Five Frugal Things -- More Frugal Albuquerque Activities
1. My husband and I had seven hours to kill between checking out of our hotel and our flight departure, but that doesn't mean we wasted the last day of our vacation. Instead we took a picnic lunch to the University of New Mexico campus and then toured their free Maxwell Museum of Anthropology. I took enough anthropology classes in college to almost add it as a minor to my degree, so I've always loved this museum. However, it was a first visit for my husband.
I've always loved pondering how humans lived their daily lives throughout the ages, especially when you get to see things like this circa 1100 A.D. "Child's Sandal" that's not dissimilar to what's available in modern times.
You see it too, right?
This artistry of this pottery vessel is such a modern aesthetic, the maker really had their own style and I'd love to have met them! Love this little museum, I highly recommend it.
2. Our picnic, which we enjoyed in a shady spot next to UNM's "duck pond," featured free apples from the hotel lobby and perhaps an item or two from the breakfast buffet. You wouldn't think so to look at it, but this was by far the best apple I've had in years! It was perfectly crisp and sweet, my only complaint is that it wasn't bigger.
3. I hadn't done more than a few minutes of thrifting on this trip and wanted to hit an Albuquerque Goodwill. You know . . . for the blog. I certainly didn't want to buy anything that would take up much room in my suitcase, so I chose to just peruse the books for my next read. I'd already finished one of my two library books and chose not to continue with the George Orwell book and there was a description of a enjoyable rape, which meant I stopped reading it.
We chose the Goodwill on Menaul Blvd. and I quickly grabbed the above book as it was the 50%-off color tag, which took the price down to $1.50.
What am I, a Rockefeller?!
4. We had an hour or so to kill at the airport, but our gate had tables, so I pulled out a deck of cards to play a few hands of gin rummy. I got this free deck from my web hosting company and I love it as it comes in a handy case -- perfect for travel. There's hardly anything as frugal as the humble deck of cards!
My husband beat me handily.
5. We didn't get home from the airport until after 9 P.M. and were unsurprisingly ravenous. Luckily I'd anticipated this issue and "past Katy" had stashed some frozen pre-cooked rice in the freezer, as well as a bag of Trader Joe's frozen chicken potstickers. It took maybe ten minutes to assemble the meal, during which time I was able to throw our dirty laundry into the wash.
I highly recommend planning an easy after-the-airport meal for all future travel. This falls under the category of "doing a favor for your future self."
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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Glad you shared your enjoyable trip! And we always carry a deck of cards as well to take up some time. And I have started having something quick for when we get home from a trip. Unfortunately for us, the bigger airport is an hour and a half away, so we are hungry when we get home!
I'm eternally grateful that you're Rockefeller. You'd have to be a morally/ ethically/ spiritually bereft person to harm/ destroy so many small/ medium/ large businesses, their employees, and so many of their family members. The irony of him being touted as philanthroper isn't lost on anyone. Who'll be next? Trump? Or Hillary?
Thanks for the fun photos and travel log!
1. Brought home homemade cookies from my volunteer gig. My husband always enjoys these and it saves me some baking.
2. Picked up loss leaders at Safeway. No extra purchases.
3. Used a gift card to purchase a small and useful gift for my grandchildren for Valentines Day. It didn't arrive when needed and I had to purchase the same somewhere else. Then the item showed up. I initiated a return and was given one and told the keep the item. I went on the website where I'd purchased the replacement item and was able to cancel the order. So I ended up with an item that didn't cost any money, though I had to put in some time, so it wasn't really free.
4. I recently read the book Radical Homemakers by Shannon Hayes. It has a lot of non-consumer themes. It was borrowed from the library, of course.
5. North Face takes back used items and gives a store credit. I just had 2 items accepted (older items from a free pile that I listed to sell and they never sold) and received a $20 credit. That's pretty sweet.
Glad you enjoyed the Shannon Hayes book, Kara; I have it myself. And Hayes has come a long way since then. You might enjoy checking out her website (https://www.sapbushfarmstore.com/), as I just did.
Thank you! I meant to look at her website and forgot. She has an excellent essay on her blog about not supporting the big A.
Your #3 is shameful. You should pay the vendor.
I have to disagree as Kara was told to keep the item. I don't know what brought the vendor to this decision but she was instructed by them to keep it. Just a different perspective.
This was Target. If they say to keep the item, what am I going to do, walk into the store and demand they accept it? The person at the register would not know what to do. Apparently this is an extremely common practice among large retailers and has nothing to do with me. I followed their protocol exactly.
That Apple looks like a cosmic crisp. I grow honeycrisp, also a good crunchy, sweet apple.
