Five Frugal Things -- Macaroni & Counterfeit Money
1. My husband took the leftover cheese fondue from Christmas Eve and turned it into a sublime pan of macaroni and cheese. Mind you, I, the "Leftovers Queen" had assumed it was spent, as it had transformed into an article of congealement; but my guy figured out a way to reverse the congeality.
Mixed with macaroni and topped with bread crumbs, it became the tastiest dish I've had in ages. The fondue's Pinot Grigio might've had something to do with the elevated flavor profile.
2. We attended a restaurant supper with my husband's new workmates and his boss picked up the tab for everyone's entrees. This was unexpected and since I only ordered a water, turned the meal into an extremely frugal evening.
3. The store where I bought a secondhand iPhone for my daughter replaced both my screen protector and case for free. I'm limping along with my iPhone 8 and will continue to do so until the wheels fall off.
4. I've just a few days left to complete my 2025 Found Change Challenge and am pretty sure that it'll be the paltriest one so far. Doesn't help that all my found paper money was counterfeit.
5. I didn't plaster my name across an esteemed entertainment venue, thus causing multiple entertainers to cancel their engagements.
Now your turn, what frugal thing have you been up to?
Yikes on the counterfeit money!
1. I walked in my neighborhood all weekend, and at the local COE park by the river. The temps all Christmas week were in the upper 70's to 80, but sadly, cold weather is back.
2. I have sliced and frozen the Christmas ham and carrots, which will be made into swamp soup on New Years (greens, black eyed peas, ham, carrots, maybe rotel like tomatoes)
3. I also defrosted cooked chicken quarters and will enjoy that with rice, Monday, Tuesday and probably Wednesday.
4. I continued my decluttering, which I am going to concentrate on this week because work is light this week.
5. I took a glorious nap!
My daughter and I shared Christmas hosting. She offered an assortment of finger foods, perfect for a lunch time buffet. Around 6 o'clock we headed over to my house for dinner. Later we had our gift exchange.
It was such a nice lowkey day. I loved it. I had made a salad and prepped some green beans before I left for her house. The roast and the sweet potatoes were cooking in crockpots during the day which made it so easy.
Yesterday I put away the Christmas tree and all the other decorations. It felt good to get the house back to neutral. I had a fun time putting it all out and enjoying the color and festivities of the season. Now I'm ready to sail into the New Year with ease.
1. The weather is pretty bleak. I've stayed home the last few days, so nothing spent.
2. I sold two higher priced items on Ebay. I packaged both of them up and took them to the post office before my driveway gets too deep with snow.
3. I celebrated Christmas on Saturday with all my kids, mom, sister and my MIL. I filled the kids stockings with useful items. They always enjoy this because it's mostly surprises. I try to be thoughtful with my gifts which included several thrifted items. I did not order anything from "that guy" this Christmas.
4. I made a large Christmas breakfast - homemade monster cinnamon rolls, egg strudel, bacon, sausage and mimosas. Dinner was prime rib bought on sale at Meijer. I used my rewards to help pay for it. My mom made a delicious cherry pudding for dessert which I haven't had since I was a kid. The recipe was from my grandmother and was so old it called for sour milk and butter the size of an egg. We snacked on a gift box of meats and cheeses from my BIL between meals. Feeding nine people all day wasn't cheap but it was much less expensive than eating out and definitely more delicious.
5. Enjoying my new status as "Radical Left Scum".
1. Frugal fail -- I had a bag of frozen blackberries from the little free pantry, and I made a pie for Christmas Day. It was so seedy it was inedible. I hope my son's family threw it away. I still had berries to use up, so I tried to make jelly (thus getting rid of the seeds). Because of a faulty thermometer, I overcooked it, making blackberry rubber. I can barely get any out of the jar. And there is a hint of a scorched taste. So disappointed.
2. I still have to give a Christmas gift to my SIL, whom I will see when she returns from Florida in a few days. I bought post-holiday markdowns from Jewel -- Bonne Maman preserves, Starbucks cocoa, and hot fudge, which I will present in a recycled gift bag.
3. Today I will make cranberry relish from a free bag of cranberries and an orange on sale. Hope I don't mess THIS up!
4. I found another tequila bottle -- this time Don Julio brand. Tequila bottles are so heavy! There must be a reason. Anyway, I'll try to sell it.
5. I found a winter stocking cap with an interesting Nordic pattern. It's getting washed today. I don't need another hat, so it will go to Goodwill.