Good morning! I love that you shared my grandson’s comment on your peanut butter cookies! He loved them so much he took some home to share with his parents! 👍🏻❤️. I save my change too! I enjoy the game of challenging myself with the little I have to work with! 👍🏻❤️🙏🏻
Hi Robin, new subscriber & as a fellow 73yo I love how you show & teach others to save money & prepare. This inflation has really hit our elderly community hard. I saw a suggestion that someone was filling empty canning jars or any other empty jars with water to have for an emergency. I think this is a great idea if there's an emergency & bottled water is scarce this helps.
Good idea on saving the dollar bills I think I would keep at least half that amount in case there is an emergency & ATM's go down, you always have $$$ to pay for things. I don't have transportation, but I watch sales at our local stores & my daughter who lives 25 miles away is very good about running any errands for me once a week to get sale items & all other groceries I get Walmart delivery. We will survive!
Just remember to stabilize water and gas for your preparations. There are charts online about how much bleach to use, and how to store the water. Stored water tastes flat, so shake it or pour from pan to pan to aerate it. Gas is fairly obvious.
I have a half gallon mason jar all my change and 1 dollar bills go in as well. I agree I love making saving a game…it gives me a challenge and I feel great when I achieve my goals.
I think the idea of doing a large meat purchase. With your normal budget, you are limited in that. Take advantage of the really good deals and stock up.
I like the idea of saving dollar bills also, I'm going to try it. A badger(I think) ate the tops off my tomato plants. My zuchini are blooming but no fruit yet. Im picking black currants to make juice to can today. Happy day to you!
Have saved ones and change for most of my life. It's nice to have a buffer, or as we used to call it rainy day fund or pin money. Never know when you'll need it or find a great sale !
Hi Robin! Your pantry is in good shape! There's always holes to fill... Always! Lol! No, I do not have a personal challenge here. I shop within my means. Preferably under my means! My car died over a week ago. I haven't been shopping in weeks. No worries here. I purchased a vehicle that I will pick up tomorrow. 😊 I can always make meals from what I have in my pantry & freezer. Such a good idea to have food stocked in the home. You never know... Have a good weekend!
Robin, thank you for sharing all of your great ideas! I am thankful for having found you. I am this week going to make a first personal challenge. You have encouraged me and I have been spending too much on groceries. I do have a garden with tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, herbs, cabbage and Brussel sprouts. Many blessings dear lady, Susan in MO 16:54
Hey Robin, I personally feel a sense of urgency for pantry stock up. Things go up every time I go to the grocery store. I am a bargain hunter like you. And a managers special kind of gal. When I see a deal I stock up on it if I can. I am a new subscriber to you and love your content and advise! Times are a changing and we are the only ones that can look out for us ( especially not the government.) I would use that money and hunt them deals and get when you see them to put back. But that is just me. I look forward to watching you again!
I don’t spend my change I opened up a high yield acct with mine last year..stock the pantry with the dollars and coins for winter.. that’s what I’m doing.. I started January of 2023 doing just what you are doing..it’s kinda fun… .. it’s an eye opener for those on limited income..
I like the dollar and change idea. We save our change for the children. The roll it and cash it in at the bank. I should try saving the $1 bills. There’s so many possibilities for what to do with it! 🎉 I am doing fine with the challenge. My usual budget is $600 for the six of us plus we have random company up to 20 at times. I pack lunches for those who go to work. None of us care to eat early so breakfast is made only if I have overnight guests or for a nice brunch on Saturdays. We have spent $340 so far this month but three children go to church camp for a week and I think we will keep things well under budget. Next month I am thinking of doing a $40/ week challenge. We have been blessed to find meat on sale a lot recently. Our chest freezers are pretty full. Have a blessed weekend!
One year, I saved my change and ones and fives as well. When my daughter helped me count it all up I had 700 dollars. I used it toward Christmas. Fives add up quick. Actually it all adds up quickly.😊 I was surprised how much I had.
That is awesome Melissa! I feel so proud of you right now. You are right. It all adds up and quicker than you think. Thank you for sharing your savings experience with all of us. Well done!!
