Five More Frugal Things
by Katy on July 1, 2025 · 49 comments
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I went to Winco and dropped $99.12 on a tremendous amount of food. I won’t bore you with a specific list, but it included lots of produce, a bit of meat, a few treats, plus stock items such as salt, yogurts, cheeses, rice and bulk popcorn. The clearance shelf held nothing of interest, but I took a gamble on the Lindy’s brand Italian ices, as they were priced at $1.98 per six-pack! We gave them a try this evening and gave them an A minus.
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Popcorn may be dull, but it’s a straight up bargain all day long!
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I had a scheduled dental cleaning and asked the hygienist to give me “as many flosses as you’re allowed to give.” Two, the answer was two. Still better than one though.
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I met up with family at a restaurant across town, but left early to enjoy the library’s air conditioning and book selection. I arrived to find the branch was closed for renovations, which left me an hour-and-a-half early on a 93° day. I thought about depositing myself inside a cafe, but instead walked to a nearby park and located a shady bench. I had a book to read, but instead enjoyed an extended phone conversation with my older sister. I’m old enough to appreciate that long distance phone calls are no longer a financial splurge!
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I’m readying for Amazon Prime Day by reminding myself that Schmeff Schmezos has enough of our money and deserves not a penny more.
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
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{ 49 comments… read them below or add one }
1. I was able to source a couple things from Ebay that I would normally buy on Amazon. Not exactly frugal since it probably cost a few dollars more but worth it.
2. I sold enough items on Ebay last week to pay my electric bill and phone bill.
3. I’m going for a walk this morning with a friend. My free exercise and amateur therapy.
4. I printed out my Menards rebate receipts for the river rock I purchased online and picked up at the store. They now give you a year to send in your receipts, so I have a small collection started. I have a reminder in my phone for next year to send them all at once.
5. I’m doing all the usual things. Hanging my laundry to dry, mowing my own lawn, cleaning my own pool, reading library books, drinking coffee at home….
Awesome #2!
@Jill A = your #4 – I am sending mine in every 3 or 4 months. But I do like the a year from change.
love pics of folks’ groceries / refrigerator contents–to see what I’m missing! ha
1. topped my homemade plain yogurt this morn with some clearance rack granola that I’m not crazy about but will eat anyway.
2. ate out with family last night & since it wasn’t my fav restaurant, I resolved to find the cheapest foods on the menu: a cup of chili and a sweet potato. I’m inspired to become a cheap date (wink) by reading back through posts of NCA Five Frugal Things. I’m at September 2017.
3. Micro-frugal: I made sure the faucet was turned to cold water before rinsing my hands.
4. I ran out of oat milk yesterday but just figured out I’m fine with water instead in my morning pick-me-up espresso/cacao drink. I’d talked myself out of running to the store & seems the wait will save me money daily in what I no longer buy.
5. I’m wearing an overshirt with a little butterfly brooch strategically placed to cover a small stain. otherwise perfectly fine shirt that I don’t want to ditch.
I loved your 3 and 5! Never would have thought of that!
You could embroider over stain or stitch a patch.
That’s quite a Winco haul Katy. I saw Winco brand crackers at Grocery Outlet the other day. As far as I know Winco is not in the Mid-Atlantic region.
1. I cut another $3.99 watermelon. It’s still a lot of fruit but I will share with a neighbor. The rind went in our compost bin.
2. I was treated to lunch for some volunteer work that I did. It was a nice gathering with other volunteers. They are caring people and some of them really step it up in the volunteer department. I was seated next to somebody that also volunteer tutors at a shelter and works with an organization for ill children. We were encouraged to take home leftover food.
3. We cut back on the amount we donated to an organization that we are not as interested in supporting going forward. I think the funds can be better deployed elsewhere and DH has come to the same conclusion. It will not save us money but it feels like we will be better stewards of our money.
4. We watched Trainwreck: Poop Cruise on Netflix. I never imagined going on a mega cruise ship and after seeing the documentary I know my instincts are spot on. I was very turned off by the party, party, party atmosphere of passengers from the moment the cruise began. I won’t bring up what a poop show things were once the ship lost power.
5. It looks like I might have a lot of tomatoes this year. I love them but I am too cheap to pay for them at farmer’s markets and produce stands.
I considered Poop Cruise but I decided I’d be better off reaading, heh. I’ve been on once cruise (girls’ trip) and had a blast for a very low price so I’m open to another one day.
