Five Frugal Things | a lamp, sheepishly
1. I got another free lamp
I am actually a little bit embarrassed about this, but...I got another free lamp from my Buy Nothing group.
Reader Kim, who is in my Buy Nothing group, left a comment after mine on the giveaway post saying, "I knew you'd like this one!" She is stalking my lamp-collecting habits. Heh.
(I always justify my lamp-acquisition behavior because designer Maria Killiam says that you can never have too many lamps.)
2. I caught a medical insurance error
My health insurance is supposed to be set up so that I have $50 copays for seeing a primary care physician.
But after my most recent visit, I got a bill for $127.66.
HMMMMMM.
I looked at my explanation of benefits, double-checked my coverage, and then called the health insurance company.
And sure enough, someone had coded it as a visit to a specialist, not a primary care physician.
So, it's getting reprocessed and now my bill should go down by $77.66. And that's not a bad return at all for a half hour of work.
(a rate of $155.32/hour, to be exact!)
I've said it before and I will say it again: do not blindly trust the medical bills you get! I have caught so, so many errors over the years.
Know your plan, check the bills, and call the company if something doesn't seem right.
(I made a note of the claim reference number, and I wrote a note on my calendar to log in and check on the claim on June 17th. If it's still not right, I'll have the reference number handy for my call.)
3. I got a pair of Altras for $50
I really like the foot-shaped design of the Altras I bought last summer...the toe box is actually wide enough for my toes to spread in their natural shape.
Also, they're zero-drop (click here to read more about that).
But, athletic shoes are supposed to be replaced every 500 miles, and for me, that's about five months. So, I was overdue.
Luckily, I had another pair stashed in the closet from a previous sale I'd come across.
But, I also wanted a pair to wear for my student nursing job, so I poked around online to see what deals might be had. And then it occurred to me to check eBay.
I'd found a retail sale for $79.99, but I found an almost brand-new pair on eBay for $50. Even better!
I clicked, "Buy Now" in a jiffy. 😉
And I will be keeping an eye out on eBay for good deals on Altras in the future.
Man, I love eBay!
4. I got 6% cashback on my tires
I hopped onto TireRack to order a set of four (mine are definitely due to be replaced) and it occurred to me that perhaps I could get cash back on TopCashback.
So, I did a quick search and yes! I'm getting a little over 6% cash back, which is nothing to sneeze at on a set of four tires.
Also, I paid with my cash back credit card, so that will net me at least another 1% cash back.
Tires are still a painful expense, but hey, better some cash back than no cash back!
(TopCashback is basically just an affiliate site; they have agreements with companies to get a payout for customers they send, and TopCashback gives you a percentage of that. It is legit, and I have gotten payouts a bunch of times from them.)
5. I got a discounted $100 Panera gift card
I have a Citi cash back card, and I usually redeem my points for gift cards.
They regularly run sales on gift cards, so I only ever use my points when there's a sale! This time they had a Panera card on sale, so I got a $100 card for 9,000 points instead of 10,000 (a 10% discount).
So, it was free because of my points, but also I maximized my point usage, which leaves me with 1000 more points to use toward a future gift card.
I added the gift card right to my Panera app, so I won't lose track of it and forget to use it.
I like the lamp!
Kristen, you will like my frugal thing this week - I went to see Lauren Graham in London, aka Lorelai Gilmore! It was amazing!
The ticket wasn't very cheap but I took a bus there and back which, while it took a while, was extremely reasonable and much cheaper than the train. Having said that, train journeys are a lot more pleasant!
I didn't buy anything at the bar during the event itself and brought water and some sweets.
Before the event I went to an art exhibition with my mother and sister. The art gallery is free and, although the exhibition cost money, my sister managed to get us free tickets!
I took public transport to the event.
Finally, on a non-London note, I had to cancel a flight back to Denmark. I called the airline to let them know and unexpectedly got a full refund!
@Sophie in Denmark, the trip to see Lauren Graham sounds like so much fun!
@Sophie in Denmark,
Wow! Was Lauren Graham in a play? What was it? Please tell!
Your excursion sounds like fun!
@Fru-gal Lisa, not a play! She was promoting her book 'Have I Told You This Already?' and telling stories about her career and being on Gilmore Girls. I had to wait for a long time in the queue but made friends with other fans there and then got a seat at the front!
So fun!!
@Sophie in Denmark,
Oh, cool! I didn't know she had a book out but I'll look for it in the library this winter. (I have more than enough books to keep me occupied until then...)
@Sophie in Denmark, That's so cool! I'm putting her book on my Want To Read list now.
@Fru-gal Lisa, and @Ruth T, she has three books and they're all great!
When I saw today's title, my immediate thought was that you'd found a lamp along these lines: https://www.amazon.com/Lambs-Ivy-White-Sheep-Nursery/dp/B0B78866N2
Imagine my disappointment... 😉
Thanks for the info on the Altra zero drop shoes. I have a yoga teacher that really advocates zero drop but so many brands (like Xero) have little padding. The Altra look like they are much better.
TopCashBack is legitimate but slow in the rebate area.
I too sometimes use Citi rewards to buy discounted gift cards. We have the Citi Double Cash Back card and you earn 2% cash back on everything.
1. Same old, same old. I met a couple of friends last night for socializing and charity crocheting.
2. I cat sat for neighbors. They will water our plants when we go away later this summer. No money need be spent on these things.
3. I cut up a watermelon, the first one this year. There is so much fruit to be had for $5.
4. I bought gas at Safeway since I was nearby. It was saved over $.60/gallon over the Shell station near our house.
5. I continue to use the library for books and audio books, including digital/downloadable items.
Yes, that's what I was reading about zero-drop shoes for nursing...you can buy barefoot shoes, but for a long nursing shift, a little bit of padding helps. And the Altras have some features that are common to barefoot shoes, like the big toe box and the zero drop design. So, definitely better than wearing regular shoes.
@K D, another good shoe brand that checks all the boxes is Topo Athletic. Not all of theirs are zero drop, but many are. I have Altras for hiking, and Topos for everyday. I wear my Topos (I think they're the Magnifly) at my hospital job and find them very comfortable.
@Lisa S,
Thanks for sharing the tip on the Topos shoes. This community shares a wealth of information.
Your mercury glass lamps are all so pretty! I envy your ample outlets. Our 1890s house has updated electrical but not many outlets, so we've leaned into LED/battery operated sconces and LED candles (because cats) to make up the difference. They're also handy during power outages (ah, storm season), so there's that!
--While driving in a neighboring city, I was caught in an absolute deluge. I made it home safely and parked my car in the garage, where it sat for a few days. Come yesterday, the rear passenger wheel wouldn't turn! Google suggested gently hitting the wheel drum with a hammer, as sometimes accumulated road gunk solidifies after a good soaking. My husband took off the tire, tapped all the way around the drum as suggested with the hammer, and the wheel works perfectly again!
--I bought two lightweight shirts from the local thrift shop for $6. All my previous "Ugh, it's so gross!" summer shirts wore out.
--Target's app has a coupon for $10 of $30 of store brand groceries, so I'm compiling a master list of what we need to restock. Our vegetable garden is going gangbusters, so fresh fruit (they have store brand bagged apples and onions, for example) and pantry supplies will be my focus.
--One of the many friends who helped with the house* before we moved in had a free weekend, so we could finally host her! Chocolate lamb chili ingredients are always on hand (and it's always a hit), and the pasta salad she brought made for an excellent lunch the next day. We watched a movie we already owned--"Tucker and Dale vs. Evil," one of our favorites to share with friends--and just enjoyed catching up with one another.
