There was a lot of nest feathering and nest cleaning. I started spring cleaning at the beginning of the month and kept going in dribs and drabs. But it has really added up! That combined with all the flowers coming out in the garden due to the time of year has made things look and feel lovely.
When we moved here there was a very neat and tidy garden with white roses across the front. I have just gradually added flowers and added more and more as I like flowers so much... and at last it all seems to be paying off! On Saturday the sun was out. It was a beautiful day. And just like that roses came out and we had a flush of flowers. Andy took photos out the front for me.
There is a jasmine flowering at the front door and I keep that door open most of the time as there is a screen. The whole house smells lovely!
Saturday we had a working around the house day. I had some old blinds that I had tried to clean a million times and were still dingy. Andy took them down for me then I scrubbed all the woodwork and washed all the windows inside and out. There are twenty windows out the back alone! I was up and down a ladder so much I could hardly walk the next day. BUT it was worth it! The whole house looks bright and sparkly!
I love it when things are sparkly!
I added new roses last year and they are out and still coming out.
This week at work Andy was offered large barrels for free. He came home with two large ones. They are being installed under down pipes at the back of the shed. I have looked at barrels this size at the hardware store and they were over $100 each.
The man who gave them to us asked would we like anything bigger? We have room down the side so we said yes.... wondering what he had. It turned out to be a rain water tank! For free. I don't know the liters but it is 6 feet x 4 feet in size. And that will fit fine!
Andy knows how to install things like this so no expense there either!
What a bonus!
Then in another bit of amazing luck... the carpet in our room is not good. I have dreams of getting rid of it. In our hallway there are beautiful old polished floorboards. I love them. Anyway this carpet is impossible to move to peek under so I asked Andy to lift a bit.... and underneath is the same floorboards as the hall. Not only that but they are already polished! Exactly the same as the hallway. I feel like I have won the lottery! So you know where this is going and what is an upcoming project...
We also saved money as there was a leak in a water pipe out the front and Andy fixed that himself.
If we do need a plumber though we call Kato so all good!
I cut Andy's hair.
Andy fixed the letterbox as it had broken.
I planted out self sewn tomato seedlings.
Then on Monday I cleaned the fridge top to bottom. Some IKEA place mats I had fitted the shelves perfectly. (You could cut them to fit though). It was a big job and I had a serious re arrange and felt so proud of it that I took a photo.
Aside of being nice a well organized fridge saves you a lot of money. No lost and forgotten items, science experiments and wasted produce. Before you shop you know what you have and what needs using up. I just find my fridge needs cleaning and organising often.
I froze some strawberries that were getting away from me.
In the mail I got a Flybuys update and am converting points into a $40 Coles gift card! I will use this to get things for Christmas cooking. Bonus!
Also at a store I was given a $15 voucher for my next purchase. This will get me something nice as it's a gorgeous store.
Mum gave me two flowering plants for the garden.
Down the side of the house we have a climbing yellow rose. I cut big bunches and brought them in...
So the house looks nice with roses inside and out. I am really happy when I have roses.
I have been recovering store gift bags... the ones that come with a logo on them... so now I have a supply of gift bags for Christmas...
I hope you had a good week! I feel we had lots of wonderful things happen and got heaps done. I think Spring is a bit like that, like a surge of energy.
How did you feather your nest or save money this week?
On Monday I am posting the next in the save money at Christmas series. This one will be super cheap ways to make parcels look spectacular, packaging, wrapping etc.
Have a wonderful weekend! xxxx
Oh you lucky thing, Annabel - rainwater tanks and floorboards! We are keeping our eyes open for creative ways/ideas/etc to do some sort of rainwater storage...still looking... And your roses are looking gorgeous, as usual. I hope mine give me lots of flowers this year, I only planted them throughout the last year. xx Fiona
ReplyDeleteDear Fiona, Some of my roses I planted last summer and now they have grown to much! So it doesnt take long. Your arbor out the front will be spectacular! In a downpour I was always wishing we were catching it... so now this is progress at least.
