- I drove down to pick my son up from college to bring him home for spring break. I’d assumed that he’d have extra “points” on his meal plan, and that he’d be able to swipe me into the dining hall. He didn’t. Instead we stopped about halfway through the 2-1/2 hour drive home to get 7-layer burritos at Taco Bell. Not free, but inexpensive at $2.59, and since I already had water in the car, I didn’t need to buy anything else.
- I turned in multiple Clark Howard articles over the past week in an I-can-see-the-finish-line effort to pile up as much money as possible for the April 1st tuition/room/board payments. I’m taking a week off from work to hang out with the kids, but that’ll be reflected in the paycheck that comes after the tuition deadline. I hardly get to see my older son during the school year, and he’s more important than my credit union balance.
- I stopped at Costco on my way down to pick my son up, as their gas is always around 20¢/gallon cheaper than surrounding gas stations. There was a bit of a line, but I used that as an opportunity to call my sister to perform the entire Math of Love Triangles song from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Because yes, I’d spent the previous evening playing the video over and over until I’d memorized the lyrics. Luckily, my husband works night shifts . . . .
- I worked yesterday and brought my own lunch, drank the free crappy coffee and had my annual evaluation with my boss. All is well, and I’ve jumped through all the hoops to continue work as a labor and delivery nurse for yet another year.
- I didn’t buy a Lear Jet or a vulgar gold-plated apartment in the sky.
Now your turn. What frugal things have you been up to?
Katy Wolk-Stanley
{ 132 comments… read them below or add one }
I just got sucked into a plethora of videos from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. I’ve never watched the show but now I’m going to have to binge-watch, it looks great!
Unfortunately, nothing extremely frugal on our end this week. We have a $600 vehicle repair this weekend (no labor costs though!).
The first two seasons are on Netflix!
OMG, I came back when I had time to YouTube this. Almost peed my pants! Freaking hilarious. Makes me almost wish I watched more TV!
Sorry gotta go watch it again.
I just figured out that I’ve been tired all the time because I’ve been taking Benadryl at night, so I haven’t been getting much done. However:
1. I sold three things on ebay, taking Best Offers on a couple things. However, now I have more money and less stuff! I packaged everything in scavenged boxes.
2. Menu planning allowed me to get through this week without eating out. I’ve been slow enough to consider running out for burritos, but we didn’t!
3. Menu planning again for next week. Using up freezer food, toward my goal of emptying the chest freezer.
4. Picked up Hidalgo at the library to watch with the kids tonight. Making pizza, not buying it.
5.My parents are taking my son to his speech competition next weekend, so I don’t have to drive two hours and get a hotel room! Thanks Mom and Dad!
Roberta,
Benadryl for spring allergies? If so, our allergist always recommends something like Claritin or Zyrtec since they don’t cross the blood-brain barrier, which is what makes you drowsy. Just a thought.
MIL has Alzheimer’s and Benadryl is considered bad. If it’s bad for her, I’m sure as heck not using it any more! It’s been summarily vanquished* from my medicine cabinet.
*I promise, I disposed of it safely. The Benadryl, not the pun. Yuk-Yuk.
Curious factoid:
Benedryl is one of the only safe medications for treating migraines in pregnant women.
The other available drugs are very dangerous to the baby, and even the “safe” drugs require baby to go into detox after birth. Benedryl combined with a cup of coffee (b/c the caffeine) provides relief about half the time. Half doesn’t sound like good, but with all my babies, I had monster migraines that left me blind and deaf and unable to use my right arm until the migraine passed. So half was better than none.
B-dryl can also help with anxiety, a much safer alternative to the highly addictive benzo classification of drugs.
I’m down to half a Benadryl, and it isn’t making my drowsy. However, it’s the only thing that works for me. Claritin, etc, doesn’t seem to help at all! For the couple of weeks I’m affected, I’ll take the half a day. I appreciate the info, though, and I will keep that in mind. Thanks!
We save so much by just taking our on drinks wherever we go, too.
1. I just downloaded my free Friday download from Kroger, which is a jar of salsa. I plan to use it in my salsa chicken recipe with a pack of chicken thighs I got marked down to $2.60. Put that over rice and I will have a nice meal for for 4 for about $3!
2. I got a big pack of ground beef for $6 and separated it out to use for several meals. Last night I made a large dish of pizza casserole with some it and froze half for a gift to myself after a long day next week.
3. We are going to a local auction this weekend. I don’t usually bid on much but it is fun free entertainment for a date night. I carry drinks in my purse to take in with me and some packs of crackers for when we get hungry.
4.I buy Walmart gift cards to buy all of my gas with because it takes off 3 cents per gallon when you use it. They have the cheapest gas in town right now so it’s a brainer. Plus it’s right on my way home!
5. I have terribly dry cuticles. I guess I have OCD because when they are dry I just can’t stop picking them and they look terrible, especially my thumbs. I found the cure and it is oh so cheap! A simple nail file. I found a pack of them in my drawer and filed all the dry skin spots until they no longer left anything to pick at then applied some lotion. I keep one in my pocket at all times to keep me from picking.If there is no rough dry area for me to pick at, like magic, they heal.
4. no-brainer!! Proofread Jennifer, proofread! I can hear my teacher scolding me right now.
I love your #5!!! I have the same problem and have yet to find a solid solution other than manicures, which are either expensive if I go out for one, or time consuming when I do them myself. I reallllly like this idea!
I have tried lotions, vaseline, oils, bandaids, and even diaper rash cream. As soon as they become dry again I want to pick them. This completely removes anything that is “pickable”. So glad I could help you, I knew I wasn’t the only one!
What a great idea! I have this problem, too. I just pulled out the emery board I keep in my desk and did it right here & now! My skin is terribly dry and I have the same problem with my cuticles; they are dry to the point where they will crack & bleed during the winter. Now to put on some lotion (which I also keep in my desk drawer).
thanks for reminding me about free Friday download!
You are welcome, Tracy. If you look on the Kroger website you can sign up for a text reminder when they have downloads. It makes me so mad to miss a freebie.
Also, when you download them onto your computer, they have a “My Coupons” deal you can click on, and it shows that you can get THREE freebies — this week and the ones in the past two weeks. The freebie offers are good for two weeks.
Wow, I will have to go back and look now. Thanks!
1. Took my daughter to the mall with a very specific list of needs. We get there once or twice a year, so we made a day of it. Avoided her trigger stores such as Bath and Body Works and Lush.
2. Enjoyed lunch out with her, apparently it’s part of the “mall experience” and I got to spend time with my 14 year old. Split two delicious appetizers as our meal, thanks to the hearth portions at cheesecake factory.
3. Had been saving MAC makeup empty containers and finally had 6 to submit for recycling. That got me a free lipstick and I had also received an email for another free lip product. Didn’t think I’d be able to redeem that one, but since we ended up at the mall anyway, yes please! Daughter wants to steal it from me, we will see…
4. Returned some items to Target that I had bought on sale, once I realized I didn’t really need them.
5. Enjoyed the “free” massage chair, cookie, and ice water at my daughter’s orthodontist office. Not really free as it costs and arm and a leg! But good news is her teeth are moving like champs. Dr said this may be the most movement/improvement he’s ever seen in just 6 months. In two weeks she switches her braces to Invisalign to finish up, all included in our original plan.
