Five Frugal Things
by Katy on July 22, 2019 · 69 comments
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I sold a random hodge-podge of items which included a Marimekko tray that I picked up from the Seattle Goodwill a few months ago, four more Thorns soccer tickets and a macrame wall hanging that I nabbed from a Goodwill pay-by-the-pound outlet store, (aka “the bins.”) I turned in some paid writing and thrifted a few more pieces to sell both on eBay and Facebook Marketplace.
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I returned to my newly discovered wild blackberry patch with bowls and a picking bucket that I McGuyver-ed from a milk jug. I braved the poky vines, (after first donning a protective layer of jeans, long sleeves and sneakers) and filled three large bowls with the sweet free berries. Enough to make jam, or . . . to make a single blackberry coffee cake and then eat by the handful.
I brought a still warm bowl of berries to my friend Lise as she was with me during the discovery of this secret garden.
I’ll go back later this week as I love berries, but rarely splurge on them.
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My son is working a food service job this summer and gets to bring home leftovers, which means that I’ve been opening my fridge to discover such delights as poached salmon, shredded jerk chicken, turkey meatballs and fried rice! It’s like the Food Fairy has chosen to grace us with daily visits!
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My husband and I started watching the third season of The Handmaid’s Tale through my friend’s Hulu account, I listened to the audiobook of Pride and Prejudice through the free Libby library app, I donated a bin of unwanted but perfectly good stuff to Goodwill and I bought a few too many half-off pints of Ben & Jerry’s from New Seasons Market, (they mark one brand 50%-off every weekend throughout the summer)
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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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While yardsaling found a Vitamix for $25 and an Instapot for $30 which included a $18,95 cookbook and all of the instructions booklets
But my biggest find was 4 German stacking chairs that are Mid Century Modern and worth $$. Will put them on Craigslist. Got the 4 for $6 and hope to flip for $550ish.
So hot and we don’t have air conditioning here in Maine. Just hunkered down and I used my toaster oven to reheat leftovers. The heat is over and very grateful.
Have been snacking on peanuts in the shell–unsalted–which are messy but fill me up.
Starting to eat more from the garden and enjoy all that it offers.
And today everything other than underwear is from a yardsale. I call that a “good clothes day”.
Wow awesome yard sale find!!!
Wow on the yard sale wins! Keep us posted once the chairs sell. MCM is hot Hot HOT right now.
1. Found $0.11 today!
2. Got free Kashi waffles at Sprouts from their app.
3. My son and I both had our will-loved Jansport backpacks replaced by their lifetime warranty. They will repair or replace damaged/worn backpacks & ours were both replaced!
4. Sold a Disney pin on eBay that had been languishing in a box. I guess it’s now rare, because it sold for $50! (I think I paid $2-$3 for it years ago.)
5. Brought leftovers to work for lunch. Yum!
Thanks for the tip on the Jansport bag! I bought one at the thrift store, knowing it was quality, but I didn’t know about the warranty. Checking online, they don’t even seem to require the receipt, good to know!
A while back, there was a sub-thread on here about which manufacturers have those lifetime/free repair or replacement warranties. As I recall, LL Bean and a couple of others also offer them – maybe Columbia? Hopefully those in the know will refresh our memories here.
I LOVE blackberrys!
1) I brought my lunch today and took a long walk after lunch. The weather has cooled off and it’s beautiful outside.
2) I just finished the book Educated by Tara Westover on Overdrive. Love that app!! It was a good book, but frustrating at times given the amount of abuse she endured at the hands of her Dad and older brother. I’m always thrilled for someone who gets out of that situation and even more thrilled when young people get an education. Mine changed my whole perspective on life.
3) The cookout yesterday was cancelled, so my youngest granddaughter and I slept in and had a leisurely day at my house, before I took her home last evening.
4) I’m heading to Aldi this evening on the way home from work, in order to pick-up a few things we need for the week. I save so much money buying things there, instead of Walmart or other grocers.
5) Eating leftovers and cooking from the pantry, this month, has saved countless dollars on food. I have to be intentional about remembering what is leftover in the fridge.
5FF: On the Cusp of Fall?
No more complaining, it’s a Top 10 weather day Monday & Tuesday of this week. Feels like early September where I am!
1. Finally able to redeem rain check for free chili pepper at spice store. Called for several weeks but not in stock. Did succumb while there to buying a small jar of chipotle ground pepper that was on sale ($2) to try with Chipotle Chicken Kabobs that Kristen from The Frugal Girl re-ran over the weekend. She processes canned chipotle peppers but thought ground might suffice as a shortcut. DH promising to put together new in the box grill from end of season clearance ~ 5 years ago. Yes, I have been without a grill for 5 years, so itching to trying some new grilled recipes.
