Five Tiny Frugal Things
by Katy on February 19, 2025 · 115 comments
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I ordered 21 photo prints from the Walgreen’s near my house, but first did a cursory web search to hunt down a promo code. Two minutes and 50%-off later, I was able to bring my order down from $8.19 to $4.09. Walgreen’s photo department always has easy to find promo codes, so I encourage you to look for them if you’re having physical prints made.
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My sister and I were at the end of errands and seconds away from entering a cute restaurant, when I abruptly realized that I wasn’t in the mood to drop twenty bucks on a meal. We drove the fifteen minutes home and heated up some black bean chili that I’d stuck in the fridge. I set out a toppings buffet and we enjoyed the addition of crushed tortilla chips, Tillamook cheese, sour cream and windowsill scallions for a satisfying and frugal meal. Katy, you have food at home!
The homemade chili was something I’d made for the specific purpose of having a grab-and-go meal in the fridge for my sister’s visit. It incorporated the last of some homemade marinara sauce, as well as a half jar of Trader Joe’s cheap pasta sauce as I was out of canned tomatoes. The beans were from the Winco bulk department and cooked in my Instant Pot. I’d also defrosted a small amount of cooked bulk sausage from the freezer to deepen the flavor. The total cost was probably around five bucks, but it filled my crock pot.
Worry not about the chili tasting like marinara sauce, as I added enough herbs and spices (chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, crushed red peppers, salt, parsley) to cover up that favor profile!
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I brought a $9.99 tin of Trader Joe Jingle Jangle treats to a health care clinic that serves the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community to “obtain the compassionate and culturally effective health care that they need and deserve.” I’m a firm believer in direct donations to those in need and I’m guessing that these clinic employees were “in need” of a treat.
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My neighbor set another Bonne Maman jam jar in her recycling bin, which I quickly brought home. I love, love, love (love) these jars to store my Winco bulk spices!
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I’m not using my influence as a billionaire to take resources away from people living in poverty.
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
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1. Negotiated with the nice person I dealt with last year for delivery and stacking of another half cord of wood. Our household doesn’t use it so much, but I invite my Airbnb guests to use as much as they want in the guest firepit or on the beach.
2. Vaguely considered selling my property to my northern neighbors, who covet it. They were rather crestfallen to discover I want more for it than I did in 2020, when they failed to get a mortgage. Seriously, folks, do you think I’m stupid? They also seem to think as a single woman I will be intimidated by their manliness. Try harder, boys.
3. Made several batches of corn/jalapeno/smoked sausage muffins to fill up Son’s black hole of starvation. I was underwhelmed but let’s see what he says first. I think grated cheddar/chipotle would be better.
4. Have been wearing my probably ill advised purchase of a cardigan styled exactly like the Overlook Hotel’s carpet around the house instead of turning up the heat.
5. Have been avoiding the second floor where the blood usually gets off.
I’m kind of indignant for you, that those neighbors thought you would sell your property at a 5-year-old price?!? Sheesh. The prices of almost everything, including real estate, have gone up….who *doesn’t* know that?
And I just looked up the Overlook Hotel carpet pattern…lol! You can buy area rugs, doormats, fabric, and wallpaper in that pattern, to name a few things….I had no idea! My oldest sister and brother in law saw The Shining on their first date. I should buy them something!
IDK, Liz, maybe they really think I’m that dumb or I’d be intimidated by “Oh we’re really disappointed to find…” Jeesh, I’m the horrible mean bitch rather than the easily steamrollered pleaser type, guys, get it right.
One of my favorite movies (I love Kubrick anyway). Perhaps a tad loud in cardigan form but a very warm garment.
Rose – you’re definitely not dumb. Your comments are so enlightening and you crack me up at times. And you’re missed over at the “other” blog.
Not allowed over there any more.
A doormat that says REDRUM?
The doormat I saw had the hotel carpet design on it, but one that says REDRUM would be amazing!
Get the carpet mat and stencil REDRUM on it with black spray paint. Hm, I would probably not let anyone wipe their feet on it, then! heh.
Good for you, Rose! Hold your ground — on the land, I mean.
(And lots of Coloradoans would love to have your Overlook Hotel carpet sweater. Not me…but hey, I’m a farmer’s daughter who would know style if it went after me with an axe.)
I also strongly believe in helping those in need. That’s why we gave $200 to a friend whose alternator went out — and had to pay for a daughter’s crown that week, as well. I took another friend out to lunch (Chinese) yesterday, as a thank you for keeping me company during an out-of-town appraising gig.
And I found 72 cents in return cup of the Safeway coin cash machine!
But alas, I did not spend much of the $50 billion or so that can now be applied to the national debt. Darn.
Oops — I WOULDN’T know style if it came after me with an axe, I mean.
Katy, I greatly appreciate that you are willing to let people who disagree with you continue to read and respond to your posts. I know you are frustrated and unhappy with the current administration. But I also have to believe that you are not a fan of careless or just plain weird spending. (Like condoms for Gaza – which they resourcefully began turning into bombs.) You are far too common sense in your own purchases.
So perhaps you may have more in common with the people who disagree with you than you think. Who knows.
As Snopes reported on Jan. 29, 2025, there is no evidence that $50 million was spent to buy condoms for Gaza. As such, there is no proof that such U.S.-funded condoms are being used by the militant group Hamas to make bombs. However, we came across reports of Palestinians in Gaza using condoms, balloons and other items to airdrop small incendiary devices into Israel in 2020, during the last Trump administration. Those actions took place at a different time, and there is no evidence tying them to Trump’s claims in early 2025.
