IT'S GETTING HARDER TO LIVE BELOW YOUR MEANS! WHAT TO DO! FRUGAL LIVING!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ส.ค. 2024
- As prices continue to rise on almost everything, we are all finding it hard to live below our means! What can we do? We share more of our money saving, cost effective, and budget friendly habits! Early retirement debt free couple shows you how you can live an abundant and full life while spending less money!
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Our son is the videographer for our church……and he is filming in our house for the church’s Christmas special. They’re using our house for “Christmas morning” part of the skit….so mine is decorated NOW!! I wrapped dozens of empty boxes and they’re all under the tree!! Filming for a big production has to be done early (for editing, etc)….so it is my gift to him…. He’s using our grandchildren in the scene, too! What we do for our children….no matter their age. ❤️
LOVE THIS! How wonderful, Robin!
A couple of years ago, I sold all my Christmas decor. So, now I don't decorate. It's Christmas whether I decorate or not. I go visiting around Christmas. Nobody comes here anymore... and that's OK with me.
Pppp
I’m just trying my 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊pppp😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊p
Decorate whenever you feel like it=) it's not hurting anyone! Only helping! A couple of years ago I got my son who has Special Needs a Rainbow Christmas tree. He loves Rainbows and it's the first word he has said consecutively for years💙 We've kept it up ever since=) It makes him smile, which makes me smile=) Smiles Save Lives so it's worth it for us💙 Enjoy Your Holiday Cheer, Any Time of the Year😃
Thank you for the lovely comment!!
My daughter was chronically ill and special needs. We kept a flat back Christmas tree in her room on the wall and changed it with the holidays. She just loved it! She passed away 9 years ago, and we still have the tree up. It’s now decorated with angels.
I'm so sorry for your loss.
We are decorating tomorrow! We have no shame in it. We decided that only the people who pay our mortgage can decide when we decorate it. 🤣🤣
YES! Thank you, Grace! Love this!
Oh Christmas!! I’m 80 years old but when it comes to Christmas I’m still a child. We used to put the tree up after Thanksgiving dinner but about 10 years ago I decided I worked too hard putting up my trees & decorations to have it last for only a month. So now my two 7 1/2 ft trees go up the first weekend in December. I live alone in a small perfect apartment and I love being surrounded with all the lights and memories. And then the week after Christmas I pack it all away until next year. It’s been so much fun!
Oops! I meant to say the trees go up the first weekend in November!!
Yes! Thanks, Judy! I'm thinking the same!
Oops! November!!
We have had a horrible week of unexpected bills so our emergency fund took a big hit . So we have been eating from the pantry and freezer this week to reduce waste and lower our food bill . It’s amazing what you can find when you want too. Thank you for the ideas . They are a great help . Greetings from Melbourne Australia .
Oh! I am so sorry... So happy our videos are encouraging!
Sending you a virtual hug from Ontario.
I love when you encourage us to eat out of our own pantry
Yes, not really helps! Just don't ever let it get too low lol!
The year my dear brother-in-law passed away, we so badly needed some lights and cheer, I started decorating for Christmas mid-November. That will not become our tradition but we needed extra comfort that year. Thank you.
Oh I am so sorry...
Decorate when you want. I agree on the need to decorate early. Greenery, Christmas and Thanksgiving all complement one another. Besides, there's no limit on praising and giving thanks to the Lord. Have a blessed day 💖✝👑✡
Exactly! Thank you lol!
You have taught me so much🤩 I was sick all last week. I got sick on Monday, the day I go grocery shopping. Of course I didn’t go. So I went shopping in my pantry & freezer. Even though I was sick I was able to make us dinner every night rather then having my husband pick up take out on way home from work. I had a soup in the freezer, I had made a big pot for a friend who was sick then froze some for us. We had that one night then next night I drained the liquid out & made a corn bread casserole out of the solids from the soup. As I was making it I could hear you cheering me on haha. Of course my 25 year old son who lives with us teased me relentlessly about recreating soup. We spent no money on food all week👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Thank you so much for your motivating ideas☺️
First, I hope you are feeling so much better! So proud of you cooking from the freezer!, Gina! Great job!
I put my tree up right after Thanksgiving and leave all up until New Year's day
That's when we usually put it up too!
I don’t do meal plans. Long story. I’m retired and hubby is still working even though he’s 71. He’s self employed as a piano technician. He gets home at various times, so we each cook our own food.
We did have some emergency items come up this year, fairly close together. We discovered that the shingles on our roof were done completely wrong and inviting leaks, so we had to get new shingles put on. Then a few weeks later, a bad storm caused a big limb to break on our tree, so we had to get the tree trimmed up to be safe. A few weeks ago, our AC quit working (heat works fine). The coil began leaking and wouldn’t you know--the company has discontinued the manufacturing of that coil. So now the HVAC company must put in a bigger coil and completely rebuild that part of the unit in the house. Guess what---we had enough funds to handle all of these issues! We were so thankful. Now it’s time to start building these funds back up……😉
So happy you had the needed funds!
Emmy, I don’t decorate for Christmas before the first weekend in December. I love Christmas, but to me, decorating early makes it less special when it finally comes around. I’m can actually get pretty burned out on Christmas by mid-December if I’m not careful!
I understand, Gwen!
