Five Frugal Things
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I took fifteen minutes out of my day and got a free updated Covid-19 vaccine booster at CVS. I was given a $10-off-$20 coupon, but was in the mood to pay it forward, so I gave it to someone who was checking out.
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I went over to my daughter's apartment and helped her spruce it up, making it as cute as possible as she's looking for a prospective new roommate. Didn't cost us anything more than an hour or so of elbow grease.
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I walked all our clamshell plastics recycling over to New Season's Market. (Like Whole Foods, but pseudo-local/actually owned by a South Korean conglomerate.) A lot of people in my neighborhood pay for Ridwell, which is a $20/month recycling service, but I've figured out all the free recycling hacks for what the city doesn't take with curbside pickup. Like IKEA for light bulbs and Goodwill for electronics.
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I didn't buy a four-pack of lime & salt "Non-Alcoholic Spritz," which was on sale for $22.99! Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't a "non-alcoholic spritz" just code for flavored seltzer?!
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I made this viral Instagram recipe for parmesan baked potatoes, which was rather delicious. I recently picked up a 10-pound bag of potatoes for $3.68, so it was perfect timing.
Ghia is a mocktail with more ingredients than seltzer
But still… that price!!
That's a shocking price for seltzer. Did they put a decimal point in the wrong place?
I built up enough points with Barnes and Noble to get $5 off books. This took about a year as I buy discounted books.
The city garbage truck smashed the lid of our trash cart all to bits, so DH called and explained the situation. We are getting a free replacement lid.
Our neighbors needed some bricks to build bases for raised garden beds and we had many scrap bricks from digging up an old patio. They gave us persimmons and a potted plant in return for the bricks.
Turned some wafer-thin pork chops bought on discount into a pan of sweet chili pork and veggies. Made chocolate pudding to use up a package of dry milk.
1. Picked up a heavy-weight, clear plastic sack, a very large commercial one that held several cases of paper towels, from work. It was destined for the trash, but I took it home. Now I have either a painter's drop cloth or a large (contractor's size) garbage bag, depending on what I use the freebie for. I may start collecting my soft drink cans in it because I'm about to take in the contractor's bag, filled with many, many cans after almost a year, to the scrapyard for recycling. Aluminum cans are now 65 cents a pound.
2. We had six packs of 16.9 fluid ounce bottles of Dr Pepper*on sale for $2.99. Bought one, and am drinking it up. But I'm saving the plastic bottles to be refilled from my 2L bottles of DP*. (*Actually, it's No Sugar DP for me these days.) Handy on-the-go drink bottles!
3. Since our mornings are in the upper 60 to 70-something degree range, I've been shutting down the HVAC system and letting in fresh air. And reading books on the patio. (Just started "Coming Up Short" by Robert Reich. Really enjoying it! And learning a LOT!)
4. While thrifting, I found a whole ream of (never-used, still in shrink wrap) laser printer paper that had the cross motif on it. I think it was 75 to 100 sheets all total, looked very nice and expensive -- but it was $1.99, less my senior discount. Grabbed it up and donated it to the church office. They'll certainly find a use for it!
5. Excavated my out-of-season clothing storage and am wearing my Halloween T-shirts. Still too warm for sweat shirts). Will NOT be buying any seasonal clothing or decor this year.....unless you count the Scary Trumpkin sign in my yard that I purchased for Halloween and the upcoming No Kings protest. I bought it for a good cause, namely saving our nation from you-know-who and his merry band of MAGAts trying to disband our democratic form of government.
>>>>> Oh, BTW here's my timely idea for a Halloween party cake: bake it in the form of RFK Jr.'s head and have candy gummy worms coming out of his skull. (The area where his brain should've been). You can put holes in the top of the cake to symbolize all the holes in his head and then stick the gummy worms to look like they're oozing out. Serve with cupcakes or cookies decorated to look like great big scary viruses/germs (since he is so anti-vaccine, get it?)
This cake would make a statement for sure. Especially love cupcakes with icing and spiky sprinkles.
If they make birthday candles that look like syringes/ shot needles, you could stick some of those atop the cupcakes, too.
Just don't invite any Republicans to your party. They may have a hissy fit!
Or they might agree with the theme of the cake.
I know Republicans who are moderate and are horrified at what the party has become. And one of our Republican senators, Lisa Murkowski, has stood up to trump at times. Not as often as I would like, but still...
