Five Frugal Things — Birthday Dinners and Free Haircuts!
Yesterday was busy, readying everything for my mother’s 84th birthday dinner, as well as making sure I didn’t lose out on the opportunity for my free Supercuts training center haircut.
Priorities, people. Priorities.
It did take some brain power to figure out the logistics, but I got there in the end. I needed to hit Costco for chicken, broccoli and a cheesecake, but it had to be my first stop. Insulated cooler and ice packs to the rescue!
My goal was to not poison my dinner guests. Again . . . priorities.
1) I ended up with an extra thirty minutes to kill between Costco and Supercuts, so I hit two thrift stores along the way. I wanted a nice pillar candle to pair with my recently thrifted faux-Eames candlestick, so ran into both Goodwill and Deseret Industries.
My daughter and I have been catching episodes of Haunted Hotel on Netflix and my favorite character is “Candle Head” who only ever says the word “Candles.”
He’s the best!
I ran into the store with his dialog running on repeat in my brain.
“Candles, candles, candles!”
I walked out with this unused $2 pillar candle. (I burned it last night, which is why it looks a bit worse for wear.) Unscented, which is always my preference.
I also snuck a quick loop through this Goodwill, but walked out empty handed.
2) I made it on time to my Supercuts appointment and took a moment to snap this “before” photo. My last visit here prompted a blog post about receiving an unintentional “Mary Tyler Moore” haircut, but six months have passed. Time to get back on that saddle.
My instruction was for a single inch cut, plus some face framing layers. This stylist was a better listener.
There, that’s better! I tipped $5.
3) I also needed to make a quick stop into Winco for gluten-free crackers, tofu and milk — and for the first time ever, I didn’t bother with a shopping cart!
Fastest Winco trip ever!
4) My husband started a can of Spindrift seltzer before leaving for Las Vegas and left it on the entryway table. I stuck it in the fridge and forgot about it until yesterday. Surprisingly it still had a bit of carbonation, so it wasn’t all that much of a “taking one for the team” situation as you’d think.
5) Dinner was a success. The food turned out decent enough and the Costco cheesecake was a hit. (It’s $19.99, but worth the splurge!) My mother invited an old friend and I busted out my View-Master 3-D wedding photos, as this friend did the flowers for the affair.
I’m now back to my “Treat Yourself” week and am dedicating the day to personal indulgence. There will be cheesecake!
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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Your mom is just the cutest in her birthday tiara! Good job on the haircut this time.
Yesterday my sweet old dog had a visit with our wonderful veterinarian, who threw in a free nail trim as part of the exam. We trim the dog’s front nails, but her back ones look like they belong on a dinosaur and are beyond our abilities.
DH and I deployed a 15% off coupon at Ollie’s Outlet to buy sweatshirts, cat litter, a few pantry items, a giant jug of dish detergent, and gallon freezer bags. We averted our eyes from the giant bags of Halloween goodies.
Had the final serving of a quite delicious pot of vegetable chowder for lunch that used up various bits and bobs of frozen veggies and cheese. Used a several-times-washed foam paintbrush to touch up the bathroom ceiling and then washed it again. It’s sort of the designated ceiling brush now. Used a sprinkle of citric acid powder and an old toothbrush to get a stubborn hard water stain off the 75-year-old sink in the laundry room.
Sounds like the birthday dinner was a success, as well as the $5 haircut. Busy day!
I picked up my car this morning and the new carpeting is bee-yoo-tiful. Not cheap but I’m glad I had it done. I wrote a check to avoid a 3% service charge.
Afterwards I dropped off a library book and found I had TWO books on hold, quite the pleasant surprise. I also went to the bank and bought quarters for laundry.
I had beef stew from the freezer for lunch, and it was better than it was the first go-round. Not always the case with frozen food.
I went through a stack of junk mail and threw away most of it, but I did find two letters with enclosed address labels. I do use those, so I was glad to happen upon them.
My postponed trip to Indiana is on for this Saturday, so I am setting aside things to pack. I just wrapped up my friend’s birthday gift — thrifted. She is the only person in my life who enjoys thrifted items, and I enjoy finding things for her!