Five Frugal Things | a $217 medical bill error, for starters!
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1. I discovered a $217 medical billing error.
People: Always check your Explanation of Benefits statements!
I've had a long run of error-free bills with Cigna, which could have made me lazy about checking.
But I'm really glad I've still been keeping an eye on things because $217 is not pocket change.
I put in a request with Cigna, made a note of the date I called, the rep I spoke to, and also the reference number.
Because based on my past experience, I think it's highly possible I will have to call back again.
2. I made banana muffins.
These three bananas were too far gone for anyone here to actually want to eat them as-is.
So, I turned them into banana chocolate chip muffins.
And this time, I composted the banana peels!
3. I added some markdowns to my Hungry Harvest.
Hungry Harvest sometimes rescues non-produce items and lists them in their marketplace, and this week they'd marked down organic Provolone cheese and organic yogurt.
I usually make my own yogurt, but I thought I'd give this a try.
(The cheese expires later in November, so grocery stores did not want to stock it.)
I also saw they carry kombucha for a pretty good price, so I added a bottle.
(What's Hungry Harvest?)
4. I made breakfast for dinner to use up buttermilk.
This was a food waste win, but on the loss side, I had to throw out an unopened package of sausage that got lost in last week's 3-ER visit shuffle.
(Yep. We added a third ambulance ER trip last Friday night.)
But I'm remembering what I wrote on Monday!
Throwing out sausage does not negate the win of me using up the buttermilk.
Because it's better to throw out sausage than to throw out sausage AND buttermilk.
5. I...
- cooked at home despite a lot of doctor appointments this week
- shipped off three more books sold on eBay
- bought a $5.99 bag of Starbucks peppermint mocha grounds (cheaper than going to Starbucks for holiday drinks!)
- made a return at the mall when I was already nearby (no return shipping, no extra gas)
- redeemed Fetch points for $10 to Amazon (super quick & easy to redeem.)
Your turn! Share your five frugal things in the comments.
P.S. Fetch is a free app that gives your rewards based on what groceries you buy. You can get $3 just for downloading the app and scanning your first receipt. Use code QG8V2.
Well done on finding the error. I hope all is well now.
So sorry for all the ER trips.
1. Keeping my inner " I want to go out to eat" voice in check. She's quite persuasive sometimes!
2. I took on the role of Daisy Scout leader for my daughter and am trying to design the meetings to be frugal for all families. I ask all families for craft supplies that they may have laying around their house before the troop uses its money to purchase it.
3. A church friend brought us 3 bags of hand me downs for my kids. They LOVE going through those bags.
4. I was also blessed with an opportunity to go through some hand me downs at our before/after school care daycare.
5. I passed along a bag of hand me downs to my cousin. Boys clothes are so hard to find in good condition used (and she has two little ones younger than my little guy). She was thrilled.
#1-she's not only loud, but persistent!
I cut my husband’s hair.
I sold a box of smaller fabric pieces good for crafting on Facebook marketplace for $10, and the buyer gave me one of her dish towel crafts she made.
I have some other items listed to sell.
I took a bag of children’s clothes to the consignment store to sell, and while there used a store credit to get some needed items.
I cooked some soft apples with cinnamon, margarine, and a spoon of sugar, and my husband said I should make them more often. I also keep a bag of riiipe bananas in the freezer for muffin-making.
Summary: buying from Craigslist saved me 80 percent!!
I got the Craigslist dining set I've been working on for a few weeks. It's a table for 6, with 2 leaves to expand to 10; 8 upholstered side chairs and 2 upholstered end chairs; storage bags for the leaves; and custom pads. The sellers helped deliver and set up the table (no extra cost). Roommate and I took the old table + 2 glass tops to my parents (no extra cost). I learned that the table is from Ethan Allen and the chairs from Restoration Hardware. Nice!
I set up two small reading areas for the end chairs, using tables and lamps I already own. (Grace note: the lamps were a gift from a dear, now departed family friend, that I never found a good place for. They look terrific where they are now.)
Then I ran the numbers. I saved 80% compared to buying Ethan Allen and Restoration Hardware, and 90% compared to the set I liked best.
YES! This is such a huge win.
Most of the time it's a few buck here, a few bucks there. It's nice, every now and then, to have a big number to go with.
Congtrats William that's awesome!
You win! I have only had two family ER visits in one week.
1. Brown bag my lunch every day even tho I get sick of making lunches.
2. The water at my place of work smells bad and tastes funny so I haul three huge refillable bottles of water to and from work daily.
