Five Frugal Things -- Free Dishwasher Detergent for Those Who Put in The Work!
- I passed by a free pile that contained a mostly full box of powdered dishwasher detergent that had solidified. However, it's not that big of an deal to smash it back into a powdered form. It's not like it's not going to get wet again in the dishwasher anyway.
It's hard to get ahead financially when all your money is tied up in detergent.
2. I brought in a half dozen or so plants in from the backyard to winter over in my daughter's south facing childhood bedroom. I don't spend a single penny to fill my property with lush potted plants, which I accomplish by rooting from what I already own and accepting starts from friends. The pots were all curb finds, which makes my garden extra frugal!
3. I sold a set of nice bedding to a local consignment shop, which earned me $10.40 in store credit. I got the bedding from an after-garage sale free table last summer and I guess I just felt a bit procrastinate-y about this errand. I'll use this credit towards holiday gift shopping, as this store is absolutely crammed with amazing finds.
Sometimes I bring my mother's extra paper bags in, which they're always happy to accept!
4. I took my husband's Kuhl sweater (a thrifted find) to the dry cleaner for a zipper replacement This is going to set me back $25. I probably thrifted the sweater for around $7.99, but my husband wears this garment consistently throughout the winter and I know he'll appreciate having it back in circulation.
You may be surprised that I'm not doing my own zipper replacement, (especially after all my posts about darning socks!) but I don't possess sewing machine skills and I'm happy to support a locally owned business. Plus I found a nickel on the ground outside the dry cleaner, so it's almost like I'm making money!
5. I passed by, but didn't take this gorgeous but sadly weather worn antique dresser on the way to the consignment shop. It really did look like someone had used it out in the elements, which is kind of a shame.
The veneer was super messed up, but it would be a good project for someone who likes to put in the work.
I was lusting after the drawer pulls though, but I left them for whoever was willing to take the whole dresser. Hello, my pretties!
Now your turn, what frugal things have you been up to?
1. We were able to eat almost all the Thanksgiving leftovers we brought home. The dogs helped a little. Hardly any food waste.
2. My son's family hosted Thanksgiving and he sent me home with the giblets as well. I used them to make a jar of broth and the dogs assisted with the remainders.
3. I found 2 quarters.
4. People leave odd items at the recycling bins near us. I brought home a large pumpkin and a potted mum that had finished flowering. I cooked some of the pumpkin for the dogs and put the rest outside. I was hoping to attract deer. The next day there were 5 young deer in our yard enjoying the pumpkin. The mum has been planted and seems to be still alive.
You found two quarters? I guess you "recently came into some money!"
1) I'm continuing to work through my freezer. Found a naan bread to go with some chicken noodle soup for DS18. Served DH leftover Korean beef (also from the freezer), because he was unexpectedly home for dinner.
2) Jumped through some hoops to use a United credit for part of DS18's spring break trip home.
3) Helped DS19 avoid an overdrawn account, and will discuss how to avoid in the future (recurring charge).
4) Found an option for two white elephant gifts for DH to bring to work.
5) Helping DS18 with class planning, so we can avoid paying tuition for minimal value.
If you're not able to figure out which hoops to jump through with an airline credit, then no one is! You're so good with that!
Ha, thanks. I went through & inventoried all four of our credits. It's those weird things where I can't view them all on my account, even though I paid for the initial tickets - you can only see them when logged in as DS18 or DS19 or DH, or whatever. That means that it's easy to lose track of them. I went through & added a tab in my budget spreadsheet with all the various credits, expiration dates, etc. Now I know exactly what we are working with.
1) I made turkey tetrazzini for dinner, using leftover turkey (of course!) and the leftover mushroom gravy in lieu of the cream-of-whatever soup typically used.
2) I have a loaf of the NYT no-knead bread doing its final pre-bake rise on the counter right now.
3) I mended the waistband in my wife's skirt, patched a knee hole in our 20-year-old's favorite zip-off hiking pants, and darned two socks.
4) We moved from a tiny apartment to a house this year, and our tiny little tree looked sad. I scored a 7-foot pencil tree from Buy Nothing, and everyone decided to make a "mini-forest" by putting up both trees, leaving us short a tree skirt. No bother, our son's girlfriend offered up a burgundy circle skirt she was planning to donate -- instant free tree skirt!
