Five Frugal Things

by Katy on September 14, 2015 · 45 comments

Free pots

  1. My next-door-neighbors threw a big party for the wife’s 40th birthday, which included a keg of lovely microbrew. The husband posted on Facebook about having leftover beer, and that friends were welcome to come by with growlers. (Refillable bottles for beer.) I walked over with a growler at dinnertime, and my husband and I both enjoyed an indulgent beer with our meal. Thank you, Summer and Chris!
  2. I brought home three terra cotta flowerpots that someone had put out for free. I’ll probably just keep one, which is large, in perfect condition and features a delightful bamboo pattern. That is, after I make use of all the free potting soil.
  3. I listed three textbooks on Half.com, which was extremely easy. (It’s a division of eBay, so I didn’t have to go through the steps of setting up an account.) If they all sell, I’ll get $60 towards the ol’ college account. (Two are current, one is older, so we’ll see.) I also listed my freebie set of Cuisinart stainless steel cookware on Craigslist, as well as an extremely fancy clawfoot tub-shower conversion set that my husband and I bought brand new in 2005-ish. We overpaid for it, (and can’t use it) so it’s always made me cringe, so it’s time for it to go away.
  4. I didn’t have enough barbecue sauce for last night’s dinner, so I mixed up some catsup, brown sugar and Sriracha sauce to stretch what we had. Tasted just fine and saved me from having to grocery shop, which would have involved a likely ice cream purchase.
  5. I hung two loads on laundry on the clothesline yesterday, I saved the leftover poppy and sesame seeds from bagel bags for the next time I bake bread and I enjoyed my son’s rec soccer game, rather than the club games he’s been playing the past few years. (Rec soccer costs less than $100 for the year vs. $1500 for club.)

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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{ 45 comments… read them below or add one }

Elise @ Simply Scaled Down September 14, 2015 at 11:51 am

This has not been a terribly frugal week, but it hasn’t been terrible ether.
1) I ran to Target today and found their craft kits on clearance. Stacked with cartwheel and my red card I just got my daughter’s birthday and Christmas taken care of for $36.
2) Yesterday was cold and rainy so I decided to catch up on baking. Our freezer is now stocked with bread, rolls, Banana and chocolate muffins and pancakes.
3) I air dried 2 loads of laundry (but I ran out of space on my rack so goals and sheets are currently draped over all or doors.)
4) I am doing craft shows next month and am trying to not spend any money ey on the booth. I used some store credit to buy some prints to make my booth look nice and painted some old wood for the sign.
5) I spent a luxurious kid free 30 minutes scouring Pinterest for diy gifts for the holidays. No store bought stuff here 🙂

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Monica September 14, 2015 at 12:08 pm

1. I returned an impulse buy to Target. Great to be able to un-do a mistake. $7.00 back in my grocery account.
2. Made my own coffee this morning. This has been difficult to quit Starbucks. I am very good at not buying “extras” but I love a good cup of coffee and even though I can make my Sbux at home, there is something about going there. $2.00 win!
3. I negotiated a 50% credit back to my account after the shoes I purchased for my son weren’t delivered on the day they were scheduled. Thanks Amazon and $23.00 back into my grocery account.
4. Bought the smallest size of Dawn dish soap available for $.97. Used a $.25 coupon so paid $.75 for my favorite dish soap!
5. After returning my impulse buy at Target I HAD to browse around (who doesn’t do this?). Only bought my Dawn dish soap. Saved who knows how much $$ by exerting some self control! NCA win!!

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Drasa September 14, 2015 at 8:19 pm

I am curious on your item #3 – I didn’t know you could do that! Did you just call Amazon? We have definitely had it happen when we were given a day and the product didn’t show (had it happen for a birthday last year…grrr!)

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K D September 16, 2015 at 9:46 am

I read somewhere online (here or on The Frugal Girl blog) that if your order is late Amazon will extend your Prime Membership by a month. It is true they will if you call them, but it is not automatic.

