Five Frugal Things | a few last birthday deals
I'm a little late telling you about some of these, but I snagged a few more birthday deals before they expired. 🙂
1. I got a free mini mascara
Ulta Beauty gives you a free little gift selection in your birthday month, so I stopped in and picked up a mini mascara for $0.
It's the Tarte Maneater mascara, but I assure you, I do not plan to eat any men. I just plan to enhance my eyelashes. 😉
2. I got socks for $2
DSW sent me a $5/any purchase coupon, so of course, I looked at the clearance socks. 😉
And I got two pairs of very soft socks for $2.
So between those and the ones I got from Kohl's with my birthday coupon, I'm all set for warm feet this fall.
3. I got a sports bra for $5
Aerie emailed me a $5/any purchase coupon, and usually I spend that on a pair of undies.
But I peeked in at the clearance section and found a $35 sports bra on a serious markdown; after my coupon, it was only $5.
Clearance sections really maximize the birthday savings. 😉
4. I used my Erie rewards for a Starbucks reload
My study besties and I met at Starbucks twice last week for studying, and my Starbucks balance was low.
So, I redeemed some of my Erie YourTurn rewards for a $25 Starbucks gift card.
Which means my study beverages were free. 🙂
5. Umm...I passed nursing school?
I can't think of a fifth off the top of my head, so we'll go with this. Ha.
Passing school IS a very financially savvy thing to do. Not only does it save you from having to pay to retake classes, it also offers a big pay increase over being a tech!
I did have to pay $376 in a single day for fingerprinting, applying to the board of nursing, and paying for a seat to take the NCLEX. But I will make that back in a jiffy once I start working as a nurse.
Thank you all so much for your kind encouragement on yesterday's post; it feels so nice to be loved and cheered on by all of you. 🙂
I didn't make it to the party yesterday so I want to offer my heartfelt congratulations on your completion of nursing school. It is a huge deal and I know you worked very hard to achieve this goal. I love that you got your 4.0 GPA and also that you helped fellow students study so that they could succeed as well. You are such a positive force in the world.
FFT:
1. I curb picked a large, bottomless animal crate. It is an almost perfect fit for our raised bed garden that is in a large galvanized container. A few days after planting tomato plants the tops were a meal for deer (our best guess). The crate is tall enough that it should allow the plants to be out of reach to deer, and hopefully squirrels, rabbits, and foxes as well.
2. I downloaded the Sam's Club app so that I can use Scan & Go. There is sometimes a savings associated with using using the app. I was able to save on Temptations cat treats yesterday. Since it was a rainy day there was no line for the gas pumps so I filled my tank which saved some dimes.
3. We had family over for Mother's Day. DH cooked and helped clean. It was healthier, cheaper, and more relaxed than going out. There were enough leftovers for DH's lunch the next day.
4. I am working hard to use pantry items that I might otherwise overlook.
5. I bought a pair of new sandals on eBay. They were about 70% less than they would have been in a store.
@K D, you can use Scan & Go at gas pump also. It's already attached to your payment & emails your receipt.
@Regina,
Thank you for sharing that tip.
@K D, I don’t have Sam's at the moment but I really miss their scan and go! It is really convenient!
@Caitlie,
My sister has used it for a while. I try to keep the number of apps on my phone down but I did finally succumb to save $16. I usually shop early at Sam's Club and it is generally not crowded then. The store is just a couple of miles from my home so relatively convenient.
It's worth repeating yesterday's YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!! for your achievement, Kristen!!! You have every right to celebrate that at the end of any and all posts. Your blog, your rules! ;P
FFT, Sorta
--I took advantage of an "$10 off $40 in pet supplies" offer in the Target app to stock up on canned cat food. Cat food and heavy whipping cream (Target has the best price in our area) were all that was on my list and all that I bought.
--I gave muffin tins I never use to a neighbor who has a home-based bakery. I thrifted the tins ages ago thinking I would make muffins, but I always use the same cake pan and just cut out pieces instead.
--A friend is hosting us for dinner tonight.
--Free mulch from my husband's job continues to spruce up the yard.
--It's been so dry this spring that I actually had to water the vegetable garden with the spigot for the first time vs. the rain barrels. That's the first time in the three years I've been gardening! I know the food grown will more than make up any difference in the water bill, but it still hurt my feelings. Hopefully tonight's forecast thunderstorm doesn't pass us by!
Very NOT frugal, but prudent: My 34 year old vehicle is getting a full brake job this week. In nine years of ownership, I've only had to replace the pads once, but this time everything aged out down to the calipers. My loyal steed is worth it--they really don't make 'em like they used to.
@N, would you mind sharing what make and model your 34 year old vehicle is? I would love to know. My husband and I are currently shopping for a used vehicle and we believe in keeping them as long as possible.
@Laura, I drive an '89 Buick Century. It was a true "Granny only drove it on Sundays" car when my husband and I bought it for $1000 nine years ago at 110,000 miles. Judging by the contents of the glove box, we're only the third owners! It has its old age niggles now and again (see brakes above), but parts are ubiquitous, and any (good) mechanic can work on it. It's also nearly 3000 lbs of American steel; in winter, that weight more than makes up for only having front wheel drive. Highway mileage is 27. The only real catch--which I happily accept--is that it's too old for ethanol gas (engines weren't made for it yet), so one does pay more for ethanol free. There are enough older and agricultural vehicles in our area that finding ethanol free gas is no problem at all.
@N, I love that you love your 34 year old steed. That is exactly how I feel about my 32 year old '93 Camry. She could use a makeover, but she is true blue (actually white) and I love every age mark on her. She earned them all.
@N, thank you! very interesting!
A bit late to the party, but heartfelt congratulations on finishing nursing school and passing with flying colours !!!
Seeing you flourish over the last couple of years has been wonderful to witness through your blog.
Big frugal "win" - bought a new garbage disposal after the 20 year old conked out. HD quoted me $369 just to install it! Went with a friend of a friend who is handy - $100 installation and I know its done right as he does these all the time. Also:
*getting a free oil change today as part of my new car perks
*got a break on my car insurance by selling the clunker out of my driveway
*had coffee with a friend who picked up the tab
*getting a free one-on-one financial retirement planning meeting through my employer
*found a new to me clothing thrift store where everything is $3 - going to find a few basics for my wardrobe
Happy Wednesday!
FFT, It’s Finally Raining Something Besides Rain Edition (revised/updated from recent comments at the NCA:
(1) The spring monsoon season seems finally to have ended in Central NY, so I headed out on Saturday for a lovely morning of thrifting and cruising garden centers. I didn’t buy anything at the garden centers--I’m going to wait to buy any plants I need till after Memorial Day when the prices come down--but it was fun and informative to look.
(2) But the thrifting was hot. In particular, I found three pairs of new or like-new Skechers shoes (two pairs of slip-ons and one pair of sneakers) for a total of $28. Not easy to find thrifted shoes that work for my aging and ever-expanding feet!
