Five Frugal Things

by Katy on April 6, 2016 · 46 comments

Crystallized honey

  1. I helped my mother clean one of her guest cottages last night and came home with a few goodies. This included two boxes of cereal, a small jar of garlic powder and the above large bottle of Costco brand honey. These sell new for $13.99, which was fresh in my mind since I’d just stocked up yesterday. Arghhh!! Yes, it was crystallized, but we’re due for record high temperatures here in Portland over the next few days, so I simply set it on our sunny porch to re-liquify. I’m 100% unconcerned that this honey was marked with a sell-by date of January 2016, as honey actually has an eternal shelf life! Too bad I’d already opened the brand new container that I’d  just bought!
  2. I enjoyed a nice walk and chat with my friend Lise the other day, which I jokingly referred to as “shopping with my friend Lise.” Why “shopping?” The sunny Portland weather has prompted residents to put their excess stuff out for free again, which doesn’t happen much in rainy weather, (we must have stopped at four promising piles!) I ended up buying gleaning two stainless steel forks, (perfect for work lunches) and a perfectly nice wooden beadboard style wastebasket for my older son’s room. (He took his wastebasket with him to college.) Of course, I also found a penny on the sidewalk.
  3. I’m assembling a couple pans of enchiladas today as I recently stocked up on El Pato brand green enchilada sauce at The Grocery Outlet. I’m cooking beans in the slow cooker, rice in the rice cooker and already have a nice supply of Tillamook white cheddar cheese from when it was on sale a couple of weeks ago. Not only will we have a premade dinner for later this week, we’ll also enjoy a backup meal in the freezer for one of those inevitable evenings where dinner prep sounds as appealing as an unanesthetized root canal. Having a few frozen meals saves us from expensive takeout and restaurants.
  4. My stepfather is retiring from his legal practice and has a number of random items that are up for grabs. Although I could really accept a ton of stuff, I’ve only accepted an unopened ream of paper. Free stuff, but not a hoarder amount of free stuff.
  5. I had somehow accumulated too much plastic silverware, so I washed it all up and listed it on my Buy Nothing group. (I swear it multiplies in the night!) I never buy plastic silverware, so this was all stuff that somehow entered our orbit.

Now your turn. What frugal things have you been up to?

Katy Wolk-Stanley

“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”

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{ 46 comments… read them below or add one }

Ruby April 6, 2016 at 12:48 pm

1. As usual, packed my lunch from home with a thermos of homebrewed tea. My work outfit today was a thrifted blouse and ancient black Land’s End slacks I re-dyed because they’re wearing like iron and just needed the fading color refreshed. Sweater and handbag were also thrifted.
2. Snagged a printer cable for free at work today from a defunct printer that was being sent to salvage.
3. Supper will be salad dressed up with cheese and olives leftover from making pizza for supper on Sunday.
4. Still drinking clearance rack coffee every morning and enjoying it.
5. Still resisting going to the hair salon and trimmed my bangs myself.

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Florencia April 6, 2016 at 1:17 pm

I can’t imagine why would leave so much money in honey behind. On the other hand, lucky you!

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lauren April 6, 2016 at 9:46 pm

Maybe they were flying home and couldn’t take that large of a container on the plane? Although, why would they buy such a big container then? SMH

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Mand01 April 6, 2016 at 1:19 pm

1. Taking my change jar to the bank in my lunch break
2. Upped my contribution to my retirement to Dave Ramsey’s recommended 15%. Hubs is doing his this week as well, making us officially grown ups.
3. My mum gave me a tagine that she bought from a thrift store for $5
4. She also gave me almost a full dozen of free range eggs
5. I walked to uni yesterday, thereby avoiding the $5 parking charge

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Katy April 6, 2016 at 1:27 pm

Welcome to adulthood. It’s kind of a drag.

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Janne April 6, 2016 at 1:59 pm

1. Brought my own lunch to work, as I do every day: Homemade spinach, mushroom and feta cheese quiche, and salad.
2. I made the quiche with eggs from my own hens, they are really productive, providing us with 9 eggs a day!
3. Drank the coffee and tea provided at work. Luckily we have a good coffee machine which grinds the coffee beans freshly for each cup. I enjoy every sip, so it’s certainly no sacrifice.
4. Got home a bit late from work, the kids (teenagers, so they always manage to find something to eat!) ate leftovers for dinner (I made double yesterday) and I enjoyed a sandwich made with my homemade no-knead bread.
5. Spent a couple of hours on my computer working on my part-time job, providing some extra income.