@Lindsey - I too like Murkowski - it was a huge deal when she won her senate seat as a write-in. I agree she could have voted nay a few more times but she and Collins (who should have never trusted McConnell) are the only true moderates. Neither are true Rockefeller Republicans however.
I thought Murkowski took a big, pork filled deal for her state to vote for the Big Beautiful Bill!? Am I wrong?
great idea
1. Took advantage of Fred Meyer's (Kroger's) "but 5 or more and save $1 off each" deals and paired with their store coupons and online pick up I saved just over $50. I got coffee, dairy free coffee creamer, and vegan cheese shreds. My husband was able to pick everything up on his lunch break and didn't have to deal with the after work rush.
2. Walked the kids to the library to get some free exercise for all of us. We brought a few snacks in the stroller that they ate on the walk there and while they ran around the fenced green spaced outside.
3. Returned a book and checked out a few for the kiddos. While checking out a volunteer let me know an a free pizza event a community partner will be putting on in their community room on Halloween for little kids.
4. My husband is meeting someone for a FB Marketplace sale tonight so he's taking advantage of our free, through his company, membership at the Y to go to the gym and then will go on a grocery run to WinCo for the things I didn't have better prices for at Fred Meyer.
5. He brought a lunch and a sandwich for dinner tonight so he wouldn't stop somewhere while he runs around. Since it's just me and the kiddos for dinner we're going to skip the planned meal and eat up leftovers and have an easy night. Tonight was supposed to be chicken and dumplings, all of which was prepped and frozen in individual ingredients, so I don't have to scramble to use it up.
I don't know what to make of that seltzer price. I wouldn't pay that for a 12-pack.
1. Made shepherd's pie using geriatric vegetables.
2. Transferred a chunk of money from our online bank account to a brokerage account earning more interest.
3. Received a call from the carpet company that did our new stairway carpet. A few months ago, they erroneously bound the edges, thinking it was going to be a runner. They quickly installed the correct carpet. Last week, I got a call from the warehouse that the incorrect piece was still in their warehouse. We picked it up to use somewhere someday.
4. Received a new gas card from the dealership where we bought our used car three years ago. The current one was set to expire on January 31, 2026 but they had to issue new cards due to a technical change at the pump. As a result, they reissued cards and extended the expiration date to September 30, 2028. This card provides 10 cents off per gallon and discounted car washes at Holiday and Circle K gas stations.
5. Filled up my gas tank using the card for 10 cents off each gallon. Last time I filled up was several weeks ago. One of the few benefits of being sick.
I seem to recall my mom using a bound length of carpet over a hallway carpet (the same kind) where there was a LOT of traffic. Saved the carpet underneath.
BFF from So Cal visited for a few days. We did some thrifting.
She brought me a coat and a dress she did want and I sent her back with a couple of shirts
Getting ready for my sisters garage sale this weekend.
Used $10 United healthcare rewards to pick up some groceries
1. I used some waterproof dark brown eyeliner from Dollar Tree to touch up scratches on my thrifted queen size bedframe. (My sister gave me the idea.)
2. I have a colonoscopy scheduled. Yuck! The bowel prep the dr. ordered was not covered by my insurance & would cost $150. I called the dr. & asked "Can I get the old school prep of Go-Lytely?" Dr changed the Rx. to Old school prep so no cost to me.
3. I bought a coupon book at Wendy's for $1. You get 5 coupons for a free junior frosty (no purchase required) and one coupon for a kid's meal for $1.99. A cheap way to get a small free treat.
4. Husband needed a haircut. A Great Clips coupon came in the mail today for a $8.99 haircut. Off he went w/ coupon in hand.
5. I guess I'll save money this week on food since I will be on a restricted diet. I plan to go out to eat the day after my ordeal. I found a BOGO coupon for a restaurant in a mailer along w/ the haircut coupon. I think I will have earned a meal out. The insurance company will also deposit $100. dollars into my insurance reward card for getting a recommended procedure. They dangled an incentive for enduring the unpleasantness.
Pro tip:
Drink the Go-Lytley through a straw. You won’t taste it.
Based on better half's opinion re: old school v new school, we pay for new school. I am not sure what changed between test #1 (old school) and test #2 (new school) but after test #1, he *thought* he was hungry but was not. Not so with test #2. Better half thinks the procedure was different - I can't agree or disagree.
