Five Tiny Frugal Things
by Katy on October 24, 2023 · 57 comments
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I have a pot of chives that I planted maybe twenty years ago. and they reemerge every year without fuss or bother, which is my kind of gardening! I snip bits throughout the summer and then forget about them until the following year.
This year I realized that I should be preserving the unused chives instead of letting them go to waste. I went outside with my kitchen shears and was surprised by how much was still left. I looked up how to preserve chives and read that it’s as simple as cutting them up and just setting in a bowl to air dry. Just shuffle them around every day or so. They were taking a bit to dry as Portland’s been especially damp this week, so I set the bowl at the back of my stove to take full advantage of any oven heat.
This action saved me maybe 50¢ as I buy my spices in bulk from Winco, but I’m sure my freshly dried chives will be tastier and certainly more satisfying!
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I got an email from LL Bean this morning to contact them about the ripped fitted sheet that I mailed back (at their expense) a couple weeks ago. They explained that although my 2-1/2 year-old sheet was outside the normal return period, they’d replace it anyway. It took a few minutes on their end as I’d bought it as part of a set, yet wanted just the single sheet replaced. It’s back ordered for a few weeks, but that’s no problem as I’m embracing dim rainy weather with flannel sheets at this point in the year.
Their fitted sheet normally costs $69.95! So yeah . . . it should’ve lasted much longer.
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I stopped by the Franz Bakery Outlet on my home from visiting my father. (I had a completed punch card and carbs are my love language.) Normally I have to pick through the shelves to find what I want, but today they were overflowing with amazing choices.
In the end I came home with two loaves of their Dave’s Killer Bread dupe, an eight-pack of pub rolls, a restaurant size loaf of whole grain bread and a loaf of sourdough black rye bread. I paid nothing and found a penny in a puddle outside the store.
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I picked out every single goddamned embroidered stitch on the hand towel that I bought at the pay-by-the-pound Goodwill Outlet last week. I completed this task over the course of two evenings and I would estimate I spent close to five hours on this task! However, it was while watching TV and I like to keep my hands busy as I zone out.
Does it look great? Not exactly, as you can definitely see where the stitches used to be. But that doesn’t bother me and there aren’t a lot of new frugal “hacks” to add to my repertoire at this point in my journey and I like to challenge myself to find new ways to take my frugality that much further. Total cost was maybe 15¢.
Here, see for yourself. Before:
During:
After:
5. I didn’t buy any tiny Lear Jets.
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
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{ 57 comments… read them below or add one }
1. I’ve picked up multiple free items from my local Buy Nothing Group lately, including a set of free chrome shelves for the greenhouse and a set of IKEA shelves my daughter wanted.
2. I made veggie broth from veggie scraps saved in my freezer.
3. I received three packs of free pasta my mother received for free from a pasta company after she sent them some feedback. She’s GF and sent them feedback on their GF pasta, they sent her non-GF pasta, which was weird, and she gave it to me.
4. I have enough freelance work to get me through to end of November.
5. My tomatoes and cucumbers are already starting to produce even though it is still only mid Spring here, and I have good sized basil plants already. All my other Summer veggies are in the ground.
1. I dropped two coins today and you can bet I bent over to pick them up. One was a quarter!
2. Picked up three samples of calcium soft chews from my weight loss support meeting as well as a sample of protein shake mix.
3. I dropped off an Amazon return at the UPS store for free – first time I did that – and dropped off a Walmart return at Walgreens for FedEx. Both stores are within a block of each other.
4. Coasting down hills to save gas and being mindful when driving so I get a good score on my car insurance app which helps keep the car insurance low.
5. Used up my last free plastic grocery bag that I used as a trash can liner. I have to ask my sister to send me some. She lives in South Carolina and shops in North Carolina where there is no plastic bag ban.
I found a quarter the other day and it was a delightful moment!
I found a $50 bill last year on the ground & bought a grocery store gift card for my friend who has 1 disabled & 2 foster kids & barely scrapes by.
That was such a wonderful and loving act to do for your friend!
I bet after a couple of washings the old pattern will disappear from the towel.
That’s what I’m thinking.
Did I miss where you mentioned why you took the embroidery out of the hand towel? Just curious
I thought it was kind of ugly and I prefer a simpler look.
