Five Frugal Things
by Katy on February 24, 2025 · 18 comments
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My husband and I share a single car, which is only possible because he rides an electric bike to and from work. (It also helps that I no longer have an 18 mile commute!) Our monovehicular status is an occasional issue, but mostly not. I’ve hired a Lyft three times over the past year, which is decidedly cheaper than owning, insuring and maintaining an extra vehicle.
It saves us a tremendous amount of money, plus it gives me the occasional excuse to laze about hunker down at home. Today is one of those days, as my husband needed to get from Portland to Vancouver, Washington for baseball practice. We’ll probably get a second car at some point, but we’re good for now.
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The backup key fob for our youngest’s Prius hadn’t worked for awhile, and the story was something about it being programmed incorrectly. I decided to do some troubleshooting and was able to get it to function by simply replacing the button battery. I did watch a two-and-a-half minute YouTube video to figure it out, but I’m still inordinately proud of myself. The best part was that I already had the battery on hand, so no money was spent.
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I helped my 26-year-old file their taxes, which was free due to their income level. I didn’t actually do anything beyond serve as a sounding board, but it’s always good to have someone there to answer questions, even when you don’t have any.
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My husband switched from deli meat sandwiches to grilled chicken over rice for his work lunches. This is cheaper, healthier and I imagine a more enjoyable meal. He works 12-hour shifts and needs to pack both lunch and dinner.
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Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
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{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
So nice of you to help with the taxes! I’ve put it off longer than usual this year.
My frugal five…
1. Groomed the dog myself. While I loved supporting our locally owned groomer our pups anxiety was increasing. This way I save, and he stays relaxed.
2. Went to lunch with Mom for her birthday. We shared a meal and enjoyed a walk afterwards before heading home for some card games.
3. Enjoyed two family board game nights with the pre-loved, thrifted games we already own.
4. Shopped a local farm for our weekly produce.
5. Continued to use ALL the library services possible…. checked out physical books, Hoopla books, Libby books, and registered for free classes. Supporting local public library programs are of the most importance right now.
We’re a one car couple too and like you said, it works out most of the time. Occasionally I need to ask a child or grandchild for a lift, but it is very rare, maybe once or twice every year.
1. DH and I plus my friend’s daughter attended an outdoor Nordic Festival which centered on the book Beowulf. Our tickets were comped by King Rothgar aka my stepson who played him during performances. The tickets being $30 each, this was quite a savings.
2. We parked away from the venue and took a shuttle bus to the event which saved us $20 in parking fees.
3. We did buy pizza and hot cider as we want to support them.
4. Walking up to get the pizza, which was served in a barn with seating, I found a 5-dollar bill blowing in the wind under a picnic table. No one was sitting at the picnic table, so I kept it. Into the found change jar it went as soon as we got home.
5. I did not send federal employees a particularly insulting and cruel letter asking them what they did last week for work.
1. Was supposed to make jerk chicken to go with Jamaican mac and cheese. Kept putting making the marinade, which should be overnight, off. Instead we just ate Jamaican mac and cheese.
2. In the eternal downsizing, I found two very nice antique embroidered runners that i’d forgotten about. I’d also forgotten or never knew they had brown staining. As it happens I have a specialized cleaner for antique linens that took almost all the stains out in the first five minutes. I’ll let them soak a bit longer, but they’re about 95% perfect already.
3. Benadryled the puppies before clipping their nails. Sheesh. I’ve had one dog in 40 years of owning dogs who hasn’t been a nutcase about it. The cat also acted like I was committing a war crime when I furminated his very long hair.
4. Also in downsizing/decluttering I found some books I’d forgotten about and am now rereading some after 20 years or so.
5. I don’t work for the federal government so I couldn’t be fired by Shmelon Schmuck when I told him where exactly he could stick his bullet points.
Rose, you’re not the only one struggling to clip doggie toenails. Our dog Ruby will let us do it, but isn’t happy about it. Our granddog Freya, however, has to literally be pinned down by Grandma, while Grandpa clips. She struggled so much that we finally gave up on the back claws. (They weren’t as bad, anyways.)
We lavishly celebrated Husband’s birthday by: going to a terrific pizza place, then a nearby Amish bakery for fried pies. (Then to the Amish grocery store, because we were nearby.) Finally on to a nearby hot springs resort, where we saved by using the senior discount (yay!), but splurged on the adults-only ‘greenhouse’ area (boooo… but it was Husband’s specific request, and only cost $4/person more). The weird part: the greenhouse felt like a singles bar — but with swimsuits.