3. Did a Walmart grocery pick up and saved $10 on first order. I don't normally shop at Walmart.
4. Did my work clothes on quick wash to save energy. I don't sweat a lot at work now that the temps are lower outside.
5. Walk my dog for exercise. If weather is bad, I do a inside workout and my dog watches me like I am a crazy person.
Ah, ER visits should never have an "only" in front of them! Even one is too many. I hope you have a quieter week coming up!
I seem to have missed something important. Who went to the ER three times?
1. A lot of cooking at home. I've been eating more legumes to lower my meat consumption (an old baby boomer concerned about the environment). It's easy to cook a bag of beans in the Instant Pot.
2. I needed felt for a school craft project. I placed a "buy online pick up in store" order at Michaels because it was 40% off regular priced items that way. I was able to use up a couple of very small gift cards as well.
3. I'm still outside walking despite the cold weather. It's good to get fresh air year round. That's what layers are for.
4. I brought in the rest of the stuff from the patio. Some stuff I was able to hang from the garage rafters, using "hooks" from Home Depot. My husband commented that the one (stiff) hose looks like a modern art piece.
5. We gave the gift of money to someone that is getting married (at a small destination wedding). She was thrilled and said she'll use the funds to get the ducts cleaned on the home the happy couple is buying. That seems like a good use of the funds.
#1 Kudos to you! And I'm happy to hear from another environmentally aware people! I also started to eat more legumes this year to help the environment and I have to say that I enjoy those meals very much. There are so many different dishes and they are all so hearty and filling.
Hearing from a baby boomer who cares about the environment is refreshing. I’m sure there are a lot, but definitely not in my neck of the woods, and it makes me sad. 🙁
I'm sure you know the people in you're area so I'm not disagreeing with you but when the baby boomers here were raising kids etc there were no plastic bags - my mom uses string or boxes, takeaway food was wrapped in clean old newspaper, people sewed and mended and an appliance was bought for life. Most of our clothes are now containing plastic, many young people wear an item of clothing only once & most people think nothing of upgrading their phone annually,, just saying...
Sorry to hear about the ER and doctor's visits. It's hard to keep regular routines with those kinds of upsets, let alone frugal routines.
I'm feeling the frugal fatigue, as I witness family members traveling to far-off luxury locations instead of visiting us. Meanwhile, I'm saving pennies and working extra so that we could afford to visit them and the rest of my family overseas 🙁 Anyway, enough of the rant, I AM grateful for our health and other good things in life.
1. Visited a national park for a family hike on Sunday and packed our own picnic lunch. While there, the friendly rangers spotted our 4th grader twins and gave us free annual passes to national and state parks in the US (a program for 4th grader kids.)
2. While grocery shopping, I remembered to cash in on reward points for $10 off the bill, instead of letting the points expire.
3. Found winter boots on a Facebook yardsale for one of my kids. I never buy these new as we might not get a proper winter here.
4. Deep diving into pantries for cooking and trying to stretch the food dollar.
5. Enrollment season for health care plans for the family, we ran all the numbers for the plan choices and making the best choice possible between mine and my husband's plans.
Kristen,
I wonder if you might consider having the name that shows up in our in-boxes be something more than just your first name. I am seeing an increasing number of "first name only" and I find it confusing and, frankly, it puts me off.. I don't want to miss an e-mail from YOU as I click through and delete the unknowns! Just a thought.
Thanks SO MUCH for your great posts and your great spirit! Wishing you a much calmer and healthier week ahead!
Would it be helpful if it said "The Frugal Girl" instead, to distinguish it in your inbox?
Thanks for your input!
Yes that would be helpful! In my opinion anyway. Because I found myself ready to delete almost all of them that came the new way, but I'm sure I'll get used to it so not really a big deal.
I vote for "The Frugal Girl." Sometimes it takes me a minute to remember who Kristen is and why she's emailing me, haha.
Agreed. I have several Kristens/Kirstens in my life, and more than once I've gotten them mixed up.
Okee-doke! I'll change it to The Frugal Girl and you guys can let me know how you feel about it.
Yes - that would be MUCH better - thanks!!
Alrighty-look for that tomorrow!
Hope you are all on the mend!
1. Bought 3 large garbage bags of clothes for my son off Facebook Marketplace. He won't fit into them for another year, but it was $40 for a full wardrobe of summer and winter clothes.
2. Had a small 1st birthday party for my daughter this past weekend. Made tacos and a boxed cake for dinner/dessert. Cost to feed all 9 people was maybe $20. Much cheaper than having a party elsewhere or ordering food out.
