Debt Dumpers 2021

[FQLover]

Those are all good ideas---I need to start employing some of them!!

 

[ciaoaloha31]

I am also a frozen vegetable person for the winter months minus the few staples that know will get used before they go bad. I like my vegetables plain and steamed so, this works well for me lol

 

[crazycatstacy]

Still doing well on not spending. My mom is turning 70 in March and I am throwing her a party. I want to make a flower wall backdrop so used my "allowance" to buy the supplies and will employ my BFF for her free labor.

I am back on weight watchers and man it's a struggle. I like to spend money and eat and not doing either one is tough! I have also been watching a lot of baking shows so I am itching to bake stuff. If I bake during the week or on Sunday I take it to work but I will eat more than I should.

 

[imbatman]

Not budget related, except for a new heater hose adapter, but this happened:

And we rarely get snow, so it's a BFD (big, fat deal) here.
(also, I know how to post it right side up, but apparently the internet is all wonky right now and keeps failing, so you all get to turn your head sideways)

 

[imbatman]

Still doing well on not spending. My mom is turning 70 in March and I am throwing her a party. I want to make a flower wall backdrop so used my "allowance" to buy the supplies and will employ my BFF for her free labor.

I am back on weight watchers and man it's a struggle. I like to spend money and eat and not doing either one is tough! I have also been watching a lot of baking shows so I am itching to bake stuff. If I bake during the week or on Sunday I take it to work but I will eat more than I should.

Could you watch baking videos on YouTube to cook WW friendly snacks?

Also, I made a wall flower back drop for a homecoming a few years back. I went to Big Lots for cheap colored paper and then used LOTS of hot glue. The most expensive part was the tulle. Sorry it's a bad pic of a pic. Also, paper pompoms are an easy filler.

 

[ajanderson84]

Congratulations on your kids joining the USCG!

Thanks! I am so excited for them!

I hear you on the food thing. I am appalled at how much we let go bad/expire sometimes.

Congrats to your boys and good luck!

Thank you SOOOO Much! As for the food thing, I got a lot better at it for a minute at the beginning of this shut down. I think over time though I've gotten tired or bored of it and need to get back on track.

My oldest is meeting with an Air Force ROTC this week. She'll probably be signing papers. So this is totally from me to you (with all the tears in my eyes as we mamas figure this out):

Thank you so much! I don't even know what to think or feel or where to begin. I feel like I moved out myself only a minute ago... when obviously it's been about.... 18 years Still, I am sure we'll figure it all out in the end.

As for the food topic: I started out the pandemic really well. Cooked all the meals, ate all the meals (which at first we were doing better with because we took in the 2nd 17 year old right at the start of this pandemic) and rarely wasted. I also adjusted to shopping weekly instead of twice a month so things would hold longer. Now though it's like the kids aren't as hungry or are growing less because they are slowing down a lot and not eating everything in sight... 4 months ago I needed several bunches of bananas, two bags of carrots, multiple bags of apples, and now they aren't eating it all of the sudden. I'll get the hang of this new normal just in time for the two boys to go, and then it will just be me, DH and DD (13)... and then it will be all kinds of different. Ah well. For now, DH and I started doing WW and then made a Youtube channel that forces us to cook and buy healthy... it's only been about two weeks but so far so good.... all of this because DH wants to be "Disney Skinny" he calls it.

 

[crazycatstacy]

Could you watch baking videos on YouTube to cook WW friendly snacks?

Also, I made a wall flower back drop for a homecoming a few years back. I went to Big Lots for cheap colored paper and then used LOTS of hot glue. The most expensive part was the tulle. Sorry it's a bad pic of a pic. Also, paper pompoms are an easy filler.
View attachment 552583

What would be the fun in weight watcher friendly snacks?? LOL.

The flower wall is beautiful. Mine is an 8x8 wall covered totally in white flowers

 

[ajanderson84]

What would be the fun in weight watcher friendly snacks?? LOL.

