Today I am . . .
- Arranging a get together with my friend Pam for Thursday.
- Very appreciative that my friend Jeff from college is lending us his Whitney Museum workplace passes.
- Excited to walk the Highline, poke through the Whitney and then have lunch with my friend Pam!
- Starting to plan out my sister’s garage sale this Saturday at her house on City Island.
- Pleased that I’ve been able to remotely run my Craigslist resell bidness from afar. So far I’ve sold eight women’s soccer tickets, one curb-picked duvet cover and a horrifically scratchy kilim throw pillow that always gave me the heebie-jeebbies. Not too shabby to bring in $105 of bonus cash while vacationing 3,000 miles away! (I simply tell my husband to put particular items on our covered porch, and then buyers put money in our locked mailbox.)
- Mailing out the too-narrow Birkenstocks that I bought on eBay. Katy so sad . . .
Making a decision about the when and where of the Non-Consumer Advocate reader meetup. You can bring food or not. Please don’t feel you need to make or bring anything special whatsoever.
Where: Bethesda Fountain in Central Park
When: Friday, July 17 at 6 P.M.
Why:
Stare at me.Meet fellow NYC non-consumers!
- Trying to get teenagers out of bed so we can go to The Bronx Zoo this afternoon.
- Driving to Trader Joe’s in Larchmont to replace the large bag of groceries that my sister left behind the other day. (My sister called ahead and prearranged everything.)
- Now your turn. What are you doing today?
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
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{ 32 comments… read them below or add one }
I’ve had a super productive morning so far. Got blood and biometrics done, made a good 5-7 phone calls, planned music, wrote a freelance article, put up a blog post on my own blog…so, yay me!
Have you been to Johnny’s Reef restaurant? It’s been around for 50-60 years. Eat outside. Hamburger prices are cheap. Seafood 10-20 dollars depending on what it is.
I just looked it up. We are pretty much not eating out, but I may do one splurge.
Today I am:
* Working my regular 3.75h shift
*enjoying my time without the kids!!!They are on vacation at grandma’s for the week. Love them to death, but time off is awesome.
* Got makeup/hair products and food on rebate (Regular price 175$, got it all for 60$)
* Going to watch a movie with hubby tonight. It’s cheap night. Will sneak in chocolate (1.25$ on sale) and home made popcorn (1$?). No, I don’t feel bad about not paying 8$ for popcorn!
* Doing a workout at home.
Have a great frugal day!
I bought a new $4.00 100% cotton T shirt to add to my capsule wardrobe, worked on my porch this morning, will swim in my complex pool in a bit and then make blueberry pancakes for supper.
The one thing that makes me want to visit NYC is to walk the high line. Wish I were joining you! Have fun!
Can somebody tell us what “walking the high line” is?
The High Line is a landscaped elevated walking path converted from old train tracks.
Anne, the High Line is a New York park. It was built on a freight rail line above the streets on the West Side. It is a great way to spend the day.
Thanks for clarifying my vague answer! 🙂
I think you and I were typing at the same time – I’m just slower! I hope you enjoyed your day!
Last fall I chaperoned an Art field trip to NYC for my son’s HS Art AP 3D Art class. Part of our day was spent walking the High Line. We all had a great time of it.
There were some new condos being built right next to a section of the High Line and I pointed out the prices listed on the sign on the side of the building. Now understand that $1 Million and up homes are not at all uncommon in my area of Maryland so these teenagers have some understanding of real estate values. These condos were starting at $2.3 Million for a 1 bed/1 bath unit. The students were shocked at the prices and we had a rather interesting conversation about what you got for that amount and what you had to do to make that kind of money.
Its so cool. I can’t wait to go back to NYC. The 5 days I spent there( staying in a B and B in Jersey City) were jam packed and I barely touched the surface.
Today I finally got all my pay stubs, w-2’s, and tax forms together to send to the city tax office to get the money back that I paid twice from two jobs. Hopefully I’ll get $156 back for my 3 years. I know they make it difficult so people just forget about claiming that money back!
I’m also picking up season 5 of “Downton Abbey” from the local library so I can catch up on that for free.
