Five Frugal Things
1. I got a boost on my Ebates check.
I had an $85 balance over at Ebates and they sent me an email offering a boost of 10-20% if I redeemed for a gift card instead of a check.
I looked over the options, settled on Old Navy (I often buy basics for my girls from there), and got a 12% bonus on my redemption.
And of course, I'll redeem my gift card while Old Navy has a sale going on.
(If you want to join Ebates, use my referral link to get $10 in bonus cashback once you earn $25.)
2. I went cheap on pineapple juice.
I needed some for a marinade, but Aldi doesn't carry pineapple juice. So, I bought a can of pineapple, which happens to come in 100% juice.
Useful pineapple, useful juice, no need for an extra stop!
(Incidentally, I haven't had canned pineapple in a while and I've decided I sure do prefer the fresh kind.)
3. I used the veggies I had on hand to make dinner.
You know the orzo with sausage recipe I've shared here?
One thing I love about that recipe is that it's very easy to add whatever veggies I have on hand.
The original called for broccoli rabe, but I've used broccoli or asparagus instead. And last night, I used peppers and kale from my Hungry Harvest box.
4. I signed up for an Acorns investing account.
I was reading an article on The Penny Hoarder and saw a mention of the Acorns investing app, along with a link to get a free $5 to start out.
So, I signed up to give it a try, and well, I've made at least $5 so far. 😉
(If you'd like to try it out, you can sign up through my referral link and get your own free $5.)
I haven't enabled this yet, but Acorns offers a round-up service, where you link a credit or debit card, and Acorns automatically rounds up your purchase to the next dollar and puts the round-up in your investment account.
For instance, if you buy something that's $24.75, Acorns rounds up to $25 and puts the $0.25 in your investment account.
On the downside, Acorns does charge $1/month in fees, which could be a high percentage of my investment until I have more money in my account. So, I'm a little iffy about this so far.
On the other hand, Acorns is super simple, requires no minimums, and I can see why it's appealing to millennials (their target audience.)
5. I...
...packed a lunch of leftovers for Mr. FG, made a smoothie with bruised peaches I froze last summer (I'm drinking it with a reusable glass straw, of course!), printed a $5/any purchase coupon from Kohl's, used ExtraBucks for a purchase at CVS, and also I stopped at the grocery store and only bought what I needed for dinner.
(Grocery stores can be as dangerous as Target, am I right??)
1. I'm wearing a ThredUp dress at work that I paid $9.99 for and it is cute, comfy, simple, classy, well-made, easy care and fits me well. Can't ask for more than that for under $10.
2. I spent under $80 on groceries for the week.
3. I used GasBuddy and found gas for the best price of $2.65 in the town I work in, compared to $2.75 and up in most stations in this town, and compared to $2.97 in the town where I live. Best part, it's right on my path home from work.
4. I earned more Swagbucks and bought an Amazon $25 card that I loaded to my Amazon account, for $22 worth of Swagbucks. I sometimes put the bucks into my Paypal account and then into my bank, but discounts are not available with Paypal. They are with Amazon.
5. We try to be very fair with any tradesmen that we hire, and we hire younger workers needing a chance, as well. We've needed some work done urgently at the house, because of my husband's broken knee. This week, a young carpenter we've hired for jobs in the past put up a temporary handrail for my husband, and did it for free, even though we tried to pay him. He said we'd been good to him, and he had the materials handy in his shop already. Being fair can be frugal, who knew?
1. Used $10 in Kohl's cash (reward for simply having a store credit acct) to buy three huge bath towels for just $1.33 (total price!)**There was an awesome sale on towels last week.
2. Participated in a wellness program so that my husband's company will put $2000 in our HSA (Don't get too jealous we have a very high deductible plan)
3. Said yes to a box of random cards, cute storage boxes, and much needed picture frames that my mom was getting rid of.
4. Made pizza at home for pizza night
5. Found a science book that I have been wanting for a great price at our homeschool co-op's used book sale
I love the pineapple idea! Genius! It's much cheaper than the fresh kind although it's not as good. But I think it's ok in this cause because you only need the juice.
I rarely eat pineapple since it's hard to peel, and it makes my tongue itchy >_< But if the pineapple is ripe, it can be SUPER sweet and tasty!
Mmm, gotta love fresh pineapple. You know, I used Acorns for about a year and decided it wasn't for me. They do charge an awful lot of fees, although they're waived if you're a college student. I pushed my funds over to a Vanguard account, but I get the accessibility of Acorns makes it easy to learn about investing.
