- I finally found a glass water bottle to replace the one I broke while dropping my older son at college. Priced at only $2.99, this Goodwill one was a no brainer. The best part is that since I saved the lid from my old one, I don’t have to use the is-it-really-clean? sippy top from the thrifted one. Thank you, LifeFactory for making your components interchangeable, even though I went from a 12-ounce to a 16-ounce bottle!
- I decorated our front porch using Halloween items that an elderly neighbor gave to us at least ten years ago. She’d been that person who went overboard making her house as creepy as possible, but was stepping back from the effort. We’ve been using these items ever since, which means we’ve never spent a penny on Halloween decor. Our skeletons, skulls, spiders, black cats and ravens sit out for one night per year and should conceivably last forever. I received so much stuff initially that we were even able to share with our next door neighbors.
- I picked up a soaking wet cashmere scarf that had been repeatedly driven over on a local busy street. It was crusted with slimy leaves, but I figured I’d at least try to rejuvenate it. The tag read “dry clean only,” but instead I removed the leaves and threw it into the gentle cycle with a squirt of dishwashing liquid. I need to pick off a few extraneous fluffy bits, but otherwise it’s now good to go.
- I bought a couple of items while at Goodwill yesterday that I’ll post on Craigslist. This included a $25 Specialized brand girl’s bike that retails for $325 and a $10 Griswold brand cast iron skillet that I should be able to sell for $50. Not too shabby, and the $140 that I’ll net will come in very handy towards the kids’ next college tuition payment.
- I gave my friend Lise a stash of used plastic bags for her dog poop needs, I gifted a few jars of applesauce to friends and family, I’ll be returning two bags of unopened Halloween candy, I scheduled an extra eight hour hospital shift, I returned unused canning supplies that didn’t get opened, I mailed out one of my son’s used textbooks that I sold through Half.com, I was able to create three meals from a single pre-roasted chicken and I didn’t buy a Lear Jet.
Now your turn. What frugal things have you been up to?
{ 104 comments… read them below or add one }
1. My daughter’s BOG boots developed a crack in the heel over the summer. She didn’t notice (or care) about it until the rain hit a couple of weeks ago. I promptly emailed the company with the details last week and when we got home last night from trick-or-treating, there was a box with brand new boots waiting for her! I highly recommend this company and their lifetime guarantee.
2. The controller part of the dog collar that went missing last week was found (in the aforementioned daughter’s coat pocket)! Luckily before I purchased a new one, too. The puppy was not as happy as we were, though, but she’s been very good….almost well-behaved even, without it.
3. Our summer was so busy that we didn’t get much of a chance to hike like we normally do, so we decided to take a drive to central Oregon and explore Smith Rock. I had only intended for the walk along the river, but the kids convinced us to go OVER the rock. The views were absolutely amazing and worth the drive and the $5 day-pass. Plus we got enough exercise to splurge on a treat of homemade cookie dough when we got home. (Recipe did not have eggs, lest anyone worry that I’m poisoning my kids.) 😉
4. Found $0.05 trick-or-treating.
5. Work is sending me on a business trip to my birth state. I worked it out that I will stay an extra 3 days to visit friends and family. I even get the company discount for a hotel and car rental after my business meeting is over. I’ll forego the hotel and couch surf instead, but I will need a car.
Lucky you, Amanda, to be going on a business trip to a state where you can visit family and friends. I am going on a business trip later this month also. It will be to California for a training program. I don’t have family there, but I will be leaving rainy SW WA for sunny S. CA, so it feels a little like a paid vacation.
Love your blog! Especially since I live in a Portland suburb. I’ve never sold on half.com. What is your opinion on it and do you have good success? Thanks!
Good work on the bottle! I use a metal contigo that is for coffee but keeps my ice cold and anytime I see one at the GW I grab it for the parts!
1. I made a batch of Pineapple Rice salad and put it in the fridge for meals. Also made black beans from scratch in the crock pot and have those a quick meal component.
2. Consolidated my student loans. That saves me a lot of money– cuts my payment in half, gets me paying on them, and saves me from going in default with them.
3. Got my schedule for next semester and have 4 classes which means I will make more money next semester than this one so that means more money to pay down some debt and to save!
4. I made a batch of black bean/lentil burgers yesterday and put them in the fridge. I’m currently looking for a foreman grill. I was going to get one from GW but I had a flashback to when I was about 15 and got something at a yard sale (a radio or something) and brought it home. It had roaches in it and the entire house became infested. I don’t want to create waste or spend money needlessly but I’m not sure if something like a kitchen gadget is something I can buy used. (We also had a landlord get us a used refrigerator a few years ago and it was FULL of roaches– so I’m squeamish!) I’m thinking maybe I could just make them in the oven as I want to make them crispy….
5. I didn’t go anywhere today. I have a dentist’s appointment tomorrow for a cleaning.
Tonya, Roaches yuck!! I love my George Foreman. I use it all the time. We make a lot of paninis with it. It’s well worth buying one in my opinion.
Oh, yuck! Roaches in an appliance… I can’t even.
I’m not sure I’d get the used grill, but if you decide to go for it, wrap it in plastic bags (used, or course!) and put it in your freezer for three days. That kills bugs that inhabit books, and should work for roaches too.
Roberta– that’s good advice!
I went ahead and ordered a new one, but I will keep that in mind– it’s a good hint to have for books, as well! Much appreciated!
Bugs in appliances???? I would have never thought of that!! In matresses, in stuffed animals, anything “stuffed”, yes. But appliances, really?? Gross!
1. We scheduled a hard waste collection and rid ourselves of a bunch of junk. I also scheduled a mattress pickup for next week, all free through our council.
2. We had dinner at my parents.
3. Yesterday was Melbourne Cup. It’s a big deal at my office and on our street and parking becomes difficult to find. I considered paying for parking until I discovered it was going to cost $22 for four hours! I found a free 2 hour park and set an alarm, then went to the big luncheon. I moved the car when my alarm went off.
