Five Frugal Things -- Red Cross Snacks & Cheap Eggs
1. I donated blood at the American Red Cross, which not only met my daily recommended intake of Nutter Butters, but also earned me a $20 Amazon gift card. Ya'll know that Schmeff Schmezos is forever on my shit list, but I can use it to make a couple purchases I've been putting off.
America is currently horrific, but donating blood can help me feel like I'm contributing something worthwhile.
2. I saw an ad showing eggs to be 99¢/dozen at Grocery Outlet, which happened to be on my way home from donating blood. I used to shop there with regularity as the store is near my kids' high school, but dropped them from my routine as I found it led to goofy impulse purchases.
Bubble gum flavored pickles for only 17¢?! I'd be a fool to not stock up!
However, eggs are far from an impulse purchase, and yes -- I bought the limit. I also grabbed four 33¢ Chobani flip yogurts while I was there. See? Impulse purchases!
3. I found both a penny and a dime outside the store, which technically paid for a third of one yogurt.
4. The battery on our minivan mysteriously crapped out, so my husband took it to Les Schwab, (please feel free to pronounce it like it's a French term) and was told that the issue was due to a "phantom current draw." Big bummer, as that would require a mechanic to diagnose the issue. However, they later determined that it was actually just a bad battery, which they're replacing for free.
Oui!
5. I thrifted a vintage Wagner Ware aluminum pan to rehab for resale, but wanted some disposable gloves so I don't ruin my hands with what I can guess is going to be hours of scrubbing. Luckily I was able to receive a couple pairs from the Red Cross employee who did my intake.
This is my goal, which I believe to be achievable with Barkeeper's Friend and a triple dose of elbow grease.
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."
Click HERE to follow The Non-Consumer Advocate on Instagram.
Click HERE to join The Non-Consumer Advocate Facebook group.
Eggs for .99...I haven't seen that in years. Great score and I would've bought the max too.
It's been too cold and snowy here in Massachusetts to leave the house. I haven't been out since Saturday afternoon but that's been frugal in itself so I'm not complaining.
1. I put out my 5 Valentine decorations...two dressed up teddy bears and two snow globes which were all gifted to me and a decoration with angels and hearts on my front door which I bought at least 15 years ago and still use every year.
2. I made a Swedish Almond Cake for a friend's birthday present. I love to give and receive edibles.
3. DH did all the shoveling but ended up with a backache. Acetaminophen and a heating pad to the rescue. I wish I could help him as I did in the past but I I have a medical issue which prevents me from heavy lifting.
4. Wearing sweatshirts and slippers with warm socks around the house so I can keep the heat at 64.
5. Reading fiction to keep my mind off thinking about the abysmal acts perpetrated by the government on its own citizens.
1. I sold a set of woodland ornaments, which I have zero dollars in.
2. Staying focused on using things up instead of buying new or more. I have emptied 2 bottles of lotion, and have at least 5 more to go before I need to buy more. Feels good using things up and having less.
3. It's horribly cold where I live with no end in sight. This is forcing me to gather our eggs multiple times a day so they don't freeze, if I am at work I gently remind my husband to do it. Waste not want not.
4. My work is delayed today because of the weather. If anyone on the second shift calls off I will volunteer to stay over. Less pay lost and also I want the be the co-worker I want others to be.
5. Still filling my Thredup box as the processing fee is half off if sent by 1-31-2026. My husband will be by a UPS store Friday so he can send with my having to make a special trip.
1. Before I left my parents' house (where I got lots of exercise over the weekend between a hike with my mom, helping my dad chop wood in preparation for the storm, and digging them out after the storm!) to come home on Monday, my mom gave me some 13 bean & ham soup she had made. It was really thick, so I added some broth when I got home. It will be enough for lunches for the week.
2. I'm using up all of the sample toothpaste tubes. The hygienist at the dentist used to load me up with samples because she knew I traveled a lot for work. But as I don't travel any longer, they were just sitting there. I'd run out of my normal toothpaste a month ago and decided to use up all but one of the samples before buying new.
3. Made spaghetti and meatballs last night from what we had in our pantry & freezer. it made enough for dinner tonight as well.
4. Today is the first I have driven my car since Friday, yay for saving on gas.
5. My slacks and sweater are both thrifted. My boots are 4 years old and still going strong (I clean and waterproof them every year).
I'm with you on using up the sample toothpaste! We don't have nearly as many but I figure 2 with long use by dates are quite sufficient since we rarely travel anymore. Besides, last time I went to the dentist they were still giving them out along with toothbrushes. I've found too many toothbrushes in our cupboard and will put them in the nearest Little Free Pantry.