My tiny yard has just a few items. This was my first time in many years to have any sort of a garden. Due to where I live and poor rocky soil it needed to be a container garden. It is doing very poorly. And I work out there every day. I am getting a few cherry tomatoes and a few tobasco peppers. ( to make pepper sauce to eat on cooked greens ) but nothing else. No evidence of anything. I think something either got to roots of my squash or there is some sort of disease. They are short and squatted small plants. There are two tiny sized yellow squash out there that are staying the size of my thumb. That’s it. I think I could have used a better quality soil. But there is also a problem in our desert area ( zone 7 a). We have late freezes so in general cannot put things out until Mother’s Day weekend traditionally here and this year was no different. Then we almost immediately start getting temps in the 90s to 100 degrees here. And even when keeping the soil moist, the winds are so intense here ( 30 to 40 mph on a lot of days with 60 mph gusts. Not uncommon) so it is hot wind and it just sucks the moisture out of the plants and our skin. I would really like to move somewhere that is more gardening friendly. But I never had any children and the rest of my family is here. I have an emotional need to be around family even though I don’t really see or hear from my sister and nieces and nephews all that often. I will see what happens next year. If it’s not better through my gaining more experience, I may move further east and more towards mid East Texas than here in the panhandle.
Your environment sounds very challenging Jackie. I am always hit and miss in my gardening efforts. I just try different things and hope it works lol. All of my family lives at a distance, kids, grandkids etc. the closest if about 40 miles. I admire your tenacity. God bless you and all you do. Thanks for being here.
Thank you for sharing . Like your savings idea. I’m comfortable with my pantry at the moment, but will be making jam with our blackberries and applesauce with the apples from our apple trees. Also looking forward to figs from our fig trees this year. Almost lost all three of our cherry trees but for some reason they all came back to life this year. More to come soon, like new bee hives and I want lemon trees. Thank you for all your helpful information.
for the pantry you need to put up some canned meats and fruits and extra over the counter meds......and vegetables.......water bath can some farmers market unwashed eggs....for long term storage.....and every so often buy yourself a special outfit or shoes........
Use that extra for meat-canned or frozen-even freeze dried. Prices have gone up and are continuing to rise here in Oklahoma (cow country). It’s a wise investment!
I think maybe a great meat stock up might be a great idea ive heard several times the price of beef is supposed to sky rocket and eggs as well i would either dehydrate or freeze eggs for winter baking indid that last winter and im glad i did. Your pantry is looking wonderful
I'm also so happy I found your channel! I love the simplicity of your shopping/cooking/stockpiles. Lately, I have been clearance meat shopping, then canning my finds. Sometimes I make soups or stews with it, other times I just can the meat itself. So much cheaper this way, than purchasing store bought canned meats. Plus, I don't need to worry about losing my deals if the power goes out.
I'm seeing several comments here regarding not great results on growing zuchinnis. Only on my 3rd season of growing vegetables but recently learned watching CZcams channels that the reason my little zuchinnis were little & turning brown rot on the ends because the bees had not polinated the flower. There are flowers with stems/male and flowers attached to a beginning zuchinni/females. Bees need to cross polinate the two to develop a tasty larger zuchinni. OR the good news you the gardner can take a Qtip and cross polinate the 2 yourself 😊
We've had terrible luck with zucchini. That old story about having too many doesn't apply here. We did try cross pollinating with a qtip, but sadly that didn't work either. We get to the flower stage, and then they fall off. 😢
@@tracyq989 I start mine from seed, then transplant and throw vegetable scraps, potato skins & egg shells into my soil all thru the year. I'm in zone 10B at the beach in southern CA
Hi Robin. No garden this year due to critters. They eat everything that comes in. The chipmunks are eating all my flowering plants this year. I can't seem to have anything. I try to shop within my budget and buy to stock up when I hit sales. I find you very inspirational. Thanks
It’s still hard to believe we have to live like we could really have an emergency situation that we need to stock food. I suppose covid woke a lot of people up. I always had backups, but I now have more like a stock pile. 😂
The local store is very high in prices, cause there isn't another store for competition.Wouldn't be feasible for me to do a challenge. The Walmart, Aldi and other such stores are thirty miles away.I would be spending more in gas,per week.I go once a month to the others in one trip,usually on my doc appointments.I do save pennies, nickels and dimes.Have a water dispensary bottle and have no clue with the amount. It's half way full.When it gets to the top I'll start rolling the coins.I see in this video you receive a senior food box according to the items in the storage tote and what's on your pantry shelfs.I also receive them and usually give them away to someone else.That's what God has me doing.I help others with food.It's my calling.Been doing it over twenty plus years.Like watching your challenges.🎉 Prayers,Hugs and Love.❤
Thank you. I don’t receive a ‘senior food box’. Some of the items you saw in the bin and on the shelves were given to me by my sister. I am not familiar with the senior food box but it sounds like it would be helpful. It is kind of you to look after others. It sounds like you have adapted pretty well to your situation. Thank you for sharing with us.
