Five Frugal Things -- Library Books & an eBay Sale
1) I processed all my gleaned plums, which simply meant splitting them in half and then sticking them in the freezer for now.
I didn't have a reason to make any plum based desserts yesterday and I wanted to make sure they wouldn't go to waste. (It was amazing how much they ripened in the single day since I picked them!) These plums took maybe ten minutes to pick!
My plan is to make a small batch of plum jam, plus this NY Times plum torte recipe that A. Marie mentioned in yesterday's blog comments. (Thanks, A. Marie!) Apparently, it's the newspaper's most requested recipe!
2) My painted kitchen cupboards become grotty pretty quickly and I somehow never notice it until it's embarrassingly bad. This is real life here, no sanitized for the internet content in this blog!
I noticed that my husband bought a box of Magic Erasers for some project, so I grabbed one and got to work. (Cutting it into pieces in order to make them last longer.) This involved removing the handles to fully access the flat surface. I also scrubbed down the chrome handles.
You know how you can put off a chore and then it ends up taking just a few minutes? This is not an example of that phenomenon! I cleaned six cupboard doors, which took at least an hour and a half. I think I need to get some kind of non-toxic degreaser spray for the rest of the cupboards.
There are ten more cupboard doors and that doesn't even count the drawers!
3) I started reading a library copy of Good Joy, Bad Joy, by Mikki Brammer. I'm just a couple chapters in, but I think it's a keeper.
I'm also listening to The Love Haters, by Katherine Center through the library's free Libby app. I started this lighthearted read after finishing The Calamity Club, as my brain needs a palate cleanser after serious books.
It's good to vary what I let into my brain.
4) I sold the Space Needle pepper grinder on eBay for my full asking price of $30. (I paid $3.99 for it.) It was listed for just a few days, which is an enjoyable counterbalance to my stale inventory. However, my sales are always a mix of things I just listed and the stuff that I gave up on ever selling. Ain't that like life!
It's also a sign that I'm better about what I pick up to resell than I was in the past. That's personal progress and I'll take it!
5) My life is a bit more my own after last month's vacation, which was immediately followed by a two week visit from my sister. I'm enjoying the time alone, but that doesn't mean that I don't value getting together with the people in my life.
I sent out a couple texts checking in with friends and now have two play dates scheduled. Both will center around visiting one another's homes, so there won't be any expense as one friend will come to me and the other lives within walking distance.
An active social life doesn't have to be a money drain.
Now your turn, what frugal things have you been up to?
Katy Wolk-Stanley
"Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without."
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A friend and I are going to county faire tomorrow. Free parking and admission.
We’ve been rewatching old series as we anxiously await our newer shows to come back on over the next month or so.
Still have plenty of items listed on several sites.
My husband and I both celebrated birthdays recently. He hit 70 while I'm still trailing by three. Many meals were enjoyed away from home:
1 and 2. Sister took us out to lunch - twice! Brought home leftovers and unused condiments in my own containers.
3. Friend took me out to lunch. No leftovers; in fact, I ate her potato chips that she wasn't going to finish.
4. Husband took me out to dinner and we used a $50 gift card to a local restaurant. Ate everything in one sitting.
5. We took ourselves out for brunch and invited a niece. For those in the Twin Cities area, go to any Hope Breakfast Bar location and they will give you a stack of three free pancakes for your birthday, no questions asked and doesn't need to be on the actual day. We also ordered regular entrees and brought home leftovers in my trusty metal container.
Happy belated to you and your husband. I think you will ALWAYS be trailing your husband by three.....
It was not a frugal week at our house. We had a plumbing repair (leak), our sump pumps broke (at the same time?, or we just noticed it?) and we had to purchase a full house water softener, thanks to the extremely hard water in our area. The hard water is causing damage to other plumbing in the house, so in this case, an expensive up front fix will save future dollars.
That said, a few things:
-Made a very cheap lunch a few times this week. Baked potato (attempting to use up a huge bag), 2 eggs & grated cheese. All of these items are on my "use it up" list, which is why I consider it frugal.
-Repurposed some arugula before it could go bad, along with some grape tomatoes. Both purchased for a recipe.
-Charged my car for 8 hours at work, for free (over 2 days). This makes my commute free, plus a bit of extra driving
-Brought work lunch leftovers for DS20 to have for a quick dinner before he left for work.
I have white kitchen cabinets that develop the same kind of grubbiness. I scrubbed them not too long ago, but I know it will creep back.
I continue to improve, though now I'm wondering if I'm developing a UTI, which feels like adding insult to injury.
My Bunn coffee maker only produced a couple of inches of coffee this morning. I didn't make coffee while feeling sick, and I forgot to unplug it. I refilled the tank and I'm trusting all will be well tomorrow.
I accomplished both tasks I set for myself today. I scrubbed the bathroom floor, and I updated my financial spreadsheets. I hope to feel good enough tomorrow to do another load of laundry, which is seriously backed up.
My doctor has advised me to get a flu shot in October and a COVID booster in December. You better believe I'm on it.
