Five Frugal Things
by Katy on December 2, 2024 · 56 comments
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My backyard neighbors brought over a paper grocery bag filled to the brim with 13 pounds of apples from their tree. (Yes, I weighed the bag!) The best part is that they have no idea that I’m “The Non-Consumer Advocate,” which makes this spontaneous gift so much sweeter.
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My sister wanted to go to Goodwill, so we stopped by the main store. Here’s what I bought:
• Three $4.99 Sferra brand towels, which normally sell for $70 apiece! I’ll list them on eBay.
• One $14.99 antique Wagner cast iron skillet in amazing condition. I’ll try to sell this locally.
• One $4.99 lighting globe to sell to a local shop.
• A new looking $2.49 Eddie Bauer t-shirt that was both my size and the half-off color tag. I never seem to have enough T-shirts.
• A set of three midcentury nesting tables for just $9.99. I’ll help my son to refurbish them for resale.
I spent enough to get 5% off through their “Goodwill Club,” which I’m always happy to accept.
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I’ve been visiting with both parents on a daily basis while my sister is visiting from out of town, which means I’m being fed some free delicious restaurant food. Last night was Vietnamese food and tonight was Italian. It’s kind of nice to take a break from cooking.
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Leftovers, still so many leftovers!
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I didn’t buy a vulgar gold plated apartment in the sky.
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
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{ 56 comments… read them below or add one }
1. I had an e-coupon for $4 off anything at CVS, good for only two days. Not needing any care products, I went to the food section where I found Progresso Soup on sale 2/$4. I scooped up two kinds DH and I like and those will be a free lunch or dinner when I don’t feel like cooking.
2. Like Katy, we’re still working on leftovers. Looks like tonight’s dinner will be the end of them though. And there is still one slice of pecan pie left which DH doesn’t care for due to it’s sweetness. I guess I’ll have to take one for the team and eat it.
3. I found gas yesterday for $2.89 a gallon, the cheapest I’ve seen around here. I still had a 1/4 tank but filled the tank after spotting the cheap-o gas.
4. Stayed home on Black Friday besides one trip to the grocery store where I found usually crowded Market Basket only moderately busy. I’m guessing everyone else was shopping Black Friday sales or eating leftovers.
5. I’m picking up a library book I have on hold, cuddling up with blankets on the couch while watching TV while keeping the heat set at 64, walking with DD for some free exercise, enjoyed strolling through a local art show and enjoyed leftover pizza for lunch yesterday at DS and DIL’s house.
@Christine – regardless of time of year (and yes, it gets cold where I live), I rarely let my gauge go below half. Cost per gallon pretty much evens out in the long run plus a half tank gets me farther in an emergency situation then 1/4. Less gas can equal more moisture in your tank which is not good.
There is not enough love nor money to get me to shop on Black Friday. And for those who have to deal with “cloud” hosted software Black Friday and Cyber Monday stink. Time is the most expensive resource and I’m sure my company paid extra to “save” money with cloud hosted software. Bleh.
I’m kinda bummed the last of the turkey (we’re talking one meal) went to the freezer. I happily ate turkey (team dark meat), mashed potatoes and/or dressing, roll/bread, and gravy for three straight lunches. I’m scheming to sweet talk the better half into cooking a smaller turkey after the first of the year (dressing optional). I think I can pull it off lol.
Thanks for the advice about the gas tank! Frugal advice is always appreciated.
I have a (slightly) smaller turkey in the freezer bought on sale which I’ll be cooking in January too. We just ate the last of the Thanksgiving leftovers last night and I think it won’t be good to look at another piece of turkey at this point in time! Lol.
1. I repaired my daughter’s earrings.
2. I used the rest of my insurance provided debit care to buy OTC medicines and vitamins. One product was buy 1 get 1 for 1/2 off. This benefit is not continuing next year so I wanted to make sure I didn’t waste any funds.
3. I am listing Christmas items on Etsy and selling so much.
4. I washed and rehung my shower curtain and liner. The curtain is fairly new. The liner is an extra heavy and long one that is now 14 years old and has been washed many times. I had no idea it would hold up so well.
