Five Frugal Things
by Katy on July 13, 2017 · 95 comments
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I took my sons to see a movie on Tuesday night at the locally owned Academy Theater. Why Tuesday? They run a weekly 2-for-1 special. Sadly, that doesn’t work for odd-numbered groups, although I can hardly complain about the $8 total cost. We saw the Japanese animated movie Your Name, which had a very unique and moving plot. I chose a viewing that was subtitled instead of dubbed as I want to make sure that my sons don’t forget the Japanese that they studied throughout their entire public school career.
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My mother and I went thrifting to her favorite Goodwill Outlet yesterday as I was A: in her neighborhood, B: she was getting itchy for some deals; and I guess C: she wanted in on the fun. I spent $15 on a quality midcentury cupboard as a project piece, as well as a number of things to sell.
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I was tempted to get takeout for dinner, but instead I rifled through the fridge and freezer for a meal. I boiled up pierogi, assembled bean and cheese quesadillas and cut up a cantaloupe. I need to clean out and organize the fridge, as it’s crammed with random stuff from my husband’s work party, plus leftovers from 4th of July and my sister’s stay. It’s chock full, but I know there’s inedible stuff in there that makes it hard to find the actual tasty treats. Disorganization leads to food waste.
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I visited my friend who just had her baby, and brought hydrangeas and a platter of homemade pumpkin cake, I sold another eBay item, I renewed my Craigslist listings, I hung laundry on the clothesline, I wore 100% thrifted clothing, I accepted a can of seltzer from my mother and I returned books to the library,
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I don’t buy a Lear Jet or a Предательская позолоченная квартира в аки.
Now your turn. What frugal things have you been up to?
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
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{ 95 comments… read them below or add one }
1. Yesterday: Brought in some Plumeria flowers from the yard to decorate the house. Went to Walmart but only bought the items on my list. Used a $5 off $10 coupon at Grocery Outlet for the delicious nuts I’ve been wanting. Now if I can just stop eating them…
2. In an alternate kind of frugality, I decided that instead of just blindly and silently going to PT as prescribed, I should actually ask about the expected outcome and also, ask what should I be doing to keep my aging body healthy. The PT was very frank and gave me some good advice. I (bravely) asked for massage as part of the treatment and they are including it! Whoo-hoo! I am going to question the bejeezus out of everyone at the PT’s office who works on me… these kids are really smart and I can gain loads of info while I am being treated (and talking makes it less boring).
3. So. I dropped a travel size tin of Nivea down the toilet just as it was flushing… 🙁 Could not get it out myself and almost had a major problem. The plumber came — a local guy I’ve used for years — and instead of just getting it unplugged and charging me $125, he included changing out the innards of the tank and installing a new incoming water line because the tank had been filling very slowly. $125 is a lot of money but there are some things that I can’t do myself anymore, and this guy is way less expensive than George Brazil. It pays to be loyal to the small guys…
4. Been eating my 50-cent-a-serving-bean soup every day this week and sticking to my high-protein, less meat, less refined sugar and carbs diet program (the less carb/sugar part is killing me). Also using up all the stuff in my fridge in the process. Will be pantry cooking for the next week.
5. Instead of buying a kindle book, I waited and checked it out from the library. Ironically, the title is “How the Rich Get Thin”. 😉
Teresa, I was recently prescribed a course of PT for tendonitis and other problems in my feet. The PT techs gave me some great advice about less expensive shoes that would help, and I noticed they just had me doing the same exercises I did at home plus a foot and leg massage. So I bought some new shoes and diligently did everything at home, and thus was able to cut the course of PT in half.
1. Making sure I have all the proper documents in order for my kids to start school. Also, comparing their school supply lists to make sure to get everything at one time. Multiple trips to the store for things I forget is costly. Also, so glad I got those pricy Ticonderoga pencils and Pink Pearl erasers on clearance and stashed away in a drawer last year. The school specifically requests these brands.
2. Took my kids to vacation bible school last night for a program where they were kind enough to feed us afterwards and provided inflatables for the kids to play. They served hamburgers and mac and cheese so we had a nice free meal. Of course, my kids were too excited to eat and wanted to play instead so I wrapped their meal up for later. That was breakfast this morning.
3. My daughter spilled koolaid all over her brand new-to-her cute yard sale shirt. Trying to get the stain out, in case it doesn’t, I only paid 25 cents for it. I was planning for her to start school in it so I hope it comes out.
4. I ate toast and eggs from my chickens for a healthy, cheap breakfast for myself.
5. My insurance doesn’t cover my eye doctors’ fancy machine to look at the back of our eyes so I am searching for a doctor that uses the old method. We all probably need this fancy test but at $45 extra times four people plus our copay, I’m going to have to pass for now.
Try stretching it over a bowl and pouring boiling water through it. This works for fruit juice stains so maybe for cool aid too!!
Never heard of this one, thanks!
I just looked up how to remove Koolaid from clothes – http://www.howtocleanstuff.net offers several options, including Lola’s suggestion!:-)
Or maybe you could over-dye the whole shirt with Kool-Aid the same color as the stain.
The shirt is bright yellow and has little sewn on flowers on it the have different colors in them or I would.
Ticonderoga pencils are the best and so worth it. I get them for my 2 college sons with my Staples Rewards for free.
Jennifer…dinner for breakfast, I love it!
My opthamologist has that same fancy machine and my insurance doesn’t cover it. As my retina specialist doesn’t have it I don’t think it’s that much of an issue. I have glaucoma and dry macular degeneration.
Exactly
I know, who decided what breakfast food items are supposed to be anyway?
The teachers prefer them so I am sure they know something I don’t. I have heard they are really good quality. I know that these things are always on the school supply list so if I see a deal on them I grab it. For the record, my kids use plain old cheap pencils at home..lol.
Uh oh…..I just bought my kid generic #2 pencils for school…his school list didn’t specify. Will be on the lookout for Ticonderogas on sale or clearance for next year.
If they don’t specify I would buy generic. I know Ticonderogas are good but the pencils we use at home seem to work just fine for us. I think they probably don’t break as often and write more clearly so that would be very helpful probably when there are 20+ students. FYI, here’s an update, the kool-aid came out of my daughter’s shirt with pre-treating the spot with regular detergent and washing twice!