This week I...
1. To save money on food, I adjusted next week's menu to focus on items in our pantry. That means less stuff I need to buy. 😉
2. I drank homemade wine after work last night. Yum!
3. I washed our sheets in homemade laundry soap
4. I scored more freelance business, which is always a good thing. 🙂
5. Today is our anniversary! Instead of going to the expensive Brazilian steakhouse, we're getting happy hour sushi. 🙂
I'm still waiting for the Thred Up box I ordered at your suggestion!! Did you get a notification when it shipped? I haven't heard a peep, but I figured it will show up one day. I'm just being impatient! :9
Also another question, have you tried BeFrugal before? It's a cash back website like Ebates.
Yep, they'll email you when it ships. Mine took two weeks, maybe?
And yep, I've tried BeFrugal, along with Ebates and TopCashback, but TopCashback is my favorite. They seem to usually have the highest cashback rates. But sometimes they don't have a store I want, so then I hop over to Ebates.
So helpful! Thank you Kristen, I'll try TopCashback if you have an aff link 🙂
Sure thing! Here's my link: https://www.topcashback.com/ref/thefrugalgirl
Depending on what they have running at the time, it might get you some bonus cashback.
Hmm, let's see:
1.) Got reimbursed for my using my personal car for work reasons. So bonus there!
2.) Repaired my old Walkman and made it usable again. Yes, I know cassettes are old tech but I have a ton of them and why not use something that works?
3.) I bought my dad a gift card to Five Guys (his favorite place to eat) and while buying it the lady behind the counter offered me a free soda! I don't know if that's standard procedure now because it's never happened before.
4.) My sister was gifted a TV from some friends (nothing special, just a 32inch 720p black Friday deal) Well, it came with no remote and no screws for the stand. I found her the screws at Homeless Despot ($2 for 6 screws since they were stupidly sold in packages of 3) and taught her to reprogram her existing cable remote to control the TV. So she's happy and it cost almost nothing.
5.) I've been doing normal good weather stuff again like hanging out clothes (love this) growing my garden (mostly just radishes at this point)
1.Hubbie and I made 2 meals in one night, using Hungry Harvest veggies, meat/chicken from freezer, leftover rice (all for meals, and leftover lunches for him).
2. Use H.H. avocado and some purchased for 1 each to make guacamole for a party. Cooked and froze spinach from H.H. box
3. Composted all plant-based scraps for the week.
4. Did a Sam's run (while already out) for a couple items, plus filled gas tank while there.
5. Washed and hung out 2 loads of laundry (sheets on line are the best 🙂 .
Note: caught H.H. delivery person on my first box delivered. Giddiness at feeling as if I caught Santa or the Easter Bunny! Who needs toys or candy???
You know, now that you mention it, I've never seen mine either! My box just mysteriously shows up.
"Homeless Despot" Battra92 thank you for making my morning!
JD- That was nice of the man to help your husband like that. Good people are hard to find.
Ok, 5 frugal things:
1) Had a gift card and got DS1 some cologne for his birthday from Macy's. Plus, it was on sale and free shipping. I saved 70%.
2) Macy's was having 30% off clearance items and I got DS2 a discontinued eco-drive watch for graduation. I saved 44% and got free shipping.
3) Got a early stocking stuffer- I didn't know that RetailMeNot sold gift cards! So, I got a card and then proceeded to the dollar shave club for some shaving balm. It was on sale as well. I saved 28% !
4) DS1 blew a tire on a pot hole and a good Samaritan helped him put on the spare. I had gotten him a set of winter tires as a gift several years ago. Since his seasonal tires were bald, he had the shop put the winter tires on. He saved $700. (I'm still using my winter tires from a few years ago as well, since I didn't have money to get seasonals.) We all have AAA and he could've used it to get the spare on.
5) Amazon Prime ran a 30 day promo for free and I signed up. When the promo ended, I let it go.
1. I am wearing a hand-me-up shirt. My daughter cleaned out her closet and I have several new shirts to wear in warmer weather months.
2. Before purchasing online I usually use cashbackholic or cashbackmonitor to see who is offering the best rebate. Sometimes to keep airline miles current I'll use an airline rewards portal (even if they're not offering the best rebate). It just takes a small purchase to keep your miles.
3. I had leftover burrito bowls for lunch. I made them the other day as I didn't know who would be here for dinner nor when. Picky eaters are able to make their meal just the way they like it.
