Five Frugal Things | a mend, a coffee, a ticket...
1. I mended my duvet cover
A bit of the seam at one end started to fray.
And we all know what happens if we let a frayed spot go: it grows.
Since this was such a small spot, and since a duvet cover would be very annoying to try to machine sew (so big!), I just hand-sewed the hole shut.
2. I got a prescription switched to Cost Plus Drugs
My dermatologist suggested a nice-but-not-entirely-necessary prescription product for a mild facial skin issue, and when it got sent to CVS, they said it would be $400.
(!!!)
If it was a life-saving drug, ok, I'd be willing to pay but not for this.
So, I looked into Mark Cuban's Cost Plus Drugs, on the advice of a friend, and it was only $65 there. That's more like it.
It took a little doing to set up the account and get my dermatology office to send the prescription over there (the person I spoke to had never heard of Cost Plus!), but $65 vs. $400 was worth a little effort on my end. 🙂
This definitely would be worth looking into if you have crappy health insurance like I do!
3. I bought a $99 Fincon ticket
I have not been to Fincon since 2021...my school load has just been too heavy for me to make the trip.
But this coming September, I should hopefully be done with nursing school, and be working as a nurse instead.
And that means I could actually, factually take some time off. Woohoo!
So, I bought the ticket before the $99 offer expired.
And since it's in Portland, I let the Nonconsumer Advocate know as well! 🙂
4. I got some (almost) free Windex
Ace Hardware sent me a $5/any purchase coupon:
So I bought a bottle of Windex for $4.77, plus a fundraiser chocolate bar for $1.
After the coupon, my purchase was almost free. 🙂
5. I...
- used my Starbucks gift card for a little treat while I finished my pediatrics case study (which is done and submitted even tho it's not due until December 3rd. Yay me!)
- used the last of a loaf of bread to make some croutons for my butternut squash soup
- had a low-spend weekend because I spent most of it doing schoolwork!
*I took advantage of some Target circle offers and got $5 off $25 of pet supplies and $5 off $30 groceries. Spending $30 on groceries isn't hard, and I only bought exactly what I needed to get the deals.
* I made some Sam's club online orders for some bulk purchases ( we go through tissues like there's no tomorrow and were almost out of TP), got free shipping, and didn't have to spend money on gas to go there.
*I made hamburger buns yesterday for dinner so I wouldn't have to run out to the store again when I realized I forgot to buy them.
* I bought one Xmas present refurbished from Amazon instead of buying new- save about $30. I think if I had waited, new might have gone on sale with Black Friday, but I wanted to get something crossed off the list.
*The oven wouldn't kick on when I was trying to bake, so I took off the floor of the inside and cleaned off the ignitor. Success!
I should mend some quilts which have some minor loose seams. Maybe on this long weekend!
@mbmom11,
We go through tissues like crazy, too. Even though hubby has plenty of cloth handkerchiefs, I don't think he thinks to keep one with him when he's just hanging out at home. I'm guilty of using them instead of a napkin at work (I eat lunch at my desk, and bring in my own tissues). Some habits we both need to work on.
--My husband's work once again gave out $50 grocery gift cards to the guys. This is both great--woohoo, $50 in groceries!--and a challenge because it's a store we don't normally shop at thanks to the prices. I have a hard time using the gift card for something I know I can get cheaper elsewhere, so I've been strategically stocking up on loss leaders. Four pounds of butter for $3.49 each isn't the greatest deal ever, but it was good enough, as was the $2.49 clearance pounds of ground turkey.
--Our two-person Thanksgiving feast will be the frozen duck I bought six months ago because I couldn't believe the $15 price. (Ducks are normally $20-25+). It is NOT a dainty duck, either!
--I've continued to roast the $3 giant (think basketball-sized) pie pumpkins from the local farm into puree for the freezer. I think we almost have enough to carry us through to next fall!
--Needless to say, I'll be making our pumpkin pie; my husband will take care of everything else. Thanksgiving is one of the glorious days when I get kicked out of the kitchen. My husband is a fine cook and truly enjoys it, but he just doesn't have the time after commuting for his normal work week. (For the record, I'm kicked out of the kitchen on weekends, too. ;P )
--A recently widowed neighbor very sweetly gave us a $25 restaurant gift card when he found out our anniversary happened a few weeks ago. It's been a busy month overall, so it was nice to grab dinner to go for once. We plan to have our neighbor over again soon as a thank you.
@N, LOL at the thought of a not-dainty duck.
@N, I take it the widowed neighbor has plans for T-Day (and Xmas for that matter)? Upside of my father living in a town 90%+ of his life, he has social opportunities outside of family plus family near by. I think it is great you watch out for your neighbor. May we all have that in our lives now and in the future. We keep an eye out of some neighbors (to the point of me telling, not asking, for cell numbers for his/her children) - especially when I know children are out of town. We also call if we see EMTs/fire department in our rural neighborhood.
@Selena, Indeed! Our neighbor's house is always filled with family on the holidays, so we know he's good then. 🙂
1. Discover offered $15 off an Amazon order if I changed my primary way to pay to my Discover card. After I added oat bran to my monthly Subscribe & Save (and saving $15) I changed the primary payment method back to my Chase Amazon card.
2. The antenna was knocked off our 2011 CR-V after I took it in for an oil change. We also noticed the base for the antenna is raised. I called the Honda dealership and they said their car wash sometimes "eats" the old style antenna. They will repair it when I take it in this morning.
3. I ran errands with a friend yesterday. It is a good way for us to spend time together and get things done at the same time. She wanted to go to Costco (I have a membership and she does not). I bought sugar and hand towels, that's all.
4. DH brought home more pumpkins that were being thrown away. A squirrel has made it's way into one of our curb picked pumpkins and it is fun to see the progress it makes.
5. Meals at home, meals at home, meals at home.
As I said yesterday on the NCA, it sounds like fun times ahead for my two favorite bloggers in Portland next year!
Now, FFT, Online Silence Edition (revised/updated from yesterday's FFT on the NCA):
(1) The main reason my comments in the past week or so have been brief is that I’m up to here in proofreading papers for the upcoming edition of JASNA’s electronic journal (which goes live on Dec. 16, Jane Austen’s birthday). Frugally, this also means that I haven’t been doing any in-person shopping except for absolutely necessary groceries for my next-door neighbor (NDN) and me. Can’t spend frivolously when I’m slaving over a hot computer.
(2) Another reason is that, now that NDN’s dead car has finally been donated to our local PBS station, I’m working on cancelling her auto insurance policy. Unfortunately, she just made a payment on the policy (in her continuing state of mild confusion), so this may take a while to straighten out. But the cancellation will be frugal for her when it finally happens.
(3) In planning for holiday gift giving this year, I’m relying heavily on (a) charitable donations and (b) offbeat gift cards. Nobody I usually exchange gifts with needs more stuff (most of us are older than dirt and trying to downsize). And I’m quite pleased with the deals I’ve found on gift cards from, for example, Penzeys spices and our locally famous hot dog stand.
(4) My kitchen garbage disposal gave up the ghost last week. As always, however, my friend Mr. Fix-It came to my rescue: He got a pre-Black Friday deal for me on a new one, and installed it at the usual no charge. As always, heaven bless him.
