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My youngest came over and cooked up a big pot of red lentil soup for this week’s work lunches, using ingredients we already had on hand. (Lentils, onions, carrots, garlic, ginger, broth and bulk-purchased spices) It may seem illogical to let other people use our ingredients to make their meals, (especially during No Spend March) but I’m more than happy to share with others. I’m really good at bargain shopping and want nothing more than to help other people stretch their dollars.
Click HERE for my red lentil soup recipe.
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The two of us walked a half mile or so to the library to pick up the books I’d put on hold. Three for them and one for me. I also grabbed a Sophie Kinsella book from a neighbor’s little free library.
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I made a loaf of no-knead artisan bread supposedly for French onion soup, but it was gobbled up before I had the chance to slice up a single onion. Good thing it’s the easiest recipe and takes maybe two minutes to mix up!
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I spent a couple scratchy hours pruning my backyard hydrangeas so they’ll be nice and full this coming summer. They’ve gotten leggy over the past couple years, so I cut them waay back. (Hopefully I didn’t screw up!) By the way, this photo is from a couple summers ago. This is what they currently look like:
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I didn’t have to switch up any last minute skiing plans due to protestors.
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1. I made a loaf of apple bread using a couple sad looking apples. I will try this recipe again, but cut the sugar and increase the apples. I’m down to 2 eggs and not excited about finding out what prices have climbed to here.
2. Roasted three sweet potatoes for our dog, which he rolled around on my rug before approving. He was a firm no on the blueberries.
3. Sold 3 items on ebay, including a pair of bulky snow pants that I am glad to see go. My sister saves all her shipping bags for me to reuse, and thankfully there was an XL one.
4. Walked up to the library sale and bought 19 books for $4.75. I also picked out 4 cross stitch pattern booklets from the free box.
5. I will be participating in no spend March. It will be a good opportunity to clean out my freezer and cupboards. I think I will also make an effort to post some free items on Facebook Marketplace.
I had the kind of hydrangea that blooms on old wood. My landscaper, doing fall clean-up, would prune those hydrangeas back hugely, which of course meant now flowers next summer. Eventually I told him he was not ever to touch my hydrangeas again.
While I did have to change my plans to ski to avoid protesters (weekend plans at the same damn mountain, as mentioned in a previous FFT), I was so proud of my ski community for standing up for our mountains and way of life, which is directly threatened by the administration. For anyone looking to read what the Sugarbush snow reporter put up the morning of the visit, please read her beautiful ode to skiing and nature here: https://billmckibben.substack.com/p/special-vermont-resistance-edition
1. We went to a mountain closer to our friend’s house, giving us cheaper fuel costs and the ability to pack lunches.
2. Saturday night was a fun night out to see live music – we made dinner at home, then shared a cab into town and then a dear friend drove us back home later.
3. We are back home and drinking coffee we made and drinking filtered water.
4. Winter isn’t giving up just yet, so I deep cleaned our humidifiers. How do they get gross SO fast? This will hopefully help alleviate my allergy symptoms as we transition to spring and extend the life of both little machines.
5. Traveling again this weekend, so hitting the grocery store for enough food for today through Thursday. Really hoping to avoid any food waste!
Also – I meant to mention – due to a lot of travel this month we are not attempting no-spend March. However, this month is our trial period to break up with Amazon and the other major entities. I’ve already made my commitment to it and DH is working his way towards it as well. Hoping to find a future where we stop using e-commerce entirely.
Glad you were able to enjoy your weekend despite the presence of the lap dog (maybe that’s too kind) being in your area. I was happy to see so many Vermonters and others protesting along the roadways up there. I love my neighboring state to the North! Massachusetts girl here.
1. I bought 1 pound of breakfast sausage in a roll, 1 pound of ground turkey, and cook those two together and then added lentils, one cup dried that equals about 2 1/2 cups cooked. The only seasoning was salt. These have been divided up and will be used for spaghetti sauce, chili, Dragon noodles, tacos, etc..
2. I found leg quarters on sale for $.79 a pound in 10 pound bags. I’m pretty good at separating legs from thighs and did that. I found a YouTube video about boning chicken thighs and bone four of them. The bones went into my stock bag. I was reminding DH that boneless skinless chicken thighs are about $2.29 a pound. This was a great saving.
3. I’m trying to remember to put the lid on the pot when I’m waiting for the water to boil. Our house is cold and it does help to speed it up and thus use less electricity.
4. Continuing to put on more clothes instead of up the heat. This has been a long cold winter and I’m really looking forward to spring.
5. Going to use my 35-year-old food processor to slice up several pounds of onions to make French onion soup. I have thawed out homemade chicken stock to use for this dish and have some cold sourdough bread I made in the freezer waiting for this. A splash of white wine and some expensive gruyere cheese used judiciously makes a very appreciated frugal meal.
Alexandra, your French onion soup description is making my mouth water! I craved French onion soup and made tons of it when I was pregnant with my twins, who just turned 18!!
1. The kids requested carrot cake and pecan pie for their birthday. I baked a homemade carrot cake using butter purchased on sale and then frozen. My own 22-year-old food processor did a superb job grating the carrots. I procured a pecan pie from a locally owned bakery. Not cheap, but the ingredients and my own time are also costly, and I felt good supporting an excellent local business that benefits my community.
