Five Frugal Things
1. I used my Figs shipping bag as a trash bag
This one is honestly more resourceful and waste-reducing than frugal, but I'm including it anyway!
I had ordered a set of navy blue Figs scrubs several months ago, and they came in a pretty big shipping bag.
I came across the bag the other day and realized it could serve as a small trash can liner.
Since small plastic shopping bags are no longer a thing in my area, I do my best to conserve the stash I have here!
2. I got a great price on some iron pills
As I've mentioned, my iron levels are improving, but I need to continue with supplements for a bit because my stored iron levels are still too low.
I'd bought the name brand Slow Fe iron before, but this time I opted for CVS's generic version. Each bottle is usually $14.99, but they were buy one, get one free, plus I had several coupons and extra care bucks, so I got two bottles for $6.61!
I was very pleased with myself, and I figured that 120 iron pills should be enough to finish off my iron supplementation journey (unless I donate blood again. Ha. Which we know I will.)
3. I used my Amazon credits (partially)
Somehow, I had managed to accumulate $358 in Amazon credits from one of my credit cards (It is an Amazon-branded card, but you can use it anywhere, and I just have it auto-set to pay some of my bills).
It is one of the few credit cards from my married years that had me listed as the primary cardholder, so I have hung onto it due to the very long associated credit history.
Anyway! I obviously haven't checked my credit balance in a while, but once I discovered I had so much credit to use, I ordered a few personal care items for $0 out of pocket (some lotion, some shampoo, and the spray I use for my dry eyes.)
4. I touched up my Christmas tree stand
This one is from 1997 (!!), and a few years ago, I sanded it down, removed the rust, and repainted it.
The rehab job is holding up pretty well, but after I took my tree down this week, I saw some tiny spots of bare metal peeking through.
So, I gave it a few quick coats of spray paint (which was free from my Buy Nothing group). And now we should be good to go for next Christmas.
I love how heavy-duty this stand is; I see so many current models that are made of thin, flimsy metal. Sooo, I'd like to keep this one going as long as possible.
(Spray paint does have temperature range specifications; if you're gonna do this in the winter, be careful, because freezing temps + spray paint don't mix well. I was lucky enough to have a warmish afternoon!)
5. I booked a 50% off haircut
I had been thinking I needed a trim (which I usually get twice a year), but hadn't gotten around to making an appointment. But then I got a "We haven't seen you in a while!" text message from Hair Cuttery, offering me 50% off.
Soo, I'm going in at 10 this morning.
And don't worry: I will tip on the full price. 🙂
Happy Frugal Tuesday as always!
I
- Did not leave the house this weekend by choice. Side perk (rest being the main goal) - saved gas money and avoided misc purchases.
- Showered at the gym a couple times.
- Made some food that needed to be used up from the freezer so now I have stuff ready to go and easy for the week too!
- Have not spent personal money on my classroom so far for this semester (which we are 5 days into haha).
- Continue to be too tired for so many grocery store trips so we continue to be creative with what is here.
If it had been me I probably would have thought 'that's a job for next Christmas' and forgot about it! Good reminder to get things like that done early!
My frugals:
1. I booked a somewhat fancy hotel in Florence as it was having a winter sale, and wasn't a lot more expensive than some of the more basic places. Breakfast is also included!
2. This is slightly unfrugal, but I didn't book the cheaper late opening ticket for a museum I want to go to because I know I want to go there earlier in the day and would rather save on time. I also booked all my museum tickets ahead of time as there can be long queues and a risk of selling out.
3. I borrowed guidebooks on Florence from the library and also made an itinerary with ideas from blogs and websites on going to Florence.
4. I have not got any takeout so far this month.
5. I bought a dress in a sale which was 50% off. It was originally fairly expensive as it's from an independent shop, but it's well-made and should last a long time (plus I like supporting independent shops!).
Ha, welllll, for many years I put off rehabbing that tree stand by employing that mindset. But then December would roll around and it would usually be too cold to paint, and plus I'd be needing the tree stand immediately.
So, I have learned from my past self!
Okay, that makes me feel slightly better about myself! Haha! Learning from your past self is always a plus 🙂 I often motivate myself to get things done by thinking about how Future Sophie will be happy lol!
All mindful spending Sophie!
Yup! I forgot to add that I also bought a book I wanted with a voucher I got for Christmas (The Death of Expertise by Thomas Nichols, if anyone's interested) and I used my gym membership.
I love Florence and hope to get back their some time in the next couple years. I hope you have an amazing trip!
Thank you!
I can’t wait to hear all about your trip to Florence!
Enjoy your travels to Florence! Sounds like you have some really fun things planned.
Thanks!
wow a whole month without take out. i think i would not survive a whole m month. good for you!!!!
Thanks! If it helps, I did get lunch out a couple of times which probably isn't a lot cheaper! On the other hand, I had to go to some training days at work last week and breakfast and lunch were provided.
--High winds knocked our garbage can into the corner of the garage, tearing several corner pieces loose, but thankfully there was no structural damage. I reattached the loose pieces thanks to my power drill and some screws.
--I mended a holy shirt, a hand towel seam, and the edge of our bed's winter quilt.
--I repurposed a giant tin from gifted Christmas cookies to hold marigold seeds. The seeds were originally in smaller containers--all I had when cleaning up the garden--and completely filled the tin!!! I didn't even harvest a quarter of the total seeds, though I may have accidentally seeded our side of the village in the process....
--Ace Hardware finally put their fall flower bulbs on sale. Since we had a brief warm snap that softened the ground, I availed myself of 12 alliums and over 100 muscari bulbs for under $20.
