5 recent purchases that I love
As a frugal blogger, I tend to write about how I avoid buying things.
But, to state the obvious, I do think that there are legitimate reasons to purchase things.
I think that if a purchase is useful or particularly joy-inducing, that's a good reason to drop a few dollars. In fact, that's how most mindful purchases should be: either useful or joy-inducing (or both!)
And I think that if you make a habit of keeping purchasing to a minimum, you really appreciate your purchases when you do actually buy something.
So, here are some things I've bought recently.
1. A second utensil crock
I read an article the other day about Julia Child's kitchen, which mentioned that she liked to have multiple utensil crocks.
I don't know why it never occurred to me to have more than one, but this was a light bulb moment for me!
Our single utensil crock is usually jam-packed once the dishes are done, and a second one is really making the whole utensil situation more tenable.
2. A piggy bank
This is a funny purchase, but it's making me very happy!
Often in the course of my blogging, I have wished that I had a photo of a classic piggy bank; there are so many times it would have been useful in a post.
I could grab one from Google Images, but I would prefer not to get sued for copyright infringement, thank you very much.
(Also: I'd like to be a kind human and not steal other people's photos.)
So it occurred to me that I could just... buy a piggy bank. For photographic purposes.
I found this super adorable one and I am just thrilled. I can promise you will be seeing more of him once I have a chance to properly photograph him.
In between photo shoots, I plan to have him live on my desk. He can be my mascot. 😉
3. A shower razor holder
As you know, the girls and I use Dollar Shave Club razors, and we all had been setting ours on ledges or shelves to dry after use.
But then I saw that Dollar Shave Club has suction-cup mounted razor holders and I added some to our order.
So much better!
My razor can sit up and dry, and I never have to worry about knocking it off of the shower shelf. The girls love theirs too.
4. A new bike helmet
My other helmet probably dated back to the late 90s, and all of the padding had disintegrated or fallen out.
So, Mr. FG and I stopped by our locally-owned bike shop and bought a helmet there for me. This one is so, so nice!
Helmet technology has improved a lot since I last bought a helmet and this new one has a lovely dial adjuster in the back of it to fit my head perfectly.
Plus, having padding in the helmet has dramatically increased my comfort level while biking.
5. A bulletin board
I had a big empty space above my desk now that I moved it into Lisey's old bedroom, and I thought it would be nice to have a large bulletin board for the space.
I poked around on Facebook Marketplace and Craig's List to see if I could find anything good on the used market, but I struck out. So, I ordered a new one, and I love it!
I thought it might be too big, but I think it's perfect. I haven't filled it up yet, but I did add some drawings from my kids, since all of them are quite good at drawing/painting.
And it'll be great to have a spot to hang up things that I need to keep my blogging life organized.
Full disclosure: I did temporarily consider making my own bulletin board (using something like this tutorial), but then I thought better of it. When you are deep in anatomy and physiology, it is probably not the time to take on extra DIY projects.
I have muscle terminology to learn!
I recently purchased plastic drawers and a pack of labels for above the fridge and they have changed my life 🙂 I know exactly what you mean about the second utensil crock - I wish I’d sorted the medicines, batteries, warranties/manuals, etc years ago and have no idea why I hadn’t!
The piggy bank is very cute too - you could even use it for loose change lol
@Emma, I confess, my sleepy eyes first read "warrants" instead of "warranties," to which my sleepy brain thought "Well, at least she's organized!" 😛
@Emma, we don’t use a piggy bank we use OJ bottles to sort & store so that it is easier to roll them when the time comes. When we lived in Mississippi we could still use cash & coins. However in Virginia many places don’t take cash and discourage it but we look for coins when we go on walks!
I have been thinking of decoupaging them since they aren’t real pretty to look at
I bought some beautiful fabric that will be turned into pants, and sweat pants. I love the warm hues that are in fashion now, this is my time to add to my wardrobe.
I was using cheap plastic organizers in my freezer, and they weren't clear so I couldn't easily tell what was in them, and they kept cracking. I just bought two handled clear freezer organizers, and it totally changed how I can organize my freezer and see what I have, so I won't let it go to waste. I plan to buy more.
I also splurged on some graphic long sleeved Ts with kindness messages on them. They make me happy and they are so soft.
Bike helmets should be replaced every 5-10 years. I just replaced my 10 year old helmet and the new one is so much more comfortable....love that little dial in the back!
