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I went ahead and foraged more blackberries. Free sunglasses courtesy of the Red Cross, free hat courtesy of a neighborhood “Free Stuff” box.
I can see why your eye is drawn to the Supreme hat, (which I later sold on eBay for $65!) but it’s actually the olive green baseball cap hiding behind it. I like that it doesn’t advertise a sportsball team or even a university. Just a few simple embroidered leaves and the price was right. -
I stopped at Dollar Tree, as I keep hearing that they’re about to raise their prices. I was officially there for another pair of mylar baloons to scare off the pigeons that enjoy A) Hanging out under my eaves, and B) Pooping absolutely everywhere. They were out of helium, but I did stock up on shampoo, conditioner, bar soap and ginger snaps.
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I took the last of some not-so-fresh-feeling tangerines from my sister’s visit and juiced them for a batch of tangerine tofu. (Like “orange chicken,” but with tangerine juice and tofu!) I essentially made up the recipe, but it included the tangerine juice, lemon juice, soy sauce, garlic powder, powdered ginger, sesame oil, brown sugar, red pepper flakes and lastly a cornstarch slurry to thicken the sauce.
Yum!
Random ingredients coming together to create a delicious, yet frugal meal. Anything I can do to stay out of a grocery store is a “win” in my book!
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I’d reached the point where I couldn’t get any more goo out of my lotion bottle, so I cut it in half. Now I can access every last bit of product to get my money’s worth!
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I haven’t been participating in an official “No Buy July” challenge, but I’m pretty sure than apart from a few thrifted items, I’ve only puchased comsumables this month. Although that’s pretty much every month for me.
Five Tiny Frugal Things
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Tangerine tofu sounds delicious. I might have to try it.
1. I cleaned off my siding and cement on my front porch using a hose and my car washing brush. It looks great and no money spent on having someone clean my siding.
2. I shared some of my basil from my plants with a friend who will make some pesto with it.
3. I had oatmeal for breakfast yesterday. This morning I had some free to me cottage cheese with a spoonful of blackberry jam that I made from a previous years blackberries I had in the freezer. Cheap and healthy breakfasts. I ate my leftover pizza I made the night before for dinner.
4. I cut open a free to me sample tube of Aquaphor to get the last of it out.
5. I’m reading a library book on my Kindle. I’ve been reading the series The Dublin Murder Squad by Tana French. I like it. It’s nice to find a series once in a while.
1. Redeemed fetch rewards for Target gift cards to pick up groceries to get us through next week. Also will get $14 in aisle rebates
2. Went to an estate sale and bought a new candle and decor item (for a friend) and spent $4
3. Gathered a bag of clothes for church clothes closet
4. Sold one item on line for a friend. Frankenboxed to mail it
5. My son was discharged from hospital yesterday. Follow up appointments next week and will be home next Wednesday
1) Made eclectic meals to use up our entertaining leftover bits & bobs. Yesterday’s Mediterranean bowl was particularly great.
2) Made spaghetti, meatballs & garlic bread twice (meatballs from the freezer) to accommodate last minute dinner guests. This is my go to emergency dinner, when the leftovers won’t stretch to another diner.
3) Intended to go to a workout class during my lunch break. Very last minute work meeting cropped up, so the studio allowed me to move to the late class. While I don’t prefer working out in the afternoon, I prefer it a lot more than a $15 missed class fee.
4) Used a $20 grocery store reward + found $2 of peelie coupons to save on things we buy.
5) I get three bonus vacation days next week, as my company closes for wellness breaks. This is especially exciting, as I’ve only accrued 14 hours of total vacation, and don’t need to use my minimal time off. They are just free vacation days. Assuming DH doesn’t have interviews, we are heading to Napa and using points for a little mini getaway.
Hi Katy
That’s a $39 dollar ball cap from the California Academy of Sciences
https://www.muzemerch.com/california-academy-of-sciences-logo-ballcap
Katy you’ll have to call blackberries Rubus fruticosus when you’re wearing your cap
Hah! A free ball cap with a homework assignment.
