Five Tiniest Frugal Things
by Katy on July 20, 2025 · 4 comments
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I filled the neighbor’s small canning jars with freshly snipped mint before returning them. Perhaps not as tasty as the watermelon sorbet they previously contained, but still better than empty. One got chocolate mint, while the other — standard mint. I grow both these plants in individual backyard flowerpots to avoid their rampant spread.
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I watched the first two episodes of Back to The Frontier through my parents’ HBO account. The producers obviously borrowed greatly from PBS’ Frontier House, but I hold out hope that there’ll be some new value to the show. It’s definitely more reality TV than documentary, (complete with obvious false conflict) but I’ll keeping watching as the episodes come out. I appreciate that one of the three families is queer, as that’s unfortunately considered a bold casting decision on a show that would otherwise appeal to the right wing prepper community. Thank you, HBO!
By the way, I found a Making Frontier House segment from 2001 that I was able to watch for free through the PBS app on my Roku.
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I sold a thrifted cast iron skillet for $30 through Facebook Marketplace and then a pair of Børn booties for $25 through eBay. The shoes may be the item I’ve had on eBay the longest, (maybe six years?) which goes to show that it can be worth letting your “inventory” sit, even if it’s annoying to do so. Of course, it helps that I have the physical space in my house to store inventory without having to look at it on a daily basis. Mind you, I much prefer when things sell immediately!
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I wrote a four page letter to my college best friend who just turned sixty, using thrifted stationary from 1974. Super cute, but I definitely shouldn’t have licked the envelope. Blegh!!!! It reminded me of George Costanza’s ill-fated fiancé on Seinfeld. The price was right, the flavor was wrong!
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I didn’t spend $600 on Coldpay concert tickets, only to humiliate myself on a “kiss cam” and watch my entire personal and profesional life crumble into pieces.
Katy Wolk-Stanley
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
1) While digging in the freezer for something I came across a gallon freezer bag with 5 blueberry toaster waffles in it that had fallen to the back. Ate 2 for breakfast. Will have them gone by tomorrow.
2) A few people yesterday mentioned phone issues (phone itself, not the carrier). I haven’t checked into it myself yet, but I heard about an inexpensive carrier called Tello on Dave Ramsey’s page. Currently, we use Straight Talk (a lot cheaper than Verizon), but I am going to investigate Tello further. If it’s reliable and less expensive than what we have now, we will most likely make the switch.
3) Managed to not get coffee or syrup on my new top I got on clearance. The first time I wear something, food/beverage usually bounces down my chest and my belly and I end up with a stain (or 2, or 3, or …).
4) Going to make a loaf of banana bread after church today for my sister. Her oven hasn’t worked in over 4 years. She’s told the landlord about it twice and has since given up. On one hand, I’d like to rip her landlord a new one (my sister is too stubborn and is letting it go). On the other hand, she’s 81, having vision issues and memory issues, so I’m kind of glad it doesn’t work, for safety’s sake. I usually take her leftovers she can reheat in the microwave so she at least gets a few home-cooked meals; or, if I bake something, I take her some when I take her for groceries and errands (every other week as she lives 45 minutes away one way).
5) Going to take care of a friend from Tuesday – Saturday while my DH goes with her DH to Philadelphia for a series of Dr appts. Her DH has to have someone with him, and his DW can’t go because DC (Dear Canine) has a vet appointment and my friend has an appointment as well. Due to her current mobility issues, she is unable to get her own meals. I’m planning easy meals of things she will like that her DH doesn’t. (Lasagna with spicy spaghetti sauce, Egg Roll in a Bowl, General Tso’s Cauliflower, anything with fruit, etc.)
Melissa, I can relate to your #3 and #4. Re: the #3, I’m pretty good at spilling things down my rather zaftig front myself–as were both my mother and my MIL, may they rest in peace. (On the rare occasions when my mother and my MIL met, my DH and I used to place a private, naughty bet on which mother would do the food spill thing first. My mom usually won.)
And re: your #4, my next-door neighbor with the early-stage dementia (NDN1) has a stove that isn’t working right either, and her other close friend (CF) and I aren’t hustling to get it fixed, for similar reasons. So we are all sticking to things NDN1 can heat in the microwave, too.
1. 2 colleagues and I spent the day together working on a project yesterday. I brought pulled pork and rolls. The pulled pork was leftover from a party (2+ years ago! [but was still perfectly fine in the freezer]) and rolls were free from mystery shop. I also brought cherries (free, mystery shop) and a pack of cookies (75% off at the store).
2. Less frugal, I ordered a bagel with cream cheese and bacon from a local cafe. When I got home to eat the bagel, they hadn’t added the bacon. I ended up returning to the cafe to ask for a refund for the bacon. They tried to refund me the entire cost, but I insisted that they only refund me for the bacon.
3. I’m staying at the work apartment this weekend, so I’m saving on gas for not driving 3.5 hours to get home this week.
4. I picked up a pork butt for $.99 per pound. I’ll make more carnitas/pulled pork and freeze in 1-lb portions.
5. I’m giving a talk at a retirement community tomorrow. They can’t pay me, but they are feeding me dinner…. so… free food!
Did my every-so-often clean up of trash at the two entrances to our neighborhood this morning and really wished this state had a bottle/can return law, as the secluded side had bunches of beer cans and vodka bottles.
DH excels at getting food all over his shorts, and I managed to organize my laundry to have a load of whites to which I could add his pale khaki and pale gray shorts that had many splotches of ketchup and chocolate.
Not cooking because it’s quite hot. We have some sale cooked ham and lots of fresh veggies courtesy of the container garden.