Yes! Mine probably was quite expired, like an old car seat.
@Becky, @frugalgirl,
My husband bought me a helmet with blue tooth and I listen to music with my helmet. It doesn't cover my ears and I don't play it that loud, so I can hear things around me. Since he rides so much faster than me and we don't have conversations (usually) it is perfect for me. And some of the music is very upbeat and makes me move.
"My other helmet probably dated back to the late 90s, and all of the padding had disintegrated or fallen out."
This was really not a safe situation--even if you are not riding on the road with cars. That padding provides a lot of important protection for your brain. (I've had a lot of friends and family take surprise spills on their bikes--the neighborhood dog jumped in front of the bike or a young kid gets wobbly and crashed into them or the road was rough. You never know when the helmet will be called into service to protect your head.)
Please, please always replace your helmet as soon as it gets cracked or old or after it hits the pavement hard and wear it properly.
Good morning!
I haven't received this yet, but my husband built a 'dog box' to go over our well head (very specific thing for people who live on a farm). While I was painting it I kept thinking about how funny it would be to have a little sign above the door that said 'well, well, well.' I don't know why this cracks me up, but it does. So I went on Etsy and ordered a vinyl sticker for over the door! It should arrive next week and I am sure I will get more than $12 enjoyment out of that sticker. I'm giggling as I type this!
@Jeana O,
I am laughing right with you! 🙂
@MaryAnne,
Thanks for sharing my little joy!
Haha, this reminds me of some of our silly inside family jokes...things that might not make other people crack up, but are super funny to us.
I love that you ordered your sign!
@Jeana O, I feel happy for you that ordered the sign! Such a great little reward - it's not like you'd miss it if wasn't there but it will bring joy every time you see it! I tend to not do things like that so it's inspiring.
@CrunchyCake,
It only cost $12, and I know I'll get way more than $12 worth of enjoyment from it.
@Jeana O, What a great idea! We have a boring cover over out well head. Love it!!!
@Jeana O,
Love it -- go you!
@Jeana O, My mom used to say "well, well, well three deep holes in the ground".
Last week at Goodwill, I came across two lined, heavy brocade 84" curtains that retail for $100+ (J. Queen New York brand) for $16. The curtains' color and brocade immediately made me think of the vintage 1920s woven Egyptomania piano shawl (wedding gift) that I have hanging as a tapestry in the bedroom. They look *amazing* together! I love that shawl--it was a gift from my favorite professor and his wife, we're still in touch--and I love that it is enhanced by the presence of the matching curtains. The fact the curtains are so thick and long enough for our tall, south-facing windows is a bonus, indeed!
@N, what an amazing find!!
@Colleen, right?! I even committed the unforgivable Goodwill sin of seeing the curtains on Thursday, LEAVING THEM THERE, then coming back on Saturday in the hope no one else had spied their awesomeness yet—phew!
@N, Ahh it was meant to be!
Not a particularly recent purchase, but since I'm using it right now . . . I found a mug at the dollar store that has a picture of a horse and reads "Live like someone left the gate open." The image of our horse and his hedonistic pleasure at eating previously unreachable weeds whenever he gets through an accidentally open gate made me laugh internally. So I bought it. Still makes me laugh.
Although I buy much of my clothing secondhand, I recently bought two brand new, casual dresses. I had not bought anything new to wear during the pandemic and really needed some respectable clothing. I have already worn these dresses multiple times.
@Bee, Did you buy the dresses online? I'm always looking for dresses.
I bought an air fryer off Marketplace.. oh my goodness. It has been a life changer in our house . I absolutely love it and am contemplating purchasing another
@Michelle, I've never tried one....what's making you so happy with it?
@Holly, I'm not Michelle but I will tell you what I love about my air fryer. It preheats quickly and cooks quickly. My oven takes FOREVER to preheat and I hate using it to just cook something for myself for lunch, so I'd use the microwave, which isn't ideal. Also, I really like the way things come out. I recently used it to cook drumsticks, which turned out nice and juicy and my very picky kid loved them. I love it almost as much as I love my instant pot.
@Holly, its healthie as opposed to deep frying, its fast and so very convenient. For my family it just makes sense
I recently bought several pairs of tights. In the colder weather, I wear tights to work almost every day. It's nice to have a few more pairs. I used a coupon for a little bit off the price.
