Four Frugal Things — Judy Garland & a Retail Rant!
1) I walked my plastic “clamshell” recycling to New Seasons Market and actually plunked down some money, as I was putting together a “bangers and mash” dinner. Normally I steer clear of New Seasons as they’re ridiculously expensive, but I do splurge on their $7.99/lb house made sausages a couple times per year.
I passed a neighbor on my way over and asked if there was anything I could pick up for her, which is how I ended up buying an on sale $11 bag of grapes. Of course she reimbursed me, but I still had a moment of shock when the cashier rang them up.
2) I then walked over to Fred Meyer for milk, as it was buy-one-get-one-free. I noticed that Land-O-Lakes butter was on sale for $3.99, with an additional $1-off with digital coupon. Of course I tapped into their app to load the coupon.
Sometimes I’m reminded of my father when stores present convoluted savings method as a positive thing for shoppers. Why can’t the sale price just be the sale price?! This kind of nonsense drove my father mad. (He’d get so frustrated whenever he took us shopping.) Mind you, he understood marketing from the inside, as his father was in the retail fur business. Although my dad was an English professor, his undergraduate degree was actually in advertising.
What’s my point? Grocery store conglomerates like to keep shoppers loyal and engaged by presenting BOGOs and coupons, when they actually could choose straightforward pricing. I play the game from my end, but I really wish I didn’t have to. It shouldn’t be so complicated to feed our families.
As a palate cleanser to my rant, please enjoy this photo of my grandfather selling a fur coat to a 15-year-old Judy Garland:
The story is that Judy was to try on the coat for publicity, but ended up buying it. She was tiny and it was a child size coat.
3) I walked by the amazing free pile house from the other day, in case they’d set out more stuff. The owner was out front and gave me a cucumber from her garden, as well as a dozen or so green beans.
I added the green beans to stir-fried cabbage and I’ll likely slice the cucumber into chips, to serve with hummus. I’m lucky to have successful gardeners as neighbors!
4) I finished up the last of the pumpkin bread and yellow zucchini rattatou-ish. Not a standard lunch, but still tasty. The baked zucchini will never make the cover of Martha Stewart Living magazine, but food doesn’t have to be aesthetic to be palatable.
Luckily I cook food that I actually like to eat, so leftovers are a favor to my future self. Doesn’t mean that I don’t give myself a hearty pat on the back when they don’t go to waste.
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 will just add to the rant. There are a lot of elderly patrons that frequent the library where work. One patron who is 90 asked me to help her get Kroger coupons right after Kroger went paperless. She has a smart phone but does understand apps or using it for email. I downloaded the app and showed her how it worked. I could see she was lost. She never asked again. She doesn’t want to be a bother to anyone. I had a second patron, an elderly gentleman who bought a new Ford from a local dealership, and he went for his free oil change that was included, and they told him he had to have the app to get it. He didn’t even have an email, so of course trying to explain an app was almost impossible. These businesses are really excluding the elderly. The very people who often need it the most. It makes my blood boil every time I think about or try to assist one of these patrons.
Having to have a login.gov or ID.me account to get Social Security, which means taking a photo with a smart phone and using it to create an account with facial ID, and have the phone available to text the code to every time, is also wrong.
If you wait for someone in a surgical waiting room, they want a cell number to call you when the patient is done. Again, that’s an elderly issue.
I get tired of correcting the health info system on line that keeps switching my landline to my cell phone. And telling gmail EVERY TIME I LOG IN that I do not want to take a quick video of my face for identification purposes. They say “later”; I say “never.”
Not only wrong but is an underhanded way for the government to “bust” those they suspect are not legal.
If you need a replacement social security card, you need ID.me. Which took me way longer than I expected and I use tech all the time.
Allegedly there is a link for those who don’t have a smart phone. I bet that is nightmare.
They assume a senior has a tech savvy grandchild to help him/her. Not always the case.
I’m 77 and I’m feeling the pain of trying to keep up with technology. And I worked in a field that was technology heavy! But it changes by leaps and bounds. Elderly people are shut out of everything, unless they have young people in their lives to help.
