Five Frugal Things | a Chiquita tunnel
1. I got a free cat tunnel for Chiquita
I got this from my Buy Nothing group (that person's cat never used it) and my goodness, Chiquita LOVES it.
Sometimes she goes tearing around the house, and she loves to zoom in and out of the tunnel. I don't know what she's thinking, but she's having a lot of fun.
It's funny having a younger cat around; I didn't really realize how slow and quiet Shelly was until Chiquita arrived. And now I'm constantly surprised at how energetic and playful Chiquita is!
2. I got some exercise shorts from my Buy Nothing group
Someone was giving away three pairs of exercise shorts, and I figured if they didn't fit me, they'd probably fit Zoe.
But I'm happy to say that all three pairs fit me.
Sometimes I have a problem with my exercise shorts being too big in the legs while being too tight in the waist (I think my waist is not as small as the designers expect it to be!), but all three of these pairs are more fitted in the legs while also being comfortable in the waist.
Yay!
3. I've been actually-factually eating my kale
Occasionally I have been known to let a bag of Hungry Harvest kale languish in my fridge until it's unusable.
But this time around, I have been busily eating kale almost every day at breakfast, and my kale bunch is nearly gone. Yay me!
I've been sauteeing onion chunks, adding chopped kale, cooking it until it's softened, and then frying some eggs too.
I always use salt (sometimes garlic salt) and pepper, and sometimes I sprinkle on some red pepper flakes and Parmesan as well.
I feel like my body should be feeling pretty grateful that I'm giving it kale every morning. 😉
Also: this is another example of why I get a Hungry Harvest box. On my own, would I buy a bag of kale and eat it at breakfast?
Nope.
But if Hungry Harvest sends me a bag of it, I will eat it.
Wanna try a Hungry Harvest box? Click here for $10 off your first order.
And here's a post I wrote that explains all about what Hungry Harvest is.
4. I fixed a jeans hem
Remember my mom jeans that I bought recently?
Well, I'm sorry to say that one of the ankle seams has already started to come apart. Sigh.
(I swear that my washing machine dissolves seams.)
Issues like these are always easier to address if you catch them early, so, I snipped off the loose thread, added Fray Check* to either side of the loosened threads, and sewed over the original stitches.
*To get it cheaply, buy Fray Check at a local craft store and use an in-app coupon!
Hopefully, this will hold!
By the way, I used some gold thread that I found in a sewing caddy I'd rescued from the abandoned house. 🙂
It worked really well to match the usual thread you find on denim seams.
5. I bought a pair of not-too-expensive nursing shoes
I did go and try on some Danskos, but I don't think they are quite right for my super-high-instep feet.
But I read some reviews of nursing shoes, and people were recommending these Reeboks, which, amazingly enough, come in wide widths!
So, I ordered a pair, and we shall see how they work out for me. For part-time clinicals, they should be more than sufficient, and they were only $37.
We are all built differently. I tend to have trouble with shorts/pants that are too big in the waist for my hip width (bone structure) and thigh thickness. I have a pear shaped body.
1. I needed new "tennis" shoes for walking. I bought a pair of New Balance that were on clearance. saving $50+. I suppose they were an old color, the only color at that price. I love the bright blue royal with bright green trim.
2. We discovered a neighbor has a blackberry bush and they don't intend to pick any berries. They said to feel free to help ourselves.
3. The USPS messed up a package delivery while we were on vacation. Our mail was on "Hold" but they either delivered a package anyway (I don't think so since a next door neighbor was watching for it) or they lost it. I spent time calling the delivery annex and was hung up on many times one day. I stopped in the post office the next day. The story is they are very short staffed and even supervisors are delivering routes. Days later no one has gotten back to me despite promises to do so. I called the company I ordered the meat thermometer from and asked for a refund which they graciously provided. I then ordered a much cheaper item from Amazon and it arrived the next day. I don't generally like to support Amazon but I knew they'd do a good job. If the package ever appears I will call the company to see what they'd like me to do with it.
4. We're enjoying summer fruit. I cut a watermelon and a cantaloupe last week. I also had a cantaloupe that I had to compost half of because I let it sit on the counter for three days and part of it went soft. DH looked at the large $3.99/# peaches at Giant the other day and I said no way and bought the small 1.29/# local peaches instead. They were delicious.
5. I bought a couple more Lowe's gift cards at Giant and received $15 off groceries both times. I stuck to groceries that were on sale.
@K D, Did you know that small peaches are better tasting anyways? The larger ones are super juicy because they are full of water. That is what a family orchard owner told me. I've been getting my peaches there for over 15 years. Not only that, but if you are canning them and have the smaller ones, the halves go right in the jar without having to cut them up.
Kristen, if you can get your hands on some black garlic, it does truly magical things with kale and vegetables, in general. Trader Joe’s sells it in their spice section, as do Asian markets.
-Two of our three kitchen towels were getting threadbare. Those two were demoted to cleaning rags and replaced with our nice Halloween hand towels, which go splendidly with the dark gray and black cabinets. 😛 I prefer thick bathroom/hand towels in the kitchen, anyway, as I find them more practical for handling pots and spills.
—The locally-owned grocery store I work at a few days a week had frozen salmon on a flash deal for $6.99/lb. My 10% employee discount stacks with sale prices, so I bought all six remaining packages. I waited until just before close on the last day of the sale so that anyone else who was interested had a chance, but I was the only taker!
—I used $5 off $15 coupon for Michael’s to buy my husband three more plain black t-shirts for work. His shirt size went up again thanks to an ongoing medical condition,* and I have rotten luck trying to find his size(s) second-hand. We’ll give his smaller shirts to a friend with four TALL teenage boys.
* Just a reminder that not all “beer bellies” are actually that. It’s all muscle up front, but his enlarged kidneys push everything forward, resulting in a “belly” despite his fit ways and our careful diet. Drives him batty.
—Habitat Restore yielded a matching pair of metal bookends for $3 to help organize my office storage closet and a nice 11 x 14” frame for $2. The store was having a buy one, get one free sale on frames that I didn't know about, so I had the friend I was shopping with put her frame on my tab so she could get the freebie.
@N, My kids love Kirkland brand T shirts from Costco. The girl likes black shirts and the boy likes white. They're quite heavy cotton and good quality. Just FYI.
@Rose, I think there’s a Costco in the next actual city closest to us . The next time I’m there for errands, I’ll check their shirts out. Thank you for the tip!
