INCOME STREAMS....

With Dear Hubby's retirement coming in a few weeks, I am beginning to ponder different "trickle income streams" that could make our day to day living a bit easier.  I was AMAZED to see the myriad things that people list on eBay, that actually SELL!  First and foremost, I came across numerous listings selling empty blood glucose testing strip containers.  The most recent "sold" listing was for 25 containers at $10.99 with free shipping.

I have a large shoe box FULL of these containers as they seemed just too "useful" to trash.  I use them to hold insulin needles and also Skittles candy in my purse (in case I have a low sugar spell).  In my craft room I use them to hold broken sewing needles and broken pins.  When the container is full I simply duct tape it shut and discard with my trash.  I have used them in my travel sewing kit to hold pins and hand sewing needles.  They could be used to hold matches when camping, a small sewing kit, and even a container for Geocaching!  The uses are ENDLESS!

This morning I listed this lot on eBay (Please excuse the marred desk top, it's on my list of things to fix).  We shall see if they actually sell.

Toodles...

A SUPER QUICK CRAFT...

Stirrers.  Not something I have ever really thought about...until J asked if we could buy some "reusable" stirrers.  "Why?", I asked.  "Simple, Mom", he said "when we use several spoons in a day to stir our coffee, we end up running out of spoons before the dishwasher is done running."  Hmmm.  Good idea! Now don't suggest I have him, or any other member of my family wash the one spoon.  I've had a hard enough time getting everyone to place what they have used in the dishwasher, or on the counter if the dishwasher is full or running.  Baby steps, baby steps!

When I had enough points to completely cover the cost I ordered these from Amazon.  But where to put them?  I wanted to keep them near the coffee maker, but those drawers are all full.  I searched my sewing room for somerhing to put them in. We all know how crafters tend to keep empty boxes, jars and containers in case they would become useful, LOL.  I found an empty container from my glucose tablets.  I had no trouble removing the label, but the tamper proof seal was stuck on good.  After washing the container thoroughly I used a bit of washi tape in different colors to cover the threads.  Then I used a nicer washi at the base of the threads.  My P-touch label maker and a bit more gray tape completed the project.  I'm happy with the results and I know J will be happy to see stirrers when he makes his next cup of coffee!

Toodles...

TWO FINISHES AND INCREASED FRUGAL ENDEAVORS...

It's FINISHED!  The afghan that I have been working on for  5-6 years is now stored under the desk next to our loveseat.  It is out of the way, yet easily accessible when needed.

When I had finished the colored rows, I added three rows of single crochet in gray around the perimeter.  Did the gray totally obscure the obvious imperfections?  Not completely.  Do I care?  Not at all!!  My beautiful creation is colorful, warm, cozy...and big enough to cover Dear Hubby and I together, from neck to toes, while we sit on the loveseat watching TV.  This thing is HUGE and HEAVY!!  I think it will be a year or more before our grandson can wrangle it from under the desk to the sofa.  But that is okay....he has four big people in this house who love him and are always willing to help!

My second finish was the St. Patty's Day table topper for my foyer.  Ugh...the blood, sweat and tears that went into this finish were ridiculous!!  I don't know WHY I had to continue with my original plans when a miss-cut meant my original binding plan was going to be hard, if not totally impossible.  I should have said "bag it" and cut all four sides evenly and made a separate binding instead of folding over the backing to make the binding.  I wanted to avoid the hassle of ending a sewn on binding.  Bindings are my "quilter's block".  So I soldiered on with salvaging the short cut backing.  Sometimes I am a stubborn idiot!!!  In at least one spot I missed sewing the teeny, tiny folded edge.  Oh well.  As they say, "Better finished than perfect!"  I will use this topper, as is, for as many years as it holds together.  When the time comes that the binding has frayed and no longer holds, I will schedule a long date with "Jack"(the ripper) to pull out all of the stitches and bind it the right way.  Who knows, maybe by then I will have at least partially perfected the binding technique!