Apparently there is no understanding that brains change with aging, and that everyone young will become old.
Don’t get me started on the time my 90-year-old father-in-law got turned away from scheduling his Covid shot because you can only schedule it in an app! I scheduled it for him, and then I called the pharmacy and ranted!
Side note, Kroger in my area has started printing sheets that the cashier scans to apply the weekly deals, specifically for elderly and less tech-savvy customers. If yours aren’t doing that, perhaps they’d consider a request?
I agree with you and your Dad. Buying an onsale product shouldn’t be hard. I think the corporations track us through their digital coupons and member cards. That’s why I do my grocery shopping almost exclusively at Market Basket which has neither. Also no BOGOs. Consistently lower prices than other large grocery stores. Just solid sales I don’t have to jump through hoops to buy. I wish they would expand to other parts of the country. Right now it’s a New England chain. With Massachusetts new category of being the most expensive state to live in, I shudder to think what I would do without them.
1. I donated the beautiful dress I wore to DS’s wedding 4 1/5 years ago to a chapter of Eastern Star my friend belongs to. They do a $5 a dress sale every year to raise funds and help people who otherwise could not afford a prom dress/mother of the bride or groom dress/event dress, etc.
2. I made us Filet-o-fish sandwiches for lunch using frozen beer battered fish fillets, American cheese, homemade tartar sauce and leftover hamburger buns. DH declared them better than McDonald’s but maybe that’s not saying much. Lol.
3. I received a digital coupon (again, just put the product on sale please) for 20% off at a nearby Pet Supply Plus that needs to be used by the end of the month. I will use it for catfood because like everything else, it’s gone up in price.
4. DH and I have decided we will try to keep the house set at 60 degrees this winter with the help of sweaters, sweatshirts and slippers. Our monthly budget payment already jumped almost $100 above what it was last winter.
Also Katy, that is such a cool picture of your grandfather and Judy Garland. I love the expressions on each of their faces.
It was before The Wizard of Oz, which makes is so much sweeter.
I agree with the rant. We put so much effort into saving on groceries.
I recently had a conversation with the manager of the Kroger where I shop (I shop there pretty much exclusively because they pay their employees well). I told him one of my relatives doesn’t shop there anymore because the coupon game is too complicated. He told me that they have recently started putting sheets with the weekly digital coupons by the door with the print ads. This can be used to save on the weekly deals without having the coupons loaded on your card. There is a bar code on the sheet and after you scan the groceries you can scan the bar code if you have bought any of the special and the coupon price is what you are charged. That helps but it is still a game we shouldn’t have to play. Your Dad was right.
A few online sales that keep me motivated. Used coupon and online gift cards to get a free hand cream and a kitchen counter hand soap dispenser for $8.23.
I’m reminded of the words of Madea. “I’m not on a fixed income. I’m on a broke income. I’m broke!â€
I refuse to download most apps. The care and feeding of those things would take up too much of the remaining years of my life, plus so many of them are buggy and have all the security of a screen door.
I do log into the website for our lical grocery store for clickable digital coupons but that’s about it. My customer loyalty account there has a record of several years of rather boring purchases, as we eat the same things over and over.
Your rant is perfectly understandable. I know I leave money on the table by not using digital coupons, apps, reward programs, etc., but I just don’t want to participate in the marketing machine or complicate my life if I can help it. I’ve had it up to my eyeballs with technology, AI, privacy concerns, etc. in general. I am tired of opting out when I shouldn’t be opted in in the first place. Last week I went to a local store that required that I scan a QR code to park in the shared lot with other businesses. When I asked the salesperson if it would be okay to not scan the code, she said yes. My sister opted to replace her old flip phone with a new flip phone, knowing full well she won’t be able to do certain things. I admire her for that.
There is something affirming when a clerk asks for your phone number and you say “No”, and they just go on with the sale.