I find a seam ripper is easier to use than tiny scissors in removing stitches. Just my opinion. Your mileage may vary.
I started with my seam ripper, but the blade was super dull.
Some thirty or forty years ago when a doctor was removing stitches from my Mom’s hand, he asked her if she did cross stich, which she did. He said they throw away so much stuff there and would she like the scissors?
They eventually came to me and, though dull, with very sharp points, I still use them for cutting threads and think of her.
L L Bean does stand behind their products even outside the return time. I had a lunchbox for my daughter that she carried to school. When the fabric pulled away from the stitching after less than two years I contacted them. They asked for it back and then sent a new one in it’s place. According to the supervisor that I spoke to, too many people were buying worn or damaged LL Bean items from yard sales and returning them for replacements, that’s why they now have the one year guarantee. I also find that if they can look up and see you actually purchased the item from them they are much more likely to replace it.
My frugal five this week
1) I made 16 cups of chicken stock from chicken bones and veggies scraps that I kept in the freezer
2)I had some sad celery and wilted carrots in the fridge. I took some of the fresh chicken stock and boiled the veggies, along with onion and garlic, until they were super soft. I used my hand blender to make a think soup base. I add cooked orzo pasta to this and top with grated parmesan cheese. I’ve heard this soup called Italian penicillin 🙂
3) I have shoulder replacement surgery coming up next month so I’ve been making main dishes to put in the freezer to heat and eat while I’m healing. My husband will be able to add salad to the meals and avoid take out.
4) I’ve borrowed an over the bed table from a family member rather than buy one. That way I have things in easy reach for recovery.
5) My job is that I’m a professional seamstress. My daughter recently cleaned out her closet and brought over some items that she thought I can scavenge for the fabric. She was right! One dress, after picking it apart, will have plenty of fabric for either a cute top or a skirt.
Good idea on the meals! I cleaned out my freezer last week and set aside some freezer meals for December – after I have surgery. I definitely need to add more to this though if I want to avoid cooking for a few weeks. I won’t be able to lift for 6 weeks and my dh is not a great cook. Good luck with your surgery!
Best of luck on your recovery!
I’m really bad about deleting emails, so I was able to find the exact information on my LL Bean purchase. Color me impressed with your chicken stock!
I think the more you wash the towel, the less noticeable it will be. Here are my very tiny things
1. Our days are still frequently warm, though our nights are pretty cold. Heat is kicking on over night but nothing all day and that is a win for this time of year.
2. Dug brats from the freezer for dinner and the last of a Costco pack of brat buns for dinner. I bought a ton of Johnsonville brats for $2.99 a pack over the summer and I just found a few remaining packs. I’m determined to use them up before freezer burn sets in.
3. Dh cut his own hair
4. Found $0.17 in the washer after I moved it to the dryer
5. Doing free yoga videos on youtube or walking the neighborhood for exercise
I think you’re right on laundering the towel. It’s 58 degrees in my house right now, but I’m in a sweater and under a lap blanket and perfectly comfortable. I like to sleep cool, so night should be fine.
A thousand years ago, my grandma worked for a discount clothing store and they got a delivery of polo shirts with a little alligator on them. Unfortunately they were not properly processed at the warehouse and they either had to send them back or remove the alligator. Her manager asked if anyone who like to take them home and and remove the logo for $3 a shirt. She took home a total of 30 shirts and got $100, including a bonus. She said her secret was to use a pair of nail sissors, the curved blade worked wonders. I just love this story.
Amy, this story reminds me of the time many years ago when DH’s nephews (now grown men in their 50s) were middle schoolers, and alligator polo shirts were de rigueur at their school. My SIL (the boys’ mother) used to buy less expensive polo shirts without the alligators, and then dispatch me to the thrifts to find worn-out shirts with alligators. She would then remove the alligators from these and apply them to the less expensive shirts. Sounds silly now, but it kept everybody happy at the time.
Oh yes, when I was a single parent and my boys were young they really wanted Ocean Pacific shorts with an embroidered OP on the front. They were enormously expensive in comparison. My younger son said he would be happy if I just sewed the letters on myself. I did, and he was thrilled.
I love this! Such a good mama.
