tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post6848760608825038242..comments2024-03-26T00:26:19.756-07:00Comments on The Bluebirds are Nesting...: The Vicky Challenge, 2020. Saving on food when costs are skyrocketing. Annabelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09027539528156492413noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-35755513930862332702020-02-28T12:00:22.077-08:002020-02-28T12:00:22.077-08:00thank you for your encouraging post! And I love yo...thank you for your encouraging post! And I love your produce bags and china from the last post. I have been rereading The Tightwad Gazette III by Amy Dacyczyn. Lots of great money-saving tips esp. for housewives and home-owners! Be of good corage and do not weary from doing good!<br />Blessings,<br />LeslieLeslie McKinleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08082544707682903607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-49739647844448783722020-02-27T12:57:36.802-08:002020-02-27T12:57:36.802-08:00Zucchini is one of those crops where you wait and ...Zucchini is one of those crops where you wait and wait for the first one and before you know it, there is an explosion and suddenly you have baseball bat size. Some suggestions, if I may, for zucchini! Make zucchini fritters...basically a potato pancake only with zucchini. I use Martha Stewart's recipe and omit the oregano and parsley. They are delicious! Chocolate zucchini bread is another favorite and no one can tell the veggie I said in there. I make the Chocolaty Zucchini Bread from Taste of Home, but do not put the raisins in, nor do I add chocolate chips because there is no need to! I freeze grated zucchini (I use my food processor) in 3 cup amounts to use for each recipe. Make sure you drain the unfrozen zucchini before using in the bread recipe.Momof9https://www.blogger.com/profile/11822677772514138412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-1826185511035107802020-02-27T12:26:16.497-08:002020-02-27T12:26:16.497-08:00Love reading the comments and articles. Thanks for...Love reading the comments and articles. Thanks for the great inspiration. <br />Would love to know of good value gluten free tummy fillers. A lot of folk mentioned gluten based fillers that the gf alternative are cost prohibitive.<br /><br /> We are a family of 4 coeliacs. The children have massive appetite/fast metabolism inherited from my side of the family.<br /> My usual go to fillers used to be lots of fresh fruit/ veg /popcorn and rice,home made yogurts,boiled eggs ect. And stocking up on crackers/bread when on special/cclearance items ect . I need to really rethink what I do here . Oats are also off the menu as they cause us similar symptoms.<br /><br /> I had major sticker shock this week. In 2 weeks Fruit and veg prices in my area are through the roof. My regular shops where I'd once found specials past prime/defects 40 -80c/kg are now $1.20-$2/kg but same quality.Markdowns are few and far between it seems as well and not great when they are. <br /><br />With the blessing of rain though the garden can be planted this weekend after the jungle is mowed:) . But not before I forrage all the wild amaranth that grows so well well here:) hopefully seeds will grow as fast as the weeds did :) <br /><br /> I also second building community with neighbours. We have an older couple next door who often share there excess as a way of saying thankyou. <br /><br /><br /><br />DiinAushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02779933661423334300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-68637170316056402482020-02-25T15:38:00.748-08:002020-02-25T15:38:00.748-08:00Hi Annabel, I just love reading your blog, but don...Hi Annabel, I just love reading your blog, but don't often comment. Just one thing to be aware of when buying ham is the country of origin - They have to give a % of Australian content, and usually the cheap stuff is only about 2% Australian. I had a young deli staffer helping me find some the other day - he was horrified - everyone thinks "fresh" produce is Australian but you do have to check. I only buy 100% Australian meatAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-89163236179544269782020-02-23T18:23:31.692-08:002020-02-23T18:23:31.692-08:00Thank you Annabel and you are so right on so many ...Thank you Annabel and you are so right on so many points.<br /><br />By shopping around and bartering we can indeed reduce our grocery costs considerably.<br /><br />I have adopted a new approach is if I see good specials just get it out of the grocery money where ever I am. I run under budget anyway so since I have noticed there are less and less good specials when I see them I grab all I can get.<br /><br />Have a great week ahead.<br /><br />Sewingcreations15 (Lorna).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-14999353300366219922020-02-23T13:19:30.658-08:002020-02-23T13:19:30.658-08:00I had to share this fabulous post on my Facebook p...I had to share this fabulous post on my Facebook page so all of my kids can learn how to save money!! Thank you for such a great resource!!!Farm Quilterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01670652033638218941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-13451991471792384082020-02-23T12:10:40.223-08:002020-02-23T12:10:40.223-08:00I brought up 4 boys.