--We've been doing a modified pantry challenge to use up ingredients that have been sitting forever despite the fact we genuinely like them. Think pearled barley, black rice, an embarrassment of canned chickpeas, etc. Related: I've made a point of referring to our physical cookbooks more vs. defaulting to online searches. My goal is to try 2-3 new recipes a month from our cookbooks.
I had so many chickpeas too, because I'd bought a case from Sam's Club. I've been using them in the copycat Aldi salad.
Im afraid I'm unfamiliar with that one! Shakshuka is my favorite way to use chickpeas and will be either tonight's or tomorrow's dinner. Cumin lime chickpea salad is another.
My area has also stopped using small plastic bags, which I used to re-use for so many things! Good idea to re-use shipping bags.
1. A small thing—we had some (clean) recyclables stored in a big clear plastic trash bag. Instead of throwing the whole bag in the recycle bin, I emptied it and saved it for later use.
2. Another small one—I cut up an old washcloth to use for drying after applying eye drops, instead of buying a specific-purpose product.
3. A used leftover yarn to crochet a tote bag. It wasn’t fun and the colors are dull, but it kept my hands busy while watching tv in the evening and it will be useful.
4. I have not thrown out and replaced my newish magnetic measuring spoons that are driving me crazy the way they stick together in the drawer.
5. My partner saw a post that someone in town had put a number of things, including a dog gate, out on their curb for free. We drove right over, but unfortunately it was not the kind of gate we need. I’m giving us credit though for attempting to “shop” in a different, more frugal way!
Hi Jaefi,
About your measuring spoons, would it be helpful to have them stored on your fridge door or side? That way they wouldn't magnetize to your other cutlery. I was thinking of getting some as a stocking stuffer gift for a relative, but he might have found them to be annoying, also.
Can you pry the magnets off?
JaeFi, I reuse all kinds of plastic bags: bread bags, produce bags from the supermarkets, birdseed and potting soil bags, and even the "bags" I create from TP and paper towel wrappers. And Lindsey in Alaska reuses her giant dog food bags after her two giant dogs are through eating the food.
JaeFi, yay for your #1 as plastic bags aren't meant for the recycling bin since they jam the machines. Reuse is always good!
Too busy to comment fully, but I love any kind of product that will last! For instance, last week when the roads were covered in ice, our eldest wore the heavy duty anti slip shoe spanners he has had for over 10 years (and did not need for the last five - admittedly). They were far better than the cheaper spiked ones we had. So we ordered similar ones for ourselves and if we do not wear them out they will become part of our estate ;-).
I prefer storing a safety product you use once every five years only, to risking one bad fall. Especially now that we moved into early seniority.
I've been wearing my Birkenstock boots lately which were expensive, but SO good for walking in the snow and not slipping, so they were well worth it. Having said that, I had an embarrassing moment on the beach the other day where I didn't see a big patch of ice and slipped on my bum (my pride was more hurt than anything!).
@Sophie, after you fell, did you immediately look around to see if anyone saw you go down?
I didn't need to, there were several people around! One gave me a thumbs up to check if I was okay. I nodded and hastened away!
We fixed the fridge drain tube and thawed the ice maker (a classic Samsung issue), made Sunday dinner entirely from freezer leftovers, had a plumber friend replace a bathroom faucet for a great price, and our youngest son swapped out smoke detectors and a backyard light—saving us money and a risky ladder climb.
I don't even have a tree stand. The trees we cut here have skinny trunks that I'm not sure would even be held well in a traditional tree stand. We put our Christmas tree in a galvanized metal bucket left here by the previous house owner and secure it with rocks. I actually really like how this looks. Rustic and practical. Like us. 🙂
I guess that could be considered frugal, but let's see what else . . .
--While we're waiting on the cow we got from our neighbor to fatten prior to being in our freezer in a few weeks (we decided to take this one to our house and keep her in a pen to feed her up on hay and corn before slaughter to improve the meat), I am trying not to buy any more meat that will take up room in the freezer. That means we're eating mostly pork butt and roosters from the freezer right now, supplemented with beans and chickpeas.
--I made pizza last night with the expensive cheese my husband bought. He bought it because he was at the store that has big blocks of the cheaper asadero cheese I buy and use in place of mozzarella. Except they didn't have what I usually get. He did find a block of asadero, but it was eight dollars a pound. So about four times what I used to get. He bought it anyway--I would not have--and brought it home. So our pizza was not as frugal as it should have been, but two large pizzas at the only pizza place near us would be a lot more than $12, so it's okay.
--At least the sauce on the pizza sauce was free, because I used one of the food-service-size cans of tomato puree that my sister's boyfriend brought me from the kitchen of the camp they were working in.
--I also used that tomato puree to make tomato soup for my family, all at home for our week of virtual learning, boo. The soup also had stock made from the rooster carcass and the bread that thickens it was my sourdough, so I will make myself feel better about the pizza by telling myself this extra-frugal soup makes up for it. 🙂
--One of our twin flannel sheets has a tear in the top part of it that I keep sewing up and that keeps coming apart and unraveling more. It's harder to fix every time as the material shreds, but even if the fix is inexpert and sort of lumpy--and it is--I just put the sheet on the bed upside down so I can tuck that part in. It's not like anyone sees it, and my sons for sure do not care if their sheets are on upside down. I'm lucky if their sheets even stay on their beds . . .
You may have thought of this already, but I wonder if you could add a larger patch to the area that keeps ripping? Then you can zig zag stitch over the whole thing, reinforcing the worn parts and sewing down any raggedy bits too. Wouldn't be pretty of course! 🙂
Kristen - I'm intrigued by the spray for dry eyes you mentioned. Can you share more info on that? I suffer from chronic dry eyes.
