Five Tiniest Frugal Things
by Katy on August 3, 2025 · 24 comments
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I stopped into a Goodwill to see if I could find anything to resell or at least photograph for the blog. I found neither and left with my wallet intact. Poor quality crap in the stores = poor quality crap in thrift shops.
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I had more figs than I could possibly eat, so I chopped and froze them for some future mixed-fruit crumble. A couple of them were super squishy, but that’ll be fine in a baked dessert as the texture breaks down anyway. My step-mother’s fig tree is producing a tremendous amount of fruit right now, but there’s only so many fresh figs that I can eat in any given day!
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My daughter was working a later shift than normal, so I brought her some hoisin tofu over rice and a nice chilly can of flavored seltzer to get her through the dinner hour. I don’t normally buy canned water, but I had a pair of coupons for free cases of Polar water seltzers with “$5 purchases” last week.
My $5 purchase was precisely $5 of bulk spicy sausage from the meat counter, which I cooked up and froze for future use.
It’s been nice to have these drinks to offer up to visitors and gave three away yesterday when my husband stopped at the house midway through his work shift. He had two extra people in his vehicle, so I sent him out with a can for each of them.
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My mother’s cherry tomato plant is producing more than she can eat, so she sent me home with a nice big container of my own home grown tomatoes. I have a couple of tomato plants, but I must be doing something wrong as they’re spindly as hell and hardly growing anything.
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This one puts the “tiniest” in “five tiniest frugal things,” but I was getting ready to pull down and launder the curtain in our bathroom, as there’s one side that accumulates cat hair from Zelda jumping up to look out the window. Instead I cut off a piece of packing tape and used it to remove the offending cat hair. The rest of the curtain was fine, so it was just this one spot that appeared dirty. Bing, bang done!
Katy Wolk-Stanley
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We were away for the weekend so there was not a lot frugal to activity.
1. We went to visit relatives and stayed in a hotel using points we earned for opening a Hilton credit card a couple of years ago.
2. We packed snacks for the road.
3. We visited a shopping village my MIL liked to visit many years ago. I didn’t buy anything but enjoyed a bit of looking (and scoffing at the prices).
4. DD traveled with us so mileage, tolls, and hotel were essentially the same as it would have been for two people.
5. We traveled early in the day to beat traffic and somehow saving travel time feels like saving money (or at least your sanity).
1. Cut the husband’s hair.
2. Husband cut my hair.
3. Current self is thanking past self for planting a garden. We are currently overrun with cukes, tomatoes, zucchini, and peas, all but the tomatoes from seeds sourced for free in seed exchanges or door prizes from local garden club meetings. Water is pretty much all I spend on raising them, since I have excellent compost heavy soil that requires little fertilizing.
4. In the last two weeks we have gotten free mystery shop lube jobs on our regular vehicle, as well as the pick up we use only during the summer because we always have some construction project another going. One of the vehicles requires synthetic oil, which is really expensive, but was covered by the shop.
5. Husband collected his various birthday rewards this week, including a free popcorn at the movies (you don’t have to go to a show to get it, so he walked in and out), a free root beer float, and a free 6 inch sub.
A shout out to our credit union. We sent a $1000 check to someone, it was stolen in the mail and whitewashed. When we realized it had been cashed by a party totally unknown to us, we went to the bank, they sent us to the police department to file a report, and within 24 hours they had reimbursed us. THe poor clerk who cashed it had just started so, as the bank manager put it, “Looks like a training opportunity to me.” I was impressed with the fast resolution of the issue.
Coincidentally, I just used a piece of packing tape to pick up popcorn dust from the floor under my desk chair, after eating a big bowlful. I didn’t want to vacuum because lazy. 😉
1. Green beans are coming in–we ate a big serving last night but the next picking will go in the freezer.
2. I did some surveys from my health insurance, and they sent me some gift cards; one I gave to a homeless man for food, and the other I used to buy myself some secondhand books. Free gifts for me!
3. I have been making scratch pads from my used paper, because the other side is still blank. I need to write down my grocery lists and to-dos.
4. I picked up a new gig doing social media management, so I have another chunk of monthly income coming in. Good thing, as I am weary from riding the edge of my bank balance.
5. I am so weary with the barrage of news; it is making me literally crazy. But kittens, gardens, books, walks and music are all on my free list and are saving my sanity.