1. Yoga blocks->They really do help my practice!
2. New chair for my dog. We removed our old couch (which admittedly had turned into the dog's bed) and replaced it with a comfy chair that better fit the space. I love seeing my little dog happily curled up on her chair when I walk in the house.
1. My hybrid Honda CR-V with bells and whistles. It gets great mileage, is comfortable for road trips, and is safer with the bells and whistles.
2. Pearled barley. It's something I had not bought in many years. It is making soups hearty.
3. Outdoor timer. When we put up holiday lights last year we plugged them in late afternoon and unplugged them when we went to bed. It's cold in December so this will be a nice change.
4. State and national park passes for "old" people". They will last for the rest of our lives.
5. I've got nothing and it's time for me to get on with my day.
@K D, for a moment I read no. 2 as Pearl Bailey.
@K D, oh yeah! we bought Old Folk national park pass during the COVID lockdown road trip cross country and we love it! Has already paid for itself.
So for me this would have to be our recent car purchase. We bought a new Honda Pilot as we saw the opportunity to make money on our used vehicle and reduce our interest rates by half. I was just mentioning to my husband that this is probably my favorite purchase ever. The car get great gas mileage and it fits & serves our family well. We always take road trips and this vehicle is perfect for that. Plus it has several luxuries that we really enjoy like a sunroof and heated seats. We have experience with the brand holding its value and intend to drive it for quite some time to come.
On the smaller scale my most recent favorite purchase would be my makeup bag. No great shakes here but I replaced the makeup I had for over 20 years which was ripped and no longer practical because things would fall out and get lost or broken. The new bag was $11, holds all I need it to, and as an added bonus is not ripped so my makeup is contained in the bag and looks neat sitting on my vanity.
I bought an air purifier a few months back and it's been great for my breathing issues. I don't seem to wake up every morning feeling congested and struggling to breathe.
I also bought some movies recently and I've been watching them as I find time.
Oh, what purifier did you buy? Sometimes I wonder if Sonia might benefit from one of those.
@Kristen, We bought a Coway Airmega 200M. It's actually on sale for $119 right now at Walmart.com We were debating on getting a second unit from Costco (the Winix Model that is on sale this month) but they have yet to have them in stock! I hope that they either extend the sale or something similar because it has helped.
What I find is after cooking the device starts going crazy. Heck, we've had a lot of mold and such in the air lately due to the weather and it's done a good job of getting rid of most of it.
We had three of the Winix purifiers from Costco and were very happy with them. They were AMAZING when we had wildfires (we live in Southern California). When my husband first got them, I wondered if they were necessary but I do think they've been helpful. Hopefully they'll be back in stock soon but who knows with this "everything shortage" situation!
@Kristen, We like our Winix air purifier - it seems to help with allergies and is easy to clean/maintain. Battra92, not sure what model Costco (might someday) have but ours is an old 5300-2 and is still working well a few years in. Ours definitely doesn't like smells either (cooking, cleaning products) - it ramps up to high speed to clear them out!
@Suz, Ours ramps up when someone ... uhh ... has a bit too much spicy food. 😉
@CrunchyCake, We love our Winix purifiers too! Also, we have an Air Doctor which is expensive but many rave about it so we made the splurge. It has an auto setting that's suppose to amp up whenever it detects bad air. So far it just amps up when I make dinner each night, but that's it. If I'm cleaning with chemicals, nope does not do a thing. I've even lit matches right next to it, and it stays sleeping. Our Winix is just the opposite. On the auto setting it is fine with dinner every night, but goes crazy if there is any smoke or chemicals...which is what we want it to do. Levoit is also a good air filter, which we also have. Living in central California we have been just fine inside our home with our air purifiers/filters. (minus the Air Doctor)
I love it when I figure out little things that make life easier, like your second utensil crock. Sometimes it’s not even buying something, it’s “why have I kept that in that drawer all this time? If I move it here it makes so much more sense”
I get most of my kids clothes as hand me downs but my one splurge is buying them matching pajamas for Halloween and Christmas. I haven’t bought the Christmas ones yet but they look so cute in the Halloween ones and really seem to enjoy matching each other.
Found some slippers at Costco that I love, I mostly wear slippers now with working from home so I will get a lot of use out of them and they are so comfortable.
A new bed for our dog. He already has a couple beds but he’s old now and sleeping is his main activity and he likes to sleep in whatever room people are in hence multiple beds.
Right?? Why did I think there was a rule that you can only have one utensil crock? Ha.
