Five Special Frugal Things
by Katy on September 20, 2024 · 58 comments
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My mother is in the hospital right now, as she had triple bypass surgery a few days ago. I spent maybe four hours with her yesterday morning and brought a peanut butter and jelly sandwich from home, so I wouldn’t have to grab food while away from the house. There’s no point in being at the hospital and then spending that time in the cafeteria, plus I’d prefer to save money whenever possible. I always bring a reusable water bottle as well.
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I knew I was leaving the house too early on her surgical day, so I routed myself both to the library (I had books to both return and pick up) and then to a drive-through Goodwill site along the way. I had a couple boxes of stale eBay inventory to donate and didn’t want to procrastinate this errand. My priority was certainly not to run errands on the day my mother had surgery, but it felt good to check things from my to-do list.
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I got home late from the hospital last night, as I’d gone a second time to bring the kids by to say a quick “I love you” to their grandmother. I’d offered to take the kids to dinner afterwards, but they were both wiped out so I simply drove one of them through Burgerville for a burger and fries while the other drove himself home. I didn’t get anything for myself as I still have a pot of chicken soup in the fridge.
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• I sold a set of crib sheets for $25 on eBay that I listed maybe two years ago. Them being easy to package up was a gift.
• I renewed my Facebook Marketplace listings this morning.
• I walked to the mechanic to pick up the freshly repaired minivan.
• My friend Lise was going to Winco and asked if there was anything I needed, to which I replied “onion powder,” as they were out of the bulk variety last time I went.
• Although we spent $1200 on car repairs, my husband saved us around $500 by repairing the ignition himself.
• My mother loves sunflowers, so I’ll stop into Trader Joe’s to pick up the flowers for her hospital room. I’ll bring a cheap-o vase from home and my own garden shears to create a customized $6 flower arrangement.
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I didn’t repair a Lear Jet.
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
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{ 57 comments… read them below or add one }
My frugal win this week was snagging some super cute fox crib sheets off eBay for a new grandbaby!
I sell on eBay too and at some point must have saved your shop. I didnt make the connection until I was paying and saw your eBay name again! Small world!
They will be excellent for the grandma house crib and will remind baby of the many, many foxes living around me!
Thanks Katy!
Wishes for a speedy recovery for mom!
Hope Mom does well post op!
Praying for your mom!
Oh Katie! Best wishes to your mom! She is sure to ace the recovery and be better than ever! My husband had a double back in 1999 at age 52. They have come so far in the past 25 years!
2023 was a tough year for him mainly because of kidney disease and ending up on dialysis. Sadly he passed this past January, a month before his 77th birthday.
I say this not to evoke sympathy but to say your mom is gonna do great. I am sending all my best to your mom and your family!
I am glad they were able to identify your mom’s heart problem and correct it with surgery. The first few weeks are hard but things start getting better after that. I had a quad bypass the end of 2022. My daughter was my biggest support system, and I know she appreciates everything that you were doing for her.
Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery for your Mom. What trying times.
Get well soon Susan!!
Prayer for a quick recovery for your mom. Praying for you and the rest of your family. My dad had dental surgery this week. My sister drove him and my mom. All of his grandkids called him this week. He said he should have surgery more often.
1. My weeks are still revolving around what needs to be used up in the garden. I made a batch of refrigerator fig jam, 8 small jars. My son already took one. My oldest said that there better be a jar for her when we visit her next month. She loves all things figs.
2. I made a chicken brushetta pizza again. Hubby loves them and it uses a lot of tomatoes up. My son was happy to come for dinner. I grilled up extra chicken cutlets(got on sale for $1.99) for easy lunches. I made the pizza dough and sauce too.
3. I had so many tomatoes still but not enough time to cook them so I threw them in the food processor and then put that in the chest freezer. I am really trying to avoid as much waste as possible. All waste did go into my compost bin.
4. I did a library class, it was laser engraving pencils. I am trying to learn about the newest additions in the library in the technology room. It has a quilting machine, and a laser that engraves. It already had 3d printers, sewing machines, a poster/map printer . I love that they are always adding new things. I have an embroidery class coming up soon. I figure I can get some items from the thrift store(cutting boards, glasses, towels) and get them done for my daughter’s bridal shower next year. The pencils are put away for Christmas presents. They came out really cute.