Ha, that’s too funny! It didn’t occur to me to do the research.
And the hat is great since you believe in science and are not part of the Flat Earth society.
So much is routine here. Love your berries! I also put the cut lotion bottles together as you do when I slice them open.
1. Most of my shirts are thrifted or from yard sales, as I seem to find prettier colors that way. Currently wearing one from a cruise that I would never pay to go on, but it is all organic cotton and very soft.
2. Asked pharmacy to put not-the-childproof caps on my future orders. We are beyond the era of needing them and this pharmacy’s childproof ones are very frustrating to me. I had to switch from WalMart pharmacy, where the caps could just be turned upside down to be easy-open.
3. Great rain last night! I won’t have to water my plants, and I like the noise of rain and distant thunder at night.
4. Library books.
5. Strategically using 5% “cash back” in “rotating categories” on our credit cards. One has quarterly specials (this quarter is utility and gas, on a card we seldom use) and another lets us choose (we picked streaming services and entertainment). The little bits add up to more than the cost of a stamp and I have time to do the extra running around for these bills.
I just got a new credit card thru my local bank. It’s a cash back, and utilities is one of the categories I can choose full time for 5% back. Also if I spend $500 dollars in 3 months I get $150 back, and no interest, which I always pay balance in full, for 18 months so if I decide to put in a walkin shower I can extend the spend with no interest, and get cash back.
Heidi Louise I’m glad you posted this because I need to remember to put my power bill on the card. No problem spending $500 in three months!
Yes– Spending $500 to get a big credit is not a difficult move to make!
Timing a new card with a big purchase, such as when insurance is due, is my norm. I am not worried about our credit score, as it is high now and any brief drops recover in a few months. We also aren’t doing anything that needs a credit score now.
1. Walked to beach this morning to get my Vitamin D and a little nature drenching. It was reasonably cool after a day of stormy weather.
2. Found an abandoned pair of flip flops. They just need washing, and then they will go in the Goodwill bag. I also found some kind of nylon carrier. Maybe for wet swimsuits? Towels? I will wash and donate that, too.
3. Picked up three bottles and four cans that went into the recycling bin.
4. Today’s menu from the pantry project — blueberry pancakes for breakfast (I froze one because I made too much). Lunch — grilled cheese and tomato soup, which I didn’t eat yesterday after all. Dinner — apple wedges with peanut butter and honey. I may make brownies today, too, if it doesn’t get too hot.
5. A library book I put on hold came in, but it was so big and heavy I just couldn’t handle it. So I put the e-book on hold, and it arrived today. Much better!
1. Making various pickles–bread and butter, pickled peppers, pickled peppers, and soon chow-chow, but that’s better made when the tomatoes are almost finished as it calls for not quite ripe tomatoes.
2. Eating mostly from the grill, which tends to be cheaper.
3. Taking advantage of free solar Vitamin D at the beach, though I never seem to have enough.
4. Foraging amaranth leaves. Later on, I’ll forage the seeds, which are a pseudograin.
5. I didn’t sign any of my books for Jeffrey Epstein.
Rose,
A friend of mine grew up in rural Indiana, and remembers making chow chow with her mom (her siblings helped, too) at the end of the summer or early fall, with “whatever was left in the garden”, including (but not limited to) green tomatoes. My DH and I made and canned chow chow once, many years ago….we were getting a weekly CSA at the time, and had an overabundance of cabbage. It was fun making it with other produce from the CSA boxes, and we ended up giving most of it away to friends.
As I am sure you know, chow chow is not a Long Island thing, but I love anything pickled. It is SO good on hot dogs but many other things too. I don’t grow cabbage because I don’t have the room and it’s not as though cabbage is so expensive, heh. Come to think of it, I also like anything to do with cabbage.
also the second pickled peppers should be “assorted pickled peppers.”
