Five Frugal Things
by Katy on December 23, 2024 · 10 comments
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When pushed to come up with a few holiday gift ideas, my daughter asked for a blender. I was able to find a Cuisinart Duet model on Facebook Marketplace for $15, which was much better than the $90 it would have cost new. I had to drive across town, but that was okay with me.
I have other gifts for her, which I’ll include separately in a future “what I gave for Christmas/Chanukah” post.
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I stopped at Safeway on the way home as my husband had grocery shopped for his work lunch supplies without using one of my 10%-off coupons. He’d spent sixty-some dollars, but that was enough for me to bring the receipt plus the coupon to customer service.
The clerk asked if I was sure I wanted to use the use the coupon for such a low purchase as “this coupon can get you 10% off $200!” I spent a moment wondering if he had a fair point, after all $20 is nothing to sneeze at. But then I realized that’s there’s no way I would ever spend $200 at Safeway, as all I ever buy there are sale items or last minute emergency ingredients. Spending $180 would get me dramatically less food, when compared to shopping at my beloved Winco. I took a deep breath and accepted $6.25 and walked over to the cheese aisle, where I picked up a pair of $6.49 sale priced Tillamook cheese blocks and nothing else.
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I sold the $7.99 thrifted needlepoint rooster for $75 through Facebook Marketplace. I’d had it up on eBay for almost a month with no interest, so I cross listed it locally. The photos were already taken and the description was pre-written, so there was no reason to not complete this extra step.
I think I’ll go through my eBay listings and find a few more items to list locally. People shop like crazy in the lead up to Christmas, so I might as well give them the opportunity to buy my stuff!
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• The 10%-off coupon was one of three that someone in my Buy Nothing group gifted to me. They’re given out when you get your vaccinations at Safeway.
• My neighbors dropped off a yummy looking can of peppermint cocoa, which’ll be great to have on hand, even though the ten-day forecast shows nothing but dreary rain. I tend to save cocoa for snowy days but it might be time to rethink this policy.
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I didn’t buy any vulgar gold plated apartments in the sky.
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
I really liked that rooster art. So glad it sold!
1. I stopped at PetSmart to use my free coupons from the Purina App for cans of dog and cat food. Once home I scanned each bar code and wrote a review for each earning 50pts per review. I use my points to get $10 off a bag of cat food for the stray cats.
2. I had a bad bag of chips. They were rancid. I contacted the company. They refunded my money and gave me two coupons for a free bag of chips. I waited until my grocery store had Buy Two Get Two. I got 4 bags of chips for the holidays for free!
3. My friend needed some gifts for a last minute guest. I was able to give her a bag of new items from my gift stash.
4. Sold a snowman shower curtain for $10 that I paid less than a dollar for.
5. Scanning all my receipts into the appropriate apps. I do this in the evening while we watch TV.
1. DD texted me a screenshot of an ad from a local-ish produce /garden store. They will be closing for the season in a few days so apples and hard squashes are on sale. We wanted to get out of the house so we drove over there. I bought a box of apples and a couple buttercup squashes (they were $.50 each). There was another customer filling her cart with the squashes. I have never had that variety but at that price I’m willing to try them.
2. I gave away more items via the Buy Nothing group. One of the recipients is a neighbor I had not met. She lives around the corner. It never hurts to know more neighbors.
3. DH receives gifts at work he does not want. We don’t drink wine nor eat chocolates that contain sulfites. We will regift/giveaway those items.
4. A SIL mentioned a candy we last made at least 30 years ago. It is called Almond Butter Crunch and is a recipe from Yankee magazine. We will see her next week so we made a batch and it is still delicious. I used my long dormant candy thermometer which is circa 1980. As my sister says the older items are better. This is a modified version of the recipe: https://katebattistelli.com/food/special-occasionsholidays/christmas-cookies-3-and-by-cookies-i-mean-candy/
The recipe I have calls for sliced almonds. My recipe says to cook to 295 degrees. I used dark chocolate chips and more pecans than the recipe called for.
5. It is cold out and I am layered up.
I don’t know what type of gifts you need , but I like the “Blind date with a book” idea. I have a big supply of books plus I can always pick some up in free little libraries since I frequently donate to them. There are so many cool ways to wrap them up if you check online.
Speaking of wrapping books: many, many holidays ago, I had a niece who was in the first grade and reading so much, they couldn’t keep her in books. I went to the used bookstores and bought several children’s story books (I looked through them to ensure they were in like-new condition). They didn’t cost very much at all; I think I used some of my credits at that store. A crafts show vendor sold (inexpensive) handmade fabric bookworms, meant to be a stuffed animal of sorts, and I got one. He was real cute, made with several puffs of fabric and he wore eyeglasses and a graduation cap. At home, I wrapped each book separately and in a different wrapping paper. I stacked the books — not in a straight-line stack but sort of haphazardly, each one in right angles to the book below it– and taped them together. I fastened the bookworm on top of this pile. It resulted in a colorful display, and I put it under the tree just like that. The little girl was able to unwrap all the different books — she loved to unwrap things — and then she also had a toy for her room. All the wrapping paper made a colossal mess, but our littlest reader loved her gift!
1. I took two bags of bagels back to Market Basket as they had gone moldy before the sell-by date. Received my $5 back.
2. Grandson16 came over yesterday and helped me make cookies for my Christmas Eve party. These cookies and the fudge I already made will be dessert at the party.