@@simplefoodsimplelife9632 Call a senior center or just a church to get infro on food pantries in your area.Or ask your sister where she gets the items from.I go to all the local food give aways and have a community pantry in my coat closet for the ones in need.I was giving away food here at my apartment complex (55+)in the community room,but to many complaints.So I changed the closet into a pantry.Some still come for help here,but I also take boxes out into town for single mothers, veterans and homeless people(Few living in tents in the surrounding woods) or people who don't have a car to get around.I live on low income myself so I do know how hard it is.
I never have cash on myself because I only use my debit card for groceries or any purchases that I might need. But I do have a change jar but I have had that for years and their is not alot of change in it .
Last year...I was able to save $50 a month for each of my 2 kids & daughter-in-law. I told them this year, 'Mama's got bills to pay down so you go back to $100 each this Christmas." 😂 I also save $20 month for my 19-month-old grandson, which his mother puts in a savings account.
I save all my coins I have a vintage piggy bank that belonged to my husband as a child that I put them in, I have no idea how much is in there it's taken years to fill it unfortunately in the beginning it had a lot of pennies I no longer save those I try to use them for my balances and just save the "silver" coins. But your "savings" I think buying meat is a great idea, I buy meat as a bonus each month and Can it.. I am canning 7 quarts of legs/quarts right now to go in my long term pantry stock up. I just bought new canning lids a couple weeks ago by Superb they are made right here in Ohio and surprisingly when I was looking at the box today they have a storage shelf life of 36 months versus Ball and others that have a 18 month storage shelf life. I bought mine at Menards they are not cheap but they have a really thick rubber seal like we use to see in the old days and thicker metal than what is on the market today. Anna In Ohio
I should clarify on Canning the Chicken Leg Quarters for those who were interested.. I boil the meat first allow to cool and debone it, I save the broth from cooking it and also Can that separately as Broth. I buy the Chicken Leg Quarters when I find them at a good price this week 79 cents a pound in a 10 pound bag. My goal is to eventually have 365 quarts in storage that is 2 pounds of meat per day to share with my dogs. I have yet to attain that goal but that is where I want to be.. when I first started buying these years ago 2015 they were 49 cents a pound all the time times have certainly changed and unfortunately I do not see meat prices going down anytime soon. If you don't Can but have a deep freezer you could do the same method, debone and freeze in freezer bags. Anna In Ohio
Hey Robin, I did very well last week I got free bacon and cereal. But I didn't go to the store today bc we were impacted by Beryl, so a lot of stores are still not open yet
I guess I must be dense. I don't quite understand how you save all your dollar bills. If, for example, you purchase something for $5.69 and you hand the clerk a ten dollar bill, do you then take the four ones you get in change and save them? Seems to me that you could potentially use up your budget by saving so much of it in dollar bills. What am I missing? Diane
i also save my change and 1.00 bills...LOL i have a jar for each coin denomination...and i save my 1's in 10.00 increments and paperclip them, once i get 100.00 of 1's i put a rubber band around them...they have come in handy more than once...right now I'm up to 250.00 in 1's and still going...I have no clue what I'm going to use them for, i guess I'll just keep saving for a rainy day😊 i also love to challenge myself on finding the best food budget and the savings challenge.
Robin do you have a freezer downstairs along with your pantry? I want to get a small freezer but it just being me I think that would be too much food for just myself.
@@peggyaustin5238 she showed a medium sized chest freezer in a previous video. I recommend them for long term storage. Properly vacuum sealed foods will last easily a year frozen. General tip blanch all fresh veg before freezing, or buy big bags at the club stores and break into smaller vacuum bags for serving.
