Five Frugal Things

by Katy on April 15, 2022 · 97 comments

  1. I sold a number of things, including:

    • A pair of scruffy Danner boots that I cleaned up and polished. Bought for $7.99, sold for $120.

    • A cute midcentury style folding chair. Bought for $6.99, sold locally for $40.

    • Another CathrineHolm vintage enamel bowl. Bought for $2, sold for $75.

    • A handful of antique marbles. Bought for maybe $4.99, sold for $30. I also sold another marble from this lot for $40 and still have one more to sell.

    • A pair of distressed Carharrt overalls. Bought for $12.99, sold for $60.

    • A wicker coffee table. Bought for $9.99, sold locally for $40

    • And my favorite sale . . . a pair of Rothy’s that I bought for $7.99 and then quickly sold for $165!

  2. My husband went on a free three-day weekend to Sun River, Oregon, with four of his Portland Timbers dude friends. Sun River describes itself as a “3,300 acre resort community” and would normally be out of our budget, so this was a real treat. They stayed in a big-ass rental house and apparently much soccer was watched and many brew pubs were supported.

    Lucky guy. Note to self . . . make wealthier friends.

  3. I listened to In Order to Live by Yeonmi Park, Build Your House Around My Body by Violet Kupersmith, The Party Crasher by Sophie Kinsella and I’m currently listening to Seven Days in June, (so good!) by Tia Williams. All courtesy of the free Libby app.

  4. I continue to shop at the Everyday Deal$ grocery liquidator, which means that I’m enjoying 79¢ organic greens and 2/$1 16-ounce Ellenos yogurts, (normally $6-$7 apiece!) I refilled my Soda Stream canisters for $7.50 apiece at a local paintball store, my husband replaced the ignitor and burner on our stove, I picked up a couple two-pound loaves of Tillamook white cheddar for $6 apiece and I started physical therapy for plantar fasciitis at an inconveniently located clinic, but . . . have been pairing it with their closest Goodwill which makes the appointments almost something to look forward to.

  5. I didn’t deplete my billions of dollars buying up Twitter stock,

Katy Wolk-Stanley    

“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”

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Disclosure: This blog post includes eBay affiliate links, which earns a small commission for me. This costs nothing extra to you.

{ 97 comments… read them below or add one }

Madeline April 15, 2022 at 1:01 pm

Help! I have two large jars of old marbles.My mom and dad dealt antiques and jungle for years and some of them could be valuable.. I don’t know how to tell what is what..any tips on how to figure out the valuable ones???? I want to sell. .we’r’e cleaning out the garage (again!)

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Mary in Maryland April 15, 2022 at 1:06 pm

1. A placemat I had sewn eight years ago had one strip of fabric wear away. I did an almost invisible repair. May it last another eight years.
2. I’ve been subbing madly in some of our favorite recipes. Butternut squash for sweet potatoes, beet leaf stems for cabbage, potato flour for cornstarch—no objectionable difference in taste.
3. We have fostered four dogs (sequentially) in the past five months. We are sadly realizing that we may be on the cusp of aging out of being able to take care of a dog.
4. Spent only 349 on stuff in 2021. Bras (two), canning goods—reusable lids, a gasket, handle replacements, and a used pressure canner. Two cookbooks, a book on darning, and a replacement instant pot via Craigslist.
5. I was balking at the price of two great looking Asian vegan cookbooks. The Mister pointed out that the two of them cost less than one meal out. Click.
6. We eat a LOT of mustard—a 30 ounce jar every three months. I love the jars, but after a decades long mustard habit, we have enough. We don’t need any more mustard jars. So I looked on the internet for making mustard at home and bought mustard seed and powder. I made it as strong as possible—way too strong—but it’s delicious mixed 1:2 with what’s left of the store-bought. Cost is somewhat less, but I can make it fresh as needed. And it doesn’t need refrigeration.
7. I bought a quilt book to make a very complicated (but, oh, so gorgeous) quilt. Had a burst of sense and decided to make the simple demo one first. I made it from fabrics in my stash and used the scraps to enlarge a piece of 44 inch backing. I will need to buy fabric to make the large one.

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Karen B April 15, 2022 at 1:18 pm

Thank you so much for fostering! We don’t think any of the dogs we’ve adopted have been fostered, but 1 of our current cats was (severe frostbite survivor, fostered by a veterinarian for 3 months during her recovery before we adopted her) and the other we think was (arrived at the shelter as a pregnant stray and we adopted her after her kittens were placed). If it’s the energy level needed to foster dogs, maybe specializing in dogs undergoing heartworm treatment would be an option? Their activity level has to be very restricted during the treatment period.

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Mary in Maryland April 15, 2022 at 1:33 pm

Four of the thirty dogs we have fostered were being treated for heartworm. Keeping them quiet is a Herculean task. It’s not the energy that does us in. The last foster was quiet and darling but needed to be carried up the steps. The Mister could carry her but I should not unless I want to up my relationship with my physical therapist. Now whenever it’s raining at bedtime, he gives me a kiss and remarks on what a good night it is to not have a dog.

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Karen B April 15, 2022 at 4:01 pm

Good to know! And wow, 30! I’ve thought I’d like to foster, but I can pretty well be certain I would end up adopting every one. In addition to our 2 cats we have 2 dogs, too, which is all we feel we should have. All 4 plus our last 3 who have since passed were from the same shelter.

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Mary in Maryland April 16, 2022 at 5:45 am

We are not susceptible to adopting every dog. It’s like dating–I went out with a lot of good men who were not suitable for a long-term partnership. Fosters are expert at telling us what kind of living situation they would like. Most often, it’s not us. We’ve fostered at least seven who’s owners had died, so we have deposits in the bank of karma if we need someone to take a dog we can’t manage any more. But I don’t think we could give up a dog under those circumstances.