(1.) Made almond milk last night, composted the meal from the almonds. This is only my second time making it – I like the consistency but it reacts weird with my overnight oats and makes them mushy…
(2.) Found a nickel on the ground while (3) walking my dog (free exercise!). This was exciting because I NEVER find change here in Buffalo. I used a leftover bag from a store to pick up the dog waste instead of those special doggy doodoo bags (4).
(5.) Cut open the top of a lotion tube to get the last bits out.
(6.) It is restaurant week in our city, so we are going out tonight with friends of ours for dinner. While we’ll be spending money, it is much less expensive than normal with the RW deals and we’ll be supporting a local business.
Why not freeze the almond meal and use it for baking? Almonds are pretty expensive.
I live in Gasport (just past Lockport) and I don’t find money either!! People around here are apparently not very careless with their change.
Hello, neighbors! I live an hour the other direction from Buffalo.
I agree, found change is rare here. In fact, what I find when the snow melts is more along the lines of what irresponsible dig owners leave behind. (Do they think it will somehow magically disappear when the snow melts?!)
Crosby, good on ya for composting what you can’t use! I have used up almond meal leftover from making milk in cookies and other baked goods, and in soups. A little goes a long way – it has kind of a silty texture.
Dog! *dog* owners, obviously. Sheesh.
Vicky
“Dig” did confuse me. Thanks for clarifying! I had a momentary vision of stealthy archaeologists…
And “silty”…?? Gosh, you’re really selling it to me!
Props to the 716 Club!
I never find money here in Bflo, but I do find lost hats. If they’re not claimed in a day or so (I hang them on a tree, etc. near where they were lost), I take them home and wash them. and keep them.
Greetings to the 716 Club from the 315 Club. As I’ve noted in comments on earlier posts, I really do OK from found change after snowmelt. Maybe this has more to do with the neighborhood I live in than the climate (I live on a lovely, tucked-away cul-de-sac in an otherwise marginal area), but I find that the parking lots at my small local strip mall and a couple of nearby apartment complexes are pretty good sources of change. Came home from my morning walk with 6 cents in change today, in addition to 1.60 in NYS deposit containers.
716 in the house! 🙂
This is spring break and cash is so tight! This edition of 5 things is dedicated to frugal spring break plans:
1) I lucked out and qualified for a quick research study at work. $50 for about an hour of my time testing a new glucometer. This cash will fund our spring break plans.
2) The library has free passes to several local museums. I nabbed passes for two museums, and each pass will admit four.
3) My darling daughter and I discovered that Sonic has happy hour from 2-4 each day. 99¢ corndogs and half price slushies sound great! This will be a fun and cheap way to eat out with teens. Lol, who am I kidding, this will be an afternoon snack and they will still require dinner.
4) The local art museum is running a “Star Wars Costumes” exhibit. The special price this week is $5/person. We are going to spring for it. We love Star Wars.
5) We plan to hike plenty of the weather is nice. Yesterday was a record high and today is a blizzard warning, so we will see.
Love your #2. Libraries are the best. We have to reserve our Museum passes and I always get a bunch for over the summer for free activities.
It’s one of the many awesome things about the library!
Sounds like a great week!
Thanks, so far, so fun!!
1. It was my birthday this week, we usually go out to eat, but instead I ordered Indian food, making the rice at home, and we had plenty for 4 people, plus DD and I had dinner the next night. There is still enough left for one meal.
2. Have taken up crochet again after a long break, and am “hooked”. I’m making a blanket for my great neice ( or is it grand neice) and it calls for 5 large balls of yarn. I have been buying the balls one at a time from Michaels so I can use the coupons they give you each time you purchase anything. The store is on my way home from work, so I don’t waste gas going there.
3. I’m on spring break, and am walking every couple of days with a teacher friend determined to get fit. We went on my birthday. Then stopped at Starbucks where I got my free beverage, and she kindly bought me a baked treat.
4. Spent much of the day going though my desk at home, shredding mountains of paper, and getting together a box of stationery and craft supplies to donate to the school I work at. Frugal and necessary! Feels good to get things cleaned up.
5. DD will be moving in to the upper suite of our duplex this summer after graduating from Uni. She will be paying (reasonable ) rent, and will get a roommate to help her afford it. I have enough kitchen supplies, linens, etc to get her pretty much completely outfitted. She will need a kitchen table, and maybe a couch, but that’s it. I’m glad I saved most of the contents of a fully furnished rental we own, but now rent unfurnished. I’m currently storing this stuff, so it will be great to get it out of the house!
1. I went to my personal shopper appointment at Nordstroms on Wednesday. I am willing to pay outrageous prices to get a look that is professional and clothes that last for years. I spent $600 . . . and then took it all back the next day. Then I went to Goodwill where two hours and $80 got me almost a full professional wardrobe–Calvin Klein, Ann Taylor, Eddie Bauer. $285 for a pair of pants? Never again. I think I might be cured of ever going to a department store again. It’s just not me.
2. Of course all the clothes I bought were dry clean only. I’m not paying $3 for something that requires me to spend $5 a month to maintain it. Instead I threw everything in the wash together (even the wools) and ran them on cold delicate. Then I hung everything around the house to dry. Everything came out fine.
3. My cleaning lady has fallen off the face of the earth after over a year of great work and never missing an appointment. We’re actually worried something might have happened to her to the point that we are googling obituaries. Her phone seems to have been cut off. But the house must be prepared for our airbnb guests. So I signed up for a one-month care.com membership to find a new cleaning person. It a little bit of a hassle for over time much cheaper than a service.
4. I accepted a Friday night airbnb request even though it means have have to drive back into town this weekend to prepare the house for our Saturday night guests. But it means another $230 and the chance to meet one of my prospective cleaning ladies. I’ll put on an audiobook for the drive.
5. No Lear jet here either. Although I do like the bicycle I bought used. 🙂
I have a handwash/wool cycle on my washing machine. I wash many “dry-clean” items and hang-dry them — even cashmere. They always come out well.
Can you put suits in the delicate cycle? I mean the formal, old fashioned clothing that some still wear to the office, that you’d buy from Jos A. Banks or Saks.
I have never tried this. I still send my husband’s suits to the cleaners. I might try it on something that he no longer wears (outgrown). : -)
I used to get aggravated with my husband’s work suits – jacket label said dry clean, pants said machine wash, and what collects spills most and needs to be cleaned? I was desperate one time and did the jacket in the washer, cold, gentle, hang dry etc, and it turned out just great! Needed careful pressing, but that’s no big deal. WilliamB, I would strongly encourage you to give it a try, maybe the one you wear the least?
Noooooo! Do not wash men’s suits that you care about!!! They can be made of parts that do not like water! The interfacing could separate from the lapel, to name just one potential suit-killing disaster. Don’t be penny wise and pound foolish.