I feel the same way but few people do❤
I encourage everyone to see if there is a buy nothing group in your area. In the past month I was gifted 4 , 12 ounce of Coffee bags, a pair of running shoes in new condition and a book shelf and tv stand from crate and barrel.
This month has been rough for us too, my husband was laid off ( but we are seeing it as a blessing in disguise) our hot water heater needed to be replaced and got an oil delivery 😬
Yes, just please make your pick up/drop off in a safe location and not alone!
Thank you for another great video full of inspiration!! My weekly menu (just grabbed off the fridge, it's always posted!) is today: Chicken Drumsticks and Acorn Squash Soup (squash sales and using up heavy cream), Sat: Fiesta Chicken (w/ avocados and tomatoes) and baked potatoes (using up sour cream), Sunday Date Day (weekly budgeted going out!), Mon: Pork Chops and Butternut Squash Soup, Tues: Marinated Salmon, Potatoes and whatever veggies are leftover. (ALSO: Roasted Acorn Squash seeds are DELICOUS!!)
Christmas we decorate the first weekend of December, but I say you do you! Whatever anyone feels is right is the only right answer 😀
Love that menu, Nyssa! Thanks!
I took a bag of clothes and purses for consignment in a local shop. I’m pleasantly surprised at how much money I’ll get when it sells. That will definitely help with my pension $
What a great idea, Lynn!
I’m a “turkey baby” (Nov 24th) so I have to honor Autumn, but as soon as birthday supper is over I start switching to Christmas.
Love that!
I just put mine up and the lights are on. Grandson is coming tomorrow to decorate. I need some cheerfulness and this never fails to lift my spirits. Usually do it the day after thanksgiving. I am leaving it up until the snow melts! I’m in Ohio please join me in brightening up my little corner of the world!
We will be joining you for sure! I am thinking the weekend of Nov. 4!
Pork chops with cornbread dressing. Scalloped potatoes with ham. Smoked sausage with vegetables roasted in the air fryer. Greek chicken meatballs with lemon orzo. I've been trying out recipes from Mandy in the Making. She has some really good ones. I am 71 and I recently started helping a woman who is essentially home bound with some organizational projects at her house and some cooking. She pays me $15 an hour, which may not seem like much, but it really adds up fast. I am working three hours two or three times a week. I also started giving a 13 year old girl cooking lessons. Her mother pays me $20 a lesson plus the cost of groceries. I am staying busy and making extra money.
Oh Nancy, that's so wonderful! Earning money and helping others! Win-Win!
Hi Emmy and Paul. A lovely, homely video just right for watching on a misty cold evening here in England. Thank you. I love the pasta dish and I make this kind of meal when I want something quick, easy and tasty and make with any ingredients I have to hand.
I usually decorate early December though I like listening now to music I associate with autumn and winter (Vivaldi, trumpet tunes, beautiful calm choral etc).
Thank you for sharing all the super ideas and practical tips. God bless you xx
Oh how I adore Vivaldi! Lovely comment!
I never had a desire to rush on Christmas decorating, but I think there's a greater need for joy these days. I don't think anyone would judge you for starting early. (I've also noticed a few people post about starting Advent devotionals early this year. I don't think you're alone!) This week, we're having fideo, pumpkin and sage pasta, enchilada casserole, ham and bean soup, and chicken picatta. On Halloween, I'm going to attempt a mummy stromboli. Let's hope the kids eat it!
A Mummy Stromboli! So fun!
I haven't put my tree up in a few years. When I do put it up, I ALWAYS wait until after Remembrance Day. In my opinion I think it wouldn't be cool for me to put my tree up till after that (my dad was a ww2 veteran so for me personally I feel I must give one day to those vets before I enjoy my holiday decorations)
Eats this week: Impossible Quiche, Meatballs with BBQ Sauce, Stir Fry Veggies, Buttered Carrots, Hamburger Stew, Baked Ranch Potato Chunks, and Steak. Some meals were repeats. I usually stay home on Black Friday and spend the day putting up Christmas decorations.
That's what we usually do too!
I had already started an extreme meal plan for 9 days (total cost for 2 adults $38.94 CAD or $28.08 USD) after I got some amazing deals.
Breakfast- oatmeal & tea and coffee=$3.15.
Lunches 2 leftover mushroom soup, 2 pasta salad, 1 leftover lasagna, 1 leftover chicken & rice/carrots & 3 roasted cheese on homemade bread and (10) cold meat & cheese sandwiches=$4.
Snacks- homemade bread, 30 sugar cookies, 6 raisin scones &16 pumpkin spice muffins= $2.46.
Dinners
1. 4 lrg drumsticks, potatoes, carrots & stuffing =$2.97 (leftover)
2. Stuffed peppers & perogies. =$2.95
3. 4 chicken drumsticks & pepper stuffing rice =$2.97
4.Beef meat pies and homemade fries =$3
5. Polish sausage on a bun & olive/ pepper pasta salad = $3.56 (leftover)
6. Chicken broccoli, spinach lasagna =$5.49 (leftover)
7. Pancakes & sausage =$2.45
8. Bacon & Tomato sandwiches & mushroom soup =$2.95
9.Bacon, cheese, pepper, tomato frittata =$2.99 (leftover)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dinner cost $29.33
Breakfast, Tea and coffee 3.15
Lunch 4.00
Snacks 2.46
-----------
$38.94 ($28.08 USD)
If I were to continue I would have spaghetti and garlic bread ($1.94). With the leftover sauce I would make chili over rice the next night with biscuits ($1.63).