4. I wore a dress I have owned for several years to the luncheon and was complimented on it.
5. I only drank coke so I won’t be feeling sorry for myself today. My boss was shouting drinks so they were free cokes, and work paid for most of the dinner so I only paid $10.
1. Took $7 shuttle from hotel to airport vs. cab or uber.
2. Stocked up on dog food=$5 target gift card
3. Netted $138 last month on Amazon.com
Good job on all your five frugal things, Katy!
Halloween Edition
1. I took my kids trick-or-treating last night so I didn’t have to buy any candy. I was surprised that some of the houses that we went to gave out Cheetos, fruit snacks, Oreos, and cheese/crackers. I dug out all these things out of the candy stash and my daughter is taking them to school for her snack.
2. I finished my daughter’s mermaid costume even though I began to run out of steam toward the end of it. I almost just bought something but I sucked it up and got it done. I dug out the same pumpkin plastic buckets we have been using for many years.
3.The day before, the kids and I went to two Fall church festivals. Both my kids and I won treats at the cake walk. I have never won anything at a cake walk and felt special eating a piece of home made pecan pie that was still warm from the oven when we got home.They also fed us hotdogs, popcorn, soft drinks, and chips.
4. We too have paid very little for fall decorations. My kids painted some old gourds into pumpkin and ghost faces. I have a lighted pumpkin with a broken cord that we have had many years that we just put a tealight in. My husband and I made a cute reversible scarecrow/snowman out of an old pallet. I love it so much! I enjoy decor that works for more than just one holiday, I used mostly paint we had already, and a coupon for the paint I didn’t have.I don’t have a link but just google it because there are tons of them on Pinterest.
5. I was gifted several things from a friend who’s mom passed away. Two huge faux brass lamps, a hairdresser’s hair dryer, lots of various food items, vitamins, more gift wrapping paper, and several nightlights. There is more but too much to list. He also gave me all of her old bras, panties, socks, and nylons. Any idea who I could pass these along too? My thrift store doesn’t accept these things.
A women’s or domestic abuse shelter or homeless shelter for women?
Maybe- It’s so hard to find people to wear used undergarments, which I totally get, yet some people would do anything just to have undergarments. I just have not been able to find those women..yet. I have two trash bags full! I couldn’t stand the thoughts of them being thrown away until I gave it my best effort.
If you’re in the US, try Dress for Success for the bras and nylons, especially if they’re sized on the larger end. I seem to remember their advertising for these items.
Nursing homes are great places for undergarments like that. When my Mom passed away, I donated all the clothes she was using to the Nursing Home that she was living in. They truly appreciated it. The older homes often take in low-income patients who have no family to provide those things for them.
Many funeral homes need clothes to dress the government burials. They appreciate donations of any clothes and will take undergarments , shoes, belts and ties.
Great ideas!!
Try calling a nursing home and see if they will accept the undergarments.
Another vote here for checking with a local nursing home, especially one that cares for the memory impaired. In later stages of care before the switch to Depend type garments, residents can go through an enormous amount of underwear. There’s probably several residents that could use more and usually these facilities are quite use to sanitizing all types of garments.
1. Took my car in for an oil change. When I went to check out, I tried to get the coupon from the business’s website to come up on my cell phone, but the website wasn’t working. The man checking me out was unbelievably nice — he tried my phone, then tried his phone, then dug through his recycling bin for a paper coupon that another customer had used earlier! It was another example to me that people can be wonderful and helpful. I thanked him like crazy.
2. Kept repeating the name of a back road to myself over and over as I was driving, until I turned off on it. The main road that I take 95% of the time gets terribly busy on the particular day and time I was driving. I knew I would’ve been on autopilot and driven that way if I hadn’t talked to myself like I did, and would have ended up wasting time and gas money.
3. Found two pennies on the ground.
4. Got a coupon in the mail for a free taco (no purchase necessary) from a local Mexican restaurant. The last time I got that same coupon I let it expire and was so mad at myself!
5. Walked for an hour with my friend. She’s a fast walker! So … free exercise and free therapy (talking and listening for an hour).
1. We had to spend $275 on a new pump motor, impeller and seal kit, but it was at least $100 less than buying a new complete well pump, and my dear husband assembled, installed and wired it himself. I mean I helped — some things need 4 hands — but I only followed his directions. We have water again and saved a good bit of money. Don’t worry, on his old job, he worked with pumps of all sizes, and did a whole lot of wiring, so he knows what he’s doing.
2. I lost about eight pounds, so I’m back in all of my old, but still good work pants. One of the problems with being short and a little pear-shaped is that gaining only 5-10 pounds can change pants sizes on me. It pays for me to maintain my weight.
3. We were so tired and it was so late after the pump work was done, but I didn’t succumb to take out– I pulled out some soup and made some sandwiches.
4. I donated a dollar to Second Harvest at the grocery check out, and then found my shopping points had added up to give me a dollar off that grocery bill. So I came out even, which was very unexpected.
5. I took the last of the soup to work for lunch today, and added an apple that needed to be eaten soon and a slice of homemade bread. I actually enjoyed that lunch — I didn’t even have to take one for the team!
1. My Halloween decorations came from an estate sale about 20 years ago (probably spent $5 on a big boxful) and we have used them every year since. This year, when my neighbor started decorating, I pulled out some and gave them to him. I later saw his 5 year old playing with one of the toys and it made me so happy!! We still had plenty to use at our house, too!
2. Yesterday I had a nagging feeling to drop in Goodwill even though I had just been there Saturday. I went and checked all the areas but nothing “spoke” to me. Then, as I was leaving, I looked on the counter and there were Danskos in a size I needed for $9.99!!! They had just come in and they looked brand new!! These shoes are not for me but for a woman who works in a run-down motel. I deliver Mobile Meals there and last week she asked me about my shoes (my own Danskos). She said her feet hurt all the time and she knew they were good shoes for that but she knew they were too expensive. I told her I would look out for some in her size because I am always in thrift stores or at yard sales. Never thought I would find them so soon. When I gave them to her, she started crying. I had a few tears, too.