To avoid dry cleaning, shake out and hang suit promptly after removal. Brush with a soft, flat-bristle brush and spot clean with plain club soda if needed.
The kind of expensively made suits William is referring to will not have any separating parts, but will be stitched throughout. As a professional seamstress, I have deconstructed many garments over the years. It’s the mass-produced garments that are made with iron-on, fused interfacing. I’m betting William is taking good care of his garments, brushing, etc. But my husband did not, and I frequently did not know there was a problem until he wanted to wear something a second time. When I started making his suit jackets (did the pants for years before) I pre-washed everything so it could be washed later.
Don’t bet on it, Kathleen.
I saw two Hugo Boss suits which cost over £600 each, twenty years ago get ruined by water. One was someone spilling a full glass of water on the jacket hung roughly on the back of a chair and one was the result of getting completely soaked in a heavy rainstorm.
Both suits, it turned out, had canvas interlining that was only glued, as you say. But “quality” doesn’t equate to cost all the time, and it’s a bit late when the front of the suit develops bubbles in the fabric due to detaching from the canvas.
William- it might be worth buying one of those home dry cleaning kits. Otherwise, if the suit is worth keeping, just get it dry cleaned.
3. I’m now worried about that cleaning lady. Hospital, maybe? Can you locate one of her friends or neighbors?
Amanda, your comment got my attention, but I had to save William’s suits first…
Everyone at Nordstrom is paid on commission. Spending time with a Personal Shopper and then returning everything because you decided to take what you learned and replicate it at GW is kind of a jerk move. Believe me, that Personal Shopper is not rich and can’t regain that time of hers you wasted.
If I was in your shoes, I’d wrote her a note. (I know she gave you her card). I would include a generous gift card from a widely accepted vendor. I’d also explain that you loved her choices, but chose not to keep them for other reasons.
The practice of frugality at someone else’s expense is all kinds of bad things I am biting my tongue not to say.
I have to agree that this was a disappointing move, monopolizing a commissioned worker’s time when you had no intention of keeping the clothing. My daughter worked at Nordstrom. They have sales goals that they are pressured to make and there was no way for her to recoup those sales or that time. Not even a note explaining your behavior is okay.
I go to the local running store and have them fit me for running shoes. Their prices are higher than online stores. But I do buy those initial shoes from them because they took the time to fit me and help me. I won’t waste a sales associate’s time to get fitted just to buy it elsewhere.
I understood Amanda to say here and in a previous thread that she was “willing to pay outrageous prices”. It sounds like she had buyer’s remorse once the cost had sunk in. That is unfortunate for the person who waited on her, but it is a hazard of that line of work.
No it’s not a “hazard”. It is unkind behavior on Amanda’s part.
She is within her rights to return the merchandise she selected of her own free will and with plenty of forethought, as she clearly indicated here. She should apologize and explain to the salesperson that it was not her fault. The gift card suggestion is a kindness, and sort of a repayment to Amanda’s karma bank account.
Inconsiderate behavior cannot be waved away by rationalizing “…it is a hazard in that line of work”. This is not a case of simply buying something, regretting it, and returning it. Perhaps that’s what you were thinking of, Vickey. That’s a completely different situation.
I am leaving this afternoon to take my son to Georgia where he will begin a 6-month trek of the Appalachian Trail. So in an attempt to be frugal I have tried the following:
1) I went by the library yesterday to get two audio books for the long, lonely 7-hour drive back.
2) I used my REI rewards and a coupon to help him by some last minute items that he needed
3)I just ate lunch before heading out. No need for fast food.
4) I booked a hotel using our Hilton Honors Account. We almost have enough points for a free week in California. Hampton Inns always have free breakfast. This will be his last real meal.
5) I have my water bottle and coffee.
Time to hit the road!
OOOO! I love hearing about people hiking the AT!!!! Will he keep a blog on the Trail Journals? If so, send us his trail name (or blog name) and i will read his entries. (I go in about once or twice a week and read up on the current hikers). i love to hike and that is one of my dreams!
So glad you mentioned this! I didn’t know about it. I am so intrigued by AT. I will have check it out.
He is traveling ultralight, so no computer or iPad. He told me that he would not type an online journal on his phone. However, I think I have talked him into instagram. A picture is worth a thousand words. Also, he is an artist, so he plans to paint using water colors and journal along the way, I am excited for him.
Nancy, are you near the AT in Massachusetts? You could hike a portion of the trail. BTW, there is a great podcast, Sounds of the Trail, that follows hikers as they travel the AT, PCT and CDT.
unfortunately, No. I am halfway between Providence and Boston.
I’ll have to check out the podcast. Thanks for the idea! 🙂
Nancy – Your location got my attention since it is how I used to describe Taunton – where my grandparents lived and I spent lots of time. Shout out to Eastern Mass!
Ooh, I’m with Nancy! I love reading along with long-term hiking adventures! What a dream!
Ahhh! I am so envious of your son! Please tell him to enjoy every single step, and remind him that he living out many people’s dream!
1. I put electrical tape over the “eyes” of the printer cartridge. I will decide when the cartridge has printed it’s last page, not my Brother printer.
2. I stopped buying avocados as the price everywhere I’ve been is more than $1. I have my limits.
3. I’ll make a big pot of chili for dinner, using meat that was on sale/clearance and beans that were super cheap with a doubled coupon (my husband likes a special type of chili beans so I oblige him). There will be planned-overs.
4. I found $.19 yesterday. Some days I find a penny, some days I don’t find anything.
5. I continue to borrow physical and electronic books from the library as well as books on CD to listen to in the car.
coupons.com has a coupon for avocados today. 🙂
FFT birthday edition:
(1) My birthday was this week so I am enjoying all the birthday freebies. Sadly I had to work 14.5 hours that day but my parents dropped off lunch, my work bought me dinner, and hubby sent me flowers to brighten up my office (I work in a basement and didn’t leave or see sunlight for 14.5 hours so the flowers helped).
(2) Friends asked what I wanted to do for my birthday and I said I wanted to go for a nice long run. Free for everyone and we get to spend time together and get in a good workout.
(3) My office manager’s birthday is today and I bought her favorite cake (it’s chantilly and hard for me to duplicate) so not entirely frugal but I am reusing a birthday balloon that I got and tied it to her chair.
(4) Another group of friends are taking me out to dinner tonight. Some I haven’t seen in awhile so it will be nice to get together.
(5) Another friend’s birthday was a few days before mine and I will be regifting something things that I got for Xmas that I won’t use but I know that she will enjoy. So a win-win for a both of us.
I’m back to work after 5 weeks off.
1. we had an off-site outing and i asked someone to pick me up and drive me. No miles put on my Jeep and it was home in case my son needed it.
2. thank God for life insurance. Paid off the mortgage this week. Very bittersweet. Glad it’s paid off, sad because my husband is gone.
3. bought a new-to-me 2015 car last night. my jeep has 240k miles on it and I bought it 12 years ago. it will be sooo nice to have a ‘new’ vehicle and i plan on keeping this a minimum of 7 years. paid cash, so NO CAR PAYMENT!! again, bittersweet, just like the mortgage.
