Four Frugal Things -- Project Hail Mary & Project Remove Corporate Logos
1. My daughter and I used our free library passes to see a free prescreen of Project Hail Mary, which was every bit as much fun as you'd expect. (So fun!) I can't remember the last time I saw a movie in a theater, which made our evening extra eventful.
I looked it up and it normally costs $23.99 for a single effing IMAX ticket!
2. I found this spool of twine at the pay-by-the-pound Goodwill bins and knew exactly how I'd use it. I have four miscellaneous hanging wire baskets and always thought it would be an interesting to weave it like a proper basket.
I'm 473 hours in, but enjoying the process. I'd choose a larger gauge twine, had I actually had a choice, but will see it through. I'll still need to line it, but think it'll be a success in the end.
4. My begonia plant is a victim of my overzealous water program, (Every Sunday!) but I have a plan to save it. I'm snipping cuttings to propagate new plants, but will also cut it back and transplant it in a pot with better drainage.
No dead plants on my watch!
This photo of the same plant illustrates why this plant loss is a stab in the heart.
4. The forgotten item that I picked up at the bins for my $100 Goodwill Gift Card Challenge is this new looking puffer jacket, complete with embroidered corporate logo.
Of course, that's never stopped me in the past!
There, isn't that better?
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'm going on a girl's trip with my high school friends (Just realized - this makes 35 years since we've graduated high school, so this will be like a reunion trip!). Someone said something about me cooking, and I'm jumping on that. Even if no one chips in, I'm pretty sure I can feed us all for 4 meals what eating out would cost me for the weekend. I've got a menu planned, and a little over a month to look for sales. There are 9 of us going. Chicken alfredo, garlic bread, and salad the first night. Ham & Cheese egg bites, fruit salad, and apple butter bread for breakfast. Lunch out because I'm sure we will be exploring. Beef tips, mashed potatoes, and some kind of vegetable for the last supper there, then leftovers or eat on the way home on Sunday.
We watch our sweet granddaughter after day care on days when my daughter works (she's a nurse, so daycare closes before she gets home, and her hubby works out of town, and doesn't make it back to town to pick her up until after daycare closes), and we've gotten into a bad habit of grabbing something out after she is picked up. Today I picked up some Pasta Roni and canned chicken for a quick, delicious, and cheap meal so we won't be tempted to eat out tonight.
I bought a big roll of jute twin at Habitat's Restore a couple of years ago. It's endlessly useful.
I went to silent book club at the library today and had a wonderful time. The provided snacks were healthy and stood in for lunch. Came home and made a faux Asian dish for my husband using discounted pork, frozen peppers from last year's container garden, and all the discounted frozen veggies that would taste good together cooked with a spicy sauce. It was too spicy for me, but he loved it.
Chewy gave me enough discounts on a bag of dog food that it was free aside from the tax. I think they were related to the recent birthday of one of the dogs. Whatever it was, it was welcome.
I just placed a Chewy order - do you have a membership?
No. I just do an autoship twice a year for flea and heartworm preventative meds and order a couple of other things as needed.
Thanks! I'll have to check my email to see whether there's a deal I missed.
I got a great deal at Chewy. $15 off a $49 order (also qualified for free shipping). I bought 2 bags (35# each) plus some likeable tube treats. $55 approx. When they had it totaled, I also had a $20 gift card I had forgotten about. Got all of it for $23. I love scoring a great deal!!
I absolutely love Chewy. Their prices for canned cat food are comparable to my supermarket's prices plus they deliver right to my door.
It was so warm today that I had to peel off my coat while out walking. It was hard to believe that a few days ago I was chipping ice off my windshield. It will be even warmer tomorrow.
I found an art marker. Still has plenty of juice. I also found a receipt.
Picked up two books from LFL's and a Quiddler game that looks unused.
Stopped at Walgreens and bought two bottles of Qunol Co-Q-10, the second bottle half price. My Medicare Advantage Visa card paid $6.24 -- I'm not sure why. I thought it would either cover it completely or not at all.
I also filled a plastic bag with litter and threw it away.
Came home and had leftovers for lunch -- fajita and salad.
It could be worth contacting your insurance about the price, sometimes they need more information from the doctor (even if they get it every year) and this time of year the offices just get bogged down and it's a bit of a slog to get through everyone. Unfortunately sometimes it gets missed and the patient ends up paying more than they should. You might not get the money reimbursed bur it could stop a future bill. Bring a snack and something to read while on hold! 😉
Nice weave job! I picked up a huuuge ball of macrame Jute cord and I did the same thing with a planter. So cute!
My daughter did a cute crochet stitch on her jute before weaving. So clever!
The puffer jacket is cute and weighs nothing!
