- The weather’s been really hot here, so I walked to Fred Meyer after dinner for some ice cream. I’d planned on buying Tillamook brand since I had a $1-off coupon, but I checked the store circular and found a coupon for $2.50 half-gallons of Dreyers brand. I switched my purchase to the lesser brand and walked home to a happy family. Plus, I bought nothing else, which was the true savings.
- I sold a curbside-picked dresser on Craiglist for $25, and then sold the $8 Goodwill bike for $25. That’s $42 for my son’s college fund! I also signed up for hospital work shifts through mid-October.
- I’ve hung laundry every day. Using a clothesline forces me to not let laundry pile up as Oregon evaporation cannot be hurried.
- Despite the hot weather I’ve been getting by with tap water and sun tea, plus hot tea in the mornings. I prefer to not drink my dollars away, alcoholic or otherwise.
- I cleaned out the basement the other day, and my husband just told me he was able to actually find everything he needed for a project instead of re-buying what he already owns! (My husband has many great qualities, but keeping his stuff organized is not one of them. This is despite being impressively-organized at work.)
Now your turn. What frugal things have you been up to?
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
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{ 51 comments… read them below or add one }
1. Cloth diapering. 2. I received in the mail two name brand jeans off the Goodwill online auction site.. White House Black Market for 12$ with shipping, and an 88$ pair of Rock and Republics (NWT) for 10$ with shipping.. 3. Washed out and scraped off the label on yet another glass jar that I will use for storing food. 4. My mother was given a bag of 15 or so bras (some she says, never worn) that I will sort through, and donate the rest. 5. Found two pairs of jeans for my daughter at the thrift store, name brand (Justice and Old Navy ) for under 7$) to use for back to school clothes.
1. Drinking some coffee we received as a gift.
2. Waiting to run errands till Son #2 comes home from school, to see if he wants to come along and batch errands.
3. Hanging laundry out on the line.
4. Made a blueberry pie last night from berries I bought at a farmer’s market during our vacation to Michigan, to serve to my husband’s board game crew who are coming to our house tonight. They needed to be used up right away, and this pie did the trick.
5. Reading some old books lately. I want to work through my stash before buying more.
1. Meals at home and eating leftovers for dinner/lunch. Also packing lunches everyday for my husband and daughter (unless they are being fed at work).
2. My daughter brought home some tomatoes that no one else wanted at work. She knows me well. I added them to my salad the past three days. My husband had brought home two giant zucchini that someone had brought to work. I was not going to be able to use them so I gave them away on freecycle.org. The recipient was very happy.
3. Since it was raining this morning we abandoned our early morning walk and I went to an early yoga class. Since I pay for a monthly membership, it was a “free” class.
4. We have a couple of (old) Windows 7 computers. We will take advantage of the free upgrade to Windows 10. I am working on the upgrade to one now.
5. I sold three books on Amazon over the past few weeks. It’s back to school time. The good thing about Amazon is there are no listing fees and listings don’t expire. The bad thing is the fees they collect when you sell, but it is still money for books we no longer need.
1. Bought my granddaughter a nearly new pair of purple Lands End winter boots, for $5, and the seller threw in a bag of roma tomatoes, which the hub will use to make sauce from scratch, which he’s been itching to do.
2. Had leftovers for lunch.
3. Picked up 5 RXs at CVS for $11.57 (thank you, God, for good RX insurance!) and also bought 4 tins of nuts which were 2/$10, minus a $3 coupon. I was then $3 short of getting a $5 CVS Bucks slip, so the girl issued it to me anyway, since without the coupon, I was spending $20 for the nuts. These will go to work for snacking at my desk (which will hopefully keep me from snacking on the sweets people bring in…) The $5 will be used on my next trip in.
4. Picked up another load of books from the library. I also ordered some books and a CD from Christian Book Distributors, which saved me around $47. I’ll read two and donate them to the church library, one is for me, one is a gift for my SIL, and the CD is for me also.
5. Bought some groceries at Kroger yesterday (5% discount senior day!!) and scored three oranges, 3 lemons, 4 limes, and a bunch of bananas for $3.97, minus the 5% discount, from the marked down produce table. The citrus will be zested and juiced and the results frozen for future recipes.
