One Hundred Dollars a Month - Page 841 of 2143 - I am your typical housewife living in high maintenance suburbia. I have a handsome husband, 2 kids and a flock of pet chickens. I try and feed my family with $100 a month. With the help of coupons, gardening and bartering I am able to squeeze the most out of our grocery budget and still manage to have a little fun along the way.

My Goals for This Year – Week 20 of 52

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By Mavis Butterfield on May 15, 2015 · 20 Comments

1. Get Organized.

I cleaned out the garage yesterday and started filling a section of it with stuff for the neighborhood yard sale in July. I LOVE yard sales. 🙂 Both shopping at them and selling stuff. People are interesting. You get people who walk right up and fork over their money, and people who contemplate a $2 purchase for 10 minutes. I find the whole process exciting.

2. Run, walk or crawl a Marathon, half marathon, 10k, and 5k race this year.

Did I really say that?

3. ~~Remodel our Master Bathroom, Master Closet and Monkey Boy’s Bathroom~~. Done!

4. Finish Every Room in Our House.

I need a pierce of furniture to place next to the family room window. I was thinking about a skinny recliner with a matching ottoman but all the ones I like cost a fortune. Maybe I need to look for something else to put there. But what? I don’t like clutter {clearly} and I like big open spaces so I don’t want something too big.

Also, I think I need something taller to sit on the red cabinet along the wall. What do you think?

5. Turn Spare Bedroom into a Cozy Home Office Space for myself.

I’ll work on it later this fall.

6. Create a Vegetable Garden.

I called the HOA to find out of I could go ahead and start building my garden boxes outside this weekend {because the fence is being installed next week} and the lady basically said to wait until the fence is up just in case someone complains. Sweet.baby.lambs.

So The Girl and I have been busy setting up containers around the perimeter of the house this week instead. I did tell the HH that we will be buying lumber at the Home Depot this weekend and making the beds in the garage though. That way as soon as those boards go up… so do the garden beds. Giddy up!

7. Build a Path into the Hillside for Easy Access to the Upper Garden. We are building a fence instead.

Lucy is counting down the HOURS.

8. Limit my personal spending to $100 a month.

I didn’t buy any candy this week. That’s saying something!!! 🙂 I’m thinking about ordering these sneakers though. The price is right.

So far in May I’ve spent $3.00

In April I Spent $18.46.
In March I Spent $42.44.
In February I Spent $32.52
In January I Spent $84.33

9. Purge… Weekly. Find 10 things each week to donate to the thrift store.

Our neighborhood is having a yard sale in July and I’ve slowly been going through the storage and craft room looking for things to let go of. Some things {like those man jeans} will be given to the thrift store and the other stuff I’ll try and make a few bucks on. Who knows, maybe I’ll make enough to buy some plane tickets for The Girl and I. I do have a couple of furniture items {large sideboard, coffee table, craft table} to sell so we’ll see.

10. Read 1 book a week. – My goal is to read 52 books this year

A few days ago I started Empty Mansions: The Mysterious Life of Huguette Clark and the Spending of a Great American Fortune and it is fascinating let me tell you. Sad but very interesting.

11. Slow Down.

Ya right. This is gardening season.

12. Canning –

I made 11 jars of blackberry jam and used up the remaining berries from last summer. I’m hoping to find a free blackberry patch forage this summer.

Did you set any goals for this year? If so, how are they coming along?

~Mavis

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Ask Mavis – We’re Talking Canning Peaches, Pea Trellis’ and Listening to the Universe

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By Mavis Butterfield on May 15, 2015 · 8 Comments

It’s that time again. You ask, and I pretend to know things and answer your burning questions. It really is so much fun to open my inbox and see the wide variety of questions you guys have. Reminds me that my readers are so diverse and pretty dang awesome. So keep those questions coming and I’ll keep racking my brain for answers.

As always, please pipe up if you have any input or are knowledgeable when it comes to any of the following questions:

I see you are a little over a year into owning your Brother serger. How is it doing for you? My late grandmother’s broke down on me and I am looking for a replacement and this one seems very popular.