(3) The Bestest Neighbors came home last week from some time at their Lake Erie house with 18 eggs from Ms. BN’s cousin’s chickens, and they shared 9 of these with me.
(4) The BNs also came over on Sunday to dig up some of my excess echinacea (purple coneflower), beebalm, and dill seedlings. Some of these will go into their own garden, and some will go toward some of Dr. BN’s many Master Gardener projects. They also brought me the three tomato seedlings I ordered from one of Dr. BN’s Master Gardener friends. I gave them a garden kneeler seat that was a gift to me I can’t use, because I can’t kneel on my partially replaced right knee. And it says a lot for a friendship of almost 40 years that we’re not overly hot and bothered about who owes whom what at this point. In fact, I expect we’ll probably call it a draw.
(5) And my neighbor on the other side of my NDN came over on Monday with what turned out to be $6.40 worth of NY State deposit containers. He says he's been waiting till my broken rib has healed!
You should celebrate passing nursing school as much as you want - it's a testament to years of hard work and frugality!
1) I saved a lot stocking up at Target - $5 off 3 items ( shampoo if choice- set for a while) and $5 gift card for $30 health and beauty ( vitamins). And there was a random $2 off anything in store added by the app. And 5% off with red card.
2) I used free gift cards ( from bank) to buy pizza for dinner. Enough left over for 2 more meals.
3) The school district will pay for Daughter's summer camp, so I received my $400 check back.
4) Living out of the freezer and pantry for a lot of items.
5) My semester ended, so gas savings for the next few months! No more commute.
Yay! for warm feet in winter! I think that makes me as happy as you finishing school!
FFT:
1. I won tickets to a Ricky Skaggs concert. This makes my daughter very happy. (She did the legwork of winning the tickets anyway.)
2. We are eating out of our raised beds-- asparagus and one radish so far.
3. I did not cave to my fearful mom worries and take my puking daughters to the emergency room. I tried to stay rational despite it being a much longer intestinal bug than normal. They were miserable, but they were not showing the most disturbing signs of dehydration. I kept trying to hydrate. They are on the mend.
4. I mended some clothing. I used rags.
5. We cooked at home. I made bread.
I hope you spend the rest of the month celebrating your achievement. Walks? Visits? Morning coffees at the little bench in front of the house? All excellent and well deserved options 🙂
I am very busy and not particularly note down frugal actions at the moment. Rather I go on automatic pilot with regards to solar powered laundry, home cooking, library book reading etc. Also I am still experimenting with slow cooker yoghurt. The second batch was considerably better than the first, having been "propagated" with genuine Greek yoghurt. I am very happy to not have another appliance in my kitchen, and am inspired to try out new slowcooker recipes.
Afterthought - a mini mascara may be even more useful than a regular size if you do not use mascara every day. I often replace my mascara for sanitary reasons when I only wear it on Rare and Formal Occasions. Regardless of brand (and I have tried many), after an hour or two of having eye makeup on I start looking as if I have been drinking too much - watery and red-veined eyes. I also cannot do contacts. First world problem, still the occasional sigh of regret.
Exactly! Travel size is perfect.
1) I sent in my Menards rebate forms.
2) My kids have been asking me to use up our freezer food for dinners. We will have more room for the essentials like popsicles and the freezer bucket for the ice cream maker.
3) The weather has warmed up enough to walk my daughter to school instead of drive.
4) I went online to return an extra pair of shorts to Old Navy (I’d ordered two sizes for my daughter to try). They just gave me a refund instead and told me to keep them. I guess the cost to return them would be more than they were worth.
5) I made use of the customer loyalty program with our HVAC people. The annual cost is less than the two seasonal maintenance visits we were already doing for our furnace and AC, plus the program includes checking all our plumbing (toilets, sinks, sump pump, washer hoses, water shut off, etc.), unclogging my kids’ sink, providing the new furnace filters, and I get a discount for anything I might need between those maintenance visits.
Side note: I’m having that issue again with the reloading page and it’s logging me out while I’m writing .
@JenRR,
My kids would agree with your about summer essentials! With the burst of hot weather, ice cream sandwiches and bars moved into the kitchen, and extra boring food like meat and bread went outside freezer.
1. Brought several CDs to Half-Price Books. Made $4, bringing the total there to $54. Now that our CDs are confined to one shelf, if we happen to acquire a CD, we’ll have to de-acquire another one.
2. Picked up check from home consignment store. Made $140, bringing the total there to $482. We don’t miss any of the stuff.
3. Made a fruit smoothie using coconut milk as we were out of yogurt. Now I prefer it.
4. Made pumpkin bread using canned pumpkin from the pantry and the addition of ground cloves since I have a large spice jar full.
5. Used up almost the rest of a restaurant gift card. Took home the sandwich picks to use as cake testers for muffins and quick breads.
@MB in MN, one of my favorite smoothies contains coconut milk, spinach, banana, and pineapple. It tastes a bit like a green piña colada.
@Bee, ooohhh, that sounds delicious!
@Bee, thanks for the suggestion. I have a bunch of pineapple in the freezer and didn't have a plan for using it.
What a huge achievement, Kristen.
1. We have had several inches of rain after a long dry spell. I turned off the sprinkler system. I try to only water when necessary. During long dry spells, my water can cost more than my electricity. Sadly, I do not have a well.
2. Several years ago, I picked up a Fiddle Fig Tree that had been put out with a neighbor's yard trash. It was about 4 feet tall. It has lived on my back porch and is now 7 - 8 feet tall. I have repotted it 2x, but it needs to be repotted again. I really need a huge pot now. One of my Garden Club Friends curb picked a 36" pot for me. This is a huge savings for me. I am so thankful for my curb-picking friend. Now, I need to purchase enough potting soil.
3. I have been cleaning out my closet and trying to create a more serviceable wardrobe. I tried on all my jeans and selected two pairs that I made into shorts. Much less expensive than buying $80 cutoffs from a department store and mine are just the right length.
4. I brought many pieces of clothing to the consignment store. I could probably make more money selling these pieces myself on eBay, but I don't like to sell clothes. Photography is difficult and returns are high.
5. DH and DS cooked a lovely dinner for the women in the family on Mother's Day. We enjoyed an afternoon of each other's company away from the restaurant crowds and at a reasonable cost.
Wishing all peace, good health, and prosperity.
@Bee,
Ugh, the short length thing. It seems like all the shorts these days make our old 1970's "hot pants" look modest. When you can literally see butt cheeks hanging out the bottom, your shorts are too short.
I am not a knee-length shorts person (at least not yet!), but I do NOT want my butt cheeks peeking out of the shorts. No thank you.
@JD's comment reminds me of an old joke about the 1970s hot pants: They came in three lengths--short, shorter, and "Good morning, Judge."
@JD,
My Daisy Duke days are long over. I prefer my shorts an inch or two above the knee. As you have said, they are not easy to find. They are too short when the pockets are poking out of the hem line.
