Five Frugal Things -- Electricity Rebates & Ceramic Turkeys
1. I made a great big batch of chana masala, this time adding a ton of spinach right at the end. (Which inevitably shrunk down to "never enough spinach!") Extra frugal since I cooked the garbanzo beans from scratch. It scratched that restaurant food craving without paying restaurant prices.
I'd share the recipe, except that it really was a little of this, a little of that. Essentially garbanzo beans, crushed tomatoes, coconut milk, curry powder, Thai red curry paste, cumin, paprika, cinnamon, salt, white pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, sriracha, chili pepper flakes, soy sauce, oyster sauce spinach and sautéed onions. This might sound like a muddying of flavors, but it's flavorful in the best way.
2. I got a notification that the electric company was offering rebates during a certain three-hour time period, so I turned off a couple devices and earned a 44¢ rebate.
So yes, I recently came into some money!
3. I think that listing so many pieces for the Goodwill Gift Card Challenge is helping my otherwise stale inventory find buyers. I've recently sold three (four?) things on eBay that had been listed for over a year. Not huge sales, but it adds up. I've always heard the rumor that eBay elevates listings when you list on a daily basis and I'm seeing this to be true.
Good to know.
4. My husband and I continue to have fun planning our trip down to Albuquerque later this year. We'll do a Santa Fe day, so I've added it to my research. We both went to the University of New Mexico, so we're already familiar with the area. However, much has changed. There's no longer a stuck-in-time Woolworth's on The Plaza to get Frito pie, but I saw there there's a place called Five and Dime General Store that still serves this local speciality, so we'll definitely hit it up!
I also saw that the state capitol has an impressive art collection, which of course is free to view. They even have free scheduled tours, which would be fun. Much more budget friendly than the $22 it costs to buy a ticket for the Georgia O'Keefe museum.
Although I haven't been to my own state capitol building since a school field trip in 1977, I loved exploring the Nebraska capitol building a few year's back, especially the ornate mosaic floors.
5. My husband glued a broken turkey head back onto a ceramic piece of artwork. His mother collected pottery and this Peruvian piece moved into his teenage home after a trip to Arizona. We still have an overwhelming amount of artwork and general stuff to go through from his parents' estate, but at least we got this piece back to whatever is the opposite of "beheaded."
Reheaded?!
It's very charming.
"Reheaded"! I love it. I think Louis and Antoinette would've loved it too.
1. Hotdogs and scratch Boston Baked Beans are on the menu for tonight's dinner. The beans are leftover from Christmas Eve. They freeze nicely.
2. Pulling the shades down and drawing the curtains closed at night to help keep out the extreme cold. My thermostat gets turned to 60 degrees before we go to bed.
3. DH is back to shoveling our driveway after the guy I hired to do it was a no-show. The snowstorm we're getting Sunday into Monday is predicted to drop light, fluffy snow although a lot of it, so I hope DH won't find it hard to do. I have a medical issue which prevents me from heavy lifting so sadly he's on his own with shoveling.
4. I met a friend at the library for a talk on ice harvesting on ponds and lakes in New England before refrigeration. Excellent talk from a well informed speaker and informative slides to go with it.
5. I'm making a boiled dinner for tomorrow during the Patriots game. Kielbasa and cabbage. Tempted to get take out pizza but I have all the fixings for a full meal already. Mom was right...we DO have food at home.
Stay safe and warm everyone who is in the storm's path.
1. Realizing more this past week, that frugality (for me) is becoming more and more about having more to give, supporting others, and resisting ICE occupation in MN. As a Minnesotan, I’ve never been as proud of my state as yesterday when tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in frigid freezing weather in the Twin Cities and small towns to protest the ICE occupation. Today a VA nurse was executed. So. Many. Atrocities.
2. Found a $5 bill on the ground in a parking lot.
3. Minimizing grocery spending to prevent waste and being selective about where I spend my money.
4. Supporting a Hispanic bakery by purchasing delectable treats and tipping generously. We plan to do this weekly. Lots of businesses have been closed for safety concerns.
5. No plans to spend any money watching a false narrative about FLOTUS. Gag.
Kimberly, as a fellow Minnesota I couldn't agree more. If you're comfortable sharing the name of the Hispanic bakery, I'd love to support them, too. I live in a suburb of Saint Paul but will travel long distances for things I believe in.
