- I gave a small stack of Real Simple and Martha Stewarts to someone from my Buy Nothing group who wanted magazines for a vision board. Of course, they were free subscriptions from trading in random airline miles through MagsforMiles.com.)
- I was craving comfort food, so I prepared The Pioneer Woman’s pot roast for dinner. This may seem like an odd “frugal thing,” but the $17 chuck roast will feed the three of us for two days. And two days of luxurious meals for $17? Much more frugal than anything from a restaurant. Sometimes frugality costs a little extra. As a bonus, I used up the last of the mashed potatoes from Thanksgiving!
- My son bought a shirt at the consignment shop that had deliberate split seams up the sides, so I took a needle and thread to it, and was able to alter it to his liking.
- I just finished binge-watching The Man in The High Castle through my mother’s Amazon Prime account. I think I might be ready cancel Netflix or at least talk to my sister about sharing an account.
- I didn’t buy a Lear Jet.
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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{ 42 comments… read them below or add one }
Cooking at home, even ‘luxury’ cooking is almost always cheaper than going to a restaurant. My husband and I buy more expensive treat items on holiday in a rental with a kitchen and it’s nicer than a restaurant, and cheaper.
We did the same last year. We went all out and bought the nicest things we could think of for Xmas lunch for the four of us, and it still only cost $40. And there were leftovers. And we were stuffed as pigs. Xmas lunch out would have cost at least $100 each (fair enough, as they have to pay staff so much more). But we had a lovely meal for $10 each.
1. I calculated my savings from reducing my coffee buying habit. I have saved $115 in six weeks. Gulp. It is my ‘blow’ money, but still. That’s a lot of money wasted on Java. The latte factor is a real thing.
2. I passed all my exams. I studied my guts out while working full time. There was a physical, emotional, and social toll, as well as the financial cost of that study time, so I am relieved to have passed well.
3. I have almost purchased everything for Christmas lunches. We are hosting one, and attending three, so it is good to have almost everything sorted.
4. Ditto Christmas gifts. Almost everything purchased. All paid for with hard cash.
5. Went thrift shopping today and for $20 bought two new pairs of jeans for me, a microscope for my youngest, which almost completes her Christmas shopping, a new large picture frame with matting, and a flash bulb. My husband has taken up old school film photography, like the hipster he is. Only vinyl records, fuzzy beards, and flash bulbs for him.
The key to #1 is to take that $115 savings and stash it! Either to pay debt or savings. And congrats on the exams!
Wow. I surely have always known that all those cups do add up, but to actually see another ‘real life’ example and numbers is mind blowing. Yep. Agree with Lauren. The $115 gotta be going straight into a savings account 😉
At the moment it is sitting in my wallet. My husband and I each receive spending money as part of our budget. The $115 is my spending money – it is what I was previously spending on coffee (not household money, if that makes sense). So I am saving it, but I am not sure for what. What I have noticed over the past year or so is that my ‘wants’ have diminished. When I go to a shop, I rarely see much that interests me.
Congratulations for your exams! So great that all your hard work and sacrifice paid off.
Thank you! It is a great relief – almost done!
I completely agree with #2, and I’d love to see the finished shirt!
1. Had a very busy Saturday yesterday and could have easily eaten out for lunch or dinner. Instead, I made some chili mac for lunch (even used frozen chopped peppers from this summer’s garden), and steak & roasted veggies for dinner. Like your #2, enjoying quality food at home is a frugal win compared to a restaurant. And watching three girls gobble up quality grass-fed beef and all kinds of roasted veggies is worth it’s weight in gold!
2. When my family wakes up, I’m making a pancake recipe that I got from the NCA FB page. Good stuff over there!
3. Have gotten better at taking coffee in my re-usable mug to work.
4. Also, have made the conversion (back) to cloth napkins after getting lax about it awhile ago.
5.Year-end bonus is going to retirement, college savings and some to charity.
My 5:
1-got some new cleaning cloths from work for home. We used to have a laundry service at work that provided and cleaned these cloths, but they’ve changed services a couple times since then. Found the cloths and brought them home to use since if we used them at work they’d have to be thrown out with no way to clean them.
2- holiday luncheon this week for work, free meal! And getting paid to attend!
3- we’ve been staying home a lot, which means eating at home, which means money saved.
