Five Frugal Things
by Katy on April 4, 2018 · 62 comments
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I sold a large macrame wall hanging through Facebook Marketplace that I’d picked up at Goodwill. I immediately put the money into the credit union, as there’s reason to have cash sitting around the house tempting me with its anonymous allure. (I like the trackability of using my debit card, as I can follow exactly where my money is going.)
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I picked up a groovy vintage suitcase with an eye to upcycing it into a side table. I already have a big bag of vintage brass-tipped tapered legs, and had been looking for the perfect suitcase. The inside features a strong mildew odor, so I cleaned it with antimicrobial wipes and then treated it to a generous spritzing of vodka. I’ve read that vodka is an excellent solution for musty suitcases, so I figured I’d give it a try. (We already had a leftover bottle in the freezer.) I’ll do a full post in the future and let you know if this trick actually removed any stank. I’ve also read that leaving a container of cat litter in a closed suitcase helps to absorb the smell, so I’ll try that as my next step. (I assume they mean fresh new cat litter. 😂🐈)
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I gave away five bags of unopened Easter candy to someone in my Buy Nothing Group. This woman is always happy to receive candy as she’s a middle school counselor and makes it available to her students who are having crappy days. Which, as I recall, are most days in middle school. (I’d previously given her our unopened Halloween candy.)
I then accepted a pair of iPhone earbuds from someone else in my Buy Nothing Group, which was perfect timing, as my functional earbuds seem to have been lifted by a certain sticky fingered college student. I like to listen to podcasts while puttering around the house, yet have $0.00 budgeted for anything unnecessary at the moment as we just paid for spring tuition, April rents plus looming taxes. When it rains it . . . holy hell, is that a monsoon?!
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My sister and her kids have been visiting from New York this week, which in the past has been an expensive endeavor as it entails frequent restaurant meals and bonus touristy activities. However, we’re both budget motivated at the moment, so our excursions have been simple and in the black. Eating meals at home might seem dull, but we’re all in it for the company we keep, not the strangers we impress.
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I didn’t buy a Lear Jet or a vulgar gold-plated apartment in the sky.
Now your turn. What frugal things have you been up to?
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
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{ 62 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh my, that macrame! Curious, how much did you get for it? You don’t have to tell, but I’d love to know if there is truly a market for that stuff 🙂
I got $50, and paid $12.99. Not going to pay off the mortgage from the sale, but free money is free money.
Color me impressed! I have a new perspective on an old style.
I’m impressed too! I’d never pay $50 for that, but it’s awesome that someone else did. Woohoo!
Thinking the same thing. Must have been someone stuck in the ’60s.
It’s actually making a comeback. There’s a macrame piece in a local art show where I live.
Macrame is hot again, just look on Apartment Therapy.
You can guess the ages of your readers by which of us is permanently scarred by macrame.
Thank you for asking this. I was also curious! I like to have an idea of what things go for, in case I run across a similar item.
Oh wow, I remember making those wall hangings when I was young! Those, and plant hangars!
My aunt sent me a macrame plant hanger just a few months ago. She made it years ago, and it was cluttering up her house. She never knotted the bottom, so once I figure out how to tie it off, all I need is a pottery planter and a fern or philodendron. #childofthesixtiesnotscarredbymacrame 🙂
That macrame is so cool! Here are my frugal five:
1. Yesterday I picked up 4 play packs from someone in my Buy Nothing Group and a glass jar form another member.
2. I got 2 books from a Little Free Library and I dropped off a paper grocery bag full of books from my kids overflowing bookshelf.
3. I went grocery shopping at Winco and used the remainder of the gift card I won from them last month.
4. Amazon sent me my order twice. I contacted them about it and they told me to keep the extra merchandise they sent.
5. I opened up my deodorant container that was “empty” and found enough product inside it to last another 2 days.
2. Thanks for the reminder. I have a stack of books to take to one of those free little libraries that is on my way to work that I forgot about. Going to put them in my car right now!
Wow that macrame hanger is just…I’m glad you found someone for whom it’s a happy purchase!
1. Working from home today, doing some extremely boring tasks. Writing reports and drinking tea while saving petrol and a two hour commute.