I bought a popcorn maker and...I brought up 4 boys. <br />I bought a popcorn maker and we always had popcrn kernels in the pantry. When they wanted a snack, it doesn't get much healthier (or cheaper) than air-popped popcorn!<br />When they were in primary school and lower secondary school I'd often have a whole cake available for when they got home. They'd cut it in quarters and inhale it!Frogdancer Joneshttp://burningdesireforfire.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-87901762503161690802020-02-23T00:42:53.641-08:002020-02-23T00:42:53.641-08:00Annabel - you are speaking my language here. I&#...Annabel - you are speaking my language here. I'm constantly on the lookout for ways to stretch our dollars further. One of the things that has worked for me has been to shop weekly instead of weekly. While I am sure I do miss some special offers, I have still heavily reduced how much per week I was spending. On shopping day I can hit 2 supermarkets that are close together, plus there is an Asian market nearby - good for buying seeds, lentils and beans. The best times for going are first thing in the morning, when the mark downs are put out - especially during the school holidays.<br />Also, you have inspired us to try foraging, which would never have occurred to me before. I am hoping we will post photos on the Facebook page on Tuesday - but Alison and I went out on Thursday and picked over 170kg (376 pounds!!!) of pears from our city's red zone (area abandoned after earthquakes 9 years ago). My dehydrator has been going like mad ever since... That's rather a lot of pears!Rebecca Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03416781346356642803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-60054009955809716222020-02-22T19:13:43.779-08:002020-02-22T19:13:43.779-08:00I would divide my shop between different places, b...I would divide my shop between different places, but I simply don't have the time or the energy, especially when I can do a fortnight shop at ALDI for under $170 most of the time. I don't buy snacks apart from chocolate and there are only two adults and two cats here. That said, I miss having chickens and really should get some veggies and herbs growing in pots. $9 dollars for some mint, parsley and basil in plastic containers I don't want is ridiculous.Jodihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09145459160338807889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-78079138321193087912020-02-22T17:05:19.026-08:002020-02-22T17:05:19.026-08:00This is a really good post! I love finding new way...This is a really good post! I love finding new ways to stretch things or add to the pantry. I like to shop different stores and pick up the sale items and look for the mark downs. I buy ingredients and meal plan with what I have. And if I find great mark downs I ask myself what I can make with it before it goes in my cart if it's going into the pantry for later. <br />I know you probably don't have many there, but here most stores are offering some kind of reward like a free item for example. Even if the sales are not good I pop in and get the free item and look for good mark downs. <br />There is nothing wrong with simple meals as long as everyone is full and growing what we are able to helps keep the grocery budget down. <br />Foraging is another wonderful thing. From wild berries and onions to other edibles like dandelion greens and lamb's quarters and purslane. Sneaking them in some meals adds health benefits and they are free. They are starting to sell them in the supermarkets here. <br />We also barter eggs and canned goods too. I love bartering! <br />XOXO<br />Vicky<br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-1799586724483254872020-02-22T16:25:07.594-08:002020-02-22T16:25:07.594-08:00Great post Annabel. I love that you have covered a...Great post Annabel. I love that you have covered all the ways to save on food. The biggest saving being not to waste what you have.<br />When my two were teenagers, pie makers, like a toasted sandwich maker, had just come out. I was given one. That pie maker was one of the most used items in my kitchen. The teenagers would get home from school, turn on the pie maker and pull the leftovers out of the fridge. They made some amazing combinations of pies. I always kept, and still do, frozen sheets of the cheap pastry in the freezer. Pie makers are now so cheap and there are Facebook groups that share an amazing amount of simple recipes for other things you can make using your pie maker.<br />Knowing your neighbours can also be a great way to add to your pantry. The local widowers bring their trousers and mending to me. I get fresh caught fish in return. Bluey mowed a neighbours lawn yesterday. Their lawn mower broke down a couple of weeks ago. They don't have a lot of money and just cant afford to repair it yet. We were given half a large watermelon as a thank you. Another neighbour grows the best green beans and shares the excess over the fence with us and we share our excess with them. Bluey accidently purchased dry cat food instead of dog food. I gave this to a lady I had recently met who has a cat. She is a pensioner and loved being able to give her kitty some of the expensive brand food. She gave me a bunch of flowers from her garden. Knowing your neighbours is a wonderful way to develop community and add to your pantry. Janehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06964345893499561504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-87177285271794681352020-02-22T15:48:17.783-08:002020-02-22T15:48:17.783-08:00Annabel