4. used up some kale that was in the fridge for kale chips. threw together a lunch of pasta, sun dried tomatoes and some shredded mozzarella.
5. my sister in law is visiting tomorrow so i will pull some shredded beef out of the freezer for steak sandwiches for her and DS and grilled mushroom/onion sandwich for me (vegetarian).
I’m so sorry about you losing your husband but am so glad that you and he planned ahead and got life insurance. Everyone should have it. You never know what tomorrow may bring. Congratulations on paying off your mortgage.
What Marybeth said, Nancy. Kudos on the various good moves, and keep hanging in there.
Sorry for your loss too.
On a side note, not everyone gets approved for life insurance, unfortunately. Myself and my husband both got declined 2 years ago and we are both in our thirties, so it sucks….
My husband was denied 3 times with different companies while healthy and in his 30s too. I’m glad we were able to finally find one that took him.
I am so very sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing your frugal 5. I’m glad you don’t have the worries of a mortgage or car payment. Hugs!
Nancy, I’m so glad you’re still posting so we can keep up with how you’re doing. I’m thinking of you.
Hugs, Nancy!
Awe, I’m so sorry. Even though I don’t know you I think of you often.
Oh Nancy, I am so sorry for the loss of your beloved husband. I hope his passing was peaceful and that you have lots of happy memories.
My thoughts go out to you, Nancy. It was wise of you and your husband to arrange things such that this difficult time is eased somewhat by the lessening of financial burdens.
I love the the Crazy Ex-girlfriend’s “heavy boobs” song. It never fails to cheer me up.
1. Found $.86 on the ground at the car wash yesterday.
2. I’m nursing a sore throat with hot tea, honey and lemon. Trying to avoid a copay.
3. Haven’t been anywhere due to #2 so no money spent.
4. Managed to cook every night even though I wanted to stay on the couch and whine.
5. Listed several more items on Letgo to fund some spring break fun.
1. Combined errands today to save gas. We only live about three miles further from town than our previous house but it sure seems like more!
2. Dug out spring/Easter decorations to see what will work in the new house and yard. Will also paint a single chair to put on the porch to hold a pot of flowers.
3. Eating out of the freezer and pantry so grocery bill has been very low. Went to Aldis today and was a bit alarmed at the price of produce. I did get a .99 cantaloupe and a pack of three peppers for 1.79.
4. Missing the birds we had at the old house so bought a hummingbird feeder at Dollar Tree today. I will make the nectar which will save quite a bit and if we’re unsuccessful attracting hummingbirds, I won’t be out very much.
5. Am starting to put away winter clothes and pull out summer. Kept a storage bin handy to put anything that I can sell at the family’s summer garage sale. I plan on being brutal but the warm winter did mean there were several items I didn’t wear this year. I don’t want to get rid of things I’ll have to replace when and if winter decides to actually return next year!
Shelia – on your #4, good on you to make your own! My mom makes her own and gave me an easy microwave recipe (basically simple syrup). Also you are helping out the birds by using the color of the feeder to attract them and spare them the harmful effects of the food dye!
(1) DH and I did something this week that’s been nagging at me for a long time: First, we took the pistol he bought about 15 years ago (because he thought he might take up target shooting as a hobby, but never did) to a local sporting goods store that buys guns, and sold it. Then today we went downtown and presented the necessary paperwork to the county sheriff’s office, so he could surrender his pistol permit. Huge relief. (Not to mention the cash for the pistol.)
(2) I’m dealing with my various anxieties over the current political and environmental situation by packing us a “bug-out bag,” using mainly items that we already have on hand. (This is for short-term emergency use, such as a severe storm, a local train derailment/chemical spill, etc. I haven’t gone completely off the rails.)
(3-5) Otherwise, just the routine stuff: rack-drying laundry, stoking the wood-burner, and eating in instead of out.
I need to renew our bug -out bags. Thanks for the reminder! The precautionary principle is always a good one.
1. Made some homemade Kefir. So much better than store-bought!
2. Saved some leftover cornbread, cooked some chicken bones for broth, and used some saved chicken for a pan of chicken dressing. A hearty and cheap meal – all from various leftovers!
3. Sold some shoes on ebay. Found them at a consignment store and are too small for my daughter. Made a $9.50 profit!
4. Got out taxes done, and in the mail. Our accountant found us lots of credits, so we are getting some money back. So much better than having to pay!
5. Cleaned and organized our pantry. It didn’t cost anything but reminded me of a few things that had gotten pushed to the back and forgotten. Need to get them out and eaten soon
1. My youngest kid is in the hospital and looks like will be there for a while. I did not eat there…yet. Actually, I did not eat because this time his illness caught me off guard and I forgot. So yea, there is a frugal aspect to stress…lol.
2. He is covered on my insurance at the moment, thank goodness! He will age out next month.
3. To keep the insurance, and perhaps manage to pay cobra when he ages out (I am still checking) I have to work. Our leave time is fairly stingy but I am not complaining because of the great insurance. Since I am working, this is frugal because it pays my bills and his. Enough said.
4. I walk at the hospital for exercise so that is free.
5. I did not pack a lunch for work because I was busy with the above, but I had snack stuff at my desk to ward off hunger.
So sorry for what you guys are going through! Sending thoughts and prayers your way!
Praying for you and your son.
Sending a prayer for your son.
Thank y’all…
I’m late reading this but I’m sorry, too. It’s just so stressful to have a loved one in the hospital. Great community we have here at the NCA!
And I’m even later, but I’m adding my good wishes anyway. Hang in there, Cindy.
Thank y’all.
Cindy, I’m so sorry! I hope his recovery is faster than expected, and that the insurance thing sorts out smoothly. (Bites back rant about how this nation needs to grow up and move to universal healthcare coverage dammit!)
1. Made my own granola, way tastier, healthier, and cheaper than buying. http://www.hopepostkids.com/granola-recipes/
2. Went to the playground with the kids after piano lessons instead of buying cookies at the coffee shop like they wanted to do. Good for the wallet and the waistline.
3. Got a new e-book from the library and am loving it. http://amzn.to/2mAnK1O
4. Fixed a broken towel hook, sanded, and painted the wall myself.
5. Played tennis with a friend and went on walks in the park for exercise.
http://www.hopepostkids.com
Spent $1000 to have my cesspool pumped out. Literally money down the toilet. I guess that’s why I watch what we spend.
1. Working 2 extra shifts this week.
2. My dad is staying at my sister’s for a long weekend so I invited him to see a free movie whenever he wants. I’m working Sunday so he and my daughter are going to see Kong while I’m working. He will then stay for dinner. He loves movies but being retired is on a fixed income. I get 8 free passes a month so might as well use them.
3.My daughter texted me from school to see if 2 friends could come over after school. I had taken meat out but not enough to stretch, so I keep it for another night. Made pancakes with cinnamon apples instead.