4. After my doctor's appointment this afternoon I'll stop to get my oil changed (it's on the way home). I feel as if regular oil changes help keep your vehicle running better and longer. It's usually quick at the Honda dealership and they will send it through their car wash.
5. Someone gave me double beds sheets they no longer need. We don't have a use for them but I'll either give them away on freecycle or give them to the quilting group at a local church, that makes quilts for those in need.
1. I ate some of the leftover green beans, peanut butter sandwich, and apple from my kids' lunches for my lunch today. Not exactly proud of this, but it was frugal.
2. Baby #3 will arrive in about a month and a half. We had the choice to buy a van or get all new, narrow car seats to go 3 across in the vehicle we currently own. $800 for new car seats is much cheaper than a new van and we decided to go that route. We ordered 2 of the 3 seats from Kohl's on Saturday using gift cards we bought through a program that gives 4% towards our kids' future tuition.
3. We earned $90 in Kohl's Cash from those 2 seats and are going to put that towards the third seat.
4. I'm wearing a new, super cute maternity shirt that I got for $2 at a Mom-to-Mom sale.
5. My tomato and pepper plants that I started from seed are currently enjoying the warm sunshine out on our porch and I also remembered to water them so they don't die.
Enjoying all the comment-so much inspiration!
My 5:
1. Hung all the laundry outside. Made an effort to watch the weather reports to plan out the best drying days.
2. Dropped off some donations at the thrift store without purchasing anything.
3. Was gifted a nice gift card for babysitting and will use it to purchase all household extras this month.
4. Made coffee at home, except for 1 coffee date, planned out in advance.
5. Paid a bill early using a cash discount for doing so.
Hope everyone is having a good week!
It's gone straight from winter to summer here so garage sales have popped up like spring flowers! The two community sales I try to attend produced quite a few needed/good to have items.
1. My husband went with me to the first community sale. At the first house we scored chicken wire and landscape wire for the garden. It should discourage Mr. Groundhog who likes my tomatoes. We also got a wheelbarrow and a new rake there.
2. At another, we got a pressure washer for 10.00 and in his free pile, a rusty snow shovel that will be painted for a winter outdoor decoration and a large canvas that I'll paint over and have my sister paint a Bible verse.
3. Some of our other items included chicks and hens to replace what didn't survive the winter, a huge bunch of birch twigs to put on either side of the door for 2.00, and intricate hand crocheted doilies priced 3/1.00. I'll use them as centerpieces for church events. Also, a huge stack of orange cones to use as props for our sports themed VBS.
4. Last Thursday, I combined errands and hit several in a wealthy community. At one, I found wool dryer balls still packaged, two Thirty One totes for 1.00 each, a lemon zester and some .50 shirts for my nephew.
5. Other buys included two weed/fertilizer sprayers, a short handled brand new gardening fork perfect for my raised beds, and two wreaths for the porch along with a 2.00 Longaberger picnic basket. And best buy of all? Some incredible chocolate chip cookies to support an academic team competition. I was scheduled to bring snacks to a small group that night and they were better than anything I would have baked!
Ok...
My five frugal things are:
1. Bought a HUGE flat of Kumamoto tomatoes for 5 dollars
2. Scored 6 bell peppers for 1 dollar
3. Last month I made all of our own bread and yogurt and saved heaps, so this week I’ve made a huge batch of muffins and a gallon of yogurt
4. Resisted buying new leggings for the girls and plan to mend up the 10 pairs they already have!
5. About to place my first order with Thred up!
1. Needed some new t-shirts so I checked targets clearance. Found 2 t-shirts and 1 tank for $21. I was very pleased with that as targets t-shirts are better quality than some of the thinner ones from other stores.
2. Uses leftover sauce, a half a zuchinni and some unbeaten spaghetti squash to whip up a couple of meals.
3. Accepted a months worth of prescription samples from a new Dr. I am seeing for my migraines. I really appreciated them as we will be in a state of trial and error for a while.
4. Created a new bottom for my husband's truck seat cover. His seats see a lot of wear and tear and a replacement seat cover would be expensive. I took apart the bottom half that was tearing and used it as a pattern creating a new one. It was a bit of work, but after a few afternoons, I had made a great new cover.
5. Made greeting cards from scrapbook supplies I had on hand. 3 graduation cards, a wedding, 2 mothers day and a 1st birthday card all for free. At 3-4 a card that's a considerable amount of savings, plus I enjoy the creativity of it.