All I can say is better half's choice (he's due again and will do a consult) but hard pass for me.
1. I am flying out to visit my son in Oregon at the end of the month. A friend and I did a dry run of going to O'Hare by bus -- which is free to me. We figured it out, but I will say that airport is quite intimidating.
2. We bought lunch at the airport, which was not frugal at all -- $25 for a Farmers Fridge salad, coffee and M&M's.
3. Had another rather costly meal at a favorite cafe yesterday -- $30, but enough food for two meals afterwards.
4. Bought a mug and a batter bowl at Goodwill -- was going to resell the bowl, but I decided I liked it too much,
5. Found 11¢!
Great idea to do a dry run for the airport!
I love seltzer, but would never pay that! Craziness!
Got our zero balance letter for paying off our windows early! We had started replacing a few at a time, then got a good deal with Thompson Creek, so we did them all (we have a lot of windows! Including 3 bay windows.) Put a good chunk down, but it was definitely a loan we wanted done with and had no intention of paying more interest than necessary. House is next!
Bought 5lbs of $1.99 a lb chicken breasts. Had chicken shwarma tonight with yougurt dill sauce. Very yummy. Have at least 3 other meals planned. Often one breast feeds the 3 of us.
The weather has been cooling so we've had the ac off for two weeks. Don't think we'll need heat until November.
Went thifting with DS and saw absolutely nothing we wanted. The men's clothing section wasn't bad, but didn't have anything he was looking for. I did pick up a new box of glass Christmas tree ornaments, but decided they weren't a close enough match to those we already have. I was disappointed that the pickings weren't better, but glad we didn't buy stuff just to buy.
DH and I took several boxes of books into our local used book store. We got about $90 in cash and trade. I'll use some of the trade to get a few puzzles or games to take to family gatherings over the holidays. Thankfully it never expires because our goal is to cut down the number of books!
Enjoying walks in the woods for free exercise this week and planning to add in a free yoga class or two from our county rec center.
1. Cooked a batch of navy beans and froze them in batches which are the correct amount to add to a pot of soup.
2. Made use of the sun by hanging laundry on the line and opening the doors and windows midday to warm up the house.
3. Sold one item on eBay and 2 on FB marketplace today.
Listed a few more.
4. Picked up to free pomegranate that was on offer at locally owned market.
5. Went to a meeting yesterday which was right by a big Grocery Outlet. Picked up a gallon of milk for $3.62, a great deal here in N. California.
I chatted with the owner of the local produce store. He said prices were up because of flooding in AZ. A box of lettuce that usually costs him $23 is currently costing him over $70. I don't buy lettuce so I hadn't noticed. But it was interesting.
1. Took advantage of a local farmer’s one day potato sale $10 for 100 lbs, they load them in your boxes/truck directly in the field— doesn’t get fresher or more local than that. My mom picked up for us as we had kids’ sports during pickup time. (Thanks for the potato recipe, Katy!).
2. Used some ground beef from last night’s dinner and leftover refried beans I froze to make a taco pizza for dinner tonight.
3&4. Made some little holiday treats for our local meals on wheels program to deliver for Halloween without buying anything. We had all the ingredients for caramel corn in the fridge and I used fabric scraps to make these bookmarks. https://quilterscandy.com/fabric-book-marks/amp
5. Ordered our youngest a pair of new without tag crocs on Poshmark. I have thrifted the next two sizes, but could not find the size I need now via a secondhand source locally. Sent an offer to the seller for about 25% off and they accepted.
1. I've been making sure to let my chickens free-range to reduce feed costs
2. I foraged a few pounds of chanterelles, saving money and reducing waste from packaging
3. I bought a kitchen table for my house from Facebook marketplace for $20 instead of paying 400 for an identical one
4. I gratefully enjoyed apples from a tree at my house that was planted long before I lived here
5. I'll be attending a No Kings Protest on Saturday, which will cost me nothing, but will be one small thing I can do to try and protect democracy
On your #5, thank you for doing that. I'll be out there, too.
I have not been feeling well so many of the frugals come courtesy of the husband, who has taken over most of those duties.
1. The local soup kitchen is collecting winter outer gear as we are having spitting snow and nights are cold. Usually we have had a mammoth snow fall by now so it is a bit creepy to have clear streets and sidewalks. Anyway, he went through every closet and drawer and dropped off two 33 gallon plastic bags of useful items. No money made but it cheers me to think of someone being warm in the night.