I think matching pajamas are a thing that you should totally do while your kids are young and don't mind. Make hay while the sun shines, as they say!
@LB, I'm too embarrassed to tell you how many cat beds we have in this house for the two cats, both homemade AND store bought.
@Anne,
I have three small dogs and 9 beds, spread out over three floors. Not counting the three in their crates.
Well looks like I’m in good company with having excess pet beds!
A few from my side:
-I rarely update my workout clothes, but wear them *a lot*. My sister recommended some tank tops on Amazon, & I love them! They come in a two pack, fit/wash well, and are cute & inexpensive.
-Our new car (bought in the spring). We do a lot of driving for kids activities, due to the stage of life we're in, and we love our electric car. We can charge it for free at work. It's wonderful!
-My lips get really dry due to an autoimmune disease, and I have tried a lot (a lot) of options. My favorite lip cream is pretty pricey (Fresh Sugar Therapy Lip Balm), but worth it to me.
-Great running shoes. I own three pair, but try to walk/run daily. I rotate through them, so they last a bit longer. Running shoes are not cheap, but are totally worth it for the fitness.
So cute. Where did you get the bulletin board?
Amazon! https://amzn.to/3vwB4V3
At the beginning of 2021, my husband and I set a goal of buying a new bed. We had 3 criteria between us - storage drawers underneath, low profile, and some shelves in the headboard for books being read. It took 10 months to find but we got one last week and I love it! I had no idea that those three criteria would be so hard to find together. I think the price was great for a quality item that should last us and is infinitely easier for putting on new sheets. The prior bed as a waterbed frame with a regular mattress - the mattress corners had to be lifted up to get the fitted sheet 'fitted'. I'm glad we didn't jump in and buy something before we found what we wanted.
I love underbed drawers! Such a great way to make use of space.
We've made a few much needed appliance and other home-needed purchases lately:
1. A new refrigerator. It's SO roomy! I can see everything!
2. A new dishwasher. It's quieter, it uses less water, and the dishes actually come out clean. (Also, we installed this ourselves, so we saved that bit of money...)
3. A "comfort height" toilet for the master bathroom. Our other one was too short for the hubs so we bought a new one recently and, again, installed it ourselves.
I'm very grateful we were able to afford all of these items and that we were able to install them ourselves. Ooooh, one other less expensive thing I bought recently was a 10-pack of Steno Pads at Sam's. I love journaling and, since I'm left-handed, having the spiral at the top instead of the side is much better. So I now have my regular journal, a golf journal, a random thoughts notebook for beside my chair in the evenings...and plenty more notebooks to use when these are filled.
Oh, as a fellow left-hander, I hear you on those spirals. So annoying!
@Kristen and Julie,
I'm not a lefty so perhaps I'm missing something but is there any reason why you couldn't just flip the notebook over and start at the "back"? I mean other than the enculturation that that is "wrong"?
@Elizabeth,
I’m not a lefty either, but if it were me, the answer would be the pretty cover! I would find it hard to flip the book over and start from the plain back cover side. But you’re right, otherwise it’s a great idea!
Me, too. It’s the most annoying thing!
A 1o-pack of underwear so that I don't have to do laundry as often and to have more in the load when I do.
Now that my renovations are complete in my house that is now paid off I have bought so many useful things. My new refrigerator is a dream along with my farm house sink. Double lazy Susan in the kitchen. Storage space more than doubled. New smart TV. Brand new farm house style basement. Soon to purchase area rugs and other items to make it ours. Not frugal at all, but paying off my house at 49 as a single mom with small income has been a testament to hard work. Retirement is looking real good.
@Laurie Villotta, Wow, those are great accomplishments -- enjoy every bit of it!
Battery-powered leaf blower!
A Linen Spa 2" memory foam mattress topper. Our mattress and box spring have a 20 year guarantee and are in their 21st year. They are still in great shape, but have begun to feel hard to me when I slept on my side. My shoulder felt miles better after the first night of sleeping on the topper. It was $69 and I wish I'd bought it much sooner.
Yes, definitely don't grab random images from the internet. A volunteer at a nonprofit I work for did that (before I worked there!) and we totes got sued : ( However, there are TONS of awesome free sites that have lots of amazing images to use that are copyright free as well, in the event you need a pic of something that you don't have : ) Two of my fav are: unsplash.com and pixabay.com. I'm not affiliated with the websites; I'm just a graphic designer that enjoys beautiful free images lol
@Nici Ink, yes! My friends' parents also got sued over images used for their lawn care business site. For free, morguefile is also good. Plus there are a number of open access sites that have historical images (Smithsonian and Library of Congress are two).