We analyzed the first part of Trump’s claim: that U.S. funding paid for condoms in Gaza. In our past reporting, we looked at recent data from U.S. Agency for International Development and U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, and spoke to representatives at Anera and the International Medical Corps, which are relief organizations that received U.S. funding for health care in Gaza.
We learned that no funds were sent from USAID to Anera or the International Medical Corps for contraceptive purposes or condom purchases in the 2023 fiscal year. The organizations were focused on providing basic medical facilities on the ground after Israeli military bombardments destroyed most of Gaza’s health care facilities.
We then looked into the second part of Trump’s claim: that Hamas was using U.S.-funded condoms to build bombs. Given that there is no proof the U.S. was funding condoms in Gaza in the first place, the claim that Hamas was using them to create bombs is outlandish at best.
However, it is likely that the claim emerged from 2020 reports about Palestinians in Gaza who used a range of items to send incendiary devices into Israel, including balloons and condoms. According to a Washington Post report from March 2020, over several months, balloons and condoms were launched from Gaza with small explosives attached to them. None of the devices caused injury or death.
One person interviewed by the Post in Gaza said he was not affiliated with Hamas and was part of “a loose cell of young men launching balloons,” and he knew of 10 groups involved in such activities. However, political observers told the Post that such groups took orders from Hamas.
Thank you Lindsey & Rebecca for the fact-checking!
The condoms for Gaza isn’t true. It took me two seconds to google several reputable news organizations that debunked the fake news. I think we can all agree that we need to fact check everything that comes out of the White House. Trump couldn’t tell the truth if it came after him with an axe.
I have not personally been affected by any cuts to federal government. So why do I feel bad. I see the mega rich perpetrators of this all happy and giddy about taking jobs from hardworking families, ending food resources to hungry marginalized citizens, stopping medical services to dependent sick people, cutting funding to veterans and I just…………….flat line. It’s like when you are being raped and all your physical and mental efforts to fight off and avoid the assault are overcome and you realize there is nothing you can do to escape. You are trapped and forced to be the victim of someone else’s actions. You shut down. You try to find a way to survive this uninvited onslaught. You become less. You make yourself small. You hope to be unnoticed and avoid further attack and ultimate destruction.
I think it will become quite common to find a lot of people disappearing.
And when I see fat assed, well fed, well housed people on tv or social media with big smiles plastered on their face talking about all the money they are saving my gut reaction is what on earth are you smiling about you insensitive piece of trash.
Amen.
Agree. And thank you, t, for making the experience so vivid. I’ve been there, too. Yes, it’s like that.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker delivered a stern message in his State of the State address Wednesday including:
“The Trump administration cut off funding for food safety inspectors for nearly a month, impacting more than 70 meat and poultry facilities in Illinois. Without these inspectors, the supply chain collapses, prices go through the roof, from farmers to truckers to meat packers to retailers, jobs will be lost,” Pritzker said. “Meals on Wheels programs — which home deliver 12 million meals per year to 100,000 seniors and people with disabilities in Illinois – are on the federal chopping block. This is real. The new administration and the Republican Congress and Elon Musk intend to take these programs away.”
It took the Nazis one month, three weeks, two days, eight hours and 40 minutes to dismantle a constitutional republic”
It’s such a helpless feeling to watch these knuckleheads destroy our country, one agency at a time. They don’t have the foresight to see the long reaching effects of their cruel and thoughtless decisions.
t, that’s one helluva speech by Governor Pritzker. Thanks for putting it on my radar.
Lucky to have Pritzker as my (billionaire) governor … but we need the red governors to take similar stands!
I’m guessing that most if not all people on this site are not fans of careless spending. I speak for myself in saying the manner in which they’re slashing jobs and agencies does not have to be so indiscriminate. Co-president Elon appears to be having a fun time, whether or not it’s working to trim the government where it might or might not be needed.
I’ve seen NO proof of wasteful spending or fraud. Both take time and manpower to find. Terminating those hired less than two years ago is taking the easy way out and hoping you can bull shit the base.
I am not depending on my tax refund – I withhold higher single rate plus extra each pay period. I did estimates for a number of years for better half’s business but not doing for social security (nor letting them withhold). Bonuses are not guaranteed and can fluctuate.
@ Cindy Brick — did you truly believe condom story that without checking further into it?
Cindy Brick, not only was the story that the US spent $50 billion (the Administration said million, not billion) to send condoms to Gaza debunked, but it appears the real story is that USAID provided grant money for condoms to prevent HIV in Gaza, a province in Mozambique.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/us-spent-millions-std-prevention-gaza-it-was-province-mozambique
note: If anyone knows that the news I’m referencing is also incorrect, please let me know.
I have a bumper sticker on my car that says “IS THAT TRUE? OR DID YOU SEE IT ON FOX NEWS.”
Too many people take what they hear via the rightwing propaganda machine at face value and think it’s true. They should know better!
It’s imperative that we all fact-check and bias-check our news and apply critical thinking skills to what we are seeing and hearing. In addition to Snopes.com that Lindsey cited, there is VerifyThis.com, FactCheck.org, and PolitiFact.com.
@MB in MN – all too much of what they say should immediately be branded lies by those with common sense – some are just so off the wall. And that is the key – common sense. But they’d rather blame anyone but themselves and believe the cult that reinforces it is someone else’s fault. Remember the Jesse Helms political ad “you NEEDED that job”.
