Five Frugal Things -- Clearing My Clutter With Feng Shui
1. I finished darning all my mother's hand knit socks. This took a significant amount of time as there's no rushing the process, but time is going to pass either way, so I might as well keep my hands busy. They're currently being washed in hot water to felt the darned areas and tighten them up.
2. I sorted and listed all the plastic animal that I thrifted on Monday. One grouping of dogs sold almost immediately on eBay for $19, which more than covered the $12 I spent for everything all together.
As a reminder, here are the bags:
I still have four more listings of animals/figures up for sale, ranging from $4.99 to $75. I have no control over how quickly they'll sell, if at all. It's a set it up and set it aside situation.
There were a handful of Finding Nemo figures in the bags, which I offered up in my Buy Nothing group. They're now on my porch waiting to be picked up!
3. I listed a package of honey on Buy Nothing that someone regifted to me, claiming they'd bought it because "You love honey in your tea!" Actually, I abhor the musky flavor of honey, so it's been sitting in my kitchen for over a year. It annoys me every time I see it and finally had the duh realization that I could just get rid of it.
I know this is an aside, but has anyone else ever read "Clear Your Clutter With Feng Shui?" I'm absolutely not a woo-woo gal, but this book resonated with me for the simple concept that you shouldn't have things in your home that piss you off. There, now you don't have to read the book, especially the last chapter about doing a colon cleanse!
4. My neighbors are out of town again, so I'm bringing in their mail and getting to read their Oregonian newspaper. (They told me to help myself to the paper.) It takes three minutes from my day and strengthens our community.
5. I didn't go anywhere yesterday and actually stayed in my pajamas all damned day. I'd planned on hitting the Goodwill bins for eBay inventory, but my husband came home sick from work and it felt better to stay at home. It didn't hurt that yesterday was cold and windy, which made home feel extra cozy.
Home all day eating leftovers for dinner? Heaven!
Katy Wolk-Stanley
"Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without."
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How many of us live with things that annoy or piss us off? Many! Simple concept I’m going to keep in mind.
And for someone else it's just a neutral item.
Those socks are a work of art w/ all the contrasting colors. Your mother will have cozy, warm feet. Good job!
They really are. My sister knit most of them and jokes that they're "now a gift from both of us!"
If I have something I will not use I will give it away or donate it as soon as possible because it makes me annoyed too!
1. Turns out my tie rod snapping and my wheel coming off wasn’t all that was wrong under my car. The last 13 years of Midwest winter road salt took its toll an it is no longer safe to drive. The dealerships and junk yard would only give me $200-$300 for it so I sold it for $400 to a car hobbyist.
2. We shopped around and test drove some cars. I will be buying a used one this weekend after I have my mechanic take a look.
3. I’m making a super simple crockpot recipe with chicken and frozen vegetables. When it’s done I’ll service it over rice.
4. I mailed a Christmas gift return that didn’t fit. I won’t get a cash refund but I will get a store credit that I can use whenever.
5. We called and cancelled cable. This saves us $24 a month since we still need high speed internet for my work from home. But hey that’s an extra $288 in our pocket each year.
Ugh, so sorry about your car.
That sounds like a dangerous type of "break-down". Glad no one was hurt.
Midwest and road salt = taking your car to the car wash to flush the undercarriage as well as the rest of the car during the "salt" months. A bit of a pain but can pay off in the long run.
Yes, I have always done that 1-2 during the salty times and my car is fine (12 years old). A relative's car, also VW, has never done that and now has rust underneath.
It pays off in the long run!
The workers are here, putting in the "luxury" vinyl plank flooring on my bedroom floor. Due to the Gestapo (ICE) risk, the (Spanish-speaking) crew* I formerly employed (and paid in cash) is nowhere to be found, didn't answer their phone (can't blame them and I hope they are safe). So I hired an English-speaking father and son handyman team. (*I hope that does not sound racist, for I did not intend it that way.) It will cost a bit more, but such is life. And the new people will accept checks or credit cards. They advertise on craigslist and are on the up and up. This project should be done by tomorrow; I'll sleep on the sofa tonight.