Ruby April 18, 2022 at 11:27 am

Mary in Maryland,

Bless you for fostering dogs whose owners have died. My husband and I just adore dogs and have had between one and three at a time for the past 36 years, but leaving them behind when we die is something we worry about. I think the youngest of the three we have will be our last dog, if she and I both have a normal lifespan. I’ll miss dogs, but it would be far worse to have one missing me.

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Vickey April 16, 2022 at 10:59 am

“Asian vegan cookbooks”?? Please say more! Always looking for more plants-only meal inspiration.

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Mary in Maryland April 21, 2022 at 12:22 pm

Check out woon heng website.

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Yvette from down under April 15, 2022 at 1:20 pm

Beautiful sunny days here for our autumn. The fruit harvests are nearly over but there are many quinces and figs available in abandoned trees. I have made so much jam this year from free fruit that I ended up selling at a garage sale with other produce. Sold out in 4 hours and profit was $400. Grew mega tomatoes, each one weighed a pound (500g +) each plus smaller varieties, lots to give away. Still picking zucchini, beans, cucumbers, greens etc. made lots of salads entirely from the garden this year. Petrol prices crazy here so walking every where and being smart about combining errands in the car. “ Necessity is the mother of invention “, I think people will be realising that the expected food shortages here will drive everyone back to cooking from scratch, I don’t know how cafes/restaurants will survive when people can’t afford to eat out. Food prices are now ridiculous , meat is out of my budget so eggs , sardines and canned beans full the gaps. I am thankful that I can afford these basics and can still source them locally in a safe environment. Those communities in conflict and in difficult situations have so much of a struggle to survive. The floods on our east coast have devastated some communities that will take years to recover. May we all count our blessings in these troubled times. Easter reminds us of the only hope we have in this world and Gods love extended to each person.

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Bee April 16, 2022 at 3:27 am

Happy Easter! I admire your industry. Making and selling jelly from found fruit is the epitome of making due.

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Shona April 17, 2022 at 4:34 am

I work in a bakery/ cafe and a constant conversation with the owners is the rising prices of ingredients. A 50# bag of flour has tripled due to inflation and global events. We have completely revised our menu because passing along rising costs of certain ingredients would make our cafe food too expensive. All baked goods got a .25- .50 price increase. Thankfully we have a very loyal customer base, but learning about the cost side of a food business during these times has been interesting and a bit unnerving.

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Iris April 15, 2022 at 1:43 pm

Have they offered you a shot for the plantar faciitis? I had it and it took care of it right away. Plantar faciitis is very painful.

I also had Hagland Deformity which took longer to get any relief from. I did two different physical therapy sessions. Neither did me any good.

So sorry you are having to experience this.

Take care!

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Beth April 15, 2022 at 5:44 pm

Ooh, I’m intrigued by this. What is the shot?

I have plantar fasciitis that flares up a little. I keep it under control with structured shoes and arch support. When I get lazy and wear shoddy shoes, it reminds me right away that I shouldn’t.

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Ava April 16, 2022 at 6:18 am

Beth, I also had a shot in my foot for plantar fascitis. Shot was incredibly painful but one shot ended the months of pain every time I walked. It was a great solution for me though it doesn’t work for everyone.

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Iris April 18, 2022 at 11:30 am

I want to say the shot was some kind of steriod. My doctor administered it and I had relief right away and no problems since then. As Ava said, not sure how it works for everyone, but worked great for me. I would definitely talk with your doctor to see what they recommend.

Now the Hagland Deformity is a different story. I wear orthotics as well to get relief. Been dealing with it for a little over four years. It is a bump on the back of your heel with bursitis. Some days are good, some days not so much.

Hope this helps.

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Katy April 18, 2022 at 12:06 pm

I did get a steroid shot and it sadly only helped for a couple weeks.

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Iris April 19, 2022 at 10:43 am

So sorry to hear that. Not fun to be in pain all the time. Trying to think what else could help. I know some people say to wear shoes with a heel so you take pressure off your achilles because you are at a slant. Ice is good and maybe try some capsaicin cream.

May you get over it quickly. Take care!

Karen B April 15, 2022 at 1:44 pm

1) On a cold, wet day my kid and I enjoyed a trip to a local greenhouse. Big, beautiful, free, and the weather’s always nice inside. 🙂

2) Latest thing received from our local Buy Nothing Project group: a picture frame that reminds us so much of my late father-in-law. He wore western wear and did leather work. This frame is hinged and decorated like a leather wallet he would have made. 🙂

3) I’ve recently started playing ukulele and know I will acquire a second one eventually. I’m taking my time choosing what materials and features I’m looking for. Through a local club that meets and plays together I’m getting lots of tips and one member will even let me try ukuleles from her collection. There’s a big variety in size, sound, and quality. Through her I found out that there’s a local store that carries used instruments and that there was one in a variety I’ve admired online, so I went to try it out. And found out without ordering one online (which may not have been returnable) that it’s much louder than I expected, too heavy, and not comfortable for me to hold.

4) I know I will get another ukulele at some point and I picked up a nice padded gig bag (for carrying and protecting it) for 1/3 of retail in a pawn shop.

5) I resisted the urge to buy the custom built Wizard of Oz ukulele I saw for sale online with pictures all over it in inlaid wood and mother of pearl–only $8000! So not in my budget, but fun to look at for free!

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Marc April 16, 2022 at 4:23 am

That’s amazing that you’re learning to play the ukulele. Good for you.

