I thought it might be interesting to keep track of my grocery spending this year. I try to keep my grocery budget at $50 per week. January should be much lower since I am doing a pantry challenge.
This week I spent $17.48. My purchases were:
Half & Half
Coffee Creamer - 2
Bread
Chocolate Chips
Toaster Strudel - 3
The coffee creamer was on sale, and I had a coupon. That should last me a month or more. I am slowly getting over the Christmas rush but have yet to get back in the habit of baking bread. The toaster strudels were cheap with a sale and coupon making an easy (if not healthy breakfast). The chocolate chips are for a birthday cookie cake for one of the youth in my Bible class at church.
2020 Grocery Spending: $17.48
Friday, January 10, 2020
Tuesday, January 7, 2020
Garden 2020
I know many of you are freezing with absolutely no thoughts of a garden yet. Here in the south I am actually a bit behind. My seed order should be arriving this week. I did have a few pepper seeds on hand. When my peat pellets came in yesterday, I immediately got the first three trays started.
I am using some mini foil trays my aunt picked up on clearance to keep the varieties separate. These are three different colors of mini bell peppers. I have them under some led lights in our living room.
To get them closer to the light for right now, I am using a box. I had good luck starting pepper seeds under these lights last year. I decided to see if having them closer to the light would help them grow better.
I also decided to start cleaning in the garden while the weather was nice. I got two tires cleaned out. The wood bed around the stevia rotted, but W found a tire to put around it just to keep the chickens from completely scratching the dirt away from the roots. It is not much, but at least it is a start to 2020's garden.
I am using some mini foil trays my aunt picked up on clearance to keep the varieties separate. These are three different colors of mini bell peppers. I have them under some led lights in our living room.
To get them closer to the light for right now, I am using a box. I had good luck starting pepper seeds under these lights last year. I decided to see if having them closer to the light would help them grow better.
I also decided to start cleaning in the garden while the weather was nice. I got two tires cleaned out. The wood bed around the stevia rotted, but W found a tire to put around it just to keep the chickens from completely scratching the dirt away from the roots. It is not much, but at least it is a start to 2020's garden.
Monday, January 6, 2020
Goal Update
Goals first...
1. Save all of our Change (coins) for the Year
I found a large jar in our pantry to put all of our coins in. I can easily count the change right now, but I hope in a month or two it is less obvious how much money is inside.
2. Plan Ahead for My Business
I have spent the past few days working on items to put in my shop. I am focusing on more general items rather than a specific holiday. These are things that could be used for any occasion. I am working with yarn leftover from other orders to make these items. I am still plugging away on orders too. I am listing a unicorn coin purse on Etsy later today. The sun is finally out so I can take some decent pictures.
3. Get Back to Basics
1. Save all of our Change (coins) for the Year
I found a large jar in our pantry to put all of our coins in. I can easily count the change right now, but I hope in a month or two it is less obvious how much money is inside.
2. Plan Ahead for My Business
I have spent the past few days working on items to put in my shop. I am focusing on more general items rather than a specific holiday. These are things that could be used for any occasion. I am working with yarn leftover from other orders to make these items. I am still plugging away on orders too. I am listing a unicorn coin purse on Etsy later today. The sun is finally out so I can take some decent pictures.
3. Get Back to Basics
- I started a pantry challenge and planned meals based on what is in the pantry/freezer.
- I found a forgotten Amazon gift card that I used to buy peat pellets for seed starting and a set of smaller crochet hooks for some projects.
- I waited a day to order yarn needed for January orders and cut my shipping charges in half. The closest craft store is at least an hour one way. It is much cheaper for me to order online even if I have to pay a bit of shipping when I factor in the time and cost of gas.
