Five Tiny Frugal Things
by Katy on April 30, 2025 · 93 comments
1) I grabbed these three outdoor chairs from a neighbor’s curb. Sure the seats will need replacing, but that’s well within my skill set. I think I’ll actually keep them afterwards as I’ve been wanting to have a small table and chairs for the backyard patio. Now to source a free small outdoor table!
2) I snagged a small bag of Nate’s Oatmeal Cookies from the Too Good to Go app for $5.99. (The retail value was $18.) I didn’t eat any as they were for my daughter, but they smelled really good.
3) I’ll be using this CVS ecoupon for a free 8″ X 10″ print, thanks to Clark Howard.
4) I offered up a hodge-podge of small jars through my Buy Nothing group after a recent cupboard reorganization. I’ve used them for plant propagation in the past, but have more than enough without them. I may end up putting them out in the recycling as only one jar has been claimed so far, but I’d rather they be used than recycled.
5) I enjoyed a frugal dinner of baked potatoes last night. I mixed some of my kale pesto with sour cream, which was A) delicious and B) perfection. I’ll definitely be making that again! No photo as I am A) Still sick with depleted batteries and B) kind of a mess right now.
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
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1) Used up some vegetables by making a parsnip and squash soup and a red lentil and sweet potato dal. There was discussion about cooking Indian food, I’ve made two recipes from The Vegan Instant Pot Cookbook and they were both so delicious, the above mentioned red lentil dal and a cauliflower and tofu tikka masala. I’m going to make some of the other recipes in the book, but so far those two recipes alone would lead me to recommend the book!
2) We received a box of hand me downs for my daughter which are greatly appreciated. This also inspired me to go through my son’s clothes and offer them to my friend with a 4 year old son, she was so happy to receive them.
3) My son asked if he could go bowling with a few friends to celebrate his birthday, so much cheaper and easier to coordinate than a big birthday party.
4) My uncle brought his dog to Easter brunch and my son really bonded with the dog. I told my uncle we’d dogsit anytime which he was happy to take us up on as he’s had to travel more for work lately and we live near the airport so drop-off and pickup wouldn’t be too difficult. We do miss having a dog but aren’t ready to own one right now, plus borrowing a dog is cheaper than owning one and it saves my uncle money too.
5) Created my monthly meal plan for May. This allows me to plan out groceries for the month and it’s nice to not have to think about meals for the month after the initial planning day is done!
I would love to create and stick to a monthly meal plan but it just doesn’t work with our crazy schedule.
What a lovely post, Lisa! Wins, wins, wins all the way around – inspiring!
Your instapot recipes sound wonderful. I’ll keep that in mind. I love your #4. It’s a win for you and your uncle. My mom doesn’t want to own a dog but she likes to borrow mine.
I made another recipe from the book for three bean chili, also excellent!
Bowling is the perfect birthday party activity! I enjoy bowling, although haven’t been for years as both the bowling alleys in my area got turned into mini-Target stores . . . which then closed.
1. Compared prices on coffee and bought a large can at about 37c an ounce, compared to more than a dollar on most major brands (I bought store brand)
2. Hung out laundry, drank coffee at home, leftovers for lunch, etc.
3. Picked up several sale/markdown items at Safeway. The 4/$20 deal is pretty good; $5 per package of meat, and I buy the heaviest ones I can find. $137 in groceries for the week.
4. Sent out two thrifted birthday cards today.
5. Continuing to file, sort, shred my office files. I have enough file folders and labels to refile everything. The shreddies go in the compost or green bin. Waste paper gets recycled. So many envelopes! I wish they would stop sending them. Even when I am on the paperless plan, I still get a ton of window envelopes. (I could reuse a few but not all of them.)
6. One more: My husband needed tighty whities for under his softball uniform. His last pair was too small, so I bought him some from Land’s End (they are still cool and also made in America, but not cheap). The good news? His former tighty whities are perfect for sleeping in for ME. Don’t be shy, girls. Hubby’s underwear is super comfy and no lace or itchy bands.