2. Made a 2nd grocery run to ensure that all food supplies for upcoming out-of-state trip to see family is secured including food while traveling, as well as ingredients for Victoriana Chicken Salad that I routinely prepare while there. Only required grocery purchase will be fresh bakery buns.
3. Found clearance green olives stuffed with lemon cream (made in Italy) & mini 7-Up bundt cake on clearance at big box store. So much fun to try unique items with minimal outlay!
4. COMPLETELY set up for garage sale. Will be good to go upon return from trip.
5. Using gifted left-over roast lamb previously frozen to repurpose into gyros. Plan to make lamb broth from bones.
1. We have been going to events – art fairs, festivals etc but not really buying anything accept for food. I enjoy the atmosphere, people watching and doing something away from home as we don’t have a vacation planned. I believe I definitely have made a mind shift – I May admire or like things but don’t feel the need to buy – combination of determining wants vs need and no money trumps it all. Not worth going into debt.
2. Saved two big buckets of rain water by collecting in three upturned recycle container lids last night. I have learned where to place them on my deck to better collect the water from the eves run off.
3. Watering my garden by dipping a plastic glass into the container and watering the plant at the base. Definitely saves water as it’s not necessary to water the bare soil around it.
4. Grocery shopped and had over 2.30 in paper coupon savings and 21.31 for electronic store coupons savings, total of 23.61. Also bought mostly on sale fruit and veg. Did buy four 99 cent half gallon ice creams at Kroger, daughter pretty excited, me too, lol!
5. Eating home grown peas while I write this; listening to The Great Alone and The Lord God Made Them All (James Herriot stories are great to fall a sleep too)watching season three of Veronica Mars all library loans; turned the air off as only a high of 76 today and no humidity; doing a two visits a day/five day cat sit which pays for our art festival and book festival expenses; and of course still swagbucking super close to another $25 gift card to Lowe’s 🙂
They are remaking the James Herriot TV series. I can’t wait!
>>I definitely have made a mind shift – I May admire or like things but don’t feel the need to buy<<. Reaching this point is such a huge relief and sweet victory, isn’t it??! Good on ya!
Back to basics:
1) remembered to pack lunch every day last week
2) came up with a quick hack for making iced coffee from work coffee pot to avoid running to the cafe downstairs— I always drink free coffee in winter, but get careless in the summer.
3) put a lot of snacks in my desk drawer to cut the allure of the vending machines
Selling stuff:
4) found a book in a free pile at work that will resell for $7
5) found a shelf in a free pile this morning that i will resell; also found a booster seat that I gave away.
6) found a few things curbside that need more work than I have time to put into them right now. I am giving them to a nearby refinisher/reseller, and she will keep them out of the landfill. I will get a coupon off of items from her shop in the future.
We picked up a rock tumbler (actually one worth borrowing) and a Spanish book we had ordered from the charter school lending library. We have loads of pink quartz that the kids have picked up along the way. Going to polish them up and see how they turn out.
Added Costco to the errand today, and ordered a pepperoni pizza. We each had a little, I left 3 pieces in the fridge for the kids’ lunch tomorrow and I froze 4 pieces.
Got my 2 rotisserie chickens broke apart and most of it in the freezer for future meals this month. Put the bones in the crockpot to make essentially free broth. Most of the broth will make it’s way to the freezer too for the winter months. It’s just not the right time of year in SoCal for mugs of broth or soup.
Catching the cool water while waiting for hot tap water for my plumerias and herbs. Also giving some of them coffee.
Drying some sage and found a lovely Italian pork loin recipe from Allrecipes to use this winter. Continuing on with my project to find 10 new summer recipes and 10 new winter recipes, with the stipulation that they are all healthy and frugal.
1. Blended my own chai tea for less than half the price of the very expensive chai I used to buy. Plus I made double the amount for that. So really it was a quarter of the price.
2. Slow cooked a brisket (60% off) and served on rolls (75% off). There’s enough leftover for another dinner and some lunches.
3. Had dinner at my parents last night. Free meal and a lot of laughs.
4. Made the vegan pumpkin brownies again. Uses up my stash of homegrown pumpkin purée in the freezer and the kids love them.
5. Planted a bunch of veggies grown from seed in my garden. It’s all looking very healthy out there – I can see a bumper spring harvest coming.
