Five Frugal Things: Cheap meds
1. I got my colonoscopy meds at my work pharmacy
I had to get the prescribed prep, of course (which was $0), but I also had to buy Dulcolax and simethicone (which is Gas-X).
Well, my hospital pharmacy has a few shelves of over-the-counter medication that they sell at cost to hospital employees, and MY GOODNESS, it is cheap! For both the Dulcolax and the simethicone, my total was $2.11.
I was shocked.
And I will make a point of buying all my over-the-counter meds there in the future.
(I don't buy a lot of them, but you know, sometimes we do use cold/cough meds and ibuprofen.)
2. I have resisted turning on my heat
We suddenly got some very cold overnight temperatures and woo, my house has been getting pretty chilly, at least upstairs. The basement is still pretty warm, of course, because it's largely underground.
However, it was 63 degrees in my bedroom.
I haven't turned on the furnace yet, partially because heating oil is stupid expensive this year, and partially because I am pretty cold-tolerant. I do not mind putting on extra clothes, and I actually kind of like sleeping in the cold air.
However, it takes almost nothing for me to crack and turn on the A/C; the threshhold for that is insanely low. Ha.
I'm like, "Hmmm, am I mildly sticky and uncomfortable? Well then, it's A/C time!"
3. I went to a student-ticket symphony
My schedule lined up for me to go see a performance (with some Tchaikovsky!), so I worked my chemistry-studying in before and after the midday symphony.
This one was at the symphony with a $35 yearly student membership, so obviously it behooves me to go to more symphonies to really get the most out of my $35. 😉
The unfortunate thing is that while school does get you a student discount, it also gives you very little free time! It is a conundrum. 😉
4. I am on track to finish chemistry in a month
I have been devoting nearly all my time to working on this, and I am currently on schedule to finish by October 29th, which is safely before my one-month deadline (November 5th).
Sooo, I think I will make it without having to pay another $99.
Mostly, though, my dedication to the task has been motivated by me just wanting to get it over with.
(For anyone worried about the cramming: I have done 4/6 tests, and I am passing by a very significant margin, which means I should have a lot of margin for the final, test #6, which is not open-book. I know cramming is not wonderful for long-term retention, but I am not aiming for long-term retention! I am just trying to pass.)
5. I bought a book on eBay
I was reading a Patreon post by Elisabeth (her public blog is Optimistic Musings) where she was quoting from Keep Moving, a book by Maggie Smith.
(I have mentioned Smith's book "You Could Make This Place Beautiful" many times. Highly recommend for divorcees!)
I had read a library copy of Keep Moving a few years ago, but Elisabeth's post reminded me that it's a good book to own, because the whole thing is just short, encouraging tidbits that are best read in a one-a-day fashion.
So, I ordered a used copy on eBay, and now I will have her cheery little sentences on my nightstand. 🙂
We are up on the North Shore of Lake Superior for a week at a simple cabin we rent each year. Frugal things:
-- We followed our packing list so we didn't have to run out and buy something we forgot.
-- Brought most of our own food, including coffee for the car ride.
-- Brought CDs to play in the car (love that my 2018 Subaru has a CD player).
-- Drove at or below the speed limit 99 percent of the time.
-- Stopped at one rest area and didn't buy any snacks as we had raisins and nuts in the car.
-- Gassed up before we left using our discount card.
-- Rolled up the slippery rag rugs when we got to the cabin to avoid a fall and hospital bill.
-- Brought lots of free reading material, including the manual to our new oven - I know, riveting! - because our new oven is more complicated than our previous one and I hadn't gotten around to learning the new features. So, I'm reading the manual and here's one of the first tips: "Never attempt to dry a pet in the oven." My mind boggles.
Yay, you went to a concert! Good for you. Also, when will you have the results of your colonoscopy?
FFT:
Cooking: made vegetable broth from scraps and used the slow cooker a number of times
DIY: painted some scratches on window sills while I still had the paint on hand from previous DIY
Clothing: mended a shoe zipper
Laundry: today it is sunny and windy, perfect weather for laundry including my summer coats
Exercise and entertainment: Outdoor swimming, free online exercise (zumba and stretching); reading library books; knitting from my considerable stash
Delayed gratification: did not buy clothes online. Just filled up my cart and then closed the browser again.
I love ebay! Plus, I love supporting small businesses.
