Five Frugal Things

by Katy on December 18, 2012 · 34 comments

  1. Went to two different Goodwills today and only bought a single pair of pajama pants for my son, which he’ll get on Christmas Eve. (We always give new jammies the night before Christmas.)
  2. Watched a library DVD of The Hunger Games last night with the kids. I kind of lost it when the Rue character died.
  3. Took a small amount of leftover ground beef and added it to a half-jar of marinara sauce and a can of tomatoes for a really delicious pasta dinner.
  4. Wrote down the names of different books at Powell’s bookstore to put on hold at the library.
  5. Bought $60 of iTunes gift cards for only $36, thanks to this awesome tip from Frugal Living NW. (Hello . . . teenage boy stocking stuffers!)

Now, how about you? What frugal things have you been doing lately?

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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{ 34 comments… read them below or add one }

autumn December 18, 2012 at 4:57 am

Bought 4 new outfits for my kids at a wonderful kids consignment store for less than $40. Found a great kitchen playset- complete with play-food and a shopping cart onf Craigslist for $40- perfect for my 4 year old. Got the first three books from the Series of Unfortunate Events series used on Amazon for $12- perfect for my 9 year old!!

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Tawn December 18, 2012 at 5:11 am

I stopped at goodwill and got a brand new Ralph Lauren sweater for my son for a$1.09! He will wear it to Christmas Eve services.

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Heidi December 18, 2012 at 5:46 am

1. Yesterday I mystery shopped 1 grocery store and 2 banks. I earned $80 in about 3 hours, and put 30 miles on my car to do it. I also did my own errands, Christmas shopping, and grocery shopping on that trip.
2. While I was at the grocery store for that job, I got london broil for $2.49/lb. It’s not my favorite cut, but cubed up in the crockpot for beef stew, it cooks up nice and tender. $11 for a meal for my family of 4 (plus the cost of carrots, celery, potatoes, and herbs/spices), and there will be leftovers for days. I also got a second package of london broil and stuck it in the freezer for another day.
3. Also on that same run, I got a gallon of milk at CVS for $2.89 and used a $1 “extrabucks” coupon which would have expired tomorrow. I got the $1 coupon from scanning my “green bag tag” on the previous 4 visits. Apparently they will be stopping that program at the end of this year, which breaks my heart. I paid for the remaining $1.89 with a CVS gift card which I got for free, from credit card points.
4. Today I am wrapping Christmas gifts in cloth bags which I sewed from cute red and green cotton fabric I had on hand, and I tie it with a ribbon. My goal is to use as little throw-away paper gift wrap as possible, and use as many reusable bags/wrappings as possible.
5. Rather than buying lots of gifts for everybody, we will be playing “Yankee Swap” when I go up to my mom’s after Christmas. I will be spending $zero on my gifts for that game, and instead will be re-gifting some perfectly nice, brand new things that I’ve had hanging around in my gift stash for a long time. Things I would be very happy to receive as gifts myself.

Do I have to stop at 5 things?

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Natalie December 18, 2012 at 6:10 am

Your pasta sauce sounds delicious!

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Angie December 18, 2012 at 6:26 am

You’ll love this. Our family sat down to dinner last night, and the kids tasted our pasta dinner, and both exclaimed, “This is a keeper.” The irony is, the dinner was made of 3 different marina sauces that were left over in the freezer. One was a traditional, plain sauce; another was a spaghetti sauce with ground beef, and the last was a sauce was made of ground sausage, onions, and spinach. Sadly, this sauce will never be duplicated, but saving leftovers did provide us a delicious dinner last night.

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Amanda S December 18, 2012 at 6:42 am

Katy, have you read the Hunger Games books? I’m sure your library has them. They are a MUST READ.

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Katy December 18, 2012 at 8:42 pm

Of course I have! 🙂

Katy

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Joanna December 18, 2012 at 7:01 am

*sniff* Rue…

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Chrissy December 18, 2012 at 7:40 am

The Hunger Games series is so good, a must read for everyone in the family. Frugal activities include reusing packaging to wrap Christmas presents and making meals out of the leftover food from my baby shower.

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Kathleen December 18, 2012 at 8:20 am

My sister passed a play kitchen toy our way for my younger kids (she gets credit) but I told her that could be the Christmas gift for the kids.
-my husband is doing a regift party at work (so we shopped around the house for a gift)
-I am known to put away gifts and I am making an effort to use them so they won’t just sit in the closet (have 2 family gifts complete by shopping in my closet
-for my son’s Christmas party, I suggested a book exchange in lieu of the gift bag full or junk for each kid (I didn’t phrase it like that) but I am organizing the exchange for the class. Everyone brings a book-everyone comes home with a book–that is all. ps-bought my book at half prices books

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Pollyanna December 19, 2012 at 5:54 pm

Book exchange in lieu of “lesser value” gifts is a great idea, kudos to you for introducing and organizing it.

