A day in the frugal life
I first wrote one of these "day in the life" posts years and years ago, mainly because I thought it might be fun to see how many instances of frugality pop up in my day to day life.
So, this is less about, "How did Kristen spend her time?" and more about, "Where are all the frugal things?"
Amy Dacyzyn., of Tightwad Gazette fame, was known to say that frugality is more about what you don't do than what you do. But I think there are still plenty of documentable frugal things in daily life that frugal people DO do.
So, here's a run-down of my Monday from last week, with a focus on the frugal stuff.
7:00
The alarm went off.
Mr. FG and I read the day's devotion from New Morning Mercies, prayed, and I headed off to take a shower, where I used my clearance-purchased citrus body wash and Costco-purchased sulfate-free shampoo.
I got dressed in clearance-purchased jeans (scroll down in that post) and a black long-sleeved t-shirt that I bought on clearance from Lands' End one spring.
I believe my socks were from a pack that I purchase for a dollar or two from Kohl's (sometimes they send me birthday coupons, like $5 off any purchase, which can result in nearly free stuff if you look at clearances.)
7:30
I ate breakfast, which was plain shredded wheat ($1.88/box when you buy three) topped with blueberries from Aldi.
I know it's better to eat berries in the summer when they are in season, but I persist in buying berries at Aldi even in the winter. They're too affordable to resist when they are a produce of the week item.
I finished the box of cereal and I saved the inside bag because I like to use it when I need to pound meat into cutlets.
(cereal bags don't require an extra purchase, plus they are so much sturdier than plastic wrap, which is typically recommend for meat pounding.)
8:00
I took Zoe to her tutorial classes*, and my Erie app tracked my drive. If I meet the safe driving criteria, I get a $5 gift card every two weeks.
Which is not much, to be sure, but since I want to be a safe driver anyway, I figure it's worth it to have the free app. I currently have $35 in gift cards available in my app!
*Zoe's two once-a-week classes are masked, socially distanced, and there's disinfection between each class.
8:30
I came home,
- took photos of our cookies for the cookie giveaway contest
- took pictures of our Christmas tree
- helped Sonia with the little guy she babysits
- wrote up the cookie blog post
- sent the post out via email and social media
- responded to some emails
- made coffee (Starbucks mocha grounds, purchased on Amazon.)
- sent tracking info to one of Sonia's bunny customers (USPS is having such delays right now.)
I put a dark load of laundry in with cold water (cold water works for most load!) and Costco-purchased laundry soap.
11:30
I picked Zoe up, wearing my clearance-purchased Spyder hooded coat.
When we got home, I put four slices of leftover homemade pizza in the oven for Zoe and Mr. FG (trying to avoid food waste).
The oven or stovetop are so much better than the microwave for heating up pizza; a definite advantage to eating lunch at home vs. at work or school.
I made a burrito bowl for myself with leftovers from the previous night. We had chicken and shrimp leftover, so I chose to eat the shrimp since that goes bad way faster than chicken.
And I worked on writing this blog post!
1:00
I scheduled a plumbing appointment (oh goody) and got on the phone with Ting customer support to resolve a SIM card issue.
The resolution: they're sending us a free new SIM card for Zoe's phone. Ting has freaking awesome customer service and my favorite part is that when you call, a real person answers the phone! No menus involved.
Ahhhhhh.
the rest of the afternoon
I parented (teenager parenting requires a lot of conversations), helped girls with math, and corrected schoolwork. Not a lot that's specifically frugal in there!
But I did also plan a menu, and that IS frugal because it keeps me from getting takeout.
dinnertime
I picked a meal that I could manage with ingredients on-hand (with a few substitutions. This was the night I made the inauthentic spaghetti alfredo with provolone instead of parmesan!)
After dinner, we cleaned up, and I put the leftovers away in a Pyrex container to make for an easy lunch serving the next day.
(Leftovers are way more likely to be eaten if they're in a clear container. And eating the food you buy is much more frugal than throwing it out.)
