Five Tiny Frugal Things
by Katy on April 26, 2025 · 25 comments
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Our toilet started running after flushing, requiring us to stick close to the bathroom after use to ensure that it stopped. I assumed that we needed to replace at least part of the innards, but my husband instead watched a short YouTube video, (like this one) and was able to adjust the “float cup” using nothing more than a screwdriver. However, I’m cringing for our next water bill, as the toilet did run throughout an entire night.
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I’m sick with a cold right now, which means switching from my normal reusable handkerchiefs to rolls of toilet paper as I’m blowing my nose every few minutes. We do have Kleenex, but I save that kind of luxury for house guests. What am I, a Rockefeller?
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I made myself a big green salad using the last of a pack of lettuce, the last tomato from my step-mother, chicken off my Costco rotisserie chicken and a generous sprinkling of Dollar Tree panko bread crumbs. Of course I topped it with my Tea Towel salad dressing!
I cannot speak highly enough about Dollar Tree’s panko bread crumbs, which add the perfect crunch to salads. You just need to to add them at the very last second so they don’t get soggy.
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I picked up a midcentury bookshelf at the Tillamook Goodwill for just $7.99. We have its exact twin at home, although I’ll probably sell this one as I have no need for it. It’s in a bit of rough condition, but it’s sturdy and I fear not the makeover. Fun fact — these shelves came with encyclopedias, which is why there are a lot of them around.
Here’s an old blog post from 2013 where I showed how to bring the gold brass feet back to life. It’s been 12 years and they still look amazing!
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Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
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I’m sorry you’re sick-feel better soon!
1. I worked the community garden fundraiser plant sale today. Spent quality time with a lot of good people, gave out free seeds and answered gardening questions as a master gardener, and helped at the thrift booth where we sold an INCREDIBLE number of used pots as well as other gardening related items. I sold a couple of items before the sale on FB marketplace, all proceeds went to the garden. I came home with one more item to sell and lots to donate. I bought a berry bowl from a local artisan, and got free terracotta pots to make some homemade ollas.
2. Brought home a free GF pizza leftover from the event above. Whole and untouched. These are not cheap, so it feels like a big win. In other food related news, dh took car to Les Schwab for free inspection andA filled his travel mug with their free coffee. And I brought home 2 more large cups worth of coffee from event in #1.
3. Acquired a small free watering can prompting me to sell the IKEA watering can I’d bought with my birthday reward. I use it on my seed starts as they only want a small gentle water.
4. Since I was baking a chicken last night I decided to cook baked potatoes and roast carrots. If I’m turning on the oven I LOVE to put the whole meal in there. Plus, once it’s in, my prep is done and I can walk away and do something else.
5. While I was recovering from a migraine yesterday I sorted stuff in my sewing/craft room. I make a lot of useful things-hats, shorts, pajama pants, cards to send, craft packets from grandson, etc, so I usually have several projects spread out. It felt good to have a tidier space. And it makes my creative process flow. I’ve saved so much by making things, and most are with free supplies-I get inspired by seeing what I can make with what I’m given, I don’t come up with a project and then buy supplies.
I recognized the World Book Encyclopedia shelf!
1. Saved perhaps twenty cents by saving the condiment packages from my husband’s hospital meal trays of things he wasn’t using. (Expect they otherwise would be thrown out). He had what he is calling a Health Event on Easter morning, and will be in hospital for another week. Not the way we planned to spend my birthday week…
2. Although the hospital cafeteria is adequate and not horribly expensive, I am trying to plan my visits around buying food out.
3. Use Facebook video chatting to try to help keep his spirits up. Hospitals are neither comfortable nor restful, no matter how much they try. 45 minute drive one way to visit in person.
4. City clean-up week is next week, so I am making mental lists of what to put out for scavengers (when it is not raining) and trash.
5. Restfully caught up on several days of comments here this afternoon, so I can try to feel more like myself again! Thank you all for the posts that help me feel more in routine. I can take my shoulder-arm sling-immobilizer off for longer periods of time now that I am six weeks past surgery.
Heidi Louise, I’m sorry to hear about your husband’s “Health Event” and subsequent hospital stay. Sending warm thoughts for your birthday and his full recovery.
Thank you, MB.
Heidi, that sounds scary. I hope everyone, including you, birthday girl, feels better soon.