my tips for filling hungry growing tummies...Annabel my tips for filling hungry growing tummies are to bake filling items like ANZAC biscuits or slice - the oats tend to fill you up more (I also have a chocolate chip biscuit (cookie) recipe that has oats in it as well as a chocolate ball recipe as well as another slice recipe. These were all on high rotation when we had a house full of teens. I also have a cake recipe that uses very little butter and I would change the fruit component up to what was in season. <br /><br />Protein is also a tummy filler - hard boiled eggs or use the pie maker and make some up using left overs. <br /><br />Likewise sausage rolls - my grandmother use to make a batch of sausage rolls to take on our trips out to the country - we ate them cold in the dead of winter but they filled us up. This brings me to other pastry items like the 2 ingredient dough that is generally used for pizzas but I have now seen it used for scrolls to be made in the pie maker. <br /><br />I like the Pioneer Woman's pancake recipe - it has yogurt in it which not only makes them light and fluffy but also filling. <br /><br />My grandmother's pikelet recipe is lost but I do use my mother in law's - when I make them I freeze them now because there is just the two of us and I am gluten free so my husband gets to eat them on his own (he would devour them in one sitting if I let him) likewise anything else that I bake or cook. <br /><br />I also use my mother in law's scone recipes - never had a failure yet. The old traditional rub the butter in type, I just cannot get the hang of the lemonade scones but they would do to fill hungry tummies. <br /><br />Lunch boxes do not have to be the traditional sandwich - our son detested sandwiches so I use to make a savoury muffin and pop salad in. There wasn't the variety around nor ease of ingredients as there is now - no doubt he would have loved some pizza style ones rather than boring old cheese ones but he never complained. <br /><br />I belong to two FB groups and the discussion of late (because it is back to school time) has been all about lunch boxes - teachers sending notes home saying that what is in the lunch box is not appropriate (the child is on the spectrum and has sensory issues so the lunch box contained foods that were being eaten) and then there are the others with loads of packet things in the lunch box and wondering why their food bill is sky high. <br /><br />Making your own saves so much money, not only that you know what they are eating (believe me we had a child that was quite ill and knowing what she was eating and how much was necessary when talking to doctors). <br /><br />There is no need to buy special ingredients to what you would normally buy - it is just how it is put together. <br /><br />My shopping is changing - I have liked pages on FB so that I know what the specials are. Some places do not do paper advertising in any form these days. <br /><br />We have a new supermarket chain called Fresh & Save (they are Queensland owned). They do $2- weeks. I went to the last one and noticed lots of items marked down to $2-. Because we were waiting for things to be finished here I didn't buy anything that wasn't needed but next time I will scour the shop and buy up. <br /><br />We also have the Golden Circle Factory outlet - they have fortnightly specials - sometimes they are good for stocking up but other times they are more the snack packet items that people are putting into school lunch boxes these days.<br /><br />Then we have a few discount places so keeping a price book is now getting more important than ever. <br /><br />Lynette<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-62112731653289249812020-02-22T15:18:48.321-08:002020-02-22T15:18:48.321-08:00Dear Cheri,
Oh you just gave me an idea for a post...Dear Cheri,<br />Oh you just gave me an idea for a post! I have been doing the same/similar to you. I will give you an example... last year when I had all the apples I made so much from them. It was so good. The chooks loved the peels and cores. But this year I can do better. I am going to make apple jelly from the peels and cores then also mint jelly. You could also make vinegar. I think apple jelly will be just lovely and also good for the children. It will be interesting to see how much I end up with from what I threw out last year. But this could be a wonderful subject. There are many things that are like this! I hope your shopping trip will be a good one. Yes with the catalogues I often notice one item here is ham. It is in the catalogue on special at $20 a kilo or something. When in the store it is often more like $8 a kilo. So the special price is trying to get you to buy some expensive brand and NOT telling you the best deal at all! I wonder how many people fall for that one!? <br />Thanks Cheri as these subjects could be a real help to others, with love Annabel.xxxAnnabelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09027539528156492413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-33125483243419416542020-02-22T14:54:01.301-08:002020-02-22T14:54:01.301-08:00This is such a lovely, sensible post and I think m...This is such a lovely, sensible post and I think many people today would benefit from reading it.