FFT:
- We attended my company's annual party on Saturday. I wore pants and shoes that were in my closet and DH wore his usual slacks, dress shirt, and sports coat. I did buy a new sweater for the occasion, but it was on clearance after the holidays.
- I won a JBL PartyBox as a door prize at the company party. I had no idea that it sold for over $350! Party included dinner and cocktails, so it was an inexpensive night out for us plus we came home with a nice prize.
- I used an Amazon credit to buy a book I want to read.
- I ordered face products when there was a promotion to get a free product with purchase.
- I baked sourdough bread, one loaf for us and one for our daughter and her family.
Of course, I don't know where Sophie in Denmark is located, but my daughter is in Copenhagen this week and they get a little time to sightsee. Sophie, if you happen to run across a blonde American with a Southern US accent....
1. Assembled and installed the raised garden bed I had ordered. It is not frugal to order a new raised bed for the garden then let it sit, which I admit it had done for a month or so.
2. The two bathroom and bedroom doors upstairs had contractor-installed door stops that fit onto the top hinge pin, with rubber stops that braced against both the door and the door frame as the door swings open. However, on these hollow-core doors, the stops eventually broke through the outer paneling of the doors. I pulled out and threw away those stops – no way was I using them again – inserted sections of craft sticks I already had inside the holes with wood glue and have patched the holes with wood putty I had. I’ll sand and paint the patches with paint I have when they have cured. These were the only two doors in the whole house with those kind of stops.
3. I cooked beef short ribs, which take an hours-long cooking time, but in the pressure cooker; less than five minutes to come to pressure, 30 minutes under pressure, and 15 minutes to de-pressurize off heat, to become fork tender.
4. I traded homemade frozen “lemonade concentrate” for more grapefruit with my daughter who has the grapefruit tree.
5. I used scrap fabric to sew a patch on the removable bottom cushion of one of the new dog beds (sigh) and took the cushion out of the bed, since the dog seemed to hate it. He is happily curling up in his new bed now with a folded towel in place of the bottom cushion. I guess the patched cushion will be a spare for when I wash the cushion in the other dog’s bed. The other dog loves her bed with the bottom cushion.
I hope she has a fabulous time!
JD, I sympathize with you on your #5. Neither of our two dogs would ever use a store-bought dog bed. We bought our first dog one of those fancy LL Bean numbers, and from her reaction, you'd have thought it was stuffed with shrapnel!
I guess dogs are like people. No two see things the same way or like exactly the same things.
More frugal travel preparations for our winter stay in Arizona:
1. Established a designated space in a basement closet to stash needed items. Over several months, I kept my eyes open for Buy Nothing items that would be useful (like non-glass canisters and toiletry bags that could hold larger quantities) and requested things (like condiment packets and plastic spice jars).
2. Amassed 10 books for each of us (my husband said that's too many and I said it's a good start!), along with puzzles, magazines, and audiobooks from Little Free Libraries, library book sales and Buy Nothing.
3. Followed our custom packing list to ensure we didn't have to make any unnecessary purchases.
4. Documented in-network providers for us and veterinary emergency care for our dog so we're not scrambling if/when anything bad happens and to minimize any costly surprises.
5. Scanned all of the cards that are in our wallets so that we have an electronic version in case physical cards are lost/stolen.
I'd add where fee free ATMs are located if you don't already have that on your list.
Selena, I have never used an ATM! And have no plans to start.
I want to join a Buy Nothing group--partly because I'm downsizing and still have a lot to give away.
What stops me, though, is the security issue. As a single woman living alone, I'm not excited about giving my address to strangers for pickup.
What tips do you, or anyone else here, have about that, please?
Thank you!
Hi! Go ahead and join and then decide how you'd like to participate! My Buy Nothing group is 95% women so I am less leery about security then when I sell stuff on Facebook. I also often leave things at the top of the driveway. Sometimes I drop stuff off as a courtesy as well -- you could volunteer to do that.
My group will also do occasional swap events, where everyone comes to a church parking lot.
There are rules with every group, so I would encourage you to reach out to an administrator to discuss any concerns or suggestions. We have anonymous posters/requestors as well.
If it is something you can transport, you can meet them in a public place…I meet people in front of the library as I would be going there regularly anyway. Our local police department also has a designated meet up spot in front of the station that is both lit up and recorded but I have not actually used that spot. Big items like furniture are harder…I trust my gut and pray!
I knew I'd responded to this question before: I found it in an old comment thread, and I think it was actually a reply to you! Maybe you missed it. I'll copy and paste it below. I'd also add: Buy Nothing groups are hyper local. It is literally your neighbors, many of whom probably drive by your house every day. 🙂 And also, as others have said, you can do public meetups if you still feel uncomfortable.
_______________________
This aspect of a Buy Nothing group does not bother me, and here's why.
Unless your house is in a secret location, people know your house is there, right? They probably drive by it every day; I know that's true for mine.
Also, anyone from anywhere can get on Google maps and look at houses, neighborhoods, etc. The fact that there is a house at 123 Oak Lane, Anytown, CA is not a secret.
And it's not hard to find out who is listed as an addressee at most houses either. So, at baseline, our houses and sometimes the occupants of those houses is ALREADY public information.
If you give away, say, a bag of clothes on your Buy Nothing group, the only thing that changes is that someone could know the person who lives at 123 Oak Lane is in possession of a bag of used clothes.
