Three Frugal Things -- Saying "No" to Mindless Consumerism
1. My kiddo came over last night and I walked them through how to make an apple pie from scratch. (We actually made two pies, as it's just as much work.) I already had the huge bag of free apples from my neighbor's tree, (thank you, Erin!) so this was perfect timing. Their partner's birthday is tomorrow and wanted to bake something special for them.
I'm still in love with my free pile cake stand, sometimes using it for random food items, as it elevates everything to a renaissance era still life.
2. I redeemed more off my Fred Meyer gift card, (Thank you, Frugal Girl!) to pick up a few gourmet goodies. My buy-nothing-new edict doesn't take a break for the holiday, which means I give a lot of edible gifts, which neither clutter homes nor fill landfills.
You have the choice to abstain from the pressures of consumerism. It's okay to be the person who refuses to buy low quality items from morally bankrupt corporations.
I recently watched a short video from Bradley on a Budget and resonated with something he said:
"The holidays are expensive because you make them expensive!"
It's all a choice.
3. I was browsing the Christmas aisle at Goodwill and came across a trio of Pottery Barn stocking holders. Pottery Barn is a solid brand for resale, so I looked them up and found a number of "sold" completed listings, including this one:
So yes, I picked them up for $15 and popped them up on eBay for $75 last night. No interest yet, but fingers crossed . . .
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."
Click HERE to follow The Non-Consumer Advocate on Instagram.
Click HERE to join The Non-Consumer Advocate Facebook group.
The blog post includes an eBay referral link.
Love the pie in the free pile cake stand.
Our Christmas baskets that we give as gifts this year is jams, juices, spice rubs, lavender wands, cookies or waxed canvas firewood carriers, fire starters and jam and cookies. Everybody loves jam!
Our weather has been so mild that I need to weed whack the orchard and gardens.
Neighbor gave me a bucket of oranges for watching Her girls. I see a fresh spinach, orange salad in my future.
Crazy mild weather! I just turned off the furnace and opened up some windows for fresh air!
lol.. such a difference in weather. It did make it up to 27 (it was refreshing to be outside) but we'll have windchill of -20 to -30 until noon on Sunday. Hence my windows shall remain closed, likely for the next 3 1/2 months.
Split more firewood and cleared snow off a no-longer standing dead tree which better half will cut up next Tuesday when the daytime temp is around the mid-20s.
I ate leftovers last night. Upside of living rural is no delivery options. Used most of some 'shrooms and veggies in tonight's dinner. I don't plan on venturing out until Sunday for dinner.
Cold weather and doing anything outside = a better workout than the gym at no additional cost.
I am with you on not compromising ideals just because it’s the holidays!
Throughout the year I keep an eye out for new (or great condition) items at the thrift store that I know people in my life will appreciate, and I stow them away for gift giving occasions!
Some examples this year:
- several new (still plastic wrapped!) board and card games
- gently used hard cover books ($3 at my GW)
I have a hard time not giving gifts when I find them, which I then regret come December!
I am a give-them-now kind of gift giver, too, and Christmas is a fraught time for me, so I get it, Katy. there is a new song out by Dan Mangan called "A Christmas Song" that does a great job of giving the vibe I experience at Christmas - I encourage everyone to give it a listen....
1. My neighbor returned the VHS-C converter she borrowed over the weekend. She didn't need to buy one.
2. The only store I went in this week was CVS and that was only to redeem my free Extra Bucks. I spent less than $3 out of pocket.
3. I hung laundry outside both yesterday and today. It was not warm nor particularly sunny but I started the loads early in the day and they mostly dried outside. The house could use some humidity this time of year so finishing the drying inside is beneficial.
My frugal things today were:
*Practicing yoga using a DVD I have at home
*grouped errands around my dermatology appointment
*used a 35% and $2 off coupon at CVS for an item for DH
*did laundry in cold water and everything is hanging to dry in the house-so nice in the winter because everything dries fast
* mailed a few holiday cards to older aunts/uncles who really love receiving mail/cards-cards were thrifted at 10 cents each and I already had some stamps.
1. I went to the thrift store. The ladies' clothes were 50% off. I needed some casual pants that were not jeans. (My jeggings were getting faded & the cats snagged them begging to be fed.) I got a cranberry-colored pair of corduroy pants with waistband that fits, pockets in front & back, and a pr. of brownish colored pants. Jeggings tend to slide down at the waist on me. I like these jean-like styles better. They were $5 each. I also got a pr. of flannel pjs for $2.00. I paid in cash as there is a 2% fee to use a credit card. The thrift store helps support the local food bank.
2. My husband has a friend whose wife runs a ballet studio. We are invited to attend the Nutcracker to see her students perform. I think I will wear my festive cranberry cords!