(5) And my Honda Element’s troubles finally seem to be over: I drove it on Saturday to the next city over and back for a local JASNA meeting, without any idiot lights going on or other incidents. (And, believe me, I was keeping an eye out for spooked deer on the Thruway, since deer-hunting season has begun.)
The meeting, BTW, was great fun. I led a discussion on “Growing Older with Jane Austen,” and we only got halfway through my list of questions about JA’s older characters because we were having so much fun with the first few!
@A. Marie, I can't wait to hear about the sleepover in Portland next year!
@A. Marie, what a great discussion idea; I can imagine it would be so interesting to look at older characters across various books! (not that I'm older than dirt too or anything)
@A. Marie,
So I have to ask, who is everyone’s favorite older character? Also, are the Martha Stewart Calendars in the works this year?
@A. Marie, like kristin @ going country's food posts, your JASNA posts never disappoint!
@A. Marie, Your discussion topic of the older characters is so very timely. A recent piece in the Times mentioned that more mature characters are being featured in books and television programs as well.
Im not surprised that you’re on trend, and in a very JA way. I would have loved to have been at your presentation!
Was it filmed?
@A. Marie, I thought of you and JASNA last night. A conversation with my nieces led to why the Navy is different than the Army, which led to the history of the British Navy, which led to why Capt Wentworth came home rich.
@Bee et al., the voting for favorites was split two ways: "most likeable" (Mrs. Jennings in S&S won) and "the one you love to hate" (several nominees, though of course I rooted for Lady Catherine de Bourgh in P&P). In a category suggested by JASNA BFF in an email, "the one you'd most like to grow old with yourself," Mrs. Croft in Persuasion was the clear winner.
And, yes, I'll be getting to work on this year's Martha calendar as soon as I get the electronic journal work out of my hair. This year, I'm using a "This Day in History" calendar from the History Channel. I'll have Martha crossing the Delaware, landing on the moon, etc.
Agreed on Mrs. Jennings and also Lady Catherine. What a controlling, manipulative person she was!
@Bee,
My favorite character is not in any Jane Austen novel, but in Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum murder mysteries. Stephanie's Grandma Mazur is a scream! Among her many (mis-)adventures were shooting Stephanie's mom's pot roast at a family dinner, using a handgun another elderly lady had bought at a garage sale; wearing Spandex and being the lead singer in transvestite school bus driver Sally Sweet's punk rock band; and always, always, always causing havoc at the viewings at Stiva's Funeral Home (Grandma M. knows how to pick the coffin locks with a hairpin.) If you've never read a Stephanie Plum book, I highly recommend them: get ready to laugh until your sides hurt at all the zany and colorful "New Joisy" characters!
@Fru-gal Lisa, I love Grandma Mazur also! And LOLA! Those books are so fun!
@Fru-gal Lisa,
I love those books! Laugh out loud! Have you read Sue Grafton mysteries? Love those as well.
@A. Marie, I would LOVE to hear your talk.
@Fru-gal Lisa, I have not read that series, but Grandma Mazur sounds very colorful!
@Bee, off topic a bit but I used Martha’s turkey to roasting technique today. We always have an extra breast for leftover take aways. I saw it on The Martha Stewart Holidays show that I streamed. I have never mastered the glorious golden hue on one before. They have been tasty, but not golden.
Only took 40 years to master, lol.
@Fru-gal Lisa, Being from New Joisy I know it's filled with characters!
@Cindi, Agreed. That’s why I wondered f it was filmed.
@Janice, did you use the cheese cloth method?
@A. Marie,
Wonderful character choices!
The Martha calendar sounds wonderful. Will she be packing a gourmet picnic when crossing the Delaware? Will she bring a Tang cocktail to outer space? Can’t wait hear about the finished product.
So glad your script was available more economically. It was tme for me to get the Xarelto at $400 for 90 day supply. It is not available on the same program. So once again I am grateful for a med that indeed may be helpful in preventing embolism r/t to afib. Prevention is cheaper in the long run.
Staycation was just that. Only did necessary shopping and meetings otherwise car stayed parked.
Moved my plants into a corner of the living room making for a mini conservatory look. Good to clean the air and add humidity. Bought an economical growlight which will help w SAD and help keep plants healthy.
On the agenda today and tomorrow is winterizing. Which means closing the storm windows, hanging blankets over the kitchen door to the back porch and the bedroom closet door (which is also the same part of the house as the back porch, a noninsulated addition to the house). Also cover windows w plastic and then put back up the insulation around foundation at ceiling level in the basement. It's just held up with tension and has fallen at the airish areas. Need to make some draft dodgers for the base of the doors also, from flannel and pipe insulation. I suspect the pool noodles are put away. The ready made ones may not be too pricey so will compare.
@Chrissy,
My grandma's draft dodgers were simply old bath towels that she rolled up and placed against the bottoms of the inside doors. Worked great, and no sewing!
It's gotten a lot colder in the last week. A trip to my favorite thrift store--which supports our local hospice--yielded a like-new polar fleece vest which I can wear at my desk. I said yes to a loaf of brown bread from someone who is learning to make bread. It was very good. I made my egg-free snack cake into cupcakes to share with someone who is vegan. Yes I spent a lot of time staring through the oven window hoping they wouldn't burn. They didn't!
I cancelled a grocery rewards card I no longer use and received a Starbucks gift card for donating my rewards points to charity. My daughter has a student discount card that doesn't expire until the end of the year, even though she graduated in June, from a different grocery store. She used it to buy pasta and cereal for the boxes we're putting together for our food bank's Reverse Advent Calendar. And as a bonus convinced several of her friends to fill a box as well!
@Darlene, love that you & your daughter are doing that, and convinced friends as well! The ripple affect of kindness is so wonderful.
You look tired Kristen - and Chiquita is the one sleeping - almost as if she was trying to pursuade you to try having a little rest.....
Yay for getting assignments in early! I just submitted my final project for my intro to healthcare delivery class--not due til December 13 but now I don't have to think about any projects for that class!
The weather was weirdly warm enough to go biking on Sunday, so DH and I biked to the library and dropped off food at the Little Free Pantries nearby.
Library books, obviously. And Kindle Unlimited. I am still going strong on my no-book-purchasing since July!
The kids' favorite mac and cheese (Annie's) was part of a buy 5, save $1 each sale, so I stocked up on those, and when I scanned my receipt into Fetch, Annie's was part of a points promotion, so I earned more points than usual.
I *think* I got everything we need for Thanksgiving dinner. I may have to hop out and get paper towels (for patting the turkey dry, my once-yearly-paper towel purchase!) and extra large tortillas that I forgot, but I will combine that with returning a batch of library books.
Used some Amazon points to order some Candy Cane Lane tea and some Mrs. Meyers cleaning spray (peppermint and pine) just for fun.
@Karen A.,
Congratulation on finishing your final project also. I have never been one to finish anything early. I am an overthinker.
@Bee, It's possible that I am an underthinker. 😉 I do love beating a deadline, though. When I was in labor with my third, induced because I was having miserable nerve pain, the nurse on shift that morning jokingly shook her finger at my stomach and said, "I'm going off shift at 3:30 this afternoon, and I want to see you before I leave, young man!" Well, she was pretty shocked when my 12 pound, 3 ounce kid was born at 3:34 pm. Ha! I remember looking at her and saying, "He's very obedient, isn't he?" 😉
I’ve been remembering to activate my Target Circle rewards and redeemed $65 when I bought some Christmas presents.