Heidi Louise, I’m so sorry to read about your husband’s Health Event. Hoping all goes well, and he starts feeling better soon. I work in a hospital, and you are 100% correct….they are not comfortable or restful places. The cafeteria where I work has a good variety of foods to choose from, but it can get expensive. I can say, too, that any condiments sent on a patients meal trays are thrown away if not used (due to sanitation concerns).
Thank you also, Julia and Liz B. The staff is wonderful and the building barely two years old, so those things are wonderfully comforting for his healing.
I hope your husband is better soon! When our son was in the hospital last fall (11 days) we ended up with so many straws, condiments and applesauce and juice cups. And yes I lugged them all home!
Thank you! And those socks with the little rubbery ripples on the bottom?
Sorry you habba cold. Nice legs! (On the shelf, hehe.) I’ve never thought of putting breadcrumbs on a salad. Will have to try that.
1. Had all of our ducts cleaned after construction debris got in them. Learned that two of our cold air returns were stuffed with old and smelly insulation. Nothing surprises us with this house.
2. Made a yummy dip out of cannellini beans that had been frozen and a jar of aioli mustard sauce that was lingering in the refrigerator. Added some fresh chives from our garden and black pepper and whirled it all together with the stick blender. Using it as a sandwich spread, too, and I bet it would be just as good on toast.
3. Used my trusty Singer sewing machine (the one my mom taught me to use 50 years ago) to mend several items and keep them from going in the landfill. (Although, I learned that my county will start textile recycling in 2026 so I’m saving up items. I know Goodwill supposedly takes textiles but I don’t know if I trust their process.) In addition to the sewing machine, I used inherited thread and elastic received from Buy Nothing for these mending projects.
4. Watched a livestream of David Brooks. I had previously read his book “How to Know a Person.” He was in town for his presentation but I saved the gas and time by watching it at home instead. During his 40-minute talk, I worked out to maximize my time and not feel like a sloth.
5. Received 20 plants from someone on Buy Nothing who said they were destined for the compost heap. Not on my watch! Today I picked up 20 more plants from someone else. Everyone is planted, watered and tucked in for the night.
Katy, I hope you feel better soon. Excellent save on fixing the toilet and that bookcase is lovely.
Yesterday I defrosted our upright freezer and inventoried it. Mended the holes my husband slashed into his charcoal gray jeans and backed the rips with patches cut from an old gray t- shirt. He did this while sawing wood and it’s a wonder he did not slice up his leg while doing it.
I cut up a yellow-sticker pork roast into chunks for a healthier version of carnitas — cooked in broth with aromatic veggies instead of lard. The raw meat left on the bone was impossible for my arthritic fingers to remove, so I boiled it in a pan of water and turned the cooked meat and resulting broth into kibble topper for the dogs.
Cleaned the last of the windows with a pile of cotton rags and the ever- useful jug of Dollar Tree window cleaner.
Finished the project to clean all the glass in the house today with a pile of old cotton rags and a jug of Dollar Tree window cleaner.
Hope you feel better. Here is what I have done so far today:
1.I listed 2 things on my buy nothing group. Both are getting picked up tomorrow. I got both things from a free yard sale a few weeks ago. Neither one is going to work for me so I am passing them on to people that can use them. I don’t need items in my house that I can’t use.
2.Hubby is tiling our shower. He rented a tile cutter for the day. He doesn’t plan on tiling in the next 10 years so we don’t need to buy the equipment. We asked a round to see if anyone had one but no luck. We got the tile from a Habitat Restore. We only needed a few for around the base. It’s not a perfect match but neither of us care. It will be behind shower doors anyway
3. I went to a library class. It was making pop up cards. So I made my mom a Mother’s Day card. I brought in 3 puzzles that I finished and no one else wanted. I returned a bunch of books and magazines. I then took out more.
4. I went to Aldi after the library since there is one close by. Eggs were down to $4.45 a dozen. I spent $34. I went to Stop&Shop later. I got the free loaf of bread that was this week’s freebie. I got 3 containers of pectin marked down to $1.74 each. I will give one to my daughter. I got sour cream marked down to $1.24. I got English muffins for 99¢. I also got red grapes because Aldi was out. I had $1 in rewards. I spent $12.