5) Last January, we switched all of the automatic payments for our bills to the credit card with the highest points (well, all except those bills that penalize you for using a credit card instead of a direct bank debit, like our car insurance and internet bill). We also use this card to pay for everything else, except for groceries at WinCo. We pay off the card weekly, so we earn all the points and none of the interest. Since the points can be used as a statement credit, we now have enough points to cover all of our gifts and holiday expenses, so Christmas is going to cost nothing out of pocket this year!
Your #5 is the best!!!
I'm super impressed with your credit card hacks!
Love your number 4!!
And about your number 5 - if you have the time, I recommend calculating the dollar value of your points, and comparing how much you earn against what the penalty is. My rental company charges $15 for me to use my credit card to pay rent every month, but the transaction earns me the equivalent of $19.80 in points, so I'm ahead $4.80 each month, or $57.60 over the course of a year.
That’s a pro-level tip, Katie!
I used one of my $10/$20 CVS coupons I got for getting a vaccination and combined it with Extrabucks Rewards and coupons which took my total from $26 down to $11. Looks like I earned $3 for buying 2 Hallmark cards so I'll be sure and use that next time.
My husband didn't realize his online music lesson subscription was renewing. He messaged them and immediately we got a credit for the $150 annual sub. He's decided just to do the free lessons they offer.
Kroger had their Chex cereal at $1.79 and my family enjoys some Chex mix at Christmas. I also earned 1,054 Fetch points when I bought 3 boxes. Made sure to check my Kroger app before shopping and there was a surprise $10 off $75 purchase.
Big one for us: My husband got his first retirement payment, but he's not actually retired. The hospital he works for changed hands so he was able to start drawing his retirement at 55 from the state retirement fund while technically still working the same exact job full time for the new company. Right now our only debt is a car we bought last year, so we are putting the full check toward it. We were able to pay what would be more than 5 additional payments this month, and should have it paid off in the spring. After that we plan to invest that money for when he does decide to actually retire.
You are very impressive with your grocery deal hunting!
Now that I'm home I can get back into a routine of frugal mindfulness!
We are still buried in snow but it looks like it has stopped for a while. I had to move the car again for plowing, so once again I have avoided a hefty towing charge!
I decided I must do another load of laundry; it was just too piled up. I did not allow myself to overstuff the washer, which is a weakness of mine. I will hang everything that can air-dry.
I ate half of a large apple yesterday on the drive home. I saved the uneaten portion and made a small apple crisp in the evening. I didn't eat all of that, so this morning I dumped the remains on yogurt, along with walnuts and some jelly. It was good! And the apple is definitely gone now.
I got out my acrylics this morning and painted a small picture. Since I have all the supplies I'm going to try to make this a habit.
I was rearranging my freezer and found that ice is building up in the back, so I'm going to have to defrost again soon. That means I really have to work my way through the frozen food, because setting it out in coolers is such a pain. But I was delighted to find some frozen carrot cake I had forgotten about!
I'm staying in today. There should be no unnecessary spending.
Strangely, for short-term cold storage, an oven works well! Ovens are well-insulated and keep cold in as well as the heat we expect to use them for.
What a good idea!
That must have been an exceptionally large apple!
It was!
I feel I'm getting old and cranky (I'm 52). But the waste all around is really getting to me. We're shopping for a used car and the salesman pointed out a "nice feature" on the car we were looking at. It had remote starting. He said he starts his car with the heat on in it, and sits inside and finishes his coffee. Then he can get in a nice warm car. We live in a place that only gets about 20 frost mornings a winter. Zero snow and ice. Winter daytime temps run in 50's and 60's. I replied to him, "What a colossal waste" before I even realized what I was saying.
I can see how remote starting is great in a parking garage late at night, or in places that actually get COLD, or if one has medical conditions. But for an able young person in this climate??
I might have also been unable to hold my tongue.
My sister lives in a much much colder part of Canada, and her husband gifted her with one of those car remote starters a number of years ago. She could stand on the 4th floor of her office building and start the car, and by the time she got her coat on and walked down the stairs it was starting to warm up. She also pre-warmed it from the comfort of her porch, prior to going to work. When she shared how @#$$$$ cold it could get, I could sympathize with her appreciating the device. Where I live it would be a joke (and everyone would laugh at me if I were to boast of having one!!)
