Five Frugal Things
by Katy on February 22, 2025 · 60 comments
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I bought a three-pack of quality used hand towels at Goodwill for $4.99. I probably could’ve spent the same amount (or less) on low quality brand new ones from Schmeff Schmezos, but my dollars are my power. When we thrift, we divert usable items from the landfill, we put a dent in the overmanufacture of consumer goods.
Buy used whenever possible and think twice before you hand your money over to a billionaire!
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I finally sold the last of my five CathrineHolm enamel bowls, which I’d thrifted for two bucks apiece. I got $6o for it and it was a dream to box up as it was both small and non-breakable. My eBay sales are few and far between lately as I haven’t been thrifting very much, which made this sale extra satisfying.
I made a simple Instagram reel about thrifting the bowls, which went viral with over a millions views, which I’ve yet to repeat. Unfortunately, I wasn’t monetized at the time.
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I wasn’t even slightly frugal while my sister visited from New York, but our dollars went to locally owned iconic Portland establishments.
• ¿Porque No?
• Elephant’s Deli
• Horse Brass Pub
• Dan and Louis Oyster Bar
• The Heist food carts
• Berty Lou’s Cafe
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• I used secondhand supplies to mail out my eBay package.
• My youngest mentioned wanting to read a certain author, so I put four of his books on hold at the library.
• My husband and I continue to watch old ER episodes through my parents’ HBO account.
• I bought a pair of $9.99 jeans at Goodwill, only to bring them home and realize they fit oddly. (Hard pass on a droopy crotch!) I’ve stapled the receipt onto the price tag to make sure everything is in place for a successful return.
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I don’t have to take a financial loss selling my Tesla, as I never would’ve bought one in the first place.
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
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Who owns those spanky black and white wingtips? Ever since the 80s I’ve been crazy about those shoes. I’ve owned all white, white and navy and am currently on black and white. I guess wearing the same classic clothes for 30 years (as in my beloved light blue leather blazer, which gets trotted out twice a year at most in spring, because it’s usually too cold for it, and then it’s too hot. Then again, still, blue plus white or white and navy, possibly with a pleated skirt, always with two-tone brogues, IS spring to me.)
I came here to say the same thing- those shoes are FABULOUS!
Those shoes are my sister’s and were my Chanukah gift to her in 2023. They’re Doc Martin’s.
Oh yeah, the stitching on the soles do look like Docs.
I understand there is going to be a nationsixe boycott Feb 28 of Amazon, Walmart and all the large corporations who are kotowing to the orangeman Its ok to shop small businesses that day but not the big chains, including fast food joints
Nationwide
I’m on it!
We are all in for the boycott. Money talks.
Fru-gal Lisa, I’ve seen that in addition to the nationwide economic boycott, there will be several other boycotts after that to take aim at specific corporations. Don’t forget that Walmart owns Sam’s Club and Amazon owns Whole Foods. There’s an article on CNN that says Walmart is warning of a slower 2025, which will be bad for the economy. I haven’t read it because it’s behind a paywall, but I suspect that if a lot of Americans switch their shopping from these behemoth stores back to small businesses, 2025 will be bad for the corporate economy, but maybe less so for our local businesses. One can hope!
I’m looking forward to the 28th, when I can speak my mind with my wallet and be part of something big. I will be spending my time and money that day at my friend’s indy book store. If I need groceries, it will be at one of two family owned stores in my area. It feels good to be doing my own small part but has the potential to send a huge message to the new and unimproved Robber Barons. Collectively, we can do this!
Cathy and Christine,
Yessssss!!!!!!!!!!!!
FFT, Businesses I Already Boycott Edition:
(1) Amazon (and Whole Foods; no WF in my town, so that one’s super easy!)
(2) Walmart (and Sam’s Club)
(3) Hobby Lobby
(4) Chick-fil-a
(5) Tesla (this one’s super easy for me too, Katy!)
