Five Frugal Things -- Books, Scrubbing & Cheap Cabbage
Today's blog post is less than exciting, but that's just how life is sometimes. Especially when the mid-winter blahs hit.
1. I read a library book from cover to cover in a single day. It was cathartic and reminded me of ye olden days before internet was the world's best/worst distraction.
2. I continue to work on refurbishing my thrifted Wagner Ware pan. The bottom crud is being rather obstinate, but I've done a couple rounds of blue-lid oven cleaner and the light is definitely peeking out from the end of the tunnel. The last step will be to polish it up, which'll complete the project.
As a reminder, this is my goal:
3. I picked up some more by-the-item produce from Trader Joe's, specifically 23¢ bananas and a $1.99 cabbage. Their cabbage is a true bargain when compared to stores that sell it by-the-pound.
4. I'm listening to the Pride and Prejudice audiobook on the free Libby app, for maybe the fifth or sixth time. Unsure of what to listen to? You can't go wrong with Jane Austen!
5. I've been enjoying this reusable water bottle that I garbage picked from under the high school bleachers where my husband plays soccer. It's too big to fit in my car's cup holders, but I've been a homebody lately and this random insulated water bottle keeps my drinks icier than any other one. Plus, you know . . . the price was right!
Now your turn, what frugal things have you been up to?
Katy Wolk-Stanley
"Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without."
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The sale cost of that pan makes all the elbow grease well worth it.
I went back to the grocery store for the pet food I forgot yesterday, along with some frozen peas, ground pork, Cheerios and cheese. Used $3.50 in coupons. I am done shopping for two weeks.
Had some soup from the freezer for lunch. Made up a quart jar of brown sugar by mixing white sugar with some molasses. That will only be a money-saving measure as long as the jar of molasses lasts because it's now shockingly expensive. Also got out the hot glue gun and a roll of packing tape and repaired a 40 year old cookbook that's falling apart. It had split almost in two in the center and the spine was falling off. It gets used constantly.
Went to book club last night and found the next selection in both Libby and Hoopla for free, so I can read or listen, depending on where I am.
We'll see if I can actually sell the pan for that amount, it's always a crapshoot.
Thanks for the homemade brown sugar reminder. My brown sugar is low and I'll make my own when it does.
What’s the title of your beloved cookbook?
The Fanny Farmer cookbook from the 1980s. My mother-in-law gave it to me as a wedding present in 1986. Hilariously, she went to the bookstore and asked for the Fanny Hill cookbook. We laughed about that literary faux pas for years.
I have that one, and it’s falling apart in the middle too!
I read fanny hill when I was 12 it was interesting.
That’s a good one (I love cookbooks) and the Fanny Hill reference made me snort!
The idea of a Fanny Hill cookbook just made me snort my drink into my laptop. It'd be right up there with the chicken-eating scene from the 1960s movie version of Tom Jones.
And I too have repaired a beloved cookbook in the way you describe, Ruby. In my case, it was my mother's 1943 wedding present copy of The Joy of Cooking. This edition is old enough that it has recipes for squirrel and woodchuck, in case food prices get really high. 😛
Lol on the woodchuck and squirrel! Add possum to that and all I can think of is The Beverly Hillbillies.
Your reference to the movie Tom Jones brought back a memory of a friend of my mother's...her and her husband had gone to the movies to see Tom Jones but during the chicken eating scene she had to leave the theater lest she lose her lunch! Not a fun date for her, I would say.
Mine is circa 1981 and has squirrel (recipe/skinning) and woodchuck (just one recipe). As well as the cuts of meat from beef and hog.
My grandpa told us about hunting rabbit and squirrels during his youth (1920s/1930s).
Love your water bottle and can see how enjoyable it is to use something so beautiful and so free. What a great find.
I admire the bleacher-picked water bottle too, MB. And it reminded me happily of the days when my childhood BFF and I would go surfing under the bleachers at high school and Bible college basketball games. We found all kinds of stuff. Once we found 37 cents in change and had to toss one of the coins to decide who'd get the odd penny!
I truly enjoy hearing your everyday things, as that is mostly what makes up my life
1. I walked with friends for free exercise and community.
2. Finished an online course that I did pay for, but finishing it means I receive value for what I paid. I hate paying for something and then no doing it!