Wonderful breakdown! Thanks so much for taking the time to share!
I totally understand this year way more than most for your need to decorate earlier. Here in the UK we didnt really have a summer Emmy it was rubbish.We went from that it seems straight into deep Autumn and its just so dark all the time and dull. With the world seemingly all going crazy, and so many people suffering way more than anyone ever should I too feel the need for some warming twinkly lights. I will not go full on festive until the middle of December but I feel the lights and candles will come out much earlier with the warm throws. I want to hibernate!!
same here in Canada! it was a bad summer rained everyday except for literally maybe 6 days the entire summer. Bad garden this year. Will plan for it next year if it does it again. Cover the tomatoes or it will be slim pickings again.
Sally, that is what we are thinking too!
Decorating occurs after Thanksgiving.
My meal plan is on my digital calendar. We cook once; eat thrice. Did you say you wanted our meal plan! I out down all three meals but here is upcoming:
Oct 29: Chicken fried rice, egg foo yung
Nov 1: Roast beef and veg
Nov 4: Tuna casserole, green beans, carrots
Nov 7: Bratwurst with onion, apple in sauerkraut, sweet potato
Nov 10: Eggplant parmigiana, spinach and garlic bread
Nov 13: Navy bean soup, tomato salad, cornbread
Sounds wonderful, Carolyn! Thanks!
Can I come eat at your house? Ha, ha!
I am usually a stickler for keeping holidays where they belong and never start Christmas decorating until after Thanksgiving but this year I am ready to start immediately! Maybe with everything going on in the world we all need a little Christmas. I saw a beautiful decorating scheme in a catalog that came to the house this week but I’m not going to spend $3,000 on decorations, no matter how pretty they are. There are plenty of woods nearby filled with lovely natural materials so I’ve been watching TH-cam videos about making pine garlands and frosted pine cones. I was at the Dollar Tree this morning looking for silver and gold ornaments and other decorating items. I’ll come as close to those picture perfect catalog pages as I can on a $50 budget - wish me luck!
It will be stunning!
Audrey, you can do it! Love your enthusiasm too!
Our sweet fur baby, Charlotte, has had some health issues. Had some extra money going out for her this month. Grateful we had the money.
Absolutely! Hope she is doing better!
@@FrugalMoneySaver Thank you. ❤️
I meal plan by the week to 10 day period. This week:
S- venison loin, cheesy potatoes, salad
M- tacos
T- hotdogs, Mac n cheese, cold veggies
W- chicken lomein, egg drop soup
Th- meatloaf, mashed potato, green beans
F- French dips, apples
Sa- turkey burgers, chips, cold veggies+ dip
S- cheesy ham cornbread casserole, salad
Sounds great! Thank you!
I having chicken, baked potato and asparagus, chicken quesadilla, vegetable beef soup, bacon and egg burrito, chicken salad sandwich, beef pot pie, pear crisp, rosemary bean soup, pizza and brownies, ham, and vegetables. these are from lunch and dinner. I start decorating after thanksgiving. But I don’t see anything wrong with decorating any time you want.
Sounds great!
My menu for this week is roasted veggies and feta cheese, bean chilli, turkey, mash & cabbage, roasted root veggies, special fried rice and finally a chick pea and cauliflower curry. Any left overs are frozen to be eaten from next week which is clear out the freezer week - using the oldest first of course lol
Sounds wonderful!
Emmy and Paul, so sorry about the loss of your fur baby. It is so hard when they go. I can’t agree more with the need for an emergency fund. As a retiree it is an absolute must not an I’ll get to it. In late September, my kitty had a cardiac emergency that required a trip to the emergency room and several weeks of follow-up treatment. If it weren’t for my emergency fund, I never would have been able to pay the $3K bill. I have adopted so many of your tips to help add to my fund and decrease my spending. I have also created (with the help of Dollar Tree and some crazy sales) a basket that contains pre-packaged ingredients for a week of breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. I rotate through it when I want to do a no-spend week, when we get storms and can’t get to the market, or when I sick and just need to stay home. Next week’s menu is a chicken tamale bake, pre-made egg muffin sandwiches (make the eggs in a donut pan), and assorted soups for lunches (I freeze soups in individual blocks). Thank you for always blessing us. 🙏🏻
Thank you Erin, for the kind comment!
I have spent October living out of the pantry, and freezer, only buying fresh food. Have moved the money I have saved into the sinking fund for my house as I know I need some major work done on the building in the near future so I need to beef up this fund to pay for it. I intend to try and get through November without having to use all my grocery budget and will do the same with any money left at the end of November.
Wonderful! Just make sure you please have some food stocked!