5. I started with my new client this morning. She is very sweet. I have an appointment for next week to meet with a potential client. It would only be 6 hours a week but I’ll happily take it.
Oh, Katy: I know you referred briefly to “family health problems” in an earlier post, but this must have come as a quadruple whammy on top of everything else. I send best wishes for a full and speedy recovery to Su Mama, and for better times ahead for you all.
Wishing your mom the best in her recovery. Having you close must be a blessing to her. I think the sunflowers will be much appreciated. If there ever was a cheerful flower, it’s the sunflower.
Katy, I know this is a really rough time for you right now. Thank you for checking in with us. If you don’t mind, I’ll pray for your mom and your family.
Katy, I add my good wishes for your mom to have a quick and uneventful recovery. And your husband is awesomely handy, what with fixing the ignition and all the times he repaired major appliances!
I was in the vicinity of Aldi yesterday and bought some canned goods to restock the pantry, along with milk and fruit. Today I took a few paper coupons to Food Lion and saved 13 cents each on a lot of canned cat food and got diced canned tomatoes for 62 cents a can. Priced a medication for clogged sinuses at Food Lion and nearly swooned. It was massively cheaper, like half the price, at Walgreen’s up the street and I had $4 in register rewards to apply toward the purchase.
Have not spent an unnecessary cent all month as we are waiting to pay the next installment on having our porch rebuilt. Knowing we have to write a check for $8K tends to focus our frugal skills like a laser.
Aww Katy thanks for letting us know! I was worried. Hope recovery is quick and thorough and seriously let me know how I might help! ❤️
Best wishes to your family and particularly your mother.
I’m going gently on my way as I gear up to do another week with the grandchildren.
1. Got 10 pages of color printing done at the library for free. One can get 10 pages free every day. I love it.
2. Picked up a kids bike yesterday, it had a free sign on it. I was riding my bike but thankfully was only 2 blocks from home. I just held the kids bike out to my side and rode home. It was in good order, but cosmetically a bit challenged. I sold it the same day for $10. I didn’t want to keep it because of space constraints, and I was happy that it went to a child that wanted it.
3. Found my favorite soap is being discontinued so I just bought 12 bars for $1.47 each. At Wholefoods! I may go back and get some more. They’re also selling on ebay….
4. Adding garden produce to every meal.
5. Rode my bike to Safeway. Bought 2 loss leaders, which rang up wrong. Per store policy if it rings up wrong then it’s free (if it’s multiples of the same item then only one of them is free). But it meant I got 2 packages of Aidells sausages for a total of $3.47. Yippee!
Kara, re your #3, if it’s Good Soap by Alaffia, that’s my favorite, too.
It is! I’m going back today to buy some more.
Katy, I mothered my mother for several years, she lived to be 97! One of the most useful things I did was contact her church and neighbourhood friends and let them know what was happening ( I borrowed her address book) She loved the care and concern, and , since they were very local, provided lots of company.Im wishing her a speedy recovery!
Sending healing thoughts and prayers
Hospital food is usually overpriced and not tasty
My valve replacement surgery has been postponed until 11/13. Hopefully I can get back on the schedule at work since I put in for a medical leave of absence
Kathy, I realize not all hospital cafeteria are equal, but the cafeteria food at the hospital where I work is VERY tasty! They have excellent pizza, a made-to-order Deli counter that uses Boars Head products, a make-to-order counter that changes every day (the salmon salad with multiple mix-ins available, and Taco Tuesday, are two big faves), a hot food counter that has at least two entrees and multiple hot sides, 4 soups every day…..as well as all kinds of drinks and snacks. While it can add up cost-wise, their prices are actually pretty decent (yes, it’s still cheaper to pack a sandwich & drinks/snacks).
@Liz B. my econ teacher from many moons ago use to repeat that time is our most precious resource. Running down to the cafeteria to grab food that can be brought back to the loved one’s room takes far less time than making at home then getting to the hospital. One of the favorite phrases of a boss of my past was “penny wise and pound foolish”. We should all keep that in mind.
I’m praying for both your mom and you, Katy. Healing and strength for your mom, and calm and strength for yourself. Getting to see you and her grandkids surely had to be wonderfully encouraging to her.
I hope your mom recovers quickly!
I wish your mom rapid healing. Again, I am amazed that you manage to keep some focus on frugality, such as bringing P&J sandwich to the hospital. A meal that does not stink up a room. (I brought a tuna sandwich to eat when my husband was in the hospital and he asked me not to do that ever again, to him or anyone else!)