3. Found a hose reel in someone's garbage. We need one for the backyard. Savings of about $20.
4. Finished our Christmas shopping this past weekend. We spent money, but doing the shopping early saves stress and impulse buying when the holiday nears.
5. Used the library to play at and to rent books and movies.
I don’t have 5 frugal things, but I have been doing a freezer and pantry clean out and have been able to only buy perishables, like bread and milk, for 3 weeks! I should be able to scrape another week out of my clean out. Meals may get a little weird, but no one is complaining and it’s saving us a bundle right before the holiday season.
1. I made my breakfast and brought snacks every day to work.
2. Used up our small pumpkins that were decor around the house before they went bad - quartered, roasted and turned into a delicious pumpkin soup that turned out sooo good my husband and I practically licked our bowls afterward! LOL
3. Adjusted our thermostat that changes throughout the day based on our movement/schedule for the colder weather but still like to keep an eye on it to save some $$$ after our summer was so hot and expensive (we're in Dallas, TX).
4. Chopped up some ripe pears leftover from last week and put in the freezer for smoothies.
5. Boxed up multiple items for a donation drive this Saturday asking for clothing, coats, housewares, etc. They are also offering each household two boxes of shredding of personal documents and we don't have a shredder currently. So win-win! It'll empty the house and get rid of the pesky piles of paperwork we can't just recycle on our own!
So sorry about the ER visits. Glad to hear everyone is well now.
1. Found a new winter jacket with a zip-out lining at the Hospice thrift store. When I got to the cash I discovered it was 20% off day so all I paid was $16 and the money goes to a good cause.
2. Discovered that my mix and bake in one pan chocolate cake recipe can be turned into cupcakes.
3. Had the chicken noodle soup almost finished when I realized I had no noodles. Instead of heading to the store--it was snowing at the time--I made dumplings instead. They were a big hit.
4. Present Me is giving Past Me a pat on the back for not only cleaning the winter boots before I put them away last spring but for also polishing and water-proofing them too. We were ready to go when the snow arrived.
5. Used a couple of soft carrots, a wrinkly pepper and some spinach to make a tasty lo mein.
Darlene your no.4 made me smile; must have been such a good feeling - present me is arguing with future me about organising my receipts but you have motivated me enormously; than you
I'm out of $ in my household budget for the week, so I'm committing to a no-spend 3 days. Difficult for me, a dyed-in-the-wool spender, but hubby keeps stressing to me that we need to stay on budget. One of the items we are out of is coffee, so this is a hefty sacrifice for me. Lol
My oldest daughter needs snow boots, so last night I checked our nearest kids' consignment shop. No luck there, but I will try other avenues before I decide to buy them new. While I was there I noticed all the toys/games in great condition, and I may go there for some of my kids' Christmas presents.
I've already promised myself that now that freezing cold weather has arrived here in northern Ohio, I plan on making the effort to keep the heat lower than my usual comfort zone. I'll throw on a cardi and make sure I keep my slippers on, and keep the hot beverages flowing. This is an easy thing, I know, but the last few years, I have just thrown frugality out the window when it comes to this, and kept the heat at a toasty 74 deg. I should probably try some extra self discipline this year.
I trimmed down our produce rescue boxes to every other week. Even though I've been getting the small box, our family of 5 (people who don't eat much) is having a lot of trouble getting through the box each week without wasting things (defeating the purpose of produce rescue!! lol) If we get them every other week instead we'll save money and I won't be so stressed every time I open the refrigerator and see vegetables taunting me.
We let our Amazon prime account lapse!! Woo hoo! Less money spent on that big online monster, and also less TV temptation for my kiddos.
We just returned from a little trip to see family in Lancaster, PA, and while we were there, we did a good job not spending too much. We stayed with family in their house, ate our meals mostly at home, and only paid for three outings (Skyzone, which my SIL had a huge discount for, a marriage event at their church, and bowling- which was interesting with six little ones, haha) One of the outings we did, a fun little alpaca farm, was free.
I have been using aluminum foil balls instead of fabric softener sheets in my dryer. They work better than wool dryer balls (in my experience) and they're soooooooo cheap!
I’m not sure if it will work for you, but I always keep a dry towel in the dryer to tumble with each load. It seems to help the load dry faster, and as the towel gets softer, so do the clothes dried with it.
Good idea about the towel, I’ll try that!