Well, it's official!  Dear Hubby emailed his notice of retirement on Sunday night.  His last day of work will be 7 June 2019.  You would not believe the relief I feel.  The stress he has had to endure over the last year or so has been monumental.  If we were in our 20's I would still be worried with the toll the stress was taking, but in our golden years??  I've been petrified that I would lose the love of my life because of a JOB.  It's not that his employer has been worse than any other, it's just that today's economic climate has meant more work with fewer bodies. People who leave are not replaced and the conscientious workers are on a treadmill struggling to keep up.  For those employees with no work ethic, they are barely fazed.  There are just more deadlines missed and work falling by the way-side.  Who knows, maybe they are handling things the right way.  But, for my husband, myself, our family and many of our friend's and acquaintances...duties by the wayside are unacceptable.

Now for the next stressor...will we REALLY have enough to live on?  You know, everything looks better on paper!  In an effort to hone our frugal skills and kick that stressor to the curb, I have begun cutting coupons and matching them to sales at our local markets.  I have increased the number of money back sites where I scan our receipts and get points back toward e-gift cards.  Today I requested a $3 e-card to Amazon by redeeming points.  On another site, I scanned enough receipts today to qualify for another $3 Amazon e-card, once my receipt has processed.  Dear Hubby and I have traded in our old American Express card for a newer card which offers much higher reimbursement points, which we have set up to convert to cash at Amazon.  We get all of our gas, groceries, medications, etc. through our AmexCard.  We pay off the balance monthly (unless it is home or car repair too expensive to swing at one time), so the converted points are truly free money on Amazon!

Around the house I'm making some changes also.  At the moment our HVAC system is turned off (I prefer open windows and "real air" anyway).  I've done two large loads of laundry today (in cold water), so as to reduce the amount of water and electricity used with four medium sized loads (I sometimes forget that this washer and dryer have a much bigger capacity!).  I've even begun entering contests where the prize is something I could use when sewing or making quilts.  I know the chance of winning is slim, but all it took was five minutes of my time to maybe provide free supplies for my hobby.  I've also begun listing items purged from our home on both Facebook Marketplace and Ebay.  After almost 34 years of marriage our home is bursting at the seams with unnecessary "stuff"...potential money collecting dust!  I have also renewed my library card and had it hooked up to their e-book and audio book sites.  When Dear Hubby is not home I sit on the loveseat and listen to an audio book through my tablet and the TV stays off.  Energy saved!

That's about all I can think of at the moment.  I know there are more "changes" and "frugal endeavors" happening around here.  Maybe I will remember when I post next. 

Until then,
Toodles...

ANOTHER HOME RUN FOR FRUGALITY...and more retirement prepping

Do you remember these?  They are from Tupperware back in the early 1980s.  I accompanied one of my best friends to a Tupperware bingo when she was setting up house.  I hadn't met my husband yet, so having my own household was still off on the horizon.  But I wanted to buy SOMETHING!  So I decided on these two items as they were small and could be stored easily until I eventually had my own place.  I have used them faithfully for almost 34 years now. 

Then my daughter-in-law sent me a copy of this article:

*********************************************************************************

Stop using your vintage Tupperware NOW. These measuring cups are positive for 2,103 ppm Lead + 250 ppm Arsenic.

by Tamara on March 10, 2019 in Arsenic, Made in U.S.A., Made In USA, Measuring Cup, Measuring Cup Set, Measuring Cups, Tupperware, Vintage Kitchenware, Vintage Plastic, Vintage Tupperware, Vintage Yellow Plastic, XRF Testing, XRFTesting, Yellow Vintage Tupperware

To share this post on Facebook, click here (also please read the comment threads here and on Facebook, they are very entertaining!)

*********************************************************************************************************************

Is the article true???  I have no idea.  However, if there is even a SHRED of truth to the claims...I don't want them anywhere near my family!!!

So, I began searching for replacement measuring spoons and measuring cups.  OH. MY. GOODNESS!!!  The prices for these necessities are INSANE!!  

Thankfully, I found this KitchenAid set on sale at Kohl's online.  They were originally $14.99, on sale for $11.99.  I had $5 in Kohl's cash, a Kohl's Gift Card with a balance of $4.48, and got 30% off using a code that I received in the mail a few days ago.  I will be picking them up at the local store to avoid shipping.  After tax, the total applied to my Kohl's charge was a mere $.70!!!  I may be receiving 5 Yes2You Rewards points from Kohl's and I entered the Kohl's website through Ebates...which gave me a $.15 rebate.  Definitely a HOME RUN in the frugality game!!!