2. Found a quarter.
3. Borrowed a free audiobook from the library.
4. Earned a little extra money by covering a relative’s business errands while they are out of town.
5. Finally sat down with my husband and completed the FAFSA form.
I have ground turkey (which I’m not crazy about) and a roll of sausage. I have lentils. Your combination sounds good. I think I will make it.
I do not use Amazon & never had Prime. I like to look & touch things I want to buy.
Since JoAnne’s is closing it will be difficult to buy fabric IMHO. Walmart & Hobby Lobby sell fabric but readers say they are discriminatory retailers. No home owned fabric stores near me. A dilemma.
Made good use of Sunday dollar sales at Goodwill. 1 dollar new with tags jJill cotton tunic. 1 dollar unworn havaianas flash sandals.
1 dollar perfect looking Keds. 1 dollar t shirt for stinky’s fish camp. 2 one dollar pairs of cotton capris. 1 dollar cotton button down shirt. I’m ready for warm weather.
Donated some good things to local charity thrift store. Donated non perishables to outdoor food pantry.
My only naughty list store I needed to quit was Walmart and it was an easy switch to Aldi’s. I do still use their bathrooms when traveling, free toilet paper and hand soap and their opportunity to help someone.
My fail is when I’m traveling and it’s a cold morning and I’m hungry I get a sausage scramble bowl from Chick-fil-A. Fluffy eggs, tasty sausage, crunchy hash rounds, and yum cheese with salsa packet. They throw in a hot drink for free.
I didn’t tag team bully a guy trying to save his people.
After posting I realized I should just suck it up and get a hot water at a gas station and dump a gluten free oatmeal in for hot travel breakfasts. Goodbye protein packed hot breakfast on cold mornings.
scream and holler with your cents and Dollars
mad consumer adversary
Thank you — I know this is a hard switch. Our habits! Your switch is appreciated and noted.
I have never worn Keds before. My 1 dollar pair of denim Keds is supper comfortable!good to know.
I’m the same way with meals for my adult kids- they’re going home with a few meals for their week ahead. I just baked bread and will be making soup to get to my SIL as my brother is very unwell, and she needs some TLC. Five frugal things-
1. Muffin bread with last of a cherry jam
2. Free exercise by walking the dog
3. Waited for full laundry load to wash kitchen linens on hot
4. Kept heat low overnight
5. Didn’t give contracts to billionaire’s while firing hard working Americans
to a NON citizen billionaire to boot.
FFT, Living with a Busted Rib Edition:
As I noted in my response to Ruby’s comment yesterday, I’m certain that I did in fact crack a rib when I fell in my icy driveway last week. But here’s how I’m dealing with this and other things:
(1) Rather than go to one of our increasingly sparse urgent care centers on a snowy Sunday morning for an x-ray that probably wouldn’t do more than confirm my suspicions (the ribcage pain was getting worse rather than better since last Wednesday), I asked Dr. Bestest Neighbor to come over and give me an opinion. He brought his stethoscope to give me a listen, and he pronounced my lungs clear (a broken rib can pierce a lung). He also gently probed my left ribcage, and when he touched the spot, I let out a yelp that they probably heard in the next city over. We agreed that the rib is almost certainly broken, and that there’s no real need for an x-ray for this. (Believe me, I’m in no doubt.) So, as always, my blessings on Dr. BN.
(2) Dr. BN gave me various recommendations for treatment (the Salonpas brand extra-large pain patches I had in stock are doing me more good than anything else). And he also read me a long list of things I shouldn’t be trying to do in the immediate future. The man knows me too well. 😀
(3) I did go Against Medical Advice so far as to do a load of laundry. But I carried it up from the basement to my second-floor drying racks in three trips instead of one, thereby giving me some much-needed lower-body exercise.
(4) I also simmered the carcass of a whole chicken that didn’t come out so well on Saturday (I don’t recommend the NYT maple butter with rosemary recipe, for various reasons) for soup stock. And I’ll be using the stock in a variation on Katy’s white bean and rosemary soup today.
(5) Finally, I have committed no offenses against humanity nearly as large as the ones perpetrated by agents of the US government (elected and unelected) in the last six weeks. And, along with most of us here, I will continue to resist with my dollars and my voice.
Sorry to hear you broke a rib. I’m glad you have Dr. BN so close by. I’m not a doctor but I have had broken ribs and so has DH and I agree with Dr. BN that once it’s been established there is no damage to your lungs there’s not much to do except pain relief and avoiding exertion. Take care.
It’s hard laying low but hopefully you can do so and heal up quickly!
A. Marie, that sounds so painful. Wishing you a speedy recovery.
Wishing you a speedy recovery!
I’m sorry about your rib. That sounds so painful. I hope you heal quickly.
A Marie – I know that cracked rib won’t stop you from using 5calls.org to make your voice heard! I wish you speedy recovery!
Oh, A. Marie, laying low and following the ‘don’t’ list from Dr. BN will be annoying – and don’t you wish you had the big JASNA editing job to do NOW, when your ability to shake up the world with your body is slightly reduced?
I love your attitude about doing multiple trips (Dr’s orders, kind of?) and reminding yourself that the physical exertion is a good thing. I used to be frustrated when something required extra steps (usually when I was down in the field and forgot to bring a wheelbarrow or buckets, and have to stomp back up the hill to get them). Now that I am monitoring my steps with my smart watch, I find my HEAD has decided to see all steps as good steps. Sounds like you have that same attitude.