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Chelsea N. September 14, 2015 at 12:15 pm

We’re trying to pay off our truck by Christmas. So far we’ve paid off $23,000 in a year and have some left to go. Were trying to get completely out of debt and a vehicle payment is a mistake we will never make again!
1) I went on the local buy and sell and sold the kids outgrown shoes and some items from the house that we no longer use.
2) I made homemade milk kefir instead of buying it. Better for our guts and better for my wallet.
3) I made “refrigerator and garden soup” using up leftovers and garden produce. This was our supper one night and a couple of lunches for myself. (And boy was it delish!)
4) I made 2 loaves of bread instead of buying them. (We had bread along with our delicious soup)
5) I meal planned for the rest of the month based on what was in the freezer and pantry. Since the freezer is running low on meat, we decided Ill cook a turkey later this week so that we have lots of leftovers to use.

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Ruby September 14, 2015 at 12:27 pm

1. Am wearing a thrift store outfit — Coldwater Creek jeans and a Duckhead shirt — that cost a grand total of $2.
2. Have been having trouble getting soap scum off the tiles in our shower, so I mixed up a batch of homemade scrubbing compound made of Palmolive dish detergent (bought with a coupon) and baking soda. Will give the tiles a good scrub tonight when I take a shower.
3. Mopped the floors this morning using some Spic-n-Span cleaner bought on clearance three years ago. Two big jugs for $1.75, and I still have half of the last jug left, as it’s strong stuff and it only takes a few spoonfuls in a bucket of water to clean the floors.
4. My son needed a hoodie sweatshirt for winter and picked one the other day that was $39. (Picture me holding my head and imitating Evard Munch’s “The Scream”.) I went to the clearance outlet and found a Russell Athletics one for $7.98. He is perfectly happy with the much less expensive one.
5. Made homemade bread and pumpkin muffins yesterday. The pumpkin also came from the clearance outlet at 59 cents a can.

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A. Marie September 14, 2015 at 12:31 pm

(1) Although I applaud Katy’s three free planters, I recommend caution about reusing the potting soil. (Being prudent about possible soil-borne diseases, I generally either toss old potting soil on my compost heap to work things out in the heat there, or bake it in a low oven before reusing.)

(2) Applause for Katy’s BBQ sauce substitution. No reason we all can’t mix up our own BBQ sauce this way, and I’ve been making my own seafood cocktail sauce from a mix of ketchup and horseradish for years.

(3) Got an unexpected $125 check last week for a presentation I thought I did for free for the literary society I belong to. Tee hee! (And, no, I didn’t immediately run out and spend it on an indulgence.)

(4) Got myself started on a fall/winter exercise routine today, inspired in part by Katy’s Rosh HaShanah post. Happy New Year, everybody!

(5) Hanging laundry indoors as usual, now that the two-day rain here has moved on and I can open all the windows onto my indoor drying racks again.

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Katy September 14, 2015 at 12:53 pm

The soil will continue to be in a pot, and it won’t be for food. Could you please let me know the danger?

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A. Marie September 14, 2015 at 1:05 pm

It’s just that you never know what’s been in a previously planted pot. Possibly the plant that was in it before keeled over from some soil-borne disease. No harm, and perhaps some good, in erring on the side of caution.

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cathy September 14, 2015 at 10:03 pm

Rather than soil-borne diseases, I’d think there would be a greater risk that the nutrients in the potting soil would be depleted and that whatever Katy plants might not thrive. That said, you can always top-dress w/ compost. Or take out some of the potting soil and mix in some fresh. Great looking planters! I bet the former owner was sad when that corkscrew grass bit the dust. They’re great plants–if you have a swampy spot.

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Anne September 15, 2015 at 1:15 pm

Cathy, that is what I was thinking, too. Potting soil is only good for so long without being “refreshed.”

Cindy September 15, 2015 at 5:39 am

fungus gnats, fruit fly larvae, aphids, then they take over every plant in your house (been there!)… probably more fun stuff that I’ve never heard of. Thats not to say I wouldn’t use it, maybe just make sure it sits long enough and dries out so that anything that was living in it could die off or go elsewhere.

