Five More Tiny Frugal Things
by Katy on May 29, 2025 · 55 comments
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My step-mother picked up a dozen clearance priced eggs and shared half with me. Unfortunately, my husband recently bought approximately 752 Costco eggs, but I’m never one to turn down free food.
I’d forgotten how much my family likes deviled eggs, particularly when I embrace my inner Martha Stewart by using a schwanky piping bag. Hello, deviled eggs!
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Portland hit 82° F today, which is the perfect temperature to break through an Oregonian’s winter chill. We do have air conditioner window units for genuinely hot weather, but for now I’m luxuriating under the sweet breezes from my Buy Nothing group ceiling fan.
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I continue to take my daughter out for driving lessons, although we’ve temporarily switched from our minivan to a Prius. She’s doing great and should be ready for her drivers’ test in a few short months. (You’re supposed to have 100 supervised hours of driving before taking the test.) No reason to rush things. My efforts save us $50-$200/hour for her one-on-one driving lessons!
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I loaned our minivan to our next door neighbors, as they needed to pick up their daughter from some activity. They only have one car and borrow ours maybe once a year when they’re in a pinch. I’m more than happy to lend ours out, especially as it supports our block’s sharing culture.
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I didn’t coerce anyone into buying me an airplane.
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
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{ 55 comments… read them below or add one }
1. I picked up a small mystery shop at a grocery store. When this particular type of shop was first offered, I was able to get $18 payouts, but now someone else swoops in and claims them at only a $5 payout (plus $8 in reimbursement). One store is only 5 minutes from work, so I claimed it with the low payout (and later that day, someone claimed ALL 11 of the other shops for this chain of grocery stores).
2. I made pozole using homemade chicken stock and a dented can of hominy.
3. Last night, for part of my dinner, I ate a kale & chickpea salad, that my colleague left in my work apartment after staying the weekend. It was delicious.
4. I use gummies for sleep and a dispensary was holding a sale of Buy One, Get One Half Off, so I stocked up.
5. I had points that were expiring, so I got a free small sandwich from an app yesterday. I bought nothing else, so lunch was free. I’ll eat for free today at work, while drinking the crappy, but free, coffee.
I don’t have the patience to make deviled eggs. I do make egg salad, which, in my opinion, is really just failed deviled eggs.
1. Drinking my home brewed coffee as usual
2. Making omelets from my backyard hens gifted orbs.
3. Planted the last 2 gifted tomato plants, hopefully lots of red juicy tomatoes for BLTs later this summer!
4. DD wanted Nike sports bras but at $50 a pop (WHAT!) I looked for an alternative. I got 2 on Thread Up for a total of $36. Yes there are cheaper brands but she rarely asks for brand specific clothing ad we know this style fits and wears well.
5. I have not sold my soul to the devil in Evangelical Christian clothing.
Not a fail- just deconstructed deviled eggs!
I am not the cook in the family but I do make deviled eggs. Except when it comes to parting with money, I am not the most patient person. Use a spoon to fill the eggs, paprika is optional (just make sure you grab it not the chili poweder!).
I love how you and your neighbors share items.
One of my friends yells at me if any of the paprika hits the white on my deviled eggs. Piping is of course a given. To paraphrase Shirley Conran, life is too short to care about paprika on egg whites.
He also spends time looking for “proper” New England style top-sliced hot dog buns, which have to be rectangular and have cut sides.
No, he doesn’t have a job. He lives alone. Heh.
Rose, thank goodness your friend is not married. (Wonder why?!) He’s so picky, I’d feel sorry for his wife!
He’s gay is why.
Bless his heart, does he know he can make his own deviled eggs then?
I’m a passive-aggressive master at times, so I would be paprika-ing the crap out of the whites of the eggs. I would sprinkle them before I even filled them. And I don’t even use paprika on eggs, but I’d have to buy some just for that.
Oh, he does. He fusses over food more than anyone I’ve ever met. Food is love (he is Italian) and any get together of family or friends involves endless trays of apps and main dishes. He is a wonderful cook.
He is however in awe of my ability to can things (condiments, jams, etc), and I keep telling him it’s easy peasy and I’ll show him but he never wants to. He keeps urging me to sell my chow-chow and other condiments. Sure thing, I’ve got the energy for that.
Maybe the next time he invites me over I’ll bring some PROPER side split home baked hot dog buns and blow his mind.