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Kathy April 15, 2022 at 2:06 pm

March was the money pit at our house
1. Storm shelter installed
2. Sod for area next to storm shelter
3. Installation of tankless hot water heater and water purification system
4. Spring clean up by lawn guy
5. Gutters cleaned
6. Another crown for me
I had two job interviews. No selected for 1 and waiting to hear about next step on the other.
Called and got internet and Sirius XM lowered. Found a free senior exercise class 2x/week near me

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Melissa Anne Tibbals-Gribbin April 15, 2022 at 2:18 pm

Katy have you ever done an article about how to thrift with resale in mind? I suppose I should go poke through your blog posts. I live in an apartment, so it’s not like I have tons of room, but if I could make a few hundred dollars a month this way, it would go a long way to helping out with expenses.

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Bee April 18, 2022 at 4:57 am

I’m not Katy, but I have done re-sale for 20+ years. Katy definitely has a great eye and seems to hone in on items that have that Northwest Hip vibe. I always check out what she has up for sale and am often amazed at her selling prices. However, it hard to reproduce someone else’s style. We all gravitate towards different things.
IMO, the easiest way to start is to sell what you know. For example, if you love to quilt, then look for antique and vintage quilts to sell. You may also want to expand into sewing notions and fabrics. If you are a gamer, look for video games, systems and accessories. If you love to cook, look cookware and kitchen gadgets. Vintage kitchen items are especially hot. Choose whatever you are interested in and already knowledgable about. From that starting point, you can expand into other areas of interest and start building your knowledge base.

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Katy April 18, 2022 at 12:08 pm

That’s very true, we all have our own random areas of knowledge. I try to continually learn new items to sell, and deliberately follow a number of male resellers for this reason.

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Bee April 18, 2022 at 1:05 pm

I often wish I was more technologically savvy. I know that some of the cables, older stereo equipment, and other speciality items can be quite lucrative.

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Jill A April 18, 2022 at 1:43 pm

I also wish I new more about the tech items. I know people do really well with them but it’s way outside my comfort zone.

Queen of Fifty Cents April 15, 2022 at 2:25 pm

You got Soda Stream canisters refilled? Do all paintball places do that? I’d love more info…thanks!

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Jen April 15, 2022 at 4:13 pm

I was thinking the same thing!! I actually went on my Maps App after I read about Katy doing that, to see where the paintball places near me were….Hopefully Katy will fill us in on the details about the refills.

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Chris April 16, 2022 at 1:18 pm

You can also purchase dry ice and refill them. I have a fairly steady supply that comes with frozen med shipments to my work location, but I have also purchased a couple of pounds from a local ice supply place for a few dollars a pound. I just open the canister, put it on a mail scale, and add 1 pound (454g) of ice with tongs, one chunk at a time. The pieces have to be fairly small to fit through the opening, but the ones I’ve used came in long, cylindrical chunks that fit perfectly. Takes maybe 5-10 minutes each total, but costs me $0, so well worth it in my books! I’m quite sure it would have some affect on a warranty, but I’ve been doing it for the past 4 years without any issues.

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MamaMinou April 15, 2022 at 2:38 pm

Boo for plantar fasciitis, it is very uncomfortable and takes a long while to heal. Keeping a tennis ball under my desk to roll regularly really helped when I had it.

I just keep doing my same-old same-old: buying essential groceries only and reminding myself when I want to buy something that the feeling of being glad to have x, y, or x fades quickly for most things.

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Mand01 April 15, 2022 at 2:39 pm

1. Like Yvette, still picking garden produce from the Summer garden (pumpkins, chillies, eggplant) but making room now for the Autumn garden.
2. My husband and I go for a walk four times a week around the local reservoir. Free exercise, and relationship time.
3. I found some workout pants at the thrift store – for 2. Above.
4. I did need some new sneakers after my ten year old pair finally died – every time we walked, I got sand in my shoes. Found a pair for half price at the clearance store, then got a further 10% off for signing up to their newsletter, which I then unsubscribed from when I got home. All’s fair. Hopefully this pair will last ten years…
5. was holding off repainting the interior of our house because I was planning to pay someone, as my husband had a bike accident last year and I was nervous about him getting on a ladder. Then we decided we could do it after all, so long as we did it in short bursts. $250 in paint vs probably about $2500 in labour (we have very high ceilings). Easter weekend painting project.

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Cynthia Jones April 15, 2022 at 3:02 pm

Re: plantar fasciitis I have a suggestion that you may have already tried, but since it’s free and worked for me I’m going to mention it. Never take a single step barefooted. Get a pair of slides (like flip flops but no strap between the toes) and don’t even walk barefoot to the bathroom in the night. This sounds crazy but I tried absolutely everything and nothing worked until I did that.

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Jackie B April 16, 2022 at 2:13 pm

I had a one-time bout of planter fasciitis. This is what my podiatrist told me to do. She said to keep lace-up shoes and socks right next to the bed and put them on before ever standing up.

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Marilyn April 16, 2022 at 6:12 pm

I had planter fascititis about 8 years ago. I was told to try to stay off my feet as much as possible, wait 6 weeks and it would probably be okay. Since it was impossible to stay off my feet much for 6 weeks, I searched online for other options. I found an article from someone who recommended wrapping duct tape over your foot (around the arch). Since I had some duct tape in the garage, I tried it. Crazy as it sounds, it worked! It made walking bearable again. Only thing is: use an old sock under the duct tape because the stuff is so sticky it will probably ruin the sock. Using old sock, duct tape and trying to stay off my feet as much as possible worked for me and I have not had any more problems. It’s worth a try as it does not cost much.

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Katy April 18, 2022 at 12:11 pm

Interesting about the duct tape. I’d heard the same thing, but with athletic tape, so I had my physical therapist tape up the foot, which last for 5 days before it peeled off. It did seem to help.

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Whitney C Archer April 19, 2022 at 5:11 am

There are lots of you tube videos about taping your foot. KT tape (or generic) is really nice and easier on your skin than medical tape. I’ve done it when traveling, especially as lots of walking makes my feet ache and ache.

