Saturday, September 14, 2019

A Thrifty Week at Harvest Lane Cottage #144

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Hello dear reader,

 I'm here at the library making use of a free hour of internet. My computer seems to be losing its will to live. ~smile~ We received it as a gift way back in 2011, and it was a few years old then. My thrifty side, as well as my budget, has required that I use it as long as possible. Now the time has come to part with it. It will not remain functioning long enough for my daughter to do her college math on-line or for me to write a blog post. I tell you this for two reasons. First, there's nothing wrong with using something up. You know I am a believer in use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without as a way to save money. It's good for the environment, too. Second, it is my rather flimsy reason for my sporadic writing. The good news is that I am trying to sell things to save up the money to buy a used laptop. It's not in our regular budget with my daughter's dual enrollment bill due in a couple of months at the college. I'm considering putting a donation button on my blog to help cover costs. I'd be interested in your opinion in the comments if you'd be so kind.

 We had a lovely cool night last night. It was a joy to keep the windows open and save a bit on the air conditioning. It's just a teaser though. We are to have temperatures in the high eighties and nineties next week. Fall will come though. Let's get ready. Let's grasp the last few days of summer for all the fun they have as well. I still have a few things on my Summer Bucket List that I haven't done yet. ~smile~

  • Bought iced tea when I went out to Starbucks with my friend, Deborah. It's much less expensive in money and in calories than a fancy coffee or chai tea latte.
  • Free refill of iced tea at Starbucks for signing into Starbucks app and showing my phone to the barista
  • $.61 eggs. Yep, bought a couple more dozen. I've eaten more eggs lately than a black snake!
  • Shopped at Aldi. 'Nuf said.
  • Well, maybe a bit more on Aldi. Although the eggs went up to $.87 over the last few days, the manager pointed out that they have reduced their prices on hundreds of items for the foreseeable future. It made up for the extra I paid for eggs.
  • I signed up for Dollar General app on my phone and clipped a coupon for laundry soap. I saved $1.50. I need to spend a little more time looking into how to use the app. 

  • We enjoyed a tea party with friends at home. I offered a choice of six teas and tea cups. My favorite tea is Constant Comment by Bigelow.

  • I made a half batch of Joy Filled Eats' recipe Bacon Chicken Ranch casserole. Since only three of us were eating last night, I decided that it would be wasteful to make a 13x9. Some things I will make extra of, but I don't have freezer space, and I knew they wouldn't want it two days in a row.  I was able to save enough bacon to flavor a second meal. The recipe was Trim Healthy Mama, KETO, and low-carb friendly.
  • I made banana cake for a party with frozen bananas my son bought for $.19 a pound! It was Trim Healthy Mama friendly, too!
  • I sold my Teaching Textbooks Algebra 2 for $50.
  • I sold my Teaching Textbooks Geometry for $50.

  • I sold Notgrass Government books for $25.
  • I used some of the money for a birthday gift.
  • A couple weeks ago, I finally delivered some charity baby blankets that I made with squares that Cheryl Smith sent to me a few years ago. I think I made four or five. Thank you Cheryl. 




  • My Lowell found ground turkey for $1.19 a pound. I mixed a couple pounds of turkey with a pound of ground beef bought on sale for taco salad.
  • I'm still making charity hats with leftover yarn.
So tell me, what have done lately to save money, prep for colder months, and such?
Also, what do you think of me adding a donation button to help cover expenses such as a computer?

Thank you, I value your comments and opinions. I've made lots of friends here that have been so encouraging and kind. God bless you all!

Laura
Redefining Laura

You might be wondering about the Amazon links I include. The truth is, I'm trying to make a little money to pay for Christmas and for my daughter's dual enrollment tuition at the community college. It would help me greatly if you'd stop here and use my link at the top of my sidebar when you go to purchase something at Amazon. The earnings are a very small percentage, but every bit helps. It doesn't cost you anything extra to use my link. Thank you so much!

