Five Frugal Things -- A "New" Used Phone!
1. I finally replaced my iPhone 7 that we ran over while in Albuquerque last month. Oddly, it still mostly worked, but was getting glitchier and glitchier by the day.
Luckily there's a small business not far away that sells used phones. I've bought two from them through the years and have had zero issues, so I had no decision paralysis when it came to figuring out how to approach the issue.
I'm now $450 poorer, but own a functional iPhone 14 Pro that came with a charger and a free case of my choice. Additionally the owner also put a free protective glass screen on my husband's phone.
2. The store owner also gave me a free box of yummy bubble wrap for my eBay business.
3. We invited the kids over for a proper dinner last night and although we splurged on a nice salmon fillet, it was still cheaper than the Chinese takeout from last week.
I've started a weekly "Tuesday Night Dinner" at the house for my nuclear family, as I'm nostalgic about the thousands of hours we shared around the dining room table. Last night was only week two and I'm already planning what we'll serve next week. We see the kids here and there for short periods of time, but apparently we're now at that stage of life where we have to put a plan into place for actual quality time.
4. My neighbors were once again out of town, so I brought in their mail and wheeled their bins back into place. They do the same for us whenever we skip town.
These practices keep our street safer and all of us tighter as a community.
5. I was going to decline a plastic carrier bag for the free bubble wrap, but then saw that it was the perfect size to line our kitchen garbage.
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."
Click HERE to follow The Non-Consumer Advocate on Instagram.
Click HERE to join The Non-Consumer Advocate Facebook group.
Love the Tuesday family dinner plan. A bright spot in the week for all!
Who doesn't love a nice meal?
My phone is starting to act up, so I’ll consider looking at a used iPhone store when the time comes.
My exciting frugal win of the day is that I found some free range chicken drumsticks for 50 cents per pound. I’ll oven fry them. Luckily, my kids fight for the drumsticks.
Tillamook ice cream has gotten ridiculously expensive. $6.99 for a half gallon (which is really 1.5 quarts, so 3/8 of a gallon) and it has so much air whipped into it that I can scoop it with the flimsiest of plastic spoons. I only buy it when Fred Meyer has a “buy one get one” deal on it. Guess what? Instead of “buy one get one”, this week’s special is “2 for $12”. Ugh! I need to start making my own.
I found a forgotten onion in one of the carts in the cart corral outside the store. Every bit counts!
1. We came home from Arizona to two issues: our home's heat pump had gone out within a couple weeks of our return (thank goodness our backup furnace turned on) and our garage door opener unit was beeping because it needed a new backup battery. Our 2-year-old HVAC system is still under warranty, so the company came out free of charge to determine the problem and will return in a few days with the part to fix it. For the garage opener, we simply removed the nonfunctional backup battery rather than replace it since we didn't want to spend $20 as our ancient opener will likely need to be replaced entirely sooner than later.
2. Went out to lunch at a local restaurant with my sister and used a $20 voucher that I received back in December when I bought a $100 gift card.
3. Husband found a used 2023 truck with only 10,000 miles on it in excellent condition. He spent a lot of time researching and we're as content as we can be for this major purchase. Our first two oil changes will be free, as will a free car wash once winter is over. While at the dealership, we took advantage of their snack bar.
4. Husband went to a sporting event and was given a free ticket by someone who couldn't use it. Saved $30.
5. Friend gave us a jar of super spicy pickles. Best in small doses so we ate a few each day to use them up. Then repurposed the jar to store leftovers.
I don't remember I posted this or not, so please bear with me. I'll call this somewhat of a victory...a few weeks ago, our car started jerking to the left mostly, but occasionally to the right. We took it to the garage Monday night to have it looked at. Come to find out that the tie rods and bearings the garage recently put on our car were defective. Fortunately, they are under warranty. As a result of faulty parts we also need 2 new tires and alignment. We had just purchased the tires mid-December. Although we did buy the road hazard warranty, the damage doesn't qualify for free replacement. The tires are going to cost us about $350. The tie rods, ball joints, and alignment are all being done for free. When we had the work done the first time, it cost about $1,500. I'll take a $350 bill over a $1,500 bill any day.
DH and I just ate a baked sweet potato and a dish of canned peaches for supper. Simple and not a lot of dishes. My kind of meal.