This, to me, does not signify an increase in danger at all. I don't think it makes you more likely to get robbed or stalked. Now, if you were listing jewels or designer bags or something, ok, yes, that could increase the danger. But that's not what we do on Buy Nothing groups. 😉
Does that help at all? I don't know if I addressed your specific concern! Speaking of: it might help to make a list of specifically what you are worried about, so that it is not just a vague "that doesn't seem safe". Once you've specified your fears, you can assess the safety or lack thereof more easily.
My BN group is 90% women, and heavily moderated by local admins. most of the names I recognize (you could also follow along & choose who when you want to participate - maybe when you know people)? Also , I don't give out my address on the post - I send a private message to the recipient & leave everything out on the porch. I've never met anyone but a couple of people who have happened to stop by while I'm working in the yard. So, I don't think they'd know you are single or a woman. Anyway, in my neighborhood, I have no concerns with my group. Your mileage may vary, of course. You could also ask to join and then ask the admin any questions or concerns you have.
You could always meet someone in a parking lot if you are concerned w/ people knowing where you live.
In my area, it isn't a big deal though. Most stuff is just left on the porch and you run up and grab it.
Unlike Facebook Marketplace, these groups are usually hyper-local. My BN group is made up of my neighbors, a children's librarian, a few teachers, young parents, and so forth. Each of the members have an individual Facebook profile and often have gone through approval with the group's administrator before joining.
I have found that most of the BN members are interested in community. I would suggest you join and then, over a period of a few weeks, watch how it works. If you are comfortable with the process, then you can become an active participant.
Our local police station allows residents to exchange in their parking lot. See if yours will allow it!
My 5 things:
1. Planned dinners around what we already had (potato bin and freezer). One of my frugal goals for this year.
2. Stuck to the list at the grocery store! Another one of my frugal goals this year.
3. Picked up dog food from Buy Nothing group.
4. Picked up planters from Buy Nothing group - I am trying to turn my brown thumb around while spending minimally.
5. Took the kids out for Costco dinner instead of Chick Fil A. With the $1.50 hot dog and soda deal, this is a frugal compromise.
Let's see what I can come up with:
1) I used an old (like 5-10yrs old) Amazon gift card I found to buy a professional planner I wanted that was on sale.
2) I pre-ordered 2 bushels of apples from a local farm at a winter sale price and will pick up on Saturday.
3) Got a couple discounts from vendors at the farmers market for my volunteering there.
4) I tried to cancel a streaming subscription and because my card had lapsed they wouldn't let me do anything until I updated it. That pushed through the charge for a year at full price. I e-mailed and they cancelled it and refunded me.
5) Got a $25 discount for a year of a different streaming service.
I know someone who always cans her applesauce over the Christmas/New Year’s break with a variety of discounted apples from a local orchard. She devotes a full day to the activity and often has friends/family participate. I think that is genius level planning.
The most frugal thing I did this week is offer to list clothes online for a good friend who has battled with a QVC shopping addiction in the past. She has struggled 4 years to empty her house of other unwanted items ( her Mom was a hoarder) and now she is making room for a newly purchased murphy bed which will give her the sewing room she has always wanted.
She gave me a huge!!!! box. I used CHaptPT to create a floor of a $12.00 return on time spent listing selling. 27 items were listed. Over 30 remain in a bag. All of those are knit tops 10- 20 years old new without tags. I am going to offer to drop them at a consignment store since they are mint conditions or to pass on to a smaller charity that allows homeless/ house insecure to "shop." Hopefully she will take me up on it. Another box is coming today.
I am 100% validated about have culled my wardrobe down only that which I wear, love and is in good condition. Clothes are important to me from passed self esteem issues but I do not have to go to the extreme. I see what happens when it does.
Great fix with the tree stand!
1) Used my CVS monthly reward + a one time coupon to buy things we needed for our New Zealand trip.
2) Used a couple of iBotta offers to pick up protein bars that DS19 likes & are typically very spendy.
3) DH went through his watches & found some he was ready to part with (he collects them - not my jam, but anyway). I gave a few away on Buy Nothing & listed a few on eBay. One just sold on eBay for $125, so winner, winner!
4) Made dinner out of a lot of leftovers from DS18 NY dinner with friends. I made chicken Alfredo at the request of DS19, and that used up almost all of the heavy cream, the parmesan & the parsley. He & his GF each had three servings (they had dinner after working & an all day study fest, so they were starving), so it turned out well!
5) Took the rest of the rotisserie chicken mean (1/2 into the Alfredo) & used the chicken bones to make chicken noodle soup for lunches this week. The rotisserie chicken was the $4.99 kind from Costco, which is such a crazy value.
1. I saved several hundred dollars on holiday travel by extending the trip beyond peak time.
Airline tickets around Christmas are always very expensive which is why we usually stay home. This year I really wanted to travel as the calendar gave us a more days off and my mother has not been doing well. We extended our trip a little before and after the peak season to save a considerable amount on five tickets. The kids missed a little bit of school, my husband worked a little in our destination, and I used vacation days I had saved up. Was very thankful for the timing as my mother was hospitalized on the night we flew in.
2. Maintained some frugal habits even when on expensive overseas travel. Just because you spend a lot on one thing doesn't mean you can't save on other things.
We used public transit instead of taxi or car rental, and cooked in for the majority of the time. If we ate out, we timed it for lunch which is cheaper than dinner, or chose a nice cafe for coffee and pastry. For frugal fun, my kids went sledding instead of downhill skiing, swimming at a municipal pool (which are a lot fancier than U.S. rec pools), and had a slumber party with cousins. We purposely spent more on a day trip to another country for 8 people, including a fancy meal.