I use the dishwasher for as many dishes as possible, since the dishwasher has been shown over and over again to be cheaper than hand-washing.
And I use liquid Cascade dishwasher detergent from Costco; always cheaper per load than the little individual packs.
(Unfortunately, since last Monday, our 15-year-old dishwasher has developed three issues and we decided that was the final death knell. So we have a new one on order, which means we are washing everything by hand right now, and that's inefficient both time-wise and cost-wise.)
bedtime
I wear very little makeup, so I usually just wash my face with a washcloth and water, followed by a moisturizer (I buy the Acure one from Grove).
I'm currently using baby washcloths to wash my face at night; we had a bunch that still had life in them after our kids outgrew them, so I'm using them until they wear out.
I floss and brush every night, which is frugal because floss and toothpaste are much cheaper than dental bills.
And I clean my contacts every night too (I use ClearCare and I buy it at Costco; it's cheaper there even than on Amazon.)
And that's the end of my day!
I was surprised how many Costco-related frugalities were in this post. I don't go there often, but the products I buy there do show up often in my day.
So, I suppose that's the application from this post: get yourself a Costco membership. 😉
P.S.I tried to link to everything relevant in this post, but if you've got any questions, let me know.
Sonia’s bunnies are adorable! Does she have any remaining to sell? I looked for the previous post but couldn’t find it.
She doesn't! They're all off to new homes now.
I'm sure she will knit more in the future, though, and I'd be glad to add you to a list of people who want one. Just let me know.
Please do add me to the list. Thanks!
I love that you are using the baby washcloths! It is frugal and also sentimental. I am using 6 washcloths from my mom's house that I got when she passed away 4 years ago. Even though we have plenty of other washcloths, I am only using those 6 until they wear out. Almost every day as I am washing I think of her.
I’m wearing a pair of $1.82 for a pack Kohl’s birthday socks right this instant!
Oh, we are kindred spirits!
Oh man... Contact solution is one of my big "I miss this" items from Costco! It's price can't be beat. We now live an hour away from Costco, so we haven't had a membership in a few years, but I still hope that someday it'll be worth it again. Fun fact: Were still using the rolls of aluminum foil and plastic wrap that we bought from Costco in 2014.
Have you thought about getting a membership and ordering online? I think shipping is free for certain members, depending on the level. We have a Sam's club membership, and even though it's not terribly far away, I get A LOT of things delivered. Might be worth checking out. I would be REALLY sad with Sam's and Costco. (We have memberships to both because we buy different things at each.)
I hadn't thought of that. It's at least worth looking into! I'm not a big fan of online shopping, but Costco could be a situation where it's worth it.
My dad and stepmother owned a restaurant, when they sold she brought home a LOT of supplies. Now she sold that restaurant at least 30 years ago and I'm just now finishing up the last rolls of foil, waxed paper, and saran wrap. It's going to hurt when I have to buy my own!!
That Costco sulfate-free shampoo is AMAZING. I love it so much. I just purchased my third bottle of it. It costs about the same as a tube of the other sulfate-free shampoo I tried previously and it smells much better.
This is the shea moisture one, which seems to be hit or miss with it being in stock. Is that the one you have at your Costco? Mine seems to rotate around between different sulfate-free brands.
1. Dollar Tree hot chocolate ...6 servings per box. Cold here in Atlanta. 2. Making a layered green salad with frozen peas in it. Bacon on top and shredded cheese. 3. Sending cards with checks to family. Can't travel this year. They can buy sweaters or food or pay a bill. 4. Two magazine gift subscriptions for friends...easy shopping 5. Garbage guys and mailman gifts will be cookies after christmas and socks
Sooooo glad you mentioned socks for the garbage guys/girl and mail lady. I like to give them homemade cookies, too, and wanted to put hand warmers in the bags with them. Have not been able to locate any so far. Socks should be easy to find. Grandson waves to them when he's here and they oblige by honking their horn for him. My neighbors probably don't appreciate it at 7 a..m..... I think their jobs are essential, too. I give them candy at Easter, too.
loved this post
Love these posts describing your daily life. It's always fascinating and inspiring to get a peek.
