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I finished reading my library copy of Lisa See’s Peony in Love, which I started last month and somehow set aside. It’s an intense novel, and I do better with these types of books when I dedicate the time to reading them in sustained stretches. Worth it!
For those looking for gripping book recommendations, may I suggest Lisa See’s The Island of Sea Women and The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane. Both amazing novels that I wish I could read for the first time all over again.
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I enjoyed a filling and tasty tuna melt, made with a 28¢ can of Starkist tuna, between two slices from a $1 loaf of Franz rye bread. My dinner also featured an entire 50¢ container of raspberries from the Fred Meyer clearance shelf.
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I happened to be at my laptop when an email popped up offering free Supercuts training center “long layer” haircuts. They only had one spot available, but I responded in under a minute and now have an appointment to get my straggly hair under control. For free. Free!
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I bought a $13.79 box of chocolate dipped biscotti at Costco and dropped them off at an amazing LGBTQ+ health clinic that I can only imagine receives their unfair share of negative attention. I love that Portland has these important resources and I want to nothing more than to shower them with love. I’d make something from scratch, but know that food from a stranger is better when it’s sealed and trustworthy.
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I sold a trio of vintage Mary Engelbreit Home magazines on eBay that I swear I listed around fifteen years ago. I subscribed to this magazine back in the day and loved how they shined a light on artists’ homes and studios — so creative and inspiring! Each issue featured a paper doll on cardstock, but I sold those for a pretty penny in 2005 or so. These late 1990s/early 2000s magazine predate the blandifying effect of HGTV on the American public.
Five Frugal Things — Book Recommendations, an eBay Sale & Free Haircuts!
Previous post: Five Frugal Things — Bins, Mugs & Bags
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
1. Due to an error with my grocery delivery last week, I received $40 in coupons. Combined with a $10 rewards voucher, I saved $50 on my grocery delivery this week. As I knew I had this coming, I stocked up on a few items such as coffee beans, pasta, and some glass containers that we are slowly phasing out the plastics in our reusable container drawer – when on sale. This is partly due to concerns about micro plastic and partly because the autistics in the family can taste when things are stored in plastic. All in all, saved $50 plus a further $75 in half price deals.
2. About half of our glass containers we got free from our local buy nothing group.
3. Put a hold on three books at the library and they have all come in. Free reading.
4. After a quiet week, suddenly have high demand for my services. I’m a freelancer so I takes it when I gets it – which is usually pretty often, thankfully.
Wow, being able to taste when something was stored in plastic is a superpower!
I read The Island of Sea Women and it was very good but there was one scene that I wish I had not read, it was quite brutal.
Love your Nr. 3!
* Sold a phone case on Vinted. Vinted sales have been great, however, stuff sells for a lower price than through other platforms. Since I am also on the receiving end (I have bought multiple things on Vinted) that is fine with me. And it keeps stuff out of landfill!
* A friend is lending me her dehydrator so I can make dried apple slices from the remainder of our bumper crop of apples!
* The same friend and myself went to a free art exhibition in a beautiful hotel that I had always wanted to see. As the exhibition was all over the hotel we did indeed get to see the whole building as well as the garden.
* Latest freebies from my son’s job (expired but still good): keto bread (3 packets) and goat butter. The goat butter was a first for us, never had goat butter before! It’s delicious.
* Recent favourite library read: We must be brave (Frances Liardet)
Actually meant to say love your Nr. 4! But also love your Nr 3 of course 🙂
I loved We must be brave- there is also a prequel or sequel (can’t remember which) also was good.
I don’t have much to add. A free haircut sounds great. I made veggie burgers from this recipe:
https://cookieandkate.com/best-veggie-burger-recipe/
These burgers can be put in the freezer and easily thawed. They make a great fast food when I don’t feel like cooking. I’m eating the excess sweet potato for breakfast. I will be walking for the third day in row with a friend. Free exercise and excellent for my mental health.
Thank you, Jill! I’m going to make up a batch of those burgers today. They sound delicious, and I love the idea of them for breakfast!
