Four Frugal Things -- Home!
Goodbye, Canada!
1) My husband and I drove from Vancouver B.C back down to Portland, which took almost eight hours due to an hour at the Canada/United States border and inevitable Seattle traffic. (Even though it was a Saturday!) Seattle will never disappoint when it comes to inevitable frustrating traffic.
We had a pair of $15 lunch vouchers that I couldn't bear to waste, so we ordered $16 "Market salads" in the hotel restaurant before hitting the road.
They were actually really tasty. I put zero research into whether raw salad greens were safe to eat in Canada, but seem to have won this round.
2) Food for the trip home was simple -- nothing more than a breakfast buffet apple and a singular slice of Costco's $1.99 cheese pizza.
My unphotographed slice of pizza was as big as a Pizza Hut "Personal Pan Pizza."
Rest stops provided our bathroom breaks, as neither of us were remotely interested in prolonging the drive a single minute more than necessary.
3) My vacation souvenirs consist of a hotel pen:
A Friends of the Vancouver Public Library bookmark, plus the aforementioned $4 used book:
A collection of Ityy bitty d'arbo jams that came with our daily breakfast. I took two each day:
And my "foraged" velour hair scrunchy:
I'm not a traditional souvenir gal.
When the border patrol officer asked what we were coming home with, my answer was "full stomachs."
4) I received notification that I qualified for $65 from the Hoopla class action lawsuit. I signed up for it at least a year ago and am happy to accept my share.
Apparently Hoopla shared everyone's personal viewing habit with third parties without viewer permission, which isn't great. Do better, Hoopla!
It's not much, but it covers a week of breakfast buffet tips with a few dollars to spare!
Now your turn, what frugal things have you been up to?
Katy Wolk-Stanley
"Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without."
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I sold a mirror for $50. I curb picked it yesterday, so nice profit and a quick turnaround.
Sold a bundle of kids clothes. I sell my grandkids outgrown stuff and clothes aren't the best sellers, but I always try since I give ds/Dil the money and they are entering their third year without income. As my dad puts it, they're sailing close to the wind.
Dh sanded the top of a free desk. I'll put some varnish on the top and list it for sale
Roast chicken is in the oven so leftovers will feature this week.
Brought home the snack bars that my mother's assisted living gives her that are not in her diet. Dh happily eats them.
Wow you’re a great grandma to sell grandkids clothes. Three years without income?
I like to resell and I'm early retired so I have the time. I have met so many like minded people while reselling. Ds/dil don't have any spare time with both of them going to school plus 2 little kids. Their smiles when they are handed an envelope of cash that the outgrown things earned is plenty payment for me!
I hope your son finds employment soon. My son is struggling, too, working but not making enough to support the family. It's so stressful on everyone.
I hope your son finds better paying employment soon. It is stressful for everyone. My son is in his 3rd year of grad school. So this time of no income was semi-planned though I know he hoped to find a paying internship this year and he did not. They are making the most of things though. Dil is eligible for free classes at the community college because of their no income. She's holds a professional degree but wants to retrain. So she's taking a few classes per semester now while it is free. That feels very making-lemonade-with-lemons!
1. Used my $5 Panera gift card from a survey to get a treat and sip club for an ice tea.
2. Dropped off another load of Trashie to Fed Ex. Friend got $75 in rewards and I got $30
3. Leftovers tonight
4. Downloading books from Libby
Your hotel buffet is better than my hotel buffet. The classic American “make your own waffle bar” is OK the first morning, and after that it gets really old. I won’t eat the weird shelf-stable pastries. I am on a road trip and have been eating apples and plain oatmeal for days.
I’ve found Canadian jam to be better than US jam, so I might have been tempted by those, but I probably would have gotten some maple syrup at Costco instead. Will you store spices in the jars?
I attended a funeral yesterday. I wore a lovely dress from the bins. I wasn’t too worried about potential thunderstorms ruining the dress because it was an “easy come easy go” scenario!