Yes I do Peggy. It’s a half size my late husband and I bought many years ago. It’s just right for one or two people. So glad I have it. They do make them a quarter size as well.
Hi BLS! Maybe this can help some of your viewers. I use my “stripper ones” 😆 for birthday/Christmas gifts for my grandkids that are under 18. Some want money, some want gifts. Never more than $30 per child/teen. I too am a widow and live alone. Take care all, hope this helps.
Good morning! I love that you shared my grandson’s comment on your peanut butter cookies! He loved them so much he took some home to share with his parents! 👍🏻❤️. I save my change too! I enjoy the game of challenging myself with the little I have to work with! 👍🏻❤️🙏🏻
Thank you Pat! I so enjoyed your comment. God bless you and your little guy!
Hi Robin, new subscriber & as a fellow 73yo I love how you show & teach others to save money & prepare. This inflation has really hit our elderly community hard. I saw a suggestion that someone was filling empty canning jars or any other empty jars with water to have for an emergency. I think this is a great idea if there's an emergency & bottled water is scarce this helps.
Good idea on saving the dollar bills I think I would keep at least half that amount in case there is an emergency & ATM's go down, you always have $$$ to pay for things. I don't have transportation, but I watch sales at our local stores & my daughter who lives 25 miles away is very good about running any errands for me once a week to get sale items & all other groceries I get Walmart delivery. We will survive!
@@tonistrickland4983excellent idea on atm. I might also add gasoline. Electric is vital to so many of our daily needs! 👍🏻❤️
Just remember to stabilize water and gas for your preparations. There are charts online about how much bleach to use, and how to store the water. Stored water tastes flat, so shake it or pour from pan to pan to aerate it. Gas is fairly obvious.
Welcome Toni! Good suggestion.
I have a half gallon mason jar all my change and 1 dollar bills go in as well. I agree I love making saving a game…it gives me a challenge and I feel great when I achieve my goals.
I think the idea of doing a large meat purchase. With your normal budget, you are limited in that. Take advantage of the really good deals and stock up.
I like the idea of saving dollar bills also, I'm going to try it. A badger(I think) ate the tops off my tomato plants. My zuchini are blooming but no fruit yet. Im picking black currants to make juice to can today. Happy day to you!
@JC-rl1vd I'm in Wisconsin...the badger state. And I live close to a river, stream, and wilderness area.
Have saved ones and change for most of my life.
It's nice to have a buffer, or as we used to call it rainy day fund or pin money.
Never know when you'll need it or find a great sale !
I agree Mulligan! Because you never know, that’s for sure.
Hi Robin! Your pantry is in good shape! There's always holes to fill... Always! Lol! No, I do not have a personal challenge here. I shop within my means. Preferably under my means! My car died over a week ago. I haven't been shopping in weeks. No worries here. I purchased a vehicle that I will pick up tomorrow. 😊 I can always make meals from what I have in my pantry & freezer. Such a good idea to have food stocked in the home. You never know... Have a good weekend!
Thank you for sharing with us. It is much appreciated. You have a good weekend as well!
Also thanks for reminding me of the deals dollar general has. Better than dollar store in some cases. I will try the chips!😊
I love your channel ❤️
It's so helpful and fun!
Blessings from london.
Thank you so much!
Robin, thank you for sharing all of your great ideas! I am thankful for having found you. I am this week going to make a first personal challenge. You have encouraged me and I have been spending too much on groceries. I do have a garden with tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, herbs, cabbage and Brussel sprouts. Many blessings dear lady, Susan in MO
16:54
Thank you Susan! You are most kind. Your garden sounds wonderful. Keep us updated on how you are doing in your personal challenge.
Hey Robin, I personally feel a sense of urgency for pantry stock up. Things go up every time I go to the grocery store. I am a bargain hunter like you. And a managers special kind of gal. When I see a deal I stock up on it if I can. I am a new subscriber to you and love your content and advise! Times are a changing and we are the only ones that can look out for us ( especially not the government.) I would use that money and hunt them deals and get when you see them to put back. But that is just me. I look forward to watching you again!
Amen Carla. Thank you so much. Thank you for being here.
I don’t spend my change I opened up a high yield acct with mine last year..stock the pantry with the dollars and coins for winter.. that’s what I’m doing.. I started January of 2023 doing just what you are doing..it’s kinda fun… .. it’s an eye opener for those on limited income..
