Three Frugal Things -- Backpacks & Kitty Cats!
1. I found a couple items, both for myself and to resell while browsing the Goodwill "bins" the other day. The best of which was this $109 Portland Gear "Cascade" backpack that was new with tags! I checked with the company and they confirmed that these "Portland Thorns" bags were given to the National Women's Soccer League athletes, which makes sense as I wasn't able to find any comparables online.
I'm tempted to keep it, but also have it listed on Facebook Marketplace for $100.
I also bought this Eames "Hang it All" knockoff, which was quickly nabbed by my kid for their apartment. The real deal sells for $350, but this one'll give an Eames vibe without emptying a bank account.
Lastly I bought a white wash cloth, (using white sheets and towels is super frugal, as you can cheaply add to your stash) an enamel darkroom tray to use under plants, a miniature studio made Japanese bowl, a pair of magnetic refrigerator clips and maybe a couple other things. I spent $14.84 from my own pocket.
2. I made a big pot of red lentil soup that was both delicious and frugal. My favorite combination! Based on this "Cheap Eats" recipe.
3. I'm watching my grand-kitty for the weekend and still have some leftover food from sweet Zelda, who passed away a few months ago. I'd been tempted to pass it along, but kept it on hand for this exact circumstance.
Cat tax:
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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1. I sorted through a pile of garage sale/thrift store donations. I found a couple of items I'll try to sell on Ebay.
2. I reused a couple old suitcases as storage bins rather than donate them.
3. I repaired my dogs toy again using a large needle and dental floss. Bonus, it now smells minty fresh.
4. I hand scrubbed a Jansport waist bag that I will try to resell.
5. I assembled all my tax documents and reused an old insurance company folder to hold them.
Nice bin finds! In my family I am known as the bag lady, I love it when a pile of purses, bags and backpacks show up in the bins. The Boggs bag cleaned up well and I was showing it to my neighbor and she offered me $40. They retail for $100. I don't have to ship it off! The $40 will be donated next week to the kids food pantry (our community has a food pantry at the school campus for the kids to pick up fresh fruit, shelf stable proteins, some freezer meals, yogurt and cheese. I picked up string cheese @$2/lb for the pantry.
I made a fresh batch of hummingbird nectar.
I made 8 lbs of brown sugar.
Made fox a via bread out of sour dough discards.
Your Grand kitty is so pretty. Does she have a tortie attitude?
1. I combine my library and grocery shopping errands with taking a carless friend to her every-three-week blood draw appointment. It makes me plan meals farther ahead and get creative with dribs the last week of the cycle.
2. On last week’s run I got good stuff from the dented produce stand—4 grapefruits for $2 and a bunch of small tomatoes for 69 cents a pound. Made pizza with roasted tomatoes and veg and then did a roasted eggplant and tomato sauce for pasta. Late Monday morning seems the best time for the odd cheap produce.
3. I’m making a quilted wall hanging from scraps on hand. Got an email yesterday from someone who needs her mother’s quilt room cleared out. I don’t need anything, but I know of several groups that do. And it’s fun work—like opening gifts that I’m not obliged to like.
4. Someone in the retirement community leaves a small bowl of Hershey’s miniatures outside her unit. I take two once or twice a week—which is exactly how much chocolate I should be eating. Today I left her a potholder, a valentine, a ten dollar bill, and a suggestion that she restock when Valentine candy goes on sale tomorrow morning.
5. As a Minnesotan transplanted to Maryland, I’ve been enjoying watching the evolution of melting snow. This morning on our dog walk we kicked a big chunk of snice (snow plus ice) on most of our mile long walk. These walks with our thirteen-year-old dog don’t usually provide any cardio, but kicking that chunk left us both pumped and sweaty. And laughing. Cheap fun.