Five Frugal Things -- Shelves!
1. My husband and youngest had plans to build a shelf yesterday and I happened to come across these ones at Goodwill, mere hours before they were about to buy the supplies! Priced at $3.99 and $4.99, I didn't hesitate to bring them to the register.
I stand by my belief that anything that has ever been manufactured is already at Goodwill.
2. I was super tempted to also grab this IKEA "Tullsta" armchair, priced at just $16.99. It appeared to be in excellent condition, but I wasn't feeling up to schlepping it home to ready it for resale. I've done well with reselling mass market armchairs in the past, so this was probably an error on my part.
I offered the project to my kid, but they weren't up for it either.
Here's the current version that's still sold at IKEA.
3. You know it's true spring season when "free piles" start popping up in the neighborhood. I pulled the car over to peruse this one, but didn't bring anything home. I was tempted by the OXO brand steaming basket, as my one is glitchy, but realized that mine still works and I didn't need anything here.
4. My husband and I washed and vacuumed out our cars yesterday, even though it was only mildly warm outside. They were both genuinely filthy and starting to grow moss, so it was due time.
My husband and kid also replaced a burnt out headlight bulb. My own minimal research found that it costs at least $150 for a mechanic to replace a Prius bulb and we spent $25 to buy one at the auto supply store.
5. I sold a washing machine motor for $25 that didn't work with our model, and had sat on my eBay shelf since December. We paid $37.50 for it last year, so the loss wasn't too bad. The best part is that it's out of the house and will be put to use.
Click HERE to see the listing.
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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This blog post contains an eBay referral link.
The interior of my car is disgusting. But I have not thought it worthwhile to clean it until winter ends. Winter seems to be still hanging on.....
Yesterday I went to a memorial for a close friend of my DIL. My DIL was one of the eulogists. Her talk was inspiring, heartfelt, and moving. I was proud of her.
Afterwards, our family went to a favorite casual eatery. I was in favor of getting refreshments at the church, but this is what the others wanted to do. I ordered my usual -- half of a barbecued chicken, coleslaw, garlic bread, and a baked potato. Today I made lunch from the leftovers, and there is still another piece of chicken for tomorrow. I had the potato for breakfast, with some added cheese. The garlic bread went into freezer to become pizza in the future.
At the memorial, friends had laid out many skeins of yarn, because the woman who died was an avid knitter, still in the middle of many projects. We were encouraged to take some and make something as a remembrance and to share with someone else in her honor. It was a nice idea. I didn't take any, because I don't knit.
Today I'll be going to my grandson's volleyball game. It is free entertainment, and loads of fun to watch.
This morning I washed my hair, using ordinary shampoo with a dot of purple shampoo. My silver hair started becoming too purplish, so I have to cut down on its use, but I still want to use it up eventually.
I made a triple batch of all purpose cleaner today, which cost 15¢
I continue to make my little dog his “pâté” style dog food by grinding up kibble in a 1980s era food processor (not the one we use for human food) and rehydrating it with water overnight. He’s older and was having issues with kibble, even rehydrated, so the pâté style was recommend by his vet, but that stuff is pricey! I grind enough for two weeks and then make a fresh batch of wet food each night.
I’ve been sick with a massive kidney infection, so I pulled a loaf of homemade bread from the freezer — current me is thanking past me very much.
Laundry is hanging from the line, as usual — free drying is best and we don’t even own a clothes dryer anymore.
Oh no. Feel better.
1. I took some egg salad sandwiches and homemade tomato soup to lunch at my MIL's house Sunday.
2. I had lunch with a family friend Saturday. I shared an entree with my mom since neither of us was very hungry. I drank water with my meal.
3. I walked with a friend for free exercise this morning.
4. I'm sorting through some of my old Ebay listings and putting a few in the garage sale pile. I fixed one listing that was incorrect. I found some Jim Shore items that need to be listed. I had bought 10 and listed them one by one as they sold and apparently I forgot about them.
5. I started watching the last season of Alone on the Roku History app for free.
The shelves are a great find. Wish we had a Goodwill close to us but we do have a Salvation Army Store in town where I've had good luck.
1. I got the 10% senior discount at the veterinarian today. It saved me $14. We're down to one cat and we decided he's going to be an only child at this point.
2. For the first time, I got in the drive thru line at the pharmacy. This was due to the cat in his carrier in the back of my car. The person in the car in front of me was taking a longer time than expected, so I put my car in park and turned off the engine. Since she took longer than 5 minutes, I saved a little gas.
3. DH has promised to put my umbrella clothesline up by April 1st. He's tall and it's easier for him. He said he'll be putting out the deck furniture at the same time. I'm really looking forward to reading my books out there after this never ending snowy and freezing winter we've had here in Massachusetts.