3. I just finished a project at my church (I am the Leisure Director) of setting up a Book Exchange similar to a Free Little Lending Library. I asked for and received a free bookcase but it was terribly ugly. A man who does woodworking helped me redesign it by adding a wooden base and a wood box on top with moulding. I painted it with red chalk paint and finished it with the coffee colored wax. It turned out beautiful and immediately has been a success. Lots of books are ready for exchange.
4. To advertise “Leave a Book, Take a Book” I went to Goodwill to find a picture frame. I found a very sturdy, hammered iron one. It was probably donated because the back kickstand part did not fit too well. All it took was a little trimming around the cardboard to make it fit perfectly. Boom!
5. Last night we had our huge trick or treat turn out which left very little time for dinner. I took out a frozen stir fry meal (leftovers),defrosted it and we ate that. It was not our favorite food or what we were in the mood for – but it was quick, easy, and nutritious. And it saved us from ordering out when we were bone tired and probably wouldn’t have enjoyed whatever we ate.
Patti, what a nice gesture buying those shoes. I am sure it is a kindness that will not be forgotten.
It was very kind of you to buy the woman Danskos. Thank you for making the world a little nicer.
Good for you!
And thank you for being kind. I see too little of this lately so I appreciate seeing someone be generous and gentle.
aww I love #2. That was a God send for sure..
I have a huge unfinished dollhouse that my grandmother gave me. My grandfather built it thirty-some years ago, and they never finished it. When he passed away, Grammy gave it to me. Lately I’ve been trying to finish it only using materials I have. I use worn clothing for fabric, I turned a spare button and a found marble into a “crystal ball”, and many such things.
What a great project! Frugal fun and preserving a piece of family history, What could be better.
Many stores that accept food returns end up just throwing the food away because they can’t be sure it wasn’t tampered with. Is it possible to freeze your candy for next year?
Yes, most candy freezes pretty well. We do it all the time.
1. Unfortunately we needed a new hot water tank. While not cheap, we did get a $100 discount by agreeing to have a “scratch and dent” one installed (who cares what it looks like, right?!).
2. After I accidentally backed up into a short fence that I didn’t see I got some scratches on my car. My husband is really anal about wanting things like that fixed. After I got multiple quotes…the least expensive being $480, I found a place that would buff it and touch it up as best as they could versus taking the bumper off and redoing it for $75 and I think it looks great. It appeases my husband in having it “fixed” and appeases me in not spending a stupid amount of money on it!
3. We had friends over for Halloween last night and they brought chicken chili, tortilla chips, potato chips and some chicken strips. There were leftovers that we all had for dinner tonight.
4. Project Use it Up: finished a hotel sized White Citrus lotion and a small Victoria’s Secret perfume.
5. Cleaned out my son’s bookcase and listed some lots of books on eBay. Also sold a set of his outgrown long sleeved shirts for $28 and currently have a bid for $28 on a Coach credit card holder. I like getting stuff that’s just sitting around my house and not being used and getting some money for it!
1. Husband lost his prepaid flip-phone 2 months ago, and I was able to get the unused money in his account rolled over to my prepaid phone.
2. Rather than replace his phone, he is going to use an old prepaid phone thru another carrier that I kept after I upgraded to a smart phone. I earn minutes for it when I shop at Kroger, so the phone only costs about $90 a year to keep it active.
3. Called the cable company and was able to get a better plan for less, and they upgrade our equipment.
4. Called our insurance agent to make sure we’re getting all the available discounts, and they are going to do new quotes for home and auto and hopefully find a better deal.
5. Had the insurance company switch me to the primary driver on our auto policy to take advantage of a discount for having a bachelor’s degree.
4.
5. If you don’t mind saying, who gives a discount for a bachelor’s degree?
1. A Friend of ours who lives on Long Island and comes to Manhattan at least 2-3 nights a weeks, stays at a (Gramercy) hotel each time. We LOVE their slippers and he knows that! During the last 2 weeks we ‘stocked up’ and got 10 pairs. This will last us a couple of years easily plus I am taking a couple of pairs on my trip to Poland to gift to my sister.
2. Yesterday I got a free lunch at work (as I do every Monday) and since I worked late again I got a free dinner. T. are the leftovers. Easy!
3. I got some AMAZING sewing and crocheting magazines through a Polish website. They already shipped and I will arrive at my dad’s house at the same time as I do. They cost me so much less than I thought considering dollar to Polish zloty conversion. I am going to enjoy them during long fall and winter evenings.
4. Fixed another pants of pants (I am a heming expert by now)
5. Staying away from all the sales
Mariana
I hope you have a lovely trip home to Poland. When do you leave and return?
Denise
If you return unused food to a store, it can’t be resold. They have to throw it away, as there is no way of knowing whether or not it has been tampered with. So while it may be frugal for the person who bought the food to return it, the items just get wasted, and your frugal win is the store’s loss. Another option is to pass on the food to a friend or the food bank, instead of returning it. Then at least it won’t go to waste.
You can also ship candy to armed forces. I agree, I return only food that I’m returning because it has gone bad. Our country wastes so much food its sick. I think returning food because you didn’t use it for it to be thrown away is crossing the line to cheap, not frugal.
1. Put up the same handful of Halloween decorations we use every year (a spiderweb husband and kids made years ago out of clothesline and a spider made from pipe cleaners, black & orange solar-powered string light lanterns [a gift], and a few misc things). Added an assortment of pumpkins bought on deep last-minute sale. We have teens and never got the pumpkins carved this year, so the pumpkins will make a nice fall porch display all month. We had candy leftover from last year (still within best buy date) but not enough, so my sister and I split a large bag of candy for trick-or-treaters. She still had plenty left today and offered it to us to save for next year.