Same! You can also download the app called Goods Unite Us which will tell you the brands and the stores that are major contributors to the Republicans versus the Democrats or who stay out of politics altogether. I was shocked to discover that Hanes is a very much GOP brand. Check out the app…
Love this! Mwah!
I plan on participating in not participating in the current economy. My oldest daughter will be in town so if anything, I will be thrifting that day.
Now apparently there’s a call for a boycott of Airbnb. Gee, way to hurt some innocent rental owners. I got the “But there’s other platforms!” when I protested. The other platforms are useless. Maybe the people calling for a boycott should perhaps know something before they wreck MY small business.
Rose, I would love the link to your Airbnb if Katy is ok with you posting it.
Someone told me that when you support local businesses you should pay with cash. That gives the local establishments more money and keeps the mega banks from reaping the fees paid for using credit cards.
K D, good reminder. It’s always appreciated!
1. Dropped off another load of newspapers, toilet paper rolls (stuffed with straw they become toys for rodents), and cleaned and de-labeled medicine bottles at the animal shelter. Gets out clutter and although it is a small recycling gesture I feel good about it.
2. Am not renewing two magazine subscriptions that I started many, many years ago. I am now past the demographic they are geared to…farewell another part of my youth and middle age. Saves me about $30 this year.
3. Received a bag of lemons as a good customer award. Juiced them for future lemonade (which I drink instead of pop now), took as much zest as I could grate off, and put the husks down the garbage disposal to improve the smell. I think I got as much as I could out of that freebie.
4. The Dane came to us flinching when anyone came near his head. He finally stood still for a kiss on the forehead. Now he wants kisses on the forehead and asks for them by thrusting that anvil of a skull toward our lips. Yesterday he missed and cracked the husband’s glass frames so hard the arm fell off. Husband found an old pair of glasses that he kept around for parts, and Frankensteined a wearable pair of glasses. Saved us money. But I have to confess I hate it when he manages to dig out something he has been saving for 30 years and then triumphantly crows about his forethought in not having thrown it away. Finding one thing a year that he can use from his garage stash keeps him from getting rid of tons of things he will never use. Good thing he is so loveable.
Re: #3. I just discovered the trick of stacking lemon slices in a mason jar, adding water to about 1/2 inch from the top, and freezing it. When I have a gathering, I defrost it slightly and dump it into my glass beverage dispenser. Voila! Sliced lemons and ice in water. Wish I’d thought of this earlier in my life. I’ll never let a lemon go to waste again.
Whole lemons freeze beautifully
Really? That’s fascinating. How is the texture when they defrost?
Thanks for sharing this tip!
I love your #4. What a sweet dog and husband.
Poor Clobber Paws; we may have to start calling him Clobber Head! But I’m glad that he’s finally able to show affection, and that the husband was able to MacGyver his glasses–even if it does send him into another year of justifying his stash.
1. Didn’t have the canned tomatoes I thought I had so I improvised a tomato soup using Trader Joe’s Creamy Tomato Basic Pasta Sauce mixed with milk.
2. For my husband’s trip, I brought him to and from the airport and then did the same thing when he came home. We’re about 30 minutes from MSP so it was cheaper than an Uber ride or extended parking.
3. Diluted whole milk with some water to extend it. Whole milk is the same price as the other milk, so this way I’m getting extra product for the same amount of money.
4. Packed a lunch to eat when I was out on an errand marathon.
5. I didn’t buy a chainsaw.
Couple frugal fails:
1. Prepped some food items for my husband’s out-of-town trip, including transferring some peanut butter and butter into small containers so that he wouldn’t have to buy those items in larger quantities at his destination. TSA allowed the butter but not the peanut butter, saying there was too much of it and that my husband would either have to take some of it out or dump the whole thing. Had I been there, I would have used my finger to scoop out enough to make the container allowable. But I wasn’t, so my impatient and miffed husband dumped it all. Aarrgghh, such a waste of peanut butter and the container itself.