Many moons ago, when I was in my small sewing room upstairs, I had used this piece of gray flannel as my design wall.  Once I moved downstairs to the first floor I bought a stand alone design wall.  It worked great, until I purchased a piece of furniture that would only fit in one spot...the wall where my design board lived!  I disassembled my design wall and stowed it away until I had another use for it.  And I've gone without a design wall ever since!  Months ago I found the above compression quilt hanger for sale on Facebook Market.  It was well worth the $5 that I paid.  Last week I placed my flannel inside and it was the perfect size.  You would have thought I purchased the flannel specifically to fit with this quilt hanger!  The color of the wood even matches some of the wood in my sewing room!!!  

To help with hanging, I put a piece of painters tape on the full length of the back of the hanger.  With a pencil I poked through the tape at the holes where the hanging screws will insert.  Now my tall son can use the tape to position and level the screw locations on the wall.  I am SO anxious to have my design wall hung, but my horrendous balance necessitates waiting until J is free to hang it.  In time.  In due time.  Patience is not my strong suit!

Another sewing room pending project is a wall mounted pegboard for storage.  This frame was hanging in my living room for probably 25 years.  Over time the picture had faded a bit and the mounting glue had failed.  The frame, however, was in great shape and should make a wonderful frame for a pegboard...once the weather cooperates so I can paint the frame and eventually the pegboard center.  As of now I don't have any pegboard, but I have put a want "out to the universe".  It is amazing how many times just verbally expressing a need or want has resulted in the item practically falling into my lap!!

Take this desk for example!  Our grandson loves to play board games with me and his grandpa.  For the past year or so we have been using a TV tray pulled in front of the loveseat as our playing surface.  It is not, however, ideal...as most board games are bigger than the surface of a TV tray.  We have been looking for something big enough to fit any type of board game, and light enough to easily slide from the wall to the loveseat where we sit.  Medical conditions make it difficult for us to trek to the kitchen table to play.  Additionally it would be wonderful if it could be used as a writing surface for K to do his homework.  While he has a desk in his room for when he is older, a first grader still needs to be near his family for answering questions and keeping his mind on task.  This past weekend we found the perfect solution.  The desk is plenty big for games, fits the wall space perfectly, slides easily on our laminate floor and is made to pull up a chair and get to work!  All for $15.  We couldn't pass it up!  The sides of the drawers loosened a little during transport, so I am waiting to find a coupon for our local hardware store to buy a small bottle of wood glue.  With Dear Hubby's retirement looming I won't pay full price for anything!   

I guess that is all for today!  Talk to you soon!

Toodles...

ALL THAT WE NEED...

Excuse my poor attempt at editing, LOL, but things are about to change here...big time!!!  While I have been "retired" since 2011 due to illness, Dear Hubby is getting closer, AND CLOSER, to retirement!  He is the main bread-winner in our home and we are trying to plan for each and every outlay of cash once he is retired, with a good emergency fund for the unexpected!  We have tallied up all of the recurring bills for the house, and our living expenses.  But what about our individual spending?  I'm a quilter, and we all know how expensive that can be...if we let it!  I have a great stash of fabrics, but I am sure there are things I still need.

Or do I?  At what point do we have all that we need?  In quilting?  In life?  It's a question I have been pondering a lot these days, as yet ANOTHER storage facility is being erected in our town.  We are a country of confusion.  We seem to have confused the difference between a "want" and a "need"...and I am no less guilty! During the Great Depression, NEEDS were great and people "wanted" nothing more than to have them met.  Now we seem to fill our lives with more and more "stuff" in an effort to find happiness or fulfillment.  In the Great Depression people were "happy" to find their next meal.  How can we have come to get it all so wrong?

So, last week I began to take a GOOD look around my sewing room to see what I really did NEED to purchase while we still had Dear Hubby's work income.  My machine (Ellie) hadn't been sounding "quite right" despite my cleaning her of dust bunnies.  I usually have her serviced every year while we are away on vacation (lessens my separation anxiety, LOL).  However, with J & G's wedding this year I had completely forgotten!  On Saturday we dropped her off to be serviced.  Her knee lift looks SO lonely!  I'm really hoping she is ready to be picked up by Saturday.  While I am in the shop I will pick up another dozen or so bobbins to fit my machine, using a gift card.  Am I the only one who seems to go through them like water?

