ICK - what I found in the dishwasher

My washer isn't broken, but I did have rust on the tines of the bottom rack.
I used a product called ReRack to touched up the spots.
Second time I have done this in  2 years.
ReRack cost me maybe 6-7 dollars
A new rack is hundreds.

Touching up tines on dishwasher rack

BUT, while the rack was drying I decided to clean the filter.
I had never done it before so I was sure it needed it.
Took about 10-15 min online to research.
Then about 20 minutes to clean and put back together.
Umm, ICK
I found a candy wrapper and lots of stuff I couldn't identify.
But I now have a clean filter and hope it will extend the life of my dishwaher.

Removed sprayer arm to reach filter

Filter

ICK, stuff I found in the filter

The door had a filter too, more ICK found

Savings:  ReRack vs new rack = 100 to 200 dollars
Clean filter myself vs whirlpool tech 75.00 to 100.00 an hour

Free Massage

Guess what I am going to do the week of April 15th? 
I am going to get a free Hydromassage.
My local Planet Fitness has one of those massage beds there.
Here is the link for the coupon.
Please call to make an appt.

http://www.hydromassage.com/taxday.htm

Exceptions....

In general a frugal person has a plan, a budget, a list and sticks to it.
HOWEVER, a frugal person also has to be open to deals and bargains.
I was in a store getting things on my list
CLEARANCE bin
Clearance is my favorite brand name.
I got a new winter hat with gloves, in my son's favorite color (Camo) for a dollar
And gloves for myself .25cents
Life is good

The fish and the loaves...aka chicken for dinner

We have heard that story about the fish and the loaves....insert story, the ending is that there was more than enough for all with leftovers...

Well you can do that with chicken.

I thawed 2 boneless chicken breasts for dinner.  Just 2.
There are three of us.
I could have seasoned and baked them for dinner, but I wanted more from them...
I wanted leftovers
I sliced the chicken into "Chicken fingers" breaded and baked them.
We all had plenty.   Several pieces each.  (Plus a veggie for dinner)

The next day, I made 2 wraps for my son's lunch with the chicken.  He claims it was the best lunch has ever had at school.

Then for dinner we had a big salad with chicken.

So three meals from 2 breasts of chicken.  Not bad

Back of the store Part 3

Cascade.
I have to admit, out of all the dishwashing detergents I have tried, Cascade works the best.
But also the most expensive.
So I am not brand loyal, I buy on sale and match a coupon to it.

Cascade powder and gel packs on the clearance rack because this type is discontinued.
It was many dollars cheaper than even a sale price.  But I didn't have a coupon.
Clearance price works out to .13 a load.(normally .30 -.60 cent per load)  I have done sooo much better.
When I make my own, it works out to pennies .02-.04 per load, but the hubby doesn't like it (I have fixed the recipe and we don't have any more spots or haze)

Did I buy it...Yes I did.
Why?
Because I love it, it works the best and sometimes you need to pay a bit more to get the best quality.
And even if it was on sale and I had a coupon, I couldn't get it this cheap.  So I bought the 4 remaining packs.

Back of the store part 2

Instant Milk
Ewww you may say
But I use it a lot.

It was on the clearance rack, it is not expired, they changed the packaging.
It was cheap I scooped it up.

I make large batches of hot chocolate mix.  Use some, give some as gifts.
When I don't want to use a large portion of my milk for baking or cooking, I make a batch with the powdered milk.  It is cheaper than regular milk even when not on sale.

And if  you are running low on your milk, you can make a batch of powdered and mix it in with the regular milk,  Super cold is the way to serve it.

A gallon of Fat Free milk is 3.51
A gallon of the milk made from powder is 1.48  over 50% savings

Pinata

I made a Death Star pinata
The boys loved it.

Here is how I did it.
I bought a bag of balloons for .99
Used one for the pinata, the rest for the party.
I cut up the newspaper in strips.
Made a paste from flour and water
Set the balloon on a cup to hold it.
Covered it twice with the paper mache (Didn't want it too thick)
Dry, pop balloon, paint, done

Cut paper into strip

Flour and water heated to a boil.  Paste

Too much paper for my project

Painted, top opened to add the candy

Added a hanger in the top to hang it.