Savings. Simple Sunday

Should be sleepy Sunday after a night of snow coming in a mere 3 inches with the forecast calling for a lot more. Dogs were pacing a lot during the night and had both of us up and down. We are expecting freezing rain next or a wintery mix. I really don't want the freezing rain. We decided against plowing or shoveling until after the system passes. 

Saved 50% on seeds. I have had 3 places I had ordered last year that couldn't fill my orders sent me discounts. I focused on things I can plant for fall crop.

Moved some things around in my IRA and made over $20,000 in 6 wks. Knowing how it's went I will probably lose it by next week. 

We only bought milk this past week. 

We have been eating from mostly the kitchen frig freezer. I want to put 10 meals in the freezer to easy things while I am down. M said to say something to her on Tuesday or Wednesday if we need her to bake bread for us on Saturday. We saw that there is pork butt on sale for 89cents/lb at the local Save A Lot until Feb 2nd so we will go get some of that. One for smoking and another for adobo pork. 

I pulled frozen corn, a round steak, instant mashed potatoes, cherry pie filling and whipped topping (freezer) to go on top of the choc chip angel food cake M sent over for our meal tonight. 

I put ham out for tomorrow's meal... thinking scalloped potato and ham, maybe coleslaw as I have a cabbage in the frig. I can use part of it for coleslaw and the rest for fried cabbage and fried potatoes and sausage.

Blessed be

Finally Friday , Speed up Saturday

 Finally Friday...I finally got the east loft decluttered. One black bag of trash to the outside trash can. One stack of boxes and a large paper bag of newspaper for burn trash, 3 boxes of Daddy's stuff, 3 boxes of Mother's stuff and 4 boxes of our own. I plan to sort through boxes during recovery as Hubby said he would bring one down a day for me to sort.

Speed Up Saturday....Under winter storm warning of  3-10 inches of snow from 6 pm tonight to 7 am Monday. Possibly turning to rain middle of snow and then freezing ... I just hope we don't get WIND. Right now the wind is blowing at 11 mph.

Hubby made sure both trucks were full of gas and moved to the barn for cover. He disconnected the work truck from flatbed so he could put in under cover at the barn also. He checked on M and E making sure they knew it was going to get bad, tomorrow is church Sunday so they would be looking at being out early in buggy. M needed kerosene so Hubby got it when he went to get fuel for the truck. She is sending over angel food cake later today as she had made noodles and had extra egg whites. Hubby had already got milk so we didn't need anything.

I made sure the trash was out in the can and the can was bungee corded to the steel fence post. Too windy to burn anything so that stuff went to the holding area we have inside. 

Generator has been checked  and is ready to run if needed. 

Lamps are filled with oil, I have candles, lighters and matches. Meals for next 3 days are planned so we are set. 

AND YES I remembered all 6 adult kids what they needed to have if they lose electric and to be safe through this storm. One forgot to fill their car tank , another has no candles the 3rd didn't have anything they could eat with out power. SIGH. I guess 3 out of 3 being prepared is better then 0  out of 6.

Stay safe everyone

Blessed be

Thankful Thursday

 The house bills are paid for the month and first half of Feb.

Daughter 4 has only 2 more weeks of chemo and radiation. I am thankful she is doing so well through this trying time. She is thankful to Anne, she got her 5 dogs their tags.

I am thankful my granddaughter who let me know my great granddaughter is the size of an eggplant. 

Hospital called to go over "paperwork" so I don't have to make THAT trip. Doc would like me to spend the night, insurance is okay with that but depending on covid in that area on whether I do or not. 

I am thankful that those Hubby hauls for is willing to work with him while I am dealing with this. 

I am thankful that L on her way to school this morning, brought over bread and cookies M, her mom had baked the day before. Her brothers stopped the buggy at the end of our drive at our mailbox to pick her up. I am thankful Candy (their horse) did not leave a deposit in my driveway like most other horses do.

I am thankful that Hubby stopped and got milk last night and checked out the sales at Save A Lot while there.