2. I left a light on in our garage for 24 hours.
LOVE the two-tone wing tips!!!!!
I’m envious of the multi colored shoes
They are beautiful, its winter, and I live rural. So mud
I’d have to put them on once I got to my destination.
1. So far have had a very fun and free weekend. Last night I went to a “pajama party” a friend hosted. Come in pjs, bring a snack, hang out with friends. She even put together cute little goody bags for us all! And today was a book club where we had a great discussion about “The Lincoln Highway”. The host loves to cook so he made Fettucine Mio Amore that is mentioned in the book! Now home and cozy on the couch with my husband watching “Nosfaratu” on Peacock, which we get for free through our phone contract I think.
2. I messaged someone on Facebook marketplace about a jacket I didn’t really need but wanted and it was a good price. When I asked her more questions about it, I decided I already had a number of jackets and didn’t need to buy another one just because it was a good brand priced well.
3. I got a pair of LL Bean waterproof booties a couple years ago for Christmas. I hadn’t really worn them because I didn’t like the look of them as much as I thought I would. But I still hung onto them. Yesterday I got them out and wore them both yesterday and today. I decided there was no real reason to not be wearing them. And if I was going to keep them, I was just going to put them to use. Silly to have just let them sit unused.
4. Have come up with a plan for a low spend for myself this year. I spent some time thinking about my values and what seemed worth spending money on and what didn’t. And it’s been helpful in evaluating potential purchases (like for instance, helped me realize there was no reason for me to spend money on a jacket when I don’t NEED a jacket).
5. Have been listing a Tiny Little Joy each day on my social media of a picture of something small that I really paid attention to and felt joy (seeing yellow berries against the white snow, the sun making a rare appearance through my window, watching my dog roll around in the snow, etc). It feels like a small act of resistance.
Oh, and I darned three more socks! It’s weirdly fun!
1. Ibotta had a deal at Stop & Shop for Garelick cottage cheese (reimbursed $3.74) and a Kinder chocolate bar ($1.69). However, the cottage cheese was $3.69 and the chocolate was on sale for $.99, but Ibotta reimbursed the total amount. That, plus my 6% back meant that I made $1.02 in profit by buying them.
2. I stopped in at Ocean State Job Lot to buy cookies to serve as part of the dessert (see #3). I went to pay (with a gift certificate that I got for 40% back on all purchases the week before) and it scanned at a higher amount than the price on the shelf. MA laws mean I got the cookies for free and save that gift certificate for another day.
3. Partner who works at a CSA pickup had a customer not pick up 3 boxes: produce, mushrooms & citrus, so partner could bring them all home for free. Part of the 10 pounds of citrus (grapefruit, satsuma, kumquats, blood oranges) are now citrus compote, to top panna cotta for a dinner party tomorrow night. We dried the shiitake mushrooms and powdered the lion’s mane mushrooms (the latter of which I will add to soups and braises, etc).
4. I realized today that BJ’s membership offers a discount for teachers (as well as first responders, nurses, etc), so I sent in my information to be verified to get a discount rate of $25 rather than $60, saving $35 annually.
5. I almost bought some cut flowers for the centerpiece for tomorrow’s dinner party but instead chose to use the remaining citrus in a bowl. We are having Italian, so the blood oranges look particularly appropriate.
Wow, Betta, what a score on your #3!
1. I enjoyed my birthday Thursday and received some flowers and had a picnic with my husband for our outing. I took advantage of my free Sbux but I am cancelling the app now because of their DEI position. For shame! No more from those dudes. Luckily, we have Dutch Brothers, and they also have an app and give birthday freebies, and you don’t have to have it on the actual day.
2. I have been revamping my back yard. I have had to buy soil, but I bought from Lowe’s instead of Home Depot, because I appreciate their politics more than HD. I had bought some marked down lumber in December, so saved about 75% of the cost for my new planter boxes. I’ve been laying out the new ones this weekend.
