Five Frugal Things — Monsters, Mixing Bowls & Money

by Katy on November 11, 2013 · 34 comments

Vintage mixing bowl

  1. I realized that everyone in my family secretly wanted to see the movie Monsters University, so I used the Redbox hold for pickup function to put the DVD on hold. I could have waited until we had a free code, but I figured that $1.25 to entertain a family of four was a pretty good deal. The movie was cute, and I can’t remember the last time that the four of us snuggled up and watched a movie together. It kind of felt like time traveling, as we spent countless hours spent watching Pixar movies when the boys were little. And $1.25 for time travel? Now that’s frugal!
  2. My son somehow signed up to referee four soccer games on Saturday. (Hooray for teens who earn their own savings and spending money!) And since there was a break in the middle of the day, I made sure to be smart about having to drive across town. So yeah, I stopped at the Goodwill near the soccer field. I found a few things to resell, including a $9.99 red Dansk enamel Kobenstyle casserole dish and a $12.99 Finel enamel roasting pan. I’ll put these up on eBay, and once again wonder if it’s time for me to open an Etsy store. I also bought a $3.99 large and wonderfully chunky vintage mixing bowl, which I’ll keep. Perfect for fruit, and I am already envisioning how great it will look filled with fluffy mashed potatoes on Thanksgiving.
  3. My mother has been in the hospital for a scheduled surgery, and I spent a big chunk of time there yesterday. I made sure to eat before leaving the house, and also packed myself some snacks for the day. I did bring my refillable ceramic travel mug, but when I went down to the cafeteria for a $1.25 coffee, they were closed. And by the time they were open again, I was about to leave anyway. I could have used the caffeine jolt, as I am not used to sitting still in a hospital environment, but I did without and saved a buck-twenty-five in the process.
  4. I have the most enormous maple tree in my backyard, which is great in hot weather, but a burden come the autumn months. Unlike many Americans, I choose a rake over the loud and smog producing leaf blower. A rake never needs gasoline, and can’t be accused of waking all the neighborhood’s sleeping babies. Rakes may take a bit longer and be categorized under “physical exertion,” but isn’t physical activity a good thing?
  5. I received my eBates rebate the other day. I used Priceline.com when booking last month’s plane tickets to NYC, and had clicked through from eBates and was rewarded with a $7.43 kickback. I had kind of forgotten about it, so the money was a lovely little surprise. If you’re doing any online shopping or traveling this holiday season, I recommend that you create an eBates account to take advantage of every savings opportunity.*

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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{ 33 comments… read them below or add one }

Susan November 11, 2013 at 11:14 am

The colour of the bowl is just beautiful. I hope your mum’s surgery goes well.

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Katy November 11, 2013 at 11:21 am

My mother’s surgery was actually on Friday, and she’ll be discharged later today. And yes, all went well.

Katy

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Tonya November 11, 2013 at 11:18 am

I love the 5 frugal things posts! Nice to hear about the ins and outs of everyday, frugal living.

And yes to the rake. We have spent some time raking this week (two giant maples and a cottonwood), and have some nice arm muscle definition to show for it. 🙂

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Katy November 11, 2013 at 11:23 am

I would need to spend many more days raking leaves before I could claim anything close to “muscle definition.” 😉

Katy

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Kendra November 11, 2013 at 11:37 am

That bowl is all kinds of fantastic.

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Sunny November 11, 2013 at 11:41 am

Awesome finds at the thrift store! Just out of curiosity do you have an idea of what these things are worth before purchasing them?

We just moved into a rental condo and finally have trees! Last week my frugal win was sweeping all of the leaves up with a broom. I didn’t think about buying a rake when we moved in and a broom works relatively well!

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Katy November 11, 2013 at 11:49 am

You must be getting the leaves from a smooth surface. Wouldn’t work as well on grass.

And I knew the $9.99 price was good for the Dansk piece, but I googled the roasting pan using my iPhone. One of my main reasons for switching to a smart phone, was that I could research thrift shop finds.

Katy

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Sarah November 11, 2013 at 11:55 am

My husband and I were out raking with our two kids – my son using a child-sized rake that was mine when I was a girl – when our neighbor came out and offered us another child-sized rake for my daughter. She is moving and was happy to have it out of the garage and now we can all rake together. Not ten minutes later another neighbor came over and offered us their (awesome) swingset that was outgrown by their children. The leaves got raked PLUS neighbors kept giving us free stuff! How frugal is that?!

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Katy November 11, 2013 at 11:59 am

It’s amazing what happens when you leave the house!

Great neighbors!

Katy

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betsyohs November 11, 2013 at 12:23 pm

I’ve been wanting to see Monsters University! I’ll go request it from the library now. Does your library not have a good movie section? We haven’t had to rent (even for $1.25!) in a few years now.

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katy November 11, 2013 at 12:24 pm

I own that Dansk casserole dish. My mother got it in 1960. Right now it is full of a chicken casserole from a Sunset recipe of the same era. I love it and recommend that all your readers check the ebay listing when you do it. Mine is 54 years old and still going strong.

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K D November 11, 2013 at 1:14 pm

I love eBates, it feels like free money. I love your eBay bound finds.

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Heather November 11, 2013 at 2:41 pm

You are a wonderful, thoughtful, amazing person and all the sleeping babies in the world thank you for not using a *^%$# goddamned leaf blower. Thank you!

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Katy November 11, 2013 at 6:48 pm

You’re goddamned welcome! 😀

Katy

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Diane C November 12, 2013 at 1:16 pm

Damn, I’m glad I was not drinking milk when I read this exchange!