DeleteHave a lovely weekend, with thanks, Annabel.xxx
I can almost smell those roses Annabel. You have had a great week. Isn't it wonderful when the universe provides. The barrels and water tank, what a saving, at least a thousand dollars probably. And then to install without charge, even better. A son in law plumber is a useful thing too. You could barter....... I'll mind Harper if you...... I have been doing a course so that is taking a lot of my time as is my new sewing machine. I have been embroidering.
ReplyDeleteNow let me ask you a question, re barrels. There is a food factory that I drive past sometimes, they have barrels out the front they are obviously food safe. They look to be about 3-4 feet tall and have screw on lids. What do you think about using them to store food. Like tins and packets of rice and pasta etc. I have a dear man who sees food and wants to eat it. I see these as being labelled "dog food" and put in the box room. He'd not go near it. Then a second one could be labelled 'spare chicken pellets' and 'wild bird seed'. As long as I keep the smaller tubs that I keep these things in filled up, he'd never know I'm stockpiling. Do you think they'd be a good idea? What would you suggest to clean the insides? Unfortunately if there is food there, he wants to consume it. He's not a pig or anything, just seems to be always hungry.
You are very lucky that the floorboards are polished in your room too, another huge saving. Love Fi xx
Dear Fiona,
DeleteI would find out what has been stored in the barrels... probably food. If they are a good price (or free) I think they are awesome for water storage ie for water for the garden and the down pipes. Very handy! And food I would put in them in packets or tins. Well, this is what I think...
I have been through the hiding food thing. (in a past life!) I am thinking if you could find baskets that would lower in and out nicely then that would work as a way of getting things to the bottom and out again... you could stack several baskets if only you could find the right shape and size.
I would find out whats been in them and decide how to clean... ours contained detergents to make dish washing liquid. They were already rinsed and very clean, we just washed them out again. And will use for watering the garden.
I like your plan. I think its a good idea.
I cant wait to hear what you make and embroider on this machine! So many lovely possibilities...
Have a great weekend! With love, Annabel.xxxx
Anabel, I love your posts! As I finished reading this one I said out loud "What an amazing woman!" No one here except my 12 yr old cat, Miss Lily, who is curled up on the ottoman sound asleep! I love all the flowers, especially the roses! Can hardly wait to learn how to decorate bags! Shirley
ReplyDeleteDear Shirley, Thank you so much! If I had another daughter I was going to call her Lily. I had that picked out and still love it!
DeleteHave a lovely weekend and I will get some instructions written for the gift bags. With love, Annabel.xxx
Dear Annabel,
ReplyDeleteWhat a blessed week you had!! The roses and your yard are absolutely gorgeous.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Love and hugs,
Glenda
The place is looking breathtaking with the sparkling windows and the flowers everywhere!
ReplyDelete-- Found 16 notecards purchased only for the envelopes. I'll embroider birthday cards and use the envelopes. I love the size of the envelopes, 5"x7", and the price: $2.
-- We removed all the caulk from our RV (caravan) tub enclosure and recaulked. It looks so nice and we had perfect weather to do it today.
-- We enjoyed every evening meal at home this week except one. What a pleasure!
*hugs*
Kelley~
Dear Kelley,
DeleteI saw you closed down your blog! I am not sure if this is temporary or permanent?
Being fond of stationary I love the sound of the notecards!
Have a wonderful weekend, with love, Annabel.xxxx
What a gorgeous post Annabel! I love roses too, and am so excited because after a lifetime of having no luck, I suddenly have five rosebushes, all in various stages of blooming! Yours are just stunning....like Fiona, I swear I can smell them from here! Your home is so pretty and welcoming. You and Andy are a good pair, I think, with your complimentary skills. I can't wait to see these floorboards! I'm cleaning and reorganising massively here too. Things do get away from you when you're as distracted as I have been lately. I've found some wonderful ideas for storage on Pinterest, and Jess's simple but timely post this week on storing linen in plastic tubs has me in a flurry! I've rehomed sheets, quilts, towels and dog bedding into those, and pasted big apothecary style labels from The Graphics Fairy on their sides so they look very nice indeed! I'm seriously thinking about redoing my craft and sewing room the same way. I love a bit of continuity around the home. I couldn't agree more on having an organised fridge. That alone saves time, energy and money. Yours looks so clean and fresh! Have a great weekend. Love, Mimi xxx
ReplyDeleteDear Mimi,
DeleteI am very pleased for you about the roses! Rose buds are one of the most exquisite things.