Julia,
Your suggestion to wear your hubby’s nightie whities reminded me of when I got shingles when we were on vacation. I broke out around my waist, on my back and groin area. My own underwear was intolerable….they weren’t lacy or anything, but the elastic hit right where my shingles were. Hubby’s knit boxer briefs to the rescue! So soft and comfy.
I share your hatred of those plastic window envelopes!
Window envelopes? Just put the address on an address label (hand written or printed via computer) and slap it on the envelope over the window. Have done it hundreds of times.
And, as for the “junk mail” that keeps coming, some of which has a pre-paid return envelope…cut up the junk and put it back in the envelope and put it back in the mail. If they can pay postage to send it out with a pre-paid envelope, they can pay to get it back.
LOVE those darling chairs! Ditto, the cute jars — they definitely should be used again and not melted down, IMO.
1. Feasted on an Italian lunch, all free, in the teacher’s lounge. Last night was the performing dance’n’drill team’s banquet and there were huge pans of Alfredo, spaghetti, salad and gigantic rolls left over. (Skinny little pompom girls don’t eat all that much; neither do their moms!) So my humble sandwich (that I’d packed for today) will be saved for tomorrow.
2. Was given more than I could eat so I scooped up the leftover pasta and bread into my empty commuter cup and will have it for dinner. (Oh, and did I mention it was from the best Mom and Pop Italian place in town? The one that charges an arm and a leg for its food?)
3. When I went in to substitute teach this morning — I had two gigs, one for before lunch and one for the afternoon — I found the morning teacher had suddenly “changed her mind” and didn’t need me after all. (Never mind the fact that such a last-minute change is not allowed.) So I went to the principal’s office and (politely) stated my case. Result: I was allowed to stay and sub elsewhere in the school, thus saving my being able to earn my $50 paycheck for half-a-day’s work. (I get a second $50 for this afternoon’s assignment.)
4. Filled out the form to adopt a puppy-dog at no charge from the shelter; they do this on the first Saturday of each month.
5. Did not watch TV shows/newscasts featuring the Orange Ogre brag about his wonderful first 100 days, and how ruining/tearing down all we Americans hold sacred in our 249 y.o. democracy is the most fabulous thing the USA has ever been through…. thus saving myself a migraine from the stress of it all. (But I’m still depressed.)
I hope others also took food home!
1 Dumb Dumb:
Broke one of my Johnson Bros ‘Devon Cottage’ Salad plates while making lunch! Will be doing a Kintsugi type repair on it- and look up replacements on Ebay. UGH. These are discontinued, and Johnson Bros are no longer in business in England. ARRRRRGGGGHHHH
2 delicious dinners:
With salad greens & herbs from the garden, grilled chicken from clearance Target chicken packet and avocado packets on clearance from Freddy’s!
2 Garden Chairs:
For free- the plastic Adirondack type chairs. Was on the free pile in front of a house that went for sale (and is now pending already!) Scrubbed off and perfect for friends to hang out!
Edie, I’m sorry about your #1. But you might try Replacements Ltd. if the repair isn’t satisfactory and you can’t find what you’re looking for on eBay.
Try putting an alert on shop goodwill. They frequently have dishes that cost a lot more other places…
Thank you! I did check out Replacements as well and am comparing prices between eBay and Replacements.
I comfort myself by thinking that I’m “decluttering” whenever I break something.
Those chairs are a great find!
1. I just walked around my neighborhood to check the free piles, since it’s the end of the month and people are moving. I found a microwave (passed), a toaster oven (passed) part of a kitchen wall cabinet (passed), lots of books (passed), and a watering can (kept).
2. On my walk, I found 7 redeemable cans. My bottle drop account is at the point where I can use it to buy durable goods. As a frugal person, I get way more excited about account balances than I do about possessions. (Unless the possessions come from a free pile!)
3. I’m making custard from expired milk. It’s in the oven now. The milk was 66% off because it was within a few days of its sell by date, and we didn’t quite get through it. The custard is cooking in thrifted ramekins. Having custard in the fridge keeps me from being tempted to buy ice cream, which has gotten smaller and more expensive.
