A Week in Our Frugal Life
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- Опубліковано 4 тра 2024
- What a week! Gardening, Gas, Quilts & Bargains galore. Watch and see what we've been up to this week.
Frugal Queen in France
We are a British couple living in Brittany on a budget.
Frugal recipes, days out, home renovations and day to day making do in France.
We’ll give you hints, tips, advice and an insight into our life in France.
Website www.frugalqueeninfrance.com/
Instagram / frugalqueen. .
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Called in the local thrift store and scored big time, bathing suits brand new with tags $10 ,tags said $100, new jeans 2 pair tags on $8,reg $38, new shoes, handbag, decor pieces. Got home to find I have won a draw for half a lamb from the local farmer near us, plus $50 gift card from the British store. My neighbour gave me a rose bush she didn't want any more so all in all a good start to spring !
Boom! You did great
I received a group of plants in a pot when my son was born in 1979. The snake plant has been with me all this time. I just divide it up every year so it still fits in the pots I have them in. Since I've moved to a warm year round climate. It has thrived. I have two big pots outside of my driveway. Every year when I divide them up, I share them with the neighbors, family and friends. I keep the newer "babies" and throw away the old stalks that have seen better days. I love watching them develop new babies.
That's so lovely
Great deals. Love getting money back
Wow how beautiful, family heirloom plants 🎉
Formidably frugal and nice Jane your way to get plants for free and share it! I live in Paris with a large terrace and...very high prices! That is why, every time there is a storm, I pick up on the sidewalk debris from fallen or torn plants. I save them in water and plant them in the ground; some have lived with us for many years. It makes my friends laugh when I say: "this little tree is a piece of the storm of 1999; these pretty flowers are thunderstorms of 2006"... I give shoots to my friends for certain occasions or I plan to grow a bulb of the favorite flower for the birthday of a person I love. These are humble gifts, which I do with pleasure and love.
Bargains!
My money saving trick this week was taking back our banking from my wonderful hubby of 40 years today who didn’t mention our non food bills had almost doubled as he didn’t want to worry me as I’ve been ill for a while gotta love him
We do all budgeting and money tracking together so we're both accountable
Pretty quilts. Love your idea of doing three things everyday. Thank you Jane Mike and Puppies.
Our pleasure!
Got entire truck full of well rotted barn muck for garden for free. Saved zinnia and marigold seeds last year and started planting them this week. Knitting a lovely shawl from charity shop wool. Got my packed lunch ready for work tomorrow.
Perfectly frugal there
My strawberries are on the way too.
The one for charity with the arts is beautiful.
I am an obsessive, compulsive plant propagator. Whatever plants I buy, I take cuttings and make more for myself and for family and friends and they, in turn, encourage me to take cuttings from their plants.
I also take cuttings from trees and when they take root, I plant them in containers to keep them small because my garden isn’t big enough to accommodate trees. I gathered lots of acorns in a parking lot a year ago and they grew into oak saplings. I kept five that grew into shapes that I like and discarded those that just grew a long stem and did not branch out. I am considering turning a couple of them into bonsais.
I also planted seeds from fruit, ie lemons, oranges, kumquat. These, too, are kept in containers.
I have two beautiful cycads (2 different types) that were offsets that I harvested from family.
I am planning to relocate to a coastal town at the end of the year and am aware that I will have to find homes for most of my plants that are in pots as the houses in the estate I will be relocating to only have teeny, tiny gardens. I know that even in my new house with hardly a garden, I will have the inevitable cuttings of various plants on my kitchen window sill as I will be propagating house plants.
Propagating new plants is highly satisfying and a great frugal hobby to have.
Isn't gardening wonderful
No excuse needed for your dogs. They are precious.
They are indeed
So true, we recently lost our little Cairn Terrier after 19 years. Watching (and listening 😜) to your cute dogs brings a smile to my face. Cherish every moment, as we should with everything we hold close to our hearts.
@@serenaglister8017 I'm sorry for your loss
@@serenaglister8017 Hugs.
I love the way you quilt so frugally. My Mom has taken up quilting. She has spent an absolute fortune. Brand new sewing machine. Brand new long arm, totally computerized. If I told you she could have bought a brand new car with the money she has spent.
I have a long arm but it’s Handiquilter’s cheapest and not computerized
The pastel fabrics are really lovely. Especially the pink piece (a sheet?) you used for backing.....We dug up some cane that was growing on the right of way (in front of an oil lease; not someone's home) and planted it along our front fence, for privacy and just because I like it. The county sends out mowers and they cut it completely down on the places where we dig it up, and we don't get many; maybe just 5 or 10. There are hundreds of them growing out on the back roads....Carla H.