3. Ran laundry at the cheap electric time of day and it's already dry on the clothesline. I find it deeply satisfying to see laundry waving in the wind.
4. Bought produce at locally owned market. Cheapest place (except for the pay by the item things like cabbage that I buy at trader Joe's )AND truly locally owned. So good!
5. Used 2 cards I made myself (with free materials!) to write a letter to a niece and my daughter for her birthday. I find making cards very relaxing and then I get the joy of sending them, and often receiving a letter in return. So many wins.
Hydroflasks are amazing. We spent some time in St. Louis, in August, in an un-air-conditioned car a few years ago, and my ice cubes stayed frozen all day! I was a sweaty wreck, but at least I had a cold drink!
I listed some free to me vintage bookmarks on ebay, and I have already sold one lot. Plus, I didn't lose out with the postage. LOL
I have also offered up paper roses for sale on my Facebook for Valentines/Galentines/a gift for yourself. I already have 6 bouquets ordered. Now I had better get to making them!
Trying to eat up all the food we make so that none goes to waste. My husband changed his lunch habits, so he has taken some leftovers.
I found Sarris (a PA brand) chocolate covered pretzels for $1 a box (the gas station was selling them for $13 a box, which I thought was insane, but they expired at the end of this month), so I bought 13 boxes for my hubby and to share at the office. Everyone seems to really be liking them.
Born, raised, and live in PA. Never heard of "Sarris." Western PA maybe?
About 18 miles outside Pittsburgh, according to my extensive 12 second internet search. I had just always heard they were PA candy company. I went to school with a lot of people from around the Pittsburgh area, so that’s probably why I’ve heard of them.
1. Just filled up with $2.19/gallon gas. It hasn't been that cheap in a very long time!
2. Returned an electric space heater to Ollie's Outlet for an $ 81 refund on my credit card. Full details on my Frugal Girl post today.
3. Got to hear a free concert at my friend's Assisted Living place. I stopped by to give her a large print romance novel for Valentine's and whaddya know? The local musician was performing! I was invited to stay for the show. (Also got the book free or cheap from either Goodwill or a Little Free Library....again, I wrote about this on Frugal Girl.)
4.Took some plastic shopping bags to used bookstore, and freebies from there to a LFL in slums. (Ditto)
5. Earned a badge on Wordle for solving this morning 's puzzle on the 2nd try!!!!!!!! (Wordle is free so it counts as frugal, correct?)
Haha, I got a badge, too! Must have been an easy one!
Sorry, typo. I am Beth W.
Well, now you don't know why I'm saying this! I left a post saying I got the badge, too, this morning, but then I entered Beth E instead, and it's being reviewed.
Lisa, good for you on Wordle! I also enjoy playing Blossom every day, thanks to your recommendation.
I used my Ulta birthday freebie for a lipgloss. Then onto DSW where I paid .53 for an item I’ll put in the gift closet
I used my free monthly Hallmark reward plus .26 for a card. Onto
Bath and Body Works for free hand cream and $3.50 for a moisturizer hand wash so $3.81 later
I still have my Free Red Robin hamburger and my Nothing Bunt Cake to use. Finally thawing out after arctic blast
I love cashing in all the birthday freebies!
Made a pork soup with left over pork lion roast by combining 2 recipes. Served 6 with left overs.
Listened to podcast on Omega 3 fatty acids. Free education while I work out.
Putting together different outfits each day with my thrifted clothes.
First day in weeks heat pump finally turned off. House at 62°. Run small space heater in family room
Frugal fail, anytime my husband goes “shopping.” He literally walks around the store and picks up things he thinks we need.
Don't you hate it when husbands "think?"
My conclusion is that, the problem with men is that "WHY?" (y-) chromosome.
We have that “shopping” issue with Costco specifically, so we end up with huge quantities of things that don’t get eaten/used, quite frustrating!
I stole this line from Dave Barry, but when my husband shops, he thinks he should get full credit if he gets an item from the correct aisle. to quote himself, "I don't see any difference in kinds of laundry detergent." Sigh.