<br /><br />I have never understood menu planning before shopping and yet most frugal living blogs consider it the holy grail of grocery shopping. It's just counter intuitive to me, fine make a note of what you have and what needs using up quickly, but I menu plan when I return with my shopping and I know what I have and what I want. <br />Simple food is so underrated, there's nothing wrong with soup and a sandwich or an omelette, it's cheap, nutritious food, uses up lots of odds and ends and is a comforting meal. We don't need to eat meals from every continent in order to thrive, going back to basics does no one any harm.<br />As a complete aside, I have lost weight, totally by accident, by eating simpler, eating when I'm actually hungry rather than at designated times and cutting back on my food budget! I don't feel in the slightest deprived, so I think I will just continue.<br /><br />Hope everyone has a good week.<br />Sunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-32571913534492007572020-02-22T14:30:41.346-08:002020-02-22T14:30:41.346-08:00I really enjoyed reading this, Annabel, and hope l...I really enjoyed reading this, Annabel, and hope lots more tips will be shared in the comments so I can learn more from everyone. <br /><br />I agree that discount chemists can be much cheaper. Our son needs a medicine that costs $29 a bottle at our local chemist. It only lasts him 2weeks and so we shopped around and found it at a discount chemist for $23 bottle. That saves us $12 a month or $144 a year. <br /><br />I think pikelets are great for hungry teenagers too. I add an extra egg (for extra protein) and use half wholemeal (for more fibre) and half plain flour. I typically grate in a pear or add mashed banana to the mix too. And I make a double batch then freeze half for a quick school breakfast. I also make little homemade sausage rolls with chicken or pork mince, breadcrumbs (from leftover crusts), an egg, grated zucchini and a little splash of tamari. Great for a hungry teenager to munch on after school and more protein too which they need for growth and also fills them up!<br /><br />I have been trying to cut my grocery bill too. I check the specials for the four supermarkets within a reasonable radius of home. I don't find much but when I do I stock up. This past week, one had 40% off special on replacement heads for my son's brand of electric toothbrush. I bought 3 packs (6heads) for my stockpile. I also got pork mince (for those sausage rolls) on special. The other week, I bought 3 x frozen chickens at $5.50kg which was cheapest price I'd seen for a while. I also got lasagne sheets that week but I've forgotten now what price I paid for them. I think I need to start a price book!<br /><br />Looking forward to reading links you've listed and everyone else's tips too. Meg:) <br />Meghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11573371198907761962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-12898945368401199892020-02-22T14:02:17.565-08:002020-02-22T14:02:17.565-08:00I am 100% in agreement with you. I cannot underst...I am 100% in agreement with you. I cannot understand the thought that we deserve to eat expensive food everyday and that everyday food has to be a treat. We have always lived by basic food and it has been delicious. I filled up those hungry children with biscuits. If a meal looked skimpy I got to work and put a pan of biscuits in the oven. Some of our boys would eat 6 of them along with their meal that included meat and veg and salads. Pancakes and waffles fill them up too. A waffle iron is a good investment because waffles can also be good lunches and they are inexpensive if you don't buy mixes. Casseroles, pasta and rice dishes keep those kids going and you can use much less meat than is called for. As for the boatload of recipes that call for a half pound of cheese on top just use up those bread crusts made into crumbs or the end of the crackers or even potato chip crumbs. My Mom and my grandmothers would have never even considered cheese on top of a casserole. We have also learned to really enjoy meatless meals that contain lots of beans. My daughter taught me that you need to begin with onions and garlic and other veg along with spices and you will have truly delicious bean dishes. It is worth reading some vegetarian cookbooks to learn. I did not really like beans until recently because they were always just beans with a little seasoning and I did not know how to make the best of them.<br /><br />In our area we have not had shortages of anything and our prices have remained low due to a lot of competition. It is shocking to me to hear of your prices there.Lanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09380649410508372279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-79178033901897823972020-02-22T09:20:58.803-08:002020-02-22T09:20:58.803-08:00Great tips Annabelle. We are now empty nesters, s...Great tips Annabelle. We are now empty nesters, so food really does go farther when there's just the two of us. I still really like seeing how far my dollar can stretch, though. When our boys were teenagers, we ate a lot of soup. It's cheap and filling and fortunately, they loved it. We usually had it with scones and a tray of veggies. The daughter of a friend of mine used to come home from school and make herself a pot of rice to eat. Also, good fat is important for kid's brains and it really does hold them over from meal to meal, so having some good fat at each meal