4- my sister and I have been donating gifts to the same family for the last few years. I give them gifts the same as I do for family, cutting costs where I can. This year some of what we are giving are 4 towel sets- someone gave us 12 sets of bath towels last year(ridiculous as we have plenty, my sister got them on a great sale, didn’t need any so I think she just wanted to buy because of the sale, not really sure why we got them!), a decorative plaque I won at a drawing, and we will purchase the rest. This is our favorite part of Christmas and we enjoy buying for them more than the rest on our lists!
5- changing my attitude! I’m not freaking out about what to get people and about getting all the usual stuff done for the holidays. Also asking for help with what needs to be done. I realized I don’t enjoy the holidays much because I stress myself out, so ending it this year. And that’s a savings of sanity!
A large shout-out for your #5, Brenda!
1. Celebrated a friend’s 65th birthday at a local watering hole; free grub, free pop, cash bar, so we each had one beer and then stuck to pop and water the rest of the night. There was a band and I got to dance with my big brother (hubby does not dance…). Fun evening.
2. Being diligent to water the indoor pots of basil and celery, so they’re still alive.
3. Also keeping up with plant care in the rest of the house – haven’t killed one in months!
4. Bought sugar and flour on supersale this wk, so am all set for holiday baking.
5. Sorted out the bonanza of bedding people gave us in response to a FB plea… giving a twin set to a local single mom in need, some flannel sheets to my SIL’s international student quilting-and-conversation group, keeping two twin sets, a comforter, and a comforter cover for son, one full set for futon mattress, a bedspread and sham and a throw for other son, and giving the rest to GW.
1. We watched three Redbox movies this weekend – Jurassic World, Inside Out, and Tomorrowland movies for around $1.50.
2. Went to the library to get daughter a book we had on hold (The Uglies) and donated magazines and grocery bags for the bookstore.
3. Saved 5% on groceries (about $14) and health and beauty products by grocery shopping at Meijers on Friday. Saved an additional $15 using MPerks and coupons. I always pay off my credit cards every month so I don’t worry about charging.
4. Daughter went to a Painting Canvas Birthday Party and the gift was an unwrapped gift for the ToysForTots Christmas program. Will save receipt to deduct for donations for taxes. Daughter had lunch there so saved on lunch for her.
5. 8:00 AM soccer game – REALLY wanted to stop at McDonalds for breakfast but made coffee (set up the night before) and brought a banana and granola bar as I was running behind.
6. Did $12 dog walk Friday night which paid for our pizza, crazy bread Friday night and movies this weekend.
7. Found unused white Christmas lights (two 100 foot strands) decorated our enclosed front porch and will leave up year round. The lights provide additional lighting inside our house through the windows. Found additional lights already used pastel lights for daughter to use in her room.
8. Advent calendar used leftover Halloween candy did not give out -Skittles, suckers, and caramels not used for apples and pack of gum.
9. Dried loads of laundry in the house this weekend and cleaned out my own gutters.
10. Figured out how to replace the belt on my vacuum. I am not mechanical so this was a big accomplishment as it involved 5 screws and figuring out how to put four pieces back, lol!
11. I did not buy a trip to the Caribbean for a Christmas in the tropics.
(1) After a long Coinstar “drought,” found $4 in mixed Canadian and U.S. change (2 loonies and $2 in smaller change) in the machine at my favorite supermarket. We’re only 90 miles from the Canadian border, and most merchants here will accept smaller Canadian change at face value. I’ve put the loonies away for the next time we or friends go to Canada.
(2) Did a bit of shopping for stocking stuffers (locally made dog treats, etc.) at yesterday’s farmers’ market. My shopping is now DONE!
(3) Found DH a Harris Tweed jacket for $5 at a local thrift yesterday. He’s lost so much weight lately that he urgently needed a semi-dress jacket (for those rare occasions when we actually get semi-dressed up, most of which take place this month!).
(4) Found 90 cents in NY State deposit cans behind the dairy store when we stopped to get milk.
(5) Went out for dinner last night with DH to cash in a gift certificate friends gave us *last* Xmas (it expires *this* 12/26, and “wasting free money” is not in my vocabulary).