2. Husband hooked up our projector (a freebie from work because it was going to be thrown out) to his computer and we watched sci-fi & horror moves while waiting for trick-or-treaters. Had a wonderful time with The Day the Earth Stood Still, Mars Attacks, Young Frankenstein, and Rocky Horror Picture Show. At a minimum we watch YF and RHPS every year.
3. Husband called cell phone provider and was able to negotiate a slightly lower monthly rate.
4. I’ve been trading coupons with my sister, especially for the freebies offered by the new Natural Grocers in our neighborhood.
5. Unseasonably warm, so still harvesting tomatoes, herbs, and strawberries from the garden. It may not amount to a ton of money, but there is nothing like fresh home-grown produce. And I love being able to harvest just the right amount of herbs for whatever I’m cooking!
1. a friend took me to the local botanical garden fall flower show. She has a membership which allows her to bring a guest. It was a nice,relaxing morning spent with friends.
2. I was actually able to finish packing up and shipping Christmas gifts to some out of town family. A friend gave me packing tape she no longer needed and I was able to get the boxes from work. I used up wrapping paper that I already had. I shop all year round to find gifts and usually land some good sales and it spreads out the expense. One big task taken care of in my quest for a less stressful holiday.
3. I had washed some rugs which unbalanced the washer and made it move around. I walked into the laundry room just in time to see water gushing from behind the washer. The drainage hose had come away from the machine. I was able to reconnect the hose myself even though it took me quite some time and was difficult to get the washer out enough to get at the hose connection. I could have given up and called someone to do it but I kept at it.
4. My friend who doesn’t like left overs gave me a delicious pasta dish that would not have been eaten.
5. I dropped my phone and shattered the screen. I used some of the above mentioned packing tape to cover the screen so I could continue to use it. It’s not pretty but does the job.
6. I’m going to be unemployed for the next two months so I have been sticking close to home, eating from the freezer,keeping the heat low and walking to the library for books and movies.
I don’t understand not liking leftovers. They are even better the day after.
I just ate leftover beef stew. My husband said how much better it is the next day. Indian food is especially that way. Yum.
My Number ONE frugal for today was a long time coming. My grand-daughter’s new roommate signed the lease today. It took 6 months to find someone compatible who could afford it. I am not only relieved (I co-signed for the rent as she wasn’t working –although had been hired–when she signed the lease.) We had to pay the full deposit, so we have a good refund coming also. She will use it towards future rent.
Number two: her friend has recommended her for a job she would love, and she sent in her resume and is waiting to be contacted. She is working part time so if it’s only part time, she can still take it if the hours are compatible. If it’s full time, even better.
Grand-daughter has been the biggest drain on the budget–her parents are both disabled and just don’t have the money to help that much. This will make me feel much better as I won’t be spending as much to supplement her wages, and she needs a lot more lessons in budgeting too. Her spending habits can improve a lot!
3. I was craving chocolate chip cookies and I made some on the weekend–but put half the dough in the freezer. So I got my craving satisfied, and I may be able to save that dough for Christmas when I’ll just want a few choc chip ones to go on cookie trays.
4. Bless my husband for not being fussy. I was really tired today and he was happy to eat canned soup and sandwiches for dinner. And we co-operated today to get the bathroom cleaned by each doing part of it–although not at the same time–it’s not that BIG. May not have been the best of dinners, but it wasn’t take out.
5. Have taken an hour here and there on my way back and forth to different places to do one or two store shopping stops. Picked up some stocking stuffers for Christmas this way. I hate spending big money on stocking stuffers, and the dollar stores and Christmas Tree Shops are handy for this sort of thing.
1. Have several varieties of pumpkins/squash on display. All were free and will be processed into puree in the next few weeks
2. Frugal fail/win: filled a Rx @CVS, which i know wasn’t the lowest price, but the most convenient, and after the day I had, convenience won. But while I was there I found 2 great toys on super clearance for my operation Christmas child boxes.
3. Got some great deals at my local farmstand. He gave me some discounts for being a “regular”. He says he relies on us to keep his business running. Also, he gave me some great ideas on different ways to use some of the produce in was buying.
4. Did a babysit swap today with a neighbor, I know I will drop my kids over her place soon.
5. Got attic insulation installed. Can already tell that we are using less energy because the systems are running less. Should pay for itself relatively quickly (a few years, so I am told).
Glad the site is up and running again!
1. Re-used Halloween decorations so no $$ spent. Frugal Fail: unusually expensive candy this year – many more trick and treaters this year with more elaborate costumes than in other years.
2. Opened all bags of candy so they can’t be returned. Husband gets lunch treats all week. Also gifted son with extra treats.
3. Friend gave me a bag of dried cherries. Found a recipe for dried cherry scones that I will e-mail back to her with a thank you note.
4. Like others I am colleting toys for Xmas donations. For stocking stuffers found a hot wheels car today for 32c! Also forgot that I had picked up a couple of hanging mobiles to include in my donation from last year’s sales.
5. We are planning our annual vacation to Florida. Husband has found a place considerably less expensive than our usual hotel which has changed hands and increased their prices. Hope this one works out!
(1) Bought 2 pairs of shoes in April from Costco. Did not start wearing them till this fall. One pair fit great, others did not. Remembered Costco’s doesn’t matter how long you have had item you can return it policy.
(2) Daughter dumpster dived new Halloween decorations for house she shares with sister. Knowing their frugal nature was somewhat surprised when I first saw them hanging. Daughter said , some were not perfect in package, just needed a bit of glue or tape to fix.
(4) Same daughter found nutritional supplement drinks, shrink wrapped and well before any expiry date( by over a year) . She offered them on a free board and they were snapped up.
(5) Brought containers from home to a dinner a charity I belong to was hosting.