Rose, I don’t know if you like collards or not, and this recipe deviates a little from the original. The original has the sandwich topped with chow chow. I wash my collards cut tem in 1/2 inch strips, and saute for about 5 mins in bacon drippings or oil. I’ll freeze the collards for summer when we don’t have fresh. We also eat chow with field peas, such as black eyes or purple hull.
https://gardenandgun.com/recipe/how-to-make-a-collard-sandwich/
I do love collards. And I used not to be crazy about black eyed peas until BFF made them with snaps for Thanksgiving and they were out of this world. Mmm, I’ll try the collard sandwich. Thank you!
Basically I like all vegetables and fruits. Obviously some more than others.
Rose,
I like pickled things, too – like pickled onions….who knew they’re so yummy? I make cucumber refrigerator pickles, too, that are kind of sweet/sour. I agree, chow chow is good on all kinds of things. We used some of what we made on burgers (yum) and cold sandwiches (also yum). If we hadn’t had such an overabundance of cabbage that year, I don’t know that we would’ve ever tried making it. I did try growing cabbage a few years ago, but fending off the cabbage worms was more work than this lazy gardener could manage. 🙂
Thank you for the inspiration with the tangerine tofu. I have a sesame chicken recipe I loved but since I no longer eat meat, I haven’t made it. I think it would taste great as a tofu recipe too though so I will give that a try.
1) Made a big batch of navy bean soup and a loaf of “beer” bread (made with seltzer water instead of beer)
2) Trying to source another kids desk, a challenge without Facebook. I posted on free cycle and the buy nothing app, neither look super active for my area but it’s worth a try. Next I’ll check Craigslist.
3) My sister is flying in tonight, I’ll pick her up from the airport and she’ll spend the night here then tomorrow morning I will drive her to a halfway point between my house and hers, where my parents will pick her up. Saves her any sort of airport parking or transport costs and gives me extra sister time!
4) Made my coffee at home and drank it out of a mug from my grandparents house. Because I drink coffee, I tend to get mugs as gifts a lot but since I’m the only coffee/tea drinker here, I really don’t need a lot of mugs so I’m very picky about which I keep. This mug from my grandparents house made the cut because I would use it when I was at their house so it makes me think of them and remember good times there when I use it.
5) Free exercise per usual, did a YouTube workout last night and will be going on a run to the beach near my house.
My son gave me a vintage cutting board shaped like a whale for Mother’s Day this year, since it was one of the things I loved in my great-grandmother’s house.
What a lovely, thoughtful gift! Also such a unique item. I also took the cutting board from my grandparents house, it’s not shaped like anything but they used it all the time so it also has a strong association for me.
I love the idea of that tofu! I think tofu is so delicious – it just soaks up whatever flavours you introduce it to. And thanks for the tip on Dollar Tree raising their prices – our prices in Canada are already a bit higher, but I’ll expect further increases for sure.
1. Enjoying books on the Libby app as always! A Maeve Binchy novel right at the moment.
2. Fried egg sandwiches for lunch! And sliced peppers (on sale) with a delicious red pepper dip. Yum.
3. We love Larabars, but buy them in a bulk box to lower the price somewhat. They’re not the cheapest option, but with all our allergies they are a treat that we can enjoy.
4. Going to make a big batch of ‘breakfast’ cookies this evening. Has so much delicious stuff in them, and packed with good things. We eat them anytime of day, but also at breakfast.
5. Our yearly zoo pass expires soon, so we plan to go at least one more time (but hopefully twice) before it does. 🙂
Noticed you bought White Rain shampoo. White Rain is a terrific brand and it doesn’t cost a lot. One of my buddies is a PE teacher/coach and she swears by White Rain hairspray; although inexpensive, it holds her hair well enough, that she still looks professional after being outdoors on the ballfield. In fact, I’ve noticed the hairstyles of my customers who purchase White Rain or Tres’seme (another cheaper brand) are just as gorgeous as those of the ladies who buy the skinny $15 cans of Kendra hair spray. Or Paul Mitchell. Or other costly products. (Don’t tell the store manager I told you!)