Ruby April 18, 2022 at 11:34 am

The foot specialist I saw for it mentioned several brands of shoes that don’t cost the earth that would help me, specifically Merrell. I wear a pair of Merrell slip-on sandals around the house and never walk barefooted. I also bought two pairs of Bionica slip-on shoes some years ago on sale that were specifically designed to deal with plantar fasciitis.

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Katy April 18, 2022 at 12:05 pm

Thanks for the recommendation. I never walk barefoot in the house for a number of reasons, one of which is watching my cat drag her tuchus along the floor every now and then. *barf*

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Laura in So Cal April 18, 2022 at 4:24 pm

Another plantar fasciitis sufferer here. It started 5 years ago. In the initial phases, using a frozen plastic water bottle to roll my arches over every night and daily morning foot stretching exercises helped. I keep it from flaring by wearing ASICS supportive running shoes and using Superfeet insoles (WOMENS BERRY). I have to change out the insoles every 3-4 months but now I can do normal activities with no pain do totally worth it.

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Katy April 19, 2022 at 9:09 am

I normally abhor plastic water bottles, but maybe I should pick one up in the name of comfort!

Julie April 25, 2022 at 5:59 pm

Another thing besides the frozen water bottles thing that helped my feet when I had problems was I got night splints (I had it in both feet). They were horribly uncomfortable to sleep in, but after a few weeks of doing it, my feet felt so much better. It was what my podiatrist recommended I try if the stretches and orthodics alone weren’t enough to fix the problem. I bought mine on amazon–https://www.amazon.com/Alpha-Medical-Plantar-Fascitis-Splint/dp/B06WRP2Q7D/ref=sxin_25_ac_d_hl?ac_md=2-1-U21hbGwgQnVzaW5lc3MgQnJhbmQ%3D-ac_d_hl_hl_sb&crid=S3V56RPYPGTO&cv_ct_cx=plantar+fasciitis+night+splint&keywords=plantar+fasciitis+night+splint&pd_rd_i=B06WRP2Q7D&pd_rd_r=cd205286-d288-4d4e-bef6-803634b0caed&pd_rd_w=3hbOG&pd_rd_wg=8gZOI&pf_rd_p=fa2fbcea-214a-4c0d-9f1f-b2cb6381c3b1&pf_rd_r=82YQBQCS1QJZYQN85MKT&psc=1&qid=1650938119&sprefix=plantar%2Caps%2C438&sr=1-2-25fd44b4-555a-4528-b40c-891e95133f20

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Jean April 15, 2022 at 3:22 pm

1) Patted myself on the back for success in helping a friend navigate the Unclaimed Property website for our state and do the administrative details of assembling the required documentation to claim almost $8000 from a long deceased parent’s estate. It took more than a year of waiting but was worth it to finally get the money. Every state has such a registry. Have found the existence of unclaimed property ( stocks, life insurance proceeds, final paychecks, etc.) for several friends and relatives in recent years.
2) Cleaned closets and donated/consigned a number of items.
3) Reacquainted myself with contents of my pantry (some surprises tucked into higher shelves and back of shelves)
4) Figured out (sort of) how to get my recalcitrant printer to work after a couple months of no use – thank you YouTube
5) Listened to free Libby app books

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Bettypants April 15, 2022 at 3:43 pm

I can’t believe you found a pair of Rothy’s for $7.99. Well done.

1. The base of my coffee table has been tilting precariously for months and finally one leg fell off. My dad fixed it up with wood glue and a few screws, and it’s sturdy again.

2. We discovered the local pizza place offers medium pizzas for $5 after 4:00, three days a week. I walked up on Tuesday, returned my library book, and came home with an excellent pizza.

3. My son is attending college this fall and thinks having a bike there would come in handy. I nabbed a Schwinn mountain bike on Marketplace for $35. If it gets stolen, we won’t be devastated.

4. I stopped in at a nearby resale store, where most clothing was $1. I spent $21 on a pair of Sorel winter boots, 2 pair of Levis, an LL Bean cargo jacket, an Under Armour polo, and a handful of other clothing. I took note of the dates of this sale, so I can go every month.

5. Fifth Third bank offered $300 to open a checking account with direct deposit. I was able to open it online, direct deposit part of a paycheck, and they already paid me the bonus.

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Selena April 16, 2022 at 7:19 pm

Do be prepared to have to report said $300 on your taxes. There is no such thing as a free lunch when it comes money.

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Christine April 15, 2022 at 4:42 pm

DH’s podiatrist recommended stretching the Achilles tendon for his plantar fasciitis. It cured it for him. Wishing you luck with yours.
1. We overpaid the escrow for property tax on our mortgage, so we received a surprise check for $66. It was money we had paid in anyway, but it was fun to get an unexpected check in the mail. I also have unclaimed property in my state and I have started the process to claim it.
2. DH and I both signed up to work at our local election next month. We’re retired but like to have a side gig or two going on.
3. I pulled out all of my old Easter decorations and have more than enough to make the house look festive.
4. We have been invited to Easter dinner at a friend’s house. The only thing she asked me to bring is a pot of Boston Baked Beans to go with the ham she’s making.
5. I attended a free music program at my local library last night. Delightful, folksy Americana. While there I picked up three books I had on hold. I’m always amazed at what libraries have to offer. I’m working a 3 hour shift at the Childrens Book Sale on school vacation next week. Should be fun.