1. Just completed a 30 day buy no clothes and no home decor challenge. I didn’t think I could do it but I did and it wasn’t that hard.
2. Picked up an extra shift at work and used the income to be that much closer to paying off our last car loan.
3. Sold my son’s old bike on craigslist, put the money in his investment account.
4. Line dried all of our laundry this week. Gotta love sunny dry SoCA.
5. Washed my tennis shoes instead of giving up and buying new. They were in good shape – just dirty.
Haven’t been checking in for a week or so because of BFF’s visit from NYC to Upstate. While she was here:
(1) Took her to three local museums, since she needs her minimum daily requirement of museums. Admissions costs for three people = $30 for the first one, $15 for the second one, and free for the third (which is part of our county parks system). She was appropriately impressed.
(2) Took her to our local farmers’ market. She was also appropriately impressed by how much cheaper the produce is than at the NYC Greenmarkets.
(3) Took her to two local thrift shops to stock up on work skirts for the fall (she has lost weight recently). Total of 6 skirts for about $20 (one of the shops was having a 50% off everything sale). Score more points for Upstate.
(4) Fed her lavishly off produce from my garden (including the first cantaloupe of 2015), supplemented by farmers’ market purchases.
(5) Generally sat around shooting the breeze and having a blast at home. Priceless.
1. Finally found the a free dog of the breed I wanted, he’s a cutie and so sweet.
2. Bought two men’s NEW Carhart canvas jackets for less than $22.00.
3. Used the library.
4. Bought a new Shark vacuum cleaner that I’ve been saving and researching for a year so I know I got a great deal.
5. I’ve used all my leftovers this week, rare for me.
1. Washed and dried empty litre milk bags. Our milk comes in bags in Ontario – 3 litre bags sold together. Once empty, I slice the top open and wash them out and use them as you would use a freezer ziplock bag (they are clear, thick plastic bags).
2. Baked rigatoni is in the oven for dinner, using produce and herbs from the garden. Vegetarian and frugal. My daughter made brownies earlier. Dinner will be ready once everyone is back from hockey practice. There is an extra kid coming home, so we will finish off the evening with a Netflix movie.
3. Made pitchers of homemade iced tea and iced coffee.
4. Cleaned and organized my sewing room so that I can get back inside and do some mending and make some pillow covers.
5. Flipped our bedroom mattress to keep the wear even. I noticed that there is a husband sized dip on his side, so hopefully turning it will lengthen it’s life.
Just curious as to where you live. I am right across Ottawa (Gatineau)
1. Hike today for free exercise, and because it’s the first day it hasn’t been super hot in a while.
2. Today I made sure to eat up the produce that was going to end up in the compost bin soon, because it had been around for a while: an apple with my breakfast oatmeal, and a bunch of carrots and potatoes at dinner. Even though carrots and potatoes seem to last forever, these were near the end of their shelf life!
3. I’ve been steadily losing weight (on purpose, medically supervised) and I’m shopping my closet for clothes that fit me now, even though I feel like “celebrating” with new clothes. I do plan to reward myself with at least a couple trips to Goodwill for new-to-me clothes when I reach my goal weight.
4. My coffee at home is free, because my older daughter (in college but lives at home) works at Starbucks and gets a free pound of coffee a week! On the topic of free beverages, my other beverage today is tap water that I drink out of my reusable bottle.
5. My older daughter goes camping/backpacking with friends regularly, and we found several pieces of clothing at Goodwill for her to wear on these trips, including North Face rain pants for $8 and a Lands End fleece jacket for $7.
Uh… my oldest son (also a college student but lives at his dad’s) also worked at Starbucks and occasionally works at the Starbucks counter of his local Target store. He never mentioned to me that he could get free coffee. I drink coffee whereas he and his dad don’t. I’ll have to ask him if that’s something that’s a benefit that he gets and just doesn’t take advantage of…
Yes, ask him! It’s my understanding that all “partners” (as Starbucks calls their employees) have this benefit. I do know that Starbucks within supermarkets (and maybe Target) are considered employees of whatever store they’re located in, not Starbucks, and therefore have totally different benefits.