*She and another friend** spent a weekend helping me paint, which is how we managed to completely finish four rooms AND ceilings in three days!
**We've already had the pleasure of hosting him! 🙂
@N, We also switched to battery LED candles, rather than the old fashioned kind, after adopting our cat. My DH is relieved; when he was a child his mother put a candle in the window at Christmas (something the president said to do, apparently) and the curtains caught fire. Ever since he's been leery of my candle addiction! He pointed out when we got Clark that "what if he gets curious and burns his whiskers?!"
@Karen A., My husband has always been a candle fiend, whereas I've always been more of a "Yes, they're pretty, but fire" person. Then my soul kitty (RIP) managed to singe his tail/haunches and melt half his whiskers off at the same time, with the same candle! He caught one end turning around, and then caught the other turning around again. Soul kitty was thankfully as unharmed as he was oblivious--he was completely bewildered as to why the humans were frantically patting him down! My husband made the switch to LED candles immediately, so questions asked. In short, your husband has the right idea for Clark! 😛
@Karen A., my cat singed his whiskers pretty good one day. His eyebrow whiskers were all curled up for a few days. I've not done candles since. My son and his wife have 3 cats and they're constantly burning candles. Worries me for the cat (and the house).
Yay for painting help!!
@N, my friend is married to a firefighter and the one thing he is adamant about is that they don’t light real candles in the house.
@N, One of my bucket list items is to live in a house where we can plug in all the things at the same time without throwing the breaker. I have only lived in old houses since I moved out of my parents', and I have been reduced to tears a few times when I turned on the microwave while the electric heater was going in the bathroom. Or turned on my blow dryer while my husband was using the coffee maker.
Some day . . .
@N, chocolate lamb chili????
@Anne, Indeed!
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/68757/brys-chocolate-lamb-chili/
It's been a household staple for years and is my go-to for guests without dietary restrictions. Mind, we leave out the beans (my husband comes from the land of beanless chili), the salt, and I cut the chili powder down by one tablespoon. 2-2 1/2 cups of water make up for the bean liquid that isn't included. I've only ever cooked this in the crock pot, and it's good to go in 3 1/2 - 4 hours.
@Kristen, Goodness, yes! We couldn't have moved on the timetable and budget we did without our village. Be it painting, flooring, borrowed tools and equipment, help on moving day, or offering any professional skills (hello, free plumbing and HVAC), our Swiss army knife of people outdid themselves. We have and will do the same.
@N, Oh, yikes! Funnily enough, when we got Clark, he had two whiskers that looked crumpled on their ends, almost like they'd been singed? One on either side...we have no idea what happened, but he shed one of them recently so he looks less rakish.
And my mom once caught the dishwasher on fire with a votive candle + dish towel, so that was interesting. LED candles are quite nice, I wish they'd been around when my kids were little!
Also, the NYT Wirecutter recommends the Altra Escalante 3 as the best zero drop running shoe.
I admire the toe box on the Altras; I wish all shoe brands would do this. How are the arches on the Altras?
This week was another chaotic one. It wasn't bad chaos, but too many activities make me feel overwhelmed. That means that most of my frugal things are simply habits.
*We needed something to take to a dinner and chose the grapes that were on sale.
*I used the last $2 of a JoAnn's gift card which we used our credit card points for (also on sale at Citi) for material for a gift my daughter is making. I wish I had thought ahead to get another gift card to cover the rest of the cost.
*I also needed new shoes because my inside shoes are falling apart. I checked Vionic's website, but they didn't have many choices in my size for the style I wanted. I checked around (including eBay) and found a decent price for what I wanted with free shipping.
*I wish I could say I made all the meals at home, but that wasn't the case. However, we did choose less expensive options when we were out.
*We are beginning to pick the berries around us. They are free.
@Jody S, free, wild berries are the best!
I have no idea how the arch is because my arches are so high, they have never met with an arch support. lol My arches are always, always flying free and unsupported.
Totally understand why you would want to add that lamp to your “collection”, it’s so pretty!
1. Packed sandwiches for our roadtrip to pick up our puppy and got dinner from the supermarket the first day instead of a restaurant.
2. Involuntary frugal, but have just been home alone relaxing at my in-laws instead of going downtown visiting secondhand shops when in the big city.
3. Signed up for a free trial of home delivery through Wolt. Got a $15 discount from their market too. Spent it on Häagen-Dazs for myself and pig ears for the puppy, a nice treat for both of us 🙂
4. Bought a collection of old heddles, unfortunately there was some damages that wasn’t noted in the sales ad. But they are of wood so will cut them up in smaller heddles to eliminate the damage and sell them as I already have smaller heddles. Hopefully will earn back the money that way.
Didn’t feel comfortable complaining about it to the seller as he was kind enough to deliver them when I found out it would have taken me 2,5-3 hours on different buses to get them myself. I only looked at the distance on the map before reserving them, not checking the public transport app. A mistake I won’t be making again 🙂
5. One of the Airbnbs I’ve booked for the trip home sent a message that they will have a party same night as we’ll be there. A good nights sleep is more of value for us than the (small) discount they offered.
Thankfully one of the camping sites I’ve originally checked had gotten a cancellation so was able to rent a cabin and save some money as it was less expensive than the Airbnb.
This is at a very popular area so I am grateful I was able to find something at a good price.
Woof...it has not been a very frugal spring, mostly due to hospital stays, and then with wound care it feels like I've been ordering specialty dressings for weeks, and they are not cheap. But I did find a better price on the barrier film we need on Vitality Medical instead of Amazon, so there's that. This too shall end; DS is healing and eventually, as he puts it, "I won't have to wear a shield on my stomach."
So the little things:
1. I had asked for and received a refund for a secondhand book (Up the Down Staircase) that I had ordered via a Half Price Books seller through Amazon. It hadn't arrived a month after I ordered it. Tracking said it "may be lost." Got my refund, thought nothing of it, until a package arrived today and it was the book. I guess I got a free book. The funny thing was there was a gift receipt inside, dated December 2023.
2. Eating at home, always. Tonight I'm making chicken shawarma, which I'm unreasonably excited about. I haven't made it in ages.
3. DH and I biked to Mass on Saturday, to save gas and get exercise.
4. Library books (#1 notwithstanding).
5. Deleted my Reddit and Instagram profiles and removed the apps from my phone. Tired of being "influenced" and getting ads for things I really don't need! In the end this will be frugal, plus I'll waste less time on my phone.
@Karen A., glad to hear your son is healing nicely. 🙂
@Karen A., #5 = Great decision!
@K T, It was reading the book "Stolen Focus" by Johann Hart that really, finally pushed me to do it. I highly recommend this book to anyone who feels they have less time than they used to, or are having a hard time "focusing" on, say, reading or doing tasks. I can honestly say I feel quite free. And a phone keeps its charge quite a long time if you use it less! Ha.
@Regina, Thank you! He is squeamish about anatomical things, so it's hard for him to hear us describe the healing process (he won't even really look at his wound much), but he is lucky that neither DH nor I are squeamish so we do his dressing changes. He's been diligent about prioritizing protein in his diet, hydrating, and getting activity and taking rest. And SLEEP. Prior to this he'd stay up til the wee hours, now he's heading to bed around 9 pm and loving it.
I'm so so happy to hear of his progress!
@Karen A., I deleted I'Gram from my phone a couple of years ago and haven't missed it. Yes, yes, yes, I do not want to be "influenced", nor do I want any more ads in my life.
