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One Hundred Dollars a Month

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.


one hundred dollars a month

Giveaway: Cinnamon Stick and Apple Cider Candles

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By Mavis Butterfield on · 169 Comments

Yesterday I stopped by a local farm and bought a few pumpkins, I couldn’t resist. We’ve had more squash {mostly butternut} growing in the backyard than pumpkins this year, and the pumpkins we do have back there, well they aren’t quite ready yet so I finally broke down and picked up a few to place on the front porch.

There’s just something so happy and simple about pumpkins on a front porch. It’s like a signal of sorts that cooler temps are on the horizon, and sipping hot chocolate and apple cider and wearing sweaters will soon become the norm again.

I don’t know about you, but I absolutely LOVE fall, and everything about it, especially the chilly mornings and fall colors. And the candles… oh how I love burning scented candles in the fall. 🙂 🙂 🙂

It’s been a while since I’ve done a giveaway… and so I thought with it being just a few days into fall, now would be the perfect time to give away a few of my all time favorite scented candles.

What’s inside the box giveaway box Mavis? Well I’m so glad you asked!

All bundled up with a red apple ornament made by Mavis Butterfield {Hey! That’s me}

All you have to do to enter this giveaway is leave a comment below and answer this one question: What is your favorite thing about fall?  That’s it, just answer that one little question and you are entered to win.

Rules

Comment must be left on the blog to count as an entry. 1 entry per person/ip address. If you cheat, you will totally be disqualified. This particular giveaway can be shipped anywhere within the United States of America.

This giveaway ends Sunday, September 27th @9 pm EST and and the winner will be announced on Monday, September 28th in the weekly shopping trip post. The winner will be notified via email and have 48 hours to claim their prize. If the prize is not claimed within 48 hours, the prize will be forfeited.

Have a wonderful day, and good luck!

♥ Mavis

You can stay up with all the latest and greatest from OneHundredDollarsAMonth on Facebook, Instagram and Etsy.

This post may contain affiliate links. These affiliate links help support this site. For more information, please see my disclosure policy. Thank you for supporting One Hundred Dollars a Month.

Savory Jalapeno Cheddar Scones

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By Mavis Butterfield on · 4 Comments

I made these jalapeno cheddar scones the other day to go with the beef stew we were having for dinner and holy cow man, they were a 10 out of a 10. They were so good in fact, my husband ate two scones with dinner, one later that night, and one for breakfast the next morning.

So seriously, you need these scones in your life. 🙂 Without a doubt, I know I’ll be making these to go with all the Crock pot soups and chili I plan to make this winter.

Savory scones rule!


Ingredients 
2 and 1/2 cups, plus 1 tablespoon flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup sugar
4 ounces unsalted butter, shredded
1 large egg
1/2 cup sour cream
3 jalapenos, sliced {seeds and all!}
3/4 cup cheddar cheese, grated
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

Combine dry ingredients {first 5} in a mixing bowl, reserving the 1 tablespoon of flour for later. Carefully grate frozen butter into flour mixture using the large holes of a box grater. Toss the mixture thoroughly to combine until it resembles a coarse meal {use a pastry cutter or two forks for this, not your warm fingers or they will melt the butter}.

In a separate bowl, whisk sour cream and egg together until smooth. Combine wet and dry ingredients and gently mix. In a separate bowl combine remaining flour, jalapenos, thyme, pepper and the cheese; gently mix again until large dough clumps form. Work the dough with your hands until a ball forms {be patient here because it might take awhile to form, but trust me it does come together}.

Press ball onto a floured surface, pushing down until a circle about 8 inches is formed {the dough should be about 3/4 – 1 inch thick}. Cut into 8 triangles. Place the triangles onto the prepared baking sheet about 1 inch apart. Bake about 18- 20 minutes or until golden. Serve warm and enjoy!

This post may contain affiliate links. These affiliate links help support this site. For more information, please see my disclosure policy. Thank you for supporting One Hundred Dollars a Month.

Monthly Meal Planning and Grocery Shopping Trips – Week 38 of 52

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By Mavis Butterfield on · 16 Comments

Hello and Happy Monday! I woke up this morning and immediately checked the temperature outside… 34 degrees! That my friends, is hot cocoa weather and I couldn’t be happier. Puffy coats and flannel jammies here I come.

Market Basket $32.70  {prices have gotten much higher!}

I told the HH I needed a can of pumpkin puree and a small can of mushrooms and since he was going to be near a Market Basket store, he popped in and grabbed a few things. It was the first time he had stepped foot in a Market Basket since our big stock up trip back in early April and he was shocked to see a lot of food items were still not available {canned mushrooms and pumpkin puree being two of them}.

But he did manage to find the Good & Plenty, doughnuts and frozen pizza though so it can’t be that bad at the stores, right? 😉

Some of the meals we ate late week:

Green beans and chicken. Again.

He found some charcoal on a shelf in the garage… so we had BBQ.

And then leftovers the next day.

And then in soup on day three. Note to self: Put BBQ on curb and hope someone picks it up quickly.

Curry chicken… It’s been a while since I’ve made it. I need to make it more.

Salami and cheese. Best snack ever.