3. On my daily hike I found a wall clock. I wanted a clock in the BR so I can see the time. It's not the best style for a BR but will do until I find something better.
4. Husband found some in-date dry cereal in the Dol Gen dumpster. The boxes were mashed but the inner plastic pouch was intact. Cinnamon Toast Crunch, which I happen to like.
5. I made some stirred custard w/ milk that was iffy. I put some cinnamon in it & used brown sugar instead of white. It is tasty. Heck, I made put a little of it in my breakfast oatmeal.
I must admit, it is hard for me to pay for something when I find many things free at the curb. (The jeans I find are not always well fitting.)
Katy, the pie you made is beautiful w/ the rolled crust.
I had a nice surprise when I got a message that I randomly won a $75 gift card through the free Xtreme Bar Bingo we played last week. It's legit and I cashed it in for a Chewy gift card because that means free cat and dog food and cat litter.
Had an ultrasound yesterday and paid my part in full so I could get 25% off, saving $46.
Chopped up a bag of sweet onions that were going to go bad soon, and put them in the freezer.
Found out I earned an additional 5,000 Fetch points for the order in which I had made a donation of a couple dog crates to our local humane society.
Daiya brand pizza was $9.49 at Kroger, and BOGO. I also had a $4 off one on my store app, so I paid $2.75 for each pizza.
Re: Many of our #5 items, this is very scary:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/opinion/trump-story-dismissed-by-media-months-ago-confirmed-by-new-report-opinion/ar-AA1SdXxf?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=cf4614e0e61f4f8b87cfa24e66f510d
That pie looks delicious and I love how the light is reflected right in the middle of it in the picture!
1. The avocado pit that I planted (inspired by Katy!) has sprouted so I have now potted it up. It took a surprisingly long time, literally weeks.
I also took a cutting from a cute succulent (it has unusual pink-ish leaves) and am currently propagating that one which is intended for a friend.
2. I had bought a Decor reusable water bottle in the charity shop for one Euro. It was aluminium and I really liked it. Unfortunately it fell out of my bag recently and the plastic lid cracked. I emailed the manufacturer to ask if they are selling replacement lids. They emailed back to say that they do not - but that they would send me a free replacement lid! What a lovely gesture! <3
3. Recent library read: Great Big Beautiful Life (Emily Henry) - not as good as her other books I thought.
4. Made a seasonal door wreath by sticking greenery and baubles etc into a wreath that I already owned.
5. I volunteered to do some overtime at work, the little bit extra on the next pay-check will be nice but I certainly will not be doing overtime regularly, life's too short!
I am now very hungry for apple pie! It looks amazing and I enjoy your cake stand and read and green strainers.
- reused last years Xmas decor
- did secret Santa for family gift exchange vs buying everyone a gift
- doing free holiday activities like local light displays
- supporting local, small coffee houses vs big names for an inexpensive splurge with my kiddos
- reading library books and watching library DVDs
1. I passed this morning on a trip to a neighboring state for a double volleyball tournament. My grandson is a player and I like to attend as many games as possible. But this would be a very long day. I am saving gas, saving money spent on food, and saving my weary body!
2. My blood pressure monitor showed a low-battery warning. I replaced one of the four batteries, and apparently it was the right one! Or perhaps I just got them into a better position. Anyway, I saw that my stash of batteries is too low, and I need to get some AA's and a battery tester. Hopefully at a good price, to benefit my future self.
3. I shopped yesterday for Christmas gifts (unfortunately, my family is not welcoming to second-hand gifts, especially the younger ones). I found some practical things at Target and came home thinking I was done. Lo and behold there was a package from a friend who I thought was no longer exchanging with me. I searched out a bargain for her on Amazon because I am not going back to the post office! Christmas has become an exercise in frustration for me, but I'm doing my best.
4. I am eating a Reuben sandwich for lunch for the third day in a row, because the ingredients keep lasting. The rye bread was free, the Swiss cheese was a BOGO deal, the dressing was homemade -- only the corned beef was no bargain, but I am using it sparingly.
5. I went to the little free pantry yesterday and got mandarin oranges and a Choceur snack from Aldi.
Yes, my grown children weren't thrilled when I mentioned, just all getting together for food. Exercise in frustration, is a good way of putting it. I have everything I need! Sigh
Have a list of useful consumables, or ask for a gift card to a store you use. Gifts of service are wonderful, but thy might not be inclined that way!
1. My Medicare Advantage OTC card does not work at the store where I work, so I went to a supermarket and got some OTC stuff before the end of this quarter. Why turn down free stuff?