4. Sold 2 items on EBay, money in clutter out.
5. My son needed to go to the library to get his new library card. I had stuff that was due back. He went after school and saved me a trip.
We had a few minor savings – someday there will be a big score!
1. Bought birthday lunch for friend today at an expensive club using a certificate I received for the holidays. Not cheap, but a nice savings.
2. Got in line and bought gas at Costco even though I find it frustrating to wait. I invariably always find the line which has been held up for an unknown reason. It is several cents cheaper per gallon.
3. Visited wholesale bakery and scored eight packages of brownies for $.25 each on clearance. I will freeze and use them for upcoming meetings when I am called upon to provide refreshments. Also $4 bread for .75 per loaf when purchased in bulk.
4. Staying home and reading a book in front of the fireplace = free and relaxing entertainment.
5. Lots of non-frugal activities – need to rededicate myself to a better quality non-consumer existence.
Love Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.
1. Saved $100 in expenses by just not spending it over the last fortnight. It’s gone straight into the holiday fund for when we take our kids away for a family trip over Easter.
2. Was tempted to do Friday night takeaway but I pre-empted that desire by preparing slowcooker baked potatoes in the morning before work and heating up a casserole from the freezer. Otherwise half that $100 would have disappeared on Indian takeaway.
3. I have saved 10% of the cost of a new car purchase, planned for 2019. I showed my husband last night and he was very happy. So long as neither of our current cars give out before then we should be set to pay cash for a new to us car on schedule.
4. We scored turf leftover from his sister’s backyard makeover, that was just enough to cover a crappy spot in our yard. It looks much better now, along with a bay tree we already had that we planted out. Free!
5. We are going to a church jumble sale this morning. These are usually always a place to score a bargain.
1. Have been sort of sickly/depressed all week, which always triggers eating out. This time I reminded husband of that and he did all the planning and cooking for the week, from stuff we had in the house already. More soups than I usually like and two nights of hamburgers, but we saved money.
2. Sold four cook books of my extensive collection. I am going through and seeing which recipes I want to copy out and then selling them. One of them brought me $40.
3. Right now have apples cooking themselves into applesauce.
4. Ended a subscription to a magazine. It was costing me about $80 a year and I just could not justify the expense. Three weeks after my subscription ended, husband’s business received an offer for the same magazine for $6 for the year! He signed up for it and since he works out of the house, it comes here anyway. I am happy not to have lost a news fix.
5. Husband turned 65 and in this state, that means we no longer have to pay for yearly car registration—it is free. Also went to the borough and got the reduced seniors tax rate and then went to the city and got the reduced seniors garbage collection rate (mandatory, can’t go without garbage pickup if you live in the central part of town). I told husband that marrying an older man is finally paying off!
6. Found a quarter on the ground, although I had to chip it out of the ice with my toe.
7. Today we took one of our boys to the vet and it was toward the end of the day and a Friday. They always have a bowl of apples out for the owners to munch on and as I was leaving the receptionist asked me if I would make use of the apples. Apparently, most everyone else except for us, the vet and her had left and the apples were going to be ditched (!!??). I said I sure would and she dumped the contents into a plastic grocery bag—it filled the bag. They are now becoming the above referenced applesauce. Honey crisps, the most expensive ones around. Last week they were $3.29 a pound at the grocery store!
I love that the vet has healthy snacks out! And, that you and DH are able to get around again. Yay for healing!
* I’m home with the kids today. One wasn’t feeling well so we stayed in. That makes for a cheap day.
* Will use my city pass (12$/year) to go swimming tonight
* Won 2 free movies tickets. I’m very happy about this one because my daughter has been talking about that wanting to watch that specific movie for a month now (Baby boss), so she’s very excited to go!
* Took an extra shift this week at the hospital (4 instead of 3).
* Eating all the leftovers, or freezing them, so we don’t end up with food waste.
Have a great frugal day!
1. I just found out that a new Goodwill is opening about five minutes from my home. I can’t put into words how happy and excited I am about this. Currently, the closest one is about 15-20 minutes away. I may or may not have done a little dance when I found out.
2. A sweet school mom gave me two coupons for free slices of cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory. I pushed back and told her to use them, but she said she couldn’t; her family was leaving to get on the road for spring break right then and the coupons were going to expire this week. My kids and I went there to redeem them and the selection was unbelievable. I told the nice gal working there that I felt like a queen being able to pick out any two free slices. She laughed and said it was about a $17 value.
3. Found a penny on the ground. It had been ages since I’d found any coins.
4. Still working through the big old bottle of mouthwash that I bought that no one in my family likes. It’s a huge bottle, actually.
5. My son was awarded a Chick-fil-A kids’ meal gift card for the reading he did at school. We haven’t used it yet but will.
You just reminded me I have FOUR Cheesecake Factory slices I have to redeem by Friday 😡
Ahh! Thanks!
I feel you on #4. I am in the same boat and just discovered ANOTHER bottle of it in the closet. Mouthwash until 2020…
1. Found $.17 in various coinage this week.
2. A friend treated me to a sandwich at a vegan deli. It was delicious!
3. Took a half day off work to spend with a friend. He took me on a tour of the county he grew up in and it included visits to a wonderful civil war era cemetery and two abandoned houses! Both were great photography opportunities and I edited and sent one of the photos to my friend as a thank you.
4. Drinking water, coffee, and tea at home.
5. Watched a couple of live feeds on making jelly and shrubs in Facebook. I have a surplus of strawberries and apples at the moment and am going to try apple ginger jelly and strawberry shrub.
4.
I love your #3. I also enjoy giving photos to say thanks. 🙂 Photos tend to be frugal yet appreciated gifts.
Great job!
This week:
1. I focused on freezer meal cooking for dinner and our recipes for this week were on point! Super happy to have delicious and affordable meals at home.
2. I used an old box and fashioned it into a playhouse for my cat.
3. We bought a raspberry vine as well as a persimmon tree. The persimmon has even started flowering, so we might see some fruit in the fall.
4. We used coffee grounds and beer to deter pests from our garden instead of buying harmful and expensive chemicals.
5. This weekend I’m baking several loaves of bread using whey left over from making yogurt.
Don’t go wild with the coffee grounds on your fruiting plants (peppers, tomatoes etc.) it’ll boat foliage production when you want more phosphorus and potassium for fruits. Save the coffee for your greens.
*boost not boat. Sorry
Not sure if this is true for persimmon trees, but I’ve always read that, if fruit does start forming after blossoming in the first year of planting, you should trim it off, as you want the fruit tree’s energy to be used for good root growth, not being dissipated on fruiting. Can affect tree for years (for good or ill).
My frugal 5
Downloaded the Kroger freebie to our loyalty card. It was for free tostito’s salsa.
Earlier this week, downloaded the Food Lion freebie, Ritz chips to our loyalty card.
Watched a youtube video where people organize a food swap. You bring food in date that you don’t want to swap for other’s items. This looked really neat.
Read some free ebooks. Watched some free youtube videos on dumpster diving. I don’t do this, but I found it interesting. I wish that places would find someone to give their extras to. It’s so sad to see all the waste.