1. Accepted a box of quail eggs from a neighbor who raises them. They are a pain but they are free food. And getting the egg out of the shell is a lot easier now that I have a quail egg scissors that snip off the tops with ease.
2. Accepted a seven pack (she had eaten one out of the 8 pack) if jalapeno hot dogs. My friend did not read the label and she hates spicy foods. I gave her a box of 25 herb teas that I had received but never opened because I find herbal teas too anemic for my taste. We were both happy with the trade.
3. Sold another book on eBay.
4. Mailed off said book for free, as part of a post office mystery shop.
5. I have no idea how I ended up with denture cleaning tablets in our bathroom cupboard, as neither the husband nor I wear dentures. Rather than throw them away, I looked up what else they might be used for: right now I have some sitting in our toilet bleaching it, and others in the kitchen sink half filled with water and full of plastic storage food storage containers where tomato leftovers like spaghetti sauce have telltale stains.
That is very interesting about the quail eggs.
I love quail eggs and don’t find them a pain at all. But I had never heard of quail egg scissors and now I’m intrigued.
Amazon sells them and they are very inexpensive.
Denture tablets are also good for cleaning vases and glass bottles especially the ones with long skinny necks. They remove all the residue with ease.
1. Aldi had a good sale on avocados and Bartlett pears. I walked there and back and only bought those items.
2. A neighbor gave me four small tomatoes from their garden.
3. I continue to redeem Giant Rewards for food and beverage items. Currently a 3# bag of red potatoes is only $1 worth of points. It is the same for almond/oat milk.
4. Our house faces south so if it is sunny in the afternoon I open the front door to get some “solar” heat in the house.
5. Frugal-ish: DH likes having a subscription to Hulu so I bought electronic Hulu gifts cards that were 10.7% off on Raise.
My frugal things are tiny. It’s been a busy week so there has been little creativity.
1. I purchase kitty litter in 40 pound bags at Costco. However, I find the litter difficult to store once the bag is open and the bag is just unwieldily. I was gifted three plastic buckets with lids on Buy Nothing last week. I am able to pour the bags into these for storage. Problem solved.
2. I fulfilled an ask on Buy Nothing this week. A member of my group was trying to decorate for her upcoming wedding. I still had some items in my garage from my son’s wedding last year that I was able to pass on to her.
3. I ate leftovers for dinner last night.
4. I batched errands on Sunday making 6 stops in two hours.
5. All the usual, little things – drinking primarily water, brewing my coffee at home, and cooking simple meals from scratch. Of course, I’m reading a library book. I’m always reading a library book.
Wishing everyone good health and prosperity.
1. Laughed to see your work on the hand towel: last week I spent a couple of television hours removing zippers from old slipcovers. The remnants shrank from a shopping bag to 5 slim zippers. Removing stitches is like popping bubble wrap: it is hard to stop and strangely satisfying to do, with the bonus of something useful at the end.
2. I bought a serger on Marketplace for $50. It is probably 30 years old, but works and has metal cogs, etc, so it is durable and will be easy to repair. I have long wanted a serger to sew/modify t-shirts etc.
3. The thrift shop was close to the seller, so I shopped there afterwards. Last time, I only found a lid for my crockpot, but this time: score! For the price of an unplaced Lands End order of on-sale 1 leggings and 1 sweatpants, I got two great dresses, two cute blazers that fit great, some nice shirts, a sweater that I love and wore yesterday, and leggings in great condition. I tried on heaps of possibilities to find some really nice clothes. Of course I used a 20% off coupon.
4. Still resisting turning on heat! It was a little chilly inside last Sunday, but I layered, and persuaded DH to do so. Got moving, cleaning out bonus room above garage while he fiddled with hooking up laptop to a non-smart tv we have there: good practice for when I cut back further on cable. Moving around warmed me up further, and DH enjoyed figuring out the puzzle.
5. Accepted shopping bag of items from a friend, and was happy to receive a nice pair of pinking shears, which I have always wanted. I listed the rest on Freecycle, which were promptly picked up.
Aldi has some really good German cookies that taste ginger snaps. I bought 2 bags last week. I was planning to get two more, but my son got sick and had to take a day off with him. I think I’ll make some gingerbread cookies instead and save a few bucks. Not a lot, but I’ll save a little.