@Bee and @JD, my solution to the whole shorts problem has been to start phasing out shorts altogether and going for lightweight full-length pants. You both may well need shorts in FL, and I get that. But here in Central NY, both I and the general public are fine with my not revealing my "legs like an Edwardian piano" (a quote from Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five). Frankly, I never looked good in hot pants or mini-skirts anyway, so I'm completely comfortable with light slacks.
@JD,
This made me laugh on the bus one day. . . A young woman got on the bus who was wearing minimal shorts and sat by one of her (I assume) friends. Her friend promptly told her that her underwear should ALWAYS be smaller than her shorts and the only good looking rolls are on a bakery shelf! I do think that is probably some of the best fashion advice I have ever heard.
CeeCee
@CeeCee, this young woman had a wise friend. I hope she listened to her fashion advice.
@A. Marie, I phased out shorts a few years ago, embraced capris and don’t care a flip if they’re considered out of style. The stores are still packed with them, so how out of style can they be? But I did order a pair of loose, lightweight pants that haven’t arrived yet. In South Texas, they better be lightweight!
@A. Marie, lol.. I've heard that joke also. I also remember the coats females wore in the early 70s that were longer than their dress/skirts. And those same females who were *supposed* to be watching the elementary kids during recess standing inside cuz they were freezing their posteriors off.
@A. Marie, if the temp is not 95 or higher, it is not shorts season for me. Usually yoga pants for me, jeans if I am in the woods/doing a dirty job/chore. I tolerate weather better than better half does. No issue layering when cold and I just tolerate heat/humidity better. Granted I am a smaller person than better half. To me, running the A/C is more of a necessity for less wear/tear on electronic, frig, and freezer.
Congratulations Kristen. If I was in the hospital, I sure would want you to be my nurse!
The only other person I knew of in nursing school the same time as you was honey boo boo. I thought she would be graduating too but she just has a letter of acceptance into nursing and more years of school. I don’t know what makes it different. Maybe she is going to teach nursing or something. It’s all interesting.
I recently found out there is a large portion of Americans who never go into grocery stores. And they hate cooking and cleaning and doing dishes. They have new expensive appliances in their kitchen they never use.
I have learned many things this week that have blown my mind.
I continue to buy a few foods, cut them up and cook them. Wash up after and even clean the floors. I kinda enjoy it.
I googled and it looks like she just got accepted INTO nursing school. 🙂
@Kristen, but she’s been going to that school for 2 years already, someone told me it’s a bachelor of science in nursing.Is that what you have?
Hmmm, maybe she was doing prereqs? I do not have a bachelors yet; mine is an ADN. But it will only take about 18 months of easy online classes to get my BSN after this. The bulk of the work is behind me!
@Tuana, so honey boo boo will have a degree in nursing. It’s interesting to read about the different programs. Apparently you can go into research and management as well as floor duty with the degree so that’s probably why it takes more than 2 years to complete. Well good for her going all scholastic.
Yes, most hospitals want you to get your BSN within so many years of graduating (I think mine is five years?). They will pay for it, though! So to me it made sense to get the ADN, and then have my hospital pay for the BSN.
Interestingly, the BSN and ADN students take exactly the same NCLEX.
1. I used a $10 off coupon at Tom Thumb along with other coupons and sales to get $70 worth of groceries for only $31.
2. I received a $7 Target gift card and used it to get an 18 pack of washcloths for $1.50.
3. I have been using some dairy-free creamer that my mother didn't want. It works nicely in my homemade hot cocoa or tea.
4. I spent less than $10 on a Mother's Day gift - a small purple orchid plant, which she loved. I made a card using things I already had.
5. Doing all the usual things - cooking at home, eating my leftovers, using cloth handkerchiefs and napkins, using washable glass or plastic containers to store food, using rags for dusting and cleaning, setting the air conditioner at 78 and using a fan to keep cool.
It is always financially wise to pass your classes!
I had to laugh when I saw the mascara was "Maneater."
My FFT:
1. The thrifted dog bed that I got a few years ago has a center section that has padding that just wouldn't stay in place anymore when washed; even stitching or pinning it in place didn't work. This weekend I cut open the bottom and discovered the padding was random small pieces of what appeared to be felted wool. I pulled it all out, put in two cut-to-size polyfill "sheets" I had left over from reupholstering some chair seats and sewed as much of the cut as I could on my sewing machine, hand sewing the rest. I had considered buying a new bed, but I can use this for a while longer now.
2. I remembered to use my DSW "$25 off $49 or more purchase" coupon before it expired. I bought a pair of "wear out in public" casual shoes to replace some aging ones that are about to be downgraded to "wear only at the house" shoes. I made sure I bought a pair priced at $49 to get the maximum use of the coupon.
3. I'm probably going to have to turn on my A/C when my sister arrives this weekend, but I've been powering through without it at home so far, opening and closing windows and running fans.
4. I figured the delivery and installation of my new appliances by accepting store delivery but having a local do the installation, saving $100 over the next best option.
5. My loquat tree survived hurricane Idalia but hurricane Helene did it in. The top 3/4 of the tree is dead. It's been slowly dying back since Helene. I love that tree, so I want to replace it. I found a volunteer small sapling hidden in the hydrangeas where a bird or squirrel dropped a loquat, dug it up and potted it. If all goes well, I can replace this tree with its own progeny for free.
@JD, I admire your #5 in particular. I often replace plants in my garden with their own seedlings, but I've never done it with a tree!
@JD,
As a fellow Floridian, I must say that I am quite impressed that you have not been using your AC. We have had some hot days already! Rescue Pup insists that I put the AC on. She stares at me panting until it's done.
On another note, I'm sorry about your loquat tree. Whenever we have a storm, I pray that my oak tree with survive. My house can be repaired, but my beautiful old tree cannot.
@JD, I had never seen a loquat tree or heard of one. When we moved into our new house a few months ago, I thought we had 2 weird magnolias. Then the fruits came. DH is thrilled to have them.
1. My wife wanted nothing for Mother's Day. I asked her and let her know that I was going to respect her wishes just so there were no confusions. She was okay with this and so for Mother's Day I went to the grocery store and bought some nice steaks and made her a pretty darn good steak dinner. Yes it was a splurge all said and done but it was cheaper than taking her to a fancy restaurant (and no tips required. 😛 )
2. Had a Costco run last weekend and bought a few things I needed that were also for a good price. I also got some of the Made in USA men's socks which I really recommend if you have a Costco membership. They are really nice.
3. Sold one item on eBay and went through a lot of things I owned that I never used and put them in the "to sell on eBay" pile. I will try and work on that this week.
4. Attempting some DIY jobs because I can't seem to find anyone who can do it for me.
5. Probably going to have another "stay local" Saturday. While I'd love to travel and run the roads, when you don't have a specific place to go and you have stuff that needs doing at home (chores and projects) it doesn't make sense to go out all the time. Plus we're looking at rain so the fun things will have to wait for a nicer day.