I hope your pain reduces quickly.
Every month is a no spend/low spend month around here, but I’ve been trying to find ways to spend even less and to fund fewer oligarchs.
1) We live in a student neighborhood. A recently graduated neighbor was tossing out their entire apartment due to a cross country move for grad studies. He’s an engineering major/art minor. He gave us everything he didn’t want, and in return we helped him load his vehicle and clean up. 3D printers, Ikea furniture, tons of art supplies, power tools, good quality kitchen items, vacuum chambers, and so much more. Literally thousands of dollars in equipment that he was just going to toss in the dumpster.
My son even had the presence of mind to grab the trash bags and the one-roll-missing package of TP that was being tossed.
2) We spent the rest of the weekend sorting the bounty into keep and donate piles. Today I will drop camping items off at the nearby shelter, unopened food off at the food bank, and the art supplies we won’t use goes to the Allied Arts thrift store when they open tomorrow.
3) Even with all unplanned business, I managed to scrape together dinners this weekend — leftovers one night, and a snacky dinner of bread, butter, fruit, and cheese on another night.
4) The only places that got our money this weekend was WinCo for our weekly groceries and to the local cafe where my wife and I have our standing after-church coffee date on Sunday afternoons.
5) I’m a bread snob and am very persnickety about its quality. I spent some time yesterday finally mastering the art of the baguette (not to be confused with those soft, cakey “french bread” sticks masquerading as baguettes at grocery store bakeries). Baguettes were my last purchased bread holdout from a fancy/expensive bakery since I mastered the perfect spongy sandwich loaf for my wife’s palate, so this is a huge win.
Congrats on number 1, that’s amazing! I’m also jealous of your baguette skills. I’m still working on my baking.
Jenny, your #1 makes me nostalgic for the days when DH owned rental properties in the local party-school university neighborhood. The tenants used to leave incredible stuff behind (Mommy and Daddy would always buy them new ones, of course). And back when I was younger and stronger, I did pretty well trashpicking that neighborhood at the end of the school year.
May your rib heal and you return to trash picking in a few weeks! Always enjoy reading about your finds (and those of texassilver
Starting in April, I always see if there are any garage sales in student neighborhoods (they’ll give/sell you tons of stuff for very little, just to get gas money home), and I ride around to student neighborhoods and apartment buildings to trash pick anything at the garbage dumpster. I also look on craigslist: that’s how I got my free dog 14 years ago, she belonged to some graduating students who were leaving her behind (shame on them!). I also got an Ikea king-sized bed with box springs for under $150 and the grad student delivered them to my house. (He kept his mattress and I got a new king-sized Sealy Posturepedic from Sears on sale Memorial Day for under $500 including delivery and removal of old bedding.) Around May, the thrift stores start putting out donations from the (spoiled rich) college kids; among my haul last spring was a very clean $2 trash can (now in my bedroom) and numerous office supplies. My former coworker was a pro at it: she’d go around in December and says she never bought a Christmas tree or a bicycle bc she’d find those items at the curb. Her kids had the best bikes in the ‘hood.
My granddaughter has a great aunt who works at a private college in a nearby city. She has given so many nice things to my granddaughter after the students move out of their dorms each year. Even clothes which Granddaughter20 has enjoyed wearing since she hit the teenage years. It makes me happy to know these things are kept out of the landfill.
My father went into an empty dorm room when he came out for my sister’s graduation in 1988 and came home with an abandoned vintage stapler that he still uses to this day!
I make tea every day with my university trash-picked electric kettle. My last move-out working there, I brought home a year’s worth of toilet paper as charities will not accept opened packages. The sealed ones went to the food bank and my family happily used the partial packs.
It’s hard to get ahead financially when all your money is tied up in toilet paper! 😉
1. Made a suet block from leftover bacon grease, peanut butter, birdseed and some cornmeal to help bind it. Waiting to put it out until it gets a little cooler again. I would have used that bacon but ended up wanting to try this instead.
2. New month, new attempt to keep to the no-spend budget. It will be interesting since we will be gone a week in AZ at spring training. We are sharing a condo with friends and eating mostly at the condo; we are also taking them out for dinner. One reason this is part of the frugality is that I have a rather large (hand-colored photo) portrait of my GGM that I was going to ship to my cousin in Phoenix but now I will carry it with me and give it to her in person. My cousin Laura is named for this GGM and I have enjoyed GGM’s portrait for a long time but it’s time to hand it over to the namesake. Saves on postage since I’m going anyway.
3. Saturday is Put-Away day and boy, lots of putting away. That extended to the garden, where I have been moving pots around. I also tackled one project that I’ve been avoiding for 4 years. That’s the pile of concrete chunks in the corner of the front yard, under the trees and now covered with ivy. UGH. I took 4 wheelbarrows of concrete chunks and put them under our old walnut tree to make the base for my future rock garden. I’ll be putting prettier rocks and dirt on top. I like how it looks but oh, my aching back! (PS – three cheers for Epsom salts in the tub for my personal/cheapo spa treatment.)