Sounds great!
My frugal thing this past week was going to our town's big Charity Book Fest where used, donated books are sold cheaply. I love reading & pretty much all my books are
second hand. It was an opportunity to buy anything I fancied because the prices were so low & affordable. A wonderful outing.
Lovely
Your comment about hail and sunburn on the same day reminds me of what we often encounter here in the Missouri Ozarks. Fun, isn't it! Absolutely LOVE your hearts and stars quilt. You are so talented and I'm always stunned by how many quilts you are able to produce. It's obvious that you love sewing and so many others benefit from it. Great video!
Thanks Alice, quilting fills me with joy
Thank you for your video. I have to get back to my frugal living. The past 3 months have been a nightmare for me. My husband has been very ill and passed away in March. all the medical bills are coming in and unexpected expenses keep popping up. Luckily I have a rainy day fund to be able to use for this situation. Now I will have to get the fund back up again.
Your quilts are beautiful. I always look forward to your videos.
I'm so sorry for your loss. Thanks so much for your message
I'm so sorry to hear of your husband's passing. Be gentle on yourself. You've been through a lot so ease back into things. Peace!
Hi Ivana. Sending hugs 🫂 from Australia as u process this difficult time of grieving your husband. 💞
So sorry for the loss of your husband. It's wonderful that you are counting your blessings, I know that will help.
So Sorry for your loss❤ strenght for the future. One day at the time.
Bravo on the oak trees!! They are Amazing for the ecosystem!! They don't have nice flowers like many other trees, but the amount of fauna that lives on/with them is just spectacular. Long life and health to them❤ we have one in The next village that is a thousand years old. 🌳
Nice
Your quilts are gorgeous, and as a former quilter, I especially admire the corners. It is nice to see your garden growing in size, too. A friend gave me some beets a couple of days ago, so there are 5 pints of pickled beets added to the pantry. As we get more feeble, we look for ways to make gardening easier, and cutting back on the number of brassicas, tomatoes,& beans certainly helps. Instead the empty beds will have potatoes in them because we like them, and storage is easier than other methods of preserving.
Thank you
This week I only went out twice. As I am helping my sister recuperate, I have narrow windows of time I can leave anyway. I find that if I don't go out, I don't shop! Funny how that works. I really like your idea of rescuing small trees. We have a beautiful maple at home, and if not caught early, the offspring could fill the yard in no time. I should rescue them and offer them up to those who don't wish to pay a hundred dollars or more for small saplings. Absolutely love the quilts! The heart and stars is exceptionally charming. Nice work!
Thank you
I always like your quilts, Jane, but those two are the nicest you’ve made. And I love the vintage sheet which you used for backing, it’s so pretty. I’m using shirting from my local charity shop at present, but I must admit fabric is my one extravagance, I can’t resist the odd fat quarters of Kaffe Fassett whenever they’re on sale.
Thanks
The same chives I was given from my husband's aunt's garden 35 years ago and four house moves later still multiplying. 30 or 40m of box privet hedge - from 6 tubestock.
Thanks
May 1st I had a dental appointment in town so I did my big monthly grocery/supply shop afterwards.
The rest of the week I enjoyed staying home and working on getting my yard and garden cleaned up and mowed. And I repotted seedling veggies from my window sill and started putting them outside for short periods to hardy them up for planting later in the month. I've gone nowhere nor spent any money since May 1st! And probably won't again before the week's end. In nice spring weather, it seems like a shame not to be outdoors enjoying it, even if it's just a bit of weed pulling! Or an iced tea just sitting on the deck. 😊
I wish it was warm enough to sit outside here too.
What a lovely week and beautiful quilts your very talented
Thank you
I'm late to the video. Connections issues. Quilts are not only beautiful. They are on another level to me. Some complicated figures are done so precisely. Admiration from me. I wish I had super U. Keep watching with interest here. Good shot with the products. Let us know pls.about the fragrance if it's good. Gardening amazing. Keep watching about it in silence,because no special skills and big garden space here. Flowers in pots,yes. Freshly changed soil few days ago. Thanks for sharing us. Till next time. 👍
Thanks so much
I took cuttings from my daughters hydrangeas and made 10 new plants. Gave lots away and have 2 new plants in the garden. Just taken cuttings from my climbing hydrangeas for friends and potted on all the perennial plants that had seeded themselves in various plantspots and places in the garden
That is awesome!