The weather is finally cool enough not to need the AC at night, so I am enjoying some lower-cost sleeping with the thermostat turned down.
I’ve been trying to use up freezer food. It’s been slow progress, but I’m still working on it.
--We're going to be cutting up one of the ram lambs today, which will be many pounds of meat in the freezer. Not exactly free, as we've been feeding hay for a bit already, but pretty cheap, anyway. And certainly higher quality than store meat.
--I do not enjoy the innards and don't cook them, so the dogs and chickens have had some nice feed lately with those. I suppose it saves a bit on purchased dog and chicken feed.
--I drove a few hours to an airport hotel Wednesday to stay before an early Thursday flight for my son. We didn't leave until mid-afternoon, so I made some sandwiches for the car rather than planning on stopping to get food somewhere. I thought we might eat when we got to the city, but the kids with me weren't hungry and just wanted to go swimming, so we ended up not buying any food at all.
--The hotel I chose had a breakfast buffet included, which thankfully had scrambled eggs and ham in addition to the usual bread products and cereal. My daughter and I ate there when we got back from the airport. So I didn't buy anything this day, either. Well, except a bottle of water at the airport for my son to take on the plane with him. The city water tastes gross and chlorinated to us, so I didn't think he would want to fill his own water bottle there.
--We also went back to the buffet after we swam in the pool so she could get a bagel and I could get another cup of coffee. An employee was taking the buffet down, so I asked if I could have some of the ham that was left, figuring they would just throw it out. I put it in a travel cup, grabbed a couple of English muffins and two little tubs of cream cheese, and used all of that to make sandwiches a couple of hours later when we were still driving.
@kristin @ going country, Nice. I’m a big fan of included breakfasts and, like y0u, usually make lunch from it as well. My speciality is a PB&J.
@WilliamB, and on a toasted English muffin
I swear by Cost Plus Drugs. It saves me so much. My insurance uses their mail order and it would be $90. for a 90 day supply. If I do go to Walgreen's, it's $45. for 30 days. Cost Plus is $25. for 90 days without insurance. So much better!
Had coupons for Kroger where I don't usually shop. But they had coupons for butter for $2.49 each and Nestles Toll House Chips, $2.99 each with a limit of 5. Of course, 5 of each are in the freezer! I also bought sweet potatoes at 25 cents/lb. and beer was also on sale for my husband. And they had turkeys for 79 cents a lb. Not a name brand, but with so many sides, I'm sure we'll be OK.
I re-potted or added potting soil to all my plants to get rid of a bag of potting soil that was sitting out in front of the house the entire summer. I used a pot I had to hang a plant near a window and I really like how it came out.
I bought some paint at the place my husband works at. It was on sale as well as a discount. I only bought quarts because it's a small area to paint and I'm not sure which color I want. Hopefully my guests will help me decide this weekend.
Repaired our rake last week. The handle kept popping off. So I took some E6000 glue I had and glued it back together. Let's hope it holds out at least till next summer.
We continue to eat at home and drink coffee at home. And the woodstove burns for when it gets chilly.
@Maureen, I often use e6000 glue in crafts. I would love to know how it works on household repairs.
@Bee, I've used it to seal a sole coming off my husband's lawn mowing sneakers and it worked great. I also have used it on slippers. But I won't know about the rake until next spring because I have no plans on using that kind of rake for a while. Other than those items, the only other time I've used it is for crafts that I don't want falling apart.
@Maureen, part of me wonders if insurance companies dang well know people can find a lot of Rx cheaper than going thru insurance? One would *think* they'd apply what you paid toward your Rx deductible but most don't. Then again, I am quite okay with my insurer being in the dark re: most, if not all, of the Rx I take (which is not many any and truth be told, are elective except for one). Pretty much the reason I don't bank where I work - IMHO, they don't need to know any more about my finances except what they pay me. Doesn't cost me anything to bank local.
Thanks to Meijer for another round of digital coupons I could use. 50% off 1 coffee item and potatoes for .25 a bag are a few.
We no longer use our gas fireplace so I strung Christmas lights in it, looks good. It was free dollars.
Picked up a 16# turkey for $4.
Rather than pick u a pre-made salad from Sam's Club I will make my own. Saves $.$$.
I am going to repair rather than replace my non working led Christmas lights.
@Mar, kudos on finding a 16 lb turkey - that weight is the holy grail in my area. Though myself, I am looking forward to that extra lbs of leftovers - I'll have to make sure better half doesn't go overboard sharing leftovers!
I LOVE that Chiquita picture. She looks so happy! That's productive!
@Meeghan, never compare yourself to a cat, you will always lose
Those Ace Hardware coupons are the best. Once in a great while I can combine one with a sale on trash bags or HVAC filters and make out like a bandit.
I have done a lot of the daily frugalities this past week: rack drying laundry, cooking and eating at home, grocery shopping with a list, coupons, hitting the sales and picking up some yellow-sticker items, doing my own cleaning and lawn mowing. (Don't need a gym when you use a push mower!)
Frugal fiasco, a small one: I ordered two zippers -- to repair a sweater and my fluffy robe -- from Joann Fabrics, and received only one and a tube of lurid purple paint that I did not order. Customer service has been not good. This morning I decided to take the loss and ordered a robe zipper off eBay. It's still going to be less expensive than replacing the robe.
@Ruby, I have also found customer service at Joann Fabrics to be less than stellar. Unfortunately, not many other options for fabric in our area.
@Beverly, aside from Walmart, it's the only sewing profucts store here and makes me fiercely miss Hancock. The local store did not have the size or color zippers I needed, so I went online. Not making that mistake again.
I can really see why people don't try relatively simple clothing repairs when the materials are so hard to get.
Meijer opened up locally and at the initial start sent out great coupons which made it worth stopping there.. They STILL send these coupons so I make the run weekly since my mom gives me hers and somehow I received double sets in my own mail! The cashiers have been highly entertained by my ability to break down transactions to the $30 amount threshold to use my $10 off $30 coupons...
I brought home a Costco sized pack of dinner rolls left unopened after one of the groups had their Thanksgiving feast at work(preschool).. Waste not! I diced those down and dried in the oven with a small loaf of pumpernickel and rye I found on the clearance rack at my local store- stuffing cubes are ready for all the buttery veg now!
roasted 2 small chickens I got on manager mark down and cut the meat off to take to my work supper. Cooked down the bones with leftover veg I brought home from the supper and made stock!
Used a coupon I found and got a free Yankee Candle which will go to my Secret Santa at work.
Turned in points on the Fetch app for an amazon gift card
* I compared prices between Publix sale and BJs to determine who had the best prices for ingredients needed for Thanksgiving dinner. It required me to shop both stores but I was at Publix anyway to pick up prescriptions. DH picked up order at BJs and got gas while he was there.
* I refilled my 60-day supply prescriptions for free since we have met our out-of-pocket maximum for the year.
* We drove 1.5 hours to babysit our grandson at the hotel while DD and SIL went to a wedding. We packed drinks and snacks for the trip. DD forgot to bring bottled water, so we shared with her since nursing mothers need a lot of water. We drove home that night, so we didn't have to pay for a hotel room.
* I accepted offers from DD, nephew and BFF to bring dishes to Thanksgiving dinner. I tend to want to make it all myself, but I appreciate their help this year.