My roommate and I will put up our Christmas decorations on Thanksgiving weekend. I am house/pet sitting the first 3 weeks of November (Christmas $$!) so decorating will have to wait until I am back home. My meal plan, starting Monday is Chicken Teriyaki with Rice and Vegetables, Tuesday is Spaghetti w/Meat Sauce & French Bread, Wednesday is Grilled Chicken Salad, Thursday is Chili, Friday is Taco’s and Saturday is Grilled Chicken with Vegetables, Saturday is Homemade Pizza. Most of the leftovers (if there are any) will be lunch the following day or frozen for a later meal. Just finished making my list and will head to the grocery store tomorrow (Saturday) morning. I shop first thing in the morning, when the store opens…I have my shopping list in order, from the back of the store to the front, and then head to the checkouts. My shopping lists are always made by listing the item, location in the store and price. While I am at the store, I will look for cheaper/sale versions/generic brands. I total the costs on my list and then challenge myself to spend less than the total on my list. I do set a food budget of $100 a week (it’s just me but I live in the northern Bay Area in California…expensive!) and if I find pantry or freezer items on sale, I set $50 aside, per month, to spend on food staples. Any funds left over from my food budget per month is put into my savings account. Thanks for a wonderful video. I love that your videos are a little bit of this, a little bit of that and some type of recipe or suggestion for meals. I take notes throughout the videos!! I will make your pasta dish soon…it looked delicious!
Such a great meal plan! Also, thank you for the video encouragement!
Using food from freezers and pantry this week. We are having a no spend week! We usually put Christmas decorations at the beginning of December. You do You and decorate when it feels right!!!❤
Love that! Thank you!
Putting some light on in the dark is needed! I do not put up Christmas decorations before advent, that is a tradition. But right now I have some fairy lights in a glass jar on the sofa table, I have flameless candles as well. They have a timer and it is so nice when they are on.
Hugs!❤
Oh yes, we have flameless candles and some of my blow molds lit now!
I decorate the first weekend in December and take decorations down on January 1.
Thanks!
Monday-homemade chicken soup
Tuesday-hot dogs, baked beans
Wednesday-spaghetti, meatballs, garlic bread
Thursday-chicken, rice veggie bowl
Friday-beef chili& cornbread
Saturday-sausage biscuits & gravy, eggs
Sunday-pork loin, sage dressing, roasted broccoli & cauliflower
Desserts are homemade chunky applesauce either warm or cold with cinnamon & cranberries
Wonderful meals for sure!
The whole week meals with potatoes , they are on sale this week ; two days with beans and burger ( on sale ) , two days with veggies and " slavink" ( it's a Flemish meatdish : minced meat with bacon wrapped around it / on sale ) and one day veggies with fish ( from the freezer). ( veggies on sale this week ) Just made my shoppinglist . I'll will spent 40 EURO ( have to buy some bread , breadspread and milk ) for food this week. I'll probably will put the Xmas decoration up mid december .
Meals sound great!
Amen 💯 Emmy! It was initially Hard for me to begin a frugal journey many years ago. Now it's more of a fun challenge since I finally have an Emergency fund that I worked so hard for. I don't want to spend that money and it gives both security and inspiration to continue being frugal. I create mostly one-pot meals in bulk. Feeds me for days and I have a ready made lunch for work! Can't imagine how selfish I once was to think leftovers weren't worthy of eating again many years ago. I relish those leftovers now! It is so worthwhile to save money anywhere you can so when Life Happens- you have the ability to pay for it without a credit card or loan.
So smart! Thanks!
I rotate through meals. Monday is chicken of some sort, Tuesday is pot luck, Wednesday is Mexican, Thursday is an entree salad in summer or a hearty soup in winter, Friday is usually salmon or salmon patties, Saturday is either ground turkey patties with sweet potato oven fries and a veggie (we used to do beef burgers and then went to turkey burgers and then cut out the bread altogether along with the fries) and every other week we do homemade pizza. Either a veggie pizza or a Mexican pizza. I make both with Naan or flatbread. I use tomato sauce and mozzarella and parmesan for the veggie version and cheddar and Pepperjack for the Mexican version as well as spiced up refried beans as the "sauce". Yum!
I put Christmas decorations up a couple of weeks before Christmas. The decorations are low key. We don't get a lot of company and we're off the road where our decorations won't be seen. But we enjoy what we have.
Thanks for another good vlog!
Barbara, I love that you said "We enjoy what we have!"
I keep a running list of meals that are ready to go then refer to them throughout the week depending upon time and preferences.
As far as Christmas goes...I already have 3 trees up (undecorated but prelit). The warm lights fill my heart with JOY and bring extra warmth into our home. I did it gradually so I can fully enjoy the season and my Grands!
Thank you for this wonderful video, sweet friends! You always remind us of what is important in life and I love you for that. 🥰
Such a lovely comment, Susan! Thank you! Also, love that you have 3 trees!!
Emmy, I am also feeling Advent early... with the heartbreaking events in the holy land and so much violence elsewhere, the song "O come, O come, Emmanuel" keeps coming up for me. I know we all hope for peace and healing for people everywhere. As for when we decorate for Christmas, it's now the Friday after Thanksgiving! In the past, that would have been way too early for us because we prefer to mark at least most of the Sundays of Advent first, but at age 67, our kids will not allow us to climb a ladder to decorate our tall artificial tree. They insist on doing it themselves the day after Thanksgiving while they're here visiting. It's not my first choice time frame, but I can't argue with their loving concern. Thank you as always for the lovely video!
Yes, I love that your children watch out for you! What a gift!