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Louise December 18, 2012 at 8:51 am

I brined stewing beef to drastically cut down the time it took to make it not chewy, but wonderfully delicious! Instead of 4-5 hours of cooking it took less than an hour. My inpiration? All the turkey brining posts. I Googled brining and learned that I could use it for more than turkey – now I don’t have to wait for the weekend to cook with cheap cuts of meat.

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Annie December 18, 2012 at 9:00 am

I’ll have to try that, I love brined turkey and won’t make it any other way now. If you have leftover apple cider it can be used as a braising liquid for stew meat. Even better if it’s unpasteurized and has been fermenting in the fridge, it will taste like beer braised meat. Yum!

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Annie December 18, 2012 at 8:55 am

Redeemed some of the points I earned on a consumer survey website into a certificate to buy some gifts for family online that can’t be found at Goodwill, etc. Will be using rest of points to make donations in their names as stocking stuffers.
Made fruitcake for mom as one of her gifts, (yes, some of us do like fruitcake.)
Agreed with husband not to exchange gifts this year so we can put that money towards a trip to Chicago next year. He’ll be there for a convention and we are spending a few extra days to see the sights as well. We’ll cash rewards points to stay at a nicer hotel with amenities we know we will use. (Bonus savings, he can write off the business portion of the trip on his taxes since he is self-employed.)
Used two CVS coupons to get a total of $10 off a pair of pricey gel insoles for mom who teaches and is on her feet all day. (She would never spend the money on them herself, but she so deserves the pampering.) It will be one of her stocking stuffers, tee hee!

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Kailey December 18, 2012 at 9:30 am

1. Used left over mushroom stems and the cheese filling I had from making stuffed mushroom caps for a pot luck, put it on pasta and called it mushroom ragu for lunch.
2. Bought two used books for Christmas gifts for my mom and brother
3. Turn some old t-shirts into rags which already came in handy (darn dog!)
4. Wrapped two gifts in left over tissue paper and twine I’ve been keeping in my “craft drawer” for almost a year. I knew it would come in handy!!
5. Packed left overs for lunch today for me and my partner.

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Amy December 18, 2012 at 10:19 am

I had to laugh when I read that you wrote down book titles and then put them on hold at the library. I thought I was the only person who did that!

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Constance December 20, 2012 at 5:23 pm

I do it all the time…

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Linda in Indiana December 18, 2012 at 12:59 pm

Wrapped gifts in recycled paper and reused gift bags…sometimes those bags are almost as precious as the gift:) Changed over the extended family gift exchange from a $20 gift for each to a Dirty Santa grab bag for a $5 gift which can be handmade, used, thrifted, etc …we are trying to emphasize the being together and having fun instead of the gift.
Serving leftovers…no planned overs a lot…can’t see wasting good food.
Baked cookies and zucchini bread for lots of small gifts for people that do nice things for us all year instead of buying something. Also made jelly, pancake mixes, and dried herbs for neighbors and close friends.
Reused my ratty Christmas tree instead of buying a new one…even though I was really, really tempted….I now call it my Charlie Brown tree.
Having fun seeing how I can “do ” Christmas and still stay in budget and show lots of love and caring….having lots of fun doing just that.

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Katy December 19, 2012 at 2:06 pm

Excuse me, “Dirty Santa?!”

I need more information please.

Katy

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Casey December 18, 2012 at 2:00 pm

I really enjoy most of your posts, but…
Spoilers! Try to avoid relating major plot details for books and movies. Some of us haven’t read/watched the book/movie/episode in question. Perhaps just say you were sad at the end or at the death of a character, instead of using the name of the character.

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Katy December 18, 2012 at 8:40 pm

But the entire premise of “The Hunger Games” is that only one kid can survive, so you already know that all of Katniss’ competitors will die.

Katy

P.S. Sorry.