And thanks for the Acure tip. I recently used a lotion that triggered some terrible eczema, and I'm trying to find new, gentler brands to try.
Speaking as the daughter of a red head with the temperamental skin to match, I've had the best luck moisturizing with oils. Almond and Argan oils don't upset my skin, are very inexpensive, and a little truly goes a long way. I also use Argan oil on my hair weekly in winter, and I'm not yet even 1/3 through the bottle despite my comically thick hair. Oil also doubles as a gentle make-up remover, for those rare days I gussy up just to stay in practice. 😛
Nice, thanks for the tip. I love oils, but I'm afraid of using it around the eyes where the eczema was worst.
Will you be doing a post on your new dishwasher? I went through this just before the pandemic started and have been quite satisfied with my purchase.
On a related note, I just saw a great video about why dishwasher packs are so awful (TL;DR they don't provide any prewash detergent.)
Oooh, which one did you go with? Mr. FG landed on a Bosch machine.
We have a Bosch and it is blessedly quiet and no problems in over five years of near daily use.
We had Bosch at our last house and it was unbelievably quiet!! Our current one is a cheaper brand and it seems so noisy in comparison.
OTOH, I believe it was Consumer Reports that just said that the dishwasher packs are better because they provide rinse agents. It can be hard to figure out what the best answer is, even if we all agree on what "best" is.
I loved this post! I am still using my kids burp clothes for cleaning windows, mirrors, and glass shower doors. I haven’t found anything else that works better
Ha. I didn't even notice the spots on your jeans until I read the caption. Probably because my clothes almost always have spots on them, and they are not from rain. This life is hard on clothes. That's why I have "home" clothes and "away" clothes. The latter literally do not get put on unless I am getting in the car to drive away from this filthy place. 🙂
I actually have five levels of clothes:
1. paint spattered for use in painting or serious gardening
2. around home clothes for never leaving the house
3. slightly better for days I work at the food bank
4. going out for errands, appointments or lunch - my nicer things
5. really dress up that hardly ever gets used
I love posts like this!
2020 was hard on dishwashers -- ours died, too. (And my husband is a genius at repairing things and had put this one back together twice, but the bushings were worn out on the pump and some other problems made buying a new one the right choice.) We bought a Bosch and though it was more expensive than our last one, we have been so pleased!
I use the Costco Sulfate free shampoo, also -- great stuff.
Whenever you have one of your frugal posts, I feel like I have to think very hard to come up with frugal things I have done--so this post reminded me that so often frugality becomes reflexive. I don't think about our lifestyle as "frugal"--it's just how we live. And it's a bunch of small decisions that all add up over time.
I am adding my vote to a Bosch dishwasher. We've had one for a few years now and it is SO superior to any other dishwasher I've ever had. Since we live in a smaller home, the quietness of it is such a blessing--we can have a conversation and not feel like we are shouting to be heard. Our Bosch came with recommendations for the kind of soap to use as well as a rinse aid--it's pricier than a store brand but if it helps make the machine run better and last longer, then I'm in. The man who installed ours said that Bosch dishwashers last longer and hold up better than most other brands--I like to hear about a product's performance from people in the industry who have to deal with many different brands--anyway, thought I'd pass that along for you to file away while you are shopping.
I love this post. Costco gift cards can be purchased and used, avoiding the membership fee. We shop at Costco and also buy gas there with no membership.
My frugal day today included walking to the post office instead of driving, picking up free lemons from a neighbor, sending out an order from my shop, and an item sold on Ebay. Shopping at Trader Joes and Costco and sticking exactly to my carefully made lists. Meeting a customer so she can choose fabrics for a special order (outside, with masks). Later making soup for dinner, to offset some of the more expensive and high calorie eating that is to come this week.