Thank you MB. I live near Rochester. I appreciate your willingness to travel. Being realistic, they could suddenly close. There has been a lot of activity here too. Thank you!
As someone in a neighboring state I am horrified by what is going on there. I am signing every online petition ( the ACLU etc) and calling my US representatives daily
Yes! Also in MN. MUST support our local immigrant businesses. Have been told that the Hmong Mall is not doing well. We will go there soon. My taco truck is boarded so I went to two other places last week.
I hope that's true that eBay is better if you list each day. I just did a listing and I have a pile waiting. I've challenged myself to do 1 a day until they are gone. No love yet for the Guitar Hero instruments I have listed. If anyone local wants them, I'd make a good deal. Even better if you donate part to a local nonprofit that helps people. I don't want to deal with eBay for that and my Frankenbox skills are not great! https://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/vgm/d/portland-guitar-hero-wii-drum-set/7902413945.html
In other frugal news:
For dinner we're having Nacho potatoes, which is basically nachos, but made with roasted potato cubes. Really tasty and probably healthier, as long as you add some vegetables and hold off the cheese 🙂
Continuing to use the library. I love that they let patrons suggest new purchases!
Walked to the grocery store with our cart. More than enough food for the week and some exercise in the sunshine. It's good to build that up while we can!
That mosaic floor is beautiful.
1. Repaired a blanket at our Airbnb using my travel sewing kit.
2. Watched all of the Blue Zones episodes via our basic Netflix subscription.
3. Finished another free puzzle.
4. Read a book from the Little Free Library and returned it when I was done. Highly recommend Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult.
5. Picked up three more books from the Little Free Library. All light reads; I can't take anything heavy right now, maybe ever.
So heavy. I join you in mourning. Long silent hugs.
1. Purchased discounted tickets at our local community theater for the musical Come From Away. Normal price is $60 but they offer a limited number of $10 tickets for each performance.
2. We purchased life insurance for me eleventy billion years ago when I was a stay at home mom with small amounts for our kids. My husband updated the policy now that my kids are all grown and we no longer need to pay the premium for them.
3. My husband has a season ski pass at a local ski resort that includes kids under 6 ski for free - only Monday through Thursday. We packed a picnic lunch and snacks and took our grandson on his Monday off school. My grandson loved it and I did, too. I don't ski anymore but took my library book and had an afternoon of reading.
4. I did a pantry clean out after all our houseguests from the holidays left. Anything that they had purchased and we wouldn't eat I listed on my Buy Nothing group.
5. We celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary over the holidays and I was delighted that all 3 of our kids could be here - one who lives next door, one in New York and one in Australia. An added bonus was a little get together that they threw for us - sandwiches, cookies, a veggie tray, and champagne to toast. It was absolutely perfect.
That mosaic cracked me up. Enjoy your trip to NM.
A mosaic penis and a turkey made of clay w/o a head. Katy is becoming an art critic. She could add the pottery piece she made in college of a woman w/ breasts exposed. O-la-la.
1. Our real estate agent messaged us today and asked if we were up for a last minute viewing. We got the house picked up and brought the kids to the park to run around for a while.
2. Our oldest wanted to go to the library too, so we headed there after the park. Apparently it's Dolly Parton's birthday party at the library! They entered a free raffle, we're each given a free book and a sticker!
3. Tonight is leftovers night for dinner so we're cleaning out the fridge!
4. My husband wanted to try his hand at homemade pretzels again so he's whipping up a batch today. Won't hear me complaining ☺️
5. I'm over 200 days into a Duolingo streak! I'm really enjoying learning a new language in my spare time, I just wish I had a better ear for it.
We’re experiencing the arctic blast here in Central Oklahoma. We had plenty of leftovers plus we added trip to Walmart for milk, fruit, etc.
Bad news I had to cancel my trip to Philadelphia to judge dogs due to weather. So making the best of our hunkering down watching movies, etc
I signed up for a health and fitness study which pays $285 in Amazon gift cards
If you haven’t been (and want a little splurge), the folk art museum in Santa Fe is incredible! Admission is $12 for non-residents and I found it well worth the cost.