In my go bag...book, hand quilting project, tiny journal for notes & an antique tiny deck of cards from PanAm! No way!
I love to visit university museums and art galleries.
I too like to visit GW while on vaca to find a cute t shirt.
Pouring over seed catalogs to go in on an order with a couple of neighbors. We share plants, too.
Have a huge agricultural fire pile and I offered it to the volunteer fire dept to practice on and to understand what fire can do in windy conditions. Yay for safety.
Friend was gifted a coffee of the month gift and she only likes one brand, roast flavor. She brought me 2 lbs of coffee, I gave her a bottle of wine I was gifted for hosting the Superbowl party.
Welcome home!
I was going to ask you what you did about eBay while you were gone, but I looked it up myself and learned about "Time Away." Soon I'll be out of town for about a week, so I was glad to find this option, even though I haven't had a nibble yet.
I enjoyed your trip very much!
I took another outdoor walk this morning. It was quite a bit colder than yesterday but I survived. I walked past the little free pantry and took a can of peaches. I had half of it for lunch along with a grilled cheese sandwich.
I found a nice pair of gloves. I saw them yesterday, but left them in place. Today they were still there, so I decided to take them before they were ruined by rain or snow. I was going to put them in my Goodwill bag, but decided to keep them instead. They fit perfectly and will look nice with my coat. And they are warm. I'm sorry for the person who lost them!
I also found five receipts. They were all in a state that really tests what Fetch will accept, but three of them were accepted. Yay! And one was worth 400 points.
I'm reading "The Impossible Fortune," a Thursday Murder Club Mystery. It's a library book. Even though it is a new book, just added to the collection in November, it already needs some mending. I'll fix it before I return it. It's an easy fix that will be invisible. I learned how to mend books in one of my early library jobs, so I always try to return a book in better shape than I got it in. It's a lost art, I think. Books are so flimsy now, libraries don't bother anymore.
If I have a damaged library book, such as if the cover-and-spine are coming apart, I will put a rubber band around it when I return it.
That's a good idea -- it alerts the staff. The separation of spine and cover is the most common damage, in my experience, and easy to fix.
That looks like a perfect pre-flight morning. I like to be a thrift shop tourist as well.
1. I bought a two pound box of mushrooms for $1.50, so now it’s all about mushrooms at my house. We had mushroom omelettes for breakfast, and there will be mushroom casserole for dinner.
2. I went for a walk this morning and came home with 6 redeemable cans.
3. Tillamook ice cream is on a “buy one get one free” special at Fred Meyer, so now our freezer is stocked up with ice cream!
4. I made up my bed with the new-to-me fitted sheet from the bins. This makes me feel especially frugal! (I had to wash it twice, with bleach, to get rid of the “Goodwill febreze” smell. Ugh. What is that stuff??)
5. I don’t need to worry about losing my job based on what people read in the Epstein files.
Re: your #5, Li: One of my favorite signs at our local No Kings demo in October was "Honk if you're not in the Epstein files!"
1. I had a hair appointment this afternoon and at the last minute I asked my mom and husband to come along. My husband ran errands while I got my hair cut, then we picked up my mom who lives just minutes from the salon, and I used a BW3's gift card to treat everyone to an impromptu dinner. As I was sitting there I saw a sign that said sign up for their rewards and get a free cheeseburger!!! That was what I ordered so I quickly got out my phone and became a rewards member saving $13.99. Dinner and time with the people I love and I saved money.
2. I was going to buy my mom a little Valentine's gift, but as I was decluttering I realized she would love something I already have, so I am gifting her that instead.(It's a vintage dog statue)
3. When I arrived at work this morning there was a brown paper lunch bag on my desk. Inside was two Esther Price fancy candies and a darling miniature potted plant. I work at a library and hosted book club there the night before...apparently one of my book club members is being my secret Valentine. It really was a sweet surprise!
4. I sold another item on Poshmark. I had zero money in the item and reused packaging to ship it.
5. Though my low buy no buy January is behind me, I am continuing it into February, and so far so good. I continue to empty the pantry and freezers. Using so much up instead of getting new.
Johanna, your #5 is so impressive!
Me too! May even continue through. Feels good and the food has been amazing.
Whoa -- "enjoyable rape?!?"
I think I know which incident you're talking about...'Charley,' right? It may have been 'enjoyable' on his part, but Orwell certainly wasn't approving of it. In fact, that was the point -- to prove what a pig he was.
I've heard Beowulf dismissed for similar reasons, because the monster got (ahem) skewered, butt-first. (I was trying to think of a matter of fact way to describe it...but can't.) There is so much else in both books that you have to remember this was a different period and place -- hopefully, ex-pats don't do stuff like this anymore. But we do live in a broken world that can be quite nasty.