I am thankful for a day without pain up to 8-9 on scale of 10 ( it's a 6 so far, usually goes up around supper)and decided to wash baby blankets to give to granddaughter AFTER today's laundry is dried on the drying racks. 

I would be more thankful if the SUN every pops out of the clouds like they forecasted... I do not think it's going to happen around here.

What are you thankful for?

Blessed Be 

SIGH

 Daughter 4 checked... she knows she can't file taxes until mid Feb. But she was just wanting to know what she was going to pay in from doing door dash and instacart. She was figuring a couple hundred between state and fed and had that back.

She did NOT get the $600 stimulus  but what she did get..

was her paperwork for unemployment that did NOT take taxes out. EVEN though I saw what she marked when she filed for them to TAKE TAXES out. 

She freaked.... As between all of that she is almost owing $1K. Federal... she could not handle looking at State. 

I reminded her she was not behind on child support. Her ex just gives the money to the son as allowance. It's $20 a week. Like she was 2 yrs ago for 2 kids at $50 a week for EACH. She can make payments if needed as she can show she's off work due to cancer. CALM DOWN. We can pay it and tack it on her loan. CALM DOWN. 

Doesn't help she pulled a tendon  in her elbow to shoulder 

walking one of the dogs. They slid on ice, dog one way and her another. Her dogs are as big as mine.  

She's bored so a friend lent her a carpet cleaner to clean her furniture as she has all wood floors and no throw rugs(the dogs played tug of war with her throw rugs). Radiation is to start along with the chemo she is on this week for 3 wks... then rescan and possible surgery.. I remind her that the light is in that tunnel, faint but in the tunnel.

She's also upset because she can't help me spring clean and nether can Son 2. Her for medical and he is leaving for AT about the same time I have surgery.SO he is having to get a friend to cat sit as I can't get down to change the litter box (automatic but still needs dumped). The other 4 are too scared they might give me covid as they all deal with the public.   At this point I really don't want them in the home anyways. I don't think they wear their masks like they should and are in "friends and other family" homes without masks. In this state you are to wear a mask if you are NOT in your OWN home and guests are to wear them in YOUR home.

Masks suck... but I would rather have a mask on than get covid. My SIL who is 48 is still sick from it and it messed her lungs up real bad. They aren't sure where they picked it up as the whole family including Brother's in laws and the church got it. He is in and out of funerals, she is a preacher with her brother, their kids are working in businesses that are open. They hang out with family and friends that don't live with them without their masks. Lesson learned. I hope it doesn't cost her her life as she already has a pacemaker.

Back to work... another round of decluttering the east loft

Motivation Monday Task Tuesday Waste not want not Wed.

Heavens what a week.

Since trash is hauled to the road on Monday night. My motivation was to check all 3 frigs for anything that needed tossed(lost celery that Hubby forgot to wrap tight with the foil). I also finished decluttering the "bucket"(flours and oats in 5 gal buckets) room. Had 2 bags of trash, some recyclables and 3 boxes of stuff to go to Daughter 4. She uses it, passes it on or sells it.  I started a spreadsheet to track what we buy from Amazon. It helps to keep track of stuff and the amount not going on to pay the mortgage down. 😁Boy did that comment make Hubby change his mind about ordering some stuff.

A neighbor sent over a meal... 3 glass containers that were 8 x8 inches. Main dish in one, two sides in the other and a dessert in the 3rd.... just the right amounts for us to have 2 meals from it. Hubby liked the idea of the 3 dishes, he asked if we had any thing that size... NOPE. We hadn't downsized those type of dishes. He did order those from Amazon after going through The Prudent Homemaker site. Maybe we won't have so many leftovers in the freezer because we got tired of eating it.

I made a casserole that I got off Amish365. Zucchini hamburger casserole. Texture was soft like custard can be. We really liked it and have leftover in the freezer for when I am down with surgery.

Task Tuesday...

