Five Frugal Things -- Baby's First Birkenstocks
1) I helped my mother clear off a table and brought home a couple items to share in my little free library. Specifically some postcards, a necklace and a handful of prayer flags. I'm sure they'll be gone by tomorrow.
2) I'm on the lookout for a quality white cotton fitted sheet to replace a LL Bean one that tore. This is the second one of theirs that basically disintegrated after a couple years of use, which is extra frustrating as the sheet set was a gift and rather expensive. I got the company to replace the first sheet, but give up at this point.
I did mend the rip when it was small, but that lasted maybe a night or two and you can see that the rip is now beyond repair.
Of course this led me to Goodwill. There was one 100% cotton queen fitted sheet, but I didn't buy it as it felt cheap. I'll continue to thrift for a replacement sheet until I find precisely what I'm looking for. Overmanufacture of consumer goods means that every thrift store has racks of used sheets, so I know I'll eventually find a quality replacement.
I'm spectacularly finicky about my belongings, but am somehow always able to find what I need from Goodwill.
I walked out empty handed, although I stopped to snap a photo of this pair of bronze "baby's first shoes," as they're usually antique. This pair is made from a pair of toddler Birkenstocks, which I thought was pretty funny.
Certainly not antique!
3) Our printer has some kind of hardware error message and neither my husband nor I have taken the time to fully research the issue. I mainly use our printer for eBay labels, which is only an issue a couple times per week. (If I'm lucky, as I haven't been listing lately.) More eBay listings = more eBay sales!
My friend Lise offered up her printer, so I stopped by her house and she printed out a label for me.
I'm crossing my fingers that it's a straightforward issue. This printer has otherwise operated perfectly and works just fine with the knockoff ink cartridges that I buy off the internet.
4) I haven't bought any fireworks, then again I pretty much never do and have only bought a couple boxes of sparklers. Ever. I saw someone mentioning it as a "recession indicator" that they hadn't heard many fireworks in this week leading up to the Fourth of July.
I realized that I've only heard a couple of loud "pops," when I normally hear a lot of them this time of year. Officially they're illegal in Portland, but that normally doesn't stop Oregonians from crossing the bridge into Washington to stock up for the holiday.
Now I'm going to pay extra attention to whether there seem to be fewer home firework displays on Saturday.
Recession indicators -- they're everywhere!
5) I ran a number of errands for my mother, which I was able to do in a satisfyingly linear route. Not only did this save me money on gasoline, but it drove me past Trader Joe's and I was able to run in for romaine hearts and bananas.
Apparently enough people buy bananas at Trader Joe's to turn it into a joke for their parking signage.
Now your turn, what frugal things have you been up to?
Come to think of it, I haven't heard any fireworks. However, I think it might be as much a heat indicator as a recession indicator.
Supposedly it's cooler today, but the humidity is so high it doesn't really matter. I ran errands this morning, and it was very uncomfortable. I drove and did as little walking as I could.
Another storm just rolled through, so maybe that will help.
We had another plea to limit electricity usage today. I have the air and the lights off. I'm surviving.
My errands today included the library (returned one book, picked up two holds), the post office (dropped off three eBay packages), Aldi (bought blueberries, pie crust, biscuits, creamer, and sourdough bread). I also got an extra receipt and I found a penny. My last stop was Home Depot, where I bought packing tape. My route made a nice big circle.
I found a like-new sweatshirt in the park that had gotten soaked from last night's storm. I'll wash it and return it. At least I saved from getting soaked yet again.
1. I walked an hour starting at 5:30 am in my neighborhood this morning for exercise .
2. We still have a heat index hovering around 110 and I finally caved and turned the air on at 2 pm. I did last with windows up and a fan though until then.
3. After walking this morning, I made potato salad.
4. I hand washed my comforter in the bathtub and hung it outside in my front yard to dry. It is so hot it dried fast. I also washed my winter Snoopy blanket my son gave me
for Christmas. It is heavy and that thing is dry also. So So hot.