Joann's was having a sale and Wonder Under was reduced by the bolt.  I'm starting to love applique and use Wonder Under to secure the pieces before edging or embellishing.  I used Paypal funds acquired by purging and selling items in our home to pay for this stock-up.

With Mother's Day coming, Dear Hubby was more than happy to have me buy my gift from him, LOL.  I know the fabric isn't a NEED, but I have been looking at this line and waiting for a sale to buy a layer cake.  Finally, I found a sale that just happened to coincide with Dear Hubby needing a Mother's Day gift for me (even if it is almost 2 months early, LOL).  What can I say?  I'm weak when it comes to oh so pretty fabric!  The needle nanny, on the other hand, was a definite need.  I'm tired of searching for my lost needle!  Having to have a needle surgically removed from my tush is bound to cost more than this nanny!  I consider it insurance, LOL.

I made some progress on my St. Patty's Day topper before my machine left for service.  Every bit of fabric, thread, batting and even the embellishments were from my stash.  My grandson helped me pick them out.  Now to sew them on!  While I will wait until Mother's Day to cut into my new fabric, the needle nanny is being used now!

I've also begun to consider what we NEED to acquire before Dear Hubby retires.  I expect the first couple of months will be the hardest as we learn to adjust and live on less income.  I placed a HUGE order with Amazon Prime and Amazon Prime Pantry.  We are now fully stocked for at least the next four to six months on toilet paper, tissues, paper towels, laundry detergent, Bounce, color catchers, dishwasher tablets, toilet bowl cleaner and a few food items that were cheaper than in the grocery store.  If he hasn't retired as we begin to run low, I will do another stock-up.  Happily with this order I was able to use quite a few coupons on Amazon and pay for about one quarter of this purchase with reward points.  I also entered the Amazon web site through Ebates, so I might earn a small rebate.  Lastly, I linked my e-receipt to Fetch and earned a few points.  Home Run in the frugality game!!

That is about all of the news here at the cottage!  See you soon...

Toodles...

NOT ALL SEWING...

For the past few weeks I have been working on this afghan.  It isn't perfect (little balls don't line up) but I love it anyway!  I have been working on this off and on (more off than on) over the past 5-6 years.  It is relaxing to watch TV while my hands are somewhere off in their own little world creating something pretty and useful. When finished, it will be cozy, warm and HEAVY!  Maybe it will even provide a little anxiety relief along with warmth?

The little bit of sewing that I HAVE done is a new topper for my foyer table.  I know I am a bit "late" for this St. Patrick's Day (I will never get it finished in the next two days), but it will be all ready to go for next year!  I have had a lot of fun with this project as I determined that it should be made completely from on-hand supplies.  Limitations force creativity...which means more FUN!  I don't have any more of the fabric used in my St. Paddy's Day 12" mini quilt, but I was able to find fabric that pulled out some of the supporting shades of green in the piece.  I will outline the clover in a brighter green to coincide with the main green of the mini quilt.  I hope to use outline quilting and a dense stippling to make the clover really POP! 

These two projects have led to quite a bit of unprovoked smiling, even when doing laundry...and anything that can link smiling to wash is a good thing!  Have a wonderful SPD, all!

Toodles...

BACK TO FMQ...It's been a LONG time!

After months of absence from my sewing machine, I was really itching to try out my new FMQ ruler. I also needed a small Valentine's Day table topper for the small table in my foyer.  Why not kill two birds with one stone?  I took some small pieces of Valentine's Day fabric, pieced a small topper and set about learning to move my fabric AND the ruler at the same time.  Oh boy was it "awkward"!  After making gently arcing lines, my jaw, fingers, arms, neck and back began to cramp.  Agh....relax, relax!!  I gave up on ruler work and decided to do "scribble quilting" in the open space to make the triangles really pop.  Cue the music!  For anyone who has not yet heard the tip, listening to music while quilting helps you to maintain a consistent flow of stitches as you unconsciously match your movement to the beat of the music!  If you sing along, an additional benefit is gained as it is really hard to grind your teeth while singing!!!

While certainly not perfect, the finished topper was plenty good enough for display.  First attempt at ruler work complete and I'm sure the more I practice the easier it will become!  I'm hoping for more sewing time in the near future!

Toodles...