4. Freezer meal tonight — ravioli and jarred sauce from pantry. How I look forward to a bumper tomato crop this year, with enough to preserve. We had enough for salads and out-of-hand eating last summer with cherry tomatoes that lasted into December, but not enough for a really good sauce year. I’m also still buying romaine lettuce and trying to sprout the stems. I have about 1 inch of growth on the current ones and they look sad. My lettuce seeds in the garden are also just sprouting, so lettuce is not very frugal here yet.
*Since I started this list, we had a powerful rain and then hail, so it got very cold outside and my lettuce will not sprout today, but…I can still feel spring coming.
5. My SIL’s gift to me was to come today (Sunday) and limb some trees that were overhanging our yard badly from a neighbor’s neglected property. Their landlord is not living in this country and his tenants come and go monthly, so we went ahead and did the work ourselves. This was several hundred dollars worth of cutting by a professional (my SIL fells 100-foot trees from the top down. He’s an actual lumberjack. He left the branches in the side yard and I will cut off the little bits when I have time, fill my green bin, and I will save the large branches for a bird habitat teepee I wanted to build in the corner.
I clipped some of the plum tree twigs for an about-to-bloom blossom bouquet.
Here’s another vote for “time spent” or “experiential/service gifts” in the non-consumer era. It was a great gift and much appreciated.
Julia, please say more about the bird habitat tepee!
@Julia PT, what a fun and interesting list. I Love how you are recognizing that your savings on postage for that photo makes your trip to AZ more frugal – great budgeting creativity.
Tell us more about Saturday being Put-Away day. is this a weekly thing? my goodness I wonder if I could possibly implement it – would make my home much more usable if I just got on it!
As for tomatoes, I am with you on the yearning for a good canning crop. Last year was an abysmal year for tomatoes (and not just me), so my supply of canned goods is down. However, I am reminded that I have some frozen tomatoes in the big chest freezer – might be timely to pull them out and make some decent sauce.
1) I did low spend last month and will continue this month, only buying groceries and gas. I do have both kids birthdays coming up, but am already being a lot more thoughtful, looking at Etsy, eBay and our local toy store and trying to plan ahead, rather than waiting too long and rushing to order something last minute from Amazon.
2) A family member passed away and left a fairly new car. No one in the family seems to want it or wants to do anything with it (sell it) so it’s just been sitting. I hate car shopping and am not at all particular about type of car as long as it works. This car is the same make, different model as my current car though and about 10 years newer. My husband suggested we replace my car with this one which I am all for if it delays the inevitable need to replace my car. We would pay something for it though but likely at a discount and I will sell my current car to my sister who has expressed interest in it before.
3) We had a weekend with no plans which was nice after so many busy ones in a row. We did all free activities with the kids including gardening in our backyard (with supplies we already had), riding bikes to a nearby playground, a nature walk on a trail by our house where they took pictures using the iNaturalist app on my phone, which identifies plants, animals and insects, and cleaning the house (they think mopping the floor and scrubbing the toilets is a lot of fun right now, I’ll enjoy it while it lasts!)
4) I cooked a big batch of African peanut stew for my lunches this week. I added teff to thicken it, first time ever trying it so we’ll see how it tastes. I’m having fun experimenting with different whole grains that I can buy from the bulk bins at a local store.
5) Checked out this months book club book from the library.
Gorgeous hydrangas in the older photo! Hope they grow back real soon!
1. I had to purchase a vacuum cleaner that didn’t have a rug beater (new vinyl flooring instructions say rug beaters will beat up the floor). So I shopped at an outlet and got a refurbished Bissell. It has a 6-month warranty instead of a 5-year one, but otherwise I can’t tell any difference. (I’ll know right away if the vacuum isn’t a good one; it won’t take 6 months to figure out!)
2. Neighbor across the street left out a computer chair for trash pickup. I grabbed it up for my soon-to-be office redo. Yes, it has some fake leather peeling off the arms, but that’s why God invented duct tape. Otherwise, it is very comfortable and the (free) “price” was right!
3. Another refurbished buy: a HP computer CPU. I’ve had this old one for almost a decade, it is no longer supported, and one of the drives has gone on the blink. So it’s about time.
4. Staying home with flu, eating out of pantry, fridge and freezer — thus participating in the No-Spend month. Also saving gas by not driving the car.
5. Did not dance to Vladimir Putin’s tune as I caused an international incident by being horribly rude to the heroic president of Ukraine.
Not too frugal but glad to do it: ordered “DEPORT ELON” car magnet for under $6 instead of paying $19.95 for same. (Tee Public website, if you’re interested).
In another direction, if you don’t need the (currently battered) arms on your office desk chair, they probably are easy to screw off. Otherwise, of course some kind of tape will cover the problems.
I always removed the arms on my office chairs! For whatever (clumsy) reason, I constantly had bruises on the back of my thighs from bumping into them as I got in or out of the chair – the removal means I get to use my core muscles more when I stand, which is a second bonus!
I used black electrical tape on the arms of an old office chair and unless you really looked close, it was hard to tell.
Heidi Louise and MB and MN,
Thanks for the tips! I certainly will try doing them!
On the day of the blackout, I managed to destroy my oven door while trying to clean it. Don’t ask, but imagine glass particles all over the kitchen. A mess and a distress. Here is how I handled it:
1. Called a local repairmen to assess the situation. I did have to pay for a service call, but it was good to get his opinion that the cost of replacing the door and repairing the hinge area on the stove itself was going to be high, making it a better choice in the long run to get a new stove. (This one is very old, and it was on my list of likely replacements in the near future).