What else? I am taking part in an online focus group for our local electric company. When I signed up, I was told “up to $200” pay but since I’m online, I’m only getting $150 in an Amazon gift card. What was the game show where you got to pick out your prize and then the rest of the winnings was on a Spiegel gift certificate? As a kid, I had no idea what a Spiegel gift certificate was.
Main entertainment around here is watching my three dogs absolutely lose their minds pawing at a glass window while our resident baby bunny calmly sits and munches grass on the front lawn. I told the bunny to rub it in by lighting a bunny cigarette, but it did not.
Original Wheel of Fortune let you put what was left post shopping on a gift card OR leave it on account in case you wanted a gift that cost more than you had. Of course that risk was bankrupt so most spent and took the gift card.
@K D – no Winco on the eastern seaboard that I know of. I live in Pennsylvania. Closest Trader Joe’s are 1 hr and 45 minutes from me. I think there MIGHT be a Costco somewhere in PA, not sure. We mostly have Sam’s Club. No IKEA near here either.
Dear KD, I too had a non profit I once donated a lot of time, money, and energy to and when I realized it wasn’t fulfilling it’s non profit mission and had a lot of mean girl behavior on the inside. I decided to withdraw from the organization and put my time and attention into other places and organizations and I am so much happier for doing it. Change can be good!
Not every cruise is a party fest. I refuse to fly so we take the Cunard line across the Atlantic. There are often zero kids and if there are kids, they have a separate program and nanny for them. There are serious lectures every day, ballroom dancing, quartets playing classical music, as well as a disco for younger people. It skews in the older age group so more sedate. They also have special cruises that feature authors, other for blues music, others for theater presentations from the West End of London. It is a perfect way to get back and forth to England and I am sorry my relatives in Russia and the Baltics have died so I have no real excuse to go to London every year. All of which is to say, don’t discount all cruises (or crossings, as Cunard likes to call them)
Selena: I remember it now, along with the ceramic dalmatian no one wanted! I think I might need to look up some of thise episodes. So ridiculous and funny! And also the Hollywood Squares with Dicker and Dicker of Beverly Hills!
Lindsey: I am dying to take a European river cruise–down the Rhone or the Rhine or a narrowboat in England. One a dese days, I hope;
@Rose – I can envision the dalmatian now that you mention it. Ah original Hollywood Squares, Peter I changed my last name to Marshall but my MLB son didn’t it. And who could forget lovely downtown Burbank and you bet your sweet bippy.
Oooh, those Cunard crossings sound terrific! Will put that on my bucket list for sure!
Lindsey,
The Poop Cruise was on a ship with 3,000 passengers and 1,200 crew members. I have friends that have gone on Viking and Nat Geo cruises and they are an entirely different type of cruise. I think I am too cheap to find them worth the cost.
I believe Winco stands for Washington, Idaho, Nevada, California, and Oregon, so I guess they would have to change their name to expand to Pennsylvania (Wincop?)
We have Winco in central Oklahoma
Never had an interest in cruising as they tend to be floating petri dishes and ” poop cruise” was the nail in the coffin for me.
Amazing they don’t have backup generators.
https://www.amazon.com/How-Resist-Amazon-Why-People-Powered/dp/1648411231
I am proud to have resisted the lure of Amazon for several months. Last weekend’s extravagant display of excess (aka wedding) makes me even more resolved to avoid Amazon.
The book “ How to Resist Amazon” was an eye opener for me – particularly about its impact on the publishing industry.
I love that someone can buy a book titled “How to Resist Amazon” from Amazon!
Just reserved that book at my library – thanks!
@Jean C – I treat Amazon like Wally – the savings has to be significant, none of this pennies BS. There are a few items that meet this criteria for which I patronize Amazon. One in particular I have had little luck finding elsewhere – perpetually out of stock.
Since I live in a state capital, we’re short on a lot of retail outlets. If I need a basic like low abrasion toothpaste or a niche plumbing supply for my 1979 condo, I go to Amazon. I’ve sworn off their clothes unless I recognize the brand, and then I compare the price on the brand site. That’s IF I can’t make the item myself out of my fabric stash. The excess of that Venetian wedding are making me rethink even buying necessities from Amazon. Right now, I’m thinning my closets, getting ready to donate winter coats and do my fabric shopping at the late summer garage sales!
1. Early morning walk for free physical & mental wellness, plus some refreshing cool air.
2. On walk, I found a $5 bill on side of road, rescued one camp chair with storage bag from park pavilion trash that needs minor stitch repair & collected 13 aluminum cans ($0.10 deposit/each).