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Monica September 16, 2015 at 10:09 am

We got gnats from a new bag of potting soil I used to re-pot my indoor plants! They hadn’t had new soil for at least 8 years, so I figured it was time. Never ever had bugs in my indoor plants for more than a decade, so boy was I miffed! I had to spend $10 on sticky traps to insert into each pot. They are catching a lot of the gnats, and will continue to catch them as each cycle of gnat/larvae/baby gnat is born. Cycle could continue for months!

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Katy September 16, 2015 at 10:17 am

Yikes! These pots will be outdoor only, so it shouldn’t be an issue.

Diedra B September 14, 2015 at 12:33 pm

I never thought of saving the seeds in the bagel bag! *smacks forehead*

1. I stuck a pot with leftover rice in the freezer and used it to make oatmeal a few days later. It was too little for anyone to eat and too much to add to a serving. Glad it didn’t go to waste.
2. I went shopping for groceries and stuck to the list
3. I made pantry-clearing pasta e fagioli
4. I used the tortilla chip crumbs in a meatloaf instead of throwing them away or using bread crumbs
5. I popped popcorn on the stove and shared it with my husband while we checked out the new season of Longmire on Netflix instead of going to the movies (as if we would go to the movies… We have a 9-month-old).

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Betty Winslow September 14, 2015 at 1:31 pm

1. Took a walk with a friend this morning – exercise and social life in one!
2. Put 2 lb. of dried kidney beans on the stove to cook, for later freezing and eventual sodium-free use in chili.
3. Nabbed a really nice end table off the curb, brought it home, cleaned it up and listed it on FB for $20. Also listed several more things that have been sitting around waiting to sell.
4. Was gifted with a nice only-used-once travel coffee mug by my husband (which he was given as a freebie) – will keep in car.
5. Stopped at the local bead shop twice this weekend, only bought a foot of chain for a bracelet I want to make (with pearls given to me by a friend) and a bangle to add charms to, for my granddaughter’s Xmas gift. Y’all have NO idea how much will power that took….
6. a bonus – spent the weekend at a mostly free local arts/music festival, only bought a couple of art postcards and a small pottery vase, and instead of eating downtown at the festival like we usually do, we ate at home and only bought snacks at the festival, saving a big chunk of change.

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Patience September 14, 2015 at 1:58 pm

1) Rode my bike to and from work this morning (about a two mile round-trip)….

2) Reinforced with some iron-on patching (from the inside) a pair of denim capris that were starting to show wear in the inner leg area….

3) Made a Shepherd’s Pie for tonight’s dinner from leftover green beans simmered in broth (which was turned into gravy for the casserole), leftover homemade Black Bean Loaf from last week, plus garden zucchini, garden chives, and garden corn frozen a few weeks ago.

4) Went to a party Saturday wearing cute ‘mary-jane’ style flats picked up at Goodwill for a couple of bucks last month (this was quite a big deal actually because I was ‘blessed’ with size 11 feet, so rarely ever find anything my size)….

5) My mother donated money to some charity — in return they keep sending her packets of greetings cards, more than she can ever use herself, so she passed a bunch on to me, so that I now have a sizable stash of free greeting cards….

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Theresa September 14, 2015 at 2:14 pm

1- Mended 2 sports bras in which the underwire had poked out holes on the side
2- Waterproofed my old hiking boots in preparation for winter (they’re my only winter boots & are complete when paired with warm socks and gaiters if there’s enough snow)
3- Put my coupons for free items at the grocery store on the counter so I will remember to use them before they expire (free bottle of Dawn, free bananas up to 3 lbs, free apple juice–which we’ll donate)
4- My husband found his Baylor Bears game on our cable line-up so he didn’t have to leave the house to watch them and therefore avoided spending money out
5- Put in a few hours at my part-time job

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Allison September 14, 2015 at 4:35 pm

I never thought of putting gaiters with my hiking boots for snow. Thanks! We rarely get snow, but I have both things and will now be set.

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Mary September 15, 2015 at 2:42 am

Me neither. Great idea!