5. Hubby and I got Buffalo Wild Wings for dinner. They are having a promo for a free burger with a $15 purchase. I got 6 wings, an order of onion rings(the best) and a double bacon burger for hubby. It comes with fries. I used a gift card that I got from I think Ibotta. Hubby took one of the burgers off and will eat it another day. There were left over fries and onion rings too. It was delicious. I picked it up.
6. I made muffins and omelets for breakfast. We had leftovers for lunch. I ran the laundry on a short cold cycle. I hung up most of the laundry. Windows are open and the heat is off. I don’t have to water my garden because it rained.
Re Panko Crumbs! Recent birthday outing, gazing at blackboard menu in local eatery.. Young couple in front of us, she looking puzzled. HE” Excuse me, my wife wonders if you know what “Panko “ is?” ME” Umm , Japanese bread crumbs?” HE to SHE “ But, …..you’re JAPANESE!”
It simply hadn’t occurred to her that the word would be anything but English!
Did you consider getting the “K?”
We’ve stopped at that taco truck as well! Of course, when we go to Tillamook, which is mandatory for all visiting grands, we have to go across the street (from the Goodwill – sort of) to the creamery!
Sorry you’re not feeling well. The allergies seem bad this year as well. I grew up using toilet paper to blow my nose and still will if need be, but get my tissues on sale otherwise my sensitive nose goes bonkers with too much TP. I can’t remember who … but, I made the suggestion to use TP when someone mentioned colds and no money to buy tissues. They were very grateful!
Another good thing about using toilet paper for runny noses: you can flush ’em down the toilet. (Kleenex will often stop up the toilet.) When you don’t feel good, you don’t feel like taking out the trash, either.
Meanwhile, get well “soonest,” Katy!
Thank you, I’m taking it easy which should help.
1. Fed kitchen trimmings to the hens – no waste, adds variety to their diet.
2. Ordered a cookbook from my local independent book store to celebrate Independent Bookstore Day, instead of buying it secondhand off Thriftbooks. This was not frugal but it was worth it to support the author, the store, and anything that is not Amazon. (But it wasn’t cheap=$35.)
3. Walked to post office (in the rain) to mail Reclaim Your Vote postcards.
4. Cooking my second Easter ham (that I got on super sale, less than $1 a pound) and roasting some random root vegetables–a single potato, sweet potato, and a random yam that I found in the grocery store parking lot. Yes, I found it on the ground. Yes, I am cooking it. Heat kills germs.
5. I did not show up to the Pope’s funeral Mass like the Devil in a Blue Suit. But someone else we know did. What a tool.
@Julia – the alleged male has no class and no manners.
Kleenex is much easier on the nose though!
Our toilet started randomly running this week too. We have 1 toilet that does it sporadically, but a different one sounded like it was gushing water after each flush. Luckily it was so loud we knew there was a problem right away. Ours did require a new something or other but for $7 from the local ACE my dh fixed it himself. Not as good as your free fix, but much cheaper and easier than a new toilet.
1. Went to a free garden plant giveaway this am. Got 2 tomato, 2 zucchini, 2 cucumber plants, a rooted rose bush (very small), a pineapple plant, and a few strawberry, violet and lambs ear plants as well as lots of seed bombs.
2. I was supposed to go to a free documentary with a friend at a cool yoga studio but I also have a cold and feel like crap.
3. Each of my 6 hens laid an egg today!
4. Started organizing my basement backup pantry. Discovered I have more than enough canned goods. lol.
5. Swept up all the ornamental cherry blossoms that fell in my side walk. Got a huge contractor bag full! I’ll use it as mulch out back. Hubby mowed our tiny yard and dumped the grass clippings in the chicken yard. We use an electric mower so no chemicals on the grass.
Frugal five:
1. DH was laid off two weeks ago (!&%* DOGE) and we’ve spent the better part of the last two weeks refiguring the adulting basics. He can go on my health insurance, DS has state medicaid, and we have savings, and HSA to spend. Thankful for that. Also thankful he has a verbal agreement with a new employer for a bridging hourly role for the next step. It’s all very tedious work, but we’ve learned the hard way it’s the most frugal to keep the biggest things in place first.