5. Someone left a box of items at the recycle drop off, as they often do. I brought home two wooden hangers , a glass light cover and an mid century lotion bottle with very cool graphics. All those will be listed for sale.
1. Free entertainment: My niece was Facetiming her 4-year-old nephew on his mom’s phone when he accidentally dropped it. He picked it back up and said to my niece: “Oh, sorry about that, are you okay?”
2. Received a mailing from Xfinity (Internet provider) to pick up a free in-store gourmet popcorn kit. Needed to go there anyway for another matter.
3. Received two free loaves of bread at a pre-Thanksgiving thankfulness event.
4. Received a 2025 wall calendar from my Realtor. Didn’t need it so I put it on Buy Nothing where it had a lot of interest.
5. My husband found a brand-new dog leash in the park where we walk daily. We’re going to use it, but if someone recognizes it as theirs, we will return it to them.
That is too cute and show empathy on his part. Hooray for free bread and popcorn!
P.S. We have Xfinity as well, where my free popcorn?
What a sweet little boy he is!
Always nice to read about parent(s) doing a good job with their kid(s).
1. I purchased a $50 gift card at Meijer and received $10 in rewards.
2. I shopped online for Black Friday. I used my credit card shopping site for extra reward points when possible.
3. All my kids were around for the Thanksgiving holiday and weekend. We all worked on a 1000 piece puzzle I purchased at the Goodwill bins. It was missing only 3 pieces. We drank sale wine and watched Christmas movies and just enjoyed being together.
4. I made fried rice using leftover rice and glazed carrots I made for Thanksgiving dinner. This provided 4 additional meals.
5. My mom sent home a pumpkin pie. Breakfasts for the whole house.
How fun to work on a puzzle together! And hooray for pumpkin pie for breakfast!
Wait, what? Why are those towels so dang expensive???
They better be seriously soft.
Not so much soft as sturdy. Like me.
1. Yesterday was my husbands birthday so we went to a local brewery for dinner. Supporting local and we have enough leftovers for another meal. And he got a free birthday beer to boot!
2. I spent Friday morning going through emails and unsubscribing to them. I do this every so often but Katy’s post about unsubscribing was a good reminder.
3. My husband’s favorite meal is the traditional Thanksgiving meal so it’s a great birthday meal for him, too. Then we had leftovers with birthday gifts on Saturday night.
4. My son won tickets for the Broncos – Browns game tonight so my husband gets to go to an NFL game, also, for his birthday.
5. I’ve scouted out several free light displays to visit over the next few weekends.
It’s been a long time since I’ve been here! Lots has changed in life, namely arrival of baby boy who is 6 months. I will be quitting my job in a few weeks to take some time to soak up these baby snuggles.
1. I did take advantage of some Black Friday deals including an order to Burt’s bees baby for extra crib sheets (baby has reflux), 2 gifts for my nephews and gift for a an expectant friend. Black Friday + Rakuten cash back made it a killer deal.
2. Also put in an order to Carter’s (Rakuten bonus) for preemie Christmas footies. After our little one spent a month in the NICU, my husband and I want to have gifts for families that are spending their Christmas there. Again a killer deal.
3. Contacte through 1800 contacts, 20% back today! Makes these much cheaper for us.
4. I picked up 5 trash bags of baby clothes off marketplace for free. Went through everything, sorted what we would use and what we wouldn’t. Some was worse for wear, so I soaked/laundry “stripped” a lot, washed, de pilled etc to hope give some things new life and was able to pass on spruced up goodies to multiple kiddos through our BN group.
5. Gathered some miscellaneous and mismatched holiday decor from our BN group to upcycle! Working on a centerpiece for when we host Christmas dinner from friends.
Side note-shout out to you Kady for all the women you have helped and babies you have caught in your career. If it weren’t for my amazing L&D nurses, I quite literally may have lost my life and my baby. You all are another form of superhuman!