I suffer with depression and anxiety. In July 2024, I spent 8 days in in-patient psychiatry. I definitely needed it. Other than going to group therapy sessions, I could just "be." No responsibilites, no chores, no running to-and-fro. I could pretty much do what I wanted when I wanted, and nobody hounded me. I don't ever want to have to go there again. I'm starting to really feel overwhelmed again, so I bit the bullet and found a place for us to take a 2-night trip over Memorial Day weekend that isn't a "tourist trap." There are a few things related to the Civil War, but it isn't a place like Gettysburg where it's a big "to do." DH will enjoy the history aspect - I'm not interested. The "big attraction," if you will, is a state park. I just wanted to find a simple place where I can just "be." I have to re-learn to be "in the moment." I came across the following article and, it fits me to a "T." (Except for the fact that I'm only 62.) Somewhere along my way in life, I forgot what real joy and happiness is. I had an appointment with my psychiatrist today and she thinks it's a great idea to help me help myself. We have a budget and plan to stick to it by taking our own food and snacks. It's a room at an AirBnB that allows us kitchen access. We plan to primarily take sandwich fixings and some fruit and veggies to live on for 3 days. Breakfast is included in our lodging. Here is the article in case anyone is interested: https://geediting.com/gen-bt-im-73-and-i-finally-understand-that-ive-never-actually-been-happy-ive-been-busy-useful-appreciated-and-exhausted-but-i-genuinely-cant-remember-the-last-time-i-felt-joy-that-didnt-come-with-an-a/
Melissa, I recently read the same article. It really spoke to me. Enjoy your time of "just being" And, remember that you deserve to take care of you.
My heart feels for your struggles of depression & anxiety and so glad you are trying to manage the illness. Planning this short get away with your husband will hopefully help lots. I lost my husband to mental illness almost 5 years ago and sometimes struggle, too. Having 2 teens at home keeps me busy, yet overwhelmed at times as I am doing it completely on my own. Grateful for communities like this which help me save money and be resourceful .
Laura - My husband had a nervous breakdown in 2010 and became psychiatrically disabled in 2011. At the time of the breakdown, he had in excess of 30 ECT treatments which had a major affect on his memory. He also has bipolar disorder, anxiety, and depression. We both deal with it every day.
Suzanne from Muchigan. First time posting. Thank you Melissa N for sharing this article. It touched me deeply. Tears were involved.
Melissa, I just read the article you linked. Thanks so much for posting it and for sharing your situation. I needed to see this today and I really appreciate it.
Here’s to self care and finding joy-
Thanks for the link. I'm okay now but the article made me think of the years when my children were little. Although I honestly loved being a mother, and like most people, loved my kids more than anything or anyone on Earth, I look back and see the exhaustion and dare I say? boredom wore me down. I had 3 kids in 4.5 years so the physical fatigue was a real thing. I do remember craving two things: alone time and a chunk of time every week to read. Doesn't sound like much but it was impossible to get. The years went by, now I'm retired and have a lot of both of those things I once craved. But this article reminded me of that time in early adulthood.
I used the public library free facilities to locate and identify the jerk who owns the fly by night moving company that caused all the property damage at my house. Ordered a background report on him.
I would file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and possibly consider going to small claims court over the damage. You have video which will prove your case as well a police report on the day of the damage.
JCP,
I have calls in to the city. The Keystone Cops failed to file a report or ticket the jerk! But BBB, Yelp, and other sites are about to get a full report, and I am also hollering to the Attorney General Consumer Protection office. Tomorrow is the day I call the lawyer about suing....ie, should I sue in Small Claims now, or wait until the tree surgeon does his thing and bills me. Half the tree is still standing and I want to save it, if possible. Although it likely will cost a lot of money.
Frugal fail: Katy, I should have told you I found the missing Spectrum phone I lost a few months ago. A late model Samsung. I could have sold it to you for less than what you paid for your iPhone 7, and we both would have come out ahead. But I thought you were doing a deal with Frugal Girl Kristen.
I don't have a cell phone and would like one. Make a deal with me?
I have a Samsung phone I'd be willing to sell for a very reasonable price. The email I use here is my primary email, but I have a second email I use for things I order. (e.g. My account for Puritan's Pride vitamins is connected to that email.) You can use that email to contact me about the phone. That email address is: monkeymom27@yahoo.com.
Sure, Mary in Md !
Look up the area code for Temple, Texas.
