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I bought an entire gallon of milk, even though my husband and I hardly go through that much now that it’s just the two of us. (I did so because the cost of the gallon was on sale for just twenty or thirty cents more than a half-gallon.) I came home and froze half the milk in an empty half-gallon jug and am looking forward to not buying milk for quite awhile. Not only does this save us money, but we’re being proactive about minimizing our food waste, which is key. Plan ahead to avoid food waste instead of waiting until it’s imminent.
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I plucked a dirty broken looking rotary phone from a garbage/free pile and brought it home for a beauty makeover. Not only did I wipe it down with a damp cloth, but I also took it apart to inspect and then opened a pack of Sugru to anchor a few pieces into place. I don’t plan on using the phone for its functional purpose as I don’t have a landline in the house, but my guess is that it does work. (I used the rest of the Sugru packet to fix a stripped iPhone charger cord.) I have a number of cool old rotary phones in the living room, and this one fits in just perfectly. And on budget!
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I stopped into the main Goodwill and and picked up a couple of items including an unpackaged set of six brand new underwear for $5, a pair of pajama pants for my son, a fabric lined basket for winter gear and two CDs for my son. I’m most excited about the underwear, as I recently threw away two pairs and was getting low. (Admit it, you’re jealous of my glamorous lifestyle!)
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I worked two days and brought all my own meals and snacks from home, I enjoyed a free slice of cake from a neighborhood grocery store, I gifted a basket to another member of my neighborhood’s buy nothing group, I found three dollar bills on the ground while out to lunch with my father, (which proves the point that there is such thing as free lunch, and actually such thing as a paid free lunch!) I renewed my library books and I washed my flannel sheets and immediately put them back on the bed, which flies against the traditional advice to own three sets of each type of sheets in order to have one in use, one in the wash and one in the cupboard. It’s okay to own less and just plan your laundry days accordingly.
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I didn’t buy a Lear Jet or a vulgar gold-plated apartment in the sky.
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{ 125 comments… read them below or add one }
1) I’ve owned only one set of sheets at a time my whole adult life. I used to wash them before a long shift and drape them over the sofa to dry.
2) We have a young friend who’s missing the family dogs while in grad school. She’s eager to hang with our dogs while we leave town for a weekend. (She’s 25 and wanting to spend time alone, so no big parties.)
3) No eating out the past couple weeks, but company for dinner three times. Much cheaper and easier to hear conversation.
4) Reading library books, hanging laundry, eating what we’ve got.
5) Nothing vulgar or gold-plated purchased lately, although much of what we live with is shabby.
Thanks to whoever suggested the scrap garden. I have beet and turnip tops that have been producing for a month.
1. Went spelunking in the freezer and found one sheet of puff pastry, a half a pound of hamburger, half a frozen onion and some elderly frozen vegetables. What to make with such a motley group…meat hand pies! With an added potato, I made enough for two meals for two of us. Very yummy and used up things that in the past I would have let get freezer burned and inedible.
2. Did a purge of husband’s side of the closet. Found six stained shirts that have not been worn in at least a year. Turned them into rags and also saved the buttons for the button jar.
3. Gladly accepted a dozen grapefruit and a gallon of cranberry juice from a friend who thought these things were too sour to eat.
4. Did a total of seven mystery shops on Friday and Saturday. Saw a free movie, got a free meal, got 25 gallons of gas and five bottles of water, all free, plus earned $55. I don’t make a lot doing these shops, this number was unusual, but I don’t do things like eBay so this is my way of earning pin money.
5. Used the library for books and DVDs, instead of buying as I used to do.
I am retired and would love to do mystery shopping. Could you give me some reliable sources to check out.
marketforceshopper.com
seelevelhx.com
maritzmysteryshopping.com
alta360research.com
Check out mysteryshopforum.com. Its a wealth of information.
I love that phone!
1. Had the stomach virus so I didn’t eat for two days. What’s more frugal than that?
2. Making bread at home. Just finished up a loaf for the coming couple days.
3. Stopped using the dishwasher as it is old, gross, and just uses too much water. Got two dishpans to put water in and am cleaning things as I cook and as soon as I take it in the kitchen. What a difference that makes in the space as well and makes it more meal prep friendly.
4. Renewed my library books. Took others back on time. Checked out two more.
5. Canceled Hulu and am just using Prime and Filmstruck. Watched two Swedish films this week. The Emigrants and The New Land. I’m in love. What amazing films (from the early 70s) and what a great job the did of telling the story of America! I think the service is a wonderful bargain as it keeps me entertained, educated, and I can use some of the film shorts in my history classes!
Pluto, Tubitv and Crackle are free streaming services, if you want some more options.
Thank you!
I will check those out!
Brit Box and Acorn TV offer time limited free subscriptions, if you want to check them out. Both specialize in UK/Canadian/Australian films and TV shows.
I don’t know for sure but have been told that it actually uses more (hot) water to wash dishes by hand. Takes too much of my valuable time, too. But glad if it works for you…
I remember the Emigrants and The New Land from the originals! Loved them. I will have to look for them. Thanks for mentioning!
At last autumn is here, harvest and bottling time. The leaves are changing colour and the mornings are cool. Just bottled green tomato chutney, zucchini pickles, plum jam and some preserved lemons. Picking yellow peaches and figs. The cherry tomatoes keep coming and go well with fresh basil and sliced zucchini, garlic and rosemary potatoes and chicken/salmon. My walks provide pickings of blackberries and late peaches, as well as coloured parrot feathers I pick up and admire. The cockatoos screech as they harvest fruit and pine nuts. Frogs are about and sing the cooler evenings away. I’m still out of work but grateful for the bounty all around me!!! Walking everywhere I can, gathering firewood and pine cones ready for winter. Raking up animal manure and leaves to make rich compost for my garden. The library has given me a huge pool of ideas to live simply and comfortably, so I am content. Sending my kind regards to all on this forum, wherever you call home.
