Non-Consumer Photo Essay -- Wobbly Photos!
Today's blog post is going to be out of focus and wobbly, as the forward facing camera on my iPhone finally remembered that it got run over in Albuquerque.
I stopped at both a standard Goodwill and a Goodwill Outlet in search of resellable treasure.
I picked up this piano bench, which featured a hand needlepointed cover and priced at only $14.99. I paid 10% less, as it was senior discount day. I paid for it out of pocket, so it's not part of the $100 Goodwill Gift Card Challenge.
I'll list it locally on Facebook Marketplace and probably ask $75.
I went to the AirPort Way bins location, rather than the one on Ochoco and paid 36¢ for three small objects. The bins weren't very full and essentially only contained the same low quality over-manufactured items that you'd find in a Temu dumpster.
I did find a dime outside the store, which cheered me up. I'll add it to my Found Change Challenge jar!
Here's what I bought:
- A small tin compass.
- The hardware to hang a plate on the wall.
- A ceiling fan remote control.
Again, I paid out of pocket.
I mixed up a batch of no-knead artisan bread, which turned out great. This is the best photo my camera could produce. Looking at it is making me dizzy.
I'm going to let this be a short blog post, as I have an errand to run.
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 tried twice to leave a comment on the previous post and it never posted. This is a test.
1. I needed BBQ sauce last week. I thought I had enough but did not. I found a recipe online and made a decent sauce out of ketchup and spices. Of course I made too much. Tonight I used up the leftover sauce in a different dish. It did not work very well after being baked. I'll stick to store bought but I'm glad I made do without a trip to the store.
2. I had a day of doctor appts and packed a lunch I could eat in the car to avoid take out. I did stop for coffee and read a book for an hour between 2 appts and that was a nice treat. But no desire for fast food
3. After getting a ridiculously high electric bill I finally have dh and dd on board with trying to keep lights off. Hoping next month it is a lot lower.
4. Made homemade muffins
1. My ensemble today was the blouse I most recently bought at Goodwill, paired with red slacks this time, and red earring studs from one of those $9.99 cards containing 20 pair from Walmart. The blouse is super frugal and super versatile because its print features cute little blobs of red, pink, lime and lavender against a white background -- and therefore I can wear it with any of the above-listed colors...or with black. Last week I wore the same blouse with salmon pink colored slacks that I bought for $3 at a consignment store sidewalk sale. I wasn't looking for a short-sleeved blouse when I saw it at "The GW Boutique". last December --but I got it anyway, knowing it'll be great to pack for vacation. Meanwhile, I'm wearing it now that temps are in the 80s.
2. I had filled up my ⛽ gas tank at $2.59 last week. Today, when I drove by the same H-E-B, I saw the price is now $2.99. Already! Thanks a lot, Trump.
3. I culled out some torn-up bath towels as part of my decluttering effort. Except for one old Canon towel from college (I graduated in the late 70s), Every. Single. One. was from Ollie's Outlet, and were no more than 2 years old. Grrrr! They were all frayed around the edges, had tears, and one had a hole in the middle. I'd bought them all at Ollie's at different times, and they were not all the same brand. Some were labeled "Hotel Quality" but all I can say is that it must have been a cheap, one star hotel. The messed up towels are getting donated to the dog pound, and from now on, I am not going to buy linens from Ollie's any more! 4. Because of No. 3, I shall resume my former frugal practice of buying nice looking beach towels from Walmart when they go on sale late this summer. The ones I bought 5 or 6 years ago from Walmart still look new -- no tears, no snags and no fading. They are even prettier than Ollie's towels.
5. Checked inside an "empty" shampoo pump bottle before throwing it away. Good thing I did: There is still enough product in there for yet another go-round (or 2) if I just take off the pump and pour some of it out. So it's back in the shower and will get used tonight.
Weird. I was at the airport bins yesterday. I saw a plate hanger and passed on it because I couldn’t visualize a plate I’d like to hang. Of course, as soon as I got home, I thought of a plate I’d like to hang.
I went in the morning after, and it was crowded! I didn’t find any treasures.
Do they do the senior discount at the bins??
Oh the bins! I am ready to go again!
My gluten free pizza dough recipe calls for egg whites so I Used the yolks to make a batch of oatmeal craisin bacon cookies for my mom.
Used the last of the honey crisp apples in apple hand pies using my Great Grandmas recipe.
I finally got the gold and stones bracelet appraised, it had a bit of damage, he priced it at $495, with repairs. I will consign it there. The stones are light pink sapphires.
Call it an aesthetic vibe for this post!
1. My husband took our kiddos to a free playgroup and they each came home with a snack and a free book. We saw on the back of the books that they normally cost $10-20 a piece!
2. I wasn't feeling very formal for lunchtime so I grazed on a homemade granola bar from the freezer and a whole wheat English muffin with some peanut butter and cinnamon sugar.
3. I finished Pretty Girls from Karin Slaughter on Libby last night. Very well written, horribly dark, I enjoyed it but probably need something a little lighter next. I have six items on hold for now.
4. My husband is making pretzels for dinner and the kiddos are having a more balanced variety of leftovers from the freezer and fridge since they're not big soft pretzel fans.
5. The well intended patch in my husband's jeans decided to throw in the towel today. I need to find a better patch or maybe see if I can reattempt another repair.
