Five Frugal Things -- Trauma Bonding With my Porch Light
1) I walked my plastic clamshell plastic over to New Seasons Market for recycling and then walked myself cheap-ass self right out of that schmancy store.
What am I, a Rockefeller?
2) I passed by this antique cast iron light fixture but left it in place, even though it was gorgeous and period appropriate for our house. (The gears in my brain immediately began to plan how to remove the multiple layers of paint!) I have no need for it as we have a high quality Rejuvenation porch light that was a financial stretch back in the day, even though it was from their "seconds" department. (The glass shade was a Goodwill find.)
This was from an era when my husband was in school and I worked full time as a labor and delivery nurse with little kids at home and every dollar spent was an agonizing decision.
As such, I'm trauma bonded with this light fixture.
Hopefully someone in the neighborhood will bring the other one home to refurbish.
3) My husband spent an hour or two organizing our basement to set up the shelving units from his late parents' storage unit. He came across this empty Band-Aid box, which come with the supplies he assembles for first aid kits. I remembered that my friend Lise has accepted these in the past, so I sent out a text.
I'll walk it over to her house this afternoon and be happy that an item that's not useful for me, can be useful for her.
4) My husband and I walked over to a new food cart pod to celebrate the full and absolute emptying of his late parents' storage unit. (His brother went over the weekend and took the final couple items that we set aside for him.) I ordered some "loaded potato Jo-Jos," which found themselves part of both the next day's lunch and dinner!
They're not especially pretty in a photo, but that doesn't mean they weren't delicious. Potatoes = vegetables, onions = vegetables. These are vegetables and I will abide no information to the contrary!
5) Hmm . . . I can't think of a fifth "frugal thing," as I was a major homebody yesterday. (I did finish reading my library book!) However, there's not much that's more frugal than staying at home and essentially going nowhere. I'm motoring through my summer reading program card, having read ten days in a row. So that's something . . . right?
I do have frugal plans today, so hopefully tomorrow's fifth "thing" will be more interesting.
Now your turn, what frugal things have you been up to?
Having my usual midnight insomnia, I found a frugal website from England. They are suffering from a heatwave and had to be educated about heat exhaustion and other hacks about staying cool when you lack air conditioning. They already had some good ones.
I added my 2 cents worth (or should I say 2 pence worth?) by telling them to tape foil on the windows to keep the sun out. We used to do that in the college dorms; however, most apartment complexes and homeowners associations take a dim view, no pun intended, of that hack. I also described a car windshield sun blocker. They probably don't have those in the UK so I said cut one to size from corrugated cardboard. And, of course, recommended they park in the shade.
And when they go out take frozen water bottles so when the ice inside melts, they'll have cold water in the park or beach. No one had yet added that.
But anyway, it was fun to read some of their hacks and tips and hopefully I helped someone across the big pond, as they call the Atlantic Ocean. A lot of them said instead of parks or the beaches, they were going to air-conditioned theaters to get out of the heat. That's how folks used to cope with it here in the South before AC was common.
I also read their tips that were not related to the heat wave there. One thing I picked up on is that when they have that last smidgen of jelly in bottom of the jar, they add vinegar, shake it up, and make a salad dressing out of it. I've tried adding milk for a sort of fruit-flavored milkshake-y type thing (written about in the Tightwad Gazette), but it never seems to mix very well. I will switch to vinegar next time. Maybe apple cider vinegar.
Another interesting tidbit is that some Brits use the internet and YouTube for entertainment because they apparently have to pay a TV license tax to watch the BBC and other telecasts or maybe even to have a TV set. I relate to that because I absolutely refuse to pay for cable or satellite or even streaming. I feel the airwaves are supposed to belong to the public, as per the very old FCC ruling.
I enjoy that blog as well - Toni, who lives in Yorkshire, writes it at simplefrugallife.org. Basics that are good reminders!
She does a good job of following news stories that will affect pricing of groceries.
Thanks for the tip about adding vinegar to the bottom of a jar of jelly/jam. It sounds good so I'm going to try it. One can never get enough frugal hacks...this time from across the pond!
Another fun use for the last bit in a jar is a beverage. Swish around some sparkling water or alcohol of choice, add ice and yummo! The last delicious one I made was with the dregs of strawberry jam, a splash of vodka, and some ice. I tossed in some garden mint and it was so good.
Might not work for mustard, though...
About foil on windows - if the HOA objects, mylar emergency blankets sealed around existing blinds or curtains may not help as much as something reflective directly on the glass, but they do still make an appreciable difference.