My husband also loves Harris Tweed. Remember us finding a good quality tweed jacket in Ireland in a small town second hand shop. It wasn’t Harris but the quality was similar. He wore his original Harris Tweed for around twenty years – he got it in high school or his first year of college!
1. Made biscuits for breakfast from scratch that were terrible, not sure why, but ate them anyway.
2. Picking up my free Friday downloads from Kroger. It was full size bottles of tropicana juice this week. I never buy this so this is a treat.
3. Cleaned out fridge, not frugal but desperately needed
4. Making a Christmas wreath for the front door out of an old peice of the top of an artificial Christmas tree. No idea where the rest of that tree is.
5. Brainstorming about some kind of dessert to make for us to snack on this week. Hoping it turns out better than the biscuit fail this morning.
I am also considering canceling Netflix. It just doesn’t offer all that much of what we want. We find that we are happy with the videos which the library offers. I like to review all monthly payments at least once a year. Even small amounts deducted from our account can add up if they are deducted every month, month after month all year long.
1. I used up some cilantro by making a peanut rice noodle dish twice in two weeks. I also do like you, Katy, and stick it in water in the fridge. Lasts longer.
2. Instead of using the new creamer, I’m going to use the leftover evaporated milk from Thanksgiving. Otherwise it will just go bad. I’m getting less and less tolerant of food waste.
3. Thinking about cutting my own hair this week. Haven’t done that in ages.
4. Found a secondhand book for $3 that my fiance will really enjoy as a Christmas present–a WPA guide to San Diego.
5. Saved a box from being put out to recycling to store my yarn things in. That’s one less basket to buy for the time being.
1. Posted a ladies winter coat and a pair of winter boots on a local free/share Facebook group. Someone is coming to pick both items this week.
2. Sold a few items in a Facebook yardsale group for some Christmas money.
3. Used air miles points saved through the year to buy some cosmetics and body wash etc for the kid’s stockings.
4. Thawing chicken from the fridge for dinner. I found some rosemary still thriving in the garden that will flavour it.
5. Spent a mild (4C) morning and afternoon outside with the family cutting pine and spruce, hydrangeas, sumac and redwood branches for greenery in pots outside the house. We managed that plus a general barn/garage/property cleanup. Lots of fresh air and exercise.
* Date night tonight: free babysitting (grandma), 2 passes to go to the movies for free, 25$off the restaurant because we are going as mystery clients. So cheap(er) date all and all.
* Daughters wanted a make-your-own ginger bread house. Could not find one on sale for less than 12$, so went to Michaels with a 40% coupon and bought 2 big ginger bread boy cookies for 3.50$ each. Daughters happy just the same.
* Exchanged PC Points for 30$ worth of free groceries
* Buying 2 concert tickets on Groupon for 80$ (instead of the regular price of 80$ for one ticket). Will bring my mom to it for an early Christmas gift.
* Worked out at home this morning
Have a great frugal day!
1. I have been busy listing items on ebay and FB boards. A cardigan sweater and an Xbox game sold today. I have them packaged up to mail out tomorrow. People are in buying mode for Christmas and I’m trying to take advantage of it by listing as much as possible.
2. We had our office Christmas party on Friday night, where they treated us to fancy drinks and a nice steak dinner. They also gave us cash Christmas bonuses, and a nice gift basket.
3. By far, the biggest frugal win was having my dad bring over his professional tree cutter friend with his bucket truck and saws. They took down some big limbs that were hanging over our garage and house. It would have cost us a couple grand had we hired someone.
4. Watching some good tv for free with a one month trial of Amazon prime. Can finally see the last season of Entourage.
5. Bought two Little Tikes pillow racers (ride on toys) for $15. Torn between listing them on ebay and saving them for my brothers’ kids first birthdays this summer.
1. I took my “found change” to the Coinstar and had $31.76 that I’d found over the past nine months. I received an Amazon gift card, so no fee was paid.
2. We were going by the library so stopped and picked up some DVDs. I’ll be over that way tomorrow so I’ll return them then (to avoid paying a fine).
3. In the spring I had bought a Misto (in an attempt to be more green). It stopped working after a few month of occasional use. I returned it to the store yesterday for a refund (I had kept the receipt). I’ll have to read online of there is an alternative (cooking spray hack).
