I was going to write up a Five Frugal Things post yesterday, but chose not to as my things were kind of boring. But then I realized that this is frugality in a nutshell, doing a lot of the same humdrum things on a daily basis which add up to big savings. Cooking from scratch, eating leftovers, sticking close to home, simplifying entertainment and other unimpressively dull endeavors. Mind you, my life is not boring, but my frugal hacks often are. So I now present to you, Five Frugal Things . . . the boring edition!
- I worked all day Saturday and brought leftover chicken and rice to eat, as well as some cut up carrot sticks. I drank the free hospital coffee and enjoyed a cup of the free mint tea. (Boring.) I was able to help two families welcome their beautiful babies into the world. (Not boring.)
- I checked in with my husband as I left work. He’d taught CPR all day then driven across town to play soccer. He mentioned picking up a Costco rotisserie chicken on the way home, but I asked him not to, as we had a plethora of nice leftovers in the refrigerator that needed to get eaten up. (Boring.) We both arrived home around the same time and pulled leftovers out from the fridge which included chicken and rice, baked pesto tilapia and shrimp scampi over pasta. The three of us then sat down at the dining room table to enjoy our delicious meal and discuss our days. (Not boring.)
- I was treated to lunch by my father on Friday. We walked to our favorite nearby restaurant where we ordered the same thing we always order and drank the tap water. I was able to fill up a punch card. (Not boring, but extremely routine.) We then walked home where I served tea and pulled out a photo album, as my father is being honored for teaching 50 years at the same university and needed some pictures. I was able to locate a photo of him in the classroom from 1965 and scanned it for him. We eat at this restaurant every few weeks, so it’s hardly worth writing home about, but it’s very much part of my frugal routine. I love catching up on my father’s life, so this is definitely not boring.
- Yesterday was The Super Bowl, and I usually treat my family to a yummy snack buffet. However, I’d worked the previous day and had a Clark Howard article I needed to complete. I ended up spending the day writing and then watched the second half of the game. There were zero snacks, and some minimal grumbling. (Boring.) My husband then went to the grocery store for dinner ingredients and assembled a hearty meal of hamburgers and salad. The three of us sat around the table and joked about Coldplay and planned out the logistics of the coming week. (Not boring.)
- I didn’t buy a Lear Jet. (Boring.)
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.”
{ 108 comments… read them below or add one }
1. I’ve been really into reading lately, and have avoided the temptation to stop by the wonderful used bookstore that I pass by once a week. Through the library, I’ve gotten Ender’s Game, 1984 and the Giver. No spoilers on Ender’s Game or the Giver yet, please, I’m not done.
2. I’ve picked up a little extra work, and decided to treat myself to a Mexican oilcloth outdoor tablecloth (the previous tablecloth was fabric and very dirty). By buying by the yard, I saved about 50%. It doesn’t exactly meet the Compact, but I’ve been so good about not buying things otherwise.
3. Made a pot of lentil soup, and another pot of rice, which I stretched into about 4 lunches for leftovers. It’s rare for me to buy lunch out.
4. Enjoying all the objects, clothing, etc. I have around my house and realizing I don’t need anything else. It’s amazing how plentiful life can be in the U.S. once you get out of the habit of buying. Most things in the house last a lifetime.
5. I will make congee for lunch, which is an amazing and filling way to use leftover rice.
Love your #4. Makes me feel thankful and content.
Thanks, Jennifer!
If you like those books, check out “Ready Player One” by Ernest Cline. Best book I read last year, and I am so not a SF freak, or gamer!
And YES to #4. I once read the expression ‘buying treats for the house’. My house doesn’t need any more treats:-)
Loretta
Thanks! I’m checking out Ender’s Game because it’s on Goodread’s “Books Everyone Should Read at Least Once” list. I don’t know a lot about sci fi, but would love to check out more. I’ll put it on my to-read list!
I also love #4, you said that beautifully.
1. Stayed home potty training the toddler and ate all meals at home. Made certain to eat all leftovers.
2. Treats for potty training not exactly frugal but skipping pull-ups and using undies with a cloth diaper cover is.
3. Pregnant with #2. Reusing everything from #1. I have been eyeing double strollers but #1 will be 3 when the baby comes. I don’t think we will use a double often if at all. If we need a stroller, I can wear the baby and push the toddler. If hubby is around, we can both push a stroller. Less stuff and more money in the bank.
4. Loaned out the newborn cloth diaper covers and they did not make it through the loan in a usable state. 🙁 Bought 5 new cover for $41 after free shipping, coupon code and will get ebates money. $41 on cover is a lot cheaper than the approx $250 we would spend on newborn diapers.
5. Using stale bread to make bread pudding.-Use it up.
6. Pulled chicken and homemade broth from the freezer to make chicken and dumplings for dinner.
7. Stuck some limp lettuce in a bowl of ice water to crisp it up for dinner.
I am in the exact same kiddo situation! Lol my LO will be 3 when #2 arrives (both boys, super frugal ) and I’m going to just invest in a good carrier instead of a double stroller. I also use cloth diapers and make my own stock so your post really hit me! #frugalsister
You can also check your local Facebook yard sale sites. A lady posted her double stroller for $20 and I happily snapped it up.
1. Made seasoned croutons from the heel of a loaf of homemade bread. Made a very simple salad to use them in from lettuce and tomatoes leftover from having hamburgers at home and some leftover shredded cheese. Salad dressing was a homemade concoction based on a little mayo.
2. Will be using the last tiny bit of a bottle of dish liquid in a bucket of hot water to mop floors this afternoon.
3. Bought a tiny sample can of white gloss paint to touch up some dings and scrapes on our bedroom door. The cost of even a quart of paint at the store about gave me the vapors!
3. Have freshly washed towels hanging on the drying rack in the laundry room.
4. My lunch was the last slice of bread toasted and with some peanut butter and raisins, the last little bit of Swiss cheese, and an big apple from the clearance bin at the grocery store.
5. While cleaning today, came across another partially used up tube of hand cream and put it on the windowsill over the kitchen sink to make sure it gets completely used up.
1. DH and I went to the mall to buy a new fridge for our rental property. Got one for $150.00 off regular, then paid $129.00 for a 5 year warranty. I usually think these are a scam, but if it isn’t used in the 5 years, they will give us a gift card in the whole amount of warranty cost. No super frugal, but smart, I think.