Meanwhile, I'm already prepping for the icy (freezing rain or sleet) blast of winter weather forecast for this weekend. The father and son are also going to see about fixing the natural gas space heater (which does not require electricity to run), and I made sure all the battery-operated backup stuff is operating OK. Just in case a tree limb falls against a power line and I'm out of electricity. Or if the state of Texas' electricity reliability council was not being truthful when they said we should have enough power to keep the grid going this time: To say I don't trust them is quite the understatement.
Frugal fail: the nice-looking $3 wall clock I bought at Goodwill has already stopped operating. Even after replacing the batteries. Had it for maybe six week. Now I know why it was donated.
Frugal win: I had bought the vinyl plank flooring at Ollie's with a 15% discount coupon. Guesstimated how much I'd need. At first the installers thought I needed 3 more boxes. (Which is fine, as Ollie's sent me another 15% coupon). But this morning, they figured by instilling the planks east-and-west instead of north-and-south, we'll have enough without buying more. The "woodgrain" pattern is such that it looks good either way.
Please be sure you have a working carbon monoxide detector when the heater is functioning again. Can't be too careful with old gas appliances.
We have gas logs in our fireplace and get them inspected and serviced every autumn.
I love my luxury vinyl plank floor. It has a wood grain pattern as well. I have two dogs, and their nails would destroy a real wood floor. I installed it in my addition, and eventually want to replace the wood floor in the older part of the house with the same stuff.
I saw the governor said our power grid is 'stronger than it's ever been.' All I could think was: Is that supposed to be reassuring? Because that's a really low bar, sir.
I can not comprehend that you had honey for over a year! I don’t like honey in my tea either, I’m a milk and sugar girl with black tea.
I know Marie Kondo gets a lot of grief, but "clearing your clutter with feng shui" sounds as if it has a lot in common with MK's concept of discarding anything that doesn't "spark joy." Anyway, either one is a helpful guide. I'm continuing this January's round of decluttering--with extra inspiration provided by last week's tour of the assisted living facility where CF and I are hoping to place NDN1. Assuming that I wind up in a similar facility in the future, I will have a whole **lot** of decluttering to do. (And let's not even talk about the massive cleanout that CF and I will have to do of NDN1's house sooner or later.)
In other news, I do hope that the ice storm forecast for much of the South (as reported by Fru-gal Lisa) isn't as bad as predicted. We're supposed to be getting a big snow dump and frigid temps here in Central NY, but at least it's supposed to be snow and not ice, and at least we're more or less used to this.
Ahead of the weekend weather, I was able to get down to the Salvation Army superstore for an enjoyable thrifting session today. Best find was a NWT LL Bean zip-neck sweatshirt in size large/tall for $13, for the husband of the couple on whose country property DH's ashes are buried. This friend is a tall, thin guy, and any time I can find a deal like this for him, I'm gonna grab it.
When I retired, it took me 18 months to declutter, even though our house looked neat and organized, because every closet, cupboard, cabinet, drawer and shelf was stuffed. We still have a lot of things, but there's a lot of free space in the storage areas now.
Brother brought me 2 more heavy tarps to repair and keep for my use. I gave him a quart of local Apple blossom honey as I let my bee keeper friend winter over his hives in my orchard.
I gave him radish sprouts after he ate falafel, sprouts and tomatoes in homemade pita. We Reminisced about taking pita & sprouts sandwiches for lunches, having to build the sandwich before eating. Mom doesn't remember but thoroughly enjoyed our stories.
I made him a batch of lemon squares to take home, hoping there will be some left for my nephew when he comes home from college this weekend.
It has been sunny, cold and windy, the chickens are laying eggs at half the rate, so I tarped two sides of the chicken run with a clear tarp and they are much happier.
a hot air balloon landed in our back field about midmorning. They got blown off course, supposed to land 8 miles to the North. I can't imagine it would be fun to fly when it is 25f!
I sold the rest of the crab pots, rope and buoys.
I just listed a lawnmower, edges and gas blower.