4. I found a nice storage cabinet at an estate sale. It’s solid and made of real wood. A similarly functioning IKEA cabinet costs around $230, and isn’t as sturdy. I paid $16.
5. I’m not a monster, unlike Trump and his buddies.
Yum, custard!
I enjoy a flush account balance as well!
Katy, I hope you feel better soon.
1. I cooked a pound of chick peas in the Instant Pot. I will try to roast some of them.
2. I am cooking a pot of millet and quinoa. I have not tried the combination before but I am sure it will be edible.
3. I am listening to digital audio books borrowed from the library.
4. I finished reading Everything is Tuberculosis which I borrowed from the library. It is an important read.
5. DH and I took a day trip to DC. We took the commuter train and walked once we got there. We saw a lot of sights but did not spend any money while there.
Did you go to any museums?
You are going to be far from needing fiber anytime soon!
1. Cleaned and organized my pantry and pulled the soon to expire items to the front.
2. Used the rest of my leftover turkey taco meat to make myself a tostada for lunch and pair it with the rest of the guacamole that had gone brown but still tasty.
3. I’ve been storing my store bought berries in mason jars in the fridge and they are staying fresh much longer.
4. I started listening to Cold crematorium reporting from the land of Auschwitz by Jozsef Debreczeni on my Libby app.
5. I opened the windows upstairs to cool it off from the heat of the sun shining in.
Ooof. The Debyreczeni is a tough, tough read. I say this as someone who took a legendary college course on the Third Reich (in German) and thought I’d read it all.
Thanks for the mason jar tip!
First, Katy, I wish I didn’t live across the continent from you. I’d take some of those funky jars and bottles in a heartbeat. I’m always looking for giveaway flower vases, as well as bottles for homemade basil vinegar.
Now, FTFT, End-of-Month Edition:
(1) I just ran my April totals for NY State container deposits and found change. I got $29.30 in bottles/cans and $3.04 in change. Things are looking up. In fact, my container returns may be doing better than my IRA right now. 🙁
(2) Now that my new Mac Mini is up and running in my office, I plan to bring my old iMac desktop (which is such an Antiques Roadshow model it has a CD/DVD slot) down to the living room and use it as my CD/DVD player. My old CD player is on the fritz, and I just took my little old TV with a built-in DVD player (which is even older than the iMac) to electronics recycling. Being old-school, I still play my CDs and DVDs.
(3) I found a full 8-oz. bottle of hand sanitizer on the curb. I’ve used hand sanitizer since well before the pandemic, and I’m always glad to have more.
(4) I’ve made an appointment with the guy at my local branch bank to discuss the CD that’s maturing shortly. If he can’t offer me a better rate than the one I’m currently getting, I may take this money plus the money that’s currently in my “emergency fund” savings account (and earning even less) and put it into an online savings account such as CIT Bank’s. This will be a big leap for me, since I’m a sock-under-the-mattress type by nature, but I think it needs to be done. Suggestions are welcome.
(5) And I’ve just finished reading the article by Antonia Hitchens in the current New Yorker about the amount of boot-licking (fill in your favorite alternative phrase here) that the Orange Menace requires of everyone around him. I think I’ve reached a new high on my disgust meter.
A. Marie: I have my savings account with Ally bank. Overall, it has been a positive experience. Right now it is earning 3.54% which is no doubt not the highest rate offered, but it is FDIC insured and easy to navigate/move money around.
I also like Ally bank the best for online banking. I can readily transfer money to and from my credit union checking account and their rates are similar to other online banks.
Like Leslie and Juhli, I have nothing but good things to say about Ally. Our financial advisor recommended them.
We were with Ally for years and was very happy with them. But, my husband experienced identity theft last year and all our other financial institutions dealt with that swiftly and professionally. Ally, on the other hand, was appalling. My husband spent over 5 hours on the phone with them that day, much of it on hold, and still they were not able to protect our account. That was the account that the identity thief stole from the next day. We left Ally as soon as we got the theft straightened out. Never again will we use them.