I used my walker and walked around the 1st floor to make sure I can get around safely after surgery. 

I spent 30 minutes working in the east loft decluttering.

I updated finances and the calendar.

Then I went to bed sick... 24 hr bug

Waste Not Want not Wednesday.

Hubby used the last piece of chicken in the frig to make a wrap (tortilla wrap) for his lunch as he will be between jobs and will be able to eat.

I took a package of thin sliced beef out of freezer for supper. Not sure how it's going to be used until I know what time Hubby is going to get in. If it's going to be late it will be wraps (he loves wraps but not sandwiches)

random thoughts

Slow down Sunday? 

Make it Happen Monday? 

Task for Tuesday?

Waste not, want not Wednesday?

Thankful Thursday?

Finally Friday?

Speed up Saturday? 

 I have a bored kid LOL

Did the budget

We are over in a few areas and under in some others so it balanced. BUT I don't want that to continue through this year. 

Instead of paying the bills, buying the groceries , blah blah blah and then saving what is left or putting it over on the debt AKA zeroing out. I paid the house bills (the electric is the only one that floats but I figured out the average as they don't do budget billing) then I pay all the "extra" amounts on the debt. Leaving what is left of groceries, fuel for dog truck, all the odds and ends that can nickel and dime you if you are not careful. 

I bought vacuum bags for my food saver, bought generic. I would like to have more wide mouth canning lids. Maybe 10 more dozen. The bulk store has not gotten any in yet.

I would like to buy some plants for the garden since I am not growing any of my own this year.  I priced them at Burpee as they are usually the most expensive.SO I at least have that cost. 

I down loaded 2020 orders from Amazon, check what I spent and on what. Pandemic cost us an extra 1k for things I wouldn't have bought.  I have set up a spreadsheet to track what I am buying and the costs for each month instead of at the end of the year. Daughter 4 is going to help keep me on track

Tuesday update

We stopped at CVS and I bought $42.72 worth of granola bars for Hubby and paid $2 after coupons and extra bucks. 

We went to chiro which was right around the corner from CVS. 

 Then we went to go pick up our dog truck at the mechanic's. It was on the way home. I drove it home. Was a bit leary trying to get in the truck by myself. Out is easy as I just turn sideways and slide out. I did it better than I did getting off the recliner part of the couch last night. Definitely will be sitting in the chair behind the couch to watch tv after surgery.

Hubby went to pay his work truck payment and fuel up since he has work this morning at dawn. He also stopped at Michael Angelo's pizza and brought supper home. 

We had talked about getting some take out since we didn't go out for my birthday but I didn't bring it up thinking if I just didn't say anything he would forget and I would just do something with eggs. Since it was supper time when we got back. 

WELL... he brought home plain coated popcorn chicken with garlic butter sauce, deluxe 18 inch pizza, cheesy bread with garlic butter sauce, a sausage, onion, and ham calzone for him and a "pms" calzone for me... (pepperoni mushroom sausage), and a chef salad for each of us. He thought we could put part of it back in the freezer for when I have surgery. Good thought but GEEZE. 

We had sunshine ... 

been awhile since we have saw the sun rise.. back to dreary with clouds and snow flurries today

Blessed Be

Weekend savings

 I roasted 5 pie pumpkins, made puree and then put on dehydrator sheets over night.

This is the result

I then crumbled it

to put in my spice grinder

and ground it up to use in puddings, breads, pancakes... I haven't done pie. But anything that I can toss a couple spoon fulls into does great...even whipped cream . I do usually add some pumpkin spice along with it.

This usually lasts me a year. I try to keep enough to add to vanilla pudding to make pumpkin mousse at Thanksgiving.

I made 5 gallons of laundry soap. 

We ate from the freezers and pantry. I have 25 empty jars (some fruit and veggies came from freezer) and the kitchen freezer top drawer is now at just a little bit of ice cream, a bag of peas, a bag of peas and carrots and a bag of ham for what ever casserole. We will be working on the second freezer drawer of that frig next... I know there is some fried chicken in it. Plenty of fruit and some cooked hamburger for casseroles etc.