I teach second grade and prefer the Ticonderoga for several reasons. Number one is the erasers are super. Lots of cheaper pencils have off center leads that just won’t sharpen at all, have leads that are broken inside the wood center and that’s a waste of money. The plastic/wood pencils have a crayon type lead that only shows up on paper if the kids press down with a death grip. Many decorated character pencils are plastic cellophane wrapped. The plastic stuff jams up and can break the classroom pencil sharpener that the teacher ( me) has to purchase with my very own money. The school secretary and office staff get their staplers, pens, paper clips, and sharpeners with school funds. The kids get this too if their teacher provides it from her paycheck. Ticonderoga pencils are much classroom friendlier.
1. Last night I baked some chicken breasts in BBQ sauce and also oven roasted carrots and potatoes. Dinner tonight will be leftovers.
2. I walked to the grocery store to buy a few bananas. The CoinStar machine yielded a penny a couple of foreign coins (which my husband loves to collect).
3. Despite heat and humidity I’m still walking outside.
4. It’s an energy savings day with our electrical supplier. I turned of the A/C and dehumidifier and did laundry before the event started at 1:00. We normally get a $25/month credit in the summer for allowing them to cycle our A/C off but sometimes you can save a bit more than that during an energy saving day.
5. A friend wanted to go to the orchard to get peaches. I rode along and we caught up (she’d been away for almost two weeks). We split a half-bushel of peaches, making them a good deal.
Nice looking cupboard.
1) I took the leftover Taco Salad meat & beans, mixed it with sauteed onions & mushrooms and a can of tomato sauce, then pour it over some egg noodles for dinner last night. The sauce was good, the egg noodles were okay. I’ll probably either freeze the sauce or use it for another meal tonight.
2) I found a few books at the GW store during lunch today. Not that I needed anymore books, but I can sell or donate them when I’m done.
3) The sandals I bought at another Thrift store fit perfect and look nice with my work clothes.
4) The Amazon Kid’s Fire HD tablet I ordered during Prime Day arrived by UPS today. I saved 40% off – not free, but getting it so much cheaper is great. Her Birthday is August 18th, so it’s here in plenty of time.
5) I didn’t buy a Lear Jet or anything else large or gold plated.
(1) Like Katy, I am attempting to clean out the fridge and freezers (the small one in the fridge and the upright in the basement). In my case, I’m anticipating garden produce to be frozen, as well as our usual fall meat purchases from our friend who raises the animals. Am planning a stir-fry tonight with frozen fish and greens (Red Russian kale and purslane) from the garden.
(2) I also admire Katy’s continuing good luck at her Goodwill Outlet, and wish we had one here. I admit that the midcentury furniture craze continues to leave me cold (it’s like mini-skirts, kids; I lived through both fashions the first time around)–but if Katy can make some serious bucks off the resale, more power to her.
(3) Like Teresa, I am questioning a health care recommendation I got this week from my GP. Without going into detail, I will say only that the GP ordered a test I don’t think is necessary. The central scheduling office from my health care system hasn’t yet called me with any info about this test, and if I don’t hear anything in the next couple of days, I’m planning to blow this one off. (The GP all but said explicitly that this was a “cover-all-bases” test.)
(4) Enjoying my two new free African violets (the eye surgery clinic that just did both of DH’s cataracts has the pleasant custom of giving an African violet out with every procedure), and planning to donate a few surplus houseplants to an upcoming garage sale run by a favorite local political group. I’ve got more spider plants, aloes, and wax peperomias than I really need.
(5) Doing all the usual boring stuff: hanging laundry, starting yet another box for thrift shop donations (I have one of these on hand most of the time), bunching errands, etc., etc.
1. I was at the hospital for a couple of days with a close relative who was having surgery to remove cancer. The initial reports were good. I consider getting your health restored to be frugal, not to even mention the extreme stress and anxiety that goes along with cancer. I was too upset to remember to pack much food, so I ate in the hospital cafeteria. Wow, I was served grilled asparagus, fried green beans, roasted broccoli with pecans, and spinach with mushrooms one day for lunch, and pickled beets, sauteed chard, and roasted brussel sprouts with walnuts, the next day for lunch. The food was outstanding!
2. I used my off days so I did not miss any pay for being off work.
3. I slept in the hospital room. It was not the most comfortable place to sleep, but there was no way I was going to leave my loved one alone, and I did not have to pay for a hotel.
4. Health insurance is not cheap, but worth.every.dime. when it involves your loved ones.
5. I am too sleep deprived to really think of #5, except that the relief and hope I feel at the moment is worth its weight in gold from a mental health standpoint.
Only one: I didn’t fracture my foot and toes to smithereens, thus avoiding significant surgery, PT, and possibly permanent debilitating damage.
How did I do this? I did not use my foot to break the 6′ fall of a stack of cast iron pans.
See, when something falls in the kitchen I either A) get the hell of the way if it’s sharp or B) break the fall if it’s not sharp, to preserve the thing and the floor. Cast iron pans are not sharp. Four pans = 15 lbs. Fortunately my brain was faster than gravity and I went with Option A. All frivolity aside, 15 lbs crashing down on my foot would likely have shattered multiple bones and toes, and its damn hard to walk without a big toe.
I was trained in my job to put my foot out and prevent expensive perfume bottles smashing on the pharmacy floor as a teenage worker in my first job. Forty years later it’s still a habit, this year I dropped a glass jar in my pantry cupboard, it shattered on the way down and I ended up with a shard of glass sticking in the top of my good foot, I had recently had surgery in my other foot, not happy !!!!!
Yikes! You have my sympathies. Who would have thought that a glass jar would shatter midair?
I do this all the time and can’t help it. Last week I dropped my phone and kicked it half way across a parking lot.
1. Walked with a friend on a golf course trail, after meeting at the mall. Shopped a bit after the walk, but I didn’t buy anything, except for a coffee that I paid for with a gift card given to me.
2. Needed an envelope to mail something, but couldn’t find them in DHs desk. Bought one envelope for $.10! No use buying a whole box when I know we have some somewhere.
3. Took 22 year old DD to a local thrift store as she mentioned all her shorts are now too big. She found shorts from the Gap for $6 and some Calvin Klein jeans for $7. I think she’s been converted! I bought a beautiful cotton dress for my grandniece for $3. Nothing for me.
That’s all, I’m afraid.
Love all the inspiration here.
1. I’m having a cash poor week so I’ve been creative with my cooking. Just bought a cute little e-book called The Hard Times Kitchen. I had a credit on amazon so I got it for $1.75. I then proceeded to make a potato chili recipe from said book. It’s pretty tasty and made leftovers for today’s lunches.