3. I bought some used wine barrels for planting in from a super nice young dude in Wine Country (Sonoma), for $35, which is the best price I could find. I only need to drill the water holes myself (I didn’t want to pay an extra $10 per barrel for the holes. Think about that — buying holes???)
4. About to go get my free birthday pizza from Papa Murphy’s, which is take and bake. They gave me $16.99 off the price, but with tax and tip, this pizza cost me about $10. So it’s free-ish. Cheap is good!
5. I have been painting my new beehive setup; I got low cost frames via Craigslist and my locally owned A-to-Z Hardware, which also has a nursery and beekeeping equipment. I painted the exteriors with paint I already had, a roller and tray I had, and then I stenciled some bees on the outside using a previously used stencil and some spray paint I already had. It looks adorable (white boxes, black bee stencils, and a metallic copper lid — looks very bougie).
6. I bought a very long canvas curtain at the thrift yesterday and I already have a curtain rod that will fit this doorway. I need to put up the rod so we can close off that open doorway to upstairs, which sucks all the heat upward. It will save us some money not to heat the whole house.
Julia,
I curtain off parts of my house, and it is absolutely amazing how much warmer the lived-in areas are!
@Julia — it sounds like we might be “neighbors” or at least possibly neighboring counties. Are in Sonoma??
I grew up there, and we were living in Forestville, but we moved up to grass Valley in 2020. My sister and brother and parents still live in Sonoma County so we go down there frequently. Also, one of my daughters lives there.
The puckered old man that owns HD is always whining that “no one wants to work”. Well when people can work FT, with benefits, and a more than just surviving wage, you might find some good workers.
1. I had a coupon for $1 off two Pillsbury cake mixes or cans of frosting. I knew the Dollar Store had Pillsbury cake mixes for $1.25 each. I picked up two of them and ended up paying .75 a box.
2. I used one to make a cake for a friend who has a birthday this week. She had DH and I over to her house for lunch and we had the cake for dessert.
3.DD has a birthday next weekend so the other mix will be for her birthday cake. I make my own frosting with butter, confectionery sugar, Almond extract and a little milk.
4. My indy book store friend gave me an advance copy of a set on and around the Appalachian Trail, Heartwood, which I’ve been enjoying.
5. I did not romp about on stage with a maniacal grin on my face wielding a chainsaw.
…copy of a BOOK…fast brain, slow fingers here or maybe it’s the other way around…
Apartheid boy couldn’t start that chainsaw if his life depended on it.
1. I made breakfast burritos for the week using sausage bought from a local farm, and eggs bought from a friend with backyard chickens for $4.00/dz. Win/win for us both.
2. My husband and I braved the cold and shoveled our driveway ourselves.
3. After being snowed in most of the week was I tempted to go out for dinner last night but served leftovers instead.
4. Continued reading library books for entertainment.
5. Continuing to postpone unnecessary purchases. I am not a federal employee, but my job is federally funded and I’m the main breadwinner in my family. Fortunately we have an emergency fund and my husband’s job should be secure, should the worst happen
My thoughts are with you, Laura! The effect of the dismantle will be far-reaching.
1. I hung my wet laundry to dry on racks.
2. I’m drinking my coffee at home and enjoying the sunrise.
3. I’m reading another library book on my kindle.
4. I bought the cheaper gas at Costco when I was in that neck of the woods.
5. I took advantage of the $2.50 ibotta reward and purchased eggs at Trader Joe’s on Friday.
1. We got McDonalds for a treat on free fry Friday, which you can combine with the buy one chicken sandwich, get the second for $0.99 offer.
2. My local thrift store was having their monthly clear out sale. I spent an hour and $9 to leave with an Eileen Fisher sweater, Duluth Trading Co flannel shirt, Mammut 1/4 zip fleece, Vince Camuto top, Terzo Millenio linen top, and a Max Studio merino wool cardigan. Might keep the cardigan and the rest will be listed.
