Five More Tiny Frugal Things
by Katy on July 11, 2025 · 10 comments
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I stopped at Fred Meyer (Kroger) to grab salmon for an extended family dinner and naturally looped past the random produce clearance shelf. (What am I, a Rockefeller?!) Sadly the price has increased from $1 to $1.50 per bag, although that’s still a decent price. Today the shelf provided a yuuuge bag of string beans, as well as four heirloom tomatoes. Oddly, the string beans provided two single brussel sprouts, which I found pretty funny.
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I also picked up two boxes of Fred Meyer brand powdered dishwasher detergent, as I worry they’ll discontinue this bargain item. The big box is just $5.99, yet holds enough for at least six months of daily dishwasher use. Unlike dishwasher pods, the powder allows me to decide how much product to use. I decant it into a cute canister and keep a tablespoon in it, which helps to not use too much. It’s hard to get ahead financially when all your money is tied up in dishwasher detergent.
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My step mother gave me an extra basil plant, plus some apples and lemons. Thanks, Lindy!
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Although I spent $46.45 on salmon, it fed seven people for dinner (including seconds) and provided enough leftovers to send home with my daughter; as well as a couple bonus servings for the fridge. The sticker shock was painful in the moment, but that’s actually not too shabby when you consider how much it would cost to treat seven people to a restaurant meal. Luckily it was somewhat balanced out by the bargain green beans.
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I continue to buy almost everything my family needs through thrift stores, eBay or marketplace, thus bypassing idiotic vindictive tarriffs.
Katy Wolk-Stanley
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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
The amount you spent on salmon was entirely reasonable. Salmon in a restaurant is at least half that price, for one portion, and that doesn’t include tax and tip. I know it was painful but also a good deal.
1. Yesterday was trash pickup day, and since we are walking early there are salvageable items. I brought home a Micro Mini Scooter that just needs a little cleaning up. The company sells them for $110. I will give it away to keep it out of the landfill. We also drove over to pick up a plastic chair and a kitchen size waste basket. The chair just needed a little cleaning. We don’t need/want it so it will be given away. The waste basket is a similar story.
2. I listed ten matching jars on Freecycle and someone is interested. I am not sure that our recycling is truly recycled and even if it is it is better for items to be reused rather than recycled.
3. I walked over to a friend’s house and we sat outside and had a nice visit.
4. I gave a neighbor a ride to the airport. It is only ten miles away so it is cheaper than parking these days.
5. We continue to discover that there just isn’t much we need these days.
1. I ordered a blood pressure monitor. It was Prime deal, alas, but it truly was cheaper than the others, and it was the recommended brand. It will arrive today, and here’s hoping I can figure out how to work it.
2. When walking home from the train station, I encountered a pair of shoes that I had seen sitting out the day before. They were by the street, not on personal property. They looked to be in good condition. I picked them up because rain was predicted. I’ll wash them and donate to Goodwill. I did notice once I got them home that there is a place where some stitches have become unraveled. Once they’re washed, I’ll see if I can fix that.
3. I had a cup of refried beans left over after several meals of quesadillas, and I didn’t want to eat them anymore, so I mixed them with half a cup of water and put them in the freezer with an attached note to add 1/4 cup salsa. Easy bean soup. I would have added the salsa but I’m out.
4. Another day, another book from the little free library! I have to say, we have a wealth of LFL’s in my area, and readers who contribute some very nice books!
5. Also from a LFL, I picked up a CD of Beatles songs — a compilation of 27 songs — still in the wrapper. I suppose people don’t play CD’s much anymore, but I do.
1. Took the two ceiling fans we couldn’t install back to Walmart. They were very helpful in accepting the returns. (Even though one box was opened, the parts had been taken out, and I was unable to repack it like it was before. That’s like trying to put toothpaste back in the tube!) Got my $ refunded on my debit card. (P.S. The clerk said they don’t put opened boxes back on the floor, so they may give this stuff to charity…..a thrift store, perhaps??? If you can find where Walmart gives its stuff away to, if it’s a thrift store, I imagine you’ll get some amazing bargains….)
2. Gathered up the remaining LVP flooring and stored it away. I’m sure we’ll have enough to do a small project with the leftovers, just as we did before.
3. Former roommate had left an almost-full canister of Slim Fast (powdered drink mix) here when she moved away. I found a shaker I’d gotten as a freebie at a health fair. Using it, I mixed the Slim Fast powder and milk and had a nice shake for supper, and also for today’s breakfast.
4. Visited the local arts and crafts “mall”, which, sadly, is having its going out of business sale. Was able to get some needed items for half off. I’d broken some Xmas tree ornaments last December, so I got 3 beautiful hand-painted ones for 50 cents each. Also, I have pretty much worn out the dishtowels that have crocheted tops, the ones where you can button them around a towel rack, cabinet hardware or fridge handle or something. So I got a couple of those. (Too bad for me, they are now $5, not $1.50 anymore…) This place is strictly a Mom and Pop operation. Everything is made by local arts and crafts people, and the mall owners are local folks, so it’s not benefiting big corporations.
5. Was able to write a review for a small Mom and Pop hardware store for Yelp. They’ve helped me with many projects and I said so in my 5* writeup.
1) I got my first paycheck in over a year! That was definitely the win. That said, it was for only one week of work due to timing, and I am trying to max my 401k before the year ends, and I have a lot of extra tax withheld (to try & balance DH’s severance, which didn’t get taxed at the appropriate level). That was a tiny little check, but I also received my sign on bonus, which was much healthier. I’m giving $5k to my nephew for college and this gives me enough time to get it to him well in advance of his fall tuition payment.