The aluminium foil prevents static build up. I notice almost zero static with them, versus the wool balls. I have a couple synthetic blankets that gets staticky even with fabric softener so they get line-dried, but other than that the aluminium foil works fantastically for me. I do have to change them out about every couple weeks, but that seems pretty cheap still.
I have the dryer balls and find they get nylon stuff full of static in the winter. Seller told me I was drying things too long. What does foil do for the dryer/clothes? I get Hungry Harvest for just the two of us and also found it hard to use it all. I cancelled. But got an email from them the next day asking for input. I wasn't aware at the time I could get a box every other week, and that takes the pressure off. Now it's manageable, and more fun to try new recipes.
Yes! I do every other week as well to give me time to use it all up.
Hope your family is well.
My five frugal things:
1. Carried breakfast and lunch to work everyday this week. And I still have enough lentil stew for tomorrow's lunch as well.
2. I have not bought any take-out in the past month. I have stuck to my meal plans.
3. Scanned by grocery receipts in Fetch (and I sent a referral to a friend).
4. Subscribed to two new podcasts this week to freshen up my usual listening. I have picked up so much free advice from listening to podcasts over the past six months.
5. I am considering cancelling my KindleUnlimited monthly subscription, which costs me $9.99 per month. I have stepped up my library visits and purchased an inexpensive book light for nighttime book reading. My library also offers e-reading lending services.
Sorry to hear about all the ER visits. Here's hoping for a respite from all this.
1.) Finished up my old pocket notebook and since the style I like (Field Notes) is a bit pricey for what they are, I opted again to make my own. It allows me to be creative (I don't get many creative outlets these days) and I save a little money in doing so.
2.) Butter is on sale at Aldi so you can bet your boots I got the maximum allowed (6 lbs.) I go through a lot of butter in the holiday season so it's good to stock up.
3.) My old LLBean coat developed a tear and since their warranty is worthless I simply mended it myself rather than take it to Petrovich. Hopefully this coat keeps me warm for many years to come.
4.) Had one of those prepaid gift cards given to me a long time ago and it had something like $2 left on it. Since emptying these to the penny is very difficult I found out you can buy an Amazon gift card in the exact amount on the card.
5.) Taking advantage of several sales on flour. I couldn't make it up to King Arthur Flour this year so I have to restock in smaller bags. Luckily there's BJs near me so I can get flour there.
I'm excited about the Aldi butter sale, too!!
I found a butter sale last week for Cabot brand butter with no limit! woo hoo! I picked up 10 lbs to add to my stash and am so excited every time I open the frige & see my stash of butter!
Wow a reference to Nikolai Gogol's Overcoat! It's a tale of frugality and a masterwork of Russian literature.
I was wondering if anyone would get that reference. I was tempted to instead reference a key plot point of the Swedish classic "Thy Soul Shall Bear Witness" by Selma Lagerlöf but instead went with the obvious answer.
Oh wait, I didn't see that Aldi has butter on sale. I am totally buying a bunch if mine has it cheap this week.
I just got next week's flier and it appears to be on sale again next week (at least for my location.) So I'll definitely be back for another 6.
I went and got six yesterday! Into my chest freezer they went.
1) CVS couldn't get our medicine to ring up correctly, so the pharmacist finally just said "let her have it for free." I said thank you and beat a path out the door before they changed their minds!
2) Anticipating a crazy Wednesday I put together a crock pot of food that would be ready and hot when we got home for supper.
3) Our bread machine died, so I found a used-but-like-new replacement on facebook marketplace.
4) I have lunch provided at events TWICE this week!
5) I continue to breastfeed and pump, cloth diaper, double check medical claims (I agree--always double check), and prepare meals out of the kitchen. I am so lucky that my life is too busy to buy things! 🙂
1
Keeping a salt diary for my doctor. 580 so far today. Just one whole wheat tortilla with 2 slices havarti cheese melted. Better substitute an onion slice for one of the cheese slices next time. Health is Wealth. 2. Crocus bulbs cheap right now. Still planting some for exercise. 3. Hand cutting stuff hit by frost last few days. Rake leaves over them for extra nourishment. 4. Bring garden "statues" into a warm spot. All plaster or cement bought at yard sales. Will wash and repaint in spring if needed. 5. Making gift dish towels for xmas gifts. Cotton and linen from thrift stores
Very pretty
I'd love to hear your process for selling books on eBay. I've sold the occasional item on eBay but not books. Is it the same or is there a specific book sale site? I've either done Paperbackswap.com or Bookmooch.com to give/take used books with online members, but this may help move more books out of our inventory/spare bookshelf. Thanks!