Katy,
I think I would have taken that light fixture in a heart beat. But I understand your reasoning. I love lamps/lights and taught myself how to rewire them. Trust me it is not hard to do.
My kids got me a T shirt once that said Lamp Lady.
my five frugals are rinse and repeat....
1. because of the heat, almost living on smoothies and salads.
2. laundry done and dried on outside lines
3. reading from materials rescued from DD Goodwill donations, they will be donated when I read them.
4. getting ready for a 4 day get away, buying nothing but food to take with us.
5. repaired the jumper hose between spigot and hose reel 1.99 compared to 40.00 for a new jumper hose.
In the middle of a heat wave here in Cincinnati. Shades and curtains closed following the sun. Fortunately lots of rain before it started so only had to water a few pots.
Exercising early and walking to the gym.
Haven’t driven in 3 days. Dropped my car off for oil change today and they have kept it all day! Ugh
Son came for a visit from out of state. All meals made at home except when he took us out for dinner.
Cleaning out one drawer a day. Finding things to use and much to shred or toss.
Pool finally opened after totally being redone. Packed a lunch and drinks for daughter and boyfriend. Cheap date at the new pool.
USPS is raising first class postage for stamps on July 12. (I think package prices went up already in January). Letters, postcards, international letters.
Ollies Outlet is having a 4th of July sale, advertising heavily. I don't have a routine to go there, nor even a store near, but I know some of you do.
Birthright citizenship remains! Never should have been appealed to Supreme Court. Should have been a unanimous decision-- The decision upholds exactly what the constitution says! Huuuge wastes of time, money, expertise, and fear.
Personally, I would have loved to see Trump's face when he first learned they ruled against him. Bet he turned beet red. LMAO!
Like the chameleon he is, he went from pumpkin orange to beet red! Ha ha, I couldn't resist.
After morning yoga, my neighbor and her 5 littles went to my friend's big farm to sweep the seed storage warehouse, collecting dog food bags full of various seeds for the birds.
I brought along 2 hand held dewalt vacuums, a smallish shop vac and 2 large barn brooms. It took us about 90 minutes to clean the 19000sq ft building. Kids had a blast and tired them out.
This evening I am cleaning up a custom home build site. We organize the large dumpster from recyclables, cardboard, metals and wood. Usable wood goes to the shop, metals goes to the community recycling drop off that gets sold monthly and the proceeds goes to a local charity.
Got the idea from a friend, we downloaded a map of the Portland Zoo, into an AI generator and asked it to create a scavenger hunt with 8 sites for 6 year olds. It created the game in about 45 seconds. When our kids were young, my cousins and I would set up scavenger hunts and geocaching events on our farm and it would take hours!
Finished my book, will put it in the truck to drop off at a LL.
Now am reading "A Piece of the World" by Christina Baker Kline
I met Christina Baker Kline a couple of years ago. My friends rented her house in Maine for a month
@Blue Gate Farmgirl, I am not a fan of frivolous use of AI - as I am VERY concerned about the AI mega facilities being built across the country and the pressure to normalize the use of AI for things that we can easily do in other ways. We are being encouraged to just hand over our creativity and concentration to big brother, IMHO.
The challenges teachers and professionals have these days, to ensure that the 'work' they are being handed is real and not generated by some random bits in a huge facility based on questionable inputs!!
HOWEVER, I think that your idea of using AI to generate a scavenger hunt is one of the clever things that AI SHOULD and COULD be used for: something that literally saves hours of mundane human time and energy.
Well done, and what a great idea for kids of all ages!
I also like the idea of having AI do the work for the scavenger hunt, at least to make a starting point for the planning.
I'm sort of watching for a conservation movement, the equivalent of "turn off the water when you brush your teeth" and "turn off the lights when you leave the room", to come out about AI.
Does one really need to have a phone on with all apps running all the time? I'm not saying do not use it. I'm saying think about what energy is being used and what is being wasted because no one is paying attention.
"Save money; shower with a friend!" If I recall correctly, that was a slogan for water shortages in California a few decades ago, along with various toilet flushing advice. People saved so much water, such as not watering lawns and washing cars, that water prices had to go up because not enough was being used. Maybe we can do the same thing to slow data centers. Or am I just misunderstanding the whole thing?
My beef with AI is they're suckering people - who are not paid - into making their product better (read: more profitable).