I bought a collapsible tote from costco (it was on sale of course) and keep it my trunk. Groceries don't roll around anymore and when it's not in use, it doesn't take up a lot of space.
We also got a bike this weekend! So far I love it. It's an e-bike because we live in a very hilly area so the e-bike makes it possible to use all the great bike trails our city has to offer. We had originally tried these out a few years ago in Japan and loved them.
Does food count? I bought a bag of dark chocolate peanut butter cups from trader joe's. Haven't bought them in a long time so I'm really enjoying them. Confession: I put them in the vegetable crisper in the refrigerator so my husband wouldn't eat them all. He'll never look in there.
Actually I used the wrong word. It's not a tote - it's a collapsible crate or a bin.
@CrunchyCake, I love those peanut butter cups! I only buy the small, 9-piece package. We bought the 1-pound container only once. I have no willpower.
I replaced my Crock Pot. My old one, while still functional, had lost its button and was permanently stuck on high. New Crock Pot, set to low, game changer! Thanks old Crocky, you served me well!
Masks that are comfortable. I'm a teacher and I wear glasses to read so a comfortable mask is so important! The Old Navy ones, in my opinion, are the most bearable.
1. Never even thought of a second utensil holder, the one that I have is crammed so tight I can hardly get anything out of it.
2. I, too, have been wanting a piggy bank for years but since I already have a bank for our change I haven't let myself get one. But I do want one.
3. Every household needs a bulletin board. We are retired and children are grown but I still have one above my desk. It's filled with family pictures.
We bought a new mattress. Carefully researched, made of organic materials, from a company with ethics we support. It wasn’t cheap. But after almost 30 years of sleeping on futons in loft beds, it is pure luxury. We are sleeping much better and don’t have sore hips and/or back in the morning. I am grateful all over again every night when I go to bed.
@Jenn, I personally regard futons as instruments of torture.
Hi! Could you please explain what Sonia, (I assume) wrote on the bottom and top of the cute cat drawing. I see "I love you Mom" and "Happy Birthday," but do not understand the rest. It looks like Math to me!?! Thanks!
I think that's Japanese and I think the lettering says the same thing the English says, but I'm not positive! It's an older birthday card that I dug up because I liked the cute cat so much. 🙂
I have two items that come to mind that I've purchased in the last year that I really, really like. One is a rectangular tart dish that I purchased "on sale" from QVC. It is perfect for when I get just three pears in my Misfit Box for making pear tart. It's a good size for a single person. I finagle an Aldi's refrigerator rolled pie crust into it. The other is a 6-muffin tin from Marshalls. It is the large bakery style non-stick and I use folded parchment paper liners which make for a evenly browned product. My niece claims they are as good as from a "fine patisserie."
Love this! I bought a pair of shoes from ThredUp. I like a specific shape of women's oxfords that are difficult to find. So whenever I buy clothes for the kids on ThredUp I do a search for women's oxfords in my size. A couple of weeks ago while searching for Halloween costumes a pair just like I like was available! They fit perfectly and look brand new except for one little scuff. I prefer even my used things to look brand new when I buy them, but honestly after wearing these shoes a week I would have scuffed them anyway.
I'm having to think - what have I bought recently? Not much other than groceries and gas.
In September I bought some shoes that look like lace up shoes, but they are actually slip on and are very, very comfortable. I found them on clearance, and I really like them.
I bought a bright green Moleskine pocket calendar for 2022, which I love. I love tidy little books, and I especially love calendars that let me use pencil.
Our office staff all took lunch last week at the local Greek Food Festival, and I bought a gyro and a loukoumi (candy), both of which I loved, whether they were good for me or not!
I bought hooks and hung a set of silicone utensils I use with my enameled and non-stick cookware. I love the utensils and I love having them handy on hooks under my cabinet. I have a utensil holder sitting on the counter, but it was way overcrowded before, too, and the hooks make it super easy to access these silicone utensils, which I use a lot. My utensil holder is an old blue "ball" pottery pitcher from USA Pottery that had been my late mother-in-law's.
And finally, I bought some new editions of old childhood favorite books for one of my grandkids who loves to read all the time, to give to her at Christmas. Seeing those old books, I love them all over again!
