Five More Frugal Things
by Katy on October 31, 2024 · 23 comments
Okay, I’m trying to blog every day until the election. Let’s see if I can come up with five new frugal things . . .
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I transferred our savings from an account with a 4.75% interest rate to one at a full 5%. The first account had started at 5.5% interest, but had a variable rate. I knew the 5% one was locked in for a full year, so this was an easy decision. They’re both with the same credit union, so it just took just a few minutes of time.
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My friend is a vegetarian, so she gave me her coupon for a free pound of bulk sausage from New Season’s Market. It’s only good from November 27th through December third, so I’ve added it to the calendar, complete with an electronic reminder.
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I sold a trio of garbage picked frames for $15 through Facebook Marketplace.
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I set out the same Halloween decorations that an old neighbor handed down to us in 1998 or so. No need to buy anything new.
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I didn’t buy a Lear Jet.
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
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{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }
I am once again *trying* to make all of the holiday gifts this year. I have a LOOOONG commute on public transit and I have a seat usually so I have built in time during the week.
I’m so stressed about this election – I’m so thankful for these posts. Whew. Thank you Katy!
1. Filled up the buggy with gas at $2.99/gallon.
2. Used a $5 Best Buy coupon on some cord manager thingies. Difference out of pocket was tiny.
3. Used a 40% off coupon at Joann on cellophane bags for cookies and quick breads that I give as gifts.
4. Enjoyed free Caribou coffee at orientation for volunteer reading program at my elementary school alma mater. Brought my travel mug with me and refilled it with leftover coffee on the way out to enjoy the next day. I’m not picky about day-old coffee; if it’s good coffee, sometimes it tastes even better to me. Kinda like some food.
5. Received eight IKEA containers from Buy Nothing that I used to corral the various and sundry items in our linen closet. My organizational nerdy self used a label maker to identify their purpose (e.g., eyes, mouth, face, owies, etc.). Used the opportunity to revamp the entire closet and bathroom vanity. I admit to opening up drawers and doors just to peek at the new set-up.
Nothing super exciting over here. Let’s see:
1) Sold a watch on eBay. Packaged it with a repurposed Amazon mailer.
2) I needed to rethink DS18’s travel plans for Thanksgiving, as he doesn’t have a car with him in college & they cancelled the previously existing shuttle from Corvallis to Eugene. An Uber costs $100 each way! So, kept the outbound flight (his class ends late enough he can’t make it to Portland), but rebooked his return flight through Portland. All told, the flight is cheaper, and the shuttle is $50 vs the $100 Uber. I’m saving ~$200.
3) On a related note, scored super cheap flights for him to come home over winter break. $200! That is an unheard of deal from Portland to San Jose. I’m thrilled & expected to pay 2-3x that. He will be able to take the shuttle both ways.
4) DH & I finished up some leftovers for dinner & I made a sandwich using up the last of the deli meat for lunch, combined with the very end of a container of soup.
5) Picked some pomegranates off of our tree.
Yesterday I:
1. Rewarded myself for grading a set of exams by having a bowl of ice cream. Free from mystery shop.
2. Completed another mystery shop at a grocery store. I stocked up on red wine vinegar, brown sugar, seltzer, and a 20-pack of toilet paper.
3. I drank the free coffee and work and I was able to grab some bao buns and salad free for lunch. I happened to still be at work during the early dinner period so I grabbed a free dinner, which included shrimp and grits, and roasted leg of lamb.
4. I wore my pants that I patched, along with a 10-year old (+/-) shirt and sweater that I’m sure that I got on sale.
5. I signed up for an appointment with a financial wellness advisor. It is a complete waste of 45 minutes (I should be able to get out of it in 30 minutes) as I work with my own financial advisor, but I get 20 points toward my wellness program at work, which means not paying a 10% premium on my health care for the year if I hit 200 points.
Those are some mighty tasty free work meals! The best I ever got as a hospital nurse were graham crackers and peanut butter.
1. I am trying out a new breakfast routine. I want veggies for breakfast. At grocery Outlet, they have spice cake mix on sale for .99. I added 15 ounces of pumpkin and baked. Also at G.O. was 32 oz Milkadamia’s Milk Tea. It sells at Target for $12.00. I got them for .25 a piece. Super yummy and replaces my coffee. So breakfast now cost officially about .33.