As someone whose (terminally ill) daddy's life was saved (extended) numerous times by blood transfusions, I want to thank you for donating blood and being a regular donor. The saddest part of having had cancer is that I'm no longer eligible, although they said at Year 5 they may certify me to donate again if I'm still cancer-free. (I hope there isn't an upper age limit, as I'll be in my mid-70s by then.) But thank you, Katy. Sending you a virtual hug, a case of virtual Nutter Butters and a virtual bouquet of roses!
1. Icy air is seeping through my bedroom window. Kicking myself for having washed -- and ruined -- the thermal drapes; the new ones aren't insulating as good. So, last night I single-handedly re-arranged my bedroom furniture; my headboard is now against an interior wall. I put the chest in front of the window, and the TV and indoor antenna is atop the chest. I put the antenna in the window, behind the curtain and blinds and voila! I'm picking up 2 new OTA stations, and all the channels are coming in a whole lot clearer than before. Doing a happy dance on that one!!!
1. a. Bonus: I put a pole lamp, the kind with 3 lights, between my bed/headboard and the door and I can turn on that light when I first enter the room. The light switch for the overhead light's wall switch doesn't work anymore since Goofy Guy put in the ceiling fan wrong; subsequent handymen can't figure out what he messed up and it's never been fixed. (Cannot afford a real electrician. Therefore, I have to leave the wall switch on and control the fan and its light by the chains.) So the new arrangement solves 2 problems!
2. My DIY soup, in which I dumped a lot of canned and frozen goods and leftovers in the pot, didn't taste so good. After suffering a few bowls full when I first made it, I put the rest in the freezer and thawed it out to eat during this ice storm. Still not very tasty. So I mixed in some sour cream. Made it creamier and more flavorful. Finished the soup, so I didn't waste any food. (BTW, sour cream lasts longer when you store it upside down -- old Tightwad Gazette trick. It works!)
3. Got a bucket of melting snow from the yard, let it warm to room temp, and watered the house plants with it. Extra nitrogen, no chlorine.
4. Tested those emergency LED lights (NEBO Blackout Backup Emergency LED Bulbs) I bought by putting them in the portable sockets and trying them sans electric outlets. They work great!
GIad I didn't need them, but happy to have them on hand.
5. Uncluttering: collected old magazines for public library -- they sell them for 25 cents each in their front lobby, benefiting the Friends of the Library organization.
LOVE the snow melt for watering plants idea!!
Virtual Nutter Butters? Thank you!
You took one for the team with that soup!
I've never heard of gift cards for donating blood viac Red Cross,- must be very local/ regional. Cookies and juice us the only reward, plus a good feeling of course. Sadly, there's no outlet stores within an hour if me, and the last time I decided to make a trek to one, it was so disappointing with expired junk food and same prices on other things I can find locally.
I'm not sure about the Red Cross incentives being regional or not, but I know readers outside of Portland have reported similar promotions.
The local Blood Assurance chapter (BA is a nonprofit regional blood center) is offering a $40 e-gift card for donations before the end of the month.
In Florida it's not Red Cross, but Oneblood -- and they also give donors gift cards, tee shirts, and as many snacks as you can take! And Platelet donors get higher amounts on the gift cards as I have donated those also.
We get gift cards from the Red Cross when we donate in both Minnesota and Arizona. Only the snacks are different.
I am in West Virginia, and I've never heard of anyone in my state getting gift cards for donating. Just a snack and a drink afterward. Not that any part of the state is hugely populated, but I am in a small college town, so I am not sure if our larger cities (Huntington, Morgantown, Charleston) see any GCs.
1. I too bought the max amount of 99 cents a dozen eggs at Grocery Outlet. I also got $5 off $25 for down loading their app.
2. I cooked a packet of 97 cents a pound chicken drumsticks in the crockpot. We are 6 for dinner, I froze 4 for later, set one aside for a meal tonight and shredded 3 into the chicken broth in the crock pot and made over a quart of chicken corn noodle soup.
3. DH has a colonoscopy on Friday. I defrosted both chicken and beef broth for him to eat today and tomorrow. Pays to be prepared!
4. DH is repairing 2 40 year old kitchen and bathroom drawers. I did one last year and it’s help up very well.
5. I’ll be picking up my free McDonald’s item (for my birthday) today when I’m up that way to run an errand. I’ll probably get coffee and save it for tomorrow.
6. And I forgot. We have 2 different warranties on our appliances and electronics. The repair guy is here fixing my washer and dish washer, at no extra expense to us!
Try some baking soda with a little steel wool or scotch brite type sponge on the pan. I have cleaned some tough items with these.
