Five Frugal Things -- Toast & Audiobooks
1. As always, I'm slowly making my way through a loaf of $1 bread from the Franz Bakery Outlet. This is their knockoff Dave's Killer Bread and it toasts up perfectly to accompany my morning eggs.
And that toaster? I curb picked it at least eight years ago and it's worked better than any toaster I've ever owned!
2. I started listening to Oona out of Order through the library's free Libby app. Someone on the blog recommended it and I'm always looking for my next great read!
3. I sent my youngest home with a large container of my homemade Mexican chicken soup, complete with side containers of chips, grated pepper jack cheese and cilantro.
4. I'd planned on hitting Trader Joe's with my friend Lise this morning, but she begged off as she's a bit under the weather. You know I'd have stuck to my list, (bananas, milk, scallion pancakes) but I still saved money by staying home. Instead I can grab milk and bananas at Fred Meyer and use my Red Cross gift card to spend no money out of pocket.
5. I pulled a container of what I thought was chicken broth from the depths of my basement freezer, only to find out it was leftover rice and bean enchilada filling. No worries though, as it was no big deal to work it into quesadillas and Mexi-bowls. The best part is that it freed up a glass mixing bowl that is otherwise in frequent rotation.
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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I will add “Oona out of order” to my Libby queue. I’m listening to “Ultra-Processed People” right now. I think someone mentioned it here. I’m definitely not a huge consumer of ultra processed foods, but I think I’ll eat even fewer after reading this book.
It’s been a dreich week so far, and I suppose that’s how it’s supposed to be here in the Pacific Northwest. This means I’ve spent a bit of time indoors.
1. I needed a nice comfy reading chair and found one for a shockingly low price during the last hour of an estate sale. Once I got it home, I detected a faint doggy smell, so now it’s sitting in the garage under a layer of baking soda. If the sun ever comes out, I’ll put the cushions outside for a sun bath. If I can’t rid it of the doggy odor, I’ll put it on the curb with a “free” sign and call it a frugal fail. It doesn’t really smell that bad, but I don’t have a dog, so it smells bad to me.
2. It was a spectacular morning at the scratch and dent vegetable shelf. I got two pounds of strawberries for $1.50, 1.5 pounds of cherry tomatoes for $1.50, and a whole cantaloupe for $1.50.
3. I found a redeemable can in the grocery store parking lot.
4. My husband suggested a trip to Chipotle on the way home from the grocery store and I said, “Not today, Mr. Rockefeller!” When we got home, I whipped up some very respectable chicken tacos.
5. Dinner tonight will be homemade soup and homemade bread. There will be a side and a dessert involving my scratch and dent produce finds!
I'm always pulling surprises out of my freezer. I've got to get better about labeling.
1. I took an outside walk today, first to the post office, then to the little free pantry, and then to Walgreens. I like it when my walks are to real destinations.
2. At the pantry I got a loaf of bread and some cut-up green peppers. The peppers went to the freezer, and the bread will go there after I make a sandwich tonight.
3. At Walgreens I bought two bottles of Johnson's baby shampoo/wash. The second bottle was half off. I'll be using it for fine washables, mainly my bras, but also for a cashmere scarf I found (earlier) which needs a little freshening up in a mild bath.
4. On this trip I found a knit stocking cap with a fleece lining. It really needs a thorough washing, but I think it will turn out to be a nice cap. If I don't keep it, I'll donate it.
5. I also found a pair of New Balance shoes, sitting by the dumpsters, which is our version of a free pile. They look to be a little large for me, but if so, I'll donate them after a run in the washer. They're in good shape.
6. And I also found a plastic container -- perhaps for a cassette? I'm going to use it for keeping dairy pills in my purse.