Five Tiny Frugal Things
by Katy on February 11, 2025 · 11 comments
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I drove the minivan to the closest cheap (ha!) gas station and spent $22 in cash to save 30¢/gallon, even though it only filled my tank to the halfway mark. I need to be mindful to keep enough cash on hand to actually fill the 21-gallon gas tank, as 30¢ X 21 = $6.30, which makes this frugal hack worth the trouble.
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I called to follow up on two things that could’ve saved me money. The answer was “no” in both cases, but you never know unless you put in the effort.
1) My daughter returned our grocery cart to the cart corral in the Winco parking lot without noticing that her paper towels and toilet paper were on the bottom shelf. I called to see if someone had turned them in, but of course they hadn’t.
2) I left my nice (thrifted) Hydroflask reusuable water bottle in an urgent care exam room a couple months ago. I was with my father who was having a health issue, so it wasn’t that day’s priority. I finally called their lost and found, only to be told that they don’t save any food related items, which totally makes sense. I figured it was a bygone lost cause, but at least it’s not because I didn’t follow up.
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My 26 year old and I stopped by Fred Meyer to pick up needed supplies for their weekly meal-prep-palooza. They were about to buy a loaf of bread, but instead accepted my offer of a loaf from my freezer.
You may remember that I bought ten loaves of $1 bread at the Franz Bakery Outlet store a few weeks back and I’m more than happy to share. Seriously, I’m so pleased whenever I can help my kids save their hard earned dollars!
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I pulled a mostly eaten Costco rotisserie chicken from the freezer and cooked it in my countertop pressure cooker to make a big pot of chicken soup. Portland’s been extra frosty this past week and we’re even expecting snow on Thursday, which calls for comforting warm meals. I’ll probably bake up a loaf of overnight artisan bread to dip into the broth.
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I didn’t enrich the Fox television network by watching even a minute of the Superb Owl.
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
We had .70 off/gallon of gas (earned in December from buying gift cards and groceries at Kroger) so we took both vehicles and got gas for 1.88/gallon.
Paid husband’s cost for his upcoming surgery in full, which got us a 20% discount. We used up our entire FSA on part of it, and the rest went on a credit card which will be paid in full next month but at least earns us a few points and gives us time to be able to pay it without having to dip into savings.
Got my first shingles vaccine this week. My mom and husband have both had very mild cases of shingles which were miserable and I absolutely do not want to think about getting a more severe case.
It was time to order our Vitamin D, which used to come from Amazon. I would have bought directly from the company but their website directed me to go to…Amazon. So I found a different company, and it’s actually cheaper than the A word, free shipping, and I’m getting 10% back from Rakuten.
Yesterday when we traveled for husband’s pre-surgery lab work, I took several books and a few DVDs to a used bookstore. We received $75 in trade, then promptly used $24 of that for 6 books for him and one for me.
Bonus mil frugal: My mil’s internet/cable/phone bill has been steadily increasing, and was up to $260/month. That’s nearly 20% of her monthly income so it had to stop. Husband called, canceled traditional cable, added streaming, and got a slower internet and brought the price down to $100.
1. The kids have a spirit week at school with a different dress-up theme each day. Rather than buy something to meet each theme, we are trying to be creative with what we have. Yesterday was sports day, my son had a shirt for a local sports team but my daughter didn’t have anything. We found a shirt she had with a penguin skiing and I said skiing is a sport so that works. Today was musical decades day, again we didn’t have anything, my daughter had some pants with small butterflies on them though and declared the butterflies looked like musical notes. Tomorrow is pj day at least so that’s easy!
2. Since I gave up dairy, I found extra creamy or barista blend type oatmilks are the only substitute that taste creamy enough in my coffee. I discovered today that Costco sells a cafe blend oatmilk so am trying that out as that would be the cheapest way to get it (and the variety they sell is shelf stable until opened so should last awhile)
3. I remembered to cancel our produce delivery for next week when we will be out of town.
4. My husband and I never go out for Valentine’s Day which saves some money and hassle! I do like to cook a special dinner at home though for all of us. I’d bought some shrimp on sale awhile ago that’s in the freezer so I’ll make shrimp scampi with that, which is my husband and daughters favorite and then found some heart shaped ravioli at Trader Joe’s which my pasta loving son will enjoy. We also had some raspberry mousse cakes at a baby shower last weekend and my kids loved them, I discovered they were also from Trader Joe’s so I bought some to have for our dessert.
5. I do this every day but I made coffee at home and brought my lunch into work today.
Katy, I’m with you on helping my kids save money. I know my parents looked out for us when we were younger (of course by the time I was 26 I had 3 kids!).
1. Got free compost from the city compost hub. You have to shovel and bag your own, but it’s free!
2. I took six 6-gallon buckets of our clay top soil to a friend who wanted it. So I’ve had my exercise for today.
3. Picked up library books, half of them for my grandson when I read to him on FaceTime.
4. Mended a pair of my husband’s jeans. They are no longer nice enough to wear to work but ok for around the house/yard, now that the knees aren’t gaping open. And now they’ll last even longer since the ripped knees won’t continue to rip.