I have always decorated for Christmas the first week in November. My thought is, I can enjoy the holidays if I have that done. Otherwise I have found that I am stressed snd don’t enjoy the joy of the season.
I love your show!
That is my thinking this year as well!
🙏Prayers🙏 to both of you!! Loris will be missed! 😭😢😭
Yes, it was so so sad :(
We lost our last fur baby, our 13 year old Yorkie named Moose a few weeks ago. I feel like he will be our last one. So hard. Love and hugs.
Valerie in SC
Oh Valerie, I am so sorry!
We decorate soon after Thanksgiving. My menu plan: Crockpot chile-lime chicken for tacos, Hamp and Spinach pasta Alfredo, Sausage-corn chowder with rolls, leftovers, Homemade Stromboli and salad, and roast beef with carrots and potatoes.
Sounds delicious!
It's hard enough to say good bye to a beloved pet without having large vet bills to face afterwards. ❤
I don't decorate for Halloween. I have been known to start decorating then for Christmas.😊 I usually wait until after Remembrance Day.
Thanks for another great video, Emmy and Paul.
Blessings 🙏🇨🇦
Where can I get a Happy Planner?
You can get a Happy Planner online at a lot of places. Just Google. PLEASE don't ever pay full price for one. They always go on sale up to 50% off.
@@FrugalMoneySaverThanks for the information. I checked the website. And then the exchange rate, shipping, import duty and taxes to Canada😂
Maybe next year!
I also decorate after Remembrance Day. In Canada you can get a Happy Planner at Michael's.
I also want to add that your videos are a huge inspiration to me. It’s easy to feel alone in a desire to live frugally. I get ideas from your channel but I also get encouragement and community. Thank you!
Love that! That is our hope and desire with this channel!
I am going to give Tom turkey the spotlight he deserves and decorate for Christmas after Thanksgiving😊 I just love your channel❤
Thanks, Gail!
My dog also had a tooth problem. I took him in and he broke it under the gum line and it’s all rotten. 😢 So not only does he need oral surgery and a full mouth cleaning, but he’s a senior dog and needed a whole panel of blood work first to make sure he can be safely put under. Let me tell you, this is all adding up to four figures… but thankfully we have it available and we’ll have him patched up very soon.
Oh yes, that expensive panel of blood work Dix needed too! Hope your fur baby is doing well now!
Easy idea to have ready made meals in the freezer, ready to heat up and enjoy.
Emmy,one idea is have all bread and cookie dough ready to go in the freezer for the holidays.have the meal catered.
Have a pot luck.
Think outside the box.
Who says you have to have turkey on thanksgiving?
Who says you have to go all out?
Very true, Rochelle! Thanks!
I am with you on the decorations. I am redecorating my holiday wreath right after Halloween and getting it out. Then, the Peace On Earth sign goes out as we all need the comfort of that hope. I will, little by little, do the fireplace hearth and my tree as my back is still slowing me down but that is fine, I enjoy myself. I make a fruit cake that friends actually like, or so they tell me. And, the cookies. Oh yes, it will be fun and cheerful.
Thank you for leading by example in looking your supplies over and creating wonderful tastes with them. I am working on an Italian recipe now with all my remnants in the fridge. We shall see. But, I think I will like it because just the thought of those mingled ingrediants makes my mouth water. Many blessings to both of you.
Lovely comment, one! Thank you!
I’m so sorry to hear that you lost a fur baby. So painful. I have to say that I obsessively love Christmas and would probably decorate in July if I let myself. However, I feel the need to force myself to try to savor every holiday so I start the day after tgiving. With everything happening today, I completely understand your feeling of doing something early.
Thank you for the kind words!
One year in Sept or Oct. I put up my Christmas tree. I put some colored lights on it, fake Fall flowers from the dollar store, and a couple of garlands of colored leaves. It was so pretty and gave a wonderful feeling to my dining room. Then in Nov. I took everything off, put it away, and put Christmas on it. We do need some love and hugs in this season with so much sadness in the world. Go for it Emmy! Happy Fall & Merry Christmas to you and Paul. Do what makes you happy!
YA! Thank you! I'm sure we will be putting it up early!
My Christmas decor is usually up Nov.15th. I feel 5 weeks is the perfect amount of time.
Sounds good!
I just dug and processed my horseradish last week. some of my favorite meals have been the ones I just throw together with what I have in the fridge
Yes, they are usually so yummy!
Once my pay hits my account, anything left over from the week before immediately gets transferred to my Emergency account. One week it could be $3, the next $50, but it all adds up.
It sure does add up!
Hello from NC. I, also, am saving cone flower, Blackeyed Susan, zinnia and Cosmos seeds for spring. Getting ready to plant some daffodils soon.
Love those spring bulbs!
As far as meal planning, we do 2 beef, 2 chicken and 2 pork dishes each week. For the 7th day it is either leftovers or fish. This keeps it from being boring.
Smart!
I'm sorry about the loss of your cat, we had to put down our almost 14 year old dog 2 weeks ago. It's hard emotionally and is a large vet bill along with the grief. We put up our tree after Thanksgiving. I work in retail and had to put out all of our Christmas merchandise and the store tree the first week of October. I'm usually completely sick of Christmas stuff by the time Thanksgiving comes around, lol!
Thanks so much for the kind words!