@Karen A. I recommend reading the one-star reviews on amazon before purchasing the book.
@Carla, do you mean the reviews on Stolen Focus? I got it from the library, I didn't buy it. I just went and looked at a few--maybe the author is liberal, but I don't pay attention to politics. I think he makes good points about our society being oversaturated with social media in general.
1. I signed up for 3 free months of the Panera Sip Club. The date to cancel is in my calendar.
2. We went to a minor league baseball game on Sunday with some friends. We had to buy dinner on the way home (20% off with the McDonald's app) but packed our lunch to eat on the way to the game. Then while we were there, my friends bought a few large drinks to share with everyone (she asked for small cups for everyone and they gave them to her) and we bought a few containers of fries to spread around. We each have 3 kids, so snacks and drinks for 10 would have been really expensive! But the kids felt like they got a special treat and it didn't cost a fortune.
3. We bought a 1/4 beef from some friends. This is our second time doing it and they charged us the same price that they did a year and a half ago, which kinda surprised me. I made a spreadsheet to figure out what all we got for the 1/4 and it came out to $5.46/pound, which is pretty good considering meat prices right now!
4. Lots of library things - returned a bunch of books, ordered a bunch of books, downloaded some audio books, and just checked out a mobile hotspot.
5. Meijer has had lots of good fruit sales lately, so we're continuing to eat lots of yummy fruit for a low price. Oh, and I accidently purchased 2 produce boxes through Flashfood on Saturday (it told me that my purchase failed for the first one, so I purchased another - apparently the purchase did not fail) but I kept both of them. So we also have lots of red, yellow, and orange peppers to snack on.
@Ruth T, Our two person household does 1/16 of beef when funds and freezer space coincide. The animals were apparently ginormous this year, as there was an additional 10 lbs of meet in our order! It was accounted for in the final price, of course, but still came close to the price per pound you calculated.
I love the toe/foot chart. 😉 I need to change my shoes also, I have an extra new pair in closet already so should do that today while thinking about it.
Frugal things---
● found some vintage Tupperware purple single serve pie containers (for lunches) on Ebay (just a little cheaper than Poshmark) to add to my collection, we use a lot.
● Picked up some yellow clearance perennial flowers at Lowes.
● picked up some clearance white ground cover perennial flowers for edge of flower bed at Meijer,
● used $5 off $25 coupon for flowers at Meijer.
● teen gold chain broke (again) so took back to Kay jewelers to send out to be repaired (no cost with insurance policy coverage). Teen looked at other chains (to exchange for more durable chain)---should have done last week when 40% off, will ask my (favorite) jeweler when go pick up (she returned from another store further away). 🙂
● returned items didn't use to Target & Menards.
● cut up apples to make apple crisp (put in freezer) that started going bad at 2 weeks, 6 were rotting out of 2 bags already.
● used $10 bonus gift card at Applebees to get prime rib dipper sandwich basket for lunch take out, cost me $5.
Frugal fails---
● lost back of my diamond earring (but luckily not earring) & went to Kay jewelers to get another earring back & staff would not (even though covered under earring insurance policy).
● lost the mate to that diamond earring (in bedroom?/house) when took out to put with other earring in container that just saw is not in container.
● the squirrels are enjoying fresh strawberries from the raised garden. Painted rocks did not work 🙁 plants are too big for wire/mesh garbage containers (dollar tree).
@Regina, if you know approximately where you might have lost the earring you can put a stocking over the wand of a vacuum and “vacuum” around for the earring. The suction will pick it up but not suck it into the canister. Just in case you didn’t already try this.
Sincerely a former Kay’s employee 🙂
Nice lamp! I like the shape of the bottom part
1. (Context: Mr. B and I are having a much-delayed wedding reception) I hopped online and got a bunch of linens secondhand, plus one packet new. Renting is shockingly expensive.
2. When I learned that we would only have about 40 minutes to set up the room, I rearranged the decor in my head to be something cheaper and less work to set up.
3. I'm working a long shift today and brought both lunch and dinner (I'm working on packing my lunches the night before.)
4. I've started making my dress for our party. It's not objectively cheap because I bought beautiful material, but I'll have something that I love at a much lower cost than buying the equivalent.
5. Because Mr. B and I planned a wedding four years ago, cancelled it, and then are now planning another one, we can appreciate how absurd a lot of frugal wedding advice is. It allows us to make wise choices about where to DIY, where to save, and where to just pay for things.
@Meira @ meirathebear, Make it your own without guilt or judgement.
I convinced my (now Ex after almost 20 years) husband to elope in our backyard. We had the kids (his had already been married while I had not) & a person to stand up with us & photographer & minister. It was cheaper, more intimate & less drama of more formal weddings. 🙂
We had wedding reception at later date which I hired caterer only to do main food while we bought drinks, tableware, & extras ourself (saving couple thousand easily). AND you bet I brought leftover containers to take extra food home, as caterer was going to take back.
Good luck.
@Regina, Thanks! We eloped in COVID. There's so much extreme thought in the wedding and frugal wedding sphere (ranging from "If you don't have monogrammed cocktail napkins your event will be RUINED" to " Well, I spent exactly one nickle on MY wedding and anyone who spends more is a FOOL!"
@Meira @ meirathebear,
Your napkins comment reminds me of my college roommate who was planning her wedding during our last semester. It was going to be a true extravaganza, perfect down to the last detail -- or else.
It got to be ridiculous.
One evening at the dorm, she was in the bedroom, on the phone to her mother about the wedding, and I was out in the hall studying. All of a sudden she let out a blood-curdling scream, a shriek so loud that everyone up and down our floor ran into our room to see if she was badly hurt.
She slammed the phone down and howled "My mother has RUINED the wedding!" She was inconsolable and cried torrid tears.
Turns out the mom ordered gold imprinting on the reception napkins instead of silver. And the order was finalized, no changing it.
The roommate thought that this was improper -- an absolute abomination in the sight of God, mind you! -- since the napkin printing didn't match the silver-colored silverware.
Tell me, how many of you have gone to a reception or other event and noticed whether or not the silverware matched the napkin imprint? Me, neither.
This situation would make me want to heave a deep sigh. (Not over the napkins; over the bride's reaction!)
@Fru-gal Lisa, oh my goodness! At receptions I'm just happy to be fed and to enjoy the company.
@Fru-gal Lisa, Reminds me of a former housemate who had every. single. detail. of her wedding planned, from every stitch on every bridesmaid to the hors d'oeuvres and punch recipe. But no groom in sight! I always wondered if she ever found the right guy to fit into complicated plans.
--Some time ago, I added strength training to my exercise habit. So I run every other day, and on the other days, I use the five-pound free weights my mother-in-law gave me years ago. I also do various body-weight-bearing exercises along with the weights. I'm not getting ripped or anything, but that wasn't my goal, anyway. And of course, it's all cheaper than a gym membership that I couldn't have anyway because the nearest gym would be at least 100 miles away. I can also use the school weight room if I ever decide to ramp up the weightlifting, I guess. That would also be free.
--The neighbor my husband has been helping for some time had a cow that didn't calve this year. I'm very excited about this, because that cow will now have to be sold, and we can buy it for our freezer. Auction prices are really high right now, but my husband has been keeping track of his hours at the neighbor's insistence, so I think there should be little actual money, if any, that we would need to pay for the cow. Plus, cows--as opposed to steers (or bulls :-))--make for the best meat, in my opinion. More tender and less lean, generally.