Lindsey, thanks for your detailed clarifications on the condom issue. I read that Trump was lying (per usual) about the profilactics and costs but I like the way you explained everything. Maybe instead of running his mouth about fake condom news, the Orange Man might consider suggesting to his co-president the proper usage of them.
I’d like to take credit for being so lucid when discussing what is happening, but rational words fail me. That was from Snope and I should have done a better job of making that clear. They are a beacon of light…
I’m just happy you shared it. Snopes is a great source of truth, something the current administration knows very little about.
All of this makes me so sad, especially things that are so unhinged that I think, surely, they must be false, but then they turn out to be true. We live in crazy-land!
1. I used cvs rewards and birthday bucks to get jumbo pack of cottonelle TP. I saved 51%
2. We’ve had horrible cold weather in central Oklahoma so I spent yesterday sorting tshirts for donation. I sold and packed up
an item for shipping
3. We’re eating out of pantry and freezer
4. Cardio rehab canceled due to weather
Hello, Fellow Okie here and it is unreasonably cold here.
I have been layering up my clothes and staying home off the ice.
1. We have been eating out of the fridge and using up a lot of odds and ends.
2. I tidied up the pantry using recycled jars to make it look nicer and see what was there.
3. Made a list of meals I can make with what is on hand.
4. Hemmed a pair of pants I bought while thrifting.
5. Cancelled some streaming services and am going to enjoy everything I can on my 1.99 Hulu.
I did not try to destroy Democracy.
Im looking forward to my Musk DOGE divided check! Maybe I’ll get funds that take food out of a school child’s mouth, or money from a vets ptsd drugs, or a seniors meals on wheels! But I’ll have a little extra cash for a Starbucks or something.
Is this my let them eat cake moment?
*makemecomplicitplease.com*
Katy,
I love the recipes that you share. You inspire to me! (Have you considered putting together an e-cookbook?)
We have been snowed in the past 2 days but that is fine by me! I teach and the schools are closed.
I have used my time to:
1) Made homemade soup and a meal in the crockpot so we are set for the next few days.
2) Have been reading a library book (Mrs. Everything by Jennifer Weiner)
3) Caught up on some grading and posting grades (not as fun as reading my library book! Ha!)
4) Called my sister and chatted. She just rang the bell and is done with chemo!
5) Cleaned up a messy bookshelf and divided books to give to a prison ministry, sell, and keep.
6) Dragged out my dusty violin and played for a bit.
7) Went through email files and dumped a bunch of emails I don’t need.
8) Organized the Christmas and gift wrap container that was haphazardly gone through in December by myself, husband, and a couple of young adult children.
Hooray for your #4 especially, Donna!
Congrats to your sister. A real cause for happiness and relief.
I’ll look for Walgreens photo coupons from now on. I’m still mad that Costco photos got messed up.
1. I shopped the loss leaders at Fred Meyer, and had such a high amount in “coupon savings” that I triggered some sort of loss prevention nonsense. When I tried to scan a 40 cent broccoli coupon, it wouldn’t go through, because I’d passed the $40 coupon threshold, so a self checkout attendant had to come over and double check my cart. Crazy. I think this means I’m a frugal champion?
2. I splurged and bought myself a dozen long stemmed roses. They cost $2.
3. I bought 2 nice pieces of salmon for $4, marked down from $12.
4. I bought some eggs at Trader Joe’s. I notice that they’re limiting the eggs to one carton per shopper.
5. I haven’t been kissing any war criminal ass!
Great job on the coupon shopping. Were they paper coupons, or e-mail coupons?
Used to coupon lots, but not sure where to find them
I use the digital coupons in the grocery store app, plus the paper coupons that the grocery store sends in the mail. There are some items that routinely go on sale through digital coupons, and I try to strategically stock up so I never have to pay full price.
Thanks
Well done Li!!!
Li, you are definitely a frugal badass! Also, love your #5.
1. Packed my lunch for work today.
2. Worked on a knitting project that uses a free pattern & yarn I bought from a creative reuse store.
3. Was honest with my doctor about the negative side effects of my medicines and was advised to go off them immediately. Saving myself from being even more sick is just as valuable as saving money.
4. I didn’t buy my way into the federal, state, or local government.
Not feeling particularly well today- hoping to be on the upswing soon!
1. I made time to see a friend that is having a particularly bad week (and 2025). Lending a ear and moral support is free.
2. DD went to visit her cousin. I give her cash before she travels and she used some of it to buy salt for her cousin’s icy driveway. No broken bones or brain injuries for the win.
3. I filed our federal and state taxes. I used Turbo Tax and will share our copy with DD & SIL. The federal software can be used five times. I filled out and efiled the state return using the state website since Turbo Tax only calculates one state return. They also charge you if you want to file your state return through their software.
4. I have fallen in love with oven roasted butternut squash wedges. I will buy more squash when I find it at a good price.
5. I listened to The Life We Bury thanks to the library Libby app.
My favorite local grocery store still has up the sign by the front door stating its support for all employees. Makes me happy to see it.
Still eating an array of leftovers and homemade meals from the freezer. Groomed the cat and cut DS’s hair: these are related because he held our robust kitty while I clippered her tummy as a return for the free haircut. Have gently persuaded Demon Pup to eat properly and regularly. She has lingering trauma regarding food from whatever awful things happened to her before we adopted her. At her worst, she would eat only canned cat food and only if I sat with her and fed her every bite by hand. Now she eats dog food by herself, although she prefers to eat in her bed. I am okay with that.
Looked at my handful of Kindle e-books and determined there is only one I regularly re-read, so I bought a used copy off eBay. The rest can vanish when I delete the Amazon account.