Katy, as always, you are a dear. And I enjoy even the pickiest of savings. Smart you, to figure out the car key issue.
1. Made a batch of gluten-free cupcakes at home for my husband’s birthday. Just the package of mix, which made 15 cupcakes, was a dollar less than one GF cupcake at the bakery. Aldi GF cake mix for the win!
2. It took some fiddling, but I put the library Hoopla app on our TV last night so we can watch 3 free programs per month.
3. Ironed some fabric for a sewing project and then ironed the fold lines out of the paper pattern pieces while the iron was still warm.
4. Used a scrap piece of Contact paper to make some simple self-adhesive labels for the canisters and jars holding sugars and dried fruit in the cupboard. The old vinyl labels were brittle and did not want to stick any more after 10 years.
5. Sewed a patch on the canvas privacy panel on our back fence, using some fabric I rescued from being sent to the trash about 15 years ago. It was a partial giant roll of off-white muslin and has been useful for so many projects. There’s only a couple feet of it left.
Bonus: I did not conduct any disgraceful shenanigans with a chainsaw.
1. Husband is finding our new-last-summer mattress to be softer than he likes. I put the lid of a large Rubbermaid under-the-bed box between the mattress and box spring on his side. He said it was a little firmer. I had no large heavy cardboard or plywood sheets– any other ideas for firming up a mattress?
2. Sending a book from a three for a dollar yard sale box to a friend who misplaced his copy. Re-using old box and packing material.
3. Local grocery chain is celebrating remodeling of some stores, though not mine, so they sent coupons in the mail. Berries are very good prices, especially as I don’t think they are in season, and I am freezing extra blueberries from Mexico.
4. Have not filed taxes yet but did the calculations. Although we owe this year, I think I have deductions figured out right so we should about break even next year, depending as well on what if any changes are made to tax brackets for the less affluent like us.
5. I appreciate the energy of people making good choices for themselves and their family and friends, and for the country and the world! as people post on this blog. Slava Ukraini!
#1: How about a blanket on the floor?
#2: So thoughtful! What a good friend you are.
#5: Ditto and amen.
Thank you!
He doesn’t need the bed as hard as the floor, fortunately. And we have both reached the age where getting up off the floor looks sort of like loaded camels, rising rear end first, so the floor has different challenges.
Katy, good job on the key fob.
1. haven’t grocery shopped for 3 weeks, however had to get a few things this AM because I was out of salad stuff. Found a large plastic tub of baby mixed greens for 1.81 marked down!!!!
2. still drying all laundry on the racks although I did have to loosen some things up in the dryer with a couple spins.
3. staying out of the 2 local stores that openly advertise their love for tRump.
4.repaired some spots in the drywall that needed some help.
5. made new covers for 5 bed pillows and restuffed them. The material was from an old mattress ticking….Blue and white stripes.
6. will not spend my money in support of “them”. I would rather do with out.
Your husband sounds like a creature of habit as I recall many years of you talking about his lunches of sandwiches, yogurt, fruit, etc. The fact that he’s switched is a game-changer, I’m sure!
Here’s my 5FT this week:
1. I’m still staying away from Target, which I wish was not as big of deal as it is. I had made a weekly habit of visiting the store for one or two grocery items that I couldn’t get at Grocery Outlet, but it always ended up that I’d buy things mindlessly that were on sale. I’m choosing to spend my dollars differently this year.
2. I visited the newly expanded $ tree a bit further from my house and was rewarded with a knock-off version of the $12 conditioner I purchased at Target. It was $3. Also bought box of pasta for a chicken noodle soup I was making.
3. Bought some Converse sneakers for my son via FB marketplace. This involved driving 15 mins to the next town over, but the shoes were worn once for a wedding and they looked brand new. Saved $30 vs buying new.
4. We are fostering a 6-week-old puppy with a broken leg, who we’ve decided to keep. I don’t know how we thought we could give him back! This is a frugal thing as all of his medical care, food, and toys are covered by the rescue. This is the rescue where we got our dear pup, Maple, who died last month at the age of 6 from an aggressive Lymphoma. We started volunteering to help heal from the loss and here we are. 🙂 He is bringing a lot of joy to our lives,.
5. We are planning our twin sons’ 14th birthday party for this weekend. They chose to ride the train (free for youth) to the next town over, go to a bike/skate park, and we’ll treat the group to pizza and treats (homemade brownies and cookies, per their request). The cost will be the pizzas and our train tickets (2), so less than $100 hopefully.
Your #5…sounds like a perfect party for your 14 year olds and friends. Happy Birthday to them! Under $100 is not bad for a party for two kids.
