Five Frugal Things -- Clearing My Clutter With Feng Shui
1. I finished darning all my mother's hand knit socks. This took a significant amount of time as there's no rushing the process, but time is going to pass either way, so I might as well keep my hands busy. They're currently being washed in hot water to felt the darned areas and tighten them up.
2. I sorted and listed all the plastic animal that I thrifted on Monday. One grouping of dogs sold almost immediately on eBay for $19, which more than covered the $12 I spent for everything all together.
As a reminder, here are the bags:
I still have four more listings of animals/figures up for sale, ranging from $4.99 to $75. I have no control over how quickly they'll sell, if at all. It's a set it up and set it aside situation.
There were a handful of Finding Nemo figures in the bags, which I offered up in my Buy Nothing group. They're now on my porch waiting to be picked up!
3. I listed a package of honey on Buy Nothing that someone regifted to me, claiming they'd bought it because "You love honey in your tea!" Actually, I abhor the musky flavor of honey, so it's been sitting in my kitchen for over a year. It annoys me every time I see it and finally had the duh realization that I could just get rid of it.
I know this is an aside, but has anyone else ever read "Clear Your Clutter With Feng Shui?" I'm absolutely not a woo-woo gal, but this book resonated with me for the simple concept that you shouldn't have things in your home that piss you off. There, now you don't have to read the book, especially the last chapter about doing a colon cleanse!
4. My neighbors are out of town again, so I'm bringing in their mail and getting to read their Oregonian newspaper. (They told me to help myself to the paper.) It takes three minutes from my day and strengthens our community.
5. I didn't go anywhere yesterday and actually stayed in my pajamas all damned day. I'd planned on hitting the Goodwill bins for eBay inventory, but my husband came home sick from work and it felt better to stay at home. It didn't hurt that yesterday was cold and windy, which made home feel extra cozy.
Home all day eating leftovers for dinner? Heaven!
Katy Wolk-Stanley
"Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without."
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How many of us live with things that annoy or piss us off? Many! Simple concept I’m going to keep in mind.
And for someone else it's just a neutral item.
Those socks are a work of art w/ all the contrasting colors. Your mother will have cozy, warm feet. Good job!
They really are. My sister knit most of them and jokes that they're "now a gift from both of us!"
If I have something I will not use I will give it away or donate it as soon as possible because it makes me annoyed too!
1. Turns out my tie rod snapping and my wheel coming off wasn’t all that was wrong under my car. The last 13 years of Midwest winter road salt took its toll an it is no longer safe to drive. The dealerships and junk yard would only give me $200-$300 for it so I sold it for $400 to a car hobbyist.
2. We shopped around and test drove some cars. I will be buying a used one this weekend after I have my mechanic take a look.
3. I’m making a super simple crockpot recipe with chicken and frozen vegetables. When it’s done I’ll service it over rice.
4. I mailed a Christmas gift return that didn’t fit. I won’t get a cash refund but I will get a store credit that I can use whenever.
5. We called and cancelled cable. This saves us $24 a month since we still need high speed internet for my work from home. But hey that’s an extra $288 in our pocket each year.
Ugh, so sorry about your car.
The workers are here, putting in the "luxury" vinyl plank flooring on my bedroom floor. Due to the Gestapo (ICE) risk, the (Spanish-speaking) crew* I formerly employed (and paid in cash) is nowhere to be found, didn't answer their phone (can't blame them and I hope they are safe). So I hired an English-speaking father and son handyman team. (*I hope that does not sound racist, for I did not intend it that way.) It will cost a bit more, but such is life. And the new people will accept checks or credit cards. They advertise on craigslist and are on the up and up. This project should be done by tomorrow; I'll sleep on the sofa tonight.
Meanwhile, I'm already prepping for the icy (freezing rain or sleet) blast of winter weather forecast for this weekend. The father and son are also going to see about fixing the natural gas space heater (which does not require electricity to run), and I made sure all the battery-operated backup stuff is operating OK. Just in case a tree limb falls against a power line and I'm out of electricity. Or if the state of Texas' electricity reliability council was not being truthful when they said we should have enough power to keep the grid going this time: To say I don't trust them is quite the understatement.
Frugal fail: the nice-looking $3 wall clock I bought at Goodwill has already stopped operating. Even after replacing the batteries. Had it for maybe six week. Now I know why it was donated.
Frugal win: I had bought the vinyl plank flooring at Ollie's with a 15% discount coupon. Guesstimated how much I'd need. At first the installers thought I needed 3 more boxes. (Which is fine, as Ollie's sent me another 15% coupon). But this morning, they figured by instilling the planks east-and-west instead of north-and-south, we'll have enough without buying more. The "woodgrain" pattern is such that it looks good either way.
I can not comprehend that you had honey for over a year! I don’t like honey in my tea either, I’m a milk and sugar girl with black tea.
I know Marie Kondo gets a lot of grief, but "clearing your clutter with feng shui" sounds as if it has a lot in common with MK's concept of discarding anything that doesn't "spark joy." Anyway, either one is a helpful guide. I'm continuing this January's round of decluttering--with extra inspiration provided by last week's tour of the assisted living facility where CF and I are hoping to place NDN1. Assuming that I wind up in a similar facility in the future, I will have a whole **lot** of decluttering to do. (And let's not even talk about the massive cleanout that CF and I will have to do of NDN1's house sooner or later.)
In other news, I do hope that the ice storm forecast for much of the South (as reported by Fru-gal Lisa) isn't as bad as predicted. We're supposed to be getting a big snow dump and frigid temps here in Central NY, but at least it's supposed to be snow and not ice, and at least we're more or less used to this.
Ahead of the weekend weather, I was able to get down to the Salvation Army superstore for an enjoyable thrifting session today. Best find was a NWT LL Bean zip-neck sweatshirt in size large/tall for $13, for the husband of the couple on whose country property DH's ashes are buried. This friend is a tall, thin guy, and any time I can find a deal like this for him, I'm gonna grab it.
Brother brought me 2 more heavy tarps to repair and keep for my use. I gave him a quart of local Apple blossom honey as I let my bee keeper friend winter over his hives in my orchard.
I gave him radish sprouts after he ate falafel, sprouts and tomatoes in homemade pita. We Reminisced about taking pita & sprouts sandwiches for lunches, having to build the sandwich before eating. Mom doesn't remember but thoroughly enjoyed our stories.
I made him a batch of lemon squares to take home, hoping there will be some left for my nephew when he comes home from college this weekend.
It has been sunny, cold and windy, the chickens are laying eggs at half the rate, so I tarped two sides of the chicken run with a clear tarp and they are much happier.
a hot air balloon landed in our back field about midmorning. They got blown off course, supposed to land 8 miles to the North. I can't imagine it would be fun to fly when it is 25f!
I sold the rest of the crab pots, rope and buoys.
I just listed a lawnmower, edges and gas blower.
1. I used a coupon at Meijer for a free half gallon of half & half.
2. The price of an item I purchased rang up for the wrong amount. I asked the cashier and she took the $5 off the total.
3. I combined several errands. The roads were bad today so going out once was more than enough.
4. I cleared the snow from my driveway again.
5. I ate leftovers for dinner.