@ A Marie, I have my emergency fund in a Capitol One high yield savings, currently at 3.6%. I have been with them for over 10 years and its easy! I can do transfers online or in my app easily, set up numerous “buckets” for savings and direct deposit to them….
We have an Apple desktop computer as well. We never use it, but there’s no reason to not keep it on hand!
I have an account with ACORNS. I sort of use it as an emergency fund. You can have it withdraw whatever you want, but I have it withdraw $7.50 each week from my bank account to put in my ACORNS account. There is a $3 monthly fee. ACORNS invests the money in stocks/bonds, so you can earn more (well, maybe not as much, courtesy of the US Government and its leadership). I have mine set at “conservative investing,” however, you can have it invested in riskier options if you want. I don’t miss $7.50 a week. If I need it, I can transfer the money to my bank account (which I have done, but because it’s tied up in stocks/bonds, it takes about a week to get). Yeah, I’m only putting about $30 a month aside ($7.50 x 4); however, that’s more than I would otherwise. And, it takes a little longer to get if you need to withdraw. Gives you time to rethink things.
Hope you’re feeling better soon.
FFT- all about food
1. I diced celery and carrots sticks that were looking a little rough and froze them in 1/2 cup portions for future recipes or soups.
2. I started a bean soup with ham bone aand some onions and celery I had frozen. Added some frozen chicken broth from the freezer.
3. I diced up some potatoes , tossed in oil, and sprinkled with ranch seasoning. Will roast later.
4. Got the limit of .67 avocados at Sav a lot. Tried to get them in various ripeness levels.
5. Updated my price book with a few prices after a Sam’s trip today.
I have aging celery and carrots in the fridge that I need to dice-n-freeze. I think I’ll work on that tonight. Thank you for the inspiration!
And so smart to buy avcoados are varying levels of ripeness.
1. It’s the start of “wedding season.” I think of the thousands of couples who spend $10,000 and up on elaborate weddings only to end up divorced 5 years later. My husband and I got married on a Friday night at a cost of about $2,000 – in 1994.
I did my own invitations.My dress was $75. My attendant’s dresses were off the rack at JCPenney…$65 each. It wasa double-breasted blazer and knee length pleated skirt (something they could wear again). I told them I didn’t care what shoes they wore as long as they were a “bone” color. Asked the guys to wear gray suits (they all had one). Not all the same shade of gray, but we didn’t care. This was a “low budget” affair. We did have peach colored neckties made for them. $80 for 6 ties. Our reception was in the church social hall. Cake, ice cream, nuts, mints, punch, and coffee/tea. No band or dancing…we socialized with our guests. (I forgot to mention my husband is the youngest of 9 and I am the youngest of 3. Our guests consisted of his siblings and their spouses, nieces/nephews and their spouses and their kids. Then, because my family is so small, we invited my aunts and uncles – 8 couples in all).
Now comes the fun part:
Wedding cake made by one of his sisters – wedding gift
Photos by one of his brothers – wedding gift (along with a photo album)
Video by another one of his brothers – wedding gift
Dried flower arrangements by a friend – wedding gift
Wedding night at a bed & breakfast (owned by one of my co-workers and his wife) – wedding gift. Our wedding was great and less than $2,000…and we’ll be married 31 years this October. A wedding doesn’t have to cost a lot to be special.
2. It’s also “picnic season.” I know people who plan picnics that spend HOURS preparing food to take on a family picnic. My mom didn’t do that, and neither do I. Just pull out all the leftovers and odds & ends in your fridge that can be eaten cold: fried chicken, meatloaf, pizza, fresh fruit, raw veggies, those last few spoonfuls of potato or macaroni salad, the few cookies left in the bottom of the cookie jar…you get the idea. Not everyone has to eat the same thing. Great way to get rid of the leftovers and save money. It’s also great as you can do it on the spur of the moment.