One attendee had paid for two additional dinners and asked for a container to take those dinners home. She was pleased and amazed I had thought to bring containers. Actually the group was open to donating any leftovers. Half went to a small AIDS hospice running on a shoestring budget. Other half went to the family of a member whose husband had died last Thursday.
1. Keeping my heat to 63 degrees.
2. Saw clients until 9 pm and thought about going through the drive thru. Came home and ate something.
3. Made cauliflower soup in the crock pot. Cauliflower, an onion, vegetable broth and a parmesan rind from the freezer. Not bad and good to sip while I make dinner so I don’t eat unhealthy things.
4. My sister and her family will be staying with me over Thanksgiving. I have started buying food extras on sale that will last until then i.e crackers, cheese, other ingredients.
5. Stuck to my budget when I bought some much needed, new clothes.
1 – Biked to WalMart instead of driving
2 – Checked out the Kill-a-Watt device from my library instead of buying it
3 – Hung a load of laundry
4 – Switched my phone from Verizon to Ting
5 – Got a free printer from credit card rewards (cc is paid in full every month, bien sur!)
1. My son made me a shoe rack out of such beautiful wood that it inspired me to clean out my whole closet.
2. Took some nice items to a consignment shop and picked up a check.
3. Used self control to take the rejected items to the thrift store and not take them home again to clutter my newly organized closet.
4. Learned how to make Pho from a Vietnamese friend, its so filling and healthy, I’m going to start eating it more.
5. Bought some practical gifts for my mom who is in a residential facility and had told me she can’t afford sticky notes and art paper, but would love some. Used a Staples coupon.
It sounds like everyone had a happy and safe Halloween. Here are my frugal five:
1) I have posted 25+ items on eBay this week and sold quite a few. This makes me happy!
2) I walked to the neighborhood farmer’s market on Saturday. I purchased my pumpkins from a local farmer and used them for decoration. Later this week, I will make roasted pumpkin soup and purée to freeze.
3) I have been wearing a $4 pair of jeans that I purchased at a local thrift store. I absolutely love the way they fit, and they are soooooo comfortable. Hope I can find another pair of this brand.
4) I had a meeting last night, so I made dinner for my hubby and son before I left. This way they didn’t order pizza. Hubby can’t cook. He really doesn’t have the knack. My son once said, “Daddy makes everything Cajun style –blackened.”
5) I have been reading from my stash of Books purchased at the Friends of the Library Sale. When I am done, some are given away to friends. I also have a small box that I will take to the secondhand bookstore. I will use the credits to buy Christmas gifts. I follow “the something you want, something you need, something to wear, something to read” guidelines when purchasing gifts for my kids. This takes care of the read segment each year at no cost.
I follow the guidelines for my kids’ gifts too and it makes the holiday so much less stressful.
#3 – Bee I am wearing my favorite $4 jeans as I read your FF! After many ill fitting pairs (hip huggers and skinny leg are not for this girl) I am delighted.
#5 – I love your gift giving motto! I am planning to write down in my Christmas book (where I keep track of holiday purchases throughout the year).
Perfect $4 jeans what could be better! These gift giving guidelines are wonderful, and I suggest it to all. It really helps especially when you have more than one child, but alas I can’t take credit for it. I have been doing it for years. 🙂
What brand of jeans are they?
1. I bought two pair of Lularoe leggings from a local FB board for $5 each, and sold them on ebay for a nice profit. Even though I had a beginning auction price and a buy it now price, I received a couple messages with lowball offers. I know people like a good deal, but no thanks on selling to you at half my asking price.
2. Found some Chobani yogurts on clearance at Kroger yesterday.
3. We had a potluck at my office this week. Of course, there were 2 people who didn’t bring anything, but filled up plates. I know it’s petty and not worth making a comment to them, but I would LOVE to hear their rationalization on why they think it’s perfectly fine to partake but not contribute.
4. Made roasted squash with rice for dinner last night. The leftover squash becomes dog treats, which they love.
5. I had a surprise flat tire last week. I was able to get it inflated to drive into town, where I had it fixed with an hour wait. Could have been a lot worse.
I have started to do eBay again after more than a decade. I am curious how others handle these low ball offers. I feel that in the secondhand retail world 10 – 15 percent is the norm. Do others accept best offers? Is there a certain amount of time that you wait before considering these offers? I would love to know.
You can set your eBay listing to automatically reject best offers below a certain amount.
When you list an item, you can choose to add “Or best offer” to your listing. I used it a couple times, but the offers were frequently 50% or less of my asking price. On my leggings, I did not have best offer, and two ladies still messaged me with low offers, which I just ignored.
Do you have frequent office potlucks/parties? My office does, and it’s pretty much understood that no one contributes every time, and it all evens out. 🙂
No, we don’t have them frequently. Just once last year and once this year. Both times, it was the same two people (we have a small office) who didn’t bring anything. I understand not wanting to participate, and that’s perfectly fine. I just don’t understand why they feel it’s okay to fill up on the food everyone else brought.
Next time, suggest to them in front of others that they bring e.g. the desserts, as they weren’t able to contribute last time. And then ask them a few days later what specifically they are bringing or making, again, in front of others. A little passive-aggressive manipulation can go a long way.
I’ve had a very dispiriting food event this week. Every once in a while, i make a chocolate sponge cake, with fresh strawberry pieces mixed in to a filling of thick whipped fresh cream. I take said cake into the office, and that day is then designated “cake day”. I do it to get everyone out of their office and chatting, but it’s no big deal.
I spent ten minutes this week with everyone complaining that the cake is “so delicious but sooo unhealthy”. This went on to the extent that one friend said to the others “we sound so ungrateful – if we’re not careful, she won’t do this again” (which I knew was her kind way of acknowledging to me that she realised that I might be hacked off with the moaning, whilst also flagging to the others that they were, in the words of a Canadian colleague, being “ass-hats” to me).
And the response to her interjection? “It would be better if you brought in some good fruit salad” !!!
