Five Tiny Frugal Things
by Katy on July 27, 2025 · 10 comments
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I took my $20 Safeway voucher to the store, (Thanks, American Red Cross!) and grabbed a few items that added up to $19.55. I bought supplies to make blackberry jam, as well as on-sale milk and bananas. When the clerk asked if I wanted a 10¢ bag, I said “no” because . . .
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There was a bin filled with perfectly good free bags not ten feet away. (I’d forgotten my reusable bags.) I grabbed four bags to bring home, as they were the nice sturdy variety and work perfectly as kitchen can liners. One bag even had a receipt still in it, which I scanned into the Fetch app.
I feel precisely 0.0% guilty for taking bags from their recycle bin.
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I recently saw a news piece about “shrinkflation” vs. “sneakflation” and wanted to check it out for myself. I think we’re all aware of the “shrinkflation” phenomenom, where food manufacturers redesign their packaging to contain less product, yet appear the same. (Think shallow boxes of cereal or peanut butter jars with concave bottoms.) It’s been a few years since a “half-gallon” of ice cream became 1-1/2 quarts, so we’re all a bit numb to it at this point.
However, manufacturers have taken it one step further with “sneakflation” where not just size, but also quality is being dropped in order to preserve corporate profits. One example they used was Breyers brand ice cream, which is now made with cheaper ingredients to the point where it no longer meets the legal requirement to be called “ice cream!” I guess another reason to stick with Tillamook ice cream, you know . . . when it’s on sale.
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I made a nice big mixed fruit crisp using foraged blackberries, figs from my step-mother’s tree and a forgotten apple. No recipe needed.
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I picked up crackers and another pair of helium balloons from Dollar Tree, as my eave pigeons have ramped up their defication campaign since the last balloons lost their floatiness. This odd anti-pigeons solution works perfectly, as long as I replace the balloons every few weeks. My car and front steps thank me for my efforts.
Katy Wolk-Stanley
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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
I remember when Breyer’s was great ice cream, almost like homemade. Its corporate success has been it’s downfall as a product. I’ve never tried Tillamook, but I will try it, if I can find it. I have seen the cheese, so maybe….
1. Amy D once said that a lot of frugality was doing nothing — not going out to eat, not going to the mall, not driving, not throwing good food away, etc. I’ve had a doing nothing day. Didn’t go out, except for taking out the garbage. Just did little house chores, read a lot, watched a few episodes of Grantchester.
2. Pantry project — yesterday’s breakfast was half a bagel and some prunes; lunch was the other half of the bagel and bean soup. Didn’t have a real supper but snacked on popcorn, toast and peanuts. This morning’s breakfast was an English muffin and prunes.
3. Got my AARP magazine and read through it. A reader had mentioned a tool on the Department of Labor website that identifies retirement plans in your name. I tried it out, even though I was pretty sure I had a handle on that. I was surprised that the plan from my longest-running employment wasn’t even there, so I wasn’t impressed.
4. Still reading The Tightwad Gazette. I ran across an interesting article on safety-pin upholstery. I might try it out on my couch cushions. And a recipe for tuna-cheddar soup. I like the recipes in this book. They are so basic, with ingredients you always have on hand. And you can rely on them to be good.
5. I made my appointment for my annual mammogram as soon as I got the reminder. Staying proactive in healthcare.
1. Walked thirty minutes this morning at 6 a.m. in my neighborhood.
2. Air is off , windows open, and fan is going this morning u lntil it becomes so unbearable I have to turn on air.
3. I will take a nap later in the day since it is Sunday.
4. I am eating my food I have in my house.
5. I am trying to avoid drama. It is peaceful over here.
I like your #5. I try to avoid it for my own well being.
I had not heard about sneakflation, that is totally crazy.
1. We’re on vacation and had our one restaurant meal for the 2 weeks we’re gone.
2. Using the library in our vacation town. It’s so fun to see the daily-life places in other cities.
3. Our Airbnb host stocked the kitchen with snacks and there were cans of soup that I’m guessing were left by previous renters. We’ve made good use of both.
4. I downloaded the Ralph’s (Kroger) app to get the offers/member prices while we’re here. We don’t have Ralph’s or Kroger at home.
1. Sold 2 items online and got them in the mail.
2. Revamping online listings
3. Found a nwt item to donate for dog club fundraiser
4. Dinner from freezer just need some fresh veggies
5. Prepping for work week
Not a lot going on here. As Beth said, I’ve just been doing nothing. Well, we have been doing things, but today is a do nothing day!