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Bee April 15, 2022 at 5:15 pm

You have sold quite a bit on eBay this month. Well done!
1-2 . I have done some thrifting over the last few days. I bought some things for myself and some for resale. I have not bought much in the way clothing over the last two years , so I have been on the look out for items to give my wardrobe a much-needed boost. I found several things at my favorite thrift store. Best of all, the money that I spent on these clothes will go to our local food pantry.
I stopped at an estate sale today where I purchased 2 Waterford Crystal champagne flutes, a silver match box, a vintage Liberty’s of London scarf , a silk scarf by a French maker and a piece of English pottery. These items cost the princely sum $11.77. All will be resold

3. I planned our summer travels purchasing plane tickets, rental cars and hotel stays with loyalty and credit card reward points. Enrolling in these programs has made personal travel possible.

4. I sold a pair of lamps on Facebook that I loved but couldn’t find a spot for in my home. I sold a few items that I didn’t have a use for on eBay including the book, The Home Edit. Although the book was filled with beautiful rooms, some things were not practical. They suggested organizing books by color! I choose a book by subject matter, by author, by genre but never by color. This felt like the opposite of organization. So I passed it on.

5. All the usual things – drinking primarily filtered water, brewing my own coffee, eating a home, using the library, batching errands, making contributions to my IRA, using my HSA to pay for a prescription, and reviewing spending regularly.

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Gina April 15, 2022 at 5:39 pm

Bee,
I agree 100% about The Home Edit! Not practical at all!
So strange – great for a photographing I’m sure, but would
people want to be able to utilize their library? Gina

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A. Marie April 16, 2022 at 4:05 am

Bee and Gina: I once went to a thrift store where someone had arranged all the books by color. It drove me so close to insane that I left after 5 minutes.

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Bee April 16, 2022 at 5:40 am

Pretty and practical do not always go hand in hand. There is also the trend by designers to put the spine inward ?????? How do you choose a book?

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Christine April 16, 2022 at 12:18 pm

I agree the spine in style is totally useless and makes for a lot of needless work trying to pull the right book out. Plus, it looks rather ugly…IMO.

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Bettypants April 16, 2022 at 7:23 am

On April 1st, my public library posted on FB that we were changing our system to organize books by color. Nearly everyone understood it was a harmless April Fool’s joke. One woman lost her shit, railing about what a terrible, stupid idea it was. Her response made me laugh more than the post.

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A. Marie April 16, 2022 at 8:12 am

Bettypants, has she gotten the joke yet?

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Katy April 18, 2022 at 12:18 pm

That is hilarious!

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Jill A April 17, 2022 at 2:56 am

It’s great that you could pay for your trip with rewards. It’s the best free money. Great estate sale finds.

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Ava April 15, 2022 at 5:16 pm

1. Bought 3 reduced green peppers for .99 with the idea of roasting vegetables. That never happened and they started to go bad. I cut out the bad places, chopped up the good parts and froze them.
2. My craft partner gave me a glue gun she found “on the side of the road”. We always take a glue gun to craft shows for last minute repairs. This will replace the one that disappeared last year.
3. Bought an apple tree and traded assorted plants from my garden to the young man who planted it for me.
4. While dropping off recycling, I picked up a nice suitcase someone had left by the bins. I planned to donate it to the church yard sale but my husband liked it better than the one he has been using. It was missing some pulls but that was an easy fix with some metal rings.
5. Planted radishes, onions and lettuce . Will plant more seeds in the next couple of weeks.

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Ruby April 15, 2022 at 5:29 pm

1. Sewed up a rip in the side of my husband’s sandal and used the pointy part of an old diaper pin to clean the Velcro so the straps would fasten better.
2. Did surgery on the back of one of my sneakers to tack up the stiff fabric that gives structure to the heel cup. I love these shoes and the company has discontinued them, so I keep babying them along.
3. Hunted online for a deal on new Power Step insoles for those sneakers to keep my own case of plantar fasciitis from returning.
4. Filled out a Nielsen tv survey and made $10.
5. My husband and I took a short vacation and brought along a big thermos of water in the car so as not to have to pay $2.50 for a bottle of water.

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Jennifer April 15, 2022 at 5:36 pm

How do you know that oddball things like those slippers are worth anything? I guess I just don’t have an eye for stuff like that as I never see something and think I could resell it.

We are dealing with a lot of health problems with my youngest. They are now doing an all day, every day program that we have to drive them to and from. Ugh and gas prices – oh my! This child had surgery on top of that and we spent the night in the hospital last night. Essentially there is no time to spend money! Which I guess is a good thing. I’ll try to think of some things.

1. pretty much all meals at home. Except for the pizza ordered when we suddenly had to spend the night at the hospital. I had packed food for all day but we weren’t expecting to stay. Prior to last night we were doing so well!

2. By some miracle we got my ds’s old car started and it made to the car repair place where it was decided to scrap it. He had already replaced the car with a much newer used car. So this old one was taking space in my driveway. We got $450 for it – this is the 2nd car my ds has literally driven into the ground. The 1st one fell apart in a parking lot in town – literally!

3. Only doing an Easter basket for my 1 child left at home. No one else will be here, they don’t really care and are older anyway. it’s nice to let this go! I was tempted to skip the youngest but they are having a tough time and I think it will cheer them up a bit to get a small basket with fun socks and a little candy. We do NOT go all out here.

4. Paid a couple of bills online, dh cut his own hair, watching Youtube shows for free entertainment at night, walking the dog for exercise.

5. Got our fill on cable TV while we were in the hospital and I realized yet again that we aren’t missing anything.

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Julia April 18, 2022 at 2:52 pm

I hope all the health things work out well.
When my husband was a bachelor he would purposely buy a cheap junker car that still had about 10 months left on its inspection, then scrap it when the inspection ran out and buy another junker. Fortunately now we can afford a reliable, although still used, car for both of us.

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Teri April 15, 2022 at 7:18 pm

Thought you would like to know its “Carhartt” not “Carharrt”. I, too would like to know where you find these valuable items for resale and how you know their value.