2. I’m wearing a thrift store top today. Most of my wardrobe has become thrifted items but today’s pants are not. My shoes were bought new a few years ago but were recently refurbished at our local shoe repair shop.
3. I’m by myself at the office today so I have the lights out and no a/c to conserve energy. The door is open and the fresh air feels good.
4. Tonight’s dinner is going to be another pantry feast: tuna burgers on homemade white bread, and some homemade fries (from the last potato in the house). I hope the tuna burgers won’t be gross, I haven’t made them before. Hubby is game though so I’m going to give them a try.
5. Just started reading, “Your Money or Your Life”…again. I’ll be spending a little time this afternoon getting the booster shot this book always provides.
1. Picked 9 pounds of honeyberries and froze some and made 8 jars of jam with the rest for Christmas gifts. For casual friends or work colleagues I usually give a loaf of rustic bread and two jars of different jams.
2. Cancelled two magazine subscriptions that I no longer read. At one point I had over 20 subscriptions (really!), and I am now down to five. Three of them are career related and the other two are indulgences that I plan to continue.
3. Took 46 books to the non-profit used bookstore for a tax write-off.
4. A friend had asked me what I wanted for Christmas last year and this week I received it in the mail—an apron. (Speed is not her thing, so I often get my Christmas gift in July!) I decided I need to start wearing one when I can because I have ruined a number of shirts with jam, pickle and tomato stains. An apron will mean I don’t have to replace my shirts, so frugal.
5. I had a bunch of home made croutons, two bread bags full, so I finally decided to concentrate on using them up. I made two strattas (spelling?) so we ate off those for five days total for dinner. I had a lunch potluck to attend and I brought apple bread pudding for a dessert, and the sixth night for dinner (when we were done with strata) I made a chicken with stuffing instead of potatoes. FINALLY, no more croutons left!
Otherwise just the usual boring stuff of reusing and recycling. This looks to be week two of nothing from the grocery store except milk.
Great job with the Craigslist and eBay selling!
This week:
1. Today Mr. Picky Pincher came home for lunch. He almost got us takeout, but instead I insisted we eat freezer meals instead. That saved us $20 right there. 🙂
2. I baked tostadas on a sheet pan I bought at an estate sale for $2.
3. I also used a cheese knife I got from said estate sale to chop up tonight’s antipasto dinner.
4. I used my homemade lavender room spray to make my sheets smell fresh. And that means less laundering, which I’m a fan of!
5. Tonight we’re returning the DVDs we rented from the library. We’ll rent a couple more of them for free.
1. I used the ebth.com site that Liz B. suggested here. I found a mirror that I really like and won’t have to buy new (likely). Thanks!
2. We successfully enrolled my high school son in a class he wanted at the local community college. Because he is a high school student there is no charge for the class! However, we will need books, so I will be looking for a good cheap place to buy them. Getting free college courses is *much* better than waiting for a four-year university!
3. My husband and I continue working to de-uglify the bathroom. Mostly paint and wall texture, repurposed wood for shelving. Better than paying someone else to do it.
4. My son has been working at vacation Bible school all week. They feed him enough snacks that he hasn’t been hungry for lunch. That’s a lot of snacks for a teenage boy.
5. We went to see the new Spiderman movie on Tuesday (cheap night). We got an additional $2 per person by signing up for their club. Afterwards, we came straight home and foraged for food, rather than stopping to get burritos. We got to be (closer to) on time as a result, which was also nice for kids working hard all day.
High five, Roberta!! Glad you were able to find a mirror you liked. EBTH is awesome.
Roberta, check out the textbook rental services — much cheaper than buying textbooks.
Cindy in the South, thank goodness for good reports.
1) Desperately wanted take-out last night, but put a batch of rice on to cook while I tried to think of something to go with it. Dug meat out of the freezer and sliced it thin, sliced a giant onion and a tiny, almost-past-using zucchini, which stir-fried up into more than enough food for the two of us at home but was boring. Remembered the Thai basil growing in the garden! A big handful made it a spicy, luxurious dish. And thank goodness we didn’t go out because two more family members, expected home at midnight, instead arrived hungry just as we sat down. . . and there was plenty of rice to stretch the meal.
2) Still limping along with barely working cars.
3) Used the bucket of water we keep in the shower – to water the plants in pots. Everything is so lush this year, even the volunteer tomatoes!
4) Ooh, speaking of which, picked our first ripe tomato, a sweet 100 cherry. Carefully cut it into three equal pieces for the those of us who were home to share, and we ate it separate from the evening’s salad – which included lettuce, snap peas, and green onions from the garden, too.
5) Still staying out of the drama at work. Many thanks to the commenter last week who was encouraging about that. Wow, it is hard! But really makes a difference, not only in my mood and blood pressure, but also in my ability to stick to a budget. Who’d have thought?
Frugal fail: with the population at home fluctuating wildly from day to day, we are doing a lousy job eating up leftovers. Two of the kids who will be moving out in September to their own apartments with their own food budgets were assigned to clean all yucky stuff out of the fridge. Half a pie, part of a cake, burrito filling, about a quarter of a roast chicken, and more. The food ads had just arrived, so I suggested they figure out how much all that waste might have cost. More than either of them is planning to budget for a week. Painful! But sobering for them.
1. Used a hambone my mom gave me, dried beans, celery tops that I’d saved and frozen, and a half of an old onion to make some pretty tasty bean soup.
2. Pack my lunch every day for work.
3. Have been very lightfooted on gas pedal and am getting 30 mpg, which is great for my drive a lot job.
4. I make my coffee for my husband and I at home every day.
5. I make my own laundry detergent and cut my “knock off” Bounce in half to get 2x as many uses out of each dryer sheet.
1. I needed shoes for my son to wear to summer camp. I don’t mind paying for cool shoes for him to wear to school, but these will be demolished, so I was hoping for cheap-o. Stopped at Walmart and found a decent pair on clearance in his size for $5.
2. A local pizza place mailed us a coupon for a free small pizza, which we picked up for dinner last night.
3. I had bought a large area rug from an auction that I didn’t end up liking. Listed it on CL this week and sold it for more than twice what I had paid.
4. We walked up the library and picked up my holds, plus some.
5. Replaced the flimsy curtain rod in one bedroom with a much nicer one I bought at a garage sale for $5. She threw in the matching curtain rings for free.
1. Packing for a trip and “discovered” one pair of jeans is really snug, other pair I bought at thrift store I never had shorten 3″. Found a pair at local thrift store for $4.