@Rose – have to ask – will your chow-chow put hair on one’s chest or is it a tamer version?
1. I visited family out of state and stayed with a relative saving me the cost of a hotel.
2. I bought some snacks before going to the airport. This worked great on the way there, but I should have brought more on the way back.
3. Brought a refillable cup with me to fill up in the airport.
4. Avoided airport parking by having someone drop off and pick me up
5. Found good airline prices flying midweek. One layer on the way there, and a short stop on the way back.
6. Only brought one book again and avoided paying for extra bags.
Frugal fail
I spent $15 on airplane food upon realizing we were not getting off the plane on the way back. Bought a cheese and meat tray and m and ms. The meat and cheese tray goes with my diet at least. Have fun if I have the need. Can’t wait to get home.
Alice, you are a woman after my own heart—I, too, would buy some paprika just to use it on the whites.
Plenty of farmers’ wives would tell you piping deviled eggs is a waste of time – save the piping bag for a dessert that deserves it.
@ BettafromdaVille – Which Mystery shop company if you don’t mind us asking.
Jill, I am not BettafromdaVille, but in case she does not come back to see your poting, I will answer your question. Some companies don’t like to be named by the people who shop for the. Also, some companies are regional, so might do a grocery chain on the east coast but someone else does them on the west coast. The best resource is this no longer practicing attorney’s blog. He lists places past and present that he has done gigs for, and every month gives breakdown of what he makes. He calls mystery shops secret shops.
https://financialpanther.com/
Look up the secret shops section of this posting:
https://financialpanther.com/the-ultimate-list-of-gig-economy-apps/
1. Made batch of Italian soup and batch of refried beans from pantry provisions.
2. Found perfect condition pencil on hike this morning. Adding it to school supplies bin for back to school time.
3. Neighbor gave us 3D Harry Potter puzzle to work on as a family. As neighbors, we exchange puzzles, then pass them on to others or donate to our local library puzzle exchange program (free puzzles of all kinds, anytime).
4. Received coupons for two local independent grocery stores: $10 off $75 at one and a free cream cheese plus $0.99 blueberry pint with $10 purchase at other. Will strategically divide and conquer my pre-planned list & calculator in hand for the best & precise use, with both stores on the way for regular weekly errand run of library & recycling drop off.
5. Noted registration dates for summer reading programs at libraries & community businesses for kids & self. Always reading, but now we have the chance to boost the libraries’ participation & checkout stats even more and win prizes. Also, noted the dates of the free summer lunch program for kids hosted at two local libraries, too.
Libraries so appreciate the attendance! I am on the board for our small city library, and I try to plug their activities every chance I get!
I’m the president of our Friends of the Library & currently gathering donations from local businesses for our Adult Summer Reading Book Bingo. I love our library!
I do programming tell me how you run book bingo? Active or passive program etc
Thank you for using the library. They keep statistics on use, and it can be very impactful for grants and such. Also, some towns try to close libraries and justify it by saying that people are not using it enough to “waste” tax dollars on keeping the library open. And, finally, there is the legislator who said the country no longer needs libraries because all the books people could want can be found on Amazon.
We should all flood said legislator with the question when will we receive our subsidy to purchase said books? Does the idjit not realize that even if you have to pay out of district (which is around $150 in my area) for a card, it is far, far, far cheaper than buying books? We could ask him/her if he/she knows how much a new book costs.
One school’s last day is today. I normally wouldn’t have an afternoon run yoday (the school has 1/2 day and both kids are parent pick up), but I was able to pick up a substitute run this afternoon. Shorter, but not a total financial loss.
As Katy would say, we recently came into some money – my husband found a Visa gift card at his job that someone had thrown away (he works at the city transfer station/waste collection). As is the custom out there whenever they find a card, he checked the balance, and it had a whopping $1.45! That was enough to buy my morning fountain Pepsi! (I live a frugal life, but this is my treat – a fountain Pepsi in a Stanley that I won at a library function every morning for work. It lasts me most of the day, and it keeps me from saying the things I want to say when customers are nasty, thus enabling me to keep my job.)
Thanks for the reminder about the deviled eggs. We have a bunch of eggs in the fridge that need used up. I think I will invite the kids over for BBQ chicken, baked beans, and deviled eggs for supper this week. My hubby found BBQ sauce on super markdown as well as chicken thighs. Inexpensive meal, priceless company.