Interesting to read how it is for you as we get ready for spring! How cool to see parrot feathers!
Thank you for sharing. There is such beauty in simplicity.
Yvette, I loved your comments! Such beauty and contentment. Thank you.
Always glad to read your vivid word pictures of your contented life Down Under, Yvette. They always give me a boost. Hope the work situation improves in whatever way you want it to–but in the meantime, you’re doing a public service for the rest of us.
And DH and I went out gathering firewood today, too. Someone threw out a load of nice 2×4 and other lumber scraps a couple of blocks away–and an oak tree not far from there had dropped several big branches. We have never yet actually paid for firewood for our wood-burner, and I hope we never have to.
Such beautiful reflections, Yvette. Your words are very descriptive and enjoyable to read. Blessing to you!
I think your dad dropped the three dollar bills in your path because he knew it would delight you to no end. 🙂
Cool red phone. I sold one like that recently on Craig’s list, for a friend, for an easy $30. But for your decor is even better.
My dad would totally have done that. And denied it forever, even if I caught him.
I have more fails this week then frugal things. We somehow lost a library movie and had to pay to replace it. It spite of changing my withholdings at the beginning of 2017 we still owed federal taxes again this year.
Frugal wins: My son had a free coupon for an indoor amusement type thing. My husband and I did not do any of the activities so it was a free trip. Borrowed another movie from the library and did not lose it so free entertainment. It is looking like we will be under grocery budget and eating out budget this month, even after splurging on a home cooked steak and lobster tail dinner for Valentines Day
1.I have only 2 sets of sheets for each bed. Wash one set and put on the other. Gave my sons our extras as I knew living in a condo space would be limited. Works fine for us. I do have numerous extra pillowcases.
2. Dear 13 year old grandson spilled about 1/4th of a new coffee canister in the refrigerator, What a mess. So he helped me do a thorough cleaning including the freezer where lots of coffee had fallen down. Good news ~ a very clean refridge and freezer and I reorganized the freezer so I can better see what I have.
3. I am $30 under my Feb. grocery budget and have no plans to shop until March.
4. Earned enough Swagbucks for a $25 gift card for 2200 points the first of March,
5. Did a survey and got a coupon for a free box of hair color which I will use to cover my roots until my next salon appointment at the local cosmetology school.
Katy, did I miss who the winner was of the contest with your Mom ~ to see who could sale a GW item for the higher amount?? Who won?
Can we see your display of old phones, please? 🙂
1 shaved back of ,y husband’s neck to neaten up his hair between cuts
2 followed vet’s advise and bought pup a rawhide chew to see if we can whiten his teeth
3 bought red beans to go with some carrots to make veggie burgers as in a recipe on Jack’s blog. Cheap dinner for tomorrow
4 got humanely raised quail eggs from my son. I use these instead of store bought eggs and I really only pay for the feed
5. Got a great deal on bedroom drapes and I am hemming them to fit
Joyce
3) Would that be “A Girl Called Jack”? I love her blog! I go for the social justice fierceness as much as for the Uber-cheap recipes.
1. Reading minimalism books from the library. The current one, Enough, talks about the extreme poverty people face in other nations, living in cardboard shacks, etc., and makes me feel so lucky. We are relatively rich in comparison.
2. Still haven’t gotten Uber or Lyft on my phone. I have no car, but manage to get around on bus just fine. I have nothing against the companies, I just haven’t needed them. And my husband has a car for groceries, dates, etc.
3. Using up several old nail polishes instead of buying a new color. It’s nice to use something you have instead of buying something new.
4. Eating up the bananas my husband brought home from work. He works at a school that has breakfast in the classroom, and the kids frequently don’t eat their whole breakfast.
5. Ate scrambled eggs with salsa instead of ordering takeout on Friday. Takeout is our weakness, and we’ve been really good this month about limiting it. Starting next month, we’re going to make a chart to help us ration it.
1. I Was stuck at home sick, and had to miss out on a restaurant dinner with some friends I was really looking forward to seeing. Consider it, but didn’t get food brought home from restaurant for me. I had looked st the menu online and was more excited about visiting than the food. Same went for my son, so we saved $30 that way, and my daughter ended up bringing me half her burrito anyway!
2. Due to that head come, I didn’t grocery shop for an extra 4 days, we really used up leftovers and all the food!
3. We’ve been burning wet wood, mixed in with our dry firewood. Our California Winters usually are mild, and this one has been the same. We are having a little bit of a cold snap, but it will be spring here soon so there really is no need to buy a bunch more firewood.
4. My magazine subscription to one magazine that I really like expired. I had purchased it the first time around with Miles to keep those miles from expiring so I just did the same thing again. At this rate I’ll be able to keep the subscription going for another seven years! It’s an airline I have no intention of lines again, so we won’t miss the miles.
5. At the suggestion of one blog, I created a “frugal list” for myself. For me, this is a list of money saving or moneymaking activities that I can do when I have a little bit of spare time. Most of what I’ve been doing this week has been remembering to turn off lights around the house and collect kindling on my walks.
LOVE this idea. Would you share your list sometime?
Maybe! I’m having lots of fun making it! 🙂
#5 = Great idea, Danielle! I may give that a try.
Katy, I’m curious how well your Buy Nothing group works. We live in a semi-rural area and Buy Nothing arrived here only a year ago, and folks can’t seem to get the concept. I’ve had so many people ask “How much?” when I offer items, and other times there is almost a war about who “should have” gotten an item, based on who commented first, etc. I start to wonder if it is worth the bother.
I was able to buy a $30.00 planner for 75 % off plus another 10% with my bookstore discount card. So I spent under $10.00 for a $30.00 planner I really needed.