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A. Marie April 16, 2022 at 5:52 am

It’s spelled correctly in Katy’s eBay listing, Teri; I think this was just a typo. Me, I’m just amazed that a pair of used overalls would bring that much, even if they are Carhartt.

Also, Katy’s Goodwill hunting skills are legendary, and I’m guessing that she checks eBay and her other sources to see what similar items are selling for.

Incidentally, I’ve disposed of most of DH’s Carhartt and other work clothes from the BA times (Before Alzheimer’s) by bartering them to our yard guy/snow removal wizard, who wears the same size as DH.

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Hawaii Planner April 15, 2022 at 7:46 pm

Wow – what a deal on the Rothy’s.

1) Sold an item on eBay. Drove the kids to lots of reffing games, where they earn money. Helping them build their own frugal habits.
2) Used a $5 coupon for a takeout pizza, by downloading the app
3) Used a $25 grocery store reward to buy some items for hosting my parents.
4) Charged the car for free at work, picked up lunch 2x, drinks & snacks for free
5) Had a date with my husband. Instead of going out, we heated up leftovers & sat by the pool.

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Marie-Josée April 16, 2022 at 5:44 am

Wow, those ebay sales are impressive as those deals at Everyday Deal$.

My husband is still on strike and there doesn’t seem to be any real interest from his employer to resolve the labor conflict which is making me anxious.

I am using the ReeBee app to weekly check for specials on the food items that we eat on a regular basis, as well as for household and personal hygiene products. This is saving us a lot of money.

Replaced our vertical freezer for a larger model and sold the old one for a great price. This is motivating me to list a BBQ, two handbags and electronics for sale now that work is not so crazy for me at this time.

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Katy April 18, 2022 at 12:20 pm

Once you list extra household stuff it certainly makes you look at your stuff as potential profit!

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Melissa Anne Tibbals-Gribbin April 16, 2022 at 6:50 am

Have you done any posts about how to thrift for resale? I tried looking for one and didn’t see anything.

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Katy April 18, 2022 at 12:19 pm

Here’s one I wrote for Clark Howard:

https://clark.com/show-notes/ebay-completed-listings/

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Jill April 16, 2022 at 7:47 am

1. For the last 16 years of his work life, my husband traveled during the week. I would get bothered that he wouldn’t spend his hotel points then but now I’m thrilled he saved them for retirement. We did a getaway last weekend and lodging and breakfast were free, and we went on a free hike in a national recreation area. Of course, we did spend money on a few things but that free lodging is the bomb.
2. Libraries. I am still reading all my free library books – currently, Our Italian Summer, and we started taking our grandson to an all ages storytime. Last week they were even giving out free LED lightbulbs to library patrons!
3. We have moved cross country to help care for our grandson so there is lots to explore in our new state. We have taken one day every weekend for us and gone hiking/walking in all the wonderful free natural areas. (Then we reward ourselves at a craft brewery – not frugal, but fun)
4. I have a wonderful niece who is a professional photographer. She has planned a fun family reunion for this summer and she is donating her skills for family and kid portraits for us for free. You can’t beat that.
5. I am still enjoying my one year subscription to Brit Box – currently watching Why Didn’t They Ask Evans, my husband and I are still surviving sharing one car, I’ve been catching up with organizing photos and taking advantage of Shutterfly’s free prints offer and getting a profound amount of enjoyment out of my 10 month old grandson.

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Christine April 16, 2022 at 12:27 pm

Nice to hear you are not only adjusting to your new circumstances but thriving and having fun in your new surroundings. Your grandson must be an absolute joy! At ten months babies are really showing their own personalities. So much fun to see! Thanks for keeping us updated.

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Bee April 16, 2022 at 3:52 pm

What do you think of One Italian Summer? It’s on several must read lists.

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Katy April 18, 2022 at 12:18 pm

Aww . . . that is such a fun age!

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janine April 16, 2022 at 11:53 am

The good and the not so great….
1. Son decided that he wanted really short hair – also going bald! Cut his own hair; looked about the same as ever for the price of free.
2.Pulled Easter Ham from freezer. Purchased several weeks ago for $1.50 per # on sale.
3. Refrigerator problems appeared shortly after warranty ran out. $400 to fix. Friend from adjacent city said that her utility company offers some good insurance for a reasonable price. Will look into it.
4. Covid 19 has hit our household even though everyone is fully vaxxed. Good part is that no one got sick enough to be hospitalized so I’ll call that a win. ( we attended a celebration of life in a large in-door space; no masks – wouldn’t have been a bad idea to have masked up that day!)
5. Small wins:
-Borrowed this month’s book club selection from library.
-Walgreens clerk pointed out some coupon deals and found a coupon booklet for me; BOGO = a dozen free eggs, and another $1.25 off on paper towels. Eggs are hitting insane prices due to bird flu around here!
.

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Jill A April 16, 2022 at 12:25 pm

Nice Ebay sales. Your husbands trip sounds amazing.

1. I’ve avoided eating out lately by inviting everyone to my house. I fed eight people dinner with items I already had on hand and only purchasing some leeks and mushrooms. I had my Mom & Sister over for lunch and fed them cheese and crackers, chips and salsa/dips and some buffalo chicken dip all from and made from items in the fridge and pantry. I also had a friend over for coffee instead of going to the coffee shop.
2. I helped some friends process their happy plants and they fed me dinner and offered free samples as payment. I baked some brownies from a mix that has been in my pantry for a while for dessert.
3. I’ve been planning meals around what we have in the freezer and the free food my daughter brings home from work.
4. I purchased a new to me Shark Rocket vacuum cleaner at an estate sale for $22. It works perfectly.
5. I also sold a Cathrineholm bowl on Ebay. I’ve never seen one in person and found it at Goodwill for $7 and sold it for $300. I’m guessing I won’t ever find another one again. They don’t seem to be very plentiful in the midwest. My sales otherwise have been a little slow.