~Breanna

I wouldn’t say I’m 100% comfortable with it {maybe 85% comfortable}, but I love the heck out of my Brother Serger and would totally recommend it! As far as sergers are concerned, it’s super easy to use and learn. Plus, the price was right. I absolutely have no regrets and would buy the same model in a heartbeat!

Hi Mavis, I am new to canning, but have done peaches in the past. Do you let your jars touch when canning? And your water covers your lids? I never quite know how long to boil them for {say beans for instance}. I want to learn how to can more things but with 2 young children time is of the essence.

~Angela

Canning can seem a bit overwhelming at first, but after awhile it becomes second nature. Maybe getting a group together or at least having a friend come over and assist might help until you feel really comfortable with it. Another set of eyes is always helpful! As far as your questions are concerned: I never let my jars touch. I cover them so there is about an inch of water on the top. And the processing time is so different depending on the size of your jars, what you are canning and what altitude you can at. Check out this handy dandy list of processing times.

Mavis, am I doing something wrong? Your web page will only show up to Dec 4th at your URL. How can I get it to display the most current/up to date page??

~Amy

Looks like you need to clear your cache. Or just listen to what the universe is trying to tell you and make that Cherry-Pistachio Nougat recipe that was posted on the 4th already. Ha! Occasionally, your cache can prevent you from seeing updated content, or cause functional problems when stored content conflicts with live content. To clear your cache, you’d just need to Google it quickly for your particular computer or browser {or head HERE and WikiHow will walk you through it for every browser}. It’s super simple and should just take you a few seconds. Hope that helps!

I just have a question regarding this rustic pea trellis {which I love by the way} I see you have several plants located underneath the trellis. Is one trellis adequate for all those plants to attach to? I am curious if just one trellis would be adequate for my double rows of beans and peas. Thank you for your time and your site…Love it!

~Kathyjo

First, thanks for the praise! Second, one could possibly be sufficient. I normally do more than one, but you can see if one is sufficient this year and if it gets too crowded, you’ll know to add another next year. Although, I probably would err on the side of more is better though! If you have the material for two, give 2 a try. Those little peas grow like mad!!

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Free Kindle Books, American Flag Scarf, Peas in a Pod Necklace, Dr. Pepper Coupons and More

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By Mavis Butterfield on May 15, 2015 · 3 Comments

Word of the Day: Impetus Definition: Force of moving body Used in a sentence: The impetus given the ball carried it over the fence.

Friend, things are getting pretty serious around here. Mom says my dog fence will be installed soon and that my gardening and digging responsibilities will resume shortly. I have big plans this summer and I intend to take my freedom seriously.

Have a good Friday, and may the paw be with you.

♥ Lucy the Puggle Dog

Amazon Gold Box Deal of the Day – 50% Off Crocs for the Family

Available Kindle Books I think are cool…

Lady Catherine, the Earl, and the Real Downton Abbey $1.99
Come Home to Supper: Over 200 Casseroles, Skillets, and Sides $2.51
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The Women’s Devotional Guide to Bible $12.99
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The prices on Kindle Books can change quickly, so grab them while you can. Don’t have a Kindle? Download the kindle app on your other devices. It’s easy! 🙂

Today only Amazon has the Lexar 16GB SDHC UHS-I Flash Memory Card on sale for just $6.39!!! This is an AWESOME price.

This DIY Carpet Cleaner Recipe will prevent you from ever being stuck in a lurch when you need to clean up that carpet “oops” pronto. Find more easy homemade cleaner recipes on my DIY Pinterest Board.

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Amazon has the Fruit of the Loom Men’s Basic 7 Pack Briefs on sale for $8.00. They ship FREE with Amazon Prime.

The Home Depot Deal of the Day – UP TO 33% OFF SELECT CORDLESS ELECTRIC LAWN MOWERS

Get an American Flag Scarf shipped to your door for just $2.40.