My parents had and used that exact phone (it coordinated in my mom’s red kitchen and she likes vintage decor) until a few years ago when she had to get a push button phone. She bought the same phone with buttons and used it until just last year when they finally discontinued their land line. I’m glad you’re enjoying yours!
1. The fitted sheet on my daughter’s bed got a hole in it. It’s too big to patch. So I took out the white fitted sheet my mother-in-law gave me when the kids were little for back-up, and I resisted the urge to buy a new set of sheets. Why do sheets need to match?
2. I got an old towel from an online free group to make a new bath mat. My old one that I crocheted from old t-shirts is finally falling apart.
3. I reworked a few bills. My husband gets paid once a month which makes cash flow difficult.
4. We finally got rid of our landline and I got a cell phone which is going to cost us much less than the land line did.
5. No jets for us.
Your #1 is why I have two sets of sheets for every bed in our house. (We each have different size beds.) One New Years Eve our sheets ripped, and I had to buy new sheets from a department store before bed that night!
1. I’m getting frustrated with trying to post on this blog. I no longer start one then the Submit box turns into a box that reads Please reload this page before submitting. What???
2. Is anyone else having this difficulty?
3. It started after that Forbidden message started showing up a couple of weeks ago.
4. Katy, is this something on your end?
5. If at first you cannot blog, try, try, a pen. Sometimes I wish for the old days.
I had same problem so I copied , reloaded page and then pasted comment. It then worked
Thank you Yvette. Will try that.
I have been doing that, too, but it’s just a lot of trouble for me. I live out in the sticks so I already had a difficult time posting before this new issue. For now, I am just going to read the comments and not post FFT’s. All that are able to posts without any hiccups I will live vicariously through you so keep the good ideas coming!
Me, too.
Maybe type your FFT in another window, like in an email draft? Then just copy and paste here, only takes a second and no risk of your comment getting erased. 🙂
I do that some. I type the FFT’s on the notepad on my phone, then copy and paste here. It’s just a lot more trouble than it used to be. I hope I don’t sound whiny! When you have sketchy wifi, you have to keep moving around just to get a post to go through on a good day, so this adds extra steps that I just don’t want. I love to post FFT’s for accountability, so I will start back as soon as this is resolved.
I think that’s what I’ll do too. Seems like a lot of steps just to blog. I can still get good ideas, recipes and inspirations from others’ posts. I’ll save my FFTs for if it gets resolved.
1. We had a late family Christmas gathering (family member had been in the hospital) today and I re-used gift bags, boxes, bows and tissue paper.
2. So far for February have saved over $88 in coupons, sales and free items grocery shopping. I have added this as a new item to track in my EveryDollar budget monthly so I can see how my time spent couponing and reading store sales has saved money for us.
3. Volunteered at the library and brought my own food and water so I wouldn’t be tempted by the vending machines . Also picked up movies and books I put on hold.
4. Used Redbox promo codes for two free movies this week.
5. Went to the Dollar store and bought a 50 cent card, did two dog walks for cash, doing Swagbucks ($25 away from ordering a new carpet cleaner using Swagbucks) while watching Victoria on PBS, kept track of my budget this month and was proud to be able to keep track.
Bethanne, I started keeping track of what I call “Freebies” and I found it very encouraging to see what I was saving with coupons, rebates and so on. I have a little contest with myself to increase the amount every month. (And even better when I remind myself that these are tax-free freebies!)
Lindsey- I love that. I like to “game-ify” things and find I am at my best when I am competing, even if it is with myself.
I think two sets of sheets is plenty when you have a washer and drier, or a convenient place to dry laundry in rainy weather. I take the dirty sheets off and 98% of the time I wash, fold, and replace in the closet the same day. Other set goes on the bed and in case of emergency there is a clean extra set ready to go. I do keep some worn but still usable old ones just in case of the need for extras for emergency use but it’s been a while since I used any of them. The three set rule was started by people who needed Tuesday to iron the sheets they washed on Mondays, I’m pretty sure! (Never ironed sheets myself. My mother shamed me into ironing her first grandchild’s onsies when she came to visit at about three weeks of age. I quit ironing them as soon as their car drove out of sight on the trip home.)
For a long time I only had one set of sheets for my bed. I would wash them in the morning then put them back on the bed in the afternoon. I must say having a second set is nice, but I agree 2 is all you need
OMG! Ironing onesies is a crazy idea! Like ironing sheets! Not since the 70s or so! LOL!
I was in a book club once with a lady that ironed sheets, pillowcases and tea towels. I think we each thought the other was an alien from another planet.
I didn’t stay in that book club too long…
A friend worked in central Africa in healthcare, she ironed everything plus undies, to kill lice eggs, parasites and worm eggs
Hmmm. This lady wasn’t doing it for that reason.
But I do get that. My company works in remote areas so that makes sense. I’m heading back out myself next week.
I still don’t iron tea towels and pillowcases though.
During a large family gathering, we stayed at a friend of my sister’s house. The bedding was amazing! Turns out she has a commercial mangle-type setup to iron the sheets. Absolutely heavenly experience, but oh my goodness, what a lot of work!
(And yes, I got the reload message. I cut and pasted this comment and promised I’m not a spammer.)
when I was getting married, my MIL wanted to give me advice. She told me not to get into the habit of ironing my husbands underwear. I said “oh don’t worry, i wont” Then i asked my fiancee, “does your mother iron your underwear?”. he said she didn’t but i think she was ironing his dads.
My step-mother made us iron our bras and underpants. I rebelled after about the second week of that insanity and stopped wearing bras or underpants. She was so horrified (and afraid her snooty friends would find out) that she relented after about a month.
Ha! Lindsey, that’s hilarious.
So hilarious Lindsey! That made me laugh out loud !
I declared independence from my iron about 10 years ago and have never looked back. Hanging clothes to dry on my indoor rack takes care of about 70% of the wrinkles–and DH and I are both too old to care about the other 30%!