2) We ate meals from the house, ate leftovers, ate things from the garden, and generally tried to make the most of what was available.
3) DS18 left for his senior trip to Hawaii, on an unpleasantly early flight. DH took him + a friend to the airport at zero darkly early, saving them the cost of other trasnportation. We also reviewed the least expensive dining options, & I helped DS18 look for “happy hours” in the area that are open to people under 21/don’t require the bar area. They are planning to cook the majority of their food, but I wanted them to know how to search for the least expensive options dining out, should they decide to go that route.
4) I drove to the office for the first time (it’s under construction, so I will only be going once/week starting next week) & picked up my badge. I timed it with a volunteer event (we packaged food for a really cool non-profit that I will have to look into supporting.) We also had a picnic (free lunch), so that was fun & I got to meet some local coworkers. All of my team is remote (mostly outside of the US), but it was nice to meet folks within my larger organization.
5) I drove my electric car to the office (about a 30 minute drive each way), saving on gas. I didn’t charge it (not enough time at the office), but will look into free charging on future days.
1. On morning walk today, I found seven cans & one glass bottle ($0.80 deposits), plus a partial bag of potatoes (guessing from a cook out, will make instant pot mashed potatoes) and two restaurant receipts for free frozen custard at local restaurant. Perfect for hot weather & company!
2. I too am still hosting family guests & making many meals at home, using grocery bargains including watermelons that were $2.39/each (I found two that weighed in at over 15.5lbs individually); corn on the cob 10 for $2; steak marked down 50%; one gallon chocolate milk $1.99; free berries from bushes in woods; free artisan bakery bread ($8 value for outstanding pumpernickel) from donating blood last month; and used $1 off/gal of gas coupon for guests’ van fill up, getting gas for $1.89/gal and saving them $18 (coupon is approx $10 redemption value).
3. As a family of four, we have always chosen to live & manage with one car. Our twelve year old car with over 189K miles is in for some major repairs, but asked for a discount from the start of diagnosis and are receiving 10% off, plus taking in our reusable mugs for free coffee/tea, plus popcorn & water for kids each trip (will be at least 3x if not 4 by the time it is all done) and using the shop’s free shuttle service & courtesy vehicle.
4. Took guests to free local entertainment including outdoor symphony concert, scenic look out points, an evening walk on the beach with the full moon rising over the horizon, plus local fireworks & parade where one kid got a free donut (other kid got one last year, either me or hubby’s turn next year!) & my dad was recognized as a veteran, entitling him to a free meal at local food vendor.
5. Our library offers numerous non—book items for check out from the “library of things” including baking pans, an ice cream maker, ukuleles, etc. Limit is two, so I checked out the yard dice set and a telescope for outdoor fun & star gazing.
Picked gallons of pie cherries and gave neighbors 4 gallons.
I curb picked an IKEA nightstand w/3 drawers to use in the shop.
Shoved inside the bottom drawer was a large laptop backpack with a huge powerbank. Nephew who is working on the farm for the summer looked longingly at it, gave it to him.
Hooked up the drip water system to my 500 gal collected winter water. Using my trash picked solar panel to run the pump. Picked up used straw from a mushroom farmer to mulch around all of the plants.
Made a cute solar powered light fixture out of an antique brass 8 candle candlabra, took a set of “free box” staked garden solar lights, popped the lights in and now have a little light in the outside sitting area.
Picked and pitted 2 gallons of sour cherries to dehydrate in the solar oven.
I’ve been writing an article about bonkers home spa features and the woo is beginning to depress me. Sound healing, yeah sure. Crystals vibrate. Wellness butlers hey why not. Home IV station. People just will blow any amount of money on this complete nonsense.
So thanks for bringing me back to the real world!
Dehydrating free peaches. More left for jam.
Just finished time on 7 Qt jars of potatoes in canner
2 head of cabbage prepped & in jars for next canner fill.
Peaches prepped for making peach jam later today.
No time to make cheese today. That will be tomorrow’s job — fresh goat milk from my girls. Busy time of year.
Dinner in is always a bargain over dinner out!
1. I took my refillable water bottle with me to two meetings this week inside of coffee shops. I much prefer my coffee at home in the morning and managed to escape both meetings without spending any money. Interestingly- I was the only person in attendance who didn’t make a purchase.
2. My teen and I went on a forest walk and took lots of close up photos of mushrooms and other flora just for fun and observation purposes. We then came home and used all the produce in the house to make a delicious salad for dinner.
3. I am watching a daily practice video compilation on Creativebug (for free through public library) and using paper scraps from around the house to complete the challenges. It’s a fun way to be creative without spending.
4. I checked out the local bookclub’s latest book choice from Hoopla. The local book clubs are a great way to engage in some social activity without spending.
5. I’m partnering with a new local meeting space to host a board game night. It will be a great way to use the board games we own + build some community without any cost.
Have read you for decades now; huh, guessing over 25 years!!! Starting with buy nothing new posts on different site. I remember ‘ the Ms Jasmine wants you to go to school experience’ and ‘the Alameda newspaper’ and ‘LA Bee Keeping’ and many more writers.
THANK YOU for continuing to post and starting this site. You bring sanity and peace to changing times and always have good ideas on being careful with spending. You, and others from that time, anonymously held me together through difficult periods and are continuing to do that.
You make a huge difference in the world that you cannot see or know. THANK YOU so helping so many and keeping on writing and sharing.