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Christine April 16, 2022 at 12:31 pm

Your #5…way to go! Congratulations to you and also to Katy for your resales of Catherine Holm items.

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Katy April 18, 2022 at 12:15 pm

Wow, that must have been a really amazing bowl! I’ve found Cathrine Holm three times now, so it is out there.

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Jill A April 18, 2022 at 1:47 pm

It was a larger one in an uncommon color white/red lotus pattern. I almost wasn’t sure it was a Cathrine Holm because I hadn’t seen it before. I was pretty excited to find it.

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christina April 19, 2022 at 5:25 am

I collect Catherine Holm and the red/white lotus is fairly rare. ( I don’t have one). The most common are the green/white. Another very expensive one is the black/white lotus pattern.

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Katy April 19, 2022 at 9:08 am

Interesting that the green and white is most common, as I just sold two of the 4″ bowls and they were the first to go. I’ve also thrifted a lotus green and white saucepan and a blue and white saturn tea kettle in the past.

Katy April 19, 2022 at 9:09 am

That was a fantastic find!

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Patti Parnell Hall April 16, 2022 at 1:58 pm

1) Getting ready for surgery soon and been online to see what I should need after. I am able to find most items from my parents and friends. Insurance would probably pay, but I don’t want new items for just a few weeks when they are readily available. Our town also has a free Medical Closet if needed.
2) Took a hand knit sweater apart for the yarn. Using some other yarn on hand to knit polka dot socks. This yarn was not attractive by itself but perfect for this.
3)Went to an out of town “retiree” luncheon which I probably would have skipped but it supported a human trafficking support group. The sandwich they served was HUGE so I brought half of it home for another meal. On the way back, I found a newly opened ReCraft store where I can donate crafting odds and ends and also purchase same for dirt cheap prices. So excited it has opened.
4) Ate some “mystery” soup out of the freezer with half of the half sandwich I brought back and we considered it a delicious meal for two.
5) Ditched the usual Easter treats and made homemade Hot Cross Buns with supplies on hand. A friend delivered a gallon of fresh strawberries (they are early this year) which will also be an unexpected treat. So no chocolate, but I think the other items will be greatly enjoyed!
6) Somehow my car quit using the ECO mode during this gasoline price hike so I went through the instruction book to no avail and was set to call the dealership when it suddenly decided to start back working. Yay!!! Looking for new ways to save on all energy costs.

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Christine April 20, 2022 at 11:17 am

Very best of luck with your upcoming surgery and best wishes for a speedy recovery!

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Shona April 17, 2022 at 4:20 am

1) I broke my no spending on stuff for a very good reason- I’m getting closer to my pre-pandemic weight and wanted to buy some jeans that actually fit. $7 spent at the thrift store and I’m pleased.

2) Loads more free food from work. Shift meals, leftovers, and fresh bread.

3) Vacationed in an area state park with another couple. Off-season cabin, shared meals, and no place to spend money, only hiking and trout fishing and no cell service, wifi or TV for 4 days. Completely disconnected.

4) Meeting with friends for weekly hiking. Weekend fishing in local creeks with my husband.

5) Not quite frugal, but playing the not so fun game of trying to find this or that item in grocery stores. I’m flexible, not set in brands, but sometimes it takes multiple trips. In addition, price comparisons on everything. A gallon of white vinegar jumped almost $1 at Kroger.

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K D April 17, 2022 at 6:15 am

1. It’s spring so we are working on the yard. We got rid of our lawn guy because of environmental concerns. I ordered a cordless electric mower and DH is happy to mow this year. This is green both for the environment and our budget. We did not put out enough mulch last year. This year we ordered a bulk amount and it is both cheaper, easier, and better for the environment. The mulch is locally made and delivered there are no plastic bags nor hauling bag home for us.

2. We had some hot days last summer. I dug out shorts and sleeveless shirts that I’ve had for many, many years. A friend and I walked on one of the hot days. At the end of the trail are some businesses and we did each get a scoop of locally owned and made ice cream. It was worth the few dollars.

3. The state gas tax reprieve ended today. DH filled up his vehicle yesterday.

4. We are experiencing savings on haircuts. I cut DH’s hair with clippers. My hair need to be cut but the stylist I switched to has not returned my request to schedule an appointment. Being shaggy is not a big deal.

5. My back has been bothering me the past few days. I am sitting on a cushion DH has and otherwise being gentle with myself. It is better than it was on Friday. I think being cautious is the best way to keep this from escalating, which should be frugal in the long run.

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Selena April 17, 2022 at 6:40 pm

Rest of the month won’t be frugal – an even more horrid cretin dumped a kitten. Almost caught it yesterday – it escaped and while I’d hoped it would double back to where it got food (I did manage to give it food and water), I didn’t hold out much hope. But it did double back and we caught it this morning. It is still cold here (high 30s/lows 20s at night) and snow predicted today and tomorrow. We’ve kept the large crate over the years so kitten food and a bowl (I’m out of spares since we took in the previous dumped cat) were initial purchases.
The odds of it being spay/neutered and chipped are slim to none. Thankfully have the means so vet costs won’t be a budget breaker. Little stinker is awful cute and quite loving. Will see how s/he does out of the crate (confined in a room) tomorrow.
Went from having two old pets to one old pet and two young ones. Might be time for auto-ship from Chewy!

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Bee April 18, 2022 at 3:18 am

There are few things as adorable as a kitten!

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Selena April 18, 2022 at 6:59 am

She (think a she) has made herself at home. Other cats are taking it well surprisingly. Doesn’t have worms so some positive news. Off to the vet tomorrow.