1. Ate stuffing waffles on Saturday. Leek/sausage/mushroom/parmesan flavored bread stuffing plus two eggs, plus waffle iron gave us crispy bread waffles!
2. I boiled the chicken carcass for 18 hours, which made a wonderful gelatinous broth. Gave the dogs the bits of meat left. Took the broth and added the last bits of turkey, some drops of gravy, the last of the stuffing, and a half bag of cabbage waiting to go bad and we had soup enough for two days. All Thanksgiving leftovers gone and accounted for and I am glad to be done with turkey for a time.
3. Needed some lumber from Home Depot. Went to Fred Meyer first as they were having 4X gas points for certain gift cards. We bought enough to get $1 off every gallon of gas we will buy in December.
4. 4X sale lasted until December 2. On December 1 we bought the last of the Home Depot cards we will need, plus movie theater cards for my garden helper who also shovels snow. He loves movies, so I know he will be pleased. This means we have $1 off every gallon gas we will buy in January. We are pretty good at guessing how much gas we use in a month. Only once did we amass more points than we could use so gave them to another retired friend.
5. Culled books and took them to the used bookstore run by our literacy council. Remembered to get a tax receipt.
6. Gave some dead electronics to the high schooler who always takes our dead cast offs to see what he can salvage to build something else. If there is anything left, he returned the carcasses to us and we take them to the electronic recycling place. I have to keep my trap shut when he laments the fact that his parents do not believe in global warming, including how recycling can help in some tiny way.
1. Finally finished up the Thanksgiving leftovers for my work lunch today. Feeling satisfied about our almost empty fridge.
2. I've been lusting after unscented candles to put around our house now that it's dark before I've eaten lunch. DH found an old stash of tea lights recently and then I found 4 cute glass tea light holders on the side of the road! I was so thrilled I washed them right away and put them in rotation. I'm so glad i was patient and got a solution at no cost.
3. Half frugal fail/win: my ski gear simply does not fit anymore. I have been ignoring it for a few years but your girl cannot squeeze into these smaller sizes anymore. EVO, a gear company, had 70% off clearance for cyber monday. I have been completely ignoring all the sales and avoiding any impulse spending, but with ski season beginning for me Saturday I needed gear that I can wear and be comfortable. I ended up with a 50% off GORE-TEX jacket and snow pants. While the price was still enough to make me gasp, these items will last much longer and are a large enough size that I can bend over to adjust a ski without blowing out my pants. I held my nose and placed the order, knowing there won't be another sale like it again this season.
4. Speaking of ski season, we are crashing at a friend's house halfway to the mountain Saturday night to save on a hotel. Their place is cozy and I love hanging out with them so this is a huge win!
5. I lent my crock pot to someone in my local mutual aid group for thanksgiving and they returned it in perfect condition. Racking up karma 🙂
I've enjoyed reading all of your blog posts lately. Not too much going on here....but I'll give numbered updates and consider myself mindful at the least
Frugal Fail 1: I went black Friday shopping for the first time. My SO and I went to JC Penney and got in a not very big line and received the world's smallest Snoopy snow globe as a door prize along with a coupon. We each got a snow globe and each received a $10 off $10 or more purchase coupon. We bought bogo jeans at $48, making them about $20 each after $10 coupon. Shirts were $10 each, bought two, so about $5 each after a $10 coupon. I dont think the prices were great. We got a good laugh about it, went to get coffee at 5:40 and realized the coffee place opened at 6, then decided to go home.
I have had a similar experience with Kohls where I jump through hoops to make sales, coupons, etc match up and then walk into Costco and find the same item like underwear or socks for less without the hoop jumping. I'll chalk it up as an experience. And a good reason why the American retailer continues to just back off in person shopping. You can get the same sales online without the weird in person inconvenience. The circus effect of black Friday from say twenty or forty years ago is gone. No more camping outside of Best Buy, breaking down doors at Walmart, or fighting over Cabbage Patch Dolls...such is life.