I placed an order with Amazon for some things that Hubby needed stocked for his homemade trail mix. He paid for it out of his money since the only time he eats it is when he is in the truck working. Let's him keep his sugar level and not have to worry about where to stop for something to eat or making a mess in his truck as he really doesn't like to eat sandwiches or such in the truck. 

I inventoried my canning jars and canning lids. I still need to buy bulk wide mouth canning lids when they come in again. M said she had enough to get through canning her meat and if she found any more wide mouth lids she would try to get me some also. I need 730 more jars if I am feeding daughter 4 for a full year.

I made a list of what veggie plants I will need to buy this year AFTER I made the list of what I want to put in the garden minus what I can buy at the auction or from Amish growers. I will go through my seeds next. Since I am having hip surgery Feb 16th , I am not growing my own plants this year. Less frugal but less stress.

For my birthday Hubby trimmed all the oak trees that had limbs low enough to hit me when I mowed. He also finally put up the tv in the dining room that we have had now for 2 months. We want to watch the weather news while drinking our coffee at the table. We do NOT watch tv while eating. 

Son 2 had our dog truck while his car got fixed. When his car was done, he dropped off our truck to get the oil changed... he also figured out where the tiny coolant leak was since the truck sat in his garage instead of a gravel driveway. 

This is what my granddaughter sent me for my birthday

She says she feels huge... Mid April is the due date

Blessed Be

Did you know salt had sugar in it?

 Yep... I checked it out. 

2nd ingredient.... I have to "eat" 1/8th of a teaspoon a day for my goiter. 

I have the mudroom decluttered and the laundry room decluttered. I would have continued but my hip and leg said they were done... I might coax them to declutter the kitchen later.

I am waiting for the pie pumpkins to cool so I can puree the flesh and then dehydrate. I will grind that for powder afterwards. Easier to make pumpkin pancakes or muffins that way. 

How the year ended financially.

 

Use it Up, Wear it Out, Make it Do, or Do Without: 

 It was during this time that Calvin Coolidge was quoted as saying “Eat it up, Wear it out, Make it do, or Do without” (Later, the phrase became more popular with, “Use it up.”)

We live in our Ira's and what ever we earn. In Dec  Hubby started getting his Social Security.

We had several projects to do, some had the stuff here already.

Jan 2020 our investments were down to $300,000. Hubby decided to not work for Ohio dept of transportation plowing snow. SO he started a business hauling and doing odd jobs for Amish/Mennonites. We picked up some cash making ice blocks for E and M since no ponds or river froze for the Amish to make ice blocks. I picked up some selling asparagus, traded asparagus for 10 gallons of beets also (mother in law got half of it)

We pay for our health ins, co pays, meds, otc , out of pocket came to a total of $14,600.  

We had NO money put back for anything.

Mortgage, property taxes and farm insurance remained at $22,800.

Propane was 6 tanks at $1.899 ($4075 with tax)when we moved in for the first year to 5 tanks at $1.699.($3098) Our propane company said that was great.

Electric average was $150/month ($1800)first year to $125/month ($1500)

Trash service  remained the same $204 a year.

Life ins remains the same of $1332 a year 

Internet/ home phone dropped from $1440 a year to $1020 a year.

Cellphones dropped from $1380 to $1320 a year. We both carry to cover large amount of data that we do use.

Car insurance stayed the same since Hubby bought a new truck $8500 a year.

Dogs (we did find cheaper food and meds that work better for Wilbur and Rascal, Charlotte still needs shots for her allergies), non food, pandemic crap, food, gardens, fruit trees and berry bushes etc . I did not track very well since the goal was to restock completely for a year.