Congrats on getting your traumatized kitty to eat on her own. I am still hand feeding a Great Dane after 12 months and one week of rescuing him. If I don’t hand feed, he eats so fast that he chokes and then throws it all up. Have tried those appliances that slow down eating, he ate the appliance when it would not release fast enough. Most of the time I feel so sad for him that I have to hand feed but on days when I am pushed for time I feel irritated, which I try not to communicate to him.
Oh, Lindsey, that is heartbreaking. My little girl was consistently underweight and would refuse to eat, which caused her to get gastritis and vomit repeatedly. I took her to the vet for a rather expensive treatment plan that soothed her tummy and then every day we would work on eating correctly. A lot of days she regressed and I had to feed her every bite off my fingers. Last week she was okay with eating off a spoon and graduated to eating out of a dish. I still have to mash up her wet food with a fork and mix in some kibble, but she eats three little meals most days and two on the others. Her backbone is no longer sticking out. It feels like a huge triumph.
oh, @Lindsey, even though I am sad for your poor anxious Great Dane, I have to admit I (yet AGAIN) laughed out loud at another one-sentence story that you slipped in to your post.
“Have tried those appliances that slow down eating, he ate the appliance when it would not release fast enough. ”
Damn, those dogs of yours keep you hopping!
Poor Clobber Paws. I’m sorry that he and you are still having such a hard time, Lindsey. And Ruby, it’s good that your little girl is making some progress.
I only have 1 thing but it is a big 1. A friend cleans/empties out warehouses. He got 8 pallets of recently expired canned goods and tea. He can’t sell them so he offered them to friends, family and coworkers to come and take whatever we want. I got 20 cases(12pk) of pizza sauce, 8 cases(24pack) of cranberry sauce, 10 cases(12pack) of poppy salad dressing, 10 cases(12pack) of Asian salad dressing and 8 cases of tea. I have already given some away. I am seeing 3 of my sisters and my parents this weekend so they will get about 1/2. Several friends are coming later this week to pick up food. My friend said to take more. I told him to let me know when everyone else is done. If he has any left I will go back. He needs it gone by Friday.
That is an awesome save on the food. Have you priced tea lately in the grocery store? It’s so expensive. That alone is a massive savings.
Amazing! It’s so nice that he is making the effort to not let it all go to waste.
Great score on the food! That will save you a lot of $$$ and you’re helping your friend out by taking some off his hands. Your family and friends are benefitting too.
1. My family (or plague rats) got together for dinner. We ordered pizzas to eat in to avoid passing on the illness. I used a coupon code to order and paid with my credit card which was offering 10% cash back at that restaurant.
2. I toasted some stale croissants to make them more palatable and made egg and bacon sandwiches for dinner last night. Tonight we’re eating bao and rice from Costco.
3. I sold another of my daughter’s Tamagotchis on Ebay. I shipped it with reused packaging.
4. I downloaded another library book to my Kindle.
5. I’ve barely left the house in a week and a half. My cupboards are pretty bare but we’re still managing to come up with meals. I haven’t managed anything particularly frugal since I haven’t felt up to doing anything but reading and watching TV.
FTFT, The Preamble to the US Constitution Edition:
I was inspired to do this while reading a pocket copy of the Constitution as I waited for my mammogram appointment today.
(1) We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union…
(2) …establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence…
(3) …promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity…
(4) …do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
(5) This is what Trump, Musk, and Co. are trampling on in their rush to create an executive-branch dictatorship. I could go on (and probably will later) to point out that the Constitution calls for three evenly weighted branches of government, not one in which the legislative and judicial branches are only rubber stamps for the executive. I don’t care how many (incorrectly reported, in many cases) small savings DOGE is ferreting out. The mere fact that Musk and DOGE are doing what they’re doing is an outrage. [Steps off soapbox.]
Amen, A. Marie, Amen.
I’ve always had faith in our 3 branches of government…that they were in balance and not one could be more powerful than the other. Now I’m not so sure and I hate to think that way. It’s a frightening prospect.
And as far as DOGE savings…how can we believe anything that comes out of the Orange Man’s mouth? Today he said Ukraine started the war with Russia. Any idiot with half a brain and a somewhat decent memory can remember Putin lining up the Russian tanks and troops on the Ukrainian border. How can people believe this guy?
AMEN SISTER!!! I also have a pocket constitution and have had to pull it out recently and educate some people.
Amen!
1. Doing our own taxes, as they are pretty simple.
2. Eating at home, although I feel like going out!
3. Went to a delightful dinner show (at 11:30 am) with my parents. Frugal? No, but I don’t mind spending money on experiences and spending time with people I love. It was Jersey Boys and it was fantastic!
4. Husband aired up my tires to help our gas mileage.
5. Going to the dentist tomorrow. Have been every 6 months since I was a little kid. Prevention is frugal and thanks Mom and Dad for taking care of my teeth when I was little.
1. Ate my free birthday grand slam breakfast for supper at Denny’s. Annual tradition. Free meal (except for coffee and tip).
2. Got cheap gas, but not from the meal: Used my 10-cent per gallon discount card at a Circle K while filling up with gas.
3. Arranged for some folks from church to come help me move the big furniture out of the front room, in preparation for my new flooring installation. I was going to hire a moving crew, but the preacher wouldn’t hear of it! So with volunteer labor, I will save some serious $$.
4. Was given a Taco Tuesday free gift card, which I will use later. Let’s hear it for practical birthday presents!
5. Kept my faucets streaming in the freezing weather to avoid burst pipes and high plumbing bills.
And a most happy birthday to you, F-G Lisa!