1) One of the commenters on this blog had mentioned the idea of paying her kids for their volunteering, complete with pay slips and having them fill out mock tax returns to teach them budgeting skills, etc. I liked the idea so I was all set to implement it for my teenage daughter who had been unlucky in her job search. She was excited about the opportunity to make money and manage her own budget. We were all set to get started next week and I had set up paystubs in Google Drive, discussed with her how much I would pay her (in Florida, by law, employers can pay high school students as low as 85% of the Florida minimum wage), etc. That same afternoon, she got a text from her brother’s GF about a job opening at the restaurant where the GF works. My daughter applied and got the job! So she’ll still be budgeting herself but now I don’t have to pay her. Woohoo!
2) I keep a thrift store wish list that I check every time that I go to a thrift store. A Blu Ray disc player had been on it for many months but I had never spotted one. Yesterday a Goodwill worker put one on the shelf right in front of my nose so I grabbed it and did a little happy dance in the aisle. The price was $6.99 and it worked great when we tested it.
3) I made applesauce for the first time by cooking 4 apples that were bruised and wrinkled in my crockpot with a little bit of water and lemon juice. I will use it in my baking in lieu of oil.
4) I received a $50 Home Depot gift card that I got for free by exchanging points from our Mastercard Rewards program. I will use it for gardening supplies and couple it with the $5.00/$50 coupon that the Home Depot Garden Club has been emailing me every week this summer.
5) My son and I walked to his Meet the Teachers event this morning instead of driving there. It’s not that far from our house but it was very hot and humid today. Once there the school was selling the 3-inch ring binders that they would like all the students to use for $10 a binder. They did the same thing last year. My son used a Trapper Keeper instead, which works really well for him. He’ll be reusing the same one this year so we didn’t stand in line to buy the $10 binder. One of the teacher had a wish list of extra supplies they would appreciate and copy paper was on it. We picked that one to bring since I got a lot of copy paper for free after rebate from Staples over the past couple of years.
10$ for a BINDER??!??
I know, right? However, it does look like quite a sturdy binder. It’s a 3″ 3-ring binder, the Clear View kind. Staples has them for $11.99 so I guess buying it from the school would be a little cheaper and save a trip to Staples if you don’t get free shipping. However, the Trapper Keeper that he used last year and is reusing this year cost me about $14, has zippers and a strap and a bunch of pockets for pens, etc. He walks to and from school so having something like that is more useful than a huge binder (the kids aren’t allowed to have back packs – or any bags – at school).
Funny: My kids’ school supply list is liberally sprinkled with the all-caps words “NO TRAPPER KEEPERS, PLEASE” — really — for at least half the grade levels. The picture in my mind is straight out of 1985 and I have never bothered to look up the new ones. Kind of a bummer, if they’re actually useful.
1. Cleaned out the fridge, the fridge freezer, and our chest freezer today. Also defrosted the chest freezer so it could work more efficiently. I came across some carrots and celery that needed to be used up, so some of that I prepared and put in baggies for my husband’s lunches. The rest went into a pot of potato soup (also had two big potatoes that needed to be used) and it came out great.
2. There’s not a lot of stuff in the chest freezer, so I put two clean cat litter jugs filled with water in the bottom of it. They help the freezer stay colder on the inside and come in handy for helping save the food if we lose power.
3. Used some non-adhesive shelf liner and Con-Tact paper to make a place mat for our cats’ bowls.
4. Went shopping at Goodwill and the Salvation Army for a glass to fit the 1950s toothbrush holder in our bathroom. Couldn’t find one the right size at Goodwill, but I did bring home a 99 cent vintage rose pink mug to hold the tiny bottles of eyeglass cleaner on the open shelves in the bathroom. Found the right size glass at the Salvation Army. It was on the half-price table, so it cost 27 cents. Did not buy anything else while I was in either store. 🙂
5. Been eating leftovers all week. The potato soup will make a nice change.
1. Returned from a not-much-fun vacation on Monday. Car broke down and we had to rent a car to get where we were going, and then rent a truck and tow dolly to haul our car home with after our convention. NOT FRUGAL. Husband’s show car–he will fix it himself but parts will cost us.