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pattilou April 6, 2016 at 2:01 pm

1. My fantastic co-workers gave me a month subscription to Blue Apron for my birthday. I have been going through a really hard time lately and they really cheered me up.
2. a friend gave me 3 shirts from Ann Taylor, brand new with the tags still on. She realized she will never wear them but I will.
3. My friends took me out for dinner on my birthday to a restaurant that I wanted to try and never would have except for a very special occassion.
4. They also gave me a gift card to a yarn store and a kit to make pop-up cards. Yeah crafts.
5. We used a free Redbox code to rent a movie.

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Katy April 6, 2016 at 2:27 pm

It sounds like you are rich with friendships.

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Pattilou April 6, 2016 at 3:16 pm

I most certainly am. I never take that for granted. I am truly blessed with the best family and friends.

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Florencia April 6, 2016 at 6:21 pm

How wonderful to have such a great network of friends! 😀

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Gina in KY April 6, 2016 at 2:12 pm

Let’s see…

1. Insurance paid more on a dental claim and so I owed less than I budgeted for which is always good and big expenses are finally done! I basically had all my decades old fillings removed and replaced, plus I had my wisdom teeth all out in four stages (to help with the cost). This ends the major work and insurance covers cleanings 100%. Now onto to my oldest son who needs braces. 🙁
2. Found a big, heavy-duty S hook on my daily walk. I picked up and carried it home despite an immediate plan for it. It seems like something handy (and I am really selective because I find things constantly lying about my gritty, urban neighborhood. It’s a hoarder’s paradise here especially during one of the big item garbage days (3 Xs annually for each neighborhood).
3. Made a delicious white bean and kale soup with home canned tomato juice, whole tomatoes, and whatever veggies I could find in the crisper (mainly bell pepper, onions, and the kale) and various spices. I added chopped avocado (bought on sale at Aldi’s) and fresh cilantro. I made enough for left-overs to freeze, but family finished it the next day.
4. Boyfriend and I went to a $2 movie at the second-run theatre. We saw The Witch which was ok.
5. Walking at least thirty minutes everyday in order to boost my health and just get out. I participated in a 7 day Nature Photo Challenge and the walks yielded many opportunities for inspiration. I decided to continue on with the challenge only I am going to do a “Human” Nature Photo Challenge. Today’s walk gave me a photo of the homeless tents down by the river, graffiti under the bridge, and a spiral of barbed wire.
6, I have a bonus! I picked up the library held _The Man Who Quit Money_ (thanks to the person here that recommended it awhile ago!)
3.

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Gina in KY April 6, 2016 at 2:13 pm

I probably should have proof-read that one a bit better! 🙂

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Betty Winslow April 6, 2016 at 2:24 pm

1. Got together several boxes of books for a local bookstore to come pick up. Cash in my pocket and fewer books in the house = win/win!
2. Hubby brought me a 16 oz Coke from leftovers at a work lunch, because he knows I like it but hate to buy it.
3. Our church retreat is this weekend at my favorite park, so I’m going early and staying over, to get maximum bang for my buck,
4. Ran out of strawberries for tonight’s spinach/strawberry salad, so chopped up a pear no one seemed to want and added it. Yum!
5. Didn’t buy a Lear jet.

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AFS April 6, 2016 at 2:47 pm

Free honey SWEET! I purchase my honey in large quantities to get the best price. It always crystalizes on me. Sso now as soon as I bring it home I transfer it to 8 oz. glass jars. This way when it crystalizes I can easily place the jar in a pot of hot water to re-liquefy the honey with out fear of melted plastic. (ask me how I know that Honey Bear containers loose their shape when heated)

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Katy April 6, 2016 at 6:20 pm

Good idea. I think I’ll transfer it into glass jars once it’s thoroughly liquifies.

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Lindsey April 6, 2016 at 3:05 pm

1. Made four freezer meals for the rest of the week all with things from my freezer and pantry, except for two bundles of scallions that cost me $1.98.