3. I’m switching out all my cleaning products for 1. Simple Green. It comes in a gallon concentrate bottle. You mix it with water per the directions, and it cleans practically everything. I still have window cleaner and furniture polish, but a lot of cabinet space is freeing up as I make the switch.
4. About 5 years ago, I got a KitchenAid mixer…for $65 on Facebook Marketplace. Nothing wrong with it, the seller was just upgrading to a newer model. The only issue was that the grease for the motor was breaking down and leaking. A $10 canister of appliance grease and a brother-in-law who repaired bank vaults for a living fixed that. He took everything apart, cleaned it up, regreased it and it works great!
5. 2 summers ago, I scored a brand new, still in the box, T-Fal pressure canner for $50. The lady who had it was a younger lady (late 20’s – early 30’s). She bought it because she was determined to learn how to can. So determined, it sat in her closet for a year. I haven’t done a ton of canning, but I have canned pickled beets, several kinds of jam, potatoes, chicken, spaghetti sauce, pizza sauce, etc. While you may have a freezer (I have a small chest freezer), if your power goes for any length of time, your frozen items will thaw. Possibly even spoil. $ down the drain. Canning is a lot of work, that’s true. If canned and stored properly, home canned foods can last a very long time. A good resource for safe home food preservation can be found at https://nchfp.uga.edu/
Contrary to popular belief, you can’t just can anything you want any way you want. Botulism has no smell or taste. You need to use safe, tested recipes and follow each step carefully. There are some things that can’t be canned at home, such as pasta. Equipment in commercial canneries can reach significantly higher temperatures than you can at home. Those higher temperatures are why companies like Chef-boy-ar-dee are able to can pasta and you can’t. Rigorous (and expensive) testing is done by places like the nchfp and your state extension service. I live in PA, and my state extension service is at Penn State University. If you don’t already can, consider it. It can save you money!
Sadly USDA cuts affect a lot of food manufacturing inspectors and Ag Extension offices. So worried about our food safety going forward. Makes home canning even more attractive.
I’ve done some canning, such as jam, applesauce and pickles. However that’s it. I’m fully aware that the freezer is only a good plan as long as we have electricity. For that reason it hols inexpensive items like bread and other random things. I don’t stock up on meat.
Hope you feel better soon Katy.
1. because I cleaned freezers last week I found frozen peaches to use in my smoothies….I seriously thought I was out of them.
2.frozen brisket drippings used for hash and to flavor a stew…yum.
3. made a bucket of potato salad to use up some potatoes and because I love it as a main dish.
4.all of the saved pickle jars from family have been sidelined for homemade pickles. They seal perfectly and I won’t have to buy jars for pickles.
5. my apple cider vinegar has turned out perfectly! Storing it in saved white vinegar jugs. Ready to make pickles!
Bonus …I have no interest in declaring my candidacy for POPE!
I presume he wishes to be Pope because God’s position is still occupied.
@ Ruby, your comment made me LOL! 🙂
That gave me a good laugh.
That is hysterical, Ruby!!
I apologize if you know this or are a member of the “Rebel Canners” group that ignores modern canning guides, but in case you don’t know this, if you are canning (as opposed to making refrigerator pickles) you should not use home made vinegars because they often do not reach the 5% acidity level that commercial vinegars do. I offer this advice as someone who lives in the state with a high botulism rate, although it is usually from home canned salmon or fermented fish heads.
Not going to be Pope? Crazy.
Ooh . . . I love peaches!
Those chairs with heart shaped backs are super adorable. You might want to figure something out with the chair closest to the camera, as it may be missing back support. I would be tempted to spray paint them bright pink or bright red. That would make them stand out in your yard (I refuse to write “pop*”) and gives you the trendy unexpected red.
Frugal? IDK. Too tired to think about anything except putting one foot in front of the other.
*so many cliches in interiors writing. I refuse to use “pop” or “good bones” or any of the other lazy cliches when I write about interior design.