Your quilts are beautiful! The hearts and star one is so pretty,love the floral backing! 💕
Now I one these what use a own brand washing detergent I found they work aswell as the main brand plus I use you trick of use a scoop of stain remover but get I my detergent from Costco
It’s so very much cheaper than a fancy brand that even a scoop of stain booster still makes it affordable
I love your beautiful quilts. Also enjoy that that you buy quality fabrics from the thrift store, use scraps and receive donated fabric on occasion. You make amazing quilts for very little cash output, then the quilts become a gift or a donation. That's the way to do it.
So true! Thanks so much 👍
In love with the hearts and stars quilt!!!!
We have two bushes that we took from cuttings a few years ago. 🌱 Interesting to see your week.
Wonderful
I love the format of this video!
Re getting plants for free - we live in western Canada and for $5 we can get a permit to go to certain areas in the mountains and dig up 20 trees as long as they are under 6'.
Every so often we will get 20 spruce or pine about 2 feet tall then plant them on our property. Eventually we have Christmas trees as well once they get big enough.
That's a good idea
Is this in BC? Where do you go to get the permit. I live in BC and would love to do this! Thanks ❤
Jane your quilts are BEAUTIFUL. My property has a ton of trees but not enough sunlight to really grow a garden. Growing up my Dad had a small garden on the side of our house which he planted cukes, tomatoes, that garden would produce sooooo much we kept the neighbors supplied all summer too. I envy people like u with a "green thumb"
You are so talented. Your quilts are beautiful.
Thank you so much!
The quilts are magnificent. Love your videos- great practical information
Glad you like them!
Fresh lettuce today. Rainy weekend and all the next week. I planted some tomatoes and pepper plants, seeds for cucumbers and zucchini and cosmos, sunflowers and zinna seeds.
Lovely quilts. My granny and aunt were quilters and I have some. Use them each winter.
What holiday? We don't have a holiday in US, unless maybe Cinco de Mayo which is celebrated here but not in Mexico.
May 1st. Fête de Travail. It’s a day honoring workers and their dedication to France. It’s celebrating unions too.
Think you must have forgotten May 4th. Yesterday. Star Wars Day. "May the Fourth be with you "
I finally took your advice and made a written budget. It is a complete game-changer. Thank you, Jane. I had been resisting making a written budget for a couple of reasons that weren't logical. I knew that I wanted to use a cash envelope system, but I thought it would seem weird to have my money automatically deposited, just to take it out in cash. I realized that I needed to not care if the bank tellers thought it was strange that I was taking cash out every week. I also feel old-fashioned using cash, but again, I just had to get over that. Also, my bank charges me $5.00 a month if I don't use my debit card, but I think that the fee is well worth paying in order to follow my new cash envelope system.
I'm really pleased
A worldwide push for everyone to go cashless so they have total control of us. Forfeit the $5 for your freedom 💞
I would use my debit card for one planned purchase a month to save the $5.00 bank charge. I hate when banks get money for no good reason at all! Shame on them!
@katiefranklin considering that using cash and avoiding credit cards allows more of the money you spend to remain with the vendor and local! I just start sharing that tidbit whenever I pay for a good or service with a check or cash. Sometimes it requires calling ahead but honestly many merchants thank me for not using credit.
Lovely quilts, and nice video.
Thanks
Quilts are amazing!!!!
Lovely relaxing video. I have been dividing heuchera and have 24 new plants! Also hardy geraniums.
Sounds great!
It"s us that should be thankimh you, very very pleasant program
Thanks so much
Your quilts are beautiful! I love that your gardens are herbicide and pesticide free! I do the same, and it's a lot of work. I love my little hand tool, similar to yours. It works very well in dirt or lawn. In gravel, however, I prefer to pour boiling water on the plants. It kills most of them, and is much easier than using the hand weeder. (Our electricity is quite cheap in BC, so I don't have to worry much about the energy costs.)
Thanks,
I love your quilts and color selections! So lovely!
Thank you so much!
I remember going to a nursery to buy jostaberries plants, and being disappointed because there was only one. The nursery owner told me that one was all I needed- just take cuttings - and I have ever since then and given loads away. I am forever pulling up sycamore and oak seedlings from my flower beds, and I have walnut trees growing ( and producing) from squirrel planted nuts. Sadly laurels did not work for me. They grew so fast and no amount of cutting back stopped them, and they killed everything nearby taking all the light and water. In the end they were so massive, and so destructive I had to get professional help to remove them. They are still growing back from the roots! The stump grinder wanted €500 to remove the roots, and I had to first take down the fence and remove anything like stones or plants in his way, so the stumps remain! But I can just about keep the new growth under control. They seed everywhere. Elderberries also pop up everywhere.
