Five (er, 7) Frugal Things

Ordered a bra earlier this year. I received a coupon in the mail from same store for $20 for $20.01 for my April b-day. I got nice panties for next to nothing. I really tried to get out of paying anything except tax but it did'nt work out. Daughter used a VS coupon for free pair of panties.

Yay for free birthday swag -- great hauls!! It sounds like so much delicious fun!!

1. Picked up Treasure box items for school very cheap -- silly putty for 49 cents, modeling clay 1.49, shiny jeweled lanyards for 99 cents, etc. Positive reinforcements :) 2. Gleefully pulling out all kinds of old clothes (many forgotten) as my size changes. So happy not to be shopping and still having fresh "new" stuff to wear. 3. How cheap am I? Had an $8.00 pair of capris on clearance cuz they was mistin' a button so I sewed a big old button on and wore the heck out of them until they literally went into the rag bin, patches and all. Now, I have pulled out another pair of capris that fit again and they is also mistin' a button. So I removed that same button to use on the "newer" pair. Wondering how many generations of capris will be graced with this fine button. 4. All the usual -- eating in, using my Starbucks gift cards for occasional iced cold brews, pulling out all the old sandals to get through the summer, signing up at both the county and city libraries for the next book club read (not looking good -- there are hundreds in the queue. Why we should read OLD classics instead of the latest blockbuster ;) and that is it.

1. We have various mint varieties and catnip doing a hostile take over of my greens garden box, so I've been drying herbs like crazy.

2. I have a couple volunteer tomato plants growing up in my garden plot.

3. My other veggies were all started from seeds, some from last year's seeds.

4. Went to the Amish bulk food store and stocked up on Oats and cream of wheat. It was half to two thirds cheaper than the grocery store.

5. Using my paper stash, some I've had for 10+ years, to make cards for people at church.

1. My grocery bill this week for our family of 5 is $65. I'll still go to our local farm market and get a gallon of strawberries which will be another $17 but still a really low grocery bill for us! 2. Our slide out kitchen garbage can isn't staying closed. Rather than replace the cabinet or the drawer glides I ordered a pack of magnetic catches for $6 that should do the job. 3. I mended two dresses rather than get rid of them. 4. I usually grow a few kinds of veggies every summer and found a local HS that was selling plants through their FFA group. They were a lot cheaper than a home improvement store or nursery and it supported the students. I spent $8 on 12 plants which was a great deal! 5. Cleaning out the house on one of my quarterly purges. Keeps clutter down and ensures that items we aren't using can be beneficial to other people!

Looks like you did very well with the birthday freebies! :-) I have an April birthday, too, and some of the freebies I redeemed were: free cupcake at Sprinkle's (yummy!), free veggie burger at Red Robin, free sub at Firehouse, free sub at Jersey Mikes', free chocolate cake at Portillo's, free breakfast at Black Bear Diner (a great deal because their breakfasts are huge!), free Italian ice at Rita's (great for those of us who can't eat regular ice cream), $5.00 off at El Pollo Loco, $5.00 off at Cafe Rio, free small sandwich at Schlotzky's, free pastry at Panera (I got a chocolate chip cookie...that bear claw looked incredible, though!), $10.00 off at Maggiano's, free hand lotion at the local Hallmark Gold Crown store, free entree (with purchase of an entree) at The Keg, and several local freebies. :-) Thank you, Kristen, for the head's up on Potbelly Subs. I just signed up for their app. I also had no idea about the benefits of the CVS app! :-)