THEN in Sept Daughter 4 was diagonized with ovarian cancer. The new job she had for only 25 days let her go as they would not cover her time off, they offered her to quit due to medical so they could hire her back when she is recovered as they don't do rehires any other way. IF she had stayed with her old company whose pay was about half of the new company she would have had medical time off, with pay and medical ins. That so called "change for the better" she thought she was doing, actually was for the worse. We figured out her budget...$24000 a year since a hit and run driver totaled her car she is driving and I CUT our budget so we wouldn't pull more from our IRAS to cover her. I am thankful I am completely stocked in non food and food before she went down.  The money we are using to support her would have been used to redo the front porch and add an ADA wheelchair ramp. 

GOALS FOR 2021. 

Within the last week we have put money back for emergencies so we don't need that now. 

We put money back for the medical out of pocket needed for the year. 

Hubby is now getting his social security to cover his business if needed as he did know there would be slow months. Any money he doesn't use is being divided by 4 between the mortgage, 2 loans and savings.

When I start getting my social security the same will be done 

Any earned money gets divided by four also.

When Daughter 4 is supporting herself we will let the money divide the money by 4 until we reset for next year.

I need to keep  better track of the finances going out and in. 

How are things going for you?

Blessed Be 

Son 2 test results Daughter 4 (Anne ...she said I could share pic )

for you. 

Son 2 came back negative in 3 tests. He did talk the friend into going to get another test and she told her dad she was not coming back to take care of him if he didn't go get tested. Her dad went with her to get tested. 

Daughter 4 came up to get the car tags and some odds and ends and bring jars back to me. 

Wilbur was happy to see her.  Rascal gave kisses because Wilbur did as he is only friendly with someone if Wilbur is... and Charlotte who is actually the pup to Daughter 4's dogs kept barking at her and wanting her to play chase..you can just see Charlotte over Wilbur sneaking up to tug on Daughter 4 sleeve.

She had her hair dyed lavender because she let a person that was taking their tests for recertification for hairdresser...she flunked as she burnt Daughter's blonde hair to white with yellow burnt roots. Another hairdresser conditioned the hair, gave her special shampoo etc for her hair to use daily to help it get healthy again and then hair painted her hair lavender (Daughter's choice) ... actually as much as I hate to say it...the lavender does more for her than her natural hair of blonde as she looks to have some color in her face instead of being Caesper as she is called. Does not help she is starting to lose her hair due to chemo.Said she was thankful her hair was thick to begin with as it might be too thin or gone in 5 wks.

We all had masks on in the home, social distant, I sprayed her with lysol before she got in the car and sprayed the house with Lysol after she left.

She is tired and is having some side affects of Chemo...she knows it's the side affect as her doctor wrote out what they could be so she can just keep telling herself she is okay, it's just a side affect. Glad she takes it at night and usually sleeps through most of it but has had some visual hallucinations when she wakes up in middle of night to potty. She has learned to turn lights on and that seems to have stopped it. She can't wait to go back on her lupus meds and she really never figured she would say that.

 We are figuring her recovery from the cancer and mine from hip replacement should be about the same time. Which is also about the time her daughter should be delivering Elizabeth AKA Lizzy.

Hubby put the cup she bought him on his desk and put his pens in it. He only drinks out of a travel mug from Speedway. She thought it was good since that is where he pays his business bills LOL.

Dreary Monday

 My 3rd cup of coffee which is also my last cup of the day. Laundry is on the drying racks and it is very damp and dreary today. Dishes including the pans are washed and on the drying pad. Stuff for daughter 4 is gathered except some things she is taking from the freezer like green tomato slices and Brussels sprouts. She should be here late morning. 

Son 2 called to tell me his friend just tested positive so he is not bringing our dog truck back until he is sure he didn't get covid. His car is still in the shop being fixed so we didn't plan for it to be back this week. He did tell his friend to get a second test to make sure it was not a false positive as she takes care of her elderly father and he refused to get a test but was willing to quarantine. He spent the past week working from home so he deep cleaned everything (laundry, bath and office left to do) of his 3 bedroom home. Change the guest bedroom to the bigger bedroom since he got Daddy's bedroom suit and moved his to the guest room. I got the twin bed he had as child for my guest room. It looks really nice. His kitchen and front room always looks good. He was talking about getting a file cabinet for his office... we have 2 in the barn so he doesn't need to buy anything.