3. Free lunch at library for kids today, in addition to enjoying outstanding free program & connecting with stellar staff at historic air conditioned building before heading to free beach with crisp cool water.
4. Closing windows, using blackout shades & sun zero curtains (all came with house) to block sun for high temps today. This easy task typically keeps our south facing, no shade house to about 72-75 degrees.
5. For too hot to heat up the kitchen for dinner, kids will claim free pizza (first of three/kid) from BookIt program for summer reading & we’ll pick it up on route home from outing today. Spouse & I will have refried beans from freezer stash with pantry supplies. Dessert will be free pint of frozen custard from local business for my donating blood the other week.
I’m glad the Bookit program is still going! My kids took part when they were in school, and they are in their forties today! One is a great reader and the other “wishes he had time.” Thanks for prodding nice memories!
Woah, your #2 is awesome – well done for the chair rescue (and the can rescue). feels like you got paid to do your walk!
1. I ordered my free OTC products via my Medicare Advantage plan — coq10, Always Discreet, and Beano.
2. Until the pads arrive, I will use cloth substitutes, since I’m out. Old washcloths. With frequent changes, I think it will work.
3. Heading to Aldi today to spend $20 on groceries. On the same trip I will return library books and check the little free pantry.
4. Used up leftovers last night to make a macaroni salad — Mac & cheese, peas, mayo, pepperoncini. Will have another serving today.
5. Calculated my spending for the month of June. Despite paying for passport renewal and Geek Squad services, I came in under budget overall.
I love my free quarterly allowance of OTC money! A. Great addition to my Advantage plan .
FMFT, More NYC Stuff Edition:
(1) On Friday morning 6/27, JASNA BFF was babysitting again, so I did a little walking and thrifting by myself. I hit two Housing Works shops (the one at 96th and Broadway and the one on Columbus Ave. in the 70s); several interesting misses but no hits. I also stopped by Apthorp Cleaners on Amsterdam Ave. in the 70s, which always has a window display of vintage Barbie (and friends) dolls doing various things. The current theme was, appropriately, summer fun.
(2) I then met up with BFF and a mutual JASNA friend at the New York Historical (formerly the New-York Historical Society). This is one of the few NYC museums where BFF is not a member, but the friend very kindly got me in for free with her membership. Highlights included the exhibit of photos and memorabilia titled “The Year of Flaco” (the Eurasian eagle-owl who thrilled raptor fans worldwide between his escape from the Central Park Zoo and his death), where we had the unexpected privilege of meeting two of the eight contributing photographers. (This wasn’t a scheduled event or anything; they just showed up with a bunch of family and friends!) And the display of Tiffany lamps on the top floors was jaw-dropping.
(3) Apart from our lunch at the NYM cafe with this friend, our lunch on Thursday (after our morning visit to the Morgan) with another friend at the Scandinavia House cafe, and our dinner on Thursday night, BFF and I ate all our meals in.
(4) The train home was at full capacity, so it wasn’t as enjoyable as the train down, where I had a seat to myself the whole way. However, the family in the row behind me (two kids directly behind me, and Mom and Grandma across the aisle) provided the following free diversion:
Kid 1: Let’s ride this train all the way to Niagara Falls. I want to go swimming.
Mom: No. We don’t have our swimsuits, and they won’t let you go swimming at Niagara Falls anyway. It’s dangerous. Some guy went over Niagara Falls in a barrel once and got killed.
Kid 2: What’s a barrel?
(5) Finally, as I have now been a proud Amazon boycotter for two years now, I can safely say I did not contribute one red cent to Schmeff Schmezos’s bloated and tasteless Venetian circus of a wedding.
I literally laughed – out loud – at the “What’s a barrel?” question. OMG, this world keeps on turning and changing.
Thank you.. I Googled the Cleaners and what a great window. They have them going back years. How fun!
1. Have laundry in the “solar dryer” and praying it dries before the forecasted storm arrives this afternoon.
2. Frugal Save: While removing laundry from washer, found a tinted lip balm stick in the bottom of the washer. Cap was tight, no red tint on clothes.
3. A loaf of homemade bread rising in the toaster/convection oven.
4. Still using slivers of bar soap towash my hair.
5. Stopping at salvage yard to cash in aluminum cans (mostly free from friends…we don’t have canned beverages often) and the recycling center to turn in plastic, glass, cardboard, paper, and tin. Also stopping at thrift store to look for a metal tray big enough to set our coffee maker in. It kerps leaking (and I think it’s because my husband is filling it too full). Coffee maker still works, so going to keep using it.