Not necessarily frugal, but I took a day off work yesterday. It is a holiday week, so I couldn’t get overtime anyway, and I really needed a mental health day. I did a few chores, but mostly I quieted my mind and napped. I feel 100% better today!
I covered my coworker’s responsibilities at work while she took a few days off for a trip, and she brought me some treats from Boston – cute notepads and mechanical pencils as I love some office supplies. This was not necessary, but definitely appreciated.
On my me day yesterday, I also worked on some crafts to decorate for the patriotic holidays coming up. All with supplies I already had, most of which were given to me or found at thrift stores/yard sales.
One time my husband and I were discussing shameful things we did as kids. Turns out both of us shoplifted, but only office supplies. I was about 12 when my career as a nerd shoplifter ended, courtesy of the very small Catholic boarding school I was sent off to that fall.
1) I’m doing yet another interview for a job. Today is a presentation, followed by a Q&A. This will be my 10th interview with the same company for a role. If it goes well, I’ll have a “final” interview on Monday. We’ve been in discussion on this role since January. Job searching is an exhausting process, so everything is crossed that this one pays off.
2) Decidedly unfrugal, but I got a sub for teaching my class tonight. We have a senior event for DS18, and I know I won’t be up for the energy required to teach after my presentation interview. I miss out on all of the money for the class, which is pretty silly, as I still have to prep the content for the sub, but whatever. I’m thrilled to have a break.
3) We skipped dinner and had popcorn last night after DS18’s senior awards night. It was frugal in that we froze an entire batch of fajitas (too much work after the awards event, and no one wanted a “full” meal.
4) DS18 won a community service award and two scholarships last night – one from the sports boosters & one from the PTSA. We were all thrilled, and he was SO excited about it. It was a really fun night.
5) DS19 hasn’t been packing a lunch for work, so rather than letting the lunch items go to waste, I’ve been weaving them into my lunches. Not my preferred options (this is sandwich fixings & I prefer a salad), but I’m making it work. Waste not, want not & all.
Congratulations to DS18! I think the truest awards are the ones that the recipient doesn’t expect. A real tribute to him and his family.
And best wishes on your presentation. What a drag of an interview schedule.
Thank you! He is really a jack of all trades sort of kid. He attends an extremely competitive high school (think, 40 kids with a 4.0, and full AP roster of classes). He is smart, but not as disciplined as some of the kids. He also volunteers a lot. And, plays two varsity sports. And works. So, I think he’s incredibly well rounded. But, scholarships & colleges are often looking for someone who has excelled at one particular thing, for years, and he’s a guy who likes to dabble. He plays almost every sport & does basically every outdoor activity. He’s my extremely adventurous child!
And, thank you! Presentation went well, final interview on Monday.
11 rounds of interviews is outrageous. I’m sorry you are at the mercy of companies who pull these stunts.
I went through similar shenanigans whilst job hunting. Grin an bear it.
Sending you good wishes on your search!
Thanks, Alexandra. It’s really a wild market out there, combined with things like: getting all the way through two full panels at different companies (6-9 interviews, 40+ hours of prep, etc) & they lose the head count due to layoffs & have to go with internal candidates. Or, getting put on pause due to tariffs and overall economic uncertainty.
I’m trying to remain positive. DH is also job searching, so at least I have someone to commiserate with? I think he mostly understood before, but let’s just say that he has a new appreciation for how crap the job market is right now!
Your #1 – I’m of the opinion that it would not be a company for whom I’d care to work. IMHO, they think you’re desperate for putting up with all these “interviews”. They’ve been short staffed for close to five months – so they have no qualms about overloading employees? Beware the golden handcuffs is all I can say.
We love deviled eggs and egg salad. I make hard boiled eggs every week because they are something easy to grab.
1. It is my birthday week. I used my free Starbucks item on a free breakfast sandwich. It was very good. I had never had one before. I got a free ice cream cone from Carvel. I have a bunch more to use. I will grab them when I am near the stores.
