help to cover medical expenses).
• Washed laundry in cold water and hung to dry.
• Cut up brown paper bag to drain bacon, rather than use paper towels.
• Used veggies from our CSA for salads, smoothies, and cooked greens to eat with eggs.  We paid for our CSA through our eBay sales.
• Cashed in baby bucks for diapers and a Walmart card.
• Used Walmart card to pay for part of Father's Day present.  The boys decorated a bag to wrap the gift in.
• Benny put the screens in the windows of the rental house.  They were bent and torn, but we made them work and patched the holes.  They provide nice cross breeze in the house and it's been really cool lately, so we haven't needed the fans.
• I took a few things that my sister in law was getting rid of.  Most are kids toys that we will probably post on Craigslist.  My goal is to make $1500 this summer on Craigslist, eBay, and Amazon reselling things.  We'd like to get some bills paid off and increase our savings.
• I have a lead on some summer tutoring opportunities, so I'll follow up on that later this week.
• Benny took on a side job reviewing electronic equipment.  He got his first product to review this week, so we'll see how much he makes from his review.

What did you do to live and save green this past week?  I'd love to hear from you!