Lucky number 2!!! Whewww!
My Great Aunt always made popcorn using bacon grease. It’s a game changer!!!
Rebuilt the fly swatter using 2 pieces of gorilla tape.
Sent in the forms to go on DH’s health insurance. Used my free, puddle stamps. Mine is terrible, so hopefully this will fill in the holes until I quit my job this winter. Gearing up to quit my off farm job this winter. Working two jobs is wearing. My son is 7, I want to participate in his growing up. It sucks coming home just in time to tuck him in, saying hello to DH, and then heading out to do evening chores until my bedtime. Up the next morning before DS rises and chore again. DH takes him to daycare.
Paying extra on farm note.
Elsa the cow calved yesterday! I told her she was doing a great job, she does not need my approval and was unimpressed by my praise. Her twin sister Happy, has a swollen foot and will be doctored today. I checked it last night, hoping it was a turned ankle, it does not appear to be. She will need antibiotics.
Landlord called and offered to let me gaze his wheat crop residue. The man who plants crops on that half of the farm isn’t going to put it in soybeans this year. Rode the 4 wheeler over to scout it out. Looks like it has a dandy crop of summer annuals peeking through the stubble, plenty of water, and the fence is workable. Trying to decide how many extra head it will feed and where to source them? Markets are all shut down for the holiday, so I’ve got time to think. I really need to come up with a least cost solution!
Brought home some more dumpster derived plywood. Removed the screws and stored.
Today’s project is to repair the range shelter for the meat birds. I shouldn’t have to purchase anything.
Laura, I’m enjoying hearing about your farming. Please keep sharing
I love to see a grocery haul!
Loved seeing our kids in WY, but will be glad to get home. We love to travel, but we love our home. Know I used up all perishables before we left, so will start a list and try to delay going shopping until I know what we need.
We like Lindy’s too. Something I’ve discovered to be delish and frugal are the variety of fruit juice, dye free popsicles that are packaged like otter pops. The brands we have tried and loved are goodpops and deebees. I can get a pack of 25 or 30 at my Grocery Outlet for just over $5.
IMO Prime Day hasn’t had any good deals in years, unless you wanted to buy Amazon branded products like Kindle.
1. I needed a pair of sandals for summer, so I shopped on eBay for sandals in my size and put a few that I liked on my watch list. One of the sellers sent me an offer for a reduced price, so that’s the pair I bought. I used the last of a gift card to pay almost all of the cost. They only cost me 3 cents out of pocket.
2. I had an at home film festival over the weekend because I needed some fun. I watched movies on Netflix and Tubi and ate snacks I had at home. It was a good time with no money spent.
3. I shopped the sales at the grocery store and got some great deals – chips for $1 a bag, name brand canned beans for $1 each, tortillas for less than $2 a package. I used coupons for gluten free pasta and frozen vegetables. I didn’t buy anything that was not a good price.
4. I gave all my shoes a good cleaning. They look and feel much better now.
5. All the usuals, reusing Ziploc bags, using washables instead of disposables for almost everything, cooking simple meals at home, and drinking mostly water.
On EBay I almost always put items in my watchlist and wait a day to see if I get offers with discounts.
1. Hubby returned T shirts that he bought from Macy’s. I had a new pack of t shirts that I had gotten on clearance. Price difference $18.
2. Hubby ran into Aldi because it is right near Macy’s. He got 2 dozen eggs, 4 bananas and English muffins. That is all we needed.
3. Hubby and I had leftover pancakes with grapes for breakfast. I had leftover pizza for lunch at work. I used some leftover chicken to make quesadillas. I love leftovers.
4. I call my daughter who lives in a different state every morning on my way to work. We get to chat for 20 minutes while she eats breakfast. It is included in my cell phone plan. No long distance charges.
5. The lady I help take care of gets the newspaper. I haven’t gotten one in many years. I love to do the puzzles. When I’m not there, her daughter rips them out for me.
1. I made a new throw pillow. I bought $1 of navy linen, did some embroidery, added tassels taken off a brand new cushion cover (ugly) that I found in a free pile. It turned out beautifully. I can’t believe I found free tassels in exactly the right color.
2. Dealt with the massive load of kale in my fridge. Ate some tonight, along with an elderly carrot and the last of a bit of cabbage. Dehydrated the rest.