Sunday, January 5, 2020
Sunday Book Reviews
Death by Jack-o'-Lantern by Alexis Morgan is the second book in the Abby McCree Mystery series. Abby is on the planning committee for the upcoming Halloween festival. While out picking up an order of pumpkins, she finds the farmer dead instead. The police immediately zero in on a homeless veteran as the suspect, but Abby has her doubts. The mystery in this book was strong. Even though I have not read the first book in the series, I had no trouble following along with this one. I appreciated that the author brought a focus on a social issue without coming across as forcing an agenda on the readers. I will be reading more in this series!
The first book in the Cajun County Mystery series by Ellen Byron is Fatal Cajun Festival. The local Cajun festival promises to be the event of the season. B&B owner Maggie is thrilled that her friend Gaynell will be taking the stage along with her band The Gator Girls. The main attraction is a local girl who hit the big stage. Tammy has an attitude to go along with her singing voice. When Tammy is murdered, Gaynell tops a long list of suspects leading Maggie to start her own investigation. This is a wonderful start to a new cozy series. The mystery was strong, and I look forward to reading more about the characters in future books!
Last Pen Standing by Vivian Conroy is the first book in the Stationery Shop Mystery series. Delta is the new co-owner of a stationery shop. While at a crafting party at a fancy hotel, a guest is found murdered. To make matters worse Delta's friend is the prime suspect. Delta finds herself running the business alone while trying to clear her friend's name. I loved the idea of a stationery shop, and the characters were well developed. I am anxiously awaiting book two.
disclosure: I received these e-books through NetGalley but was not otherwise compensated for these reviews. All opinions are my own!
The first book in the Cajun County Mystery series by Ellen Byron is Fatal Cajun Festival. The local Cajun festival promises to be the event of the season. B&B owner Maggie is thrilled that her friend Gaynell will be taking the stage along with her band The Gator Girls. The main attraction is a local girl who hit the big stage. Tammy has an attitude to go along with her singing voice. When Tammy is murdered, Gaynell tops a long list of suspects leading Maggie to start her own investigation. This is a wonderful start to a new cozy series. The mystery was strong, and I look forward to reading more about the characters in future books!
Last Pen Standing by Vivian Conroy is the first book in the Stationery Shop Mystery series. Delta is the new co-owner of a stationery shop. While at a crafting party at a fancy hotel, a guest is found murdered. To make matters worse Delta's friend is the prime suspect. Delta finds herself running the business alone while trying to clear her friend's name. I loved the idea of a stationery shop, and the characters were well developed. I am anxiously awaiting book two.
disclosure: I received these e-books through NetGalley but was not otherwise compensated for these reviews. All opinions are my own!
Saturday, January 4, 2020
January Pantry Challenge
I am joining in on the pantry challenge organized by Jessica at Good Cheap Eats. I love that she does not set any "do this or don't join" rules. I know I will need to do some grocery shopping for fresh fruits/vegetables and coffee creamer. Here are my goals for this pantry challenge...
1. Eat up the Odds and Ends in the Pantry/Freezer
I have some things that keep getting pushed to the back. I have no intention of having a completely empty pantry. I live too far out in the country for that. A more organized pantry would be great.
2. Save Some of the Grocery Budget
I ordered garden seeds earlier in the week and plan to use the grocery savings to pay for them.
3. Focus on Minimal Food Waste
I rarely just throw out food and if I do it is thrown out to the chickens or turkeys. I want to do better with making sure we eat everything we can. Although I will still save some end pieces of bread to feed Frank the turkey who will finally eat out of my hand.
4. Post What We Eat in a Weekly Roundup
Anyone else doing a pantry challenge to start the new year?
1. Eat up the Odds and Ends in the Pantry/Freezer
I have some things that keep getting pushed to the back. I have no intention of having a completely empty pantry. I live too far out in the country for that. A more organized pantry would be great.
2. Save Some of the Grocery Budget
I ordered garden seeds earlier in the week and plan to use the grocery savings to pay for them.
3. Focus on Minimal Food Waste
I rarely just throw out food and if I do it is thrown out to the chickens or turkeys. I want to do better with making sure we eat everything we can. Although I will still save some end pieces of bread to feed Frank the turkey who will finally eat out of my hand.