Thank you, Heidi Louise. And MB in MN — or should I say sorry ’bout that?
Fru-gal Lisa, I may have tinkled a little bit reading your #2. Thanks for the laugh!
I love your #3 Katy. Such a great idea.
1. I was craving something sweet so I made a pan of Brownies from scratch. It’s a delicious recipe from an old cook book, Better Homes & Gardens with the red and white gingham cover. I received it in 1981 at my wedding shower.
2. Our Kuerig bit the dust after only 3 years. I’ll miss the convenience somewhat but am relieved due to the cost and environmental impact of the pods.
3. I’m making a meatless meal tonight for supper: Black bean and rice enchiladas with cheese and sour cream. I try to do one meatless meal a week although DH loves meat. The good part of that is that it doesn’t matter what kind of meat…chicken, turkey, hamburger, pork…he’s ok with any of it.
4. Stepson gave us two free tickets to a winter festival this coming weekend. He is taking part in a play about Vikings. Should be fun.
5. I’m reading a library book, making my own tea and coffee, doing crossword puzzles for entertainment and cooking everything at home. It’s been too freezing, snowy and icy to venture out besides batching a bunch of errands here in town yesterday. Even doing that I dressed very warmly.
1) listening to audio book free from Hoopla – and reading the same book (thrift books) for a weekly zoom book club
2) was given a free guest pass for a friend who came to exercise class – because they didn’t have change and because being nice pays off occasionally
3) used annual membership to take people to a botanical garden
4) creatively using up leftovers and random fridge items
5) got a free ferry walk on ride
1. Made a meat loaf using up freezer burned hamburger. The recipe, though heavily spiced, did not disguise the burn enough. Months ago someone came over and brought chips and a jar of Totinos (sp?) cheese dip. I had frozen the leftover jar of dip. I pulled it out, chopped up the meatloaf and a huge potato, nuked it, topped it with dip that I mixed throughout the meat and potato and we ate it. No freezer burned flavor could survive the dousing of hot cheese dip. We got two meals out of it and husband asked if we could have it again.
2. I don’t know if this happens other places, but our food bank gets odd things donated to a place where FOOD is in the name. This week we got several boxes of books left by the donation door and a store donated a pallet of fancy, expensive moisturizer. Most of the people who work and volunteer at our food bank are males and neither they nor the folks picking up food wanted anything to do with books or face cream. When husband picked me up, he took a box of books and on our way home he dropped them off at several little libraries. I took home some moisturizer and also several more to give to friends. We also got a donation of those mixes you use to make fancy alcohol drinks.
3. Did a pick up grocery mystery shop and the store mistakenly gave me two of several items. They told me to keep them as they would only have to discard them if I returned them, so $30 of free food became $47 of free food. I now have four pounds of egg noodles, among other things.
4. Sold two books that I had received as gifts and was finished reading.
5. Needed some lumber from Home Depot. Bought gift cards for the estimated amount at the grocery store, so I received points toward reduced gas costs from the grocery store. I do this every time we have a house improvement project or buy a new appliance and it has saved us hundreds on gas…some compensation for living in an old house that needs continual upkeep.
Frugal fail: left a pot of leftover soup on the stove to cool and went to bed forgetting to put it in the fridge. Not a total frugal fail because the Dane slurped it up while we were sleeping so he got reduced breakfast rations for dining on halibut chowder.
Envisioning your Dane helping himself to your soup after you went to bed is giving me some laughs! It’s like he was just waiting for the opportunity to present itself. Oh my. That one must keep you and DH on your toes!
Re: Clobber Paws and the halibut chowder: Well, at least he’s eating!
I was thinking about your handknitted socks from the other day. I wish I had handknitted wool socks. I wonder if I’ll be able to find them in thrift stores? What I wouldn’t give for hand knit socks… I wonder who knits? Because my attempts are non starters (so far).
1. I’m reusing my gallon Ziploc bags as mini greenhouses for my newly planted (reused) six packs. I’m also using plastic meat trays, cleaned, of course, underneath to catch drips.
2. 30% off New York brand breakfast sausage x 2 means we had sausage for breakfast today, Sunday, and tomorrow, with 8 more links in the freezer.
3. I made incredible Cubano sandwiches using leftover pork from a roast, plus cheese and pickles and hot sauce, and I made Paninis with leftover brioche hotdog buns. They were so good we had them for dinner and then for lunch yesterday.
4. I have been protesting to my congressman and senators almost daily using resist.bot’s free email version. I donated a lot of money in the fall before the election and it’s not in my budget now to donate but I can certainly do a free email comment.
5. I volunteered to hostess one of my group’s monthly meetings, and the theme was Valentine’s Day. So starting in January, I looked at fabric at the thrift stores, looking for one yard-pieces in pink or red or hearts, and I was able to cobble together enough table coverings, using these cute fabrics, for four big tables and one long buffet table. The colorful fabric went on top of the white tablecloths. I was able to do this for less than $20. And it looked so beautiful when the room was decorated. All thrifted, all reusable.
Also, I couldn’t get my sewing machine to work so I pinked all the edges which saved me some time and effort.
Thanks for the idea of using my panini maker for the old hot dog buns. I recently throw some away because they were old and hard. Using my panini make would have been perfect. I learn so much for all you wonderful people.
Waffle irons also work for this, as well as for making panini type sandwiches. And crispy stuffing waffles after Thanksgiving.
Try grilling vegetables on it, too, like broccoli and asparagus. Yum.
