Five Frugal Things — Rosemary for My Neighbors!
by Katy on September 18, 2025 · 2 comments
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I cut a new batch of rosemary for the bathroom, which reminded me that it had been awhile since I offered any up to my Buy Nothing group. (I replace my bathroom rosemary every month or so when it starts to resemble a February Christmas tree!) I have just one taker so far, but that’s okay as I’m not exactly on commission.
As you can see, she’s a grower!
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I picked up my daughter’s repaired boots, (this time with a check in hand) and will deliver them tomorrow. I’m happy to pay this bill, as $45 is a much bigger percentage of her income than it is for me.
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I walked around the corner to see if a specific apple tree had dropped any more free fruit. I’m happy to take the bruised or otherwise hinky windfall apples, as they’d otherwise go to waste. There were only three apples on the sidewalk, but I’m not too picky to cut off the unpalatable bits.
I noticed there was a sign asking people to not “pick the apples,” which makes me wonder what prompted this unexpected plot twist. I’m friendly with the owners, so I’ll get them to spill the tea!
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I stopped at Fred Meyer for milk and scored two $1.50 clearance bags, each holding two pounds of strawberries. (I’m never going to turn down 75¢/pound strawberries!) I paid using my gift card from The Frugal Girl. I made myself a humongous bowl of yogurt with strawberries and then froze the rest.
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I ran a couple loads of laundry, mostly sheets as Portland has been both sunny and windy the past couple of days. There really is nothing more luxurious than sun dried cotton sheets — solar energy at its finest!
Now your turn, what frugal things have you been up to?
Katy Wolk-Stanley
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
1. I used Granny Smith apples, purchased from a clearance rack, to make apple crisp. I shared some with neighbors.
2. I am reading No New Things. I believe it was recommended by one of your readers. The history of marketing and advertising is interesting. I borrowed the book from the library.
3. I bought a pair of shoes on eBay for a non-tech savvy friend. They are a retired version that work well for him. I used the Make an Offer feature to get them for a reasonable price.
4. A friend and I are planning to go to the National Archives to see the Constitution. I ordered tickets (free but for the $1 fee) to ensure we will be able to get in.
5. A friend is undergoing chemo and has a low white blood count and is feeling punk. I am going to run some errands for her since she shouldn’t be out and about. It will involve just a bit of extra driving on my part.
1. Listening to free podcasts while speech is still free. Currently enjoying Maintenance Phase, News Agents, Politics Now (Australian political podcast), and What We Spend, a really interesting new podcast in which different people share audio diaries of what they spend in a given week. They talk about their jobs, income, family history with money. Really recommend it. Also enjoy Money for Couples, which replaced Dave Ramsey in my feed when I couldn’t take him any longer.
2. Reading a couple of interesting library books: ‘This is Vegan Propaganda’ and ‘How Not To Die’ – free of course from my local library.
3. Following free workout videos on YouTube – strength training, in my home gym, using weights I’ve had forever. No cost except my time and sweat (ew).
4. Have lost 6kg (12 lb?) following a whole foods mostly plant based diet and tracking on an app. My grocery budget is basically the same as I’ve just replaced the junk & processed foods with heaps of fruit & veggies. Which explains why I had put on weight…I was blaming menopause. Whoops. I did pay for the app but I got a 40% off deal for 3 months and it’s been worth it.
5. I don’t have to replace anything in my wardrobe – which was about to happen and bugged me enough to make me shift the weight. I like my clothes and did not want to go shopping.