3. I sold one book on FB Marketplace for $5.
4. I am super proud of this. My son spotted an underpriced listing on ebay for a Nintendo DS + 2 Pokemon games, and recognized it as a good flip. It arrived yesterday and he cleaned everything up, took photos, and relisted each item.
5. I patched a vintage quilt that it turns out is maybe too delicate for everyday use.
1. Brought home extra groceries left from our airbnb stay and promptly ate them.
2. Making an Asian stir fry with half a pound of ground turkey instead of a full pound
3. Sticking to our grocery budget even though I want to go to the store for some favorites we are out of (potatoes!!) making due with what we have
4. Working HARD to keep electric bill as low as possible and succeeding. Our power provider gives us estimates and we were looking at $750. Got it to $390. Whew!
5. We both bought coffee at a local coffee house. We normally drink at home but supported local biz occasionally as a treat.
1. Walked to store to get a couple loss leaders for treats.
2. Skipped getting a take out coffee which was what was going to be my Saturday treat. Could not justify $3+ for a small coffee.
3. Used vinegar to descale coffee maker and dish washer to improve functionality of both.
4. Made cookie dough with more Christmas baking leftovers, freezing 2/3 dough for future use.
5. Rolled over CD’s in full so was not tempted to splurge on non-needs right now.
I think I want to put some money into a CD. It’s been a while since I’ve done that. Also, that is a genius trick with the cookie dough. I think I will do the same.
If I’m going to think twice before I hand my money to a billionaire or corporation I can’t come to your site to enjoy frugal things. The advertisers on your site can collect my ip address my location my browsing habits my email address my phone number and use that information to increase their wealth and power. They pay you for the privilege to use it themselves and also sell it to others and perhaps it even ends up on elons and others AI platforms.
I struggle with this but will have to make decisions. Maybe there is no escape and we are all just resources to be used for someone else’s profit.
Another modern day dilemma I’m thinking on after reading about a court case in Utah.
“Ruby Franke’s Daughter, 11, Speaks Out About Her ‘Ruined’ Childhood Tied to Mom’s Vlogging: ‘I Am Stuck with the Trauma’
I feel like my mom used me for money,” the preteen said in a letter read by her dad during a recent hearing”
Are family blogs/vlogs modern day sweatshops?
Where do they pick up email address and phone number, if I do not directly give those to a website?
I am not sure how much “incognito” browsing or other workarounds take care of some of the tracking you identify.
Incidentally, I work very hard to not share my cell phone number. I find that entering all zeros in the required field sometimes gets me over that step on a form.
Wallet buster edition:
1) My furnace died after 20 odd years- it was actually older than the house it was installed in- the housebuilder probably found an old unused model in the back of the warehouse somewhere. I took the opportunity to just go ahead and put in an entire new system- repaired ducts, new furnace & heat pump system. I also got a a service agreement. It was $21K. OY VEY! This is right AFTER replacing my roof! Ah, the joys of home ownership!
( the net cost will probably be between $15k-17K with Oregon Energy Trust and possible Federal tax rebates. I used to do sales and given inflation, the costs are not awful. The people came out the very next and did an incredible job)
2) Not participating in unnecessary consumer activity makes these unexpected costs a bit easier to bear. Wearing a capsule wardrobe for back to work, walking for exercise, using my already purchased cosmetics instead of being seduced by the newest advertisement, using my library for books and media materials, and eating meals from home and support my local deli 1-2x a week at work.
3) Just as I got back to work with a new system, I came down with something awful. Again, somehow NOT COVID, but the FLU, which I did not get an updated shot for (looking at my records I got the COVID vax but did not follow up with the flu vax). Also, I was lax with masking while taking the MAX , which – my god, my god, I should have known better. Y’all mask when you can, and be careful!
4) I spent $70 on delivery due to be sick- broth fixings, pho, fruit, vegetables, tea. Don’t share your germs – this is the time to use Uber Eats or Door Dash.