Hubby said he saved $16 or $17 today just picking up a few needed items at the grocery store. It really helps when your family is on board with your saving money tactics.
1. Had too many appointments this week, so am happy to be at home for the weekend and get some housework accomplished.
2. Made spaghetti and sausage this week which fed us two meals and there is still a bit left over.
3. Another night we ate leftover corned beef and cabbage. Even buying the smallest one I could find, we had enough for two nights.
4. Ate Girl Scout cookies for dessert all week–I bought them already, so might as well substitute them for making something else.
5. Had an earned coupon for $10 and noticed that the store had their basic Tees on sale for $9.99. Got two tees and paid oop only $10.49 with tax–free shipping too. Bought one 3/4 sleeve and one short sleeve one. I ruin tee shirts regularly despite wearing heavy bib aprons when I cook! So I have those two and another I bought elsewhere (on sale, in my favorite color) to start the new season with. I am careful with stains and put Stain Stick on spots when I know about them. Hope to make these last a few years. My former favorite color one was ruined last year by ripping in a place that was not easy to fix, so that has become a cleaning rag now. It’s well faded anyhow, so it was going either way.
Even though I wear a apron, I go through t-shirts quickly too — especially white ones. These are hard to find secondhand in decent condition. I almost always have to buy them new.
I hear you re: those t-shirts, Marcia. On the rare occasions when my mother and my mother-in-law (both very well-endowed ladies) met, it was only a matter of time before one or both of them would spill food down their fronts at a meal. (In fact, this developed into a friendly running joke!) And now that they’re both gone to glory, I seem to have inherited the tendency. So I’m constantly experimenting with spot removal techniques, and I have a pretty high turnover rate on t-shirts anyway!
1. Painted the first floor bathroom – the paint I planned on using was totally hard – so we mixed 2 leftover colors to make a custom color-and it was plenty to put the needed 2 coats.
2. My husband needed to clean out a storage space in our basement and we spent a hour (we set a limit so we didn’t go crazy) and have a good pile for the spring neighborhood garage sale and very little back into storage. He does have a huge pile of fishing stuff to sort for the sale but we can do that in another stretch of time.
3. Used a very old Groupon (2/15 expiration date) that I had hanging on the refrigerator all this time – shared a walleye fish and chips basket. We still spent more than I normally want to for lunch but we haven’t spent much time together this week since I was working a lot.
4. Ate all meals as planned (including lunch out) – so little food waste when we make both a lunch and dinner plan for the week.
5. Took the bus to work 2x this week rather than my husband driving me there then circling back home – we only have one car. Love riding the bus with a good book – sometimes I wish the commute was a little longer!
1. I stopped at WM for cheap craft paint (apple barrel 2 oz for 50c) and stopped to look at the watches. I seem to go through batteries quickly (I don’t know why) and found some clearance watches. I bought an rubber type Armitron for work, and a bracelet type Elgin for non-work, for $5 each- less than the cost of a new battery. And the clerk put a new battery in the Elgin. (they didn’t have the color of the paint I wanted though.)
2. I listened to 2 books on CD, finished an actual book, watched 2 dvd movies, all from the library.
3. I got a few extra hours for work by taking a required 4h CPR class, and another hour when I called in to a staff meeting rather than drive the 18 miles each way.
4. After your last post, I looked around my living/dining room/kitchen and discovered almost everything in the rooms was from Craigslist, Offer-Up, garage sales, flea market, or trash picked. The bought NEW items were easier to list: my TV (7 years old, a birthday/xmas gift from my daughter,) dvd player, in house TV antenna, some of the fabrics in various quilts, a lamp base I bought with a gift card, and some of the books. Everything else, including my 1972 Madden sofa, wicker tables, ottoman, rattan rocking chair, walnut dresser (for the tv,) 1920s oak table, dining chairs, antique snail trails quilt, various wall art, china tea cups, hutch, sewing desk, appliances, pantry cupboard, rugs, curtains, etc, were all second (or third, fourth, whatever) hand.
5. Used a JCP $10 off $10 and paid $4 for a twin sheet set that my daughter and I will use for quilt backs for gift quilts. (for our own we buy thrifted sheets.)
6. I’m currently patching my favorite hoodie. It’s a gray Old Navy that is about 13 years old. I patch it with floral fabrics, and have also embroidered various flowers on it to hide stains etc.
7. It was 71′ outside today so I washed 3 loads of laundry (one of clothes, the other of sheets and quilts) and hung them out on the clothesline.
Watch type batteries can often be purchased cheaply on Amazon.
1. Went to a friend’s house to watch the game, our apps didn’t show it. They invited us to go out for dinner first, but we ate at home, then went over to hang out with them.
2. Brought wine, I knew I was out of wine but remembered a local coffee shop that carries wine, and I had a gift card, so no cost for me 🙂
3. Bought seeds from the Seed Guy (cheap and gmo free), plan to plant lettuce today.
4. Spreading compost in my garden today.
5. Physical therapy is going well. Making sure I exercise in between. I went off my last paid meds this week, down to ibuprofen. yay.
1. Making a soup/stew out of leftover Hungarian goulash that no one was crazy about. I was tempted to toss it but it had expensive grass fed beef in it and really, TOSS IT? Where did my brain go…I am using half of the goulash and adding green beans cooked in a mixture of chicken stock (homemade) and white wine. then adding the beef and noodle mixture. Only doing half of it in case we not like. Don’t need to throw good money after bad. Smells good though.
2. I worked a catering event yesterday and brought home one lb of cheesapeno smoked sausage! my favorite from Lowes Foods. Into the freezer for a free dinner.
3. Super tired this week as lots of events I’m working so many 12 hours days. DH wanted grand-kids to come over last night and I did too as I miss them but wasn’t up for making dinner and all that energy. He took over, we had BOGO fish sticks, onion rings and coleslaw that he put together while i relaxed on the swing with oldest. Lovely evening.
4. I had suggested taking kids somewhere because I was tired. I said it was ok if we spent the money. He had a water balloon fight with kids in front yard and they had a GREAT time. We had the balloons left from last summer. My mother bought one of those “KAOS Water battle pumps”. Looks great in theory. Piece of junk. Do not buy, use your garden hose.
5. Planning a trip to Ripleys Aquarium in Myrtle Beach with grand-kids. Got 5 tickets to that and Wonder Works amusements by sitting through hateful 2 hour time share presentation. Total cost of tickets $285. Our hourly rate with no taxes: $71.25 each. Plus we got free beverages. If we’d timed it better we would have gotten free lunch too.
Fyi. the Time share works out to $285/month for 10 years (but then you OWN it!) for a one week vacation per year. Um..No thank you.
I am with you on timeshares. You could have many wonderful vacations for the $34000 price tag!
Crazy busy week at work, which tends to (negatively) impact frugality, so have frugal fails that equal FTs, but here goes:
1. Had to take something for a potluck this week. I’m “the boss” so need to bring something substantial that will feed lots. Was tempted to order a tray of sushi or restaurant takeout for $50+, but drove to Costco and bought 6 pounds of meatballs and some Asian sauce and took that to work with my crockpot. Bit hit, total cost $20 instead of $50 +.