3. Using coupons when traveling.
I have maintained some loyalty programs in my old home country, so when visiting I checked my accounts and applied several online coupons on some purchases. I also found a small gift card I still had some credit on, and used it on a purchase I was going to make anyway.
4. Rescued some new pants in laundry.
My husband was wearing his brand new slacks on Christmas when some gravy he was stirring just exploded and got all over his pants. After an initial rinse and wash we thought the grease stains were imprinted for ever. However, after we got home from our travels I treated the pants with gall soap I have tucked away for stubborn stains, which did the trick to make the pants wearable again.
5. Accepted some free things.
While visiting my mother on my last evening back home, she offered me to go through her yarn stash as she no longer can knit due to a stroke. I was going to purchase some to bring home but did not make it to the store, so I was grateful to bring some of hers with me. It's all high-quality wool yarn that can be expensive in the U.S.
I always reuse plastic shipping/parts bags, bread bags, etc. as trash can liners and dog duty. Focusing on reusables has the added benefit of needing small trash cans throughout the house.
1. I made a clean out the freezer and refrigerator quiche for dinner. Bonus, I got to use my Christmas toys to make it. Toys = kitchen stuff.
2. I bought liter size shampoo and conditioner for my fussy hair during Ulta's liter sale that will last us until the next liter sale in the summer.
3. I'm taking advantage of the New Year's resolution sales to stock up on electrolytes that aren't full of junk, k tape, and such for my upcoming performing season that starts next month.
4. I use my HSA account to buy a pair of single vision computer glasses from an online store instead of my eye doctor ($$$.) The frames aren't as sturdy as the progressive pair I bought from my doctor but will do since they sit in a case by my computer when I'm not wearing them to type.
5. I carried a pair of needed PJ's that were just OK around a store and decided not to buy them because I didn't love them and I just haven't gotten around to making a pair with fabric I have. Kinda silly since it's something that no one but me will see but I don't like to go to bed angry 🙂
hope we see a photo of your haircut. i get my hair done four times a year. i alternate between trim my hair and color. i went back to coloring cause i hated my hair color at 16 and i hated it at 71. 16 is when i started coloring it. i did it myself and then i spent 4 hours at the salon getting it fixed.
Oh, it was a VERY boring little trim. 🙂 Just got two inches off the ends.
The shoelace hook on one side of my hiking boots snapped off -- on boots that are only two months old! I contacted Amazon and was able to return the boots for credit. Then I ordered a nearly-new pair of the same boots off Poshmark for half the price of a new pair. I've worn this same brand (Keen) for years, so I'm counting on that broken hook being a fluke.
I mended a pair of jeans that have been in the mending pile for several months. My wardrobe has expanded overnight.
My husband repaired our snow-blower without having to buy anything.
Not tipping on full price means you went down the road from being frugal to being cheap.
No no, I’m saying I DID tip on the full price!
I know you did tip - I am saying that if one doesn't, you are being cheap, not frugal. My wording wasn't the best.
Oh, hahaha, I was like, "Oh no! I don't want people to misunderstand what I said!"
Selena, Sometimes you go down the road from being critical to being mean.
Frugal things---
● using (intentional so won't freeze water pipes on outside wall) dripping water from sink faucet to water plants, refill dog water dish & flush tiolets
● eating only from home, eating down freezer & pantry
● ordered 4 large multi pack kleenex from Target (spend $50 save $15) & with coupons was $35 (free shipping) & used my Target giftcards. My cost just under $1 (total)
● turning off gas woodstove heat when temperature not so cold. My utility bill was $350 from latest deep freeze temps
● had some old bread in the fridge (No mold but dried out) so when I cleaned out fridge to clean inside I broke up the dry bread for the birds since I don't do birdseed.
1. Did a survey of perishables in my fridge, which resulted in some spaghetti sauce with mushrooms bubbling on the stove, granola and applesauce for breakfast, and plans to make a pizza later today. Only not on a pizza crust but on naan. With mushrooms. The spaghetti sauce will go in the freezer if it will fit.
2. Received $6.07 from a class action suit. Don't remember what it was for!
3. Picked up a bag full of trash while out walking. I found a packet of Asian seasoning and a green pepper in good condition. As I needed neither I left them in the little free pantry.
4. I firmed up plans to stay with a friend who will be recovering from hip replacement surgery next month. This will be a win-win -- care for her, budget relief for me, and happy visiting time for both of us.
5. This is not really frugal, but I managed not to kill a gifted amaryllis bulb and it's blooming beautifully this morning.
Amaryllis are my favorite.
It was a weak week.
NOT FRUGAL:
1. Bought gas locally because I am unsure in my “new” car of how many gallons remain when the E appears; when I got down the hill, I saw that gas was 30¢ less a gallon. I could have made it to that gas station and would have saved $4. (Now I know the light comes on when 4 gallons remain.)
2. Against my better judgement, I succumbed to the great sale prices on Coldwater Creek, in spite of their frequent mistakes. Sure enough, the very perfect summer dress was sent to me in the wrong color. Now I have a fight on my hands to get them to replace it and not charge me any shipping.
3. Wasted 5 hours on the phone trying to get my website and email working. It only works intermittently and I probably have another 5 hours ahead.
4. Ended the listings of 10 books on eBay because I want that stack out of my closet AND if one sells while my email doesn’t work, that will be a problem.
5. Still haven’t gotten around to planting bulbs and they are sprouting in their piles.
FRUGAL:
1. Sewed a button on a favorite sweater.
2. Removed very expensive buttons from a sweater I no longer wear. (Hmmm, can I take it to a thrift shop minus buttons?)
3. Resisted buying a sweater pattern and yarn because I still have much unused yarn. (Hmmm, should I buy that pattern? Will it work with yarn I already have?)