Bless you guys on losing your kitty.. I am always devastated when I lose an animal. I know they are also part of your family. Am glad Dixie's issue was fixed. It's so hard for us and them when they have problems. Luv you guys. Many prayers Emmy & Paul.
Thank you for your kind words!
We usually decorate for Christmas the weekend after Thanksgiving.
No meal plan set up just yet...just trying to clean out freezer.
Love that! That's when ewe usually do it too!
I have gotten rid of lots of Christmas decorations for the past few years. What I put out is enough and not so much to put up later. Cutting out many small gifts, cards only for friends and extended family. Every one has plenty of 'stuff'. Only gifts for immediate family of mostly items they have chosen.
I decorate the Week of Thanksgiving...And I am usually done Christmas shopping except for stocking stuffers by then also...
That's what we usually do too!
I plan to decorate for Christmas in the next few weeks but definitely by mid-November. I’ve been waiting for the weather to turn cooler to get inspired. Our meal plan this week is Saturday: lentil soup with homemade bread and assorted cheeses, Sunday: the ravioli crockpot meal you made recently, Monday: black bean burgers and cheddar baked potatoes, Tuesday: pizza (it’s my husband’s birthday on Halloween and he requested pizza), Wednesday and Thursday: leftovers and Friday: tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches.
Perfect menu, Donna! Love the idea of soup, bread, and the cheeses.
It is cold here this week! The temperatures are in the 20’s during the day and teens at night! Plus, we had snow. Winter is early and I suggested to my husband that we put up Christmas lights….he gave me the evil eye lol! Our temperatures are supposed to rise to the 50’s next week, thank goodness! Meanwhile, I have been making soup in the crockpot, pizza, pork chops and I am making a huge pot of chili for our church potluck. Blessings to you both!
LOL! WOW! Snow already!
I'll be sure to be there...I usually have my phone on the table working away listening to you guys😊
Next week my meal plan is using things in the pantry and freezer since Oct was an expensive month. I too am feeling the desire to decorate early this year as well. We will have Christmas in our own home instead of trying to go two both grandparents in the same day. We will visit family a few days after Christmas. ❤
That sounds like a great idea!
I put my Christmas 🎄 up two weeks ago 😂 I love Christmas there's no rules I say 😂 and it makes me heart happy ❤🥰💐
YAY!! Love this! Thank you!
We had fettuccine with mantra sauce and homemade meatballs with left overs chopped noodles and meatballs and put all 3 in a cook pot add water and somewhitebeans I had left over and a part bag of mixed veg left put it all together and made a veg soup. All using what we had. And making homemade applesauce.
Amazing! So creative and thrifty!
Thank you so much for your inspiring video. I crave warmth and light right now, seeing so much destruction in the world. It's all out of my control. But you have reminded me that I can create warmth and peace in my house. So I'll be getting the candles out and the lights up. Maybe wait on the tree until December.
Sounds wonderful, Natalia!
We usually put our faux tree in the dining room the first or second week of December. And since finding that our local diy megastore sells real trees of at rock bottom prices we get a real tree for the lounge on around the 21 December. That tree usually costs between £1 and £5 depending on the year, but we’re talking about a 6 or 7 foot tree that normally costs around £50! So it’s become a nice tradition to go out and get one of them 🥰
That's a wonderful idea!
Definitely have an emergency fund; frog& microwave both broke. But had them for over 20 years, got money’s worth out of them. Had some unexpected medical bills; c.t., m.r.i. Trying to meal plan more. Enjoy your videos, thanks. Sharon
Thanks for sharing, Sharon!
Ready to decorate next week. I like to decorate early so I have time to take nights to just enjoy the lights before everything gets so busy.
Yes, exactly, Cheryl!
I have a years supply of dehydrated i got in 2002. Its good for 25 yeats so i may as well start eating some of if i only get 112 food stamps and as much as ive tried its only $1,85,a meal at 2 meals day n i need more n i hate to eat from my store. But ill put the money I'd spent toward my bills. I owe 5000 to bank n i wana get out asap then 12400 on mortgage so thats next then after that ill get more dehydrated food. Dear god. PRAY
Thank for sharing and watching, Steve!
Day after Thanksgiving. Lentil/veg curry and rice; minestrone soup; vegan chili and cornbread; lentil pilaf; rice and beans with hot sauce.
Thanks!
Hi Emmy and Paul, great video as always! I usually decorate a couple of weeks before Christmas. Like you, I sadly lost my cat earlier this year. But I have now adopted a kitten from a Rescue Centre ( in UK.). So no big Christmas tree or electric lights this year. Just a tiny tree and some battery lights, kitten proof. I still really miss my old cat. They are so much part of the family. I remember the warmth of your videos helped me over the grief of losing Belle. Vet bills here in UK are huge!!
Sue, I know how it hurts! So happy you have. a new fur baby though!
Hi Emmy & Paul, thank you so much for your video. I so enjoyed it and, as usual, you two are very inspiring. I just love your lifestyle and find that I have a lot in common with you.
Agree with you about an emergency fund and my husband and I have had one for quite a number of years now. It is so useful!
Love your meal planning ideas. For meal planning, I write out what protein I want to have for each day and then accompany it with whatever veggies and carbs I have. I also batch cook, so that once a week, when it's busy, I have a meal that just needs taking out of the freezer and heating up and it's ready to eat.