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Ruby April 18, 2022 at 11:56 am

Bless you for catching her and taking her to the vet. People will dump female kittens rather than get them spayed. I grew up in the country and we only twice had cats we chose. The rest found us and had a good home.

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Anne April 20, 2022 at 7:11 am

Yes, we have two former ferals. We are constantly telling them how lucky they are to have us. I think they quite possibly view it the other way around.

Jann in Maine April 20, 2022 at 2:45 am

Spring does not want to come to Maine with snow and sleet yesterday.
Plants inside getting started for end of May planting. Our 215 garlic plants are up about 3″ peeking through the straw.
Ebay has been very slow for me with my numbers about 1/2 of what they were last quarter.
So many things that we source are dependent on where we live and how affluent the donators are–in all my years thrifting I have never seen a pair of Rothys or some of the other stuff that Katy sees and vice versa with stuff I sell.
Did cook Easter dinner and had SIL and BIL. While I splurged on a nice piece of salmon it was still less than 1 person eating out. We still have winter squash in the basement which I made cubed butternut squash.
Still hanging laundry outside and we have yet to have used our dryer all year.
Staying home more to save on gas,brewing my own coffee, and all of the things I normally do.
We just had a Jersey Mike’s open here and had a coupon for a buy one get one free sub. So for $10 we had 2 subs. I asked my DH if he could remember when we did something like this and neither of us could it’s such a rarity. It was fine but certainly not worth the full price of $20 it would have been.
Did a focus group on solar energy for $100 last night and sold something on marketplace for $55. That was decent.
Katy be careful of electronics on ebay. Lots of scamming going on and lots of settlements by ebay in buyer’s favor. ‘
Helping DD and SIL with finding cool mid century modern furnishings for their apt. Fun to do and if they don’t like it can flip it online.
Oh and updating our wills and POA’s. While not frugal the goal will be it will be money savings when our estates are settled. Sometimes you do have to spend money to save money.

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Katy April 21, 2022 at 3:20 pm

I’ve actually seen that. I also have it for sale locally so maybe I should delete the eBay listing.

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Texasilver April 20, 2022 at 7:53 pm

1. My husband repaired my sister’s door handle on her car. (He had to order a new handle.) He replaced the shower head for her in 2 bathrooms & added an extension pipe to make shower head lower. He is also planning to repair 2 inside lights & her garage door opener.
2. Sister has agreed to cat sit for me in May for 2 weeks. I told her we would barter for husband’s work. I guess the only one who does not benefit is the husband.
3. Sister gave me 2 servings of pot roast. I added a can of potatoes, can of green beans, can of tomatoes & made veggie beef soup in the crock pot.
4. Sent a defective wallet back. The Buxton company is sending a new one. I have used Buxton wallets for years. They are all leather & usually last many years.
5. My friend gave me a pouch of Tide pods. She did not like the scent. Tide works well to remove dirt in my husband’s filthy clothes. I was glad to get them.

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Katy April 21, 2022 at 3:18 pm

I like your labor exchanges!

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rebecca April 21, 2022 at 1:47 pm

1. Donating a lot of books to the library for their monthly sale. I can get a tx deduction.
2. Replanting some things in the garden to bring new life to it w/o extra money.
3. Watching baseball and basketball for entertainment.
4. Returning clothes that I bought but really don’t need.
5. Planning a family brunch and looking for economical recipes-quiches, muffins, banana bread, french toast casserole ect. Hoping to do it for under $75. Fingers crossed!

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Sarah April 21, 2022 at 4:55 pm

Plantar Fasciitis….so painful!!! I have suffered off and on with it as well. Tried medication, different shoes, massages, PT, etc…. After 20 years I bought a splint to wear at night on Amazon for $20. That has been the ONLY thing that has worked for me. Lots of painful years and money wasted on all other treatments.

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Auntiali April 23, 2022 at 10:22 pm

1. We had a free turkey breast for Easter. It was a spend $400 and get one of the products that were offered i.e. ham and frozen lasagna.
2. Redeemed some credit card points for gift cards. Got $50 each for gas, Panera and Outback. Gave the gas cards to daughter and Panera will go to son and daughter in law when they visit.
3. Got deals at the grocery store today. Deodorant for .88 able to get 4, daughter’s favorite salsa for $1.50 a jar, store brand peanut butter and jelly which were each 2 for $2. So two pb, two jelly. Eggs were 5.19 for 18, milk is $4.o5 a gallon and is the same price at Aldi.
4. No heat for about a week due to warm temperatures. It will be chilly next week.
5. Keeping an eye on electrical usage. Have to follow hubby out to the kitchen and back cause he doesn’t shut the light off.

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Em April 24, 2022 at 11:41 pm

Just adding a caveat for those looking for savings on SodaStream refills: there is a difference between food-grade and industrial CO2, which has higher limits for contaminants, including benzene and other carcinogens. In additional, canisters for industrial use are not cleaned to the same standard.

It depends on your local supply chain, but paintball stores and even homebrew shops are much more likely to sell industrial grade. For safety, it’s essential to find a source selling food grade and confirm that is what you’re getting every single time. The easiest way to do this is to buy from a beverage supplier serving bars and restaurants; another option is a full-service gas retailer. To save the most time and money, either hack your machine to accept a larger canister (instructions online), or purchase a large canister and a fitting that allows you to recharge your own canisters.

Also, don’t bother with “GMO-free” CO2; it’s almost always petroleum-sourced, vs. captured from grain fermentation.

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Vickey April 30, 2022 at 6:20 am

Good to know, Em, thanks!

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Katy April 19, 2022 at 9:10 am

I’ve sold a few tech items in the past, (DVD/VCR combos, vintage Walkman, remote controls) but I know I’m passing up big profits every time I thrift.

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Katy April 19, 2022 at 9:08 am

Thanks, I’ll go check that out!

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