Five Frugal Things -- Coming Out Alive From The Willie Wonka Factory
1) I stopped into Trader Joe's for bananas, toilet paper and almond croissants and walked out with . . . bananas, toilet paper and almond croissants. Sticking to a practical list at Trader Joe's is an accomplishment akin to making it out alive from the Willie Wonka factory!
I did splurge on some organic bananas as I needed to slot in some greenish ones to plan out a ripening schedule. Note that they're enormous and I paid per item instead of by-the-pound.
I'd say "banana for scale," but that doesn't apply here.
Plus a pair of free lollipops and a floor penny.
2) I lowered the price on my eBay B. Kliban T-shirt from $75 to $60 and almost immediately made the sale. (I think this listing had 19 watchers, so I wasn't all that surprised.) This piece was actually from my personal collection, but I'd only worn it a time or two as it was too boxy for my decidedly non-rectangular figure.
I reused a plastic envelope that came in the mail, turning it inside out for a fresh exterior surface.
Almost everything is a temporary possession when you're a reseller.
3) I got cash back at Trader Joe's in order to get the cash discount to pay only (ha!) $4.70/gallon instead of $5/gallon. (Also ha!)
However, my penny pinching saved around $5.40, so definitely worth the effort.
Although this is an insane amount for gasoline, we hadn't actually filled the tank since we drove to the beach almost three weeks ago. I guess being a bit of homebody saves money in the long run.
4) I invited a neighbor over for tea and pastries, but baked up Trader Joe's almond croissants as there's precisely zero possibility that I'd have something homemade out of the oven by 9:30 in the morning. (I'm so not a morning person!) This box costs a bit more than $5, but that's still just $1.25 per item which isn't too terrible.
I'd get you more a more exact per-item amount, but the receipt is buried in the kitchen garbage and I'm too squeamish to fish it out! Still cheaper than anything you'd find at a Portland bakery.
5) I realized that my husband never watched The Americans, so I put the first season DVDs on hold at the library. We're both Matthew Rhys fans, so I know he'll enjoy it. Seriously, everyone involved with this show did a stellar job!
I could've started a Hulu or Disney+ subscription, but this method works while keeping our money in our wallets.
Now your turn, what frugal things have you been up to?
I am babysitting a transfer of money, the sending institution is making it very difficult to get the money. I will prevail. And I will be reporting them to the SEC.
Maybe this is my complaining day, but I also phoned Kaiser and complained that they lied about their wait time at the lab. They knew they were short-staffed and underreported the wait. When they asked how I wished it to be resolved, I said that I would like a reimbursement for my gas money since I will have to go back again. I'm sure I will not get it, but I might as well say what I want.
A neighbor is having a new fence put in and I asked if I could have the old fence boards. My son wants them for something. I went Uber and scavenged 30 of them.
I worked hard for a refund on an item that I bought on eBay. EBay did not follow their own policies and sided with the seller who did not ship the item anywhere near on time and lied to me about shipping it. eBay did give the refund. That is my last purchase on eBay. I don't have much power, but I do have power over where I'll spend money. And I won't spend money with companies that do not serve their customers well.
I buy from eBay frequently and since each transaction is a different seller I know not to blame eBay at large for shipping issues. I'm glad to read that they finally sided with you, I'm sorry you had to spend time and effort to get there.
I know that the shipping is on the seller, but their shop said they ship in 2 days and they didn't. EBay did not hold them to it. That is on eBay. The seller also never replied to any of my messages and eBay did not intervene on that either. It should have been an automatic refund. Then it's eBay's job to get their money back from the seller.
I gasped at the t-shirt sale as I have that exact shirt in my t-shirt snuggle quilt. Oy!
I made a batch of my high protein breakfast cookies, except I was lazy/impatient and turned the dough into thin bar cookies. Still crunchy with gooey-ish centers. They'll disappear sure enough.
I weed whacked while there was cloudcover , it doubles my work time vs beating sun.
I installed my gently used security system for the out buildings. Earlier this week, my neighbor down the road had a fire started in an out building by a trespasser. This system is hardwired and monitored.
those croissants look yummy. It is a great price once you figure out the butter, sliced almonds and pastry flour to make your own.
Now I wish I see your "snuggle quilt!"
BGF, do you have a recipe that you could share for the high protein breakfast cookies? They sound delish.
1. Gas is $3.33 a gallon in University town. The prices hit $4.00 a couple of hours further south. While houses are generally cheaper in rural areas here, gas and grocery stores tend to be more expensive than more urban areas.