Hubby picked us up some videos from the library to entertain us on this sick day.
Chopped up bits and bobs from my garden and threw them in the freezer. Will make it not chili this weekend. Also made guacamole from one on sale avocado and more bits and bobs.
Helped with the seminar at my school again. Another $50 for me and $25 for my daughter for helping with childcare. The catered meal this time was undercooked chicken. It was a hard pass for me and the free dinner or taking home leftovers. Maybe I could have thrown it in the crockpot as soon as I got home, but I was off-put.
My husband wanted to hire a company for Christmas lighting our house like the neighbors do. I talked him out of it. We don’t have a decent emergency savings, we need to travel to see his parents this summer, and we have a ton of home projects and and a new van to save up for. Tough for him to hear, but it’s the right decision.
Writing to reinforce your tough decision on the decorations!
Perhaps doing a few things inside the house would give him some holiday lights spirit? As you make a list of financial goals for the future, some of which you mentioned, you could put the decoration service there as a long-term goal.
My son put up Christmas lights for a neighbor a few years ago, I was there holding the ladder. He had it done in ten minutes and she gave him $20. Maybe an alternative to hiring a company?
Had a handful of store coupons at our local grocery store. These often are issued along with a sale, so I made out like a bandit and saved $13.
Took another load of stuff to Goodwill and went inside to spend 99 cents plus tax on a deep soup bowl to use to feed new pup. Did exactly that.
Mended the cat bed with a scrap of old t-shirt. Sewed up a rip in my son’s chair. Did some handsewing to add a bit of elastic to the front of a bra that was cut too wide, so now bending over feels less perilous.
Found 12 cents in the washer. Who are these spendthrifts I live with?
Sewed the ragged ear back on a stuffed dog toy and laundered all the stuffed toys so that they were soft and fluffy for our new pup.
Every time I wash dog beds, I wash my garage sale stuffed toys for my dogs. They love their toys, and at .25- .50 a piece if an ear or a tail goes missing its not as big of a deal
If you want to preserve chives in a fresh form, cut them up and put them in an ice cube tray with water. Freeze the cubes. That is how I preserve my basil.
1. I don’t have a local buy nothing group. But I do work at a large high school. I want a “stand sit” desk for my back. At home I have a beautiful oak roller top I needed to get rid of. Not as easy as you would think. They are not tech friendly. I posted a staff wide email and three people volunteered to take it.
2. I panicked over a fancy wedding in Southern California this weekend – husband’s friends. I knew I needed to break down and buy dress shoes. I have bad feet so all my work shoes are clogs or tennis. I found a nice low heel at Marshalls for $29.00.
3. I researched what people are wearing: If it is a dress you can wear to work it is not fancy enough for semi formal/ formal. So I panicked and found a high end $125 pair of faux leather wide leg crops ( for $18) with a blouson shirt with large pearls ( really cute actually.)
4. Frugal Fail: panicked at 10:00 that that still wasn’t fancy enough.
5. Decided to wear a chiffon black dress I already have down with a beautiful statement Uno de 50 dragon fly necklace. I also decided I was too tired to think about it anymore.
I think I will keep the pants. They are fun and comfortable. The shirt is going back.
1. I cooked my first pumpkin of the season. I got a little over 6 quarts. I use it for our dogs homemade food and baked goods.
2. My daughter and I made 3 gallons of homemade apple juice. The cores were used to make ACV. The pulp went into 6 apple cakes. One was GF that my daughter took home with her. One was dropped at my friend’s that starts chemo next week. 3 went to work with Hubby this morning. Last one is ours.
4. My hand me down Michael Kors bag was having zipper problems. Warranty is long over. I looked up ways to fix it on google and it say slide Chapstick over it. It is working great again.
5. A friend came over to get 4 baby aloe plants that I was giving away. She told me her husband just found out that his department is being let go at the end of the year. I gave her a big hug and a jar of brandied cherries that we made as Christmas gifts. We always make extra. She told me I have to share all of my frugal ways with her.
Marybeth— just a friendly suggestion for your friend’s husband. When/if he is let go, have him look up jobs to be a driver for FedEx Ground. they are ALWAYS looking for good people to serve as delivery drivers. Best wishes
Ooh . . . that is a great tip for a smooth zipper! Thanks!