1) Definitely not frugal, but worth every penny: I went to the dentist yesterday regarding my dental pain. Turns out I have not 1, but 2 abcessed teeth. Root canals are NOT in the budget (no dental insurance), so my dentist extracted the worst of the 2 and I feel great relief. I go back in October to get the other one done. It’s still tender this morning, but feels so much better. Nice thing is my dentist will let me make payments, so I can chip away at the bill before the other tooth is extracted.
2) DH’s birthday and our anniversary are both in October, so we will splurge some there. We have invited another couple, who have done a lot for us, to be our guests for Thanksgiving. It’s the only day I have off (my Amish have school Friday and Monday where all my other schools have off), so I refuse to cook. We are taking them to a restaurant that specializes in turkey dinners all year long. Other than Thanksgiving day, I am committed to a “NO SPEND NOVEMBER.”
3) I wear diabetic orthodic shoes that my insurance pays for 1 pair a year. I keep the previous 2 years pairs for “slop.” One set of laces broke, so I moved the laces from the oldest pair to the pair with the broken laces. I didn’t want to toss the sneakers and I didn’t want to buy laces. I took 2 zip ties we had and put those on the shoes…loose enough I can slip them on – tight enough that I don’t feel like they’re going to fall off my feet.
4) DH’s phone got decontaminated yesterday. $60 + taxes and fees as opposed to $200+ for a new phone and new carrier. He still insists on a new phone while really only needs a new carrier, but it’s his money, not mine.
5) Going to make a shoo fly cake today with ingredients I already have. Personally, I don’t like it, but it will make DH, DH’s DB, DH’s DS, and my DS happy.
I forgot – I got 4 delicious chocolate chip cookies from one of my Amish kids this morning. Nice treat!
1. I have foot problems and have learned that good shoes are worth the money for me. I needed a replacement for my well-worn solid black shoes. New ones cost $139, plus tax, plus shipping. New mostly black shoes with a red sole cost $71 all in, and I picked up a bottle of black shoe paint for $6 to go around the visible portion of the sole. Some people pay more for a red sole!
2. Found 20 cents on the street.
3. Thought about ordering food delivery after a long day at work, then made myself toast and eggs for an easy frugal dinner.
4. Traded a shirt I wasn’t wearing for a bra in an online Buy Sell Trade group.
5. Hand-washed lots of work clothing instead of dry cleaning.
Just want to say that I LOVE your #4.
I agree!!!!
Hi! I have been selling some of my own things online finally and I was just wondering what your system is for finding things you listed so long ago! I have already misplaced an entire coat somehow.
1. Got my car back all to myself, now that grandson went off to college. He cleaned up the car pretty well, but left $5 in one of the bins. I pocketed it, but will give it back in his next birthday present.
2. Getting the car necessitated a walk past the little free pantry. It was well-filled, mostly with day-old bread. I took a loaf of thin-sliced 12-grain bread. I am already well -fixed with rye, brioche, and honey wheat. I was thrilled to find a can of salmon.
3. Yesterday for lunch I made garbage salad (whatever is on hand) and poor man’s lasagna (broken ends of lasagna, cream cheese and mozzarella, marinara with beef). I told a friend and she said it sounded dreadful but was probably delicious. It wasn’t quite delicious, but just fine. Leftovers today.
4. Went to Jewel to spend my $10 credit for exercising regularly. The $10 only bought a container of creamer and a jar of peanuts. I also picked up a small yogurt, which put me over by 75¢.
5. Went to the bank and traded in a twenty for two rolls of quarters. Getting ready for the next round of laundry.
One of my favorite restaurants (sadly now out of business) had lasagna on the menu for decades and it was much like what you made. Instead of a traditional layered lasagna, it was more of a lasagna casserole with pieces of lasagna pasta rather than sheets. It was delicious!
Katy, your #4 reminds me that now that I’m out of my temporary cash flow crunch, I need to resume donating (both financially and physically) to charities dear to my heart. Among the few ways we can fight the many-headed beast are our wallets and our involvement.