2. I pulled dandelion greens from my yard, rinsed, patted dry and put on a cookie sheet with a little bit of olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper and baked at 350 degrees until crunchy.
3. I walked an hour in my neighborhood from 5:30
to 6:30 am.
4. I still have the air off, fan on, and the windows up. No small feat in the humid Deep South. As always I despise our expensive power company.
5. I bought 5lbs of Idaho
Potatoes for $1.25. However the two loaves of bread plus the cheese puffs (cough, cough) made my groceries cost $10 bucks!!
I had a PT appointment this morning, and since the facility is downtown, I took the train -- no parking to worry about, no gas money spent. I came into some money when I found six pennies at the station -- also five receipts that I scanned to Fetch.
After the session I took the car to Aldi for some groceries. I did not find any receipts there, and I lost a quarter when I let a man who had no change take my cart. Oh well.
I spent $40 for hot dog buns, tortillas, eggs, oatmeal cookies, cucumbers, creamer, canned beans, granola, whipped honey, yogurt, chocolate chips, poppyseed dressing, goat cheese and cherry tomatoes.
I did some laundry and carried up another bag of my sister's clothes from the car. I am starting a pile of those I think I can sell on Poshmark. However, I have never tried to sell anything on Poshmark. Does anyone have any advice for me?
It's supposed to get up in the high 80's today, but so far I'm comfortable with the shades down and a fan running.
Hi Beth — Re your “losing” a quarter at Aldi by giving up your cart for free - I was recently the recipient of exactly that gift. I think you should look at it as “paying it forward” and making the world a better place. Being kind can be so inexpensive…
Oh, I agree. I was just surprised because usually someone who takes your cart will offer a quarter.
Kara, may you be on the receiving end of good karma for giving up a quarter to help someone.
Beth W, not Kara! Proofreading skills are decaying.
My advice re Poshmark is don't. It's incredibly annoying. You're expected to gift wrap your sale item and write a cutesy little note to the buyer. No thank you.
Ebay is much better.
Good to know!
Hi Beth,
I have literally sold thousands of items on Posh. I also sell on eBay. Both have their pros and cons. I think if you are selling brand name or vintage clothing, shoes, or purses Posh is the way to go. People are shopping on Posh for those very items, and the competition on eBay is high in these areas. You could always cross list on both sites. Both or about the same as far as the cut they are going to take, and both offer shipping labels. Another poster mentioned wrapping and a nice note is expected on Posh. I just put a thank you sticker on the items and wrap it well. I do this on both sales from both sites. No special wrapping and sweet notes.
My hubby and I went on a little getaway for our anniversary (32 years!), staying at a cabin with no wifi, cable, or phone, which only cost us $110 for 3 nights. Quite a bargain although we did eat out every meal. However, the restaurants were super cheap in the area we stayed, so I say it evened out.
While out and about, we found a quarter store - yes, a thrift store where every item was only a quarter. I found about 10 items that I wanted, but my hubby gave them a twenty as every bit of profit is funneled back into the community. This is a poorer county, so we were happy to pad the donation.
We also found, not at the quarter store, a cute t-shirt that had the outline of my wonderful state cut from an old quilt appliqued on it. My hubby bought me one, even though I insisted I could make it myself. Well, I can, and I am - I've sold 5 already and have 2 promised to friends. One of my goals this year was to make items to sell, and this adds to my total. My goal was 5 items per month - now, do I count my dozens of paper roses as individual items or each dozen as an item. LOL These are the things that my brain can't let go of. (Also, it can't let go of ending a sentence with a preposition, but I'm too tired to rephrase it.)
Where did you stay?? I want to go somewhere with no WiFi, cable or phone!
Using the library to take out DVDs is not only a financial/frugal win-win for you, it's also a win-win for the library. Libraries have to report their statistics every year to whatever powers to be control their purse strings. Not only the number of books borrowed, but also media, music, home drop offs, etc. Also the number of events as well as the number of people who attend the various events sponsored by the library. My favorite local library is in a college town, and it has ten (count 'em!) different book groups! Plus a ukulele group, about a half dozen various baby/toddler play and read groups, young teen video game afternoons, an exercise class for us "old folk," and help with unemployment, just to name a few of the I don't know how many other groups there are, as well a very heavily involved and supportive Friends of the Library group. Last month, the Friends sponsored a bus trip to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library and Homestead in Hyde Park, NY, where we were given a very interesting guided tour of FDR's home by National Park Rangers, in addition to the time spent in the library (which included a recreation of his study, with one of his wheelchairs).