* Canceled our Peacock subscription before the price increased from the introductory rate.
Your #2 is true even with "good" insurance. We have a decent plan that pushes us to CVS and we have found that it is cheaper to go to Sam's or Costco and self pay than to use CVS, unless of course it is a drug we need right away. One Rx through Costco mail order is 1/3 to 1/2 other pharmacies, and my physician was shocked at how cheap the med was there. It is a hassle initially to set up for Costco with the physician's office, but once the initial set up is done, we haven't had any issues.
Clark Howard is a big fan of Cost Plus, Costco, and Sam's, which is why I started investigating those options.
@Jan in GA, I use Cost Plus but love it even more since I heard the millionaire owner say that rich people need to pay their fair share, that is it part of being a good citizen of the country that has the infrastructure that makes their businesses possible.
@Jan in GA, my "boutique" doctor searches for the best Rx prices for his patients. He does not deal with insurance and frankly, I don't blame him. He fills a niche that is under served in my area and I do need to ask him if he has a succession plan (he is at least a bit younger than I).
We need more doctors like him and less who work either for-profit/non-profit (which is a bit of a joke truth be told) providers. The only MD I've ever had that lives in reality.
Look into Good Rx if you don't know about it. It can save you money too.
Kristen , Congratulations on getting your project done early. As always, I am amazed by your time management skills.
My mother purchased the Christmas wreath that I have now for me when my 33 year-old daughter was just a baby. We had just moved into our first house. Although I have redone it several times over the years, it was looking rather tattered. I purchase some new ribbon and went through my craft supplies. I now have a new-looking wreath for my front door.
I used quite a bit of chicken stock over the holidays. I defrosted all the chicken carcasses in the freezer and made several batches over the course of the week. At $4-$5 a quart this is really cost-saving.
I listed and sold two new items on eBay. I turned $4 into $100+ after fees. This always makes me happy!
I added my Costco number to my Shutterfly account and will save 51% on all future purchases. They almost always have some “deal” going, but now I don’t have to look for promotional codes.
All of the usual things including drinking primarily filtered water, brewing my own coffee, preparing meals at home and using my library. I also took advantage of the library’s Food for Fines program this month. For 6 weeks, our library collects food for local pantries in lieu of paying fines. I am listening to a the book, The Christmas Bookshop, on Hoopla while I do my chores around the house.
Wishing everyone a Thanksgiving of love, peace and happiness.
@Bee,
Wait, how does one add one's Costco membership number at Shutterfly? I haven't ordered anything from them in ages, but a 51% discount would not go amiss!
@Liz B.,
If you use the app, click or tap on the silhouette of the person that appears in the top right corner. The second subhead from the top of the drop down reads promos and gift cards. Tap that. There is a place to add your Costco number. This deal is good until 2029!
@Bee, $4-5 a quart for stock - store purchased? If so, quite a gouge - even our high priced grocery store in the well to do town doesn't charge but $3/quart.
*wore some freebie socks to work {a giftie from Rad Tech Week (: }
* got a free birthday brownie with my lunch from Chik-fil-A yesterday
*will go book shopping this afternoon with a Half Price Books gift certificate I received
*Using up some wrinkly bell pepper and tomatoes, plus 1/2 jar of sauce and 4 oz ground Italian turkey from the freezer, along with the rest of a package of sketti noodles to make a veggie/turkey/marinara pasta tonight. It will make two additional meals I can freeze for work meals.
*gonna batch some errands today, ending with getting gas and vacuuming out my car (for free at the carwash).
Similarly to your duvet repair, I stitched a small area that was coming undone on a quilt my mom made. You can totally tell I did if you look closely...but who is gonna do that?
This week I....
1. Cooked every meal at home.
2. Saved half a tin of chickpeas for future meals.
3. Used the library.
4. Set up some sessions with a personal trainer so I get more knowledgeable about using the machines at the gym (and also go more often!)
5. Went to a yoga class included in my membership.
@Sophie in Denmark, Wow! EVERY meal = VERY impressive!
@JDinNM, Thanks! I did have lunch out one day but cooked all my dinners at home.
First of all, how could you make that poor kitty do all your school work for you? How gorgeous is she? I love my girl Raisin, she loves nothing more than hampering keyboard use!
I have my book club Christmas party coming up and what we do is a secret santa book swap, so you put 1 in, take 1 (and not everyone participates, totally voluntary). I was going to buy a new-used book and then remembered I had one that is not only very Christmassy but in really good, giftable condition, though I have read it at least twice. All it needs is giftwrap!
Our primary schools do teacher gifts and instead of money (it's absolutely voluntary and no one is forced into it) I offered a really quite nice bottle of Prosecco I won in a raffle (not a huge fan of it) as part of what will end up being a small hamper / gift card, because I know for certain that the recipient does enjoy a glass of bubbles on special occasions. Thoughtful, intentional regifting for the win!
@Caro, I think the bottle of prosecco for a teacher is a LOT more thoughtful than the presents teachers typically get. If I were a teacher, I'd take a bottle of bubbly over a "You're My Favorite Teacher" mug any old time. 😀
@A. Marie, One of my friends is a teacher and for Christmas last year one parent gave her a coupon for a dozen eggs every month for six months, since they raise chickens. Saves money for the giver and my friend loves it. The first dozen was half chicken and half duck eggs.
I went to California with my college roommate! A few frugal things, Cali edition:
1. Got our "sweet treats" at grocery stores instead of expensive restaurants desserts (peanut butter M&Ms and peppermint Milano cookies were our vice of choice).
2. Shared hotel rooms and rental car. We specifically picked a hotel that had an airport shuttle so the rental car driver wouldn't have to do 3 different trips to the airport the last day!
3. Used the complimentary flight wifi and entertainment to watch the movie Twisters (the new one).
4. We did a wine tour in Napa, which got us deals on tastings at three family-owned wineries, lunch, and transportation for $120. Instead of spending $45 per tasting, it was only $25, and if you purchased a wine bottle, the tasting fee was waived. I paid one tasting fee, and purchased two bottles of wine as the next two places. I didn't buy the best (but most expensive) wine we tasted for $135. Instead I got 2 middle range $50 bottles. I'd do the tour again, they pick different wineries every time!
5. Limited souvenirs. I only get a Christmas ornament for myself when traveling, so I got a Golden Gate Bridge ornament. I got a magnet and a t-shirt as Christmas gifts for others.
6. Speaking of Christmas: I sent my husband to get a Christmas tree while I was out of town (he didn't come with me to California) so we could enjoy the tree as long as possible, since we will be visiting family December 21st through 28th.
Frugal fail: didn't check the weather as accurately as I should have, so I didn't bring my waterproof boots. I had to buy $25 Walmart rain boots for the day we were outdoors. They are cute and effective, though.
@Andrea G / Midwest Andrea,
Mmmm--- peppermint Milanos..
My other household members are as productive as Chiquita. (Looking at you, dogs)
1. I found a whole dime.
2. I sewed two small Christmas gifts with sale purchased supplies.
3. I bought two gifts at half-price. Which is still above the sale prices I paid for similar items last year.
4. I bought a turkey on sale. My daughter gets one from work every year so we’ll have hers at Thanksgiving but I will cook this one later as a cheap protein.
