Five Frugal Things -- Organized Toiletries
1. I sold the thrifted desk organizer for the $100 Goodwill Gift Card Challenge, although I took an offer of $22 and then noticed a crack in the plastic when I grabbed it off the shelf. I contacted the buyer with photos and she accepted a $5 refund and while it was far from a brag worthy sale, it's still an extra $13.13 for the Oregon Food Bank!
2. I pulled out our bins of toiletries, medications, first aid supplies and such to reorganize. Unsurprisingly this was a bigger project than anticipated. Our 112-year-old house didn't come with clever storage, so anything we've configured is all smoke and mirrors.
I came across a lot of expired bottles and tubes of goo to throw away, which helped. It was all well organized, but it's still better to not hold onto anti-fungal cream that expired in 2020.
How is this frugal? I found a surprise backup package of masks, which was mildly annoying as we recently bought a fresh supply. Oh well . . . they're now stored in a clear container and I doubt we'll need to buy any in the near, (or even far) future. Everything is now attractively organized and everything should be easy to find.
It's an extra layer of satisfying as all the organizational bins were either thrifted or garbage picked -- and they mostly match!
3. I made a pot of black bean chili and added a handful of T.V.P. that I bought from the Winco bulk bins last year. This gives the texture of ground meat without having to go out and actually buy any.
4. I finished listening to Oona Out of Order and started listening to The Cat Ate My Gymsuit through the library's free Libby app.
5. I didn't start a war to distract a nation away from my sexual crimes against children.
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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I've wondered what you do when you notice a a flaw too late. I was listing today and I caught a flaw I didn't see before, luckily before I pulled the trigger. I decided not to sell the item. It was pretty iffy, anyway.
I'm glad to hear that you sometimes discover expired products hiding in your storage! Happens to me more often than I'd like.
I had a pretty typical day. I walked at the community center, I checked out a book, I put away a lot of things that were, for some strange reason, not where they were supposed to be. I also caught up on my financial spreadsheets and found I am still solvent.
And I found a penny! That's about it.
Love your food bank donation project! Glad you sold it regardless of the crack.
1. Walking for exercise and instead of driving given the lovely weather we have been having.
2. Focusing on more vegetarian dinners. Only 2 of us so any dinner is pretty cost effective but we can try harder.
3. Hubby canceled a service contract for our new car so we will get significant money back.
4. Dropped off a couple of items at a charity thrift store and didn't buy anything. Not buying is more frugal than getting a good deal.
5. Not spending $$$$$$$ on a war to shore up someone's fragile ego and also causing so many unnecessary deaths and suffering.
1. We have a thrift store in my small town that supports the local food bank. I have a box of donations to drop off.
2. I forgot my lunch last week. I had to buy food in the facility cafe. I ate only 1/2 as the portion was big. The next day I made chx taco salads w/ the leftover food. Enough for the husband & myself.
3. Treated myself to a 99 cents (plus tax) iced coffee at McDonalds. A cheap luxury.
4. I used a 40$ coupon off a 75$ online purchase at a local grocery store. I have never ordered groceries online before. It took forever for the employee to locate my order when I picked up the items & the store forgot one avocado. I think the savings made the trip worth it but it was more work than I imagined. I'd rather go to the store & get the groceries myself in the future.
5. The garage door would not raise. My husband raised it manually & then repaired it. (I leave for work at 5:30 AM so not a convenient time for it to stop working.)