Oh, and: if you find or think of a nice base for a table, see what your local stone fabricators has as “leftovers.” That is, Homeowner A pays for two slabs of stone for her kitchen. There are bits left over, some of which are a good size, and you can buy the,m for pretty cheap. Homeowner A already paid for the whole slab, so it’s all profit for the fabricators now. My parents got granite counters in their kitchen when I helped them buy. You can also, of course, ask the fabricators to cut the piece into the shape you want–circle, square, whatever.
My parents got granite counters in their kitchen when I helped them buy this way.
I might acknowledge good bones, but will never have anything that provides a “pop” of color, either. Too jarring to think about.
1. I cooked a 12 lb turkey that had been in the freezer too long. I made dog food with it.
2. I filled up my car with the least expensive gas according to gasbuddy. I saved $7.
3. I stocked up on discounted coffee beans and rice at the grocery outlet.
4. I had a Kirkland breaded chicken breast and tater tots for dinner last night. It was as good as Chik-Fil-A but cheaper. No homophobic chicken for me.
5. I mowed my own lawn.
homophobic chicken…please, what am I missing here?
https://www.thetaskforce.org/chick-fil-a-and-lgbtq-discrimination/
Thanks. I thought it was some sort of in joke…we do not have Chick-fil-a here so if there was something written about this I likely did not read it.
My son calls it “The Lord’s chicken.” I very irreverently call it “Jesus chicken” & we don’t go there either
Yes, what Rose said. I stopped eating Chick-fil-A a long time ago. The Kirkland brand breaded filets are so good that it takes care of the craving for a juicy chicken sandwich.
Are they? I’ll have to try them.
@Jill A. – SO MANY other better chicken options than Sick-Fil-A. I won’t set foot in the place. I’ve seen their latest commercials, they are just as bad as Mickey D’s when it comes to obesity in this country.
Aldi has frozen breaded chicken breasts that many claim are a Chick Fil A dupe!
The Aldi fans call it “red bag chicken”…(because its the bag that has red on the border)
I buy those too. They are also very good.
How long do you consider “too long?” I served a Thanksgiving turkey a few years back that had been in the deep freeze for a whole year.
Needless to say, no homophobic chicken here either! Ever!
1.We got our $250 bonus for opening a new bank account. Put it right to the mortgage.
2. Had pizza with the lady I take care of. She will eat pizza everyday. When she refuses to eat all day, we get pizza.
3. My friend gave me a dozen eggs. Her BIL has chickens. I send him my egg containers.
4. Eating leftovers for dinner.
5. Hung laundry outside for the first time this year(happy dance)
Yay it’s finally getting warm enough out to hang dry clothes!
My late aunt hung clothes out on the clothesline all year around (as long as it wasn’t storming). My late uncle had to shovel a path to and under the clothesline in the winter; lay down ice melt if it was icy. After he passed, her neighbors did it for her. Even in winter, they do get dry. The Amish and Mennonites in our area hang laundry out all year long. We live in Northcentral Pennsylvania.
So smart to immediately put that $250 onto your mortgage. I’m bad about commingling funds.
1. Hurt my knee somehow and wanted a brace. Told my husband I was planning on asking for one on Buy Nothing when he mentioned that I could use the one that he had from a few years ago. Even better!
2. Made a new recipe for dinner that was frugal, healthy and oh so good.
https://www.loveandlemons.com/okonomiyaki/
3. Received several things from a friend who was cleaning out her mom’s house, including hand lotion, new kitchen towels, a scrubbie and candy. Started eating the candy before realizing I better give it away on Buy Nothing. Problem solved.
4. Made caramelized onion and carrot hummus (no tahini) to have with crackers and as a sandwich spread. Another frugal, healthy and great recipe. https://blog.barre3.com/recipes/caramelized-onion-carrot-hummus/
5. Reviewed April expenses compared to the average of the previous 12 months. Continue to spend way less on restaurant meals and on groceries. Going to Aldi has really helped with this.