5. I spotted an ad in the paper for a local grove and went there to get a five gallon bucket full of freshly picked Satsumas for the grand sum of $7. I used can recycling money to pay for it. I also was given a sweet pink grapefruit from the just ripening ones on the big tree that came with my daughter and son-in-law’s home purchase.
@JD, ah, fresh-off-the-tree Florida grapefruit! I know I've told the story before of swiping occasional grapefruit off trees at the John Ringling historic home (immediately adjacent to my college) when I was a student, but it remains a fond memory.
@A. Marie,
And the Satsumas are delicious, too. I'm sharing them, because eating too much citrus at once, well... you know.
My daughter and son-in-law's new-to-them 1953 house had such an overgrown backyard, they didn't know a mature grapefruit tree was hiding back there, desperately reaching for some sun. They've cut trees down around it and this year it escaped loss from freezing and the hurricanes to have a large - if somewhat high up - load of sweet, juicy grapefruits. I ate the one they gave me without any additional sweetening. It was so good.
Frugal.
I price shopped and got a 13 pound turkey for 8 dollars. It was a frozen not fresh turkey. Bought it on Sunday to give time to thaw.
I also found fresh sweet potatoes for 25 cents a pound at a different store.
I farmed out some of the holiday side dishes to grown adult children this year. This will help with costs. They are good cooks too.
Making ice coffee and hot tea drinks at home. I often find yummy high end tea at TJ MAXX so it feels like a real treat.
Truth. We cut cable last June. I still miss it because I am a LIVE SPORTS girl. Trying to find some new hobbies.
Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate.
Here's another reputable cheap drug site that is a well-kept secret that some might want to check out: https://honeybeehealth.com
I love me a good checklist! It's the only way for me to ensure I actually finish things. This week's 5 are kind of odds and ends.
1. The most significant: I got back-pay from a raise negotiated by my union (hurray for my union!) We put most in our down payment fund, and the rest to our "next year we're moving and it'll be expensive" fund.
2. I used up a Starbucks gift card on my way to an early-morning lecture. I believe strongly in using gift cards ASAP. Otherwise, I just forget about them.
3. I'm taking Hebrew classes at my local Jewish Community Center. I haven't missed any classes yet, and I'm faithfully using Duolingo as a supplement to help me get more out of the class (because if my spelling is better, I can focus on grammar!)
4. I went to an expensive grocery store to pick up some specific products, and back to the discount grocery store for the rest of the weekly haul. Even though I was really tired and didn't want to. *pats self on back*
5. We hosted dinner guests relatively frugally. They're vegetarian, so we did ravioli, two salads, bread and butter, and strawberries and ice cream for dessert. Nothing extravagant.
I thought that I wouldn’t have a lot since I’m on vacation, but Kristen’s list gave me ideas.
1) At the hotel I’m handwashing most of my clothes. Pants are too much of a challenge and take too long to dry but the little things? Dunno about anyone else but it’s painful to pay more to wash my socks than they cost me in the first place.
2) Current Me is thanking Past Me for buying nice looking, easy to wash shirts, knowing that I’d want them while I travel.
3) Taking leftovers from dinner, even when I’m at a hotel.
4) Using affinity discounts wherever I can.
5) Will take home the open bars of soap from the hotel.
6) Hotel gives out metal bottles of water, suitable for reuse as water bottles. I’ll take mine to give to away later.
7) Before I left: a new supermarket had a grand opening. Not only did I have breakfast based on the tastings, I got two pie cutters and two bamboo cutting boards. One pie cutter will go to my niece, the cutting boards to people I’m visiting.
I usually make my own window cleaner using distilled vinegar and water. If I had a coupon like the one Kristen used, though, I’d buy it - and then keep the spray bottle for the next time, of course.
@WilliamB, I would take all the unopened soaps, shampoo & conditioner, small coffee packets & to go coffee cups in our hotel room & either put into gifts or donate.
My (now Ex) MIL used bar soap & would make comments about (young) kids dropping (big bar) soap in sink. Gave her tin filled with small individual wrapped hotel soaps & was easier for everyone plus less waste of soap. I tried giving liquid soap in pump bottle but she kept in cabinet (& I used when there) instead of putting out/using, she preferred the solid hand soap bars.
My dad loves the small coffee bags (hotel room size) for his small travel coffee pot he has in his truck.
Wow! You are frugal on steroids this week!
1. This may sound terrible, but I comparison-shopped for the best deal for vet care for my elderly dog who was very ill. There was a difference of more than $100 as to which vet I used, and also the different choices as to cremation/burial. Sadly, I was forced to choose the most economical choices. (When my folks lived out in the country, I could never understand why people abandoned pets out there; now I know -- it's bc of the cost. But for the record, abandoning an animal in the country is not at all humane, as they will likely starve, get run over, shot dead or killed by packs of feral dogs.) The doctor and all his techs were extremely nice and understanding, and made a heartbreaking time a bit less difficult. I want to thank everyone for their prayers and kind words yesterday, as my dog had a peaceful exit to the Rainbow Bridge. My friend went to the vet office with me yesterday so I wouldn't be alone afterward, and we both cried.
2. Used a 15%-off-everything-you-buy coupon at Ollie's Outlet on Saturday, the day before it expired. Got the dog a huge bone, which is being bequeathed to my friend's dog now (my doggie just sniffed it, and was not interested in enjoying her final bone), and some bedsheets.
3. Not frugal for me, but for others: packed up my dog's bones, food, and various other items. Will be giving them to friends who have dogs. It will be a while before I get a puppy.'
4. Turned down an invitation to lunch with an out-of-town friend. We go Dutch, and I just don't want to discuss politics with her; we are opposites in our views. It's not just losing the dog that I'm depressed about.
5. Using the natural gas fireplace to heat up my big room; much cheaper than the central heat.
Oh, I am so glad you had a friend with you at this hard time. And I'm glad the doctor and techs were kind to you as well. Sending you love as you adjust. <3
@Fru-gal Lisa, I am so sorry about your dog!
@Fru-gal Lisa, My condolences on the loss of your beloved pup. And regarding your #4, I completely get it--a longtime friend and I parted ways last fall, after knowing each other since high school, and the grief is pretty real. We just grew apart too much.
@Fru-gal Lisa, glad you had a friend go with you. when the time is right, the right dog for you will choose you. good luck. the sun will shine for you again. soon. i hope.
@Fru-gal Lisa, I too am glad you weren't alone on that final trip to the vet. When our second dog had to be put down and DH was unavoidably out of town on a business trip, Ms. Bestest Neighbor and my next-door neighbor both came with me. I appreciated the support.
@Fru-gal Lisa, I am sorry about your dog. The worst aspect of having a pet, making the decision to help them leave us.
@Karen A., it is sad when that happens. For about twenty years I and my two high school friends all separated ways. Many years later those bonds have been re-established. Although we have different opinions on things, we have all had life changing experiences over the years and now have become each others main supporters in current situations. Having spent all those teen, twenties, and thirties together gives us a historical understanding of each other, similar to a family bond.
@Fru-gal Lisa,
I am so sorry yo read about the loss of your dog. It's so very, very difficult, but you did your best to take care of your dog up till the end. I, too, am glad your friend was with you. I still miss my cat Punkins, who I lost last March.
Love the picture of you & Chaquita at the keyboard. 🙂 One household member was more productive than the other. <3
Frugal things---
● Meijer had buy 2 (frozen) pies get whipped cream free, including almond milk whipped cream....teen got free whipped cream while I had lemon pie for dinner over weekend.
