Frugal Accomplishments

This past week was particularly frugal for us for several reasons:  we had the stomach bug which was miserable, but resulted in frugality; we didn't travel because we didn't feel well; and we took advantage of community meals.  Here are the details:

• All meals were made at home including butternut squash and chickpea salad, roasted veggies, turkey with rosemary butter, butternut squash casserole, and apple and cranberry crisp.
• While we were sick, we were grateful for our stash of homemade popsicles, Cheerios, rice, and a wonderful friend who delivered Gatorade to us.  We were also grateful for my mom who kept little man while we were sick.
• Friends made soup for us when we were recovering, so it was nice to have a meal we didn't have to prepare.
• Used peppers, onions, pineapple, and sugar snap peas from the food pantry for a yummy stir fry.  Saved the sesame seeds from a bag of bagels to use as topping for the stir fry.
• Made shared meals with family for Thanksgiving, Saturday, and Sunday nights.
• Continued to nurse and pump for baby boy, so thankfully he didn't get the stomach bug
• Used humidifier to ease baby boy's congestion, saving on a doctor's visit.
• Composted all appropriate kitchen scraps, paper towels, and brown paper
• Planted garlic in prepared beds with little man using garlic saved from last year, so not out of pocket cost.  Used gifted straw to mulch beds.
• Washed all laundry except diapers in cold water and hung to dry.
• Little man continues to do well with night time underwear, so we're trading disposable diapers for a little more bed linen laundry in the short term, but most nights he is dry.  Yay!
• Showered every other day to save on hot water and keep my skin from drying out.
• Used accumulated credit card points as cash to purchase our last Ecobee thermostat for upstairs.  Will install that this weekend, hopefully.  We really like this brand of smart programmable thermostat, especially because we can adjust the temperature from our phones while we're away.
• Decorated for Christmas using saved items from previous years, so no out of pocket expense.
• Used a coupon combined with sales to make ornaments with little man for Christmas gifts for his teachers and family.  Spent about $5 for 12 ornaments and used paints we already had for decorating them.
• Found coupon code for Shutterfly, so ordered Christmas cards and used Ebates on the order, so 2% cashback.
• Received my annual supplement check, so will put half of that toward paying down home equity line and half toward car repair/replacement fund.
• Will take advantage of discount offered to public workers this week at optometrists' office to order new glasses for myself.  We've used Zenni in the past, but for my prescription, we feel like going through the office is better, and I like the frame selection better.
• Began making Christmas gifts and will give three of those this week while family is in town, since we won't see them again before the holidays.  We love this candied popcorn recipe, and its super easy.

I'd love to hear what you did to live and save green this week!  I'll be posting again soon on ways to save on Christmas gifts and decor.