--I have a shirt that I really liked the color of, but not the fit, so I had never worn it. However, I found a way to wear it yesterday that looked good. I tucked it in, which is not something I typically do, and definitely not something I would have been comfortable doing before losing weight, but I found a pair of pants and a belt that worked with that. So now I have another outfit.
--My eldest son is about my size now, so he generously gifted me his color-run t-shirt from school that he will never wear. Whoever bought them this year got 100% cotton t-shirts for once (a pox on polyester blends), so they're pretty comfortable. And now I have another shirt for working around the house.
--We had guests over on Sunday for dinner, and the only thing I bought to make the large meal was a container of ice cream to go with the strawberry/rhubarb pie I made. That ice cream was NOT FRUGAL, though. We haven't been to the city with a Walmart in awhile, so I had to get it at a regular grocery store in the city I was in for a dentist's appointment. The sticker shock when buying 48 ounces for $5.49 when I'm used to getting a full gallon for $6.84 at Walmart was, well, shocking. And all that paltry amount of ice cream was eaten with that one meal, which did not please my children. They like the Great Value gallon buckets, too. 🙂
Good job adding strength training! So important for us women as we age.
@Kristen, and everyone,
My old aerobics instructor Marti said if you don't have weights, you can substitute canned goods from your kitchen pantry.
And in the summer, exercising in the pool or outdoors, get a couple of empty plastic gallon jugs and fill them with water. She recommends against using milk jugs because that one little dab of milk left in the jug (you rarely can get all of it out) will sour and smell. (My favorites are Arnold Palmer or similar brands of thick plastic jugs that hold already-brewed green tea. Snag a couple at the next cookout.)But whatever.
Don't fill them all the way because a gallon of liquid equals 8 pounds. Gradually work up to a heavier weight.
The empty jugs also make good floats -- NOT for lifesaving, but for doing water aerobics in the pool.
The lamp is beautiful - my Buy Nothing group literally gives away things they should recycle or toss. So when I list an item, it get snapped up immediately! Which means, they are looking for these kind of things, but not offering these kind of things...hmmm. Lately:
*accidentally "found" a retirement account my late Hubby had set up and forgot (I guess, because he never mentioned it) So now that $ is going as a rollover directly into my retirement account. Widow tip: open and carefully read all mail, especially if its addressed to your deceased spouse.
*I've been batching all of my errands on my days off and staying at home for lunches
*a friend at work offered me a free Cuisinart pod coffeepot and I said yes because, coffee
1. I earned an $80 Amazon gift card on a healthy lifestyle app my employer recently rolled out.
2. I pickled some leftover carrots to use in my lunch this week. I also used up some Greek yogurt to make a sauce for my lunch.
3. I used some frozen bread odds-and-ends to make baked French toast for my kids' breakfast this week.
4. My husband submitted a rebate on the garage door we recently had installed.
5. I submitted a payment for a copay with my FSA.
Love my Altras, thanks for the recommendation! Will keep an eye on ebay too.
I need to have a crown replaced (on a tooth, not my head) and my insurance (together with a plan discount) will cover the entire $1,718.00 cost. No copay, no deductible. “Your share,” says the Predetermination letter, is “$0.00.” Fingers crossed this isn't a "medical insurance error"!
@JDinNM, teehee, "on a tooth, not my head"; thank you! And I share your crossed fingers that it isn't a medical insurance error.
If that's an error, it's one I wouldn't argue. lol
I'm still here, but have been *very* busy with Grad School BFF during her visit. I'll resume regular commenting tomorrow.
That sounds like a perfectly wonderful way to use your time. 🙂
@A. Marie, enjoy every min of the visit!
I like the lamp, it's pretty.
1. I had a $15 off $50 on household items on my Target app that I used for toilet paper and other needed items.
2. I ordered a tshirt on ebay, new with tags, the same as one I already own and love. I didn't think about doing this until your post last week.
3. I play Wordle and Connections daily, then my Mom and I compare our results. She's 85 and says it keeps her sharp.
4. Swimming with my neighbors every day the water is calm.
5. Reading mostly library books, but I did give up on a very long hold and bought The Women after 4 different people recommended it. It was definitely worth it, now I can't wait to discuss it today with a friend.
I love the lamp!
We're in the middle of the moving so everything feels unfrugal at the moment.
- We rented a U-Haul truck to move the boxes we had packed to get them out of the way. With the help of our son and SIL, we were able to get all the potted plants and deck furniture as well. Felt better about spending that $125 on the rental truck after I got an estimate from a professional mover for moving the rest of our things and it was $3500!
- Cooked dinner instead of getting takeout after a long day of moving.
- Using old towels and sheets as packing materials. I will donate them after we unpack.
- Cashed in credit card points to help cover moving expenses.
- Packed my lunch every day for work.
@Beverly, we used current towels & sheets as packing material when moved. Saved $hundreds$ on bubble wrap around things. People look at me strangely when I commented about using those as packing materials. Glad I'm not the only one who does this.
We had already donated old towels/sheets to animal shelter.
@Regina,
I've also used clothing, blankets, bedspreads, curtains, mattress protectors, etc.
Good morning!
This is my last week of teaching after a 35 year career. I am deconstructing the last of my classroom. Frugal and sustainable:
1. I have taken pictures of a bunch of items and sent them to the staff. If they were claimed, I sent them with an aid. If not, I put them in Goodwill bins and dropped the bins off on the way home. Nothing is coming home except a small box of never miss plans and a small box of memorabilia. The never miss plans are if I decide to teach a part time gig in the future. Community college writing class, etc. . . I will never sub, with God as my witness.
2. I am going to put the never miss computer plans on Teachers Pay Teachers. This might generate a little cash plus allow me to share a legacy of my teaching philosophy with the teacher community. This helps kids for generations to come.
3. My para-aid gave me a 12 pack of Rees as a going away gift ( my favorite) and a student brought me a specialty coffee.
4. I am keeping things simple this month. I have a ton of emotions about this bittersweet period. Although there are many things to fly into a tizzy about ("Where is my necklace? I need to ...... fill in the bank?) I remind myself that God's will is not to usually an emergency action plan, neither is overspending or overeating. No big decisions.
5. I have had a few small panic attacks. My heart races, I have shallow breathing. This has all been checked out by doctors before( my blood pressure is 104/60) so I know this is circumstantial. I will keep "easy" people I love around me. "Hard" people around me I may still love; they will get a call at the end of the month.
Hugs on this bittersweet time!
@mary ann, Congratulations on your retirement! And thank you for sharing your legacy of education with other educators for the future.
I was teacher for 11-12 years before having my youngest (surprise & not as young & caused me to have difficult pregnancy) which I ended up not returning to classroom after maternity/medical leave for pregnancy. I have been asked for years to sub but declined (also) as it just is not the same (anything) in schools anymore.
I hope you find another passion for your next act. But until then, enjoy some much needed break. 🙂
@mary ann, as I read your post, I imagined you as Scarlett O’Hara on the hill at Tara saying “as God as my witness, I will never sub again”.
Congratulations on this milestone What a huge accomplishment.
@mary ann,
Love your #4. Sage advice for all of us!
You have blessed many students over the year, I am sure; here's hoping all that goodness flows back to you.
Congrats on your "graduation."
@mary ann, sorry, what is Rees, please? I love your legacy sharing.
@Kathleen in Kansas, Reeses Peanut Butter cups. Sorry about the spelling. I have actually a good friend name Rees and it took me forever to spell his name correctly.
The More I Spend, The More I Save
1. In order to use up leftover self-striping sock yarn, I went to Webs to find a matching solid color. There wasn't any on sale, so I ordered more self-striping sock yarn, on sale, of course.