@N, You can also look online at Costco.com
@N, Wishing your husband good health! I was diagnosed with PKD at age 13. I was blessed with a kidney transplant 7 years ago after 8 years on dialysis. Last year I had my huge, native kidneys removed. They was about 19 inches in length! For those of you who don't know, your kidneys are about the size of your fist.
@Lisa, do you have any counsel/advice for another teen w PKD? We're waiting on the genetic confirmation, but the Dr's are pretty sure that's what my 15-year-old son has (we started this journey 2 years ago). We don't have a family history of it, so this is new territory. He has bilateral cysts, but good kidney function currently.
@Beverly, Thank you! It’s funny how often I forget that online is an option.
@Lisa, On the nosey re: PKD! My husband’s health is otherwise solid, and his doctors assure us that, because of his relatively young age, he’s a prime transplant candidate. His kidneys aren’t yet bad enough for dialysis, and his nephrologist will push for a transplant once they drop to 25%. Meanwhile, it’s diet, exercise, and a fistful of pills to control the high blood pressure from the PKD. And more new shirts, of course. 😛
@Lisa, I’m so glad you received a transplant and are doing better! HUGS 19” is impressive, indeed!
@Amanda P, since my husband has the same condition—Lisa is a good guesser!—I hope you won’t mind my answering your question, too. Diet, exercise, and water intake make such a difference. My husband’s kidney function numbers can swing from 32% to 42% based on water intake and diet; he gets plenty of exercise through his job. Our solution is to have one small cheat day a month and a major cheat day after his quarterly labs, and we also try new recipes to keep things interesting in the kitchen. We’re on an Indian kick right now because the meals are vegetable heavy and rely on spices vs. salt, which he has to minimize as much as possible.
High blood pressure goes hand in hand with PDK, so listen to your teen if they complain about headaches, dizziness, or just not feeling right. My husband has a family history of PDK, but we didn’t know he inherited it (his kidneys were still small then) until an eventful ER visit, after he had a stroke as a direct result of the high blood pressure. He was in his 30s and thankfully recovered fully; he also went from never seeing doctors to our ride-or-die GP and nephrologist! Blood pressure cuffs are relatively inexpensive and handy to have around. I don’t say this to scare you, but because knowledge and preparation help make it all less scary. HUGS
@N, thank you all so much for the advice! The diet counsel is especially helpful so we can be proactive and hopefully set good patterns while he's a teen.
*I mended a pair of shorts (sewed a button on), a baseball cap, and something else I forget.
*The kids picked wild berries that went into a crisp.
*I made yogurt-- a gallon of it.
*I made bread-- it seemed like more than a gallon of it because we ate it at several meals.
*I "designed" a soup around lots of odds and ends to use them up. And nobody complained about it.
*My friend who works at the local food pantry called and asked if we could use a lot of bananas past their prime. Yes! Now there are 4 gallon bags of bananas in the freezer.
*Fail: I had to pay a late fee at the library for 2 movies, but $1 late fee is cheaper than renting or streaming, right?
1. Borrowed niece's knife sharpener as ours is packed away until we move.
2. Checked out Tamar Adler's new book: The Everlasting Meal Cookbook. Her first book, The Everlasting Meal, was an inspiration for using everything up, so I expect to learn more for making sure food doesn't go to waste.
3. Enjoyed free pizza party hosted by our apartment management company.
4. In my never-ending quest to pick up trash, I found two perfectly good plates that I cleaned up and donated to Goodwill, but not before I used one to bring a veggie tray to a gathering.
5. Decided to plan a last-minute trip up to the North Shore of Lake Superior (husband is having a hard time with apartment life). Found accommodations (not cheap, but at least breakfast is included) and our niece is going to pet sit our pup, although we do plan to pay her.
@MB in MN, so excited to hear about Tamar Adler’s cookbook. I loved her first book. Thanks for the tip.
I adore reading frugal comments - well, any comments, so I think I'd better start participating!
My frugal five.
1. Used Starbucks gift cards I won in their just-ended summer game to buy coffee beans.
2. Turned in paw points for Fresh Step kitty litter to get a coupon for a free 25 pound box.
3. Found a pair of khakis in my size and my length (short!) at Goodwill for $8. Immediately put the "old" khakis (with no belt loops) into the "destined for Goodwill" box. It's almost full (and it's a big Chewy box).
4. Am using up face wash and deodorant I dislike.
5. Have decided that July will be thrift store free and maybe even a money diet month. I so want to get control of my budget and don't need anything right now.
@Angel, good on your for #4. I hate using up stuff like that, but I try to do it.
@Marlena, thank you. I feel like I should get a gold star every morning as I get ready for work. I can't wait to be done with them.
That's how I feel when I'm eating up leftovers I don't particularly like. Gold medals/gold stars should be awarded!
@Angel,
I know how you feel.....I finally used up a big bottle of body wash that my mom gave me before she moved (a year and a half ago). There was nothing wrong with it, I just prefer bar soap, so it sat there for awhile before I took it on.
@Marlena, I was always so good at using up food or other stuff no one in the family wanted. It’s getting harder and harder. This morning I was determined to finish something in the fridge, I even heated it up. I took one bite and rebelled. I threw it out and made a turkey sandwich. I’ve read that you replace every cell in your body every 7 years. Maybe this is my new self and it wants what it wants! Oh dear.
@Marlena, and @Angel,
I bought some Dial liquid soap that smells like men's cologne. Nice men's cologne, but still....Being female, I don't want to smell like a man. I'd already opened the package and discarded the cash register receipt. So I donated it to the Salvation Army, since they run a men's shelter. Figured they could use it since they are always asking for toiletries. Maybe it's not too frugal, but at least I don't have to hold my nose and keep on using what I dislike so much.
@Angel, my sister in law told me about Costco having a Starbucks brand, it is very good. Also Aldi has an organic store brand of coffee that is comprable to Starbucks as well. If you have either in your area.
@Colleen, ooo, thank you! I have used the Aldi brand of coffee, back when my Aldi still sold the whole beans. Now, it is all pre-ground, which is fine, but not my fave. I felt very virtuous using my gift cards for beans and not a latte or frappuccino. I do like Starbucks, but try to save the foofy coffee for a special thing.
For sure; even fancy bags of coffee are way cheaper than getting coffee out!
How are the kitties getting along? Has the intro begun?
Danskos can be tricky for high instep feet, or other feet in general!
The footbed is pretty molded and hard. I wore them for years in the OR (I’m a PA) until I got older and they were no longer comfortable ?!