Congratulations on new baby!
Em, congratulations on your baby boy!
@Em congratulations on your baby !
I join you in shouting out to L&D nurses and midwives. We had a scare when my lovely new grandson was born at the end of August.
A challenging heartbeat during a ‘standard’ inducement (2 weeks late) led to a fast and necessary and totally unexpected caesarian – resulting in a healthy mom and baby. Thank heavens for modern medicine, because childbirth is still a scary prospect.
Your kindness to the others who are in your situation is lovely to read about – what a great idea to take those tiny sleepers to the NICU!
Congratulations!!
Congratulations on the birth of your baby!
1. My sister got us complimentary tickets for a minor league hockey game.
2. Didn’t buy any road snacks. Chatted with my kids to stay awake instead of snacking.
3. Hydrated with my refillable water bottle
4. Refrained from hanging out at the coffee shop and getting an expensive drink. Instead, I sat in the studio for free during my kid’s practice.
5. Didn’t buy any new holiday decorations. Just out up the same tree, lights, ornaments, etc., as last year
I learn about (and look up) so many brands due to Katy scouting some terrific merch at Goodwill for resale. I find this fact delightful due to the fact that this is The NON-CONSUMER Advocate blog.
$70 for a towel. Most of my towels I have come from college move out. Now I’m going to have to start checking them before I donate them to the animal shelter.
I had to pick up a prescription at CVS. I saw vitamins for BOGO and I had a $2 off $10 coupon for vitamins. My son told me he was running low on one so I got 2 of them and I got 2 others that we would need soon. I never pay full price for vitamins. I then got a $4 off any purchase so I grabbed tissues because we can always use tissues and they were on sale.
I ate lunch and dinner Sunday and Monday at my friend’s house. They are having an open house instead of doing a wake at a funeral parlor. They are saving so much money. Hubby ate there for 3 of the meals and both of my kids ate dinner there. I had signed up to bring food today but was told yesterday to not make anything. They have sent home food with me and my kids. I stayed for cleanup both nights. I cannot believe how much food has been sent.
I drove a friend and her husband to the train station instead of them getting an Uber. I needed to get out for a little while and this saved them some money.
I grabbed books at the library and returned some too. Love the library.
My friend’s niece was talking about when they were younger and I always got them into the movie for free. I worked there for 13 years. I gave her and her boyfriend 6 free passes that I still had. Whenever I go, my old manager won’t let me use them. She always lets me in free.
@Marybeth from NY your post is so full of community and generosity I am sitting here with a softened heart. Your friend’s loss is so hard, and her community showing up to support is so loving. Thank you for sharing all that is happening in your life.
Without coupons and sales, CVS tends to be expensive but if you can make purchases using what they offer on their Extracare card applied to certain BOGOs and other sales, it’s possible to get some really good deals. Looks like you did just that! Good planning.
1. I had all day meetings at work today, but they didn’t provide lunch so I found a salad on FlashFood to get on my way in.
2. We don’t drink much soda but like having some ginger ale, and at Walgreens, 3 12-packs were on sale, I used $2.00 off in “Walgreens Cash” and my credit card was offering 30% back on Walgreens, so each can cost $.23.
3. I bought nothing for Cyber Monday, Local Saturday, or Black Friday. (Except for groceries at Market Basket, which was blissfully empty on Saturday, too! – see Christine’s post above)
4. Stopped at BJ’s to fill up. I got a BJ credit card for the 10 cents back per gallon, so I paid $2.71 per gallon.
5. Carpooled to work with a colleague today.
Hip hip hooray for Market Basket! Love that place. Remember during Covid when they were only allowing a set number of people into the store at a time? It was the only other time I saw it not crowded. But I can’t blame anyone…the prices there are phenomenal.
We shop at the one in Somerville, where the aisles are narrow and there are lots of Russian babushkas. But my partner and I have it down where we rarely get a cart – baskets only, and then thread ourselves through the store. We see it as an adventure!