2. I ordered 2 LifeVacs (1 for home, 1 for the cabin) and used the code MIKE (as in Mike Rowe) to save $27.98.
3. Husband wanted some new washcloths; $24 for 2 at LL Bean or $20 for 24 at Amazon. Difficult decision, since I love LLB and feel resentful but dependent on A.
4. I wanted some "aging eye cream" but it is now $22 for a tiny tube; found it on eBay for $14/tube in a package of 2. So, I spent $28 instead of $22, but got twice as much.
Taking Care of Old Stuff
5. Remembered a leather cleaner and lotion that I bought with my Coach purse in 1994; just refurbished the purse last night and it looks mighty fine again!
Five Frugal
1. I have a No Spend streak going. I believe I haven't spent money in at least 5 days. That is some record for me!
2. My partner and I worked on the pole barn at our house all weekend. I believe he was overwhelmed with all that he thinks needs to be done and just by me helping with some little things got him crossing things off of his own to do list. He admitted that we got a lot done and he can see some light at the end of that tunnel. How is this frugal? It looks like we won't have to pay storage for our RV because we will be able to store it at home!
3. Made a menu plan. I took an inventory of our freezer and pantry and came up with a week's worth of dinners (I don't plan breakfasts and lunches). I didn't need to buy anything but we will have some pretty boring meals. I'm OK with boring.
4. Investigated my local libraries and came up with at least one thing each week to do for fun and for free. Book club, craft night, yoga, and a lecture on mindful eating. I will admit that I do donate at the end of the year and am active in our Friends of the Library group, volunteering at their fund raising events.
5. Did my silly little things for the points. Bing, Mypoints, played the Starbucks game for free twice a day, scanned receipts into various rewards programs. This stuff isn't going to get me rich, but sometimes they can add up and I have a little extra fun money in my Amazon account!
Your #2...sometimes it helps so much to have someone to work alongside!
Lovely lamp. Our buy nothing group doesn't usually have anything except little children's items. Very rarely do I see much on there and if something decent does appear...it has 20 "interested" posts beneath it immediately.
We usually join a pool in the summer (when we started this years ago it was about $300...now it is $650). This year I decided I wouldn't be home enough to get my money out of it...we also have a lake down the road, so I will go to the beach at the lake when I really need water.
I was able to come off one of my medications because I am at the 6 month mark since my aneurysm. I will have an angiogram this month and then no more appointments which will save on specialist copays and travel (I see a specialist 2 hours away).
My husband was also mischarged by his doctor's office. They charged him a $26 PCM fee, but our yearly physical appointments have no copay. I called and they changed it and resubmitted to insurance and credited his account.
I bathed the dog and cut the dog's nails and the cat's nails at home.
Caught ground beef on sale at the store and stocked up a bit on that. That wasn't frugal at the moment, but will be for the next two months.
1. I borrowed a screwdriver from a neighbor since I didn't have the right size so that I could...
2. Clean a dirty box fan acquired from my buy-nothing group so that I could...
3. Keep my AC off as long as possible in order to save money and energy costs.
4. Biked to multiple places.
5. Sent follow-up emails to multiple insurance agents in my quest to find the best going rate for my car and renters insurance.
@BookishSarah, I love your #1-3! So great.
Are you by any chance using independent insurance agents to get quotes? I highly recommend checking out one as they can get quotes from multiple companies at one time (they are not tied to one particular company), and their customer service is wonderful. We've saved huge amounts on our insurance since doing this!
@Lindsay B, yes, I'm corresponding with independent agents.
I had great hopes for Altra; alas, they put my numb feet into burn mode, so it was back to trusty Crocs. However, the Altras remain in my closet as I am ever hopeful that the neuropathy will get figured out.
I am very suspicious of the rule about replacing athletic shoes every 500 miles; sounds like enforced consumption, hiding under health, which is often just a screen for Don't Sue Us. My frugal self simply says to replace my shoes when they are worn out!
The sloppiness of the work on medical bills is legendary and so prevalent that my suspicious mind thinks it is on purpose with the hopes that no one will chase it down.
Ditto when companies make it hard, nay, near impossible, to be refunded despite their "money-back guarantees". One must call, keep notes, call again, keep notes, prove everything, call again, escalate, prove yet again, call back, and keep fingers crossed.
Come to think of it, it is the same barnyard fertilizer approach to "try it for 30 days for free!" This is SneakSpeak for "Gotcha because we will automatically bill you before your 30 days is up and we hope you forget".
Signed,
Suspicious, Skeptical, Cynical, and Burned
Crocs do have a lot of room in the toe box, so at least your toes aren't getting squished into an unnatural shape. 🙂
@Central Calif. Artist Jana,
I tried Altras also last year after Kristin mentioned them and alas the toe box was still not wide enough. It stinks having unusually wide feet. I hate buying shoes...always.
@Jaime, Me too. My feet are size 12 and to add to that, I have the sandal gap (which is a marker for autism).
Same ole, same ole here with regards to money saving efforts.
@Kristen I am with you on the tire replacement....$800 ooof. But cheaper than a car accident due to poor tires. It is in my budget for this month.
Cooked all meals at home. I purchased a menu board on sale at Hobby Lobby and am actually writing down my plans for accountability. Thus far it is working quite well.
One of my goals this summer for my son has been to get him onto a chore chart. I scored a $12 large framed chalkboard at an Estate sale some time ago and listed all the responsibilities and potential rewards for him. The board is hung in the hallway just outside his room and he is thrilled with it. Pretty thrifty for teaching responsibility.
I am hosting a bay shower for 80 people at the end of the month. A stop at goodwill yielded lovely flower vases to use for tables for $1-$2. I am borrowing tables and farming out various menu items for those who are helping with the shower to bring. There will definitely still be costs associated with this event, but I am doing my best to keep it to a dull roar.
When grocery shopping last week I noticed pork tenderloins marked for just $2.50 a pack. They were not close to expiration or anything like that which I was surprised by given the low price. I bought 9 packages. Lo and behold each package contains 2 tenderloins. Inexpensive, lean protein. Love that!
Happy Tuesday to all!
I like the lamp!
1. The old curtains in our wide loft window shredded in the wash. A family member had some wide curtains left over from a previous house, so she gave them to me. I moved the tie back hooks as needed, shortened the crazy long tie backs, repaired some seams coming loose at the ends and have a nice new to me set of curtains.
2. My car had to go back in the shop for a different repair. Enough said about that! My dear daughter rented another car for me.
3. I missed grocery shopping on Friday for reasons I will go into later, so that’s money saved, at least.
4. I found the dogs’ Kong toys again. They aren’t cheap so I didn’t give up. Why must they hide them in holes they dig, silly things? Their fenced area is over a third of an acre, so looking takes awhile.
5. I pulled food from my emergency stash for lunch one day recently. I love having a frozen homemade meal or pressure canned stew or soup handy.
1. Used my Geek Squad benefits via my Best Buy rewards plan and received free help with our laptop (that I had purchased from them) and cell phone (that I had not).
2. Took leftovers home from a restaurant using my own containers – a large tin for salad, a small jar for dressing, and a mini jar for ketchup.
3. Saved $80 at the local mechanic by using a coupon we received in the mail. We had already made the appointment before we got the coupon so it was truly a savings.
4. Our nephew sent us a large supply of protein powder for us to try and he refused reimbursement.
5. Used free compost (aka black gold) from our county to fill in around our foundation where it needed to be regraded. This reminded me of when we hauled many truckloads of free compost to finish a backyard at a previous home. A neighbor joked, “If you bring in one more load, the neighborhood is going to tip.”