1. I used a coupon at Meijer for a free half gallon of half & half.
2. The price of an item I purchased rang up for the wrong amount. I asked the cashier and she took the $5 off the total.
3. I combined several errands. The roads were bad today so going out once was more than enough.
4. I cleared the snow from my driveway again.
5. I ate leftovers for dinner.
Today I did the big monthly shopping trip and wonder about the masochists who love to shop 'til they drop because two grocery stores, Dollar Tree and Ollie's did me in, even though DH came along to Ollie's while I bought 120 pounds of cat litter with a 15% off coupon. I need somebody to do heavy lifting. It did not help that a big snow/ice storm is predicted (not the usual here) and everyone was in the grocery stores.
For frugal stuff, I had a digital manufacturer's coupon for Cheerios, which stacked with a $1 store coupon. Bought some ground beef on sale and virtuously made it into patties right away to freeze with parchment paper squares between the patties, a very useful Dollar Tree purchase.
Over the weekend, I sewed most of a slipcover and back cushion covers for our office daybed with eBay fabric. Ran short on fabric to cover the mattress, but the seller still had some at a good price. The scraps were cut into strips and sewn together to make a new front for the daybed throw pillow. The back is a neutral color and stayed in use.
I am frugally, therefore slowly, accumulating wall art for redesigning my daughter’s room into a guest room,
after she’s grown and moved out. Today I found a Threshold/Target vintage-style framed print that I’ve previously admired for $6 at a thrift store. It still sells at Target for $26.
1. Today I had a doctor's appointment that I covered with the HRA my job provides.
2. Since I needed to leave the house, I ran a couple other errands. I went to Target and stopped at Starbucks, which are two places I generally avoid but I had gift cards for both and didn't spend any money out of my pocket. They were also in the same strip mall where I get my cat's food (and earn a punch on a card for every bag of food purchased).
3. I made a chicken pot pie for dinner using Costco rotisserie chicken and discounted pie crust. There was a weird amount of crust left over that I didn't want to throw away, so I had the idea to put some of the pie mixture in a ramekin and cover it with the remaining dough. I didn't have to throw anything away!
4. I asked my partner to bring home some soup from work, since he gets a free meal every shift. It's going to be a frozen apocalypse in Wisconsin this weekend so I know I'll want something warm to eat at work.
5. A couple pairs of my underwear were ripping where it meets the elastic waistband but are otherwise perfectly good, so I finally had the time to stitch them up. It truly looks like one of the three blind mice took a needle to my chonies, but thankfully I'm not doing a Sports Illustrated shoot anytime soon.
It is so freeing to let go of things that cause annoyance and displeasure. After coming home from staying with my grandchildren, I set aside 2 sweaters that make me feel ugly. One was free and one was thrifted. Both will be listed on FB marketplace and ebay. What a relief.
I have a chicken roasting in the oven. After simple travel meals, all brought with me, I'm looking forward to a proper hot meal. I added to the roasting pan all the root veggies that were left in the fridge. Tomorrow I'll cook green beans from freezer (home grown) to go with the leftovers. I like seeing how long I can go between shops.
I made 3 fb marketplace sales while I was gone.
I purchased 2 needed tops from ebay and they both arrived and look like they'll fit.
1. Gave myself a haircut this morning, about 3 inches and it layered very well! It's only my second or third time cutting my own hair so I'm very happy with the results.
2. Combined some Fred Meyer (Kroger) sales and coupons and placed a pick up order for my husband to pick up on his way home tonight. Saved about $20 and brought my total down to $43.
3. Saved some leftovers from the back of the fridge and popped them in the freezer for a later date.
4. Finished a library book on Libby. Now on to the remaining 5!
5. My husband is also needing a haircut so we'll try to squeeze that in tonight after the kids go to sleep.
You are a brave woman re: haircut. I would not cut my own much less the hair of another. Better half did the very rare trim on the kiddos back in the day.
Thankfully my hair is pulled up almost 99% of the day so as long as I don't go too short I can't do too much harm. As for my husband, we basically said if I mess up he can always go get it fixed and he likes simple cuts so he's been good for me to practice on. I'd be nervous to try anyone else for sure!