1. I may have tornado warnings tomorrow while my oldest in the northern part of the state is coping with an ice storm. It is just raining here. So my frugal thing tomorrow will be to stay at home and hope I do not get blown away like Dorothy… lol.
2. I walked an hour in my neighborhood today.
3. I cleaned my house.
4. I continued to eat my homemade chili made from dried pinto beans but I really think I need to call it bean soup because, while it does have ground beef and lots of cooked dried beans, it also has carrots, tomato sauce , rotel
tomatoes, Cajun seasonings and I also threw in chopped up hot dogs just because……Really a mismatch of what I had on hand.
5. I got a sports bra for $5 at DG in town and received a $5 off 25 for next Saturday which I can certainly use bc I will be needing dog food and tp by then!
1. We started at CVS, but of course they didn't have their weekly sale stickers up for vitamins any longer, (because they take them down about noon on Saturdays, though new ones don't go up until Mondays; sales start Sunday. I really disapprove of my local CVS), and I wasn't going to track down the single clerk to attempt price checks. Instead, went by the tiny Walgreens and surprise! Sales/clearance on vitamins at Walgreens, got $45 off and only paid $5!
2. I usually get a few "Suddenly Salads" on sale in summer and made one this week. Didn't have enough mayo, so used sandwich spread.
3. Blocked air leak in vintage front door by covering it with thick sheet held up by four pins until after the cold moves on. More weatherstripping gets in the way of it closing properly.
4. Library books.
5. Got green grapes on sale and will freeze some for eating frozen.
And I got a charcuterie chalet kit on super clearance at grocery store. They also had charcuterie Christmas tree kits, marked down from probably $20 some dollars to $3. My chalet includes six slabs of crackers to make the house, (like a gingerbread house), sausage, squeeze cheese for mortar, nuts, and other decorating bits. I won't set it up, will just eat the parts.
I don't plan to buy one at full price. Ever.
1. Worked 2 hours before store closed down early due to storm. At one point, we had 7 vehicles in parking lot -- and 5 of them belonged to employees. Very few customers today. Got to drive home before dark. People are taking this winter storm seriously and staying in. Pastor emailed us that in-person church services are cancelled and he will livestream a prayer service.
2. Friend called to make sure I'm OK. (That was a shocker: I guess that now I am one of those elderly people you're supposed to check on! OMG!) She used to live up North and in Germany, so she gave me some cold-weather survival tips, such as spraying Windex on a car windshield will melt any ice on it. Who knew?! (I drove home in freezing drizzle, but my car is now in the garage and will be OK.)
3. Froze jar lids of water in freezers. Put bread tabs on top of frozen ice. Should contents of freezer thaw, the bread tabs will be down in the lid instead of on top and I'll know not to eat the uncooked meat.
4. Charged up LED lights that don't plug in: you charge them on your phone or computer. One is on bedside table, ready to go if power fails. Also charged the new LED lightbulbs that will burn in a power failure.
5. Happy to report the new gas space heater is working great!
We were -2 this morning. Not as cold as some places, but plenty cold for us! Dh worked to get my tractor started and was finally successful. I chored at our home, stopped for lunch, headed back out and took a bale of hay down the road 3 miles on the tractor. It was snowing and lovely.(My tractor has a cab but no heat.) Took a break inside for laundry and baked some cookies. Then back out till supper. Glad to get it all finished. Tomorrow will probably be easier, I don't have to feed quite as much, but I will need to haul water because all the tanks will be froze solid.
Supper was ham and pinto beans with cornbread. Simple, warm, and cheap.
Hung up the laundry. Closed off a bedroom to save on heat. Wool sweater and slippers.
Made an ebay sale and put up a new listing.
We stocked up on fuel and groceries prior to the weather.
Church is canceled tomorrow. I have no plans to leave for anything!
Watching PBS on passport.
I'm being intentional about listing daily on ebay. But I sell much more of FB marketplace. Sold a bag of Lovevery toys for my son's family, a plant pot from the free estate sale and some gardening clogs that my mothers was getting rid of.
1. Dried 2 loads of laundry on the solar dryer.
2. I'd found a free pair of Garnet Hill pants, but 2 sizes too small for me. I cut them off to make shorts and used the spare fabric to add side panels so that they now fit me.
3. I cut off a pair of pants that did fit me well, but the color had faded to be super ugly. Now they will be gardening shorts. I tend to keep wearing clothes that I really shouldn't, so I'm forcing myself to make things over or donate them.
