Five Frugal Things -- Books, Scrubbing & Cheap Cabbage
Today's blog post is less than exciting, but that's just how life is sometimes. Especially when the mid-winter blahs hit.
1. I read a library book from cover to cover in a single day. It was cathartic and reminded me of ye olden days before internet was the world's best/worst distraction.
2. I continue to work on refurbishing my thrifted Wagner Ware pan. The bottom crud is being rather obstinate, but I've done a couple rounds of blue-lid oven cleaner and the light is definitely peeking out from the end of the tunnel. The last step will be to polish it up, which'll complete the project.
As a reminder, this is my goal:
3. I picked up some more by-the-item produce from Trader Joe's, specifically 23¢ bananas and a $1.99 cabbage. Their cabbage is a true bargain when compared to stores that sell it by-the-pound.
4. I'm listening to the Pride and Prejudice audiobook on the free Libby app, for maybe the fifth or sixth time. Unsure of what to listen to? You can't go wrong with Jane Austen!
5. I've been enjoying this reusable water bottle that I garbage picked from under the high school bleachers where my husband plays soccer. It's too big to fit in my car's cup holders, but I've been a homebody lately and this random insulated water bottle keeps my drinks icier than any other one. Plus, you know . . . the price was right!
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."
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The sale cost of that pan makes all the elbow grease well worth it.
I went back to the grocery store for the pet food I forgot yesterday, along with some frozen peas, ground pork, Cheerios and cheese. Used $3.50 in coupons. I am done shopping for two weeks.
Had some soup from the freezer for lunch. Made up a quart jar of brown sugar by mixing white sugar with some molasses. That will only be a money-saving measure as long as the jar of molasses lasts because it's now shockingly expensive. Also got out the hot glue gun and a roll of packing tape and repaired a 40 year old cookbook that's falling apart. It had split almost in two in the center and the spine was falling off. It gets used constantly.
Went to book club last night and found the next selection in both Libby and Hoopla for free, so I can read or listen, depending on where I am.
We'll see if I can actually sell the pan for that amount, it's always a crapshoot.
Thanks for the homemade brown sugar reminder. My brown sugar is low and I'll make my own when it does.
Love your water bottle and can see how enjoyable it is to use something so beautiful and so free. What a great find.
I truly enjoy hearing your everyday things, as that is mostly what makes up my life
1. I walked with friends for free exercise and community.
2. Finished an online course that I did pay for, but finishing it means I receive value for what I paid. I hate paying for something and then no doing it!
3. Ran laundry at the cheap electric time of day and it's already dry on the clothesline. I find it deeply satisfying to see laundry waving in the wind.
4. Bought produce at locally owned market. Cheapest place (except for the pay by the item things like cabbage that I buy at trader Joe's )AND truly locally owned. So good!
5. Used 2 cards I made myself (with free materials!) to write a letter to a niece and my daughter for her birthday. I find making cards very relaxing and then I get the joy of sending them, and often receiving a letter in return. So many wins.
Hydroflasks are amazing. We spent some time in St. Louis, in August, in an un-air-conditioned car a few years ago, and my ice cubes stayed frozen all day! I was a sweaty wreck, but at least I had a cold drink!
I listed some free to me vintage bookmarks on ebay, and I have already sold one lot. Plus, I didn't lose out with the postage. LOL
I have also offered up paper roses for sale on my Facebook for Valentines/Galentines/a gift for yourself. I already have 6 bouquets ordered. Now I had better get to making them!
Trying to eat up all the food we make so that none goes to waste. My husband changed his lunch habits, so he has taken some leftovers.
I found Sarris (a PA brand) chocolate covered pretzels for $1 a box (the gas station was selling them for $13 a box, which I thought was insane, but they expired at the end of this month), so I bought 13 boxes for my hubby and to share at the office. Everyone seems to really be liking them.
1. Just filled up with $2.19/gallon gas. It hasn't been that cheap in a very long time!
2. Returned an electric space heater to Ollie's Outlet for an $ 81 refund on my credit card. Full details on my Frugal Girl post today.
3. Got to hear a free concert at my friend's Assisted Living place. I stopped by to give her a large print romance novel for Valentine's and whaddya know? The local musician was performing! I was invited to stay for the show. (Also got the book free or cheap from either Goodwill or a Little Free Library....again, I wrote about this on Frugal Girl.)
4.Took some plastic shopping bags to used bookstore, and freebies from there to a LFL in slums. (Ditto)
5. Earned a badge on Wordle for solving this morning 's puzzle on the 2nd try!!!!!!!! (Wordle is free so it counts as frugal, correct?)
I used my Ulta birthday freebie for a lipgloss. Then onto DSW where I paid .53 for an item I’ll put in the gift closet
I used my free monthly Hallmark reward plus .26 for a card. Onto
Bath and Body Works for free hand cream and $3.50 for a moisturizer hand wash so $3.81 later
I still have my Free Red Robin hamburger and my Nothing Bunt Cake to use. Finally thawing out after arctic blast