I only have one frugal thing to report. In my 30s I bought an aspirational lace and beaded floor length dress. Even when I lost enough weight to get in it, my shoulders were too large. It has been sitting in my closet for 4 decades, preserved in a special case. A friend stopped by with another friend, to pick up some buckets, and I had the dress out to check that it was okay. The friend’s friend positively swooned, asked to try it on, it fit and she offered me $200 on the spot via PayPal. (I believe I paid about $500 for it back then. I know, I know…) It was time to let the dream go. This is how much I loved this piece of clothing—I once asked my husband if he thought my shoulders could be broken enough on my corpse to be buried in this dress. He said it would be easier to slit the back so it fit better. When my friend’s friend walked out with it, I am embarrassed to say I teared up, mostly because I felt like I had let a dream go. So, made money, cleared something out of the closet, and didn’t have to package it up or pay for mailing. My husband was relieved, saying he was afraid I’d end up forcing myself into it and wear it every day, like some weird version of Miss Haversham.
It is always nice to see an item go to a good home regardless of unit of cost.
Awww, it can be hard letting those dreams go…..but you 100% did the right thing. I have a vintage 1950s sheath dress that I will never be able to wear again (it’s tiny), but I can’t let it go yet. Good for you for making some money AND releasing that dream.
Prayers for your Mom.
Boy you really can’t catch a break lately. I hope your mom is better soon.
We have been back from our funeral trip for a few days. We were able to save money on the trip in the following ways.
1. We used points for 1 night hotel on the way out.
2. I went through Swagbucks for 1 hotel night and earned cash back.
3. We sucked it up and ate fast food while on the road. I hate fast food, but well – it is fast and cheap and that is what we needed.
4. We stayed with family while there.
5. We drove rather than fly and rent a car. We did the math and it was far cheaper to drive – mostly due to rental car prices.
Wishing for a speedy recover for your mom!
Katy, wishing your mom a full and fast recovery. Great pic of the two of you.
Katy, wishing your mom a full recovery as quickly as possible. Sending good vibes to you and your whole family as well.
I’ve been full-on crisis mode for a family member that was rushed to the hospital a week ago. Some days I think doing the little normal things (like your stops at the library and goodwill) are the only ways I can catch my breath.
I know you are watching your mother carefully & advocating for her. It is so helpful to have a family member who is a health care person whilst one is in hospital or undergoing surgery. I bet your mom is grateful she has you (and your husband) tending to her.
I hope things smooth out for you & family. You have been very busy lately caring for others. Eat another PBJ sandwich. It will make you feel better! (I had one for breakfast yesterday.) I understand not wanting to eat in the hospital cafeteria. I’ve had my fill of hospital cafeteria food also. Expensive & not always good.
Best wishes for your mother’s full recovery. She is so lucky to have had flowers, especially such cheerful ones. In hospitals in the UK, the NHS has banned flowers and plants because of the risk of allergies and bugs. I suspect the work involved in cleaning up is a nuisance but it sure looks bleak. I’m sure that she appreciates the time that you and your family are able to spend with her.
Best wishes to your Mom for a speedy recovery.
Have been thinking of you and hope your beautiful mother continues to mend well and that life will return to equilibrium for all. I understand the value of doing “normal” things amidst the occasional chaos and angst of life. Best wishes and kind thoughts to you and yours.
Wishing your mom a speedy recovery and wishing you the strength to continue to power through the very stressful experiences you and your family are going through right now.
Hope you momma is doing well and feeling better. Prayers being said for her!
I forgot to say that I love Trader Joe’s sunflowers as well. When I had my first baby (almost 30 years ago) my mother brought me sunflowers to the hospital. My daughter was born in February in England, which is a dark and dreary month, and I had hemorrhaged and nearly died during the delivery and the sunflowers were such light in the dark days. They remain to this day our family symbol of cheer. I give that daughter sunflowers every birthday.
Much love to your mother, and to you. She’s very beautiful…
Was a bad week here too. My husband had emergency surgery for blood clots. Went to the hospital cafeteria , but chose to wait. I took food with me the next day, plus a peach for my husband.its an hour drive to and back.
Wishing all the best for your mom, Katy.
Husband came home today.