1) Instant pot for the win twice in four days. Too hot to run the oven on Friday = Pulled Pork in an hour. Still-frozen chicken legs tonight in 45 minutes. Chicken legs were accompanied by a Tightwad Gazette style rice casserole using some previously cooked rice and seriously elderly (but until now unopened) dill dip I was gifted from church.
2) Got milk marked down to $1.98/gallon today at drug store when I stopped to pick up DS’s prescription (which isn’t ready until tomorrow so I will go back on the way to other errands then).
3) Re: the script from #2. DS has extended seasonal allergies and I called our pediatrician’s office last week to see if she could prescribe the best working allergy med which – retail OTC – is .60/pill. I am hopeful that the script version of same will be more affordable with our insurance. Liquid “prescription” version of another OTC kids allergy med was $5 for a gigantic bottle as opposed to $11 for half the volume retail.
4) Pulled some cookie dough out of the freezer (Dear Wife’s fave Christmas cookie) tonight for a treat since it was cool enough to run the oven. I always try to save a dozen for an off season surprise. Cookie is a rolo caramel wrapped in a chocolate dough – they do not disappoint!
5) Library, library, library. I am reading a YA book about a New Deal homestead community in Alaska in the 1930’s and thinking of Lindsey often. Also received Year of Less through interlibrary loan and looking forward to it. Graphic novels for DS (and Schoolhouse Rock DVD) and Dear Wife is on her 14th Maisie Dobbs novel. We love our library (and librarians)!
What is the name of the YA book about homesteading? I love books about homesteading, farming, pioneers…and I have a fascination with the state of Alaska though I’ve never been. I just got Free Land by Rose Wilder Lane, Laura Ingalls Wilder’s daughter, from the library. It’s about a young couple trying to eke out a living in the Dakota Territory in the 1880s. Can’t wait to read it!
Two young adult books about Alaska, written by Alaskans, that you might enjoy are
1)Tisha: The Wonderful True Love Story of a Young Teacher in the Alaskan Wilderness by Robert Specht and Anne Purdy
2) Gold City Girl by Joanne Wold. She was a quadriplegic from polio, raised in Fairbanks, and still managed to make a living writing. Here is an article about her: http://www.thedutchharborfisherman.com/article/1640alaska_writer_jo_anne_wold_was_a_tower_of_1
Thanks Lindsey. I will look into both of them. Tish sounds vaguely familiar…I think I may have read it years ago but sounds like a good re-read.
Lindsey – I LOVED Tisha and read it the first time on the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry in May of 1998 on the way to Juneau. I read it again last summer and enjoyed it just as much.
Christine – The Book I just finished was called Sweet Home Alaska by Carol E Dagg. I also love reading about pioneers and early life in the Americas. I often wonder if I would have been as tough as my ancestors who moved our part of remote New England in 1791 at the tale end of winter. One had to really want to be here…
I just finished Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder by Caroline Fraser. It was an excellent viewpoint of how the books were written and what was happening in the government and politically that caused the Ingalls and Wilder family to move around as much as they did. As a lover of the Laura Ingalls books, this was an amazing adult perspective on her life!
I read Prairie Fires and really enjoyed it too. I loved the Little House book series as a child and had always believed they moved around so much because Pa wanted to go West! It was very interesting to realize that it was political, government and also climate that caused them so much financial angst. I loved every second of that book.
Suzie’s Daughter, thanks for letting me know about Sweet Home Alaska. I’ll order it from CWMARS.
I agree– Really appreciated Prairie Fires. The idea that homesteading didn’t work, and almost never could have, (so everyone got a second job in town), and the other economic factors were very interesting.
I’m just sorry comparatively little was/is known about Almanzo. He was a quietly private figure, especially compared to Laura and Rose.
I don’t do Adult Coloring Books, as I get impatient to finish, but if I did, I would search out one I saw at an airport, featuring the Garth Williams drawings for the Little House books. I colored a few of those in my childhood books.
1. Found a .99 cent mini muffin tin at a charity shop to replace my old one.
2. Split the cost of beach parking with a friend yesterday.
3. Brought a huge water thermos and snacks so as to not buy anything at the snack bar there.
4. I really felt like buying an iced coffee this morning, went out to the car but came back in and brewed some here.
5. Paid $25 to my mortgage principle. I figure every little bit helps.
Real estate is a great place to park a little extra cash!
1. Earned a $100 Visa gift card from a survey and used it toward an emergency room bill we’re trying to pay off quickly.
2. Stocked up on marked down ground beef and ground chicken. Caught an error on the receipt before leaving the store and got the cash back.