1. My husband built simple shelves in our garage and I spent today going through everything and putting it into black totes on the shelves. My goal was to eliminate the pile in the middle of the garage, and I did it! I have a pile to donate, one thing was already picked up through Buy Nothing and I’ve listed a few things to sell. A good days work.
2. Did 2 returns at Target and took my bottles and cans for redemption. Nice to get that out of the house.
3. I went to a swap yesterday, clothes, toys, household goods, etc, all free. One either pays $10 to get in, or volunteers for half and hour. I volunteered. I found a few things that will be useful.
4. Last day of leftovers eaten today.
5. Mailed the first batch of Christmas presents. I had found a sale on Columbia beanies- $6 each- and bought one each for my 10 nieces and nephews. Since they are light, shipping wasn’t to bad.
1. Accepted a last-minute substitute teaching job for today. I had planned to have the day off to do some errands, but the chance to get paid took precedence.
2. Last night after the store closed, I went through some old papers and recycled what I could. Things with account numbers and other sensitive info were cut up into itty bitty pieces and securely disposed of.
3. Got out my winter clothes. Today I wore a coat that I bought prior to 1997. Its buttons have been replaced and some outdated trim removed, but you can’t tell it’s been redone; it’s still good otherwise, and I’m still getting compliments. Hooray for classic styles and well-constructed American-made products!
4. Read a large-print romance novel I obtained from the free bin outside the used bookstore (where I’d donated some plastic bags). Will take my book to a Little Free Library in the next several days. So the heroine, her lover and the book will all live happily ever after. Wish all books were printed in 16 point type — so much easier to read!
5. Also picked up some free comic book advertising posters and free sample comic books and gave them to the LFL near the housing project.
I too have some made in America articles of clothing which I still wear. And have a good number of children’s clothing from my “early” years. It is rather disheartening to see how the quality of fabric has degraded, much less the garment construction.
Paper tigers, the bane of my existence which reminds me I *really* need to find out how long a financial POA needs to keep records in my state.
@Fru-gal Lisa I would be much more interested in reading the large print books but my perfectionism is offended by the crowding on the page and the lack of margins. I wonder if @A. Marie would feel the same? In this day and age when it is so simple to do page layouts, I think publishers are just plain lazy (or too cheap to print more pages ) when they simply enlarge the original layout and jam it onto the page.
As for the classic clothes – yes! I have a woollen poncho that my eldest son bought for me, used (but pristine- and it is a cream colour). there is something very classy about it, I wear it with a green woven scarf that the same son brought back from Peru for me. Both items of clothing are at least 15 years old. I still am stopped, daily, and often several times in a day, by folk complementing me on them.
I also have a fall jacket that I bought over 27 years ago (pre my last two kids). I did invest in a lovely set of handmade pottery buttons for it last year, and cut out the shoulder pads a decade ago, but otherwise the classic cut and unique colours catch the eye of a lot of complementary folk.
I think I might have moved on to other jackets, but I am shallow and vain, and a complement will keep me wearing something year after year after year! 😉
Ecoteri, I’m not quite in need of large-print books yet, but I’m getting there. And I know what you mean about the layout. But since my retirement from publishing, I’m trying to be a recovering perfectionist–except in my volunteer proofreading work for JASNA’s journals, where I’m already getting teased about my OCD and Type A tendencies!
We lived in Scotland and in 1983 (I remember because we got married there) we went to a woolen mill in the highlands. I bought nine yards (which I remember because it was the end of a bolt and the clerk asked if we wanted “the whole nine yards” and I couldn’t help laughing) of a lovely blue and turquoise tartan. I had it made into a suit with a long skirt. I am still wearing it 41 years later and it still looks good. Twenty years later we went back, and the mill had closed and the fabrics available from shops were not nearly of the same quality. One of the clerks whispered that they had woolens woven in Asia and sold as highland made.
Re-typesetting for large print is a suprisingly expensive business. It’s really not simple or easy to typeset a book and it’s not about changing typefaces (not fonts). For each run, a proofreader has to check for widows, orphans, runts and rivers. Then after the proofs are corrected, it has to be formatted for ebooks, etc.