2. Made bread instead of buying it.

3. A friend is moving and she had 12 boxes of Crystal Light lemonade in her cupboard. I like that okay ice-cold in the summer so I gladly took it. Not as good as a huge container of honey, but it was free and I’ll eventually use it up. Cheaper than buying pop when I get those urges.

4. Mended husband’s socks. I have no idea why, but he manages to rip holes in the tops of his socks. If they were in the bottom, I would not mend them because it would end up rubbing him and hurting, but on top he does not feel the mends. When I mend socks I think that my now dead grandmother would be so proud of me! She always thought I was raised a heathen, with no “wifely” skills.

5. Finally listed some used books on Amazon and sold $32 worth this week. I don’t know why I am so reluctant to list them when I can do it while watching a video…

6. Gave a friend an All-clad stock pot as I inherited another one a few years ago and seldom use one, let alone two. She cooks huge batches of soup for her church potlucks so will make good use of it. Two days later she brought over 12 homemade hamburger rolls and 12 frozen moose burgers to use with them, as a thank you.

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Jennifer April 6, 2016 at 3:33 pm

3. Don’t know if you like lemonade pies but you can use crystal light to make them.

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Diane C April 9, 2016 at 4:58 am

4. I used to sell men’s furnishings at Nordstrom. When men complained of this problem, I’d ask them to show me how they pulled up their socks. Yup, it’s generally the technique, not the socks. The key is to pull up the socks gently, with the thumbs tucked well inside the socks and the fingers flat, not curved, on the outside. It’s a bit ricky to describe. Think of the way one pulls up pantyhose. This technique will eliminate the holes you describe.

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Jennifer April 6, 2016 at 3:31 pm

We eat honey here a lot. I buy it locally to help with our allergies. It amazes me still that it has no shelf life but Dr. Oz confirmed it so it must be true. Even band-aids technically have an expiration date.
1. Got a big container of organic spring mix marked down at Kroger today. Threw chicken in from the whole hen I cooked this weekend, boiled eggs that were gifted from my mom’s friends chickens, goat cheese leftover from vacation 2 weeks ago, a few grapes that were left in the bottom of the bag, and a an apple that was from the reduced bin about to go bad on the counter. Whew! I got it all in. I made some dressing from Olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper,herbs, and spices. Delicious meal thrown together from almost nothing.
2. Excited for American Idol! Two finalists from Mississippi, I’m so proud! Free entertainment that inspires my kids that they can do anything even when you are from little old Mississippi. Remember a man named Elvis? Yes, today I am feeling grateful and proud.
3. Bringing my lunch to work most days. I’m trying to eat healthier so bringing my lunch fits right in.
4. My mom found a lot of summer clothes for my kids for 50 cents per item. All I need now is a few solid colored t-shirts and we are set for summer.
5. My youngest daughter got her picture made at preschool today. Yesterday, I found the pretty, white, grosgrain hairbow I was planning for her to wear today crushed in the floor at my husbands’ shop covered in black oily stuff. I washed it with a little dish detergent and hung it up to dry before bed and it look good as new this morning.

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janine April 6, 2016 at 7:47 pm

I also prefer to buy local honey and appreciate it’s healthy properties, but wouldn’t pass up a large container of the free stuff.

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Lynn D. April 6, 2016 at 3:58 pm

1. I have become the queen of making multiple meals out of one chicken (and I never pay more than 99 cents a pound for said chicken). Baked chicken legs and thighs. The breast halves used for another dinner, or casserole, tacos, etc. Back, wings and all the bones get boiled up for broth and soup or sandwich meat. I throw the livers into a freezer bag in the freezer and when I have enough I make a delicious chicken liver dinner.
2 Eating a lot of escarole from the garden. It’s good in a salad or sauteed. A few months back a nutria ate most of the leaves, but the plants grew more and now I have a lush crop.
3. Received 2 nickels in the mail today from an outfit asking me for money! Go figure. I have received a total of 36 cents this way so far this year.
4. The magnets came out of my husbands glasses case and it won’t stay closed. It’s hard to glue them back in, but I found that a produce rubber band works great. He buys his glasses from Eye Buy direct and they’re very cheap.
5. Taking advantage of this warm weather and drying my laundry outside.

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Emily April 6, 2016 at 4:54 pm

1. Boyfriend and I attended “Taco Tuesday” at our apartment complex yesterday. Free dinner, margaritas and carona. SCORE!