2. Eating leftovers from last night.
3. Attended the free lecture on bees last night. Completely free, free park at the front of the venue, left with a head full of bee knowledge from a world expert in Australian native bees. I felt very fortunate to attend.
4. Detailed budgets and meal plans this week to help manage big therapy bills for our kids. Expensive little monkeys.
That’s about it really. I have a few frugal fails mostly related to eating out. Trying to help out friends going through really hard times by taking them out for meals etc. sometimes you have to do things like that for the people you love.
1. Finally got myself in gear to list on ebay a baby PFD that I’ve had sitting next to my desk for months…and it sold within days. Only $15, but that’s money in my account versus junk in my house!
2. I was making a stir-fry last night for dinner and my mom gave me a package of 2 zucchini that needed to be used. Only one was decent (the other growing fuzz), but that’s better than wasting them both.
3. I’ve really been using the library hold service to the max lately – I think I have a dozen books requested. Some of them I might have been tempted to purchase but I’m glad I’m not doing that (the last two have been awful and I would have been mad to spend money on them). Even good books can be read from the library and purchased later used if I want to own them.
4. My little garden is starting to sprout. Fingers crossed for a good growing season! (It gets super hot where I live, which is also at 1 mile of altitude, so this year I am going to put shade material over the garden in the hopes that the sun won’t fry my little plants so badly!).
5. My husband was recently awarded a bit of money from his department which he could take in a lump sum (and be taxed on) or as reimbursement for various professional expenses (which he’d get in full, but only little by little as he spends the money). As tempting as a cash infusion might be, we talked it out and decided to be patient- we’ll slowly get reimbursements for professional expenses as he uses them, which will take longer but we’ll end up with the whole amount over time. We are lucky to have enough emergency fund savings that we don’t feel the need to take it all now at a lower rate.
How on earth did this end up as a reply to Mand01? Sorry!
I remember a tip in The Tightwad Gazette that charcoal will absorb odors. Someone said they use them in their fridge and then grill with them.
I’ve never done any selling on eBay or Craigslist (preferring to hand them off to people directly whenever possible), but I’ve recently come to realize people are more likely to use and keep items they’ve actually paid money for. So I’m now considering doing some reselling in order to do a better job making sure our things don’t eventually end up in the landfill.
I once worked at a non-profit food program where we realized that some of our customers couldn’t even afford our modest wholesale prices. Free didn’t work (they ordered the food but often didn’t pick it up) but charging a nominal amount was effective. Lesson learned!
1. Have eaten hard boiled decorated Easter eggs every single day for lunch. Only five to go! In the past, far distant past, I “might” have let them go bad.
2. Was having a good mobility day, no wheelchair, so bent down to pick up six cents.
3. Entered a local contest put on by a restaurant and won two free cheesesteaks!!Nice to have a free meal out at a new place.
4. Did six mystery shops that netted me $36 of gas plus some food items, plus $30 in pay. They were quick and easy ones, which is not always the case.
5. Exchanged a pound of rice for a pound of pearl barley with a buy nothing person. Not sure why we had rice since neither one of us likes it at all (or beans. I sigh when I see frugal and healthy meals that involve rice and beans…)
Lindsey, your good luck amazes me. I never win anything..I mean..really..never. If I were you, I would sign up for everything I saw that I might win. Also, I’m glad you are having a good mobility day!
This must be my lucky year, is all I can say, Jennifer. All the stuff has been small, local contests, except for winning a national contest where the prize was an expensive pair of jeans for the husband. I do them while watching a movie or TV show.
Lindsey, I am with you on the dried beans. So healthy and good for us, but I just can’t stand them. It’s a texture thing as well as a taste issue. Why is it that the better for us a food is, the less I like it? Now, if bacon, chocolate and butter were health foods…..
I love beans but they don’t love me back, so I can’t eat them either…and they are sooo frugal!
I stayed home this week so it was easy for me to stay on the frugal track.
1. Ate all meals at home and enjoyed the various ways to remix Easter leftovers.
2. Gave a dear friend a gift of high-end beauty products that were a mix of free in-store gifts and gifts with purchase,
3. Created home school unit studies from books and magazines we already owned.
4. Attended a community meeting and scored free snacks and tickets to major baseball game for the family.
5. Kept the grocery bill to just around $80 for a family of 3 by using cash and leaving the cards at home.
1. Wrapped up a baby gift I bought at the thrift store (NWT) in an recycled gift bag. Hubby will deliver it on his trip this weekend.