4. I bought a much needed new pair of slippers at a locally owned store.
5. Started seeds for flowers, arugula and kale. All the seeds were free. I did buy the potting soil, Costco's large bag lasts me all year.
Kara, your #2 ... I'm in awe!
1. I took myself to the doctor this morning for swollen painful lymph nodes and an infected split on my lip cause by the cold weather. I used my FSA to pay for the visit and prescription for a total of. $26
2. I had to buy a car today as well. I bought a used 2025 Mazda CX-5 with only 15,000 miles on it for a great price.
3. My husband and I grabbed a bite to eat at our favorite local restaurant. We had a gift card from Christmas so it was free.
4. I stopped over at my sister’s house and she sent me home with cabbage soup, some un-crustables her kids weren’t eating, and 7 different flavors of tea bags.
5. I bought a new door handle for our door that goes into the garage. It no longer closed properly and it was letting in a lot of cold air.
I bought a used Mazda CX-5, with 32K miles back in June! It's a great spunky vehicle! Enjoy yours!
I 'earned' $3 during a power-smart event earlier in the month. go us energy savers!
1. Thanks to everyone for commenting on my 'mom' situation, and suggesting moving her to a home. Currently, the Family Doctor is advising that if we can afford for her to stay at her condo, with help coming a couple of times a week and family showing up more often, he encourages us to stick with that option for as long as possible.
She is finally on antibiotics (I suspect walking pneumonia, we must admit that communication with the medical team is still getting on board so we aren't sure if that is the reason), which started a couple of days ago.
She also enjoyed the hired care person who came to be with her, (YAY!) and is looking forward to a different care person early next week. The company tries to send two different people on different days, as they have discovered it makes for an easier transition for the client if one of the employees moves on.
We are getting her a second set of bed linens, so her bed can be changed from start to finish, no need to wait for laundry to be done. (The little things! A second set of sheets is a lifesaver when life gets crazy). My far-away sister is ordering sheets to be delivered to me, and I will wash them before I go down to see Mom this week (rather than taking her still-packaged sheets that really need to have the sizing washed out of them).
My cousin, who lost her mom about a year ago, has also jumped on board the WhatsApp group (with us enthusiastically welcoming her!!). She has experience navigating the system, she loves my mom, and she lives much closer than I do. She is going on a holiday soon, but will see Mom before she goes, and will take her for a haircut (with my cousin's best friend, who has cut Mom's hair for at least 30 years) once she comes back... She will also make a point of getting onto the visiting roster at that time.
2. The Roommate was on closing duty at the bakery where she works. She chose to take the bus home rather than walk, thus was able to snag 5 (!!) loaves of bread (all ancient grains or sourdough, some with pumpkin seeds all over, yum), plus half a dozen enormous ciabatta buns and a sweet pastry for me. The bakery donates leftovers to the foodbank, and my Roommate is essentially a candidate for said foodbank – she is just cutting a corner (with full permission of her employers – they are all allowed some items every day, and closing workers can take a bit more)
I had taken a couple of loaves to my mom this week, and my daughter had also taken a loaf home, so I think my Roommate felt a need to stock us up. We have a lot of bread in the freezer now, I feel rich! French toast this weekend, I think!
3. There was a desperate lack of food in the fridge a few days ago, so I conned the Roommate into scrubbing 9 potatoes when she passed through the kitchen for her den/bedroom/cocooning place. (I am going to milk the “don't lift anything heavier than a book or a cup of coffee” prescription from my Surgeon for as long as possible, and my hand won't twist properly yet to hold something for scrubbing).
I poked them with a fork. popped them into the toaster oven, and we all enjoyed them with some sunflower seeds and sour cream bought on sale. Some leftovers went for lunches with Costco chicken, and some have been chopped and fried and enjoyed with eggs.
WHY do I keep forgetting how good baked potatoes are both hot and as leftovers? Cheap and delish.
4. I can't wash eggs, either, and the Roommate has been both collecting and washing. This week she hadn't gotten to them, yet made promises to do so a couple of times, without following through, so there were multiple containers of eggs on the counter before she finally got them done.
We will need to talk about that on our Sunday “Team Meeting”, mostly because I need her to be more honest - firstly with herself, and then with me - if she is going to promise to do something.