It's take trash to the road tonight. I have a couple things in the frig that needed tossed, not even a serving which is why it's getting tossed. Hubby usually eats those things and he shoved them behind the eggs when he cleared the table...so I didn't see them and he forgot he shoved them there . I put that kind of stuff that needs ate first in the drawers. SO they don't get shoved behind stuff. I didn't bother to ask why he pulled the eggs which were in cartons out to put the stuff behind them. When the oldest eggs are in the bowl so we know what to eat first. SIGH.

One deep freezer has been emptied, defrosted and cleaned. Only 3 more to eat through along with 3 frig freezers. We did not buy any turkey as I have enough turkey packages to go 6 more months or ham for stocking this year. I will look at ham at Easter.

We got the electric bill in. It's the last "floating" amount of the bills as everything else is a set amount pretty much. It was $40 less than last year at the same time and electric cost had went up some. We had more Christmas lights, I used the kitchen aid mixer for 10 days straight that I didn't do last year. Everything else is pretty much the same. The only thing that is different is Hubby did the insulation of attics. Must have been the difference of the fan running on the gas furnace. Weather has been about the same as last year also. 

We did not go to the store. Hubby grabbed milk when he was picking up meds at CVS that was the only thing. We had grocery money left last month that I have put aside to help with stocking up. 

SO far the only things bought was Dreft newborn laundry soap so I could wash the baby stuff I had in storage for granddaughter. I got 2 bottles, one for me and one for her. I bought vacuum belts when I had to replace the broken one and found we only had one left. My seeds I ordered in December are in.

Neighbor told Hubby to get a 1 liter bottle , cut ends off and make into sock helper... She has the same size 3 in children's foot I have. He is going to use the ropes off the one we bought.  

How are things in your neck of the woods?

past couple of days..doggie pic

 

Charlotte

She sleeps so weird at times.

Besides watching the news which causes grief. 

I paid the bills, we have 1 left to come in which is the electric and then the regular stuff like gas for the dog truck, food, etc. I transferred the money to cover the out of pocket medical costs (I know I have to pay in full  before surgery to the medical account we have. I made another extra payment on the mortgage and loans.  I checked to see what was left and decided to transfer money to savings of what was left leaving just enough to cover us until the next "payday" from the IRAs. 

Hubby was going to get cereal for bfast this morning, I ask where we were on the bread. He decided we would finish the loaf as toast. He ate 3 slices and I ate 1. I will make biscuits next. We have tortilla wraps.

Last night, I used part of the leftover kraut from the 1st to make Rueben sandwiches using the last of the rye bread from the freezer (unless some is buried). I used 1 can of corned beef. I now know 1 can makes 2-8 inch wraps and 1 sandwich. I used ketchup, mayo and green tomato dill relish to make the  thousand island dressing. I have one more kraut in the freezer for later as we never eat a full jar and I only use jarred kraut.

Today ,I took the meat mixture I made and froze for hamburger pie.  I had froze it in the casserole dish I use to make the "pie" and then took it out and put it in freezer bags. So as this thaws it is already back in the dish. I put out the frozen corn (from the gardens) and will use leftover mashed potatoes I froze from the 1st. I will "drain" off the extra water before spreading it on top. 

I am making a list of things I can do without straining my hip while recovering, thanks to suggestions of others that have had this surgery. I also started a list of meals as Hubby's work has started picking up.

I got my "hip kit" from Amazon. The scrubby to wash your legs is too short and I am only 5 ft so maybe it's my arms are too short. The sock helper is worthless. Even Hubby that wears a extra large sock and Son 1 who wears a size 16 shoe couldn't get their socks over the end of it let alone my sock fitting over it. I will be looking for something else as some times Hubby leaves for work before I get up and I don't want cold feet all day. I will wear socks to bed but usually find I have taken them off in the night .