The cleaning and re arranging etc is good therapy I think. Life and everything in it... well, home being a sanctuary is something I know you have written a lot on. And its true. Its a must. So fluffing around making it nice is worthwhile. And things get away in busy times... I have been catching up on things that were neglected etc and it feels really good. especially before the busy Christmas season.
The tubs are a good idea. My linen press needs this attention too.
I hope you are having a lovely weekend! With love, Annabel.xxxx
Your house is the epitome of the rose covered cottage.!!! Beautiful!!!
ReplyDeleteIt is so inspiring to hear of your blessings! Wonderful!! Sarah
Thank you Sarah! I have always dreamed of a rose cottage and now I pretty much have it. It is lovely. Have a wonderful weekend, with thanks, Annabel.xxx
DeleteWow! Your flowers are amazing, gorgeous! And I think I had the same thought as the above comment, amazing.
ReplyDeleteOk, here is an issue we have had this week. We are working hard at following a budget and have reduced our grocery spending, and we are trying to only use cash, I think it will work...however, last Friday, we were not able to make it to the bank in time to cash my husband's check. I was running very low on groceries, and then on Saturday my son needed an emergency prescription. I had to put that on the credit card, and I used cash from other budget categories to buy a few groceries to get us through the weekend. Then on Monday we cashed the check, but my baby got sick and my husband then had to work long hours, so I was not able to go to the grocery store until Wednesday. We had run out of most of my pantry items, flour, oil, butter, eggs, milk, meat, peanut butter, jelly, etc, along with laundry detergent and a few necessary toiletries. Ok, so now my house is restocked, but I am not sure how to keep my pantry stocked so that we do not run into this again...while staying within a decreased budget. In other words, if I am only buying what we need, how do I make sure we have enough put back should we run into something like this again? In the past I would buy two of things, or if something was running low, I would grab an extra to have on hand, but since we have decreased our budget I don't know how to go about this and still have enough for the things need right now. I know it will get easier, but it is going to take some diligence and learning to figure out how to do this.
On the up side, my children have never been as grateful for the food they enjoy eating as they were last evening and today, as we had to have a couple meals that weren't as appetizing while we were out of our usual favorites. :). I received quite a few "thank you mamas" for the food we bought and the food we have eaten since.
Marie
Dear Marie,
DeleteI know exactly what you are saying and am sorry it was a bumpy week. And this has happened to me. What I would say is that if possible, if there are the funds, get one week ahead in back up groceries and pantry supplies. If not possible then add whatever you can each week. If you are on A Working Pantry fb page Patsy made her e book free... this has so many ways to add to a pantry even for free. Over time little bits add up and help in these difficult weeks. If there is any way to raise funds to get ahead in the pantry then you have back up in a crisis of basics, this is such a great help.
I try to keep some spare cash in my purse, I hide it in a compartment for emergences only. This has helped me too.
It can be very hard to get ahead. But once you do, little by little, you build a buffer between you and these things that go wrong. And plenty of things go wrong! I found if we needed a Doctor it was always on the weekend for instance!
The good thing is that everyone is grateful about food and good things after. Well gratitude is a lovely thing. That is good.
I am sure you are taking every advantage already but watch for wonderful specials and bulk buys as these can also help you get ahead.
I hope you have a great weekend and much better week next week!
With much love, Annabel.xxxx
Marie, you need to build up your pantry week by week. Don't try to do it all in one hit. For example if you use one packet of flour per week then week one buy two. Week two buy one packet of flour and pick something else to stock up on . Each week you shopping list might have the same items on but the quantities change as you begin your stockpile. As soon as you stop buying flour, your stockpile decreases ( flour is just an example ).