2. Mindful that it was blackout day, I chose to purchase a modest stove from a local appliance dealership that is highly respected. The price I got was just the same as the deals the big box stores were offering, and the delivery is free.
3. For an extra fee I am having them haul away the old one. I live in an upper-floor condo in a century-old building with no elevator, so I need an expert doing this.
4. No-spend March suddenly has new meaning, as I have decided to go bare-bones to offset this large unexpected expenditure.
5. I did not deliberately harm my country and its citizens to to boost my over-swollen ego.
ARGH about the stove door ! Glad you made a frugal and modest purchase. No spend seems to be taking us all by storm, rethinking lots of purchases!
We spent a bunch to take the grandkids to a local Touch a Truck event. They got to ride on the bus (we sang the song), pet goats and a bunny, play with toys in the dirt. Their mother did learn that they are too young for Disneyland, as they were pretty overwhelmed, and they didn’t want to climb up in the cab of any of the trucks. It’s nice to have evidence to tell people that they won’t enjoy an overwhelming day.
1. I mended my dad’s favorite jeans, with an upcycled patch and orange thread, for his favorite football team.
2. Had my niece and nephew over to dinner one night, and my husband’s brother, and sister, and their spouses. Used up food we already had, including a lot of veg from our local farm delivery box.
3. Didn’t buy anything at Goodwill this weekend. We were tempted by an unnecessary lantern, but they line was long. When we got home, we realized we didn’t actually have a place to put it.
4. Read Anxious Generation from the library. We loved it, and have recommended it widely. Cutting down on phone use, yet again.
5. The usual: hang out laundry, eating leftovers for lunch, use the library.
The color on your hydrangea blossoms is absolutely gorgeous! Bet you’re looking forward to that lovely show again in a few months here. We’ve had a batch of warm days here in Denver so I was doing a bit of backyard pruning this weekend as well. (Scratchy indeed!) Does the soul good to be outside in nature like that.
1. DD turned 41 today but it being a weekday, I made her a cake and brought it over to her house yesterday. I made her favorite Almond flavored frosting. I also gave her some wind chimes which I purchased last Friday at my friend’s indy book store. No big box stores then and maybe never.
2. Granddaughter20 came to visit with one of her friends Saturday late afternoon. We made a Swedish Almond Cake together, most of which the two girls split to take home. It’s so precious to me that her and her brother still want to come over and bake with me.
3. I had planned to make tacos for them but she asked me if I would make plattar, very thin Swedish pancakes much like crepes. This kid loves her Swedish heritage more than my kids or other grandkids. I happily made the plattar which turned out to be a more frugal meal.
4. Bundling up and braving the New England cold to walk the neighborhood for free exercise.
5. I was not part of a tag team that sought to denigrate a visiting president while he respectfully and politely answered in English which is his second language as best he could. I was not an embarrassment to our country.
Actually, Zelensky speaks three languages– Russian, Ukrainian, and English.
I very much admire people who have skills in more than one language.
Whether English is his second or third language is fine. It was just very embarrassing for our nation to see the president and vice president shout over his speaking while belittling him and yelling at him to grovel to Trump.
Plattar!!!! I am drooling! I am also of Swedish heritage, and we eat many delicious dishes! My Mormor made the best Swedish Meatballs!
I love that you had a Mormor! I’m a Mormor too and I love being called that. Good Swedish meatballs are definitely an art.
Only in the America I used to know and love (prior to Jan 20 of this year) can you find households that enjoy both Mexican tacos and Swedish food, being proud of one’s heritage and appreciative of other heritages. If the Ugly Orange Fiend has his way, this will go by the wayside. Let’s not allow it to happen!
BTW, in my county there is going to be another non-violent protest against him on March 4th (aka March Forth, get it?) and I think this is supposed to take place nationwide. Ours will be at noon local time. So check around for times and places and see if one is near you. If I feel like going despite my flu, I will get out my “If we fight we win” T-shirt and wear it again. (If there are any counter-protestors marching for tRump, and if I breathe my flu germs on them, is that considered violent?)
Lisa, thanks for the heads up about today and the March Fourth (Forth) events happening today. I’ll check what’s going on around here today.
YES! All love to the Mormor’s! My Stepmom had her grand call her that, even though she was not swedish, and my younger SIster is now a Mormor, so Stepmom was promoted to “GG Mormor”..!
Love it! Mormors rule!
Hydrangeas like you have will not over winter here. My grandmother had them lining her entire backyard; we used to call them snowballs. I envy your plants!
I got gas and necessary groceries. That’s it.
1. Picked up a lemon tree that needs some rehabilitation. Happy to try, and it was free.
2. Found a tray in my garage just the right size for all the little houseplants I have started from cuttings. I use these as gifts, planted in a free pot which I collect as I see them.
3. Mailing masks, left over from my covid stash, to DIL who is concerned about measles for her 2 littles. She plans to mask when she goes in stores. I have found that people have been giving away their excess masks, and I accept every batch that is offered. It’s great to have a stash, never know when they’ll be needed. Printed discount postage on pirate ship.
4. Stopped at the local stone yard because we need some rock for areas that we’ve dug out to catch rain. Delivery fee was 3 times the price of the rock. I declined. I’ll either wait and watch for free rock, buy it bagged and put it in my car, or borrow a pickup truck.