2. Didn’t buy anything else at the mall, although we did look around a bit.
3. Went to Starbucks to dispute a charge on my CC from a Christmas gift purchase. They refunded me $16.20 with no hassle whatsoever.
4. DH was at a super bowl party, DD was out with friends, so I had leftover vegetable soup for dinner. Delish! Will probably have it again tonight.
5. Hung two loads of laundry to dry, and actually got DH to hang his! He has always used the dryer in the past.
I never buy warranties either, but that seems like a pretty good deal to me.
I’ve heard several people mention the gift card for unused warranty, what store does that? I’ve never seen it around where I live, but it sounds like a good deal!
Katy,
There’s nothing wrong with boring frugal things! Those are the every day things that make it work!
1. I have a crockpot of beans cooking now because we had some ham left over from Sunday dinner and it’s going in the pot!
2. Mended my husband’s vest pocket. A little time with a needle and thread may be boring, but I watched
3. “Call the Midwife” on Netflix while sewing. Not boring!
4. Pulled out the seed packets that I bought on clearance last fall to see what I need to still get this spring. I’m not going to need to buy much.
5.While running the vacuum I took the cushions off the sofa and flipped them over. It would be nice to have new furniture, but this will do for now!
3.
1-made a great dinner the other night with what looked like not much in the frig. Wih trying to eat out less, I’m noticing that I’m getting better at coming up with more ideas from what we have and it comes out good!
2- made wall art for my kids room. They got a puzzle for Christmas that we all worked on, we love it so decided to hang it up. Got puzzle glue, about $2, so a cool yet cheap decoration.
3- entertaining myself today with a nice long walk of 6 miles.
4- my husband offered to do a super bowl party but then a friend decided to have it. Saved money by just bringing a dish to pass and got to leave a little early to get home and in bed!
5- my husband grocery shopped yesterday, when he got home he noticed he was charged for 2 orange juices but only bought one. I took in the receipt and got the difference back. Every little bit helps!
I was charged regular price for something on sale at the grocery store. I went to customer service and said to the woman “this is the last day of the sale did no one buy this item and see they were charged reg. price.” Since if the store knew they would fix it. She told me no one checks their receipts. In fact about 50% leave them at the register.
Check your receipt people, it is your money!
We have this conversation at my house all the time. Doing things the same way can seem boring, but they work! Yesterday it was the weekly meal plan. I know that if we have a plan, we purchase the ingredients in one grocery shopping trip, we save money, and (best of all!) I don’t have to stress about what’s for dinner every day. However, my darling husband can not seem to deal with planning dinner farther out than today. Although he’s a great cook and a complete partner in all the tasks that need to be done around the house, he complains about having to interrupt his afternoon to make arrangements for dinner and also to be unable to plan in advance. The result is that I plan the menu around things that I know how to make and my own preferences, and then, well, guess what? Somehow *I* am always the one making dinner!
So yesterday’s planning went like this…
Me: I’m leaving these two days this week for you to plan and make dinner.
DH: Fine, I’ll take care of it.
Me: OK. But you always complain when you have to stop what you’re doing at 3:30pm to figure out what’s for dinner and then shop for it. Do you want to plan it now?
DH: I said I’ll take care of it.
Can’t argue with that! I’m looking forward to two yummy dinners that I don’t have to plan or make! 🙂
…and I’d have some simple something to eat in case he ….. ummm, forgets?
So far so good! He made a yummy shrimp/rice dish that I’ve never had before. We’ll see what tomorrow brings…
1. I made bread for the first time this weekend using my new-to-me breadmaker! It was DELICIOUS. I toasted some of it up and had cinnamon toast this morning nom nomnom!
2. Stopped in Ross and found 4 bras and 3 pairs of underwear (I won’t buy either used, sorry!) for $35 with tax.
3. Drove to the next town’s Outlets to return a bra I had previously bought online that broke the second time I wore it. Took the back roads instead of the freeway and it was a lovely (and faster!) drive.
4. Made some celery soup with the nearly-questionable (and free!) celery my neighbor gave me a few weeks back.
5. Listening to music that lifts my spirits! Working on my coping skills and reducing the effects of stress on the body.
1. Got the house to myself this week. So dinners will be soups I made and froze.
2. Made a detailed list of things to get done this week. Weather is expected to be cold all week, so I’ll be doing these chores indoors.
3. Going to sort through some of the boxes we didn’t full unpack when we moved in. We’re renting and building our new home. Soon, I’ll be at the build site everyday, with no time energy or interest in dealing with stuff better donated than moving.
4. On Saturday, my husband and I attended an all day class. I packed a trash-free lunch and snacks! One other couple brought their lunch, and another went home as they lived close by. This was a group of 45 people.
5. My husband bought electric hair clippers l so I can cut his hair! Years ago, I cut my Dad’s hair. And, I cut our son’s hair for most of his life, until he moved to the west coast. I’ve even cut his hair while there for a visit.
So to stay frugal I decided to do Insanity (the workout) at home rather than pay a gym membership. I may have broken my body in the process.
Since I can’t leave the couch today has been really frugal.
1) I watched my kids attempt to play nicely while spilling pretzels all over the couch…free entertainment
2) I made mashed potatoes for lunch because I a) had potatoes and b) had potatoes
3) I rolled my way into the bedroom and managed to snag my book from the dresser. Now I’m reading my free book and trying not to cry from the pain in my muscles.
That’s all I’ve got. Now I’m off to research body transplants.
Maybe take an anti-inflammatory before you give away your parts!
And Arnica! Amazing for muscle recovery and pain.
1. I cooked a discounted spiral ham that I had in the freezer from a Christmas sale. Made crock pot lima beans to go with it. I got the mother load of various types of dry bean packages in a reduced buggy at a local store. We ate ham with beans and potato salad last night.We will take sandwiches the rest of the week from said ham. I will throw the bone in the freezer to put in with some peas toward the weekend and freeze the rest of the ham. I also tried my hand at homemade mayo to put in the potato salad because I was out of mayo. It turned out terrible because I think I over emulsified. I threw it in there anyway and it was sorta ok.