DeleteButter and cheese can be frozen so these are easy to stockpile too.
Have you tried making your own laundry powder ? It's so cheap and easy to stockpile the items. Here's my recipe http://myabundantlife07.blogspot.com.au/2014/09/making-laundry-powder.html
Hi Marie, I know exactly what you are talking about, I've been in the same position. I found that I was buying basically the same groceries week after week, with just odd changes for seasons i.e in summer we eat more tinned pineapple, in winter we use more soup mix etc. Otherwise my shopping was pretty much the same. That meant that I could create a basic shopping list, with prices, and use it over and over. Because it was mainly ingredients, it meant that I could then make just about anything using pantry ingredients. It also meant that my grocery budget was pretty much set in cement - apart from the odd price increase it was always the same. BUT I found that sometimes we didn't always use all the flour or cereal or whatever, however on shopping day I still bought what was on the list, and this became the beginnings of my stockpile. I also used "spare" money (as if there ever is such a thing :) ) to buy specials on my regular grocery items to build up the stockpile. Spare money was loose change I picked up around the house or from the washing machine or cash I made by selling something or perhaps birthday or Christmas money I had to spend. Building a stockpile takes time, you do it gradually. Do you have a meal plan that fits your shopping schedule so that you are always just covering yourself? Perhaps try meal planning for 10 days (if you shop weekly) for a week, then you'll have a few ingredients (enough for at least three days) as a back-up for when life gets crazy. If you do this for 4 weeks you'll have a stockpile of 12 days worth of groceries to fall back on. By shopping carefully, checking prices between brands, watching unit prices and searching out the specials you should be able to do this without going over your grocery budget.
DeleteA simple way to get some "spare" grocery money is to simply extend your weekly shop by one day each week i.e. week 1, shop Monday, week 2 shop Tuesday, week 3 shop Wednesday etc for 7 weeks - you'll then have one full week's grocery money to use for building your stockpile. This is simple, but you need to plan and stick to the plan for the 7 weeks.
It does get easier, the more you do it the better you become at shopping and feeding your family on a tight grocery budget. Best wishes and keep persevering, you can do it!
Hello everyone. Can I just add a different sort of idea for you Marie? When I was a single Mum of three boys for many years, I found it almost impossible to buy multiples of pantry items to stock my pantry for tough times...and believe me, we had more tough times than ones that weren't! Instead, I used to have a tough times hidey hole in my bedroom wardrobe. In there I kept a dozen recycled baby formula tins, and a couple of plastic tubs. Each time I shopped, I would set aside one roll of toilet paper, half a cup of flour, a stock cube, a packet of instant noodles. half a cup of oats, half a cup of rice, a bar of soap, some cooking oil decanted into a smaller bottle, and so on. So basically I was stocking my emergency pantry with tiny increments of what I'd bought for the week, with no additional expenditure. Of course if I saw something on a really good special, I'd buy it if I could too. Sometimes, we'd have to dip into the stash before the next shop, but really not often, and we'd always replace it straight away as soon as I could shop again. This was a great way to have just enough to get through a couple of days or a week if a big bill came, without having to budget from an already tight purse. I hope this is helpful. Love, Mimi xxx
DeleteThis is a very clever idea, Mimi! Thank you for sharing it.
DeleteDear Annabel, My, you had a wonderful week! The roses are just beautiful! And to get the water barrels and rainwater tank for free!! Such a huge blessing!! :)
ReplyDeleteThis week, I made a third batch of salsa. And I will be canning beets tomorrow. I've also been blessed with some groceries, which is a huge help.
I'm enjoying all your posts! Thank you so much for all your time you put into them. Love, Teri
Dear Teri, You still have food coming in! Well this is great but you must be tired too!
DeleteHow fantastic about the groceries! I am so happy about that.