Jane has the adorable MAMA’S SWEET PEAS PERSONALIZED NECKLACE on sale for $6.99. Customize your very own pea-pod with 15 pearl colors to choose from. Shop Peas Here.

Cents of Style is offering Scarves for 60% off the marked price and FREE SHIPPING w/ the coupon code MAYSCARF. Scarves will start at $3.98 shipped after the discount. Many styles will be $5.98 shipped.

Magazine Deals:

I love adding dried tomatoes to pasta salads, pizza sauce and soup throughout the year. Find out How to Dehydrate Heirloom Tomatoes. Get the recipe HERE or Pin it for Later. Find more recipes on my Dehydrated Food Pinterest Board.

The REI Anniversary Sale is going on right now with up to 30% off in every department. REI members can save an additional 20% off one item when they use code 20SAVE at checkout. Shop REI HERE.

Organize your garage with the Rubbermaid Deluxe Tool Tower Rack. It holds 40 Tools for $39.19 shipped. The reviews are excellent!

Just in time for summer vacation… Amazon has the Norpro 4-Piece Silicone Ice Pop Maker Set in Assorted Colors for just $4.78 shipped. Make healthy treats at home!

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Find More Printable Coupons

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Becoming Gladys Kravits

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By Mavis Butterfield on May 14, 2015 · 27 Comments

I would have never pegged myself as the Gladys Kravits type. But it’s happening. If I don’t get my fence up soon, I’m going to start sitting in a glittery tube top in my side yard with my feet in a kiddie pool and strike up a conversation with anyone that walks by just so I can get some answers. Heck, I may even make a trip to the mall for some highlights and bright-colored tops if that freakin’ fence doesn’t get built soon so I can play {properly} in the dirt. I am dying here people. Just dying.

Some observations from this week:

Stroller mom and her 4 hours a day, 7 days a week workout/baby napping/fresh air power walks. I’d like to see her go up against the Energizer Bunny. She would KICK HIS ARSE.

The early morning sounds of a baby crying off my back patio. Not a soul in my immediate area is younger than 60. And yes, I checked the bushes.

The older couple who walks their dog 4 times a day. Sometimes 6. {The HH has maybe walked Lucy with me twice. Maybe we are the weird ones, who knows.}

The skateboarding kid with the hat on backwards and the bad attitude. I’m not a fan. The other kids that ride with him are just fine, but this kid is totally disrespectful to everyone he passes by.

The 80-year-old woman with the toy lion dog who poops in the middle of the street. She picks NOTHING up and likes to talk up a storm about her show dogs.

The retired man who sits in his white plastic lawn chair at the end of his driveway and suns himself. {I’ve never talked to this guy but I LOVE that he sits at the end of the driveway in his $2 chair}. It’s AWESOME. Every time I see him out there I wonder if the HOA has gotten complaints. 🙂 Rock on old guy, rock on.

Pack of 3 soccer moms with their three strollers and one dog who all wear the same outfit. {Black yoga pants, black zip up tops, hair in pony tails, yada yada.} They are always in full make up and perky. I feel inadequate. I have no “walking” clothes. Just blue jeans and long sleeved black tops from the GAP.

Guy who has been working on his sprinklers ever since we moved in 7 months ago. {Every week he’s out there in his Carhartt’s working on those darn things.}

The single guy who lives down the street. Early 30’s? No wife. No kids. Doesn’t do his own yard work. The only time I see him is when he puts out his trash can. Hmmmm.

Wine and cheese lady who walks by my house to mail something every.single.day. {How can someone have that many bills? Or letters to write?}

The house on the corner with a three car garage and 6 cars always in the driveway. What is going on over there????? How many people live there? Do they sell drugs? Have a home business? Host home parties around the clock? Seriously. 3 car garage. 6 cars. What the heck?

Cluster of cottage homes I just discovered yesterday. None of them have much of a yard, but man are they storybook cute. I want to bring along my camera and take some pictures for gardening ideas… but that would be CREEPY.

**********

I am becoming one of them.

People. I need a fence. And I need it now.

~Mavis

photo credit

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