2. Lasted two days before going to the grocery store–DD always buys milk for us before we get back as she is here twice daily to feed our cat. I made a short run to the farm stand and got fruit and corn on the cob to tide us over.
3. Today I went to the grocery store and spent only $71, a 29% savings over regular prices with coupons and sale items. I saved at least 20% on every trip last month, and nearer to 30% most weeks.
4. Saved leftover tomato broth from Swiss steak last night and plan to use it to make minestrone for tomorrow night’s dinner. Maybe with cornbread or some other bread along with it.
5. I hope to go shopping tomorrow for a while, to use a $10 off $10 coupon and check to see if I can get an end-of-season deal on a new bathing suit. Alternately, I need another package of black socks for fall. I will also spend a little time “advance shopping” for the holidays-our planned vacation included a couple days of “looking around” but because of the car breakdown, I didn’t get those days. So I’ll do a little tomorrow because DH will be working on his car most of the day anyhow.
1. We got back Monday afternoon from taking our son to U of Tennessee for his freshman year. Our Saturn sedan had been packed to the gills to get the 3 of us and all his stuff from MD to TN. There were a few things that we had to pick up once we got there either because it had not been packed or we ran out of room. Got 4 of the 5 binders he needed at GW for 89¢ or 99¢ each and found him a vintage jacket for $12.99. We also found a Starbucks travel mug at a different thrift for $1.99. I also found a penny on his dorm room floor when we first walked in.
2. I had got DS a bunch of tubular hangers from Freecycle several weeks ago but we misjudged how many to take and so we had to buy a pack at Target but at least I used Cartwheel to save a little. There were none to be found at the thrift stores we went in. We also picked up some snacks and batteries for his calculator while we were at Target. Also shampoo…don’t ask.
3. While we were at Target DH thought we should get DS a padded storage cube that can be used as a footrest. It was $16.99 and I told DH let’s wait and let me see what I can find when we get back home since we can bring it for Parent’s Weekend next month. Last night a Freecycle friend posted the exact same thing and is dropping it by my office tomorrow when she picks up school supplies I’m donating.
4. Bought local peaches for 99¢/lb that I sliced up before I went to work this morning. Tonight I am making a pie and some jam. Also chopped up several pounds of tomatoes I got for free from a fellow Freecycler that I am turning into salsa.
5. I’ve sold 4 items on Amazon in the past week and have several things to list on local FB Yard Sale group. Things are much quieter now that there is 1 less person’s schedule to work around so I should have time to list.
My daughter is a sophomore at UTK, and my husband and I are alum. I hope your son has a great year :).
1. Used the salami I froze before we left town, for my lunch.Was not sure I could freeze salami–it defrosted perfectly! Ate it on 2 slices of defrosted bread I also saved from demise before we left town.
2. Cut up the pineapple we were given by a friend, ate with lunch.
3. Using tea tree oil I already own to dry up a fever blister outbreak vs. those expensive potions they sell at Walgreens (Abreve or something??) I know, gross, but there it is.
4. Replaced broken CD player in my car vs. buying a new vehicle! LOL! My car is 14 years old and going strong! But I do need music.
5. Made a batch of vinegar and water cleaning spray and put into spray bottles for housecleaning.
1. My roommate and I are both starting to crockpot things – I’m going away for the weekend and now have food that will be good for me to eat when I get back! I love my urban tribe.
2. Two weddings this month and I’m wearing things from my closet! Thankful that one of the couples said do not bring gifts (thank you thank you thank you)
3. This week I worked a sidegig cleaning someone’s apartment for extra cash!
4. All these weddings while EVERYONE is on vacation meant my normal (free) friend pet sitters were unavailabe. Found a website called dogvacay.com where I booked two weekend stays for cheaper than 2 nights at a kennel where they wouldnt even play with my dog. So then I get a $25 off first booking coupon in my email I couldnt use and I e-mailed support and they gave me a $25 one to use on my next booking!