I am, of course, very grateful that she is filling the gaps with the animals while I am healing, however she had happily committed to doing these jobs as a way of making up for not paying rent for 3 months and now paying essentially a sixth or so of market rates.
So her challenge is to be very conscious that her word is important, and my challenge is to hold her to what she says she will do. It is hard to be 'mothering' someone who is almost 40. She never got that kind of support and guidance when she was a kid, however she is open to being encouraged to improve, and I am working REALLY HARD on being compassionate and kind.
Isn't it awesome how we continue to grow even into our 60s? (That is my current mantra, sometimes said through clenched teeth, about so many things this month).
5. I finally got a visit in with my Best Buddy – took the newish dog over and we walked and I yammered away at her for well over an hour. The dog was thrilled with all the new scents, yanking all over the place; eventually I had to ask BB if she could take the leash, my arm was aching a bit. BB also lost a dog last year, so was very happy to take over.
We then went in her house for cookies (she is one of the smart folk who makes cookie dough and freezes it ) and while they were cooking she heated up some frozen leftover quinoa and veggie mixture. Her husband is in Georgia, of all places, this week, and so she was alone. We continued yammering until the dog insisted it was well past HER dinner time, so I had to leave. I am full of quinoa, cookies and the joy of a good friend.
Another day of staying in due to extreme cold. I'm getting cabin fever, but that's better than frostbite.
I made pumpkin cake from a mix, deeply discounted. The box said I could substitute yogurt for eggs and applesauce for oil, so I did both. It wasn't very good, but was redeemed by cream cheese frosting, which was also deeply discounted, apparently due to the pumpkin on its label.
My lunch today was refried beans warmed in microwave with Velveeta-like cheese, Rotel tomatoes, applesauce and celery sticks on the side. All very cheap.
I made chicken pot pie yesterday. Leftover pie crust on the bottom, drained vegetable soup from the freezer, cream of chicken soup, lots of chicken left over from a rotisserie bird, crescent roll dough on top. It was wet, so I probably didn't drain the soup enough. The pie crust on the bottom was soaked. Next time I won't put crust on the bottom. The flavor was good, though, and I loved the crescent roll dough on top. I made two small pies, and one went into the freezer for my future self.
Hoping tomorrow will be at least somewhat warmer so that I feel I can go out. I'm feeling the need to get to the gym.
1) I’d fallen behind in using up the produce in my weekly produce box. Luckily nothing had quite gone bad. I assembled Buddha bowls for my lunches for this week, which had brown rice (cooked in the instant pot), yellow eyed peas I’d cooked in a pot on the stove, a huge bunch of kale that I steamed, and sweet potatoes and honey nut squash diced and roasted in the oven. When serving, I put it all over a bed of arugula and top it with avocado and a delicious Thai peanut sauce I make. They are a bit of a production to make but are packed with good things to eat and very filling. Today I will make butternut squash soup and add another big bunch of greens (it makes the color not so nice to include the greens but it still tastes good and I’m trying to eat as many greens as possible)
2) I try to minimize my Amazon orders as much as possible but due to poor planning I had to buy something from them for a school project. At the same time it was delivered yesterday, Amazon sent me an email saying it was delayed and gave me a refund, so I got the item for free. Not sure what happened there but I’ll take it!
3) Our library offers 25 free pages of printing a day for patrons. I need to print some things for the Girl Scout troop I run so I’ll go there today to get that done plus the kids can come with me as a fun outing for them, they love the library.
4) One of the commenters on here mentioned their FSA which reminded me I need to submit for reimbursement for my dependent care FSA from last year. So that’ll be $3,000 coming to me, although pretty sure I spent more than that on childcare last year but every bit helps.
5) Someone from my book club lent me the book we are reading for next month. She had already read it (and suggested it to the group) so she didn’t need it.
Lisa, your Buddha bowls sound absolutely delicious. Thanks for the inspiration!
I know what I'm doing for lunch!
1) I'm making a blouse with thrifted material and a pattern that I've used before (with a different sleeve variation). I figure each time I use the pattern it drops its price per use, so extra motivation to use the same base pattern again and again. And I rather badly need some blouses for work, so it will definitely get used!