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Marilyn September 14, 2015 at 2:27 pm

1. Listed old TV/entertainment unit on Freecycle. It is a nice piece of furniture (oak) which we bought about 15 years ago at a yard sale. However, it is designed for an older model TV, not the new flat-screen models, so it would probably be impossible to sell it. Even the thrift shop was not interested in it. The local consignment shop told me that they do not want anything made of oak, as it is not selling right now. I’m hoping someone can use it because it is still in good condition and it would be sad if it ended up in the trash.
2. Sorted through the holiday decorations and listed some of the Halloween stuff for sale on Craigslist. Now that the kids have grown up and moved out, we don’ t decorate like we used to.
3. Also, inspired by others who comment here, I decided to try making a little money by buying something which I think I can resell at a profit. At a yard sale, I found a nice quilt which looks to hand-stitched for sale for an amazing $4. I listed it for $20 which is still a bargain in my opinion.
4. Continued to get exercise by walking daily with a group of neighbors.
5. Stopped at the Dollar Store this weekend for the soap that I like (Yardley’s) and a new pocket calendar (a school-year calendar, September 2015 – September 2016).

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Loretta September 14, 2015 at 3:06 pm

1) Made lamb burgers with mince from the freezer for dinner
2) Made The Frugal Girl’s fluffy hamburger rolls to go with the burgers.
3) Picked my own lettuce, and used husband’s home-made mustard on the above.
4) Picked beetroot leaves, homegrown capsicum and an egg from my chooks to have for lunch.
5) Spent 4 hours in the garden yesterday, weeding, and getting the vege patch organised for this Spring.
PLUS
6) Took advantage of a hot and windy spring day by doing as many loads of washing as I could and line-drying it all (including quilts and bedding). Love the smell of outdoor line-dried clothing (I still line-dry in winter, but it has to be indoors and is very messy and takes ages!)

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CWA September 14, 2015 at 3:35 pm

leftover microbrew beer? How is that possible? When I serve beer from my home brew 5 gallon soda kegs, I just keep it under pressure until I want another. I put the 2 1/2 or 3 gallon keg in the mini fridge to stay cool until consumed. If I am using av5 gallon keg at a party, I transfer it to the smaller kegs if needed. Never any wasted beer.

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pattilou September 14, 2015 at 3:40 pm

1. I went to a local arts fair this weekend. While I did buy 4 Christmas gifts (3 of which were 75% off in the Art Center’s store), I did not cave and eat from the Mac and Cheese food truck. The fact that it was raining probably helped!
2. Today I cut my grass using the new weed wacker that was given to me as a gift. I can’t use a lawn mower because the yard is hilly. I was able to do my yard and my neighbors much faster with the new machine.
3. Even though I was tempted to get take out after the lawn work, I made myself go to the grocery store instead. I did cave and buy some Klondike bars! I stopped at the library on the way.
4. picked up the free item of the week from the grocery store – a can of soup which will go to the food bank.
5. I made chocolate chip banana muffins with bananas that needed to be used up.
6. hung the laundry up to dry.

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Marcia September 14, 2015 at 4:05 pm

Katy–If by tub-shower conversion kit, you mean the faucet and tubing that makes a ring for the shower, I happen to be looking for a good one of those. Can you give me a link to Craigslist or photo? Willing to pay shipping if it’s ship-able.

MRgasport@aol.com

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Bobbi September 14, 2015 at 4:26 pm

My frugal things are pretty routine and not very exciting:
1. Found some great prices on some non-perishables at Grocery Outlet like dried beans and canned enchilada sauce. Also, I don’t typically buy soda but I have a friend visiting who I know likes Coke Zero, and Grocery Outlet had a 20-can case for $5, so I bought that for his visit.
2. Batched errands to save gas: grocery, post office, my office to check mail, bank.
3. Haven’t bought anything except groceries.
4. Cooking dinners at home, and using leftovers for work lunches.
5. Started a batch of limoncello that will be ready before Christmas. I’ll bottle it for holiday gifts. I think I’ll price vanilla beans to look into making vanilla extract for holiday gifts too, because I have some people on my gift list who don’t drink alcohol.