Ok, 3rd try for FFTs. I think it’s a timing thing until the reload message pops up and won’t allow me to submit. I’ll make it short.
1. Spent $3 and change on Easter candy for 4 grandkids after being gifted $30 in Kohl’s Cash.
2. Walking trails in woods for free exercise.
3. Discovered painted rocks with uplifting messages on them while walking in Conn. Turns out it’s 860 Rocks. You pick them up and rehide them for somebody else to find. Free fun.
4. Found whole chickens on sale .57 Lb. Winner, winner, chicken dinner. Many in our immediate future.
5. I think it’s going to post!!!!!!!!!
Yeah, it seems like it only happens with a lengthy post. If I make it quick, I can squeeze a post in without it making me reload. I am very wordy so this is a challenge for me, lol.
Glad you both persisted. The more FFTs the ….frugaler.
Thanks Vickey. And I like your word…frugaler…makes sense to me!
Same here. I like to talk and I like to write…in lengthy amounts!
1. My garden rewarded me with about 8 kilograms of unexpected late Summer bounty. I changed my meal plan accordingly, and gave some away.
2. I made compost using a free bag of chicken manure from my mum. My family totally get me.
3. I finished an audiobook from the library about the young Queen Elizabeth II.
4. I made an extra mortgage payment, as part of Operation Retire Early.
5. As part of Operation Retire Early, we reduced our grocery bill by $100 a month. We are into the second fortnight of this and so far, no one has noticed or complained. Clearly, we were buying some junk before.
Hi Mandy, I like the idea Operation retire early, are you following a plan or is this your own ideas? What age are you hoping to retire?
It’s my own plan, although I do follow the Dave Ramsey baby steps.
I’ve just decided I don’t want to work for money until I’m 70. I’ve set a goal of 12 years, when I will be 55.
My husband doesn’t want to retire then. He loves working and his job, so he will keep working. If that’s still the case then I might be able to retire sooner.
1.. On budget this month with groceries.
2. Indoor gardening workshop for neighborhood went well learning a new method to grow salads indoors. – only cost was for supplies – teacher donated her expertise
3. Bought Costco cookies for the crowd plus boy scouts who were also scheduled to use the church – donated extras to the scouts. Originally had planned to home-bake, but a friends’ emergency forced a change – also easier this way!
4. Another snowstorm forced me to stay indoors today instead of using gas; self denial is good for the soul even though cabin fever was rampant.
5. Husband took me to new restaurant for lunch yesterday – mediocre food but lesson learned.
Janine, tell us more about the indoor salad growing technique! Please. 🙂
Re: freezing milk- for me, it seems to separate weirdly. We use 2% usually. Same happens with cream, or storebought chocolate milk, too. When thawed, it’s usable for cooking but not for drinking or cereal. Do you know any hints for better results when freezing milk, Kay (or anyone)? I have been buying the organic milk at Aldi because for some reason it has a much longer life than the regular milk. It has a way off expiration date, but I think says use it within a week after opening. I ignore this and it has been fine for several weeks! There are only two of us and only 1 drink milk, though not much.
I have frozen all kinds of milk with great results. The only thing I do is shake it really well after thawing completely and it redistributes. I love always having milk in the freezer. Such a luxury that lots of people don’t even think of.
Milk with such a Long shelf life still goes off after a few days. The Problem is that one does not notice it but you can get sick anyhow… I would not drink milk opened that Long. What have they done to milk anyhow that it lasts this Long?? Fresh milk is only good for less then a week.
Very gratefully received a sizable check from mortgage company for return of excess in escrow. Savings improved. So glad
Did laundry after 9:00 pm to avoid paying electricity charge. but did use dryer for such as towels which won’t dry in time in the house to avoid smelling musty. Did air dry most items partly just on principle, but also to save wear and tear.
Am working toward developing a food forest in back yard. Bought two fruit trees on Friday, dug two holes, but having already had a long morning, set them aside for next day.
On Saturday, planted the pear tree then mulched with cardboard saved from moving boxes, leaves rescued from trip to landfill, held down with branches cut from neighbors’ still here Christmas tree.
Foraged henbit from own yard to try new recipe which also calls for mushrooms which are on sale at local grocery this week.
I only have two sheet sets per bed. Today I used an old one to back two quilts.
1. Been eating up all the weird this and that from the fridge. An old everything bagel was not good, even toasted with cream cheese! I ate half anyway. Nachos mish-mash, however, was delish! Still eating oranges from my neighbor’s tree but we’re nearing the end of this crop. The tree bears every two years.
2. Won two free tickets to Knott’s Berry Farm. I am too old for fast rides so maybe I’ll gift or donate them. Daughter does not want them.
3. ^^ See above? Looks like my lucky streak is on again! Should I buy lotto tickets?? Aye… it’s not really very NCA. Temptation.
4. Scary and strange events continue at my new job. It made me think about how I’m always trying to save money on everything. It’s not really a choice — I have to live frugally. It’s limiting but I accept and embrace the lifestyle. However, I mused on how sad it would be if something happened to me or a loved one and I had been so frugal that I missed out on things I could do for (or with) my daughter while she is here, or while I’m here for her. So after a stressful morning together, I decided that time making the best of our time together is far more precious than money. So… I took her to have her fingernails painted, then out for Hawaiian fast food (I never do this…) The next day I paid for a duplicate driver’s license to replace her lost one, and then because it was almost her birthday I took her to the Sushi place and told her to get anything she wanted (but we got happy hour prices, so there’s that.) 🙂 Then we went to Grocery Outlet and bought discounted Mochi and granola cookies and 4 for 98 cents chocolate bars. For her birthday I gave her a $50 gift card, a box of Valentine Hearts that were free with my Kroger discount and a box of her favorite Girl Scout Samoa Cookies. Those things don’t sound thrifty, but it has been a rough 5 years and I am just glad that she is alive, made it to 25 and is here with me now. Sometimes you have to make the best of what the Universe gives you, while you still can…
5. Haven’t been on a jet for a long time and I don’t plan on getting on one anytime soon, gold-plated or not, but I should probably have our passports renewed anyway, because Trump scares me.