An economic issue also underlies this. I was at the local job placement office a few years ago, and one of the staff was helping a man set up a gmail account, so he could then do the job applying stuff online. He was perhaps in his 20’s, would be unlikely to have had the money for his own computer, probably didn’t have more than a flip phone if that.
I won’t name names, but in these situations someone I know gives out a phone number that is not theirs. Often it is the number of a former place of employment–actually, the (unlisted) direct dial number of the rotten boss. Who hates getting interrupted by phone calls. And when that SOB of a boss gets marketing/robot calls for this person….LOL.
This person is a genius
There was nothing on my calendar today, so I stayed home. Just puttered around, putting stuff back where it belonged, and cleaning up.
I made a Reuben sandwich for lunch. I already had rye bread, sauerkraut, and the makings for Thousand Island dressing. Yesterday I bought corned beef and Swiss cheese to complete the recipe.
The lady at the deli counter didn’t understand me when I asked for 1/8th of pound of corned beef. There was a language barrier. She weighed out 1/4th of pound. When I explained that I just wanted enough for a sandwich, she cut some more! She ended up not charging me for that extra, but I have more corned beef than I wanted. She was so sweet, though, and trying to be helpful, I didn’t make a fuss. I guess more corned beef sandwiches are in my future, but not on rye — I used up the last two slices today.
I read that a lot of Social Security recipients are getting a $90 payout to offset the rise in Part B coverage. I am not eligible, as a Medicare Advantage member. That would have been a nice surprise.
Gorgeous weather continues to make both air conditioning and heat unnecessary. The sweet spot!
The orange a-hole thinks MA insureds pay *nothing* for Part B. Which in our case at least, is not true. A true flim-flam move to say the least. Those on a Medicaid-Medicare hybrid plan get screwed too.
Just tell your friends on Medicare about this stunt so they hopefully vote appropriately.
DH and I each received our $80. Into savings it went. Will it change my vote? Hell no!
1. I vacuumed and detailed my car myself.
2. I combined errands. I dropped off my ballot and grabbed some cute I voted stickers for my youngest.
3. My mom’s neighbor pulled out her native hydrangeas and put them out for brush pick up. My middle daughter and I loaded them in our cars and took them to her house. Free plants for her new garden project.
4. I was early for a Marketplace meet up so I bought free food with Mc Donald’s rewards. I also checked out the new Goodwill “Boutique”. I didn’t buy anything though.
In the early 1900s, most old people were stymied and confused by the telephone. Did that make the phone bad?
Technology marches on. Some people can cope; some can’t. Nothing new.
I agree. Not necessarily bad, not everyone could adjust. However, I don’t think a telephone at that time was a requirement for daily activities or government services.
I also am not sure “most” old people would be accurate– I’m sure many were confused, as many younger people were.
But the app thing is often there simply because they want to track your habits, so it’s more like an apple, whereas your example is an orange.
But too many old people cannot afford a laptop w/internet or cell phone w/internet or data. Face it a lot of seniors live rural with crap options. But the current administration is of the mindset that if you need help, we’d rather you die.
And soon their *maybe* reasonably priced landline will be gone – heaven forbid a phone compay keep their “copper lines” available. k
What a sweet family memory! Thanks for sharing.
I share your rant on stupid store gimmicks. I shop Winco.
Bought dog food for $1.25/lb at scratch & dent store bought 80 #, normally $2.50/lb. Bought a 10 lb bag of shallots from a day after farmers market road side stand. They were big and beautiful and I will plant them this week.
Got a huge bone in pork cushion for 50% off $8.75. I see pulled pork and a pot of beans in my future.
I bought 50 lbs of brown onions for $8 & 50 lbs of #2 russet potatoes. I can’t grow them for that price.
I once read a fascinating book about coupons, and the author pointed out that coupons and other convoluted discounts are a way for companies to reach both spendy and non-spendy customers.
Say the spendy customer is willing to pay $5, but the frugal customer will only pay $3. They could just charge everyone $3, but the spendy customers would buy the product no matter what the price is, so they want to charge them $5. However, the companies do also want the non-spendy customers to buy their product, and discounts/coupons are a way to reach that $3 consumer without having to charge everybody only $3.