It has been a while, but here we go!
1. A coworker with great fashion sense and expensive taste brought in a huge container full of clothes from a closet purge. I went through a grabbed a whole bunch of things to bring home and try on.
2. I had close to $100 worth of items in my virtual shopping cart for a local consignment store. I deleted everything – I do not need a single piece of clothing right now.
3. I was procrastinating by browsing FB marketplace, and found an adorable pair of green lamps that I liked. But I didn’t buy them. All my lamps work and look fine.
4. My future in-laws left on Monday after a 10 day visit – we’ve been eating random bits and bobs for dinner every night. They were very generous with their grocery shopping and cooking.
5. I had a lunch meeting yesterday, so free lunch. There were some uneaten, unopened salads left, so I had one of those for lunch today. Yay for 2 days of free food!
First rain of season was needed and welcomed. No need to water the lawn or flowers
Made burrito bowls from leftover pork tenderloin
Online survey $5 Walmart card
Participating in focus group which will pay $150
Mixing hair styling products to work with my now wavy hair
I have a question. Have any of you ever used one of the in-home composting systems such as The Mill. If so, I wondered how they worked. I wanted to Compost for quite some time, but I am afraid of attracting critters especially here in Florida
FTFT, Immediate Post-Surgery Edition:
I’m back home after reporting at the ungodly hour of 6:30 am today (Wednesday) for my first cataract surgery. It was said to have gone very well, but my vision in that eye is still too blurry after all the dilation and so on for me to give even a preliminary report. However, here’s what I’ve got since the last FFT:
(1) During last Saturday’s JASNA meeting, I had the mild embarrassment of having a bra underwire pop out on me–an inconvenience that most of us generously endowed ladies can relate to. (Fortunately, I can talk my way through almost anything; I inherited the gift of gab from my mother.) The next day, I coaxed the underwire back into place, used a scrap of elastic band to cover the popout area, and sewed the elastic in place with Glide dental floss. So far, the mend is holding up.
(2) My local Wegmans is having a drive to collect personal care products for “care packages” being put together by our local United Way. So I took the opportunity to go through my stash of such products for things I’d overbought on or wasn’t using, and dropped those off at Weggies yesterday morning. Not personally frugal, but frugal in the senses of decluttering and helping others.
(3) I’ve found a third apple tree in our neighborhood that produces edible apples. These taste the best of all, and the deer don’t browse this tree heavily because it’s on the curb on a busy street. Most of the remaining apples are too high up for me to reach, but I shook the tree yesterday, and a few came tumbling down. I filled my jacket pockets and walked off whistling, “If you don’t like my apples, don’t shake my tree.”
(4) The Bestest Neighbors and I went Tuesday evening for another round of “BOGO Halloweenies” at our famous local hot dog stand (we had our first round last week). I tried to pay this time, but they wouldn’t let me.
(5) And to keep myself not too strenuously occupied this afternoon (I’m already bored spitless), I’m soaking old labels off some of a big bunch of herb bottles that a neighbor up the street gave me over the weekend. She’s just reorganized her herbs and spices, and knows that I give dried herbs as gifts.
Glad to hear that your operation went well! Have you seen those apple pickers that look sort of like lacrosse sticks? We had a couple years where we spent some months of the fall in an area where there were a lot of apple trees in public areas (like the dog park) and people were encouraged to pick the apples. We spent about $20, if memory serves, and bought one of the apple pickers. We took it on walks with us and always came home with a half dozen or so apples. I never saw anyone else picking them, the apples just fell off and rotted. Anyway, if you have apple trees that you are allowed to pick, you might want to invest in an apple picker.
Thanks for the tip, Lindsey. Since the flavor of these apples is superb and no one else seems to be using them (it’s a curbside tree, as noted), I’ll look into getting one of these picker sticks–or maybe I’ll even try a used lacrosse stick, since these turn up occasionally at thrift shops here in Central NY, where the Haudenosaunee gave us the gift of the Creator’s Game.
He already has a job lined up with his Dad’s business. He will be making about 1/2 of what he was making and will have to get his own insurance. Hopefully over time that will go up. He was at his company almost 25 years. Change is harder the older you get. If he stays until the end of the year they are giving him a decent severance package so he is staying.