Thank you so much. Have a lovely weekend! With love, Annabel.xxx
Hi Annabel, Your rose are so gorgeous!! That was fantastic luck with the barrels. I'm planning on installing a rainwater tank down the side of our house too.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading your post, I have been inspired to
a) plant roses
b) clean and organise my fridge
c) decorate gift bags
Thank-you for such a motivating post!
Love, Stephanie xx
Dear Stephanie,
DeleteI love things like the fridge cleaning, so good but costs nothing, also saves money overall.I am so glad you feel motivated! Thank you so much for commenting. Have a great weekend, with love, Annabel.xxx
Your home is so lovely and your roses are stunning! I am excited about your flooring too! That is like winning the lottery. My houseguests of two weeks have just left so I have been feathering by doing lots of cleaning and reorganizing. It feels good! Have a lovely weekend! :)
ReplyDeleteDear Jes,
DeleteThank you! I cannot wait to be able to see this lovely floor. I am so happy about it.
After house guests there is a lot of catching up to do! Have a lovely weekend, with thanks, Annabel.xxx
Annabel, your home ... your flowers ... the gift bags ... so much beauty! I am still fall cleaning and being in the season of autumn, our beauty is coming in the form of the changing colors of leaves. Enjoy your weekend!
ReplyDeleteDear Patsy, I just love autumn.For me that means as it cools I can do less in the garden and start on more crafts, crochet etc. I love that! Thank goodness for the seasons really.
DeleteHave a wonderful weekend! With love and thanks, Annabel.xxx
Dear Annabel, Your roses are absolutely gorgeous! I discovered your blog a couple weeks ago (from Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth) and I have enjoyed going through all of your past posts. They have been so encouraging to me as a young housewife. Your articles always leave me wanting to be productive and make my home a lovely place for me and my husband.
ReplyDeleteI really should start writing down what I do during the week, as I would love to participate in Feather Your Nest Fridays. Last week, I cleaned all of my windows inside and out, as the weather here is just starting to cool. My windows don't seal very well, so my blinds get dirty rather quickly and, as you know, they can be a pain to clean. This time I had the idea to hang them on the clothesline (I had to attach them with zip ties), squirt them with soap, and spray them down with the garden hose. It worked! I was so happy, it took less than ten minutes. I left them out to dry while I cleaned the windows, and by the time I finished, they were ready to be hung back in the house.
Please keep up all of the wonderful work that you do. It is such a blessing to us all! --Kelsey
Dear Kelsey, Welcome! I am so glad to have you here.
DeleteI love Strangers and Pilgrims. I love Jes!
Well done on the blinds. That is a great way to do them and get them clean and fresh again.
I would love you to join in on Feather your Nest Fridays. Truly, if you jot down some aims for the week, some goals each day, and then some notes about what you achieved... it is very motivating! It is so easy to do stuff all week then wonder what you got done! We forget. I KNOW I was busy but wonder... Since I write it down I feel so much more satisfaction and motivation. And gratitude. It really is a help.
Thank you so much for such a kind comment. I cant wait to see how you go and hear what you did next week! With love, Annabel.xxx
What beautiful flowers, garden, and home you have! So lovely. Visiting you from A Tray Full of Bliss.
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting! xxx
DeleteAnnabel,
ReplyDeleteI do the exact same thing in my fridge I get the no contact shelf liner and cut it to fit! Great minds think alike. Your yellow roses are gorgeous I love roses and you house is gorgeous! You will love having rain tanks that extra water really helps when it's hot out ours has saved our garden many times. And to find lovely floors and not have to replace them now that is a huge money saving find! I bet their lovely. You have been so busy with windows and gifts I hope you are taking yourself a me day too! I am still playing catch up and not quite there yet. I can wait to see your next post!
XOXO
Vicky
Dear Vicky, You gave me the idea to give up on contact and use vinyl and cut it then glue it... on containers etc. Much better.
DeleteI like this in the fridge, easier to get out and wash then the shelves themselves.
It was a really good week. Today tired! Think a quieter day today.