@JD, I also bought hooks for my utensils and it really did improve my cooking experience! In my case it was magnetic hooks for the side of the refrigerator, which is right next to the stove, so handy to just grab a utensil when I need it!
That piggy bank is a perfect mascot for you. Glad you indulged in it.
Kristen, I've had not two but three utensil crocks for a while now. The biggest one holds most of the actual tools; a second holds multiple pairs of scissors (regular ones, kitchen shears, herb scissors, etc.); and a third holds odds and ends (chopsticks, coffee scoops and paraphernalia, meat thermometers, etc.).
And I probably can't do better at describing five excellent recent purchases than to itemize my haul from the Thrifty Shopper outlet store yesterday:
(1) Three flannel shirts for DH, including one from LL Bean with a Polartec lining. Obviously, I hit the men's XL tall jackpot!
(2) A practically new purse from a new-to-me company called Haiku. The previous owner evidently jettisoned it for two tiny ink stains in the lining (hey, I'm not that fussy)! I checked the Haiku website and found that this bag retails for $88, and it's everything I've ever wanted in a purse. It's even tempted me away from my usual Vera Bradleys.
(3) A book in excellent condition titled Drinking with the Saints (a calendar of saints with appropriate cocktail recipes provided for each). This will be the perfect holiday gift for devout Episcopalian friends of mine who also enjoy their happy hour.
(4) An astonishing "Critical Edition" of Anne Frank's diary, prepared by the Netherlands State Institute for War Documentation. It includes not only all three versions of the diary (yes, there were three; long story), plus an amazing amount of supporting material. I'm really looking forward to getting into this.
(5) And an oblong "French White" Corning Ware serving dish, in its own nylon and Velcro carrier. A stain on the carrier is the only apparent blemish in this case, too. Perfect for when I'm taking something to a potluck dinner.
Total cost of haul = $19 (the weight of the Corning Ware did run the total up a bit). But I'm really happy with all of these things.
Well, perhaps I need a third too! Heh.
What bargains you found...wow!
I bought two cute photo albums that I will fill with pictures of my grandkids to give to them at Christmas. They call them memory books.
I am building and the art for my new home I’m trying to exclusively purchase to “ aid” someone else. I’ve picked up lovely pieces in charity auctions. I get a warm, fuzzy feeling for how this gift gives twice . Once for the groups raising funds and once for me to be able to hang them and talk about these charities.
About your purchases. A few years ago I purchased three utensil holders for my kitchen. I thrifted them over time and they are all lovely vessels. One holds wooden , one holds plastics and one holds metal utensils. Each container has “ breathing” room and each utensil is at”home” with similar ones.
Funny enough, I always purchase a piggy bank for a “new baby” gift. Ten Thousand Villages has some awesome leather ones that I order in multiples.
One of my daughters survived a horrific hit and run by a drunk driver while on her bike 9 years ago. A friend of ours used her crushed helmet as an example of what can happen in an accident. Please,please,please wear a correct fitting, new helmet always when you ride. This is one area where reasonably priced helmets are out there ,as are groups that sponsor for new citizens and lower income folks (students)in my city. Your family and friends will always cherish this decision to look after yourself.
Love the big bulletin board!! I want a couple to organize and goal set in my office.
Let me see.....I too bought a new dog bed for one of my dogs. Both my guys are older and need a comfy place to land that isn't al the way on the ground, if that makes sense. They can just walk right in. Good for their arthritis (and one of them only has three legs so this is particularly important). Do pumpkins qualify? I freaking LOVE pumpkins. The little ones I have on pretty much every flat surface in my house. All purchased from a local pumpkin patch so they were cheap. I will set them out for the squirrels and crows after the season.
I have had two utensil crocks for some time - one is an actual crock that showed up somehow years ago, the other is an olive oil tin that I painstakingly cut the top off and hammered down the Sharp edges. in the olive oil tin I keep all of my 'metal' utensils except the potato masher, in the crock go all of the wooden and silicone things. I keep trying to cull but every time I do I find that I USE THEM ALL! the potato masher is jammed in one of my TWO utensil drawers, because it gets tangled when it is in the 'crock'.
I haven't been buying much lately as I am not driving. Well, with the new hip, I am stuck at home unless I get #2 son to drive me, and he is a VERY impatient shopper. I did manage to go on a shopping spree with him (caught him at the right time) so he was able to get himself new jeans and shoes and shirts - all on serious sale.