Love your #5. He scares the daylights out of me. I think everyone in US should have a passport “just in case.” Have mine and my family’s ready and waiting!!!
Norma, I understand your #4. I remind myself the reason I am frugal is to use money they way I want to, not the way the advertisers want me too. So if using money to do things that brings pleasure to your relationship, then enjoy! You are so right, we don’t know how long we will be together. Make the best of the time with the people you love.
Having said that, I try to also think of frugal things we can do together that my family member will also enjoy. DH and I enjoy doing yard work together but the grand kids aren’t as excited about yardwork….they do however love to go to the beach at sunrise, with a thermos of hot cocoa and some granola bars. Even the parking is free at that hour.
Knott’s Berry Farm! I used to go there when I was a kid…..many years ago. And the Japanese Deer Park. I think i still have one of the “deer food” boxes from there. Lol!
I remember when I was getting married and was registering for gifts. The store is question suggested that I register for a crazy quantity of sheets and towels. Formal dishes and every day dishes. Fine crystal. Etc, etc. I’ve always been happy I resisted. I, too, run a lean linen cupboard!
1. Having a no spend LIFE!
2. Blogging about it- for honesty.
3. $3 a dozen organic eggs from a friend’s chooks.
4. Took a picnic to the beach- didn’t use the local cafe
5. Leftover, leftovers, leftovers!
Giving bariatric surgery a serious look. Free YouTube videos, bought a book on ebay. Talked to my husband. The surgery is covered 100% with insurance so the financial aspect doesn’t play a role in my decision, thankfully. I see a lot of value not only to me but to my family with a major weight loss. Looking forward to discussing it with my dr.
Came home for lunch and had leftovers.
Thawing some beans for burritos tomorrow.
My stepson and my niece have both had the surgery, both with good results. They both have children and are able to do activities with them that they never could have dreamed of before the surgery. Best of luck with whatever decision you make.
– In the past, I never seemed to earn enough swagbucks to make it worth it. But lately I’ve been having good luck with just running the videos in the background while I’m at work!
– My friend wanted to go out for a fancy lunch and I remembered I had a gift card for a local restaurant that is received when I experienced very slow service there (unusual for them, they gave me the gift card without me ever mentioning the subpar service!).
– We were comparing prices on kenneling our dog when we go on vacation in August and the prices are so high! Then I remembered a friend of mine who offered to dog sit whenever we needed. I checked and she is available those dates! We’ll stock the fridge and buy her a gift card for food.
– Using up what we have in our fridge, trying to hold out a few more days before we go grocery shopping
– My partner’s younger brother just moved out on his own and is experiencing the sticker shock of adulthood. So we invited him over for dinner last night, my partner cut his hair and edged up his beard, and we sent him home with leftovers, as well as some dishes I was going to donate. We told him this could be a monthly thing to save him some money at the barber, and I could give him budgeting lessons if he was interested!
I am with you ! I have owned only one set of sheets for the past 12 years. I just noticed the fitted sheet is becoming a little thread bare, so I will see if I can patch it to extend the life of the set. I wash linens every Saturday and just put them back on the bed.
I just did that but I have bad cell service anyway and often times struggle to post a regular message with minimal wifi. It’s just more steps that I don’t want. I may try to write FFT’s on my notepad on my phone at work during my downtime sometimes. Then I will copy and paste later on when Katy puts up a new post. I hope I don’t sound whiny, it’s just anything that causes me frustration I have to either figure out or let go.
Wow, it put my comment in the wrong place right after telling me I am a spammer, lol. Wth?
I thought I had just read that same message above! LOL
1. Stocked up on a lot of great deals at Kroger, like $.99 cereal, $.99 fish sticks, and remembered to pick up my freebie items (candy, yum)
2. Broke down and bought a pair of sandals at Walmart after searching for a few months at the thrift store to no avail. At least they were pretty, sturdy, and not to pricey….oh and clean:) Our local thrift store has awful sandals! They are either falling apart or considerably worn.
3. Found items I needed for my church’s ministry fair at Hobby Lobby on sale
4. Got the rest of the items I needed at the dollar tree to make a sign for the fair
5. No heat or air conditioning was used this week. We have been having summer-like temps in Alabama and I would have definitely turned on the AC if they were already installed….I hate humidity…
1.Got texted Saturday morning to see if I could work part of the day. Picked up 4 extra hours and they were doing a surprise lunch so I took 2 pieces of hero and a donut.
2. Cooked and processed my last pumpkin from October. 22 pounds went into the freezer. I see muffins in our future.
3. Daughter(16) washed 2 loads of laundry and hung it up since I worked Saturday. She folded and put it away also.
4. My sister was coming home from overseas after being gone for 2 weeks. We watched her dog and I offered to drive him home(30 minutes away). She said to bring everyone and she would pick up Italian. Got to look at all of her amazing pictures and she gave me hotel toiletries that I will use. Brought leftovers home.
5. Son brought home lots of bread, bagels and pastries from his job Sunday night. Whatever they don’t take goes in the garbage. Gave some to my sister and will be dropping some off to a friend. Had a bagel for breakfast
1) I needed to buy a pulse oximeter. I used a CVS coupon to get 40% off the $49 price tag and earned $10 in Extra Bucks which I will use this week to purchase some personal items.