@Battra92, it sounds as if you and your wife had a good Mother's Day. And I admire your clarity of communication about this.
I am not feeling so frugal these days, though I am reaping the free benefits of gifts during Nursing week!!
You should be able to claim all your Nursing related fees on your taxes!! (where I am, there is a line item for union/work related fees!).
1. I went on a field trip to the zoo with my kindergartener and we packed our lunches as opposed to buying. It meant that I had to wear a backpack all day, but that's worth it to me.
2. Someone offered us free tickets to a minor league baseball game and we said, "Yes, thank you!" We try to go to one game a year anyways, so this was perfect. We did buy subs at Subway for dinner (both parents were at separate field trips all day so packing dinner was not feasible - Maycember fun!) But I threw in a couple of big bags of chips from our pantry and brought water bottles so we didn't need anything other than the subs.
3. I picked up an extra work shift yesterday and will work a bunch of hours tomorrow through Saturday. I appreciate the extra income as my kids have three birthday parties to attend this weekend and we have four graduation parties next weekend!
4. I gave haircuts to my husband and two of our kids this week. Then my husband gave me my semi-annual haircut.
5. I'm currently sitting in the vet parking lot with my dog. We go to a vet that costs less than others in our area, but operates on a walk-in basis. (My expected wait today is 1.5 hours.) I pay more with my time, but a lot less with my wallet. He's a good vet. I have a good book to read. And hopefully I'll have a happy dog again soon.
@Ruth T, re: your #2, I not only commend you for bringing your own chips and water to your ballpark, but am glad you can do it. Our AAA minor league ballpark has a "no food or beverages from outside" policy. But the Bestest Neighbors and I try to go to games on "Dollar Thursday" nights, when our excellent local Hofmann's hot dogs are $1 apiece. (And I always tuck a plastic bag for NY State deposit containers into my pocket, since there are always people tailgating in the parking lot and dropping beer cans!)
@A. Marie, We weren't able to bring them into the park (they are strict no food, beverages, or containers) but ate dinner on the way. We had a 45-minute drive, so plenty of time to eat in the van. 🙂 I love that you have Dollar Thursday at your park!!
Finishing nursing school is a lifelong, HUGE frugal win! Not sure that can be beat.
My five:
1) My kitten was spayed this week. Not frugal upfront, but no kittens in the future is very frugal. I also bought her a 3 pack of bodysuits for recovery for $11. That saved the $9 ecollar fee and the $25 bodysuit fee the vet wanted to charge if I got items from them. It also allowed me to tailor it a bit to fit her just right before surgery.
2) We replaced some curtains with blinds. I cut the curtains off, hemmed them, reused the curtain rod and hung them in another room that needed some thermal curtains to keep the heat out this summer.
3) We have been gathering the hundreds of paver stones that were all over the yard. I am making a new walking path around the yard with them.
4) I bought 2 retired Nora Fleming cake plates from goodwill for $10 each.
5) our sunroom has newer windows, but they are the crank out kind of windows. The window trim was all white, but the cranks were dark brown and really stuck out from the windows. Rather than replace the windows with something more appealing, I found a replacement for the cranks that updated them to a white crank that folds down flush against the trim. There were 9 to replace. At $13/crank, that was much cheaper than new windows!
Free lunch at work yesterday, Taboon how can I say no! It included free ice cream sandwiches.
My brother gave me some canned goods, I will use them up.
I bought 2 sippy cups at a garage sale for $4 total. These are normally $14.99 each. Kids cups are so expensive.
Hubs found a new, still in the box children's makeup table. The person ordered it and did not want it. The grands will play with it.
Friends invited me over for burgers, they were testing out a new grill. 🙂
1. Am waiting for DS#3 to be done with an AP exam, and resisting getting a fancy coffee drink. Brought my bike to tool around the area while waiting so I can hit up the library.
2. While cleaning out my desk after finals I found a $5 off coupon(expiring today!) for Great Clips, which is nearby so after dropping DS off and running a couple of errands I went and treated myself to a long overdue trim.
3. On Mother's Day I gave everyone else home haircuts, which more than paid for mine!
4. We didn't go anywhere fancy that day either; I gave haircuts and happily pottered around the house and made a vegan chocolate pie which was well-received.
5. Clark's new favorite toy is a cardboard ring cut from a toilet roll core; when they get smooshed they are easily replaced. He is truly a Frugal Feline.
@Karen A., my Dizzy cat's favorite toys were tear strips off milk jugs and juice concentrate cans. I'll never forget the look on Diz's face the day he brought in a baby garter snake from outside (he was the last of our outdoor/indoor cats): "Ooh, Mama, look, this tear strip WIGGLES!" Fortunately, I was able to get the baby snake away from him before it incurred major injury.
@A. Marie, the first spring we had our Dora Kitty, she caught a DeKay's brown snake on the screened porch and deposited it in the kitchen, live and kicking. They are harmless snakes that eat snails and slugs, so I scooped it up and put it in the front yard. I think it did okay as there's three of them now that den along the stone wall out there.
Dora used to catch wildlife to feed herself and her babies after she was abandoned, so she seemed a bit peeved that I did not eat her thoughtful gift. 😀
@Ruby, yes, they absolutely don't appreciate it when we refuse their "gifts." I know I've told this story before, but Betty deposited the one and only mouse she's caught to date on the living room rug--where I found it with my bare feet in the dark at 5 am. People two cities away probably heard my scream.
@A. Marie, one year at my niece’s house for Thanksgiving, her cat decided to bring in a sizable rabbit through the cat door as his “contribution” to our dinner. He was not happy that I promptly disposed of it, while everyone else was in a dither.
@A. Marie, did Betty eat part of it or was it intact? Half eaten adds another level of "love" from the cat.
@LDA, We had an outdoor cat once who was a great mouser, and would bring them to the back patio door and meow until we came out and praised her--only then would she tuck in, after seeing we had no interest in eating the catch. When I was expecting my second, she must have gotten wind of the fact that there was another mouth to feed on the way, because she started catching rabbits and doing the same thing. We would come out, tell her she was a fantastic cat, and then she would happily eat her rabbit, leaving behind just the fur and entrails. DH often said he should have saved the pelts for little hats or something. LOL!
@A. Marie, So far Clark's favored prey is flies. And ants. He'll chase a fly down and chomp it with relish, but spiders and millipedes are clearly toys and meant to be played with--until the mean lady (me) squishes them.
@Selena,
What if the cat brings home a live mouse and drops it at your feet? Is that a different level of gifting?
Many years ago, I had a huge tomcat. Although I always tried to keep him inside, he was always darting outdoors. One day I opened the door to let him in and he dropped a live mouse at my feet. It immediately scampered off and total chaos ensued. We did manage to catch the little guy and bring him across the street where we let him go.
@A. Marie, My first (of three) Welsh Terriers killed a mouse and brought it in the house and put it in his toy basket in the living room. I told our Vet that the dog was so mad when I took the mouse out and threw it away. Said the Vet: "Those things are hard to catch! Get your own damn mouse!"