This morning I finally made it to the DMV to investigate why I wasn't given a Real ID the last time I renewed. They didn't really care why, they just looked at my documents again and pushed me through. It was fast and easy, but it did cost me $5 for what I think was their mistake. I have a temp license now and will get the permanent one in the mail in a couple of weeks. You better believe I'm going to look it over!
From there I went to Goodwill. I bought a few things I will try to sell, and something that may be a gift, or may be a gift to myself. I also bought a lightly used Scrabble game. I thought it might have had the vintage tiles with the embedded letters, in which case I could have sold them on eBay. But they were the newer tiles -- still wood, but the letters painted on. But all were there, as well as the four racks and the board, so I'll keep it for game night.
After shopping I went to the community center to walk, and then I stopped at the little pantry, where I picked up some Pepperidge Farm bread and a bag of chopped red onion. Then I went to Walgreens, where I bought two packages of Always Discreet pads for half price. I didn't actually pay anything, since they are covered by my Medicare Advantage plan, but the less I put on my card, the more will be left for other things, like copays and dental work.
Once again I had to remind myself that I had food at home, and it would be just as fast to go home and throw something together as to go through a fast food window. So I did.
1. Brought my kids' old clothes to two different consignment shops and picked up a dress and swimsuit for each of them. I have another $25 in credit left after my purchases.
2. I dropped off my water bill rather than pay for postage.
3. There were quite a few things not taken by either consignment shop so I contacted my pediatrician's office who also does a lot of work with families in the community and they said they would be happy to take the clothes we have for donation.
4. I resisted temptation while running errands and waited until I got home to eat. I finished off a 1/2 sunbutter sandwich from our trip to Wildlife Safari yesterday and drank some water.
5. For dinner we're using up some veggie bits and shredded chicken from the freezer and a package of egg roll wrappers that has been in our fridge for an embarrassingly long time to make a lumpia/egg roll concoction with a large side of rice. My oldest has already decided it's not up to her culinary standards so she's having chicken nuggets with her rice. Our youngest just tried to eat a crayon so I'm sure we'll hear less argument there.
1) I generally try to avoid unplanned takeout, it helps that I love cooking so it’s rare for me to not feel like doing it. Sunday was exceptionally busy though and the thought of cooking my planned dinner was too much. My last task for the day was to go to Costco (nightmare on the weekend but our dwindling toilet paper supply made it a necessity) So I picked up a $1.99 slice of cheese pizza for my son and the $1.50 hot dog for my daughter. My husband wasn’t feeling well so wanted nothing and I ate one of the freezer meals I have prepared for myself. A very cheap takeout night!
2) I went to Starbucks today to use my three $5 gift cards to buy a bag of coffee beans. When I got to the register, the cashier asked if I wanted a free feta spinach egg white wrap, he said he’d prepared it for someone who never picked it up. Then he rang up the coffee which was cheaper than I thought it would be and found that one of the gift cards was actually $10 not $5 so I didn’t even use all the gift cards, I will go back for another bag of coffee when I finish this one.
3) A new book in a series my son likes came out today. He asked if we could get it from the local bookstore (which I do like supporting). I suggested we could wait and get it from the library instead. I put it on hold before it even came out so we are hold number 4 on 68 copies so as soon as the library gets organized and gets this book into their system, we should get it right away. He agreed and we can always buy a copy later if he likes it enough, he does tend to reread certain books.
4) Both kids are having friends over for playdates tomorrow, plus we included a younger sibling of one of the friends. All the kids will be staying through dinner. I was going to order pizza but decided on a “big snack plate” instead(essentially kid charcuterie, where I fill a serving platter with cut fruit and veg, cheese, crackers, hummus,etc plus a bowl of popcorn and other snacks) My kids absolutely love it and I figured the other kids may like it too. Plus I’ll offer to make bean burritos or quesadillas for anyone who wants something a little more substantial.
5) And my usuals that never change: brew my coffee at home and bring it to work in a travel mug, eat breakfast at home, bring a lunch and afternoon snack, cook dinner every night, free workouts on YouTube or walks or runs outside for exercise.
I'm usually the "helper," not the "helpee."(?)