2. Bought a NWT Chico’s blouse for $12. Suggested retail $79. I’ll sell this on. Bought another Chico’s jacket (good shape) for $3.50 and I’ll sell this on ebay also.
3. Going thru DVDs and CDs to sell to secondspin.com
4. Bag of clothes and old patio furniture donation picked up today.
5. Using spafinder gift card to get haircut tomorrow.
1. My kids and I got free Slurpees at 7-11 on Tuesday. This has become a little summertime tradition for us.
2. I have a new, free, fun morning routine – after my husband leaves for work and my kids are still asleep, I fold my laundry while watching old game show episodes on YouTube. Name That Tune … between the songs themselves and the 70s and 80s outfits, hair, studio set, and fonts, it doesn’t get any better!
3. Rented “Beauty and the Beast” for family movie night. I fell asleep on it. It was a three-day rental so I was able to watch it again. I love going to a movie theater which we splurge on about once a year, but every other weekend we watch movies at home. I like being able to rewind it if I miss something, and I’m getting hooked on closed captioning.
4. My electric company had an energy savings day. I don’t use the washer, dryer, oven, stove, shower, etc. during the hours of it, and turn the air conditioner way down. I always get excited when I find out we’re having one of those. And my husband and a coworker of his have a friendly competition each time to see which household saved more money.
5. Wearing Goodwill shorts and shirt right now as I type this!
1. Took all clothes out of my main closet and put the winter items in another closet, so I can more easily see and access what I want to wear for the rest of the summer. Found I have plenty of clothes to see me through the summer and fall. No need to shop for clothes. In fact, I picked out a few items which I am just not wearing and packed them up for GW.
2. Picked up Free Friday item at FM, a bottle of barbecue sauce. Made oven-baked pork chops with barbecue sauce last night.
3. Neighbor who is on vacation asked me to pick up her newspaper (Oregonian) this week and next. I’m happy to help her since I like reading the paper and doing the crossword puzzle.
4. Keeping up various frugal habits which I enjoy such as visiting the library once or twice a week for books, magazines and videos and walking for exercise.
Happy Thursday, all!
I became ill this week- period induced migraines, along with sweats and shakes. This happens, and I am useless- so I stayed home, drank herbal tea, and puttered for a hour or two here or there before crawling back to bed . But I was busy:
1) Hung up my laundry, including mattress pads and sheets, in the sun. No dryer except for towels. I ung these up on the fence. I need to learn how to hang a retractable clothesline.
2) I ate salads I made at home this week.
3) Bought bananas from the too ripe bin – they were actually perfect and needed an extra day. I then peeled and froze them. I will be using them, along with dates, to sweeten and add body to vegan ice cream ( instead of refined sugar). The dates were a good deal- from World Foods on Capitol Highway here in Portland. Two pounds for $6, which for PDX is pretty good.
4) Before my migraines hit, I cleaned the house using my now homemade cleaner. It was really simple and I already had the components, plus essential oils for cleaning. YOU can learn how to make your own here:
http://www.oregonmetro.gov/tools-living/healthy-home/green-cleaning
5) I did not buy a Lear Jet, nor inappropriately ogle a spouse of a world leader (mon dieu!) or buy a gold plated anything.
1. I’m so envious of you all being able to hang laundry. My kids have terrible allergies to all things outdoors but as soon as they grow up and move out (at least 15+ years from now) I’m putting up a clothesline. Enjoy the free exfoliation from those wonderful crunchy towels!
I am so fortunate to be able to hang my wash in the sun. I am a wimp and use the dryer for towels only because of the crunchiness, though! But what I do is half dry them outside and finish in the dryer. Still saves energy! And drying out in the sunshine is fast!
I am not a medical professional, but I too suffered for years with hormonally induced migraines. They can be so debilitating. However, I finally went to gynecologist who focused on wellness. She had me track my cycle and timing of my headaches. She also did some blood work. This helped her to prescribe a treatment that brought me relief. I just wanted to mention this just in case you hadn’t explored this option. It changed my life.
Hi there! The major problem for me are FIBROIDS. They have grown outside my uterus, causing all sorts of havoc with internal systems. I am currently on a good diet regime and am weighing surgical options- part of the reason why I am looking at ways of being frugal.
Best thing I did was to have a hysterectomy 15 years ago I was 49
I am so sorry that you are suffering from fibroids. I hope you find a treatment that will bring you relief.
1. I shopped at Aldi today. I am excited about .99 cent dolphin friendly cans of tuna!
2. Made soup with ingredients on hand and had it instead of take out.
3. Watched dvr’d Wimbledon for entertainment.
4. Drinking homemade coffee and green iced tea.
5. So glad it’s raining! People complain about it but I keep thinking less water I have to pay for to water the lawn and garden.
1. I made the pumpkin bread from the recipe Katy shared in her last post. The pumpkin came from my neighbor’s 2015 Halloween pumpkin which has been waiting in my freezer for the right opportunity. I baked it in my nice .50 yard sale Pyrex dish with flexible lid. I gave my neighbor a big chunk of bread, and told her it was from her pumpkin. That made her happy.
2. We are eating green beans, tomatoes, cucumbers and squash from the garden boxes. This year I also planted in an old kiddie pool that was no longer being used. Those plants did much better than the ones in the standard garden boxes, maybe because there is a reservoir for water in the bottom. I will be looking for an end of summer sale on pools to replace one or more of the boxes which are starting to fall apart.
3. A friend was trying to rehome a large box of like-new and some never-worn shoes that came to her from a friend of a relative. She thought they might fit me. They were 1/2 size too small for me but I was able to pass them on to my friend whose two grown daughters both wear that size.
4. We found a bookshelf for a very good price at a salvage store and my husband put it together to hold all the cat and dog foods and toys. That has made everything much more accessible and convenient and the kitchen less cluttered. I was able to put all the surviving cat toys that the puppy hasn’t skinned yet onto a high shelf and the puppy’s toys on the bottom where she can help herself.
5. Our non frugal activity today was to take the puppy to doggie daycare and have a day of freedom. It was well worth the fee for our mental health. We had no idea how exhausting an energetic puppy would be when we agreed to take her due to my cousin’s (her original owner) health problems. We feel like we have been beaten with sticks. I used my day to sort towels and make a big box for donation, and organize pet supplies. My husband used his day to lie face down on the bed.
Did you like the pumpkin bread? I was hoping it would be more muffin-y and less dense in texture.
I liked it but since I cut back on the sugar, my version was not a true test of the recipe. I also baked it in a flat pan rather than in a loaf pan.