2. Made stew in crockpot with lamb leftover from Easter. Just bought a couple of carrots to add as I had everything else in the house.
3. Brewed a gallon of ice tea as hubby and I are not drinking alcohol with dinner.
4. Gathered a bag of clothes and miscellaneous stuff for donation
5. Working at the dog shows this weekend so I’ll make a few $$ and get free lunch both days
Made a meal with rice the yesterday and thought to make enough for fried rice tonight. There was leftover fried rice enough for dinner tomorrow. It’s the rice that will not end.
Took a nice long walk with my neighbor today. She suffers from mental illness. The prison system, sadly, acts as a safety net for the mentally ill. She just recently got out, and needs some interaction. Both of us enjoyed the brilliant sunset.
Someone on the NCA facebook page inspired me to start using up condiments and all the other stuff on the top shelf of my fridge. Used up some lemon frosting and tartar sauce and have plans for the few jalapenos floating in a bunch of vinegar. Need to work on the peanut sauce as well.
Went through my house with Norwex. No chemicals, just using water. Does a great job too! Those microsilver cloths are going 6 years strong.
Varagesale has an awesome outdoor dining set for a steal. I’m passing up on it because we have no awning, and our climate is such that it would fade and dry rot in short order. Would love to get the awning, but wanting the inground pool first. Saving goals!!!
Bethany I so appreciate your warm attitude and care for your neighbor!
Ditto what Tracey said about your care for your neighbor.
I love how you walked with your neighbor after what must have been a very rough patch for her. Where others may have shown judgement, you just stepped forward and went on a walk with her. Reading your FFTs was the best moment of my day.
1. Used company EAP (employee assistance program) counseling service. Was feeling overwhelmed with family and work issues. so helpful to lay it all out to a professional stranger. Free service.
2. Learned they also have free legal services and financial planning. Signed up for free 30 min financial to see if I can learn something new.Will be wary of any service for a fee pitch.
3. Using gym membership fully instead of looking for next shiny “Lose weight now” pitch.
4. committed to the Low Glycemic Load diet. DH and I have BMIs that need to go down. 4 days on and not bad. Pretty do-able.
5. Past experience with low carb, high protein diets is tend to get expensive. focusing on less costly protein like eggs, peanut butter, yogurt. Suggestions welcome!
1. I love that companies offer that service. Good on you for putting yourself first.
I’m with you on #3. I prepaid for a year 3x/week classes at yoga/Pilates studio. I’ve been remiss with all my traveling.
I have pre diabetes and high BMI so definitely need to work on my weight. I’m watching the carbs and ditched my nightly glasses of wine
Cooked dry beans are a good low glycemic protein source.
The buy nothing group in my area is not very active. Maybe I will post a few things today to see if I can boost it some.
1. We are continuing to eat most meals at home even if it’s just simple eggs and toast. Which are pretty darn good, actually
2. I did a post on my blog yesterday on those darn red noses everyone is buying. Only a small buzz but it’s the thought that counts. I’m have been very guilty of being severely wasteful but I am getting a lot better.
3. I’m still wearing the same pants even though I have lost a bit of weight. I am considering putting a couple inches of elastic in the back to take up the excess. I’m not ready to buy anymore right now.
4. My daughter’s friend opened a new salon in her town so I am taking my kids to get $8 haircuts. I usually don’t spend any money on haircuts but I want to support this new business. The owner is pregnant so I am especially proud of her starting a business at this late stage in her pregnancy. Mommies are tough!
5. I’m not washing my car even thought it’s ladies day, which makes it only $6. Am I the only one that thinks their should also be a “men’s day” for this? Uh…moving on..I will wait a few days until it warms up and wash it in my yard for pennies.
Congrats on the weight loss!!!
Thank you, Bethany!
I read your blog about the noses and wholeheartedly agree there must be a better way to fundraise for this very worthy cause. The red noses in particular seem to have a one-time-only use…unless you want to mimic the knickknacks at Goodwill and become a real clown! Maybe if more people showed concern for the waste, they would seek a better way to raise funds.