4. It was nice out today. I walked to the “day spa” to get my eyebrows threaded (using a Groupon bought with a coupon and cash back rebate). Then walked to Dollar Tree to buy a few cards.
5. We are doing the non-frugal kitchen remodeling thing but we set up a temporary kitchen in the basement. We have not eaten out nor used paper/plastic/foam dishes/silverware. Yesterday I bought beef stew meat (not cheap @ $13) and this morning put beef stew into the slow cooker. It fed three of us lunch and there are leftovers for several more meals. Much cheaper, better tasting (and healthier) than eating out.
Have a great frugal week everyone!
1) Had to have some plumbing work done that involved cutting a hole in our bedroom wall at about head-height. The plumber recommended buying an access panel and installing it, but the hole was an odd size and the panel would cost $78. So my husband and I worked out a fix that cost nothing. We covered the actual hole with some scrap fabric backed with some leftover Con-Tact paper, which keeps any chilly air from coming in, and thumbtacked it in place. The now-covered hole and its vicinity were covered with a mirror we moved from the hallway. It looks great.
2) Made “Katy and Amy’s One-Hour Bread” tonight to go with chili and add to my husband’s work lunches. So easy, so frugal, so awesome!
3) Also made a pan of chocolate-chip blondies today using flour, sugar and choc. chips bought at Dollar Tree.
4) Fixed our kitchen paper towel holder with a metal washer left over from another project and a tiny bit of double-sided tape. Washer and tape came from my “fix-its” box of small discarded things that might be useful.
5) My idea of adding lavender from our herb garden to baking soda as a cat box deodorizer did not produce enough of an aroma to work as I wanted. However, a bowl of it placed in our linen closet is making things smell great in there. That closet has always had an old-house smell that’s not really that pleasant, so this is good.
You may want to try a product called “Stall Dry” in the litter box. We switched to it after years of using baking soda and and it makes a tremendous difference. It may be a bit difficult to find, but any feed or farm store should have it. There is a similar product called “Sweet PDZ” that is slightly less economical but works well too.
Thank you! I will look for it next time at the feed store.
I hope my day to day frugality balances out the less frugal moments that often coincide with the holiday season.
1) Made leftover meatloaf into Sloppy joes for game night dinner.
2) Bought too many bananas and they ripen too fast.Peeled and froze the excess to be used in smoothies.
3) Went grocery shopping with a list of items that will help me use up food items on hand.
4) Took husband and dog for a nice walk. We all need the exercise.
5) Worked on my holiday “to-do” list. I want to avoid too many last minute things that may lead to rash, non-frugal decisions.
#4… I can just picture your dog AND your hubby on a leash, too funny!
1. Ordered a new mattress from Sam’s Club online last night. Including delivery, I figure we saved at least $300 over buying it at our usual mattress place. Hoping we love it–we looked at it a couple times before buying.
2. Enlisted DH to do some small jobs the last few days. Finding myself still more tired that usual (following an illness last month) so I’ve been asking for more help. He put the Christmas lights up on the front porch, set up the folding table for my wrapping station, sliced a big leftover roast beef so I could freeze the rest after two nights of eating it already, and even volunteered to switch a load from washer to dryer so I didn’t have to make that trip down and back to the basement–arthritis in my knees has been bothering me. He has plenty of time and energy when he’s not working on cars in the colder weather!
3. Have been good about cooking meals at home and putting a little more imagination into them lately. Just an extra sprinkle of herbs, or a sauce, can make the same old, same old a bit different!! We generally have 1 meal a week out, and call it “entertainment.”
4..Trying to keep my junk mail, newspapers, and magazines more neatly arranged!! Only one fail this week–put a couple small bags of candy in a dish, and promptly knocked over a pile of magazines, breaking the dish! Rethought it and put the candy in a plastic dish! Most magazines went into recycling. We read constantly, so I’m just trying to keep the “piles’ smaller by going through them more often.
5. Stocked up on ground beef while at Sam’s Club–it was $2.50/Lb less expensive than the equivalent in the supermarket and I had run out completely.
6. Checked my grocery receipts from the past month and save over 30% each week with the coupons I earned, store coupons, and waiting for sales. Also they had extra gas points for buying certain items, so I already have .90 off my next fill up with a couple weeks yet to go to earn points. When you use coupons, you get extra points as well, so I have been using all the coupons I can.