5. I am starting to read a book from the Free Little Library in the park at the University of town. John Sandford is the author. Wicked Prey is the name of the hardback book. It still feels weird to occasionally read a book that is not case law or a brief.
I'm so sorry for those of you who are enduring excessive heat. Having lived in a place that regularly reaches 110 degrees in the summer, I very much know how it feels. And life has to be totally organized around it.
I love his books. Wicked Prey is like number 18 (I think) in the series.
For some unknown reason my ex roommate once bought two 25 pound boxes of dried beans and a huge amount of grocery store dried beans in bags. I think she'd decided to be a pepper or something. But we could not have eaten all those beans in 100 years. TV news had a story about some local folks collecting food and medicine for Venezuela so I took all of Madam Pig-Tricia's beans and other nonperishable foods I'll never eat to their collection place. Decluttered her half of the pantry, supported a good cause, and got rid of items that trigger bad memories. Hopefully it will feed hungry earthquake survivors.
Last night I got gas at HEB for $2.99 a gallon... right before a holiday weekend, no less!
Lisa, I had to laugh at what you described your former roommate-from-H.E. Double toothpicks. and what she may have decided to be after hoarding dried beans. Did you know you typed she decided to be a "pepper"? Lol. I'm guessing you meant prepper. Or maybe she was so "out there" she decided to become a vegetable.
Well we're both from Waco so to quote an old Dr Pepper jingle, I'm a Pepper, she's a Pepper... we are all Peppers in our hometown.
But I meant to type "prepper"
Like the crazy people who are stocking up food supplies for the end of the world!
She also ordered 25 pound sacks of rice, but I unloaded that when she moved out. Along with numerous cases of ramen noodles.
I think I got the movers to put it all in her storage unit. Which no doubt will be on an episode of the Storage Wars TV show someday!
Meanwhile, let her (or her son, who moved to Australia to get away from Mommie Dearest) pay $137 a month, or however much they charge, to store all that garbage!
For her son to move halfway across the world to distance himself from her speaks volumes. Sorry you had to go through all that.
My frugals are all about Buy Nothing.
1. Regifted eight IKEA containers. I used them for close to two years before reorganizing the linen closet. Was thrilled to give them to a teacher.
2. Gave away two very well-loved cookie sheets that were too large for our wall oven. One was a bridal shower gift from almost 45 years ago. Recipient said she didn't care how used they were as she covers them with parchment paper.
3. Fulfilled someone's request for foil loaf pans.
4. Requested and received an expanding file folder for our winter travels.
5. Received a maxi skirt. Not sure if I'm going to keep or regift it. To wear it in public, I'd need SPANX shapewear or something and that's not gonna happen.
I went to the expensive grocery store and bought only the few items it sells that Food Lion (way cheaper) does not.
We lost electric power in a storm for a half hour this afternoon, which led to me pulling out the Dollar Tree "saint" candles -- the kind in a tall glass container -- and lighting them. Mainly needed the light so that our nervous old dog would calm down. The storm turned the sky black and dropped the outside temp by 20 degrees in just a few minutes.
Early this morning I pulled up all the green onions in the container garden and processed them for freezing. Got several cups of chopped onions.
Reading a free book (The Daughters of Mars by Thomas Keneally) about two Australian sisters who volunteer as nurses in WWI. It's very good.
There are lots of sheets at Goodwill, but a lot of them are microfiber, which is awful. You’re right to be picky! Hopefully, people have stopped buying microfiber and it will work its way through the thrifts.
My printer is a laser printer. No ink! It’s cheap to operate, and I bought it at an estate sale.
1. I went shopping at Winco.
2. I found receipts in the Winco parking lot that were worth 2,500 fetch points.
3. I won’t need to buy produce for the rest of the summer because I have a garden and access to fruit trees.
4. I wandered out to my garden this morning, in my pajamas, and harvested some blueberries to go on top of my yogurt. (Living the PNW dream!)