Laughing SO hard. Husband and I took care of our 7-month old granddaughter for 5 days and felt the same. The whole week has been frugal since we came home, because we have done nothing but be home.
I am so envious of your Goodwill Outlet finds! How do I find an actual Outlet and not a regular Goodwill?
Just Google “Goodwill Outlet” plus the name of your city.
Thanks Katy. I live near Eugene but I see the nearest outlet is Salem, which is why I’ve never seen one.
Roberta check out renting college textbooks or downloading them onto a computer for a less expensive price. Both my kids did the renting.
Kids loved 7/11 every year.
1. Batched a ton of errands today. Doctor appointment, inspection station to have my car inspected and it passed!
2. Got gas in the car for the first time in a couple of weeks.
3. Dropped off Fire Department donation at Town Hall and dentist bill at his office. Why pay for two .48 stamps when both places are less than 3 miles roundtrip? And I was out anyway.
4. Turned the AC down while I was out. It was stuffy in the house when I got home.
5. Donald Trump keeps his “Trump” plane at Newark Airport here in Jersey so I see it every now and then when I’m at the airport. At least it’s not gold plated…
I dropped stuff off at my Goodwill and it had a sign that said no furniture!
1. Took my daughter to the movies too to see Spiderman, but didn’t get the deal Katy got. We did go before 6 pm to get the cheapest price AND
2. When you go to the movies on Tuesday at MJR and belong to there free movie club you get a free popcorn. 😉
3. We brought our own beverages and Twizzlers in my purse. I also spurged and for a $1.00 we got the large popcorn and a free refill.
4. Daughter was imploring(begging) me for Culvers tonight. Even though it was late we went home after the dog sit we had and I made baked chicken legs, baked potatoes and carrots. Delicious, healthier and cheaper. Also reminded myself by not spending the money on that we will have money for #5 and to buy lunch there – lavendar lemonade, can’t wait to try it!
5. Decided to do two dog walks tomorrow vs. going to the Lavendar Festival in our area. Instead will go on Saturday and take my daughter, which now I can afford to take her because of the dog walks. 😉
6. Took advantage of using my Swagbucks on a $25 Walmart gift card and got a 15% discount. At the beginning of the month you can get the Walmart card for 2200 Swagbucks vs. 2500. Will use towards groceries.
6. Stocked up on 10 cent mystery paperbacks this month (several times) at the local library and know I can sell them at my garage sale for 25 cents. Now the challenge is to get them read by then. 😉
7. Keeping up my budget daily, closing window blinds etc. to help keep the heat out, ate leftovers for lunch, making corn on the cob for lunch (microwave version is so easy and quick) as it was 5 for $1 – filling and I like it; found a vacant meter parking spot at the library with 41 minutes left on it (Ye-hah!), combined library errand with taking daughter to the orthodontist, training my puppy using UTube/internet myself vs. a class, picked up an extended dog walk booking for a client for 2 walks a day through next week; daughter is riding bike to camp two times a week/will save on gas/car wear and tear and helps her stay in shape. 😉 should have her ride everyday but two works for now.
8. Didn’t buy a sailboat and sail away on the great lakes. 😉
1. Worked from home, by the fire. Also saved on childcare because it was school holidays and my youngest daughter stayed home with me, also by the fire, reading The Hunger Games.
2. I have a cold and in a weak moment to get through my work day I nearly bought an over the counter cold preparation. I asked to look at the active ingredient- paracetamol! Just bought regular paracetamol and saved myself $15. Yes, $15!!!! Unbelievable.
3. I’ve been offered some regular side work writing for a website.
4. I’m wearing entirely thrifted outfit, bringing my own coffee and lunch to work, having friends over for homemade pizza and games over the weekend and generally doing regular frugal things except:
Frugal fail: went to buy coffee for my office and came out with rather more than that…
1. DH called this morning to tell me he’d received text from power company that it was an energy savings day and we could get credits. Turned heat pump temp up a few degrees and turned off ceiling fans as I was leaving for few hours.
2. Going to see James Taylor and Bonnie Raitt tomorrow in concert. DH got 2 of the company tickets free. So excited!
3. More books to used bookstore. They took about a dozen. DS got 2 books and I got 1 with the credit. Stuff out!
4. DS#2 goes back to college in 5 weeks where he will be 9 hours away and is only home for winter and summer breaks. Starting to get the few things he needs before leaving. Making eye appointment for new glasses. Also needs new socks. Found several packs on clearance at TJ Maxx so I bought 22 pair for $21.50, Under Armour and Adidas. Some for him and some for his brother.
5. Got 4 PS2 controllers and a GameCube controller from a friend. She was going to throw them out and DS#2 has these 2 systems at school. He was thrilled.
*Found money- 3 quarters, 6 pennies so far this week, a coin at a time.
1. My niece was doing some redecorating so she gave me her two year old kitchen table. It will replace my -at least 25 year old – IKEA table.
2. The same niece also gave me a printer she no longer needs. I offered to pay for this and the table but she would not accept anything. I will watch her adorable little one for her next time I visit her so she can have a nice night out.
3. I sold a Craigslist listing.
4. Took the girls to craft day at the craft store again this week. I was just as disappointed as I was the last time we were there. This time we went a little later to avoid the long wait we experienced last time but by the time we got there they were out of half of the supplies. Also, the staff was definitely not interested in what they were doing. I will be writing a letter to the store. I already paid in advance for the next session so I will take them but that is the last time. The girls still had a good time though but we have been having way more fun using items around the house to create our own crafts.
5. My mother and I have decided to split the cost of birthday gifts for two of my nieces. This way were are both able to save a bit of money and the girls will get nice gifts (a balance bike for one and a new car seat for the other. The car seat is actually a gift that a few of us are chipping in on.). I was able to find a 15% off coupon and free shipping on the bike.
Tried today to think of what I do now that I never did before:
1. Using wool dryer balls in the dryer (no clotheslines allowed in my neighborhood). They work well and drying time is shorter.
2. Pay all my bills online. Every Saturday, I log onto my bank account and schedule them to be paid according to due date and our paydays. No late fees this way, and I only think about bills once a week.
3. Use the return envelopes on bills for grocery lists and to do lists. Put coupons inside the envelope.
4. Pull up ads online for local grocery stores while making my shopping lists. Drug store ads run a week early, so I compare weeks to see when to shop for what I need.
5. Read this blog, HiptoSave, Moneysavingmom, Simple Dollar, and Prudent Homemaker to keep me on track and learn new ideas.
