Five Frugal Things | a mostly traveling edition
This is going to be a challenge because in the week since the last Five Frugal Things post, I was out of town with my blogging mastermind group for four days.
So, my frugal five are probably not going to win the "Most Exciting and Creative" award this week.
Let's see what I can come up with.
1. I used a $10/$20 Venmo offer at CVS
I have never used Venmo in a store before, but they've sent me some in-store offers this week.
So, I picked up a few things at CVS, using the $10 cashback offer.
(Do I like 50% discounts? Yes, yes I do!)
And there's also a $10/$10 Panda Express cashback offer in my Venmo app, so as long as this CVS one comes through without a problem, maybe Mr. FG and I will go to Panda on our date night this week.
2. I split Uber rides with my friend Whitney
Her plane got in last Wednesday about two and a half hours after mine.
Since I thought 2.5 hours of quiet time at the airport sounded like not a terrible punishment (!), I waited for her to arrive and then we picked up an Uber together to the hotel.
And on the way back, we rode together again, although this time she had to wait an extra hour.
(Whitney is the podcaster behind Money Nerds, and you can read all about her here.)
3. I used some Erie Your Turn rewards* to buy a coffee
One morning, we hit up the Starbucks in our hotel, and I redeemed some of my Erie rewards for a Starbucks gift card.
Amazingly, they had a cinnamon dolce latte available; every other time I have been traveling this year and have tried to get one, it's been unavailable.
I shared my delight with the barista and she seemed extremely unimpressed with my joy. Heh.
But that's ok; I texted Lisey (a fellow cinnamon dolce lover) and she understood my joy.
*Erie is my car insurance provider, and they have an app that gives you gift card rewards for safe driving. If you have Erie, ask your agent about the app!
4. I split a hotel room with Whitney
Splitting a room = instant 50% discount.
Also, I love hanging out with Whitney, so sharing a room with her was like having a super delightful multi-day sleepover.
Cheaper, plus way more fun? Such a win.
5. I brought some snacks with me
If there's a giant inflatable flamingo somewhere, you kind of have to get your picture taken in it
I am one of those people who doesn't just feel hungry if I go for a while between meals; I actually start to feel physically terrible.
This is not usually a problem because I am never far from my kitchen for super long periods of time. But when I'm traveling, this can be an issue. So, before I left for my trip, I went to Trader Joe's and bought some granola bars and trail mix packets to throw into my bag.
That way, I could make sure to have food available without needing to stop in somewhere (and pay more!) on my trip.
And a bonus one: while I did have to eat all of my meals out, I drank water almost every time (I got a bottle of Coke once), and I did not drink any alcohol.
I don't like the taste of alcohol, and besides, I want to go to sleep after a few sips, so I am extremely un-fun if I drink!
Because of this, I am inadvertently frugal at restaurants. 🙂
Your trip looks fun - you look so cute with the pink flamingo!
I hear you on drinking water instead of ordering a drink! When I was a kid, we weren't allowed to have any soda with our meals. We also almost never had soda at home, and I wasn't even allowed to have coke until I was 13. When I first started eating out as an adult, you bet I always ordered a drink to compensate, ha. It does increase the bill so much though, and I usually feel terrible after a soda (unless its one of those tiny cans). I'm sticking to tea with my meals now, its free at the local eateries.
this week, I
1. remembered to use my $30 off coupon at the grocery store!
2. made a apple crumble at home rather than purchasing snacks / desserts
3. made 15 breakfast burritos for the freezer - I won't have to worry about breakfast for a few weeks AND they are pretty cheap.
3b. I used up a bunch of odds and ends from the fridges that don't usually go in my breakfast burritos this time around, to avoid food waste
4. this is only frugal with some mental gymnastics: I FINALLY got a dress from an expensive brand I love on the local version of FB marketplace. I've been eyeing this dress on the app for around 15 months! I got it the dress for 70% off compared to retail, but it was still US$ 80.
I haven't had the cheapest of weeks but I am consoling myself that I can save from my endeavours. I loved reading about your trip and how you plan to save money.
1. I have stayed out of discount and thrift stores.
2. I have set myself rules for future spending. For example I have set a limit of one book per fortnight for books I am wishing to buy.