@LDA, ours left a sizable rabbit, sans brain, on the mat Easter Sunday.
@Karen A., lucky you the cat did not get worms. Every time I found the rabbit (usually only the brains consumed, go figure), the cat got worms,
Frugal.
Had a Ten hour road trip. I packed all drinks and snacks. Only stopped for gas. Bathroom breaks. And dog walks.
Got free Hen and Chick plants and cilantro and basil seeds from free plant library at local library.
Came home from road trip and made a sautéed veggie pasta sauce to use up odds n ends before grocery shopping. The noodles I found way back in the pantry had a date of 2002. Egads. We ate them. They were fine.
Got three new items for summer. Much needed refresh. Bought on a 50 percent off site wide day. I seldom buy new clothes items.
Did not buy annual flowers this year. Bought only edible herbs. My front porch will look different but that is okay. I did plant zinnia seeds. Pretty and cheap and easy!
Congrats to Kristen and your classmates!!!
Keep your receipts ($376) & you may be able to use as write off as part of your education expenses on your taxes. 2025 all tax laws expired (naturally) & if education tax laws stay same you should be able to include that with your education expenses.
I read an (online) article (on Google) this weekend about Cheap vs Frugal. They listed 10 practices/habits of Cheap vs Frugal with examples for what was considered cheap compared to frugal. I agreed mostly with what they gave as examples except a few that I thought was not, which included sharing about your frugality, which article considered being (cheap) bragging. I (personally) look forward to Frugal Things post to read & learn what others do to be frugal & I have learned some new ways to save money from Kristen's blog.
Frugal things---
● my neighbor had medical emergency recently where she had to go to hospital after epi pen didn't fix medical problem. Her sister flew in to stay with her after hospital had to dig out spider poison out of body. I dropped off (pop up) flowers card & Culver's quart of free ice cream coupon (blood donation gave me).
● free plant (Lowe's reward) that planted in hanging flower basket I already had
● bought potting soil on sale $2 bag (Lowe's) to mix with compost for potted plants & hanging plants & returned big bag $17 to Sam's club (same trip)
● used my $5 Lowe's reward & got 10 bags $15
● ordered Kleenex (start of allergy season) saved $15 on $75 & got Free shipping
● cashed in some Receipt Pal points for $10 gift card & used $10 gift card earned from last order for Target order
● dug up 15 hosta plants & transplanted them in different area in yard & digging up some perennial ground cover flowers to put into pots
● teen made me Mother's day slide show (Canva?) & cleaned out/detailed inside of my vehicle for Mother's day (cost teen no money)
Frugal fail--
● bought some mint plants ($6) at Meijer & on sale (2 days later) 3 for $10. I will be buying at 3 for $10 & then returning with my receipt for $6 each.
● Lions had BBQ Chicken dinner on Mother's day & we got some to go/take out for brunch. I'm glad I went to pick up because price increased from $10 up to $15 each. Luckily it's a good cause fundraiser & is only twice a year.
@Regina, re: your last item, I'm eagerly looking forward to charity chicken BBQ season here in Central NY, where the famous Cornell BBQ recipe is featured. I'm definitely not l00king forward to the probable jump in prices. But, dammit, going to these BBQs was a beloved tradition for DH and me, and I'm going to attend a few of these at least.
@A. Marie, I agree, we look forward to supporting local BBQ Chicken event every year as well as local school food booths/fundraiser if have to eat while out.
• I deadheaded my hydrangeas and used the crushed flowers as bottom filler for my patio pots. I only planted herbs this year which will be beautiful and useful!
• Instead of going out to eat for Mother’s Day, I requested dinner at home cooked by my son – this is the second year he’s done this and it is a HUGE treat, he’s such a good cook.
• I found two packages of Lion Brand Coffee at Home Goods while picking up my mom’s Mother’s Day gift. It was the exact flavor I wanted at a quarter of the price of ordering online.
• I gifted my mom consumables for Mother’s Day (fancy pastas that I know she will love) and packed everything in reusable gift bags that we have amassed over the years from Amazon. My son made her banana crunch muffins which were a HUGE hit!
• I kept up the frugal habits: coffee from home, packing leftovers for lunch, throwing leftovers in the freezer, books from the library, free podcasts, long walks with the dog.
FFT:
- Instead of going out to eat for Mother's Day, we picked up pizza to eat at home.
- I had leftover pizza for lunch for several days
- Received a dog bed from DD after her dog passed away. It will replace our older dog bed that has lost a lot of its padding.
- Stocked up on pantry items that were BOGO at Publix
- Planned meals around what we had in pantry and freezer and what was on sale at Publix.
1) Invoiced for the first half of the class I taught. I have learned a lot from the experience, and it's been much more challenging than I expected, so it felt really nice to be able to invoice for the first half.
2) I needed to order photos for DS18's graduation poster (a school tradition). Walmart is cheapest near me, but their photo shop is closed for a few weeks. I found a coupon at CVS, which made it only about $5 more for the full order. I will also use iBotta for a small amount back, and my credit card also gives another 3% cash back for drug stores.
3) Gave away a bunch of stuff to help others: a) donated DS18's soccer backpack to his club, now that he's done. For families on scholarship, this helps them avoid having to buy very expensive branded gear. b) gave away a ton of non-club soccer items to a mom on Buy Nothing who has a few kids on teams. c) gave away DS18 & D19's summer camp uniforms, as they both have different jobs this summer. You have to wear the shirts every day, and only get one. Because they've worked their for multiple summers, we had enough to outfit a friend for a full week, which means a lot less laundry. He was thrilled.
4) Menu planned, ate leftovers, shopped in our pantry & used garden ingredients.
5) We line dry most of our clothes, and continue to do so. We mostly do it to increase the life of our clothing, but it's also a small frugal win.
@Hawaii Planner, Free Prints (app) is really great & you get lots of free pictures, but your only option is shipping. Photo prints Now is CVS photo app & then you can pick up in store. They are usually ready with few hours to be picked up at store.
I noticed that most photo places now only have online/app ability to order your photograph pictures (& make posters, invitations).
We're getting ready to leave for a big camping trip. We have house-sitters staying at our place while we're gone (A free service BTW -- they stay here in exchange for free lodging and look after the house and garden -- and pets, but our dogs are going with us on this trip.) We did a deep clean of the house while resulted in some frugals:
I cleaned out the freezer and fridge and am using up lots of odds and ends in meals.
I collected a bag full of items to donate.
I discovered a couple of items I'd forgotten we own that turned out to be very useful in the RV.
We're spending Memorial Day weekend with good friends. My friend's love language is gifts -- she never shows up empty handed. I wanted to bring her something. I found a brand-new item I know she will love (and no-- she wasn't the one who gave it to me!). I also made her a little cross-stitch picture with items I had on hand and a frame I had on hand. All put in a re-used gift bag.
I was sick all weekend and stayed home. This is my least favourite way to save money!