3. Got an unexpected check in the mail that will be going toward the emergency room bill noted above.
4. Hung a load of laundry.
5. Used some salvaged packing materials to mail a package.
1. Just returned from visiting family, mainly elderly MIL who was rapidly declining. We stayed with family, and prepared meals at their house. One of my kids still has major food allergies, and I’ve learned it’s much easier to pack all the gluten-free flour, pasta, dairy-free cheese, etc then to drive from rural store to rural store hoping to find what I need. Took longer going through security, but I only had to supplement with a grocery run to Publix for produce, milk, soy milk, and chicken. Kept food expense in line with what we would have spent at home. Husband shopped around and got a great deal on a rental car, and did same with airfare. Paid for one full price fare, used a companion fare for one ticket, and cashed in SkyMiles for the other two. Beat the Florida heat by swimming in our family’s pool.
2. I’ve been trading my neighbor hand watering jobs. I watered his pots and new plants while he was out of town, then he watered for me when I was in FL. I watered for him again the other day. I was rewarded with two meals from a box service he orders from because he was afraid the ingredients would go bad while he was gone. Delicious meals that were a bit different from what I normally cook, and fresh, organic ingredients.
3. Reading lots of library books, print copies as well as e-books. Loaded a slew of mysteries on my Kindle which kept me busy the many hours I was at the hospital with a family member during and after surgery, as well as on the plane. I don’t watch much TV, but I’m pretty excited that the new season of Grantchester has begun. I love PBS mysteries.
4. Deep watering trees in my yard with water from the rain barrels. While most of the rest of the country is finally getting a break from the heat, we’ve just hit a hot stretch: 103 today.
5. Finally had the opportunity to sign up for a focus group at a local grocery store. It should take about 1.5 hours and they’ll give us a grocery bag of goodies worth ~$40.
Another Travel-Roommate Edition
This summer – unlike last year – I only traveled for a few weeks.
1. I needed a backpack a different size than I own. Couldn’t find one in store so my roommate offered to borrow me his. Different roommate borrowed me her dufflebag with rolls to lug around my stuff.
2. Tried to buy a new outdoor-raincoat. Prices were crazy and felt wasteful. Eventually went to two different stores to get mine repaired. First store quoted more than 100 Euro. Second one sold one replacement part for 1 Euro and 60 cents. Good as new.
3. Camped and visited friends and family all nights but one. Back home now but having two more weeks off. Most meals were cooked together, something I actually enjoy.
4. Being back home I started creating the story line of a novel with one of my roommates and her visitor. Now I am spending some of my free time writing it down 🙂
5. Backpack lending roommate and I fixed my bike. I was sure the problem was the brakes but wasn’t. Really enjoy having a working bicycle again!
1. I have been busy listing things on eBay. However, sales have been a little slow. Summer is a good time to buy, but not necessarily to sell. So I am being really careful. I am also reusing boxes, bubble wrap and air pillows when possible. I had a text message from a friend this morning who has packing materials for me. I will pick them up today.
2. A friend of mine occasionally needs temporary help with her business. August is a busy month for her, so she has asked me to work several days. I bring my lunch, coffee and water. It is also close to home so transportation costs are super low. I will be happy to have the extra $$$$$$.
3. I made a big batch of black beans in the Instant Pot. I used them in Sunday’s dinner and Monday’s lunch. I froze the remainder in two cup servings to use at a later date. I have a large turkey breast defrosting in the refrigerator. I purchase it for a little less than $4. My dear hubby is so happy. He loves turkey! It will be tonight’s dinner and tomorrow’s sandwiches then soup – of course. I also used some extra ripe fruit along with some spinach In smoothies for breakfast.
4. The weather has been lovely the last few days. Temperatures is the low 80s along the coast which is a big deal in Florida in July! The weather has been so horrible this year that we have spent the very little time outdoors and at the beach. So when the weather changed, we headed to the beach for several days in a row. I wore my brand new Tommy Bahama bathing suit purchased at the GW for $4.49. We bought our beach chairs and umbrella that were purchased in 2011. Our beach towels are have holes. But the ocean is still free and beautiful!
5. Not thrifty for me, but for my son. He bought some heavy duty hikers for the a High Sierras. Only 20 miles from Kennedy Meadows which is considered the beginning of this section of the PCT these $200+ boots lost there eyelets. He shipped them home and I will return them to REI this week. REI is wonderful about these things.
Have a happy and thrifty week everyone!