I got a shampoo bar, for travelling, on a very special low deal. I have been using it for weeks, love it, and thought I should get another one. The same money saving site had an offer this week that covers the same bar. Delighted!
Cooked a big pack of sausages. We had some for dinner and the rest are for snacking. We always like to have something snacky, and these sausages are a lot more economical than actual things sold as snacks. They are often marked down in the store, too.
Discovered Aldi are stocking a low carb icecream. These are usually stupid expensive here in the UK, but this is quite reasonable, so have stocked up a bit. So many lines are short lived in Aldi, so I prefer to grab a couple now. We don't eat much, so they will last a while for special treats.
Our house has been nice and snug with the background heating and the woodburner, but my feet still felt cold. Made some snug slippers with bits of yarn I made months ago.
I have been encouraging a younger friend in her efforts to follow her passion for local wool. It's starting to grow for her, and there maybe a little bit of teaching in it for me too, which will be so good.
We were recently in NZ to see family. I have a copy of her grocery store discount card. It gives deep discounts on purchases and earns her points to spend on shopping. Friends are about to do a road trip there, so I will send the card with them so they, and my step daughter benefit!
My friend got me a shampoo bar as a Christmas gift. My favorite thing about it is the cardboard pack says it replace 2 plastic bottles!! Yay for the environment!
1. I brought my own coffee, breakfast, and lunch to the office.
2. I donated blood last night and will be receiving a $25 gift card of my choice. I saw a sign saying they are in desperate need of O+ platelets so I will be back in a couple weeks to donate some of mine.
3. I just paid ahead for my checked bags for a flight coming up in February. This was $10 cheaper than paying at the airport. I’m on the cheapest flight possible so I’m not allowed to bring a carryon.
4. We are having turkey tacos that I cooked up last night and I’ll serve them with Spanish rice.
5. Made my husband go to planet fitness and cancel is $10 a month membership. He hasn’t gone in a year and we could use that money for groceries.
First, phew: At those prices, maybe I should have grabbed the Wagner Ware aluminum Dutch oven I saw at Second Time Around (the pop-up thrift shop in the old bowling alley on Mondays) a while ago. But I'm not an eBay seller, I didn't want it for myself, and it too would have required some elbow grease--so I let it go.
And I know I've previously told this story about elbow grease, but I'm telling it again anyway: On one episode of the Two Fat Ladies on the BBC (the one and only cooking show I've ever loved), Clarissa Dickson Wright recommended using elbow grease to mix something into something. The Beeb was immediately swamped with questions: "What is this elbow grease, and where can I get some?"
I clean the bottoms of my vintage cookware with a nice paste of Barkeeper's Friend. Letting it sit long enough for the acid in the BF to make headway helps cut down on the elbow grease.
Wow! I recognized the pan right away, as my husband had one from his grandfather when we got married. I didn't know Wagner Ware was a quality thing. Ours is filthy, as we treat it like a cast iron pan that has been seasoned over time. He likes it because he can use it either on the stove or in the oven with the lid on.
No Kings 3 is being planned for March 28.
Heidi Louise, thanks for the heads up about March 28. We'll be back in Minnesota before then and will be participating for the first time. My husband and I haven't attended before out of safety concerns, but we can no longer care more for our own safety when many in our community have no safety.
MB, thank you for that last line. And I'll be at the No Kings 3 here in the Salt City even if it's snowing, which it may well be. The Minneapolis folks have been turning out in far worse conditions, weatherwise and otherwise. The least I can do is show up the way they've been showing up.
A. Marie,
My DH and I feel the same way. We have friends and family who live in Mpls/St Paul, and quite frankly, it could have been any one of them shot and killed instead of Alex Pretti or Renee Good. (I don't want ANYONE to get shot at a protest rally or any public event; I can't imagine what their families are going through).
I've been wanting to donate blood...hopefully our neck of the woods gives out giftcards, too. Wouldn't mind that at all.
I forgot to mention our huge score when I posted before -- a 7-night cruise on MSC for $668 -- total!! For two people. We've gone on MSC before, but not for a few years. Husband got a 'flash sale' text -- they must have needed $$, and had empty spaces to fill.
This was, of course, for an inside stateroom. But when Husband confirmed it, we realized MSC had put us in Deluxe Balcony, for no extra cost. Oh boo hoo...I guess we'll have to suffer and take the upgrade.
REALLY cold here. But unlike the rest of the country, it's generally sunny, and we only have a few inches of snow. Colorado is so dry -- we really need more. But looking forward to the cruise helps with the icy toes and trudging out to get wood.
That's an incredible deal!