2. Husband lost 60 pounds several years ago and just this week gave the last of his big guy clothing to a colleague who finally, after two years, found someone to hire him despite his being 58 years old. It was a struggle and we are thrilled for him. Just getting the job has given him the proverbial new lease on life.
3. Gathered up gold jewelry that I bought in my youth but no longer wear. Gold was $3888. an ounce this week so we took advantage of that and made several thousand dollars.
4. Put gold money in a high yield account, although we did use a bit to buy our favorite tea, which costs $53 a pound. We have not had any in a few years now so felt a lot of joy with this purchase.
5. Sold the last of the yarn made from the wool of my little flock of Babydoll Southdowns, the miniature sheep we had for a time. They could run under the legs of our Irish wolfhound, they were so petite. I sold my other yarn but had been saving these skeins for myself, but the truth is I would rather read than knit so I finally faced that fact and sold it.
Unfrugal but I don't care: For the second week in a row, I have bought one Sumo orange. Last week it was $9.90 for one. This week it was $8.75. I love them too much to care.
For many years I was frugal because I had only just enough money to get by if I was VERY careful! In recent years it’s been a mixture of non consumerism, environmentalism, and the urge to share with those less fortunate. I think of myself as a money maximiser, so I focus on things like “ cost per use” rather than cheapest! I also prioritise JOY! Life wasn’t meant to be grey! Give yourself, freely, sparkle moments, and do the same for others, when you can !
Lindsey, I'm sorry you haven't been feeling well and I've missed your frugal stories. That's quite a haul from your unworn gold jewelry. Glad you could splurge on tea and Sumo oranges.
@Lindsey - glad to see your post, also not glad you're not feeling well. Life is too short to not indulge in the occasional splurge.
It does feel good to share with those less fortunate - the smallest of things can make a world of difference.
I am curious, what kind is your favorite? I am slowly using up all my tea bags and switching completely to loose leaf due to microplastic concerns. (none of the 7 grocery stores in my city sell loose leaf, only bags) Hope you and DH savor every cup of your splurge. That was a righteous frugal purchase.
Lindsey, it's good to hear from you as always, despite the not-good news that you're not feeling well. Blessings on you, the husband, Houndini, and Clobber Paws. And I need to do some decluttering in my fantasy areas ("I might do something with that someday") the way you and the husband are doing.
"I need to do some decluttering in my fantasy areas". OHHHHHH. Busted!!!
Aww, Lindsey, I hope you feel better really soon!
thanks for your sharing of random and interesting things. I love that your husband went drawer diving and also that he shared with your friend who has finally landed a job. all good news!
I don't have much in the way of jewelry, but I did have a lovely pair of gold dangly teardrop earrings with a chunk of amber in the drop. I can't wear pierced earrings (and haven't been able to for years) however I had been hanging on to these because I just loved them and the memory of when and where I purchased them. I finally gave them to my daughter, and she has delighted me by wearing them on several 'dress up' kind of occasions - they suit her, and she gets complemented on them, and I just light up to see them on her.
Gave the farm boy man a couple of tickets to the haunted corn maze. A friend has a food truck there for the month and she gave me 4 comped tickets. Actually earned a hug from him. Saved him $40.
Looked for and could not find a tractor cover, so I made one out of a couple of waxed army fabric tarps. The fitting clips and cording came off a drift boat cover that i sold 8 yrs ago the new owner thought the boat was too pretty to cover up. The barn owls make such a mess, however, I love their work in eliminating vermin.
I love your work around for recycling. I'm taking note!
Bartered 4 bushels of apples for 50 lbs of hazel nuts. Let the neighbor borrow my commercial cider press.
Printer stopped working, watched a YouTube and it is back to running again.
Blue Gate Farmgirl,
You forgot to tell the NCA people about your school community's contest!
Folks, over on Frugal Girl's site, BGF said their school is in the running to get a million dollar makeover from T-Mobile if they get enough votes, and from now until Oct. 24, people can vote.
This is what BGF wrote on the other post:
"An awesome community near me is thinking outside the box. Their athletic facilities are woefully old, like over 70 yrs. They are trying for a T-Mobile contest for revamping. They are currently in second place. Anyone can vote until Oct 24th.