@Kim from Philadelphia, Agree on the Danskos! I have high arches and couldn't wear them at all. Alegria, Merrell and Oofos work well for my high arches and now, "fat pad syndrome" (broken down fat pad on the heel of the foot which I tape with athletic type tape per the physical therapist). Too many years of nursing, 12+ hours on cement floors...I knind of miss the good old days of carpeted hallways, but at the same time...eeeewwwww. Also, Powerstep insoles for the Merrells help.
1. I used every last drop of conditioner from two bottles (rinsed with water and all that) before getting more.
2. Popped leftovers into the freezer for another day and ate some of them up last night. I think I actually have enough in the freezer to feed us dinners for a week, which is helpful in alleviating the pressure to make new meals.
3. Spent time with friends in our giant backyard and on free trails for entertainment.
4. Asked for help from friends with some house stuff, and they did.
5. Fail: homemade focaccia didn’t get eaten before it molded, and I think the same end came to my cinnamon rolls that are stored in an opaque container. Oops.
My grandkitty LOVES climbing into open boxes so the grandkids and I just happen to leave them around and then have fun looking for her. But now that I know about cat tunnels, thank you Kristen, I know what grandkitty will get for Christmas.
Kristen, do not blame your washing machine on the damage to your jeans. I have been watching the decline of fabric quality and clothing construction sine the early 1970's, when I bought my first pair of jeans, Levis Plowboys, for $35. That was a lot of hours of babysitting to get that much money! I wore those jeans for 9 years and never once mended them. And I outgrew them, they were not worn out. That's constant wear because we didn't have as many clothes back then. Also, there were no HE washing machines so clothes were washed with an agitator. The problem is jeans now are designed to last a season...maybe.
Ok, off my soapbox.
I did an expensive thing to hopefully be thrifty in the long run. I love cotton t-shirts. I can find lots of womens t-shirts, but they are all synthetic, which makes me hot at inconvenient times. When L L Bean brought back a style I bought 3 years ago, I bought 5 and they were not on sale. OUCH! But they are comfortable and I feel good wearing them. I hope they hold up better than Kristen's jeans.
@Elaine N, I am with you on not wearing synthetics, and LLBean is one of my main places for clothing. So, I am very interested to know what style of t-shirt you found.
@Central Calif. Artist, Women's Organic Cotton V Neck
1. I'm in Texas, where the heat warnings have us casting a wary eye toward the electrical grid. Triple-digit temperatures combined with high humidity makes it feel like 108, 110, etc. So you can imagine the power bills! I was able to turn the AC thermostat up to 80 degrees F. and sleep under the ceiling fan. I'm keeping it on 80 and have an electric fan stir up the air as I'm sitting at my desk. I feel comfortable and am happy to do my part not only to keep my electric bill lower but also to help lower the state's electrical use. I'm also using LED lightbulbs in the few lights I keep on at night, drying my clothes on the line instead of the clothes dryer (why pay for blowing hot air when Mother Nature provides it free?) washing clothes on "cold" and doing everything else I can think of to save energy. Praying that the grid holds up and that we don't get blackouts!
2. I took an online Driver Safety Course to lower the cost of my traffic ticket and also (hopefully) keep my auto insurance rate down. The ticket got reduced from over $200 to $114. (Ouch!) I'll find out about the insurance when my policy renews in December.
3. My computer printer hasn't worked in a long time, needs new cartridges, but the ink is astronomically expensive. I needed to get a printout of my driving safety course "diploma" to take to the municipal court. So I went to my insurance agent's office and asked them to print it out for me. They did, and it was free. The court is satisfied that I met my obligation, and all is well.
4. Thrift store shopping for everyday items: $1 for makeup foundation, 75 cents for a roll of paper towels (it's $1.48 at the regular store), etc. Even stopped by en route to the municipal court for another roll of paper towels (they limit one per customer per visit). But my greatest find was seeing the complete set of "Longmire" DVDs -- the entire series -- for $4. (Had I waited until Monday, it would've been half price, but I didn't want to take a chance it'd be gone...) Now I don't have to depend on the weather being just right in order to watch my show. (I only have an indoor antenna).
5. Got books at the library and LFL (Little Free Library). Also bought a couple at the thrift store for 20 cents each, and plan to trade 'em to the used bookstore for what I want.
While it feels like we are bleeding money on home improvement projects, we still saved a bundle by doing all the work ourselves and are improving the value of our home. I've still done a few small things to help....
1. We went to our nephew's girlfriend's graduation party. We've become pretty close with her and so we helped her get tables to use for the event, we helped set up and were some of the very few people who helped clean up. She's also our neighbor. Her dad sent us home with a leftover veggie tray and case of water. A few days later in the mail, we were surprised with a very nice thank you card and gift card for Olive Garden from her dad as a thank you. Totally unexpected!
2. While shopping for food at Sam's Club, noticed we had some Sam's cash to use which saved us over $28!
3. I treated youngest daughter and her boyfriend to Dairy Queen on her birthday and she had a coupon to use for a free treat, saving $3.30.
4. Youngest daughter works at a doctor's office and they get bottled water delivered to employees to drink. They had a surplus and all the employees took some home, so daughter shared a case with us.
5. I did an inventory of our 2 freezers and started intentionally using some items up to clear up much needed space for summer produce specials.
FFT:
1) Used two coupons to save $10 on a set of towels purchased as a wedding gift.
2) Worked with HOA to remove late fees that had been added to our account. They only send notice for dues out via email and they did not have our email address on file so we never received the bill.
3) Co-worker gave me a dozen eggs from his hens, so I had extra eggs this week. Unlike Kristen, I'm not a huge fan of eggs so I made muffin tin omelets to use them up.
4) Bought t-shirts for DH from Duluth Trading when they were on sale and had free shipping. Even on sale, their shirts cost a little more but they hold up well and come in "long tail" which covers DH's stomach hernia.
5) My company provided lunches for us every day last week which saved a little time and money.
FFT, Keepin' on Truckin' Edition:
(1) I have kept plugging away at all the death-related "splup" (as I call it), including an ever-so-not-fun visit to our local NY State DMV office on Friday to get the registration and title to the Element (one of our few assets that wasn't jointly owned) transferred to me. But I think I'll be through with all the major stuff this week.
(2) I'm awaiting the delivery of the annual 1/4 steer this morning. This will show up in this Friday's WIS/WIA as an apparently enormous sum--but (a) this beef is so much cheaper and better than supermarket beef that words fail me; and (b) I sell much of it at my cost to neighbors and friends who are likewise very happy to get it.
