Free and Frugal Friday (On Saturday)-Post Thanksgiving Issue

 I have a confession to make. I watched an entire second season of a show yesterday (Virgin River). Oh, I did things like decorating my tree, and I tried to get up and walk for ten minutes twice, I ate, and I did some knitting.  But mainly? Binging the show. Which is not my normal speed in any way and I only checked out because in a fit of not having normal stuff to read, I once read the entire series of books on which the TV show is based (seriously, the books are quite good and so is the Netflix series and the characters are well developed).

There was a time, not so many years ago, when "staying out of the stores" equated no spending. That time is, of course, no more. I actually did go out briefly yesterday-to do a curbside pickup of lights for my tree and milk, eggs and juice from Target. After than-back into my post Thanksgiving cave.

Holiday week or no, I managed to keep things fairly frugal in retirement land.

1.  My kids sent me home with three of these containers of food. Between them there was ham, turkey, potatoes, brussel sprouts, cranberry sauce, some pumpkin pie and whipped cream. Oh and two huge servings of sausage stuffing because I asked for it to be made.  Even with only three of us and a pared down menu, there was a frightening amount of food left. I should have spread it out, but due to binging laziness see above), I ate said food for lunch and dinner on Friday, some for lunch and it's still not gone. 

2. I took laptop, TV, and washing machine off the table for now. This is only a deferrment, so probably not appropriate for a frugal win.  More so if I tell you the primary reason is that I want to do more research and I want to "go bigger" than originally planned. My idea of a 43 inch TV has morphed into 55 inches, and my goal is now a fifteen inch laptop. There will be specials after the holidays as well, and for the first time in heaven knows how many years, I've told my kids and relatives that contrary to ever other year they have known me, this year I will be happy to receive gift cards. (We have a $50 to $100 limit and everyone adheres to it including me, although I may spend more throughout the year). Oh, and I'm calling it frugal because I will be shocked if after the first of the year when everyone picks up their new toys, I cannot find both a washer and a TV on Facebook Marketplace.  I'm gonna let son and son in law choose my laptop, as long as it's Windows based. 

Also glad I waited to hang stuff in living and dining area until after the holiday, because a fifty five inch TV is gong to cover MUCH more wall than this almost invisible 28 incher!

In order to be a sneaky parent and get past the fifty dollar limit I agreed to, I've setup a bunch of subscribe and save things for both kids that will begin on the first of the year and repeat every month or three-scrub tops, socks for the restaurant manager and all of that good stuff.

3. I did not buy any Christmas decor. I'd like to still pick up a couple things for the patio and the door, at some point (or make something, who knows). Things will be a bit sparse this year, but next year we are dividing up all the stuff I left behind including the Christmas village and pottery and who knows what else-I will be overdecorated. So this year, I'm happy with my baby tree, one of my many nativities, advent wreath, two village pieces and quilts and other decor.

4. While you can never have too many art supplies or fabric or yarn, I've kept to my stated goal of working only with what I have on hand to make cards, quilts, sweater, whatever (except for finishing need). That rule will be broken this week, but not for me. My son in law, lord love him, washed my daughter's Christmas quilt in hot water. And yes, the white is now all pink. So she is getting a new quilt (hopefully) as her Christmas gift, and I bought yarn to make someone else a blanket.  

5. In the past week I've gotten butter for a buck fifty (promised Colorado that they would get Christmas cookies and dog blankets!), a Martha Stewart King size comforter and shams (desperately needed, even in Texas my summer quilt will not last much longer) for $30 and happened on two wish lists right at the time that the desired item was fifty percent off on Amazon.

Tomorrow my Advent church study is a four week program with reflections on  A Christmas Carol. Need to be presentable (at least the top half of me) alert and awake and on Zoom by ten fifteen. Here I go!