Lebanon-high-school.lebanon.k12.or.us front page has a link to the contest. "
I used the first link and cast a vote for her and her community. (It's free!) Guess she's too humble to ask for votes on other websites, but I'm not! Kids in rural school districts often don't have the first-class facilities that larger school districts enjoy. If we can all help them get their sports facilities fixed up, let's do it!
PS --it says you can vote once a day every day until the Oct. 24 deadline.
Yay Frugal Lisa! Good on you for your reply supporting rural school districts! Sending you and BFG huge cyber hugs. Retired from a rural school district. It used to hurt my heart in how many ways our students were short changed every single day! : (
I finally got in and voted today. Have 6 more days to do so. Hope they win!
I have a lot of stuff sitting on my enclosed porch waiting for me to take it to be recycled. E.g. old Christmas lights, which I think Mom's Organic Market takes. Don't ask me how long it's been there...
.1. Received my property tax rebate check from NJ and put it right in savings.
2. Made more cinnamon apples from the mistakenly purchased Macintoshes. Eating them now with granola on top.
3. Had a big points Fetch receipt -- 2000 points, I think?
4. Picked thyme from the garden, dried it, and then mixed up a batch of Italian seasoning. Thyme was the one herb I still needed.
5. Made tomato sauce from garden tomatoes.
1. On morning walk/hike combo found a quarter, six bottles/cans for ten cent/each recycling, and a knit Adidas hat.
2. Used $10 off $75 coupon at local grocer — easy to get to that total with strategic shopping for pantry staples and sale items include 1lb salted butter for $0.99!!!! I thought it was a misprint, but nope, indeed the sale price. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen that price & I’m early 50s.
3. Also received the $10 off $20 coupon from CVS for recent vx. Had spouse & kids do the same, so now have four to use which will help with fresh & frozen produce runs.
4. Routinely encouraged kid to write essay for contest with NFL team he loves. After much encouragement, he did it and ended up winning 2nd place, earning a $150 gift card for NFL gear.
5. Took other kid plus friend to local library for Minecraft event, included free movie plus popcorn and art activities they enjoyed on day off of school. I joined in one of the art activities, making a Minecraft self portrait I plan to gift to my hubby for Sweetest’s Day this weekend with a homemade baked good — got some butter to use!
Even the most expensive garbage service in my area doesn't charge extra for recycling (I'd rather have it included in the standard service fee). Our charge is $30 per month (the locally owned company *finally* raised their rates).
It is interesting to read price differences from different areas.
Potatoes are such an amazing food! Cheap, versatile, delicious, healthy and filling!
My frugal 5 are here: https://practicalwalk.com/2025/10/16/frugal-five-14/
But the quick version:
- went to the discount grocery store and other errands
- Made black-eyed pea salad
- used my mother in laws mannequin for ebay photos
-regrowing green onions
- made stock with rotisserie chicken bones
Frugal things:
1. Bought my favorite planner/calendar for 2026 at Walgreens. 4th year using this particular one. $6.99 - 20% (senior day) - $5 (rewards $) = $1.08 plus was gifted a matching 5 x 7 spiral notebk w/ 3 pockets and an attached pen, and there was a fun pack of m & m's in a pocket. : )
2. Was able to donate a case (48 cans) of tuna to the food bank. Safeway had them on sale a couple of weeks ago for 50 cents each. Not as good as Katy's 28 cents tuna, but good. There was no limit. When I explained to the manager what I wanted to do, he gave me a raincheck for 48 cans. It took 4 managers and 2 weeks but they finally got it in. yay
3 & 4.. I have an unusual situation that I take full advantage of. Our local paper went from 7 days a week to 3 days a week. So we get our food ads on Tuesday now instead of Wednesday. For the last year I have been able to save much more money on Safeway's loss leaders than Fry's. My strategy has been to not do my shopping until Tuesday. I compare the 2 ads to see what will be the most cost effective. For instance, last week's ad had Lucerne cheese for 1.99, but this week for 1.27. Also, when I shop on the last day of the sale, I'm more likely to get rainchecks. They are good for 30 days. So I can usually use them on the next month's senior discount day for an extra 10% off. Right now I am holding onto rainchecks for strawberries, 3 bags of meatballs for potlucks, and a 32 can pack of cat food which will be an additional $2.30 off of the sale price.