Kinda like saving money on groceries by having a stomach bug!
@Kristen, Yup! Money I would prefer to have spent in both scenarios!
1. I've been cutting open product bottles to get every bit out before throwing away. By doing so, my hair product I got 25 more days out of it.
2. The food pantry at my work gave me a half gallon of milk
3. I took advantage of a going out of business sale at JoAnn Fabrics to buy fleece to make a tie-blanket for a baby gift....saved 60% on the fleece
4. We needed a new quilt for our bed. I shopped around and found one 45% off at Kohls and picked up at the store to save on shipping fees
5. A co-worker bought all the girls in our office roses and bags of sponge candy for a mother's day gift.
Congratulations!!
1. My daughter requested pumpkin muffins for her snack at school this week. I made a double batch and froze the rest for her snack next week.
2. We went to a local museum for Mother's Day. They were offering free entrance for mothers and I also brought a coupon for $3 off each ticket. We brought lunch and water. Total cost was $30. It was a really nice day!
3. My husband purchased peat moss off Facebook Marketplace for 50% off the store price. We did not end up using it all, so he resold what we did not use on Marketplace. He also sold a kayak mount on Marketplace this weekend.
4. I went to my yearly dermatology appointment last week. Preventative medicine is always frugal.
5. We went to a "free" garage sale. My kids got some toys that they liked.
My big frugal win this week was picking up a contract job teaching Music Enrichment classes. The local music center offers classes for 20 different instruments. When a teacher is vacationing or sick they offer enrichment classes instead of make ups. I overcame a lot of internal messages of "I am not good or smart enough" and applied. I have a single subject in Music credential from being the world's most average vocal major. The degree required piano and guitar proficiency tests. So yes, I play instruments. No, I don't play them well.
My first day was Monday and it was an outstanding success. This is what I discovered. I am not a brilliant musician but I am an gifted teacher. I say that with modesty. I saw 11 students from 5 years old to 50 years old. Some were beginners and a few were more advanced. I had prepped engaging "one off" lessons for all that included improvisation, ear training, and chordal accompaniment. I bought animal erasers for the littles and they created scales and play finger twister on the keyboard.
The money was good - starting at $27.00 an hour and, best of all, I left without having to do a lunch count, grade, call parents over class management issues, or even lock the door. After 35 years of teaching, this was the first gig in which all I had to focus on was teach. Yeah!!!!!
@Mary Ann, this sounds wonderful, on all counts!
What a fun job for you!!
@Mary Ann, I remember those music proficiency exams. Ugg.
Yes, passing school is a big financial savings, no repeat classes to pay for and higher wages. And, while having a 4.0 isn’t necessary for having a great career, it can be gold in your back pocket in future job applications that are competitive. So, another possible big financial win, even if down the road.
This week I bought a pound of bacon on sale and had remembered to click a digital coupon before going to the store, so the bacon cost only $3.39, about half the going price these days.
DH has a lot of trouble with his feet and needed work boots. We looked all over and the prices were eye-watering. Finally checked the farm supply store and got a pair for half price.
Bought cat litter, tea, canned tomatoes and trail mix at Ollie's Outlet for about 50% less than a regular store. Also found DH a pair of Dickies brand slacks there for $7.99. Usually they sell in the $50 range.
Cut up the padded portion of a mattress cover that wore out and put it inside the slip covers for my dogs' beds. Added a button to the neckline of a shirt so it would stop sliding off my shoulder. I am too old for the Flashdance effect that so many tops have!
@Ruby, if we're old enough to remember the Flashdance movie, we're too old for the Flashdance shirt effect! 😀
@A. Marie, true that!
@A. Marie and Ruby,
ROTFL! So true!
And I am also in the Too Old To Wear Flash Dance Attire age group.....
The joys of being fingerprinted. It is pretty much a given in the financial sector but should be a given in any type of health care job.
@Selena, almost every where that requires fingerprinting is done through county law enforcement agencies & is now digital (no ink), though some do do ink but not many. And usually your fingerprinting is accessible for other agencies if you need to have done in future.
Yep, it's been digital for me both times. I got fingerprinted only a year ago for my CNA license but I had to get re-fingerprinted just now. Plus another background check in case I've taken up a life of crime since last year I guess!
We do have to get fingerprinted even for a CNA license to be a patient care tech. 🙂
@Selena, we educators also must be fingerprinted.
@Selena,
In my state, teachers and child care workers also have to be fingerprinted and they look up your record to ensure no arrests. Which is good! Anything we can do to keep the children safe is definitely worth doing.
@Selena, people in Imaging are also fingerprinted and our healthcare licenses are mandated by the Texas Medical Board.
Congrats, Kristen! Welcome to the club and please celebrate well and good. I procrastinated my grad celebrations as I started working right away, then life got busy and 15 yrs later I am wishing I would have done something.
Picked up gallon jars from a local caterer to use for bulk food storage.
I made a new batch of sauerkraut from my winter cabbages as the early cabbages are growing fast.
Washed and groomed the dog for her agility competition this weekend.
Took a large load of dress clothes to the consignment shop and 2 laundry baskets of spring & summer clothes to the community closet. I sold 3 pairs of riding boots.
Chickens and ducks are laying well now. Yay!
Steam cleaned, painted and pressure washed the outdoor dog run and kennel and will host friend's pups this spring and summer. I will hire the neighbor's older kids to play and clean the kennel. I did this as a youngster 4h kid all the way thru my first college degree. I installed a gate between our properties so the kids can ride their ponies to work and stay off the county roads. Their mom is a nurse at the same hospital, different building.
Your idea to spend your gift cards and coupons on clearance items [head slap] -- why didn't I think of that???? And finishing nursing school with all A's and a job waiting for you? It is, indeed, a very frugal thing to do! Frugal AND life-changing, too! Has anyone told you lately, Nurse Kristen, that you are a genius???
1. Took the plumbing connector pipe that didn't work back to the hardware store and got a refund. Took the one that DID screw into the connector but was too short for my bathroom with me. Customer service guy was able to find me a long enough one that WOULD fit the connector. Oh, and when I told him how I used the leftover vinyl plank and took out the non-working toilet and had the handyman put in the master bathroom toilet I didn't like, and then replace the latter with one I liked? He said I have a "mechanically processing" brain that solves problems and asked me if I am an engineer.
(Obviously, he never saw my math grades, LOL!) He says a lot of folks wouldn't have figured out how to do all that/solve my household problems. Guess it's just bc frugal people do these things, it comes natural to us.
2. Brown-bagged my lunch yet again. In all my years substitute teaching, I have yet to buy lunch at the cafeteria because I take my lunch Every. Single. Day.
3. Went to Goodwill on the senior citizen discount day. Found a really large lunch kit that will hold more stuff when I brown bag it for only $4 with the discount. Also found some nice strong shelf brackets that I can use in the living room or anywhere in the house, they are so nice looking.