2) Since I haven’t been feeling well, the weekend was spent at home which was enjoyable and productive. I haven’t been able to take care of my flower beds, so DH tended them on Saturday. The weather was beautiful, so I sat under our big oak tree while he worked. We enjoyed “our shows” on Netflix and took a short walk in the neighborhood when I was up to it on Sunday.
3) I picked up Dan Brown’s most recent book, “Origins,” at the library. I put it on hold before Thanksgiving. I was 297th on the list. Sometimes frugality requires patience.
4) One of my friends planned a movie night for the girls. We went on Tuesday evening when admission is only $5. Of course, I didn’t stop at the concession stand.
5) I have started our taxes. I am using Turbo Tax rather than hiring an accountant this year. For the first time in years, it looks like I won’t owe Uncle Sam. I am pleased with this. Just two years ago, I owed $7200. I didn’t want that to happen again, so I made an effort a tax planning. DH had not changed the number of exemptions since our had left home. I also looked carefully at our HSA, FSA and 401-ks.
Hope you feel better soon!
Thank you, Cindy. Getting older is not easy sometimes. I wish I was like a car and could easily get replacement parts.
Feel better soon Bee!
The underwear thing made me giggle!
This week:
1. Last weekend was my birthday, so I took advantage of birthday coupons for free meals and snacks.
2. I planted tons of seeds in our garden over the weekend. I also used a planter found in my neighbor’s trash to plant herbs.
3. Hubs changed our brake light himself instead of taking it to a mechanic.
4. I received a gift card to order Rothy’s shoes (washable flats made from recycled plastic). As a result, Rothy’s sent me a $20 coupon for my next pair of shoes. I know I’m getting another Rothy’s gift card, so I’ll probably order a second set of shoes for even cheaper. I love that these li’l guys are washable and you can replace the insole once they wear through.
5. I cooked chicken chili for dinner over the weekend. It made several servings, which I’ll freeze for later.
1. Went out for a family meal this weekend at Chick Fil A and used two free sandwich coupons. Not a huge savings, but was better than buying all four of us meals.
2. We treated our kids to a girls day/boys day out. We purchased my son tickets to Monster Truck Jam for Christmas and that trip was for him and my hubby. My daughter and I visited an indoor play place (where parents are free) using a $2 off coupon from a Kids Stuff book. I didn’t have the heart to make my daughter stay at home while her brother had a fun day. (and we used some of her Christmas money to pay)
3. After our girls day out, my daughter and I visited the Goodwill. I found a few items that I am putting away for Christmas. (I am keeping a running list of the items that I’ve purchased for the next holiday, so that I don’t overspend). I also found some new men’s underwear for my hubby (which I promptly put in the wash when I came home, so that he wont’ even know where they came from!) and three vintage Korean children’s books. I have some research to do to know how much to list them at on Ebay. I also have to figure out a way to translate the title of the books. Can anyone ready Korean?
4. Visited with friends Saturday evening, whom we haven’t seen since Thanksgiving. We did order in food for the adults, but decided to make mac n cheese/hot dogs for the four kids. It was nice to catch up with them and learn that we aren’t the only exhausted parents of little ones.
5. I just threw away the brochure for an expensive fund raiser for my son’s school. I normally purchase one item from these types of fund raisers, but I made a stand that those are items that are not needed and we do not need.
I just make a donation in the amount that I would buy. That way I don’t bring anymore junk in the house or food stuffs we don’t need to eat, such as cookies and candy. The whole amount goes to the school rather than just a percentage of the sale item.
I also prefer to give a cash donation. However, I do buy a box of the Girl Scouts’ Thin Mints for my dear hubby.
1. Our rebate from our Costco Visa was over $200 (4% for gasoline, 3% for hotel/restaurant expenses, and 2% for Costco purchases added up quickly, especially with both of us getting our contacts, new glasses, sunglasses for my husband, etc. at Costco). Had a very fun shopping spree – $100 worth of meat and fish, with the remaining $100+ spent on staples like coffee, lactase enzyme tablets (both of us are lactose intolerant), hearing aid batteries for husband, toilet paper (excitement!), etc. The grocery bills should be very tiny in March, and I just got the greatest thrill out of filling a cart and knowing the cost out of pocket would be minimal. And it was – under $10.
2. Instead of the usual cheap-date-lunch-at-Costco hot dogs, we split a slice of their everything pizza. $1.99 for the slice, and it was huge. I’m a cheap date who just got cheaper. Okay, that sounds bad…
3. Also picked up a rotisserie chicken while we were at Costco, which made for 3 meals and several quarts of soup broth for us. Those chickens are huge, and so yummy.
4. Found 13 cents (not at Costco).
5. Snow Thursday night and again Saturday night is giving us free exercise shoveling, and more outside time since there’s been no cold wave plunge following it. The cross country skis are finally getting a good workout again. And snowblowing our huge long driveway this year ourselves – rather than hiring someone to plow it out – has saved us $180 so far this winter.
1. I accompanied my husband to a work conference so the hotel is covered, as is his airfare, and some of his meals should be too. We have a small kitchen so we brought breakfast food and bought dinner food at the grocery store. We’ve eaten lunch out two days. We rented a car to sight see on the weekend and have done inexpensive stuff instead of going to the local amusement parks. I’d call it frugal-ish.
2. We caught a ride to the airport and will catch one home tonight. In a few weeks we’ll return the favor.
3. We have not bought anything except food. We did spend a little time at an outlet mall yesterday and were shocked at how many people were there, how many shopping bags people were carrying and how many people were wheeling recently purchased luggage around.
4. Tomorrow it’s back to chillier and wetter weather, for today I’m going to enjoy the warmth and tropical look and feel of Orlando. A cheap thrill.
5. That’s all I’ve got, I’m suffering from vacation induced addled brain.
I tried to post yesterday and wasn’t able to get past the repost message. I finally closed the website not knowing if my comments had posted or not. They did not. This is the third time I’ve had difficulty posting.