All while stuffing their faces. With. My. Cake.
I tell you, if I had won the lottery this week, three of them in particular would have been wearing the sodding cake and bugger the consequences.
No more “Cake Days”. I shall make the cake and bring some slices in for the good friend who intervened. The others can sod off. Gits.
Gosh, I knew I’d feel better for ranting about that to you all. This is like my own version of journalling!
The people who didn’t bring a dish might have been told by other coworkers to join everyone for lunch anyway. I’ve told people to join in many times and some are sheepish about it others have offered up money that was refused. Really, there was always enough food for everyone anyway – we usually gathered the next day to eat the leftovers. One time we had to stretch the meal thin, but no one complained and we didn’t starve. The whole point of the potluck was relationship building and goodwill. Family reunions and Thanksgiving meals are the same way – some people never bring a dish, some have a cooking disaster, some people show up without a dish for some other reason. It really doesn’t matter in the big picture – the purpose is to gather together. I’d be turning my own sister away every year if I held everyone up to the rule of bring a dish or don’t eat.
1. I regrew some leeks that we bought at the store. They were down to their nubbin’s but are starting to grow leaves after soaking in water for a few days. Score! These will be more difficult to grow than our green onions, since they’re bigger, but it’s a fun little experiment.
2. Over the weekend I picked a bunch of chile piquin peppers that grow wild in our back yard. I have them drying in a cloth bag in a closet, so hopefully in a few weeks we’ll have some nifty dried peppers.
3. I used a crapton of coupons at HEB to get $25 off our grocery bill. Not shabby!
4. We bought new Corelle dishes and I will list my old set on Craigslist. I’m hoping to get $20 for them and since I got the set for free, it’s a win all around. 🙂
5. I was going to wash the car today, but we had thunderstorms, so nature did my work for free! I’ll just plug in our Shop Vac and vacuum out the car.
Every time I try to regrow onions, romaine, or anything like that, it rots. What am I doing wrong?
1. Sold on Craigslist a Victoria’s Secret bag that I have been wanting to declutter. Extra income goes to the car fund.
2. Frugal fail: Halloween night I was bringing a crock pot full of chili to my sister-in-laws, and it turned over as I pulled out of the driveway. We had to turn back and clean out the car. There was enough left to make lunch a couple days this week, but not enough for dinner. We stopped by Chipotle on the way, and got $3 burritos because we were all in costume.
3. Donated leftover candy to a 4H event this coming weekend, so it’s no longer in my house!
4. Picked and processed a dehydrator full of persimmon slices to put in oatmeal this winter. If my husband doesn’t just snack on all of them first.
5. Harvested a row of carrots yesterday. Used the “too small to use” ones to make carrot souffle with dinner (sounds fancy but it’s not). Used up all the weird ones so they didn’t go to waste.
My husband’s family takes large pots of curries to every event. They have long strips of cloth that they tie around the pot (Pakistani women take frugal to the next level, those ladies have been using the same cloths for decades. The cloths were old when I met them 25 years ago.) and then they also put the pots in boxes lined with plastic bags! Curry stains like no other so this is considered merely prudent.
Thank you ! I will definitely do this in the future!
Trying to visualize it? Can you describe it a bit more. Is the cloth to keep the pots warm or from food dripping or both?
Those family dinners must be amazing culinary feasts. Do you get leftovers to take home?
First of all, yes…dinner with the family is not to be missed. Yogurt curry, raita, dal, homemade beef samosas, halim, the best biryani I have ever had. Plus, his aunts are precious. Weird (zero filter, y’all, and that gets interesting in the middle of cultures clashing. Ha!), but precious. Very kind people.
Second, it is strips about 6-8 wide that were once just cotton scraps. One is red and the other looks like it once had a flowered pattern? Ha! They tie it around the pot and through the lid’s handle to clamp the lid down. If things are especially sloshy (there is one dish my husband and his cousins call “the slop”. A good description.) they put foil over the open pot, then the lid, then the tying. Cheaper by far (basically free) than buying a crockpot with the clamp down lid and works just as well. Curry tested, Pakistani mama approved.
Ah, that description helps. I was visualizing a mummy-wrapped pot, lol!
Do you have recipes for the curries? They sound delicious!!!
1) I was looking for a TV tray at GW last week, didn’t find one yet, but found 2 replacement chairs for my granddaughter’s play table. Not the same characters, but one she likes so that was a great score. I also found a 3 tier spice rack and a couple of small cookbooks for crockpot and quick meals and an older book of Longfellow poems. Less than $15 for everything.
2) I made another payment at the Pawn Shop on the desktop computer system I have in layaway for my daughter & grandkids for Christmas.
3) I brought leftover spaghetti & garlic bread for my lunch today.
4) I took the time to pop stew meat and veggies into the crockpot for dinner tonight. That will be at least 4 meals for us. Hubby is home recuperating from surgery, so I’ve been scrambling to make certain he has lunch meals, too.
5) I’ve picked up 6 audiobooks from the Library in the past week and a half. I signed up for their audiobook newsletter so I can get a jump on the new ones that come in. Shopping with my favorite free card!!
Katy, I love how your five frugal things include sharing with others.
1. Went grocery shopping yesterday: found grass-fed beef and organic bone-in chicken on clearance. Processed everything as soon as I got home to avoid any of it going bad.
2. Went through LO’s clothes to reassure myself that he doesn’t need anything. Sometimes I get a little panicky that he only has 6 long-sleeved shirts (or 4 pairs of pants, or 2 hoodies, etc…) in his current size. I have to purposely go through his clothes and remind myself that we own a washing machine, he has more than enough, and he’s going to grow out of it all soon anyway!
