Five Tiny Frugal Things
by Katy on December 18, 2024 · 108 comments
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I drove 45 minutes in the pouring rain to pick up a pair of Facebook Marketplace gifts for my mother. (I can’t be any more specific as she reads the blog more than I do!) I then decided to hit a juicy suburban Goodwill since I was in already the area, but accidentally programmed the GPS to take me to a “Boutique Goodwill.” (Boo!) I normally avoid these stores as they’re stocked with dull designer name clothing, which is totally not my thang. However, I figured that I might as well give it a look see.
I browsed the store and ended up buying a cute pair of earrings for my daughter’s girlfriend that were priced at a reasonable $7.99. I also used their bathroom, so I’ll call it a win.
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I boxed up my sister’s Chanukah/birthday gifts by creating a Frankenbox from a package that my husband got in today’s mail. I’m really hoping that he doesn’t need to return his purchase, as he’ll be up a creek.
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I used Pirateship.com to prepay for the USPS label, which saved me a bit over two dollars. I could’ve saved a lot more had I chosen UPS, but the package would’ve taken four extra days in transit and my sister’s birthday was yesterday.
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I’m not putting up a Christmas tree this year, which is my small protest against right wing Christian nationalists forcing their religion into secular government agencies and policy. (Also, it’s an unpleasantly scratchy endeavor.) I did grow up with a Christmas tree, as did my father, although he tells a funny story of how his family spied his religious grandfather slowly walking to the house on a Saturday. (He didn’t drive on Shabbat.) My dad and uncle then hurriedly yeeted threw their fully decorated tree out the window and their Jewish grandfather was none the wiser.
Instead I stopped at a Christmas tree lot and grabbed an armful of free cut branches and arranged them in a vase for winter solstice. I’m content with my wintery blue and white decor, especially since William Shatner made the cut.
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I didn’t buy any vulgar gold plated apartments in the sky.
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
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{ 108 comments… read them below or add one }
Good story about Grandpa! Love it. I’m grateful for your voice in this time of political wackiness.
1) I got a cutting of a plant from my favorite coffee shop and am ready to plant it. They were so sweet to give me a cutting!
2) I continue to enjoy the clearance produce and freezer section of my grocery store. This week I found clearance pomegranates, a gf pizza, clearance lunch meat, and $.54 yogurts.
3) My coworkers gifted me homemade jam, homemade hand cream (we’re in healthcare, IYKYK), homemade fudge, and one of them did a 2025 calendar with his beautiful photography.
4) I have experience gifts ready for both of my young adult kids, a trip and a sporting event.
5) Trying to take my lunch to work and eat leftovers at home for less food waste, although I could do better.
What nice gifts, and yes I do know about the extreme hand dryness that comes from hand hygiene! My favorite lotion is Neutragena Norwegian formula hand creme.
What fun to receive an experience gift instead of more themed pajamas.
After Katy’s reply, I had to re-read your post. I read ICE CREAM not hand cream.
Katy, I am also grateful for your voice in this dark and uncertain time.
Thank you. We Americans are truly fucked.
And since we’re the world’s biggest economy, and have one of if not the largest arsenals, so too is the rest of the world. Imho.
1. Cooked a marked down pork roast in my crock pot with some super cheap cola. Once cooked I shredded the pork which will become pulled pork BBQ. For $6.50 our family of 3 will get 2-3 meals out of it. We will eat one meal tonight and I’ll freeze the rest.
2. Assembled a new chicken run for my girls rather than paying someone to do it.
3. Sold a $10 snowman shower curtain on FBMP that I paid less than $1 for.
4. Did not buy any new holiday decor.
5. Need to drive to pick up something for a friend. It’s closer to me than her. I found a mystery shop near the location which requires me to buy and be reimbursed for $10 of gas. So my gas will be paid for. Plus I’m doing a favor for a good friend and saving her time and gas money.
You are a nice friend to run that errand for her and smart to monetize it!