2. We celebrated my birthday on Memorial Day since my younger 2(who live locally) were available. Hubby smoked chicken and ribs. My son made me a chocolate cake. My daughter grabbed corn on the cob that was 10 for $2 and we had that too. It was a beautiful day. I received a bunch of wonderful birthday gifts. Hubby got me concert tickets for this summer. I am very excited about that. He also got me 2 Precious Moments from the thrift store. I love them. My son gave me an IOU for lunch out. My youngest gave me a haircut. I haven’t gotten a real hair cut in forever. I wanted one before her wedding so that’s what she gave me. I am excited and nervous. My parents sent me a check. I got lots of phone calls and texts too.One of my sisters sent me an Edible Arrangement. My oldest is coming tonight and I am sure I will love her gift too.
3. I went to the thrift store. I got 2 Brain Games puzzle books. 1 is for me and the lady I help. The other one is going to my dad for Father’s Day. They were each $1 and brand new. I got a new board game that went away for Christmas. I also got 2 Islander Jerseys for $3 each. They are going to my friend’s daughters who are big hockey fans. I was very excited because there were 2.
I didn’t bake any snacks since I got a bunch of snacks/food for my birthday.
Marybeth, happy birthday! It sounds like you got everything you wanted and more!
Thank you. I really got everything I could ask for which is time with the family. I think back to when I was in my 20’s and wanted physical gifts. Now that I am in my 50’s I just want time with them. Thankfully they are happy to spend time with me
1. Transplanted some overcrowded house plants into larger containers (I would call them “new” containers, except that I’ve had ’em around the house already.) Also used potting soil I already had. And collected some rainwater to use for watering plants; rainwater contains nitrogen but has no chlorine in it, so it’s better for them.
2. Worked 2 extra store shifts this week, covering for coworkers who called out.
3. Found a gift card for an eatery no longer in business here. Am passing it along to a friend living out of state; I looked it up, and they have that restaurant chain in their area.
4. Pulling from my box of greeting cards to send graduation and birthday cards to others. Many of these cards were bought for a dime from a thrift store. The price later went up to a quarter, but still much cheaper than elsewhere. Also have some I got from an estate sale, a whole bag for a dollar.
5. My friend borrowed some dog dishes and items for a pup she was fostering. She found that dog a permanent home after her landlord said no pets. I asked for the dishes back, and she is going to bring them over today.
1. Found a penny on my morning walk.
2. Also on my morning walk, I found a Margaret Drabble novella in a little free library. She is one of my favorites.
3. Rode the train to the library to return a book. I did not check out any more, because I have a lot of free books to get through.
4. Not much else going on…..
Frugally jumping around singin o-ho the wells Fargo wagon is a comin. I’m curious if the things I ordered when I was cuckoo are things I want. Oh well just once in a very blue moon does this happen, might as well enjoy it.
“Will it be something for someone who is no relation or it could be something special just for me” *dancing*
But was it “a prepaid surprise or COD”?
1) Ignored the Memorial Day sales and enjoyed my garden instead of rushing around!
2) Did a mani/pedi! While the pedicure felt amazing and looks great, the manicure was a partial fail. I did very good cuticle care and massage on my hands- but the nail paint design was a fail. I attempted to do a nail art stickers with polish and it was not well done. Plus the polish did not have enough layers, so it makes me look like I have jaundice.
3) Took a break from strength training- I went too hard, and am just doing the 10-12k steps as exercise only, along with stretching for the week at home.
4) I did do take out for Memorial Day- simply did not feel like cooking, and had friends over. But I did serve homemade garden cordial with the last of my sparkling cider from a few years ago. The cider aged beautifully
and made a great sparkling cocktail.
5) I did not get my chaotic tarriffs smacked down.
Why on earth is this in my news feed? I hate what the world has become
You’re welcome.
1. Just one not-tiny thing: prepping meals this afternoon. Almost done with the following:
– Baked brown rice
– Sauteed peppers and onions
– Roasted carrots
– Boiled noodles
– Sauteed broccoli and mushrooms
– Hard-boiled eggs
– Whipped up dip
– Blended smoothies
– Baked pumpkin scones, using part of a huge $1 can of pumpkin pie mix
Made a meatloaf for my husband’s lunch tomorrow, a deluxe one is wrapped in bacon. To use up the remaining bacon, I made a baked breakfast polenta with bacon, cheddar cheese, red pepper, onion and spinach. It is so good! It also used up a bag of shredded cheddar that had been in the freezer a long time and put a dent in the long-frozen cornmeal and bread crumbs.