5) Will be working from home for the next week, and my cruddy plan does allow for telemedicine for any next steps.
Bonus: None of the what is going on at the Federal level is legal (such rearrangment of the government requires both congress and judicial approval) and the liability this is causing will cost the both government and the economy long term.
My frugal things:
Husband and I both renewed our library cards.
My Bissell hand-held steamer had been recalled, so I jumped through the hoops to get a $60 credit on their website so I could get one that’s safe. I have a 34 cent charge on my card now to cover the last bit of sales tax.
I sell on Ebay, but have little desire to do any reselling right now. I decided I didn’t need to have the 4.95/month store any more. If it ever benefits me to have that level store again, I can always add it back.
Earned 35,000 Fetch points for scanning my Costco executive membership receipt.
I got my pneumonia vaccine (recommended if you are over 50) and my husband got his second shingles vaccine. My insurance paid the $350.99 for Prevnar 20 and the $263.99 for Shingrix. Next up for me in a couple weeks: Tdap (recommended every 10 years for adults). Husband goes next week for pneumonia shot, I get second Shingrix in the next 1-2 months and we will be all caught up on these long-term vaccines.
My paper shredder would only work in reverse. The internet told me a sensor might be blocked by paper, so I worked for quite a while to clear the shreds. Plugged it in, turned it on, it started running, and I said “Woo hoo I fixed it!” to my husband. And then the thing literally blew up with my face 2 feet from it. (Now that it’s just a memory I can’t help but picture Daffy Duck with things exploding in his face. Thankfully my bill didn’t fall off.) I washed my face and rinsed my mouth out, and eventually had to shower to get the chemical smell off me. My cheeks burned a little but nothing major. I feel VERY lucky not to have suffered any serious injury. There were a few bits of paper in the bottom and they caught on fire, which we promptly put out with our fire extinguisher. I’ll put this in the win category because nothing was damaged except the shredder and also because I have zero desire to go out and purchase a new machine.
WOAH, Susan! I am so glad you weren’t (seriously) hurt – that sounds like a very frightening then scary situation – the explosion, the fire, the chemical smell, the nightmares of huge shredders chasing you down the street….
Glad you didn’t lose your duck bill….
I trust you will contact the manufacturer and follow through? a rebate, at least, should be offered.
Yowza
Wow! I bet that was scary! Happy you weren’t injured.
I’m sorry that happened to you Susan. It’s must have been so unexpected and frightening. Who ever knew a shredder could blow up? Glad you’re ok.
Holy crap Susan! I’m glad you’re ok.
1. Hear you on the $ spending power. I am still proactively divorced from Wally, Jeffy, and the other losers and I feel pretty good about my freedom. This weekend, I spent my dollars at a local Indian market, stocking up on 4lb bags of red lentils, chana dal and moong beans on sale for $3/bag. I bought a bit of produce too but still trying to not spend much and use what I have.
2. Thrifted a pair of comfy work pants for RTO (if I am not fired first by chainsaw welding maniacs). I also found a cute flannel shirt (like new) that seems to sell well on eBay, so I will list it.
2a. Speaking of the maniac, I did come up with 5 big things I accomplished last week at work on a personal Word doc and I love it so much I plan to use them on my resume update. I guess I should thank him for the motivation!
3. I made really yummy black bean/butternut squash/spinach veggie burgers (from marked down spinach and a little bit of butternut left over from making curry last week). I ate one and I will freeze the other nine. I also made a soup with the last of a curry leftover. I swear this curry is never ending. I need to make less of things (or freeze half) since it mainly just me eating it these days.
4. Finally had some warmer weather and less icy conditions, so dog and I took a long walk both Sat and Sun. I need to get back into the routine. It’s been a snowy January and February. I am still missing my other little dog (house has a definite void).
5. Planted the rest of my winter sowing jugs (tomatoes, eggplant and peppers). Again, love this method for starting seeds. I hope to grow a big garden this year.