4. Resisted buying coffee when I felt that I “deserved” a treat after all the hassles.
I bought a new car last summer my old one had approximately 220,000 miles on it and one had to open the door to roll down the window. It was time.
Anyway, when I have 80 miles remaining on a tank of gas, my new car reminds that I need gas, but it also asked me if I need help finding a gas station. If I say yes, a map of nearby gas stations pops up. It is definitely a strange new world.
I just discovered it's a strange OLD world, when my 2008 Ford Taurus station wagon (that I bought for $8K cash and absolutely love and was definitely a frugal win with only 1 previous owner who kept it in immaculate shape) will also tell me how many miles to go before the tank is REALLY empty. I guess I never let the tank get low enough to trigger the warning. But it's nice to know a car that old has that in its system.
All I can say about your week is- Bless your heart. I hope it gets better.
Jana, You’ve had a rough start to the new year. Here’s hoping it changes for the better very soon! How is the mural coming along?
1. My company gifted everyone a set amount on a website to pick our own gifts for the holidays. I couldn’t find a gift for myself that seemed like it was using the amount given to us wisely so I opted for a gift card for the given amount. I’ll be able to stretch the gift card so much further just about anywhere other than that website.
2. I scheduled my preventive care appointments for the year.
3. Another round of freezer cleanout menu planning.
4. I was gifted a Barnes and Noble gift card and I plan on getting a new cookbook devoted to cookies. Before deciding which on is right for me I have requested the top rated cookie cookbooks from the library to look through.
5. Ordered Amazon delivery for groceries instead of going to the store. I do this every few weeks just so I can order distilled water for the humidifiers at a very low price (we have really hard water). Amazon grocery orders help me not impulse buy and this time around the delivery driver accidently gave us a bag of someone’s groceries by mistake. We got some very high-quality dog chews. It’s a headache for the people that didn’t get their order, but I know they will get a refund.
Geneva, check out this Minnesota-based cookbook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-ultimate-minnesota-cookie-book-lee-svitak-dean/1145150066
As a winner in the annual StarTribune cookie contest, a friend of mine has a few of her recipes included in this book.
It has not really been the most frugal week. I have 8 family birthdays in the month of January.
I am running low on several personal care items. I have cut the top off the toothpaste tube, my eye cream, and conditioner, so I can get every.last.drop.
I packed away my Christmas decorations in several stacking storage containers that were given to me by a neighbor. He wanted a different color to match the new flooring in his garage. (He is an architect.) I was more than happy to take the old ones. They were just what I needed and no one will see them anyway.
Orchids were buy one get one free at one of the local markets. They had some very unusual colors. Since house looked so bare after I took down the Christmas decorations, I indulged myself. This is one of my weaknesses, but just $10 each, they were a bargain.
I have done most of my usual things - batched errands, used my library, brewed my own coffee, drank primarily filtered water from my refrigerator, and have eaten at home as much as possible.
Frugal fail: I have been trying to add one fun thing to my schedule every week. This was one of my New Year's resolutions, because I was in a rut. A friend of mine invited me to the movie last week. She is a member of the movie club and receives discounted tickets. She brought my ticket ahead, so I offered to buy her popcorn and drink. I bought kids size popcorn and drink for myself. It was $25! I'm still in shock.
Wishing you all a prosperous New Year!
I may have to try that one fun thing per week.
Good luck with the orchid. My youngest has unexpectedly developed a knack for orchids and has several blooming in her office at work, and I am so envious.
It is SO important to match your garage storage containers to your garage flooring. I shudder to think what the neighbors would say if you fail to do that. YIKES! You would NEVER be able to open your garage door during daylight hours. The shame. The shame....
My neighbor is an architect. We all have different standards. My goal is not to be embarrassed if my garage door is open. There are occasions when I definitely am.
Bee, even I wouldn't think to match the color of the storage bins to the color of the floor, and I can be rather anal. Exhibit A: stickers on fruit must be removed pronto after grocery shopping!
1) I am back to commuting to my university. Today I packed my lunch and a snack for the ride home, paid for and parked in the cheapest-but-super-far-away lot, then caught the free university bus to my part of campus.
2) I saved all my syllabus printing for today, the first day of class, but also the first day I would be back on campus to have access to the office printer. I've used my personal printer in the past, but 34 copies of multiple 6-page syllabi adds up!
3) We enrolled our daughter in a special private school that specializes in her range of disabilities, and subsequently, we have to drive her there and back every day (a 22 minute, one-way drive if traffic is smooth). When we enrolled, we checked a box that said "open to carpooling," but never heard anything. So Friday I reached out to to enrollment coordinator and she sent me the whole spreadsheet of families who also checked that box! I'm going to start working through the list, seeing who is closest and who might like to get coffee and discuss. If we could cut our drives out to the school in half, it would save us so much gas and time. And maybe we find TWO other families who want to carpool!
4) Sunday night we menu-planned and wrote a grocery list. I was tickled yesterday to input our order at Aldi and see that it came up below $200, but then I realized I forgot to add a few things and had to go in and supplement when I swung by for the pick-up. The total of both orders? $200 of course. These kids just eat, eat, eat. At least we are able to shop at Aldi and have long since trained ourselves to stick to a list and menu.