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Vickie September 14, 2015 at 4:42 pm

1) We just returned from 5 glorious days on the lake with family in a rental unit. It was a lot of fun. My in-laws are frugal people, so we all pitched in on groceries and had grilled foods and brisket with veggies. My BIL is an excellent cook!
2) The rental included a pontoon boat, which was nice. None of us had ever stayed on Grand Lake, so we cruised around checking out all the nice homes and boat docks. We spent one day at Crystal Bridges Art Museum, which was free. We ate lunch there, but salads and water are cheaper than other entrees.
3) I paid off two bills today and I’m working on two more. Freedom comes with each debt paid and I finally have an emergency fund. Yay!
4) It would have been nice to spoil myself with a pedicure before vacation, but I gave myself one instead. Looked just as nice and saved me $30.
5) I didn’t buy a Lear jet or a Yacht, but I saw a few yachts at the Lake. They were pretty, but all that money spent on such luxuries kept rolling through my mind and made me even more grateful for the nice pontoon we were enjoying!

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Isabelle September 14, 2015 at 4:54 pm

* Exchanged PC points for 20$ worth of free groceries
* 2 for 1 offer on yogourts, minus 1$ off coupon = good deal
* Re-watching my dvd collection of The Big Bang Theory, getting ready for season 8 (I asked for it for Christmas and will be waiting for it)
* Borrowing my bookclub reads from the library instead of buying them
* Stretching meat with lentils (half and half) to make shepherd pie

Have a great frugal day!

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Kim from Philadelphia September 14, 2015 at 5:09 pm

-I simmered the carcass from a $4.99 Costco chicken in the crock pot. Stage 1 for chicken soup! Thanks, Katy, for the crock pot idea instead of tending a simmering pot!

– decided to forgo a trip to the grocery. Making do with what we have and cleaning out the fridge and pantry.

– while seeking and cleaning the planting beds I came across 2 small perennials I bought discounted last month. I forgot to plant them and they dried out. So I trimmed them down, planted them, and will hope for the best. If Ibtossed them they’d have zero chance of coming back next year!

– we all have off tomorrow; given the nice weather we’ll drive to the beach. We’ll pack lunch, drinks, and snacks.

– camcelled my $10 a month gym
Membership. I’ve been consistently walking outside in lieu of the elliptical.

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Chris September 14, 2015 at 5:46 pm

Got back from a trip to DC to visit family:
1. rode metro except late night returns when we used Uber – safe and secure.
2. our hotel (the one where we usually stay) was cheaper than in past and we ate good healthy breakfast there each day.
3. as we were leaving to head to the metro to get to the airport, the hotel shuttle pulled in and we were able to ride that to the airport – cheaper and way quicker.
4. we ended up in the last row of the plane and the flight attendant gave us many extra bags of peanuts and pretzels because as she said “no one else can see what I’m giving you back here”.
5. rode public transportation home rather than a taxi though the train ended up in a bus ride which made us miss our connection to the bus home (need to make sure we check on train advisories next time) so we ended up walking the last 1/2 mile. But after sitting in the plane, it was good to stretch our legs!

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Robin September 14, 2015 at 6:05 pm

1) had my husband cut up the wood from our aprium tree to dry for firewood rather than just putting it in the green waste.

2) Started turning off our fountain at night, why leave it running when we don’t enjoy it?

3) bought my son some pants and shorts from a thrift store – these are for our earthquake kit.

4) visited the library with my kiddo who was like a kid in a candy store.

5) cancelled my (4) dogs grooming appt and rebooked it for the end of December. I will deal with their hair growing out and trim it myself as needed.

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Sharon September 14, 2015 at 6:10 pm

*Cancelled my snack subscription. $10/ month saved. It was my healthy treat to myself, but I need the money more.
* made “Italian style” sub sandwiches for a camping trip, then some people could not go. I froze the extra sammies and will use them for work lunches in the up coming weeks.
* Went camping, as I mentioned, only $15 for fun without electronics and got to sleep outside as Fall ushered itself in in an overnight rainstorm.
* Walked doggies with a friend. We got to catch up and exercise, the dogs got to do the same!
* As soon as I post this, I am going to prep yellow and green zucchini for the freezer. I have been putting this off. By committing to it here, I will be sure to do it and be frugal! Thanks!