Yes it is Donna. It’s amazing how it can accumulate.
I like the dollar and change idea. We save our change for the children. The roll it and cash it in at the bank.
I should try saving the $1 bills. There’s so many possibilities for what to do with it! 🎉
I am doing fine with the challenge. My usual budget is $600 for the six of us plus we have random company up to 20 at times. I pack lunches for those who go to work. None of us care to eat early so breakfast is made only if I have overnight guests or for a nice brunch on Saturdays. We have spent $340 so far this month but three children go to church camp for a week and I think we will keep things well under budget.
Next month I am thinking of doing a $40/ week challenge. We have been blessed to find meat on sale a lot recently. Our chest freezers are pretty full.
Have a blessed weekend!
Thank you Sandi for sharing your challenge with us. I think you are doing great. You have a lot of mouths to feed. Be blessed in all you do!
I started an extra food pantry in my bedroom closet ,slow but sure . Best I've gotten is cdo something every day.
One year, I saved my change and ones and fives as well. When my daughter helped me count it all up I had 700 dollars. I used it toward Christmas. Fives add up quick. Actually it all adds up quickly.😊 I was surprised how much I had.
That is awesome Melissa! I feel so proud of you right now. You are right. It all adds up and quicker than you think. Thank you for sharing your savings experience with all of us. Well done!!
My tiny yard has just a few items. This was my first time in many years to have any sort of a garden. Due to where I live and poor rocky soil it needed to be a container garden. It is doing very poorly. And I work out there every day. I am getting a few cherry tomatoes and a few tobasco peppers. ( to make pepper sauce to eat on cooked greens ) but nothing else. No evidence of anything. I think something either got to roots of my squash or there is some sort of disease. They are short and squatted small plants. There are two tiny sized yellow squash out there that are staying the size of my thumb. That’s it. I think I could have used a better quality soil. But there is also a problem in our desert area ( zone 7 a). We have late freezes so in general cannot put things out until Mother’s Day weekend traditionally here and this year was no different. Then we almost immediately start getting temps in the 90s to 100 degrees here. And even when keeping the soil moist, the winds are so intense here ( 30 to 40 mph on a lot of days with 60 mph gusts. Not uncommon) so it is hot wind and it just sucks the moisture out of the plants and our skin. I would really like to move somewhere that is more gardening friendly. But I never had any children and the rest of my family is here. I have an emotional need to be around family even though I don’t really see or hear from my sister and nieces and nephews all that often. I will see what happens next year. If it’s not better through my gaining more experience, I may move further east and more towards mid East Texas than here in the panhandle.
Your environment sounds very challenging Jackie. I am always hit and miss in my gardening efforts. I just try different things and hope it works lol. All of my family lives at a distance, kids, grandkids etc. the closest if about 40 miles. I admire your tenacity. God bless you and all you do. Thanks for being here.
Thank you for sharing . Like your savings idea. I’m comfortable with my pantry at the moment, but will be making jam with our blackberries and applesauce with the apples from our apple trees. Also looking forward to figs from our fig trees this year. Almost lost all three of our cherry trees but for some reason they all came back to life this year. More to come soon, like new bee hives and I want lemon trees. Thank you for all your helpful information.
Than you Kathleen!
for the pantry you need to put up some canned meats and fruits and extra over the counter meds......and vegetables.......water bath can some farmers market unwashed eggs....for long term storage.....and every so often buy yourself a special outfit or shoes........
Use that extra for meat-canned or frozen-even freeze dried. Prices have gone up and are continuing to rise here in Oklahoma (cow country). It’s a wise investment!
I think maybe a great meat stock up might be a great idea ive heard several times the price of beef is supposed to sky rocket and eggs as well i would either dehydrate or freeze eggs for winter baking indid that last winter and im glad i did. Your pantry is looking wonderful
Thanks so much!
I'm also so happy I found your channel! I love the simplicity of your shopping/cooking/stockpiles. Lately, I have been clearance meat shopping, then canning my finds. Sometimes I make soups or stews with it, other times I just can the meat itself. So much cheaper this way, than purchasing store bought canned meats. Plus, I don't need to worry about losing my deals if the power goes out.