I refuse to buy crap for a cause. I donate money. I’ve raised money for causes in the past and really that is best. All that stuff costs a lot to buy and the profit is small. It all ends up in landfill.
Thank you for taking the time to read it. It was important to me to say something. Those noses bug me every year! There are so many causes out there that use “stuff” to get people to donate.
1. This has been an absolute bumper-crop year for found money. The latest: Yesterday I stopped at a grocery store to switch out change for a gift card at the Coinstar machine. I noticed there were a LOT of coins in the return. Scooped them all out, and added them back into the machine after it was done counting my coins. It added $5.65 to my total – plus there were two quarters it wouldn’t accept due to one having paint on it and the other having crimps in the edge, bringing the found coin total up to $6.15. Those two quarters will spend just fine elsewhere. This was at a different store (but in the same chain) from where I’ve found $4.58 so far this year in that coin return, the highest amount at one time there being 12 quarters. I can see how someone might overlook a coin or two in the return, but a big handful of them? I mean, I’m pretty sure the machine even blips out a message to check for returned coins.
2. Checked the ads for the grocery stores I shop at, did not find one thing on sale that I needed – and was kind of horrified by what constitutes a “sale” these days. Decided to skip grocery stores this week (except for my Coinstar visit above). Meals will be…interesting is a nice word for it…especially toward the end of the upcoming week.
3. I’ve been on an organizing kick lately – way more than normal. Tackled the bins under the kitchen sink (putting things in bins doesn’t make for organization if the stuff is overflowing the bins). Found enough partial handsoap containers to almost completely fill the soap pump that’s attached to the kitchen sink…just before I was ready to add “hand soap” to next week’s list.
4. Also found a nice small clear container to hold my “paper towel substitutes” (aka rags). Looks much better, easy to find, and even my husband has been keeping his hands off the roll of paper towels that I’d like to believe is only for show.
5. We’ve both been very good about checking the fridge daily to see what needs to be eaten, and rotating things that were hiding on the back of the shelves up to the front. Zero food wasted for the past two weeks. Hoping to continue the streak many more weeks.
I love your #4! My husband used the last of our papertowels a few weeks ago and I haven’t bought any more. I’ve left the holder on the counter but I’m seeing how long we can go without purchasing any! We’ve already made the switch to cloth napkins. I need to find a container to put rags in for our kitchen.
My main frugal thing lately has been going regularly to the library with my kids, checking out books and audio books, finding books we want from other places and asking them to get them for us from interlibrary loans. We are lucky to not be far from an urban area and there are many free events going on locally and in the City that we take part in when we can. A local museum had a free ‘Careers in Music’ day that my son attended (he plays trumpet) and there was free lunch, he met other kids and listened to speakers and had a great time.
1) I’ve been doing really well with ibotta lately. I needed items for enchiladas and found rebates on green onions and cilantro. I found Quorn meatless chicken tenders for $4.89, had a $2 off coupon, plus a $3 ibotta = I was paid $0.11 for buying them. Got Light & Fit yogurt for $0.25 after an ibotta rebate. Also just want to mention that I was able to make enchilada sauce with all items I already had!
2) Found a pound of ground sirloin that was 1 day expired for $0.90. Used a $1.20 off coupon, thinking that it would take off just the $0.90 but it took off the whole $1.20. Made $0.30 and I threw the meat in the freezer to eat when we need it. Also realized that I should pay more attention to the produce digital coupons and ended up getting a bag of 3 peppers for $2.24.
3) I packed a lunch for today (per usual) but my mom just had a medical procedure done and my sister is taking her out to breakfast. I want to take an early lunch break to go meet them but will just get a pop (or soda as the rest of the country calls it) and tip instead of getting food. I just want their company!
4) Did a mystery shop at Walmart yesterday. It took about 30 seconds to do the shop and then I have to buy something for $1 reimbursement (plus I get a payment on top of that). I bought the 3 pound bag of carrots because they were a better deal than the baby carrots or the 1 pound bag.
5) Finally saved enough Kellogg rewards points to get a $5 Lowe’s gift card. Every little bit helps!
Wow, you’re a coupon wiz!
Re your #3/pop: Any chance you’re in the Intermountain West??