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auntiali September 14, 2015 at 6:59 pm

1. Dh got sick this weekend and stayed home from work today. Thank God for paid sick days.
2. Found a nickel in a parking lot.
3. Scrounged up stuff for dh and I to have for supper.
4. Watched Real Housewives of Orange County when it was on – no dvr for me.
5. Dh is taking OTC meds which I bought last winter on sale.

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Kim September 14, 2015 at 8:04 pm

1) Went for a “walkie-talkie” as we call them, with a friend this morning. Free exercise and it’s good to talk to a trusted friend.
2) Another friend offered to treat me to lunch, which we walked to.
3) Found 2 – 1$ bills folded together laying in the middle of the street while walking to lunch.
4) Quick and frugal dinner of (99 cent) can of tomato soup and tuna melt sandwiches. Everything was on hand, and no complaints from son or hubby.
5) Suppose to rain tonight so that should help out with our drought ravaged garden.

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Mary September 15, 2015 at 3:02 am

1. So excited to say that I completely emptied my freezer of random small servings. Frozen black beans , homemade chicken noodle soup, diced peppers/onions, corn, tomato sauce, sloppy joe sauce, buns, bananas, etc. I am thrilled to start over!
2. Found a shiny dime on my walk yesterday.
3. Shredded lots of scrap paper/mail to use as bunny bedding. This saves my daughter from buying it. We compost it after using.
4. Line dried clothes. My sweet neighbor gifted me her handmade clothespin bag, full of pins, that she hasn’t used in years. I think she likes how I line dry like she used to.
5. Picked green and wax beans from the garden I planted with another neighbor. I contribute the rototiller from my shady yard and she contributes the land in her sunny yard. Win win!

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Melissa September 15, 2015 at 3:34 am

Congratulations on your freezer victory. That has been my goal since….forever? (Things aren’t going to waste but other randomness keeps getting added in so I’m never finished!)

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Juhli September 15, 2015 at 3:23 am

You have the best luck with curbside finds! This week were small frugals at my house.
1. Mended 2 shirts and upcycled another. Added an old decorative button and snap to an open front sweater that I haven’t been wearing because it didn’t close.
2. Mended an old quilt I use to protect the bedding from the dog.
3. Made what I call hodgepodge soup using up all leftover veggies and bit of chicken. Blended the leftover acorn squash into the homemade chicken broth and added some beans and Israeli couscous.
4. Borrowed a stack of books and some ebooks from the library as usual.
5. Our weekend “date” was a long walk on a reclaimed rail way with an inexpensive lunch at the turnaround point. A beautiful Fall day before the weather warms up again.

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Deborah September 15, 2015 at 6:39 am

I have been following your blog for a month now and thank you for your inspired suggestions for stretching our dollars and preserving the earth’s resources. Double win–now my beginner five frugal things:
1) Hung clothes on the clothes line to dry.
2) Walked to bank and card store to save my gas–making concerted effort to minimize my car trips and get additional walking time.
3) Picked up a few empty soda cans on my walk which I will return for bottle deposit.
4) Instead of buying a container of ice cream to bring home, I ransacked my pantry and found some pudding mix to make for dessert instead.
5) Did not buy a Lear jet.

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Bettypants September 15, 2015 at 8:33 am

1. Brought leftover homemade chicken spaetzel soup for lunch yesterday and today.
2. Sold a set of books on ebay for a $12 profit.
3. Missed bidding on an underpriced Lia Sophia necklace I had my eye on, but then found a different necklace that I used to stalk. This one had a significantly lower buy it now price, so I snapped it up.
4. We’re enjoying a cold snap, so I made fresh bread 2 days in a row.
5. My son is at the age where he can get off the bus and stay home alone for 45 minutes until an adult is home. We are saving $40 weekly on after school care fees. But the biggest benefit is how he is enjoying the responsibility.