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Linda in Indiana December 18, 2012 at 5:31 pm

Turned things we grew into gifts…zucchini bread, elderberry jelly, dried herbs, pancake mix, salad dressing mix. These will got to family, neighbors and friends. Changed to a $5 dirty santa in the big family gathering instead of buying lots of gifts. The gift can be handmade, used, thrifted, etc….hope all enjoys the fun interaction. We will see.
Bought my Christmas ham today along with a few last minute things because where I shop on Tuesday you get 5% off if you are 60.
Wrapped some things in reused wrap, reused bows and lots of reused gift bags. Sometimes we get as excited about receiving a neat gift bag as about the gift itself:)
We are hosting two Christmas gatherings and I have been shopping the sales for some of the staples for quite sometime…stocking up as I found bargains. Letting others bring food also helps.
Made a sewing kit for my great niece who has expressed an interest in sewing. This wil be a surprise Christmas gift for her. I went through my sewing basket and gathered odds and ends as well as small pieces of fabric. She is eight..so this will be a good place for her to start.
Was able to contribute to a food pantry and a collection for veteran’s in the nursing homes by going to my linen closet and pantry. Using coupons and sales I had lots to share without noticing a change in my supply or budget.

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Linda in Indiana December 18, 2012 at 5:34 pm

Sorry…I didn’t think my first comment went through…my computer and I have not been hugging each other today. My apologies!

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Kristen | The Frugal Girl December 18, 2012 at 7:57 pm

Hmm. I did a lot of cooking today, which is cheaper than eating out. And I baked cinnamon knots to give to the neighbors. A batch of these yeasty goodies costs maybe $2 or so, and they are always received with delight.

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Annie December 19, 2012 at 9:32 am

Sounds yummy…can you share the recipe?

Many thanks!

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Karen December 19, 2012 at 4:27 am

I have been gathering ingredients out of the pantry to make Christmas gifts over the weekend. Will be something not too time-consuming and delicious.

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AmyW December 19, 2012 at 10:50 am

I shipped the new Frye Boots I found at the Goodwill for $7.oo and sold for $172.00 plus $9.95 shipping via ebay; I specify standard shipping, but when I make a large profit ship priority and send a new key chain that winks at you with the purchase (good customer service)… Picked up Ethiopian take out vegetarian platter last night, $15.00 lasts me three meals… Brought 2 pair of expensive dress boots that were bought at Goodwill for $10.00 into my local consignment store (polished them first and they look new)… As usual, made my own latte before leaving for work this am, I stopped buying them at Dunn Bros. 2 years ago to save money… Still making caramels for my co-workers as holiday gifts…

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Katy December 19, 2012 at 2:05 pm

Love it! I never look in the boot section at Goodwill, but maybe that needs to change.

Katy

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Renee CA December 19, 2012 at 11:54 am

I made a big batch of burritos to have in the freezer for visiting adult children. They love them.

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Linda in Indiana December 20, 2012 at 4:29 am

Dirty Santa is an interactive way to exhange a grab bag….you all draw a number…we will have 20 to 21. No one tells which package they bought. Number one must open a gift they choose then number two can either open a gift or steal the gift number one opened. Then number three either opens a gift or takes an opened gift. Usually you limit steals to two or three times. Once you have used up your steals, you must open a gift.At the end, number one has the last steal if they haven’t used theirs up as they didn’t get a chance the first round. It is hilarious as people try to convince someone to take their opened gift if it wasn’t perfect for them or convince others that their gift is crummy if they want to keep it themselves. The gifts are sometimes gag gifts, foods, books, lottery tickets, flashlights, lacy bras!, etc…who knows…just depends on what everyone brings..and then everyone tries to figure out what everyone brings. And there is usually one person that brings the “topic” gift:)!It gets everyone talking and interacting…fun and takes the emphasis off the gift and on to being together and having fun being together. Not for everyone but a fun way to be with people you really like….mostly:)!

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Sheila December 20, 2012 at 9:05 am

Thank you so much for posting the iTunes information. Those are always so popular here at my house. I couldn’t get out to do it until today, but I was able to do it no problem.

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Katy December 20, 2012 at 9:20 am

Yay, I was wondering if it was still active, as I want to do it again.

Katy

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Joy December 23, 2012 at 9:58 am

Thank you for all the ideas and inspiration. I knit lace scarves for Christmas gifts this year using upcycled cashmere yarn. The yarn is “upcycled”by unraveling and washing thrift store/garage sale sweaters. They turned out beautiful and so soft!
Joy 🙂

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Kim Stewart December 23, 2012 at 3:19 pm

I tunes deal is still active. Check your For U offers for a $6/60. I was able to get $60 of cards for free today! I had an offer for additional $5 added to $25/50 coupon for a new or transferred prescription.

60. Two $30 multipack of ITunes GC
-6. 6/60 For U
-15. $15/50 For U
-9. 15% for buying 2 multipacks
-25. $25/50 coupon for prescription
5. $5/50 For U bonus for prescription
——-
FREE
I did it the other day and got $60 cards for $36 and was thrilled. I figured out today that it was still active and could do the above deal so I went this afternoon and got another $60 for free. $120 for $36. My teenage boys and their cousins will be thrilled!

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