2. Have eaten 2 very hodgepodge lunches this week to avoid buying gross school lunches at work or having to go to the store.

3. Sold jar-filler fake fruit that I rescued from the trash for 5 dollars.

4. Found a really pretty metal plant stand on the side of the road, threw it in my trunk. I plan to clean it up and sell it.

5. Scored a bag full of clothing and accessories at a yard sale last Saturday for 4.00. Some I will keep, some I will sell on ebay.

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Mary April 6, 2016 at 5:05 pm

1. Sold a pair of shoes to a co worker for$ 15, what I paid, I really liked them but realized I wouldn’t wear them since they were a little too big.
2. Purchased 16 items at a church rummage sale for $7 – most things were like new and 25 cents to 1.00 each.
3. Leftovers for lunch, and cooking from the pantry – trying to use things rather than let things expire.
4. Filed our income tax – getting an unexpected refund.
5. Worked 3 extra hours so far this week.

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Katy April 6, 2016 at 6:25 pm

Hooray for tax refunds!

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Marcia April 6, 2016 at 6:08 pm

I just stocked up on honey too–$16.49 or 16.99 for 80 oz. at Sam’s Club. I’m back to making granola every week so the honey disappears quickly. My grand-daughter also gave me some flavored honey for my last birthday–creamed honey with cinnamon, and with apricots. I only opened the cinnamon one so far–they are about 12 or 14 oz jars. My husband doesn’t eat it, but it’s really good! The cinnamon flavor isn’t overly strong–goes great on toast.

I need to use up things from the freezer in my refrigerator—fridge needs replacing soon and I’m going to have clean it well — the fridge isn’t bad but the freezer hasn’t been touched for a while. So I’ll be dipping into that. I did use the last two frozen veal patties for veal parm last week. My cupboards are full as well as the fridge and freezer, so I’m trying to keep myself from over-buying for a while. Sales have been very good lately, but I can save even more by not buying at all. I had a short list last week and have an equally short one this week. That will be my focus for April, I think. Cook from what is already here.

Also did some unexpected cleaning. I had to go back over the last several years of tax returns to find information on what I paid for some stock we sold last year. Now I have several boxes of tax returns and backup data out of the attic–and as little as possible of it is going back to the attic. The rest goes to recycling or shredding. I don’t need to keep so many years worth–have just been stashing them up there without tossing any. That stops now, too.

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Jennifer April 6, 2016 at 6:11 pm

1. Worked 4 extra hours Monday night, will work 4 more tomorrow night.

2. My sister invited me to dinner since my son had swim team/swim lesson tonight. I provided egg noodles and she did the rest.

3. Fabric store going out of business so went today to get the material to make a blanket for my friend’s new arrival in June. Personalized blanket in a theme the whole family likes!

4. Got gas at Sam’s Club yesterday which is 5 cents cheaper than anywhere else in town. (And I was empty!) I was there to pick up milk, which is the cheapest around.

5. Renewed our family summer swim pass and saved 20% since we had one last year. Also covers the indoor pool so our son can still swim on rainy days this summer.
Paid our garbage bill in full x1 year and will get one month free.

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Florencia April 6, 2016 at 6:18 pm

1. Ate free lunch at work on Monday. Ate free lunch at institute on Tuesday. Ate free at work today.
2. Completed homework for my art class, got 118/120. So happy! I didn’t sleep all night Monday, but I’m finally on track for an A.
3. Carpooled with family to my friend’s little girl’s birthday. We just waited a little while for my sister and went together.
4. Have been eating from the pantry and fridge and freezer. I have a restaurant Groupon that expires Sunday, so I’ll use it for sure this week.
5. Stopped at a grocery store on the way home from work and priced out a store brand mayo, Western Family. At home, we only eat Best Foods’s mayo. We can’t palate any other one, but this store brand tastes the same and is cheaper. I try to buy it on sale, but I really didn’t know what the regular price is. Doesn’t that ever happen to you? I frequent a salvage store and what I don’t buy there, I buy on sale, so it’s hard to know what the regular price of things is. Jaja!
6. While at that grocery store, I brought my own bags and got a nickel credit. I was also offered a rewards card. You get points for every dollar spent, which can be redeemed for prizes. The best part os that it works at a lot of other local businesses. Great thing!
7. Grocery shopped with my dad. We got several bargains, including pre-cooked spinach lasagna pasta at 25¢ per 17 oz bag, kiwis at 10/$1, 8 oz brie wheel for 99¢ , and 32 oz ricotta for 99¢.
8. I’m making sauce to make lasagna lasagna from some tomatoes my dad cooked the other day because they were too ripe. I added some mushrooms and peas I found in the fridge, as well as two cans tomatoes to stretch it out.
9. Brought home two little burritos from my alloted meals at work.
10. Stayed almost an hour later at work.
11. The other day I bought a Best Foods mayo, egg free, hoping it was a vegetarian mayo. I had a coupon for a dollar off and it was on sale for $3. I bought it and wished I hadn’t. I was pretty pissed it tasted so bad, so I noted this on my grocery store survey and later got an email telling me to go back for a refund. Will go back tomorrow on the way home from school.