Broke down, out of my comfort zone, and asked for help. Headed for burnout if I try and "do everything myself." In July 2024, I was under so much pressure that I just wanted to "escape" and "turn the noise of the world OFF" for awhile. Knew when I did it that it was wrong, that it wasn't the solution - did it anyway. Overdosed on sleeping pills and diabetic meds. Never wanted to die...just take an intermission from life. Spent a week in in-patient psychiatry. Fun...no. It was; however, what I needed at the time...isolation from the "noise" of the world and a week of having people take care of me and teach me how to take care of myself. With DH recovering from a total hip replacement, working, laundry, snow shoveling, running the vacuum (shoveling and vacuuming are normally DH's chores because I don't have the strength to do those things), etc., I am feeling like I'm starting to crumble. To prevent crumbling, I talked to one of the pastors at church, and she graciously talked a few people into preparing meals for us for a few days. Spaghetti was last night and lunch today, chicken noodle soup tonight, pork chops tomorrow and ??? on Thursday. Just being able to come home from work this week and eat without having to lift a finger is a godsend. While I like to cook (and I'm good at it), I just needed someone else to take the reins for a while and allow me room to breathe.
DH wanted a little pouch for his walker to be able to carry a drink or snack or ??? I had a bunch of scrap yarn and made him one. It's not very deep, but it suits him and he really didn't care what it looked like - function, not aesthetics. And, it only cost my time.
Anyway, his sister saw his and wanted one too...in lime green. Fortunately, that was a color I had in my stash, so no $ spent. I made hers (therapeutic for me) and just the plain green looked blah. Found a youtube video on how to make some simple crocheted flowers. Used some other colors I had, and secured them to the pouch. Free and therapeutic.
Glad you are asking others for much needed help. I bet your "helpers" are feeling good about helping you. It sounds like you are feeling & doing better w/ life's problems. Mental health nurse here.
Melissa N
Sending you peace. I'm glad you have a church to turn to and even more glad that you stepped out and asked 🙂
Melissa, I am so glad you asked for help. I spent a week in inpatient psych in October for the same reason. I know how difficult it is to actually reach out and use your support system.
Good for you for knowing you needed to ask for help and doing so, Melissa. It's one of the things in life that's hardest for me to do, too.
Melissa, I'm so glad you asked for help and that your pastor found you some help. From your previous comments, I can tell that you are a giver, so it's especially nice to hear that you were on the receiving end at a critical time.
I'm so glad you reached out for help Melissa. As wives/partners/mothers/grandmothers/daughters we are so accustomed to being in the helper role, it's so hard to reach out. But you did and that in itself says you want to get back in the fight. I've had to reach out too, several times in fact, over the course of my lifetime. I'm not making this about me...just want you to know you're not alone in these feelings. I don't know you but I feel proud of you. Keep up the good work you're doing on yourself.
It did sound like a lot going on, so hopefully getting people to help will cure the brain crazy. I know exactly what you mean.
And now you have us!!.
1. The Costco Chicken Carcass broth that was partially used for soup earlier this week was in need of using up as I don't like to freeze broth (only because I hate to thaw it later). I started with an onion, a couple of sad carrots chopped, an even sadder limp bit of celery, and got those sauteeing. Then the still firm pinto beans from earlier in the week, more of the mistakenly purchased frozen mixed veggies plus some additional frozen corn, a quart of my own roasted tomato sauce, the roasted squash from a few days ago, and almost 2 quarts of broth. Most everything was already cooked so it was a case of saute then dump and heat. I added home dried oregano and sage and garlic, and some cumin and chilli powder. It is yummy, and again there is a tonne. I'll take some down to DD and Mom later this week, and the Roommate, #2 son and I will enjoy the rest with various sandwich or quesadilla options.
2. I finally got back to the gym, which isn't necessarily financially frugal but is health frugal – it has been more than 6 weeks, what with my trainer off for surgery and me breaking my arm. Boy Howdy I am out of shape!! We worked on some balance, leg work and core work, and a few modified exercises that avoided my wrist. I'm a tired puppy.
I also got to see my Hospice client, who was also missed due to the arm issue – we both missed the other and it was a good catchup. I see that she is still benefiting from our time together although our planned tapering off is still in the works – we just went a bit longer than anticipated this time.