● TMOBILE free Modern DOG magazine subscription (also have Modern Cat also free online)
● traded neighbor 2 liter 7up soda (doesn't drink) for grapes (we don't eat) from monthly fruit/veggie box
● my tax preparer boss paying for my IRS recertification
● I'm getting new office & I'm getting new computer (that will be installed/set up soon) plus I get to keep the video monitor (only my boss & I have these) from old office. Was not expecting new computer, thought I would just be getting one out of storage.
● teen took some scrap/old metal (non food containers) from garage & neighbor & made few $$ plus cleared out (unwanted) few things
● donated new toys (teen was given preschool toys as gift but I traded teen) for adopt a family & toys for tots
Frugal fail---
● received 10# bag raw giant carrots in monthly fruit & veggie box that will be "composted" (for deer) because we don't eat that many.
@Regina, Ten pounds of carrots is a LOT.
If I have carrots about to go bad, I shred them (in my ancient Salad Shooter) and freeze them in cup or half-cup portions in plastic bags. They are ready to use for carrot cake, or I suppose muffins.
@Regina,
Carrots are yummy when roasted with olive oil. They shrink some, too. Last night I made some (along with chunked up sweet potatoes.) I added some rosemary for the first time. My husband who doesn't normally eat sweet potatoes did last night ( the smell of the rosemary encouraged him.)
@Regina, I purchased 10# of carrots not too long ago to make roasted carrot soup. I prepped the carrots, put them in the oven, and forgot all about them. It was a big mess!!! 10 pounds of burnt carrots was not a fun thing to clean up!
With everything in my life right now...it is all house related.
Mostly, we ran into a construction issue, but my brother (licensed contractor) is generously coming to help with it in a week or two. I am happy to live with the mess til he comes cause this would be a $10k+ job if we hire it out (need a header in the ceiling placed for a wall we want removed...and some electric rerouted).
My dad used to work for a mill making cabinets and turnings when he was young and has continued for years and is making all the cabinets for my kitchen. About $2500 worth of wood, but would be $30,000 for custom cabinets if we had them made by someone else. Also, this allows me to get exactly what I want to my measurements.
We started a new account for wifi at the new house which reset our price to the "new customer" price for 2 years.
Other than Thanksgiving related foods, I haven't grocery shopped except milk and salad items for weeks...I have made a huge dent in the amount of stuff in my freezers.
I haven't been to a thrift store in weeks cause I'm just too busy with the house, so I'm sure that has been frugal.
Doing all the usual stuff...eating at home, taking lunches when we go to work, etc. This past week we even drove together for work so that saved some gas.
My brother is a hoarder / collector who is working to get rid of some things slowly but surely. I wish it was faster but it is, what it is. That said, several of my week's FFT come from him.
1. He gave me a box full of miscellaneous stuff from a house cleanout that I can do with as I please. In there were several items I will list on FB Marketplace and a couple more for eBay.
2. He also gave me an almost full bottle of dishwasher detergent. He said he didn't want to use it because the packs were easier for him. So ... score, I guess.
3. Replaced the toilet stem in my dad's toilet. It was running constantly leading to a large water bill.
4. Got Hulu and Disney+ for a year at $3/mo, Max for $3/mo for six months and a year of Peacock for $20. This is the season I watch a lot of television (I hate the cold and the dark) so it's nice to save.
5. Just doing all the usual things but also stocking up on food that's been on sale for Thanksgiving.
@Battra92, if you can, please share how you got those amazing deals on streaming tv.
1) Found a discount code for DS18's Christmas gift (ski pass) & used that with his college email account. Also saw that my credit card company was offering 20% off, which saved $211!
2) Sold a pair of shoes & a shirt on Ebay, earning ~$80.
3) Saw that DH put his old motorcycle jacket & pants into the donation pile. I've pulled them out & will clean them up & list them on Facebook. They are too heavy to realistically sell for a decent price on eBay.
4) Redeemed $5 of grocery store rewards for a few things we needed for Thanksgiving.
5) DS17 hosted a (last minute) poker party on Sunday & we bought food & drinks. Took the leftover chocolate chip cookies to a school soccer team meeting where we were asked to bring snacks.
@Hawaii Planner,
May I ask - how do you find out about deals your credit card is offering? I've seen others in the Commebtariat mention it from time to time, and I'd love to see if ours offer anything! Thanks! Nice job on your son's ski pass. 🙂
1. Today was a Thanksgiving dress up day for my kids and they were told to be creative and given lots of flexibility. For my two girls, I went to Hobby Lobby and got cute fall aprons and some big bronze plastic serving utensils all 90% off making my two outfit total less than $5. And the aprons are really nice and can be kept and used. My son picked a "Detroit Lions blue" shirt from his closet and took a foam football for his outfit.
2. I redeemed a rain check at Meijer to get 10 quarts of strawberries for 99 cent/ quart since I'm taking fruit for my son's class party today.
3. I requested a rain check for the chocolate chips that were on sale but out of stock. Chocolate chips have been really expensive the last 6 months and I've been waiting for this sale!!
4. I ran a lot of errands yesterday and was really hungry by the time I got to the grocery store, so I found a fruit cup marked 75% off, purchased it, then sat in Meijer's little cafe and ate it before I did the rest of my shopping. I know that shopping while hungry is a bad idea!
5. I canceled my Panera Sip Club before they started charging me full price.
Oh, sweet Chiquita! I love seeing you everyday 🙂
@PBE, I'm thinking Chiquita finished her homework before Kristen finished hers, so Chiquita earned that nap!
1. I mended a small tear the puppy ripped in my son’s brand new (birthday present) sweatpants. I’m really proud that my son came to me right away and asked me to fix them instead of deciding they weren’t worth wearing because of the tear. But I did realize that I haven’t taught him how to mend something like that yet – add it to the ‘ready for the world’ checklist!
2. I’ve been making small batches of iced tea from some herbal tea that has been sitting in the tea drawer for almost a year. It was bought by accident because the packaging looked like the one on the shelf right next to it. It makes excellent iced tea.
3. We’ve been using the puppy’s kibble as training treats.
4. This week’s menu (excluding Thanksgiving) is coming exclusively from the freezer. I usually stash small potions of leftovers in the freezer ‘just in case’ and what better week to dip into that stash! I did end up buying mozzarella, otherwise all grocery shopping was for Thanksgiving.
5. We were invited to a friend’s house for a dog date – our puppy is related to our friend’s dogs. I made dessert to share using pantry ingredients.
My mom and I have been faithful readers of both your and Katy's blogs since their inception. And we live in Portland! I think we may need to get tickets just to meet you!
-Marguerite
Awww, I'm so glad you popped in to say hi!
@Long time listener, first time caller, Hi Marguerite, that is a cute title. I get tired of hearing it on the radio, but it just tickled me here. Welcome to the Commentariat!
I tried a foil ball in the dryer and it works perfectly. No static No wrinkles.
Wanted $170 Ugg cardigan found $17 oversized cuddly cardigan with pockets at Kohls.(cat tested and approved)
I add lots of hot water to my Quaker gluten free Maple and Brown sugar oatmeal. Oatmeal the new hot breakfast beverage.
I finished shopping for Christmas. Ta Da!!