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nancy from mass April 7, 2016 at 7:11 am

I use Veganaise ‘mayo’. It is vegan mayo and tastes exactly like Hellmans/Best Foods. My husband hates mayo, but loves Veganaise. I have gotten quite a few people to try it (and love it) since i started using it 7 years ago.

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Florencia April 7, 2016 at 10:39 am

We’ve tried that one. We love it, but it costs twice as much as regular. I do buy it on sale and when it’s marked down. We also found one called Just Mayo at Dollar Tree, 8 oz for $1, not bad. Have you tried that one? My sister is vegetarian, so when we see that one we buy it since it’s egg free and still cheaper than Best Foods at regular price. 🙂

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nancy from mass April 7, 2016 at 11:02 am

I haven’t tried the one at dollar tree (although i like almost everything we’ve tried from there). i still buy the veganaise because when i first heard about them, i sent them an email and asked if there were any little samples they could send me to try. 2 days later I got home to a box on my porch with 2 QUARTS of veganaise! I shared them with other vegetarians/vegans that I knew and we all still use veganaise. I wrote the company back and thanked them for their generous ‘sample’. Now thats customer service!

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Florencia April 7, 2016 at 2:12 pm

Wow! That is great customer service. 🙂

janine April 6, 2016 at 7:41 pm

1. Needed to go to bank today because someone had obtained my debit card numbers and was having a good time in Mexico (I didn’t lose the card, but somehow they reproduced card with my name and numbers) Luckily, their attempts to charge my account were thwarted, but I had to get a new card with new numbers. Glad I didn’t have to pay for their vacation whoever they were!
2. While out at the branch bank did some sale shopping at adjacent grocery story which was having an anniversary sale with very low prices – Bought 79 cent eggs, 39 cent canned vegetables and $1.99 ice cream. Cashier complimented me for finding so many bargains!
3. Our neighborhood group is planning a baby shower for one of our members and it will be a “book” shower. I plan to purchase her a new children’s book, then gift her with a couple of items from our children’s book stash currently residing in the attic.
4. Found 1 cents to add to coin jar.
5. Am making list of occasional expenditures coming up such as dry cleaning winter coats for next year’s wear, needed piano tuning and repair, and an oil change for my car so I won’t be surprised by these expenses.

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Lee April 6, 2016 at 9:01 pm

1. This week I’ll get four free lunches and one free dinner at work.
2. I traveled for work for several days so all my meals were comped and I earned a little extra money.
3. I cashed a mileage reimbursement check.
4. I used the discount tickets I get through work to take one of my kids and a friend to see a first-run movie in our locally-owned theater. We didn’t buy anything at the concession stand.
5. The other child and I walked from our house to the library to pick up books we’d requested. Free entertainment and good exercise!

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Paige April 7, 2016 at 4:04 am

1. Worked day shift all week (6a-6p) and brought my lunch each day. Sunday I made a cool slider burger recipe I saw on Facebook and made enough for my husband and I to eat on it at work through yesterday.
2. Using one of my Etsy Tupperware finds to brew tea in at work. Bought tea bags on sale this past grocery trip (2 boxes for $3,large bags), and use the hot water spout on our commercial coffee pot here at the station. No more Sonic tea twice a day!
3. Mending ANOTHER shirt of my daughter’s. I have NO CLUE how she gets holes in EVERY shirt in the arm pit! I watch her…she doesn’t itch, the holes just appear!
4.Sold ALL FFA animals last week at auction and livestock show, so no more feed and shavings costs till November….or whenever we get the steer.
5. Two of our five kids play little league baseball and we have a game tonight. I’ll make sandwiches and pack extra sports drinks we had from last game instead of buying from snack bar. Plus our oldest turns 16 Saturday and we’re taking the whole family to dinner(not a big family, but we always make sure to include my mother since my dad passed away…even when she says she doesn’t want to go)…so dinner for 8 will cost.