Because I work 4 days a week and have to get up very early for work, I tend to keep dinners as quick and simple as possible. I too love things like shepherds pie, lasagne, bolognaise etc, so these are the type of things I batch bake and have in the freezer for busy days.
Emmy, I love it when you say "we keep it real here"! You wouldn't think so, but it makes me smile and it just inspires me that as followers of Jesus we are to be transparent people and very honest. I love that phrase of yours!
Thanks for all your inspiration and positivity. Love it!
I wish you both a wonderful week and may God greatly bless you both as well.❤
Yvonne, It's 5:50 in the morning and again, your comment made my day! Your encouragement and kindness is always so appreciated!
just rewatched this video and it gave me great comfort and encouragement. My annual insurance premiums for auto, home owners, and health supplementary insurance have arrived and they are staggering. I have put aside a goodly amount each month this year to be ready to pay and it still is not enough. I will have to dip into savings and loan myself some money and pay it back to my account. Then, I need to have much larger sums put by for next year. . I need to develop even more ways to live on less. I am already thinking of ways to do this. I just ache for all those who have no savings to bail themselves out. I am going back and review more of your videos or ideas, but am so thankful for this particular video that really spoke to me. With God's help, I will be fine. THANK YOU !
Anne, so glad our videos are a source of encouragement and help! Thank you for being a part of our channel!
I had to chuckle when I saw the back door opened when Paul was trying the pasta bake. It's been glorious here too. I just sat on the deck this afternoon and just enjoyed the warmth and sun. I feel like decorating for Christmas early too. We may do everything but decorating the tree as our son and daughter in law will be here from Seoul on the 22nd of December and my son likes to decorate the tree.
That sounds like a great idea!
Oh no! I’m so sorry about Morris! Yes, it seems things all hit at once sometimes! I did finally get some new sweaters (I haven’t bought new clothes in many years!) I got 6 very high end ones and they were each between $2 and $8, jackpot!! I start decorating for Christmas on the day after thanksgiving. Sometimes, I really wanna put up the tree in October but I make myself wait!😂Thanks for the wonderful video!
Thanks for the kind words, Michelle!
Due to unforeseen events, the holidays have not been the best time for me. I hope this year I can bring myself to decorate as once before.
Do what you feel comfortable doing...
Thanks to you I was able to dig out old thanks giving decor…
Hi Emmy! I usually host Thanksgiving for my family. I take down all Thanksgiving decorations the next day while enjoying leftovers. Then I start decorating for Xmas on Saturday and Sunday listening to Xmas music and watching Xmas movies with my family. We take it easy and enjoy each others company 🤗
That's how we usually do it too!
Love the simplicity of the meals
Easy and simple lol!
I will do a combination right after Halloween of Thanksgiving and Christmas decor. Then after Thanksgiving Day all Christmas!!
Sounds great!
I have black-eyed Susan’s and coneflowers in the back yard and never knew you could do that! I’m going to harvest all my seeds tomorrow for next Spring. Thank you!!!!! ❤
So happy the video was helpful!
I don’t meal plan but I’ve been trying to start coming up with ideas to help meals go quicker or meals that I can freeze but I’m having a bit of a hard time. I still work full time so sometimes meals are a rush or I’m so tired after work I don’t want to cook much. So far cooking up ground beef and putting it in ziplock bags in the freezer has really helped. Any other ideas are welcome 🤗.
I’ve been thinking about decorating for Christmas early too. I’ve always wanted a Christmas village and have been thrifting one this year. I’m anxious to get it (and all the other decorations) out so I can enjoy them longer this year. Hope you give us a tour of your decorations sometime 😊
Yes, I think that too! Let's enjoy the Christmas season a bit longer!
We used to decorate right after thanksgiving, when I drove school bus we has the week of thanksgiving off so I would decorate then. Now I’m not sure when DH will get it done. I love seeing all the decorations and remembering past seasons. 🎄🎄🎄
Yes, it's a wonderful time!
Thank you for a wonderful video . I started last year to start decorating the weekend before Thanksgiving. I enjoyed having the tree up for Thanksgiving and then relaxed Thanksgiving weekend with some holiday movies. I am 68 and wanted to change things up a bit. Nothing is ever carved in stone, go with what ever your feeling. Thank you,. George from Rochester NY.
Wonderful! Thanks, George!
Hi Emmy and Paul :) I always meal plan and love it! I never have to stop and think what to make for dinner, just pick from my list. I am so blessed to have a husband who is very mechanically inclined and can fix most things on vehicles.. saves so much money. I normally don’t decorate for Christmas until the first week in Dec.. you do what makes you happy ❤️
Terri, what a blessing to have hubby take care of the cars! It is so expensive!
YUMMYYYYY! that looked great! your casserole is so cute!
I made something like it with leftovers in the skillet just now getting it crunchy on bottom instead. I love crunchy pasta!
Paul is very good with the gardening. I never tried planting ginger, tumeric or horse radish yet. If he had a gardening channel I would tune in! even a guitar channel!
I have been trying to sell off my things. I am an artist and crafter so in order to have what I love around taking space, I must sacrifice in all else to make the space. Crafting comes with a lack of space price right. But I don’t smoke, drink or go out. My few things I need in my life are crochet, music, reading and crafting.