3. I had spend a lot of coin in January and decided to avoid 'paying myself' early (I am taking regular draws from my closed business – a planned draw down that has flexibility on payment dates ). I made it to February 2 and then realised that I had forgotten to get around to the payment! So a bit of end of month frugality has paid off. There were some unexpected expenses that are now dealt with and February is a short month so all will be well
4. I have received two cheques for the written off ratty car, however more should be showing up including the biggest one, no sound nor sight of that so will need to pursue it, yet again. Such a hassle!
5. As always, the library books keep arriving. I need to go back in and get them to show me how to visit the OLD system for looking at books on hold, the new one is annoying if one has tens of books on hold as it shows images for each book and so only 3 or 4 are vissible on the screen at any one time. A librarian showed me how to get back to the old listing method, but I neglected to remember how. So I haven't been freezing the books I am requesting, and have come home with more books than I can read.
However, I never read all the books I take out and often only read portions of them, so this isn't all bad news. And in a pinch I can gulp down a good novel in an evening, so all is not lost. I even get a bit of a weight workout schlepping the books out of and back to the library!
6. Thrift-store Buddy stopped in with two jars of sourdough starter (a friend of ours had asked me for some so I passed the request on to TB, the other friend will drop by later today). TB also brought a bra that didn't suit her, which I will pass on to DD. If SHE doesn't like it she has a network of friends who might. We had a cup of coffee (home made, of course) and walked the dog together (free exercise) and yammered away at each other as we are wont to do. I love that my friends' idea of hanging out together usually involves some movement, and almost always is at each other's homes.
We did, however, decide to buy tickets for a local theatrical production later this month. The shows are always great, and the opening night discount (we save $5 between the two of us) always gets us moving on getting tickets. She has already given me money for her share, as I purchased online with my CC.
Could you tell us the brand of the cleaner you are using on the skillet? It is cleaning up nicely. The "found" water bottle has a pretty design on it. It is nice to find something you can use and even better if it is pretty!
That is a cute water bottle.
Butter was $8.99/4 lbs @ Costco today. Scottish shortbread cookies are in my near future, for mom's high tea luncheon tomorrow.
Picked up cat food for $0.40/can bought 7 cases.
Got sumo oranges for $3/pkg....sending a hug to Lindsey! Hi!
Whole milk mozzarella was $2/lb...bargain
Did not buy it, but at the scratch & dent store had charcuterie ginger bread house Style kits for $1.99. The roof was salami, sides of the house was cheese and nuts and cured olives.
Let's see...
1. I made bread and oatmeal raisin cookies. Both using my new to me vintage kitchen aid mixer.
2. I made ham broth in the slow cooker using ham trimmings and bones.
3. My son caught a ride with his grandpa...he has his license now, but when he can catch a ride to Taekwondo, it saves gas money.
4. I'm also enjoying a library book right now
5. Packed my husband's lunch yesterday and will pack it again today
I have not grocery shopped in over two weeks until Sunday. My goal was to wait until February to grocery shop....it was a good litmus test. I enjoy grocery shopping so much I just do it all the time...without thinking and my $5-20 purchases whenever I go in are similar to Starbuck spending of $5-10 a day adding up over time. This month I am giving myself a goal of only spending $200 on groceries... we'll see if I can do this!
1. I received an email that I was awarded a $20 gift card for the Walking Spree app through my job. I redeemed the gift card at Target, which is near my house and has a large food section. They often discount their meats and bagged produce by up to 50%. I'm hoping to stock up on meat there and other items. I wont count this toward the $200 food goal as it doesn't come out of my pocket in cash, it just feathers this part of my budget.
2. I went to Target this Sunday and got 50% off ribs and humus and a few other things. I used a $5 gift card from Shopkick to bring down my total to $13.
3. I went to Publix this morning with a shopping list of bogos with coupons and rebates. I spent $83, saved $105, and got back $5 on ibotta.
3. I went to a weekly class at church, everyone usually brings a food item. This week I made buffalo chicken dip using what I had on hand at the house. I brought an assortment of crackers I already had. Happy to participate, just within my budget.
4. I became an Instacart shopper in the last several months and decided to get more into it recently. I made an extra $239 this past week. Thankful for the breathing room it gives.
5. I continue to pack lunches and be very mindful of spending. I've had a lot of boring food days recently, but it's helped me find balance financially.