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Leigh November 11, 2013 at 2:58 pm

You are so lucky with your cheap library and movie rental costs in the US. Here in NZ, the cheapest we can rent a movie where we live is on half price night at the local video store and it’s still $4 (yep, $8 to rent a new release other than on half price night). And our libraries charge $3 to rent a DVD.

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Diane November 11, 2013 at 4:01 pm

What’s keeping you from opening an etsy shop? Just nosy, that’s all.

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Amanda November 11, 2013 at 4:43 pm

Totally agree about raking. For me it’s the noise even if I’m not bothering anyone else. But I have a small yard, so I get that for others raking for hours every week in the fall isn’t practical.

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Betsey November 11, 2013 at 6:07 pm

I have 4 acres, so I do not rake. My mulching mower gets a workout.

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Roberta November 11, 2013 at 9:17 pm

I want to encourage you on the Etsy store. Easy to maintain, and inexpensive to post your goodies.

I’ve had one for a couple of months now. Great way to rehome those things that need it, although sometimes it takes a while.

Love the blue bowl.

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Cynthia November 11, 2013 at 9:55 pm

Here’s a free redbox code for your next snuggle/time travel
movie night.
(If you haven’t already used this one)
NW2PCLP3
Expires November 19th.
Available at kiosk only not online or through app.

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Katy November 11, 2013 at 10:05 pm

Thanks!

Katy

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Credaholic November 11, 2013 at 10:26 pm

I walked down to the Ballard Goodwill here in Seattle while my oil was getting changed – have you been to that one? I’ve bought baby clothes there before, but today I browsed everything trying to channel some Katy Wolk Stanley 😉 I have a thrifting newbie question – who do you talk to about discounting the price if you think something’s marked too high? Do you just take it to the counter with you, or do you have to find a manager?

After I left I walked past a sign on the sidewalk saying that Monday select colored tags are all $1.29. I need to figure out what tags are on sale for next time. I might have been passing stuff up that was already discounted!

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Katy November 11, 2013 at 10:34 pm

I do take the item to the cashier and ask “if there’s any wiggle room on the price?” Usually due to some unseen flaw. They always do. Although I’ve never asked in Seattle, as your prices are already so freaking low!

And yes, I’ve been to the Ballard Goodwill, although my sister moved away from Seattle, so I no longer visit.

Katy

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Jenny November 11, 2013 at 11:32 pm

I thought Etsy was just for handmade stuff?

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Katy November 12, 2013 at 12:41 am

And vintage stuff too!

Katy

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kris November 12, 2013 at 5:09 am

**Brought home a Baker’s Rack that now sits on my (covered) porch with plants on it. It looks great! I’ve been wanting one but didn’t want to pay for it (of course, lol). My coworker recently got married and so now he and his wife had 2 and he offered to give me one! Yes please!
**Brought my breakfast and lunch to work yesterday and today (so far) with plans to do it all week. (as Katy says “You go to work to make money not spend money”) 🙂
**Will be using up my leftovers tonight since half my kids will be out at Bible Study.
**Began sorting my cans OUT of my recycle bin. I will still recycle cardboard & such but I will keep a bin for my metals that I can take to the scrapyard for $$.
**I’ll finish up my laundry this evening using my homemade (powder) laundry detergant.

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Sloan November 12, 2013 at 8:45 am

Yesterday, I took two pairs of boots to be re-healed and cleaned up and a pair of moccasins to be re-strung. One pair of the boots I’ve had for about 6 years and the other pair was my mom’s from the 80’s. Yes, the total for all three was over $80, but much less expensive than new boots and it kept them out of the landfill/a new pair from being produced. I’ll take it!

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tna November 12, 2013 at 11:12 am

You did much better than me at the hospital. I’ve been in and out of out of state ICUs for weeks at a time since July. I tried bringing my own food but have ended up relying on fast food and cafeteria stuff. I hate to think how much packaging I’ve sent to the land fill. : ( And gas commuting. I even bought NEW a pair of those ugly shearling boots. All I crave is easy, comfort, and warm. Everything in hospitals is disposable now, even the housekeeping mop heads. Makes me wonder if there are non-consumer choices to sickness and death. Not a pleasant subject but not one I’ve seen addressed.

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A. Marie November 12, 2013 at 12:35 pm

Hi, tna. It sounds as if you’re in a rough place right now (elderly parents with serious health issues, I’m guessing). Do the best you can under the circumstances, but don’t beat up on yourself because you can’t do more. Best wishes to you and to those in the ICUs.

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tna November 12, 2013 at 1:17 pm

Thanks Marie. Lost a sibling and the grief has taken a toll on my parents. It’s made me aware of many issues everyone will face. Sickness and death is not frugal or non consuming in this country.

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Lisa November 12, 2013 at 1:07 pm

Katy, take a look at a Lawn Sweeper. We found one on craigslist from a family that was moving overseas and it is awesome! 100% green sweat energy and it really works your hamstrings/butt/calves/everything below the waist. We have 4, count em, 4 HUGE trees with big leaves in our yard and this little contraption gets a workout from now until spring. Ours isn’t this pretty but it does the job! http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/300997332448?lpid=82

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Diane C November 12, 2013 at 1:26 pm

I am elated that I sold my old dining room set this weekend. I bought it on Craigslist four years ago and sold it (for more, hooray!) the same way. This will help offset what I paid for a set that actually fits in our new house. Fortunately, the “new” one (11′ long, one-piece table, made from repurposed wood) came from my favorite consignment store.
I love the idea of an etsy store. Perhaps you can bring your fans along for the ride when you decide to figure it out.

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