5. Our solar attic fan was installed today. Yippee for less dependence on PG&E.
An inventory of the freezer and pantry revealed several items that needed to be used:
1. I cooked a pan of mixed berry baked oatmeal for my breakfasts and a big pot of kibble topper for my dogs that used some reduced ground beef, a carton of chicken livers, baggie of frozen pumpkin, and some oatmeal. The dogs absolutely loved their pumpkin-enhanced kibble topper.
2. For supper, I got out the rice cooker and cooked some quinoa that had been open in the pantry for a while, added some Goya seasoning, black beans, vegetarian “crumbles,” diced tomatoes, onion, spinach, a bag of last week’s homemade roasted butternut squash cubes, and sprinkled some long-frozen shredded cheese on top. It is delicious.
3. Used up the last of some reconstituted dry milk to make pudding for our dessert.
4. Sewed up a tiny hole in the waistband of a pair of my husband’s underwear. Sewed a free embroidered patch over a hole in the outer compartment of his backpack.
5. Made more labels for reused glass jars out of a scrap of self-adhesive vinyl leftover from lining the vanity drawers (73 years old and very stained) in our bathroom.
Ruby, I’m giving your #5 some thought. My beloved old Dymo label maker bit the dust last year, and they’re not making them like that any more. And, so far, I haven’t found a satisfactory substitute for making labels for my dried herbs and refrigerator pickles. I’m willing to pass up the 73-year-old part for anything that will work. 🙂
This vinyl “paper” is a very pretty pale blue with a white floral on it. Chances are good I bought it at the Habitat ReStore. All it takes to make labels from it is a steady hand with scissors and writing with a permanent marker.
Those SalonPas patches are heavenly. They are one of the few things that help the arthritis in my upper back. I was using them frequently before we finally replaced our 25 year old mattress.
1. Finally switched the landline number to VOIP, which will save about $60/mth. I can’t believe I took so long to do this, but it’s so much easier to get to these things now that I’m retired. The old provider sent an email saying the number had been switched and my account was closed…and then they continued to bill me! Today, I got them to credit me and close the account.
2. Started putting together clothes to donate locally and some to send to Thredup.
3. Finished sewing a nightgown I cut out about 5 years ago. And I’ve started making a dust cover for the printer with fabric left over from another project.
4. No spending since last Thursday, but I’m about to break the spending fast by signing up for a Spring CSA bag. We’ve been getting a CSA bag every other week for years from the same small farm. It may be my favorite way to spend money. We know the farmers, the produce is beautiful, and I’ve had to try new recipes to make sure there is no waste.
5. I did not set up the president of another country to chastise him in the Oval Office and then brag about it. Oh, and I didn’t let a Russian reporter sneak in to view the shameful event.
Your #5…and not allowing the Associated Press in. I guess free speech is on the table now.
1. Made a menu plan and grocery list, starting with ingredients I had and then sale items.
2. We’ve been using our pot of mint which as grown tremendously! It’s been in tzaziki, tabouli and tea.
3. Made homemade granola, substituting a little of the honey for brown sugar. Honey is expensive!
4. Mad à big crockpot of chcik peas to freeze. I cooked them overnight to make use of our free nightly electric rate.
5. I also am enjoying library books!
1. My oldest daughter made chicken paprikash for dinner last night which fed five of us. It was delicious and so much more fun and definitely less expensive than eating out. We all helped prepare the ingredients. Most of which I had already.
2. My daughters and I stopped into a couple of thrift stores. We all bought sweaters and my oldest found a cute puzzle.
3. I finished another library book on my kindle. It was All The Colors Of The Dark which was very good.
4. I was able to scrounge up a couple birthday cards from my dwindling stash for the two birthdays we are celebrating this week.
5. I’ve sold a couple more items on Ebay. None of my sales are earth shattering but it’s enough to pay a bill or two each month.
Solid five, well done! Those non-impressive eBay sales add up!
1. Husband found a roll of dog poop bags in the park.
2. Received a dozen eggs from our neighbor, whose girls have been laying more in the warmer weather.
3. Received a lot of things from Buy Nothing this week: tortillas, salad dressing, a pair of jeans, toolbox, toothpaste, buns, soap dish and bar of soap. I have some things I will be posting shortly.
4. Added mayo to a jarred mustard sauce to extend it.
5. Just returned from a 3-hour (as opposed to a 3-martini) lunch with a friend/former colleague. He surprised me by paying for my lunch, which was lovely. I was a cheap date as I had ordered something less inexpensive as a way to reduce restaurant costs.
Oops, I meant “less expensive.”
We have a big March with 2 birthdays and our first family trip across the pond, so no-spend is not an option. However, I am continuing my 2025 boycott of Target, Amazon, Walmart, and other large corporations.
1. We had a fun Saturday celebrating our twin sons’ birthdays with a bike ride to the train, train ride to the next town over, and treating 11 teens + us (2) to a pizza lunch downtown for a total cost of $125.
2. Made homemade treats for the party. 1 kid requested brownies and the other lemon bars, which was lucky because I was just gifted about 10 lbs of lemons from the buy nothing group! Made use of ingredients on hand, except we did need to re-up our egg supply, so $5 for that.
3. I wanted a couple of clothing layers for our trip to the UK next week and shopped on eBay using my balance from some recent sales. $0 out of pocket and I have some new (to me) leggings and tank top coming. I also purchased a used SmartWool pullover via eBay last month.