Where I work, they are tracking how many people use Co-Pilot. It is of no use to me. Most of the time when I do a search for a work related error/question AI has "no suggestions".
I will be retiring in the foreseeable future so my goal is to *never* use Co-Pilot.
Something pretty bad that involves AI in WA State where I live is that the federal government is using AI to determine whether or not Medicare recipients qualify for certain procedures. Seven states are acting as the guinea pigs for this right now. I know about this first hand. My husband pay monthly for traditional United Healthcare gap insurance. My spinal doctor (I have severe neck arthritis) wants me to get steroid shots in my neck. AI turned me down three times (!) before it was finally approved. My two senators and legislators are fighting this right now. I just think people should know it is going on.
Oops - I mean ‘my husband and I’ pay…
DS19 has a friend staying over, and he is a huge eater. He's 6'4" & a college athlete, and eats more than double my two kids put together. We are happy to host him, but I need to get creative to keep everyone fed!
As a result, most of mine are food related. 😉
1) Took the Costco grain salad (prepped section, delicious if you need a quick meal in a pinch) & added 1/2 a rotisserie chicken (diced) to it, along with some chopped cheese to round out taco meat (freezer). DS19 & friend picked up tortillas & chips at the store. I was planning for myself & DH to have the salad, and DS & friend to have the tacos. The tacos went quickly, so the salad was also quickly consumed. I then got out some chopped veggies & a green salad, which seemed to fill everyone up. Plus a package of TJs hold the cones.
2) For breakfast today, I mixed a bit of rotisserie chicken with the end of a bagged salad, and ensured the teens knew what would be good breakfast options. (Yogurt, granola, bananas, leftovers, etc). I also discovered that the bagged salad I buy at Costco has now gone up to $9.99 - absolute insanity. This will be my last bag, unless I'm in a huge pinch. I'll buy my own dressing & sides, chop them on the weekend & sub this one out.
3) I also opted to make lunch for dS19, DS20 & his friend before they headed to the beach. Mine are usually on their own for lunches, as they work, I work, etc & it's each person for themselves.I dug into the freezer, found 4 ciabatta buns & we had 2 leftover burger buns from Sunday's dinner. Then pulled chicken patties out of the freezer as well. Made chicken patty sandwiches, found a package of potato chips in the pantry from another teen get together & got that out. Made a huge fruit salad, and chopped up the last of the cucumbers. Everyone was fed before the beach goers left, and DS20 heads to work.
4) I'm researching where to park the annual bonus I just received, and what to put it into a CD. I'm still trying to decide which bank to use, but it's been a good exercise to maximize term and interest rates.
5) Apparently it will just be myself + DH for dinner, so I will make a small & scrappy dinner using the gyros in the fridge, which we will have over salad. DH must have bought the gyro meat from Costco while I was in Greece, so time to use them up.
Finished reading a free copy of "Born a Crime" by Trevor Noah for the banned book club's next meeting.
Used the last Russet potato and a frozen baggie of coarsely chopped carrots from the back of the freezer in a pot of soup today. Soup may seem an odd choice with a heat index of 101 F., but it makes four hearty meals and warms up in two minutes in the microwave.
One of the transplanted grocery store green onions showed signs of no longer supporting its leaves, so I pulled it up, washed it, trimmed the root and chopped up the good parts, which yielded about a cup of chopped onion. These plants are now each the size of a small leek and I have four left. This is a pretty good return on spending 99 cents for a bunch of green onions. (There were six, but one got eaten by us before I planted them.)
Ollie's Outlet is having 15% off for members this week, so I bought 60 pounds of cat litter, a scratching pad for my son's cat, applesauce, cookie mix, and canned tomatoes.
If's scorching hot and will be like that for a bit, so we are following the sun around the house and closing blinds and curtains to keep things cooler.
1. I'm a bit under the weather today so I didn't get up to much, but I did finish an audiobook while laying down for most of the day. "Don't let him in" by Lisa Jewell. It was very enjoyable!
2. My husband walked with the kids to the park just up the road from us before dinnertime so they could run around a bit. They had a nice time and got some good exercise.
3. We've had the windows open all day to catch as many cool breezes as we can before it heats up again, fans are going tonight so we can draw in the cool air as well. The lack of AC absolutely sucks but we're making the best of it.
4. Dinner was pancakes, a classic cheap and easy staple in our household.
5. We baked muffins and cookies yesterday while the house was cool and my oldest is thrilled to have banana muffins again. Our snack reserves are low and the weather had been too hot for much baking so we're trying to get in what we can without ruining our cool air efforts. But of course, sometimes cookies come first.