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Lynn D. April 7, 2016 at 7:20 am

It might be the kind of deodorant she’s using, or she uses too much.

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Jen@FrugalSteppingStones April 7, 2016 at 4:41 am

I am jealous of that honey! I use it for breadmaking, so we can go through quite a bit.

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Beth Anne April 7, 2016 at 4:50 am

1. Had an appointment with daughter after work which put us at 7 pm and no dinner yet. Went to the grocery store and bought eggs to make an omelette with spending $1.25 vs. more money on take out. Tempted yesterday to treat daughter to McDonald’s breakfast but drove past and made a quick breakfast of oatmeal, a banana and hot chocolate at my office with stuff I had available (she came to work with me). Did however spring for a $1 for the vending machine for her later in the day.

2. Drove around and found a meter with money still on it and parked. I don’t find a lot of money on the ground but I do find a meter with money still on it at least once or twice a week as we go to the library that often some weeks and parking is metered.

3. Found a nickel in the vending machine at work.

4. Signed up for a free men’s deodorant through a tip on Hip To Save. It’s for men but I don’t care, free is free and I picked one that shouldn’t smell strong! Check it out if you haven’t seen it yet on Facebook. I don’t have time during the day to look at it so I signed up for the nightly update that comes to my email. Have gotten many free things that way – doughnuts, coffee, magazines, coupons, great notices for things going on sale for 40% or more (Vera Bradley)etc.

5. Did a house/dog sit for three days and will bank $237 from it plus the $50 tip the client left for us. 🙂 Money for braces and car repair, love it. Also scheduled six dog walks for the coming weekend and one new client dog walking meet and greet building for summer.

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Saryn April 7, 2016 at 8:04 am

What do you charge for dog walking services…I was thinking about offering this service since both the exercise and extra money would be nice.

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JD April 7, 2016 at 5:11 am

If I was on vacation, I sure wouldn’t buy an enormous jug of honey! How odd!
1. I made an extra car payment, since I plan to pay it off early. My goal is to not have car payments ever again, if I can.
2. I managed to wash and hang dry five loads of laundry this week so far. I so much prefer line drying.
3. I continue to trench compost.
4. I found another penny — only 13 cents this year of found money! That’s going to have to get better, right?
5. I didn’t have any leftovers for lunch today because I didn’t cook last night, just served leftovers, but I keep lunch options in the freezer, so I just pulled one of those out. We have no food services or even vending machines at work, so my only option is to go to town to buy lunch or bring my own.

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Jane April 7, 2016 at 6:02 am

1.Brought lunch with me today to an appointment- good I did as was waiting a long time
2. Parked at sisters house and walked into city only 20 mins as opposed to paying for parking – free exercise as well
3. Going under public system which is free here to have baby- private isn’t covered even if you have private health insurance.
4. Ate at home all week using up all leftovers for lunchs
5. Bought a lot of butter and cheese this week as both are on special- won’t have to buy for weeks- cheese half price
6. Got books from library and air dryer clothes

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Vickie April 7, 2016 at 8:32 am

1) Off to pick up another audiobook at the Library during lunch. I’m going to learn conversational Spanish!
2) I’ve kept with my nut & fruit breakfast combo, but added some greek yogurt for probiotic purposes. Yum!
3) I’m headed to my daughter’s house to this afternoon to help her with some business at the credit union. I’ll grab lunch from some of her leftovers.
4) I bought a nice 19″ Vizio HD TV at the Pawn Shop yesterday for $70, so we could replace the old analog TV in the backroom. My grandson has a used Playstation 4 I bought him for Christmas, but it needs an HD usb plugin to work. He couldn’t play his games at our house with the old TV, so I decided to just replace it. The new one takes up much less space and has a great picture! I moved the old TV to the big guest room for the girls to watch their DVD movies on. The little TV that had been in there is going to my daughter’s house for a yard sale.
5) I didn’t buy a Lear Jet or a Yacht.