2. I have been saving those mesh plastic bag things that the hams come in. In an effort not to buy anything new I made a mesh bath sponge out of a couple of these and put a bar of soap inside, which is still removable. I love it! I was missing the exfoliation from my old mesh sponge that fell apart. Wash cloths just don’t seem to do enough.
3.I made an Amish mock Pecan Pie over the weekend. This is super cheap because it uses oats instead of pecans and it is so much like a pecan pie! I like it because I always have all the ingredients for this pie on hand. I even used a ‘press in the pie pan instead of roll’ recipe for a homemade pie crust. This was devoured in minutes at my house.
4.I found a pottery jar in a dresser jar to replace the toothbrush holder my daughter broke.
5. I got a stain out of my daughter’s favorite shirt. She dropped salsa on it and my husband washed and dried it.I will never complain about him washing clothes for fear he may stop. I tried every stain remover I had and washed it multiple times with no luck. In a last ditch effort I wet the shirt, mixed a tiny amount of bleach(shirt is light pink) with some water and dropped a tiny bit on the spot. It worked and didn’t change the color of the shirt!She was so happy to get to wear it this week. It’s kind of a Valentines Shirt.
I don’t normally do laundry, my wife does. But one day I threw something in there and when she checked it she said, “WHAT KIND OF IDIOT WOULD THROW THIS IN WITH THESE CLOTHES???” I’ve not done laundry since. So good on you for not complaining. We do mean to be helpful!
Exactly what I was of! Sure my jeans have towel lint on them and my white socks are blue tinged but so what, lol.
Afraid of
Let me tell you about my favorite laundry “mishap”. My daughter had a velvet jumper and adorable silver shiny long sleeve shirt to go with it. She tossed it in the wash wanting it washed for the weekend to wear to church. It got washed with something RED. It bled Red in spots all over the shirt which with the silver made it look like blotchy pink spots. It was ruined! She was so upset because it was a favorite of course. So, as a last ditch effort, I washed it again, this time with one of the red shirts only, and…….it came out the most beautiful shimmery pink color evenly all over the shirt. I showed it to my daughter and asked her what she thought. She said she loved it even better than the silver!!! She felt like she had a NEW favorite outfit. 😉 *whew*
Oh wow! Great save!
My biggest laundry disaster was very difficult to fix. Crayons in the dryer! What a mess!
We just had Cherry Chapstick in the dryer last week so I can relate.
Did Katy Perry do your laundry?
I once washed and dried a very good raincoat – with a ChapStick in the pocket. Large grease blots all over the place. Re-washed with all kinds of things, including hot water and washing soda. Didn’t work. As a last resort, took it to the dry cleaner. Came out perfectly and worth every penny.
A not very frugal couple of weeks coming up — traveling to cold place — found marked down coat and boots (new coat was less than the $65 used one at the thrift — crazy, right?!) so trying to double down this week. And am never bored here or at the Frugal Girl. Love to read everyone’s efforts — it is inspiring!
1. Eating from freezer/pantry and trying to buy only fresh supplements (fruit, salad, etc.) Finally thawed massive frozen chalupa brick and will finish up tonight with tortillas and marked down bag o salad.
2. Used very Meh homemade salsa as a base for bean and veggie soup with chicken broth last night. Will finish up soup tomorrow when husband is out of town. Must use rest of salsa . . .
3. Husband out of town, so I can really eat from the frig! This will be frugal and probably lower calorie.
4. Used the apples too ripe for eating (all from the mark down bin) to make yummy apple sauce. Greatly improved the morning oatmeal! Need to do this more often.
5. Belt on our 25 year old vacuum cleaner broke so husband ran around trying to find a replacement. We refuse to buy a new model since this one works fine. That belt has to be out there somewhere . . .
6. Rickety old alarm system (non digital — it just makes a really loud noise if someone tries to break in) broke. Wonderful neighbor came and fixed it in less than 15 minutes. Grudgingly accepted $50. We were thrilled — do not want some fancy thing tied to our phones or private “security.” This should keep it going a few more yea
Try looking online for your vacuum belt. I found a new replacement part for my old vacuum on eBay that was impossible to find elsewhere -the price was inexpensive and free shipping. It was a shop that only sold vacuum parts, sealed in original packaging.
I second Gina’s suggestion. I have an older bagless vacuum that uses filters. I found them on Amazon.
1. Made all our meals for the week (till Thursday) yesterday. Won’t be tempted to eat out. All the meals were vegan. I made the black beans from dried in my pressure cooker.
2. Made some veggie stock and froze it so I can use it later when I want to make soup.
3. Ran to Kroger and stayed under budget ($20) and got only the things on my list.
4. Got a free Redbox movie using CHAMPION and reserving it online.
5. Went to the movies Saturday night but there was a woman who came into the film (R rated film The Boy) with 7 children. The kids ran all over the theater, cried and talked. Not only did they come in 30 minutes late, they ruined the next 30 minutes of the film. I got up twice and complained and on my last trip, demanded my money back. And, I got it. I was STUNNED that no one else complained. I think refusing to pay for services that are subpar is the height of frugality. Also- I am pretty sure this woman snuck into the movie with the kids after they watched Kung Fu Panda because I can’t imagine they’d sell tickets to 7 kids under the age of 8 for an R rated film!
Some people are not meant to be parents!!
1. Free entertainment for the whole family this weekend was putting together a large puzzle on the DR table. 🙂
2. I made roast and veggies for dinner on Friday evening. Saturday we had the leftovers for dinner. Sunday, our Superbowl dinner was beef and noodles. I just added noodles to the leftover broth and shredded the remaining roast in it. YUM!
3. Downloaded a BUNCH of free kids books on my Kindle. There are many that will go along with our lessons for homeschooling. Free curriculum! SCORE!
4. Making my own cleaning spray with vinegar (disinfectant) and orange rinds. BONUS: My 9 year old asked me all kinds of questions about this, so we got a “home ec” lesson as well as a “recycling” lesson on using up the orange peeling.
5. Keeping the kids a little busy with a project of making a book mark from some ribbon, a button, and recycling a hair ie. My son is always losing his bookmark, so this should solve that. Plus he loves to do crafts!!