1. Sister gave me several books to read on our road trip. I’ll leave them in Little Free Libraries along the way.
2. Found a couple books for my husband at a Friends of the Library sale.
3. We’ll try to negotiate the pet fee at hotels on our way to our final destination. Our pup is a charmer, so negotiation often works like a, well, charm. In the past, we’ve had hotel clerks waive the fee without our asking.
4. Offered to bring food to a family birthday party to help whittle down our provisions before we decamp the day after Christmas. Instead of asking “What may I bring?” I gave them specific options so that I didn’t need to buy any extra ingredients.
5. Husband negotiated with our Airbnb host to add four more nights to our month-long stay at a 1/3 of the cost of a regular night. We’re leaving earlier than planned given the construction zone that is our house. In addition to needing to be out of the house every weekday, there is the privileged inconvenience of having the fridge in the garage, the microwave in the laundry room, the toaster oven in the office, and the food and other supplies in the bedroom. One positive is that we’ve been getting good exercise going up and down stairs to the various kitchen stations.
When we traveled across the US with our two Irish wolfhounds, each about 185 pounds, we went to motels that did not have a lobby and my husband would park out of sight. We always paid for 2 dogs but just never mentioned the size. They were such lazy brutes that nothing ever got damaged. We were driving from Alaska to my father’s house and he died while we were on the way. We went to the hotel first, a more upscale one since it was close to his house, and asked the manager where a dog boarding kennel was (this was before Rover). He fell so in love with the handsome beasts that he let the dogs stay with us and ended up featuring one of them in their website. It probably helped that my siblings were all staying there, too, so we represented five days of business each. Another time we stopped at a vet’s office while visiting a friend, to ask if there was reputable boarding nearby. At that point we had only one wolfhound and the vet was so enchanted by this really affectionate boy that he took him home for three days! During the day Alistair went to work with him and wandered around with the techs. I think the dog was reluctant to come back to us.
Lindsey, I love this story and all your other stories, too!
I love this story. I love a good dog story and fellow dog lovers.
Love all of that! I had the reverse story with my german shepherd: the vet had given her a tranquilizer to make her groggy before spaying and she made such a ruccus as we left that we had to get her back til just before the surgery. We can never leave that dog in a kennel ♀️
That is so freaking smart to give option of what you can bring instead of having it be an opened ended question! I’m going to remember that for the future.
Katy, this was the first time I did it this way, and I wish I had thought of it years ago!
* Got 3 shirts, 3 puzzles and 2 snack bowls from the thrift store, all for 8$
* Was spying a model of floor lamp I absolutely love, at the thrift store, but the 40$ price tag felt like too much, so I left it there. Yesterday someone posted the exact same lamp on my Buy Nothing group and I was the lucky recipient!
* Got my dog spayed at a clinic 1.5 hour away from my house, for 400$. The local vet was charging me 1100$ for it.
* Entering a low-buy/conscious buys year in 2025
* I have no subscription-based services except the basic with-adds Netflix (5.99$/month Canadian). I would not consider this out of the ordinary, but then I read about people having 200$/month on average for diverse subscriptions and, wow…. No thanks
I’m in total shock about that spay price. Low cost clinics in our area have been literal life savers. We found a female kitten. Vet quoted us $275 for spaying. Clinic charged $50. (We’ve had 9 other strays fixed so the savings was a blessing). We live in the rural South of US where most things tend to be cheaper so this felt over the top.
I live in Canada, that might explain this
I was able to help my son figure out getting his cat spayed through our local Humane Society, which saved him $300.
Hooray for Buy Nothing groups!
I recently had my male pup neutered and his umbilical hernia fixed for $300 through a low cost clinic (which is about an hour away). My usual vet wanted $1500 for it.
My rescue pup, also male, who came from a shelter in Tennessee, was neutered for free by UT vet students. That was nice of them. (I saw him online and fell in love and he was going to be euthanized the next day. I and my credit card sprang into action and about three days later, my son picked him up in his car, neutered and with his first round of puppy shots. Vet costs were $80 in all. Would have been $450 here.)