Ugh! I'm sorry you've had to have 3 family ER visits! That sounds stressful, even if everything does turn out fine.
1. We compared prices online and in-store on tents and found a great sale on one. Our old tent will need replaced sometime soon and our family is going to outgrow our current one anyways, so we were able to get a much bigger one for a great price. Also avoided getting one with LED lights and other bells and whistles to lower the price.
2. I'm planning ahead and trying to be intentional about Christmas gifts, even though I haven't bought anything yet. Yes, my 1yo is really loving stuffed animals right now, but that doesn't mean she needs another one. Or perhaps my 5yo can give her a couple of hers for Christmas.
3. My middle child is going to need a new winter coat before winter's over and I'm not finding any in his size on our county Facebook yard sale site, so I asked a friend if she has any her sons outgrew and would be willing to sell and she does!
4. Doing a lot of leftovers for dinner and avoiding food waste.
5. We had a church potluck on Sunday and I bought carrots and hummus for one side dish while I planned to make something for the second side dish. When I ran out of time, I grabbed a jar of salsa I canned to go with a bag of tortilla chips that hadn't been opened from something I took it to the week before. Not my finest potluck offerings ever, but I did put them in fancy glass dishes to make it nicer. And I didn't make a last-minute trip to the store for a second side dish.
1. I questioned all the added extras my optometrist had so helpfully added to my glasses order and cut my bill down from $410 after private health rebate to $90.
2. I decided to only run the aircon for a couple of hours in the evening instead if letting it go all night.
3. I changed from an expensive brand if kitty litter to a store brand that recently came out. Here’s hoping my cat doesn’t go on litter box strike in response!
4. I bought some packets of ramen to put in my desk at work for those days when I forget to bring lunch. Not the healthiest, but at least it’ll stop me from blowing $15 on a sandwich.
5. I bought a new, cheaper brand of night cream, and I think it’s as good as the old one!
I cannot stress enough how important it is to know and understand your insurance benefits. When I was pregnant, it got complicated quick. Luckily, I called as soon as I found out and knew EXACTLY what was covered and what wasn’t. I can tell you how many times I knew more than the person answering the phone. I saved my family THOUSANDS. I probably had an error on every other bills and there was a lot. If it’s possible, call before a big event and learn what’s covered and what’s not. If not, call after the fact and review your benefits (for big things), so you can easily spot an error. Not sure? Call your insurance company and go over your EOB with them. It takes some serious time and some organizational skills but it’s worth it to cut the cost and avoid collections!
Yep, this is the key to spotting errors. You have to know the ins and outs of your coverage to know when something has gone wrong!
3 ER visits in one week would send me running to the hospital cafeteria for French fries. Hope health is on the mend.
1. Sold clothes on Thredup and purchased a New2Me shirt and belt with the proceeds. Ebay would have given me a better price but Thredup does the photo, listing, transaction, shipping for me. Given my time constrainsts I have to frugal at my capacity/capability.
2. Made a cranberry torte with a free can of cranberry someone gave me and existing pantry ingredients. Googled some recipes and put it together. The family liked it.
3. I take used ziplocs (non meat) to work to dispose of food trash to prevent office smells.
4. Our grocery store gives 3 free items if you spend $50. Remembered to bring the coupon to get the 3 freebies.
1. A friend offered me her bread making machine for free. I have been wanting to play with one so I eagerly said yes. Then it turned out to make two loaves at a time, which is too much. A week later a different friend mentioned that she wished her bread machine made larger loaves, as she has a big family...we traded and both of us are thrilled!
2. Took a load of books to the local non-profit bookstore and took home a tax receipt plus a brand new puzzle still in the shrink wrap that I can give a puzzle loving friend for Christmas.
3. Got a lawsuit settlement for 61 cents. Good for a laugh.
4. Got together with a friend and made 25 cards from supplies we had and shared with each other. Birthdays for the coming year are all taken care of, plus a few extra cards for sympathy and illness cards that will undoubtedly come up in 2020. The supplies were mostly salvaged from other folks leaving card making, plus a few things I bought on sale, so spent about $8 for 25 cards. And it was a nice and cheap way to spend an afternoon with a friend I rarely see.
5. We have the Holiday convenience store app and they have been running a contest that you can enter daily. In the last week I have won two free pops and two free bottles of water.
I read a study--although many years ago before computers were ubiquitous--that showed that 100% of hospital bills were inaccurate. Not 99% or even 98% but 100%!!!