Hey Katy, I know you eat at Chipotle some. Since they are closed today until 3 pm for meetings you can text RAINCHECK to 888-222 and they will send you a coupon for a freebie. Must text by 6 pm ET and quantities are limited but it’s worth a shot. No Chipotle near me, boo hoo!
Thank you. I did this. It will take a few days for the coupon but I got a text back from them.
Yw!
I agree. It’s the boring stuff that adds up over time. Spoiler alert. None of these are exciting.
1. Planning on a no spend week, as the AC/heating unit has finally died. Luckily we live in Florida and have an electric space heater. May have a sleepover in living room tonight. 🙂
2. Eating bean soup all week for lunch.
3. Meal planned yesterday to use what I have.
4. Not stomping on gas on way to work to save gas.
5. Went to friend’s for The Big Game, and brought appetizers that required no fancy ingredients.
1. Helped our local community center raise funds by teaching how to make truffles at a chocolate festival. I had to have blood drawn afterward (cholesterol) so had to fast, so didn’t buy any of the samples!
2. Instead of partaking in a Super Bowl party, we went to Mt. St. Helens and were practically alone and had a one-on-one talk with the park ranger.
3. Went to Goodwill and found a $5 foodsaver sealer. It works great and was only used a couple times.
4. Bringing leftovers for lunch all week, with my mason jar of tea.
5. Packed lunches, water, and snacks for our road trip. No buying of food!
1. Stopped by my friend’s house to pick peaches from her tree. Her gorgeous kids and MIL helped and we reminisced. We’ve been friends for twenty years. Not boring.
2. Other friends are moving into the area, and we went to their new place to visit. They mentioned a need for a cleaner and I cried “let the mutual mooching begin!” and offered our pressure cleaner. They were tickled with that phrase (Katy’s phrase) and accepted. Not boring.
3. Came home to peel and prepare a pile of peaches. Was grumbling to myself as it was late, and then realised I had the wrong attitude. How lucky am I that I have friends that give me free organic peaches? Suddenly I felt joyous, and the job became a happy one. Not boring.
4. Came home to zucchini noodles and tomato sauce cooked by my husband. So yummy!
5. This morning my husband did his usual and made me a homemade espresso.
So many not boring things!
I love that comment “suddenly I felt joyous”. Made me smile.
1. My elderly neighbor bought a bunch of shirts and then decided she didn’t want them. I was skeptical when she gave them to me but they actually fit my post partum body.
2. The ONLY silver lining to my entire family coming down with some awful bug is that I didn’t have to burn gas on my 100 mile commute.
3. Although I did use some of today (I pretty much recovered yesterday–I’m just home with the kids) to make a cauliflower and cheddar soup from scratch. Monday nights I usually get home late, so supper is usually thrown together.
4. Got books from two different libraries instead of ordering my own copies. History grad students kill forests of trees.
5. Made home made nachos for supper last night. Shopped at Aldi today. Rented our home on Airbnb. Got a discounted version of turbo tax through Vanguard to do our federal taxes, which I submitted last night. Will print the forms to do our state taxes for free.
Katy, I keep moving the tilapia around in the freezer because I wasn’t inspired to use it but now I am. Pesto tilapia – sounds good to me!
1. I defrosted and used the end of the Christmas turkey for lunch the last few days.
2. Used a gift card from Christmas to buy myself new foundation at the Clinique counter at Macy’s. I have to be careful about what I use and their products work best for me. I only had to pay .68 cents out of pocket. I’ll get a little more use out of the old tube once I cut that open too!
3. A co-worker bought all of us pizza and salad on Saturday so I didn’t have to bring dinner. I did bring banana, chocolate chip muffins for our dessert.
4. I don’t normally buy my adult nieces birthday gifts anymore but my niece just moved into an old house and has three small children. With lead being in the news so much I decided to buy her a water purifier that attaches to the sink and some filters. I shopped around and saved about $15.00 and got free shipping. I want to keep our little ones safe!
5. I need to make some draft dodgers for my house. I will use material that I already have and opted to use birdseed as the filler instead of rice because I got the birdseed on sale for much less that the rice.
One non frugal thing I did was get a massage. In the long run this will save me because I was in a lot of pain and needed some relief – that along with a heating pad and ice pack have done the trick.
1. Found .10
2. Bought (very) discounted goldfish crackers and granola.
3. Got to leave work early, still got paid for a full day.
4. Eating “Super Bowl” left overs for dinner tonight.
5. Helped friend w/newly engaged daughter find bridesmaid dresses online for a great deal–not especially frugal for me, but nice nonetheless.
#5 Spreading the frugal wealth is fun!
1. Kept most of the lights off and only turned them on for task work.
2. Making supper tonight. We had take out this weekend. Bad! But we haven’t had it in a long time.
3. Got two reimbursement checks from the FSA account for mostly prescriptions. Good idea to have pre tax money taken out for medical costs as I’m a little high maintenance.
4. Got a check from Ebates.
5. Didn’t go anywhere today so no gas or money used.
Katy I agree some weeks being thrifty is pretty boring but I think we all save so much because it is all about the “routine” things we do to save i.e. close doors to unused rooms during the day, unplugging appliances not in use, air drying clothes instead of using the dryer, yada yada yada. End of the month we get savings excitement, lol.
My list:
1. Worked two wrestling tournaments for extra cash – Friday night and early Saturday AM. Boring but extra cash and got to spend time with friends unexpectedly at the wrestling tournament, great to catch up AND spend time together.
2. Had to buy period supplies (boring) but got a free Aussie shampoo for purchasing over $12 worth which I would have been buying anyway.
3. Went shopping on Saturday and got 5% off grocery items at Meijers and #2 above. I save up a list of stuff since I don’t do much couponing.
4. Spent an hour going through the store circular to see what was on sale and also through the online MPerks coupon program and saved over $40 shopping for things we needed and finding out what brands were on sale AND had coupons, as well as buying produce and fruit on sale.
5. Superbowl spread – made shrimp cocktail, guac and nachos, and we had trail mix all from stuff we had on hand. I did “spring” for some Mikes Hard Lemonades for me to enjoy. 😉
#5 totally worth it
I agree that being frugal can sometimes seem boring. When you have been frugal for a long time, many frugal activities become second nature. However, at the end of last week, I actually suffered a little frugal fatigue and slipped a bit. But over the weekend, I got back in the groove. I find that FFT helps to keep me honest and focused. Thank you, Katy and Frugal Friends.