(3) I can't equal Kristen's breakfast feats with her Hungry Harvest kale. I do grow kale (it's not one of the deer's favorites, as they tend to leave it alone till the dead of winter when they're desperate)--but on breakfast eggs, no. Still, I claim a few frugal points for (a) sauteeing some defrosted Trader Joe's rainbow trout in olive oil and fresh homegrown dill last night; and (b) using the pan this morning for fried eggs (two of the free-range eggs from the dozen some neighbors brought me after DH died).
(4) In the mending department, I anchored the loose waistband button on a pair of linen-blend summer slacks I bought at the Salvation Army superstore last week for 99 cents (stuff with white tags was 99 cents that week). In addition to sympathizing with Elaine N's rant about present-day non-durable clothing, I'm always amazed by how much otherwise perfectly good clothing gets tossed because it needs a simple repair or two. I may have almost flunked 7th-grade home economics because I couldn't get the hang of threading the sewing machine, but I can sew on buttons and repair loose hems.
(5) And "Shut up and eat your weeds" season is moving into high gear here: I have lamb's quarters and redroot pigweed in abundance, and purslane is starting to come in. I'm planning a stir-fry with the first two, plus some of the incoming stew beef.
@A. Marie, agree 100% with local beef from a farmer. Will be getting 3/4 from farmer this fall. Expensive but sooo much better tasting. We share a quarter with each daughter.
@A. Marie, You probably already know this, but be sure to report your husband's death to the 3 major credit bureaus. I was unaware this was necessary and someone stole my step dad's identity after his death, causing numerous problems.
@Bobi, no, I did not know this, and thanks. I'll add it to my "splup" list.
@Jennifer G, Yes. So much.
@A. Marie, Until I read your comments over the last few weeks, I had no idea there was so much paperwork involved in dealing with a spouse's death. Thank you for giving details, as it will be a good reminder/tutorial for others who end up going through the same thing. Thinking of you.
@Bobi,
I don't think we did that when our parents died - I don't remember even thinking about it! Thanks for the tip. Luckily, nothing happened in this instance.
By the way, a co-worker of mine spent over a year and a half fighting the IRS because someone used his mother's identity while she was in the nursing home to get a fraudulent tax return. Criminals will use the identities of people who don't have to file returns.
@Bobi,
Sadly, I have read about this happening. We still get junk mail addressed to my mother in law, who passed away a little more than 3 years ago. (As far as we know, her identity has not been stolen, but I don't know how to make the junk mail stop).
@Liz B., There is an online service, like "do not call", for mailings, including registering someone as deceased. DMAchoice.org
I used it for my Dad and it made some difference, almost three years ago. Unfortunately, some charities just changed his name to my address where his mail was to be forwarded.
I just have no respect for a charity that over three years has not checked with direct marketing services, or hasn't realized this hundred year old person quit making donations. Quit wasting money on mailings!
@Liz B., https://www.ims-dm.com/cgi/ddnc.php
@Bobi, and @Heidi Louise,
Thank you! My MIL'S address was changed to our address, so hopefully it'll be fairly easy to gake care of. The really odd thing is that she gets mailings from Medicare insurance plans (eye roll).....we reported her death to her various insurance companies, the Navy (she was a surviving Navy spouse), on and on. A. Marie, you are doing great, wading though all of this.
@Bobi, thanks for this! After 10+ years, I still get mail for my parents, and after five years, for my late husband. It definitely makes me respect LESS the "charities" to which they contributed. I made sure to notify them when my loved ones died. But it seems that "charities" basically sell the names of supporters to outside entities. I'll support local stuff that my loved ones would have approved of instead.
You are brave, eating all that kale. I can only eat it chopped and disguised in a soup or stew. Any other way and it feels like eating leather to me, but without as much taste. I much prefer spinach, chard, beet greens, turnip greens, mustard, and collards.
1. I stayed out of the stores this weekend, so that was frugal.
2. I got notice of a coupon and free shipping from CBD, so I ordered four Newbery Medal/Newbery Honors books on sale for the family bookworm for Christmas.
3. I was gifted a box of handmade Norwegian chocolates by my daughter. She managed to get them home on the airplane without damage or melting. I was happy to accept them since I love chocolate.
4. I am having better luck in my raised beds this year so far, so I had enough cucumbers to pickle a quart jar of sliced cukes. Some years ago I bought the Mason Tops pickling package on sale, with the pickle weights and pickle pipes (vented silicone covers) to make pickling in a quart jar easy. It keeps me from wasting produce when I get more than I can eat fresh, plus, I like pickled foods.
5. I have a hard to explain curtain hanging situation at my kitchen windows, which are three side-by-side windows. Regular rod-holders didn't work. My husband had come up with an idea on how to fix it, but couldn't make the fix himself, so this weekend I got his tools and hole saw kit and did the fix myself instead of calling someone.
@JD, re: your #2, one of the Little Free Libraries near me had several Newbery Award winners in it recently. I'd have taken most of them, but I had both hands full of curb-picked bottles and cans :-), so I didn't--and they were all gone next time I passed by except for Where the Red Fern Grows, and I knew I couldn't handle that much dog-related tragedy. (Don't even ask me how many handkerchiefs I needed to get through Bridge to Terabithia.)
@A. Marie,
Probably the same amount that I used to get through Old Yeller! I think that book was one of the worst for making me cry.
@JD, @A. Marie, - how about The Yearling? tears for a week, but I re-read it every year for about 6 years. Glutton for emotive punishment, I was...
1.My husband's birthday was Sunday. I made shrimp ettoufee and a carrot cake from items I had on hand. We went to the local hot springs. Our friend works there and she saw us come in and comped our admission, which was a nice birthday surprise.
2.On Saturday that same friend called and asked us to come over and look through a pile of stuff she had decluttered. We came home with several large flower pots, a pair of water shoes for my husband and a life jacket for my smallest dog (which was on my list to buy).
3. I'm still avoiding buying a full load of groceries, but I did take advantage of a sale on milk and eggs and stocked up.
4. My garden is currently producing lots of lettuce and peas, so we are eating lots of lettuce and peas.
5. We attended a free concert in the park and packed a picnic dinner for a very nice date night.
I look forward to 5FT every week because it inspires me to think/be more frugal but I have 1 big one this week I wanted to share!