1) I used produce from my produce box to make cauliflower and potato soup and a butternut squash soup that I add greens to (chard this time). Soup with toasted bread is one of my favorite meals so I like to keep my freezer stocked with single serve containers of homemade soup. I also baked a loaf of pumpkin bread, made with butternut squash instead on pumpkin (there’s been a lot of butternut squash in the produce boxes lately)
2) I received an email today from our department head, notifying me I’d be getting a one time lump sum bonus for good performance. In my entire 12 years of working here I’ve never received a bonus (have received raises though) so that was a very nice unexpected surprise! Apparently some of it will be going towards gas though, paid $5.19/gallon yesterday (I’m in California, so we already generally have higher gas prices)
Yeah, YOU RECENTLY CAME INTO SOME MONEY . . . nice!! 🙂
1. I harvested kale from my garden. I grow food to eat, not have it sit on the plants. Everything grown in the winter needs zero additional water so it is entirely freeeeeeee!
2. Altered a free to me shirt to fit me a bit better.
3. Ate a quesadilla for dinner. Simple is what I like.
4. Had a medical appointment online, so no gas used to get there and no copay. I will not say the appointment was free because it is paid for by my insurance. I think it is important to speak accurately of costs.
5. Opened the doors at home today to take advantage of the free warmth outdoors to warm the indoors. Though we do pay higher property tax and other costs for living in a temperate place. But at least I make full use of the warmth! Also dried a load of clothes on the solar dryer.
1. My cousin who owns the island home that we love to frequent recently sold it. I am very sad about that, as it was a lovely place to go and relax, and take in some stunning ocean views. I helped him clean out and pack up the house, and as he is leaving the country, he has no need for a lot of things in it, so I received: paper and cloth napkins, placemats, q-tips, many small travel sized toiletries, a corningware casserole dish, a stainless steel wok, some framed artwork, two vases, 3 outdoor cushions, a large colander, several new canning jars and lids that I will pass on to my jam making friends, 3 novels, and some other goodies.
2. I purchased from my cousin (at a very discounted price) a beautiful rectangular teak patio table that he has only had for 4 years and which was kept inside, plus 4 chairs. Also a matching bench, and a metal garden cart, all in fantastic condition.
3. Same cousin also took me for lunch twice, as I spent 3 nights at his place while helping him, and cooked dinner for me twice. I took him for dinner once, and when he has moved, he will be spending 3 nights in our guest cottage before he flies away.
4. I have a home exchange guest coming this week to spent 4 nights in my cottage for points. I am accumulating these in preparation for our trip next year to Germany to attend a wedding.
5. I scored from my cousin other needed items for family members: an ironing board for my niece, a mirror for my daughter, and a wooden bowl/tray thingee for my sister.
It's too bad about the island home, but what a nice haul you made!
1. I thought about going to the grocery store since it had been a while but there were no urgent needs. Instead I enjoyed a nice phone call with one of my sisters.
2. I walked to a friends house for an afternoon visit. I shared with her the last few "Dark Chocolate" herbal tea bags in a box I'd been gifted.
3. I baked butternut squash cubes while I had chicken in the oven.
4. I picked up yarn from the "closet" at my charity knitting group. I will use it to make hats and scarves for those in need. Free crafting.
5. I wore clothes I've had for years. It saves time and money not to mention helps the environment.
I saw yesterday that the filter in my aquarium had gone kaput, so I made a run to PetSmart to get a replacement. It was $20. There were no deals to be had, no points available. But now that the new filter is installed, it is gratifying to see how much better it's working than the old one, so there's that.
2. I went to the Salvation Army store, which was nearby. I noticed that they still take furniture, which Goodwill does not. Plus, everything was laid out better, not cluttered. I bought three small things, a couple of mugs that will be gifts and a spray bottle for me.
3. The little free pantry had some bananas with black skins. I grabbed three to make banana bread; however, when I started to peel them I thought they smelled funny, so I ended up throwing them away. With all my stomach issues, I didn't want to take a chance.
4. I froze the broth I made and the leftover pancake batter. Too many other things to use up, and they will serve for another day.
5. I'm behind on eBay listings. Now I should do three today to keep up my one-a-day promise to myself. Still no sales.
* Daughter had to be brought to the hospital by ambulance. While we will receive a bill, private insurance will cover a good chunk of it.
* Packed food and water for the day. No overpriced hospital food for us.
* Took a Lyft to come back home, using a 30% off coupon.
* Finally using my Netflix subscription (with ads, 8$ Canadian/month instead of 19-24$/month) by binging Bridgerton (5 years late to the party, I know!). There is not that many ads, seriously.
* Using my 1.99$/3 months Kindle trial subscription to the max. Will cancel 2 days prior to renewal
Sending health and healing to your daughter!!
1. After reading “What will Katy buy new?” I splurged on a new mattress. Saved $200 by going for ten-year rather than twenty-year warranty. Declined to have the old mattress hauled away for $119. Will treat neighbor with a truck to a tank of gas for a run to the transfer station.
2. I last bought a new mattress in 1990. Have been sleeping on a freecycle mattress since 2020, but it’s falling apart. The new one came compressed in a box and expanded over a three-day period. And it’s very comfortable.
3. Giving the dog medicated baths weekly to keep her allergies under control. Also rinsing her feet after walks.
4. We haven’t eaten out since November. But I found a very local woman who does Indian catering from her home. Negotiating a deal to pick up a mixed meal occasionally. I hope to sweeten the deal with my rain check for 6 one-dollar cauliflower.
5. I skimmed the oil off a jar of artichokes and am using the oil to dress salads.
6. My quilt guild gave me the tackiest basement award. I hosted our dyeing workshops and other messy events.
1. I'm using a dog food bag for garbage. This is in honor of Lindsay from Alaska. I'm thinking of you.
2. I took my mom and sister to an estate sale where they both found things they wanted and I found several items to sell on Ebay. Also found some placemats which were on my wishlist and jeans for my daughter.
3. I used the McDonald's app for a discount on food.
4. I found receipts on the ground at Trader Joe's which I uploaded to Fetch along with my own.
5. I'm reading a library book on my Kindle. It's The First Time I saw Him by Laura Dave.