(P.S. And smart job, using some of the breakfast buffet items for lunch. Lets you enjoy them, without feeling you have to stuff them in at breakfast.)
One load of laundry done. T-shirts on hangers on the shower rod; everything else hung on my makeshift clothesline in the spare room (bungee cords strung across the room).
Made DH salmon patties for supper to get 2 small cans of salmon out of the house. Made myself creamed dried beef on toast. Have enough left for another meal tomorrow. DH will get corn fritters...another thing he likes that I don't.
My Amish didn't have school today, and I had a big gap of time between my first student and my.last student as a result. Unfortunately, there is a McDonald's in the middle and a large hot mocha was calling my name. I turned up the radio and drove right past. Yay me! Had some instant oatmeal and a cup of tea when I got home.
I am proud of you, Melissa. That was some great willpower!
Woah well done on avoiding the siren call of Mickey D's!
I loved catching up on your frugal trip posts. It's an area I've never been to, so it was neat to see what your found to explore. Thanks for sharing!
My frugal five...
1. I visited the public library picked up a fresh stack of books and a love poem kit they were offering for free. It came with a lovely booklet of poems, directions for writing your own, some parchment like paper wrapped in a red bow, and a rose pen. I'll be creating my young niece a Valentine with the paper and ribbon and gifting her the pen too. I'll use the booklet and the paper bag it came in for my frugal collage art.
2. I had my checkup at the dermatologist today. I was waiting to schedule my next appointment when I noticed a new free samples station they had set up. The sign said 1 of each so I was able to grab some sensitive skin friendly laundry detergent, fabric softener, shampoo, body wash, and sunscreen travel size samples which I will gladly use.
3. I sold my old pela phone case on Ebay. I was happy to keep this product in use and to pocket a small percentage of the high original cost.
4. I cancelled several subscriptions that we had signed on to use during a particularly good deal ,or for a temporary binge session. Savings for this month alone will be $25.00.
5. My teen and I have been visiting lots of local parks. He's practicing photography with my old digital camera, and I'm practicing bird watching. I've had a Birds of FL book on my shelf for years. I'm finally putting it to good use and documenting the birds I've spotted.
1. Donated blood and enjoyed pretzels and trail mix.
2. Purchased a lifetime national park pass, which reduced the admission price to the Tumacacori National Historic Park.
3. Mended a hole in my husband's underwear and hand-stitched the undone hem on my pajama top using my travel sewing kit. I've had this kit for decades (unused) and have needed it four times in the past month.
4. Filed a free police report about a purported white nationalist rally planned to disrupt a July 4th celebration in Minnesota. Report will be shared with police and city leaders so that they can be prepared in case it's not a hoax.
5. Signed up for a Safeway membership in order to take advantage of excellent sales.
I'm buying myself a lifetime pass when I turn 62 as a birthday gift to myself.
MB, your #4...good call on alerting the authorities as you say, just in case. Poor Minnesota has seen enough of ICE and their ilk such as the white nationalists. I can't bear to capitalize that shameful name.
We visited ABQ in 2023 and had a wonderful time! I’m pretty sure I went to a Goodwill on Menaul, and I chose a $5 Pfaltzgraff Winterberry teapot as my souvenir. Future Kimberly always plans dinner on return evenings from races, travel, and other events. If it’s same day I usually have leftovers planned. If we’re gone a few days I take down individual previously home cooked and frozen meals to defrost before we leave, so they will heat quickly. For long travel, I either have something in the freezer that can cook super fast or I make sure we have a dozen fresh eggs in the refrigerator and some homemade sliced bread in the freezer — I can cook scrambled eggs and toast in the time it takes the family to unload the car and put things away. I open a jar of applesauce and it’s a delicious meal!
Nice you had such a great vacation.
1. I've been in a baking mood. Being stuck in the house due to frigid temps and snow has me a little bored, I guess. Two days ago I made a batch of peanut butter cookies and today I made a cake. DH is not complaining.
2. The weather moderated yesterday to the mid 30s so we both bundled up and walked a couple of miles. Maybe we walked off a few peanut butter cookies and got some free exercise.
3. My grandmother threw me a birthday party when I turned 24. I'm now going on 67. The reason I'm thinking of that party now is I'm wearing a pewter necklace her friend Karin gave me that day. Some things never go out of style.
4. I bought two packages of on sale low fat ground turkey, $4.99 for 20 oz. as opposed to $7.49 for 16 oz. of low fat hamburg. I've invited friends over for chili next week and I know from past experience this recipe works just as well with turkey substituted for the hamburg the recipe calls for.