5. Got 6-gallon buckets at the salvage yard for half the price of big box store. They previously contained food so are safe to use in the garden.
We get the cash price if we use a debit card.
1.It was my Hubby’s birthday. I offered to take him out or get take out. He wanted homemade pasta with red sauce and fried chicken cutlets. Can you tell he is Italian? I also made him a carrot cake. He was given a tool he wanted that I got on sale and a candy bar. He was very happy. Our 2 local kids were able to come over and celebrate with us. Our oldest sent him a big box of DF snacks. Our son gave him a day out(they go to the range and lunch), and our youngest got him some DF goodies and a gift card. He got lots of calls and texts too.
2. It snowed over the weekend. Hubby used our snowblower that we were given for free since it was having some problems. It needed a tune up. Hubby did it and does it every year since. Most of our neighbors hire someone to do their driveways.
3.Last week I had pizza at the lady I take care of house. Her daughter ordered a pizza Monday night and apparently it was BOGO special so she got a 2nd pie free. They don’t eat leftovers but the lady I help and I do. So free lunches all week.
4. I earned a $5 virtual gift card. I used it the next day when I went food shopping so that I didn’t forget about it.
5.Friday night I went to a friend’s for dinner. We rotate houses each month except December. She ordered Chinese and we watched a movie after. We had a nice time and it cost me nothing. I drove my other friend who lives 2 blocks from me.
1. I used my $10 off plus other discounts at CVS to get a $15.99 bottle of extra strength Tylenol for $2.16.
2. I found large Ghirardelli Raspberry chocolate bars on sale at Market Basket 2/$5.00. Got one each for the two grandkids I will be seeing on Valentines Day. It is also the youngest one’s birthday that day so I am making him a cake. I bought the cake mix and frosting with a coupon.
3. I pulled out my scant Valentines Day decoration which consist of a door hanging, two little teddy bears with hearts and flowers on them and two Valentines themed snow globes a friend gave me. Nothing new bought.
4. Heard a sweet Native American
saying today which we NCs can relate to: Winter is not the time for being outdoors, it is the time for sewing buttons. I guess meaning we should stay in and accomplish our indoor chores.
5. I am not planning on dismantling OSHA.
Being canadian, my gas equals $7.04 a gallon.
I wish it was your price
Agreed on helping adult kiddos save money! It makes a mama’s heart happy.
I’m helping my kids save too. It’s great that their age group thinks thrifting is cool!
1. I bought a half gallon of milk that had been marked down to 68 cents. It doesn’t expire until next week. I’ll use it to make yogurt.
2. My younger cat has taken to the thrifted, heated cat bed, and now the older, arthritic cat is interested in it. I think it’s a just a matter of time before I find them curled up together in it.
3. I went out for a walk yesterday and, along a non-residential street, I found 18 redeemable cans scattered along the sidewalk. I have no idea what that was all about, but the $1.80 worth of cans is in my garage now, waiting to be redeemed.
4. I have everything I need to make soup and bread, just in case the weather gets icy. I’m happy that my grocery store encourages people to buy just one or two ribs of celery, if they like. I rarely waste celery because of this.
5. I haven’t banished any progressive words from my vocabulary.
I’d love to be able to just buy one or two ribs of celery! Although with Guinea pigs no fresh veggies ever go to waste!
This past year we have seen increases in our water bill (25%!!!) electric bill, homeowners and auto insurance,verizon phone bill, and HOa fees.Groceries are. up ,too.Some of these things I can’t “fix” like our water bill..our town has old infrastructure we must pay for upgrades.
Being retired,I worry a bit. My husband still works part time at a position he loves,self employed.That’s a nice safety net.We are healthy 7 year olds.
I do what is in my locus on control:
Groceries and phone bill I can affect.
I eat eggs every other day for high protein breakfast, but now I eat just 1 egg and have a 1/2 cup cottage cheese with that meal for protein. I am baking with flax meal as egg substitute,though I don’t bake much anymore.
Explored my pantry and freezer then made up a MONTHLY menu plan with a frugal grocery bill goal for both February and March.I find this a challenge, not a chore.
More soups and homemade bread for cheapo delish suppers.
NO meals out!!!! Restaurant food is wildly expensive lately. I MAY join my church friends for a Thursday lunch once this month at Panera , the $6.99 special is a good deal.
Go through garage,closets, etc. and post stuff to my BUY NOTHING group on fb..I always feel prosperous when I just give away things I no longer need.
Continue free entertainment: Canasta and pot luck every other week with 3 neighbors— no driving! Thursday morning meetup with ladies at church to make prayer beads together and laugh and relax. Crafts in my own studio at home with supplies I already have, date nights with husband include movies, playing cards and rummicube, walks in Riparian park and library dates.
It’s troubling times,I am volunteering in local hunger prevention activities for school kids, and calling my representatives, like Katy.
I didn’t buy a gold toilet,I didn’t argue with or hate on my republican hairdresser,she is a human too, I pray extra for all my brown friends and non religious friends and LGBTQ friends, as we try to move through this cycle.
We are healthy 71 year olds ,not seven, lol!!!!!!!!