Thanks for the info about the Costco gift cards. I have always wanted to just go once to explore and that's a terrific idea! Thanks!
What a wonderful way to illustrate the many things that constitute a frugal life. Thanks for the inspiration to journal one of my own days!
Just adding to the chorus of praise for Bosch. I love our Bosch dishwasher so much.
Today I made veggie soup out of odds n ends from my fridge and freezer. I added chipotle pepper from your tip ( processed and kept in jar in fridge).
Love this blog!
Thank you for this. Frugality is more of a day to day thing for us. Buying cheaply etc is important but staying out of the shops, using what you have and being intentional in choices is a much ignored back bone of a frugal life style.
Lately I have been making a normal sized meal and that provides three meals for the two of us. Even though I try hard we do have some food waste. I don't buy much in the way of clothing and I use it until it dies. A few months ago a few towels went to a man who has been working from home during Covid. He is a qualified mechanic and needs lots of rags. But anything else stays home and is used until it dies. I have been careful about the gifts I buy. I dislike giving plastic but my granddaughter is receiving a Little Tykes car for Christmas. I know these items are tough and should last through several children.
This was fun to read. I think my favorite part was, "I parented (teenager parenting requires a lot of conversations)." True!
Amen to that----with a tween! And many *repeated* conversations. Is he hoping we'll have a different answer he will like better?
Yes Kimberly, he/she is absolutely hoping you'll have a different answer. Or at least forgot your original answer, you being in your dotage. 😀
The other common option being "teenager parenting requires a lot of attempted conversations," if you have the sort of teenager who is uncommunicative. ;->
We just finished our charcoal toothpaste (I had to try it out!). And. Yuck. What a mess in the sink. I don't want that anymore unless some research comes out that says it's so superior to any other paste and cures cancer and reverses aging. It is so terribly messy-- especially with children.
Made me laugh!
Thanks! Love this type of post. By the way, which dishwasher did you purchase, and where did you get it from, if you don't mind me asking? Our dishwasher died in August, so we've been doing everything by hand. I keep trying to order a new dishwasher, but they're either out of stock, or we need to go into the store. I don't want to do the latter when our numbers are so high here. Thanks!
We ordered a Bosch, and Mr. FG found it online at a place called ABT appliances. You're right, they're super hard to find right now!
We just got a new dishwasher. We had the same issue with our old dishwasher not draining. My husband figured out that the motor had died. We originally ordered a Bosch from Lowe’s. Every time it was about to arrive, they would send a notice that it was on back order and would come in 2 weeks. This went on for 2 months. Finally I found a helpful customer service person who told me that Bosch has not been able to fill orders bc the factory simply can’t get all of the components right now. My husband went to Lowe’s and tried to get them to sell him the floor model. They aren’t allowed to do that for reasons not entirely clear to me, but they ended up selling him a higher end Kitchen Aid model for the same price.
Kichenaid, higher end. I'll never go back to a lower end model, this one is quiet, efficient and easy to install.
Helping your kids with math IS frugal. It’s cheaper than using a math tutor! I’m a homeschool mom of a teen and two now-college-students. I also do math tutoring as a side gig. Even though I do not charge what most math tutors charge, parents who can’t help their kids with math pay a good sum for math help! (Pun intended!)
Well, that is true.
I am not a math whiz, but since I have been helping my kids with progressively harder math every year since I started homeschooling in 2004, I am fluent enough to help through Algebra 2. After that? Nope. Time for a college professor!
Love this post. I often think of my frugal wins during the day, too!
Cereal bags are so good for pounding meat!!
Indisputably better than plastic wrap.
"Mr. FG and I read the day’s devotion from New Morning Mercies, prayed, and I headed off to take a shower, " I love this!
That Christmas tree is so cute! And thank you for the suggestion about using cereal box liners to pound chicken. It drives me crazy when the plastic wrap tears after one or two whacks.