Our car insurance is due and they mailed the ppwk which I actually read and noticed that they had substituted my son for my husband (Same 1st name). This is problematic because he doesn’t drive…yet. Turns out our 6 month installment is $200 less with a 2nd licensed driver on the policy. They were also “surprised” that hubby had a MD drivers license because they showed him as licensed FL driver. (which he was, until we moved to Md…18 years ago.)
So most things aren't frugal, persay, they are less expensive than other options:
Husband started process for partial plate, much less than having rest of teeth pulled and doing full plate or implants.
Called and questioned pathology bill. Do not have to cover the $360.
Doing a staycation in our AR home with girls & their families. Can justify renting a pontoon when not paying for hotels & eating most food in.
Shopped & worked at our local Right to Life garage sale. Got 3 winter coats for $4 plus lots of other great clothing plus something I've been wanting, a lint shaver.
Paid a young man to clean out our guttering - gave him some cash & will keep water (if we ever get any) away from our foundation.
@Jennifer G,
I have a tooth that needs to be pulled, and my dentist quoted me a price of $7000+ for an implant, of which $4000+ would come out of my pocket. While I see the value in having this procedure done, I can't justify spending that kind of money on one tooth. (No shade thrown on anyone who has done this; we simply can't afford it).
1. I do have to mention that I have bought many, MANY toys, beds and houses for my three cats as I am a giant sucker. And about 95% of them were ignored. But that probably won't stop me from buying the next cute thing I see.
2. Is it possible we can see some newer pictures of the abandoned house?
I've had an expensive week, but threw in frugal where I could...
1) I bought an expensive cabinet for my pantry, but it was cheaper than the builtins I was going to have made. I also ordered it from Overstock and found a coupon. Then I saw overstock has an O Club and checked around and it is free for military/veterans/teachers/students/first responders. It gives you a 5% credit on everything you buy so I signed up for that and received it. They also do free returns and price matching if you are in the O Club.
2) I bought a meat slicer. This has been on my list for awhile and although it was expensive, it will save me money in the long run and it is so much healthier than eating processed lunch meat.
3) I shopped and stocked up on sales at the grocery of things we always use.
4) I found a great plant stand on FB marketplace for $25 (it's a tall wooden obelisk design). I have been looking for one for a while. I plan to use it to hold my cast iron pots in a corner of my kitchen.
5) we packed all our lunches this week and ate meals at home.
Funny story about kale. Before the kale craze a few years ago the largest consumer of kale was Pizza Hut who used it to decorate their salad bars.
Not a lot of super frugal stuff for me but here goes:
1.) Got a pair of shorts at the thrift shop for all of $2.
2.) Buying art supplies for my daughter on back to school sales. My kid just gets out of school and there's already back to school sales.
3.) Got some stuff ready for listing on eBay in the coming weeks.
4.) Got my daughter some Vans in their 30% off sale and they were already reduced on clearance.
5.) No $500 ice maker has been purchased yet though I did buy a soda at a convenience store that had the chewy ice.
@Battra92, I have been lusting for a counter top ice maker since I don't like the cubes our freezer makes . I will never buy one but we all have tools we covet and an ice maker is mine.
@Battra92,
Your #2. My granddaughter who just finished her junior year in high school got her senior pictures made yesterday for her school. Could we please slow down and enjoy the summer?
Chiquita is so stinkin' cute in her cat tunnel.
This has not been a frugal week in terms of expenditures, as we paid my part of the bill for physical therapy, which was just over $1K. However, being able to walk and sleep without pain is priceless.
However:
1. Pitted a bowl of cherries languishing in the fridge and turned them into a delicious cherry crisp to take to a fun games night with friends
2. Bought a cookbook off eBay for less than $5 that turned out to be very good and has some recipes my super-picky family might actually eat.
3. Sewed a loop inside a totebag to clip my car keys on, an enhancement all bags should have.
4. Husband is getting serious about winding stuff up as retirement approaches and has begun canceling underused subscriptions.
5. Our laundry room gets very hot in the summer, which makes it ideal for rack drying clothes indoors, which I have been doing a lot of lately.
I deleted an app on my phone that I found out was the culprit of using excess data and causing higher phone bills. I thought I was staying on top of data usage but this one slipped through the cracks.
My husband and I had a “tackle a tough recipe” date night and made Coq Au Vin. The recipe was much easier than we had expected but it was delicious! Using bone in chicken thighs was a nice cheap protein and we had enough of a bottle of red that I had opened on Father’s Day that I didn’t love to use in the recipe. Making a decadent meal at home together is one of our favorite date nights.
I brought some tea and sparkling water that I didn’t enjoy as well as a book that I just finished into my office to share with coworkers. They should find a good home and not take up space in my home.
I bought a watermelon that ended up not being fantastic so I turned it into agua fresca – a little sugar, mint leaves, and lime juice made the watermelon fantastic!
We have a stash of “fancy snacks” in the pantry that we have received in gift baskets that have been waiting for the perfect moment to be eaten. Those moments never seem to happen so I’ve started to pack them into my son’s lunches.
@Geneva, We dehydrate poor watermelons. The thin slices turn out like fruit leather. Just slice and dehydrate...no extra work involved.
I've been on a hiatus because my daughter was born much earlier than anticipated, and we just got out of a six-week-long NICU stay. Not frugal in the slightest!!
It's more important than ever for us to be watching our pennies, so here are some of our frugal wins lately:
https://www.toloveandtolearn.com/2023/06/27/weekly-frugal-wins-pumping-formula-etc/
@Torrie @ To Love and To Learn, Congratulations and best wishes to your new larger family!
(and I would have thought that inexpensive pool was Way Cool when I was young).
Ohh, congratulations!! I'm so glad to hear you guys are out of the NICU.
@Heidi Louise, I agree, the $40 pool is pretty awesome! The kids are totally loving it, and we're feeling pretty pleased with ourselves for such a smart use of fun money funds, lol 🙂
@Kristen, Thank you! I never dreamed we'd have a 6-week NICU stay, but we're SO GLAD to finally be home 🙂
I've never had kale with eggs but I might have to give it a shot, your breakfast photos do look yummy!
1. Let's see this week I did not do any "fill in" stops to the store and used up whatever food we had left to make it to our regular grocery shopping day.
2. When I did shop for groceries, I used the Ibotta app to earn back $18.
3. Instead of our usual weekly order of 3 pizzas, ordered two and just asked for different toppings on each half. No complaints, more variety and I did save a significant amount so I think I'll keep this strategy!
4. Keeping curtains closed and thermostat set at no lower than 76-78 during this heat wave. I hope my house plants don't get too sad about the limited sunlight.