7. Year to date savings on grocery receipts $1374.64–with almost another month to go. That’s for 2 people and 1 cat! Not bad at all.
I’m curious which mattress you chose and if you do love it? I need a new one and am baffled by the options available and incredible price ranges.
fixed toilet problem plumbing project, complete with wax ring, myself. Lots cheaper than calling a plumber. gotta love youtube. regular plumber around these parts costs $125 per hour…
This is certainly not a frugal month but hope springs eternal and we can continue to do our best to be members in good standing of NCA.
1. Brought home and used leftover salad from last evening’s potluck.
2. Bought small packages of tea from a friend who sells them via vendor shows to support her business and gifted them to friends at Xmas party last evening – a way to help her, and spread the word about her good tasting tea – also not very expensive!
3. Put up free Christmas tree received from our realtor; in exchange we donated to the food bank and toys for tots program through her company.
4. Found enough cat food to last through weekend thereby saving a driving trip to supermarket until tomorrow.
5. Drove out to the country to run our dog. Stopped for lunch at a small town coffee shop known for “great road food”. In addition to very reasonable prices, was able to bring home extras to pack in husband’s lunch for tomorrow.
1. Ordered a (cheaper than store price) Disney costume and they accidentally sent two! It’s from China so it won’t be going back. Extra $15 in my pocket when I sell it.
2. Missed our weekly grocery shop. We just did a $15 top up.
3. Free lunches at work.
4. Eating from home this week.
5. Had a night away for my sisters birthday. Mum paid for the hotel (with a pool)! And we had a free bbq tea at the party.
1. Cut up a pair of totally worn out sweat pants to make nice soft rags.
2. Knitting socks for my parents for Christmas.
3. Will be fixing our heat pump myself by installing a new contactor in the condenser unit. Easy job + $20 part = no pricey service call.
4. Will be making cute little gingerbread man soaps for our gift swap at work. I already have all the supplies.
5. Continuing my Holiday Declutter Streak – I have gotten rid of over 200 items so far, and can see several surfaces now!
We decorated our tree this weekend. Our teen daughter’s comment as she was pulling out each old, handmade by kids ornament was, “Can you believe there are kids at school whose families buy matching ornaments for their trees?” This made me happy, as it shows we value tradition over perfection.
We did extended family Christmas this weekend and drove our Prius (it was 80 miles away). My mom gave us gift cards and also homemade canned goods.
I wrapped all my gifts in bags saved from previous years.
I used coupons for needed items at the grocery store. Have gotten away from it this fall but am coming back, after realizing that I do save $ by using them.
1. Did not eat out this weekend
2. Stuck to my grocery budget, and still managed to stock up on some things for the Holidays
3. Drinking free coffee from work, and drinking water from my glass mason jar
4. Have been tempted to indulge in some maternity clothes, even though I have a closet full of FREE things that people have given or borrowed to me. I am so far resisting the temptation and making do with the things I have.
5. Have not bought any Christmas décor this year-I’ll be using what I already have and crafting some things out of supplies I already own.
I agree about the money for the pot roast. I’m the same way. The meat I buy always feeds us for 2 or more meals. I bought a family pack of ground beef last month and split it 4x. I fixed about 10 hamburger patties Saturday evening, when my granddaughter spent the night. Those patties will feed us for at least 4 meals – either hamburgers or spaghetti for the last one.
1) I filled the car with $1.87 per gallon gas yesterday. That should last me all week.
2) Picked up another book on CD, which I had on hold, at the Library Friday. It’s nice when they can transfer it in to the branch close to Campus, so I don’t have to drive to the next town over to pick it up.
3) I brought a package of instant oatmeal with me for breakfast this morning and added frozen blueberries I had in the freezer.
4) Our church is frugal too. The Youth Group sold tamales by the dozen to raise money for a youth trip at the end of the month. My daughter said they made 1400 homemade tamales Saturday night & yesterday. We will be eating ours this weekend! Yum!
5) I’m going to a Department Open House this afternoon with free drinks and desserts. Might as well fuel up for free and visit with friends!
1. On Friday I was hungry and tired and fell to the allure of a Starbucks in the campus bookstore. I was in line to buy a pack of chocolate covered almonds when I remembered I have a gift card. It still has $14 on it after my impulse buy.