I hope you share the before and full after of that pan before you sell it
A Few FTs, Random Assortment Edition:
(1) First, thanks to everybody here and at The Frugal Girl who offered suggestions about using my cornbread crumbles. I'm mixing some into some leftover chili and will use others as a sort of bed for fried eggs tomorrow morning.
(2) Katy's mention of listening to Pride and Prejudice reminds me that I should tell you folks about my upcoming "Jane Austen and Thrift" presentation for my local JASNA region in April. I'm still in the very early stages of planning this: I haven't decided whether I'm going PowerPoint or group discussion, or how much emphasis I'll give to the novels vs. JA's own life (which was thrifty from necessity). But this is gonna be fun, no matter how I do it.
(3) NDN1's CF and I got over to NDN1's bank yesterday and used our DPOAs (already on file there) to pay off the balance on NDN1's bank credit card, which she'd only been making the minimum payments on (cringe!). Definitely frugal for NDN1, and a relief for CF and me.
(4) Continuing to keep heat as low as I can stand it. We're headed for yet another polar vortex this weekend, and I am not looking forward to seeing the next National Greed bill.
Th-th-that's all, folks.
A. Marie, will your presentation be videotaped? If so, I hope you can share it, or share your PowerPoint slides.
I'm in NW Oregon. Saw daffodils blooming today, in someone's yard
Though beautiful, its concerning. Back east, and South, more winter than you need, then we have nothing.
I am amazed at how much crud you have removed from the Wagner Ware pan! It reminds me that exercising my frugality muscles and using elbow grease is it's own reward.
1. Friday I went to the library for an free art class. I got more books and magazines for Hubby, the lady I help and myself.
2. Saturday my sister and kids came over. We finally celebrated Christmas. We gave each other consumables which is what I prefer.
3. Saturday night I went down fast with a stomach bug. It was not fun. I have been out of work since then. Going back tomorrow. Want to make sure that I don't give it to the lady I help. Have barely been eating so that is money saving right.
4. I barely watch TV but with been sick its the only thing I can do. Getting my moneys worth from Netflix.
5. Doesn't save me any money but my son dropped his cat off last night. He is traveling for work the next 10 days. It is easier and cheaper then me running to his apartment everyday. Our dog and the cat get along.
6. I have done laundry, scrubbed the bathroom and made dog food for the week today.
1. I am beyond boring. I am still eating my meals I made for the week, potato salad, turnip /mustard green mix, rice, coleslaw. A pbj sandwich and turkey, pickles, cheese with mustard sandwiches for lunch.
2. I exercise in house or walk in neighborhood.
3. The only thing I have bought is gas to get to and from work.
4. And 5. I do not know, maybe staying longer at work so I don’t have to hear my house as much?
Life is boring, other than my son, and his dog moved in.
So I'm doing the usual, I cook a pot of beans every week to go with whatever I cook!
This week was navy beans. They are my favorite, a little onion, garlic powder, and such.
Trying to eat from the freezer, since i have a very hungry son to feed.
Lost a rib roast in the back of the freezer. Made the best crockpot French dip I've ever made.
Caught a cold, so no work for me.
I'm sure there is more, but it is what it is!
We leave on a two week vacation today, which influences the list:
1) DS19 is taking us to the airport, which saves on one way of transit. We land really early in a couple of weeks, so we will Uber home, but DS19 driving saves us quite a bit.
2) Had 10 meetings today before I was officially done with work, and no time to prep anything. Uncovered a container of soup in the freezer. Defrosted that between calls & avoided the siren song of delivery.
3) Ran to CVS to pick up a prescription & noticed I had a $1/off a $1 purchase and a $2/off a $2 purchase that would both expire while we were gone. Picked up two protein bars using those coupons.
4) Saw that iBotta had a 2% cashback offer for CVS, sometimes they let you use it for any receipt. Used it for my prescription & earned a few bucks back.
5) DH & I will have a snack at home (our flight is late) & then have a proper meal in the lounge. It's late for us to have dinner, but cheaper than eating out & we've done a good job of getting the fridge into shape. DS19 has plenty of food, but we are trying to leave everything in "easy prep" mode for him.