5) Sunday night dinner was tuna sandwiches and french fries. Sunday night used to be take-out night because we were usually out of food and energy by that point in the week. About a year ago we took pains to break the habit, which meant replacing take-out with something simple and usually something that is all pantry staples. We were marveling how we are at the point now that we don't even think about take-out and the kids no longer expect it. Now we save our take-out dollars for when we are traveling or celebrating, which is much more fun!
I love those "Haven't seen you in a while" offers! Last week I got a free smoothie from Tropical Smoothie Cafe because they hadn't seen me in a while. 🙂
What is this spray you use for dry eyes? I’ve only ever heard of drops!
I wrote about the Meibomian gland issue here: https://www.thefrugalgirl.com/sort-of-a-qa/
And then here I wrote a little more about the spray: https://www.thefrugalgirl.com/thankful-thursday-1-for-2025/
Basically, the spray helps remove the oil that clogs the glands that lubricate my eyes.
Thank you!
1. Thank you!!!! I also take SlowFE, and had looked for less expensive options when my doctor first put me on it, but never found anything. It was on my to-do list to purchase more this week, so the timing of your post is perfect. I just bought 2 bottles!
2. Planning a weekend away with friends this summer: we looked for the most affordable lake house, within driving distance, that has a full kitchen. So we can carpool there together and cook most of our meals!
3. Met with a new mentee last night for the first time, and she purchased my hot chocolate as a thank you for meeting with her.
4. Brought my own snacks and lunch to work today, drinking free tea from the staff kitchen, and will eat leftovers for dinner tonight.
5. My entire outfit is thrifted (aside from my shoes and underwear), and I've received quite a few compliments on it today.
Late to the party today, but here's my FFT, January Cleanout Edition (updated from yesterday's FFT at the NCA):
(1) I've culled four boxes of books plus a few CDs from my holdings, and I've made an appointment to drop these off at the FFL (one of our excellent local libraries) on Wednesday.
(2) My friend Mr. Fix-It was here on Sunday to help me through a few of the usual issues (coaxing balky fluorescent light fixtures in the basement to perform again, etc.). I offered him anything he wanted from my pile of DH's electronic clutter in the basement; he took a few things but advised me to drop off the rest at a local electronics recycling facility (yes, we do have one that accepts dropoffs).
(3) I made a shrimp curry that helped me do a fridge cleanout, since I included some tomato paste left over from Xmas Eve dinner and some cauliflower that's been in there for the last 6 weeks (in a special Tupperware veggie storage container, fortunately, so it hadn't grown too much fur). Delicious, and I'm not dead yet!
(4) A neighbor who's moving out asked me if he could put extra trash and recycling into my 96-gallon carts, and I agreed. From this, I scavenged a couple of deposit containers and a 1992 Rolling Stone 25th anniversary issue called "Portraits," full of great photos of rock legends--which I am currently enjoying but will eventually recycle. (I see online that it's got some modest resale value, but, alas, the back cover is torn off.)
(5) And here's a big one (wish us luck): NDN1's other close friend (CF) and I are going Wednesday afternoon on a visit to a local assisted living facility that CF thinks will be a good fit for NDN1. It certainly looks good from the website and the literature--but getting NDN1 to agree to this will require diplomacy on the scale of the Treaty of Versailles. Nevertheless, NDN1 (who turns 87 tomorrow) is getting foggier by the day, poor darling, and both CF and I will lose a lot less sleep if she's in a setting where she can be properly looked after.
Ohhh, what a relief it would be to get NDN into a place she can be cared for!!
good luck. i hope you are successful.
I booked a free haircut through the Supercuts training center, which was perfect timing as my hair has gotten to the length where it wraps around my throat at night.
This is one of my favorite frugal hacks.
I am so envious that you have this in your area! I looked in my area to no avail.
I also have an Amazon branded card that earns me rewards. Will it let you turn those reward credits into cash back? (mine will) I has the cash back deposited into my checking account, and then use it to pay on the balance - and then earn points (more cash back!) on anything I end up ordering from Amazon. Win win win.
I have that same benefit with my Capital One card. Its handy!
You can accomplish the same by just applying the cash back to your cc account. It saves the step of depositing it into your account. I agree- do not use it for purchases because you lose the cash back on that purchase,
That's a lot of Amazon credit, wow!
This week, I found out that Dollar General's new delivery service is available where I live, and they're offering free delivery on your first order. I browsed through the site and clipped some coupons, but I'm waiting until Saturday to place my order so I can also use the $5 off $25 coupon, which is only good on that day.
I have been using up food that needed using and making a game out of trying to go as long as possible between grocery orders. I didn't have enough in my pantry and freezer to do a complete January pantry challenge, but I am finding out that I can eat better than I expected if I get a little bit creative.
I bought used clothes and a scarf from Thredup and used a 50% off coupon. I also bought enough at one time to get free shipping.
I went through my storage boxes and found an extra blanket. I also dug a robe out of the corner of my closet to replace the one I had been wearing for the past few years. These were things I had acquired years ago and barely used, but they're coming in handy now.
It warmed up for two days, to 10 below so we could get a lot of snow. Now it is back to 40 below and here is how we are being frugal even though we have an out of town guest staying here. She used to live here so that means we don't have to do any touristy things. Good thing, since things start shutting down at 40 below, although I think it has to be 45 below before school closes. It is too dangerous to have kids on busses because of breakdown possibilities when equipment gets this cold. Garbage pickup was suspended because the trucks were breaking down.
1. We stayed home, so no gas used.
2. We did some baking to help keep the house warm. She is leaving us with 11 loaves of bread in the freezer (also known as the box on the back porch.)