Now, FFT, More from This Past Week Edition:
(1) In the course of our wanderings last Friday, Grad School BFF and I stopped into a new-to-me shop in a small complex in the ‘burbs that’s arisen from an old lumberyard. This shop carries, among other things, fairly unstructured clothing made with the most gorgeous fabrics (many of them from India and Latin America) and reasonably priced. When BFF tried on a type of poncho called a “ruana” in an amazing fabric that suited her blonde coloring to a T, I impulsively threw on another one in another amazing fabric that suited my brunette coloring. BFF insisted on buying both on the spot–which I allowed her to do, on condition that mine will be both my Xmas present this year and my birthday present next year. So it’s a small frugality for her (since she saves money on shipping), and a large one for me.
(2) BFF came along with me for the ride to my local JASNA region’s meeting on Saturday, since her original Saturday plans fell through. She didn’t attend the meeting itself (our topic was Sanditon–the unfinished manuscript, not the TV series–and she hasn’t read it), but she occupied herself happily in browsing the big Barnes & Noble where we meet. And she, I, and JASNA Panera enjoyed coffee together (discounted with our B&N memberships) after the meeting.
(3) JASNA Panera also brought me the usual plethora of Panera day-old goods, including eight souffles (which NDN1, my next-door neighbor with cognitive issues, was delighted to get) and several loaves of bread. I kept half a loaf of sourdough and a whole loaf of tomato/basil bread for myself, and distributed the rest among our Sunday evening dinner guests.
(4) And I’ve been happily feasting on all the Sunday evening leftovers that I couldn’t persuade our guests to take.
(5) Finally, I got myself over to my Wegmans pharmacy first thing this morning and got my flu and COVID vaccines. Thank goodness for good old NY State, where access to these isn’t yet restricted.
Is it possible that you have not read Lisa See’s “Snow Flower And The Secret Fan?” (You didn’t list it) That book I found electrifying on how it explained and then described the archaic custom of foot binding. Haunting.
Otherwise, I’ve read all the Lisa See books you listed – so enjoy her!
I haven’t read that one yet, but am putting it hold at the library. Thanks!
Used my DENTAL BENEFITS on my medicare advantage plan before the year runs out! Got $1600 of new crowns for ZERO copay! Also an exam and cleaning.FREE!!
Cleaned out freezer, organized and found some good lunches and dinners in there,don’t need to grocery shop for a while!!!!
Talked husband OUT OF solar panels for our home. Long story.not interested at this time for many reasons. Saved a ton of $ on that idea!
THANK YOU for bringing a little joy to the LGBT+ folks.I worked at Planned Parenthood and we were often a primary care center for that community as they were treated poorly elsewhere.I am retired and I know PP lacks funding and support right now..I hope there are services available SOMEWHERE to support our diverse populations who need health care and dignity.
Oh, I loved Mary Engelbreit and all of her creations! Including the magazine. All of her things are just darling! I have a little M.E. wall clock I need to put back up.
Very sweet of you to remember the clinic. I had a friend who used to work at Planned Parenthood and you have no idea the scary stuff they have to endure from those who oppose such things.
1. I got my little mini oven working and baked biscuits this morning. Won’t need a kitchen oven with this thing! (I think I’ve already written that I got it from Ollie’s Outlet for $62 and tax, minus the 10% coupon I had.) The only thing I’d need a big oven for would be a Thanksgiving turkey, and I can happily sub a TV dinner for that.
2. Colossal frugal fail involving trying to “frost” that pesky west window. Colossal write-up on it over a Frugal Girl’s blog; in the interest of space, I won’t copy and paste it here. Let’s just say I have the DIY skills of Tom Hanks in “Money Pit,” the Three Stooges and Lucy and Ethel, all rolled into one.
3. The AC is off due to rain-cooled temperature outside — 70 degrees F. Absolute heaven! (Yesterday’s high was 97.)
4. Used another 10% coupon at Ollie’s Outlet. Got some 99-cent birthday cards in the cart, along with some dog bones for Snuggles.
5. Watched Jimmy Kimmel’s monologue, then when he finished, changed channels just in time to see Gov. Gavin Newsome’s interview on Stephen Colbert. I hope both are online for everyone to view, as they are absolutely worth your time. Oh, and even BBC World ran excerpts from Kimmel’s remarks along with a long story on him.