Oh… and those beach chairs… I totally traded them. 🙂

Winner winner chicken dinner! They got the chairs, we had dinner for two nights and everyone came out happy. 🙂 Life is good!

Bartering is so much fun… I need to do it more often.

Have a wonderful Monday everyone, stay awesome.

~Mavis

Total Spent This Past Week on Groceries, Bakery Treats We Brought Home $32.70

  • Total Spent on Groceries and Bakery Treats We Brought Home in September $55.52
  • Total Spent on Groceries and Bakery Treats We Brought Home in August $426.99
  • Total Spent of Groceries and Bakery Treats We Brought Home in July $222.60
  • Total Spent of Groceries and Bakery Treats We brought Home in June $194.12
  • Total Spent in May on Groceries and Bakery Treats $256.47
  • Total Spent in April on Groceries and Bakery Treats $1083.55 WOWZA
  • Total Spent in March on Groceries and Bakery Treats $446.03 {includes a $50 gift card}
  • Total Spent in February on Groceries and Bakery Treats $416.98 {the fridge and freezer are packed!}
  • Total Spent in January on Groceries and Bakery Treats $346.47
  • Total Spent on Groceries and Bakery Treats in 2020 $3448.73

You can go HERE to read more Shopping Trip Stories

This post may contain affiliate links. These affiliate links help support this site. For more information, please see my disclosure policy. Thank you for supporting One Hundred Dollars a Month.

My 14 Goals for 2020 Week 38 of 52

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By Mavis Butterfield on · 17 Comments

My 14 Goals for 2020

Goal #1 – Take Full Advantage of Having My Husband Home 24/7

We had some serious conversations this past week… Earth shattering stuff like “Right Guard deodorant, it’s okay I guess, it does the job… but who in the world doesn’t shower for 72 hours… unless their camping or something?” ~HH

It’s conversations like this, that keeps the spark alive people… keeps.the.spark.alive.

Goal #2 – Take Better Care of Myself. 

The puggle princess and I stayed on the couch yesterday and watched the movie Adrift {it’s included with Amazon Prime}. Have you seen it? I liked it so much, I think I’ll watch it again tonight as I rarely notice all the details the first time around because I am always hooking while I watch.

Goal #3 – Get Organized

September Goals

  • Finish all Christmas ornaments {about 3/4 way done}
  • Finish at least 1 rug {done!}
  • Pull everything together for turkey rug {done!} Started hooking. 🙂

Goal #4 – Get Proper Window Coverings on All Our Windows. Done!

This is the tutorial I used in case anyone is interested. I decided not to make any shades for the sunroom windows. All that sunlight…. it’s too beautiful to cover up.

Goal #5 – Master Bedroom Make Over {Done}

This year I’ve painted both closets, removed wallpaper, painted walls and trim, painted my writing desk, installed a new light fixture, plus added new curtains and rods. I am done with house projects and looking forward to a very restful fall and winter. 🙂 And that weather… as soon as it drops another 10 degrees, it will be puffy coat season. Wahoo!

Goal #6 – Kitchen Update Done!

We decided to leave the cupboards cream for now. Did I mention I am done with house projects for the year? 🙂

Goal #7 – Install Vegetable Garden Done!

The countdown for the Brussels spouts has begun! This week I’ll work on tidying up the remaining parts of the garden beds, cutting down the sunflower stalks and who knows… I might even be a few leaves to rake. 🙂 I LOVE fall!

Goal #8 – Explore More of Maine 

The only place I went this week was over to our neighbor’s house and the beach. 🙂

Goal #9 – Host Some Sort of Get Together Done!

We had dinner with our neighbors! 🙂 And had a yard sale. And I think that will be the extent of my social calendar for the year.

Goal #10 – Read/Listen to 12 Books 

The Dutch House finally became available last night and I’m excited to start listening to it today while I finish up my last batch of ornaments.

Goal #11 – Learn A New Skill or Craft Done

I learned how to make swizzle sticks with my neighbor last week and I think they turned out great for my first try {you can see the kiln pictures here}. I think I want to try making a beach themed nightlight next. 🙂

Goal #12 – Visit 12  Museums, Historical Homes or Botanical Gardens {and bakeries too!}

The year started off great… we were visiting a lot of new places and then things just sort of fizzled out. And well, now fall is nearly here and all I want to do is stay home and hook rugs. 😉

January

February

March

May

June

July

Goal # 13 – Reach 5,000 Etsy Sales by the End of The Year 

As of this morning, I have made 4929 sales on Etsy. That’s up from 2804 on January 1st. Only 71 sales to go before I hit my goal! This past week I added some new Gingerbread Girl and Gingerbread Baby ornaments to my Etsy shop as well as a few more wool bundles.

Goal #14 – Once a Month Menu Planning {for 2}

  • The HH’s meal plan for the month: Snacking & BBQ {out of charcoal, boo hoo}
  • My meal plan for the month: Ice Cream, Pie, Salads and Pickety Bits

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Have YOU made any goals for this year? If so, DO TELL! We all want to hear about them.

Have a great Sunday everyone, enjoy the sunshine.

~Mavis

This post may contain affiliate links. These affiliate links help support this site. For more information, please see my disclosure policy. Thank you for supporting One Hundred Dollars a Month.

Mavis Butterfield Etsy