3. Picked up 5 free large bags of compost from the city.
4. Gave away an item on Buy Nothing. That group gives me frugal wins all the time, so I’m happy to give back.
5. Found a good electrician to do several small jobs. Such a good feeling to have them done and support local tradespeople. I paid cash to save the electrician credit card fees. I am making special effort to pay cash to local businesses.
I’m totally with you regarding your No. 5! Ever since I was in a small local cafe and they had up a sign asking to pay in cash if at all possible (and citing how much they had to pay the bank the previous month for card transactions) I go out of my way to pay in cash at local businesses. The sum they cited literally could have paid a part time employee for the month. Shocking and eye opening!
There was a recent article about how Gen Z are a) cash averse, b) wallet/purse averse (pay by phone), and c) tab averse. Bars are whining big time. Perhaps if you gave a cash discount, the Gen Z might join the cash wagon. We always pay small business in cash. Always tip in cash – and speaking of tips, don’t get all excited over the no tips on taxes.
“Many workers who receive tips or overtime compensation would get a tax break through 2028.
Employees who work in jobs that traditionally receive tips could deduct up to $25,000 in tip income from their federal income taxes, while workers who receive overtime could deduct up to $12,500 of that extra pay.
Highly compensated individuals who make more than $160,000 in 2025 would not qualify.”
So you won’t see any/little bang for the buck in your paycheck. And who wants to take bets on audits for deducting OT and tips? Highly compensated of $160K? Yeah maybe in one of the red welfare states. Not realistic in the OT/tipped employment realm. But it sounds like they are “looking out for you”.
1. I walked past the house where I found a floor lamp on Sunday evening. Tuesday evening there was a crockpot & a pink lightweight quilt on the curb. I have a crockpot, but it does not have a removeable insert. I’ll donate my old one this week now that I have an upgrade. I have to wash the quilt & see if it wil be useable.
2. My lifelong friends came to visit & left food with me when they left. I made a bell pepper casserole with all the leftover rice. There was also an 18-count carton of eggs w/ only a few used. A leftover piece of salmon went on a salad.
3. My water heater is rusted & needs to be replaced at the condo. I was quoted 400 to 600$ to install a new one. I booked my husband a plane ticket using his miles. He knows how to install a water heater. Now all that is needed is to buy the new water heater. I am not paying that much money for the install.
4. I am awaiting an estimate to repair the condo from an upstairs water leak. My new kitchen was mostly ruined. Once they remove the sink, I (we) won’t be able to prepare food. I’m going to ask for a food allowance from the insurance company. Eating out every day will be costly.
5. I am on a low spend summer since all these condo catastrophes occurred.
I make meals at home, air dry clothes, make my iced coffee drink at home, etc. The husband is going to be on a low spend plan too. He just doesn’t know it yet.
6. I got a nice Anne Klein purse at a garage sale. The vinyl outer surface started to flake off. I bought some gold duct tape to cover the flaking area. The purse has a gold vinyl bottom & trim. Has anyone else had problems with the finish of faux leather flaking off even when the purse is relatively new?
So true about long distance phone calls!
1. Mended a gash in my daughter’s teddy bear slippers. The material is very fuzzy and due to that material the repair is 100% invisible!
2. Staying with the mending theme: I recently bought a sewing thread set with 48 (!) different colours in Lidl for 4 Euro. This will make my mending much less visible!
3. Paying it forward: One of my friends needed plant fertilizer and I still have 3 huge bottles of worm compost liquid feed that a different friend (who has a worm composting system!) gave me years ago so I passed one of the bottles on to her.
4. Recent favourite library read: Tears of the giraffe (Alexander McCall Smith), this is the second book in his The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency Series
5. I discovered a fantastically easy recipe to make my own nut milk (which is quite expensive when shop bought!): Whizz 2 cups of water with 2 tbsp of nut butter of your choice and 1 date in a blender. Add a tiny drop of vanilla essence (optional). Store in a glass jar, shake well before use.
Free chicken sandwich from chick fil a
Pizza day at local grocery store. 18 inch margarita pizza for $10.99. delicious.
Going to library bookclub on line
Loved seeing the “chat” cat bowl on the floor; Taylor & Ng mugs and other pottery is pretty hard to find these days and always a delight for me!
Yes, I also love Taylor & Ng items. I’m still keeping an eye out for one of the rabbit orgy mugs, but have never seen one while thrifting.