That is an insane deal! Enjoy your cruise!
Pac Man socks = love!
I have that exact pan. When my grandparent's home burned down, she bought Wagner ware to restock the kitchen. I inherited the set and my mom's set she received as a bride. I'm waiting for a niece or nephew to set up house, but maybe I should just sell it and invest the proceeds?
I polish pans while I watch evening tv. Steel wool, Barkeeper's friend and non scratch sponge.
I found a gold and diamond bracelet on the road today. I left a cryptic message on the two neighbors phones who regularly walk the county road. It was really grimy and had been driven over. I soaked it and about fell over. The clasp is damaged.
If it doesn't get claimed, I will take it to my jeweler to inspect and assess it.
I did find d a great deal at Grocery Outlet last week for Hebrew National hotdogs $2/pkg. I bought several and froze them. I also got 2 lb bags of organic carrots for $.99. I shop there first, then head to Winco. The weird things catch my eye, but rarely land in my shopping cart. Do I really need chocolate covered bacon?
For anyone thinking about donating blood, there is an effort to break the record for most donations in one day om January 30th! The record is currently 37,018 donations in one day.
1. I did a thorough inventory of our chest freezer that I've been putting off. I found a pork loin and 4lb of chicken my that I didn't know were still there! I pulled everything out and put everything in a clean laundry basket and reorganized the chaos so I can find things again.
2. I moved some toys from one space to the living room and my kids are thrilled, played most of the morning like they were new toys. Haha!
3. I took my freezer inventory list and wrote out potential meal ideas to discuss with my husband later. We'll come up with our meal plan for February from this.
4. Since I was checking the pantry and freezer anyways, I made a list of things that I need to bake in the next few days for our snacks and staples this week.
5. I've been making good progress on another library book on Libby. I'll have the series finished in the next day or two at this rate.
Due to the snowplow shuffle, I parked on a different block yesterday. Today I wanted to get my car back nearby, so I walked over to it, drove to the community center to walk, drove to the bank to "buy" quarters for the laundry, and then came home, parking just down the street. Nothing saved, but nothing spent, and now I'm ready for laundry day.
I'm thawing fajita filling and sausage for meals tomorrow. Lunch today was a grilled cheese sandwich and an apple. Breakfast was banana bread from the freezer and prunes.
Returned a library book at the community center branch and found two more to check out. Reading is keeping me sane.
Updated my financial spreadsheets.
Just keeping one foot in front of the other, slogging through these cold days and disturbing times.
1. I went to a free class at church last night. There were some complimentary drinks and snacks. I am glad that I found something educational and free to entertain myself with.
2. I purchased a Costco roster chicken Saturday. We ate all the chicken and I made stock from the carcass in a crockpot and bagged and froze it this morning.
3. My coworker ordered a calzone and asked for it to come without red sauce, despite that it did. She took two bites and gave me the rest to take home to my hungry teen.
4. I have not grocery shopped in about a week. My goal is to not grocery shop until Feb 1st. I think I just enjoy grocery shopping and find myself casually spending money but not forcing us to eat the food we have at home.
5. I hosted an author event at work. We had a lot of leftover food. I took home some crackers and salami which is a favorite in my house. Wish we scored some cheese. I had put a bag aside at the end but I think it went home with someone else.
Basically trying to watch my pennies through controlling our food budget very closely.
Gluten free Cheez-it’s for 1 dollar for each big box. Yes to 8 boxes. 1.99 gluten free Cheerios and lucky charms Yes for a few boxes. 1.99 gluten free chip ahoy. 1.49 eggs and a pound of butter for under 2 bucks. I’ll probably get a $3.50 lettuce wrap burger from In n Out for dinner, I love those things with grilled onions and spread. How I travel cheap with meals and snacks.
1. Reached out to about a product I had ordered that turned out to be not what I expected. They offered to send me the product I did want for free! Such kindness is gratefully appreciated.
2. UPS has been ridiculously incompetent at picking a package (a return). I spend several hours on the phone working through this with them. I think to cover general incompetence, they tried to tell me that the item was not picked up because of the bad weather. I assume they hope that their customers are geographically illiterate and would believe that the bad weather in the east prevents their drivers who live and work in the bay area of CA from picking up a package. Frugal because I did not drive 2 hours to my parents to take care of the return in person. But I think it cost my mental health.
3. Repaired the shoulder seams on dh's high-vis vest. This was a freebie and keeps him a bit safer on his motorcycle. I have saved thousands of dollars by using my sewing skills.