Do you have ice? Putting a bowl of ice in front of a fan provides some coolness, the sort of thing kids might find neat.
I really enjoyed the audiobook of "Don't Let Him In". Great pacing, excellent narrators, and just enough twists.
Katy, I would gently encourage you not to use the term "trauma" too lightly. You and Mr. NCA had tough times when you were younger and the kids were little, it's true--but it doesn't seem that they were "trauma," strictly speaking. I'm thinking, for instance, of a story in the 6/29 New Yorker titled "Around a Dark Corner" by the magazine's pop music critic, whose husband dropped dead after two massive seizures and left her a young widow with a 13-month-old daughter. I've been discussing this story with two of my former colleagues at my old workplace (a small mental-health-oriented publishing company; several of our authors are mentioned in the story).
That story is, well, wonderful is an odd word to use in that context, but it is. Thank you for pointing it out.
I think the phrase "trauma-bonded," which I have heard to describe friendships that develop between people who have shared a bad experience, is much like saying "I'm starving" or "You're killing me." It's understood that it's not literal.
I'm sorry that my casual use of the word "trauma" landed badly with you. I'll think twice before using that term lightly in future blog posts.
1. I used my Purina points for a $20 dog food coupon. I stacked it with a 10% off coupon from my pet store for a bag of food.
2. It's been very hot and humid here. I've spent my time inside cleaning and organizing. I've made piles for donations, Ebay and for my kids to look through before donating.
3. I've listed several more items on Ebay. Once my pile gets smaller I will start listing my personal items and some of my kids stuff.
4. I mowed my own lawn.
5. Im reading a Kindle Unlimited book from my free three month membership.
I read your posts and the comments every day but haven’t had anything new to post.
1. We said good-bye to our 14-year-old dog yesterday. We took shifts sleeping on the living room floor the previous two nights, because she wanted to go out every fifteen minutes. Turns out she had a huge abscess in her lower pelvis. The vet offered us an MRI to get a more definitive diagnosis for only $4500. The Mister snorted. So we cuddled her on her way. Tis a sad day here. We are congratulating ourselves on not having had any spats despite two nights of sketchy sleep. Not sure if we have matured or just burned out.
2. I did contact the dog-med-by-mail group. We’ve been waiting on a med order ($190) for over three weeks. They credited my account and told me to dispose of the meds.
3. I’ve been experimenting with using more of our veg—chopping up herb stems to put in tomato sauce, chopping up cauliflower leaves for Chinese dishes, etc.
4. Got eggplant, oranges, grapefruit, and apples from the 99 cent dented veg bench at the store this morning. You have to get there early or the dented are all gone.
5. Combined the grocery run with the library (opens at ten). And I stopped back at the grocery store for sale ice cream on my way home.
I am so sorry about your sweet dog. Little lives leave such big tracks on our hearts.
Oh Mary, it's so hard to say goodbye to a beloved pet. Sending you a virtual hug during this tender time.
Mary, I'm so sorry with the loss of your dog. Pets passing is so deeply felt. I am glad you weren't alone and she had you to walk her down that last path with love.
I'm very sorry about your dog. It sounds as if she was well loved especially the sleeping with her the last two nights of her life. I'm sure she felt the love.
I'm so sorry about your pup. They bring so much joy in their too short lives.
I'm so sorry about the passing of your dog/pet/family member.
Mary in MD, "we cuddled her on her way" is a great way to go, once an animal has to go. I add my sympathy to everyone else's, along with my relief that you and the Mister decided not to prolong her suffering.
1. My GS has outgrown the (thrifted) baby carseat and #1 son found one on Marketplace. Well, he found several - however folk have been very poor about responding. He sent me a link for another one, and I was able to back and forth (and send an etransfer to hold) for a really nice toddler seat that is good to 2028. I picked the new one up and spent a sweaty annoying half hour getting the old one uninstalled and the new one installed. I think. I'll get #1 son to check it out before I next get GS.
I've taken photos of the old baby seat and #1 is going to offer it on MP – he paid for it and I had neglected to give him the money, so I think that he should sell it and see if he can recoup.
2. The newest cold doesn't appear to be quite as awful as the last one (touch wood), yet I do feel pretty draggy. We are blessed with cooler weather right now which is saving tonnes of watering and time spent doing same. My occasional gardening friend showed up with her sister and husband; my friend has really hurt her body so shouldn't be gardening at all – her sister and husband set to and prepared some beds and planted more peppers and tomatoes. I planted some of the cucumbers they brought.