5. I had “Christmas tea” with breakfast this morning. This is spiced tea that was marked down 75% after Christmas. It tastes just fine in July!
Is it your GW Bins that that kid found that Kareem Abdul Jabbar jacket from the 70s worth 100s of thousands??
My 12 yr old printer also bit the dust this week. Need it for non ebay reasons. Katy, I wish for you to find a label printer at the thrift so you no longer have to buy ink. I have both and love my label printer for my ebay labels. Also, do you save your spent ink cartridges and list them on ebay? They sell!
For years my town holds a concert and fireworks half a mile from me. We normally walk up and sit by the side of the road but my town opened a very expensive and new Town Center so fireworks are no longer in walking distance. We wont be driving and dealing with all the parking. Sad.
Good luck with your sheet hunt. I've had no luck with fitted sheets at the the thrift stores near me - the elastic is always worn out. I've had better luck at estate sales.
My county library system offers $20 of free printing each month per member. It is 0.10 for a black & white page and 0.20 for color. Wow, 100 color pages printed for free! Katy- I hope yours does as well.
Came to same the same on library printing! 100 pages free per day at my local.
I've done that in the past, but my library is closed for a major renovation.
I will also watch how many fireworks there are around here.
1. We received a box of individually bagged chips from Buy Nothing. I gave a child's book.
2. I rode my bike to get cherries, avocados and corn on sale at Safeway. And I came out with those exact 3 things.
3. I traced the pattern for the one item I wanted in a book of sewing patterns my mother is getting rid of. I then listed the book on Fb marketplace and ebay.
4. We deep watered our garden with rain barrel water. We drop a small pump with a hose attached into the 55 gallon barrel and then I water as usual with the hose.
5. I'm wearing a Life is Good tshirt that my mum was getting rid of.
Katy, The Company Store has a sale on right now. The prices are higher there, but the quality is so good. Or The Vermont Country Store is another option.
Thanks, that's good to know, but I try to only buy used.
I recommend estate sales
- I made five Bonne Mamon size jars of wild blueberry jam with frozen blueberries that I bought at Trader Joe’s. In all, the cost was about $15 which was much less than the stores and very delicious.
- Cut out the material for a new dress. With my $3.99 material and $1.99 pattern it will come to $6. I have ‘new’ sewing scissors. My husband found them in our complexes trash room. He brought them home, washed/sharpened/oiled them and they are like the best scissors I’ve ever had.
-made Salade Nicoise for a lunch picnic with leftover roast potato, green beans, salmon, hard boiled eggs, etc. My absolute favorite salad!
- Picked up the first Stephanie Plum book at the library today.
-Will be on the lookout for children’s books as I know of someone who is collecting them to give to children in ICE detention. I just can’t fathom the evil of putting children in detention:(
Love the TJ sign
Decorated yard with 13 flags for 13 colonies.
Cooked lots of meals yesterday afternoon so won’t have to cook much this weekend.
Going to bike parade in our neighborhood on the 4th that ends in the park that connects to our neighborhood. We have a potluck at one of the shelters. Fortunately many trees so hopefully not too hot.
Took daughter out for breakfast for her birthday. I consider this an experience because we rarely get one on one time with each other.
Wearing clothes that I have had for years, including red sparkle converse shoes, thrifted red capris with hand me down USA t-shirt. I don’t need new clothes to celebrate. Happy 4th everyone!
Almost have the roof finished on the mineral feeder I'm building.
Hit the cheapo grocery store and picked up several staples. .69 tuna salad in our future. Swung by Aldis for remaining items. They were out of oranges and strawberries....???
My fil dropped by. He stayed for lunch. Everything was either something we raised or from the discount grocery. He got a little home cooking and some grandson lovin'.
Dropped off extra veg at a couple neighbor's homes. Will share with my folks as well.