Extra credit: Didn’t spend any money on tattoos nor did I embarrass myself, my family, or the office by doubling down in a televised interview that Kilmar Abrego Garcia had tattoos spelling out MS-13 on his knuckles. In Arial font no less! So moronic I could weep.
We ate okonomiyaki last week, too! Took me a couple of tries to make sure it cooked through but it will be in our regular rotation, especially during the summer when I grow a lot of cabbage.
Lindsey, this was our first time and my husband used our griddle. Next time we’re going to shred the cabbage finer to help the pancakes cook through.
I love griddles. I am not sure why, since using a skillet is hardly drudgery. My 1959 stove has a griddle in between the four burners. I use it all the time.
Okay, I think I need to try that hummus recipe!
I’m sorry you are still feeling unwell. Sending healing wishes.
1. Received free basil, clarkia and kale at my volunteer gig.
2. Prepping crafts for my grandson’s 4th birthday using all things I have at home. Only thing purchased are pretzels at Trader Joes for the prize in the pass the parcel.
3. My curry powder is getting low which prompted a clean out of my spice drawer to make sure I didn’t have a backup stash. I got rid of several things I never use. Having empty space is always frugal in a small house. And the feeling of an organized space is SO good.
4. Added sleeves to a sleeveless dress. The dress came with a belt in the same fabric and I used the belt fabric to make the sleeves. The dress looks like it was made that way and now I will wear it. I will use a cute belt I have, or a scarf in place of the original belt.
5. Made yogurt. When I’m short of time or energy I’ll buy it at Costco. Today I did the calculations and it costs HALF to make my own. And the Costco price is pretty good. Motivates me to keep making my own.
Thank you, but I finally have my head above water!
I love that you get free veggies and herbs!
1. I worked two days at my old job filling in for someone who needed time off. Extra $$$.
2. DH and I are signed up to work next Monday at our town’s local election. A long day (6:15 am to at least 8pm) but we’ll appreciate the paychecks. These are earmarked for our trip to North Carolina to our grandson’s graduation next month.
3. Our dishwasher bit the dust but we had enough in an emergency account to cover it. Unfortunately, when we pulled the old dishwasher out, the floor under it was wet and moldy. It appears it was leaking over a period of time. Now we’ll see what our insurance company will cover. I don’t feel too optimistic knowing we have a $5000 deductible for water damage.
4. I signed up for two free programs at the library. The first one, making a flower arrangement for Mothers Day, was full so I am on a standby list in case someone cancels. The second is a One Book, One Community event. Sy Montgomery, an author passionate about nature and wildlife, will be speaking. I secured a seat and am looking forward to seeing and hearing her.
5. I’m buckling up for when the effects of the tariffs hit. I’m grateful to this website that helps so much to keep me on track with my budget. I’m also happy DH and I are low maintenance people, another weapon in the fight against rising prices.
Gotta love extra $$$!
@Christine – I think I would have passed on filing insurance. One gets “demerits” for filing (and some times even inquiring about) claims. Then again, better half is construction knowledgeable and has connections. Sending you good karma on this one.
I LOVE baked potatoes!
1. Our neighbor came over and asked if we wanted their old dog house, we said yes. Now Bruno has a real dog house (it’s actually one of those igloo kind) instead of a big wooden box thing.
2. We had a vegetarian meal of beans and noodles, how we used to buy it on the streets in West Africa. Unfortunately the bread I had wasn’t nearly as good as the fresh bread there.
3. Went on a walk = free exercise
4. Made ham rolls ups with leftover ham. This will go nicely in my husband’s lunch box tomorrow.
5. Didn’t water the garden, since we had rain last night
Rain is always such a welcome gift once there’s a garden to water!
First, I have a fail. While watching Chef’s Table Legends, I was possessed by the need to buy two expensive cookbooks. Actually, I don’t feel that bad, I do love a good cookbook and haven’t bought one in 3 years! However…back to not spending.
Here are a couple of wins.
1, Got gas at a discount using a loyalty card.