Yesterday was my MIL’s birthday. She is camping with my SIL’s family, so we got a cake and drove to the campsite. I took her a birthday card that I had found thrifting from my granddaughter – she loved it. I took her some flowers in a fancy glass pop bottle. She honestly did not seem as impressed with those as others I’ve gifted them to, but that’s okay, too.
Came home and turned on “cozy autumn ambience” on YouTube. I am not a fan of AI, but I needed something peaceful while my hubby went golfing and I sat quietly, recharging my social battery and stitching.
My hubby and I took a “stupid mental health walk” (trademark pending ) this morning after we dropped off some breakfast to my daughter and snuggled the grandbaby.
The rest of the day will be spent getting ready for the workweek and relaxing at my house. I’ve already paid the mortgage; I might as well enjoy it.
1. ran into an elderly acquaintance yesterday & she mentioned she was headed home where she has AC set to 69 degrees. I joked that I wouldn’t want to have to pay that electric bill but turns out it’s included in her rent! I turn on the ceiling fan instead when I want to feel cooler.
2. I’ve learned that I can make a sorta “milk shake” by blending about a half scoop of ice cream or sorbet with a green banana and a little kefir or milk. Tastes great (to me), feels healthier. ha
3. recently found 5 dimes & a penny — love free range money!
4. continuing to cook mostly from scratch but not above scooping up clearance buys, like the marked down chicken tenders bought yesterday to add to salads
5. still drying laundry only 10 minutes to shake the wrinkles out before hanging to dry the rest of the way. hoping this will extend the life of our clothing. Using only 1 tbs of detergent for lightly soiled loads, something I first learned about from the David Suzuki Foundation & have since read that the NYT backs it up: “To effectively clean your clothes, you need to use only 2 tablespoons per load at most—and that’s for big loads weighing 12 pounds or more.”
1) I was gifted over 200 lbs of new potatoes. I set 20 lbs aside to eat over the next couple of months, but they won’t store well beyond that. I have started the big process of canning them. Tomorrow I will mash some up and dehydrate into potato flakes.
2) I picked up more canning lids at a locally owned hardware store. They cost a few cents more there than they do from the Bozo-website, but I had a coupon that made them slightly cheaper. I would have bought them at the hardware store anyway, but spending less to shop local is a bonus.
3) I blanched and dehydrated green beans and zucchini from the garden. There’s no shrinkflation or sneakflation from homegrown food!
4) I finally sorted the three boxes of china I got on By Nothing. I’m keeping a third and passing on a third. Our eldest son mentioned that he wanted a nice tea set for the holidays this year (he and his partner are very, very into tea and tea room culture). I set aside a beautiful willow ware teapot, milk jug, serving platter, and set of four cups and saucers for him. I’ll pair it with a tin of nice tea for the perfect gift.
5) We treated our adult son and his girlfriend to a night out at the container village — a waterfront area with beer gardens, pump tracks, pop-up shops, an entertainment stage, and lots of food trucks. We did buy a $4 kid’s waffle cone for each of us, but otherwise simply enjoyed the vibe, the view, and the music cost-free. $16 isn’t bad for an evening out for four adults!
1. I finally found something that effectively helps my painful arm. Plain old aspirin! My Rx painkiller and all the fancier OTC products didn’t do the job. Lesson learned: sometimes the most frugal/simple things work the best. Next time, I need to try them first.
2. I had an Ollie’s Outlet 10% discount coupon so I went over there and stocked up on pig femur bones for Snuggles. Those bones are basted, plus they are only 1.99 to start with. Cheaper than other stores! Using my coupon, I got every package on the shelf (shame on me)! Each bone will keep Snuggy-Dog occupied for a full day, sometimes even longer.
3. Got home and what was in the mail? Another 10% Ollie’s coupon!
4. Frugal fail: an antique cup that was on a whatnot shelf fell and broke when the roofers were putting up the metal panels (due to the vibrations from their drills). So I took down all the breakable items displayed on the walls.
5. Also emptying the breakfront cabinets of the fragile antique glassware, just in case.
1. Found an almost-full bottle of shower cleaner at my county’s Reuse Room. Free.
2. Enjoying my library book, Attainable Sustainable Pantry, recommended here.
3. Had a friend over and she brought me a lovely gift bag containing a candle and foaming hand soap. I will bring the candle to the consignment store. After giving proper thanks to gift-givers, I have no problem getting rid of gifts I don’t need or want.
4. Made a couple birthday cards on my computer using cardstock from Buy Nothing.
5. Watched a Zoom presentation on the proliferation of plastics. Downside: Depressing. Upside: Free.