Frugal Fail 2: In an attempt to save money, I attempted to cut my son's hair. It did not go as planned. I took him to a salon at almost 5 o'clock on Saturday and a kind woman who was about the close the shop took pity on us and evened his hair out as much as she humanly could. I only had $5 in cash, and will drop off some more money for her at a later date. Thankful for kind people. I may need to stop cutting men's hair for the foreseeable future unless they want to have asymmetrical or bald hair styles. No money, time or sanity was saved during the course of this entire money saving endeavour.
1. We have eaten almost all of our leftovers. I made turkey noodle soup with homemade noodles and broth from the carcass.
2. A neighbor offered up two pies from Cracker Barrell. My family enjoyed one and I brought another to a party.
3. I painted my toenails to feel nice without spending extra money.
4. I scanned receipts into Receipt Hog, Fetch, and Ibotta working on my accumulation of points for all.
5. I began buying backpacks on clearance for the neighborhood book bag drive as the website I buy from offered 20% off on top of clearance.
I volunteered at the library today: I do this every Tuesday, and afterwards I picked up my books on hold, and returned the books I brought back. I actually worked at this library (county) for 5 years before retiring, so being there, and among friends, makes it extra nice. I work in Tech Svcs, inprocessing new items, cleaning cds, replacing dvd cases, etc. since we are in a staff only section, I can use my headphones and listen to my music while I work.
Today was a bit harder, as it is marks the 5th year of my daughter’s death. She had cancer for 4 months, and then she was gone. I try very hard to keep busy so I can try not to be sad all the time. Amanda was my only child, and I miss her dearly.
I also keep busy with my passion: sewing. Wish I lived closer Katy, I learned zipper sewing in 7th grade and now I’m 68. I would like to share pictures with you of the dolll clothes I sew, but I don’t see a place here. I was given a box full of American Girl doll clothes patterns, and Barbie doll patterns, and I have been having so much fun. I don’t buy anything supply wise as I have a 20 year stash of fabric, trims, thread, etc. I can sew all day.
Thanksgiving was very quiet here, I had a ham sandwich and watched some videos. The holidays are bittersweet for me, but I persevere.
Thank you for trusting Amanda's story to us. May her memory continue to bless you.
(And how fun to make doll clothes!).
Thank you for your kindness. I feel like if I don’t tell people about my daughter, somehow she will be forgotten.
Trish, I'm so sorry about your Amanda. I know that words aren't adequate, but I wish you peace.
It’s sweet to me that you are A. Marie, as my daughter’s middle name is Marie.
Trish,
I know Amanda's passing leaves a hole in your heart that nothing can fill, and I am so sorry for your loss. Sending you virtual hugs and flowers on this difficult day.
Thank you, and your words are so welcome to this mothers heart.
Trish, I'm so sorry about your beloved Amanda. I wish I could take away your pain.
I'm so very sorry for your loss. Grief is hard. I'm glad you are doing things that continue to bring you happiness.
My mother taught me to sew, and I have only stopped once, for the longest time after she died. My oldest sister asked me to make a comforter for her California king water bed using her old cashmere sweaters and robes that were worn out. It encouraged me to get back to sewing, and it took quite a lot of time and work, because I did 8” squares, and it’s a big blanket. Sewing is the place I can lose myself in, and it comforts me. I give away all the doll clothes that I make, to make someone else happy in Amanda’s memory.
I have been recycling items. It does not make $ but keeps things out of the landfill. Many things that are thrown in the trash can be used by others. (As we know.)
1. I took a huge box of hangers to the dry cleaners. I have switched to plastic hangers (that I found). The cleaners happily accepted the wire ones.
2. I washed a curb picked comforter. That will go to the shelter along w/ canned goods I found. These cans are in date so the shelter will take them. I also found a big package of incontinent briefs that the shelter will take.
3. I have some dog treats & a cat tunnel that I will take to the humane society.
4. I found a large drawstring laundry bag which the shelter can use.
5. I had a quilt rack that I found. A friend of mine was repairing her broken one. I gave her my unwanted quilt rack. She was happy to get it!
Texasilver, you are amazingly resourceful in acquiring things and giving them a second life!
TY MB for the encouragement! It is so easy to throw things in the trash. But earth friendly to donate. It can also save charities money if they get usable donated items. Today I just picked up trash in my neighborhood on my walk. Real trash! Nothing that could be reused.