I'm forever grateful that my mother started us at very young age getting into the library habit, and even happier when I see so many people on this site mentioning going to the library. And I applaud all the librarians who have been, and still are, so fiercely protecting our right to read what we want with no censorship.
I too have my mother to thank for starting me on the library at a young age. She would take my brother and I on the bus to pick out books and let us get anything in the children's section. I still love libraries.
Love your shout-out to libraries! I've had a lifetime love affair with libraries. I still remember taking my pile of books and my own library card to the circulation desk that was about as tall as I was. Then when I was old enough to use the card catalog - just the best! To adulthood, where I've volunteered and served on the Friends of the Library board. I currently have 21 books on hold!
My introduction to the library started in elementary school. The public school I attended had a Carnegie public library right next to it. Once a week, our teachers would trot us over there so we could borrow books. I have warm memories of that library and the librarians who worked there. Now I'm a member of the Friends of the Library and volunteer at my town's own wonderful library.
I’ve been disappointed with the last few purchases we’ve made.
1. Mother’s Day brunch was marginal due to lack of service. I called and they will comp (party of 5) with another meal.
2. I returned several bottles of unopened supplements. I saw no difference in using them. So $$ back to me
3. I ordered 3 boxes of dental
treats for my dogs only to have one dog choke on them. They issued a refund and asked me to donate to local shelter.
4. I’ve got a box of clothes to take to
resale shop tomorrow on my way home from Costco
I've never watched the Americans either. I'll have to check into it. I'm running out of interesting shows to watch right now.
1. I cleaned my pool and added chemicals. I mowed a bit of my lawn that needed it. I treated some ants around my pool that like to make a mess. The rest of them can go about their business.
2. I combined errands which included gas at Costco for $3.87. It's sad that I was excited about that.
3. I cleaned and priced some items for a garage sale. Now that I've decided to move, I'm realizing how much crap I have.
4. I also stopped into Trader Joes to pick up a few items to make dinner on Saturday and some other odds and ends. I stuck to my list. I like their fresh ravioli especially the goat cheese and onion. One container is a few meals for me and it's easy and quick. I just top them with olive oil, pepper and some pecorino romano. It's great when I don't feel like cooking.
5. I paid for my next year of propane. They give you a fixed price if you pay up front for the whole year. I used my credit card so at least I'll get a few points.
Gas is $5.65 here. I'd be overjoyed at a gas price that started with a 3.
Another who would be overjoyed at that lower price. Some stations here have it over $6 but Hubby found one that is $5 something.
Oooh, Jill, I also love that Trader Joes ravioli - such an easy & delicious meal!
I was playing with AI the other day, we were writing songs, and it told me something I knew was a lie and I called them on it. It apologized and said it was just trying to tell me what it thought I wanted to hear! lol
I seem to eat more and more like a toddler. Apple sauce, fish sticks and chicken nuggets, pudding cups, Vegetable sticks, oatmeal or Cheerios. Cottage cheese. It’s really cheap and makes me happy. Give me a pudding cup over crème brûlée everyday.
t, thank you for sharing your experience with reprimanding AI. I wonder if it learned anything about how to “vet” its responses. And, curious if AI has learned to not assume what you want to hear! Very interesting.
Hi Beth,
I have literally sold thousands of items on Posh. I also sell on eBay. Both have their pros and cons. I think if you are selling brand name or vintage clothing, shoes, or purses Posh is the way to go. People are shopping on Posh for those very items, and the competition on eBay is high in these areas. You could always cross list on both sites. Both or about the same as far as the cut they are going to take, and both offer shipping labels. Another poster mentioned wrapping and a nice note is expected on Posh. I just put a thank you sticker on the items and wrap it well. I do this on both sales from both sites. No special wrapping and sweet notes.
I can’t remember how much the croissants cost, but they are gooooood!
I just dropped by Fred Meyer for Greek yogurt and bananas. I have been going back and forth to a sick family member’s house in the country, which makes it hard to make my own yogurt. I was grumbling to myself about paying full price for yogurt, when a miracle happened. I spied half price container of Fage yogurt! Wow!
I meant to come home with just the two items until I spied a carton of 24 cage free organic eggs marked down to $1. I think we will have fritatta for dinner!
Spent the day at home getting caught up on housecleaning, cooking lunch, doing some meal prep to get ahead on my lunches and breakfasts, and laundering several loads of towels, cleaning rags, and reusable mop pads.