Your bananas were just at the stage I like them--I like banana skins to have "freckles". But if you don't catch them exactly on the right day they are too far gone!
.It isn't just the insurance. It is the doctor's office records as well, as I just found out today when I read the wad of print-outs I walked out of the visit with.. Grrrrr.
1) Donated items to the Vets. Although some may not consider this frugal, I think that I saved gas & time since the Vets pick up at my home.
2) Earned a $10 gift card for Starbucks by taking a survey.
3) I've got $12 in swagbucks so far.
4) Years ago, I purchased life insurance for the kids. I got term and whole life policies. Since I've had medical bills this year that need to get paid, I'm considering cancelling one of those. I just have to find out what I'm paying for each type.
5) Last year, our dental insurance only covered cleanings and bite wing x-rays. So, I purchased a discount plan online. What I paid for it saved me the same amount in discounts. So, it was a wash. This year, insurance covers 80% of services. I'll save at least $480 this year.
I’ve been told that most life insurance for kids is a completely bad idea, developed by someone to make money for THEM. It plays on our fears in several ways. Would be good to read up on it. Investing the money elsewhere would make much more sense.
My husband was unexpectedly laid off on Columbus Day, not knowing how long it would take to find a new job, I went on a much more intense pantry, closet, freezer use it up plan! (Thankfully he started a new job this week while he keeps looking for the job he really wants)
Dealing with old insurance to get an overpayment sent to me in a check verus it sitting on the now defunc FSA mastercard...
plowing through the frozen fruit supply making muffins and treats for the family...
Used my $90 advantage credit at Sams club to purchase a few flats of chicken and other deals we get there to mix up the things I have been cooking...Prepped that chicken trimming and portioning for future meals...
Meal planning.. this is never my strong point but being more intentional about using what we have before stopping at the store has made this a necessity.. Also I have been working extra hours and subbing on my off days at my main job so this has helped feel in control!
Prepping some mason jars of soup for quick lunches on days I need something and avoid buying!
Cleaning out the bathroom drawers using the random shampoo/conditioner/toothpaste samples...( This is pure lazy since I have full sized downstairs but am too lazy to go get them.. so I pulled these out and kids are finishing them up! lol cleaner drawer!!)
I am so glad that he's got a new job now. Whew!
I thought I’d comment here on how admirable that seems, to get a new job quickly while continuing to pursue a better job! Lately I keep hearing from people around here how getting laid off is a “free 12 weeks vacation” where they collect unemployment until it runs out (not sure if all states are the same) and THEN start job-hunting. When they don’t immediately find a well-paying job, they use up savings then go on public funds, which impacts all of us. Sometimes using unemployment benefits and general assistance can’t be helped, which is why we have these things, but sometimes it’s laziness or not knowing how systems work. Kristen, maybe a post or a link to help people with unemployment?
Oh, and I just read a request on NextDoor.com where locally they are going to include some household products in the Thanksgiving baskets for the needy. They wanted little samples or hotel-sized toiletries, too, so I cleaned out my drawer that way! Maybe this is possible in other areas!
Made homemade granola bars for kids lunches and snacks this week
Saved and dried a bunch bunch of grapefruit peels, persimmon peels, and pear peels to make diy herbal tea
Bought a pair of snow pants for my youngest for $5 on Facebook marketplace
Saved leftover rice by making rice pudding and leftover beets by making chocolate beet muffins. For whatever reason I bought the yuckiest beets. Not sweet and very bitter. But in chocolate muffins they tasted fine!
Turned piles of old broken crayons into a fun activity by sorting, chopping, and melting them into new crayons.
It is so worth checking receipts, I always ask for a receipt & check, a friend once got a $300+ amount on a receipt for a sandwich - I check automatically now! (she did get her money back)
Those muffins look good,
My FFT:
1. Got back in tax what I thought I was going to have to pay!!!! (they changed some criteria)
2. Needed some clothes for warmer weather & got them all on sale!
3. Same old driving habits-leave early, drive smoothly, combine errands, get petrol on route, fill up when it's cold if possible, avoid multistorey carpark ( can take 15min to get up & down that's a lot of petrol over a year, -not to mention time I'd rather be doing something else 🙂
4. I'm getting rid of a lot of stuff these days but when I buy new décor it's often from op-shops I just watered my glass planter with multi level soil & rocks & succulents I got from an op shop
5. Today I'm finally getting 'round to reviewing & changing some plans for cheaper options