2. Celebrating our 32nd anniversary which seems cheaper than divorcing.
3. Scanned receipts to Fetch.
4. Traded eggs for coffee beans at a local coffee shop.
5, Did not humiliate myself by arguing like a toddler during an interview.
I love #3! I think in our early days, they may have been what kept us together! I’m glad it did!
I should have mentioned that I picked up a couple of abandoned recipts to scan in to Fetch. And yes, staying married is cheaper than divorce, but not always the right choice.
I hope you feel better soon, Katy!
1. Returned from vacation having spent $0 on impulse purchases or souvenirs! This was a long-planned family trip that we budgeted and paid for in advance. Meals and activities were included. I brought sufficient sunscreen, ibuprofen, etc. for my family of 4 for a week and didn’t have to buy anything at the overpriced resort sundries store or take a cab to a drugstore. And, if I may brag, I calculated the perfect amount of sunscreen such that we didn’t waste any or have to bring any partial containers home with us!
2. Read posts and comments on my favorite frugal blogs, yours and The Frugal Girl. This really keeps me in the saving-and-frugal-hacks mindset when I’m tempted to spend.
3. Washed and prepped lettuce in advance for easy dinner time salads.
4. Packed myself a perfectly adequate lunch of yogurt, crackers, and an apple on a low-energy day. “Convenience foods” don’t have to be expensive or unhealthy.
5. Started culling extra household items for my college-bound twins’ first dorm rooms, including a nearly-new small coffeemaker from my neighbor’s stoop. Between stoops, our own household extras, thrift shops, and family members, we should be able to cobble together everything we need on the cheap.
Hope everyone is having a good week!
Number 2 is the greatest tip. I also read both of these blogs and they help keep frugality on my mind.
Isn’t it true? Keeps your mental garden filled with the right things.
How fun to go on a guilt-free vacation — well done!
It’s amazing how much can be sourced for free or almost free.
We had baked potatoes last night too! With butter, sour cream and steamed broccoli on top. Yum! And easy as I too am still sick. This awful whatever it is can’t go away soon enough!
1. Worked on my backyard yesterday. Got pots ready to plant my free vegatable plants in. I’ll fill the pots today as I am moving my compost bin so I’ll empty most of it into the pots.
2. Scored 14 everything bagels for $3.50 at the grocery store. Score! Froze most of them for later
3. Got two cups of coffee with my Panera sip and save to reheat in the morning.
4. Will make and freeze burgers today from marked down hamburger.
5. Made a shade curtain for my new chicken run from burlap coffee sacks scored for free from local coffee roaster. Burlap works great at keeping the sun out but letting the air in.
My trick is to slice the bagels before throwing them in the freezer, that way they can go straight into the toaster.
Hi there, I know from your posts that you love reading and use the library regularly. I, too, borrow and return most books I read. I am curious, do you own any books? If you do, how many and how/where do you display them? If I buy books either new or at a library book sale, I pass them along to someone else. But, I have a few books I keep including a few favorites I reread every few years. Others are primarily reference books such as gardening resources, field guides, and art instruction books. I am torn between displaying all books together or storing particular books with the other supplies and tools for their respective activities. I would appreciate any feedback on this question from you and your readers.
Marci, this is a great question!
Although I am a prolific reader, my husband and I have hardly any books in our home. There are currently five cookbooks that we own on an open shelf in the kitchen, four on my nightstand that are all from the library, and around twenty in a storage bin for our trip next winter that are all from Little Free Libraries or library book sales. Our minimalism stems from our approach to “things,” our reliance on the library and Internet for resources, and our frequent moves (none of them work-related).
For aesthetics and practicality, I think storing reference books with their respective activities might be the way to go. For books that are stored on shelves, I think mixing them in with other beloved objects can be the most appealing way to display them.
I do have books that I keep, but the amount I own doesn’t reflect how much I like to read. A few cookbooks, some sentimentals, some from childhood and books written by friends and family.
Your creamy pesto baked potatoes sound absolutely delicious! What a great, frugal idea.
They were so yummy!
Fabulous chairs!
They’ll be a fun project!