Filled up a couple of recycled spray bottles with generic window cleaner. Used the little set of acrylic paint tubes bought at Ollie's Outlet with a coupon to touch up a scraped spot on the kitchen floor. Treated a spot on the kitchen table where the finish turned white from a hot plate with a little vegetable oil.
I had a handful of used color catcher sheets and sewed four of them together to make a sturdy dusting cloth.
1. We also pay cash for gas to save money. I don't trust using my debit card at gas stations because they have been known to have skimmers that steal your money and bank information.
2. I took my friend and her mom to the doctor. She needs help getting her mom in and out of the car. She treated me to lunch after.
3. I have been working in the vegetable garden a lot. Putting everything in a can for regular garbage instead of paper bags that I would have to buy. I let lettuce go to seed every year so I have been transplanting baby lettuce that are sprouting all over the yard. I gave a gallon size bag of lettuce to my friend. Hubby took 3 bags to work so far for his coworkers. We have eaten it in dinner every night this week. Tonight was tacos.
4. Have not turned the AC on yet. Today hit 80 degrees so Hubby will want it on soon. Seeing how long we can go.
5. Hubby was going to buy a for sale sign for his car. I pulled out pink construction paper and a sharpie and he made the sign himself.
Those Almond Croissants look super yummy!!!
1. I got my grandson two afternoons in a row last week. He falls asleep on the ride here, so day one I used the time to do some much needed kitchen cleaning, and day two I left him in the car, windows open, in the shade, and did some much needed watering around the house.
Once he is up he gets applesauce (always applesauce) then sunscreen and a hat and we are outside until time to go home. He's 21 months old and still not interested in much playing WITH me, however a kiddie wagon (Buy Nothing) filled with water and a few rocks can keep him happily self entertained while I weed or plant or do random garden chores down in the field.
It is AWESOME to get him regularly, and he and I have a good rhythm going. The time together is precious to me, and saves his parents childcare costs as well as provides them with some time alone or even time alone together!
2. There was some drama in the lives of my two younger kids as their Dad's cat died. My 'kids' are in their mid twenties. Their Dad and Aunt (who lives with him) were terribly upset, and my kids felt compelled to show up for them.
The Aunt complained about feeling poorly, and #2 Son ended up driving her to the hospital, where she still is: they have identified damage to her heart muscle and suspect at least a heart attack. This emergency led to my Daughter chauffeuring her cousin (Aunt's Son) up, as he doesn't drive. My Daughter is in her final days of a crammed University Summer course, and giving up much of a day for all this chaos has knocked her studying for a loop, however she 'Adulted Up' and did what was important. Their Dad insisted on burying the cat before my Daughter could take her cousin to the hospital, which is an indication of how screwed up their Dad's priorities are!
I am so proud of both of these kids, as their relationship with their Dad is fraught and eggshelly. They need to be the grownups a lot of the time which is unfair to them.
3. I'm learning how to stock my fridge for just #2 Son and myself. This is a challenge, as I tend to over cook, however today I found him in the kitchen making himself an arugula and lentil salad from 'prepped' ingredients, and was thankful for Past Ecoteri for putting the rice cooker through its paces to make both rice and then lentils, before I went to bed.
Sometimes I think “I am too tired to...” and then I ask myself how long it will take to do that thing – usually it is 3 or 4 min of setup, and a timer for half an hour (or ten min) later. Once I get moving I can be productive, however inertia is real.
4. A few months ago I planted short rows of different varieties of broccoli, kale, chard, and lettuce. I seeded really closely, partially because I didn't know how viable the seeds would be. My careful discipline of watering this nursery has meant that most things are now a good transplanting size. I've been bunging the babies into various sections of the raised beds as we clean them up – some have been hit by snails and slugs (boo), however most are beginning to thrive. I didn't get tomatoes started from seed this year, but the brassicas and other greens aren't worth buying as seedlings when I can grow them quickly in short rows (the best way IMHO, as when I transplant them into a freshly weeded bed they have a big advantage over the weed seeds.
The big field is getting some kale and broccoli transplanted into sections, I put more baby squash from my 'snails' into holes where the originals didn't survive (boo again), and I've moved more sunflower volunteers from where they aren't wanted to where I will enjoy them.
I continue to regret not taking gloves out to the garden when I go to switch watering systems. Two hours later tonnes of weeds are pulled and babies transplanted, and my nails are black. Will I ever learn?