Here's my 5:
1) We purchased sourdough bread and after opening the bag, we noticed the slices had huge air pockets. I contacted this local bakery an was sent coupons for free bread! Savings- $12
2) I needed some super warm clothing and found fabulous finds at Lands End. Even a down vest and heavy thermal tops. Their sale prices were 75% off and free shipping. Savings $225
3) We needed plumbing done at the house and had bids drawn up. We got the job done at a bargain. Savings- $1300
4) I found winter tires on clearance for hubby's car. Savings- $200
5) I was sent some coupons from BBW and got a free body care item. Savings- $10
This week's frugal five:
1. Sold our two bikes. Who were we kidding, I'm in my 60s, he's pushing 80, we let go of the "we will ride our bikes again together someday". They were nice bikes from a bike shop we got about 20 years ago so we got a good price on FB M.
2. Not frugal, but maybe in the long run? DH bought weather tech mats for my new to me car. This will make cleaning it easy, and our area is muddy and sandy. DH is very good at maintaining things, like our car, so that they last.
3. Gave the carpet mats that came with the car to someone on Buy Nothing.
4. The garden is still producing jalapenos, arugula and green peppers, so I'm incorporating them into our meals.
5. Also gave away a bag of ribbons I've saved over the years from gifts. I use gift bags mostly, and realize that I rarely use ribbons. I did save the twine I keep for some gifts.
1. The change machine at the car wash was broken, so I'll have a dirty outside of car for another week. Thankfully, I had enough change for a vacuum so the inside is nice now for just 75 cents.
2. I enjoy 2-3 cups of tea today that cost 15-25 cents per bag. Even quality tea bags make for affordable drinks!
3. Bought a couple clothing items new but at the best value I could find. Was desperate time to replace some things wearing out! I don't have Kristen's sewing abilities nor patience at this point.
4. Only grocery shopping sporadically and with a list.
5. Meant to treat myself to Chipotle after work yesterday but totally forgot. Came home and figured something out, which of course ended up being more frugal.
Good luck with the chemistry cramming!
- I too have not put the heating on yet but sense we're not far off in my house (had to remind my partner last night that blankets are available, while I had been working at my desk in fingerless mittens)
- using free electricity hours at the weekend to do the laundry and charge the cordless vacuum cleaner (perk of my electricity company, Octopus, in the UK)
- painstakingly chopping up the many prunings from the overgrown tree on my allotment, to make leaf mould, wood chip and stakes - I've been at it for hours yet the pile does not seem to go down! Romanticising it by quietly listening to Poldark, Outlander soundtracks etc in my headphones and reminding myself how beautiful this time of year is. I do get immense satisfaction knowing all of this will benefit the plot and cost me nothing!
- using up the free potatoes, sweet potatoes and cabbages we were given recently. In a funny coincidence, all this food was originally intended for animals (my mum's dog and a friendly stranger's pigs, offered on two separate occasions within 24 hours) but we gratefully accepted it instead when offered.
- a future frugality: we have to travel 7 hours across the country for a family do this weekend. I will be making pasta salad, sandwiches, cookies and coffees and bringing porridge pots along to save money where we can! My partner is going to try to sneak a hip flask of whisky into the party to avoid him spending on alcohol - we joked that he's reverting to his teenage self.
FFT, Glorious Fall Weather Edition:
(1) No rain here since Saturday morning, and none expected for the next 10 days (!), so I'm getting on with postponed fall garden chores (pulling out spent annuals, weeding, spreading compost, etc.) I also planted 15 cloves of garlic yesterday for next year's crop. I'm not self-sufficient in much, but I can honestly claim to be self-sufficient in garlic and most culinary herbs.
(2) I took a break yesterday morning and went to Second Time Around, where I scored 12 pieces of Syracuse China in a pattern that matches some of my current dishes (full disclosure: Syracuse China was the old hometown brand, so if you didn't know my location before, you know now!), plus an old blue Ball canning jar in excellent shape, for $11.
(3) And yesterday's Wegmans bread freebie at STA was a tomato and cheese foccacia (retail $7); I put some olives, mushrooms, and extra cheese on this and had it for lunch *and* dinner.
(4) I also stopped at one of our Thrifty Shopper chain's boutique stores, where I used a $5 off $15 digital coupon on a Columbia fleece jacket and a brand-new carafe for my brand of coffee maker.
(5) Finally, I too recently bought a copy of Maggie Smith's Keep Moving (at the recent library book sale, and because of Kristen's recommendation of Smith's other books). I too am still negotiating a life that didn't go as planned, so it's a keeper for me as well. And some of Smith's descriptions of herself during her childhood and youth have me wondering whether she isn't me in a different skin!