Honestly, the internet is a great money saver!
1. Put black cow spots all over myself and got a free entree at Chick-fil-a’ s Dress Like a Cow Day. Also used the free calendar card item to get a fee peach milkshake.
2. Did not grocery shop, as we had plenty in the freezer plus our CSA share. Our own veggies are starting to be ready as well.
3. I was going to buy lunch at work one day due to a dearth of leftovers. Instead, I found a breakfast burrito that I gotten free after coupon at Target. It was tasty.
4. Got 6 books in the mail from Paperback Swap. I have my wish list on autopilot.
5. I read all of the blogs mentioned by MommaL, but I can’t get Prudent Homemaker to update in my Feedly blog reader. Any suggestions?
Send an email to Brandy. I think I’ve seen other comments on her blog about tech problems, so maybe she has a fix for it. Love her blog!
1. Sold two more things on ebay that have been just taking up space.
Well, our oven broke. Luckily, my husband is a mechanic and thus very handy, so he’ll be able to fix it. Through the wonderful internet, I was able to take it apart and diagnose the part that was broken (oven igniter switch) and have him confirm. How is this frugal? Welll…
2. Did NOT go out to eat that night, despite my planned recipe being one that was baked (figures!). Improvised and grilled the chicken and did a stovetop version of enchiladas instead.
3. Was able to diagnose the problem and find part numbers, etc, with only some light investigative work. Ordered the replacement part from Amazon for $21.
It will arrive Sunday, so hopefully we will be up and running by then.
4. Once again reading books from the library to keep costs down! Took my two kids there yesterday and they each picked out some books as well. Last night, we all had reading time together before bed. They are 7 &5- its NOT too early to start instilling a love of reading AND frugality in them.
5. Have a tutoring session scheduled for tomorrow morning. Sweet kiddo who works hard and will use the $ earned to pay directly on an extra payment on my car.
1. My husband tied ropes around two trees that are about fifty feet apart. Each loop has a clip attached. When I’m ready to hang laundry, he clips a line to the loops. When the laundry is dry, he unclips the line, rolls it up, and hangs it back in the basement.
2. We brought home a couple pounds of a bland spaghetti dish from the block party. I’ve doctored it four ways so far–sesame pasta, pasta with black bean sauce, pasta with roast eggplant and onions, and pesto pasta. It is gone now.
3. A friend’s mother who quilts is making the leap to assisted living, and the friend is cleaning out her apartment. I accepted several of Mom’s UFOs and have been happily finishing them.
4. We went to three previews at a regional theater festival. Free, but we made a donation. I packed us dinners to eat between shows.
5. I gave some boxes of the quilter’s stuff to a friend who’s teaching children sewing. She gave me two bags of clothes which I dropped at the thrift store.
6. I didn’t go into the thrift store. I haven’t bought anything except groceries and dog food/medications since June 3. I am not feeling deprived.
2. All four sound delicious!
Hi Mary, greetings from Annapolis! Your #2 reminded me of something. My DH and I made a big dinner for DS and his college teammates at the end of the season. We held it at a house where several of the guys live. I made several pounds of pasta salad and quite a bit was left. It had ham, cheese and lots of different veggies in it. One of the housemates later mixed it with pasta sauce and baked it. DS said it was really good. I must admit I would have never thought to use pasta salad up that way. I do think I would have picked out the cucumbers before I baked it!
1. Finally used up the last of July 4th’s bacon burgers with mushrooms and caramelized onions that we made at home. I had chopped up the two leftover burgers and froze them, then used them by adding a quarter cup of meaty goodness to veggies for quick lunches and suppers. Got quite a lot of meals that way.
2. Have received over $200 in reimbursements for overpayment for the Mister’s outpatient heart procedure and my eye surgeries. While it’s wonderful to get the money back, this gives me a WTF moment for how good the bookkeeping is at the hospital.
3. Puppy threw up all over one of the throw pillows on the sofa. I’d been wanting to make washable pillow covers, so there’s my motivation to dig in the fabric stash and get cracking on that.
4. Did all the usual: brought my lunch and drinks to work, remembered to bring a little container of almond milk to keep in the fridge so I can drink the free office coffee, wore mostly thrifted/secondhand outfits, and drove with a light foot.
5. Did not replace my aging laptop, which now runs so s-l-o-w. Patience is frugal! So is having my very bright son come soup it up. 🙂
1. purging, purging, purging! (not food, but way too much stuff!)
2. turn down an invite to drive 1 1/2 to 3 hours away to the beach for one night. (depending on traffic). it’s unseasonably cold in New England (61 right now – 30 degrees below normal) and hanging on the beach during July with that temp – NO WAY.
3. DS wanted Angel hair last night but we were out. we had Penne pasta instead (he really only likes AH). it was good and he survived having a different type of pasta.
4. volunteered yesterday with my work group at the Boys & Girls Club mowing/cleaning up their fields and playing basketball/dodgeball with the kids. We do this about every 3 months and both our group (~48 people) and the kids look forward to it.
5. Received a nice, crisp $10 bill in the mail today for answering a Nielsen survey last month.
#3. “he survived” haha!
I’m going to assume the Russian is “gold plated apartment in the sky.” Speaking of fridges, I cleaned out mine, and my husband was out of town for the week, so it got really empty. In a nice way–I knew where everything was.
1. I made some baba ganoush instead of buying it at the store, because I wanted to put one less plastic container out there. The recipe is from Vegan Without Borders, which I highly recommend–international vegan recipes. I didn’t have any tahini, so instead of buying some, I subbed in some leftover walnut butter that’s been sitting in my cabinet forever. The only thing I bought for the recipe was an eggplant.
2. My husband and I are flying basic economy tonight to go visit my parents. He reminded me that we have to pay for carryons, but not personal items, so we’re going to squish our stuff into one carryon and two personal items to save $25.
3. Speaking of flying, on my last flight I bought no snacks! Not even at the airport. I normally buy something like a coffee at the airport, and the Tapas box for $8 on the flight, but this time I just said I’d survive until I got home. I ate the little 60-calorie snack pack they gave me, and as an added bonus, I found one in the seat pocket in front of me that I took home. The secret of not buying a snack, for me, is getting tomato juice as your drink. It’s filling, and the salt makes it feel more like a meal.