I am waving at your son-I live about 50 miles from Kennedy Meadows!!
Thank you, Ingrid. You live in a beautiful place!
Katy, I don’t think it’s possible to buy too many pints of ice cream! Especially when they’re half off!
1. Haven’t really gone anywhere the last few days because I had trigger finger release surgery on Friday. Plus it was too hot to go outside anyway with our heat wave this past weekend. We ate what we had in the freezer
2. Because I picked up so many samples for work earlier this year, I was awarded $52 in CVS extra care bucks. I bought all the vitamins my son and I need for the rest of the year, plus lotion, toothpaste, lubricating eye gel, candy and a couple boxes of animal crackers. I think I’m missing something. All for free.
3. My local Shaws gave me a bag of chips and a regular size box of blueberry Cheerios for free. I didn’t want either so I brought them into work the chips disappeared almost immediately and people were eating the Cheerios as the day went on
4. A coworker has been gifting me his larger zucchinis so I can shred them and make zucchini bread. I have some in the freezer, some pre-grated zucchini in the freezer now and full bellies at work with the breads I’ve been bringing in.
5. Another coworker gave me an extra pickling cucumber plant that he had. I was able to plant it before I had surgery and it seems pretty healthy. Fingers crossed that nothing gets to it before I can get some cucumbers
6. I bought a really cute lacy work – style tank top but it hung down a little too low on the sides. The night before I had surgery, I took out my trusty seam ripper pulled it apart (it was lace and lining) took it in almost an inch and a half and now it fits perfectly and no one can see the side of my bra! I finished that at 11:30 the night before surgery
If you have excess zukes, you might be interested in trying this zucchini butter recipe: https://foodinjars.com/recipe/zucchini-butter/
If you have REALLY BIG zucchini, this is a yummy (but very sweet) way to use it up.
http://www.bakingandboys.com/2009/07/apple-crisp-and-vanilla-ice-cream.html?m=1
Thanks Liz! It really does look like apple crisp. I was given another large zucchini today, and we have a function going on at work Thursday so I know what I’m making tomorrow night to bring in. Thanks again
I personally am in love with the six figures under recipe for zucchini brownies.
Jennifer, that sounds yummy! I need to look that recipe up!
Nancy from mass, I’ve made it multiple times, and it never disappoints. You’re so welcome!
No way! I HAVE to try this! I won’t tell the family and see if they figure it out!
People were shocked when I told them this was zucchini. One lady, who told me that the recipe sounded ‘Weird’ tried it and then went back for more and then asked for the recipe because she’s going to start making it as well. It was a huge hit! Thank you for the recipe
Nancy from mass, hooray! I’m so glad everyone loved it! I have to admit, the recipe DOES sound weird – but it’s so yummy. I first tried it when our CSA (several years ago) gave us a huge zucchini. It’s a keeper!
1) Walked or took the bus for all of my errands over the last few days even in the heat. I broke out my umbrella to keep the sun off.
2) Had a sandal mended by my local shop instead of replacing it, it just needed the sole glued back on where it was coming loose at the toe. This shop is right around the corner from me and they fix things quickly and to last – so far my oldest repair from them is holding for over a year without any sign of slowing down!
3) Made good use of my building’s community composting bin. I’m so glad I persuaded the condo association to cover this – when split by all of us it’s pretty cheap (and of course a lot more affordable than just getting pick ups for me)
4) Hung dry all my laundry
5) Got my bike repaired and my local bike shop. So. Much. Cheaper. than owning a car!
6) Planted the root ends of my green onions in the edges of my pots that weren’t full. They’re doing well and I think I won’t be buying green onions for the rest of the summer
My mom loved her Corelle dishes! We use those daily growing up and when she went from her large house to senior housing, she gave it to my sister who used it until she passed away and passed it on to one of her daughters. They’re still in use today
They’re amazing! They’re lightweight, super durable, and come in so many fun patterns. I found 6 dinner plates tonight for $0.99 each!
1. I needed a new TV, my parents had just purchased a brand new one and their old one still worked, so they passed it on to me.
2. When they came to drop the TV off, they also brought dinner, wine, and enough veggies to last me a week. I’ve had some unexpected life events happen so this all is very appreciated.
3. I also need new dishes. I’m being patient and building a set of Corelle dishes from local thrift stores. I love the idea of mixing and matching patterns. I hit up the close stores on my lunch break today and didn’t find any. I didn’t make any additional purchases.
4. I also need a new guest bed. Instead of buying an actual bed that gets used maybe a dozen times a year, I purchased a quality air mattress. Cheaper and will leave me with more room in my apartment.