Rose,
I remember when your son went to pick up your rescue pup! It’s amazing how much costs can vary. Vets have more overhead, staff to pay, etc etc. A lot of vet practices are also owned by national companies now, too, which is a shame. (I’m assuming they’re told what to charge by the vet corporate bean counters).
Your quoted spay cost is not out of line for my area but I think I have higher costs because we always owned giant breeds and they are riskier to put under anesthesia. Our two current dogs, only one of whom is a giant, were rescues who came to us neutered. (Ironically, our Dane was 10 months old when spayed and the research indicates that giants should not be neutered until they are about two due to growth hormones needed for bone strength.)
I can, of course, understand why rescues only adopt out neutered dogs, though I personally think most breeds can wait a bit if possible. A friend of mine adopted two giant schnauzer puppies, and then had the stress of one of them trembling terribly. Required a visit to a specialist to tell her, yeah, growing too fast. I said giant breeds need specialy puppy food etc etc. She’s annoyed the local vet didn’t tell her.
Rose,
Many, many years ago, I used to volunteer at a no kill animal shelter. They had mostly cats, but also a few dogs here and there. At first, they would adopt out animals that hadn’t been spayed/neutered, but then changed their policy after hearing a few too many times “we want our kids to witness the miracle of new life” or some other twaddle. Nope. They made sure all adopted animals were spayed/neutered before adoption. Year after year, they suffered the spring influx of dumped kittens, desperate phone calls of people wanting to rid themselves of unwanted cat or dog litters, the shelter full to bursting….sigh.
We had a newfoundland and we were charged by the pound for anesthesia so her spay bill was higher also.
My dog weighs 6 pounds
You have your share of birthdays in December, I’d say. I have a friend whose three kids were born on September 2nd, August 24th and August 25th. I can remember she would throw one big birthday party for all three when they were little. Not sure how they felt about it but they were probably just happy to get presents and eat cake & ice cream.
I love your “protest tree”! It gives a message while being beautiful at the same time. Boo to white Christian Nationalists or as I call them: the haters.
My sister is December and I’m early January, so it’s everything at once. Her son’s birthday is just before Christmas, so it’s even worse for her.
I’m glad you like my “tree,” I was nervous that my comments section was going to be a mess this morning, but so far it’s been just fine.
Katy, I love your “tree.” Some years we don’t have a tree – and my husband is a Christmas tree farmer!
Your holiday, your choice!
That’s a nice looking 50s fiberglass lampshade, Katy. Have you ever mentioned it on the blog?
There’s a store in my neighborhood that makes the lampshades and sells vintage furnishings/housewares. I traded thrifted thing in for the credit for the lampshade. They let me choose the style, materials and pattern. I love how it looks on the classic alabaster lamp.
It’s fab and looks completely vintage. I like how creative you are with shades. Like, uh, this one and the Marimekko one which is all I remember. So yeah! Thumbs up! heh
1. I always check the reduced item areas of any grocery store I visit. This week I purchased a 5 lb. bag of brown rice for $2.49 and a large loaf of multigrain bread for $1.99. The bread’s expiration date was three days away. I froze 2/3 of it; will unfreeze a little at a time as needed.
2. Took a last-of-the-year load of donations to my local Goodwill. While there, purchased just 2 items: a large funny cat mug for $0.99 and a large Incredibles mug for $1.99. Will include these as Christmas presents to my grandchildren.
3. I have not had to buy holiday wrapping paper for over seventeen years. I amassed quite a stash when, at the end of a church tag sale, there was so much not purchased that it was announced everything was free. Got birthday gift wraps at the same time!
4. I also, for years now, have had a free supply of address labels and gift labels included in the mailings received from a number of charities.
5. Made a large pot of turkey vegetable soup that is hearty enough to be my main meal for 4 days. Included in it are cooked turkey I froze after Thanksgiving, onions carrots, mushrooms that needed using up and a small bit of wild rice that was nearing its expiration date. I love making soups with bits of leftovers/things I have on hand.
Thanks for mentioning turkey soup, it might be time to pull the last of the turkey from our basement freezer.