Moderna and Pfizer both have new Covid vaccines. I think Oct is a bit late but that is when my dad's PCP does his. I will get mine this month as well as my Pfizer vaccine. I've read to get the Covid vaccine mid-September to give it time work before "gathering time" - like T-Day/Xmas (or Halloween if this is a big event for you).
I'm getting my COVID shot in December because I am just now recovering from COVID. Not advisable to get the shot now.
I swung by aldis for our weekly grocery run. The cheapo store wasn't open. Stopped in gw and picked up a boy's t-shirt for my son, a boy's hoodie, a pair of snow pants for Christmas, and two western type t-shirts for a young man in our neighborhood who has been couch surfing. He now has stable housing and is back in high-school. He is apprenticing with a local mechanic. I hope his can keep it together long enough to graduate. He seems like a good kid but doesn't have a lot of support. His situation is precarious. I'll keep at it bit by bit. I'm trying to buy age appropriate clothes so he doesn't feel out of place.
Finished working up the beets. Made a roast in the crock pot. Hung out the laundry.
So tough for a teen especially that does not have stable housing. Good for you in stepping up - the number of us who help others seems to be at a low point as of late.
That's a really lovely thing you are doing to help the young man have clothes & not feel out of place.
Totally agree! Warms my heart.
1. Today is my birthday. As a friend (who got married on this day) said to me when he found out, “More than one disaster happened on 9/11”. His wife and I both swatted him.
2. I'm not doing much for the day itself, however I got a visit-walk in with my weight trainer who is also a long-time girlfriend; that was brilliant. Then I got my butt kicked during my workout, which was also brilliant (I think?).
3. We have fewer 'offers' for our birthdays up here, however I'm scrolling through the food apps on my phone to put a plan together – I rarely use them to get food, but like to pretend I can take advantage on my birthday month. It takes a bit of organisation, though, which ain't my strong suit. There is a free cinnamon bun I need to remember when I am down in the big smoke as that company isn't up in my small town.
4. I get to bake - from the freezer - some of the apple pies my friend and I made. These will be for my birthday picnic, which we are holding at my Mom's place. Probably picnic in her house, then a walk to the local park to play with my grandson, but weather might change the plans to more inside stuff. Who knows? My younger brother is visiting from Mexico and he wanted to be included in birthday plans. I don't normally HAVE birthday plans, however my Mom isn't getting any younger, and my brother likely won't be visiting much after she isn't with us, so a party it is.
Seems that I am planning my own birthday party, what else is new...
Happy birthday, Ecoteri!
Happy birthday! Today is my grandson's birthday and my sister in law's wedding anniversary!
Happy birthday! I planned my own to have a family get together but made it easy as possible and had a good time. Hope you enjoy yours too
Happy Birthday!
Happiest of happy birthdays!
The redo/clean up on the cabinets really really helps! Look great now and I am glad you can enjoy the look!
Thank you for posting so regularly. Really helps.
I'm trying my hardest to be extra frugal as my season of unemployment drags on. I've had some interviews this week and am keeping my fingers crossed that (a) I get an offer, and (b) that the offer is enough to get us by each month. I've been working on skimming any fat off my budget, but it's already pretty lean.
FFT:
1. I continue to thumb my nose at a gym membership and have been running in my neighborhood instead. I still need to also commit to weight training at home...I never think of it at an opportune time, but I suppose that means I need to be more thoughtful about scheduling it into my day.
2. Our weekend outings mostly revolve around kids' sports, which I love, doesn't cost much in-the-moment (acknowledging the up-front league fees etc.!), and gets us some fresh air and community.
3. On the kids' sports topic, I am unable to spring for team snacks right now, but am volunteering in other ways (hauling the benches and helping the coach with the phone/email tree).
4. I was able to apply for free school lunches for my kids, which is a huge help for me right now. I am grateful that this exists and am more than happy that decades of my tax dollars have gone toward this service.
5. I'm reconciled to living with a bright pink pixel line down the face of my phone, courtesy of a dropped call...literally, haha. The phone still works and I can see most of it, so I'll avoid buying a new one for a while 🙂
1. I finished "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann on Libby. While the subject matter was incredibly interesting, and heartbreaking, I had a very hard time getting into the book itself. My husband mentioned that he thought a movie was mad about the events so maybe we'll see if the library has it.
2. My husband's job provides reduced cost health insurance and it has now kicked in! I spent 2-3 hours looking up in-network providers for doctors, dentists, and optometrists in the area and then cross referencing with my husband's schedule and making calls. Unfortunately a large number of the doctors are booking out until this time next year! But we were all able to find and schedule within the month to be seen for first visits. I used to work in healthcare and I know it's important not to put off establishing care.
3. Our health insurance is also advertising some monetary incentives if we complete "health goals" so I told my husband we should look into that!
4. My husband's job has such a large spread out campus that he put in an average of 64 minutes of "commuting" time between the buildings this week! He's been riding his bike rather than driving between the buildings and said it takes the same amount of time to bike vs drive. The added benefits of exercise and less wear and tear on the car are pretty awesome! And, because the car is hybrid he's been charging it at work for free!