2. I was a frugal Santa: Last July, our store put some items on clearance. One was absolutely perfect for a local lady who has a ministry here: it was a multi-photo picture frame with, coincidentally, the name of her ministry stamped on it. I bought it for pennies on the dollar and saved it in my gift closet. Yesterday, I plopped it into a gift bag (saved from a previous holiday), covered it with salvaged tissue paper, and delivered it to her office. Oh, and instead of the "XYZ Frame Co." paper labels in the frame openings, I substituted the fronts of old Christmas cards, with instructions for her to replace them with her photos. I got another Christmas card front and punched a hole in its corner to turn it into a to/from tag. And used a piece of saved ribbon to tie the tag to the bag handle. I normally don't give to this minister, but she's one of the most giving helpers in our community. So it made me happy to surprise her! (Who says frugal can't be fun?)
3. Worked an extra shift when another worker called out sick.
4. Decided not to renew a magazine subscription. Now that I'm no longer substitute teaching, I don't need to bring along reading material to the school. Plus, I can work crossword puzzles online instead of doing the paper ones in that magazine. (BTW, there is an online website called Boatload Puzzles that has a few thousand crosswords you can work for free! I really like that one....) If I ever see an article in that magazine I want to read, I can do so while standing in line at a store.....and then put it back on the rack before I check out. (I'm a fast reader, and that magazine's articles are short ones.)
5. Picked up a free 2026 calendar at the bank. Along with a handful of candy for my Halloween bucket.
Those Pottery Barn ornament holders are a great find. I'm sure they will go quickly.
1) Stocked up on snacks & food again for DS18's friends (he's home for college again.) While not frugal for me, the teens all work hard & don't have much spending money, so I can feed them when they come over, and hanging out at our house & enjoying our treats & watching movies or playing poker or whatever is safer & cheaper than other things they could be getting up to. We are happy to do it!
2) Followed the advice of the tax person we met with, and maxed out my backdoor ROTH IRA.
3) Finished gifts for the teens, and the one they will not necessarily enjoy, but is frugal in the long run - some cash (they will love) & we are putting money in their ROTH IRAs. They both worked a lot this summer & some during the year, so they have earned income. We will also match any additional money they put in.
4) Made dinner last night largely from things lying around: pasta (bought on super clearance a while back), parmesan cheese (leftover from Thanksgiving), meatballs (a freezer staple), & garlic bread. The teens who came over also polished off the leftovers! 🙂
5) Went to Costco & stuck to my list, instead of buying all of the fun seasonal favorites that tempted me. Unfortunately, they were sold out of rotisserie chickens & I didn't have time to wait for a restock.
1. Inverted a pair of my husband's wool socks and used them as an impromptu pair of gloves to brave the outdoors and keep my hands warm while I pushed my kids in the stroller.
2. Realized mid-proof that I only had 11 cups of flour left in the house and I needed 12-13 cups to make bagels on Thursday night. I had to quickly improvise and make some oat flour with my blender and a bit of cornstarch. It worked out very well! I could definitely feel a bit of a texture difference when I was making them and they weren't as pretty but they tasted good.
3. Dinner last night was chicken and dumplings and this prompted another creative use of the oat flour. I accidentally made a fully gluten free pot of chicken and dumplings and it was surprisingly delicious!
4. We're batching errands and a holiday party for my husband's office today. I have a library book to return and we'll get groceries and store them in an ice chest while we're at the party.
5. Amazon seems to think putting boxes of diapers and wipes need to go inside an even BIGGER box to be delivered, even when I click on 'reduce packaging' buttons every time. My kids are loving the boxes though and have made them into a multidimensional canvas (I'll eventually find all the crayons again I hope) and a mini village for their stuffies.
Well, it's Saturday, the 13th, and I'm lagging behind, as usual. Guess that happens when you get old...my birthday was Thursday.
Well, since mid-October, we sunk $3,000 into our car and will sink another $500 in it on Wednesday. Merry Christmas to us/happy birthday to me. Tie rods, boots, sway arms valve cover, spark plugs, tires and alignment to date. Rear brakes, rotors, air and cabin filters on Wednesday. There's a few more "routine maintenance" things that need to be done to our 2014 car with close to 150,000 miles, but those will have to wait until January (as well as heating oil). We are keeping our thermostat just high enough to keep the pipes from freezing and bundling up when cold.
Had to pick up a prescription today (co-pay $0). Since the pharmacy is inside the grocery store, I went back to look at the damaged cart where I hit the jackpot!
2 pkg store brand toilet paper (12 ct pkgs. Regular $7.99 each; marked down to $3.99 each. (Comparable to Scott 1000 sheet rolls.)
10 lb bag store brand sugar regularly $8.99 marked down to $4.49.
5 lb bag Pillsbury All Purpose Flour regularly $4.19 marked down to $1.49
I treated myself to a bottle of Starbuck's Vanilla Frappuccino for $3.99.
Total bill after savings was $17.95.
Total savings was $15.20 (45% of the total bill at full price).