I actually did buy some wrapping paper, as it was a 99¢ brand new roll of Ted Lasso paper from Goodwill!
Katy, I am a Christian and I am deeply troubled by all those right-wingers. I hope that you know that not all of us Christians are like that. Jesus Christ reserved his fiercest criticism for the religious fanatics of his day, intolerant men who made up thousands of ridiculously strict laws and tried to force them on others. (Sound familiar?) During the campaign, I wore a little button that said “Christians against Trump,” and I even wore it at work. In my cashier lane, lots and lots of people agreed with me. Only one man called me out on it. There is also a group that was formerly called “Evangelicals for Harris.” It still exists but has changed its name to “Evangelicals for America,” and will do what it can to help our country resist the horrible things Trump and his MAGA fanatics are promising to do. Anyway, I am horrified that some “Christians” are saying that God supports Trump, because IMHO there is no way on Earth that Trump could be a Christian. I wish some reporter would ask him what his “life verse” (favorite verse in the Bible that a believer follows) is, because I doubt Trump has ever so much as opened a Bible, much less read one…despite the fact he is hawking “Trump Bibles.” (Which, BTW, are printed in China, and I suppose will be affected by his upcoming tariffs. LOL!) I’ve never seen any news report or biography that said which church or synagogue or temple or mosque Trump attends, which makes me think he doesn’t and never did. My Jewish friend once told me, “There is no hate as great as ‘Christian love’,” and it grieves me to think that people may mistake the right-wing ugliness for what Jesus taught and what real Christians try to practice. If you have been adversely affected by such, I apologize. But please understand that Jesus, my Lord and Savior, was not like this at all.
My life verse is Matthew 7: 3-5.
The clearly Catholic President Biden has a friend/confidant/advisor who he calls “My Rabbi.” As in many things, he sets an example for how people of integrity behave.
My devoutly religious mother (who hated Trump et al) also went to study the Torah at a local synagogue. Sadly, not the one decorated with giant brass “Spock hands.” Heh. (Yes I know what they really are.)
Practicing Christian here. A fellow Christian friend I both agree it’s important for us “normal” ones to speak out against the haters. As Lisa says above…there is no way Trump could be considered a Christian. He’s instead the chief of vengeance.
James 4:12
I am absolutely aware of the hypocrisy of far right Christians. They make no secret of their beliefs.
I like your button.
Thank you frugal Lisa.
The greatest commandment is love.
If Kindness were a religion, that would be my choice, otherwise I’m unaffiliated! Whether we say “Peace”, or “Shalom” or Salaam Aleikum”, I think it’s safe to say that anything that results in the death of small children is abhorrent to all Of us here. For the love of god, any god, be kind.
Coral Clarke I am on board with all that!!!
Fru-gal Lisa, a reporter did ask him and here’s a clip! An oldie but a goodie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10qbt0LHmvE
MB in MN,
Trump’s evasive answer reminds me of Jon Lovitz’s shtick on Saturday Night Live where he claimed to be married to Morgan Fairchild. LOL!
This excrement is 40+ years in the making. Ray-gun and the pukes crawled in bed with the “moral” majority. Between the right wingers and those whose lives suck due to their own choices (or laziness/ignorance), good luck trying to be a Christian. You’re in a very small minority
Fru-gal Lisa. I am not a practicing Christian but your words go straight to my (humanist) heart. I hear you and feel you and I know you speak truth.
Ditto to what Cynthia said.
Hear, hear!
Thank you Laura, Katy, Cynthia, Lindsey and LB and everyone!
1) I also used Pirateship to mail a package for a Facebook Marketplace sale.
2) Prepped a charcuterie tray for the three teens at my house, saving them money on eating out. DS18 & his GF still went out, but skipped the appetizers. DS17 was able to make a meal out of the charcuterie & some garlic bread I threw together, in advance of leaving for the library.
3) I once again paid dS18’s tuition with my travel credit card. There is a fee, but it’s less than the value I earn through the card. I then immediately reimburse myself from our 529 plan. We are paying for 10 days in Spain next year with hotel points, and paid for a week in Costa Rica at an all inclusive this year with hotel points.