I don’t knit but my daughter taught herself when she was 8. Granted, she is preternaturally intelligent and talented, but I tend to think that anyone who is willing to apply themselves can learn to knit and knit socks.
So try it! How hard can it be, really? I always think that when I realize my peasant ancestors who were probably complete idiots managed to live fairly long, right?
Wish I could see your Valentine’s tables, they sound amazing!
1. While patching 2 pairs of my pants (mentioned last time), I also patched 2 pairs of my partner’s pants. This is a big win for, in the past, he would have gotten rid of said pants.
2. I ate lunch for free today at work. It was chicken chasseur and it was delicious. (I also drank the crummy free coffee…)
3. I did a grocery mystery shop yesterday and instead of getting $8 worth of food for free, I shopped sales and got $20.72 worth of food for free (plus $18 for completing the shop).
4. I’m trying to convince our union that we don’t need swag (stupid consumerism – do we need another coffee mug?!) but instead, the union members would prefer cash, if they are trying to spend our dues!
5. I didn’t cancel the Gay Men’s Chorus at the Kennedy Center and have to refund all of the tickets… Awful Vindictive Person.
1. I transplanted Egyptian walking onions. They spread, as their name indicates, and I wanted them all in one place. I love perennial crops!
2. Cleared an old planter and put the soil into other planters. I’m expanding my garden this year.
3. Gave 2 birthday gifts, both homemade. It’s my goal this year-all handmade gifts. It’s my act of resistance.
4. Sold 2 things on FB marketplace yesterday, both picked up for free. One I even picked up while riding my bike, so not even any fuel cost.
5. Used my solar dryer for laundry.
Kara, can I ask what kinds of gifts you’re making? I need some new ideas/inspiration!
Your #1…I love the name of the onions! It paints a picture in my mind of onions with legs dressed like the Pharoahs. So funny.
And walking like Steve Martin in his routine.
Mine do the “King Tut” routine on a regular basis.
I always enjoy reading your #5’s but especially loved today’s.
Walgreens still sells cigarettes. Some of their stores are side by side with their liquor stores I wondered how their slogan of “On the corner of happy & healthy” is true? CVS stopped selling cigarettes in 2014.
I did some volunteer work in Hispanola, NM. The town is poor & has a terrible drug/alcohol problem. The locals told me that the Walgreens in the town made 50% of their profit in alcohol. The good, the bad, and the ugly.
Well, doctors used to advise us to smoke for our throats. So clearly cigs are healthy and alcohol, of course, is happy. BAM!
(sorry)
And in the late 60s, to keep your weight gain to 10 lbs during pregnancy.
My favorite Walgreens is right next door to a church and does not sell alcohol, thanks to alcohol laws that prohibit it being sold within a certain distance of a church or school. The clientele there is a lot more peaceful than at the one on the other end of town that does sell alcohol. I will be sad if the company closes that nice little store.
Retail drug stores want to be considered as a type of health care facility (like a
clinic). Clinics do not sell tobacco or alcohol. They may have kept their DEI initiatives, but they have failed in their promotion of good health habits IMHO. Driven by profit motives no doubt.
1. I, too, drove home today with the “Katy, you have food at home!” mantra rolling around in my head. I have an overstuffed fridge freezer and no need to get ‘fast’ food. Pulled out some dumplings (purchased at 50% off!!) and got them started before I even took off my coat (I was getting hangry). Set a timer and walked to the end of the driveway to pull in the garbage rollies. Brought in the second load of things from the car. Took the lid off the dumplings and then went to the bathroom. Came out and started the kettle for a cup of coffee, took off my coat and shoes, set the table and dumped the last 2 tablespoons of sweet chilli sauce into a bowl. Poured a tablespoon of rice vinegar into the empty sweet chilli sauce container, shook it madly, and poured that into the little bowl, as well (going to add vinegar to the sauce in the future, it was better than straight up!). Made my coffee, piled half the dumplings on a plate and tucked in. BAM. Fast and delish. #2 son came home and took the rest, darn it all (it was planned, but still… they were good).
2. I love how you are ensuring folk know what organizations and businesses are worth supporting.
3. Your gift to the health care clinic had me tearing up. Thank you for seeing the people who are doing important work while experiencing such hate directed at them by your President, for heaven’s sake! Monday was acts of kindness day, Katy – looks like you are making it acts of kindness week.
4. Drove down to see my mom, who is kind of adapting to life without a car (well, she is complaining a lot less). Took her eggs from my chickens, and splurged bigtime on her favourite seedy bread, that she can no longer drive to pick up. It is god-awful expensive, and was totally worth seeing her delight. We promptly used 4 slices for sandwiches for lunch – no need to go out when there is food in the house, even if she had to use one of the eggs I brought as there was only enough sad geriatric cheese in her pantry (fridge) for one grilled cheese. Since the grocery store is 2 blocks away and she is a regular walker, I didn’t let her pretend sobbing get to me as she bemoaned her car. (This is not an easy time to be her daughter)
5. #1 Daughter gave me some mandarin oranges that she won’t eat because they have seeds. Why, YES PLEASE! I don’t mind seeds, and have already eaten two (and #2 son has taken another 4). DD knows to avoid food waste, so in addition to the orange she gave me a tomato just past its prime – she is going to travel to the US of A (Portland to be exact, Katy) on Friday. When I dropped in today she was quick to check her fridge to ensure nothing would go bad while she was gone.