I had a scary night last night. I wanted to go get some ham at Aldi. Couldn't find my clutch purse. Looked all over the house and car for it. Turns out I'd left it at work Sunday night and didn't miss it until Monday evening when I was ready to go to the store. Turns out I'd left it in my work locker. Whew! That could've been a disaster.
Made the mistake of parking under some trees. Splat! Splat! Bird droppings on the car. Had a free coupon for a drive-through carwash, so I used it today.
Said car wash is next door to Goodwill. Since it's Tuesday, all seniors automatically get a 20% discount. Went in to see if they had anything I'd want. Not really, but I found a gorgeous silver candle holder with (brand new, unlit, red sparkly) candle in it for under $2. With my senior discount it was $1.73. It looks like something you'd get at a very ritzy dept. store or gift shoppe. (You know the old joke: if they spell shop with an "e" on the end, it's going to be expensive to shop there.) I don't even know who I might give this to -- but into my gift closet it goes. I save things from year to year, and eventually it will be the perfect Xmas or wedding or birthday gift for someone....and it was only $1.73.
Called about my Medicare Advantage plan. Looks like it'll be OK for the upcoming year. However, I'm going to check with Social Security to make sure I was told the correct information.
Frugal fail: couldn't light the pilot light on the gas fireplace. (Really, it's just a natural gas space heater). Had to call a plumber. Found out the controls were on there wrong; the guy who had originally installed it put the knobs on backwards. Even with the senior citizen discount, this set me back $100. But not having to set the central heat up several more degrees will likely ensure I save at least that much $$ on heating this winter. And getting it fixed correctly will ensure my house doesn't burn down from a malfunctioning space heater.
Went to NH for Thanksgiving with my son. Brought home a thigh with the bones so I could make some soup for the week.
Thanks to your last post, I also signed up for BritBox and have been happily enjoying some of my favorite shows in the last few days. I will cancel it on 21 and fingers crossed, I get a $.99 per month deal like your sister did.
Since we have a storm this week, I am working at home every day but Thursday. Thursday is our offsite for a holiday gathering in the afternoon, but I’m taking the train into the city and meeting up with a coworker to have breakfast. I’m gonna miss this kid.
Because I’m not going in the office this week either, that means I only have four days left that I will be in the office and five days at home. My retirement is just around the corner.
While I was home recovering from toe surgery in oct, I tripped and fell, hard, on my right knee. (My toes on my left foot were fine.) but, my right knee, when bent, burns like someone lit it on fire. And it’s been 5 weeks since I fell. So I messaged my ortho asking if that was normal, and they made an appointment for me for tomorrow morning (less than 24 hours after seeing my note) because they absolutely need to see me, x-ray and possible MRI. They said this is not normal. Fingers crossed I don’t need a third surgery this year. I don’t want to start my retirement by not being mobile for a few months recovering from knee surgery.
ouch, Nan! Fingers crossed you don't need more surgery - glad you got a quick appointment!
1. Our Thanksgiving dinner was Friday night so we're still on leftovers - we will probably finish them up tonight. I love leftovers so I'm not mad about it.
2. I'm a big fan of Wallace and Gromit and was pleased to find a DVD of Shaun the Sheep, another of their creators fun shows, at the library. I had never seen it before and my grandson and I howled at it - Shaun is quite funny. I have also been enjoying PBS Ken Burns Revolutionary War series. He is an incredible filmmaker.
3. I went for my annual mammogram today which is covered under my insurance. Preventative health care for the win.
4. No Black Friday shopping here. We enjoyed a day off and did a lot of piddly things around the house with ...you guessed it, leftovers for dinner.
5. My husband's birthay is December 1 so I wait until after then to decorate the house. Getting ready to do so this weekend and I will be using my same decorations that I've had for years.
What fun to discover "Shaun The Sheep," it's so funny!! I love their theme song.
Hooray for preventative healthcare!
I might have succumbed to the drawer pull lust! Since I'm not looking for a project and would have no place to put that dresser, I'm glad it's far away from me on the west coast!
These drawer pulls are glorious and the genuine deal. I found a petite dresser of similar style with drawer pulls about the same age range; I think it is mid-1800s.
I wish I could post a pic; similar look to them and I think they are cast iron of a very fine quality.