2. I returned mums I bought at Lowes that died within two days.
3. I finally made the switch from the Walgreens I love to CVS because my insurance can’t be filled there. It saves me $15.00 a month.
4. I use Dr. Gross daily peels which are expensive but I alternate days with a cheap scrub. Makes the peels last twice as long.
5. I am utilizing the gym classes since i pay a monthly fee anyway. It keeps me in shape, eating less and focused on health goals. I had stopped my last year of working.
Sounds like you really made out at Grocery Outlet! Impressive.
Thank you from the UK!
And thank you for your British perspective on all things nonconsumer!
First, Katy, thanks for the more frequent posting in the run-up to this awful election. I join others in appreciating it.
Now, More Frugal Things (I don’t think I have five), Unrepentant Carnivore/Happy Pagan Edition:
(1) I took my next-door neighbor (NDN) this morning on the more or less weekly grocery run we do for her. NDN kindly lets me put anything I want to buy at her Tops store on her Tops card and reimburse her later–and this time, the rewards on Reduced for Quick Sale meat were substantial: a pound of beef/pork/veal meatloaf mix, a whole Springer Mountain chicken, and two family packs of chicken drumsticks, for a total of $11.28. Cha-ching, and into the freezer they go! (We’ll figure out how much we owe each other after I take advantage of a sale on her beloved Lean Cuisines at Price Chopper tomorrow.)
(2) I had already defrosted a very small T-bone from my 1/4 steer (this year’s steer was a littler guy than usual), and I had that for my lunch, along with a side of curried vegetables left over from Tuesday’s shrimp curry. Nom nom nom.
(3) I haven’t participated in trick or treat for several years now, since we’ve hardly gotten any kids on our street lately. Instead, I’ll be ankling over to the alternative Halloween party for grownups that’s being hosted by neighbors down the street. Any party invitation that begins with “Booze and candy!” can’t be all bad.
You should have titled your comment as “Booze, Meat & Candy”
I think we can all agree that we wish we were your NDN.
Thank you for posting more frequently this week! My husband woke me up at 3am because I was biting my nails in my sleep!
1. The only thing the food bank had excess this week was single serving premade almond chicken rice meals. They had dozens of them and no clients seem to want them. I bought home four, for we ate two for dinner last night and will eat two tonight, as they won’t last long. I added a few expiring vegetables to make it healthier. I don’t love rice, but there is nothing wrong with it and it isn’t beans, so I ate it.
2. This is a weird one. Last week someone made an insulting comment about a shirt I was wearing. I asked her if she had any other unsolicited ideas she wanted to share, she should consider keeping them to herself. Then I walked off. Yesterday I found a note and bag on the porch, apologizing and giving me a gift. It was a 3-pound container of ground Folger’s coffee. I don’t drink coffee, and the husband is a coffee snob but he has agreed to use it, saving us a few pennies over the more expensive beans he likes. Hey, if I can eat rice, he can drink free coffee.
3. I received a lovely quilled card and the person wrote her note on a plain paper insert, saying she knew I would want to recycle the card. Perfect timing–I took out the note, inserted my own note, and sent it on to a friend who will love it. I told her not to feel awkward if she wants to recycle it for a third person.
4. Did not resubscribe to a magazine I used to love. However, I have aged out of the demographic they focus on, so I said farewell.
5. Did not buy anything new for Halloween decorating. I love glass pumpkins so have a number of them collected during the years I collected stuff. They and a lighted rattan pumpkin are it.
Maybe he can mix the Folger’s into his better quality coffee, like 1 3 good coffee: 1 Folger’s coffee ratio to use it up without noticing the difference?
I’ve been clenching my jaw while I sleep over the past week and my jaw aches while doing simple things like: A) chewing a tasted bagel; and B) singing the ten minute Taylor Swift song. Hopefully this is temporary, as “All Too Well” is the best ten minute distraction!
I love that you passed the card along, very smart!
Katy, I love that you’re attempting to post every day this week.
1. In more of a time saving measure, we early voted on Saturday. We were there when they opened the doors and it was quick. Our election day polling place is no longer near us so this was a no brainer.
2. I listened to Ina Garten’s memoir using the Libby app and a library copy. It was okay.
3. I donated some items we didn’t want to a church silent auction. All proceeds go to charities.
4. I had trouble falling asleep so I got up and finished reading The Last Runaway. It was a worthwhile read and was due in a couple of days.