1) I made all meals at home including super frugal enchiladas for game night. I made everything from scratch making it especially yummy.
2) I received a challenging CSA box this week. I am trying to use some of these veggies in every meal, but I feel like I am on the TV show, “Chopped.” I am running out of ideas for the giant head of Napa cabbage. Help!
3) I have also taken several long walks and worked in my little garden. Although it has been a little chilly, the sun is shining brightly. So I bundle up and go!
4) I have been doing a big clean out. I have four categories of “stuff:” garbage, recycling, donation/garage sale, and online sales. I am proud that I have very little garbage. It Will be nice to bless others with things I no longer need and make a little $$$$$ for my home repair fund.
5) I had not planned to go grocery shopping over the weekend, but I needed sour cream. My hubby was nice enough to go for me, but he didn’t stick to the list. He did, however, take advantage of many BOGO deals and special offers stocking up on coffee, tuna fish and gas cards which were 20% off face value. Although it was a little more out of pocket, it will result in long term savings. He was forgiven.
Too funny about Chopped! did you try googling Napa Cabbage recipes? Should bring up a lot
Two ideas for the nappa cabbage: I’m sure it could be made into a nice coleslaw. I love nappa in vietnamese type soups (pho). You could chop it up, blanch it and freeze portions to add to future soups. It has such a wonderful mild taste.
Wonderful ideas! Thank you. I wondered if it could be frozen. I have made a cold Asian noodle salad and a large veggie stir-fry. I still have enough for 2 – 3 meals!
One of my favorite cabbage dishes – Chopped cabbage, ham and onions seasoned with some garlic salt mix & pepper (seasoned to taste) and fried with a little olive oil in my cast iron skillet. Yum!!
You can use hamburger meat, smoked sausage, etc. in place of ham – just make sure the meat is already cooked before you fry the onions and cabbage in with it. It’s a cheap & easy way of using cabbage for a skillet meal.
I will try this. I have chicken Apple sausage in the freezer. I bet that would be a tasty combo. Thank you!
1. The husband and I had to be out of town yesterday (church and batched errands both in nearby town) for several hours, but we decided that instead of buying lunch out, we could just buy stuff to eat at the grocery store while we shopped. Not as cheap as bringing a lunch, but there were buffalo wings on sale for the Superbowl which came with carrot sticks and dip — we ate for $2.50 each, and there was plenty for us both.
2. Didn’t have leftovers to bring to work today, so I ate a carton of soup I keep in my desk, with a slice of my homemade bread.
3. We got gas while we were out and about yesterday. Our grocery store reward card let us buy gas for $1.45/gallon.
4. We had to replace some small supplies for my husband’s seedling business/hobby. We checked prices online, and it was cheapest to go to a local-to-this-town garden shop that gives him a 10% discount for being a veteran. We were driving right past the place anyway.
5. We drove past the mall, too, without stopping.
1. Haven’t gone anywhere since last Monday.
2. Eating from the freezer and pantry.
3. Doing our taxes myself.
4. Did a cost analysis of home-made laundry detergent vs. the average low price I will pay for ready-made stuff, and the ready-made won. Mileage may vary for others, but we live and work on a farm and get our clothes unbelievably filthy, which requires an awful lot of the home-made stuff to get clean again.
5. Um, no Lear jet?
Your posts are never boring Katy!
1. Hem yet another of my daughter’s school uniforms. The MOST boring job I can think of. Feel grateful that she wears uniforms, and that there isn’t a daily fashion parade! Makes up for the fact that she packs on enough makeup as she can get away with (pick your battles, people, pick your battles!)
2. Process a batch of silverbeet and freeze in portions.
3. Dig up non-producing strawberry bed and plant onion seeds instead.
4. Made kids’ breakfasts and school lunches. It feels like Groundhog Day when i do this every morning but it is healthy and cheap.
5. Will ‘reward’ myself with a beach walk with the dog if I finish the above.
So many great ideas, and dare I say that the majority (or at least half) are around food. So my two cents: try fasting for health! I fast for a week 4x per year (once per season) … nothing cheaper than that! 🙂 Fasting isn’t starving … used to be known as “the physician within” … there are so many health benefits it’s crazy! And it frees up so many hours in the day to get other monkeys off my back. I generally use the week to knock of things on a To Do list. Cheers!
I have a couple of questions about fasting. Do you drink juice/tea/or coffee when you fast? What about vitamin supplements?
Janine: I don’t ingest any calories (so no juice), with the premise being that I’m giving my body a full rest from digestion so it can focus on other important things that need to be happening within (healing, detox, rest). I do have coffee or tea so as to avoid the caffeine-withdrawal-headache I would otherwise get … so I’m not as hard-core as those who only ingest water. But I still feel a lot of health benefits … and my wallet thanks me too.
1. After reading all those posts and replies about lentil soup, I decided to try making some in my new crock pot. Didn’t have ham, so I used kielbasa instead, and some barley too. I froze half, and we’ll eat 1/2 for a few days.
2. Went through some nice costume jewelry I’d inherited, chose some to send to other relatives and wrote to each one why I chose that piece for them. I had way too much to really enjoy them.
3. Made enchiladas, froze 1/2, ate some, divided up the rest for lunches for the rest of the week.
4. Drinking water at work, taking it in my own bottles instead of buying bottled water.
5. Using junk mail envelopes for shopping lists. Coupons fit nicely inside.
Lisa, love your #5! Hadn’t heard that one before and I’m going to use it.
I’ve done that for ages—only I use them for all SORTS of lists. Makes me feel good to use something otherwise thrown away. I get tons of junk mail!!
“Boring is Beautiful”
How’s that for a tee shirt idea??
Boring is Peaceful!
1. Walked, instead of drove, to my kids’ school this afternoon to be parent helper. It was cold, but the sun was shining and I needed to get some fresh air.
2. Instead of going out and buying some much-needed pants for my daughter, I took the plunge and converted two pairs of good quality hand-me-down pants in her drawer from wide leg to skinnier leg using my sewing machine and thread I had on hand. They turned out well!
3. Made a meal plan last night for this week. Haven’t done that the past two weeks and ended up scrambling most evenings to defrost meat, etc. Hate that feeling! Looking forward to a calmer week.