4. Pruned my raspberries and blackberries, all the while dreaming of yummy fruit this summer. I am an even more passionate food grower these days. It's a powerful way to be more independent, and more insulated from crazy prices. I've rooted some more collard tree cuttings. I already have 3 collard trees and I'll grow another one. Excellent food and zero work. They are the easiest things I've ever grown.
5. Ordered sewing supplies from Wawak yesterday, and received them today! I split the $5 shipping with my son who also wanted some supplies. Of my 3 children (2 girls and a boy), my son is the one who sews in adulthood.
Thanks for the heads up! I checked to see if there are any Red Cross drives near me, and I found one within walking distance! I am hooked up on a gurney as I type this.
They sure ask a lot of questions about my sex life. It seems that I am super boring.
No nutter butters, and no word about a gift card. We shall see.
You'd think for all the questions about your sex life they would at least try to wine and dine you with some nutter butters!
Right? All I got was some whole wheat cheez-its! (Hopefully I get my gift card by email.)
1. Grocery bill for January stayed at $725!! This is a huge change for us. (Living in Ontario with a teen son!). We still have enough food that we could eat well for another 3-4 days, but I am going to go shopping on Sunday for the first 2 weeks of February.
2. My husband has been pricing windows for our new house. Most of the windows are new, but there are 5 in the basement that are OLD and very drafty. He's going to find the best price!
3. A local area company got a government grant to spend $15k to insulate homes. The contractor is coming to insulate our basement, fill in small cracks and caulk windows, etc. They said it's going to save us a ton in heating and cooling costs.
4. My son decided he didn't want a tutor anymore. I initially hired the tutor come and essentially body double for my son, but my son got so annoyed with having the tutor here that he found his own motivation and started getting all his homework done. Saves us about $240 a month and now our son is on top of his own work. Win-win!
5. I'm still working down the existing pens, stationary, art supplies, CDs, DVDs, body products, etc. Planning to pay ZERO for those items this year!
- I made 2 ebay sales today
- My daughter picked up $22 laying in the road today!! a $20 bill and 2 $1
- Making banana bread with brown bananas from the freezer
- Cooking beans in the slow cookers
- Leftover carnitas meat, makes fabulous burrito bowls!
That pot looks amazing!!!
That skillet looks like a truckload of scrubbing to get it clean. Could you please post a picture once you get it prettied up?
1. Finally left the house today (Wednesday) after being housebound since Friday evening. No gas burned or $ spent. I walked my usual 4 miles. I feel much better. The streets have thawed but still some slick spots. We Texans are not used to ice & snow.
2. So glad my school is open tomorrow! I hate on-line teaching. However, I was able to earn some $ teaching on-line.
3. I shudder to think what the energy bill will be for January. However, we did use electric blankets at night to keep thermostat at 60 degrees for sleep. The cats appreciated the warm blankets also.
4. Husband found a lot of frozen food in the Dol Gen dumpster that was still in date & frozen. We kept some, gave some away, and ate some of it.
5. I had to mail a check to the insurance co. They charge 3% service fee for a CC. My bank charges a fee for a wire transfer (if I could get to the bank on frozen roads). I dug out a greeting card envelope & used some postage stamps I found. Small savings. Besides I was housebound for days. I had time to scavenge for the items.
I love reading everyone's frugal wins. We live in such a remote area that it takes 40 minutes to get to any real shopping so that's a frugal win for us. Let me see if I can get 5.
1. The usual eating at home which is not much of a hardship. We raise most of our food in the summer and put it up and it's hard to find any place that has the quality of ours. They are out there but once again too far to away to just drop in.
2. I have been trying to use up my yarn stash, I fell int a slight addiction to indie-dyed yarn a while back and have more than anyone needs.
3, I keep scanning receipts into Fetch but when you don't shop much, it takes longer to build up to anything but I'm a patient woman.
4.I work in an amazing bakery that lets us take home products like bread for free
and also order wholesale with no mark up so that's HUGE savings on flour, coffee, etc.
5. Using my credit card and paying it off for the cash back. It's not much but it's something.
Did you know that coating the pan grime with ketchup and leaving it overnight will soften most of the grime and make it easier to remove? I did this with my thrifted Paul Revere (made in USA), and it made cleaning so much easier, and yes mine looked like yours. Give it a shot!
I have that same Wagner Ware frying pan, as well as a Dutch oven and two sizes of sauce pans. I remember my mom buying the set on impulse when I was a teenager (Mom was not the frugal parent in my home) - that was in the 1970s. She passed them on to me when she downsized maybe 20-ish years ago. I love cooking with them, though they are heavy. I don't remember them ever being super shiny, even when new? though it does look nice! I hope yours doesn't require too much elbow grease. 🙂