3. My Daughter had a Doctor appointment up this way. It is hard to get a doctor when you move cities, and so she has stuck with ours even though she lives over an hour and a half away; our Doctor is really wonderful, which makes the decision to not even try to find another pretty easy. She borrowed my little car once she got here, as she is still learning the ins and outs of city driving with her cute Suzuki right hand drive truck.
She came back after the doctor and tried on a laundry basket worth of clothes her brother had 'discarded'. I'd washed a sorted the pile, donated some to the homeless shelter and have some posted on Marketplace, but there were several shirts, hoodies and sweaters that I though she'd like. Her discards will now go to the homeless shelter (we discovered two tee-shirts that will become rags, though).
4. #2 Son had also discarded some shampoos, which his sister snapped up with glee, as she had just run out. I'm so glad my kids are sensible about passing things on and also about accepting 'gently used' items, including shampoos!
5. I fed my daughter then she wanted to grocery shop so the two of us went off and had a really good time selecting things at decent prices with an eye to feeding her well for the next couple of weeks. She invested in some sensible pantry staples, and we cruised the sales. She spent around $150, and was thrilled to see that she had saved over $50! In addition, she is aware of the prices in her local grocery so she knew that some 'regular priced' items we got up here would have been several dollars more at home.
6. While shopping I remembered that I had purchased bacon for her and frozen it, and knew I had some peppers from the scratch and dent grocery, so I convinced her to come back to my place (2 km away) before she went home.
Also, she'd bought some frozen foods, and I thought I might have a cooler that would fit in the aluminium lockable tool box in the back of her truck. I did! We wiped it out, jammed it into the tool box, then filled it with a frozen vinegar bottle (water now), her milk, the bacon and other cold/frozen things. (Then grinned at each other with delight because it fit as if the box had been made for it. Go us!)
I gave her some 'excess' chili powder and some homemade Taco seasoning, then she photographed my taco seasoning recipe - she lives a block away from a Bulk Barn. I'd used that Taco seasoning in the supper I fed her, and she had done the stirring as I chopped, so she knows what I made and how I made it (a replicable meal, always my plan). She's not a foodie like her mom, however she is open to learning and is careful with every penny. I'm glad she's moved on from just white foods; adding more vegetables to her diet continues to be a challenge but fruit is now in regular rotation. Baby steps, even with our adult children!
She sent me a text when she got home saying how much fun she had visiting – so nice to receive!.
Ecoteri, nice text from your daughter! I can tell you're a cool mom.
Another day of temperatures above 100° -- and supposedly it's cooler near the lake!
I stayed inside all day. And I have the shades drawn.
For lunch I made a stovetop entree -- salmon patties -- and mashed potatoes made in the microwave. Pantry food. Per usual, there are leftovers for tomorrow.
I listed four items on eBay.
Our building's water was turned off today because of a plumbing emergency, so I'm still in my pajamas and I'll wear them tonight. That saves a little money!
I entertained myself with Netflix shows and reading.
Potatoes and onions definitely count as vegetables.
1. Gas went up and was $3.13 in University town.
2. I spent $38 on groceries, bag of potatoes, couple of large onions, (see I really do consider them to be cheap vegetables), LOTS of store brand diet Mt Dew I absolutely don’t need health wise and do need caffeine wise), two large loaves of bread, mayo, eggs, coleslaw mix, small watermelon, sharp cheese, and something else I can’t remember.
3. I was not feeling well at all and ran a temp last night so I took a long nap today after work.
4. I didn’t eat much today, sunflower seeds, tomato sandwich and a slice of watermelon, so I guess I saved on food consumption.
5. I am going back to bed bc I have always been convinced rest and liquids helps me more than anything when I am under the weather. This is not medical advice. It is only what I do first.
1. I attended a free yoga class at the local public library. My geriatric body is still a bit stiff from the yoga class on Saturday. I am hoping the classes will help my balance. I figure the stretching is also good for my stiff joints too. I'm going to chair yoga tomorrow at the senior center.
2. I have been invited to a July 4 party. I think I am going to make baked beans in the crockpot. I will soak the navy beans & then cook them. They will be vegan and gluten free for those that need this option. I have a 2 lb sack of the beans. It will make a lot.
3. A restaurant near me put out a sack of scraps raw boneless chicken tenders. They were still cold from the cooler. They are cooking in the crockpot w/ bbq sauce & spices.