My landline number is that area code + three hundred-4103. Call me on that # and we can talk.
I work in the p.m. but will be home each night after 8:30 Central Daylight Time. Today (Friday ) I go in at 3:30 ish, earlier on weekends.
I have a Samsung Galaxy and I will get you the details. It is in a protective case. I applied one of those clear films on it but didn't do a perfect job. (Although that doesn't affect how it works.) It also requires a US C (not B) charging cord. I got it through Spectrum. I will look for the box it came in but not sure if I still have it.
I'll be happy to see if we can work out a deal.
If Katy is anything like me, moving from an iPhone to an Android won't keep her happy. I have kids with both, and when I am handed their android to do something I immediately start pulling out my hair. too stuck in my apple ways to change!
1. I returned the late book to the library this morning. It wasn't open yet, so I dropped it in the outside return bin. Possibly, I won't be charged for it, if their policy is to count the books in the bin as returned on the day before. That's what we did when I was a librarian, but libraries are different.
2. I walked in the community center. It had been several days since a walk. My hips and my legs complained mightily. I hope it is temporary, but I've already had a hip replacement and I wouldn't be surprised if the other hip is now needing one. I will give it some time. My last replacement was about $1000 out of pocket. Probably much more now. So I'm not in any hurry.
3. Today was "payday" -- my Social Security payment. I paid my two credit cards, and I was surprised to see a charge for Starz. I cancelled the free trial last week -- I thought. When I investigated, it looked like maybe I had not clicked that one last button. It's cancelled now. Then I got a message that the charge will be refunded, so maybe I actually did cancel in time? I know my first attempt was early. We'll see.
4. I am thawing fajita filling and some tortillas for tomorrow's main meal.
5. I paid my semi-annual property tax online with an e-check. There was no extra fee, as there has been in the past.
Katy, we went out to dinner for DS19's birthday last night, and I was so reminded how rare that time together is, and need to make the most of it when we are all in the same place (DS19 is not local for college.)
1) Brought home the leftover chicken salad I made from the work potluck (stored in the fridge before driving home, so no potential food spoiling)
2) Called to see if my upcoming one night hotel offer qualified for a better offer that I received via email. It didn't, but I am now confident that I have the best offer available. Can't win 'em all.
3) Brought home leftovers from DS19's birthday dinner, which DS20 promptly ate for lunch.
4) Also have leftover bread from the potluck. It tasted stale & was not great for serving (drat) even though I bought it yesterday. I will toast it & use it with the leftover goat cheese crostini mix I made for Sunday's dinner.
5) Meeting an out of town friend who is visiting for a few days & we are going on a hike shortly - free entertainment & exercise!
In addition to the time together. I’m sure your kids appreciate not needing to worry about dinner one night a week. My next door neighbor has 4 kids and they all have family dinner at her parents on Saturdays, she said she looks forward to that one night off from cooking all week!
1) Started a new library audio book, The Thursday Murder Club (the first one, I’ve read number 2 and 3) I’ve been reading them out of order and since each book is a new case, it hasn’t been a big deal, although It may be nice to get more backstory on the characters by reading the first one. These are very cozy mysteries and I enjoy them a lot.
2) My husband works at a company that likes to do fun events for employees (private sector, I work in public sector and we get nothing fun haha) Yesterday they had a free farmers markets, where they could browse and choose some items for free. He got a nice big loaf of sourdough, apricot jam, a bunch of radish’s, a bunch of carrots, and an apple.
3) Planning to use my husbands electric car again this weekend for a long drive I need to make. I used to not worry about it but it seems prudent now to strategically use the electric car over gas.
4) I went to the dentist last week and kids went today, we were all good, no cavities, counting as frugal since it costs to get cavities filled!
5) Enjoying hot and iced coffees made at home!
I recently caught up on all the Thursday Murder Club books, and I enjoyed them very much! It would probably be good to read the first one, as it sets up all the characters and the setting.
I swapped out change that my husband drops into my work drawer (we both work for our town, and he has to come in every afternoon, so he leaves me his change) for cash to add to my savings binder. I have cash saved for multiple small trips coming up, and now I’m working on cash for our big county wide yard sale that my daughter, niece, and I look forward to all year. After that I will save for my granddaughter’s birthday. I feel like I’m missing out on the interest I could earn if I put this in my savings account, but by keeping it at work, it is harder for me to access than in a savings account that I could easily switch over to my checking account if I “accidentally” overspent, so it works for me, currently.