Took a deep dive into chest freezer and found a pkg of beef that was vacuum packed (thank you past self), it is marinating now for stir fry. The garden broccoli is beginning to bolt in the Spring weather. The next seedlings will be grown in the raised bed that gets afternoon shade.
Fertilized the blueberry patch, hydrangeas, azaleas and rhododendrons.
Weeding! Oh the healthy weeds! Everywhere. Mulching as I weed, bucket by bucket it will get done.
Was gifted a huge pile of hazelnut shells to use on the pathways between the raised beds. I put down 4 layers of cardboard, then the shells.
Happy First Day of Spring!
My achy leg is still not back to normal and I'm tired of being in pain so much. I called the medical doctor and asked if she had a shot or something since it still hurts on and off, mostly on, even after chiropractor, massage therapy and acupuncture visits not to mention pain patches, Bengay type cream and her 2 Rxes. So she sent in a 3rd Rx for steroids. Went to our store's pharmacy and clerk tried to charge me $39. I said that's not right, I'm on Medicare Advantage and stood my ground. The pharmacist on duty looked it up and voila! My bill was reduced to a $10 copay.
Keep your fingers crossed this latest remedy works.
Katy, I'm so impressed at your ability to remove the embroidery. My only question is-- how does it not leave a ton of holes in the material underneath? I've zoomed in on the photo and I'm mystified. I can see how on a stocking or other knit-type fabric it wouldn't leave holes, but this puffer jacket I would have expected to be less forgiving. At any rate, well done!
My question exactly! I wonder if they use a 'dull' sewing needle on this kind of fabric - one that doesn't pierce the fabric so much as push itself between the strands, so when you unpick and rub it a bit the fabric relaxes back to its original shape? or?
Exactly this question, because we have many logo'd items I'd like to do the same with!
I also wondered about this, because I know I would have pokes and holes left after doing this. However, that is more because I am likely to be careless and rip the fabric with the seam ripper, rather than just get the threads out.
I also question this hole-less witchcraft-ery! Every time I take a seam ripper to a logo I have about as many holes as the national debt! Tell us your secrets, oh wise one.
1. I committed cardinal sins against pastry today and used the microwave to very gently defrost a df pie crust so I could roll it out for a chicken pot pie for dinner. I forgot to put it in the fridge until late morning and it was still mostly frozen when it was time to get to work. It was delicious.
2. My husband had an appointment today and ran some errands while out. He picked up a few last minute items to round out a birthday gift for a nephew at the kids consignment store where we had credit.
3. He also turned in the cans and bottles we had saved up and returned $4.40 to our pocket. Not bad for a few minutes of work.
4. A patch in a pair of my husband's pants and two in mine were apparently *temporary* patches and ripped out in the washer. Bastards. I'm going to ask a friend at the birthday party tomorrow if she has any suggestions or denim in her sewing room she wants to part with. The sale price at our Fred Meyer is over $50 for a pair of Levi's. Not in my budget for now so I'll be patient until a better solution presents itself.
5. To my horror we used the last of our bread today! I'll try and sneak in some baking tomorrow after the party. I can't remember the last time we bought bread and I don't want to break my streak.
1) I took one of the kiddos to thrift work clothing - she did well, and I bought a Drifter sweater in DH's size. It was $8.99, so more than I usually spend on a maybe, but he's tall/hard to fit and worst case the style sells reasonably well on eBay.
2) DH switched to shaving his head last year. I love it, and it saves a ton on haircuts, but he uses pricey blades. I stacked a bunch of CVS deals to get 8 blades for $13 instead of $55.
3) My son is having back surgery next month, and was able to thrift almost all of the recovery items he needs in one trip, including a like-new rollator.
4) near-fail: Kroger occasionally has whole beef loins for $4-6/lb. We bought one at $3.99 more than a week ago and I completely whiffed the expiration date by more than a week, thinking it was this weekend. I expected it to be spoiled, but it was still perfect, and I got most of it packed for the freezer in steaks/roasts, then cooked two steaks for dinner with the end of the bag of sale potatoes and the last of our half-price portabellos. The leftovers will be tacos on my last "good" tortillas and potato soup using DH's leftover sausage gravy.
5) I didn't waste a kabillion dollars' worth of congressional time on a voter suppression bill that is fooling absolutely no-one.
Does getting a birth certificate involve swearing or certifying that you are who you are? Doesn't it take ID to get one's own birth certificate? Doesn't that have to be government issued? Or can one just go in (pay perhaps) or write in and ask for it? Seems kind of a loophole. Registering to vote must involve the same swearing or certifying you are who you are.
The VP has changed his name three times since birth. Hope he has it all documented....
What a clever idea to weave the twine onto a hanging basket. I'd would have never thought of that. The puffer jacket also came out nicely. Your ingenuity is awesome!