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JD September 15, 2015 at 9:30 am

1. Finishing the last of the eggplant parmesan for lunch at work, featuring eggplant from our container garden and the last pieces of parmesan cheese off the rind.
2. Pickled peppadew-type peppers bought from a local farmer, cheap. My husband loves them pickled, but they are $9.99 a pound at the store’s “olive bar.” My husband used my old corer to core them and is saving the seeds. We hope to be growing our own next year. These seeds are supposed to be heirloom seeds, and knowing this farmer, they really are.
3. Ran errands for work, so I’ll get mileage reimbursement. I’ll get 57 cents a mile, and my ancient economy car doesn’t use nearly that much in gas. Walking is not an option, where I work so I have to have my car here anyway.
4. Enjoying the unexpected cool spell in September in Florida! I turned off the A/C and opened the windows. Ahhhh. I can just feel my bill lowering. The heat isn’t over — it’s not uncommon to have upper 80’s in October, even 90 — but I’ll take this break for as long as it lasts.
5. My husband has to travel five days a week for medical treatment, and it’s not far enough for our insurance to reimburse us (we are 1.04 miles short of the required amount of miles, if you can believe it). However, while in the city, he gets the car fueled for 20 cents less a gallon than here in our little town, gets the big-city sales on groceries, and watches for bargains on garden needs and such. He can reach all these places in a small area near his treatment center. There’s one good thing about his trips.

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Johanna September 15, 2015 at 10:19 am

1. Baked from scratch German apple cake (in muffin form) with apples picked from our trees, froze several for future use, and gave my parents 6 to enjoy. (I am proud, as I do not often bake!)
2. Made a strange but satisfying soup for our lunches this week made from lima beans (provided by WIC), chicken, corn, and half a head of cabbage that needed used up ASAP.
3. Am gifting my daughter’s outgrown clothes to my sister-in-law and brother, who have recently taken on two children who needed emergency foster care.
4. Graciously and gratefully received two meals worth of frozen fish as a gift!
5. I gave a co-worker a package of Organic Steel Cut oats that I found on clearance for $1.50 as a gift, and she insisted on reimbursing me 2.00$ I tried to refuse it, but she was not taking no for an answer.

I honestly appreciate coming here to this sight and consciously having to think about all I do for my family in order to get by.. and it has helped me further my waste reduction and really helped me to look at regular, simple things in a different light.. I am proud of myself .. Thank you !!

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amber September 15, 2015 at 11:09 am

1- Took the money that husband and I earned from our part-time job and applied it to the principal of our house.
2- Went to some yard sales and bought a few kids clothes $1.50 and new speakers for our computer $5.
3- On Saturday for lunch and supper we ate all the leftovers from the fridge from the pass week. We were able to finish everything.
4- I have been able to hang dry all of of laundry the last two days because the humidity has finally left Kentucky.(For now a least)
5- I saved the most exciting for last. We picked up off the curb an ironman stationary electrical bike. We brought it home, plugged it in and it works great! I used it last night and my husband has used it twice.
http://www.amazon.com/Ironman-Viper-Recumbent-Exercise-Bike/dp/B001G8WNLY/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8

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Sarah September 15, 2015 at 8:37 pm

(1) Picked up a free dog igloo for the pup left out on the side of the road. Sage went in and sniffed around but she’s not in love yet. If she ends up hating it I can sell it on craigs. (2) 3 free paintings from my neighbor. 2 landscapes and 1 slightly creepy monkey (slightly creepy monkey may have to find a new home). (3) Free cleats from the consignment shop (well, they felt free because I had some credit left over from a previous drop off) – son will no longer limp around the soccer field 🙂 (4) snacked on grape tomatoes from the yard (5) sold 2 more thrift finds on my vintage Etsy site (a painting I picked up for $2.50 and a pie plate I found at GW.

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Katy September 16, 2015 at 8:08 am

Hooray for reselling free stuff! This stuff is there for the taking, so why not bring it home, scrub it down and make some money?

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Katy September 15, 2015 at 3:28 pm

I can add compost.

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