@MB in MN, your #2, I keep thinking I should do this too. I'm going to put a totebag in the car with containers now so I don't forget. Thanks for the reminder.
Kristen, do the Altras run true to size? I usually wear a 9W, so I'm wondering what size I should look for.
I usually wear an 8.5 and that's what I wear in Altras. Since the toe box is so roomy, I don't find that I have to size up for foot space like I do with other brands!
Very pretty lamp!
1. The past week has been fairly chaotic with family visiting from out of town, but not too expensive because I prepared beforehand. I have been able to eat food I have at home and use things I already own for the most part.
2. I took advantage of Chewy.com's Memorial Day sale and stocked up on my cat's favorite food at 33% off (buy 2, get 1 free).
3. I inventoried my food and personal products and found that I shouldn't need to buy anything for at least a month, except maybe some fresh produce and dairy substitutes.
4. Based on that, I am planning for June to be a no-spend month. It's a good way to kick off the summer, when I always have less income.
5. My bedside lamp finally died, after becoming more and more unreliable over the last few months. I did not immediately buy a replacement and will see how it goes without one. If I decide to buy another lamp, I'll wait and watch for the right one to show up on Ebay at the lowest price.
I feel like I've been spending a lot of money over the past few weeks, but a few frugal wins to share:
1) my mandatory finger print/background test was covered by the volunteer organization I'm working with. Also, I'm not a fugitive, so that's a win.
2)Redeemed $20 in rewards at the grocery store to pick up groceries for my parent's visit this week. I have a menu plan that will hopefully help us avoid eating most meals out. We do have a lunch out on graduation day.
3) Picked up golf clubs on Buy Nothing, which DS17 will use on his many golfing adventures. He was also able to sign up for an under 18 golfing discount at many of the local courses.
4) Hung up my free graduation banner from Buy Nothing, and I'll fill the balloons I received as well.
5) Have pulled a lot of meals from the freezer, as things have been really busy here.
Kristen, I'm impressed, 100 miles of walking every month is a lot 🙂
I am also overdue for new training shoes based on the 500-mile rule, but it's been a lot longer for me. (I use different shoes for running, walking, plus the gym, so it stretches it out a bit.)
1. Visited my local consignment shop to look for dresses for a fancy dinner, as these are usually plentiful there. Found a lovely one to wear and didn't have to pay much after using my in-store credit for clothes I have sold. At the same time, took a few items there my kids have outgrown but barely used.
2. My neighbor is traveling for the summer and I accepted some perishables from her fridge that she was emptying. As we were talking, her husband mentioned a friend of his who is a very good detailer but doesn't overcharge.
3. I booked a time with this detailer for our old car that has gone through many years of kids, lugging things and road trips. It came back as good as new, minus some scratches and dings that are more visible after a thorough cleaning. I was happy to get a good reference for a service that was affordable to me.
4. Skipped my regular haircut, will try to to keep my hair a little longer over the summer when my fine hair likes the humidity in the air 🙂
5. For a gathering I attended, was about to run to the store to grab a few things to bring. Then I remembered I had a baguette in the freezer that I could bake up and make a nice bread and cheese board. Added some sharp cheddar and fresh cherries and voila! Also carpooled with a friend.
This week I:
1) requested the next two seasons of the show I am watching from the library. Still waiting for them to come in but cheaper than paying for a month (likely 2 or 3) of a streaming service to watch it
2) received a small space gardening book from my local buy nothing group
3) am taking a free business school course for the next 2 weeks. Granted its in the UK so it starts at 5am which is rough but its hopefully worth it with what I will learn
4) made yogurt (instead of just letting the milk go bad)
I forgot...
5) my sister accidentally broke our thermometer so I called to inquire about repairs. It's an old model and they don't have the motherboard anymore but because I called, they offered me the upgraded one for ~30% off. I'll take it
6) I've been fighting with Citibank for over a month and they still won't fix their error after 6 calls. They did wave the interest this month though. I'll have to call to see about next month as I hate to pay interest on someone else's mistake but I'm not too optimistic on that. After this whole debacle and the fact that they have no respect or take any responsibility for their errors...I'll be cancelling the card.
Totally with you on going over medical charges. Twice this year I was charged for procedures considered preventative medicine and thus completely covered by insurance, to the tune of over $1,100. The first one was for $440 and got past me, though I was reimbursed $400 three months later. The second one caused me to cancel the appointment and let the hospital know they had lost my business. My son followed this saga and said, "That has to illegal somehow."
1- cancelled Paramount+ Got a pro-rated refund for the rest of the year. Not perfect, considering how bad the service/quality of streaming was, but at least I'm not paying for something we can't watch.
2- our pool service charged me for chemicals that we had in our pool shed instead of using ours. I called and got about $50 off the bill ($19 for a scoop of chlorine!?)
3-made a crockpot chicken dinner and have been eating that for lunches. My DH is trying to get more protein so this is an easy thing for him to grab
4-scheduled and did: physical, mammo, bloodwork and bone density. Should all be paid by insurance
5-continue to walk, do yard work and play pickleball at outdoor courts for my exercise
I, too, like your lamp!
A girl can never have too many lamps!!
5 Frugal Things
Paid my car insurance upfront for the year and saved five percent. Happy I am at a place in life that I am able to do that. Now to make sure I monthly put money in a savings account to cover next year’s payment.
Used the Otterbox warranty to get a new iPhone cover since mine has a cracked corner and a new screen protector which has a few cracks. Otterbox may cost a little more but the warranty is great when you keep your phones for a long time. My iPhone is an 11 and I bought the case and screen protector in September of 2020. Only had to pay $9.99 for shipping. Should arrive this week.
Saved some fruit that was close to being food waste by making a delicious smoothie.
Let our son borrow my husband’s golf clubs to participate in a golf tournament his work sponsored a group in. He doesn’t golf but was asked to play and he gets paid for a day of work while doing so. Frugal and fun for him and it always makes me happy to be able to help my children save money.
Remembered to cancel a trial streaming subscription before it renewed.
**Bonuses just this morning - found a dollar at the gas station and found out my orthodontist bill was paid off a month earlier than expected (due to insurance paying more than they anticipated) and I have a credit which they will be refunding.
Happy Tuesday!
I have been on a curly hair journey. My hair has been curly since puberty. I’ve gone through phases of trying to give my curls their best but it’s so hard. I usually end up not caring and giving up because they don't do what I want them to! Long story short my hair is much healthier but the ends were still bad. I couldn’t bring myself to pay the $$$$$$$$ curly hairstylist to just trim my hair. So I did it myself! its shorter than I wanted but I’m happy with it! my curls are much healthier and it cost zero dollars! I don’t mind paying the big bucks for a serious cut and style but that much $$ for a trim doesn’t fit my budget. The cut isn’t perfect but my hair has some really short spots that I’m working around so it’s god enough for me. 🙂
1. Resold some of the antiques I'd bought on FB Marketplace. Reused packing materials.
2. My handyman fixed the leak that was crumbling my ceiling, which three plumbers didn't fix. He charged $200. I think the plumbers were about $650 each.
3. Looking around for more stuff to declutter/sell. Unfortunately I've had a headache all day every day for six weeks running so stuff is not getting done as quickly as it should.
4. Rewired a fan and a couple of antique lamps.
Not so frugal:
1. Gave the baby gate that didn't work for us (to contain puppies) to my cleaning lady (expecting twins) instead of returning it.
@Rose, I think getting anything done with unrelenting headaches is a victory! Hope they disappear soon.