2) I took great joy in comparing the before and after electricity costs after installing solar panels. The monthly savings are higher than our monthly loan payments (including the price of the new roof that was much needed), but we're going to up the payments to get it paid off faster. Although given the rising energy prices I expect that it's going to catch up with the accelerated payments soon!
3) I stopped by an estate sale and scored a red belt that I've been trying to find for months. A sewing pattern and a pair of linen pants also came home with me, but it was all less than getting the belt at a thrift store. Works for me.
4) My son has been gathering and redeeming bottles and cans from neighbors and relatives for years. Most of that money has been going into a savings account. This year it all pays off- he is paying for a large chunk of two once-in-a-lifetime activities through Scouts. It was more than the parental piggybank could cover solo, so cost sharing is much appreciated. Plus I find that he values things more when he has skin in the game. Now he's looking for odd jobs to rebuild that account.
5) Still making my coffee, packing my lunch, taking the bus to work and rocking that thrifted and me-made wardrobe.
Oof, jet lagged & foggy headed over here, so I'm not sure I have much to report.
1) Noted that our solar panel production is crazy low over the past year and reached out to see what our options are to fix.
2) Instead of doing delivery yesterday, I cobbled together a lunch for DS19 while he was getting ready for work, and had DH pick up Costco street tacos. I went to bed at 5:45 (jet lag), so skipped dinner altogether. We're having the tacos for dinner tonight.
3) I see that DS18 didn't have federal taxes withheld from his job. It saves me time to & a small fee (because state tax filing is not free, even through "FreeTaxUSA), as he doesn't need to file (very far below the threshhold).
4) DH repaired DS19's car. And, has been repairing our garage door. Also repaired the dishwasher, washing machine leak, dryer belt, ice maker in the freezer... Yes, it's been a wild month or so for our house.
5) In the frugal for others bucket - DH & DS19 also helped our elderly neighbor across the street. She was close friends with our home's previous owner & walks in to our side door when it's unlocked. Just...walks in. It always makes us giggle. She walked in 2x this week. Once to have DH catch a bird in her house, and another time to help jump start a friend's car that was broken down in her driveway. Never a dull moment!
1.I got a survey from a health care provider. It took about 20 minutes. Was given a $10 gc for doing it.
2. Was sent a survey in the mail with 2 $1 bills.
3. Hubby dropped 2 items to Kohl's for a return to Amazon. He grabbed hot dog buns at Aldi which is next door. That was all we bought to prepare for the winter storm.
4. I have chicken bones cooking. Might as well be productive on this snowy day. Matza Ball soup is for dinner.
5. Booked a cruise for Hubby and I later this year. It's been 14 years since our last one. We got a great deal since it is off peak. It was 2nd person 75% off. We booked it through BJ's and will a $50 GC after the cruise. We also got a $75 on board credit. We are leaving from NY so no airfare. We probably won't do any excursions. We will just take a taxi and explore on our own. Already started making lists. Can't wait.
Lucky you having an Aldi next door! I read an article in business news today that Aldi will be opening over 100 stores in the US. Hope it happens.
I have a few FTs, but Katy's PST posting times and my EST comment times are so out of sync these days (I've usually gone to bed by the time Katy puts up a new post!) that I think I'll just save mine for the next post.
OH! I have been to the State Capitol Bldg. art exhibit in Santa Fe— it is the BEST museum in town!!! AND FREE!!!!!! You will love it!!
Oh, Katy. I am so glad to have found you again. I haven't gotten any posts via email since October and was reduced to checking the obits to see if we had lost you. This does look like a new platform. I have to read all the comments since October to check on all my friends.
Eons ago I was a Girls Stater in Nebraska. It was a great week! The Nebraska legislature is unique in that it is a Unicameral … just one house, not two. Spending time in the state capitol as a Nebraska senator, sitting in the house, and passing legislation was just so cool!
Well, Katy, we got a $4 rebate from PGE!
The Folk Art Museum in Santa Fe is pretty cool. And I want to say that did not cost a lot. I really enjoyed it last time I was there.
Oh and if you're going in Oct, skip the Balloon Fiesta. It was cool for a first timer, but the crowds is what will get you.
When I visited the Georgia O’Keefe museum, they offered one day/week of free admission. You might check into that. However, I’d still pay the admission price if I hadn’t been there before.