I buy this marmelade brand in Germany and checked on their website. It is produced in Austria. So this canadian marmelade is from Europe. My favourite is made of forest picked, wild blueberries. Highly recommend.
Best, Silke
1. Driving an hour and a half one way to my new full time nonprofit job and getting gas for $3.47 gallons for my Corolla helps to take the bite out of the drive. I spend about 10 to 12 bucks a day. At least that is what it has cost the last two weeks.
2. Free health insurance and free dental at new job.
3. Made swamp soup with canned items to use up pantry items using canned turnip greens, mustard greens, carrots, diced tomatoes, peas, Cajun spices, bullion, etc.
4. Made a Rueben “ish” sandwich trying to use up what was on hand. The only thing Rueben about it actually was the sauerkraut, homemade Russian dressing and mustard. My cheese was not Swiss and I fried bologna… lol. Ok, it was maybe just a sandwich but it was good!
5. Wearing the work clothes I already have so nothing new needed to be purchased. Black skirt or grey pants, black shirt, grey blazer, closed toe black shoes is standard.
Congratulations on your new job with benefits!
Thank you!
Welcome home! It looks like a great time was had by all, and I'm sure it feels good to be home, too.
I was planning on grocery shopping today, but when I looked at my list I realized I really didn't need to. I would rather not shop on a weekend day because of the crowds. So another no-spend day.
I am hearing sounds from the air and water show -- they fly up to "my" beach to turn around; the real action is on the Chicago lakeshore. But I could walk over and see this bit of it for free. Not my thing, though. I am staying home and watching Silo on Apple, and reading when I'm ready for a break.
For lunch I had enchilada casserole from the freezer, and the texture was -ugh-unappetizing. I won't try to freeze that again. I'm going to try to cook smaller portions and freeze less, because I often don't really like the thawed and reheated food.
I have eaten down the freezer enough that I'm getting close to being able to defrost the refrigerator. Badly needed; it is not draining properly, and that is due to frozen tubes. Maybe Tuesday?
No more sales on eBay, but I tidied up the dining room table where I do my wrapping and sorting. I figure that will prime the pump.
I have found that freezing a meal before baking etc makes for tastier meals than freezing a cooked meal.
Thanks for the tip!
Welcome back! We're finally back in the States as well!
1. We took advantage of as many free snacks and drinks on our three flights as we could to try and make up for the cost of traveling. We did buy coffee at the airport before take off (I've read a number of flight attendants verify that inflight coffee pots are not exactly sanitary) and caffeine is vital when traveling with two small children. Price be damned. The €2.20 they charged for a single banana at the airport was what stung the most.
2. I had been listening to "The Calamity Club" on Libby while packing before we left and finished it on the flights. I downloaded "The Frozen River" by Ariel Lawhon while in one of the airports and have been enjoying it so far!
3. Our lackluster hotel was clean and comfortable enough after 24+ hours of traveling and I pilfered several of the single servings of peanut butter and jam from the sad breakfast buffet for future Shyla. They also had the thinnest bacon we had ever seen.
4. While driving around touring apartments I made a grocery pick up order for Kroger and stacked online promotions to the tune of $18 in savings. I think I mildly terrified my husband with the manic glee I had in being back in a country that supports Ibotta rebates.
5. Our Airbnb has some basic items available for guest use, a few coffee pods, a few rolls of toilet paper and cheap shampoo and conditioner, and you bet I'm taking advantage of it all! There's also a cat that has been hanging around outside on the porch! I've joked that obviously that must be the host, it seems friendly but we have no idea where it came from.
Glad you made it home safely. I love your list of souvenirs.
1. I attended a Jack and Jill wedding shower. DH and I both wore clothes we already owned. We had a scrumptious meal, made entirely by the moms of the soon-to-be bride and Groom. Lots of people we know were there adding to the fun.