Marie, glad your husband is home. Wishing him a full recovery, too.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery for your mom. She is very fortunate to have you to assist in her recovery. Hopefully only brighter days are ahead.
I sure hope your mom has a speedy recovery, Katy. And that you are treating yourself kindly as well throughout it all. It’s hard to be there for others when our well is dry.
Sending healing thoughts to your mom as she recovers, Katy. And sending you and your husband extra energy and patience as you juggle so many major things at once.
I wish your Mom all the best, and am rooting for her quick return to home and feeling well
Lawsy, you guys must be exhausted.
So much turmoil.
I’m sorry things have been so hard.
Your family’s support of each other goes a long way when things are trying.
I appreciate all the years I have read this blog and seen the sharing and support for your family and friends pointed out regularly.
Your example has shown that when we take the time to pick up the sale item for the neighbor or call the friend about a free pile or just walk with a friend for entertainment, we are deepening our relationships.
That is where we turn when things are tough.
And they to you.
But it also means when things are good, we just share the joys.
Thanks for modeling this and spelling it out, year after year.
I get much inspiration from your writing and the readers comments.
Wishing a speedy recovery to your mama.
Alexandra, your comments remind me of the saying “Friends double your joys and divide your sorrows.” There are other variations of this sentiment and they’re all good.
Wishing your mom a speedy recovery….she is so lovely, as are you. I know your mom appreciates you and your family being there for you. Sunflowers are just so cheery – great choice.
…being there for *her*
Sending your mom lots of get well & recovery thoughts. The picture of you two together is so lovely.
1) Sold a couple of things on FB Marketplace from DS18’s room. An adjustable height desk & 3 card games. Made $125, & got some stuff cleaned out.
2) Cobbling together meals from the freezer & pantry this week, as it’s just me + DS17.
3) Ate garden items (so many tomatoes!), plus lettuce & mangoes + strawberries that a friend brought over while I was gone. The mango was fantastic & I ate that with breakfast. I turned the strawberries into a smoothie for DS17 after his soccer game.
4) Realized I forgot a pair of ear buds at the hotel we stayed at in Corvallis. Paying for shipping is cheaper than buying new, but still. Drat. It was a mad rush to get out, but still, I always double check a hotel room & I’m irritated I didn’t this time.
5) DS18 picked up free OSU football game tickets for students & went to his first college game yesterday. He’s not the most social kid, and had never been to a high school game, so this was way out of his comfort zone. He had a fantastic time. So happy to see him spreading his wings & enjoying the first week of college.
6) Made muffins out of overly ripe bananas on the counter + got six additional overly ripe bananas out of the freezer.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery!
Katy, sending my best wishes for your mom.
Sending well wishes for your mom! <3
Sending warm wishes for a full recovery for your Mom and a respite of all the work and expenses your lin laws place is bringing. Here’s to a calmer October!!
Katy, best healing wishes for your mom.
Back to making bread, the hot weather has finally broken and the prices in the store are up again….
Firewood delivered this morning, free exercise for a few weeks…
Chickens have really slowed the laying. but they need a break also .
Cancelled the free 3 month trial of 2 packages offered thru out satellite company.
No AC or heat and windows open….love it.
I admit to welcoming the Fall weather, the winter weather not so much….
Hoping for a quick recovery for your mom!!
Katy – best wishes to your mom and whole family. Bypass surgery is a rough recovery!
1. Found a great protein powder that has caffeine in it, making morning commutes easier and avoiding the siren song of a coffee run.
2. Finally have dialed in my snacking for marathon training, including a bag of miniature stroopwafels from the grocery store. One “running” waffle is $1 or a bag of 30 “regular ones” is $5 (they are the same nutrition content!)
3. Continuing to shop my closet as we get closer to another round of weddings. Youtubed how to fix a broken dress strap and am getting more life out of one of my beloved wedding outfits. Excited to strut my stuff!
4. Speaking of weddings, it’s our first anniversary this upcoming Monday! We are going to a restaurant that I have a gift card for from a previous birthday. This will help defray the cost and let us enjoy ordering with abandon knowing dinner is heavily subsidized.
5. This is so silly but we have been watching football at home this season. It avoids the question of ordering dinner at the bar and also having some beers at home is forever cheaper than ordering out. Bonus? When the Bills are winning by 30+ points, I can take a nap on the couch!
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