1. Got the roofers to move 2 heavy packages of leftover flooring planks from laundry room to garage for me. It was only about four or five feet away, but it kept me from straining my sore arm again.
2. Paid electric bill with Discover card; 5% cashback.
3. Also called them and stopped a home warranty subscription I didn’t realize I had, so I saved $300+ for the “annual renewal.” Much cheaper to hire retired guys and pay cash for that kind of work, which is rarely needed anyway.
4. Set up wooden clothes rack in unused bathtub/shower in guest bathroom, and closed the shower curtain….so that when I air dry my undies, the workers won’t see it. I usually dry them in the garage or laundry room, which is out in the open should the workers need to access the garage, attic, etc.
5. Didn’t put the squeeze on prestigious universities, making them donate to my presidential library in order to release (previously approved) federal funding for scientific research.
1. I picked up a free large tube of toothpaste at the senior center. There is a table where people leave free items, usually produce in summer.
2. My garden is producing more cucumbers than I can keep up with. I don’t need to make pickles since I have some left from last yr. So I have a bowl of cucumbers and onion soaking in vinegar and sugar in the fridge.
3. I have been giving the dogs cooked vegetables with their dog food dinners every night. I just bought a cauliflower. Since these dogs absolutely love cauliflower, cabbage and broccoli, I am cooking the cauliflower leaves for them.
4. I am having some major dental work done soon . I went to Aldi and stocked up on their excellent cottage cheese and Greek yogurt.
5. My husband has lost a lot of weight. We were able to take 5 bags of his too big clothes to Goodwill.
I don’t know how you feel about spicy but we love this smashed cuke salad in our house.
https://grilledcheesesocial.com/2021/03/25/xian-famous-foods-chinese-smashed-cucumber-salad/
We’re big fans of Xi’an Famous Foods (basically only in NYC) around here.
1. Used a $10 reward from the grocery store, towards more groceries.
2.Picking some small carrots out of my garden to give to my dogs. They get a carrot treat every day, and love it.
3. My short term rental has been fully booked for July, thank goodness.
4. Had an amazing salmon dinner with three other ladies. The host has a lakefront home, and we sat on the dock and chatted, shared snacks and drinks, then the host cooked for us. I took leeks and zucchini from my garden.
5. My DD lives about hour’s drive from me, and works from home some days, so I make a big salad and took it to her house. She took her lunch break and we sat on her deck and ate and had a good visit. Better and cheaper than going out. I left her with kale, leeks, green onions, zuchini, garlic and radishes all from my garden.
Wow! LL Bean Totes
“Vintage specimens of the brand’s iconic Boat and Tote are now fetching hundreds of dollars online.”
https://www.gq.com/story/vintage-llbean-boat-and-tote-it-bag?utm_source=flipboard&utm_content=flipboard%2Fmagazine%2F10+For+Today
Katy, that is a smart way to cut the tube so that the contents do not dry out while you are using the remains. I am going to try it. Previously I used a bankers’ clip to secure the end, but I think your way is better.
It is funny, how what I want to buy or run out of shows up in your blog the next week. Two weeks ago, I needed yellow cake mix. Then Dolly brand showed up in your post. This week I am out of conditioner. You & readers post about conditioner. You are psychic.
Katy, I hope it’s okay to mention this but if not just delete or whatever. I think it was you who mentioned the instagram account of @therichgoodwill I think some of your readers might be interested. A woman drives around wealthy neighborhoods on bulk trash day, or something like that, and picks up their abandoned items, rehomes them, keeps some. What is fascinating is what these “rich” people put out for trash pickup. $2000.00 rugs, Anthropologie sofas with a tiny coffee stain, beautiful children’s furniture, light fixtures, etc. It is horrifying and fascinating at the same time. Beautiful, useful things set out for the landfill. The waste is mind numbing. I’m a little obsessed with the account. Thanks for sharing it.