4) Helped DS18 wrap his gifts for his GF using items we already had on hand (bags, bows, paper, etc) to avoid any cost.
5) Applied for a few jobs, completed a few surveys & listed items on Buy Nothing.
Again I bow down to your clever use of points!
We are almost entering our empty nester era, so expect lots more travel & points usage in the upcoming year! I’ve promised myself that I’ll do a recap of how much we saved in 2024, because I’m pretty curious.
Hawaii Planner,
I’d love to see the year-end report about your cc points and learn how you did it. (If you don’t mind sharing, that is.) I think it’s brilliant how you paid for your son’s tuition and then got points for it…literally!
Fru-gal Lisa – just posted my 2024 recap, in case you are interested!
I’m in So Cal working my gig. I consider this a jobcation.
No Christmas tree this year as I’m having aortic valve replacement surgery on 12/23. I do not have the energy to put it up or take it down. I did do some table top decor
Preparing for a very low spend and low key December
Wishing you luck on your valve replacement. I am impressed that you are working while you wait. I had open heart for a birth defect when I was 33 and I was such a wreck beforehand that they pushed up the date. Your calm is remarkable.
Sending strength and skills to all your medical care providers and a gentle virtual hug to you!
Kathy, best of luck on the upcoming surgery!
Wishing you the best with your surgery and here’s hoping for an easy, speedy recovery.
Kathy, I’m cheering you on from the Heartland (no pun intended).
Kathy, praying all goes well. I’m sure it will. They have made so many huge breakthroughs/advances in cardiac care that open heart surgery is almost a piece of cake for these surgeons. By Valentine’s Day, you are going to be bragging about your “new” (or, rather, newly-repaired) heart. No broken heart for you! It’ll be completely fixed by then!
1. Husband went to his singing group’s holiday party and came home with enough leftovers no one wanted that we won’t have to cook for at least four days.
2. Not frugal for me but makes me feel good: my neighbor mentioned that flour bags make good fire starters. The food bank divides up 50-pound bags to smaller containers for food boxes and these bags are double thick paper so now they are saving them for me to bring home to the neighbor. They were already saving those plasticized rice bags for my kitchen trash bags, so this recycles quite a few bags that would have gone to the trash.
3. Needed evaporated milk for a recipe. Rather than running out to get some, I looked up substitutes online and things turned out great.
4. Regifted a lovely candle set since I don’t burn candles.
5. Traded Christmas DVDs with a friend, so no money spent for new entertainment.
Hooray for free food! Now I’m going try and remember the tip about flour bags.
Let’s see if I can come up with 5:
1. My husband just drove to a used store and purchased some used weights for a Christmas present for our teen son.
2. After the wedding we attended last night, we helped clean up. They said to toss the cloth napkins. We took a few of them home with us. We also got some leftover salsa.
3. My husband went to a Goodwill yesterday and purchased some lights, glass jars, and gifts for the nephews and neice we’ll see soon.
4. I made pickle juice ranch. So yummy!!! Anda good use of pickle juice! I ate it on my reduced for quick sale salad mix.https://makethebestofeverything.com/2023/02/pickle-juice-ranch-dip/
5. Made homemade bread yesterday.
They were throwing away the cloth napkins?! I would have taken all of them.
Katy, can I just say, if you’re going for blue, why not put up an ornament of another Enterprise officer, my favorite? *bursts into angry unVulcan tears*
William Shatner is Jewish.
So was Leonard Nimoy. The kohanim blessing he saw in temple was his inspiration for the Vulcan salute.
Alas I don’t have an ornament of Spock.
TIME TO GET CRAFTY
heh
Some simple elf ears?
My second favorite ornament is the Hallmark Star Trek one from….1991? It’s the Galileo and features Nimoy’s voice saying “Shuttlecraft to Enterprise; shuttlecraft to Enterprise. Spock here. Happy holidays to all. Live long and prosper.”