So the spendy customer pays $5, the frugal customer pays $3, and the company still makes two sales.
That’s an interesting bit-o-history, thanks!
That you are so reliable about writing really helps. I need that help these days. Nebraskans applauded destro… . Right. Thank you and please keep writing about non-consumerism. You are an important calming place.
I’m very thankful for your regular posts!
Today I took the considerable pile of stuff for my mother to her assisted living. When I left I got 2 cups of coffee and brought them home.
Walked with a friend which is always lovely, and on the way home dropped off at the pregnancy care center a bag of like-new baby socks. I have strong feelings about things going where they can be used again, and baby socks at the thrift store just get lost, in my experience.
Exercised at home, took a short nap and studied my Spanish. Keeping body and mind active.
Last October the company that did our annual furnace service (needed to keep it in warranty) sent out a coupon for $50 off a service. I put it on my calendar for this year. Left a message asking them about it.
Plugging away at actually deleting old online accounts. Slow and steady, a few each day. It will be worth it. I also completed the free California delete-my-data request.
Sold another 2 items on Vinted. Yay!
1) Not driving for a 3rd day in a row, which allows DH to drive our electric car
2) Left a plate of leftovers for DS20, when he got home from work. All part of my elaborate plan for folks to use up what we have, vs making something new from the freezer, or, as 20 year olds sometimes do, just snack, which is not particularly healthy.
3) Discovered that I have a free global entry reimbursement from a credit card, and my family all has global entry. I will let my mom use it, so she can have global entry on the trip we are taking in May.
4) Adjusted the price on an item & listed another item on eBay.
5) Went through freezer & found a few things I want to use up next week.
I played the double and triple coupon game for years. Now it is all digital coupons and apps. So now I do that. I do love Aldi because they don’t do coupons and overall they have great prices.
1. I have dough rising for rolls with dinner.
2. I made a double batch of pumpkin peanut butter treats for the dog. I vacuum sealed most of them and put them in the freezer.
3. 2 friends and I went to the library last night for Minute to Win It. We didn’t win but we had fun.
4. I had leftover BBQ wings and celery from my garden for lunch. I only had a little bit of blue cheese left so I added a little bit of boxed milk that I had. It stretched it enough for all of the wings. I had a leftover pancake with a hard boiled egg for breakfast.
5. I refuse to turn the heat on yet. Extra blankets have been put on the bed and couch. I need to put the flannel sheets on. I have been wearing a sweater around the house.
At long last Texas got some much needed rain & cooler temps. I turned off the sprinkler system & the A/C.
1. I went to the dentist for a cleaning. No charge. However I pay $60 monthly for dental insurance for myself & husband. I helped myself to a free tube of toothpaste & a cup of coffee from the coffee bar.
2. Found 2 cig packs on my walk. I enter the codes into Marlboro Rewards. I have enough to get a $25 dollar GC for Uber. I’ll use the Uber credit when I go to FL in Dec.
3. Cancelled my airline ticket for which I used miles. The ticket was now $65 dollars so I paid in cash. Sometimes not a good value to use miles when the ticket is dirt cheap. My return trip was booked w/ miles.
4. I ordered a pizza Sunday evening for dinner as I was dog tired from work. Dominos often has a $7.99 special on the weekend for pickup. That did it for me. I now have enough Domino points to get a free item.
5. Took a box of canned goods (all in date) to the food bank. I found the canned goods in a bag outside a dumpster. I didn’t need more canned veg so off they went to the donation drop off.
The whole coupon game is one thing that keeps me from Kohl’s. Virtually nothing is marked as the price you’ll actually pay. It’s insanely frustrating. I applauded JC Penney’s a few years back when they declared an end to coupons and sales. Unfortunately the public demands a ‘sale’, so that didn’t last.
I don’t mind my grocery card tracking me because should they start doing responsive pricing, they will already know I’m cheap af with high sales resistance.