There's a famous quote attributed to William Morris that says: "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
I like Katy's more succinct and funnier version: "You shouldn't have things in your home that piss you off."
Those socks are a work of art! Instant happiness!
I ventured out today since it was a balmy 22°. I went to the gym and used the stretching cage and the weight machines. Then I walked over to Food4Less and bought some tortilla chips, because I have everything else for nachos. A party bag, with the lowest unit price, cost $6.59! That was on sale, too. When did chips get so expensive? And at Food4Less!
I found three receipts to scan in addition to my own receipt.
Today was my first payday from Social Security this year. It wasn't too exciting, as the increase was completely wiped out by the rise in my building's assessment fees.
I was on the phone most of the day, talking with family members and friends. My sister is moving into a retirement home at the end of the month. It was touch and go for a while, but it looks like it will really happen. It was fun sharing the news. My sister is so happy.
I hung the pictures of my grandchildren that I got for Christmas. Most of my pictures are hung with Command strips, but I found I was all out. So I rummaged in my toolbox and found some small nails and got the job done.
Did I say before that I remembered I had a space heater tucked away in a storage closet? Wish I'd remembered before the last winter blast, but it will help out for the next one, on Friday.
1. I had leftovers in the freezer. They are food I got tired of before they were all eaten. Now they look good & new to my appetite. A nice dinner out of the microwave.
2. The dishwasher went out in a house my husband is trying to sell. The oven part of the stove does not work either. He is trying to repair it but it is hard to live in a house w/o working appliances.
3. I earned a 50 cents off each gallon of gas promo w/ my Chevron rewards app. Husband & myself were able to fill up each vehicle w/ the discount.
4. We ate at the IHOP restaurant for my b'day last week. I got a free b'day stack of pancakes that I took home for another meal. It was 4 large blueberry pancakes which was 2 breakfasts for me.
5. I agreed to be a hair model at the local beauty school for a student. I only need a trim but thought might as well as take advantage of a free haircut. Of course, I will give a nice tip.
It looks like Goldy Fawn is checking out the darning on your mother's socks. The socks are so pretty with the multicolors. They look warm and cozy too.
1. We bit the bullet and purchased a new laptop. Our former one had Windows 10 which became obsolete last year. So we were forced into it although the old one still worked. I'm happy we had cash set aside to pay for it.
2. I made a batch of Hermits from an old cookbook my cousin owns. First time making them. One of DH's favorite desserts.
3. I'm planning on going to a talk at the library tomorrow night. A local historian will be speaking about ice harvesting in the days before refrigeration. I'll return a book while there.
4. I was discharged from Physical Therapy today from an injury to my foot last summer. Although with insurance I don't pay for the appointments, I'll save the gas money every week from traveling to their office.
5. Snowstorm and frigid temps heading toward Massachusetts this weekend so I don't plan on venturing out. I have a boiled dinner planned to eat while we watch the Patriots game on Sunday.
You'll be well rid of "winblows 10". Better security is worth the cost of replacement.
Oh my gosh. What a concept to just get rid of things! My MIL gifts me clothes that are much too big, but bought where they can't really be returned. I can gift them away through the no buy site! How simple.
Well, it's going to be a high of 0 Saturday and our airbnb wouldn't let us cancel, so here we are! In light of not being able to get our money back to rebook since my mountaineering classes had to be rescheduled, the FFT are itty bitty but still add up:
1. Sipping on free coffee that came with the vacation rental.
2. Brought pasta and sauce, so dinner last night was pasta with some boursin cheese added to the tomato sauce and leftover chicken wings.
3. Skiing today and as much tomorrow on our already paid off ski passes before the temps drop.
4. Breakfast is peanut butter toast with nonperishables brought from home.
5. I wasn't sure what my fifth would be, but you know what? I have not strangled my husband, who has managed to slam every cabinet in this place in the time I have been working and typing this list this morning.
I, too, am darning hand-knit socks. I did three socks yesterday and have one more to go. One pair is at least 10 years old and still going strong. The other pair I previously re-knitted the toes. I love that I can keep repairing these.