3. Although bitterly cold here in Massachusetts, we’re keeping warm wearing layers and using blankets while watching TV or reading in the house all while keeping the heat at 64, 60 at night while sleeping. One extremely cold day I put longjohns on under my sweatpants. Kept me warm.
4. I bought 8 pounds of meatball mix on sale (at 4.49 a pound…sheeeesh) and made 4 pounds of Swedish meatballs for my Christmas Eve party and 4 pounds for DS and DIL’s party on Christmas Day. Meatballs sure isn’t cheap anymore but people seem to look forward to them.
5. I found another old string of lights and DH strung them on the front porch. That along with the red berries he found in a nearby swampy area make for a simple but pretty Christmasy look for the house.
We are flying to Portland this evening, and your post reminded me to add the teens rain jackets to their bag. My OSU boy was already prepared, but my still California teen had forgotten. We don’t get much rain here!
1) We are parking at the airport (already priced out, and parking vs ride share is significantly cheaper) & I pre-booked a month or so ago, to save another 20% off.
2) My sister is picking us up at the airport, and will drive us to/from my parents house. (She lives close to the airport, and is also going to/from my parents). This saves us from renting a car.
3) I have United plus points (for upgrades) that I can’t use. I gifted a bunch to DH’s coworkers. They very rarely clear, but at least someone has a chance. This guy must have the magic touch, because two of his international upgrades have cleared! Today’s was worth $6k, if you wanted to pay for it with cash. It’s not allowed to sell these, so people often thank you with a gift card. He bought us a $200 thank you gift card, which was lovely. I’m just glad someone is getting some use out of these.
4) I filled out a videod shopping experience (I bought a pair of workout pants on eBay) for a survey site. It failed repeatedly & took a lot of effort to complete. They marked it as not getting paid (due to the glitches, which were on their side,) which really annoyed me. I reached out to support and was able to get my $75.
5) Gave out our Christmas gifts to our teens last night (we open them early, given we travel for Christmas) & most gifts were very practical (hat, gloves, toiletry bag, etc) &very well received. There was also some cash & a gift card + snacks. Nothing outlandish.
1. I cut off a pair of my grandsons lightweight sweatpants that had holes in the knees. I then hemmed them to make a nice pair of shorts. They will be too small for him, but now they are a viable item to donate. Someone else will get use from them.
2. Switched 2 cushion covers to better go with their new rooms and give me a feeling of something new. Also put up art my kids did in high school that I’d gotten smaller prints of, and moved a mirror. We’re not hosting so I can do some non-, Christmas ‘fluffing’
3. I’ve been able to make 4 dinners even though my husband said we needed food and the fridge is indeed VERY bare.
4. My husband volunteered to go to Costco on Saturday. I jumped at that since I hate all stores in the lead up to Christmas, and particularly Costco. Frugal because he bought exactly what was on the list and I would probably have made an impulse purchase
5. Darned a nice wool sweater and sewed some reinforcing strips on a huge reusable shopping bag that is 10 years old and that I use all the time. It was tearing where the handles (already replaced) attached to the bag. It’s just the right size for packing for trips and I love the graphics, so I’m happy to make it last even longer.
Happy Christmas week to everyone! I appreciate you all!
Kara, you are so sweet to go to the effort of converting the too-small sweatpants to shorts. Most folks would have just tossed them or cut ’em up for cleaning rags, but you took the time to make something nice out of it, and then you were generous enough to donate it. I’m sure some little kid will greatly enjoy his new pair of shorts! On behalf of the charity shop and the eventual wear-er, thank you.
Hot cocoa is so cozy and delicious this time of year. And I definitely vote that you change your cocoa policy to include the rainy days as well! Yum. Nice of your neighbor to share some with you.
I am working every p.m. shift until Christmas Eve and our store is getting lots and lots of business. I am just thankful I’m not employed at Walmart or some other big box store; ours is crazy enough. Two more days, two more days….
the worst will be late on Christmas Eve (we’re supposed to close early, LOL. Usually can’t!) as all the men wait until the VERY last minute to buy their ladies some fancy perfume. Glad I don’t work in the cosmetic dept.!
Pls. readers, tell the men in your life NOT to wait until 4 p.m. or later on Dec. 24 to buy gifts. It will be crazy busy and stuff may be all sold out by then.
1. They’re having a potluck on Tuesday at the store. The manager will buy BBQ from the BBQ joint next door and we’re supposed to bring sides and desserts. Problem is, I usually get potluck items from OUR store and I can’t do that this time. So after work last night I went to Target (or as I pronounce it, Tar-JAY, with a French accent) and got a $4.99 plate of cookies. That will suffice and it will keep me from having to bake/cook something. (Never mind the fact my oven is broken! I’m dead tired; see above.)
2. Will also add in some cookies I was given. They taste strange, so I will “regift” them in the potluck. Put ’em on a plate and we’re good to go.
3. Took Christmas cards up and down the street and placed them in my neighbor’s boxes. Post office may not like it, but I don’t like their high stamp prices either.
4. Most of my Christmas cards were bought at thrift stores, sent to me as free samples or bought at post-holiday sales in which the boxes of cards were 75% off. I have a big stash from years past! Also reusing all the gift bags and bows from prior years.
5. Wearing my thrifted sweaters from Christmases past. Getting a lot of compliments, even on the one I consider my ugly sweater.