4. Stuck to my grocery list today.
5. Got $20 off my grocery bill today using a points program. At another grocery store, I got an excellent stainless steel paring knife for $4.99 after collecting stamps for the past couple of months on every purchase.
1. Boring Valentine’s day? NEVER! I received a GREAT gift certificate for my fave restaurant in Tempe, at Christmas. My Dear Husband wanted to use it for Valentine’s Day– but it is not warm enough to eat outside on the awesome patio–so.. NO! SAVING gift certificate for Spring… I am making a romantic Valentines dinner at home, a red clam sauce with linguine which is sooo easy– we will dance in the living room to Pandora BOSSANOVA channel… and .. who know what else will happen……..
2. I am paring down the clothes closet.Donating a lotta stuff to my Unity church rummage sale, next month.
3. Baked up 99 cent chicken breasts for next 2 nights supper. A friend brought over some FRUIT SALSA last night with cinnamon chips–and the leftover salsa will make the chicken an awesome treat!!
4. Enjoying two fab mystery novels from the library: Libraries= WOWSA!!!!!! FREE FREE FREE!!!
5. Sewing buttons on a couple of blouses I like a lot.I hate to sew, and am not very good at it, so this is a real commitment to frugality!!! <3
1. Watch Netflix and chill, maybe? Sorry, I couldn’t resist, lol!
1. Bought nice Valentines for 99 cents each (the 99-cent section at local card shop) and mailed them out today.
2. Found coupon for Ronzoni spaghetti for 69 cents at FM and I was going to stock up by buying 4 boxes. Only one problem: they were all sold out at my nearby FM. I will check again next week and ask for a rain heck if They are still sold out.
3. My personal “boring” routine: walked in the morning for exercise, visited the library for books and videos, ate leftovers at least 3 nights out of seven, made simple dinners at home rather than going out, continued to drive my 14-year old car (it refuses to break down) and continued to use my old flip phone (it also refuses to break down).
4. One non-frugal thing coming up. The weather has been nice for a few days here in the Pacific NW. My husband and I are planning to take tomorrow off and drive along the Columbia River Gorge and go out for lunch.
1. Sadly, most of my NCA win recently came from being really sick most of last week, which meant a quick trip to the grocery store and not much other shopping or going anywhere.
2. This week, used coupons at CVS and a discount to buy tissues, hand soap, and a pair of Valentine’s Day socks for my GD.
3. Dinners this week were almost all made from things already on hand.
4. Sorted out a bathroom drawer and discovered enough toothpaste samples to last the rest of the year. Started a list of things NOT to buy, to make sure all stockpiled items are used up and not added to.
5. Did remaining V. Day shopping at Dollar Tree. Spent under $10, including some mailing supplies for my used book business.
I write a list too of things I have and not to buy! Very helpful!
OOOO, #4! Gotta do this!
1. Made homemade chili for supper.
2. Ate leftovers for lunch.
3. Enjoyed watching the light snow fall outside while wearing a thick fleece instead of turning up the heat.
4. Decided to partially hand quilt a quilt for my daughter instead of sending it to a professional long arm quilter.
5. My hubby fixed our vacuum with a $5 part instead of having someone else do it or just buying a new vacuum. Ordered discount vacuum bags at the same time as the part.
After coming out of TWO years of a severe illness, boring was beautiful…To be able to stand up long enough to cook or make bread was heavenly. I hope not to lose sight of the blessings in a boring life.
Frugals:
1. Found a quarter in a parking lot. Had to pry it out of the snow but I did it.
2. Did a mystery shop at Jiffy Lube so got a free oil change.
3. Did a mystery shop for a movie theater so had free movie night with husband, including free popcorn and drink.
4. Hand washed a sweater that said dry clean only and came out soft and without the chemical smell you sometimes get with dry cleaning—it must be the fabric because other times there is no odor.
5. Made freezer garbage soup, using up dribs and drabs out of the freezer. Turned out fine but was elevated to great when I made beer batter quick bread that included three different kinds of shredded cheese and 10 pieces of pepperoni left over from last week’s home made pizza. (Two of the bags of cheese has less than a fourth of a cup of cheese in them, which years ago I would have thrown away) Neither my husband or I like the taste of liquor, but in August we went to a BBQ where the host was really pushing us and very loudly, to “Be real, drink a beer!” It became a power issue after a while, and he was becoming intoxicated, so rather than engage in that game we both took a can but never popped them open and just put them in my purse when he walked away smirking; they had been sitting in the fridge until this week…
Great job! Can I ask which site you’re enrolled in to do the secret shopping? I always feel like the ones by me (NJ) are just spam and I’d love to hear about one that is legit.
Also, great job with throwing the cans in your bag! In similar stressful situations I’ve totally snuck things into my purse when people weren’t looking.. or poured drinks out.. or thrown food over my shoulder or under a table when forced to eat something (No, I can’t eat dairy, it’s not that I don’t WANT to eat dairy, and YES it will hurt that bad) Sigh!
HS Brands International. Two companies I did work for recently merged and HS is the result. I live in Fairbanks, Alaska, so we don’t get that many opportunities to mystery shop—Sears, ATT, Fred Meyer groceries and Fred Meyer electronic, Regal Cinema (our only theater), Lowes, and Jiffy Lube. Anchorage has a lot more opportunities so I would guess that if you lived in a place that has stores like Best Buy or more chain restaurants, you’d have more opportunities. I have worked with these guys (in past and present incarnations) for about five years, I think. You don’t get paid until the end of the month you did a shop, and you have to have a PayPal account for them to pay you, but other than that you just sign up and answer some questions…at first it seems like a royal pain, but once you get used to doing the forms and downloading proof of a visit (like a movie ticket), I think I spend about 30 to 45 minutes on the paperwork. The only other thing is that they do not send you a tax form, but you can keep track of how much you made by looking at your Paypal history for the previous year. It is easy to find out if there are shops in your area because you can log into their site and put in your zip code and you’ll see a list. I am not sure if they do this in more populated places, but I get an individual email for every shop that comes open. Sometimes when I don’t want to do shop and no one else picks it up, they up the base rate in $5 increments. Movie shops go the fastest! And Jiffy Lube is not far behind.
