Friday, May 19, 2017

A Thrifty Week at Harvest Lane Cottage #100

Welcome to another thrifty week at Harvest Lane Cottage. I am glad you've found me! Each week I share my thrifty and frugal projects, ways of saving money, and my blessings from God. 

A Thrifty Week at Harvest Lane Cottage

I am so glad you dropped in for a visit today—or tonight!
Do say hello!
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Dear Reader,

     It's been a month since my last Thrifty Week post. I have been going through testing for a health problem. This week, like the last few weeks, has not been very thrifty. I haven't done much of the grocery shopping, and I haven't felt like making anything. Still, if we're going to avoid a financial mess, I've got to get busy doing what I can with what I've got where I am. 

     In the past, my focus has been on "with what I've got". Now, for a little while, the focus is going to shift to "what I can". Being thrifty is "here a little, there a little", so I shall do what I can. The more I listen to and read the Bible, the more the phrases are in my head. (Isaiah 28:10).

My hope is to go ahead and keep this column going in order to inspire myself to do what I can. It's a bit of accountability—you know? I may not publish every week, but I'll do what I can.

God bless you all, thank you for your patience with me.

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A Verse for You
"Be joyful in hope, 
patient in affliction, 
faithful in prayer." 
Romans 12:12 NKJV
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It's time to start saving your pennies
and your nickles and your rocks for Christmas!

Here's my thrifty week!

  • I've been trying a new to me survey company called Opinion Outpost. My friend told me that she's made about $100 in the last several weeks. I decided to try it. The company's surveys pay from $.50 to $1.50. I've made $30.50 in the last month. I get kicked out of many of their surveys just like with Swagbucks. I am nobody's target market, and I know it. ~smile~ I just keep trying. Here's my referral link if you want to try it out. You get $.50 just for filling out the info about yourself. I'm going to cash my points in for PayPal money. They also have some gift cards.
  • Oatmeal with a bit of milk, stevia, and cinnamon is a healthy, inexpensive breakfast. I put in a small sprinkle of pecans to help with the protein. A cup of Oolong tea bought on sale rounds out the meal nicely. Just pennies a serving if you have stevia on hand.
  • I have a dress with a rip in the arm. I cut the bodice off and plan to make the bottom into a skirt soon.
Well, that's my thrifty week. 
What are you doing in your home this week?
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ღLauraღ
...doing what I can with what I've got
where I am on a short shoestring budget!

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17 comments:

  1. HI Laura! It's so good to hear from you! I haven't much for my thrifty week. Yesterday I canned six jars of pinto beans. They come in very handy for making my own refried beans.

    I have an old faded dress that I'm going to cut apart to make a half apron. The scraps will be handy for practicing my pitiful sewing skills😊
    You take care and remember you have plenty of prayer warriors praying for you. And don't allow Satan to get you down. Put on some Christian music and sing your heart out. That has always helped me.

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    1. Good for you Regina! You're doing great. Thanks for praying. I expect to share what's going on later this week.

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  2. Thinking of and praying for you today dear friend. Love always your sister in Christ.

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  3. I hope you will feel better soon Laura. Sometimes all we can do has to be good enough. I love that idea about the dress. It will look great! Have a great day!

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    1. It's going to be a long row to hoe Vickie, but I'm trusting God for a good harvest!

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  4. Hi Laura, I am so sorry about your health issues.
    I'll try out the new survey site soon and use your link. I'm don't seem to be much of a target audience either.

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  5. Thinking of you so often, and praying much for you, sweet friend. Sending love and big hugs your way!

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  6. Welcome to the dress-into-skirt crowd! I've done one and have another on my list. I wear skirts all summer long so the more, the merrier! As you would say, it also earns me some closet real estate.

    I know what you mean about being nobody's target. I consider myself the nightmare target to advertisers lol. I use the ads as idea sheets to make my own! I recently got an ad to a very pricey furniture/accessory store with some nice accessory pieces that were COMPLETELY overpriced. I've got a series of 3 simple pics penciled in and ready for paint(with my own choice of flower!) and am hunting for a fabric (from my stash) to make a pillow and another for an ottoman cover. I doubt that's what they had in mind. :) But, I couldn't afford their stuff unless I chose to live outdoors and give up the house!

    Since you're not feeling up to *real* cooking, but still need to eat everyday, how about using a crockpot to seriously simplify prep? A pork loin can be both pulled pork (with just bbq sauce) and a Chinese dish (with those Ramen noodles, some stir fry veggies, & soy sauce). Some BSCB can be cooked with a jar of salsa (shred and add cream cheese just before serving) and made into Salsa chicken tacos or as I have it, on a bed of lettuce. Throw in a night of tuna stuffed pitas and another with scrambled egg burritos (on whole wheat tortillas) and you have some healthy and tasty meals with very minimal effort. (Ask me how these are so fresh in my memory!! ;)
    And instead of trying to keep a task list, do what you can as the mood strikes you. Sometimes it's okay to give the toilets a quick swish and wipe down, but instead focus on a desk drawer or closet and something that keeps your mind occupied. I feel like any little thing makes a difference overall. And never forget that playing outside in the dirt is always an option. As you said, do what you can.....

    Blessings to you!

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    1. I really hope I can find time to work on that skirt this week. It shouldn't take too long if I just get the machine out and do it.

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  7. Hello Laura, So sorry to hear that your not feeling well! Just follow through and save your strength for your family. We all go through trials... Will be lifting you up in prayer!
    Blessings, Roxy

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  8. So sorry to hear you are not feeling well, prayers for strength and healing! I love your thrifty posts, do what you can and get well soon! ~jackie~

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  9. You have had an amazing week Laura in spite of all your health challenges! I'm glad that you were able to get some new rewards from Swagbucks and the new opinion survey. I have done a few of those too, and I keep getting kicked out of surveys too. They have a very fine line of people they are reaching out to, lol. I am keeping you in my prayers daily, believing the Lord for your healing in Jesus name! Hugs to you today :)

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  10. Laura, I always enjoy your posts. Don't worry about how often you share. Just take care of yourself, and we will all be praying for you to feel better soon.
    Love and blessings,
    GG

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  11. Hope your health issues resolve themselves soon...I love my Kindle Fire and have several Bible translations on it....if you like jigsaw puzzles, there is one I love called: Magic Jigsaw Puzzles. Once you download the app, you can have a puzzle a day at no cost....
    Let's see, I have finished my closet and next I'm tackling the craft studio....last week I canned 5 pints of spinach so that is thrifty....
    Blessings
    Mama Bear

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Thank you so much for "talking back" to me!

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Please make sure I have your email if you want me to respond or pray for you.

God bless you! This life only works with Jesus. The next life is a continuation of this one—make sure you spend it with Jesus. Jesus is the only way to God the Father!

Your blog friend,
Laura Lane
5 Year Cancer Survivor