After splurging on fast food today, it's good to get in a frugal mindset:)
1) We have a $5 fill-a-bag thrift store by us. Today I found a new purse (needed) & a sturdy library bag (wanted). They are Land's End & Target brands which are especially good finds in my lower income community.
2) I try to wait to buy my kid's vitamins until there's a B1G1 or B1G1 1/2 off. Today there was a sale when we needed more-yay!
3) We split my daughter's birthday money gifts between new clothes & toys. Shopped clearance & cheaper clothes. In toy shopping we were able to have discussions about price point & my daughter was so mature in decision making.
4) In family fun, we do what's free or included in our memberships. Now that it's nice out & we're getting healthy praise God , it's lots of park days & exercising at the YMCA.
5) I re-use ziplock bags (especially the freezer ones) & wash aluminum foil, & use Pyrex more often now for leftovers (because I won't throw it out like plastic when it stays too long in the fridge--anyone else guilty of that?).
Okay there's 5, happy mid-week.
We sometimes grill the canned pineapple and it's pretty tasty...
1) My daughter wore her Easter shoes for her first communion rather than buying something new. The rest of us wore our Easter clothes and shoes.
2) I used Cinco de Mayo left overs to make a side salad for our first communion luncheon.
3) We ate luncheon leftovers for dinner on Monday
4) I consolidated errands yesterday when I had to go Trader Joe's yesterday to get GF cupcakes for my son's class birthday celebration. I also stocked up on a month's worth of GF oats, they are $3 less a package at TJ's!
5) Convinced my kids to watch a movie on Netflix for family movie night vs going to the Redbox, which adds up over time!
1. I stop at Speedway in the mornings after dropping grandson off at school. I earned enough points to get a free soda and they offer free donuts every morning. Free breakfast.
2. I have also earned enough points to get .20 off per gallon at my next fill up.
3. I went to fix BBQ pork chops in the crock pot and discovered I was out of BBQ sauce. Instead of running out to get a bottle I made my own. This is something that I won't buy anymore; it came out great.
4. My husband brought home a discarded wicker settee that is actually in good shape, although it does not have any cushions. I had previously purchased some couch cushions from a yard sale to redo the patio furniture we already had. It is also wicker. I have enough material and cushions left to also do this settee.
5. I have been planning meals from what is in my freezer and pantry. No extra grocery stops for me.
I have often wondered if you feed your family of 6 on one frying pan's worth of food? Just curious!
That depends! If all six of us are here, it has to be a pretty full frying pan, or I need to expand into more pans. This night there were only four of us, so it worked out fine with one pan.
1 - I saved two shirts and one pair of shorts that had various sticky things on them by treating the areas with a healthy dose of rubbing alcohol. The shorts had tree sap. One shirt had gum. The second shirt I think had the remnants of a preschool tape name tag, but I'm not entirely sure as it was in a hand-me-down box.
2 - I got one container each of laundry detergent and dish soap free from a grocery store that was launching new products. Frankly, I'm thinking of just donating them to the food pantry because both unit prices are so much higher than what I usually use (which I'm happy with) that I don't want to like them.
3 - I got a free can of corn and a free can of tomato sauce from the Monopoly game at another grocery store. The corn will also go to the food pantry as, while we eat canned corn, I have plenty at the moment. Canned vegetables are on their wish list; tomato sauce is not.
4 - I returned a set of items that didn't fit as well as I would have liked. I did pay $6 shipping to mail them vs taking them to the store. But, I'm sure I would have spent more than that going in to the mall and the zero hassle was worth it too. I get much more of that refunded to me for returning items that fit only ok.
5 - My total grocery spend for April was $665, which I know sounds high. But, its way under my goal of $1000 for our family of 8 and we still ate well without eating out much.
1. Got some frozen meals half price I have never tried before & so far they are really delicious & great at the moment as I have too much going on to cook most nights
2. Checked my car's oil to prevent engine failure but didn't top up too much as I am getting a
regular service done shortly & they'll change the oil
3. Bought windscreen wiper blades to cut & fit myself
4. Resisted buying produce I didn't have an immediate plan for
5. Sis had leftover rice paper rolls she gave me for lunch today
I like using frozen pineapple for recipes, but will buy fresh for snacking. I noticed when I was buying canned my recipes wouldn't use it all up so frozen was cheaper in the long run.