5. Using up a ton of spinach in smoothies before it turns slimy and I will freeze the rest.
1. I found some maternity clothes at Goodwill. The dress actually makes me feel pretty and my husband loves the jeans. (Our Goodwill hides the maternity clothes in the midst of the normal clothes so it is hard to find them.)
2. We went to a free irrigation seminar and picked up some free mulch!
3. After the landscaping seminar (which was an hour from our house), we stopped by a used toddler/child/baby clothing and stuff store. I know we won't get everything we need from the baby showers so we wanted to get a sense of the what is available on the used market and what the prices are. (I am trying to convince friends and family that "used but clean" is as good as new, but I don't think I will win that battle which is sad because baby clothes really cost about $1 per item used.)
4. Related to number three, I managed not to buy anything at the baby store.
5. I found some free books on Audible. I don't have Audible plus (or whatever they call the highest level plan), but I was able to add Mansfield Park and a bunch of Trollope to my library. I never realized what a master of language and satire Trollope was.
6. We decided it may be necessary to buy a pool pass so that I can keep exercising during the third trimester. $6 a day to swim laps is cheaper than pain meds or the physical therapist.
Those are the exact shoes I wore for years and years as a nurse in the hospital, on my feet for those 12 hour shifts; they are great. I needed a wide size, too, and I used to buy two pairs a year when they were on sale. Good luck in your clinicals !
Ooh, that's good to hear!
1. I foraged about 3 cups of juneberries and mulberries. They became muffins and bread for my kid's snacks and breakfast. I made banana muffins with over-ripe banana. I also foraged lemon balm, which will be tinctured for later use.
2. We booked a camping trip this week, but thunderstorms were forecasted all week. Sad face. Luckily we were able to cancel our reservation and only lost $50. We instead decided to book a hotel for a few days in a nieghboring city. We have since gone to their children's museum and saved $26 on admission because of the play museum membership we have in our own city. We also went to the science museum for free because we have a science museum membership in our city. We brought all of our own food and breakfast is included in our reservation. We are enjoying the hotel's indoor pool and exercise room!
3. I picked up a pair of rain boots off Buy Nothing that will fit my daughter in a few years.
4. A local garden store sent us 2 coupons for free vegetable and herb plants. We picked up the free plants and they now reside in our vegetable garden.
5. Our whole family signed up for our local library's summer reading program. It includes weekly prizes for our kids and raffles for gift cards for my husband and I. It's a great way to get us reading more, enjoying the play room at our local library, and winning prizes!
1. Used up curry sauce leftover from a takeaway with some cauliflower rice and basa fillet from the freezer. Much healthier and cheaper too!
2. Gave the strawberry tops when prepping my lunch to my pet rats as a treat.
3. Borrowed a portable AC unit rather than buying anything as it has been so hot in the UK already this year (31 degrees C last Sunday).
4. Repaired a pair of exercise leggings (mine always go on the inner left leg at the back where they snag on the spin bike seat)
5. Returned an unwanted buoyancy aid. I’ll probably end up with a cheaper model now.
@Steph, we have pet rats as well! And they also eat whatever we have for dinner.
Oh, let's see. We were traveling again, which is rarely a cheap option. But, it was important that when we moved to California for work, we keep our kids as connected to our family as possible. So, family wedding weekend it was!
1) My husband & I ate dinner at the lounge, ahead of our flight. We were also upgraded for free to "first class" (it was a two hour flight, with no meal served, so first class seems overly generous), and took advantage of a free beverage. The kids ate snacks from home, and I bought them a drink & a second snack ahead of the flight. All told, it was a pretty inexpensive evening at the airport.
2) Priced out ride share options for our trip to/from the airport, and went with the least expensive option. With four people and bags, it's always tempting to book the XL ride, but we just pack in & hope for a reasonably roomy car.
3) I picked up pizza for after the wedding & used a Dominos coupon code. It also came with a free pizza, which the teens will redeem this weekend.
4) I took advantage of a BOGO Panera offer, to feed everyone lunch on a busy day. I also had gift cards, which meant no new out of pocket spending.
5) I've been looking for a few clothing options & was able to buy 5 items on a really big sale for a total of $70 dollars. I never wear colors (stick to black & navy), and was already complimented on my green top today. I did wear a dress to the wedding that I've worn many times. Maybe 15? It's a total go to staple, and I paid probably $45 for it, so the cost per wear has been very minimal.
You will come to appreciate a great pair of shoes. Hoka and Brooks are top rated. I would say my current pair of Hoka’s are by far the best shoe I have ever worn over my 29 years.
1. I signed up for a summer feeding program where the only prerequisite is that you have kids. I am going to do my best to use what they gave me
2. We've been picking the wild black raspberries that grow all around the perimeter of our property. I am so close to having enough for a batch of jam, but not sure I'm going to get there since little hands keep grabbing the berries to eat. Oh well!
3. I made a batch of granola using Kristen's recipe
4. Used up past ripe bananas for banana bread, which everyone in my family loves
5. We've been using our pool more regularly since it's been warmer. Having a pool is not frugal, haha. But since we do have it, might as well use it!! Plus I've read that it is better for the pool somehow, I suppose since swimming agitates the water and keeps it from being stagnant too long.
1. I reserved a hotel room using my AARP discount to save a few bucks.
2. I bought the "cheap" gas at Costco, filled my tires with free air and had the free samples for lunch.
3. I found that my softener salt is now cheaper at Costco which didn't use to be the case. Reminder: I guess you have to keep checking prices.
4. I'm drinking coffee from beans I purchased for 50 cents a bag from a clearance store. It tastes great and I've gotten to try some new brands that I wouldn't normally purchase at full price
5. I gave my dog a bath and clipped her nails and gave myself a pedicure. (I bathed myself too. LOL)
Yay for you on eating kale! I'm one of those weird people firmly in team kale; I love how it keeps its oomph even when cooked.
This week's decidedly unfrugal expense was the food we ordered for the graduation celebration of our eldest. We could have cooked it ourselves or simply had cake and punch. But, we wanted to give thanks to all the people that have invested in him, and my kind husband was the voice of sanity for me to NOT cook for 85 people. It was a truly sweet time. We saved some $ by having it at our church (they didn't charge us, though we will give a donation for utilities), and having a Costco chocolate sheet cake - so good and a great deal for $24.99!!!
But in smaller victories,
1. We sold several curb-picked items and the like on FB, netting close to $300 this week. my husband and sons help folks clean out attics and garages often (they have trucks to haul the junk away) and will try to flip odd extras to keep them out of landfills.