4. Finished two books from the Little Free Library. They are in like-new condition. I will see if the used bookstore will give me credit for them. [Book recommendation: one was "Up Country" by Nelson DeMille. R-rated murder mystery. The protagonist is a tough Vietnam War vet who goes back there and investigates a crime....and ends up having an affair, as well. In the later chapters, he retraces his steps and deals with unfortunate memories about what 'Nam was like. I learned more about that war (and 1990s Vietnam) from this fiction story than from all the news reports and non-fiction books I've read on the subject; it gave me a deeper understanding of what our guys went through. (No wonder so many have PTSD!) "Up Country" is one of those books you just can't put down. Some of it is gory, so be warned. A long book, about 700 pages, but if you want a good but intensive summer read, I hope your library has it!]
5. Snuggles was a naughty boy. He ripped up some carpeting; I'm told it may have been separation anxiety. Called the rescue group and they will bring us a big crate and show me how to crate train my baby so he won't get into mischief when I'm gone. This service is free. (Meanwhile, we spent $200 at the vet today in addition to all the doggy treats I've already bought. Even though I'm using a lot of my late dog's items for him. Like they say, there's no such thing as a free dog!)
Haha, well, it is a result of my brain always thinking, "Hmmm, how could I maximize the deal?"
I hope the crate training saves the rest of your flooring. Heh.
@Fru-gal Lisa, there's a supplement called Composure, made by Vetriscience, that helps mellow out anxious dogs. Chewy sells it. Our vet recommended it for our dog after our two old lady dachshunds that raised her passed away and she was very anxious by herself. It also helps with her fear of thunderstorms.
Well done! Whenever I hear that song, I think "Whoa-oh here she comes! She's an anteater!" Which I think is better than the original, personally.
1. I am (reluctantly) registering for a review course in preparation for my next set of licensing exams next year, and for some reason it seemed like I couldn't get the early bird rate. I emailed, they fixed it, and I got 20% off. Yay!
2. I got a $10 gift card from my university for filling out a survey.
That's all for me this time!
Woohoo! My pride in you is ENORMOUS
1) My friend and former boss (she retired about 10 days ago) gave me two gorgeous hanging plants. Now, I have a black thumb, so the test is can I keep them alive?
2) So far I haven't had to worry about watering them as it's rained every day since she delivered them!!
3) called my dental insurance company because the $220.00 check has never shown up They are re-sending it, and also told me to tell my dental office to resubmit the bill to my medical insurance (both through same company) and I might get another check 🙂
So excited to read your excitement.
Are you thinking of changing the blog name? The Frugal Girl to RN? The Frugal Nurse?
Aww, I love that name, but...rebranding would be such a headache. My URL is so old and well-established, I probably should just be The Frugal Girl for as long as I blog.
@Kristen,
I know your life is changing and you have a whole new career ahead of you. Still, I hope you'll blog for a long while, even part-time.
Oh yes, I plan to! If I could keep up my blog during school, I am very very sure I can keep it up during nursing. Nursing practice is going to be LESS time-consuming than school has been. 😉
CONGRATS! Seriously amazing, and so happy for you!
Best of luck on your NCLEX! My daughter is a RN, BSN and I remember how anxious she was when she took her NCLEX. Between your solid study habits and your strong work ethic - You will do great!
I missed yesterday's post somehow. Congratulations on finishing nursing school! I know you will have an excellent career!
@Sandra Hajdu,
Yes, I don't think I got it either so I'm kind of clueless about what people are talking about.
But I'm so thrilled for Kristen that she's completed her training I think she'll make a wonderful nurse and I know she's got to be excited about her future. Congrats on everything!
1) Picked up a receiver and speakers on Buy Nothing
2) Volunteered at a community theater and got to see the show for free. It was so good!
3) Got a couple muffins and chocolate croissants for volunteering for a food rescue
4) Used seeds from last year for our seed starts and direct sowing of lettuces, chards, and herbs
That's about all I got for now.
Five frugal things
After reading the label on protein shakes I've been buying recently, I learned the waxed paper containers are recyclable if they are rinsed out and recapped. So I've been doing that.
I decided to take advice from someone here and I'm catching the water that runs until the shower heats up and using it to water my plants.
I saved a few soap slivers from the shower to grate for the next time I make my homemade laundry detergent. I try to stick them to a new bar, but it often doesn't work for me.
I rinsed out and saved the empty plastic spray bottle from my hairspray. Seems like I always need a spray bottle for something. I tucked it under the bathroom sink for later.
I redeemed my $5 Kohls anniversary cash and used it to buy a cute summer top that was already marked down $5, so it ran me just $10. Kristen writing about using all her birthday cash/treats made me realize I shouldn't waste these perks.
I accidentally found a show called "struggle meals." I like to learn about cooking but don't generally like to watch cooking shows, but that young guy is amazing! He not only teaches actually recipes, but themes the show around one random ingredient (such as butternut squash) and gives you three recipes to use it up.
After watching a few shows, my planned grocery purchases were unnecessary because I made six meals out of potentially wasted foods I had inspired by him.
Unlike some frugal cooking chefs, this wasn't dull stuff and was super healthy, balancing protein, veg and carb. Very creative. I had no idea I could use an actual sweet potato as a slider bun. Who knew?
@ms.b214@gmail.com, he is awesome!
Congratulations!!!! We are all so proud of you and happy for you!
My husband had a planned surgery 3 weeks ago but due to complications ended up staying in the hospital for 2 weeks. I am in healthcare myself, but now he got to appreciate all the different staff who cared for him. There were some nurses and techs who took much better care of him than others and whom he appreciated very much, especially when they had to do the very non-glamorous work of bathing and cleaning him. If we had nurses like Kristen then everyone would always be well-cared for!
Some of my 5 are related to his recent hospital stay.
1. I had to pay for hospital parking daily, but realized that paying cash saved on a fee that was equivalent to our state tax. So I made sure to get enough cash from the ATM to pay for parking over 2 weeks, and saved enough from all those days to cover at least one day's parking for "free".
2. I packed a lunch everyday I was at the hospital to save on buying cafeteria food.
3. It was recommended that he drink a particular renal protein shake, and the cheapest I found was on Amazon. I cashed in Top Cash Back rewards to order a virtual Visa card with an extra 5% bonus (an Amazon gift card would only net a 2% bonus), used it to buy an Amazon gift card, and brought down the price of a case of drinks by about $30 using Subscribe and Save. I ended up paying $3 out of pocket for a case of drinks that originally cost $100.
4. We have been very blessed by many church friends and others in our community who supported us through a meal train during the time my husband was in the hospital, so I had meals delivered 3x/week and were gifted with money and gift cards as well. I told my friends who gifted us cash that a lot of it went towards parking, gas and tolls...not very exciting but very helpful! Glad I didn't have to resort to take out to ensure my kids and I were fed during a very stressful and busy time. We have contributed to many meal trains in the past so it was nice to be a recipient this time.