I have been looking for linen fabric to sew a dress for summer. I scored a king-sized linen comforter (Pottery Barn) at my local animal shelter thrift store for $17. It yielded 11 yards of lovely white linen. Enough for several outfits. I'll enjoy dying the linen for the different projects I have in mind. (The cheapest new linen I've found is around $18 a yard.)
I have a number of sewing projects I'd like to make. Monday I sorted through my stash of mostly thrifted fabric and picked out material for several projects.
I'm currently sewing a wool dress from fabric I thrifted several years ago -- six yards of wool suiting for $2. I made my winter coat from several yards of it, am making the dress now and have enough left for a pair of trousers.
I dislocated my knee, which is neither fun nor thrifty. Part of the after-care is regular icing of the leg. We have ice packs, but we also have the ice contraption left over from my husband's knee replacement surgery. (We saved it because he will eventually have the other knee replaced.) It surrounds the knee with ice water and does a better job than an ice pack.
Cindi, repurposing the linen comforter is brilliant! Your sewing projects all sound amazing.
I have two raw linen shower curtains that I scored from a free pile. I hope to make them into a summer tunic.
I wish there was a way to see your completed outfits! Do you post anywhere?
1. I thawed out my Thanksgiving turnip green soup and ate it last night.
2. I plan to make tonight creamed spinach with the spinach I bought from Aldi.
3. I am still eating a couple of spoonfuls of the sweet potato pie that I have from Christmas, which I had frozen. I don't eat the crusts, just the filling, and yes, I am counting that as my "orange" vegetable... lol.
4. The ice is not going to get this far south...yay!!!!! However, my son who lives in the northern part of the state in a rv while he is working up there is not as lucky....sigh. No broken pipes is frugal and we need the rain!
4. I will exercise by walking in place inside. It is also raining today.
Slowly decluttering my kitchen/office/laundry room (the crazy cat "helps" by knocking stuff off every flat surface in the three rooms--open concept so really only two rooms).
Taking things that I haven't used and probably won't use over to the 'free table' in the clubhouse. Win-win, somebody else gets something they want and I reclaim my space.
1. Our new rescue dog desperately needed a hair cut but is still terrified of new people so going to the groomers would be too traumatic. I watched a few YouTube videos and was pretty impressed with my results! Dog was so cooperative. I plan to keep grooming her at home. This will save us $60 a trim. I already had the clippers and scissors.
2. Went to a new store as they had eggs 99 cents a dozen! I bought the max, 6 dozen. Found a few more good deals and also used a $5 off off$25 coupon
3. Went to my regular grocery store their 80% burger was on sale for $3.29 a pound! I got there too late as they had sold out. I asked the butchers if there was any more in the back. No. But they took pity on me and sold me 7 Pounds (the max amount) of the 85% at the sale price. I’ll cook the burger in my large crock pot tomorrow then freeze it in 1 pound amounts for future meals.
4. Chicken legs were 97 cents a pound. Bought a pack. Tomorrow I’ll cook them in the crock pot and use the meat for several meals and soup!
5. I did not degrade the brave Capitol police during the Smith hearing or kidnap a five year old wearing a blue bunny hat.
I like to declutter and organize; I find it very calming. During some recent time off, I got deep into it, going through old manuals for household items. The previous owner’s stuff was in there too. As I was setting aside the manuals for things we no longer have, admiring the vintage look of the 80’s lawnmower and snowblower pamphlets, I had a flash of an idea to check eBay for sold comps. I learned people buy pamphlets for machines that were made before the internet. I listed the manuals and wouldn’t you know, today I sold one! I net $1.30, but don’t laugh because that is pure profit for me — and something useful (or maybe something nostalgic?) for the buyer — for an item that was going to be recycled. I reuse packing materials from shipments or source them free from buy nothing, and it takes me very little effort to walk it to the mailbox for pickup. I hope the sales from low priced items keep my seller status in good standing.
One of the bennies of moving twice in the past year is that I gave myself permission to get rid of everything that annoys me. The test pieces from a quilt pattern? The 1.5 pt canning jars? Small randomness in the backs of drawers? All gone.