Thank you so much! You’re very kind. You are on top of your preps. I think it’s great.
I'm seeing several comments here regarding not great results on growing zuchinnis. Only on my 3rd season of growing vegetables but recently learned watching CZcams channels that the reason my little zuchinnis were little & turning brown rot on the ends because the bees had not polinated the flower. There are flowers with stems/male and flowers attached to a beginning zuchinni/females. Bees need to cross polinate the two to develop a tasty larger zuchinni. OR the good news you the gardner can take a Qtip and cross polinate the 2 yourself 😊
We've had terrible luck with zucchini. That old story about having too many doesn't apply here. We did try cross pollinating with a qtip, but sadly that didn't work either. We get to the flower stage, and then they fall off. 😢
@@tracyq989 I start mine from seed, then transplant and throw vegetable scraps, potato skins & egg shells into my soil all thru the year. I'm in zone 10B at the beach in southern CA
I have not seen bees in my yard this year. It’s concerning.
Hi Robin. No garden this year due to critters. They eat everything that comes in. The chipmunks are eating all my flowering plants this year. I can't seem to have anything. I try to shop within my budget and buy to stock up when I hit sales. I find you very inspirational. Thanks
Thank you Deborah! You are right about the critters. They can be terrible. Thank you for your encouragement. It means more than you know. God bless!
These 3 months I get 5% back on one of my credit cards at grocery stores so stocking up for winter!
Well done Dora!
It’s still hard to believe we have to live like we could really have an emergency situation that we need to stock food. I suppose covid woke a lot of people up. I always had backups, but I now have more like a stock pile. 😂
So true!
Great video!
We like to earn interest on our money so the $1 bills and change would find its way into our checking account pretty quickly that pays 4%. Carole
That’s good. It’s hard to find that kind of interest on a savings account.
The local store is very high in prices, cause there isn't another store for competition.Wouldn't be feasible for me to do a challenge. The Walmart, Aldi and other such stores are thirty miles away.I would be spending more in gas,per week.I go once a month to the others in one trip,usually on my doc appointments.I do save pennies, nickels and dimes.Have a water dispensary bottle and have no clue with the amount. It's half way full.When it gets to the top I'll start rolling the coins.I see in this video you receive a senior food box according to the items in the storage tote and what's on your pantry shelfs.I also receive them and usually give them away to someone else.That's what God has me doing.I help others with food.It's my calling.Been doing it over twenty plus years.Like watching your challenges.🎉 Prayers,Hugs and Love.❤
Thank you. I don’t receive a ‘senior food box’. Some of the items you saw in the bin and on the shelves were given to me by my sister. I am not familiar with the senior food box but it sounds like it would be helpful. It is kind of you to look after others. It sounds like you have adapted pretty well to your situation. Thank you for sharing with us.
@@simplefoodsimplelife9632 Call a senior center or just a church to get infro on food pantries in your area.Or ask your sister where she gets the items from.I go to all the local food give aways and have a community pantry in my coat closet for the ones in need.I was giving away food here at my apartment complex (55+)in the community room,but to many complaints.So I changed the closet into a pantry.Some still come for help here,but I also take boxes out into town for single mothers, veterans and homeless people(Few living in tents in the surrounding woods) or people who don't have a car to get around.I live on low income myself so I do know how hard it is.
I too save my coins! Great idea on saving the 1 dollar bills! I’m starting that today!
I too save my ones and change and use it to travel to a friend’s house that lives out of state.
I never have cash on myself because I only use my debit card for groceries or any purchases that I might need. But I do have a change jar but I have had that for years and their is not alot of change in it .
Without sounding too weird, I'd like to tell you how much I admire your well-appointed pantry. 😊
Last year...I was able to save $50 a month for each of my 2 kids & daughter-in-law. I told them this year, 'Mama's got bills to pay down so you go back to $100 each this Christmas." 😂 I also save $20 month for my 19-month-old grandson, which his mother puts in a savings account.
Oh thank you! Not weird at all.
I save all my change. I plan on using it for Xmas as I have 5 grandkids buy for.
Great idea Kathy!
