Five Frugal Things | Chemistry time
1. I have a plan to get my chemistry credits
I did take a chemistry course four years ago at my community college, but it wasn't the one my BSN school wants. Sigh.
Soo, on the advice of my advisor, I am attempting to get the 3 chemistry credits through StraighterLine, which is sorta like a CLEP system.
You pay a one-time fee of $79 for a class, and then $99/month to be a StraighterLine member. So, it obviously would behoove me to get this done in a month, because every new month will cost another $99.
There are 14 modules, with tests interspersed, so to get this done in a month, I basically need to get through 3.5 modules each week. I am pretty nervous about this because chemistry is not my strong suit, and I have read online that people struggle with this class.
I only have to get a 70% to pass, so I will give it my best shot, and if I don't pass, I will just take an actual chemistry class in the spring semester.
If that happens, I will console myself by considering this StraighterLine experience good prep for the real class.
2. We cut Chiquita's nails at home
I will always and forever give us a gold star for this. It's a two-person procedure, and it requires a salmon treat bribe, but Zoe and I get it done with some teamwork.
This is one of those frugal activities that actually saves time; making an appointment and then driving a cat back and forth to that appointment actually takes way more time than doing it at home!
3. I bought some Souper Cubes on sale (questionably frugal)
I have been experimenting with freezing leftovers for future work lunches, but I don't have any great containers for this purpose.
So, when I saw that the big Souper Cubes were marked down on Prime Day, I bought them. This is a rarity because I almost never buy anything on Prime Day, since the deals are usually not that good.
I know people love these for meal prep; you can freeze the food in the containers, and then pop them cubes out for storage in a Ziploc bag.
I do have two smaller knock-off Souper Cubes that I got at Aldi, and I use those to freeze my broth cubes.
However, neither of those is large enough for an actual lunch portion. I will let you know what I think once I give these a whirl!
4. I moved some money around
I took a minute to assess my various bank accounts, and I realized I had some money just sitting in a checking account. Whoops! This was one of those accounts I'd opened to get the opening bonus, and then I just left it.
Sooo, I moved the money to my high-interest savings account, where it can work harder for me.
I have the Platinum Savings Boost CIT(Member FDIC) account, which you can open through that link or through the little graphic below.
(For a complete list of account details and fees, see CIT's Personal Account disclosures.)
5. I mended a potholder
I've had several of these black potholders for a VERY long time, and I love them! But a corner of one of mine came unstitched, and I must have washed it in that condition because it frayed.
I know from previous experience that these are too thick for machine-sewing, So, I took a break from chemistry and did a little hand-sewing, using thread and needles from the abandoned house.
As with many of my repair jobs, this one is not perfectly beautiful, but it is functional, and that is what we need on a potholder. 😉
1. Made chicken broth from a bag of bones and veggie scraps found in my freezer.
2. Made a fabulous pizza with bbq sauce, fresh arugula from my garden, mozzerella and chopped bbq found in the freezer. I used to use tortillas for the crust, but I've discovered a nice thin crust in the dairy section of the grocery store, and its often on sale.
3. Culled through some knick knacks (ebay calls them shelf sitters) and listed them. I don't even miss them on my shelf!
4. Gifted some new dryer balls on Buy Nothing. I have so many of those IN my dryer, I realized I don't need back ups to sit around on my shelf.
5. Also gave away a dozen empty egg boxes. Sometimes my egg person gives me a few, sometimes no, so its always a nice surprise when I get a few. I'm just happy to not throw the boxes away and give them a new use.
(1-5) This news is so good it counts as all five FTs: CF and I have just sold NDN1's house--to the candidate of my choice!!! We had two identical cash offers for the low "as is" asking price, and I lobbied unashamedly for the one from the buyer I know personally. He is, in fact, a brother-in-law of my eventual executor, and the first thing I did after we signed the paperwork to put the house up for sale was to email my executor and his wife and ask them to put the word out among their family and church connections. It'll be a great comfort to have members of this family next door--and also a great comfort to have the responsibility for the house taken off CF's and my hands. Three hearty huzzahs!!!