4. I was hungry while out running errands today (pup to the vet, return an item to Costco) and tempted to pick something up while I was out. I ultimately decided I had food at home and made myself an odd, yet satisfying, plate of nachos with minimal cheese and lots of egg whites (leftover from Saturday’s lemon bar recipe, which just called for yolks), plus avocado and hot sauce.
5. Making a “lasagna” with some frozen spinach ravioli, plus a homemade marinara, and sprinkles of mozzarella + parmesan. I’ll pair this with a bag of arugula I picked up at TJ’s last week and homemade vinaigrette.
1. Met the inlaws halfway between their house and ours. We brought them free food (we had a glut of chicken from mystery shops and produce from free CSA). They bought our lunch.
2. Star Market/Shaw’s Market gave me a coupon for $1 off produce (if you spend more than $1). We were passing by one, so we stopped in and I got a zucchini for $.07, and got 200 points from Fetch for doing so.
3. Made dinner for the week – chili mac from Budget Bytes. I added the zucchini, and the beef, stock, onion, garlic, cheese were all free from mystery shops and the pasta was $0.62 per pound from FlashFoods.
4. Signed up for another grocery store mystery shop and I’ve created my shopping list targeting loss leaders and sale items.
5. Going to try to use vinegar as a rinse aid. We got a new dishwasher (dented discount!) but it is leaving our glasses hazy. Hopefully, this will solve the issue…. Stopped into Ocean State and found Swedish Fish in individual servings on the “Free Food” section (you get back a gift certificate for the amount you paid for the food). I bought 2 bags and put it away for Halloween. Drinking coffee at home, eating lunch for free at work, and keeping the heat below 63.
I’m planning to eat red lentil soup this week! It’s my go-to when I have vegetarians over for dinner.
I reupholstered a garage sale bench with fabric I sourced from the Goodwill bins.
I spent a good part of economic blackout day walking around town. I found 29 cans and a penny.
I checked out a Joann’s going out of business sale, noticed that the many prices were higher than before the sale, and left without buying anything. There was a crowd of people buying like crazy. Consumer psychology is weird. I’m lucky I can discern whether something is an actual good deal!
I spent time visiting with my in-laws this weekend. My mother-in-law called Elon a “scientist” and said Zelensky should have worn a suit to the White House. I made the frugal choice not to strangle her. Lawyers are expensive!
You should have asked her why is it OK for “Elon the Scientist” not to wear a suit, but not President Zelenskyy. Both Saturday Night Live and Stephen Colbert made light of that!
Good idea! Imagine if Zelensky had brought his kid along with him…
1. I have been making it my goal to make 1 breakfast item and at least 1 meal with lots of leftovers each weekend. This gets our week off to a good start. This week I made pumpkin spice scones and a very large meatloaf.
2. Dh taking apart the washing machine and really cleaning the filters seems to have fixed my broken washer. It was never really filling and the water would barely flow into the washer. It is working great now and I can avoid replacing it anytime soon.
3. My DS came over Saturday night with his girlfriend and we cooked homemade pizza and played euchre. Free entertainment. Both sons + girlfriend and fiance came over tonight for dinner. I made Mexican with stuff I already had on hand. I love spending time with my adult kids.
4. In effort to avoid Wal-mart I went on a “scouting trip” of sorts to what is supposed to be a discount grocery store. For the most part it wasn’t cheaper. Only sale stuff was cheaper and they didn’t have everything on my list. I did find some good clearance items though. I will keep trying to avoid wal-mart but I really do need to spend as little as possible on groceries so no promises.
5. Dh rode his bike to work today. He also cut his own hair.
Hooray for home fixes!!!
Adult kids are the best!
First of all, I’m sorry to hear of the broken ribs (A. Marie) and the busted oven door and all the other trials and tribulations everyone’s been having so far this month.
1. I finished the hat I was making for my son‘s boyfriend and my son happened to come and visit me for 24 hours so he was able to bring it home to him and I was thanked with a video of his boyfriend putting it on for the first time. I also realized how long they’ve been since I made a pom-pom, and I used way too much yarn trying to make a decent pom-pom. I’m not saying how many tries it took.
2. I sent my son home with 2, 12 count packs of toilet paper that I got at a really good discount. I also reminded him to take his bag of food out of the downstairs freezer – I had also vacuum packed some meat and added it to his bag.
3. When he arrived here, we sat down and had a long talk about how tough things are going to be and the fact that tax refunds are probably going to take a long time to come bac, if at all. He gets it.
4. I stretched a half a pound of hamburger into two regular meals plus made a small batch of chili for 4 servings. I’ve also decided I’m going to move back towards vegetarian or pescatarian. I have a lot of meat in my freezer and I will slowly hand it off to my son.
5. My neighbor came over yesterday and borrowed the light bright powder stuff for laundry care to try. She also returned my dryer vacuum attachment. We discussed different kitchen appliances that we have to remind each other that they are available to borrow. Building community, especially now, is super important.