My personal challenge is to not buy food, my pantry is very well stocked and so are my freezers. Food will always be on sale
I save all my coins I have a vintage piggy bank that belonged to my husband as a child that I put them in, I have no idea how much is in there it's taken years to fill it unfortunately in the beginning it had a lot of pennies I no longer save those I try to use them for my balances and just save the "silver" coins. But your "savings" I think buying meat is a great idea, I buy meat as a bonus each month and Can it.. I am canning 7 quarts of legs/quarts right now to go in my long term pantry stock up. I just bought new canning lids a couple weeks ago by Superb they are made right here in Ohio and surprisingly when I was looking at the box today they have a storage shelf life of 36 months versus Ball and others that have a 18 month storage shelf life. I bought mine at Menards they are not cheap but they have a really thick rubber seal like we use to see in the old days and thicker metal than what is on the market today. Anna In Ohio
Thanks Anna! I can meat as well when I have extra.
I should clarify on Canning the Chicken Leg Quarters for those who were interested.. I boil the meat first allow to cool and debone it, I save the broth from cooking it and also Can that separately as Broth. I buy the Chicken Leg Quarters when I find them at a good price this week 79 cents a pound in a 10 pound bag. My goal is to eventually have 365 quarts in storage that is 2 pounds of meat per day to share with my dogs. I have yet to attain that goal but that is where I want to be.. when I first started buying these years ago 2015 they were 49 cents a pound all the time times have certainly changed and unfortunately I do not see meat prices going down anytime soon. If you don't Can but have a deep freezer you could do the same method, debone and freeze in freezer bags. Anna In Ohio
I do can meat. When I have an abundance in the freezer I rotate it by canning. Thank you for sharing your methods with all of us Anna!
Hey Robin, I did very well last week I got free bacon and cereal. But I didn't go to the store today bc we were impacted by Beryl, so a lot of stores are still not open yet
Sorry to hear you were impacted by Beryl. It can be challenging. Happy for your free items. That’s awesome!
Something is eating my okra leaves off before its fruiting but im getting a few tomatoes and have gotten quite a few potatoes ill take it
I guess I must be dense. I don't quite understand how you save all your dollar bills. If, for example, you purchase something for $5.69 and you hand the clerk a ten dollar bill, do you then take the four ones you get in change and save them? Seems to me that you could potentially use up your budget by saving so much of it in dollar bills. What am I missing? Diane
I save my change and dollar bills also. I dont eat a lot of meat. Being on my own, eating meat isn't a priority.
i also save my change and 1.00 bills...LOL
i have a jar for each coin denomination...and i save my 1's in 10.00 increments and paperclip them, once i get 100.00 of 1's i put a rubber band around them...they have come in handy more than once...right now I'm up to 250.00 in 1's and still going...I have no clue what I'm going to use them for, i guess I'll just keep saving for a rainy day😊
i also love to challenge myself on finding the best food budget and the savings challenge.
That is awesome Tracie!
You’ve got plenty plenty of food. You don’t look much of a big eater. Put your money on the side for emergency use. 12:28
You have inspired me to save money on groceries. Does the $200/month include pet food and supplies?
Yes it does Lisa. Thanks for asking.
Vine bores get your zucchini, I had to replant my zucchini.
They did indeed!
Robin do you have a freezer downstairs along with your pantry? I want to get a small freezer but it just being me I think that would be too much food for just myself.
@@peggyaustin5238 she showed a medium sized chest freezer in a previous video. I recommend them for long term storage. Properly vacuum sealed foods will last easily a year frozen. General tip blanch all fresh veg before freezing, or buy big bags at the club stores and break into smaller vacuum bags for serving.
Yes I do Peggy. It’s a half size my late husband and I bought many years ago. It’s just right for one or two people. So glad I have it. They do make them a quarter size as well.
Can you please provide a recipe for bread?
Rhoda Stone's. Channel can help you with that
I will make every effort. Thanks for asking.
Does putting beans and rice etc in seal bags keep it as well as canning?
It keeps them well. They still need to be cooked. I like canning as well.
Hi BLS! Maybe this can help some of your viewers. I use my “stripper ones” 😆 for birthday/Christmas gifts for my grandkids that are under 18. Some want money, some want gifts. Never more than $30 per child/teen. I too am a widow and live alone. Take care all, hope this helps.
Hello BLS! I forgot you call your ones, “stripper ones” lol. Thanks for sharing with us. That’s a big help. Love ya!