Have a good weekend, you had a busy week too! With love, Annabel.xxx
Once again Annabel your roses are beautiful. Such lovely colors. We have rose bushes in our chicken coop. They are flowering again so it's time to pick a few. I don't think the chooks will mind.
ReplyDeleteThe rain water tank and barrels are a real blessing for you both.
Here's my frugal list for the week -
* Received a few belated birthday presents. I saved the gift bags, bubble wrap, tissue paper and gift boxes to use again some time in the future.
* Picked silverbeet for two meals,
* Went through all the birthday and Christmas presents I've stashed away for the next couple of years. I've now allocated them and written them into my present / gift book.
* Gratefully received a tomato plant and a few colored chard ( silverbeet ) plants from my Dad.
* Hand washed the dinner dishes a couple of nights.
* Dried the washing on the line and clothes horses ( when it rained ).
* Saved the shower warm up water to water all the fruit trees.
* Wrapped up my handmade rose soaps ready to give as presents.
* Made a double batch of Cranberry Hootycreek biscuit dough for the freezer. I baked some that day and the rest of the dough will be baked just before Christmas to give as presents.
* We ate freezer meals ( leftovers ) for dinner two nights.
* Filled up both the cars with petrol using discount dockets and paid $1.14 a litre. Darren's old car was on gas / petrol. Now that both our cars run on petrol we need to watch the price cycles carefully and use dockets to get the best price every time.
* Darren organised a better deal on both our car insurances. He saved $154 on mine and got a better excess and windscreen replacement included. For Darren's new car he saved $172. Our insurances were not that dear to begin with compared to what you see on tv. So we are happy with our savings.
* Bought rice bran oil on a better than half price sale. This will be used to make a different type of soap.
* Bought eight kilos of broccoli for $1.50 a kilo. I spent 1 1/2 hours cutting, blanching and freezing all of it. I even cut up most of the stalks and froze them to use in casseroles.
* We went out for dinner to celebrate Jessica graduating high school. We used a coupon for 25% off the food bill.
* Bought five legs of lamb for $5.99 kg from a new local shop called Fresh Value Market in Cranbourne. This will be enough lamb roasts for Christmas Day and until lamb comes on sale again next Spring.
* Made a batch of Miracle Spray to sell to a cleaning client. I also made a double strength batch to use at home. It's time saving to make it double strength then dilute it when it's decanted into spray bottles.
Dear Wendy, That was a big and important week too. You must have the worlds prettiest chicken coop. You must take a photo of that!
DeleteAll the little extras like selling Miracle Spray must really add up to a difference in your household.
Thank you for sharing your list! With love, Annabel.xxxx
Everything looks so lovely Annabel, we have similar taste in home furnishings and roses. My grandpa had a property called Rose Cottage near Canberra, he was an avid gardener. The yellow climbing rose is exquisite. Do you know the name of this rose? I would love to grow this. I love your posts and look forward to them every week. As you loved letters from Laine, I love your posts, I have learned so much from you. Each week you inspire me to a little better and try a little harder and the results are really starting to blossom in my life. Thank you for your inspiration, generosity and joyful spirit. Lisa
ReplyDeleteDear Lisa, I don't know the name of the yellow rose. It is a climber. We inherited it from the last owners so it was really well established and is huge. I will try and get a photo of the whole arch way it covers.
DeleteYour Grandpa's property sounds lovely! I would have loved that! And him I would think as he loved roses!
Thank you so much for such a kind comment. I am so glad you feel encouraged. Things can seem daunting and never ending! But you are right, little by little, extras add up! You put it so well. I am so glad you are seeing fruit from your extra efforts! Keep up the good work! With love, Annabel.xxx
Oh Annabel, I'm not at home at the moment, but I've just had the loveliest experience - I spent half an hour drooling in a beautiful gift shop here in Warragul called Annabel's! And it is so pretty and delicious, I was thinking of you the whole time I was in there. Your roses are gorgeous, I love them, they just give and give and give, what a blessing to have such beautiful blooms to pick.
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely weekend,
oopsy Cath your reply one comment down. I have done this a few times lately! Sorry!