This post is a “just to let you know there’s a problem” reminder.
I thought I was the only one but as I read this I can see that I am not. In the meantime I’m just reading others posts and making small comments until it hopefully gets resolved.
Katy, when you freeze the milk, is there any change in it when it thaws? I’ve been scared to try that trick because I’m worried it will affect the texture of the milk or cause it to separate.
I’ve been blogging my frugal accomplishments every day over at The Frugal List. Yesterday we were able to pay an extra $1000 towards our mortgage principle, hooray!!
I just tried to post a comment, but when I clicked the Please Reload Page to Comment button nothing happened. Tried twice. Then I tried to F5/refresh the page, but lost everything I’d typed in. I wonder if you have to click the Reload button before you start typing?
And for some unknown reason, I did not get the Reload message on this or the previous message. Maybe the software doesn’t like the numbers we use in FFT?
Nothing I’ve tried seems to be working so far except to post really short FFTs and comments. It will have to do, I guess, at least for now.
1) Inspired by the last post, I finally searched out and found a local Buy Nothing group. Like Connie above, I’m not sure how it’s going to work out. Some of the comments I’ve received are. . . alarming. But it will be frugal to not pack and move things we don’t really need, and green to pass them on rather than send them to landfill (though actually everything is burned in a waste-to-energy plant here), so I’ll soldier on.
2) Went out for a drink with a friend one night last week. Didn’t feel like fried appetizers, so didn’t order them, and she picked up the check. I shared some items out of my freezer that I knew her husband would appreciate. Now I don’t have to figure out how to use them up or pack them. We all left happy.
3) Sorted 10 years’ worth of old medications. We save what we jokingly call our “post apocalyptic apothecary” supplies, as several of us are on daily life-saving meds and having an old Rx kicking around, even if it’s a slightly different dosage, for times when we’ve left a bottle in a hotel room or a mail-order has gone astray, has saved a lot, both in terms of health and money over the years Pitched unsafely outdated or spilled stuff, organized the rest to pack.
4) Except for one piece of furniture that is too heavy for me to remove on my own, I’ve staged yet another room. That’s 3. Slow progress is still progress and I’m not paying anybody to do it.
5) No Lear jet, no gold-plated toilets.
Selling a house is so stressful. Hugs
We own two sets of sheets, one flannel, one nonflannel for summer. I agree, no sense having your money tied up in storing items. It is so easy to wash and dry the sheets same day, I think people used to own a lot of sheets as many didn’t have a washer/dryer at home so they kind of had to.
1) Went to the movies with my husband on Saturday evening. I had a coupon for a free ticket through my Coke rewards and he had received a free ticket coupon from a friend for Christmas. My Coke rewards also got us free popcorn and soda and we really enjoyed the movie Jumanji.
2) I bought another bag of prescription dog food because my vet said there’s a small chance that the food that we switched him (Fromm) to is what caused his allergies. We gave him the Rx food until his allergy symptoms subsided and now we’re back to the Fromm, which he seems to be doing well with. The vet said we can return the open bag of Rx food for any reason, so I will be doing that since I am quite sure that it was not the Fromm that caused his allergies.
3) Just completed a mystery shop on my lunch break at a local chain restaurant. I get paid $5 plus reimbursed for up to $20 of food purchase. I got an entree, water, and a to-go bowl of chili to eat tomorrow for lunch and tipped the waitress to make my total exactly $20. Also took a picture of my receipt and will be getting 10% back through ibotta.
4) My husband and I each have a Chase Freedom card and the 5% bonus category for Jan-Mar is gas stations. We will each purchase about $1000 in gas gift cards at Speedway, which gives us a ton of Speedy Rewards points, plus 5% credit cards points bonus, and then we will get Speedy points as we use them throughout the year. Our families think we are crazy for this but we pay the CC off each month and then use the rewards for travel that we wouldn’t normally be able to afford.
5) I have burger patties in the freezer that I got through some kind of Omaha Steaks deal awhile back. Because it is frigid in MI we definitely will not be grilling for another couple months, but I wanted to clean out my freezer a bit. I thawed 2 of the patties and made a Shepard’s pie for my husband and will use the other 2 for another individual dish like stuffed peppers or something. Mind you, this was all done last night when I really felt like going out to a restaurant.
1. Dinner at Krispy Kreme tonight (not the usual dinner but we weren’t very hungry) and everything was free. Had enough points for a free dozen donuts. Free coffee with a coupon from the local Entertainment Book we purchased and free Caramel Mocha from the calendar we purchased. Leftovers for breakfast in the morning.
2. Enjoying this beautiful weather in the South. Not having to use heat or a/c is certainly frugal. Some days have been humid but we deal with that rather than use the a/c or fan.
3. Continue to have health insurance for me and my spouse at the same rate I was paying when I was working. Just found out March is a free month so no deduction for insurance. Yea!!!
4. Just got my student ID from our local college (enrolled in lifelong learning program). This will give me 15% off at AC Moore and I do a lot of crafts.
5. Received $25 Walmart gift card using CC points. Will gift this to a friend who became a mom two months ago through the power of prayer and adoption. She is over the moon.
Ha! I love the laundry day for sheets statement, Katy. I have two bottom sheets and two top sheets, but I tend to just take off the set on the bed and wash them on my day off, then put them back on the bed. My sheets last forever, so I guess that spare set will come in handy when the ones on the bed go in the rag bag.
1) We haven’t had to buy meat since my MIL sent us the Omaha Steaks box last month. I’ve managed to fix sides with what we have a bought a few things from the grocers, but it’s been very minimal in the past month. I’m deliriously happy about that.
2) I’ve been staying home on weekends, it’s been either too cold or just no where I needed to go, so I’ve save money on fuel. We had 2 days last week when the roads were icy and the University was closed – another fuel savings there and they gave us Admin Leave, so we had two days off and didn’t have to use PTO.