@Rose, thanks for the clarification. in this day and age, isn’t that the kind of thing that AI would do so very well if it were taught? leaving humans to do more creative work like actually writing stuff…
I also shred or rip up paper with potentially sensitive information. I also pour any leftover nasty liquids or condiments on it that I have, (at the moment, I have some liquid cheese that came with pretzels that is gross on just about every level). Although I don’t really think someone is going to go after my info, I figure it would discourage any random snoopers.
I also rip up any papers with important numbers then I drop them into the sack with the used kitty litter. Then I step on it once or twice before trashing it.
That should discourage anyone. LOL
I throw mine in the fireplace. Way more fun than anything else!
Yes we burn any important paperwork. We live rural where you can still burn in season
FFT, Is It December Already?? Edition (simulcast here and at the NCA):
(1) I have continued to stay home and avoid spending money by continuing to proofread papers for JASNA’s electronic journal, which goes live on Dec. 16 (Jane Austen’s birthday). However, I’ll be finishing what I think is the last paper today. Good thing, too, because I’ve got to get started on the few holiday preparations I make.
(2) I’ve reluctantly decided not to attend our local JASNA region’s December meeting, since winter has come to Central and Western NY with a vengeance. (I’ll be sorry to miss it, but I will save on gas and lunch.) Fortunately, my own city wasn’t hit nearly as hard by last weekend’s “snowpocalypse” as others were. And also fortunately, I won’t be missing our region’s big annual luncheon, which we decided to move to April after too many people had to cancel out of last year’s luncheon because of the weather.
(3) I’m off to a slow start on holiday cards/e-greetings–and I think most of my communications are going to be e-greetings this year, the price of postage being what it is.
(4) I’m also not quite done with holiday shopping yet, although, as I’ve noted earlier, I’m relying more this year on charitable donations and gift cards. (Some of the comments above about in-laws who are never pleased with what they get certainly rang a bell with me. I wish gift cards had been more of a thing when my MIL and SIL were still alive.)
(5) Finally, I need to start keeping an eye peeled for Christmas tree trimmings on curbs, so that I can construct my annual evergreen bough for the front of the house–my sole effort at decorating. (Just for fun, I just Googled “Christmas bough,” and my eyebrows shot up when I saw what some merchants are charging for these.)
A. Marie, you’re not the only one who relies on finding decorative materials by the roadside. In my neighborhood, people throw the lower branches of their Christmas trees out after making the tree fit in the stand and there are also lovely red berries growing in the swampy areas which I cut and use. I have to beat the Robins to them though as every year in December a flock of them descends and cleans the berries out! You’d think these fools would fly to Florida but apparently some stick around.
Yeah, robins aren’t migrating the way they used to. Neither are Canada geese, although we wish they would. (Around any body of water here, geese are poop factories.) Hellooooo, climate change!
Yesterday, one of my neighbors posted that she had put out cuts of evergreen from her Christmas tree. I ran down and got them. I decorate the large pots out from if my house with them and a few shiny red bows. After Christmas they get added to the compost pile. I love free greens!
P.S. “Some of the comments above” in my (4) refers to a thread on The Frugal Girl (where I simulcast this FFT), not here. But I’m sure that some readers here have, or had, this difficulty with in-laws as well. 🙂
Was startled to spot a headline yesterday that will slightly affect my Christmas cards and gifts: USPS has halted processing international mail to Canada, as Canada Postal Union workers are on strike and the mail is not being moved in that country.
Sadly, this is far from the only problem we in the US may start having with Canada after Jan. 20. Let’s brace ourselves.
And please don’t anybody take any of my previous remarks as slams on Canada; they aren’t. In my immediately previous comment, I was referring more to what’s likely to happen after regime change here.
I definitely didn’t take your comments as slamming Canada. And I agree…we have to mentally and financially prepare ourselves for January 20th.
Not much frugal around here hosting the holidays and splurging on activities – but we still got a few!