I finished another dozen paper roses. Hopefully these plus another dozen I already had done will be picked up tomorrow, so I will finish the yardsale envelope and start on the birthday one.
So not a lot of frugality today, but small steps.
Every time you mention "paper roses," I think of the song "Paper Roses" by Marie Osmond (1973). I AM OLD.
1. My husband had his virtual interview yesterday and thought it went well! Fingers crossed! While he was on the call, I took the kids for a short walk in the stroller. They saw the playground a few minutes into our walk, we live just up the street, and they unanimously agreed that was a much better choice. We played in the baking sun for a while and got some free exercise.
2. We went to the library today to return a stack of movies and two shows we had borrowed, and play for a while. I got an email towards the end of their day that one of our other holds is ready now, go figure. We should be able to swing by tomorrow and pick up our hold.
3. My husband has a check up at the end of the week so we've written out a list of errands that need to be done while he's out, it's in the next large town over so we want to make good use of the gas. One item on his list is turning in our bottles and cans, it'll be nice to come into some money.
4. I made a stuffed pizza, the Papa Murphy's version of a calzone, with dairy free cheeses. My husband and I realized that since our kids haven't been eating pizza with us that there are a lot of excess leftovers and we struggle to get through them all every week. I 3/4'd the recipe and used 40%-ish of the dough for the top crust and braided it all together, a skill from my former pizza making days! It was delicious and I hope it'll mean less slogging through pizza almost every day for lunch.
5. The neighbors have been busy with their lawn mowers this week and my husband announced that tomorrow he is tackling our yard too. We have a battery powered mower and it's been well worth the investment.
1. Yesterday I filled out my application for Social Security benefits. I am taking it early because there is no reason not to. I will be able to switch to my husbands full benefit at 67 since I am his widow and because his will be bigger than mine.
2. I vacuumed my living room furniture and cleaned a few small spots on my couch. I've had this couch for over 20 years. I've had it reupholstered once which was expensive but replacing it with the same couch would have been more. I've always hated waste and buying a new couch every 10 years is not for me. I read once that you should buy a good quality couch with a hardwood frame and hand tied springs and reupholster it as needed which is what I did. If I had it to do over I'd have bought it used to begin with but my husband wanted a large deep couch that we could both lay on together. It is very comfy and all my kids want it willed to them.
3. I combined errands yesterday. I'm very thankful for my hybrid car, but now I'm wishing I'd purchased the hybrid electric version. The gas prices are awful.
4. Not frugal for me but my oldest daughter and her husband own a four plex that they rent out. When my daughter went to replace the locks on a unit entry door it was hollowed out and stuffed with a t-shirt and other garbage. She and her husband made a dutchman's patch and will be able to use the same old beautiful door. Hopefully this will last another hundred years. My husband was Dutch and I love that she used this method and it's name. He would have been proud.
5. I got a quote for a french drain from a excavation company yesterday. Doing these things is so intimidating to me. This would have been my husbands domain, but I have to put on my big girl pants and do the things I'm uncomfortable with since no one is going to do it for me. Maintaining my home is frugal and necessary.
Same ole same ole...
1. Packed my breakfast and lunch. Bagel and cream cheese, apple, and pbj sandwich.
2. I was away from the house for much longer than normal and got in after dark. I diced up a potato to make homemade hashbrowns and ate it with toast and egg.
3. I stocked up for the week but only bought bread, hot dogs (don't judge), bagels and cream cheese.
4. I found gas in my work town at $3.49 and filled up. Unfortunately, I noticed today that station has increased their prices to $3.69....sigh. The other stations in town are now at $3.79!!!! I keep topping off my gas because gas keeps rising and it is one cost I can't help.
5. I plan to walk in my neighborhood for an hour when I get off. Continuing to fit in my clothes is frugal.
I love your Tuesday night dinners! We did the same on Thursday nights with our grandkids...it gave the parents a little break and gave us some special time with the kids...and dinner was invariably breakfast-for-supper. They're all grown up now and have school, jobs, significant others, but I love looking back on those special times. You will too.