DeleteCath, I love that store and think of Annabel every time I go in there.
DeleteDear , Thank you for your lovely comment to help Marie.
ReplyDeleteA shop called Annabels! I went and found it online! And already I got ideas... the zinc looking pots in a round tin called a planter set... ooohhh i really love that but would do a DIY copy of course!
Thanks Cath, my roses give me a lot of joy and each year I have more. (so far)
I am going back to Annabelles website for a longer snoop! With love, Annabel.xxx
Annabel your roses are simply glorious! We've been on the road this week so not much done on. The home front. We have welcomied our boy home! Bliss!
ReplyDeleteDear Jane, I am very happy for you. I know someone who has several sons deployed. I cannot imagine the worry. So I am very happy for you that your boy is home with you! Enjoy!
DeleteThank you, with love, Annabel.xxx
Hi Marie, I'm a young mum too and I really feel for you in this situation. I recently read Cath's book 'Eat well, Save More' and can honestly say it gave me genuinely new ideas about how to tackle my grocery spending. I have read a lot of books that seemed to offer very similar advice, but I have already noticed how the changes I've made are helping. For me, I have found that identifying the items that we really cannot go without has been helpful. For example, nappies, toilet paper, flour, gluten free bread (I have a son with Coeliac's disease). If I have flour I can bake bread, make pizza bases, and bake snacks. So having flour means I can get away with running out of bread for a bit. Milk powder on hand is useful for baking and can be made to replace fresh milk if needed. There will be other things, and obviously having a stockpile of many items would be better, but in terms of starting maybe buying extras of the things that are truly essential in your house might be a good plan? For what it's worth, having just begun stockpiling about two months ago, I am constantly feeling like what I have is nowhere near enough. I guess it is quite a long process. But it is a good feeling to get to the next shopping day knowing that if for some reason I can't go that day that I can still feed my family. I hope this provides some encouragement, and that you have an easier week next week :) Jen
ReplyDeleteDear Jen,
DeleteThank you so much for our words for Marie. This is useful to everyone too.
Caths book is excellent. Vicky is also writing on this subject for next week. Little ways to get ahead might not seem like much but they add up!
With only two months in you have done very well. I am 9 months in and feel like I am getting there... I am putting on a burst towards the 12 month mark so I will feel like I got a long way in twelve months. We will certainly be in a much better position because of this. It is a long process and then keeping it up and rotating etc. But never really paying full price for anything again is a huge bonus!
Thank you very much, with love, Annabel.xxx
Annabel I have found my vintage rose prints - now I just need to work out where to put them and I too can have roses to look at every day.
ReplyDeleteMy husband was away for work last week, he arrived home on Friday just as the change was hitting, lots of wind which has kicked up lots of pollen and dust and I sitting here feeling like I have been run over by a truck.
At least with him home I do not need to worry about cooking meals as he will do it - I picked up a few things from Aldi on Friday morning to see us through until I am back over on the Island. Asked about the new store and it is going to be opening in December, was supposed to be November and it is one of the new concept stores to I cannot wait to see what it is like.
My husband is fixing a vintage/antique dressing table to go into the bathroom - the removalists that moved us from here to storage broke the legs and side runners for the drawers - thankfully I have a handyman husband and he likes pottering especially when it comes to old furniture.
While my husband was away I managed to have some quiet time for myself, especially on the really hot days. Popped down to see what a fabric place was like and then popped across the road and picked up some fruit and vegetables, went to the newsagent and also Chemist Warehouse who are all in the same complex - there is a butcher and a baker there but I didn't need anything from them this time.
Today is going to be a quiet day for me, my husband heads back down to the Gold Coast for two days of work tomorrow and then we are not sure what the week is going to hold.
Hope you are having a great weekend.
Lynette
XXXXX
Dear Lynette,
DeleteI know I would just love the vintage rose prints! And I LOVE what your husband is doing the vintage dressing table. I would really love something like this in our bathroom. It is very handy your husband can fix things. Andy is good like that. He does the repairs and nuts out how to make things work. It saves money so often.