2. I arranged our church's annual educational materials swap. Members donate unneeded items for any ages in June, and I sort everything and have it ready ready for free "shopping" in July. It's open to everyone, regardless of whether they put items in, and we donate to leftovers to a great charity. We get everything from playclothes to textbooks, and it's always a big blessing.
3. Was able to put together several sweet baby, graduation and father's day gifts from what we already had in the "gift closet" and from what we had on hand that was personal to the recipient. A friend's expectant daughter is decorating the nursery in Winnie the Pooh, and I framed a page from a vintage Pooh book I had. The book was past its prime, but its pages were in great shape. I also gave her and another friend some hand-crocheted hats and booties made with soft and pretty free-to-me and clearance rack yarn, and some bibs and burp cloths made with cute fabric scraps. Handmade items seem to mean a lot, especially with 2nd, 3rd, etc... babies that don't usually get as much. The graduate got a senior collage, a tradition I started many years ago. I use their photos, ceremony invitations, programs, etc to make a big framed tribute to them to remember the day. Its unique and always a hit. My FIL got the most unusual gift. My son cleared out an attic and came home with a very expensive wood lectern. We looked it up and it was worth several hundred dollars. We decided that with a bit of polish, it would be a perfect Father's Day present for my FIL who teaches classes.
4. More frugal in spending prevention for my parents but we helped... We went over and helped my parents cut down and haul several trees last weekend. A big storm blew through this weekend and their next door neighbors had a tree fall on their house. We're pretty confident that my parents would have been in the same boat without the preemptive strike a few days prior.
5. Our family loves to send gifts through Operation Shoebox each Christmas, so we are always looking for kid goodies throughout the year. On the way back from college orientation by son and I stopped at a Dirt Cheap that was selling whole shopping carts of new toys for $10 a buggy. Though you can see some of the contents, it's always a bit of a roulette on what you will end up with. We got 3 buggies, and were able to use 2/3 of the contents for shoeboxes. The extra items got sold on FB, and so far I'm only out of pocket $5 total for what I kept, (less if I sell the last FB group).
Blessings on your week, Kristen!
@Amanda P, the grad party may not have been frugal in terms of finances, but the memories you made from it, I bet, were priceless. Congrats to your grad for this major achievement!
That breakfast looks super yummy, but I'm still not putting kale in my breakfast. Nope!
I love roasted kale. Spray or rub with olive oil & sprinkle salt & pepper, or garlic salt or whatever spices you like & bake - maybe 5-10 minutes at 350 to 400. It shrinks up & is very crispy!
1. After I used up all the Molina vanilla, I put water in the bottle, put it in the fridge, and had the most exquisitely flavored cold water. (Refilled it three times before the flavor was gone).
2. A friend gave us some mulberries, which I froze, then turned into a "blender surprise" (what I called a smoothie before that word was invented).
3. Made a salad of the first cucumber from my garden, along with lettuce that hadn't yet bolted.
4. I am currently in Oregon, so have stocked up on toiletries because of no sales tax here.
5. My sister and I went to 2 estate sales, which is great entertainment. I spent $11 on 2 gifts, 3 books, and a couple of better quality kitchen items to replace some mediocre things I own.
6. My sister is sending me home with some frozen blueberries because the season is about to begin and she needs space in her freezer. It is too soon for me to go to a U-pick farm; last year I took home about 70 lbs. of U-pick blueberries. This year they will be almost double the price. Yikes, and THANK YOU, SISTER!
Toss the kale in the freezer! Great for cooking & smoothies.
I don't really care for raw kale, but I love kale in soups and stews in the winter, when my body seems to be craving greens. So when I got a big batch in last week's CSA (Community-Supported Agriculture) box, I stripped the leaves, tossed them in the food processor, chopped them up and put them in the freezer. If I get more this week, it will be processed the same.
Our checking account was getting very low, so I was tempted to transfer some more from savings over to cover some of the extra expenses we've had this month. After checking the pending checks, and the date, I realized my SS check will be deposited at midnight tonight, and I know from hubby's having worked in a bank years ago, that all deposits for an account are processed before any deductions are subtracted, so I didn't transfer it. I always pay off my credit card each month, and have made a couple of transfers already. Today's vet surgical bill and tomorrow's dental bill will both go on the credit card, but I can wait until Monday to transfer from the emergency savings to the credit cards, as it will be July then. I don't know what the fee would have been, but I refuse to pay extra to manage my own money. I might be looking for a new bank soon, anyway.
I cut the bottoms of some green onions several weeks back and planted them, and have been harvesting them this week! I usually buy some about every 2 weeks, so pulling them up out of the mini-garden has been satisfying.
Gave away some specialty tea bags I'd bought because I just didn't like them, after trying a cup 3 different times. The couple I gave them to, via the gifting group, thought the tea was phenomenal and really appreciated it. Today, I was gifted probably 4 boxes of various teas from another member in the group. Luke 6:38 is true!
My house, which was built in 2004, doesn't appear to have been painted inside since then, and badly needs it, but we just can't afford it right now. So I am slowly but surely painting all the doors and trim, with the possible exception of the baseboards. (I can get down on the floor, but with my knees, getting up is another story!) I started with the door from the garage into the house, which was so dingy and had marks that wouldn't wash off, and just seeing that fresh white door every time I come home has lifted my spirits immeasurably. I will just buy the paint as I can, watching for sales, and can only work on it after hubby goes to bed, so this is a long-term project. Still, it makes me smile as I slowly make my way through the house.
1. My husband replaced the cabin air filter in his truck and a brake light in my Hyundai.
2. Took my eight year old to Uptown Jungle today for $7 (two hour Groupon). Brought snacks and water and timed it right so we would be home for lunch.
3. Having a playdate at a splash pad later this week.
4. Using our children’s museum membership this week with friends.
5. Picked up some Pothos clippings on my buy nothing group. Will plant and make additions to gifts.
Only three for me this week:
1. It’s not frugal to have hit our yearly medical deductible, but it does allow me to use the debit cards we’ve received as incentives for healthy activities done earlier this year. (Until we meet the deductible, they can only be used for vision/dental expenses– we rarely have those, fortunately!-- but afterwards they can be used for any medical expenses). Savings: $350.
2. Redeemed a free car wash earned through a gas station’s loyalty app. I’d saved it on purpose for when we knew the car would be bird pooped and buggy after storing it outside with friends while we visited family for 10 days.