Headed to a cook out, pond party, and small.town fireworks. I'm bringing watermellon and a dessert. Sunday dinner at my folks. Planning to back haul the bull (Big Bopper). Will do the laundry as well.
Still hot and humid but that's typical.
Back from work. I got off at 8 pm and so far have not heard a single firecracker. Yessss!!! Possibly because the pyrotechnic maniac next door seems to be out of town. I heard some last night but not a lot. Is it recession -- or is it because the boys are becoming more mature and outgrowing this nonsense? It also might only be because they're waiting til later. I will update you as it happens. Or does not happen. Sure hope to have a quiet holiday weekend!!
Oops I spoke too soon. Now that it is almost 10 pm I'm hearing some booming sounds. Fireworks, which are illegal in city limits --and my house is well within city limits. Calling the cops doesn't do any good. 🙁
At least I may be a bit safer, with the new metal roof.
It might be they are in short supply-- I haven't seen any news on that one way or another.
I split a nearly new sheet a year ago. It had bleach spots that weakened the fabric. Must have come from the factory that way because I don't use bleach. I tore it into lots of roughly equal sized squares and put them into an ice cream bucket that I'd cut into a dispenser. They live in the kitchen serving as alternatives to paper towels and as everyday napkins. After a few times through the wash they lost their fraying threads and are now nicely fringed. They're surprisingly handy.
1. Became discouraged by the price of bread when grocery shopping, so returned home and prepped some dough to bake myself. I'm still learning how to make bread and how to time the prep-rise-knead-rise-fridge-bake steps to fit into my days.
2. Finally had spare time to review my retirement account (a benefit of being unemployed?) and ditched a few mutual funds with high fees. I should have done this years ago.
3. Taking advantage of World Cup soccer for free entertainment - Cape Verde is so inspiring!
4. Washed my car by hand. Pesky birds have decided they like to perch in the tree right above my car, unfortunately.
5. Gleefully accepted a bag of mangoes from a friend with a tree. I would say I'll repay the favor with home-baked bread, but I'm not yet super confident about the quality of my bread 🙂 I'll see how this batch turns out before I foist it upon friends.
6. Used a few Chick fil a "free item" coupons for my children. A new store opened here recently, and corporate folks were at the park one day, handing out coupons. Yes, please! Not sure I would eat there otherwise, but it was a treat for the kids.
McDub, if you look up “no knead bread,” it is an easy and flexible and forgiving recipe. You can change up the flour, the time in the fridge, etc. https://nwedible.com/just-what-internet-doesnt-knead/
is a very good recipe with explanation.
1. I was going to drive to city a 15 miles away to renew my Sam's Club membership. I got a Groupon deal to renew for $15. I called the store & was told to renew online to get the cheaper price. I will wait a few weeks when I need to fill-up my car. I can renew online and then go to the store to get my card & the discounted gas.
2. I curb picked a rather gaudy red, white, and blue wreath on my evening walk. I figured I could use it for Memorial Day, Flag Day, July 4, and other patriotic holidays.
3. Stopped at Wendy's on my way home to get a free senior soda & to cool off in the a/c. I was refreshed to finish my walk.
4. Washed clothes & hung them up to dry in the bathroom.
5. Touched up some scuffs on a barstool I got at the Habitat store. The church across the street that I attend let me use a can of white spray paint they had left over.
I got a whole bag of bananas (probably 18 of them) for $2 at the scratch and dent store - but they aren't as pretty as yours, @Katy!
1. Thrift Store Buddy dropped by on a rainy day – we sat and shelled a gynormous basin fully of fava/broad beans (got 5 cups of beans!) and then carried on to do a cups worth of peas. Got two buckets outta my kitchen, I ate the peas (yes, all of them) for supper, and cooked up the beans to use the next day. Super time chatting and fiddling.