Bonus 6. I resurrected my son‘s 10 gallon fish tank and light, cleaned it up and have started some of my seedlings for a garde I will plant this summer. Fingers crossed everything grows well. I can use the light as a grow light and the cover will keep my cats away from eating everything. Because I’ve been trying to grow spinach on my counter(obviously in a pot) and one of my cats keeps eating all the spinach when it gets about 2 inches high.:slaps forehead:
I worked so hard to build my finances after my husband died so I would be able to retire and help my son and leave something for him, only to see it be frittered away by a bunch of oligarch’s and brown shirts who are a worldwide embarrassment. I’m very happy that President Zelenskyy did not sign anything here. Because felon 47 would not have held up his side of it.
Stay safe and healthy and if you are walking on ice, lean forward and walk like an old man. It re-centers your gravity, and you are less likely to slip and fall. I wish you a speedy recovery A Marie.
Hi Nancy,
Neighbor to the west (just over the Mass line in NY). This makes me so sad what you said about retirement. It’s so unfair and there are no words for what is happening.
On another note, there’s a reel on Instagram showing a bunch of Bostonians talking about ICE coming to Boston and the reaction. They remind us of the history of the revolution and Mass. It’s so funny! Love Mass and Boston and I really think the NE (and possibly the NW will join) will, once again, birth the revolutionary.
“Building community, especially now, is super important.” <--- Thank you for pointing this out! I love that you shared your toilet paper deal with your son and his boyfriend! It's the least enjoyable way to spend money.
1. Made up a pasta skillet dish for dinner using up box of pasta, frozen mixed veg, a partial head of cauliflower, 2 frozen impossible burgers, and half a jar of cashew cheese I made over the weekend. It wasn’t half bad and there’s enough for another day.
2. Deposited an unexpected refund check for a vehicle registration (overpaid). Corresponding frugal fail: I paid my quarterly water bill on my village’s online portal in Feb. No idea why but it “voided” it and I didn’t notice it never went through and they waited until today to alert me. So now I have to pay a $8 penalty for paying in March. Ugh! I’ll be paying it in person or mailing a check for the future. I’m starting to lose trust in online payment portals.
3. Still making daily iced tea using up the plethora of tea bags I’ve stockpiled and it’s refreshing way to get in water throughout the day.
4. Did not buy anything today. I did make a big payment on a debt.
5. Sent my 5 accomplishments to the new overlords despite my reluctance to obey. Hoping to keep my job for a few more pay periods yo help cushion the blow.
Gina, When you go in person to pay that bill, explain to the clerk what happened. Perhaps they’ll forgive the $8 penalty.
Ugh, I feel you on the $8 error, I’ve paid that “stupid tax” more times than I care to admit.
That darn ‘not quite completed yet’ button always gets ME – I go to send an e-transfer and the finish button is out of the screen. I thought I was done, but no, no I was not. Sorry you got bitten!
I like to add red lentils to stock when I make chicken noodle soup. They break down and thicken the soup.
1. A friend and I joined a trail walk sponsored by a local-ish yoga studio. It is a free event.
2. I joined a few friends for an evening of knitting/crocheting.
3. Today I will join a friend for a walk after she gets off work. When she was working part time and then was unemployed we walked in the morning. Now she is full time in an office but they have finally given her the flexibility to finish her work day at home.
4. I made a batch of Persian Style lentil and Tomato Soup:I like to add red lentils to stock when I make chicken noodle soup. They break down and thicken the soup.
1. A friend and I joined a trail walk sponsored by a local-ish yoga studio. It is a free event.
2. I joined a few friends for an evening of knitting/crocheting.
3. Today I will join a friend for a walk after she gets off work. When she was working part time and then was unemployed we walked in the morning. Now she is full time in an office but they have finally given her the flexibility to finish her work day at home.
4. I made a batch of Persian Style Lentil and Tomato Soup:
https://wapo.st/4ikj0os
5. We’re just not spenders these days but are focused on giving.
Thanks for the chicken soup tip!
I love that you share your bargain finds with your kids! My kid is not yet full grown but I hope to always be able to offer that sort of support moving forward.
I haven’t kept track this week. I’m barely functioning under the stress of it all. Crawling my way back to keeping up with all the things. Thanks for the inspiration- as always!
“Barely functioning” is at least functioning. Thanks for the kind words.
While I can’t participate in a no-buy March, since we just moved to a new home which will require buying a few things, I am trying to spend as little as possible. I’ve also decided that what I’m giving up for Lent this year is the convenience of buying from huge all-in-one retailers. Instead, I’ll do my research before buying anything and choose stores and brands that are more in line with my values.
Frugal things:
1. I haven’t bought any restaurant food. I can’t do much cooking right now with most of the dishes still in boxes, but I am buying food from the grocery store and choosing relatively inexpensive convenience foods.
2. I packed carefully and made sure I would have everything I needed for the first few days here readily available, avoiding the need for last-minute duplicate purchases.
3. I reused shipping and storage boxes I already had as much as possible, so not as many had to be bought.
4. I used medicine I already had for the cats to calm them down for the ride, having saved the extra pills after their last vet visit.
Found a penny on the ground, into the found money jar!
Went to a free outdoor Blues festival on the water Sunday with friends – did not purchase any overpriced beer or food. Ate prior to going so that I wouldn’t even be tempted.
Fresh made to order pancakes (blueberry or plain) & sausage provided at work today for Fat Tuesday!
Went to the grocery ONLY for 2 BOGO items, haven’t gotten out of Publix less than $10 in a LONG time.
Always packing lunch, bringing my own coffee and reading library books.