* I am hand delivering Christmas gifts to family on Thanksgiving when we meet together thereby saving shipping. See's candy bought with discount gift cards at Costco and a cute mason jar of hand picked, roasted pecans goes to eight families.
* My college friends, I convinced to do a white elephant at the beginning of November when we got together for a concert.
* For my son, I wanted to replace the St. John medal he lost at 19 yo. I priced silver chains for a couple of hours. I researched "925", length, width and weight in order to compare prices carefully because retailers are VERY shifty. Then I went to a coin shop that buys silver and gold but also holds gold and silver chains which they sell by weight. Then I took it to my jeweler who ordered the medal put on a strong lobster clasp. I saved hundreds for a highly quality piece.
* I bought my husband a Barber half dollar from 1912 which is the same year as the house we are renovating.
* For my Dad, who is 93 and needs nothing, I made a date to go to the Handel's Messiah sing a long at his college town. He is buying the tickets. I am the only one of his six kids who shares a love of classical music. It is a five hour drive. I will stop by a National Park - Pinnacles - on the way down and then scratch it of my National Park Poster.
* I have a gift closet for anyone I might have forgotten.
@Mary Ann,
See's candy.....yum.....I always loved (and still love) the cube-shaped chocolate lollipops.
Kristen, it’s so energizing to have things planned to look forward to. I sincerely hope that we get to be a fly on the wall with you and Katy at FinCon.
1. I check Goodrx, even on the spot, for prescription prices. Often Walmart pharmacy is cheapest. For my mom, she had good insurance but Goodrx was even cheaper. They changed it at the counter for me for me at Walmart Pharmacy.
2. I hit great discounts at the grocery store today on fruit!
3.I advertised our broken dryer for free on Facebook marketplace to save me time and energy of taking it out. Someone picked it up within an hour. Other places charge to haul (I don't have a truck. )
4. I used a telehealth visit for my daughter and saved over $100 vs going in person.
5. I ordered a new in box gift off ebay for my daughter for a lot less.
After morning chores, I cleaned my sewing studio (converted formal dining room) and will begin my morning sewing in the dark. I usually have a rule of not quilting until the first frost hits, but it is 2 weeks later than normal.
I hemmed and tailored 3 pairs of jeans for my mom.
I made a convertible travel scarf that has a hidden zipper to hold phones, passports and it unsnaps to make into a drape of sorts for those chilly flights. This is for my niece who received tickets to England, France and Germany for Christmas this year. She is my white elephant draw.
We picked up our family cards from the community giving tree and will buy the gifts this week during all of the sales.
An elderly friend offered me her Nintendo 64 with several games that I set up in the den for the kids to play while they are here for family dinners. Vintage fun.
Safe travels to everyone!
I love reading everyone's frugal activities.
I think mine today is the friendly neighbor edition:
I am making some knitted Gingerbread ornaments as gifts for friends and neighbors, utilizing yarn I already own. (We have a tradition of exchanging ornaments or small homemade gifts.)
A neighbor's father sent her a bunch of Florida citrus and she shared some with us.
Another neighbor gave us a truckload of firewood.
Not neighbor related -- we're still enjoying lettuce and chard from the greenhouse. I'm keeping it covered with frost cloth and it's still hanging in there despite some lows in the teens.
Five frugal things
1. Found a penny
2. Husband was about to spend a boatload of $ on yet another supplement ($2.33/day—really??) I looked up all the reviews, explained that it is just a big marketing scheme, and he agreed. Now he is using my collagen in his coffee. Might even work for him.
3. I keep finding the right recipients for the junk that I cleaned up at church —frugal for them, feels good to not just waste things.
4. Huge stack of books from a library down the hill.
5. Killing 4 birds with one stone (figuratively, not literally, fret not) by taking the good pick-up down the hill to the big town to get rid of more church junk, pick up something from a customer, hit Aldi's, and make a delivery, all before the weekly drawing lessons begin this afternoon. Gotta go. . .!
P.S. What is Fincon?
It's a conference for finance-related bloggers!
FinCon 2025 is gonna be lit!
With middle aged women.
Everyone knows we bring the party. 😉
@Katy @ The Non-Consumer Advocate,
Are there other frugal bloggers? Is there a list? I am endlessly entertained by frugalisms and still learning new things. I still can’t believe I didn’t know about a foil ball in the dryer. It made me recite my little poem
Dumb dumb stupid stupid idiot no mind
Foolish doltish imbecile witless asinine
Well, Fincon is not just for bloggers but also for content creators of other types (podcasters, YouTubers, etc.) And some people who attend are more focused on personal finance vs. frugality (so they talk about life insurance and investing and such.)
@Tiana, so, I’m guessing by Kristen’s reply that no, there are no other frugal bloggers at the Conn, and no list.pooh.
Oh, I definitely don't have a list of who is attending! Even the people running FinCon wouldn't have an accurate idea right now since the event is still so far away.
I am sure there will be other frugal bloggers there, I just don't know who! Usually Budget Girl (Sarah) goes, though. 🙂
@Kristen, to lift a line from Anita Loos' Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (the book that inspired the movie), you two are gonna go out on the town and "simply massacre a ha'penny"!
One of our cats also sometimes sleeps with his chin on the keyboard. It is so adorable.
1. I am still on a high from the other day when I found an unannounced sale of boneless, skinless chicken breasts for 99 cents a pound. They had so much that I did not feel bad for buying 50 pounds for $49! That is a year's supply.
2. Did a mystery shop at the same restaurants six times in the last year, accumulating loyalty points that gave us a free meal.
3. Husband picked up the meal on the way home and when we opened it, we found the wrong order. Called the restaurant and they reimbursed the points so we will have another free meal in the future. Of course they did not want the wrong meal back. We didn't really like the mistake meal, but there was nothing wrong with it and it was free food so we ate it.
4. Bachelor friend needs a potluck dessert. He asked me to make a pumpkin cheesecake if he bought the supplies. I gave him a list and he showed up with everything times two, so as payment for the favor I can make a pumpkin cheesecake with a Biscoff cookie crust for ourselves, too. I was going to make an apple pie, but now it is pumpkin cheesecake for Thanksgiving.
5. Tempted to buy a new release but put myself on the library list for it instead. I always buy the latest releases by my two friends who are authors, but I try to restrain myself when interested in books by others.
Speaking of which, I just finished a book called Vanishing Creatures: A Bestiary of Extraordinary Endangered Creatures, by Katherine Rundell. The author is a writer whose prose is so lovely it is almost like poetry in terms of imaging. The book is stories about 23 animals in danger of going extinct. The chapters are not long, so great to read in pieces. People who love animals and good writing might want to check this one out. I was astounded over and over by her details and by things I did not know.
Ride the high, fellow frugal one! That's a crazy deal!
@Lindsey, I was like, wow they make Biscoff cookie crusts? I gotta find those, then I realized you probably make it yourself, so now I guess I need a recipe. 😉
That sounds SO GOOD.
@Bobi, This is the one I use, from the Gold Lining Girl.
Biscoff Crust
Ingredients
2 1/2 c. Biscoff cookie crumbs
2 tbsp. sugar
6 tbsp. butter melted
Instructions
In a large bowl, stir together cookie crumbs, sugar, and butter, until well-combined.
Press into the bottom of a 9-inch pie plate.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes, or until crust is firm and set.
Remove from heat, and cool completely.