Katy–My cat leaves his black fur on the white shower curtain, too! He likes to go in there and drink drips of water after someone showers. Thanks for the idea to use tape to clean it up. 🙂
I don’t have a recipe, but have heard that a mock strawberry jam can be made from figs. I’m sure there is a recipe out there to be found. Pretty sure it used strawberry jello powder.
Yes, you can make a mock jam with figs and jello. I’ve done raspberry. When I have a glut of figs, I make fig chutney and a fig jam … both are delicious!
Figs are AMAZING on pizza. Tutta Bella in Seattle makes them seasonally and they are out of this world.
https://www.tuttabella.com/news-item/the-calabrese-is-back-and-its-figgin-good/
Just as an example. I’m sure readers can adapt as needed.
Pickled figs are good also…like pickled peaches but figs
Naturally frugal
I have a 7 foot Mexican Rat snake that hangs out around my chicken coop. She eats a few eggs occasionally but that’s much more frugal than rats and mice
BTW…her name is Zelda also.
Oh my. I’m not a fan of snakes but Zelda sounds useful.
I have learned from being a farmer for almost 40 years that I like nonvenomous snakes better than mice and rats. And she’s also good defense against the venomous no necks.
Yum. Fresh figs sound amazing.
1. I got a free large fry when I downloaded the McDonald’s app on my phone.
2. I took my daughter to the library to renew her passport. She was under 16 when her last one was issued making her ineligible to renew online or by mail. They also took her photo which was $10 vs. $15 at Walgreens. Additional bonus, they have weekend appointments.
3. I used a BOGO coupon for concrete mixers (frozen custard) at Culver’s.
4. I treated a grease stain on my shorts before putting them in the hamper. A little baking soda on the spots and then roll them up. It usually does the trick.
5. My daughter has a sore throat as do a few of her coworkers. She used one of my free covid tests. Thankfully it was negative.
We went to the post office for our last passport renewals, but it was a few years ago. They took photos there; don’t remember if there was an additional charge.
Received several useful things from Buy Nothing over the last couple weeks:
1. laundry detergent
2. landscape rock
3. body lotion
4. wooden crate
5. soap dish
6. toiletry kit for husband to replace the one that he lost out the window of his truck! In it was an expensive electric razor (which he had to replace new), along with miscellaneous items including nail clippers and a comb. Funnily, the toiletry kit from Buy Nothing contained clippers and a comb. Washed everything and now my husband is back in business.
1. Rather than make coffee at work apartment, I knew that I would pass by a Panera and my free sip club (already cancelled) is still in play. I stopped in for a free ice tea, where I realized the going price is $3.59! I’ve gotten 3 so far, so worth it while it is free.
2. I picked up a quick mystery shop [Lindsey, I think of you every time I do a shop!] for luncheon meat. It took about 10 minutes, and I was able to get $5 worth of food + $9 payout. While I was at the grocery store, I was able to pick up another receipt and scan it into Fetch.
3. Partner brought home a CSA that someone didn’t pick up. It is a special subscription for fruit and corn only. Hello, 1/2 case of corn & 1/2 case of peaches! I’ll turn the peaches into a couple of crisps for upcoming dinner plans, and I’ll make elote for multiple meals, including when I have company.
4. I’m making chicken stock from scraps, and drying laundry on the line.
5. Our house lock was really difficult to use the key. My partner’s immediate solution was to call a locksmith. I told him he was crazy, in that it is super easy to swap out door handles (and I did the last swap) but, first, we should try WD40. Sure enough, a quick spray, and the issue is completely resolved.
Frugal fail: I was driving back from my work apartment to home (3-hour commute), and I always stop at BJ gas, which is about halfway between the two. After filling up ($2.65 per gallon), I got back on the Mass Turnpike, and only realized that I drove in the wrong direction when I was BACK IN NY! (50 miles each way). I blame it on the audiobook I was reading! (Deborah Crombie’s series)
I once did the same thing but drove an hour in the wrong direction before I realized. Now that I use Google Maps that doesn’t happen anymore. GPS is a godsend for directionally challenged people like me!
Let’s consider it a quirk for people named Beth (my real name).