6. Driving home I was kind of tempted to stop at Costco (it is a long way from my home but I pass by when I go see mom). The only thing I need is pecans – and I don’t yet NEED them, just wanted to restock. Decided I was too hungry to dare going into a food store. I will visit mom next week, write up a strict list, and ensure I am on a tight time budget to avoid the ever present temptations. Take THAT you merchandizing display experts! Limited time trumps fancy displays… (oops, sorry about that t word)
My Nr. 1 is similar to your Nr. 1, Katy! – Love your Nr. 3, well done <3
1. Got 10% off an order by googling "coupon code for store xxxx". Couldn’t believe that I actually found a code that works – this does not happen very often but I always try :-)!
2. I had been looking for two spaghetti storage tins (one for gf and one for regular spaghetti) for a while and asked a friend to keep an eye out for me in the charity shops. She immediately offered me a cracker tin that she never uses! It is the right size for spaghetti so now I already have one out of two tins.
3. I sent a letter to a young relative that is currently in hospital and enclosed three mandala type postcards for her to colour in and use. She is very bored so hopefully these will keep her entertained for a bit. The postcards had been sitting in my greeting cards drawer for a while as I never got around to colouring them in and using them.
4. Recent favourite library read: The Diet Myth (Tim Spector) – excellent book on nutrition
5. I bought a pre-loved tshirt on Vinted and the seller sent the tshirt in a cute fabric reusable bag and also put two unusual tea bag samples into the box! How nice is that <3
Reading (free) devotional from church. It’s nice in uncertain times.
Katy, your sweet gift, makes me think of our mail person. He is trans and I hope doing OK through all this bs. A small gift may be in order. He is very thoughtful and considerate. Rural mail carriers are the best!
It’s very cold here and our eggs are often frozen in the nest. I will use them in baked goods (which is totally safe). Uncracked eggs go in the fridge per usual.
Called the neighbor and reluctantly asked if I could move cows across his farm. (It’s empty right now.) I hate asking favors. He said yes and was so nice! I will walk the cows home today. This will save hours of work VS putting them in a trailer and the cows like it 🙂 we will walk down the gravel road about 2 miles and hope to avoid any traffic. Usually it’s just neighbors and the mailman around here! Now, I will only have to feed hay at two farms. That saves me hours on the tractor and I can add compost to my land instead of rental farms.
Used a crock potted chicken breast in spaghetti instead of my regular sausage. Hanging laundry as much as my small home allows. Fixing my socks. Composting like a mutha!lol
I love picturing you walking your cows home.
Now in freezing weather like this, do the cows’ udders give out ice cream instead of milk?
Laura, as the mom of a trans person, I love that you’re thinking about your postal carrier. This is a really scary time for a lot of folks.
1) I checked out my book club read from the library (Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi) It’s a really good read so far.
2) As my list of companies I’m avoiding grows, my spending goes way down overall, it’s another benefit to being a little more mindful as a consumer.
3) We were visiting with my SIL and her family yesterday who are here from out of state, and ended up going to a state park which was a good low cost activity that everyone enjoyed. We brought snacks that we already had, the kids all enjoyed running around and climbing and my SIL and her husband enjoyed the redwood trees (since they don’t have any in their state)
4) I had a busy few days but still managed to cook dinner every night, thanks mostly to my monthly meal plan. Not having to think about it, just consulting the menu and going from there helps a lot.
5) I switched to cheaper coffee at home and it’s been fine. I used to buy expensive coffee ($18/lb), justifying it by saying it kept me from going out for coffee, which it did. But I realized I don’t have a strong desire to get coffee out anymore, I don’t go to Starbucks at all, and even other coffee shops I don’t like to go unless I have my own cup. So now I just get whatever is on sale at the grocery store (although still looking for ethically grown coffee so not buying the very cheapest)
I LOVE this blog and read it as often as I can. But I hope it’s okay to ask here about another blog I used to read (and love) but have not seen for quite a while. It’s the ‘Prudent Homemaker’ (Brandy Simper) and I have not been able to find out any information as to whether she will be back. I hope she’s okay! Please delete if this is not acceptable to ask here but I thought that this frugal network might have heard something about the other one. Thank you!
(And, Katy, thanks to your post a while back, I bought an OXO can opener that doesn’t leave sharp edges, for $2.99 at Goodwill – I nearly fainted when I looked up its ‘real’ price, $29.99!)
I also miss her blog. All I know is what she wrote last November, that she had too much going on and would only be posting on Instagram (which I don’t have) until things calmed down in the new year. Her facebook page isn’t active, either.
Thank you!
I follow Brandy’s blog too. She’s also on Instagram as theprudenthomemaker and she recently commented there that she plans to start blogging again soon. It sounds like she’s just been busy with a lot of projects but will soon have more time.
Thank you, Elizabeth!
I recently made chili with a friend who always uses marinara/jarred pasta sauce in his chili because it has a balanced salt content already and tastes more “finished.” It blew my mind because the chili was EXCELLENT! I’m sure yours was delicious!
1. We were out of milk so I ran to the store where I…only bought milk, bananas, and baby carrots. I am a chronic over-shopper so this was a huge win!
2. I’ve started a “free” box to put on our stoop once the weather is better. Being able to identify items that I don’t want and pull them out of cabinets is much easier than doing a big purge.
3. Had an intro appointment with a new primary care physician. Preventative care goes a long way and is certainly frugal in the long run! 🙂
4. Putting a sweatshirt on and turning the heat down another degree.
5. Enjoying delicious leftovers from our ski trip (roasted chicken, baked pasta) as no one else was able to take the prepared food home. We have enough for at least another dinner and possibly lunch tomorrow. This is a huge relief as this week has been intense!