They do need a firm hand
Love all the quilts you make i crochet and knit .
The quilts are beautiful Jane - you're very talented in everything you do x
Thank you
Beautiful quilts!!
Thank you! 😊
Fabulous video, thank you.
My favourite plant to take cuttings from is the geranium, as it gives me splashes of colour through the garden during our winter, when the native trees are in colour but not so much at ground level. Waving from Perth, Australia
So nice of you
For us it is rosemary- we have made hedges and edges from an original cutting that a neighbour gave us- such great bang for your buck! Also have a rhubarb plant that was my grandads and when he dies my father dug it up and distributed bits of it around- I've had in 10 years now and it's moved 3 times :-) still going strong and each year I give a section away
Thanks
That travel kettle is brilliant. I keep a single-cup coffee/tea maker in my sewing room, to do away with trips back and forth to the kitchen.
That's a great idea!
Thank yoy for sharing the frugal tips .❤lov to you and you cute beatiful 🐶 🐩❤puppies ❤❤❤
Thank you! 🤗
Your quilts are beautiful!
Thank you! 😊
What a steal on the hot kettle
Grandpa's weeder is amazing for long roots and you use your foot instead of hand force. I got mine on Amazon
Thanks
Hi Jane how clever you are to make those beautiful quilts. Well done dear❤
Thank you! 😊
By the way I love your quilts!
Thank you
You are inspiring me to start quilting again. Also, your gnome mug is adorable!
Yay! Thank you!
I am giving away a lot of my pot plants as have too many and all have been just plants that I have divided up. Going to an op shop that also sells plants. My daughter has just had to move back home and with her came some plants that need dividing up and it starts again. 😃 love your idea of 3 things a day. Really enjoy your videos. Congratulations to you both.👏👏
Thanks for watching
Your quilts are stunning!
Thank you
The quilts are beautiful! The hearts and stars one will make a great find for its next owner through the charity shop. Your doggies are always a welcome addition to your videos! 🐶❤️
Oh thank you!
Your land must be rhododendron heaven they are wonderful plants so beautiful and lovely land that's all s near native woods
So nice of you
I saved money on homemade yoghurt powder. Was au $5.70 ea. Bought 60 × au $2.85. Thank goodness for places of storage space too. It really makes a difference. Hi from Adelaide Australia THANK you for your time
Thanks
Excellent deals on the laundry products and books. Last September I found liquid laundry soap 4/$10.00. Im stocked for 18 months! We have a store here that sells used books, magazines and CDs. I enjoy my purchases and then sell them back and buy new ones. I sell the books I buy at thrift stores & yard sales there too. Books are my weakness. I would buy them all!! This store helps me keep my "book habit" within budget. I love your tree garden! In 20 years you will have a forrest that you tended and saved. Your quilts are lovely. You are very talented. Thanks for sharing. 💕🇺🇸🏜
Thank you
I know you enjoy Philippa Gregory. Elizabeth Chadwick is also very good, especially her William Marshal books.
Thank you
agree about both authors, also Sharon Penman & Alison Weir 🙂
Your quilts are beautiful you have a good eye for colour. I bought a dress in the sale for 5 pounds way too long and v neck too low. Ishortened it and with spare fabric cut a piece to fill in the v now a square neck
Great idea!!
I love quilts and I always enjoy when you share your quilting hobby with us. You do such beautiful work.
Thank you so much!
You showed a perfect example of shrinkflation. The laundry liquid and fabric conditioner containers aren’t full. A couple of years ago, I bet they were. Still a good deal but so frustrating.
Good point
Recently saw a news article, showing pictures of customers pouring liquid detergent in another liquid detergent container to fill it up. As for me, am a granny and I have found Persil to be the best laundry detergent. Nice for both at the store and at home, the bottle clear enough, I can see how much liquid is in it.
Ill say again , your quilts are beautiful.
Such an inspiring video~ love all your hobbies and frugal lifestyle
Thank you so much!😊
Love those quilts and the gardening 🧑🌾 Spring weather is so changeable 😊
Enjoy those books 📚 on a quiet public holiday 👍
Just another busy week ✔️in France 🇫🇷.
Thank you Jane and Mike for another wonderful video.
Thank you! You too!
Hello from Miami. I love your channel and always look forward to your videos.Your quilts are beautiful. Thank you for all your practical and sound advice. They keep me in line.