Our Aldi is coming soon. This will be very exciting. That can be part of my routine in 2016. It will shake up the other supermarkets too I think.
Enjoy your quiet days. These can be lovely!
Have a good week, with love and thanks, Annabel.xxxx
LOVE, LOVE,LOVE all the pretty things in this post!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous roses you have Annabel, I bet they smell divine!
Sounds like Andy is pretty handy too, this saves so much money.
This is how I saved money this week;
~I had four no spend days.
~Dried clothes outside as it was hot.
~Saved pre dish water and collected air conditioner run off water for plants
~Sold excess eggs
~Cooked from scratch
~Decluttered my kitchen and clean using miracle spray
~Dried my rose petals to add to potpourri
~Paid extra on the mortgage, I love seeing it decrease every payday :)
~Made more breadcrumbs and dried them outside in the drier
~Also dried more mushrooms and apples
~Picked silver beet and kale from the garden
~Mended a shirt
~Went for a walk instead of a gym
~No TV at all, saves electricity (and haven't missed it)
xTania
Dear Tania,
DeleteI think your week was amazing... seeing the pictures on the blog was beautiful. I read it twice! You get a lot done. Savings, progress and getting ahead. Have another great week this week. It is much cooler which I think is helpful. With love, Annabel.xxx
You've had another great week, I love your garden and the roses are spectacular. The fragrance would be amazing. What a great find with the timber floor boards under your carpet and so lucky to get a water tank and some barrels they will save you on water.
ReplyDeleteThe last couple of weeks have been a bit slower at home for me as I have been doing extra hours at work as others have been on holidays. It has been tiring but should be back to normal this week. I have managed to do all the meals from scratch, the general housework and getting all the washing dry outside as the weather has been very warm. We are starting to get storms too now so I am glad I have all I need if the power goes out etc.. I have finished another couple of presents while watching tv at night. This week I will need to do a more thorough clean through the house and catch up on the things I have left the last two weeks.
Hope your week is great Annabel.
Debbie xx
Dear Debbie,
DeleteThank you! Well, the extra hours at work would be giving your budget a boost but also would be tiring. You have done well to still cook and make presents as well! I hope this week is much easier though.
I did see on the news about storms and potential storms. Usually they have to be pretty big storms to make the news in the first place. Eek!
I had a slow weekend. We were both really tired! So now I am hoping to have lots of good things to report again this Friday!
Have a great week, with love, Annabel.xxx
Your home is BEAUTIFUL! (had to shout ;) The roses are to die for, and the thought of the fragrance of Jasmine drifting through your home sounds wonderful. Your 6 X 4' rain water tank sounds about the size of ours. My husband got his for free from his work place. Just one of our rain gutters flows into it, and the tank has never gone dry all summer. (I am in the U.S.). We used it to water all of my flowers and husband's produce garden. That was free water. As for feathering, I've been stripping the pain off an old wood table and I will put it in our kitchen. Just today, I saw a wood table near identical to mine for sale for $125. I bought mine years ago for $20. Love finding those bargains! I'll be cleaning out my fridge this week also.
ReplyDeleteDear Joy,
DeleteThank you so much!
It is good to know your tank keeps full and is so handy. I cant wait to get ours in and hope we will still get some rain to fill it s we are mid spring here and summers are dry.
I hope your table turns out beautifully! With love and thanks, Annabel.xxx
Your home and gardens are lovely. What a blessing to find a beautiful wood floor under the carpet in your room! Getting the carpet out will feel just as wonderful as our removal of the old wallpaper. I am so happy for you!
ReplyDeleteDear Lana, the wallpaper you hated and my dodgy carpet could combine into a really bad bedroom! Lol you are right, now I am just dying to get this done and this carpet out. Soon I am hoping!
DeleteHope you have a really good week, love Annabel.xxx
Thanks for sharing at Five Star Frou-Frou Annabel. Will you join me again this week? Mimi xxx
ReplyDelete