4. My Chevron app had a July 4 promotion. If you bought 8 gal of gas (or more) you earned 2500 points. You get 50 cents off each gallon of gas w/ 500 points. So that will be 5 fill ups that are 50 cents off each gallon. My husband's small truck & my econobox will take 25 gallons together. You can purchase up to 25 gallons w/ the 50 cents off offer. A good deal for simply buying 8 gallons of their gas.
5. I got a Groupon to renew my Sam's club card for $15.00. I get my meds there & occasionally shop. The gas there is quite a bit cheaper than elsewhere. My husband tells me their gas is not top quality tho. Their snack bar has cheap food.
I have nothing frugal, but I did accompany my mother to her assisted living interview, and she was accepted. This should save me time and money in the future as she will have more support and care that I don't have to provide. I will still be available as needed, and take her on outings regularly. I have felt absolutely flattened for the rest of the day. I sorted a few bags of stuff that my mother brought to donate, as she packs and clears her house. I kept 3 t shirts for myself. I scanned the bag of books and packaged the ones that thriftbooks would buy. I have 2 loads of laundry hanging outside.
Any recommendations on where to sell an antique violin?
Kara, contact local school system or college for music teachers. They could advise on condition, if not age. Some young person needs a violin!
Kara, it sounds as if you're where NDN1's CF and I were at the end of February, when we got NDN1 into her AL facility. There's still the actual move ahead, and goodness knows your responsibilities aren't over (as ours certainly aren't). But congratulations on having passed this milestone.
I remember something I once read: Time spent reading is time well spent.
1. DH popped a button on his khaki shorts. After reassuring him it didn't pop because he put a few pounds on, I told him to put the button in his pocket and I will sew it on.
2. It rained cats and dogs today so no watering my tomato plant or my two pots of flowers.
3. After hearing from the coordinator of The Friends of the Library through an email that fiction books are needed for the ongoing book sale in the library's lobby, I've decided the books I was planning on selling at my yard sale (more later) will be donated to the Friends' book sale.
4. My plans for having a yard sale have changed due to my boss at the deli needing me on the date of the townwide yard sale. I know I can make more money at the deli than I can make at having a yard sale plus honestly, it's less work. Thus, my fiction books will be donated to the Friends of the Library sale.
5. Keeping cool is my goal today and for the next four days. On that note, I did my yardwork early in the shade before the sun came around the side of the house, I made a pitcher of lemon iced tea, I'm using a fan during the day and using the A/C only at night to sleep and reading my library book The Radiant Lives of Animals by Linda Hogan. I'm celebrating (in my mind) the Supreme Court decision to uphold the 14th Amendment.
My mattress pad was pilling so I took my handy dandy pill remover tool and it was very effective in solving the problem. We heat with wood pellets and save the bags. I cut the seams and use them as garbage bags. I tape them down with priority tape from the PO. Have rolls of it from selling on ebay.
Sales have been slow online but marketplace is decent. Have met some very nice people and while I do have some no shows the good offsets the bad.
Keeping the car parked for days at a time.
Lent my son my car while he and wife went to Quebec. Had looked at renting one but it's high season here in Maine and $$. Glad he used mine and we made do with our other vehicle.
Garden is coming in with lettuce, peas, herbs. Lots of rain so things are very verdant.
Babysat grands while parents on Canadian trip. Went to the beach with a picnic, got Children's Museum tickets from the library, played minigolf and ice cream with a gift card friend bought me as a thank you. Pretty low key and fun. Had all sorts of projects and things to do from my yardsale finds.
Will be trying hard to stay cool as we are going to have 100 + heat.
Hope everyone affected by this heat wave is staying cool and safe!
1. Watered all my plants again this morning so they have a reservoir when they are scorching in the sun later. I have 4 little cucumbers and 2 tomatoes growing! I am so excited.
2. Put laundry in this morning to avoid running the washer/dryer during peak electricity costs this afternoon and evening. An excellent incentive to not procrastinate.
3. Went into the office yesterday and enjoyed the free AC instead of paying at home. Today I've got a fan going which means i can keep the AC off for now. We're lucky that a high electric bill won't bankrupt us, but that doesn't mean we can't work to keep it down.
Not much else has been frugal. We got hit with a big vet bill that we thought our pet insurance would cover right after I splurged on a trip with some friends for a long weekend. We'll be locking down for a bit but man, what a mess!