Today was food bank day. DH went and got our items early this morning. People can go back again after 1 pm and anything remaining after everyone has bern served is distributed. DH got a huge box of produce (broccoli, tomatoes, potatoes, onions, etc.). Our daughter's best friend lives nearby. She's married and the couple has a daughter in 4th grade, a 3-year old son with multiple disabilities, and they are also raising 2 of our daughter's friend's cousins (about the same age as their daughter - the girls' mother is a drug user). We took the produce, anything we couldn't use from the food bank, 10 lb of our venison and several lb of chicken over for the family. They can use the help and truly appreciate it.
I hope you had a happy birthday.
Happy birthday, Melissa! I'm glad you treated yourself to that Frappuccino. So very generous of you to provide food to others when you needed it yourself.
First off: Melissa N, your #5 puts a lot into perspective as many of us struggle to keep our heads above water in this time. Bless you for your thoughtfulness to that family. (And bless them for taking in the children.)
1. I went to our town recycling this morning and came away with more than I left. In the compost section there was a separate bin for pumpkin and squash. I guess a lot of people bought them for decorations at Thanksgiving and dumped them, or maybe this year's harvest was over the top. Anyway, it was a big bin; pigs and other farm animals enjoy them. I grabbed two acorn squash and a small sugar pumpkin. I wanted to take more but I wasn't sure they would still be good as they had frozen overnight. (and they weren't exactly put there for the taking... My haul was a purloin!) Anyway, they are roasting up fine as I write this and will make good puree for the freezer. Next week if there is another lode I'll dig for more. Next time privileging pumpkin over squash...
2. Said recycling center features a drop-off book shed that is always overflowing. More givers than takers. Just trying to be helpful (?) I came away with a bag of books for reading and a bag of books to sell. Three of the books had completed listings on eBay over $50 (each), which is a good return on $0! I could have taken more but it was 12 degrees and my fingers refused to grasp any more books to even check out titles.
3. I finally got my very old Heat Trax mats working (plugs are wonky) and will set them up tomorrow.
4. I am loving--L-O-V-I-N-G! Iain McGilchrists's two volume The Matter With Things, which I obtained after a long wait through interlibrary loan. The two volume set can't be found for under $90, even used, on eBay so I'm grateful for the library as always.
5. Thrift store yesterday: In the $1 bin I found a lovely Portuguese flannel twin top sheet. My cats sleep on my bed all day, and I lay a blanket or sheet across the top so I don't have to wash the heavy quilt as often. This one will be perfect as part of the rotation on my queen size bed. In the same $1 bin I found a clearly hand-knit sweater in a lovely deep blue. It doesn't fit. It probably never really fit anyone, which is sad, and the yarn seems to be cotton, not wool, so not to be felted. It will however make a gorgeous cover for a small throw pillow. With props to the unknown maker. I also found 4 crystal liquer glasses in the original box; I may keep them, I may sell them (they go for about $25 on eBay before fees and such...)
Drying laundry on racks, eating leftovers, keeping the heat low and the woodstove burning, all the things.
Tammy, MB in MN, and Cynthia - thank you for the birthday greetings and compliments. We always try to "pay it forward." Our daughter's friend that we took the food to...she had several miscarriages in the past. Her one son was stillborn (he was between the daughter and the son with multiple disabilities). Her husband worked nights and they lived in a neighboring town. Her mother has MS and can't drive at night. Her pregnancy with the child who was stillborn was a difficult one and I got numerous calls in the middle of the night asking me to take her to the ER. I love her like my own daughter and I was not about to brush her off regardless of how tired I was. I always went 1/2 hour to go to her house and pick her up. Another 1/2 hour to get her to the hospital. Another hour or so until she got settled, then I went home. She took it from there. She and her husband were on their way to her appointment. Everything was fine before they left home. On the way to the hospital for the appointment, the baby stopped all activity and she knew then the baby was gone. DH and I have always had her back...she's special to us. The school bus contractor I work for is her father-in-law. They really need and appreciate the help. Witha 6-person household (her son has a feeding tube) she told me her weekly food bill runs around $500. That I didn't know until we took the food over today. I am going to help her with Fetch, Ibotta, etc to help her save some money. What we took over should help them for about 2 weeks.
Someone at church handed me a $100 grocery store gift card last Sunday. Our hunter friend dropped off venison burger and tenderloin from a big buck he shot which filled our freezer. We were blessed and we want to share our blessing with others. We have all that is necessary for us. Another friend, who is a breast cancer survivor, had surgery yesterday for a new growth in her chest. Tomorrow, I am making Baked Chicken Salad, pepper slaw, and a chocolste cake with peanut butter icing to take to her house Monday night for her and her husband. Doing such things for others I learned from my parents. It's my passion.