I sometimes grind up nuts and substitute them for a half cup of the Biscoff, but it can be hard to catch them in the moments they go from finely ground nuts to nut butter. Once my husband tasted this, he practically refuses to eat any other crust. It was love at first bite for him when they were given out on an Alaska Airlines flight.
I would honestly eat this crust just by itself.
@Lindsey,
What a fantastic, mind-blowing deal on the chicken! And that book sounds like one I'd love. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
@Lindsey,
I'm with Kristen....the crust alone would be deelish.
I totally just mended my duvet cover too! It occasionally develops small holes or rips on the surface, so I use thin iron on patches on the underside to repair. Works like a charm! Totally worth it to me to keep repairing it because it's so pretty (it's a colorful floral garden pattern) and having lovely comfy bedding is very soothing to me at the end of the day, especially when life has been stressful.
P.S. THANK YOU for the awesome drug website tip! I'd never heard of Cost Plus either. How very interesting and practical. Love that!
Yay you for the early case study hand in. Well done!
Me, I kept myself on a general buy nothing spree, the last couple of days, to make sure I kept close to my last ressources before pay day. Yay me, now it's done, and I have ordered my monthly grocery shopping.
* I, too, had a $5 off anything at Ace Hardware. But, I used it to purchase some soap I was out of. That means I only got 50% off instead of free, but much better than full price elsewhere (where it is ususally cheaper).
* I accepted the free turkey offer from BJs even though we don't need it for Thanksgiving so we had turkey dinner Sunday, essentially free since side components were on hand.
* I sold an item on Etsy and shipped it in packaging I already had.
* I cleared my freezer of all turkey bones and vegi scraps and made 20 quarts of broth. I used one to make stuffing to go with the free turkey. Clearly that was taking up a lot of space so the next step is to audit what else is in there.
* I got two pairs of pjs a child needed for 60% off on a pre-black Friday sale.
Not much comes to mind this week, but I'll see what I can dredge up. Reading others' comments first does help!
1. Vet sent out a general notice about buying pets' meds at an online pharmacy. I checked out the Apoquel my dog is on and the price was $102 compared to $47 at Walmart! No thanks, I left a couple of different messages on the vet's voicemail before they finally renewed the Walmart script--for one month only. Methinks I'm going to have to have a nicely worded come-to-Jesus discussion with them. Her flea-and-tick med and heartworm med are coming due next month, and I'm going to see if Walmart sells those as well. I don't know on what planet it makes sense to pay an additional $55. Sounds as if the vets have a vested interest in that new pharmacy supply place.
2. Last year hubby and I went to Golden Corral for Thanksgiving, and it was surprisingly good. I really don't enjoy cooking, especially when there's a Christmas parade and then a puppy show. But, you don't get leftovers if you go out. Well, not enough, anyway. So I'm cooking the whole shebang for just the two of us. But we'll eat off it for several days, and I might put part of the turkey leftovers in the freezer.
3. My plan for dessert is to make a cranberry pie like hubby's aunt did, but I haven't made it in a good 30 years, and it has meringue. Yikes! So I jumped at the chance to be gifted a pie from a member in our BN group who goes wild over holiday gifting. She bought 3 Costco pumpkin pies to give away--and had 47 requests for them. And she chose me for one! So now I have a plan B if the cranberry pie is a fail.
4. Found some Black Friday Week sales online, and managed to get hubby a pair of pants he wanted for 50% off.
5. Returned a slip to Kohl's that was too small, and since our credit card had to be cancelled due to a fraudulent attempted charge, they couldn't refund my money to the card. Accepted a store credit and bought 2 big rolls of the large size wrapping paper for Christmas. Also resisted the cashier's urging to get a Kohl's credit card.
1. Used homemade sundried tomatoes, homemade pesto, leftover spinach and artichokes, and couscous from our pantry to make my lunches for the week.
2. Used up leftover red wine, homemade beef stock, and leftover potatoes to make beef stew over mashed potatoes.
3. We had a holiday party at work. I took home the leftover yogurt and granola. I also took home leftover holiday socks for my kids.
4. We had family over for dinner unplanned. We whipped up some smoked chicken wings and pizzas. We made the pizza dough and pizza sauce.
5. My kids are off from school this week. So far my husband took them to paint pottery at a place we had a gift card for, to the library for BINGO, to a playground, and to the YMCA.
Costco is also great for pet medications. If I bought my dog's prescriptions at the vets they would cost over $120 for a one month supply! At Costco, the same meds cost about $20 and if the vet will write the script for 3 months at a time, it's about $28. They also have prescription flea & tick meds for a lot less than other vendors.
Those are good ones!
My Frugal 5s are ...
1) Free winter entertainment: Listening to music on Pandora; Reading books at home; Watching digital movies and DVDs we already have; Playing games we have and borrowed from the library; Playing in the snow at the school playground.
2) Reused Thanksgiving decor, books, DVDs and activities like our Thankful Tree with our children.
3) Will spend Thanksgiving at my brother and sister in law's place so no cooking but will contribute drinks, ice and games
4) Cook and ate up food from the fridge. Also, finished up the delicious oatmeal bread my sweet friend gifted us and yummy leftover breakfast food I was given by the kind ladies at my bible study. Got my usual free lunch and leftover food like a couple pastries and tomatoes after volunteering on Tuesdays at Church.
5) Continue to search Black Friday Deals on Amazon for items I have on my wish list that's been sitting there for months/years and comparing prices on camelcamelcamel.com to make sure I'm getting a good deal before buying them. I also have a 1 month free trial on Amazon Prime so trying to take advantage of it and will cancel the subscription before I get charged.
Check out GoodRX or AARP free discounted drug card
I am on a med that is 25/month
I get it on AARP for 15.
Membership paid for in less than 2 months
I used the free GoodRX to get 200 med for 55
I love these posts!
1. Combine many errands as a family today: shopping, dr. appointment, more shopping, and enjoying a pizz buffet. Okay, that last one wasn't super frugal, but we haven't eaten out in a while and we made it kinda 2 meals as we went for a late lunch and probably won't eat much for supper.
2. During said shopping, we went to 3 different thrift stores. At one Goodwill I dropped off a box of stuff we don't need and was taking up space in our house. I got a 20% off one purchase coupon for donating.
3. We also went to a Ross, I found mascara for $3.49 which I thought was a fantastic price and shampoo (parabeen free) for $7.99, it was a big bottle too.
4. I finally got enough fetch rewards to redeem for a $5 Amazon giftcard.
5. On this day of errands I made sure to take water and coffee from the house so we wouldn't buy any while out.
1. We made all our meals at home. We brewed coffee at home. We made muffins using ingredients we had on hand.
2. I bought ingredients to make Thanksgiving dinner, but didn't go crazy. I'll only be feeding 6 people this year. I bought an extra turkey for $0.99 per pound.
3. My oldest needed a new belt. We found one on sale. We also found a decent priced tie that matches his school colors (that he wants for performances). The tie was full price, but we've been looking for a year and just paid it.
4. I cut up old jeans that will become a quilt later. I saved the bigger scraps for patching holes or other projects. I cut up the small pieces even smaller to use as stuffing for kids' sewing projects.
5. I discovered a show that I've been wanting to watch is on one of the streaming services that we subscribe to (we have 3 at the moment, but usually only 2). I also saw that my local library has a book I want so I put it on hold.