Yesterday was my favorite kind of day. I checked off an impressive number of tasks from my to-do list, spent next to nothing and enjoyed it all.
Here’s what I did:
- I washed a load of laundry in my free-from-my-mother washing machine and hung it to dry on my backyard clothesline.
- I spent an hour or so tidying up the garden. (Hire a landscaper? Fuggedaboutit!)
- Both kids left in time for school in order to take advantage of free transportation. (Sadly, a rarity these days.)
- My older son and I walked my ballot over to the library, (thus saving the cost of a stamp) which also included the errand of returning a late library book and picking up two “Lucky Day” book. (The new Pioneer Woman cookbook and the new Jennifer Weiner novel.)
- I saw that Grand Central Bakery had a mention-this-tweet-for-a-free-coffee deal going on, so I swung by on my way to pick up my older son from school. I found a dime on the ground outside and enjoyed a lovely fifteen minutes or so filling out paperwork for my son’s passport renewal. I rarely, if ever treat myself to fancy coffee treats, so as a result they are very special. (Do you notice how I also batched these errands?) Of course, I left a tip.
- I used a free trial of the computer app iFototessere to take my son’s passport photo. This was an immediate $10 savings. BTW, it worked perfectly!
- My husband, son and I met up at the county building to turn in the passport paperwork. This errand is finicky, (all three of us have to be present at once on a weekday) but doing it on time saves the cost of an expedited passport.
- I went through someone’s free pile and gleaned a pair of brand-new-with-tags girl’s Levi’s, which I will take to Buffalo Exchange to swap for clothing my sons can wear.
- Dinner was pasta, made using ingredients we had on hand, plus a well priced half-pound of chopped clams from New Season’s.
- The evening included an hour or two watching How I Met Your Mother with my older son through Netflix. (Although we do have cable-TV, I would dump it in a heartbeat, but am outvoted on the issue due to certain perceived international soccer game needs.)
It was my idea of the perfect day. Frugal and fantastic!
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without”
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
That’s a great day!
I went to work, therefore earning money….but that’s about the extent of my frugality. Oh! I also continued to activate my sourdough which will be used for bread tomorrow! I would have hung clothes on the line, except I didn’t have laundry to do 🙂
A perfect day….but what about the rat in the compost bin?
Sounds like an incredibly well spent day. As for fancy coffee drinks, I make them at home. A bit of homemade vanilla simple syrup, or come chocolate syrup in your coffee with a sprinkle of cinnamon or cardamon can make your morning (or afternoon). I also have a milk frother I picked up at the thrift store some time ago.
I’ve just found your blog and what seems like a kindred spirit. Now enjoying reading back over your previous posts. Loving it! Froogs xxx
I love when you share your day with us!!!
Thanks! To many people, my day would hardly be worth writing home about, 😉 but to me these days are pure perfection.
Katy
Katy, I too love reading about your day….for me…it also sounds like the perfect day 🙂 I have found myself repeating your slogan “use it up wear it out make it do or do without” often lately as I find myself bomb barded by advertising for garden and outdoor living accessories…you are helping me to keep strong! We really could use more “do without” support in our society…thank you for keeping it simple 🙂