Hope this helps. I know there are other reputable companies but they don’t seem to operate in this state. I have done a few shops for another company that contacted HS and specifically asked for a Fairbanks shopper because they were having trouble making connections with folks, so once you sign up with one place, you might get leads to other shops.
I looked up the website, they prefer a private investigators license?! wow.
I am most definitely NOT a private investigator. I would apply anyway. Maybe they get so desperate in Alaska that they will take anyone! I know they have a lot of trouble finding people, partly, I think, because our wages are pretty high. I am not so snooty. I figure every dollar I earn now will be bigger from interest when I need it during retirement. Also, our population is skewed young and, in some areas, very male, and they are less likely to do something like this. Anyway, I would contact them anyway and meanwhile I will email my contact/supervisor/whatever and see if there is a different part of the company that handles mystery shops and so they don’t need investigators. I am not an investigator and have not played one on TV!
Thank you!
Boring routine is usually cheaper……………
1. Bought books at used book store – some savings, but not library free caliber.
2. Continue to use my cheap flip phone even though I can tell the battery is going so need to be careful to keep it charged up.
3. Continue to drive old car. I was rear ended at a stop light last week and didn’t get any info from the offending driver – didn’t notice the cracked bumper! (not frugal but other driver was relieved)
4. Menu plan every week
5. Pack husband’s lunch everyday – he does buy Starbucks most days – thus offsetting my frugal lunches somewhat.
1. Must be husband-fixes-the-vacuum cleaner season! I didn’t even realize ours was having problems, but my husband did. Picked up a new belt for $2 and the vacuum sucks up stuff like crazy!
2. Cold here, so I made beef stew for the Superbowl. Have been craving it, but waited until stew meat went on sale. I had all the other ingredients.
3. My son’s regulation PE shorts don’t have pockets, but he needed one for his inhaler. I searched around the house and finally came up with a pair of outgrown, worn out sweats in the rag pile. Cut off the pocket and stitched it onto the waistband of his shorts, and it’s the perfect size for the inhaler.
4. Enjoying flowering plants in the house. Several of the geraniums I’m overwintering are in bloom and an older orchid just started blooming last week. It should stay in bloom for several months.
5. Continuing to declutter/purge/organize. Since I get a kick out of doing this, it’s free entertainment.
1. I pack my husband’s lunch everyday, reusing the baggies. He drinks water and coffee from home and I pack everything in a cooler that I bought in the early 90’s. (I think those Igloo’s are indestructible!)
2. I also have a no-waste from home lunch, usually eating what’s leftover from the night before. I drink water
3. Tried out a new thrift store. They have nicer clothes, but the prices are higher.
4. Got a stack of books from the library. How I love our library!
5. Worked out with a DVD from Goodwill. No gym.
Frugality is exciting. I get excited when I find a fantastic deal! Wheeeee
I can be very boring but here it is!
Saw on TV there had been a recall of salad greens, but not in my state, but planted two pots of mesculin seeds as have been using some I planted! Salmonella was the reason for recall ugh! Had for lunch lettuce and tomatoes I had grown and some still OK capsicum and cucumber from previous shop!
Shopped yesterday frugaly! Took advantage of several savings on things I always use! Bought jelly to make myself getting three more than if bought prepared!
Went to very classy restruant and server spilled gravy on my new white pants! Went immediately undressed and washed stain out! Completely successful though had to sit with wet leg for meal! Don’t think I will go there again!
Find I am getting into good frugal habits! Live comfortably but so far since September always save money from budget!
Love reading of all your efforts! You are all an inspiration!
Monday’s Frugal Five –
1. Made a pot roast with price reduced/clearance meat – tasted the same as full price meat!
2. Started new/old job that is in the town where I live so no more commuting thus saving gas and time. So happy to be back at this position!
3. Kept the heat down to 67 degrees.
4. Crocheted a hat instead of going and buying one.
5. Made my husbands lunch – again. 🙂
I love frugality – it makes me happy>. 🙂
I am currently in the midst of my self devised 29 Days of Joy program. Since this is Leap Month and I only have a birthday every 4 years, I decided to celebrate in a small way every day. So far I have: given handmade valentines for local hospice patients, had free Google Fiber installed, made up a care package for a seriously ill friend, bought 4 donuts, wandered in a local park, donated to author Elizabeth Berg’s neighborhood cause, handed out cookies to local street people, done my taxes for a small refund, made a King Cake and today will have a Mardi Gras lunch with my Lunch Bunch. Very little money spent and a lot of joy in my heart .
Haooy Mardi Gras everyone!
What a great idea and great daily actions!
Agreed; Diane, what a fantastic mindset you have! *Happy Birthday Month*
1. A few years ago I bought a used Steri-Shoe. It uses UV light to kill germs and odors. Since I haven’t bought new shoes in a couple of years mine were getting a bit stinky. I zapped my shoes and slippers and now things are much better.
2. I cancelled my subscription to Healthy harvest. The delivery I received on Saturday was underwhelming in selection, quantity, and quality. I believe a lot of the produce at our local Asian markets and some of the produce at Aldi is “recovered” (not as perfect as in regular grocery stores) so I will buy it there and donate the difference to the local food bank. It will be a much bigger bang for the buck and I won’t have items I don’t want.
3. I used old, unwanted nail polish to color coat a couple of my keys (the front and back door keys look the same and the garage door key looks like the key to a relative’s house).
4. We always use to run the dehumidifier in the basement 24/7. It’s usually pretty dry there in the winter. Now I turn it on when I think it needs to be run and them turn it off when the humidity level is low. That should save both electricity and extend the life of the dehumidifier.
5. We replaced the overhead lights in our kitchen and dining room with LED lights (with dimmer switches). Now I feel as if I can leave the lights on more. I believe it is much cheaper than me feeling depressed (S.A.D.) as I am more productive.
1. Shopping for boys’ socks, I found packs of Reebok socks on clearance. Six pair of socks for $3.99, retail price $14. Plus they are in bright colors and when I brought them home, my son said “I LOVE these.” which made me happy. I bought everything they had in his size, four packages.
2. Sold three Xbox games on ebay for $23 total.
3. A coworker brought in pazckis today to celebrate Fat Tuesday. Mine is custard. Someone else brought in three boxes of cookies.