Rose,
My parents had those Star Trek ornaments. Dad was a HUGE Star Trek fan…..I am, too. Those ornaments were taken away by the “you point, we take” junk haulers when my mom downsized the first time. Long story, but yes, many angry unVulcan tears, and more therapy in my future.
My mother (who didn’t like me) called as they cleaned out Grandma’s house and went on about all the things that were going to my sisters and cousins. I thought she might be calling to ask what I wanted but she never did. So I announced that I really wanted the button bag. She said they had thrown that away. Oh.
Geeze, Mary, I’m so sorry. Your mother does not sound like a well woman! You, on the other hand, appear to be kind, sensible, compassionate. Congratulations on having broken the generational pattern. (From a fellow escapee.)
Congratulations on celebrating the way that feels right to you. We did not put up any religious ornaments this year. I only put up put our tree up so as to not disappoint DD. She loves this time of year and also has a December birthday.
1. I succumbed to buying marked down Lego’s at Sam’s Club. I hadn’t bought anything but favorite edibles for DD and SIL and they do like to receive a few things. If they don’t want them I can return them.
2. I ran errands with a friend. We went to Sam’s Club and Restaurant Depot. I didn’t buy anything that day.
3. I walked with a different friend and since she lives less than a mile from me I walked to/from her house. She recommended a GF cookbook and I was able to borrow it from the library. It is How Can It Be Gluten Free Cookbook Collection.
4. We have too much meh jarred marinara sauce. I have been eating it for lunch with GF pasta and leftover veggies and/or legumes.
5. I gave away items using Buy Nothing. I don’t like using a Meta product but what are you going to do?
We are still on our extended stay in Scotland/England.
Our main base is a very low cost trailer on a holiday park. It’s been very windy but all the trailers are still here, thank goodness. We have one night (ish) in a hotel visiting somewhere further away, each week. We’ve been really successful in finding some good value options, with hearty breakfasts.
Had a very special visit to a farm of Clydesdale horses this week. We didn’t book a private tour, but our public session ended up being just us! Had a lovely relaxed tour with all the farm animals and so many huge horses. I love heavy horses. We took our own treats for the horses ( completely allowed) which saved us buying any there.
Travelling this week to watch a rugby game at the club where my husband used to play, and where we first met. Meeting up with some people I haven’t seen in over 30yrs, should be interesting. Will be spending some time strolling around the local area whilst we are there.
The Uk grocery stores start their “veg wars” this week, where they compete ferociously, to have the cheapest vegetables for Christmas. Will take advantage of this to stock up for the rest of the trip.
Been shopping in the charity shops for things we find we need, and don’t have.
Were the Clydesdale by the Clyde? I once had a special thrill in Scotland seeing that.
I love heavy horses too. A friend of mine owns Heavy Horse Farm, where he rides and shows Clydesdales. Though my favorite is a Percheron who is basically like riding my living room sofa.
Rose, it was Blackstone Clydesdales near Cumnock, Dumfries and Galloway. I am so happy people are working to preserve the breed.
That is a beautiful area. Sigh….next year I will go back I think.
I love Percheron horses.
Nicola,
I love big horses, and I cannot lie.
1. Bravely used the mandolin slicer to make scalloped potatoes using my trust Betty Crocker cookbook. Used up two huge potatoes.
2. Filled up gas tank at Sam’s early this AM. No wait and .25 a gallon cheaper than nearby.
3. Bought some little easels to prop up the photos my husband has been matting and framing for gifts. He has been making gifts, which he enjoys and saves us money. He has also made several cutting boards.
4. Reading library books and going theough my tall to be read pile. Sorely tempted at a used book store yesterday, but I resisted.
5. Pulling out all my recipes for my Christmas meal to assess what I really need to buy.
@Michele, in the interest of frugally avoiding medical care for a slip, I strongly recommend those special no-cut gloves = they are sparkly and prevent cuts from a slipping knife or slipping hand on a mandolin. they are such useful tools, and once you find a way to really safely use them, you will have a lot of fun with many veggies. I got one of those gloves when I was making bread and butter pickles, it made the whole process so much safer, faster, less nerve-wracking, and generally enjoyable.