3. We made a vat of cozy mac and cheese using up all the bags and boxes of various pastas that were left behind when not needed for a recipe, as well as tiny pieces of cheeses thrown in the freezer when I had too much for particular recipe. Some of those cheese globs have been in the freezer for over a year, so we really were using bits that probably would eventually ended up in the garbage. Instead, enough to feed three of us for two hearty meals.
4. I have been throwing into the freezer chicken carcasses from rotisserie chickens we purchased or were given to us by a guy who only eats the breasts and then gives us the meat laden bones. Nine total. We picked off what meat was good for chicken soup and not-so-good for dog soup. Bones and skin were put in the slow cooker for 18 hours to make a rich broth, actually several gallons of broth.
5. With three adults, we could keep the Dane in the shower long enough to give him his first shampoo in almost two years with us. We do not know all the abuse he went through, but he is so reactive to water we wonder if he has bad associations with water. We included lots of treats, petting, and body blocking, but got the job done. This saved us $140, the going rate for grooming giants.
We still get plastic shopping bags from various places and I use them as wastebasket liners, too! I will be returning $20 worth of items I picked up at Home Depot but discovered that I don't really need them (Command cord clips 'cause I already had them, grout pen because it won't work for caulk) So that $20 will go towards my HD pick-up order that includes deer repellant for my shrubs (which I DO need). Today I stopped into Wal-Mart and got $15 worth of Glade Plug-Ins for $6 in a seasonal scent, which I prefer. Also some holiday themed coffee for about half price. I will be paying the repairman to fix my dishwasher $300, which hurts but is still much, much less than a comparable new dishwasher. Took myself to lunch on the way home, and immediately put half of it into a to-go container for dinner. Mobile deposited a check for scrap metal I mailed in. Found the perfect length chain in Hubby's jewelry box for a pendant I already own - I forgot that was in there! And I will enjoy only 1 beer tonight with my book club.
Not so much frugal here as mindful, I guess.
1. I dropped off dead CFL bulbs and some old batteries at our local hazardous waste center for free because I am a local resident. I also dropped off a light fixture and a miscellaneous cabinet from our garage at the Habitat ReStore. While there I popped inside and found some LED lightbulbs for 75 cents each, which were already on my shopping list. Such a great deal!
2. I found 4 pairs of like-new pants for DS4 at Goodwill, maybe because people are purging after Christmas? It’s so hard to find boy pants that aren’t totally trashed.
3. My biggest Goodwill find was a pair of maternity pants that fits much better than the pair I already own. This pair was listed at $9 but when I got to the register they rang up at $2 due to the tag color, so that was even better.
4. A new year means a new round of health rewards through our insurance. I have started to check off some of the easier rewards to attain, for example completing a health assessment online. I am still hoping that we will keep this insurance (DH is a federal employee in an area that is repeatedly firing people), but I will do what I can in the meantime.
5. I’ve been doing weekly prenatal checks (only about 3 weeks to go!) and I’ve been able to get a free 15-min chair massage at the employee relaxation room after each one. I don’t work on the main campus, so it’s nice to utilize the relaxation room when I can.
Have you discussed caffeine as an iron chelator during your journey with iron deficiency? I have seen older articles and less prestigious journal articles on it, but not sure if it's a conversation that is had in the clinic.
This week I:
1. Fixed a broken hanger with superglue
2. Sewed the separating waistband back on a pair of underwear
3. Made "bits and pieces" meals to use up what was in the refrigerator
4. Got canned beans on discount. I know that dried is more frugal, but the dried ones tend to bother our stomachs more
5. Took my bike to scout out a trailhead instead of driving
1. I picked up a brand new clay set off Buy Nothing for my daughter. I will give it to her for Valentine's Day.
2. My mom dropped off buns, breads, carrots, potatoes, pears, and bananas.
3. I used some potatoes, leftover milk, and home made vegetable stock to make baked potato soup for my lunches this week.
4. I froze some bananas to use in smoothies. I used some more bananas to make banana bread and banana muffins for my kid's snacks.
5. I juiced 2 bags of lemons
1. We used a gift card to cover the majority of a nice dinner at a new-to-us restaurant.
2. I made a big batch of chili that will furnish multiple lunches/dinners.
3. I used a Barnes and Noble gift card to purchase a planner for 2026.
4. I treated several stained articles of clothing.
5. I drank coffee from home all this week (not unusual for me!).
Is it weird to offer to mail you a bunch of walmart sacks? Bc we still have them and they multiply worse than rabbits, honestly.
1. Roasted 3 sugar pumpkins I bought on sale after Halloween to puree and freeze for future baking endeavors. They were still good!
2. Gave away some items on Buy Nothing, including a laser tag set we bought for our kids 6 years ago that they used maybe 3x. I tried selling it on our local FB garage sale group but no buyers. I did make a little boy and his neighbor very happy by giving it away, though.
3. Returned several purchases made before Christmas that never ended up needing to be used or gifted. Got back about $30 and more unused items out of the house.
4. Planning to take my teen son to the bank later this week to switch his starter account to a teen account. Chase is offering a promo to give $125 with 5 transactions made after opening. This will be easy for him to reach and free money is great!
5. Making a conscious effort to eat up what we currently have in the fridge, freezer and pantry and not buying anymore snacks that nobody will eat. In the past I've fallen into the temptation to buy items on clearance with upcoming best buy dates or too many snacks on sale that my kids just stopped wanting to eat and they later went stale/bad.
You can get a little more bang for your buck if you use the Amazon credits to pay your Amazon cc bill. That way you still accumulate another 5% on your purchase, instead of getting 0% when you apply the credits at checkout.
We use our plastic bags (when we get them), for scooping the litter box. What do you use for scooping the litter box?