4. Dinner last night was little odds and ends from the fridge.
5. My Kroger freebie coupons this week were a 12 bar box of Fiber One bars (which I like to keep on hand at work for a sweet snack) and a box of Wheat Thins.
* Making apple sauce out of clearance rack apples
* Binge watching a show on Netflix (don’t have cable, don’t rent movies)
* Received friends over for a game night. Cost : 1$ bag of chips and couple sodas
* Looking at my 2004 car through the window right now and having a lot of gratitude for the savings it provides while driving us anywhere we need to go
* Still going to book club meetings only if the mandatory read is available at the public library (been pretty lucky so far).
I have a 2005 Corolla and I’m filled with gratitude for it too!
No payments and low insurance & tag cost, plus it is now costs me less than $15 to fill it up. Thankful for a cheap ride!!
I have a 2005 Jeep Cherokee. The back seat goes down and I can fit all sorts of things in the back. After my friend’s husband helped unload a stove, he asked where the button was to make the hatch close. I reached up and slammed it shut and said “There you go.” He said I should get a newer model. Ha ha ha. Not happening.
I drove a ’94 Miata for 21 years – it finally gave up last winter. I was constantly hounded by family and friends that I should get a new car simply because of the age and no fun gadgets. New Miatas don’t have fun gadgets! They never “got” the fact that I was perfectly happy with my little car…and no car payments, low insurance and tax rates and great gas mileage. I would still be driving it if it could be repaired. I certainly got my money’s worth with over 300,000 miles in the end.
We have a 1998 Mercury Mountaineer still running strong – loving the no payment – they don’t make them like they used too!
I appreciate boring, thank you!
1) I fixed burgers and potato salad for our Super Bowl meal. We watched at home. I think hubby bought a 6 pack of Sam Adams Ale to drink.
2) I just finished the 2nd audiobook by Beverly Lewis on my work commute. I love good stories while I drive!
3) I had to go to Wally-world for the Hip & Joint treats I give my old farm dog. $2.43 a bag, so it’s worth the trip. I bought those and bag of hamburger buns then headed back to work after lunch.
4) One of my sweet co-workers bought me some loose-leaf tea and a wonderful little tea infuser as a gift. I enjoyed the wonderful free fruit tea yesterday afternoon.
5) Listening to a free download from Amazon music this morning and we’ve been eating leftovers at home too. I love enjoying things without spending lots of money! 🙂
1. Our neighbors just helped a friend clean out very large house for a move to Hawaii. On Saturday they asked us to come over and take what we wanted from the stuff he left behind. Lots of school supplies which will go to a friend that teaches at an inner city school. Some office supplies that I took to work. Two brand new sets of queen sized sheets still in the package.
2. DS#1 has decided to move into a house with some co-workers. He will have a queen sized bed now. Because of #1 I had 2 sets of sheets to give him.
3. Offered him a small bookcase I had recently gotten from Freecycle. He was thrilled to have it. Went to Lowe’s for 2 sample pots to paint it dark charcoal grey. We will paint it together. Life skills!
4. Did my errands after Lowe’s since everywhere I had to go was right there together. Went to Aldis to pick up a few items, went to Giant to pick up 2 pkgs. of surimi for free with coupons and checked the Coinstar machine on my way out and found 18¢.
5. Realized I had a free pizza on my Pie 5 online card that was going to expire in a few days. I had signed up online and had yet to go there. I received an email that said we’ve missed you and we’re giving you a free pizza. Came out of Lowe’s and Pie 5 is right across the street so my last errand was to go get my free pizza and head home!
1. Went grocery shopping today. Got great prices on produce, ham, soy milk, vegetarian frozen food (for my sister), sausage, bread, and milk.
2. At that same store, I found great practice shoes (jazz shoes) for tango for about $10 with tax. 🙂
3. Worked a ten-hour day yesterday.
4. Attended a party at my tango teacher house. It was potluck, but I ran really late and didn’t bring anything, but we all ate oranges that I’d bought a couple days prior.
5. Got gas last night. By paying attention to prices I got the lowest price close to home (one block away).
6. Will go in to work a few hours tomorrow. I was supposed to have the day off, but my manager forgot. Money will be welcome anyway.
Hi all,
Im currently on 6 weeks holidays from work, I think in USA you call them vacation, I saved all my salary sacrifice $$ to afford a trip to Victoria ( another state) so my recent 5 are
1. stayed with my best friend to save money on my holiday- plane tickets were bought cheap cheap while there was a sale on and only spent a small portion of my savings on the actual holiday
2. my neice did most of the driving around on the holiday, she has a company car and free petrol plus less stress as she knows directions everywhere
2 . best friend owns and is the chef at her vegetarian cafe and would bring home muffins so breakfasts were free, also ate at her cafe twice , she gave me discount the first time because I paid for myself, my 2 children and 2 friends plus bought some goodies for my aunt and uncle – helping them and my friends business, the second time she didn’t charge me but it was just myself and my 2 children ( both adults)
3 . Ive been doing lots of gardening and tidying at home, I wanted a raised vegetable garden, to buy one costs minimum $99 for a very small garden base so decided not to buy one but to use my hotch potch old pots around the house instead – bought seedlings with money not used on holidays. pots all look great now, hopefully the veges will follow successfully and nothing will die…. please !!
4. have some bare spots in back garden – found clearance plants $2 instead of buying full priced plants and bought 5 , full prices would have cost $7-$10 each so only paid a portion of the normal price
5 . not been eating takeaway…. being on holidays im not so tired and so cooking is not such a chore.
its nice to have time and saved up money left over from the holiday… means I am not touching my normal bank account…. although my daughters 21st is coming up
I love “rescuing” the clearance plants and giving them a good home 🙂 It makes me so sad to see the ones that have been sitting there for too long and are dead. I purchased seeds this year to try my luck at veggie gardening and also looked into the standing planter (so expensive!) so my apartment will also be filled with scattered pots of plants for the time being. I hope you had a great holiday, it sounds like a lovely time 🙂 Happy 21st to your daughter too!
I’m curious if your hubby ever feels like you’re controlling when you tell him NO. I often tell my wife No when she wants to do something not frugal( like buy take out food when we have leftovers) and she gets very irritated with me.