I bought no-cut gloves for use with a mandolin and now use those gloves on my holding the thing (fruit, veg, cheese, etc) hand every time I cut things with a knife bigger than a paring knife. It is just safer for me, and it is easy enough to pull the glove out of the drawer and put it on. I wash them in a garment bag and air dry. Gives me peace of mind and keeps me from cutting myself, which has happened in the past when I wasn’t using the gloves
FTFT, Peaceful Holiday Prep Edition:
(1) I continue to work on the Martha Stewart parody calendar for the Bestest Neighbors. This entertains me in the making at least as much as it entertains them in the receiving, if not more so.
(2) I carried out my plan of using yew clippings from the Bestest Neighbors’ bushes (with their encouragement) for my annual holiday bough for the front of the house. It looks lovely, if I say so myself.
(3) I will hand-deliver all hard-copy cards for friends within walking distance as soon as the weather permits. (We’re about to have another rain –> snow –> freeze sequence, which is not good for my gardens and not so good for human ambulation either.)
(4) And more of my holiday greetings have gone electronic this year. Not only does this save postage, but it’s enabled me to send friends a couple of the photos from the JASNA Annual General Meeting that appeared over on The Frugal Girl a while back.
(5) Finally, I’m very much looking forward to Dr. Bestest Neighbor’s combined Chanukah latke party and 88th birthday party on the 22nd. Dr. BN is the best man I’ve ever known after my own DH, and he was a pillar of strength to me and DH during DH’s long decline. Long may he wave!!
(5)
1. We also decorated the way we are feeling about the holidays this year – no tree and really no decorations at all other than the lovely cards we’ve gotten from friends and family. We are not hosting this year so no reason to go all out. Our upstairs neighbors adore decorating and have some lovely festive twinkly lights in the window that we get to enjoy anyway 🙂
2. Given upcoming travel, dinner is out of the pantry/freezer this week. Reducing waste and avoiding takeout.
3. DH spaced on getting gifts for his team at work like he usually does. I volunteered to wander through the fancy gift shop to pick up some reasonably affordable candles and holiday cards – yippee, getting to look at all the cute stuff! However, I was able to get gift bags at a dollar store down the street for .89 cents a bag, reducing his overall spend.
4. Got my COVID shot today. Grateful that while health insurance in general is terrible, mine covers my vaccines.
5. Declined a new years eye party with a set price that almost gave me a heart attack. Made some much lower key plans with some friends instead.
When I saw your #5, I was briefly wondering what a new years “eye” party was. I was honestly a little intrigued – maybe you try out different glasses or contacts? My brain eventually put together that it was probably instead “eve” 🙂
Time to figure out what a New Year’s Eye party can be before 2026! 🙂
I think your tree bough arrangement is beautiful. I may steal that idea next year.
1. I picked my great-nephew up at the airport. He will spend the night tonight and be picked up tomorrow by others who are flying in tomorrow, to be transported to his mother further north. This save my nieces an extra long trip.
2. I filled up my gas tank at Costco, filled my tires with their free air and had the $1.50 hot dog and soda before I set out for the airport.
3. I walked with a friend this morning and found a soda bottle that I will return for the deposit.
4. My Meijer didn’t have the puff pastry sheets I needed for Christmas breakfast. I’ve checked twice. The Meijer near my mom had them in stock so she picked them up for me, saving me a trip.
5. Can’t think of anything else besides saving another dog food bag to use for garbage. Very, Very Tiny Frugal Thing.
1. There is a bunch of employee gift exchanges going on in my office today. I am the only person in my department, and am so thankful I am not obligated to participate. It’s the usual: Bath & Body Works, mugs, holiday decor, and candy.
2. I went to a local thrift store on my lunch hour today. All tops were $3.99, and I found a Madewell sweater, Multiples tunic top, Banana Republic jacket NWT, and North Face top NWT, all to resell. I bought one cardigan for myself and a vintage Champion heavyweight sweatshirt for my son.