2. I was craving chocolate so I made a pan of brownies from my old Better Homes and Gardens cook book.
3. Sweet neighbor left another dozen or so tomatoes and two good sized sprigs of basil from her garden on my steps. Spaghetti sauce will be happening in my near future.
4. DH, his niece and her husband went out to see Yasgur's Farm in New York state today, about 3 1/2 hours from our house. It's the 57th anniversary of the Woodstock Music Festival so they went to see the sights and sounds. I was feeling tired so stayed home. His niece and husband picked him up and paid for the gas so he's taking them out for lunch and supper.
5. My second crop of raspberries has begun so I've been eating those for the past few days. The fall (already?!) crop produces bigger and plumper raspberries than the first summer crop. Not sure why but I'm not complaining.
I just bought some hydroponically raised lettuce from Winco that was a product of Canada and I that gave me peace of mind. No worrying about whether it came from Mexico or even if it was field raised.
I love those precious little jam jars. I always save them from trips. They are perfect for a tablespoon of anything such as bacon bits, chopped parsley or green onions, small buttons, or safety pins. Really, any little bit or dab that you want to save.
I thought your Salad was lovely and practically free. One more experience.
Enjoyed the meaningful souvenirs and your loaded response to the customs agent! Looking forward to a post with how you will repurpose those D’Arbo mini jars.
I wonder if they will soon offer an Advent calendar of tiny jars like Bonne Maman has.
I LOVE bookmarks for a frugal travel souvenir! I have a fun little collection of bookmarks to draw from whenever I'm reading from my library haul. P.S. Your little jam jars are absolutely adorable! Can't wait to see what you store in those.
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Loved reading about your trip!
We moved DS19 into his first college apartment, so it was most certainly NOT a frugal weekend. A few things we did to offset the cost.
1) Stayed at a friend's house one night, and used hotel free night award for the second.
2) Took advantage of free checked bags for DS19's stuff on the way to Boulder, thanks to my airline status.
3) Stopped at the lounge to get a free breakfast for DS19.
4) Went to the "resell" space the university offers. They collect all manner of items at move out, and then sell it for dirt cheap during move in. Bought a head board, cups, multiple power strips & charging cords, a couple of organizing bins & a shelving unit for $11. Keeps stuff out of the landfill & makes a bit of money to continue the program. We went on Sunday, but will hit it up on the first day of move in next year.
5) Had DS19 sign up for a Target student account, which required a bunch of hoop jumping & verification, but saved $120.
Priceless: having the time & financial flexibility to help DS19 & many of his friends with move in. Offered anyone who needed a ride a trip to: Target, Costco, Trader Joes, the resell shop, etc. Took his friends out to dinner, shared things with roommates... It was so much work, and so well worth it!
You are such a great mom/ adopted Mom/Aunti to your son and all of his friends and friends to be. I'm glad you see the benefit of helping out both your kid and all the other kids who need it - your summer or random meals and beds has impacted those people far more than you know.
The financial flexibility to offer a hand - and having a bed, room in a car, the spare time and a few meals available - is a kind of wealth that is immeasurable yet so soul satisfying.
Go you!
Ecoteri, I totally agree! HP, I also love that the university offers the resell space.
Thanks, MB! Being around young people is very energizing, and they are hilarious with their shenanigans as they try to navigate life & figure things out. Everyone needs parental figures in their life, especially if their own parents can't be there. I'm a huge fan of the resell space! Wish we would have known about it earlier, but we will definitely donate when we have things as well, and go on the first day next year. Love to see them keeping items in circulation! And, the prices were as close to free as you could possibly get.
Thank you, Ecoteri. I often tell DH that this is one of my favorite things about having financial flexibility - helping other kids out. They are going through so much transition & not all of their parents can (or, I suppose will, in some cases) help out. They appreciate it all so much & all of their friends are fun to spend time with. It's a treat for us as well to get to have more insight into DS19's friends.
I'm currently contemplating why the pepperoni pizza is less calories than the cheese pizza at Costco.
Look at that - it is! Hmmm.