3. Other than grocery shopping, I didn’t spend anything or drive anywhere yesterday.
4. Took LO on a walk to the library and to donate some things at the Goodwill near our house. Checked out two board books for him and two books and an audiobook for myself. Free exercise and entertainment 🙂
5. Packed all of my own food for work today and am drinking free water and coffee.
6. Scheduled my car in for a new windshield and some additional work that we paid for when we bought the car. We already paid for these things, so it would be foolish and unfrugal to not get them done.
I’m with you on the clothes. I have enough storage for the amount of kids clothes I have and it just so happens, it’s pretty much a washer load, too. I keep reminding myself of that when I think I need to get more for them…
My daughter’s best friend was over and was perusing her closet. She said “Is that all you have?” My daughter thought it was pretty funny- they are required to wear school uniforms so I’m not sure how many different outfits they need for two days a week!
I’m back in the 5FT saddle!
1. Speaking of saddles, I brought one I had in storage in my previous city down to my current location. It is a nice tooled Saddle King saddle that I obtained years ago for the horse I was going to get. I never got the horse (instead, I obtained a much more expensive divorce 😉 ). I listed it on FB site.
2. I found a penny while working up near Detroit. I was so hoping it was one of the ones planted by a bank up there, but, alas, it was a real penny. I guess I can at least count on a blessing from Lakshmi for picking it up.
3. My four hens are laying again (thank goodness the dry free-loader spell is over) and I have been making egg dishes. I made a frittata last night and it was yummy.
4. November temps in Louisville are in the 80s. This is a bad sign for climate change, but excellent for the furnace bills. I am hoping to make it to January with no heat (I don’t turn it on until it dips below 50).
5. Reading 97 Orchard Street which I borrowed from the library. I can’t remember who you are, but thank you so much for recommending it here.
Happy belated Halloween and Dia de Los Muertos!
Oh, I even have a bonus one this week. I spent Halloween weekend purging so much crap from my house. I ended up taking 4 big boxes and three garbage bags full of stuff to the Goodwill. I have a receipt for the ol’ taxes.
I have 97 Orchard Street out from the library as well! Hoping to start reading any day. Temps in the 80s in November is really warm for Louisville. Enjoy it while you can!
Gina
I did laugh when I read your no. 1 item – my divorce was quick, easy and cheap, but even if it had been expensive, I think I’d still view it as cheap at twice the price!
I live about an hour and a half north of Louisville – I don’t think you’re going to make it to January with temps above 50. It was in the 40s here last night. Still no heat on, but I like the house cool.
I do remember about 15 years ago it being in the 80s on Thanksgiving. I drove to my parents house with the convertible top down. It was a lovely day for football outside before the big meal.
I like being frugal but I have some reservations about doing things like #4. One purpose of thrift stores is to provide low income people a place to shop. I’d hate to think I took away a chance for a child to have a bicycle or a family to have some quality cookware because I wanted to resale those items for a profit. If there’s plenty of those items there then maybe I wouldn’t think twice about it but if those items are hard to find cheaply in the area then that’s different.
Let’s see some of my recent frugal things:
1) It is a warm day so I have the house windows open to warm up the place courtesy of mother nature.
2) We recently cut up and removed a 100ft+ fallen tree in our yard. Given its size and location we saved at least $800 by not using a tree service. Plus we gave a neighbor most of the wood and we’re sure to get something in return sometime down the road.
3) I’ve been able to keep part of my veggie garden going and I’m still getting produce now in November!
4) I trimmed my dog’s fur and gave her a bath – no groomers bill and less stress on her. Pet ownership may not be frugal overall but the love of a dog is priceless!
5) I’ve dug up some baby Mexican heather plants that spread from ones I bought and planted this Spring. I’ll keep them protected this winter and will have more to plant next Spring, thus not having to buy anymore next year. A win for me and all the bees and butterflies that visit each year.
RE your concerns about thrift store items being purchased for resale: Keep in mind that most thrift stores’ goal is to sell as much merchandise as possible and to raise funds for whatever their mission is. There’s also no guarantee that the low income person you’re hoping to save merchandise for will a) actually want to buy that stuff and b) won’t also buy it to re-sell it. I think a lot of us shop in thrift stores–and feel good about it–because we’re getting a good deal (which, I’d venture to guess most of us need) and giving our money to businesses that support good causes.
There’s people that shop at thrift stores because that is all they truly can afford. If you are in that category you probably don’t have the money to buy things to try to resale. Maybe you save up for months to buy your child his first bicycle from the local thrift store. Many thrift stores purposely price things very low to help this type of customer. If the goal were to make as much money as possible many would price the items higher (and many do). The goal there may be to use proceeds to benefit whatever cause the store funds instead of targeting lower income people. If prices seem really low to you then the store may be aimed at low income. I’ve volunteered in thrift stores and know many are targeting low income and not maximizing sales. Buying to flip defeats the purpose behind some of these charities (they only get a little money and the lower cost item is removed from the market by someone who didn’t really need it). Know your market and your impact. Definitely makes me rethink where to donate goods – think I’ll do more to make sure goods get into the hands of those who are really needing the items.
I wish I knew where those types of thrift stores were. The thrift stores in my area of Kentucky are so crazily priced, especially the Goodwill, that there is absolutely no way a low income person can go in there and buy things they need. I can do better going and paying clearance prices at the actual retail stores. Thrift stores sell their items to fund their mission. As long as it sells, they really don’t care who buys it. Unless maybe they are a church sponsored store. I see absolutely nothing wrong with buying to resell. If I could find the types of items that Katy does, I would resell them too.
No, not all thrift stores are only out for the money. I know several that fall into that category. In fact I am sure one that I volunteered in would refuse to sale items like furniture, appliances, children’s items, etc to a known flipper. They work very hard to get those type items into homes where they are needed at a very low cost and it isn’t sponsored by a church. They would be thrilled if the flipper wanted to buy all the knick-knacks, logo coffee mugs, and other items that tend to pile up in thrift stores but don’t sale very well. Low income people don’t need those items but the money made can be a benefit.