5. Speaking of my lovely dog…in lieu of getting him fully groomed this month ($60-$100) depending on how bad he gets so I just got his nails trimmed and gave him a bath and have been trying to keep up with his grooming so I can stretch it! He will need to get trimmed next month but if I get him a little bit shorter than usual he will grow fine through October! Love my cockapoo.
my husband is exactly the same – wildly disorganized at home, accumulates unnecessary things (anyone need some used spark plugs?), but impressively organized at work. you would think there would be more genetic diversity in husbands, but they seem to all have the same quirks. and he also has a lot of great qualities.
I feel like a bit of scammer doing this right now because over all I haven’t been very frugal and there are some non-frugal trips on the horizon :s But I guess it’s good to remind myself of the wins every once in a while.
1. Made dinner from the pantry when I really didn’t want to. In the end I was happy with it (as usual).
2. The heat broke here a little bit so I got back on my bike for my commute to work.
3. Went to free yoga at the beach instead of going out for dinner and drinks
4. Went to a clothing swap. I got rid of old stuff and was able to refresh my wardrobe for free.
5. Having a friend over tonight to brainstorm new outfit combos and we’ll eat leftovers and drink cheap sangria made from homemade wine. I’m not actually into fashion but I recently figured out if I can combine the clothes I already have in new ways I can put off the itch of wanting something new for longer than I already do.
Katy,
So are we to assume since it was not mentioned on your Five Frugal Things that you finally bought the lear jet? haha!
1. Combined errands with my oldest in one particular part of town to save time, gas and money, plus I had the pleasure of her company.
2. Dropped off a bag of clothes at a consignment store.
3. Redeemed survey points for an Amazon gift certificate.
4. I set a budget for a baby shower gift for my niece. I cross-referenced her registry lists with Amazon for price comparisons but most of the prices were the same. Luckily, she is ok with receiving previously loved items as gifts. As luck had it, I found one of the items on her list, new, at a consignment store for half the price! I also found some new receiving blankets and a couple of used sleepers. I used my local discount shop card to get 10% off my purchase. At another consignment store, I used store credit to purchase a little pair of shoes, 3 pairs of socks and a hat. I stayed within my budget and gone more bang for my bucks.
5. Part of the consignment store credit was used to purchase a sweater for my youngest for back-to-school and three items for resale.
6. I received a $10 credit from a site introducing their referral program. As it turned out, I was getting ready to place an order, so that worked out nicely.
7. A while back, I accidentally purchased canned crushed pineapple. I had some marked down pork ribs that I used the last of a smokey meat spice rub and put the crushed pineapple in between the ribs. It turned out pretty well and we have leftovers for tonight’s dinner.
* I really, absolutely, totally need to lose (a lot) of weight… It’s always tempting to register to a diet club (weight watchers for 40$/month?), and an awesome gym (80$/month), thinking that THIS will do the trick. But the truth is that I don’t need a fancy gym and a diet club to succeed, I just need the right mind set. Counting calories (free!), and using what I already have for fitness (pre-paid zumba/aerobics/yoga pass, city pool, walking outside, elliptical and dvds at home) is the way to go for me.
* When on my walk this morning I picked up a couple of apples of the ground (from a tree), and wild flowers to decorate my home. I think I will start carrying a bag to pick up the empty cans too.
* Found 0.30 cents on the ground.
* Bought 32 organic gluten-free vegetarian Indian burgers patties for 0.25 cents each instead of 1.65$ each regularly. 22$ worth of natural peanut butter for 3.96$. 24$ instead of 64$ for 144 apple sauce cups (awesome for lunchs). That’s my kind of grocery shopping! Just with this I saved 85$ today.
* My girl is starting school in less than a week. Instead of going crazy on the wardrobe front, I did an inventory of what she already has and of the “too big box” (filled with yard sales found), and figured out she has more than enough clothes for now. So we don’t have to spend on this.
* Got 4 children books from a free pile. They were added to the Christmas pile.
Have a great frugal day!
Ps : I miss your posts of the crazy stuff you see at Goodwill, with the pics…
I have been using the free app for LoseIt! It helps me track calories in and out, make likeminded friends and join challenges. Just a suggestion…
thanks for the suggestion!
Spark People is another great free site (Sparkpeople.com). You can track calories and exercise, and they offer great tips.