3. Picked some mulberries on our walk. Baby E loves them right off the tree!
wow so impressive. i am not a fan of kale but you make it sound almost yummy. glad you found shoes for nursing. i think that will be very beneficial for you. love the chiquita photos, how is she getting along with Shelley? back in the day when i had next to nothing i bought a handmade cat tree out of real tree branches at a cat show at madison square garden. it was over $100 but it lasted 30 years and was enjoyed by 3 cats. have not owned a car since college so a cat tree wasn't such a big splurge. it was a beautiful piece.
Shelly is not a fan of Chiquita so far, but Chiquita really wants to be friends! lol
oh! danskos. they sold them one year at my Costco. I was smart and wore them around the store while I was shopping. I was almost crippled!! LOL. I just wear running shoes!! or Crocs clogs.
https://www.crocs.ca/bistro-clog/10075,en_CA,pd.html?cgid=hospitality-shoes&cid=100
and compression socks are a must. There are some super cute ones out there.
My friend bought my cats a tunnel for Christmas and man, they love it. It takes up a lot of real estate in my small house but they enjoy chasing each other through it and resting and sleeping in it too.
My biggest frugal win was getting a refund of an overpayment for a medical procedure. I called because I thought they owed me $84. Turns out part of my original bill was subject to the No Surprise Billing Act and they actually owed me $584! I got the refund a week after requesting it. Sweet!
I checked out 1 book from the library, hit up the library sale and got 10 books to keep for $3.50. Then a friend gave me 2 more she was done reading. I am so happy to live in world where books are plentiful and cheap to buy or free to access.
I paid a quarterly utility bill I had forgotten about online, at the last minute, to avoid a $28 late charge. Phew.
Expect your feet will hurt a little as you start out!It's weird, but I've done multiple jobs for years, and it seems that it just take some getting used to, regardless of shoes!
For sure! I remember that when I started working at Nordstrom.
My savings this week -
1. Filled up on gas before you a 25 cents per litre tax increase on 1 July.
2. Had a performance review and a pay rise (yay!!).
3. Shopped my “presents box” for a gift for the birth of a friend’s grandchild and will bake for the mum too.
4. Substituted ingredients when making dinner rather than running to the supermarket - I always buy more items than on my list so best to avoid the temptation.
5. Using my mobile phone’s free plan to ring my daughter daily in Australia.
I have often wondered if my old-man-cat would like a tunnel, he has zoomies 2-3x a day.
1. I got a tomato cage from our local Buy Nothing Group.
2. I got plastic grocery bags from a neighbor to use for the cat box cleanup. There’s only a few stores locally that use them where we now live so I was very thankful to not have to purchase bags.
3. Family was visiting early this week, we did a few hikes, errands & went to the farmers market instead of eating out. We have 3 special diets so it would be a challenge anyways.
3a. We packed our own coffee/water & snacks for the hikes & I made fancy coffee at home instead of going to a local coffee place after.
4. My sister-in-law brought me a bakers hutch a neighbor in her area was getting rid of so I could use it for a coffee station. There was nothing wrong with it and it fits perfectly!
5. We used a Redbox freebie for my birthday last week to rent a movie Gent had wanted to see & it was completely free so that was nice. I’m not as into movies as Gent but it was still nice!
It made Zoe and me chuckle to hear that your older cat still gets the zoomies. Chiquita is so crazy when she gets the zoomies; sometimes I worry she's going to hurt herself!
Oh! I love Danskos and I have really high instep too (so high, that when my feet are wet, the footprint is only two spots, my sole and my heel- my instep does not touch the ground!). That said, I have always bought New Balance sneakers because they seem to work best for my particular high instep.
Mending is in my DNA! Good for you. Many clothing companies are using a chain stitch, made with one continuous thread, instead of a lock stitch, that uses two threads that "lock" in the middle of the fabric thickness. Chain stitching pulls out readily if the thread is broken, so your mend probably fixes your jeans very well. A sewing teacher I met some years ago cautioned us to study whether the fabric failed, or the thread--it will help you decide on the best mend.
My frugal wins:
* A new Instant Pot cookbook for $4 from Ollie's, a treasure of recipes. Made a 6" cheesecake using old cream cheese, sour cream, and caramel ice cream topping from the fridge. It is yummy, and just the right size for our small household.
* Contacted (email) the leather shop that made the elegant souvenir belt my husband bought in Italy three months ago. Its braided end had pulled out of the buckle tab. I studied YouTube videos and contacted the store for advice on mending it, and they responded the next day in spite of the five-hour time difference. They are graciously sending a new belt by way of apology. It was a splurge for us and I am so pleased.
* Bought a wonderful sun hat at Marshalls for $13 that would have retailed for much more. It is packable (crushable) and has a brim at least 4" wide, the minimum my dermatologist recommends.
* Learned how to find the nonfiction books on CD at the public library, and studied the online catalog before I went to the library to choose my listening.
* Took books and magazines to the Friends of the Library book warehouse, and came home with some wonderful books for me, $5. And a friendly visit with an old friend who is finally on the healing side after a terrible auto accident.
* I have been trying to cut down on groceries while not skimping on nutrition. Not so easy... Found a place that sells food that didn't get picked-up at the Food Bank. It's open to everyone, regardless of economic status, with the intention of saving food from going to the garbage. So, for 15$ I get about 40$ worth of groceries. Also, if I volunteer 4 hours I get it for free. Guess what I'm doing next week....
* I postponed a bariatric surgery planned in august. I have been eating really well, counting calories and upping my exercice and lost 15 pounds. If I can lose another 65, I'll be were the surgery tells me I would most likely get down to (70% of my excendent weight). This is not so much, I should be able to do it (an more). * Side note, for those who think that weight loss surgery is the easy way out, think again! Even if I end up losing this weight without, I will never bash those who decide to use this tool because, man, it requires A LOT before and after! So, yeah, side note aside, if I'm not going through, I'll be saving 20 000$ Canadian dollars...!! I give myself 6 months to see where I'm at.
* No clothes shopping for me while losing weight! I'm getting smaller sizes from Buy Nothing and from friends and storing them in the meantime.
* I upped my work weeks from 3 shifta to 4, in prevision of the surgery. I will keep this schedule for a while.
* Kids are on school holidays and we are keeping it very frugal and simple for them: spend time outside, see friends, go to the public pool, etc. Who needs Disney World? (actually, I would like to bring them someday soon... but it's about 8000$-10000$ for the 4 of us so.... yeah, not right now)
WLS is such a commitment; you are right!