Daily Lil' Frugalities Sure Do Add Up!
I try my best to pay attention to the frugal moments in my life so I can create content for the blog, but oftentimes my daily frugalities aren't unique enough to create "wow" moments. Yesterday is a perfect example of this, as it was technically frugal from start to finish, but also . . . nothing was too exciting.
- I darned half a sock for my mother while watching thrifting YouTube videos.
- I ran over to Dollar Tree to pick up three two-packs of bar soap for $1.25 apiece. We use these in the shower. I tore off the the cardboard packaging top for the backup one we keep in the bathroom. This dries it out, which supposedly makes it last longer.
- I also bought two boxes of $1.25 Dollar Tree "Entertainer" crackers.
- I found a penny on the ground outside the store.
- I stopped at the Goodwill near Winco Foods and walked out with two bags of mixed plastic animals for $4.99 and $6.99 apiece. I'll sort through them to sell on eBay. I paid for these myself so they won't be part of the $100 Goodwill Gift Card Challenge.
- I also thrifted a $1.99 cute box of menorah candles. A favor to my future self.
- I did my grocery shopping at Winco to buy staples such as milk, tortillas, eggs, string cheese, veggies, ginger root, yogurt and rice. My total was $36.19.
- I nabbed two 5¢ packages of Chex mix seasoning from the clearance shelf. I thought it might be yummy sprinkled over popcorn. I'll let you know.
- I used my own bags, which saved me 10¢, essentially paying for the Chex seasoning packets.
- I tried out an Instagram recipe for homemade chana masala and planned it early enough to cook the bulk purchased garbanzo beans in my Instant Pot. The recipe turned out super bland, so I added a lot of extra things to bring up the flavor profile. (Thai curry paste, paprika, lemon juice, oyster sauce, soy sauce, chili flakes, MSG and white pepper.) In the end it turned out amazing. Top notch!
The chana masala cost maybe $4 to make, including the rice, crushed tomatoes and coconut milk. There's enough for leftovers, so it'll cost less than $1 per serving.
- I darned the second part of the sock in the evening while watching Breaking Bad with my husband.
Nothing here was AMAZING!! WOW!! enough to knock anyone's socks off, but it definitely added up.
Today I'll put together the plastic animal eBay listings and take care of a few things around the house. I might even hit the Goodwill bins for more challenge inventory. The best part is that I won't need to expend an ounce of energy planning dinner, as we can simply heat up yesterday's leftovers! Thank you, yesterday Katy!
Katy Wolk-Stanley
"Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without."
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You must be reading my mind, because I was just looking at Chana masala recipes! I add chickpeas (aka Chana) to a lot of my recipes, to stretch the protein, and I thought to myself that maybe I should try to cook chana masala.
Like you, I have no exciting frugal moves to report.
I’m curious to see whether the plastic animals make you rich! 😉
Leftovers are the best!
FIL was super frugal in the everyday stuff and my young self kind of scoffed at it. But by 52, I see that it really does make a big difference over time.
I'm staying with my son, Dil and grandchildren. I've helped with gardening and fruit tree pruning. I bought In n Out one night (much more frugal than any other take out) and provided countless hours of childcare. I brought my own food (super restricted diet) which takes no time to prep and is very simple. But it fills me up and keeps me going. Frozen homemade soup for 2 dinners, cheese on toast for one dinner. Lunches are always half an apple, cheese and plantain chips. Breakfasts are all yogurt with homemade quinoa granola and homemade persimmon muffins (free persimmons). No money spent this week except the In n Out
1. I made too many egg noodles the other day so I turned the rest into tuna noodle casserole using items I had on hand.
2. I gave myself a pedicure and waxed my own eyebrows.
3. The weather has been awful so I've stayed home. No spending, or falling on ice or sliding my car into a ditch etc.
4. I cleared the snow out of my driveway again.
5. I found a handful of half full travel toothpastes leftover from vacations. I've put them in my bathroom drawer to use up.
Lindsay if you're reading this, I am thinking of you and hoping for a miracle.
Leftovers are the best. My cousin gave me 3 packages of mystery meat. I treat it like a chopped cooking show episode. Turned out to be sirloin steak bits, I browned them, simmered in a oyster mushroom onion sauce and finished it off with the last of the heavy whipping cream. Served with oven roasted sweet potatoes and a kale salad with hot bacon vinaigrette. My kale in the garden is still growing strong with our 27f nights.
Working on the flower beds while we have good weather.
I have been eating out of canned foods and the freezer. We have had some interesting meals. I am planning my garden thru gardening books and youtube videos. I am trying to expand into more variety of vegetables. I go to the library for books and conversation. My husband and I have been walking every day for fresh air and exercise.