5. I’m purging the apartment and while I’ve donated most things to a local thrift store or posted them on my Buy Nothing group, I have listed my gently used diving equipment for sale. And I plan to list a few other decorative items that might fetch a decent price. Fingers crossed.
1. Waiting to order plane tickets for Hawaii trip next January until new upgraded Alaska Airlines Visa card comes — called today to check and should have companion fare coupon by August 11, will save approximately $500.
2. Putting everything I buy including groceries etc. on another airline card so that when DD graduates from HS in 3 years we can all fly to Europe for free!
3. Saving money this summer by sticking close to home except for long weekends at beach and mountain houses owned by family members (lucky us!)
4. Continuing to declutter and take things to Goodwill without bringing more home.
5. 28 year old DD who lives with me just got a good full time job, I am hoping this is another major step toward financial independence (she had some health issues to overcome but is doing great!)
Katy, not only is your writing interesting and informative but your photography skills are top notch. Love the photo of the blackberries.
1. And speaking of…I’m starting to pick raspberries in my own yard from the bush I planted a couple of years ago. The yield has been so-so thus far but I remember last summer’s pickings were somewhat scant with the bumper crop coming in in the fall. I also have a wild blackberry bush in the woodsy part of my yard which I’ve been picking from, too.
2. I sold a sleeping bag on FB Marketplace.
3. I just came back from the library with two more books in hand. Our library is doing a summer reading program where for each book you read, you receive a raffle ticket towards some really cool gifts….GCs and tickets to museums, etc.
4. Cooking at home in spite of the heat which has now thankfully subsided here in NE. Just remarked to DH, it feels like September.
5. Hanging all laundry on line in between rainy days.
Wow these FFT are coming fast and furious. I’m having trouble keeping up but I love it.
1. I took my daughter to the library book sale. Unfortunately we were running late so it was picked over but by the time we arrived they began charging a $1 for a large grocery bag of books. My daughter chose a few and I picked up a few I think might sell at the bookstore.
2. I finished another library book on my kindle and today I picked up Season 6 & 7 of the Doc Martin series. Hulu only has 1-5.
3. I heated up a frozen pizza for dinner the other night now that the weather has cooled down. I mixed up a batch of scones for breakfasts while the pizza was cooking and popped them in afterwards. Cheap meals. The pizza was a cheapie Aldi $2 pizza which is enough for my daughter and I for dinner and I love it. It’s thin and crispy and hits the spot when I’m in the mood for junk.
4. I’ve sold two jars of honey so far and a friend has asked for 3 jars.
5. I picked up a gift card that I needed at Meijer and they just started a $5 off promotion on gift cards. Good timing for me.
Some not very frugal things going on but I hope to remedy them:
1. This weekend Hello Fresh had a good sale on and I had a gift card. I fussed around on their website which I did not find user friendly. Got an email that I ordered $80 something worth of food. A subscription too. Um, no thank you. Will call and get everything straightened out.
2. Made some Perdue chicken cutlets and there were 4 cutlets instead of 5. Gotta call them, too.
3. Received a $20 Mastercard in the mail. Rebate from something…
4. Heat wave broke so the AC is off. Feels so refreshing outside.
5. Must get my car inspected this month. Good thing is it’s free if you go to a state inspection station which is near my home.
1. I booked air BNB for five nights for $220 and it it literally three minutes, walking distance from my daughter’s house! I am going when I can get off work for almost a week.
2. My new granddaughter decided to make an early appearance late last night. Cheap cell phone photos makes the fact that I am 2000 miles away so much easier to view newborn baby pictures .
3. My neighbor brought me more tomatoes late yesterday, and in my brain fog this morning, I was grateful that I could make a tomato and cheese sandwich for lunch today.
4. I walked for exercise.
5. I don’t know….I am really not too swift this morning.
5.
Congratulations! I know you are ready to be with your daughter, and hold your granddaughter! Many blessings to you and yours!
Patricia/Fl
I hope momma, baby and grandmother are all doo g well . Congratulations on the new addition to your family.
Congratulations! “The happiest days are the days when babies come”…or something to that effect, credited to Melanie Hamilton Wilkes in Gone With the Wind.
Congratulations Cindy!!!!!
Many thanks y’all!!!
Awww! Congratulations on the new grandbaby. Sounds like you’re going to have a fun and frugal vacation being with them!!
It has been not frugal at our house. Lunch out while the kids were getting their wisdom teeth out, air conditioning while they were recovering.
