Five Tiny Frugal Things
by Katy on August 13, 2025 · 5 comments
-
I picked up my hold copy of Poorcraft: Wish You Were Here — The Tightwad’s Guide to Travel from the library. I don’t remember how this graphic novel by Ryan Estrada came across my radar, but I’m glad that it did as I’m always happy to find fun frugal inspiration!
-
I printed out my $30 Kroger gift card, which was a thank you from the American red Cross for donating platelets. I’ll also get a $15 gift card, which should come in the next few days.
But let’s face it, donating blood is really about the Nutter Butters!
-
My husband and I enjoyed leftovers for dinner, for both the meal and the dessert. My plan is to clean out the fridge tomorrow in anticipation of a big Winco grocery shop. You know how it can be that a refrigerator is full, but there’s somehow nothing to eat? That’s where we are.
-
I ran a series of errands today, making sure to drive an efficient route, to save both time and gasoline. My husband and I later ran a single errand across town. Neither of the trips prompted any impulsive snacky side quests. To quote every single cliché parent:
“We have food at home!”*
-
I made an online appointment at CVS for a Covid-19 booster and was able to be seen almost immediately. There was no co-payment and I can move forward knowing that I’m protected against the worst of this ongoing pandemic.
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
Click HERE to follow The Non-Consumer Advocate on Instagram.
Click HERE to join The Non-Consumer Advocate Facebook group.
*Kind of.
Like this post? Then please share it with your friends!
Like this:
Like Loading...
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I posted this last night, but on.the WRONG thread.
1) DH helped me clean out our bathroom cabinet this afternoon. Amazing how much we had stuffed in there. I sorted everything and put like things together (novel idea for me). I was afraid I would have to purchase more bins for “stuff,” but once everything was sorted, old prescriptions gathered to take to the pharmacy for disposal, junk hauled out (for Pete’s sake, I had a “hat” – for collecting fat lady urine samples in there) and labeled, evertthing, I had EXACTLY enough bins! No need to buy bins! They don’t all match (some people are persnickity about that), but I don’t care.
2) Had our bus/van driver’s meeting this (Tuesday) morning and had a psychologist appointment right after. No need to make 2 trips! (I got exactly the same route/kids I had last year! Doing the “happy dance!”) I start driving on Monday, August 18.
3) Eating leftover taco salad from Sunday night. Still eating the Overnight Oats for breakfast. Keeping me full and getting 4 servings out of what is supposed to be only 2 servings.
4) Have to get an oil change and tire rotation on Friday. Our punch card is full (5 oil change/tire changes, 6th one free), so this one will be free! Normally, it costs around $90.
5) While cleaning out the bathroom cabinet, we found a brand new can of shave gel. DH now uses an electric razor, so passed the shave gel on to his brother.
Yes, we have food at home! Does the frugal travel book have any great tips?
1. I brought my breakfast and lunch to work
2. I walked 30 minutes outside my front door and didn’t spend gas going to a gym for exercise.
3. I wore the same clothes I wear every week to work and the same clothes I wear every week at home. Washed, of course.
4. I paid off my credit card to save on interest.
5. I am limping along with one stove burner working, my frig is leaking and on its last hurrah, and I am waiting until both completely give out before purchasing new to me replacements.
Thanks to y’all, I am starting to develop a backbone! I was just in the grocery store (same chain I used to work for, different location). There was a bag of flour on the damaged cart (top flap was open, but no “markdown sticker). I purchased my other items, went to the service desk, told the gal it was there and I would have bought it had the sticker been there. When I worked there, a manager had to approve it. She told me to go back and get it; she would take care of it!
A 5 lb bag of all purpose flour regularly $2.59 suddenly dropped to $1.34! $1.25 in my pocket!
Stayed home on a very rainy day and decluttered a desk and a filing cabinet, which resulted in several bags of stuff to donate to a new thrift shop supporting a shelter for homeless women and their children.
Ate the last of the frozen homemade shepherd’s pie even though I was not thrilled about it. Adding some cherry tomatoes and a tiny sweet pepper from the container garden helped. Made a gallon of refrigerator iced tea with clearance tea bags.
A while back I bought an inexpensive book light that I have not used much because it’s too bright. Had an idea and colored the lens over the bulb with a red Sharpie marker, making the light a soft pink. Much better.
It’s so funny that you said “we have food at home”! I was at my Hospice sewing group yesterday, and ran some errands on my way back, and got hungry. Thought about stopping for fast food, but the exact words you used appeared in my brain, so I went home and ate leftovers. Frugal wins!