You are so welcome!
Thanks for sharing your week, really liking how your hedge is coming along. And your quilts are so beautiful!! Would love to own one.
Message me on FrugalqueeninFrance@gmail.com , you can buy one for the charity
The quilts are great!!! You put so much work into them !
Thank you so much!
My goodness but your quilts are LOVELY....a brilliant public service!😮
Thank you
Appreciate your talents every week.
So nice of you
You've got some good books there!Dara O'Brien is hilarious, and The Girl You Left Behind is a good one.
As a former quilter, I truly enjoy seeing your finished creative sewing projects. I Love, love, love the hand sewing- don’t know why.
I love hand sewing too. It's very relaxing!
I do too
I feel u! Nova Scotia Canada here, and frost on my car this morning! 😂
So chilly when it should be warmer
Hi,from pei.🎉
Jane, those quilts are beautiful ❤️ We’re like you, and garden as frugally as possible. For my birthday last month, my sons bought me some bags of compost. They thought it was a weird present, but I was thrilled to bits❤️
I'd be thrilled too
Your quilts are beautiful. My neighbour when I lived in Sydney used to make similarly beautiful quilts. She had a large room just for her quilts. The designs were exquisite. She made one for me in blue floral patches with a pure wool padding insert which I treasure and a cot sized one for my son when he was born. He’s 25 this month. I still have his cot quilt and it looks like new it’s so well made.
Love a good laundry haul too. Well done.
That is awesome!
Another brilliant video - thanks Jane and Mike. Could I ask, in your experience, what’s the max depth needed for a raised bed? In terms of plant requirements.
Spuds 18 inches and everything else about six inches
I love your quilts!
Thanks
Love the colors and patterns of your quilts
What a lovely week!! Thank you for sharing! Beautiful quilts...
Thank you! 😊
Thank you so much for your super useful tips this week. I too am still in my winter coat on May 7th. Fleece granny blanket in the evenings. I refuse to make the electric companies and the government rich. Adore your puppies 🙏🙏🙏
Thank you, thankfully we have affordable wood heating
The quilts are beautiful! Our garden is starting to show seeds sprouting. A few bowls of strawberries from patch.
Wonderful!
Lots of nice gardening and sewing projects going on.
What’s that solar generator? Did you make video on it? Really interesting.
Yes, several. We have allpowers solar generators
Your quilts are always amazing!!!
Thank you so much!
I’ve never seen quilts as beautiful as what you make. I love the one with the hearts and stars. I know you picked your mugs up on a trip to the UK. Would you mind sharing the brand? I might be able to find them on eBay or Amazon. They are the perfect size. Thank you ❤️
I love your ‘scrappy’ quilts.
Thanks so much
The quilts are lovely!
Thanks 😊
Gorgeous cute girls 🐾🐾🐾
Absolutely beautiful quilts! Awesome work!
Thank you so much!
Jane, that quilt is beautiful!😍
Thanks
Your quilts are so beautiful! I am green with envy! 😎
Oh thank you!
Hello Jane💌 my husband is a gardener, and he did a "spécialisation professionnelle, jardins naturels" he once told me that you can put half a big onion in mole holes, and they stay away. Don't remember exactly (will get back at you wit correct facts after I ask him) but I believe you need to put half an onion on all the exits you can find and they should move on. We luckily don't have moles, the cats living half wild around here get rid of the mice, but we would love some more hedgehogs for the tons of slugs we have. The doddler really enjoys them, but they eat absolutely everything. One year they even ate the spiky leaves of the artichokes. Next level slugs. Your garden is prettier and prettier! We had sunshine at the 1mai, and started clearing our jungle of a garden. In 4days there is another holiday and we will continue❤
Thanks for the advice
Your quilts are just gorgeous.
Thanks
Cool little tea kettle!
It sure is!
Wow Your quilts are delightful 😊
Thank you! 😊
Watching your May 1 vid on this 5th of May. May 1 was my 75th birthday, so this is a belated birthday gift. Love your and Mike’s vids. You are enriching to others, Frugal Queen.
Happy birthday to you
Happy Birthday from us too,!
@@lorainemacdonald517 Thank you.
Beautiful quilts, Jane!
Thank you! 😊
Another very interesting video! The hearts and stars quilt is absolutely stunning!!
Thank you so much!
Evening Jane and Mike another very interesting video with the cuties making an appearance but those quilts - fantastic
Glad you enjoyed it
What a Beautiful quilt Jane! So much work behind, impressive! Have a lovely week! BR, S.
Thank you! You too!