Made two crockpot meals that has and is still feeding us, at home which SAVES $$$. Cleaned clutter from kitchen pantry (no expired foods lurking). Gave perfectly good containers to another homemaker who could utilize them. I win because now I see what I have and no “go out and buy new because I can’t find what I need”. Declutter equals frugal savings.
1. For supper we are enjoying a salad featuring the last of the goat cheese my mom didn’t want and a salmon steak left in our freezer by guests.
2. I ran a bunch of errands with the boys this morning and only spent $2.50 the entire time. That was on a pristine pair of little girl shoes at the Goodwill. We’re expecting our first girl in November and I own no girl clothing, but I’m still I’m holding back on going crazy because girl clothes seem to be cheap and easy to be had. However I’ve found it much more difficult to find shoes in great condition cheap, so I do snatch those up when I come across them.
3. I found cheaper term life insurance, so I’m switching us over.
4. We’ve had 529 accounts since our oldest was a baby, but I’ve always had them with Vanguard, not Virginia. I just found out that buying into the Virginia plan will save us a couple hundred bucks on our state taxes. I transferred that money so fast my head spun.
5. Today we made what is probably our last trip of the summer to our free, local city pool. It’s open for another week, but I start school next week, so life will be too crazy. It’s been fun not spending a dime but getting to watch our boys develop their swimming skills. Next summer our oldest will be old enough to take advantage of the free swimming lessons also offered by the city.
1. Put away $12 in ones and change into emerg. Fund. It’s up to over $210 just this month once I decided it’s a must! 1000 asap is the starting goal.
2. Found .36 in coins on ground this week.
3. Family ate pizza out tonight using 30% off…have leftovers for my lunch and dds tomorrow.
4. Sticking to ynab budget well in my second month using it.
5. Sold bag of daughter’s used clothing for $20.
1. Had a clothing exchange with a good friend/ neighbor. New wardrobe, fun!
2. Thinking about how grocery bill may drop when older son off to college. Not to mention water bill. But, sigh…..
3. Knitting a sweater for a friend’s baby and reading library books for entertainment.
4. Made a huge cauliflower curry with veggies from our weekly farm box plus one can coconut milk and some spices.
5. Keeping my eyes open for “side gigs”….
My five frugal things this week and from now on are a recommitment for me as I just redid my budget…
1. Lunches this week came from my freezer (lunch meat and bagels), pantry (canned peaches) and snacks from my snack drawer.
2. Dinners are planned leftovers … Meals made from on hand ingredients.
3. I found new outfits in my own closet and drawers. I thought I needed “just a few more pieces”. But, I just needed to re look at what I already have.
4. I put all the clothes that are too big in a box and out into the garage. I am hoping they will not be needed, but they are there if I gain the weight back (no extra spending and a reality check).
5. One of my dogs needed to go to the vet this week (not frugal). One of the medicines he needed, I already have on hand (saving $68).
It’s a start…
1) went to visit a new friend and brought her cookies from my husband’s bakery, raspberries and zuchini from our garden. In turn they sent me home with a large bag a plums, some homemade jam and a toy their baby has outgrown! This could be the start of a lovely sharing relationship! 2) My husband made may jars of apricot jam, and will next make ‘confiture au lait’. 3) Laundry on the line every day, still need to take me selfie! 4) Went to the library. 5) Bought some things at the market which is about 2 seconds away from my house, including mussels which we cooked up for a nice meal at home…don’t know the last time we got to a restaurant, but we eat nice things here!. 5.5) Bought a bathing suit for baby off of a used clothing website.
1. My husband got 2 ( free ) zucchini from a co-worker. I used them in a casserole which turned out to be delicious.
2. Tried hard to organize my errands. Went to 2 grocery stores, the gas station and the post office in one 5-mile loop. Saved both money and time.
3. Cleaned slow-draining bathtub using vinegar, baking soda and boiling water. Also bought a wire drain cover (cost less than $3) at Home Depot. I’m hoping to eliminate any need to call a plumber now or in the future.
4. Have now almost made it through the summer without buying any new or used clothing items for myself. I cleaned out my closet and found a few items for Goodwill. At last, my closet has a little room to spare.