1. Leftovers for days! Cobbled together a white bean kale stew out of frozen leftovers from previous weeks mixed with random ingredients from thanksgiving. Hot tip – mashed potatoes will thicken your stew, but just taste like you added mashed potatoes to a soup (I do not consider this a bad thing!)
2. Did not buy anything during the sales spree Friday-Monday. Had a few items in mind that we need but did not find anything with a deal to fit our needs. We’ll continue perusing and maybe find something in the after-Christmas sales instead. I’m proud of myself for not settling for furniture or clothes that aren’t exactly what I’m looking for to try and save a buck (and end up spending more later)
3. Brought leftovers for lunch to work in the office today. Some days I really enjoy eating lunch out with a friend or colleague so I consider it money and time well spent, but after a week of feasting and eating out I’m perfectly happy to just have something packed and not have to think about how much it costs.
4. Keeping the heat off whenever possible even during this cold snap – closing doors to cooler rooms, only using a small space heater intermittently, lots of sweatshirts. We are not cheapskates by any means but any ability to avoid increasing our electric bill is appreciated.
5. Pumpkin pie for breakfast is zero-waste, right?
At Thanksgiving soup leftover time, I throw in stuffing the night I make the soup and the next day it has thickened a bit as the bread disintegrated. A thinner version of bread sauce or bread gravy that we learned to love in Scotland.
I’ve made bread sauce for roasts once or twice and I still don’t get it. Sorry, United Kingdom!
That said I should get some whisky to make cranachan which I haven’t had in so long.
Curious, what us cranachan?
Cranachan is a traditional Scottish dessert made with whisky (Scottish spelling!), oats, whipped cream, and raspberries. It is delicious!
1. I made soup from ingredients in the fridge.
2. Watching Hallmark Christmas movies for entertainment.
3. Canceled a subscription. This will save me $23 a month. Looking for others to cancel.
4. My car needed some work done. I did pay in cash and saved a bit because of it.
5. I walked home from the garage. A neighbor gave me a ride to pick it up. It saved me $20 in uber fees. I also got in 2 miles before 8 am. So that’s a win.
1. Free evergreen branches from neighbors tree look great in the large pots out front of my house.
2. Did 3 mystery shops today got a total of $30 in gas and candy and gun for stocking stuffers. Had to buy $10 of gas and spend $3 inside the store. All reimbursed. One store had big bags of Hershey kisses marked down to .50 each. I got 6 bags for my $3!
3. Our adult son has autism and sometimes puts holes in the walls. Decided just to hang posters or pictures over the holes instead of getting them fixed. No money spent.
4. Our medical insurance gives us $100 a year to work on our health. I completed mine in the spring. DH had never finished logging in his wellness/preventative visits and vaccines. So I logged in all the info and the $100 GC is on its way. No way I’d let that $ sit
5. Got a free ham last Easter. We don’t eat much ham so I cut it up and froze it in meal size portions. Some of the ham was dinner tonight with left over scalloped potatoes, sweet potatoes and rolls. Yum!
Frugal fail: I had another mystery shop today to have pizza delivered and evaluate the delivery service. Big fail. I got confused and did not order from the correct store. I ordered from the competitor. lol. Only good thing is now I have a free emergency pizza! Haha
1. Husband & I are going to a free lunch next week to hear a presentation on a subscription for ground and/or air ambulance rides. I called my insurance company & they said I was covered for this. I have to check on hubby’s plan. Maybe I will learn something about this service, cost, and so on.
2. Bought a pair of black scrub pants at the thrift store that go with 2 black scrub tops my sister gave me. I have noticed that the resale stores & Goodwill have raised their prices.
3. I have 2 pair of leather boots I will take to get reheeled. Nowadays they make shoes that can’t be repaired. One pair was made in England & I think they can be saved. Not sure about the Rockport brand ones.
4. Wearing my 30 year old Xmas sweatshirt for the season.
5. I found a pair of scissors when I trash picked. I haven’t found much lately. It is hit or miss.