2. The cleaning services I was considering to replace my cleaning lady would have been much more expensive. I instead paid the one month fee to join care.com, and I think I have found a woman who will be comparable in service and price to the woman who is leaving us.
3. Not commuting to school this week because it is reading week will save me $75 in gas.
4. Went to see our business accountant last week. Every time I pay that man $150 for an hour of consultation he saves us so much more in tax write offs and financial mistakes we don’t make.
5. We spent $0 on clothing, entertainment, parking tickets, restaurants, and gifts last week. But I’ve got to get on Christmas gift buying this week.
I worked 4 hours Friday night at my weekend rate, which is always nice. My son had late swim practice so my husband brought him to the hospital when he came to work (we work at the same hospital) since he didn’t have time to run him home. It was employee holiday dinner (free! for me) and my 9 year old joined me for dinner. Sure, it cost me $3 but he enjoyed his time with me as he thanked me about 6 times!
Brought my lunch at work on Saturday. Drank free coffee and water in my own coffee cup and water bottle. Sunday, I forgot my lunch when I went to work, but only spent $2 at the cafeteria.
Got my textbooks ready to return via UPS. My class is finished up this week and I don’t need them to finish the week so sending them back so I don’t forget.
I’m wearing my sweats and slippers around the house so the heat can stay low.
Figured out the 26 minute “quick wash” on the washing machine does just as good a job as the “normal” cycle. Saving energy and water!
1. Kept the heat pretty low this weekend. I don’t mind reading covered up with a blanket.
2. Read Leah Remini’s new book _Troublemaker_ and enjoyed it very much. I learned a lot and have a new respect for her for standing up for what she believes.
3. Went to Goodwill over the weekend and got some things to make Christmas gifts with (and I couple of things I will just give as is).
4. Will make pimento cheese as soon as I get off computer for our lunches this week.
5, Went to the flea market and while I was there found a solid brass pendulum and some Chinese Harmony handballs– I collect some really odd stuff, admittedly– and they guy wanted $12 for the balls $15 for pendulum. I said, “Look, all I have on me is a $20. Would you take $20?” About that time my spouse comes up with a pair of pliers and says, “We need these too.” The guy looks at us, I said, I’ve only got $20.” And he’s says, “Okay– take the pliers too!’ And he threw in an electric insulator as well because I said, “OH! I didn’t see this!” (I told you, I collect some odd stuff!”
Boom. Sounds like a good, frugal day.
Today I
1) made artisan bread to go with delicious tomato soup for dinner
2) am letting my daughter make bracelets for her friends for Christmas. It not only entertains her, but I already had the beads on hand!
3) I am going through my fabric stash to see what I still need to make the fingerpuppets for my 1 year old for Christmas (don’t worry..she doesn’t read your blog so my secret is safe)
4) I am batching all of my errands and saving them for tonight when I can use my husband’s company car (and gas)
5) I am cashing in our free hotel stays from hotels.com so that we don’t have to drive 14 hours straight with 2 kids under 5 for Christmas!
1. Lunch was leftovers, as usual!
2. Keeping the thermostat turned down t0 65 — it’s a little cool in the mornings, but our weather has been pleasant for December so that the furnace only runs about once in the night and none in the day.
3. Mailing a gift to my elderly aunt who never married. Her nieces and nephews are very important to her since she had no kids so we send gifts, but she doesn’t need much stuff at 93. I found her a sweet little calendar and realized I didn’t have a little mailing box for it. I grabbed some corrugated cardboard from the recycle stash and cut out and folded a small box rather than purchase a box at the post office. I’d almost forgotten that trick from my childhood.
4. Washed, brushed and cut out tangles on my two little dogs. I can’t understand my friend who pays someone to wash her little dog when she’s capable of it herself.
5. Batched errands today.
1) Still finishing big pot of veggie split pea soup. Surprisingly good for breakfast!
2) volunteered as a course marshal at a community run with my husband. Super fun, and we got $40 race entry credits that I can use to enter a trail run next weekend.
3) knitting socks like crazy for Xmas gifts.
4) had lovely lunch out thanks to my mom. Saved half for work lunch tomorrow.
5) buying stop gap groceries only, as needed, this week.
5)