3. Taco Bell Tuesday drop was a $0.99 Mexican pizza and it was excellent.
4. We had an ugly sweater day today, and I wore a banger that I had bought off FB Marketplace for $10. I strongly prefer the vintage sweaters that were unknowingly ugly, rather than the try-hard new ones.
5. The Goodreads best books of the year list was released and I put holds on a handful of books at my library. Living within walking distance of our library is so delightful to me.
1. Sold another of DH’s cutting boards for $20 to a friend who’s going to a gift exchange.
2.Had DH purchase 4 boxes of compost bags, each containing 90 bags, for $11 each. These will last us a long time, and are available at City Hall of the city we used to live in (an hour away). He was going there anywhere to meet friends for lunch, so there was no extra gas spent. This is much cheaper than amazon or Costco.
3. Went to a potluck lunch event on the weekend, made black bean hummus and took it in a christmassy bowl I bought at the thrift store for $.75. No need to have the hostess return it to me. She thought it was a great idea.
4. Very little decorating done this year, just my pencil tree and my white ceramic tree which was painted many years ago by a very dear “fake aunt”, and gifted to my mother, her best friend. When my mother passed, my Dad gave it to me, and I treasure it. I was short on ornaments for it, but found a bag on amazon to replace them. It lights up and is beautiful.
5. DH and I will not exchange gifts. We don’t need anything, he gets stressed out trying to fine something to buy me, and I’m the same. We are fortunate that we are in a position to buy something when we want it. But we have everything we need. We would rather plan a trip for early next year to somewhere warm, and we have spent too much money on our home addition.
That’s a great deal for compost bags, so smart of your husband to coordinate the pickup on day he’d otherwise be in town.
1. I’ve sold 2 FB marketplace items while I’ve been away. My husband has left them on the doorstep.
2. I’ve finally figured out the last present I need to purchase and will stop at the used bookstore where I’m staying at mys son’s house. It’s a lower COL area than where we live and I may get more for the $25 limit for the gift.
3. Noticed the hotel we’re staying at next week has a slightly lower price. I’ll watch it for a few more days to see if it goes lower and then will call to either rebook or ask for an adjustment.
4. Accepted invitation to free restaurant meal to honor volunteers at the gold course. My husband loves the gig, gets free round of golf for each time he volunteers, and now a free meal for 2!
5. Free exercise in the form of taking my grandson for walks and playing with him in the backyard.
Free golf? That’s a great deal!
Love your tree arrangement – perfect!
I too took some leftover cuttings that someone left at a local park that I walk at and made my son a swag for his balcony. Used leftover bits and bobs from previous arrangements that had been saved for such opportunities. Yay free!
BTW – not sure if it’s okay to take cuttings from a park tree, I didn’t do the cutting, and the leftover cuttings had been there for weeks before I felt okay to snag. 😉
You’re doing them a favor by taking the cuttings.
Never thought of it that way – good to know!
Checked tire pressure and aired up the car’s tires.
Happened to be at the livestock market on customer appreciation day. Scored a free roast beef dinner.
Co-worker gave me a package of not undies she couldn’t return. I’m kinda stoked!!!
Finally put up our well used, small tree. My 7yo is excited.
Friday I will hit the resale shops and start/finish Christmas.
Sold 25 ft of used barbed wire on ebay. I’d why people want the stuff, but hey, I’ll take the $ 🙂
Nwot undies!
Nope, I prefer the “not undies,” which could be anything really.
That must have been a tricky packaging situation!
Katy , I’m happy to celebrate pretty much anything that’s about Love, Peace , and Goodwill to all! My sincerest hope for 2025 is that when we say Peace, or Shalom, or Salaam Aleikum, is that we mean it, and we invest our every day interactions with love. Its. ironic that both Russians and Ukrainians say “ PES”, may it come to pass before more blood is shed!
That would be my favorite ornament!
I have adored it for many years. It’s not Christmas till it’s on the tree!
My absolute favorite is a Christopher Radko ornament called Bathing Beauty that looks almost exactly like my daughter as a baby. Curly orangey hair, blue eyes, chub? Yep. My girl.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/186220425243