All frugal fails this week, I’m afraid. Taxes, flights and hotel to a wedding, and electricity bill all paid on one day=$3,000 out of my bank account in under 12 hours. Yowch.
Ha Ha! “Holy Hell” It’s typically a monsoon here!!!! Thanks for the humor, it helps to break up the days routine!!! : )
1. Eating up hard boiled easter eggs given to me by a family member.
2. Ran at the park using C25K app = free exercise.
3. Delaying doing all my weekly shopping until tomorrow. I’ll spend less on gas and stay away from shopping temptations.
4. Got my water bill down $14 this month by reducing the loads of laundry.
5. Reorganized the shoes in my closet since sandal season begins in the south. Last year I was doing physical therapy for a foot injury so hardly wore any of my shoes. Everything looks like new so no need to buy sandals this year.
Great job on lowering your water bill!
1. Just completed my first product review for a mommy website that I will be compensated for after the article is uploaded and I write 4 social media posts. This is the first time I’ve ever done this, so I’ve been working slowly on it all to get it right.
2. Made a batch of the Pioneer Woman’s iced coffee to bring to work instead of stopping at Dunkin. She makes it look so easy. Wow, did I make a mess! Thankfully it tastes good. It took longer to clean up the mess than to make the coffee!
3. Stopped at the grocery store today and found a package of razor blade refills for my ancient razor on the clearance rack. I was just thinking (in the shower) that I really need to replace the blade. Now I can go home and change it!
4. Noticed on my Verizon bill that I was still being charged for the “total protection” plan that I thought I had cancelled last month. I will be credited for two months on my next bill.
5. Decided to open my Ebay business up to international buyers. Not sure if this will increase sales or not, but I’m giving it a chance.
1.We bought a new to us truck with cash. This is frugal in that 1) cash means no debt or interest, 2) we bought used, in fact we’ve never owned a new vehicle, 3) the fairly new tires on our old truck can be put on this one. We’re hoping to now sell our other truck.
2. I got about 10 children’s ebooks for free, my kids were excited to see them when they got home.
3. We were planning on going to the store today, but didn’t get around to it, so supper was yesterdays leftovers, mini pbjs with leftover breakfast bread, a couple ramen noodle packets, and some porridge I bought for roughly 50 cents. Eating leftovers is cheap.
4. I started reading a book to the kids that someone gave us, this should end up being hours of free entertainment. Plus I’m rereading a book I already own, Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret, its one of my very favorites.
5. For our weekly family activity, we played/built Lego’s together. $0 spent, but we had fun!
1. Used coupons at a local grocery store. A manager new to me refused the competitor’s coupon, so I politely asked her for the coupon policy, and ended up getting a refund on the coupon. I’m going to follow up by asking the store manager to clarify their policy with me and all of the managers.
2. Wrote an article for textbroker
3. Found a penny.
4. Only bought staples that were on sale, nothing else. Getting ready for summer company so stocking up now.
5. Our local internet company now offers an app that gives us local news and many channels for cheaper that what we paid for the Sling app. (DH loves ESPN and local news) We are trying the 7 day free trial. We only use apps now, and live too far away to use an antennae. DH is very happy to get local news.
1) Realized after I got home that I didn’t have time to make my planned dinner before dh had to leave, so I made pancakes instead. Frugal and delicious. Saving the meat for a meal tomorrow.
2) Homemade cranberry/orange bread for breakfast today.
3) Everyone packed lunches today.
4) Going to a NCAA regional gymnastics meet out of town this weekend. Opted out of the “tailgating” beforehand (at a restaurant) and we will pack our dinner and arrive just before the meet starts.
5) Stuck to my list at the grocery store, but now I am wishing I hadn’t because I came home and found out while making dinner last night that I am out of all rice and cous cous, so had no base for my chicken dish. We made due, so it must be frugal since we didn’t run back to the store.
1. DH and I did errands all day…dropped off our sick kitty at the vet’s for an ultrasound, went to a doctor appointment, visited sick relative in the hospital, shopped for printer ink, went back to vet’s to pick up now not so sick kitty…and we did not stop for food or drinks. Ate all meals at home between errands.