1. I stayed under budget for our trip to Germany! Especially impressive considering our flight over was cancelled (but only after sitting on the plane for 7 hours) and we ended up having to spend 18 more hours in the airport. The airline gave us $60 in vouchers to spend on food, so we had a nice meal and made sure to spend every cent since they expire (we spent $1.50 of our own money).
2. The few "souvenirs" we bought in Germany were all consumables we can't get in the states, with the exception of a small, wooden spoon, which was a gift for my parents and something they had been needing.
3. Had planned on enough in the freezer and pantry to get us through lunches and dinners for the rest of the week without shopping. Unfortunately didn't realize we were out of a few breakfast staples, so had to do a small grocery shop. But one of our local grocery stores had everything we needed on sale!
4. Spending time with my in-laws is always inspiring as they have a deeply ingrained focus on frugality that centers not wasting resources, while still being generous and enjoying life.
5. I am meeting a friend for lunch today. Its 1.7 miles away. I would normally drive, as the walks around here are not scenic, and driving is everyone's (include mine) default. But, inspired by our trip and my in-laws, I'm going to walk. Should take about 40 minutes, gets my steps in for the day, and saves gas.
What a wonderful idea with reinstating family dinners. We, too, are getting to the stage of life where we don't see one of our son's as often. Perhaps he and his partner would be open to the idea!
1) I had 40 minutes to kill after dropping the younger son off at college. Instead of driving back home, I took advantage of the free parking at the school and brought my laptop so I could do a bit of work before heading to my volunteer gig. The college is halfway between our house and where I volunteer, so this optimized my time while saving gas.
2) We need a whiteboard for some family organization around car use until son and GF save enough for a car, because we parents are beginning to feel like a taxi service. Dollar tree white boards in the size I need were $5, thrift store ones weren't much better. But I did find a huge roll of clear contact paper for less than $2 at the thrift store, so now I can make a custom white board by covering some scrap paper and cardboard with the contact paper. I can also make it prettier than the store bought options! Plus, we now have a stash of contact paper for future projects.
3)I also got 20% off the contact paper because I always bring a donation, which nets me a coupon. This time it was just a few shirts I had culled from my closet, but the size of the donation doesn't matter.
4) Not my frugal, but I sat down with the son and GF to help them budget their financial aid and work study income for the coming quarter and summer. They are both on Pell grants and work study paychecks, so no out-of-pocket expenses or loans if they live with us and manage expenses. (They each pay us $180 a month to cover their "room and board," which is basically their cut of phone and utilities. They also buy their own groceries. Still cheaper than renting a room in town, which is $700+ per person!)
5) Made potage for dinner (French vegetable soup), using up some onions that were going a bit soft and a bunch of dehydrated veg from last summer's garden. Served it with dinner rolls I had frozen a few weeks back when I had made a large batch. Easy, healthy, and cheap, and perfect for this atmospheric river weather.
Your last frugal made me laugh -- I can relate!
I baked two loaves of sandwich bread and made a batch of yogurt.
My husband is replacing our back deck railing. We had to buy quite a bit of material, but he is also using a lot of gifted and found materials: a neighbor gave us a box of 50 of the ballusters we need. He needed some small pieces of metal to cover the tops of some posts and used some pieces he had saved when he dismantaled an old hot water solar tank last year. He painted the metal with brown spray paint he found on a shelf in our garage.
I have lettuce, carrots, arrugula, chard, bok choy and peas coming up in my greenhouse -- all from seeds I saved from last year.
I grabbed a free fountain drink from Maverick -- and used my own insulated cup (which was given to me by a neighbor who works at the local hot springs. People leave behind insulated water bottles all the time. I have at least half a dozen serving various purposes around the house and in every vehicle.)
Hi Katy, I'm behind reading, but had to comment about your Tuesday night meals. When our daughter and s-i-l moved into a larger house, she instituted Saturday night family suppers for us and her brother (our adult single son). She cooks (usually slow cooker meals). I almost always take a dessert. And we all play a board game, cards, or Yahtzee after the meal is over. We've been doing this for 12 years! Back then all of their kids were still living at home...now none are. Over the years it has helped us and the kids' funcle (fun uncle) build relationships and memories with them. Now it's usually just us and son, daughter, and s-i-l. Coincidentally just this past week I asked her if she would like a break (as she works crazy hours with a long commute). She said no, she looks forward to it! I was relieved at her answer, because we all look forward to it too. I hope your dinners are as much fun and as long running as ours have been. <3