2. Sadly, with the potluck and several early morning or evening meetings, only took bus to work 1 x this week (usually average 3-4 days, save $12 in parking each time I bus).
3. Had a few meals paid for due to work events I had to attend, lunches and a dinner, score!
4. 3 of my 4 kids were home for dinner on Thursday, along with my mom. Had 0 time to cook this week and was out of town last weekend, so considered taking everyone out to dinner but decided to bring in pizza instead, not frugal but half the cost of going out…
5. Have been in retail therapy mood but instead of buying retail took some of my recent super scores from thrift stores to the alterations place. Even with the prices of items at thrift store and the price of alterations, I will have two gorgeous new-to-me silk dresses for summer at a fraction of retail (like 10% of retail).
Reading my list, I would say this week the best I avoided the least frugal choices and instead making more frugal choices but not the “frugalist” (new word?) choices. Sometimes that’s the best I can do…
Tracy, I’m so with you on the busy weeks = frugal fails. That was my week in a nutshell. We went out for pizza one night, too (take and bake would have been smarter, sigh) because by the time I got home & decompressed, it was 8 pm . . .and THEN I noticed the meat for dinner wasn’t half thawed.
Ah, well, tomorrow is another week.
1. We’ve needed another car, as we put off replacing one that was totaled a year and a half ago. Then, earlier this week, our beloved Prius died on us, bringing us down to 2 cars for 4 people. The cost to replace the battery was more than the value of 12 year old car. Since we’d already been looking for a new-to-us car, we did a little more searching and took a day off and checked out 3 cars. We ended up with a 2012 that we paid for with cash. Total win 🙂
2. We ended up taking my sister and brother out to dinner after a day of car shopping but since my sister treats our boys so often, we thought it was really worth it. And we ended up at El Pollo Loco, which was quite the bargain.
3. My brother visited us last week and we basically stayed around the house (he has a traumatic brain injury so he’s not inclined to venture out too much). We did a lot of cooking and made brownies as he has a sweet tooth. I may or may not have had to sample them!
4. Made a chicken stock one day with the dark meat and bones from 2 rotisserie chickens that was nice and rich. Made matzo ball soup from that. With so much left over, I “recycled” the soup by adding carrots, potatoes, onions, and diced tomatoes to make a chicken stew the next night that will also offer leftovers. Soup for two days in a row? Why not?
5. I’ve been absolutely loving watching The Great British Baking Show and wanted to make a cake this morning. Checking through my cookbooks I found one that looked great but would have required a trip to the store. Since I am frugal (and lazy on this chilly Saturday morning!) I decided on a gingerbread cake instead as all the ingredients are in my pantry 🙂
6. I’ve been wanting “new” jeans and kept thinking about going to a fancy store like Nordstrom since I haven’t had much luck at my favorite Goodwill lately (I learned a good lesson last weekend when trying on jeans (and really anything at a thrift store): don’t look at the size! I tried on some jeans in a size 6 that fit well enough (I’m a 12 – and the only place they were tight were in my calves!) and think the reason they ended up in the GW in the first place is because they were mis-sized. ) But I remembered a $5 credit I have to Gap/Old Navy and will take a trip there today. If I don’t find anything at Old Navy, I may go to another Goodwill and see what I can find. Or I may just stay home and wear the jeans I have . . .
Tracy try not to fret over buying a pizza…Definitely worth the price of sanity!
I cannot believe how much money my family has saved by not ordering drinks when we eat out. I went out to breakfast with a coworker before work and when we were splitting the check, I noted that the restaurant charged $3 for a simple cup of coffee for her. Yow!
Also, we carry water bottles with us everywhere and simply fill up with water instead of buying water.
And I always seem to find money on the ground here in my home city.
Needed new Roku box. (suggestion: avoid dropping remote in toilet.) Found model I wanted on Roku website, found ‘like new’ offer for model on ebay, $15 off, no tax, free shipping. Was not just LIKE new, but totally new, unopened, drop-shipped from a Kohl’s in Texas (and included an unexpected present, a package of washcloths). But when I opened it I discovered that it was lacking a crucial feature. (Thank you Roku for offering 3 models, express, premiere and ultra, and then having two other models, express plus and premiere PLUS, with more, in my case essential, features!). So since it was from a national chain, I brought it all in (on my bike) to my local Kohl’s and exchanged it for the model I needed. Including the washcloth and Texas sales tax, got $93 in credit toward the $99 ($108.74 with CA sales tax) price for the model i needed, AND $20 in Kohl’s Cash from a promotion that required me to come back in 10 days. Came back, got a half-price t-shirt and even heavier discounted men’s shirt for free with the promo cash.
Speaking of free (it’s always good to speak of free), walking thru SF saturday with my walking meetup, checked out, as I always do, two pairs of jeans on the sidewalk and discovered they were 34-32, exactly my size. Ignoring the caution of one of my walkers (always do) about the dangers of wearing found clothing, picked them right up. Brand new Levi’s 511s. Wearing one of the pairs now.
haha good suggestion! I’m wondering why you had a remote control in the bathroom. 😀
There is an Android app that you can use as a remote for Rokus. Here is a link:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.roku.remote&hl=en
I don’t see an iOS app.
I kept busy the last two weeks; I had a couple of job interviews so spent most of my after work time learning about the companies I was interviewing with, prepping for the interview questions, etc. It took out so much of me that I dropped a ball on keeping it frugal.
Namely, there were a few of take-outs, a few coffees out, I also purchased a purse and a pair of pants (I did not need either of them), both from a second hand store so it did not completely destroy my wallet, but still.
I guess some weeks are better than other. Starting tomorrow, back on the wagon, new frugal week.
Wishing everyone a great Sunday!
DS#2 was on Spring Break last week and went to FL with his team members for 4 days, and then back to his campus apartment. I decided to go visit for a few days since I hadn’t seen him since Christmas break and he had mentioned he was low on food in his freezer. So here’s my F5 Spring Break edition!
1. My friend went with me as far as her sister’s house which is 2 hours from my son in Knoxville. I stayed there the first night and drove the rest of the way the next day. I also know her sister from when they used to live near me.
2. The next 2 nights I stayed with friends in Knoxville. I always bring gifts when I stay with them. This time they were a box of tea, a hiking book for the National forests of VA for their college age son and I bought a beautiful hydrangea at Aldi for $10 when I got there.
3. I took down a load of Pergo that we had gotten off Freecycle a few years ago. My son will be living in the team house next year, which has nasty carpet in the living room, that they want to remove. He had asked me how much hardwood would be and I told him they could have the Pergo. It is now out of my house and DH will lay it when we go in May to move him home for the summer.
4. DS and I had a great time just spending time together. We went grocery shopping at Aldi, Kroger for a few things we couldn’t get a Aldi, plus the Friday freebies and we hit a few thrift stores. For $110 he is now fully stocked with food that will last until the end of the semester. I cooked and baked and filled his freezer with homemade prepared foods that are his favorites. We only went out to eat twice while I was there and both times at local places that are very reasonable.