2. Just as we finished the shelling projects, TSB got a phone call from a dear friend of hers who is developing dementia. There was a lot of repetition happening, and TSB clearly needed to be on the call (it is rare that the friend remembers to call, so it was precous). While she finished up the convo in my living room, I pulled out my cherry pitter and got to work on the cherries on the counter. There weren't many cherries, and the (counter top, punch style) pitter churned through them in no time. It was an excellent exercise in HLDIAT (How Long Does It Actually Take)
When TSB left, I geared up (in my disco belt and Katy's Special berry buckets) and picked more cherries in the pouring rain. I washed and de-stemmed them right away.
The very next day I set a timer and it took only 9 min to use the pitter to pit AND freeze 8 cups of cherries! That is repeatable!
3. I picked the few raspberries I have on my pathetic plants, also in the pouring rain. I got those spread out and frozen, as I know I won't get them eaten right away. They are already dumped from the tray and bagged up all nice and loose, filling a bag that was half full from a few days ago.
I'm working on a new mantra of just doing a bit not trying to do a huge put-down of foods all at the same time. It is a work in progress but every time I manage to do a small bit (weeding, picking, preparing, freezing, etc) rather than trying to gather a huge harvest, I am locking in the habit a bit tighter
4. The library was preventing me from placing more holds as I had a lost book gumming up my return record. A big dig through the piles produced ALL the library books so I bagged them up and planned an errand route.
Library, book store (two books I had ordered ages ago have arrived), TSB's Thrift store (stainless steel mixing bowl for #2 son, and a package of the exact light bulbs I need for the loft before the new tenant arrives).
I then drove to the collision repair and got my truck back – it is cleaner inside an out than it has been since I bought it 10 years ago! So glad I had insurance, the bill was more than I have PAID for insurance since I got the truck – what appears minor can be very costly. $300 deductible seemed reasonable, to me.
The truck's front brakes are acting up, so I drove to a auto shop owned by friends of mine – my own auto guy is going out of business so time to get a new relationship going. I've got an appointment - there's a long wait, but the problem isn't dangerous. The truck won't get driven much between now and 2 weeks from now. One more chore at least begun.
5. TSB came to get me so I could pick up my other car (left at the collision shop). We visited the scratch and dent veggie store as it was en-route, and had a grand time finding deals, and joking with other customers. After she dropped me at the car, I remembered I needed feed and peat moss so picked THOSE up as the feed store is only 2 blocks from the collision store.
After all those chores and driving, I was glad to be home to put things away and chop up some veggies to munch. I'm trying to increase the fibre I eat as a snack option, and it is so delicious in the form of fresh garden peas or sweet carrots.
OMG. Did you hear about the goodwill bin find in Hillsboro? $3 Lakers warmup jacket used by Wilt Chamberlin now going to auction a Sotheby’s for $250,000???
I love your blog, Katy, and am always happy to see a new post.
I'm a big thumbs down on neighborhood fireworks. In general and specifically when the guy across the street randomly throws what sounds like an M80 in the middle of the road. Scares the crap out of me when it happens.
I don't have a pet but I have a few friends who do and they struggle with this time of year.
Debra, as I type this our dog is cowering under the bed during a lengthy barrage of illegal neighborhood fireworks. She's sedated and we have a fan on to help drown out the noise, but still. I didn't know what an M80 was until we lived out in the country for 20 years. Terrible in every way.
Our neighborhood is filled with FIREWORKS afficionados who make a LOT of noise and smoke every single year.THIS YEAR: ALMOST NADA!! I was in shock.A few little booms here and there.That's all folks.
Recession? I had not heard of that correlation but Phoenix is definitely quieter this ye
No fireworks as a recession indicator?!? Well, yes -- and no.
Our area of Colorado is bone-dry and aching for rain. Nearby fires are still growing. So it's true we had no fireworks -- but that's because there has been a serious ban on them in several counties. (Maybe the state.) We've had a lot of high winds, too, which means that a lit cigarette or careless match could easily start another conflagration. Not to mention that smoke is in the air, irritating your eyes and throat. We're lucky -- we still have our home and trees. Others, an hour or so away, are not so lucky.