1. Using fruit I froze myself — free bananas and fruit off our tree — to make smoothies for the kids. I think I’ve finally used up most of the 40 pounds of free bananas I was given.
2. Made applesauce out of free, drop apples, before we closed up the house for air conditioning.
3. Used the library and Netflix for most of their entertainment yesterday. Watched Mary Poppins Returns, which we really enjoyed.
4. Hung out two loads of laundry, including the rags and towels that we used to protect their bedding from blood overnight. (So gross!)
5. Best one: not frugal for us, but my husband fixed an electrical switch at my parents’ house. They’d been living without that switch for several months, so I’m glad he was able to help out. They took us out for dinner after, and he and I enjoyed the leftovers yesterday while the kids were on their smoothie day.
July has not been a frugal month for us so far, but let’s see what I can come up with.
1. AC went out during heat wave. We toughed it out for three days (wanted to avoid emergency HVAC visit charge, then found out they couldn’t come for two more days anyway). Heat intolerant, summer allergy suffering hubby gave up after two nights of not sleeping, and booked a hotel (he did go through ebates.com, and used a rewards-earning credit card). HVAC person came and recharged freon; hubby was able to cancel over night hotel stay.
2. HVAC person says we need a new AC condenser, to the tune of $1500-$2000. He said we could recharge the freon, which should last the rest of the season, then decide next year to recharge again or fix it. We have a friend whose son just finished HVAC service/repair training, so we’ll get a second opinion from him before deciding. Frugal to have friends and family with a variety of knowledge and experience.
3. Bought a huge box of local peaches on frugal trip to visit friends at Lake Erie at a decent price. I peeled, sliced and froze the majority of them for future desserts. Future me will thank present me for doing this. The peaches are so juicy and delicious.
4. Found a penny in the landscaping at my local Aldi. Also found a quarter in the cafeteria at work.
5. Happily accepted full sized packages of Bob’s Red Mill granola and steel cut oats a work friend received as samples (and didn’t want/doesn’t like). Made a big crock pot full of oats for breakfasts this week, and the granola is deelish on my yogurt.
Bonus #6. Discovered children’s liquid Claritin is way cheaper at Costco than the Kroger store brand my son uses. Bought a 2-pack.
Enjoy this cool spell, everyone!
Trying to keep costs lower, but it is hard!
1. We dropped insurance on our phones to save $45 on our cell phone bill. We also spoke with our insurance broker and he can get us a much lower rate on our car and home insurance for the next year. $680 savings!!!
2. dd dropped her phone and broke it. After much research, visiting multiple different phone stores, etc we got her an iphone 7 for under $200 to replace her old phone. Not horrible, but we haven’t had good luck with phones other than iphones. This is only a slight upgrade from what she had. Sales clerk was pushing the XR on us and I refused. My 14 year old does not need the latest greatest phone.
3. I did loop errands today and ended them by filling up with gas at Costco – gas is usually $0.20-0.30 cheaper there.
4. The weather has finally cooled off and we have had the AC off for the past 4 days. it was cranking there for a week, so it is good to get a break and open the windows. And cheaper too.
5. When cleaning out ds’s old apartment we found a box of burritos I had given him that he said he didn’t like. We brought them home rather than donating them to the roommates (he wasn’t sure anyone would eat them either).
Making and taking home foods and suntea. Surpassed our break even spot on the public pool pass back in June. Still reselling vintage VW’s. Have a local show in September at a neighborhood bbq joint (KC bbq, go figure). We keep on truckin.
* Eating from the freezers, pantry and garden, thus reducing the grocery bill
* Hubby got on board with reducing our general expenses, yay! So we are now evaluating needs VS wants, putting them on a list for a while instead of buying right away, trying to do without or to find it used before buying new, and we also decided to cut down drastically on restaurants outings.
* Needed a cork board and a lamp, wrote them on the list. Finally found both at the thrift store for 3$ each, score!
* I thought DD needed a new pair of sandals since hers were smelling so bad, but turns out just washing them in hot water+bleach did the trick! Never washed sandals before, I took a chance.
* I am also examining me personal expenses such as clothes buying, going out, etc. Reducing wherever I can, looking for free or cheap options instead.
Have a great frugal day!
1. Regifted a couple of new items for birthday gifts for friends.
2. Worked my admin gig
3. Received a class action lawsuit settlement
4. Resisted buying a blouse at the thrift store
5. Cooked dinner even with the high temps
1. Found a large bean bag chair out for the trash that I brought home and emptied out all of the “beans” (imagine a huge mess at this point) and washed the covering. It’s a cute floral print that my daughter loves and will look nice in her purple bedroom. Now to just figure out a better way to refill the chair without the same mess. I think we also provided some funny, free entertainment for my neighbors while making said mess.