5. Stepson invited us over for the Superbowl and treated us to homemade pizza and chicken wings. I made a batch of chocolate chip cookies...yup, baking again...to bring with us. Our team, the Patriots, didn't win but we still had fun.
Christine, I too got into a baking mood yesterday (for the same reasons), and made a loaf of bread machine potato bread. I took half of this over to the Bestest Neighbors, along with a salad, for dinner last night.
And I too made a recent score on Reduced for Quick Sale ground turkey, as I think I noted in a previous comment either here or at The Frugal Girl (3 lb. for $10.50). Moreover, I've likewise found that ground turkey works perfectly well in my chili recipe. Great minds run in the same direction!
Ha ha! Great (and frugal) minds trend toward turkey! I've never made potato bread before but it sounds amazing. I've had the store bought variety and love it so I imagine homemade is even better.
I am reusing 2 old microwave oven carts, cica 1980 when those things were super large and super heavy, as bedside tables in my newly rearranged bedroom. Also brought out some lamps from storage, and paired one with a smaller shade to look more bedroom-y and less living room-y. Use What You Have Decorating is very Non Consumer chic. Happily, all my storage is on my property so I'm not paying rent on a unit somewhere else.
I had a hunch I'd see my friends at work so I took their Valentine and housewarming gift to work today. Sure enough the husband came through my checkout lane and I was able to give him their gift bag --a pink and green pastel plaid insulated lunch bag from the " GW Boutique" (aka Goodwill). It was filled with pink Depression glass-type cups and saucers (wrapped in pink tissue paper and tissue paper printed with pink hearts from Dollar Tree) and a small pink voltive candle and candle holder. The tissue paper and candle set were the only things I bought new. I had a greeting card, thrifted, for a housewarming but it had hearts on it. I just had to pencil in "Happy Valentine's Day" above the verse inside. The cups and saucers were left over from my old, now-defunct, antique booth business -- and I am happy to get them out of the storage closet and to a good home. I noticed at Christmas she had pink Depression glass items so I think she will be happy to add to her collection...even though my stuff is actually from France circa 1960 and dishwasher safe. You can't tell it's not the real thing. Anyway, I think my non consumer surprise will be a good one, it looks expensive but really wasn't.
1. A friend loaned my family two of her travel adapters for our vacation. Since the five of us were in two rooms this was perfect. My daughter had brought her CPAP machine along so we really needed one and it was a huge savings to not have to buy our own. It had multiple ports so everyone was able to charge phones, plug in flat irons etc.
2. Your apple reminded me that I had picked up a pear at one of the breakfast buffets and couldn't eat it. I put it in my bag and my daughter and I shared it when we stopped for a snack/lunch at a gas station. All of our breakfasts were included at the hotels we stayed at. We all made sure to eat a good breakfast each morning which wasn't hard since all were really good.
3. My mom, sisters and I are planning a trip up north this summer. My mom and I did some research to find the best accommodations for the five of us. I was able to save about $150 by using Trivago and also using my IHG member discount on their website. Two of the three hotels include a free breakfast.
4. I had a large salad for dinner four nights in the past week. I was able to finish off a bag of salad greens, lemon chicken breasts from TJ's as well as a container of goat cheese. It was nice to have an easy dinner available and I avoided the temptation to eat out. I'm finding it hard to only cook for myself and I'm happy to have no food waste.
5. I'm reading a library book on my Kindle. I paid my property taxes in person which saved a couple stamps but cost a little gas. I'll be doing my laundry today which I will hang up on racks. I'm battling a cold and have used up all my handkerchiefs. I'm now using my $1 tissue boxes which I'll have to replace when they go on sale again.
What a lovely trip! Frugal and fun, making memories together? Perfection!!
I 100% agree with 'leave your future self a quick meal for your arrival'. lol For several years, my parents lived in another state for many months at a time. They, of course, emptied the kitchen of perishables. I would pick them up at the airport with a couple of bags of groceries/meals to get them past a few days. The first time, Dad fussed 'you didn't need to do that'. The next morning 'Thank you for the food, we're worn out from yesterday (3 flights plus layovers, a FULL day and from west to east, so a very LONG day) and we appreciate not having to rush to the store'. lol It doesn't need to be gourmet, but something ready-ish to eat with little effort is so good when you get home tired and hungry.
Do you have ideas of Airport frugality for long international travel? The last trip was a late one so, no food going abroad only breakfast. My brother and I ate at the Airport going and coming back. It was pricey and not that good. We arrived abroad late so stores were closed. I need to plan better.
Sounds crazy but whenever we head out of town I always plan the DAY WE COME HOME meal,too! It is a lifesaver when you’re tired and hungry!! I always have a frozen container of chili in my freezer and often some soups frozen too.
Love the museum!