I also made it through the summer without buying any new or used clothing. I cleaned out my closet, draws, etc., and found things I forgot I had and what I couldn’t use, I packed up in two bags last week and took them to Goodwill. I think this is probably the first summer in my adult life that I haven’t bought clothes or shoes!
Our clothes dryer broke in December. Normally this would not be a problem but we had one of our worst winters since I can remember. I could not get to my line because of all the snow. I hung laundry in my basement and living room. Occasionally I went to my in laws and used their dryer. In the spring and summer, it has not been a problem. Well, my brother in law has a free dryer. Their washing machine broke. My sister in law wants matching appliances. Score for us!!! Free dryer!
1) Meeting my daughter for lunch so we can use the discount & free panty coupons I rec’d to get her some underwear she desperately needs.
2) I picked up a few more audio books at the Library and I’m really enjoying one called Clara & Mr. Tiffany, about a glass worker in Tiffany’s New York factory during the 1890s.
3) We brought potluck lunch to the office on Wednesday and ate on it for two days.
4) I glued the heel back one of my favorite pair of hiking boots – which I bought several years back at a Thrift store. It looks to have held very well. We’ll see if it worked, when I wear them this Fall.
5) I didn’t buy a lear jet or a yacht this week.
1. I have a crockpot bubbling with last night’s chicken bones and seasonings to make yummy stock. The rosemary is dried from our plant trimmings.
2. Speaking of the crockpot, it’s an older one, with a plastic lid, and one day the lid was dropped; the oval handle in the center broke out of it, leaving a big hole in the middle of the lid. No good “ledge” to re-glue it, and what kind of glue would we use over hot food? I covered it with a fancy silicone drinking glass lid (a gift) and weighted it with a small upside down saucer. Works like a charm. I’ve yet to find a second-hand lid that size in stores, and online they want $10!
3. A workman in our office brought in four “pineapple” pears from his tree. No one else wanted them, so I took them home and we ate them. They were delicious.
4. I was muttering to myself about how ridiculously little I can recycle in this county, unlike nearby counties, and suddenly I realized something that made me laugh; at least all my pets are “recycled”. They are all rescues but one, and that one was one the original family didn’t want and gave to us. The pets didn’t turn out to be that frugal to keep and maintain, but we love them and get value out of them.
5. We got a free estimate to fix the A/C on the old car — over $900. The car is 15 years old, so no thanks. We’ll try to sell it instead and maybe make a little bit of money instead of spending a lot.
I have the windows open and the a/c off and plan on grilling the entirety of tonight’s dinner including dessert. We’ll see how it turns out! I’m trying recipes from a library book called “Grill This Not That”.
-BBQ Chicken Legs
-Grilled Steak Fries
-Grilled Apples with a yummy brown sugar cinnamon filling
1. Will have leftover potatoes and sausages for lunch. Leftover rice with garden produce for dinner and a chicken my husband got on sale. There will be leftover chicken which I will make into enchiladas with garden tomatillos and chiles.
2. Gave extra tomatoes and beets from my garden to neighbors who will watch my cat and house while we are in Chile.
3. Harvested a ton of purslane (a weed!) from my garden. It has more omega-3 than salmon and is good stirfried.
Planning our trip to Chile:
4. Have gone shopping in my closet for things to wear. A pair of black jeans just needs to be redyed black. Maybe a new pair of jeans (thrifted?) and shoes, but I need them anyway. Figured my son (who lives in Chile in a studio) can get cheaper and more convenient hotel bookings than I could. So sent him some money for that. Continuing to study Spanish on Duolingo, which is free. We will be in Santiago and Valparaiso and I am so excited!
5. Trip to Costco for toilet paper and coffe and a pair of Kirkland jeans ($12) for my husband. Taking a friend.
* made a blackberry crisp from blackberries in our yard
* eating lots of garden tomatoes
* sold a sweater on eBay
* having someone (hopefully) come to buy some car mats we don’t need
* was planning on stopping on grabbing dinner last night but came home and made nachos instead
1. Had dinner at MIL’s
2. Froze bread that would have needed throwing in a few days
3. Froze parmesan to go with Spaghetti Bolognese in Freezer
4. Put washing out to dry every day.
5. Started drinking water instead of costly coke!
1) A bunch of toys were on clearance at Walgreens for 49 cents. My 6 year old helped me load them all in the buggy so we could buy them for Toys for Tots this year.