Rainy day here, so free water for the garden. I groomed our sweet, extremely fluffy cat. Sometimes four is all you got.
I don’t have FMTFT, but I do have two huge ones:
(1) NDN’s other close friend and I got her down to the law office this morning so that she could sign her final legal paperwork (HCP/living will, DPOA, will, and revocable trust). She was a little shaky, but she made it through the entire process. Three hearty huzzahs!!!
(2) And no sooner had I walked in the door from (1) that I got an offer I couldn’t refuse from JASNA BFF: She’s invited me to be her “plus one” at the opening reception for the Morgan Library’s upcoming exhibit in honor of Jane Austen’s 250th birthday (https://www.themorgan.org/exhibitions/lively-mind-jane-austen-250). As soon as I’ve arranged with the Bestest Neighbors and NDN’s CF to provide increased discreet monitoring of NDN in my absence, I’ll be buying my Amtrak tickets. Woo hoo!!!
I am seriously jealous! I’ve never made it to the Morgan library and to go for such an amazing opening is the top .0000000001% of all outings!
I, too, am most envious of your invitation!
Have you read “The Personal Librarian” , a book of historical fiction about Belle De Costa Greene? The book was engaging (although it took some liberties with how the main character was characterized compared to other books on the subject) and made me wish to visit the Morgan Library.
I am so glad you have this wonderful opportunity!
Things happen for a reason – be it a good thing or a not so good thing. Good thing happening for you since you are a plus one AND that your circle has you backside.
1) Going on our weekly beach picnic dinner tonight, I packed the lunches in the morning so when I get home from work I can put them in my backpack and we can hop on our bikes and go. Free entertainment, exercise(we bike there) and a night off cooking!
2) I made myself a batch of chickpea salad for easy sandwiches.
3) Walked to Costco on my lunch break and bought berries and walnuts, we go through a lot of berries, which is probably not frugal but there are worse food items to spend money on.
4) Hosting book club on Friday but didn’t need to buy any food or drink, I still have bottles of wine that people left after previous book clubs and I’m serving food I already had.
5) Continuing to bring breakfast, lunch, coffee and a snack to work every day I’m in the office.
Didn’t seem like a frugal day as I ran errands to several places. But took the most direct route and realized I’d be going by Kroger. I had a couple of coupons that expired in a few days. Picked up a $3.99 bag of frozen shredded hash browns for free (perfect for a tasty vegan breakfast casserole I like that bakes in the oven, no oil needed). Also splurged and used a couple for $2 off impossible spicy chicken patties on sale for a “fast food” lunch this weekend. Not healthy but will be a treat. They also sent me coupons on store brand cans of veg and beans so added to the pantry.
Came in under the USDA for thrifty level grocery spending again this month. Some months when I’m trying to stock up a bit or when we host more often, I exceed it and venture into the low cost level.
Picked up an Rx at Walmart which had the cheapest price. Forgot to take out of my HSA but under $40 so not a huge hit. They ran it through their coupon options first and I appreciate that. Had two other items on my list there and stuck to that.
Glad I found this site and I’m not complaining it showed up in my feed. (I don’t actually have a feed – I found this from thefrugalgirl.)
@Bonnie – you can reimburse yourself from your HSA. The beauty of an HSA is you can reimburse yourself at any time (on or after the start date of your HSA). I don’t reimburse myself for low cost Rx but instead mark my records as “not reimbursed”. The onus of record keeping is on the HSA owner. I’m probably close to $1K of Rx/co-pay that at some point I’ll reimburse myself. But for now, my HSA balance grows.
I got a 25$ reward on my insurance GC for getting my annual mammogram. It was abnormal so I had to have a sonogram. I am usually disciplined in having my recommended annual screening exams. So happy sonogram was normal & no Stage 4 cancer as our beleaguered former president has. I am flummoxed as to why he was not advised to have prostate screening.
@texasilver – don’t be flummoxed. PSA numbers for a man over age 70 are no the red flag they are for a man age 50 and under. I’m aggravated as hell my dad’s PCP keeps ordering PSA tests for him. He’s older than our former president. The only silver lining is his new urologist is younger and keeps up with the times. Meaning his knickers are *not* in a knot over dad’s readings. Truth be told, prostate cancer at dad’s age is slow growing. Meaning other health issues that dad has are likely to kill him before prostate cancer.