5. I made sure to take home all the supplies he was given or was used on him while in the hospital, knowing that they would just be thrown away after he was discharged, things like body wipes, alcohol pads, adhesive remover, and the grooming kit and kleenex boxes he was given. I was horrified when the nurse threw away several brand new or lightly used packages of wipes while he was in the ICU for no apparent reason other than to clean up the room. Later on, I snuck them out of the trash (they were lying right on top), wiped them down with bleach wipes and made sure they were actually used. My husband just laughed at me.
He's now at home and on the road to recovery, but the last frugal thing is that I'll be donating my kidney to him next month so that will save a lot of money and resources in the long run to have to prevent long-term dialysis! His surgery was to remove his native, very enlarged kidneys due to a genetic disease and make room for a donor kidney, so he's currently undergoing dialysis for the next month until the transplant.
PS - congratulations to Kristen on finishing nursing school!! We need more nurses in healthcare who are caring and conscientious like you!!
@DebbieR, hope the kidney transplant goes well for both of you. Amazing!!
Ohh, that is so hard when a stay gets extended like that. I'm glad you guys are home now!
Forgot to add: when I get patients ready to discharge, I encourage them to take home all the supplies from the room that they can use. Otherwise, I just have to throw them away after discharge because they are considered contaminated for use with anyone else. 🙂
@DebbieR,
Donating your kidney! It’s wonderful that you can. Good results and easy recovery wishes for both of you!
@DebbieR, Wishing you, husband, and family all the best! May his and your recoveries be textbook perfectly successful!
@Kristen, yes! My daughter was in the hospital (2 different ones as we had her transferred) and I brought home everything! I won’t have to buy straws for years! And the bathing wipes I donated to our homeless encampment since they don’t always have access to showers. Plus all the individual apple sauces she didn’t eat.
My nursing career spanned 25 years and I was in nursing school for 3 rounds. I know that this is a MAJOR accomplishment. Congrats. I want to offer you one bit of advice........always always take care of yourself. Try to find work that has one steady shift. It is not just a job you are going into -- it is a calling.
Kristen, my heartfelt, though belated, congratulations on your 4.0 finish of nursing school!! You have worked so, so hard and I thank you for bringing us along on your journey. We knew you would and have been cheering you all the way! Well done, well done indeed! We are so proud of you!
Probably should wait until Thankful T-day but no cranky peeps here. Suffice it to say I think it is frugal to purchase chix pot pies for the freezer which would avoid going out/ordering carryout. But nope, cranky pants got her knickers in a knot.
Working is frugal for me - unless I need to order pet food/meds or elective meds for me, no time to spend. Better half's purchases are replacements - lawn mower doesn't do well with a battery that won't hold a charge.
Yes, passing school is definitely a very financially savvy thing to do! There are a few young people in my life that could use this wisdom, but it seems like experience is the best teacher in their situations.
FFT:
- I picked up some sleep shorts and another workout top I needed from the thrift store.
- After some deliberation, I returned to the thrift store the next time it was open (on my bike) to purchase some daytime shorts that I would have otherwise purchased online.
- I began the process of finally piecing together a tank top that has been a year+ project at this point. It will be one last piece in my summer wardrobe arsenal and was very cheap because I was gifted the fabric, purchased the embroidery thread for less than $1, and already had sewing thread on hand.
- I rode my bike for all errands this past week except one trip to the airport (which I maximized the use of the car by doing other car-necessary errands beforehand).
- I picked up several free things/consumables from someone's porch: much needed ice chest for summer grocery shopping, shampoo and hand soap, shaving cream for the husband, etc.
1. Got spinach, strawberries, mushrooms, blue cheese dressing...for a ton of spinach salads this week. Each item on sale. 2. Wednesday at Last Chance Thrift ladies clothes with yellow or green tags are .99 cents. Two nice summer slacks. 3. An individual who donated had excellent taste in books. I got first pick as they weren't even on the shelves yet. 10 hard cover books at a dollar each.
Have not been frugal per se but have experienced things that money can't buy. Hubs and I went to our daughter's Master's Degree graduation over Mother's Day weekend. It was wonderful. So happy to see her achieve that. Money spent on gas, dinners out, grocery shopping for dd and hotel rooms.
The hubs and I have been eating at home. I'm currently on Ozempic and my appetite is zero. I'm working on getting in protein and fluids. Hubs made me egg bites.
Congrats Kristen and good luck with your state test.
This is several weeks' worth of FFT-- life has been more full than average recently so I haven't posted in a long time!
1. I was almost out of my favorite bars of hand soap. I’ve been using up hotel odds and ends, but then my soap company ran an Earth Day special that made it a great time to buy them in bulk.
2. I went to Style Encore for the first time and was so pleased to find about ½ of the store on 70% off clearance! So I got some really great lounge pants, work tops, rain boots, a sweater, and a new winter coat for about $50. Most of the prices were well under what they would have been at Goodwill, and of course the selection was much better.
3. I’ve been mending as always– some holey underwear and a shirt for DH.
4. I’ve also been mending numerous kid books.
5. Small frugality but delicious: a friend gave us a handful of morels he found. They were amazing!
6. I’ve been making sure to use frozen swiss chard any time I can– soups, curries, and even a small amount in my scrambled eggs.
7. I’ve been working on some organizing and have given several things away via Buy Nothing and elsewhere. I love having the house feeling lighter and less congested.
8. I received a free item through Aisle.
9. I found a lamp at Goodwill that matches one on my nightstand– I’d been wanting to have one for DH’s side of the bed, too! It’s an older Target one and is no longer being sold. Also, the shade had multiple minor stains and one crack so I asked if they could do any kind of discount and they reduced it from $15 to $8. I can probably get the stains out or if needed a replacement shade is easier to come by than the whole lamp. Thrilled by this one!
10. I work as needed for a health system that just paid one of my state relicensure fees, so that saved me $170. Usually those fees are only covered if you work full time or part time, so I am especially grateful.
11. I picked up a free dozen eggs from the local gas station via their app.
@Lindsay B, free eggs!
1. Returned my plastic bags to the grocery store.
2. Bought all the yellow sticker items at the grocery store today. Saved 49%.
3. Using burlap craft bags for grocery produce.
4. Cut a bouquet for myself from the yard. Pretty tulips, Jupiter’s beard, and salvia. Used a thrifted crystal vase.
5. At the physical therapist today, they recommended a small rolling foam bar for me to lie on for stretching. I could spend 50 or more dollars on it but what I really need is the pool noodle. So I bought one for $1.25 at Dollar tree.
Congratulations, Kristen, on your achievement of passing nursing school! That is not an easy thing, and one filled with lots of studying, tests, and proving you can do certain tasks. You will be an amazing nurse!
Wow..after all your hard work and financial challenges ,having to pay to sit in a chair to take their test for a "work permit" in a HEALTHCARE facility !!!!head scratcher. How many decades have we been hearing about RN shortages??? Happy for your success
It is a tough financial burden for some students, especially if getting through school already stretched them financially.