#4: I’ve never made it more than 4 (joyless) weeks between dogs. Sounds like a match made in heaven.
1. The sales at my local Publix weren’t that inspiring this sales cycle. Instead I went on Aisle rebates and found several things for free after rebate at Target and bought those items and was refunded within hours. The items included a pizza, watermelon drink, date brownies, a protein bar, and puffy snap pea snacks. Three of the four items are gone already and I’ll probably eat the pizza tonight.
2. I was able to cash out points on Shopkick for a $10 digital gift card at Target that allowed me to buy eggs with no money out of pocket, and apply the rest to the rebate haul. In total I made $4 after all rebates coupons etc.
3. I skipped Publix and bought just what we needed at Aldi. I was able to buy chicken at 50% off! My grand total for this trip was $33 for groceries this week. Can’t do it every week, but feels great when you have a light week.
4. I picked up a yard work job for $100 on Sunday.
5. I needed a pair of black work pants and a good friend let me borrow a pair helping me avoid the cost.
FFT, Crossing the Rubicon with NDN Edition:
If I’ve been a little quiet this last week, it’s because her other close friend (CF) and I have been helping my 86-year-old next-door neighbor (NDN) through some tough decisions.
(1) After our visit with NDN to my own law firm’s office on 2/13 to get the gears grinding on her end-of-life legal paperwork, she got a packet of material from the firm this past Saturday. I have just finished guiding her through this and helping her complete and sign everything. In addition to the basic package, she’s signed up for the firm’s “No Probate Plan” option, at my, CF’s, and her nephew’s urging. In fact, I plan to purchase this option myself, to grease the skids for my own (non-familial) executor when the time comes.
(2) After CF gave their shared PCP a nudge, the PCP arranged for a visit to NDN’s home from a rep from a local home care agency. CF and I were both present for this visit. NDN was resistant to the idea of any in-home help at first–but after I pointed out that CF and I are both pushing 70 pretty hard and that she needs a wider safety net than the two of us, she agreed to a 4-hour trial of “companion care” from one of the agency’s aides. We’re keeping all digits crossed that this will work out. (CF walked the rep out to her car, and the rep said, “She needs a LOT more care than she’s agreed to.” CF replied, “You’re preaching to the choir!” You can see why CF and I get along so well.)
(3) OK, on to more mundane frugal things. One is that I’ve discovered a great new way to buy bacon: My Price Chopper supermarket packages the tail ends of the excellent bacon it sells behind the premium meat counter, and sells these for $3.99/lb. on Saturdays. This way, I get great bacon and not too much of it at a time.
(4) After 3 weeks of brutal February weather, I nipped out on several errands this morning, including a stop at the Salvation Army superstore. Didn’t see a dang thing I wanted. $0 spent.
(5) And I’m taking hope from seeing a few cracks emerging among the current evildoers in DC (Musk vs. others). Let’s hope that more infighting on that side and the growth of some spine on the other side may come to something.
I am happy to hear that NDN is moving in the direction of the helps she needs! How wonderful of you and CF!
I am hopeful of your #5 as well A Marie!
1. I used discounted gift cards to buy dinner for my family Saturday Night.
2. I used a $10 reward at Michael’s to buy a new throw pillow. It was already 50% off so it ended up being $5.
3. I made a batch of blueberry muffins with berries from the freezer and a chunk of almond paste wasting away in my refrigerator (leftover from a cake recipe).
4. I’m making dinner to take to my mother-in-law’s house instead of picking up take-out. I’ll be using up a partial bag of baby potatoes that have been in my pantry too long. I also made some copycat cheddar biscuits using items on hand. The cost to feed four of us is probably less than one take out meal.
5. I took advantage of Meijer’s $1 sale to buy two five pound bags of potatoes for $1 each. One bag for me and one for my daughter, who doesn’t usually go to Meijer. I will also share a bag of onions with her. Neither of us can use a whole bag before they sprout. I also refilled my stash of tissues for $1 a box. We used up a few boxes with our covid adventure.
1. I needed some things, but instead of supporting Trump’s economy, I went to garage sales and found everything I needed for little cash!
2. I went to Costco with my husband, so he could order new glasses. We managed to get out with no impulse purchases.
3. Fred Meyer is discontinuing one of my favorite loose leaf teas, and it’s marked down from $7.50 to $1.67. Yes, please! I now have a one year supply of tea.
4. Tonight’s dinner will be homemade soup with homemade bread.
5. I didn’t fire anyone for “poor performance” in order to avoid paying them severance.