I decorate after Halloween but I was ready 2 weeks ago!!! I love Halloween too but since my stuff got vandalized, I stopped. Also, I cannot afford to buy $120 in candy to give out. It should be cheaper but its not.
Iv thrifted antique glass ornaments yesterday and vintage decorations like my mom used to have. Foiled garlands for $0.50. I am ready this year. Why only decorate b4 Christmas just to take it all down so soon? I do need a new tree. Mine is vintage but sparse. I pine over a BH tree each year (the Hallmark ones).
I harvested my seeds too. They are all hanging in newspapers outside. Will bring everything in tomorrow. We might get snow Monday already! its too soon!
I don’t have any budget for saving or a rainy day but I think of what I saved all the time. I would set the saved funds aside but the main reason I skip things and save is due to lack of $. So my savings are like a blessing rather than an opportunity to put it aside. But I would totally do this. Have you seen the ppl who put cash aside in organized envelope stuffing? and then do a counting of their savings each year? I guess if you handle an income and withdraw funds each week this is possible. I love seeing how organized they are. Some literally save thousands.
Your antique ornaments sound lovely! I love the way you prioritize what is important to you as well!
Decorate for Christmas as soon as your heart says its time. Our tree is still up from last year. The lights went out in July after a lightening strike but we can change those out. I love having the lights on at night.
Love that!!
You hit the nail, my sweet Emmy! I am in the feeling for christmas decoration, too. The big world goes more and more crazy and we need to make our little world at home secure and cozy! So, go on, I am with you❤. My meal plan for this week is: eating leftovers from the fridge, the freezer and the pantry. We do an"eating from our shelfs" this month. Kisses from Sabrina ❤
So true, Sabrina! Hugs right back!
Yes, I start decorating for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving making cookies almost every day getting all the decorations up two weeks and I will get my tree and put that up and everything will stay up until little Christmas which is January 7. I believe my favorite time of the year.
We keep everything up till Jan. as well!
Being a Canadian I wait to after November 11th as that Remembrance Day here in Canada 🇨🇦 to decorate for Christmas in the meantime I have a beautiful fall garland with lights,acorns, leaves and berries it that go up the 1st of October and stays up until I decorate for Christmas, I also have some glass pumpkins that I have had for every that light up which I use the until the Christmas decorations come out and couple of fall flowers arrangements I put together with fairy lights from dollar store that tinkle and are on timer which is great I use rechargeable batteries in my light up items that need batteries. I picked up at yard sale few years back some batteries operated candles, they did look the best so I glued some fall napkins to the the outside of them which changed them up and worked them into my fall themed some have leaves, pumpkins, sunflowers and some are light orange, brown, moss green, it looks cosy with the black and white gingham check fuzzy blankets a few fall pillows fall table runner. It helps me to go from those very bright long day to short day and longer darkness’s, without rushing into Christmas. As for meal planning I have 10 meals that are in regular use and have 6 meals that I use every now and then, I have a list of meals in the font of my planer than I put my 10 meals on my the calendar leaving day in each week to use up leftovers and put 1 of the 6 meals I use every now and then on one day in the calendar and cycle though my 10 meals I use all the time. I also use part of Saturday to make muffins, cookies, squares and put some freezer meals together
Wonderful comment! Thank you, Kimmy!
I live in Canada and we only decorate after our country's remembrance day....which is November 11. It is our remembrance for those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
Yes! Nov. 11 is our Veterans Day here in the US.
I like how you reminded us that eating out is a treat. When I was growing up we did not go out all the time. I have my meal plan but sometimes I change it up.
Yes, it really is a treat!
That pasta looks fantastic, and Paul Approved! 👍 I have everything to make it on hand, so that may be on my meal plan for this week. I have some cabbage and kielbasa in the fridge, so most likely I'll make a pot of fried cabbage, onion & kielbasa that I'll serve with potatoes or noodles. I also have the makings for a crockpot beef stew. Leftover roasted veggies and chicken is on the menu for tonight! Thank you for the seed portion of the video. I, too, have the dried seed heads (?) of Black Eyed Susans and Cone Flowers and wasn't sure when the seeds should be planted. Enjoy these beautiful temps!
Chris!! Yes, that meal was a winner lol! Hope you have a lovely weekend as well!
Love how you create your recipes using what you have! I usually take the fall and Thanksgiving decorations down shortly after Thanksgiving and put up Christmas decorations late November or early December. Fall is my favorite, but Christmas decor is a close second!! I am getting in the mood already now that the Hallmark Christmas movies are on. ❤
Love that! Been watching those movies as well lol!
I'm so sorry for your loss. My prayers are with you. For Christmas decorating, I normally start the weekend after Thanksgiving. My meal plan for the week is, lasagna, tacos, chicken and dumplings, chicken Alfredo, sour cream pork chops, beef stew, spaghetti, wet burritos, and Swedish meatballs. Most of the ingredients I have, and the rest I went shopping for yesterday. Everything is homemade. From the Alfredo sauce, to the meatballs. I even make the pasta.
Sounds delicious!
I start decorating the day after thanksgiving
Love that!
I love Christmas. I put lighted trees up the week before Thanksgiving. Fully decorate the weekend after. I leave items up into January,Vintage snowmen up into February.
Love that!