3. I have found meat at half price twice in the last week. Meat is so expensive now. I would prefer to eat more veg meals but my mother and I both require iron transfusions so I try to include it in our diet.
4. I have found a recipe that will be added to our food rotation. It uses some items I keep but don't use regularly so I am happy.
5. Petrol. has become so expensive and was happy to save 26 cents a litre. What cost me around $50 (Aus) last year is not on the way to nearly $70 for tank of fuel.
6. The best saving and being prepared has been covered. I have covered three birthday and three Christmas presents. That leaves three Christmas gifts and one birthday gift to go.
Venmo always makes me a little nervous. It’s almost too easy. I have received funds using this method several times when I have sold things on Facebook Marketplace and at the Vintage Market. I find it interesting that it is being used in a traditional retail environment. Was it an in-store purchase or online purchase? Did CVS give you a store receipt after payment was received?
1) I have been working diligently to organize and use up all the odds and ends in my freezer this month ahead of the holidays. I seem to have a freezer full of bits and bobs, but nothing of note. This week I cleared out a few more things. I used a ham bone from Easter to make black-eyed peas, and I made a pot of veggie broth from a bag of vegetable scraps. For lunch yesterday, I ate a small piece of GF lasagna that I had frozen. Today, it’s smoothies for breakfast to use up some of the fruit.
2) My husband and I went out to dinner for our anniversary last week and used a gift card that we had been given as a thank you for puppy sitting.
3) The weather has been absolutely beautiful!!!! So I have been spending a great deal of time outdoors. I have been walking, gardening and enjoying the beach - all free activities. I am so happy to see the heat and humidity go. I feel lighter. Rescue Pup is also happy to spend time in the yard chasing lizards and sunbathing.
4) I downloaded a book on the library app, Hoopla, to listen to when working on some household projects this week. I am sanding the dark finish off the bamboo ladder that I rescued from the curb. It just needs a new clear coat and it will be ready to use.
5) I’ve been doing all the usual things - drinking primarily water and brewing my own coffee. I’m batching errands whenever possible, taking care of what I have, and trying not to spend money without reason.
Wishing everyone peace and health…
@Bee, I feel the same about Venmo, and yet this week our church's council decided to set it up for giving. Sorta bonkers, the pace at which technology changes the ways we do things. (Perhaps I also need a large stick to shake at people to get off my lawn?)
Do they have an option for non-Venmo giving too? Our church has an online giving platform set up, but you can also give in person in a little box on the wall.
@Karen., The Pandemic caused my local church to set up tithing online. It's kind of weird and one of the elders still does his guilt trip prayer before the collection but we don't even pass the plate anymore since everyone either does it online or mails it to the church treasurer so it seems to fall on deaf ears.
@Battra92, we also have online giving at our church and there is a basket at the back of the sanctuary for those who choose to give that way. We have laughed together as a family about how it seems like a televangelist giving strategy.
I am on the fence about Venmo and haven't gone down that road yet. I would appreciate a post on the pros and cons of it, in case you are looking for a topic! ☺️
The CVS purchase was in-store, and the receipt situation worked just like it would with any other payment method (I choose to have emailed receipts because I need more paper receipts like I need a hole in my head!)
@Kristen, don't forget that you can scan receipts from anywhere on the Fetch app.
I haven't had time to contribute one of these for a while, but that's not for lack of frugal things! I always enjoy reading everyone else's, regardless.
Here's a quick attempt to remember a few:
--This weekend, I mended my husband's work jeans and reinforced the repairs with denim saved from hemming *my* jeans. Jeans that fit the way I want are always made for someone 4-6" taller, so I've quite the scrap bin to draw from!
—Free tomatoes from friends and neighbors = LOTS of tomato sandwiches and homemade tomato soup. The latter freezes well and can also work as creamy tomato sauce with just a few tweaks in seasoning.
--My husband and I received our flu shots, which are free through insurance. They also meant a surprise $5 Extra Bucks (the shots counted as part of our prescription plan) as well as two "$5 off $20" coupons for future purchases.
--Michael's had plain t-shirts on sale 3/$10, so I restocked my husband's work shirts. (I've given up trying to find plain t-shirts in his size at Goodwill, though I still checked there first out of principle.) His worn out shirts were torn into squares for the rag bin.