Last summer my family of four visited England and Scotland, from Southern California. We managed to pack for the (very cold to us) Scottish weather with each person only bringing carry-on luggage. We saved on the cost of luggage, time for picking up luggage at the airport, and worry about our stuff being lost. Plus, it was really nice traveling through the airports and into cars with only carry-on. You can do it!
thanks! we did it, even though we had to pay for the carryon. it’s easier in summer, when the clothes are light.
Last summer we visited Norway. We were there for one week. My husband and I each use a carry-on and a personal item. Our son and his girlfriend checked two bags, both were lost and it took three days for them to be reunited with their suitcases. It is indeed possible to travel even into different climates and still use just a carry-on. We do it all the time and have for years. I remember the first time my husband suggested it I couldn’t imagine how I could pack for two weeks in one carry-on sized piece, but we did it. I had everything I needed and have traveled that way ever since – almost twenty years.
Two weeks is impressive. I don’t know if I could do two weeks. But we did well enough this time, a few shirts, one pair of shorts, one pair of pants, two pairs of shoes. I even had room for a couple of books in my suitcase.
First time contributing:
1) I hopped on my bike and cycled to Starbucks
2) for a free small “Iced Tea Infusion” promotion.
3) Got my free tea in my non-spilling travel mug (not technically saving me money, but better for the environment), before continuing on
4) to the library to return books and enjoy the air conditioned splendor, next
5) biking home to take my chicken stock (made from rotisserie chicken) out of my pressure cooker which is heating on the porch!
Welcome! So clever and creative how you linked yours together!
My FFT:
1. Called my cable company today and renegotiated my fee to save $25 per month for the same cable, phone and internet services.
2. Using every last bit of a tube of toothpaste before tossing it.
3. Had family as guests at our cottage this weekend. They insisted on paying for meals out and some groceries. Only thing was I was silently cringing at how many paper towels they used. Seemed like the roll was spinning all weekend. Had to replace it at one point. To save money and trees, we use paper towels very sparingly. I resisted the urge to recommend using a coaster instead of a folded paper towel every time they set a drink down. Don’t want to force my frugal ways on others.
4. Used a Dremel to do trim nails on both of our dogs. Saves about $12 each. The Dremel cost about $25, so after 2 uses it paid for itself.
5. Used same Dremel (with a different tip, not the one we use for the dogs!) to do my feet. Gets them nice and smooth, and, is a lot cheaper than a pedicure!
Wow, a folded paper towel for drinks? That would have made me crazy.
Under those circumstances, I think that suggesting/offering a coaster isn’t the same as “forcing” your frugality on others.
I think I will suggest on future visits. This was their first visit, and it really just kind of caught me by surprise how many paper towels they went through.
I think I’d be tempted to hide the paper towels completely the next time those guests visited. It’s your home, and you surely see to it that their needs are met functionally if not in the disposable way they’re used to.
I hear ya, Debbie. My visiting family last week used more paper towels in one week than we do in 2 months!
1. Eating leftovers from family reunion al week.
2. Picked and enjoyed first tomatoes and beans from my small garden today.
3. Returned unused items from the week to various stores.
4. Cut open lotion tube to use every last bit.
5. Picked up free items from Fred Meyer, along with a few sale items. And nothing else.
Here too, but this is my reasoning: its too hard to keep track of who used what napkin. Not sure if I want germs brought in from another area wiping my mouth. So I buy paper napkins and paper towels just for company.
Curious bit of etiquette trivia:
Did you know that napkin rings are meant for just this purpose? That is, they are not meant to be “fancy” table decorations, as they are frequently marketed today. Rather, they were initially intended to mark a used-but-still-clean napkin for reuse, and were sometimes marked to be individual (i.e., “mine is the green one” for example). Thank you for your frugal ways, medieval Benedictine monks.
One eco-conscious retreat center I’ve been to invites guests to tie their napkin into whatever creative knot or shape they’d like, as a way to be able to identify it at the next meal. It helps that they use a mix of prints, too. Napkins don’t match (gasp!), but people treat each other so kindly no one seems to mind. 😉
1. Returned a duplicate item to the store.
2. Picked apricots and plums from the garden, also tomatoes, green beans, and zucchini.
3. We had pork spareribs one night last week. With the left overs I made a great salad with garden tomatoes, zucchini, arugula, corn, barbecue sauce, and ranch dressing. We also had fried rice with some of the pork, a delicious Thai noodle dish, and barbecued pork sandwiches. They were such a frugal find at $1.38 a pound and so many different meals.
4. I pulled up the old pea vines and bolted lettuce then replanted more peas and more lettuce for a fall harvest.
5. We don’t get recycle pick-up in our area so we have to go to a recycle center. Usually we make the trip about every two to three months with paper, plastic, metal, aluminum, and glass. There is a small payment for the paper and cardboard and also for the aluminum. It pays for the gas and while we are there we take advantage of any loss leaders at a nearby grocery store that is out of our normal area for shopping.
Kudos on your recycling efforts.
I’m enjoying reading everyone’s comments…..I really learn a ton reading what everyone else does to be frugal.
Had a few frugal wins this week:
1) Turns out our chest freezer that was not working right just needed a complete defrost. It’s now working just fine. I did have to throw away some food items that did not survive the thaw, or the storage in the coolers with ice while the freezer defrosted – and while that doesn’t make me happy, I was able to salvage quite a bit for meals this week, and I’m very glad we don’t have to get a new chest freezer. Hubby thinks I (ahem) overloaded it, and the thermostat was not getting enough air circulation to know when to turn on/turn off. I keep telling myself, “food on sale isn’t a good deal if you throw it away”. I am not a hoarder, I am not a hoarder……
2) Hubby called LG to see about a repair person coming to take a look at our washing machine, which started making an obnoxious loud noise, and would not spin properly. Online research had indicated it was a pretty complicated fix, and NOT a DIY project. Hubby was offered (and bought) some sort of “extended warranty” for the upfront cost of $300, which would cover any and all parts and service, etc., related to this repair. Sure enough, the repair guy took one look and said “this is a big job, IF I can get all of the parts I need”. If all of the parts could not be found and the machine could not be fixed, he suggested calling and getting a $200 refund ($100 for the service call). Service guy called shortly after he left – he could get all of the parts *except* one from local sources, and ordered the one he needs from a source farther away. with luck, it will be fixed on Monday. Hubby pointed out that we are, essentially, getting a *new washer* for $300, since the majority of the parts are being replaced. Considering our washer is 10 years old, I call that a win.
3) My mother in law is letting us use her washer and dryer tomorrow to catch up on laundry for the week. We will be making her (and my sister in law + brother in law) dinner, plus get to spend some time with her. She adores our son, who adores her back, so it’s a win-win-win.