4. Post What We Eat in a Weekly Roundup
Anyone else doing a pantry challenge to start the new year?
Friday, January 3, 2020
New Year's Eve Food
Each New Year's Eve my church has a little party. The difference is that we hold it earlier in the evening and are home long before midnight. This year we celebrated New Year's with the Azores Islands. It is always a small crowd, but we have a great time. We eat, talk and eat a bit more. This year I waited until that day to decide what to contribute.
I decided that we could probably use something healthy so I made a vegetable tray. I brought plenty to snack on throughout the week.
I balanced that with something not healthy but oh so yummy. I made Blueberry Pie Sugar Cookie Bars a variation of these. I have made it several times with different types of pie filling, and each one is delicious. For some reason I had never taken it to church. It got rave reviews and multiple recipe requests.
My favorite part is that it uses just four ingredients, and two of those are pantry staples. It is quick to mix together and always a favorite. On a side note I used blueberry pie filling since that was on sale when I went shopping earlier that day.
I decided that we could probably use something healthy so I made a vegetable tray. I brought plenty to snack on throughout the week.
I balanced that with something not healthy but oh so yummy. I made Blueberry Pie Sugar Cookie Bars a variation of these. I have made it several times with different types of pie filling, and each one is delicious. For some reason I had never taken it to church. It got rave reviews and multiple recipe requests.
My favorite part is that it uses just four ingredients, and two of those are pantry staples. It is quick to mix together and always a favorite. On a side note I used blueberry pie filling since that was on sale when I went shopping earlier that day.
Thursday, January 2, 2020
2020 Goals
This year I decided to pare down my list of goals and focus on just a few rather than trying to do everything when I have so much going on.
1. Save all of our Change (Coins) for One Year
This came about after W showed me a story about a man who cashed in the change he had been saving for 10 years. I thought it would be fun to do that for one year. I emptied our change so we can have a fresh start. I am undecided if I will count it at the end of each month or the end of the year.
2. Plan Ahead for My Business
I ended up being stretched a bit between my Facebook page, Etsy shop, and store booth. I want to continue to do new items but stay ahead of the seasons. I would also like to add one item to my Etsy shop each week. I hope to organize my Facebook page and post several times a week. Finally I want to better stock my shop booth.
3. Get Back to Basics
This one is pretty broad, and I am sure it will change over the course of the year. I want to focus on the garden and growing stuff to help with the food bill for us and the feathered and furry ones. I want to focus more on savings and stretching our money. That will probably include doing a few things to earn gift cards and get back to entering sweepstakes again. Time will tell how this one shapes up.
There you have it....one simple goal and two that could lead me anywhere. Over the last two years it has felt like a bit of a roller coaster so I am hoping 2020 brings calmer days. Although I am sure there will be some adventures along the way!
1. Save all of our Change (Coins) for One Year
This came about after W showed me a story about a man who cashed in the change he had been saving for 10 years. I thought it would be fun to do that for one year. I emptied our change so we can have a fresh start. I am undecided if I will count it at the end of each month or the end of the year.
2. Plan Ahead for My Business
I ended up being stretched a bit between my Facebook page, Etsy shop, and store booth. I want to continue to do new items but stay ahead of the seasons. I would also like to add one item to my Etsy shop each week. I hope to organize my Facebook page and post several times a week. Finally I want to better stock my shop booth.
3. Get Back to Basics
This one is pretty broad, and I am sure it will change over the course of the year. I want to focus on the garden and growing stuff to help with the food bill for us and the feathered and furry ones. I want to focus more on savings and stretching our money. That will probably include doing a few things to earn gift cards and get back to entering sweepstakes again. Time will tell how this one shapes up.
There you have it....one simple goal and two that could lead me anywhere. Over the last two years it has felt like a bit of a roller coaster so I am hoping 2020 brings calmer days. Although I am sure there will be some adventures along the way!
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