—I’ve been enjoying free entertainment thanks to YouTube, which is full of old timey radio plays to have on while working. Vincent Price as “The Saint”? Check! Orson Welles as “The Shadow”? Check! (Related: The original “War of the Worlds” broadcast is also available and is SUPERB—I had honest to goodness chills several times. It is [in]famous for good reason!) Lux Radio Theatre, featuring a veritable who’s who of Old Hollywood, plus Cecil B. de Mille himself awkwardly schilling the program’s sponsor, Lux Soap? Double check!
@N, I am a HUGE fan of Old Time Radio. My favorites are The Mercury Theater on the Air (the one with War of the Worlds) The Great Gildersleeve, Our Miss Brooks, Fibber McGee and Molly, Have Gun Will Travel and The Six Shooter.
Archive.org has a ton of them for free as well.
Denim scraps are super handy to have around when other denim needs to be repaired. Same with some t-shirt material too; I always have the two in my rag bag!
@Kristen, One pair of jeans (Old Navy types from before I dressed to fit my body) have been the source material for so many repairs in my house.
@N, I also enjoy YouTube reruns of favorite TV shows from the 60s, particularly "The Farmer's Daughter" (we sadly lost Inger Stevens all too soon) and "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir" (I can't be the only boomer out there who had a mad crush on Edward Mulhare as Capt. Gregg).
@A. Marie, I caught Dear Hubby watching the Beverley Hillbillies and laughing very, very hard.
@Battra92, oooh, I didn’t know about Archive.org. Thank you for the tip!!!
@A. Marie, I’ve not watched the television version, but the film of “The Ghost and Mrs. Muir” is a household favorite!
@N, the TV version goes considerably wide of both the film and the original book. But for those of us who grew up with the TV version, we're happy with it--especially as it was never available on VHS or DVD for obscure reasons. (In particular, Reta Shaw as Martha the housekeeper never has a bad line.)
@A. Marie,
No, no you are not the only one who had a mad crush on Edward Mulhare....::swoon:: 😉
I have no idea why my comment appeared twice.
1. My office just brought everyone back on-site last week. After 19 months of not having to pay train/bus fare, this feels like a financial hit even if it's not. I compared all the ticket and pass prices and figured out which option will save me the most. Because I'm only commuting four days rather than five, the monthly pass I was getting prior to the pandemic is no longer the best deal for me.
2. I have not had a meal out in more than a week. This is actually a big deal because my family had gotten into a bad habit of grabbing dinner out more often than we should.
3. I bought a pack of disinfectant wipes that was marked 75% off at CVS. It actually rang through for 90% off for a grand total of $0.59. I went back and grabbed a few more!
4. We're making the most of our Disney+ subscription before we let it go.
5. I'm meal planning around what's in my freezer and pantry. My hope is that I can get away with only buying milk at and produce this week.
@Renee, My employer is transitioning back to in-person work and people are talking about a lot of the expenses of the office. One I didn't think of was just how many people feel they need to buy the new
Luckily for my wife and I were are both considered Hybrid workers so on site some days and off site others so we're still saving but not saving as much.
It's apple season! We only have one apple tree on our property, and the only way that they can be preserved is by drying them. Luckily, all of the outdoors is a dehydrator in New Mexico, so all I have to do is peel them, slice them thinly, put them on baking sheets and leave them outside covered so the flies can't get them. Over the past few weeks, I've dried most of the apples off that tree. About 4 quarts when the dried slices are all packed tightly in jars.
We also got about 30 pounds of apples from a lady I had never met before who had heard we might be able to use them from a teacher at the school. She left a big box and five-gallon bucket outside our gate last Friday, and I spent all weekend freezing, saucing, and apple crisping (it's a verb now 🙂 those and got them all processed in two days.
I didn't have enough jars to can the applesauce, so I called our elderly neighbor, thinking she might habe a cellar-full of jars she isn't using anymore. She had a few, but her daughter, who was visiting at the time, had an entire box of brand-new quart jars she had bought thinking she might try to learn canning and never did. She was happy to bring them to me. So I got about twenty more jars for nothing but a quart of applesauce I gave her when she dropped off the jars.