4) Took my favorite shoes that I wear to work to the shoe repair for new heel lifts. I bought these shoes new on eBay, after completely wearing out another pair of the exact same shoe. Now my shoes are good to go, and I helped support a local (mom and pop) business.
5) Stopped at Lowes on my way back from the shoe repair, to see if they had any clearance plants – they didn’t, and I didn’t buy anything – BUT I noticed they had a big sign, saying that they recycle plastic plant containers and those divider trays that hold multiple plants – “just ask us about it”. I didn’t take the time to ask, but I will be checking into it further – I always end up with way too many of those plastic starter-plant pots.
6) yes, I have 6 this week! Found a Columbia lightweight jacket for my son ($6.99) as well as some possibly sellable women’s clothes (half off = $1.50 apiece) at a thrift shop. Going to dip my toe into the resale market, via fb sell pages, Craigs List, and (maybe) eBay and/or Amazon. I am inspired!!
Have a good week, everyone!
1. Sold some unused garden edging (cast-iron interlocking pieces, beautiful!) on my town’s list serve. Met my new neighbor, who it turns out I already know but not from here. $50.
2. Donated 3 boxes of books to book sale at next week’s town fair. Kept slip for tax credit.
3. Listed 3 books to sell on Amazon. Sold three books already listed on Amazon.
4. Called phone company to negotiate my bill. Didn’t get the reduction I was looking for (I still think something is wrong or even dishonest with this company) but I got my bill reduced by $8/month with only slightly less service. It’s still a savings of $96 a year.
5. Gave away 8 croquet mallets I didn’t even know were there in the back of the shed to a family looking for extras for a family reunion. (Town list-serve again!) I keep thinking Craigslist, even eBay, but so far everything I put up on this list-serve is gone in a day, sell or give.)
Mini vacation edition! At the beach with my parents and bf until tomorrow.
1.my bf and I are currently re-heating a hodge poge of left overs from meals out. My parents offered lunch out to us too, but no sense in wasting food.
2. My boyfriend found a name brand hat that washed up on the beach while we were walking one night. We took it home and plan to list it on eBay.
3. I have hit 2 goodwills, and plan to hit one more maybe on the way home tomorrow. Have a bunch of great inventory for my eBay business.
4. We have been saving empty water bottles (used by my family this trip) and plan to go fill them up on his campus when we return. They have filtered water fountains, and we are doing anything to save money towards some big near-future goals. Our township water also recently did not pass a water inspection, so no tap water for us.
5. Cutting out meat for 2 weeks when we return. Mostly for health reasons, but will be great for the food budget as well!
Hi Katy – another way to keep your boys’ Japanese up is a Netflix show called Terrace House (2 seasons). It is in Japanese with English subtitles. It is a reality show, but is very different than the usual; much calmer, with limited drinking, very limited sexual activity, and very polite conflict resolution. It may sound bland, but is completely addicting! I’m starting to think it’s the way reality TV should be! Also, there is a panel of Japanese celebrities that discuss the show several times during each episode, and they are laugh out loud funny. I actually recommend the show highly even for those not trying to maintain their Japanese. 🙂
1) Got my free ice cream at McDonald’s today. It was on the way home from another errand.
2) Reading a library book, as usual! I’ve read 45 books already this year.
3) Eating leftovers from last night’s dinner.
4) Drinking homemade iced tea on the porch.
5) Ordering a take and bake pizza for a frugal family dinner tonight.
My Frugal Fair Five:
1. I exceeded my goal for premium money earned at my local community fair. Was aiming for $100 and earned $103.90!
2. Won Best of Canning for my canned cherries and had a number of jars that were marked as Blue Plus. This is the confirmation I needed to enter my canning in the county Fair this year. They take entries this Saturday for Domestic Arts, so I have a few days to do more canning and dehydrating.
3. I volunteer at the fair, both as superintendent of the Garden Dept, and as ribbon coordinator (I make sure everyone gets the ribbons they need in their departments and count and order the ribbons each year), as well as filling in as needed in the office during the actual fair. This comes with perks, such as free food and drinks. My daughter, who really stepped up in her role as my assistant superintendent this year, and I enjoyed croissant sandwiches, sodas and bottled water every day for the last week. I took home enough extra sandwiches Saturday to have free lunches for several more days. Between free food and what we brought from home, the only “fair food” I bought was from a local business… teriyaki sticks. So yummy that after I spent $4 for 2, I bought a pack of 10 for $15 to take home. Gave $10 to my daughter for her help, so I got through the fair on $25 plus gas in my truck.
4. After the fair, I let it be known that I will take baked goods that entrants don’t want back, and I have a standing arrangement with the gal that does the ag and Grange displays to take the veggies that have been on display. This year I scored 3 onions, 4 tomatoes and 3 bell peppers for us and a bunch of veggies for the chickens and compost pile. I have 2 loaves of slightly stale bread that I sliced and froze for later use as stuffing and garlic bread, too. Oh, and I rescued a bunch of flowers from the trash in the Floral dept. They were too nice to be trashed. I now have some beautiful lilies perfuming my home, as well as some other pretty bouquets to enjoy. They will become compost when they fade, not trash.
5. I also scrounged through the animal barns after the fair for leftover hay, straw, and bunny poo (best fertilizer evah). Came home with 1/3 of a bale each of hay and straw, as well as 5 feed sacks stuffed with hay and a big tote of mixed bunny poo and sawdust, as well as a 50# sack of moldy rabbit feed that couldn’t be used in the rabbit barn. I will dig it into my garden beds where it will be awesome fertilizer without injuring any animals. I’ll be back at the fairgrounds tonight and will, hopefully, be able to bring home the straw used in the goat pens…it will be used as much in my garden to keep water from evaporating so quickly.
Bonus 6! I shared my rosemary entry with one of my entrants who mentioned her rosemary had died. If she puts these cuttings in the ground and keeps them watered, she should have growing plants again. I also divided my rhubarb that lived at the display garden with a fair board member who lost his, and was gifted a zucchini plant by another gardening friend. Gardeners love to share our bounty!
The Russian at the end, too funny. Love me some good sarcasm.
Thank you, Kayleigh. I think I will return my generic pencils to Staples, and buy the Ticonderogas. Buying pencils that don’t sharpen (or write) properly is hardly frugal, in my opinion. Having two sisters who are teachers, I know all too well how much $$ they spend out of their own pockets for their classrooms. Anything I can do to help, I do it.