5. We set up some cattle panels as arched trellises when Wonder James was last here – along with a lot of other 'to do' items. That man is so productive! I write a project list that I think will take at least 3 days, and he just about does it all. I work hard beside him, shovelling compost and setting up trellises and moving hoses and driving to the dump and picking up loads of this and that. The days he comes I finish with gratitude for my body and its ability to still work long and hard – and I am grateful to be able to sit down afterward! Getting up again is a bit of a challenge, mind you!
6. I drove by a box that a neighbour had put out, turned around and picked it up – a full Duplo (big lego) bin full of Duplo pieces. My grandson is just the right age for these, so I am thrilled that the neighbour was so generous. I'm proud of myself for deciding it was worth turning around to check it out, because out of the side of my eye I thought it was Duplo. Of course, I knocked the box over in my truck so when I got home and opened the door there was a bit of an explosion, which cracked Wonder James up. Glad to be of service, James! LOL
Ecoteri, I've missed your stories! And I'm always amazed and impressed at all that goes into growing your own food. I panicked a bit when I read that your grandson self-entertains with a wagon of water - I worry even from thousands of miles away!
AWW. MB in MN!!, to calm your concern: the 'wagon' is a really little kid's wagon, it holds about 2 inches max of water, he is only a few feet away from me, (I'm weeding the bed beside where he is playing - partially because I am on squirt the hose duty half the time - and thanks for your worry!
1. I went to my Kiva group at the library where the group leader treated us to coffee and donuts.
2. While there, I returned a library book and picked up another one I had on hold.
3. Six hours later I returned to the library for a free event: An Elvis impersonator who was absolutely amazing. I met friends there and we had a fantastic time.
4. It was hot out so DH and I had sandwiches for supper.
5. I cut out a coupon to a nearby pet supply store to get 10% off my next purchase of cat food.
1. I took a short RN job at my previous school for summer school. 7 days. Great to see all my friends.
2. I packed my breakfast, lunch, snacks and drinks for the day and will do so for the 7 day stretch.
3. Made stuffed peppers the day before I worked, as I knew I'd be too tired to cook when I got home.
4. My husband canned 10 pints of carrots yesterday- his new frugal hobby. The carrots were donated to my son's work and he brought them to us. Peelings headed back to the chickens.
5. Headed to Costco today with my Mom and Dad. I usually don't buy too much but I love to spend time with them.
I love when you talk about feeding the chickies! That was my job at my grandma's farm. (Many moons ago).
Food for week: $12 Aldis, $77 Lowe's Foods ($10 off $50 coupon)
Sunday 1/2 off Papa John's pizza
Mon. Crock pot chili (in the high 80s so time to switch to salads and cooler foods)
Tues. Chef salad, baked sweet potato, DH made lemon poppy seed muffins
We d . Boiled eggs and tidbits (cheese, carrot sticks, green peppers with a homemade dip.
Thurs. Frozen vegetable lasagna Stouffers
Fri. Blueberry yogurt, misc. fruit
Sat. Baked potatoes, green salad, homemade 1000 island dressing, leftover lemon muffins
You may notice we seldom have leftovers as neither care for them. We just cook smaller amounts. (not as frugal, but at 81 I basically eat like a bird).
Have a great week all!
1. Hosting friends again this weekend. Getting good use out of our guest room/office and racking up good karma! Also, frugal for them as our region enters world cup mania.
2. Last night was dinner cobbled together - I made rice and DH had it with a last serving of curry in the fridge. I cooked it up with leftover black beans and the dregs of a salsa jar. I was tickled that I added bok choy (why not?) from a friend's garden and cilantro from my garden. Local food is working!!
3. It has been blissfully comfortable out, which means we are only running the AC overnight. I know it won't last, so I (and the electric bill) are enjoying it while it lasts.
4. Finished listening to Kamala Harris' book "107 days" - I like these books to hear how the candidate saw things and who was behind the scenes. I decided to borrow "What Happened" by Hillary Clinton next. They feel like extended podcasts and I like that both women are their own narrators.
5. I am not advertising in my regular life, but as of today I've lost 25 pounds since December. My clothes fit better, I can slide through tight spaces easier, and I am sleeping well. I know this is frugal in many ways (heart and joint health! my clothes all fit again!) but mostly I just feel relieved. I was tasked with weight loss for medical reasons, not aesthetic, so I am feeling less anxious about my health.
Congratulations on the weight loss, quite an accomplishment !
Thank you Linda! 🙂 <3