3) I headed to Big Lots today to stock up on snacks for my desk here at work and get cat food. I spent less than $30, since I used my loyalty card.
4) There were leftover bagels and cream cheese in the fridge here at work – swag from a Vendor. So that’s what I ate for breakfast. Yummy and free!
5) I turned in another audio book and picked two more up at the Library. I enjoy listening to them, so much, during my commute. No stress during heavy traffic at lights, since I’m actually enjoying a story or a lesson from one of the books.
1. My oldest son works on a river barge. I was able to buy him two heavy coats, on sale, at Salvation Army for 50 cents each to wear for work next year. They were in great shape!
2. I used leftover collards, leftover pork necks, and leftover onions and carrots, to make supper for the week.
3. I am eating odds and ends at work for lunch. It is the end of the month….lol.
4. I spring cleaned my house. It was in the 80’s this week.
5. I sang with the radio. My dog howled. Luckily, the neighbors were not home for the “music”….lol
Great deal on the two coats! Love Salvation Army stores.
I hope you meant “unopened” rather than “unpackaged” . LOL
1) Drove out and back to gymnastics meets friday and saturday and avoided a hotel stay. Packed, lunch and snacks and only spent money on admission and parking.
2) Renewed unread magazines from the library to avoid a late fee while still enjoying them.
3) Cooked up a whole chicken for dinner last night, then boiled the carcass for broth and had chicken noodle soup tonight for dinner.
4) Shopped the loss leaders at 2 stores this weekend to get the most bang for my buck with grocery money.
5) Plenty of leftovers for our lunches today and tomorrow. Yay!
We have two sets of cotton sheets and two sets of flannel ones so that we can rotate them. They are about 7 years old and should last many more years.
FFT
1. Bought two summer tops off Swap.com and mysteriously was not charged shipping or sales tax. Possibly the latter is because there is no sales tax on used clothing in my state.
2. Been taking my breakfast to work and drinking the free coffee. Not so good about packing my lunch last week, though.
3. Took the Mister out for dinner Saturday for his 60th birthday. I had enough leftovers to eat very well the next day.
4. Gave our three long-haired dachshunds shampoos and light grooming at home Sunday, which saved a small fortune.
5. Our 65 year old house shows its age in the state of the bathroom floors. The tile is worn and difficult to make look clean, but I went after it with bleach, hot water and a splash of dish liquid Saturday. A good scrubbing is way cheaper than a new tile job.
The inability to post is also irritating me.
me, too! And not able to access blog in bloglovin either! Katy, whats going on?
It is just certain ones of us having problems or everybody? If I am doing something to cause it I want to change what I am doing. I don’t think it’s using numbers, I think it has to do with either the time the box stays open before posting or how many characters are typed in causing it to prompt the repost message.
There has been a problem since I did all the updates a few weeks ago. I
m not sure how to fix it, but I’ll work on it at the end of the week when I have time off from work. Sorry.
Thank you for checking into it. Have a great week.
1. We had guests for a week and a half, so we spent more on food than normal, but they did leave us some avocados, pineapple cookies and some other things that we’ll happily eat. 🙂
2. It’s been hot, so I’m gladly taking cold showers, which saves on the gas used to heat the water.
3. My sons birthday was Sunday. I made homemade cake and icing and we decorated with sprinkles and candles I already had. We also put up our birthday banner, that’s been used numerous times and my daughter made a #9 Lego sign, I got the idea from this pin https://www.pinterest.com/pin/171629435784234123.
4. He requested pizza, so we ordered pizza, which was not cheap, but we filled it out with salad and homemade French fries. And we had soda and like I mentioned above cake.
5. Saving the above mentioned soda bottles to reuse for water.
Let me ask you this: How do you keep milk “fresh” in the freezer? I must just not be good at freezing it because my thawed milk is just never the same, always lumpy and separated looking. I’d love to be able to figure out how to properly freeze it. Aldi has milk on sale for $1.58/gallon right now!
I’m not Katy, but I do freeze milk. I find the longer I have it in the freezer, the more likely it is to be clumpy. It seems to un-do the homogenization and lets the cream separate, I think. I shake the dickens out of the thawed milk and most of the time that works to return it to pre-frozen condition. Hope it works for you.
1) Reading “The End of Eating”. Is it any surprise that food processing companies have deliberately manipulated fat, salt, and sugar in their products for maximum and addictive “hyperpalatability”? That knowledge saved me time and money on my latest grocery shop. “Eff you, evil hyperpalatability wizards!” she shouted silently as she wheeled her cart thru the store, rolling right past the aisles of temptation.
2) Walking with friends for exercise.
3) Watching calories (saves grocery $, right?), reading free motivation online.
4) Sewed a button back on DH’s shirt and got it back in circulation.
5) The usual: buying in bulk and on sale, cooking from scratch, using coupons for free or discounted items we’d already be buying, saving shower warm up water for flushing toilets, etc.
I’m having this very discussion with my youngest child right now. We grow most of our own vegetables and fruit and my husband is a trained chef. We eat around the table with the TV off, and prepare meals 6 nights a week. Yet the teen still thinks that the height of good food is the Cheesecake Shop, Subway and Boost Juice. I’ve tried to explain that it’s all pre-prepared junk.
I know that teens naturally want what’s cool but it’s still frustrating that after all our efforts they still want the hyper marketed, hyper palatable junk.
It’s brain wiring we’re fighting. I highly recommend the book – goes into illuminating detail about just how our neuro-circuits have evolved to predispose us to focusing on fat/salt/sugar (precisely because they used to be so hard to come by), and how food companies are of course manipulating their products for increased sales. Sometimes social injustices will outweigh the cool factor when captivating teens’ imaginations.
Sorry, that was supposed to be a reply to Mand’s last comment.