Well, we made it to December!! Hopefully, the month goes smoothly with no upsets. In the past, December has had both my back fracture T 10 in 2003 and B’s MDS diagnosis in 2019. So I often have anxiety about December probably remembering the emotions at those times.
On the frugal things.
I’m planning to do a No Spend/low spend December. I have bought enough from Amazon over the last month so I want to scale back that spending. Besides Christmas things, I bought Simple Human garbage bags, beeswax candles, and ??? I don’t include food or gas or other necessities but no extra things.
B got the oil changed in the Santa Fe, it needed some new filters so that added to the cost. I’ll up the cash envelope so it can fully cover those things.
We had the propane filled and that was $259 so really not bad at all. This is a quarterly bill and I plan to start and envelope for that. I’ve been watching some Youtubers cash envelopes and most fill the envelopes and then take to the bank. I was curious if that’s what they did because some of their envelopes were quite large. One woman had $600 in one for daycare and then moved that over when it was due. So I like that idea and it will keep me accountable. I like the cash envelope system and it’s working very well really.
I didn’t go to the grocery store this week, except I sent B to go down to the Holiday Market for sour cream and buttermilk I needed for recipe which I haven’t made yet.
Today is still a Dex/ no drive day for me so I’m going to make some cookies and plan next week’s menu. This week we had 3 freezer meals including stuffed peppers last night. So that really helps the budget. I also used the last pressure canned split pea soup and that was delicious.
Tonight we’re ordering pizza. I need to do an order from Central Milling for my 00 pizza flour. I think I missed their Cyber Monday sale but that’s ok.
Tomorrow, I’m planning on going to the pool and then to Trader Joe’s so money will be spent there. I don’t need a whole lot but TJ’s always has something interesting.
Here’s a look at our BIG BUCKIE. He’s circling our hilltop looking for girls. I hope he stays safe and out of the road. Last week on the freeway I counted 4 dead deer. On our main road, I saw 2 deer hit by cars. People drive too fast thru town here where the speed limit is posted at 25mph.
I’m pretty sure he’s limping on that leg in the back. I hope he’s safe. I would love if an antler fell off though since I collect them.
Tahoe Girl 
Which OO do you get from Central Milling? Do you purchase any other flours from them?
I think it’s just the organic oo pizza flour. and yes, I always add in bread flour and reg flour. Costco used to carry Central Milling but now carry someone elses. The pizza flour makes a huge difference in the crust.
What a beautiful buck but sorry he is limping and hope it is temporary. I’m surprised people drive so fast since hitting a deer is so dangerous for the driver too. I just did next year’s budget estimates and am feeling hopeful as long as nothing expensive goes wrong with the house or car or us!
I agree. Right now the bucks are rutting so they are all over the place. The deer are dark colored this time of year and hard to see but still if people weren’t going 65 thru town at night there wouldnt be as many killed.
That is a beautiful buck!
I used to store cash in envelopes for special expenditures. We had a house burn in our neighborhood and decided to meet with our insurance agent to check on our own coverage. She informed us that nowadays they only cover up to $50 in cash if there is a fire. WHAT? Well, I guess there is no way to prove how much in envelopes and people lie and cheat so we are all paying the price. I talked to my bank and they have something called “sub accounts” which are part of my savings account but I can put cash in the sub accounts (one labeled vacation, one labeled property tax, one labeled technology to replace computers and cell phones, etc). I try to only keep a small amount of cash in my home now.
That’s interesting about the insurance only covering so much. I like the idea of sub accounts. We do have a Santa Saver and a savings. I’ll check with the bank about them. I’ve been watching this one You Tuber on cash envelopes, and when the envelopes get to a certain point she takes that to the bank. I think that’s a good idea.