I totally missed this! I am also doing Weight Watchers. I like to watch YouTube for stuff that is WW friendly, and I also make videos though I am very new at it. I havent tried too much baking yet but check out the website of The Guilt Free Gourmet (not my site, and also add free so hopefully allowed) He also has a couple of Youtube videos but the cookbooks from the website are the best part. There is also Skinnytaste which I think a lot of people already know and the Skinnyish Dish, which is also good. There are quite a few people who do WW cooking on Youtube if you search for it, and some of them are fun. My DH and I did a video about 2 ingredient dough (Pizza) that the dough can be used to make things like Cinnamon Rolls. Its really good stuff. There was also a video by a girl on Youtube named "A Little Less Ashley" that did a video on her favorite pre-packaged WW snacks, you might like that one too.

 

[ciaoaloha31]

What would be the fun in weight watcher friendly snacks?? LOL.

There is a blog called emilybites which has a lot of healthy comfort food recipes including desserts.

 

[PhoenixStrength]

i have gotten to the point where for the most part the veggies i use are canned or frozen esp. during the winter months. i have my staple veggies i always have on hand-onions, potatoes, celery and carrots that will last a long time (and tomatoes b/c i consume them long before they go bad) but even buying the non organic stuff-everything goes bad within days despite every method i've tried to keep them usable. during the summer months we do eat more fresh stuff but that's b/c dh bbq's most nights so we are always having grilled mushrooms, bell peppers, eggplant or zucchini. it kills me to throw away food so i've just stopped buying produce unless i know we will immediately be using it (for fresh herbs during the summer months i've taken to planting them in what used to hold flowers on our deck-not as colorful but scents the air nicely and one plant costs a fraction of what a small bunch runs at our local stores).

We do almost exclusively frozen fruits and veggies during the winter too. I always have potatoes, carrots and onion on hand fresh, but almost nothing else fresh right now. They last longer and are better options when things aren't in season. Then we don't waste them as I hate wasting food. Thankfully both DH and I grew up with families that were big on making sure leftovers were eaten so we don't waste those usually.

 

[crazycatstacy]

When I say I like to bake, I bake stuff that isn't easily (at least in my opinion) modified to weight watchers. next week we have potluck at work and I am making a chocolate cake with two layers of peanut butter ganache, a layer of caramel nut filling and a coffee buttercream.

 

[AquaDame]

We do almost exclusively frozen fruits and veggies during the winter too. I always have potatoes, carrots and onion on hand fresh, but almost nothing else fresh right now. They last longer and are better options when things aren't in season. Then we don't waste them as I hate wasting food. Thankfully both DH and I grew up with families that were big on making sure leftovers were eaten so we don't waste those usually.

This sounds odd to me... the veggies we buy last just as long in the drawer in the fridge during summer as they do in the winter. I do hate when the store doesn't have paper bags for mushrooms as those will then get mushy if they can't breathe through the plastic, but that's all I've really noticed as far as variability. Some things like corn on the cob or marrionberries we can't get fresh in the winter, and I have a hard time finding celeriac or satsumas in the summer, but that is all that comes to mind.

 

[Eureka]

I totally missed this! I am also doing Weight Watchers. I like to watch YouTube for stuff that is WW friendly, and I also make videos though I am very new at it. I havent tried too much baking yet but check out the website of The Guilt Free Gourmet (not my site, and also add free so hopefully allowed) He also has a couple of Youtube videos but the cookbooks from the website are the best part. There is also Skinnytaste which I think a lot of people already know and the Skinnyish Dish, which is also good. There are quite a few people who do WW cooking on Youtube if you search for it, and some of them are fun. My DH and I did a video about 2 ingredient dough (Pizza) that the dough can be used to make things like Cinnamon Rolls. Its really good stuff. There was also a video by a girl on Youtube named "A Little Less Ashley" that did a video on her favorite pre-packaged WW snacks, you might like that one too.

I also follow WW but I just plan my points to be able to have some real cookies or baked goods sometimes. Sugar alcohols in sugar-free stuff and my GI tract are not friends. I can drink Crystal Light and chew sugar free gum but can’t eat the WW bars or chocolates, skinny syrups, etc. Graham crackers are good for being lower points when I want something sweet. I’ll put a dab of peanut butter or nutella on it, but I don’t tend to count that part in points. I also don’t use condiments much (don’t like Mayo or mustard, rarely use ketchup, use very little salad dressing) so I don’t count those either though you’re “supposed to.”