2) Finally found a church we love. Everyone is so warm and welcoming. They did a wonderful free VBS that my daughter loved. They hold a meal after each service so we can all gather in fellowship. My daughter is being baptized tomorrow and we just need to bring a side dish for the picnic afterwards. I baked an apple pie I have had in my freezer since Thanksgiving.
3) Am setting up at the flea market tomorrow. Crap out, cash in!
4) My son will be starting preschool in 2 weeks. I am grateful for Early Head Start because it is free. I have a 10 month old as well so I am grateful to have a little break in order to list items to sell on my FB sites, get errands done, etc.
5) I have a friend who collects Coach purses. I pick them up for her at yard sales and she pays me for them plus gives me some extra since I do all the work. I am meeting her next week with more purses. All the money between this and my sale this weekend will go towards the rest of the loan money my husband will need after his Pell Grant has been applied. He doesn’t know I am doing this! It will be a surprise for his birthday next week when I hand over the money I have made.
Such a nice extra present for his birthday!
You are so right about drinking dollars away.
My husband and I gave up alcohol four years ago. Previously I would not have said we were heavy drinkers, but we were probably moderately regular drinkers (three to four times per week). Now I look back and cringe at the amount of money wasted on alcohol!
Now we have a SodaStream machine that was given to us, and we probably use it twice a week, and drink tea and coffee and water the rest of the time. We have an espresso machine and grind our own beans. The money once spent on booze now goes into our savings account.
I am the one wasting my own personal spending money on coffee at work, but this week I have cut it down by over half so I am happy with that. I have set myself a coffee budget and that has helped immensely.
This week’s frugal things:
1. Took my lunch to work almost every day, except for the day I met my husband for a date. Lunches have been homemade soups I made last weekend and free rolls that my BIL dropped off a few weeks ago.
2. Only bought coffee once this week. The rest of the time i used the pod machine at work. Truthfully I was so busy this week I didn’t have time to notice.
3. Pushed out the grocery shopping by two days and just ate what we had. Neither of us had the time to do it, and we all got by with what we had.
4. It’s winter here but we have been hanging all our washing on two lines inside and then using the dryer when they are almost dry to get the last of the damp out.
5. Frantically trying to finish the last two subjects of my last degree so that my repayments aren’t for nought. In Australia we have a system that students pay about half their degree costs and the repayments only kick in (interest free) when they earn above a certain amount. Repayments are made through the tax system. I had half of one of my degrees unfinished and had started repayments when my income increased – it was driving me nuts paying back an unfinished degree, so I am trying to finish it so at least I am making payments on something of use. Almost done!
1. Drinking a Barolo that we bought for $25. Not exactly frugal, but great for a wine that would normally be $80 to $100.
2. Squeezing out the absolute last bit of toothpaste.
3. Carpooling to work today with my fiance.
4. Have only bought maybe one coffee out in the past two months, a habit I don’t miss much.
5. Found a cactus bearing fruit in a public place, took it home and ate it.
1. DH did a bunch of DIY projects around the house.
2. Salvaged some old sheets and pillowcases by soaking in oxiclean then rinsing with vinegar. Why are pillowcases so expensive when not with a set?!
3. Resisting the urge to run out and buy lots of cute baby stuff!
4. Eating up odds and ends.
5. DH took the girls to see Blue Man for free thanks to a friend who’s a performer!
1. Although I mostly failed at cooking at home this week, I ate a few dinners at works. I also brought lots of leftovers that were headed for the trash.
2. Another eBay purchase netting $24 (already working on my Christmas fund)
3. My boss got a gift – package from London with 3 tins of super fancy tea. He did not care for it so I took it home. It came in a basket and I took the basket as well.
4. Got $5 CVS Beauty Bucks (= CVS free money)
5. Resisted 90% off clearance at the ZARA store (I did not even walk in!)