Wonder how many people actually offer the charity more money for items they find severely under priced or give the charity a portion of the money from the resale profits. Or are most just super happy the charity didn’t know what it had perhaps and jump at the chance to take advantage. I was impressed with a story a few years ago with a guy who found a painting worth about $10,ooo for $5 at a thrift store. He worked with the store to find the donor to make sure they knew the value of what they had donated. I think in the end the painting was sold and proceeds evenly split between the donor, the store, and the man who realized the value. Seems many here would take the $10,ooo and run with it because the store got its $5.
To Just Me In TX (can’t respond directly below for whatever reason):
It’s a conversation and something to think about. If you can’t handle that then why read a place open to comments. Someone will always have a different opinion than you. And bashing someone for increasing their income? No. I just think there are much better ways of doing it.
One last thought for you TX: I go to the only thrift store in your town and buy the entire current contents and pay ahead a hefty amount for any inventory coming in for the next year. The charity makes more money than it would have otherwise. Remember it is none of your business what I buy and why, as you say. Good luck finding something you can afford while not complaining or even commenting on it.
1. I picked up 2 new secret shopping gigs, which translated into free date nights for my husband and I, plus a small stipend. I also used a coupon for 2 free movie tickets so we can see Doctor Strange this weekend (he picked it, I have no idea about these things).
2. Relisted a few things on Craigslist and eBay that haven’t sold yet.
3. Booked a consignment appointment today to drop off some clothes I am no longer wearing. Hoping to use my existing credit for a few items needed to complete my capsule wardrobe.
4. We are back on Baby Step 4–we set our budget this month to start contributing to our Roth’s again, as well as set aside several hundred for our replacement car fund (which we might go car free and make it a transportation fund, but we don’t have to decide right away since our current car still has a few years of life left). We wouldn’t save if it wasn’t for our monthly budget meetings and being on the same page–very grateful for that.
5. I wanted bring home some of the fancy, local yogurt at our co-op (it’s really good!) but it was $12 for 32oz. The organic Brown Cow yogurt was on sale for $3.19 for the same amount, so I went with that. It’s the little things that add up.
Who do you shop for? I’m looking to get into mystery shopping, and any tips you can give would be much appreciated.
Could you please let us know who you shop for ? Would like to supplement the family$$.
1. Because my brother and I are from a competitive family and he shamed me into joining him, he and I are getting rid of or donating or selling one item the first day, two the next, all the way to the end of the month with 30 items. We take pictures and tell each other via email what we did with each thing. This will rid my apartment and his home of 482 items ( he did the math, the freak!!)
Although I didn’t want to do it initially because everything I have is going to be a project, he told me that’s what hoarders say and included the “sick” emoji!! He’s right! I am enjoying this, have a ton of stuff I could never use if I live to be 100, although I do have the space.
2. (This has nothing to do with frugality.) In an effort to be more social, a friend whose English isn’t the best (she’s not from here) drove us to Saratoga where we had lunch, shopped a little and then went to see my dad’s family grave stone which had just been engraved with his name. At first we couldn’t find it, but I was certain it wasn’t where my friend was looking. However, SHE found my great grand parents’ gravesite with a few great uncles and aunts, one we never knew existed!! In fact my father didn’t know. She said they are within “talking distance”of each other, grave-wise. What a gift!
Good luck with the decluttering. Nothing like a little sibling rivalry to motivate you!
Exploring cemeteries is very frugal! I have love wandering and photographing them since I was young. They call cemetery enthusiasts “Taphophiles”. I think it sounds like a lovely day!
And, wow, I love your sibling competition!! Good luck! We’re rooting for you! 😉
Taphophiles, a new one to me. Thanks for the encouragement! Love this blog!
Katy,
I can’t recall if you have a dishwasher, but I’ve washed my LifeWater water bottle and lid in the dishwasher upper rack with no problems. Great for sterilization issues.
1. repeatedly unsubscribing from some shoe and clothing emails. i don’t need them telling me to buy stuff.
2. remembered to buy peanut butter snack crackers so i won’t buy snacks at work.
3. biked too and from work the past 3 days.
4. attended a conference for free on Sunday by volunteering on Monday. On Monday i got assigned to to check badges at sessions I wanted to be at anyway.
5. that’s about all i got. except still working on my library books.
Unsubscribing is the best! Cleans up the email box. Realize that just like “real” Mail, most of my inbox was junk.
1. Adopted our new puppy Saturday. Her $300 adoption fee covered all her medical care, including spay and first year vaccinations, and microchipping, so she really was a bargain. She is so sweet and just a delight.
2. My husband was in the hospital yesterday. I packed snacks and a drink from home for lunch and whiled away a very long day reading a free trilogy of ebooks.
3. When his dinner was served, he didn’t want it (it was pretty disgusting), but I scavenged enough bits from the plate to make a small sandwich so I did not have to buy a meal.
4. His doctor got us a free month of a new medication and a discount card for the next three months.
5. Son and I got our flu shots. His was free, mine was $31.99, but I can turn it into insurance for reimbursement.
Yay for pet adoptions!
Congrats on your new family member!!
Puppy snuggles needed. Can you post pics of her?.
http://thethriftyhausfrau.dreamwidth.org/3167.html
Here she is!
Congrats on finding the water bottle. We decided last Christmas to add a tv and DVD player to our second home. It took me until June, but I found a flat screen tv and a slim DVD player at Goodwill for $25 and $5. We did have to spend $6 on a universal remote and $8 on a connector cable, but a couple of library dvds later and we are in business.
Food that gets returned unopened to the store has to be thrown away–it CANNOT be re-sold for safety reasons. That is wasteful and it’d be better to find a worthy place to donate that candy to.
How do you find the motivation to take pictures of things you want to sell?
I know this is an old post, but most grocery stores throw away food/candy that is returned, even unopened. I’ve worked at four different chains and all had this policy. Just something to think about if you care about the environment.