2. Ultrasound of sick kitty was not frugal but necessary to my mental well being!
3. Hung out two loads of laundry today even though the wind was whipping the cold air around and I couldn’t feel my fingers when I came in the house. Worth it for the fresh smell of the clothes and the reduced electric bill.
4. DH went for walk on the trails near our house in spite of the icy wind. Free exercise.
5. Getting more clothes ready to take to the consignment shop. Just noticed they accept shoes now so a pair of Trail Runners that don’t fit DH anymore will be going there too.
1) Paying local kids to help hubs carry yet more furniture and boxes to storage. Would be cheaper to do it ourselves, but the ensuing days off work in agony . . . not so much.
2) Speaking of sore muscles, found hubs a really inexpensive massage at a massage school. I’m not a touch-y person, so the thought of a massage makes me gag and I really can’t fathom spending 3 digits at a time on that. He was relaxed, the budget was happy.
3) Ate up all of our hard-boiled eggs before they spoiled.
4) Littlest and a friend saw a movie on half-price night at the 2nd run theater and were perfectly happy with their cheap seats.
5) No Lear jet, no gold-plated toilets.
1. Ate leftovers for lunch everyday this week. Was asked if i wanted to join co-workers for pizza, but saved the shared expense ….and calories too!
2. Sending my aunt (godmother) a card for her upcoming birthday next week. Got a pile of free cards from a co-worker giving them away for free last month.
3. Put the rest of the Easter ham in the freezer to prevent food waste.
4. youngest daughter thought she was going to need $ for lunch for a field trip today. I had given her $10 but she gave it back to me saying she was going to be served a free lunch. She said she needs the money for a t-shirt next week for her music club, so i gave it back to her to be used for that instead. My girls wear tshirts that they buy a lot, so i know the $ will be well-spent.
5. I made a donation today for a food pantry in my community instead of a regular charity as i know the money i gave equates to $17 for every $1 given, so the money will stretch further.
I’ve had good luck with crumpled up newspaper to absorb the smells. The kitty litter should work as well, if you know someone who can use it after. Of course, if you use it second, the mildew smell will be gone, but you’ll have different problems!
1. Spent the day at the LA Zoo yesterday. We had a buy one, get one coupon, and the cashier allowed us to break up our transaction to use our AAA discount as well. Since my daughter wants to become a zookeeper, going to a variety of zoos is something we’ll be doing for the next couple of years.
2. The zoo was set up to be very picnic friendly, and we brought our own packed lunch. Yummy, and we’re working on eating our boiled eggs. We had dinner out at an inexpensive and yummy burger joint.
3. We had initially planned to spend the night, and spend a second day vacationing in LA (science museum, etc), but the kids have an activity today, so we came home instead. Sleeping in my own bed!
4. I was home to pick up the truck from the garage. No charge for parts, and labor was less than I expected! Having a good mechanic is beyond diamonds!
5. Today should be about doing laundry, etc, in expectation of next week, but instead I’m just hanging out, listening to the birds!
Have you found http://socalcitykids.com/
They give away family 4 pack for aquarium of the pacific quite often. Low entries too. I won it once.
– I attended a friend’s baby shower this past weekend. I crocheted her a baby blanket. Instead of cards, the invitation asked for children’s books. I found like-new book at our local thrift store that was perfect.
– I didn’t eat my whole meal at the shower so I took it to go. I got some strange looks – is this not polite at a shower? I didn’t want my food to go to waste!
– Went grocery shopping and saved over $30 using coupons and sales for things that we needed (no extra purchases!). The biggest savings was a $10 coupon for allergy meds that were needed. I usually buy the generic but this coupon made the name-brand even cheaper than the generic.
– While thrift store shopping for a book, I found a pair of chucks that had only been worn a few times in my size and my partner found a pair of LL Bean hard sole slippers that had never been worn!! He goes through a pair of slippers every year so I’m hoping that these will stand the test of time.
– Went to the movies but got the before noon discount and I brought my own snack and drink
Hi, Katy,
Regarding the suitcase smell, I have used fresh coffee beans or fresh grounds in the freezer when we’ve had outages we didn’t know about (until it was way too late!) plus for other smelly items. They work well for me, so thought you might like to try that if the cat litter doesn’t work.
This one was less scratchy than the horrific ones from the 1970’s, which would have been a deal breaker.