I, on the other hand, splurged on a new iron - and my son and I talked each other out of splurging on any of the halloween candy that was displayed EVERYWHERE!. My old iron was my grandmother's. I think it is older than me - probably from the 50s or even 40s. a great iron, nice and heavy. and it has gone missing in my house - have had a few friends helping with decluttering, and the iron is here somewhere, I know... but I can't find it.
Other than that, I am even not really grocery shopping - am forced to really use what is in the fridge, as #2 walks beside me in the grocery store and informs me we don't need all the things. He was so shocked at the price of crackers (which he eats) that he decided we didn't need them. It was good to shop with him as he really GOT some of the sticker shock, but it was also good for me as I saw how I am influenced by some of the displays. So we got what was on my list, but not even all of that (Mom, we don't need that, we have lots of this other thing at home!!).
Three pair of Allbirds shoes. They fit over my leg brace, they have models with non-slip soles, and the uppers are made of wool. They are the most comfortable shoes I have had since getting a leg brace. I bought three because I am afraid they will stop making this style and also I wanted three different colors since they are the only shoes I wear.
Four books by friends who are authors. I could get them thgough the library but this helps support my friends and I got them much faster than I would have through the library.
Finally, extra large ice cube trays. They were billed as a way to have ice not completely melt away in drinks, but I used them to freeze servings of pesto that, once frozen, could be popped out and put in a freezer bag. The trays have covers so you could just stack them in the freezer, but I needed to use them over and over during harvest time. They are the perfect size and will reduce a lot of future aggravation when I don't have to try and chip off portions and leave the rest of the bloc 'o pesto frozen.
I love this post! However, I couldn’t think of anything I’ve bought recently that I love. Then I remembered that my hubby bought me two pairs of camo sweats. It hasn’t actually been cold here yet, but I wore a pair one day when we went out for an appointment and I really like them…a lot!
A USB charging candle lighter! Coolest lighter ever. It’s rechargeable with a USB cord. Uses an electric current to light candles. So easy to use and is less waste than a standard lighter.
When I hear about books or have them recommended to me on a blog, I try to see if my library has them electronically. They NEVER do. EVER. I have been trying to curb my lust for the written word, but the other day I came across two different books that each address psychological issues with which I am (ahem) struggling. At first I said to myself, "no more books." Then, I realized that this was exactly where I SHOULD be spending my money.
Secondly, last January I ordered some really cute plaid sneakers from one of my favorite catalogs. They never came, they were out of stock. A few months later they were still being advertised. I ordered again, never came, out of stock. A few months later I somehow saw them on Amazon and I jumped on them. I sure didn't need them, but they make me so happy whenever I put them on. I feel like a six year old girl with new shoes.
Oh I love the piggy bank -- excellent mascot! And it's so true -- a couple useful and needed purchases can make all the difference 😉
I broke down and bought nice metal measuring cups at Ross Dress for Less, after years and years of plastic. I am happy and gratified every time I measure out anything.
Play Doh for the grand baby, I remember how much my kids loved playing with it, her and I had fun too.
The 2000 piece Comic Chaos puzzle I bought. So much fun. Although my back is paying for it.
Bic Gelocity pens. They write so nice.
I grew Little Boos miniature pumpkins. Caged them up and the deer did not eat them. Gave most all of them away. They are so cute.
Columbus Zoo passes.
I bought a parking ticket today. Took my child to an appointment in another town, decided to grab a slice of pizza afterward and parked in a lot that has always and forever been free parking....but apparently not any longer as evidenced by the um, 10 (!!) signs I saw in the parking lot as I drove out of the lot with my newly acquired ticket. How I did not see them as I drove in, no clue. But sitting with my kid, talking shop, eating a slice, temporarily forgetting all the woes that are Oregon this week, brought me joy today. Ha!
Last few months have not been frugal as I moved my family across international borders, rented a second home, and still maintain our old home in the U.S. while deciding if this is final.
On the other hand, I am trying to remind myself that this big "purchase" is why I have been frugal for so long. Also, it enables us to be near family that we missed a lot. My thrifty soul is not enjoying having to make SO many new purchases for our new home and colder climate, but I am amazed and thankful daily that we managed to make this change and spend more time in my second home country.
Recently, my 10+ year-old waterproof coat got muddy and the liner disintegrated in the gentle wash cycle, so it was time to invest in a new one. Found one that was $100 off original price, and have relished wearing it in all kinds of weather since.