5. It's a rainy weekend for us so we are going to grab our rain jackets and go to the library to return some books and movies and see what new treasures we can find!
Killers of the Flower Moon was an excellent movie. It was heartbreaking as are most stories about indigenous peoples getting taken advantage of but very well done.
I had not paid much attention this past year to the free OTC meds and supplies offered by our health insurance every quarter, largely because reminders from the company never included a link to where to do. But yesterday I persevered and figured it out. Got some vitamins, ibuprofen, and cold medication coming.
We have been eating down the freezer and using up dry goods that have been open a while. Today's "Chopped, the Frugal Home" edition resulted in chicken spaghetti with garden vegetables that used two chicken thighs cooked in homemade stock and then the stock left in the pot was used to cook the gluten-free spaghetti, which greatly improved it. The sauce was based on a can of pureed tomatoes and lots of little baggies of frozen veggies and basil from my garden. It was outstanding, even if my DH insisted on calling it "chickgetti."
There also was a half box of cake mix in the cupboard that had the first half used in May that I made into chocolate cup cakes with homemade peanut butter icing.
Stayed home, cleaned the floors with the last of a bottle of Bona spray that I have not liked much, trimmed both dogs' nails with the rechargeable nail grinder, and brushed my sweet old dog's teeth, now a daily occurrence as her last dental cleaning was very expensive. Fortunately she likes the chicken flavored toothpaste and our human dentist gave us a brush with lots of soft rubber on it that works great for her.
Someone out there is laughing, thinking they got a tremendous bargain, paying only 30 bucks for a 40 dollar salt shaker. Little do they know! LOL!
1. Early this morning, I had to go to the store as soon as it opened because I'd left my purse behind my counter. Got it, and then started my errands. Was en route to WalMart when I passed a thrift store, one that specializes in tools. I saw what looked like a brand new riding lawn mower outside. I started to pass it by, then thought, better see if it is for sale bc it won't be there after I'm done at Walmart. Sure 'nuff, it was and I got it. Some guy had bought it 10 years ago, got sick and rarely used it, and now he's died. His widow donated it, and they refurbished it with a new battery and etc. Drove it around the parking lot and it runs like new. (I used to mow with riding mowers before the cancer thing, so I know.) I calculated how many mows it would take to "pay" for the thing....only about 8 or 10 times of not paying a yardman. I negotiated and got delivery thrown in. All this for under $750. (They had originally priced it for $900.)
2. Went to Walmart and got the cell phone repair lady to fix my Tracfone. I had an older Tracfone and the dead Spectrum phone we found last week; all she did was transfer the SIM card. Live and learn: I thought it'd be more complicated than that. She honored my $10 coupon even though it's expired (oops! I didn't know!) So I got a "new" phone for $45. She liked my Talarico pin and pin that says "Christians against Trump," so I gave them to her. [BTW, Kimmel's interview with Talarico has surpassed 5 million viewers as of last night! I bet that's far more than Trump's convention got....]
3. A coworker called in saying she has Covid, and our store's pharmacy doesn't have the vaccines in yet. I also lost my Medicare card. So while I was in that Walmart, I asked at their pharmacy counter if they had me on file. Yes, and they could give me both the flu and Covid shots for free. I was happy to get them, and they didn't even hurt.
4. I went home and activated my Vizio-Walmart smart TV. It took some doing and I was on the phone for an hour trying to get it all straightened out. But I made a little bit of progress: I've gotten exactly one local channel, and am still trying to figure out how to get more and how to set up the free Kanopy service from the library. They have other programs on Vizio but none that I really wanted to watch today. Some were free but some were only free trials and I don't want to get stuck paying a penny more.
5. Went back to the thrift shop, which is celebrating its anniversary today. Got a free hot dog and root beer lunch. They said they would accept donations but earlier I had given them a lot of plastic shopping bags and an unopened leftover tube of caulking they can sell.(TK had thrown away the receipt so I couldn't take it back to Home Depot for a refund.) That, plus what I'd paid for the riding mower, was donation enough IMHO.
Score!!!
I really enjoy socializing the “old fashioned” way like we did when the kids were little.. we moms would just gather around a kitchen table for coffee and homemade cake while the kiddos played with their leggos on the floor somewhere. Or, we’d throw a blanket onto the ground by the lake and eat our PBJ sandwiches and solve the problems of the world…
I joined a social group of ladies my age..some of the events take place for breakfasts or lunches out, but some are simply GAME DAYS or PLAYING CARDS AND BUNCO days in a local fire station or a big room the library lets us reserve. . I like the FREE events the best.
Since I sometimes like to do my junk journaling hobby WITh friends, I started up a once a month get together in my house,I have 2 card tables and 5 of us get together for coffee and fun(FREE!) Everyone brings their own sacks.This saves money over the local art /craft studio which charges 25 bucks a DAY or 75 a month to use their studio and hang out with others.Doing this at home saves GAS MONEY TOO!
HERE HERE for USING OUR HOMES for fun!!
I love this!!!!
Those plums are screaming plum torte to me! Double the recipe, it will get eaten fast!