Today I have been running errands. Took my garage sale leftovers to goodwill. Deposited my garage sale money in the bank. Took my broken printer and some used motor oil to the hazardous waste disposal. Took my styrofoam packing materials to the UPS store. Picked up a couple of grocery items. Making some wet burritos for dinner, so I am going to make some enchilada sauce – the chicken and refried beans are thawing.
I used my about to expire Groupon to get my eyebrows threaded. With a uni-brow and bad close vision it is worth it. I am spending locally so I am okay with that.
I went to Walgreens and combined sales, coupons, and extra Balance Reward opportunities to stock up on shampoo and razor blades.
I stopped at ALDI and picked up cheap produce.
I ate leftover soup for lunch, made from boiling a chicken carcass and adding ingredients on hand.
I finished a library borrowed e-book.
I’m excited to spend time with my friend V tomorrow and I am working on a get together with my friend J next week.
I am grateful for so many things large and small: the genius(es) that figured out how to extend the Bing Cherry season, modern laundry (my washing machine is only 20 years old), good health, tomatoes growing on the deck, air conditioning, this blog (and the like minded readers that comment).
-Making Manhattan clam chowder with enthusiasm, only to find that I put in way too many diced tomatoes
-finishing writing a chapter of a story for my uncle’s book
-awaiting the arrival of my fiance from his roadtrip; looking at the house and saying “eh, it’s good enough.”
Wiring a light and outlet in the pantry was on the docket for today but instead Mr. LC and I are working in the shop building new workbenches. The weather is comfortably cool and breezy out so we had to take advantage of that by being in the shop with the overhead door open. Once we are satisfied with being full of sawdust we will hop on the Honda Goldwing and take off for the gym to take a few laps around the track and a well-needed shower.
Today I …
… did the laundry and dried some of it outdoors before it rained.
… pulled my tomato plants and collected my plastic ties and bamboo stakes to reuse them next season.
… watered my herbs and flowering plants (before it rained) with rainwater that I had been collecting in bins placed under my roof line.
… went to help my middle son when his car wouldn’t start. I took him out to lunch and drove him to work (45 min away) and will have to pick him up again tonight because we couldn’t get his car started. It’s actually his dad’s car so his dad will have to deal with it tomorrow.
… took several surveys from receipts and packages and earned freebies and coupons.
… received free samples in the mail and ordered more samples.
… downloaded a free e-book from Amazon thanks to the Kindle First program.
I think my kids endowed the Whiney Museum, above.
Ha ha made me laugh twice!
-Using my neighbors exercise bike to strengthen my knee. Still not 100% after December surgery. 🙁
-Making arrangements with another neighbor for a community get together on Friday. Free lunch and social interactions.
-Walking my dog.
-Looking up tips on diabetes for a friend who was just diagnosed.
-Soaking a shirt in vinegar to try and get pit stains out.
-Getting clothes together for next weeks trip to Hawaii!! 🙂
Today I….
Am admiring the haircut I ended up with, after two trips (one free) to the salon.
Planned my work schedule for the week, to work my final 18.5 hrs, plus the week’s dinners and my husband’s and my car-sharing for the week.
Had a drug transferred from Meijer to Kroger, to take advantage of their $25 gift card offer (although it took me 20 min. and the help of three employees to finally get it and pick up the RX!)
Am excited that the rental car incident we had over the weekend will not cost us a dime or raise our rates!
Had lunch at Burger King on my way to work, but it didn’t cost me anything, since it was to make up for them screwing up several other orders.
Am looking forward to Movie Night #2 with hubby – last night was Catching Fire, tonight is Mockingjay Part 1.
Today I
-studied for my Spanish exam and worked on my thesis
-watched the boys all day so my husband could work
-photographed the mountain of art my son produced in preschool so that I can keep the memories and trash the clutter
-took the boys to the pool (the only time I left the house today–it was nice)
-other than the pool, went no where and spent nothing
-read to my older son
-enjoyed my husband’s bacon spinach pasta for supper
-discovered that my son has grown out of his tennis shoes so we will be treking to the goodwill tomorrow
Today I took a long walk then took my four year old niece to the movies. I only had to pay 10.00 for both our tickets. I packed a snack for her and brought some water. The best part of it was her turning to me in the middle of the movie with a big smile on her face and saying “I love you”. So how could I ever resist her when we were walking out of the theatre and she said “Now how about some popcorn.” I never buy concessions so I have to say I was shocked to have to pay $5.00 for the smallest bag of popcorn! She loved it and brought some home for her little sister. Worth every cent!