5. My trusty steed, a Camry, is 32 years old. I am 74. I am NOT buying a new, not even a new-to-me, car at this point in my life. I figure she will probably outlast me. lol
God bless and everyone have a good weekend
I’m so impressed with your 32-year old car. My last car was a Buick which I drove for 18 years and I was kind of sad when it bit the dust. It got me through the horrors of things like my long commute to work and back every day and teaching my son and daughter to drive. I wish I could have kept it for 32 years.
Isn't it interesting how significant a machine can become? We have so many memories and stories related to our long-lasting vehicles. Completely understand missing your Buick.
AZ Lynn, that's a great strategy to use rainchecks on senior discount day!
I don't know that I have read Judith Viorst's writings for either adults or children but saw that her book about being 90 is "Making the Best of What's Left: When We're Too Old to Get the Chairs Reupholstered."
Your wait-and-compare approach is one that I have been half-assing, however you have defined it so well I will be regularly shopping on Thursday nights at my local - their flyer comes out earlier in the week but doesn't 'hit' until Fridays, I HAD been kind of doing a compare but not with any real focus. You have reminded me that this is one of my occasional super powers, time to sharpen it up again! (besides, it is fun to beat the system)
Yes! The thrill of the hunt - it is indeed thrilling isn't it? (especially when your body cannot do roller coasters any more)
I’ve been reading your posts since the beginning, I think. You share so much more than “frugal things.” I love reading about the small ways you put your values into action.
I was just reading an article on the rise of mocktails yesterday and GHIA was mentioned. I am guessing that is a mocktail for a margarita. Apparently if you call it a mocktail instead of sparkling water it is worth 5x more.
Re number three, Staples does a lot of electronics recycling and will give you rewards for future purchases. It's a slow accumulation, but a great way to get store credit for when you need school or office supplies.
I have been in CT for three weeks. My mother's health took a downturn. We've now been in hospice for 16 days.This was not only unexpected, but much longer than anyone could have anticipated.
1. I enacted FMLA coverage which protects my job and also allows me to use all sick and vacation time during leave to continue pay while that PTO is available.
2. My SO and DS came for the first week. My SO got plane tickets and the rental car and hotel while he was here. He and my DS flew back to our home state for many reasons. My SO has stayed at my house with my son for two weeks now taking care of things. I could not be here without his support.
3. My former SIL has graciously allowed me to stay at her home, and use and share her car to avoid the costs of a hotel and rental car. Again very thankful, the long term costs of hotels and rentals would make me staying here unfeasible.
4. To pass time at the nursing home I downloaded Words with friends. It's been a positive way to stay busy without spending money or doom scrolling. I also read about half a book to my mother using the Libby app from my library.
5. I am getting a lot of time with my mother which is invaluable.
Downsides, I have run out of paid FMLA. I have eaten out a ton. I've missed a few medical appointments. Programs I run have been skipped at work in my absence. My SO and DS definitely are more productive with me there. IDK...hard few weeks. Nice to catch up here.
Ashley B, I'm sorry for your mother's fate and the toll it is taking on you. Sending you a virtual hug from the heartland.
You're in a very tough place right now, Ashley. I send my sympathy and best wishes to you, your mother, and your other loved ones.
Such a tumultuous time! How wonderful you can be there with your mother.
I hope you can find the time and space to take care of yourself during this hard time. What a blessing to both you and your mom that you have this time together. This sounds so lame, I wish I had something more uplifting to say.
It's not been the most frugal few weeks, but a few wins sprinkled about:
1) Found my favorite shoes in the style I love but they don't make anymore at Nordstrom Rack. Bonus, they were close to half off of what I paid for the original pair.
2) DS19 & DH were sweet enough to take me to & from the airport, to avoid having to pay for transit for my trip to Portland last weekend.
3) Adjusted our holiday flights & they happened to be cheaper. Saved $100, and received a credit card adjustment vs a flight credit.
4) My mom transferred a $45 Southwest credit to me, as she hates flying Southwest.
5) Helped my parents plan flights to visit DS19 while we are in New Zealand next year. It's his birthday & they wanted to visit anyway. Flights were incredibly cheap, so it cost them just a low amount of miles + $22 in taxes & fees.
Yesterday marked two months into my pantry/freezer cleanse and I can finally almost see the end in sight. The reasons it's taking so long are (1) I live alone and have a small appetite so things don't disappear quickly, and (2) knowing it would be a long slog I haven't tried to not buy any groceries at all, but to be strategic and buy a minimum of ingredients that would facilitate using up what I have. The only things that have gone into the freezer in this time are garden produce, food I foraged, and soups, stews, and broths. (When I make soup, casserole, etc., I freeze two-thirds in smaller containers for later meals. These are NEVER wasted!)