 

[ciaoaloha31]

It was sooooo nice this morning logging into my credit accounts that I use for cash back/rewards to see $0 balances. Planning out the month on a spreadsheet, sticking to the budget then paying off each card to close out the month without having to borrow from emergency savings, such an encouraging feeling.

 

[imbatman]

This sounds odd to me... the veggies we buy last just as long in the drawer in the fridge during summer as they do in the winter. I do hate when the store doesn't have paper bags for mushrooms as those will then get mushy if they can't breathe through the plastic, but that's all I've really noticed as far as variability. Some things like corn on the cob or marrionberries we can't get fresh in the winter, and I have a hard time finding celeriac or satsumas in the summer, but that is all that comes to mind.

If you guys/gals have the freezer space: in the summer when these are ripe and available to buy fresh, you can flash freeze them to store. Put the berries or corn cut from the cob on a large cookie sheet and freeze it for 2-3 hours (depending on the food--whole strawberries take a longer time, so I slice them). Once they are "flash frozen", you can put them into freezer bags (or better yet--vacuum sealed ones) and they are much more tasty in the winter! You also can slice up zucchini and squash this way. Make sure your freezer is very cold or the fruit juices will seep.

 

[amalone1013]

If you guys/gals have the freezer space: in the summer when these are ripe and available to buy fresh, you can flash freeze them to store. Put the berries or corn cut from the cob on a large cookie sheet and freeze it for 2-3 hours (depending on the food--whole strawberries take a longer time, so I slice them). Once they are "flash frozen", you can put them into freezer bags (or better yet--vacuum sealed ones) and they are much more tasty in the winter! You also can slice up zucchini and squash this way. Make sure your freezer is very cold or the fruit juices will seep.

My MIL started buying a bunch of sweet corn in the fall, cook/cut/freeze and now I'm spoiled and can't eat any other corn (unless its fresh of course). So tasty! I'm excited to help next fall and come home with our own haul of corn to freeze lol

 

[imbatman]

My MIL started buying a bunch of sweet corn in the fall, cook/cut/freeze and now I'm spoiled and can't eat any other corn (unless its fresh of course). So tasty! I'm excited to help next fall and come home with our own haul of corn to freeze lol

The worst part is prep. It's time consuming. But having fresh fruit and veggies in the winter is pretty much magical. There's nothing like field strawberries for strawberry shortcake in January! But if you grow your own or support a local farmer, it's well worth it!

Also, if you grow your own zucchini, you can shred it in a food processor and freeze it for zucchini bread.

I'm hungry now.

 

[DisneyMandC]

We just closed on our refinance!! So excited to get $410 a month back in our pocket!

 

[pblack]

We just closed on our refinance!! So excited to get $410 a month back in our pocket!

Wow! That's amazing!

 

[DLgal]

The worst part is prep. It's time consuming. But having fresh fruit and veggies in the winter is pretty much magical. There's nothing like field strawberries for strawberry shortcake in January! But if you grow your own or support a local farmer, it's well worth it!

Also, if you grow your own zucchini, you can shred it in a food processor and freeze it for zucchini bread.

I'm hungry now.

Ok, so I have a question. How do you prevent the fruits from being soggy and disgusting when they thaw? I am fortunate to live in So Cal and have access to a huge variety of fresh fruits and veggies year round. However, in order to not waste, I freeze fruits quite often in the manner you described for smoothies. Its great for that purpose as well as baking, but any other use just does NOT work well. Once you freeze fruits, the ice crystals that form pierce the cell walls so that when you defrost them, all the juice leaks out and you are left with mush.

January is when we have THE BEST local strawberries. We have a farm stand a mile away that sells the giant kind they dip in chocolate for Valentines day and they are SO good. I hardly buy them though because you have to buy a whole flat at a time and they lose so much of their goodness when you freeze them. Might as well just buy bagged frozen strawberries that are much cheaper.

I have never found frozen fruits to be edible in their thawed form "as is." It seems so crazy to me that you can't get fresh fruits in the winter. Where do you live?