-threw together a quick macaroni salad, garden salad and some turkey hot dogs for dinner since my original dinner plans weren’t going to work because of lack of time.
-visited with my father after dinner and worked on a craft that I am making for a gift.
Sounds like you are really enjoying your visit and without breaking the bank! My boyfriend and I were there in March and loved walking the High Line. We’re going back next month to buy a condo! That should be inexpensive! We decided to move up there (we both grew up there) and enjoy the city. City Island will also be one of our stops on our visit since we haven’t been there since we were kids. Wish I could go up there now, I would love to meet you. Have a wonderful time visiting your sis!
Hi, I’m a new follower from Florida…your posts make me want to go to NYC now! I would love to go to the meeting! If you want a really amazing thing to do in NYC, go on the Circle Line boat tour around the city. It is really amazing by water…a bit pricey but worth it. The teenagers LOVED it.
I’m preparing to fly to Indiana to see my daughter and I would like to tell you my favorite frugal practice when flying. I’m too cheap to pay for checked bags and my cheap airline even charges for carry-ons so I bring a large purse (free) with a night gown and change of clothes and go to thrift stores when I get to my destination and buy some clothes/shoes to use for the time I’m there and then re-donate it when I’m done. It’s fun bc you can get things you wouldn’t normally wear but would like to, and it gets the “shopping bug” out of your system inexpensively.
This is an especially good strategy if you live in an entirely different climate than the one you’re traveling to as clothes/coats/etc. are cheaper in their native climate. We buy coats/mittens/boots at thrift stores when we go on our winter trips to see snow and donate them on the way to the airport. It’s also wonderful to not have to haul a heavy case (I have bad shoulders).
NYC has some great thrift stores:)
Have fun!
That’s certainly a new one! One would need to have laundry facilities at the destination though.
And since my brother-in-law has a sailboat, we get to go out on the water without paying anything. No Manhattan tour exactly, but the price is right!
I’m going to remember this tip, if my luggage gets lost again. It happened when we went to Hawaii – thankfully they found it the next day!
My SIL & BIL (who live in Hawaii) avoid baggage check charges by packing clothes and toiletries in their backpack and small duffel bags – which are easy to cram in overhead bins. Pack light and save money – good job!
Today I …
*Attended a free Retirement seminar upstairs from my office. The University provides us with free seminars and consulting for retirement planning. Since I’m only 4 years away from that goal I felt it was time to start planning it out. I have 3 retirement accounts and I need some guidance.
*Ate lunch with my Team. We had a grazing/potluck lunch day. Breakfast food, lunch food, snacks and drinks. We’ll be grazing on the leftovers for a few days.
*Hubby and I are going to split a Sub sandwich for dinner.
*Saved gas not having to run errands for lunch.
what an excellent day!
Today I am:
Eating leftover acre peas, squash and onions, bacon ends, and sweet potato for lunch. A lunch fit for a queen, and cheap all around! The squash was free and the peas we bought, shelled, by the bushel, and froze them.
Enjoying a bit of rain today which will give us a break from the unremitting high temps we’ve had and no rain for too long. It will give our A/C bill a break, too, after too many days of temps up to 105 deg. with up to 90 % humidity.
Feeling glad to have had a long phone conversation with my aunt who lives one state over, last night. Since my siblings and I lost our parents 17 years ago, our aunts and uncles are our way to stay in touch with far-flung cousins, hear family stories, and talk with someone who remembers the days when we were born. It’s good to have them in our lives, and I send letters and cards or make calls to keep it so.
Looking forward to a mini-vacation, the first vacation in four years, with my kids and grandkids soon. We are splitting expenses and will cook in our suite, so it won’t cost anyone too much money.