1. Near frugal fail today when the white beans I was cooking in some turkey broth refused to soften. I have no idea how long they'd been sitting on the shelf. They did relent just enough that I was able to mash them and, instead of the broth white bean with kale and ham soup I planned, I'm making a pureed bean soup.
2. I'm making my last-for-a-while French toast casserole today. I've finally come to the end of all the leftover bread in my freezer, and am using the last of the frozen strawberries I picked in June. (I bake my French toast casserole smothered in berries because I'm just fancy that way.) I feel sad about this because this is my favorite second breakfast after my morning hike, but not sad enough to buy bread just to let it get stale. My next 2nd breakfast batch will be eggs with chopped deli meat from the freezer, cooked in a muffin pan with frozen hash brown lining the cups.
A lot of these leftovers came from having houseguests this summer and overbuying for them, so I'm doubly glad my excesses don't go to waste.
3. We're in an extreme drought here in southern Vermont so the mushroom foraging season hasn't happened. Still, a tiny bit of rain yielded a few here and there. I've dehydrated chicken of the woods, one lions mane, two shaggy manes, one giant puffball, and today a lovely cache of small puffballs. This is over six weeks and is what I can usually find on a good day or two. I've dehydrated them and add them to soup stock--you get the minerals and umami without adding to the freezer pile.
On a better year I saute a lot of what I can't eat right away in butter or chicken fat and freeze them in small batches.
4. It wasn't ALL food. Finally breaking my Amazon kindle addiction I've made friends with my small town library and discovered myself reading in some different areas, expanding what can sometimes become a loop of books on a single subject (the old algorithm). I still get my professional books from the college library but it's not so great for leisure reading. One book from this week that I unreservedly recommend and would never have known about if I hadn't gone cruising the stacks is The Edge of the World: How the North Sea Made Us Who We Are by Michael Pye. A great read about medieval trade, travel, and culture in Northern Europe. Livelier than my description sounds.
5. Not frugal but unavoidable: After my checkup yesterday I'm looking at several thousand dollars of dental work this winter. This would be avoidable if I had a time machine and could take better care of my teeth starting decades ago.
1. Frugal for them - friends staying with us for their NYC excursion. We are being repaid in breakfast sandwiches. A fair trade if you ask me.
2. Declined the same friends' invite to meet them out for dinner. We were whooped and wanted to stay home. Met them for a quick night cap instead and had burritos at home. A delicious compromise!
3. Attending a black tie wedding this weekend - rented a gown instead of buying something I won't wear with any frequency. Rent the Runway goofed on the size and sent me an offer to rent a different style and a free extra as an apology. I'll take it - now I have a cute outfit for the rehearsal dinner as well!
4. Piled a bunch of clothes on visiting friend who is a smaller size than I am. I am hoping she takes a lot of the clothes as they are some of my favorites I've been holding on to for sentimental reasons and I want them to go somewhere appreciated, not end up in a landfill! If she doesn't, they're already out of my closet and will be bagged up for donation. It's a relief to have the mental burden of that task behind me.
5. Attended my library's free zumba class last night. Different instructor than usual and she was challenging! I had a blast.
How fun to host friends!
Yesterday on my way to a dental cleaning appointment, I drove by a house with a chair that was set out for free. As I drove by, I had a rush of thoughts -" you need a chair for the table, I'll be late, but you did leave early, you'll regret it - turn around!"
So I turned around and popped that baby into the back of my car and made it to my appointment with time to spare.
Cleaned it up today. Didn't really need much cleaning really. It's a nice dining chair with arms and a nice wide rush seat made by Lane.
I couldn't be happier.
Lane is a quality company, great find!
Shopped a charity store where proceeds benefit drug rehabilitation community members. Found new K-Swiss white sneakers for $2 in my size, and a youth puzzle for a quarter. Happy about that.
you're really telling me you didn't want to pick up that ON SALE $22 NOT soda just for the cute packaging alone?! I mean look at that birdie!! tweet tweet! lol!! I don't know how you said no! haha!
Just a thought
Pick up 1 item at the store and donate it to s food bank. Snap people will need it