I’ve gotten to a point in my life where I refuse to wear an underwire bra — so tortuous!
I’m very happy to read that your surgery went well, that must be a huge relief.
I had major surgery September 28, and bored spotless is a perfect statement. So much I want to do, but can’t.
Glad your surgery went well.
1. I used money from a yard work job to cover some expenses this week. Although not a huge savings, I have swiped my card less for it. Thankful for the bump to my budget.
2. Two friends came over last night and gifted me with clothes they no longer needed. The clothes were in my current size and very nice. I really appreciate it.
3. I have been tempted to buy more shoes lately, but instead have been rotating my shoes more and wearing my old sneakers when walking. They’re filthy from yard work despite washing, but the soles still have more life in them. When I find a good pair for walking/running on sale I will likely buy them.
4. I was able to buy more 1/2 off dirt today from Lowes and hope it tops off my garden bed so I can start planting. So far, no dirt has been bought at full price for either garden bed. At Aldi I was able to buy a large pack of chicken breasts for 1/2 off today. I will use this for shredded BBQ chicken this week.
5. I curb picked a cute mid century table. It’s very low to the ground and quirky. I keep picking things up. I feel a yard sale coming on in the near future.
6. We have not eaten out yet this week. My son is making surprising gains on going through freezer items. This is a blessing that he likes what we have, and strange because I see the empty space and get worried we don’t have enough food. But it’s good to work through what we have. Trying to tell myself we’re making room for cheap turkeys soon. lol
I had to rearrange a few things in my basement freezer the other day and realized I still had an uncooked turkey from last year! Very happy discovery.
1. I’ve started a change jar for when I use cash. I figure it’s a good way to save gas money.
2. I really wanted takeout. So close as someone gave me a food delivery gift card. Instead, I used a pound of on sale ground turkey, a bag of on sale shredded coleslaw, garlic, ginger and tamari from the pantry and some rice noodles that I bought who knows when and made a satisfying lunch with lots of leftovers.
3. Hoping to keep the heater off until November 16th.
4. I invited friends for a game night. I will make a vegetarian curry with brown rice and some cookies or brownies with ingredients on hand. Looking forward to frugal fun.
5. The usual-coffee and water from home, heat off, cold water laundry ect
1) Shopped the closing sale at local Targets that were closing (sob). I am now set for much needed household goods, like cleaners, light bulbs, mineral oil and …wine, which will be hostess gifts when visiting friends for Thanksgiving/Christmas.
2) Cleared the garden of basil (it will get down to 33F/0c tomorrrow) and will make a basil/oregano salt with some of the leaves and pesto with the rest, using sunflower seeds to put in the freezer.
3) Made a pot of chicken & vegetable soup with homemade stock, forgotten half bags of freezer mixed vegetables and plenty of garden herbs. Fantastic.
4) Made a banana bread loaf from forgotten bananas (Claire Saffitz recipe) and had half for friends who came over for tea and gossip, and the other half this week for a good breakfast tea. Yum.
5) Made brownies from too soft avocados from the store. They are perfect. Instead of oil, just mash the avocadoes into the recipe, and use a tablespoon of oil. You can also reduce the sugar to 1/3 cup.
My tiny 5 FFTs:
1. I filled my foaming soap dispenser with watered down dish soap. Thanks Katy.
2. I attended a free Halloween program at the library with a speaker and slide show on Shadow People. Fun.
3. Continuing to eat a free supper three nights a week with the grinders I bring home from my retirement job at a deli. A great perk. It’s not going to be fun when I have to go back to cooking seven nights a week.
4. Using cloth napkins with every meal.
5. Washing out plastic storage bags and hanging them to dry over the kitchen sink.
Yay! This hack really adds up, happy to read that other people are doing this as well.
Just read this and just loved Five Frugal Things!
I cut off the bottoms on flat sheets because my husband has nerve damage on his feet and even the sheet is bothersome to those tootsies. I use the cut portions for all sorts of things. Also, I make nighties for myself and grandchildren out of worn out sheets with the flannels being quite cozy. 🙂
I appreciate the frugality tips, but would prefer to read articles without the cursing.
Where’s the fun in that?