4. Stepson49 gave me a cute Valentine gift bag he received at an event with socks, a deck of cards, a crossword puzzle book and a day planner in it. I'll use the first three items and the day planner I cut up into papers the perfect size for grocery store lists. Plus it's lined on one side. I recycled the cover.
5. I watched the season opener of Call the Midwife last night while enjoying a bowl of popcorn I made in a pan with oil and a little butter. Add a sprinkle of salt and it tastes to me like movie theater popcorn which I love but haven't had in years.
1) I had tried the Too Good To Go app in the past and didn’t have much luck, not a lot of options and when I did buy something, it didn’t seem worth the money. My neighbor told me a really good bakery in our town is on there now though so I downloaded it. I didn’t try the bakery yet but I saw our favorite bagel shop is also on there now. I went yesterday and got a dozen for $11.99 (normally are $25/dozen, we’re in a high cost of living area) and immediately sliced and froze them. My husbands birthday is Wednesday and he loves bagels, I wasn’t sure I’d have time to pick some up Wednesday morning with getting ready for work and kids for school, so now I have them ready to go for his birthday, saved time and money.
2) I had half a head of cabbage to use from st Patrick’s day. I actually like cabbage but there’s so much of it when you buy it, it just seems to expand! I made a coleslaw last night but it wasn’t particularly good, it was a vinegar based dressing, not mayonnaise, so I sautéed it today and will put it into tofu and bean burritos I’m making later. I plan to make several and freeze them for later meals.
3) I know Libby has magazines available but I never really looked at them since I don’t have any magazines I read. I decided to browse though and found the Forks Over Knives magazine with a ton of plant based recipes. They all looked really good so I bookmarked a few to try. The first is the above mentioned burritos, I also bookmarked a potato and roasted radish soup since I have a lot of radishes right now.
4) The magazine also had a story about an 80 year old vegan who still completes ultramarathons. He made ultramarathons sound pleasant rather than grueling (not sure if that’s accurate) so it piqued my interest in them. As I was walking past the little free library by my house, there was a book in there about ultramarathons, short stories of people’s personal accounts of preparing for them and completing them. Such perfect timing! I’ll read this and decide if this is something I want to possibly do in the future.
5) I cooked a pot of beans on the stove today since I worked from home. They take about 3 hours so it’s a good task for work from home days.
The shelving looks so good!
Wonderful find for you!
1. The quite filthy water table that I was given from buy nothing scrubbed up just fine and provided several hours of entertainment for my grandchildren this weekend. The toys I put in it were leftover plastic from various foods-Costco cinnamon jar, yogurt pot, plastic scoop, corks, etc. Not a penny spent.
2. Schlepped over for my monthly bloodwork, and just didn't have the energy to do anything else. I did list an item on fb marketplace. Sold 2 items over the weekend.
3. Sent all the snacks home with the grandchildren, as well as some kids clothes I'd picked up for free, newly hemmed shorts and jeans for DIL and altered pants for son. And swiss chard from the garden. We have plenty of leftover food for the next few days, so a cooking holiday for me!
4. It's warm enough to dry a few loads of laundry on the line in one day, so I'll work my way through the bedding that needs washed from having people stay.
5. Dh is getting rides with friends or riding ebike 20 miles round trip to work to minimize our use of gas.
Congrats on the motor sale! Last fall I bought 8 sun dresses at GW bins, freshened them and took to the consignment store. I received notification that the store deposited $100 in my bank acct. Holy moly! That money will go to the kids food pantry.
I changed the oil, air filters and blew out the engine area on the riding lawnmower. It's going to get a workout this Spring.
My friend bought unsweetened flaked coconut by mistake. I bought 4 lbs from her and threw them in the chest freezer. I used a cup in the cookies I made this morning.
Spring Clean and Spring Fling over the weekend. Sold an item on Poshmark plus 3 small things from the estate in liquidating
Have 3 shirts from Amazon to return tomorrow. They were ok I just wasn’t thrilled with them.
Every mat, throw rug, throw blanket, bed spread and linens washed. The mats and rugs were put out in the sun to air dry.
Organized all my protein powders,
to start using them for meal replacement. Organized all my meds and supplements to make sure I’m taking them
OMG I LOVE the chair!!!!I would keep that!!
1. I managed to walk 30 minutes before work today. I am going to do 30 minutes this evening bc it is HOT!
2. I made chicken fried rice with cabbage using a leftover chicken leg for supper.
3. I packed my breakfast and lunch and took it to work, as usual.
4. I had the windows open. I swear I am trying to make it to June 1st before I turn on the air but I think this year will test me.
5. Despite cutting my yard a week ago, it looks like an overgrown haircut with possible critters lurking in the weeds. How is this frugal? I am glad you asked. I am not cutting it this week!! I am trying to hold out until the weekend. Snakes be dam&@d!!!!