-used hand-me-downs from a friend for my youngest for a special event. He does not care about what he wears and he looked great
-my teen wore out his soccer cleats, so my husband gave him his. Nice when people can share sizes!
-have had multiple free work meals now due to travel. Not good for my waistline but enjoy it.
-have called and obtained various home repairs. Not cheap or fun buy better to not let things get worse.
-frugal fail- taking cat to the vet.
A repeat from the Non-Consumer Advocate: My thrift hero for the week is Sam Delauter, who was profiled in the June 2 issue of the Washington Post. He is 29 and owns a seasonal diner in Maryland. Rising prices made him fear he might have to close but as he was looking for ways to economize he had the BRILLIANT idea of using the 1,000 pounds of bacon grease his place generates each year to make soap, using his great grandmother’s recipe. He sold it at the store and on-line and in 2022 made $10,000 in soap sales—enough to pay for his bacon for the year! How fricken’ clever is that??
On the home front we saved recently by:
1. Wanted a fancier meal yesterday and remembered that one of the sit down restaurants I do mystery shops for gives me the usual customer points (in addition to paying for the meal and giving me a small fee). I had accumulated enough to get a large pick-up meal that we ate in our backyard, watching the river go by and fending off the mosquitoes and dogs.
2. Donated a piece of medical equipment to a non-profit that has an equipment lending library and took a hefty tax write off and felt really good knowing someone in dire need will be helped.
3. Attended a free concert at a reindeer farm. You show up, sit on the lawn and they let the reindeer wander around and inspect people and sometimes lie down for a scratch, all while listening to live music.
4. Supervised the spreading of last year’s chicken poopy straw around the garden, adding nutrients and tilth to the soil for free.
5. Library, library, library.
Did you put in an offer for the sneakers or even just "heart" it to save to your watchlist? It'll prompt the seller to send you an offer, often within hours.
I did not, but I have done that before! Sometimes I get an offer, sometimes I don't.
@Katy @ The Non-Consumer Advocate, thanks for the tip! I haven't heard about this method.
I recently got a credit card about a month and a half ago. (My first!) I took the credit card out of my wallet / purse, and put it in a lock box in my home so that I wouldn't spend with it as much as I started to! I know where it is, it's not in ice, but it's out of the way, so to speak. I had a big (for me) balance at the beginning of the month. Not so much with just my debit card. Anyway, I paid it off...it was only about 330 dollars...but as someone on a tight budget...I was surprised I 1.) Did that and 2.) It added up so quickly. It's interesting how quickly and easily I went to "I'll just use my credit card for this...and this...and this too" mentality. I told myself I'd not be like that "type of person." But maybe it's not a type of person so much as...it's easy to do. Anyway, into the lockbox. Disclosure: I'm low income at this time. I hate that word / label. But I'm not sure how else to describe it. I say that because many of the things I spent $ on were just regular things I needed. And while I also bought 4 sweaters on ebay too...I think all of us want things, and should treat ourselves sometimes.
Kristen, I am a hiker too and am very interested in the Altra brand! I tried out a pair of altra trail runners recently and really liked them. And ebay, yes! I sell my clothes and books there, but buy from there too.
Never enough lamps! I’m a reader of books (from the library) and not screens, and good reading lamps are not often a part of decorator designs. Just look at the next ten decor photos you receive, and you’ll see what I mean. So enjoy your mood (and reading) lighting!
Living in Europe where I have healthcare (I pay a lot for it now, yes, but I would keep it if I lost my job), it never ceases to amaze me how much you guys have to pay out of pocket. I feel so grateful to be able to go to my primary care physician anytime and not pay extra. (Same with specialists of course.)
@Maggie, there are different ways to pay for medical, but we all pay.
@Anne, with public healthcare at least everyone has access and won't go into debt over it.
@Sophie in Denmark, I recently read an article about Canadians crossing the border into the U.S. for medical care as the wait for a serious condition there was prohibitive. Tradeoffs.
@Anne, I think that's in the minority though.
https://www.npr.org/2020/11/06/931990578/why-americans-have-been-deceived-about-canadas-health-care-system
Either way, I think it's important for everyone to have access to affordable healthcare.
1. Another storm, more downed limbs. Packed and stacked them in the yard waste trash cans and paper yard waste bags so that the city's garbage collectors took them off for free. There's still a pile of sticks but they can wait; they'll get put in the cans for next time. To cut 'em down to size, I used a set of manual limb cutters I got at a thrift store for $5 including sharpening.
2. Decided to try using some area rugs and large leftover carpet scraps for rarely-used spare bedroom, instead of buying new flooring. This patchwork remedy will be a stop-gap measure if it works. It'll let me delay having to spend that money until later. Let's hear it for duct tape!
3. Checked library (closed 2 wks for remodeling and just now reopened) for large print "To Kill A Mockingbird" book that our book club is reading. No luck. My reading glasses aren't doing the job too well. So instead of buying the large print book, I bought a magnifying glass (same price) so I can read several books with 10-point type, and take it with me when I'm at the book meeting. I'd already bought a used copy of the book from a used bookstore (intending to return it if I could find the large print version), so I'm in business. Meanwhile, the book is online so I can read it from my desktop computer after punching the control and plus buttons to make the type larger.
4. Ordered my ration of free OTC meds from my Humana Medicare Advantage program. Their online pharmacy will ship me the items.
5. Dug out some large empty planters so that I can make a patio planter from some plants I've bought and also cuttings from plants growing in yard. That will happen this evening when/if it cools down. I also located some clear Xmas lights and some stored-away fans for use on patio.
I've never even heard of Altra or zero drop, but then I'm not a runner. I love my 6-yr-old Vans because there's not much of a "rocking" between toe and heel; I wish I could find another pair in the same denim blue color. I just need a lot of cushioning now, what with both knees needing replacements.
This has been a mundane week--more of frugality for what I haven't done than for what I have. All the extra expenses we have had the past year have drained our savings accounts and although I am still able to pay off the (rewards) credit card every month, the margins have become narrower.
What I didn't do:
1. Didn't get our monthly pizza delivery. We only eat out once or twice a year, but our splurge is pizza.
2. Didn't buy coffee at those places or kiosks. I wouldn't have any idea what to order anyway, so I just make my own and buy yummy flavored creamer at the grocery store.
3. Did not stop by the thrift shop or any yard sales last week.
4. Did not buy any books. I usually only buy them for a Bible study group or if I find one I want at the thrift store. I have literally hundreds on my Kindle from years past--some freebies, first-reads, etc and lots of freebies on my Audible account still waiting to be read. (We have Audible mainly for hubby who has visual and mechanical impairments that make reading electronic books or the manual kind impossible for him.)
What I did do:
1. Still combining errands. There is a CVS in the next town close to my vet, bank, dermatologist, and hair salon, so I regularly monitor their sales and rewards. Got some larger size boxes of acetaminophen and aceta....PM for less than the smaller boxes, and was able to get hubby a 12-pack of Boost for less than two 6-packs, with a coupon.
2. Buying only generic as much as possible and really watching the sales at the only grocery store in our small town. When I'm in the next town, like I will be tomorrow, I will stop in at Aldi's for produce.
3. I drove over to another small town about 6 miles away that right now has gas at 40c/gal less than the one that's 2 miles from my house. Plus it's on Upside, so I usually get some money back from there. Filled up both cars, one with a $50 bill I got at the bank a couple of months ago, that's been sitting in a jar at the house. (Most everything I pay with the rewards card and pay off at the end of the month, so I rarely have occasion to use 50). Didn't get the rewards, but it kinda felt like found money.