My frugal feats are less awesome.
1. A store i started shopping at has a discounted produce cart. I got 8 perfectly good naval oranges for $2.
2. On one of my evening walks I found a nice suitcase on wheels. It looks like a rolling backpack. My rolling backpack was a cheapy my school gave me. This on is bigger & will hold my lunch, laptop, and other necessities.
3. I earned a 50 cents off each gallon of gas for 25 gallons. My husband & I will both fill up w/ the offer if we can coordinate each to have a low gas tank at the same time.
4. I spied a box w/ tee shirts on one of my scavenging walks. They were wet from the rain. I went back in my car to get them. They washed up nicely. 2 fit me & husband got the XL one. There were also some sandals that I will donate.
5. I stayed home for Spring Break. The airlines jack up the ticket prices. I'm going somewhere in mid-May when the price is more reasonable.
Yes indeed the puffer jacket looks great, post “operation “!!!
1. I walked an hour and talked to an old friend by phone . Win/win.
2. I didn’t feel like cooking supper so I resorted to my old college standby meal, canned green beans heated up with cheese toast. Not a fancy meal but I was also not hungry after eating.
3. I did the usual of taking my breakfast and lunch to work.
4. Heat and air are both off. Yay!
5. I sat outside in the front yard and watched the sun set.
1. At the thrift store, I bought several unopened health and beauty aids - 3 lip balms, 1 men's deodorant, and 1 large bottle of sunscreen - all for $6.50. From the free box, I took two small travel containers with sturdy attached caps.
2. Received almost 80 large index cards from Buy Nothing that I plan to use for lists. Combined pickup with other errands so I didn't waste gas.
3. Brought home leftover real maple syrup from a restaurant in my handy mini glass jar. Used it for the next two mornings in my oatmeal.
4. Husband attended a Minnesota Wild hockey game with our niece, who paid for the tickets as part of a silent auction bid. She also provided free parking at her downtown St. Paul employer. My husband paid for all the food, which was wildly overpriced.
5. Haven't had a haircut in eight months, saving around $200. Same for my husband. We're not yet hippies, but we are sure ... hairy. Just received a coupon in the mail from Great Clips for an $11.99 haircut so I'll use that to get my hair trimmed.
Nice save on the jacket.
1. It was beautiful weather so my mom and I walked up to the coffee shop near her house. She treated me to a chai latte with a discounted gift card from Costco.
2. I stopped into a couple estate sales. I found a few items to sell on Ebay.
3. My youngest is visiting again this weekend. I made chickpea tikka masala for dinner. I forgot that I needed cilantro. I used some bolted parsley from last summer and a little lemon juice instead. It needed the cilantro but it was still good. I made way too much rice. I think I'll make some fried rice to send home with her.
4. I subscribed to Letters from an American by Heather Cox Richardson. I'm enjoying reading and listening to what she has to say about what is going on politically as well as the history lessons.
1) When I did my taxes, I made sure to see which of my credit cards had the better cash back offer with Turbo Taxes, and then paid with that credit card. Got the full max back as a statement credit - $20. Paying & filing taxes is a giant PITA, so it was a nice little win to earn something, even if small.
2) Had to book a work training & used my personal credit card. I will get reimbursed, and get credit card points. Also chose a class with a certification that will be useful.
3) Served DH a leftover burger last night from the freezer. Put together a little topping platter using: the last of a homemade coleslaw dressing that fit in nicely as an aioli, chopped green onions from the garden & pickles. I wasn't hungry, so I had an apple.
4) Before dinner, DH & I had a drink by the pool as a mini date. He was in a funk, as it was Nowrooz (Persian holiday) & the first time he hasn't at least been able to talk to his mom since he was born on the holiday. (She's in Iran & there is no service of any kind.) While I'm not sure how much it helped, it was nice to have the time together to chat & catch up & enjoy the sunny weather.
5) DS19 came home for a mini break between outings (double date at the beach, the gym, & then heading to another friend's house). I made him a large dinner, as he hadn't eaten much all day. I whipped up two grilled cheese sandwiches (well, panini'd, as we don't use butter), veggies & hummus, lots of fruit & leftover meatballs from dinner the night before. He really appreciates the meals, as the college dorm food is "okay", but not his favorite. It was a lot cheaper & saves him money that he most certainly doesn't have vs eating out.
I hope your husband soon has a chance to connect with his family. It is a similar situation with my #2 Son's GF - her Grandmother and many relatives on both her Mom's and Dad's sides are in Tehran, so no communication and lots of terrifying world news is causing her and her parents a lot of heartbreak. I let her know I am thinking of her but allow her to change the subject, too, because she doesn't want to start crying again.