2. We are heading off on a week long camping trip, so that means my van will sit at home and not need gas for the entire week!
3. Also found a basketball hoop on a free site last week! Not an adult sized one but great for right now!
4. Bringing lunch and eating leftovers as usual.
5. In some ways our camping trip is frugal (compared to a more expensive vacation) but we are still spending money on campsites, etc.
Re: Bean bag chairs:
Long ago, I worked at a shop where occasionally we would receive a box with styrofoam packing peanuts. My co-worker would take them home to add to and fluff up their chairs at home.
I wonder if you could find enough clean but used pillows to add stuffing when it goes flat.
1. Earned $27 in credit card reward points thanks to paying my daughter’s tuition with my card instead of a check.
2. Took more cuttings from my Pothos plant and now have two more plants to enjoy.
3. Attended a lovely program at the library on exotic animals
4. Bought used textbooks online and saved 40%.
5. Found butter marked down to $1.89 at Kroger, so I happily bought eight.
1. Found 3 ox. packages of Dried Beef marked down to $1.18 at Redner’s Grocery. Bought all 18 packs. They were near their best buy date, so I made a couple into creamed chipped beef and froze the rest. That is a savings of at least $2 a package.
2. Hung laundry on the clothesline.
3. Picked raspberries in my backyard and will use them to make a batch of tarts.
4.Used a coupon that my DD gave me to get a free Rita’s Ice.
5.Taking advantage of a free electronics disposal day tomorrow to get rid of an old non-working vacuum cleaner and microwave.
Wow!!! My whole family loves creamed chipped beef but I hardly fix it because the beef is SO expensive. I would have bought all 18 packages too.
My neighbor started a garden that he let me have a few rows to play with. I’ve been harvesting tomatoes, peppers & herbs all summer. My neighbor has now given up on his part of the garden and told me to take what I want. I’ve done so, canned, frozen, dried & eaten & I’m giving him an assortment of my cooking for the holidays.
Canned:
Green Beans
Black-eyed peas
Diced tomatoes
Crushed tomatoes
Pizza sauce
Whole tomatoes
Sweet Pickles
Garlic Dill Pickles
Pickle Relish
Frozen:
Okra
Corn
Fermented:
Hot Sauce
Salsa
Pickles
Soda (some from watermelon juice)
Eaten:
Watermelon,
Cantalope
Summer Squash
Zucchini
Dried peppers:
Cayenne
Cow Horn
Habenero
I went to the grocery store the other day and was thrilled to walk down the produce aisle and say to myself “I don’t need that, I don’t need that…”
Enjoyed it so much, I’m planning a fall & winter garden this year in addition to my summer one. Next year I’m trying to grow 50% of our food for the year (we’re vegetarians, so that’s a lot.)
What an impressive amount of processing and putting by. And since I do a huge amount of canning, freezing and dehydrating, I do not say that lightly. The hours and hours of work it represents…
1. We ate out at a nice restaurant on the bay This restaurant serves a generous salad for the table and the entrée’s were too much to finish. We were able to take home the left-over salad and entrees and have 2 more meals each from the remains. All delicious.
2. Went to Kroger’s and found a penny on the way in. I was shopping for yogurt and the Kroger employee pointed to me where she had just marked down some tubs. I was picking some up when she brought over several more. Even with a close expiration date, as she explained, we will use them and they were more than half off.
3. Also, Kroger had school supplies on sale. I’m beyond school, but needed a couple of spiral notebooks. Originally, 99 cents, were 25 cents ! Great price.
4. Travelled last week and before we left, was able to rebook hotel rooms at same hotel and same type of room for less money. Saved $30 overall.
5. Also before travelling, turned off the air conditioner. It’s so hard to do this in Texas, in the summer, but we will save about 3 days of higher electricity costs. Of course, we are spending money on our trip, but at least we are no cooling an empty house.
Bonus: Put 2 old metal lawn chairs out at the curb from my Mom, after brought her something new for her 88th birthday. These were quite rusty, but generally in good shape and very heavy, so good quality. We don’t have time to refurbish now or really even have a place to store them. Left out for 24 hours and someone finally picked them prior to trash! Great way to recycle and hope someone can use them or take them to metal recycling. We had no other metal going to recycling right now, so not worth the effort to take them.