Bonus: Found a forgotten, after holidays clearance box of Dolly Parton sugar cookies in the back of a cupboard. Added lemon and they were a very nice and needed treat.
Good sell on those bowls! I’m planning to try selling some items on ebay. My mother-in-law has been very successful reselling Jewlery and high-brand clothes.
1. My daughter wore a new (Thrifted) skirt today. It looked super cute on her!
2. Went on a walks for free exercise and found a penny.
3. Got a coffee jar and put some change in it. I’m calling it my “20 year anniversary money. ” It’s 2 years away, so I want to start saving now.
4. I finished one library book and started another.
5. My son waited to put his clothes in the dryer until our free night electric rates turned on… Thanks son !
Good morning all!
1. I am signed up for volunteer orientation for our local mutual aid network/food bank tonight. My first shift is Wednesday. I’ve put off getting involved with them for too damn long. Volunteering is free, my time is worth more than the $20 I can throw them, and it’s time to invest in my community.
2. Spent the weekend in the neighborhood and spending time with friends. Only supported local restaurants and shopped local stores for birthday gifts.
3. The freezer has served us well: with all our travel the past month or so I have been dropping leftovers in there every few days. This weekend yielded japanese curry, buffalo chicken dip (I knew I’d be excited to find it), mashed potatoes, and chicken cutlets. We are eating welllllllll and with everything frozen for only a few weeks, no weird textures or freezer burn. I’m very satisfied!
4. Found a pair of jeans that I never wore because they fit funny in the back of my drawer. They fit great now. My body hasn’t changed – maybe my perception? Either way, I’ll take it!
5. I did not fire the only NPS employee who knows how to open locked bathroom stalls and free trapped park visitors.
1) I fixed our toilet. I’m proud of myself for figuring-it-out, getting it done relatively quickly and stopping the leak.
2) I cleaned out a closet. Suddenly we didn’t need to buy flannel sheets, my husband had back-up medical supplies and I have a ton of worn out sheets for my sewing mock-ups. It’s amazing what was hiding in there! I also found some slightly worn quilts that are begging to be made into jackets (not handmade quilts, just thrifted mass-marked things).
3) I finally finished making two summer dresses, one with thrifted fabric. All notions for both dresses were thrifted. My buttons can be cousins, they don’t have to be quintuplets. Besides, on this design they are covered by a placket.
4) Another thrifted sheet was cut up to make a summer skirt. This seems to be an annual tradition for me- making summer clothes at the ragged end of winter. It’s good for the soul.
5) Still rocking the thrifted and me-made wardrobe, taking the bus, making my own lunches and coffee and doing that meal planning. It’s not exciting, but it keeps us solvent.
I have a couple of frugal things this week and I’m so excited!
1. I paid $124.00 to the nice local appliance repair man to change out the drain pump in my washing machine. It’s much cheaper than a new one and I had researched how to do it myself and it was more than I wanted to undertake.
2. Rather than choosing the convenience of ordering sewing machine oil, interfacing and thread and contributing to billionaires’ wallets, I drove 40 minutes to support my local quilt shop. I’m not a quilter but they had everything I needed, plus.
3.We have been eating at home, though we did splurge at a local, not a chain, BBQ place to have dinner with family.
4. My husband is keeping his slowly dying work truck going rather than shopping for another. The one he has now has over 200,000 miles on it but he thinks he can keep for another year. Unfortunately, in our area it’s the body that goes first because of all the salt that gets used on the roads.
5. We are expanding our already large gardens this year. That is if the snow ever melts and it ever gets warm again, which I’m beginning to doubt.
Mostly, I’m trying to do my tiny part by speaking with my wallet. We have friends who have been affected by the current regimes out of control cuts. We will be supporting our locally owned businesses and our local farmers as much as we can, while being as self-sufficient as possible. I try to remember that the cheapest solution isn’t always the most frugal.