2. Since he found out about his job, I’ve been listing like mad on FB marketplace. I’ve sold a Dansk cooking pot, binoculars, some italian glass, wallpaper, step stool, and a coffee grinder. Can’t keep the extra stuff when money is needed!
3. I have every other Saturday off, so was super glad to plan a day of fun (frugal) errands: a free fabric & craft supply swap, two recycle thrift stores (got three needed things for very cheap), a quick visit to our favorite local bookstore (not buying books, but got coffee and showed support), and stocked up on pantry basics at ALDI. Keeping an eye out on potential shortages.
4. One of the stops was at a local art museum – was able to get a free pass for a $ exhibit. We’ve been many times to this museum, but I really wanted to see this artist and I’m glad we could
5. I find it helpful to have a TV show to put on when I’m doing less brainy computer work or sewing. Was glad to learn we have HBO max through our phone lines and I can have something on in the background – I just ignore the commercials.
So sorry to hear of your husband’s job being cut. I have a magnet on my car that says Deport Elon. (They sell them online.) There were lots of protestors today outside our local VA hospital holding signs that say to keep our federal workers, they are heroes. I’m tuning in to the TV news tonight to see if it mentions the protest. There’s going to be a second protest tomorrow, but I think it is just a general “we can’t stand the orange creep and all his appointees” one instead of anything in particular. There are so many things he’s done wrong that you can’t narrow it down to one or two things (or even one or two DOZEN things!) to protest.
LOVE the bookcase and thanks for the panko tip! The foundation experts came and worked on my foundation for most of Friday to the tune of 10k. This is not cheap but I consider fixing my foundation rather than letting the house fall in to be a frugal thing! Since I am not selling what was my work house now (my neighbor was going to buy it cheaply and knew the issues) and will be living here for the foreseeable future, I need to continue making it solid and comfortable. I also am continuing to work 3/4 time for as long as possible bc that means I get to stay on my employer’s good insurance. I will be eating a lot of beans to pay for this foundation… lol.
1. Had no desire to do mystery shop but did one for $100.
2. Gave away the tv Clobber Paws killed, to a high school nerdy kid who will take any electronic. Made no money but loved seeing him excited and got rid of it without adding stuff to the dump.
3. Accepted a free lunch from a friend we took to Costco—I loved that he fed himself, the husband and me for less than $5 with the greasy hot dog special.
4. Started another 50 leek seeds, which will save us a lot of money in August, when I harvest them. They are about $2 each at the grocery store!
5. Accepted a can of Bag Balm that another volunteer at the food bank did not like the smell of (apparently this was her first exposure to Bag Balm!). Only a bit of it used; I am not too proud to take partially used leftovers.
Frugality has been difficult to achieve lately, but I’ll try:
1. I had a couple book my cottage for a three night stay using guest points through homeexchange.com. Which means they pay me with points which I am accumulating in the hopes that DH and I have enough to go somewhere nice later in the year. The woman of the couple turned out to be an author, and kindly left me a copy (signed of course) of her latest book.
2. DH and I were at the hardware store and he picked up some cleaner that you attach to your hose when cleaning windows (we have large high windows in our cottage). I said we don’t need that I just use water. I cleaned the windows later on with just the hose and a squeegee on a long handle and it worked just fine.
3. Going for a mini vacay to the cousin’s house on the nearby island to which he has recently returned. I’ll take food and wine, we’ll catch up and go for many walks. It’s very relaxing and rejuvenating. All it takes to get there is to drive about 30 minutes, and ride a ferry for 30 minutes.
4. Pulled out my warm weather clothes, and found I have plenty to wear, I doubt I will have to purchase anything this season.
5. Insured our motorhome for 6 months, reducing its value so the premium went down. It’s an older vehicle and we are going to take it out with our two dogs to see if we really want to continue using it. It seems a waste to have it when we don’t really use it much, and the type is somewhat in demand, it’s a diesel and it’s not too big, so can be parked easily. It would sell quickly, I think.
Frugal fail: DH and I did a Costco shop and were pretty shocked at the total spent. We have a game where we guess how much our bill is, the one closest is the winner. (No prize is won). I guessed $375, he said $400, and total was $645. I really noticed how things were more expensive, in particular the Kirkland decaf we always buy was $29.99, and I believe the last time I noticed the price it was $21.99. I went there only to buy a couple of plants! But got carried away.