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amanda April 7, 2016 at 9:16 am

1. Brought lunch in every day this week and my wide mouth quart canning jar with 2 tea bags and refresh it throughout the day with water from our water cooler. By the time the caffeine starts getting too diluted to do any good, I’m heading home, anyway.
2. My hubby cleaned out the goat pen for me, now I have about 10 pickup truck loads of manure/compost that I’ll be selling, not including what I’ve already dumped in my gardens.
3. Baby goats have arrived, bringing free entertainment and milk from the moms!
4. I sold a kid yesterday (goat, not human). I have someone coming tomorrow to buy 2 more. Well on our way to buy a new dairy cow. We lost ours last summer and I HATE having to buy dairy!
5. Hubby did some tractor work for a friend of ours and he got paid in hay and brought home the extra seed which will feed the chickens.
6. Cleaned up the yard with the family, we made a game out of who could pick up the most garbage (we live in an extremely windy area, all the neighbor’s junk gets blown our way, we’re not *complete* pigs, lol) and I found a bunch of carabiners which are worth their weight in gold on a farm.
7. Received a notice from Safeway for some free fresh stuffed pasta. Had hubby pick it up, but he panicked calling me saying it wasn’t free. I assured him it was and when he looked at receipt, $7.99 taken off! Yippee.
8. Continue to check out books to my and the kids’ (human this time) kindles. We homeschool and it’s great to be able to go online to find all the materials we need for free.

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Bobbi April 7, 2016 at 1:53 pm

1. Made a double batch of a vegetable-chickpea tagine in my pressure cooker, half for dinner tonight and half for a friend who had a baby recently. I’m dropping it off at her house this afternoon.
2. Did some bulk shopping at Winco today: chickpeas, hemp seeds, and quinoa, as I was running low on these three staples.
3. Sunny, glorious Portland weather! Free entertainment and exercise: hiked yesterday, will hike today. All my blinds are open and even though I have to work at my computer, I can look out the window and bask in the beautiful spring weather.
4. I’m working from home, eating leftovers for lunch and had my usual homemade oatmeal and coffee for breakfast. A frugal day doing what I like to do: writing (work), chilling with my dog, cooking.
5. The past several days I have decluttered several large items by listing them on my local Buy Nothing group (a chair, a bookcase, etc). It’s easier than hauling them myself to donate them, and for various reasons I am not feeling like selling things right now.

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NMPatricia April 7, 2016 at 2:44 pm

Since there wasn’t a link, I am assuming you have never published your “recipe” for rice and bean enchiladas. Not sure assuming is a safe thing, but I am living dangerously here. Can you do a post in the future about how you create them if you don’t have a recipe? Guidelines work for me.

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Mariana April 7, 2016 at 7:09 pm

Funny how you can find expiration date on salt too.
It was fine for million years. Then you buy it. Then BAM. it expires in towo years. So lucky you got it right in time 😉

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Mandy Erasmus April 9, 2016 at 12:47 pm

I’m really loving the Five Frugal Things posts! I learn so much and gain great ideas as I read all the comments.

1. Went on a homeschool tour with my teens to a Dairy Farm and Milk Production plant. The whole tour was free! Kids got to bottle feed the calves, learn about milk production and the history of the Douglasdale Farm, got dressed in protective clothing and toured the production plant. Such a fun day!
2. Each received a thank you gift for touring the Dairy farm consisting of a 500ml bottle of milk and a set of 2 glasses. We came home with 1 and a half litres of free milk and glasses. Yay! Double YAY because we really needed the glasses and I was planning on buying some at the end of the month. Now I don’t have to!
3. On the way back from the tour, we stopped off to visit hubby at work and enjoyed FREE Chocochinos in the visitors lounge with him!
4. Used Ebucks earned from fuel purchases to buy much needed toiletries and to pay for levies on prescription medication.
5. When I cleaned my refridgerator out, I rescued some beginning-to-wrinkle apples and turned them into 2 jars of Apple Cinnamon spread. I also turned some over ripe tomatoes into an oniony,garlicy tomato pasta sauce and cooked and froze gem squash for the freezer to use at a latter date.

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