5. I returned an item to Sam’s Club while I was near there and then bought butter and gum. I discovered they have Southwest gift cards on sale ($430 for a $500 card) and also cat treats.
Hooray for early voting! I got my notification maybe half an hour ago that my ballot was accepted and my vote counted. I always worry that my signature might not match previous ones, so it’s always a relief.
Thanks for doing this, Katy. I’ve been strategizing with friends about how we’re going to get through the next week or so.
1) Planning for a low-spend November. My partner, who never takes part in these sorts of challenges, is on board. I’m excited about this. A friend also wanted to join in. It’s easier doing this sort of things with a group.
2) I’ve been enjoying my Halloween decorations. I didn’t purchase a single one of them as they were all handed down to me when my mom downsized her collection.
3) I have my annual black tie gala for work next Friday. Bought my gown on eBay, wearing shoes I already own, and sourcing jewelry from my Buy Nothing group. The theme is 1960’s.
4) My team at work has bargained with a local hair and makeup team for said gala, so I won’t have to fret about that (I am terrible at both hair and makeup)!
5) Early voted yesterday. And did so at the Theodor Roosevelt Inaugural Site. Trivia – president McKinley was shot and died in Buffalo, so President Roosevelt was sworn in less than 2 miles from where I live.
Katie, I commend your choice of voting sites. (I’ve been a TR fan from childhood, although I know he’s come under fire recently for his jingoistic and racist views.)
And further Buffalo Presidential trivia: Although neither Millard Fillmore nor Grover Cleveland was originally from Buffalo–in fact, both came from villages near me in Central NY–both established their political careers in Buffalo.
I’m always happy to hear about lo/no spend challenges and have the brief thought of “I should do this!” Then remember that that describes every month for me.
Hooray for handed down holiday decor!
I like this everyday posting routine!
Had a great meeting with financial guru and invested c.o.h. in some higher interest rate cd’s to ride out the political storm (knock on wood that it remains solid as we’ve had a good 4 years of growth). I am in shock that I am using CD’s that is such an 80’s thing! Holding on to buy in the dip…if we get a dip…I crack myself up.
Not frugal, but a dream thing. I sold my very nice fully loaded explorer with insanely low miles to my cousin’s wife and I bought a 1972 Super Beetle, bright orange! It has been fully restored and will become my daily driver. My first car was a ’66 bug, didn’t have a radio. This one has navigation, bluetooth and wifi
hotspot. hilarious.
Drove the farm truck to town and filled up on diesel that is .60 cheaper than my hometown.
Bought the steel for new side rails on my big flat bed trailer. The Ag class at the local highschool is going to fabricate them during winter semester. The other rural high school is building the built in ramps. Plus I gave them 4 pieces of equipment to overhaul and sell in their spring sale. Win, win, win. I get rid of
the stuff and they hopefully will make a bit of money for programs.
Making half batches of hummingbird food now that the summer visitors have flown South for the winter. I usually feed 4 thru the winter months.
Bought a gallon of close dated orange juice for $1.50. I think I’ll make breakfast for dinner!
We’re leaving October with the eye-watering expense of replacing DH’s lost electronic car key. We still had my copy of it, so it should not have been as expensive as it was, but companies are good at gouging on essentials these days. *sigh*
I stopped at Aldi after an errand brought me nearby, and got shower cleaner and cat treats at a very good price. Fixed a dent in the toe of a shoe last night by steaming the leather and stuffing the area with an old washcloth to dry overnight. The shoes looked great after they were polished.
Ruby, if it’s any consolation about the lost electronic car key, DH lost two full sets of keys (including both of the electronic key fobs to our Honda Element) in the course of his Alzheimer’s. To this day, I’m using the manual keys. But I remind myself regularly that things could have been much, much worse: There are horror stories on alzconnected.org about folks with dementia who have lost thousands of dollars through unsupervised online activities of various sorts (stock trading, porn sites, etc.). Thank goodness DH was never into any of that.
Thank you for endeavoring to post these days.
I only have one. I watched my grandsons soccer practice. He’s 3 and my son describes 3 year olds on a soccer pitch as ‘drunken penguins’. Free entertainment!