helps, too.Mariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05391322618950623162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-69612526019123026602020-02-22T08:43:47.084-08:002020-02-22T08:43:47.084-08:00What a great post and thanks for the links! I'...What a great post and thanks for the links! I'll be looking in to those the rest of this week. My savings were meager as I only saved $19.68 during two shopping trips this week. We have one main grocery store, WalMart and a few dollar stores. The advantage of having just a few local stores is you get familiar with when and where they have their sale items. When I do go out of town I like to visit different stores looking specifically for their specials and loss leaders. My best tip I guess would be to label and date everything (canned goods, spices, left overs, frozen items, etc.) I use masking tape and a marker. This prevents me from wasting food as I try to use up everything before it expires or goes bad. The things too close to the end go straight to the chickens (or compost pile) so nothing goes to waste. Check your pantry and fridge before grocery shopping, make a list and stick to it unless there are specials too good to pass up. Well, that's my two cents worth. If I think of others I'll add later. Have a great week! pamintexashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07943782786934325023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-11222617044010944032020-02-22T08:06:17.126-08:002020-02-22T08:06:17.126-08:00Love this post today! Especially the links to the...Love this post today! Especially the links to the other topics.<br />Makes me think outside the box!LaurieShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15893334251349844784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-88327009607266999762020-02-22T05:49:40.586-08:002020-02-22T05:49:40.586-08:00Such wise tips. I'm looking forward to re-rea...Such wise tips. I'm looking forward to re-reading all the links you gave us at the end of the article.<br /><br />I recently made a long list of ways to save money by using things normal people throw away ( I can proudly say I'm not normal š).<br /><br />It was a long list! I love the challenge of making something from nothing. If you look at it as a game - and not deprivation - it can be quite fun. I did put some of the list on my blog hoping I can be a fraction as helpful to others as you are Annabel.<br /><br /><br />Today is a shopping day for me and as you say, looking at the grocery store flyers can be depressing . I often think I wold not pay that price for that item! Thank you for the reminder to pray before going.<br />Bless you for all you do.<br />With love,<br />CheriCherihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11388528649168161483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-63376885610967606662020-02-22T05:41:28.503-08:002020-02-22T05:41:28.503-08:00Love all your ideas and inspiration, Annabel and V...Love all your ideas and inspiration, Annabel and Vicky! This can be helpful for beginners as well as ā old-timersā in the world of stretching food dollars and building our food storage!<br /><br />Hereās a link to my blog that I have labeled āYou donāt have to go to the store!ā about how to start a food reserve (stocking up) even if your budget is already stretched paper- thin! <br />https://pin.it/4BQcfQ5<br />Gardenpathttp://theantorthegrasshopper.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-30544502673506653952020-02-22T05:25:07.342-08:002020-02-22T05:25:07.342-08:00Annabel, this is an excellent post. I try to do t...Annabel, this is an excellent post. I try to do the same kind of things you talk about in the post, it's nice to see others doing the same. You are right, we have to change the way we think about the meals we eat... and the way we shop. That will make a huge difference in our ability to put nourishing food on the table. It's definitely time for everyone to think outside of the box, I don't think food prices are going to get any better any time soon and I think availability is going to become an issue for some food items. Very timely post! Great job!patsi @ a working pantryhttps://aworkingpantry.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-90576331780564316172020-02-22T04:53:30.209-08:002020-02-22T04:53:30.209-08:00Thank you for a great reminder on many things. Go...Thank you for a great reminder on many things. Good post.<br />I guess I sort of live in a bubble here in Indiana (U.S.). I find the prices haven't changed much and really don't see any shortages.<br />This tends to be one of the areas in the U.S. where prices stay reasonable.<br />I love having alternate sources for everything - it is the smart thing to do. Putting back for another day is so smart as well.<br />Thank you for the reminders and ideas.Cheryl Kimbleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06485771676254429681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879795385972045418.post-88956854761121982982020-02-22T04:39:47.105-08:002020-02-22T04:39:47.105-08:00Thank you for all your tips. I am not finding muc...Thank you for all your tips. I am not finding much in the way of fruit and veg days of late and as for meat...<br /><br />I wish I was not allergic to egg yolk. Eggs are such a versatile and nutritious thing to use. I also cannot eat pulses or many whole grains so I am having to become very creative.Suzannoreply@blogger.com