1. Stocked up on canned goods that were on sale, also stocked up on sale pasta and peanut butter.
2. Used a coupon for a free bag of dog treats.
3. Bought a GC at the grocery store to use at a local restaurant we go to and got 5X points at the grocery store.
4. Because of #s 1,2, and 3 I now have 70 cents off a gallon of gas!
5. Turned the dredges of 10 scented candles into 4 layered candles! No need to buy scented candles for quite some time.
1. I sold a massage gun that had been a gift that was never used.
2. I reused packaging to ship it.
3. I saved the unused half of the sheet of paper after printing out the shipping label.
4. I got a free carton of orange juice when my mother offered to pick something up for me on her grocery run.
5. I made a meal plan that did not require buying any more groceries for the next week’s dinners.
Continuing my “rescue & recycle” of overripe bananas at work – made muffins and gave some to friends.
Found a quarter on the ground, into the found money jar!
Reading a book from Little Free Library.
Friend treated me to the Orchestra over the weekend, all the music of John Williams – it was so good!
STILL using 5calls.org to call my Senators & Congressperson on all issues at hand, and will continue to do so.
Did not post a picture of myself in a Crown on any official government website.
Forgot to add – cancelled my “subscribe & save” on amazon. I am boycotting companies on principal for bowing to the orange manbaby. I will find my items locally.
Hooray for your boycotting Amazon! If all of us do a little, it will all add up and hopefully the powers-that-be will soon take notice.
With that in mind:
I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do. –E.E.Hale
I cancelled Kindle Unlimited and then said, what the hell and cancelled Amazon Prime. I will boycott them. I’ve been in a codependent relationship with Amazon, particularly for books. One click ordering at midnight… I left X some time ago and thought it would be hard but I no longer miss it. Time to do the same with Amazon. I still haven’t cancelled my Facebook account. I can talk to my son who lives in Asia using FB Messenger and it sounds like he’s right in the room with me. And it’s free. Cell service is uneven where I live in the mountains. But someday I’ll have to bite the bullet and leave Zuckerberg.
I realize my post above sounds more like a confession than a Frugal Thing…
Oh, wow, Katy, your number 3 is really inspiring, and I am going to look to do something similar in my area. Thanks for sharing this one!
1. Still in major no spend mode (but it seems I have survived another week of cuts and finally have been assigned an office to go to-I’ve been remote since way before Covid. I am actually glad one of the stress-inducing items has been resolved). I bought just $23 in fresh produce to round out pantry and freezer items.
2. Roasted the remaining little pumpkins I grew in last year’s garden, and I froze the portions in 1-cup increments. I’ll use it to make bread or curry later. I plan to take my lunch to the office when I return, so it will come in handy for meal prepping.
3. Planted 10 water jugs with seeds (winter sowing-I highly recommend it) for the upcoming garden season. I used seeds I saved or had on hand.
4. Ate leftovers, walked the dog when it was not so icy, and rewatched Handmaid’s Tale (with commercials as it is a free service with my partner’s Disney) as entertainment. I am also reading the graphic novel Maus from the library. I am almost done with it and highly recommend it.
5. Sold an item on eBay for $23. I plan to list a lot more items in the upcoming weeks.
In sad news, as if 2025 could not be any more dismal, our sweet 14.5-year-old Boston terrier Orca died Monday. Other than he was a little old guy, we were not expecting Monday to be his last day on this earthly plane. It seemed to happen so quickly. I am still in grief and my 17 yo son who barely remembers a life without our sweetie, is really taking it hard. I opted for cremation, which is not inexpensive. I chose to use the services at the neighborhood animal welfare organization, and I gave them a donation too. So far, I give 2025 zero stars.
Oh, Gina, I am so sorry about your old guy leaving you.
Thanks, Lindsey <3
Condolences on your loss of Orca. I’m so sorry for your son who doesn’t know life without his buddy. Hugs.
Gina, sending my condolences on the death of your Orca. It’s so hard to say goodbye to a beloved member of the family.
I’m so sorry to read about your sweet pup, sending a big virtual hug your way!
Thank you for dropping off treats for the hard-working people. I’m very concerned for a lot of people in this country. My son told me I didn’t need to worry about him as much as others, because he’s white and straight presenting. So he feels safer than most people. But the stress for him of watching out for his boyfriend and friends, is a lot.
1. I searched around to find the best price on a gallon of milk (aldi) so I could make some yogurt. I needed a half a cup for the “mix in“ and had just shy of a half a cup. So I opened the last cup of store-bought yogurt I had (hoping it was fruit on the bottom, but it isn’t) so I will have a slightly blueberry flavor taste for the yogurt I am making. But I’m good with that.
2. Because I have T-Mobile, I was able to sign up to watch the MLS season for free. I happily took advantage of that. I’m waiting for the baseball season free offer to open up. I missed it last year by two days.
3. I picked up the last winter CSA order with a dozen eggs. I did not sign up for the spring CSA because I am planning on doing gardening again this year.
4. My son had a flat tire on his car last week and was heading to have that repaired on Tuesday, when the donut went flat. So we had to have a tow to the tire company. I purchased the third tire for him in a month so he’s all set now. He’s going to take a picture of the pothole he hit that popped the tire so we can go to the city and hopefully get some, if not all, reimbursed. It’s a giant pothole.
5. I’m not firing people at random and then trying to rehire them when I realize I fired the wrong people. I’m also not demanding to see the gold bars at Fort Knox so I could steal them. I’m also not searching through peoples files and gathering their information or stealing their bank funds. And lastly, I’m not taking away parts of their healthcare and turning this country into a fascist country.