Ha! Years ago I knew an old couple (like 70’s or so). Their one son had moved his family to New Hampshire decades before. (Maybe because I almost set grandson on fire at a Christmas Eve candlelight service? Never give kids in choir robes lit candles!) Anyway, couple always argued in their old age, so when they traveled, husband drove, wife sat in back seat – tjey never talked during trips. They stopped somewhere between PA and NH for gas. He’s filling up the car and she got out of the car to use the restroom. He didn’t knowshe got out. He drove off and was about an hour down the road before he realized she wasn’t in the car. RIP Jim & Lillian.
My frugal are also of the tiniest variety today.
1) My SIL gave us a bag of nuts and a nutcracker for Christmas. Once the novelty wore off, the bag of nuts has just been sitting on top of the fridge untouched. I thought of throwing it away because of the effort involved but instead of slowing cracking my way through them and using them in my daily oatmeal. It is very tedious though!
2) I eat hummus with veggies as a snack almost everyday. Usually raw veggies like carrots, celery, radish, bell pepper. I belatedly discovered how good roasted veggies can be dipped in hummus though. I roasted some zucchini and beets (not so much to make them soft, still need to be firm enough to dip) and they taste great in hummus. Now I have a way to use up more veggies and get more variety.
3) Ate a single small tomato off my plant, the first of the season, tasted great so I can’t wait for more to ripen.
4) My sister is also getting interested in a plant based diet, we are going to exchange books on the topic (I got most from the library but I do own a few that I will lend to her, including one that belonged to our grandfather and has his notes and highlights written in it which I think she will especially enjoy)
5) Coffee brewed at home this morning and made a pitcher of cold brewed hibiscus tea
My town sponsors a “city-wide” yard sale weekend, which was this weekend. My niece has a small store in a different state where she sells vintage goodies and furniture. She came up for it with my grandniece, and my daughter and I went yard saling with them. We had a great time! I budgeted $106 for the whole weekend of sales, and I came home with $35! Plus I mostly stuck to my list – I found some good quality toys and clothes for the grandbaby, a couple shirts for myself, golf balls for my husband, and some miscellaneous things. I tried very hard to not just buy junk, but to be thoughtful about what I brought into the house. I made a big pot of chicken alfredo for all of us to eat on Friday; a fancy meal that is super easy and pretty inexpensive.
My son is going for an interview this week for a new job, so we picked him up a couple nice polos. With coupons, they were $12 and change from the sale price of $20.
I’m working overtime (again) today.
That’s about it. Nothing too exciting.
1. I went out to lunch with a friend and brought my leftovers home in my doggie bag kit. Only a few stares — from my friend and the waiter specifically.
2. I haven’t eaten the leftovers yet because I forgot about them. However, I have plans for them tomorrow!
3. Checked the little free pantry and brought home a yellow squash and a box of mac and cheese.
4. Returned a book to a little free library and picked up a book on hold at the big library.
5. My son works for the BLS and is a key player on the jobs report, one of many. I sent him a supportive, commiserating text message, and he responded positively, saying the avalanche of attention may actually inspire bipartisan support for the work of the Bureau. Also, he says the interim commissioner will do well in the role. Sigh of relief — at least until tRump finds someone utterly unqualified to fill the permanent position. (My son didn’t say that, I did.) What does this have to do with frugality? Well, he says that deliberately sowing distrust in the statistics that inform the country’s economic outlook could well disrupt markets and valuations, so I say we’d better keep on being frugal!
Thank you for telling us about your son and for his work and for raising him to be an ethical person!
I am not in a position to do much that seems of substance, but I make it a priority to thank the government workers who I rely on in ways I don’t know, especially the managers who keep on going when all is blowing up around them.
Gina from NY, we are still cheering for you.
Such a cheerful (dare I say cheery?) photo of the cherry tomatoes. Made me smile!
Found 50 cents while filling the car at the gas station.
Stopped at a free pile and came away with children’s sized hangers. I’d been needing those a while.
Packed snacks and bottled water for a mini vacation. Thanks for the idea! Brought all the complementary bottled water and tea bags home from our trip. Refiled our bottles for the ride home.
Borrowed a suitcase from my folks for our trip, rather than buy one.
I bought one new to me shirt for the trip at GW, $7. All my other tops were previous thrifts. Picked up a large, reusable water bottle for $7 as well.
My folks watched our son and did a few farm chores while we were away. It was much appreciated. Came home to a garden finally coming into its own and producing. Sent eggs and corn home with the folks. They’ll head to Cali to visit my brother this month and I’ll do their chores then.