5. I left Sat night and drove back to friend’s sister’s house and spent the night. I baked a double batch of fudgy brownies at DS’s which I brought to thank them.
Trip was relatively frugal but time spent with DS was priceless!
1. making a list of everything to go up on varagesale over my spring break in 3 weeks. I don’t have time to mess with that app otherwise, so I will do it all at once.
2. bought a really nice duvet set at target today on clearance for 6 dollars. Should be able to flip it on ebay for 50-60+.
3. activated my chase card for april-june. 5% cash back at grocery stores!
4. Have been using the “benefit” app for things lately. Definitely liking it so far. I have gotten about 15 dollars back!
5. Trying to only go to the grocery store 1x per week. Limits food waste, and helps my sanity.
The most frugal thing I have done recently is to ask for free moving boxes and packing supplies on our neighborhood list serve. I got so much packing paper and a number of great boxes. We still have had to buy some items but this saved a lot of money and reused the items. Whatever we end up not using I will advertise for free on the same listserve.
That has been countered by the fact that we decided to give away the furniture and other items we will not be moving across the country. It has made me happy to make others happy with our gifts.
having returned home after visiting my daughter for 8 wks,
1. took a truck load to recycle, including boxes to the local auction/ebay store; end result: not only recycling, but re-using boxes –and– building goodwill with a local business.
2. got a batch of old clothes ready to take to the re-sale store tomorrow.
3. organized my home-canned goods/supplies to see what I need to can this year and what I need to grow to do that–and what canning jars I can list for sale this week since I really have too many for my needs– (set out about 10 dozen jars to sell).
4. shopped at Costco and Aldi on my way back from my travels after reading flyers on-line and making a list, so I would only buy what we actually need in the house –and– so I can get back into one of my favorite hobbies: cooking!
5. made one more Christmas gift with less than a yard of fabric I had, so I will be buying one less item this year.
One REALLY BIG THING – I am carefully examining our gas and electric bill. It is a disproportionately large bill, since no one is in the house during the school-day. I am taking a bunch of measures to cut it.
-Installed a programmable thermostat and programmed it. It is accessible from my phone, so I can adjust it very easily, even if I’m not home.
-I am going to have a home energy audit done
-I am seeing if I can sign up for any discounts via our utility – they have some energy saving programs.
1. I judged and critiqued 63 purebred and rare breed dogs over the weekend which paid me $189. The show was close enough to the house that I drove home during the 2 hr. break and did some laundry. Coffee, water and lunch was provided so no $$ spent.
2. I am feeding chickens and goats for friends that live up the hill from me. Yeah $60 in my pocket
3. I’ve listed numerous items on FB indoor garage sale sites, ebay and amazon.
4. I have an appointment with a vintage/antique buyer/consignment store to take in a number of collectible items (brooches, Royal Copenhagen holiday plates, other china).
5. Having a garage sale on Saturday. Stuff needs to go and I need $$.
1. Sold table number holders for our wedding at a profit, since I bought them used in the first place. I immediately used the cash to put gas in my fuel-efficient car.
2. A dear friend just found out that her cancer has spread to her brain. Sending flowers was a necessary expense, but I did use Ebates and a coupon code.
3. My grocery shopping has been minimal because I’ve been basing our meals on our CSA. We’ve also been able to base several meals on a box of frozen tilapia that my dad gave us. Cheap eats!
4. We traveled all weekend but managed to eat just one meal out (we didn’t even go out for coffee or alcohol). Not perfect, but still fairly frugal.
5. I’ve had a hankering for wine, so I’ve been satiating my craving with a box of Franzia.
I’m pretty pleased with some of my frugality from just today.
1) despite the glommy weather I resisted an afternoon coffee treat at work
2)I had no menu/meal planned for tonight, but was able to make grilled cheese and tomato soup from pantry/freezer items.
3) I made breadcrumbs from the ends of the loaves of bread
4) i made a new batch of soapnut laundry detergent.
1. Getting so sick I didn’t get out of bed for three days saved money on gas, but some food in the frig spoiled, due to hub being in so much back pain he didn’t want to cook. A bag of bananas was accidentally left in the back of my car, so they’re black, but I’ll mash and freeze for later use.
2. Decided to stop messing around selling books on Half.com and have a big blow-out open house sale this week i’m off from work. Whatever doesn’t sell will be boxed up and sold to a used book store for $1 a book. I’d make more doing it on Half.com, but the stacks of books everywhere (from my book review writing job) are starting to get on our nerves.
3. Bought a pricey package of stickers for the sale which I ended up not needing, so I’ll be returning the unopened package.
4. Made sure to use up stuff for dinner tonight: a slightly wilted head of romaine and three slightly aged tomatoes made a fine salad, slices of american that no one eats anymore went ok with the sloppy joes, and steamed some of the 99 cent a lb asparagus I bought the day before I got sick. Will blanch and freeze the rest tomorrow.
5. Something fell on the daffodils and bent three of them, so I picked them for dinner decor. Hubs prefers me to leave his flowers outside, where everyone can enjoy yhem, but he’d didn’t mind this time. 😀
excuse last paragraph – got distracted! LOL
1. Made a picnic lunch for myself and two others, with enough food to last through a whole day of protest marching, here in the UK. Saved a lot of money, for my friend as well as me.
2. Brought lunch from home, made most of my coffee at work, drinking water from my water bottle.
3. Plodding through eating some instant porridge that really tastes dire…but there’s no way I’m throwing it away, so I’d best knuckle down and eat it!
4. Picked up plenty of books for £1 each from the charity shop for my husband, including four which were new and have never been read!
5. Driving to see family (not frugal but cheaper than the trains) a couple of weekends this month, and although I have and will probably continue to treat myself to coffee (particularly on the six hour journeys), I have been packing everything else I might need so that I don’t give in to the lure of the service station.
Not frugal: treated myself to coffee and a pastry at my university library and was reminded how expensive and awful their food and coffee is. I don’t actually know how there can be no where on the whole campus that does decent coffee.!
1) I ran out of my regular breakfast oatmeal, but found a box of maple & brown sugar that would suffice for the rest of the week.
2) The grocers had a huge sale so I bought several sale items we needed – large eggs 50 cents a carton, sausage $1 each, Milk $1.29, etc. I kept everyone fed over the weekend and have leftovers for lunch this week.
3) I’m having tire pressure issues again, but took the car to Discount Tire to have them checked. I may have to replace them, once we get our taxes back next month, but I’m holding out until then. The air check, refill and advice at DT was free.
4) I bought a large bag of FOCA laundry detergent for $3.59 at the store – that will last me for six months or longer.
5) A pair of earbuds I let the kids use at my house came apart a few weeks back and one over the ear pair lost the cover on one side.
Our Campus I.T. store had a sidewalk sale today. I bought some good ones – one pair that go over the ear and the other 2 in the ear for $5 & $3 each. We’re good for awhile now.