For my children, found gently used outdoor pants and Salomon winter shoes on the flea market. These will carry over until we need actual winter boots.
I loathe shopping for clothing. I don't like having clothing made for me. To my surprise I found a dress today. It was in Kmart and was a linen blend. It was reduced to $15 (AUS) and it fits me. I amazed that I found a dress that fits my shape and budget.
Frugality in many domains allows one to be non-frugal in others--or at least to be spendy without regret!
Over the last two days, my son's tablet died and my husband's car battery died. Because we have been frugal in lots of domains, we were able to replace both with no issue. The battery was a no-brainer--we need that to get to work--but since it happened when he was on-the-go, there was no time to shop around (our area has had battery shortages, so this was a "Is it in stock? I'll take it." situation). The tablet was more iffy--but he uses it for school and communication with his grandparents. With chip shortages, we were only able to find the slightly higher storage model in a reasonable time (we could get the model he truly needed in an additional 1.5 months). We agreed to cover the base cost if he covered the upgrade. His little brother agreed to share until the new tablet arrives.
Neither of these were inexpensive (and both had work-arounds if we decided not to replace), but because we had been frugal over the years, we could replace both without stress and a burden on time (which would have been sacrificed in the work-arounds).
I remember the first time I had enough money to go grocery shopping and NOT have to calculate the cost before I approached the register (I had a $200/month budget for 3 of us). The feeling was amazing!
And, my most favorite purchase ever was a $10 pack of bottles for my second son. I nursed both of my kids for years, but I work outside the house and had to have bottles pumped for them. My oldest son preferred fewer, larger bottles (aka, he hated them but would eventually cave after a long time, so he drank fewer bottles). My younger son was more of a grazer and preferred lots of bottles. The time I was spending pumping and washing bottles was causing me undue stress. I couldn't decrease the time I pumped, but with an additional pack of bottles, I could wash every other day instead. Did I need those bottles? No. We had enough. Did I love those bottles? Yes.
(And a recent purchase--I bought a purse (or a few). Used, higher end, handcrafted leather goods, so for less than 40% of new. I never got excited about purses before but now I get to select for the week. I never match, but I irrationally love choosing. I love the colors, so I display them like a collection. Art and wearable. And, I didn't exceed my allowance/savings.)
I bought a book case! Nothing fancy, just a cubby frame without using the cubbies. I had all of my books stored in boxes and closets and drawers and it finally after years occurred to me to buy a bookcase. Makes me so happy and could have been done forever ago!
I purchased this hard boiled egg maker a few months ago and it’s the most unnecessary useful gadget I’ve ever bought. 😉 I love it and use it twice a week! As a single mom working full time while in nursing school, I am always tight on time and money so it makes it easier to have eggs to grab as fast protein when I’m rushing out the door. Plus it’s a cute aqua that matches my kitchen, which just makes me happy. 🙂 🙂 🙂
Dash Rapid Egg Cooker: 6 Egg Capacity Electric Egg Cooker for Hard Boiled Eggs, Poached Eggs, Scrambled Eggs, or Omelets with Auto Shut Off Feature - Aqua https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0168CNYD8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_ZHRWM09QJEEGPKXCR2WD?psc=1
I feel like you need a name for the piggy bank… it’s too cute!
In news that will surprise no one: The girls and I were discussing this. Ha.
I can happily say half of my Christmas shopping is bought &paid for. This makes me very happy. Books both used &ebooks. They r my main source of enrollment but I am always afraid of running out. I know it makes no sense but it makes me happy.
A second planner. Now that I'm splitting my work hours between the office and working from home, I bought a second day planner to keep at home. It's undated and perfect for keeping my daily to-do list and notes. I feel so much more in control when I have a physical planner helping me stay organized.
I didn't know they were called utensil crocks, but I use 2 on my counter.
Hi Kristin,
Where did you get the bulletin board? I love that one!
Thanks,
Amy
Amazon! https://amzn.to/30QDqTv
Bought a fleece and jersey comforter on clearance at Walmart. It's so warm that I don't need other blankets, I'm sleeping better, and having less pain.
New shoes with a wider toe box and went up a size and a half. My job is all on my feet for anywhere from 8 to 14 hours per day 6 days a week and my Skechers were KILLING my feet (1/2 size too small and not wide enough). The AVIAs were much cheaper and my feet thank me every day