Blessed Be 

New budget for Daughter 4 and her chemo

 She started the chemo pill. Said she took it how I told her to and didn't have much issues. Went to bed and for the first time in YEARS slept through the entire night. Had some nausea, compared it to the end of the flu when you are getting better. 

She ended up going into the office of who does pipp (program in Ohio to help with utilities). They did find her application she filed in Nov. State had received it but they are behind in processing it so the local couldn't do anything to over ride the state. BUT they did get the gas and electric to be set on a budget for $85 a month  each compared to the $10 a month each. At least until the state gets done processing her application. Not great news but good news. That still keeps her on budget and $130 less than she was at since she had just cut her budget. 

Her boys when there have decided to sleep in front room instead of the bedrooms when its cold so not to turn on the electric heater. She said 9 times out of 10 that's where she finds them anyways with the electric heater running in the empty rooms because they went up and turned it on so it would be warm when they went to bed. 

Her youngest had went to the store with his other grandma and there was a lot of sales on produce she was getting that was buy one get one. He asked why she wasn't getting both... she said because it would go bad before they would eat it... he picked up the "free" one and stuck it in the cart and told her if his mom didn't need it then he would drop it off at the food pantry around the corner from his mom. His grandma went back and got the other free ones, swung by daughter 4's and gave her what she wanted and then she took grandson to the food pantry to drop off the rest. This side of the family are bursting with pride that he understands the need for others to give. The other side decided to bring it up in church and try to get some donations for the pantry. His grandma told Daughter 4 that she felt shamed that she never once thought about giving to a food pantry and he did.

Which I didn't understand since BOTH his parents have used food pantries off and on. Daughter 4 always tried to give once a month when she was doing good and a "pay back" for when she needed the help herself.

Hope everyone is well. 

Blessed Be

starting a New Year

 Punch list is down to 125.5. Hubby added caulking the outside of windows and doors to the list for next year. We are focusing on projects we have the stuff or most of the stuff for.

We have claimed this year as Decluttering done in 2021.

We have decided that any extra money be divide by 4, the two loans on our life ins, the mortgage and the savings. Goal is to have 3 months emergency funds. We have 2.

Any money we make from garden or ice blocks goes on to the garden to add to what is budgeted for that. What we made in 2020 doubled that budget for this year.

 Hubby figured he would have to cover the business for six months a year. One during the summer (July 4th factories shut down) and again from late Nov to late April. So far he hasn't had to cover any of the business. He picked up enough work this coming week to pay to start covering Feb. bills. He was offered 6 different jobs on the 4th (tomorrow) but only one could be worked in with him having to drive me in the morning to the doctor appt for my hip(right hip so I can not drive due to pain) and we are down to just the work truck as Son 2 blew something with his radiator and it's not a year old. It was dropped off at the shop today and he took our dog truck. 

Daughter 4 cut her budget by almost $300 a month.. BUT she then got notified that the one discount she was getting on heating and electric hadn't went through. IF she gets it she will still have it cut by $300... if she doesn't get it ... the $300 will go on those bills meaning she won't have to ask for an increase from us. 

I made a $1000 mistake on the budget.... it's okay, I made it in the income not the out go so we decided that amount would also be divide by the 4.

Lots of changes this coming year as Daddy used to put it, we will see what comes out in the wash.

We are eating from the pantry. I have a list of 30 minute meals, it would take us 30 minutes to go to town and come back (if not longer) with take out.

I reused freezer bags

More than once LOL. I took the leftover Christmas prime rib and made Philly cheese steak pizza and then tossed the last of the roast in eggs 

I found a bread recipe that gives us the right height for the toaster... was a little denser than I like but Hubby was fine with it. I will change what flour I used (White Lily bread flour) to maybe just all purpose and see it that lightens it.

Daughter 4's Christmas gift to her Dad. She thought it suited this year.

Blessed Be