14 comments:

  1. "I'd be interested in your opinion in the comments if you'd be so kind."

    You could try it! It won't offend anyone who reads here because...well, they are just not like that. (Ha ha, I don't know any of you, but it just seems that way!) And some may donate.

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  2. Your handwork is lovely. Check your iBotta app for a $10 off 8 items Pumpkin Spice bonus good through tomorrow. That stacks with the regular cash back so we got 8 items for $1.02 since some items ended up money makers. Not sure what to say about a donation button since it seems that everyone is just making ends meet but every dollar would be another step toward your need. I sure do miss you when you are not here though so I hope you can find what you need and the funds to make it happen.

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  3. Have a great day.
    www.rsrue.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. I can relate to the new computer dilemma. I wore my last one out too and was so happy to finally get a new one a few months ago. I'm all for your donation button. Put it up, you might get what you need to pretty quickly. (everyone loves you) Your little baby blankets are so cute.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Penny. You're always such a wonderful encourager. I'll look into the donation button.
      Blessings, Mrs. Laura Lane

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  5. Aw, I am SO thankful you were able to use the quilt blocks!! So grateful you used them for charity quilts, too, and to know they will be blessing others. I LOVE it when God multiplies gifts and allows them to keep the blessings flowing! This made my day!

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    Replies
    1. Sorry Cheryl, this comment fell through the cracks of my email. I also used some of the blocks to make some of those bowl holdersfor the microwave. I gave them to my son. He has two roommates, so I gave him three. My other son cried out that he wanted one. I guess I need to make one for him this year!Thanks for blessing me. I am blessed to be a blessing.You are blessed to be a blessing.Hugs,Laura

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  6. Love Constant Comment tea! Your baby quilts are very nice.

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  7. Hi Laura, I will give my opinion on adding a donation Button, if you add one maybe put a small quote on what it will be used for and why! People love to help a cause that is worthy. Also you may need to update your new address on your email to friends that might want to send a check! You would so appreciate a new computer! Hugs, Roxy

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  8. Hi Laura, I’m a fan of Dollar General and their digital coupons,
    I try to shop there on a Saturday when they have a $5 off $25 purchase. I usually buy things like laundry products, paper goods and sometimes grocery items that are priced right.
    All the times must total $25 or more for the $5/25 to work and then the digital coupons you’ve clipped will also subtract. Last Saturday my purchase was $28 and then went down to $12 after all the coupons deducted.
    Family Dollar has a very similar digital coupon programs but when they have a $5/25 coupon, it is good all week and not just Saturday. I’d be happy to answer any questions you have about it

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  9. Laura, I'd be happy to start my Amazon shopping through your link so that you'll get the commission. I wish more people would do the same for me! It doesn't add anything to the price, and we can't get a commission on our own purchases, so somebody might as well, right? I don't think a donation button would bother any of your readers--it's just a button they can use or ignore, not an annoying popup. #HomemakingParty

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Jean. I think most folks shop Amazon once in awhile. I know what you mean about commissions. It would be cool if we got commissions on our own families, but I guess that wouldn't work out so well for Amazon. I will look into how a donation button works. It would be a great help to have a computer available to me more often. I'd like to get back to writing regularly.
      Blessings to you,
      Laura

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  10. My favorite tea is Constant Comment too! Only I can't drink it any more because of the acid in black tea. (sigh!) I like Mint Medley by Bigelow pretty well, though too, and I recently noticed that it comes in organic as well under their organic "Steep" brand. I'm trying to eat more organic as I seem to feel better when I do. :-) It does make things more expensive, though.

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    Replies
    1. Hello Mary, it is so good to hear from you. I'm so sorry that you can't drink Constant Comment anymore. I began drinking it when I was in college. I have tried many other teas since then, but it's still my favorite. I did not know that Bigelow made in organic tea. We don't have many types of available in my little town at Walmart.

      Thank you so much for writing to me. I love it when readers right back. God bless you, Laura

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Your blog friend,
Laura Lane
5 Year Cancer Survivor