4. Continued to scan receipts with Fetch, and use Rakuten if I buy online. Got a $12.56 check in the mail just a couple of days ago.
I'm not a runner either! Just a walker who wants room for my toes to spread out. 🙂 Altras are designed with a foot shape as opposed to the unnatural narrow shape that most shoes have.
I’m so impressed with your Buy Nothing group as the excellent resource it has proved for you. It delivers first-rate household items that you need and they match what you have. I’m super glad for you and how nicely you have incorporated the items into your home, which always seems so cosy in the photos.
Kristen,
The lamp is pretty, but the painting behind it is what caught my attention. May I ask what you know about it? Was it also a Buy Nothing find? Or perhaps one of your readers painted it for you? Whatever the case, it’s lovely!
1. We planned our meals, ate up food as needed, made our coffee at home, etc.
2. The youngest is playing baseball this year. We had all necessary equipment, so didn't need to buy anything.
3. Similarly, another kid needed hiking boots and was able to wear an old pair from the oldest. They also borrowed a bunch of camping stuff from the oldest. (The oldest loves to camp and goes many times each year. This other kid dislikes it and goes once a year.)
4. Two kids suddenly outgrew some clothes. We were able to fill in with stuff from a secondhand store. The next big day for rummage sales is in September, so we didn't wait.
5. We got new books, games, and movies from our local library. They also had a free event that we attended. The firetruck was a big hit. One kid loved the engineering table.
Thank you all for so many good ideas. My five frugal things this week:
1--chopped vegetables for 100 salad servings for the soup kitchen, with help from my food processor. Buying pre chopped veggies would have doubled the cost.
2--supported local furnishings charity when I discovered old sheets hiding in my linen closet, and extra nonstick fry pans in the basement. A win for me to have clean, empty space. Well, emptier.
3--finished sewing terrycloth coverup for swimming, made from beach towels. Challenging sewing but saved mucho bucks.
4--polished my very old scuffed Birkenstocks, and they look downright presentable! I have been having painful foot and knee problems and these are my most comfy shoes.
5--made an excellent casserole with bits from the fridge, including coconut milk, roast turkey, cooked rice, green chilis, and peanuts, a delicious whole from small bits. Curry powder and onion finished it very well.
Reading your post reminds me that I should get back to walking 🙂
My Frugal Things
1) My girls had preventive care like their dental exams/cleaning and physicals today. 2 out of 3 had cavities so will need to come back to get them fixed. Catching it early is better than letting it get worst and costing more to fix.
2) Taking advantage of the library like their summer camps for kids, summer reading program, and the usual like borrowing books, requesting them from other libraries, and renting out DVDs for family to watch.
3) Mother in law gave us a few summer sausages for the girls to eat and soil, seeds, flowers and pots for one of my girls since she said she wanted to learn how to garden.
4) The usual .... Batch run errands to save on gas. Used Fetch, Ibotta and my cash back card. Ate leftovers at home, including some free hotdogs we got at a church event.
1. I mended a recent goodwill-purchased shirt that had a few areas coming loose along the seam. Bonus: I did it while watching/listening to some required training for work, so that time will be paid.
2. I purchased some skin care products during an especially good discount, plus several full-sized gifts with purchase. I also had a free birthday product coupon which said it was not valid with other offers, but I tried it anyway and it worked! So I am set for a long time with skin care. Even though I occasionally stock up on products, I make sure to use things up and not overbuy… too much, ha.
3. I was finally able to use a Panera Sip Club free three month membership. Usually they don’t work on my account as a “lapsed subscriber” (I’ve never once paid! I’ve only used free codes) but this one was specifically for lapsed subscribers. I did buy two of my favorite scones for treats later, but I rarely do that so it was a special treat. That purchase also scored me a free half sandwich for DH as a lunch treat. Since we rarely eat out this all felt very decadent.
4. Eating out of the freezer and fridge; only buying bananas and milk.
5. I was able to use two Covid tests on Little E and DH before they expired in a week. Fortunately neither had Covid. Unfortunately DH turned out to have a tick-borne illness, so the urgent care visit will not be frugal… but that’s life, and I’m grateful for good insurance, a definitive diagnosis, and medication to treat his illness.
My frugal bummer of the week is not living in an area with enough population to sustain a Buy Nothing group. We technically have one, but it gets about 2 posts/year. (Does anyone live really rurally and have an active Buy Nothing group? What do you notice that seems to keep the group thriving?)
BUT...
--CVS gave me a random $5 off in the app. I needed some bandages, and paid 25 cents. I got an alert saying congrats on my savings of 95%!
--I got a delivery of 'secondhand food' from my friend. She appreciates that I appreciate her leftovers that her family won't eat and will use them instead of wasting them, along with food bank items that she or friends don't use. (She asked about this, and tries to only take items her family needs/will use at food pantries, but often is told no, it's already weighed, share with friends or neighbors). So I get to use some items and still have plenty of nonperishables to donate back to the food bank.
--We went for a walk in nature 3x so far this week, each time free! One time was at a lake, so we did use a little gas to get there. But free restrooms haha! Free beauty and exercise!
--Another friend's grocery pickup substituted coffee chip ice cream for strawberry LOL. It was intended for a child's birthday party, and nobody in her family likes it, so she gave it to me! I mean, ANYTHING seems closer to strawberry than coffee chip...like...vanilla?! Anyway, I guess all my friends know I will always use free food haha.
--I was able to give the same friend's kids each a really beautiful nature coloring book found at a thrift store for $1. Thankfully we are all secondhand appreciating people so the fact that a few pages were colored is no biggie.
* Needed new blinds for a big window. Got quoted.... 1300$!! Like, whaaaat?? No way. So they quoted 700$ for a pole+curtains. Mmmmm.... yeah.... absolutely not. So I've decided to re-use a (nice) pole that came with the house 9 years ago and found decent curtains at the thrift store for 15$. 1300$..... ridiculous!
* Was in a car accident 2 weeks ago. I'm off work at the moment. Been spending an inordinate amount of time online and on the phone to deal with insurances, work and whatnot. But to get paid I need to do it, so I kind of consider it my job at the moment
* Been renting a car through my inssurances until I get my new car. I'll have to pay a couple days myself, but at insurances rates, which is 50$/day. It's a steal! (Here)
* My awesome colleagues sent me a card, goodies and money for a massage treatment. So sweet, I feel
loves 🙂
* I've been really quiet the past 2 weeks, no money spent on entertainment. Reading my library books between 2 phone calls.
Love your lamp style & philosophy! We are renting right now & the overhead lights are headache inducing terrible so we are def. in a lamp using & collecting season:)
My frugal five:
1) strategically using mailer coupons for grocery stores/pizza places
2) buying dishwasher powder from an office supply store vs expensive pods
3) buying clearance bananas
4) using Kohls cash on a needed purchase
5) opening windows on cooler days (yay for no heat/cooling needed)
Are the Altas true to size? Nursing is hard on my feet.. TIA
Yes, I wear my regular size!
I caught 2 health insurance errors this year. My son has work coverage. His dental cleaning wasn't submitted to insurance, had the visit submitted, and fully covered. Also, an eye appointment was supposed to be fully covered but none was paid. He has work check into this. It was fully covered. These two issues saved him over $300.
We shop the grocery ads weekly for necessities.
We have a garden.
We are still drinking free canned pure apple juice. We have a 100 year old press to make juice from apples given to us by neighbors last year. We canned over 100 quarts. Mmmmm.