At the school play last week, two different people asked me if we could use any apples or pears. And I said yes to both. I will always say yes, which is how I end up with gallons of free applesauce even though I don't have apple trees myself. It's so much work, but my kids love it, and it comes in very handy in the winter when we don't get to the store that often and frequently run out of fruit.
Ooh! It is so wonderful to be known as a person who will take extra food!
@Kristen, Even better is being known as the person who will take extra food and prepare it and give some of it back in a more-appetizing form. The reason I get so much free fruit is because anyone who gives it to me gets a jar in return of jam or applesauce or whatever made from that fruit. Not only is it a polite thing to do, but it makes it much more likely that those people will share more with me next time they have it.
@kristin @going country, My BIL's fig tree is out of control. He gave us a gallon size bag of them. I made fig jam with them. Today while I was out walking, I dropped a jar off. My SIL was very excited.
@kristin @ going country, I do that as well, but in baked form, since I don't can. My lemon squares in particular have assured a steady flow of fresh lemons being left on my doorstep (which I squeeze and freeze in cubes via an ice cube tray).
1. I purchased pumpkins from our State Farmers Market instead of buying from the big box stores. I scored 8 pumpkins and several gourds for $30 which I will decorate with and then roast for puree, pies, pumpkin butter, bread etc later in the fall and winter.
2. I used digital coupons to purchase 5 containers of laundry detergent, 5 containers of softener, 1 gallon of bleach, a family pack of chicken breasts, a family pack of chicken thighs, & a family pack of drumsticks. My total came to right at $60 as I was able to use a $15 off my total coupon since I ordered through Click List.
3. I purchased 5 half gallons of milk for less than $0.88/each after sales and discounts.
4. I chopped and froze two more gallons of banana peppers and two quarts of green peppers from our garden.
5. I used the last of some oatmeal to whip up a batch of oatmeal raisin cookies, I baked some yeast rolls using the last of frozen dough, I cooked up a large batch of spaghetti sauce and froze two portions for quick dinners in the next couple of months.
1. Sold another toy my kids don’t play with on fb marketplace for $15.
2. I had saved the raincoat my son outgrew and yesterday we had a light rain so I brought it out and it fits my daughter now so she’s all set for the season.
3. I keep buying my favorite coffee beans so my coffee at home is so good, I’m never tempted to get coffee out. The beans are not the cheapest but cheaper than buying coffee out so I think it’s cheaper overall.
4. I canceled blue apron after the promotive pricing I had ended. It’s been fun to try out and the recipes are delicious but it’s not at all cost effective, especially for someone like me who enjoys meal planning and grocery shopping.
5. Making chicken stock from chicken bones and vegetables I’ve had in the freezer for awhile
Saving money while traveling is quite an accomplishment, Kristen. You look so cute with the giant flamingo too!
1. Gave away at work some baby spider plants and some of my husband's barely worn office clothes.
2. Used up frozen bread heels to make meat loaf for Sunday dinner, which yielded lots of leftovers for my husband's lunches.
3. Rescued a jar of all-natural peanut butter that was too dry by dumping it out into a mixing bowl, adding vegetable oil and some molasses, and stirring like mad until it became moist and cohesive. Something about the addition of a few tablespoons of molasses (Grandma's brand is excellent) keeps the oil from separating back out.
4. Mended a shirt for my son.
5. Have a year's worth of ketchup for $4.19. This is a long story, but I had looked everywhere for ketchup bottled in glass and made without added sweeteners because commercial ketchup tastes too sweet to me now. Found some for $7 for a smallish bottle. Oh, no way! So I bought a #10 can of Fumano's fancy grade ketchup from a restaurant supply store, decanted it into two glass bottles that used to hold barbecue sauce for the storing in the fridge, and froze the rest in four reused applesauce jars. It is delicious tangy ketchup made without sugar or corn syrup. My husband reuses #10 cans to store small items in the garage. Win-win!
@Ruby, your #3 and #5 are brilliant!
@MB in MN, thank you! My husband gets tickled at my quests for the right thing at the right price, but this one was pretty easy.
This week, I noticed a small, one inch tear in my fitted sheet. I love these sheets--they're percale cotton and I hate the thought of having to order a set for a small tear--so I repaired the tear. It took me about five minutes, including hauling out my sewing machine.
Since the sewing machine was out and set up, I started making tea cozies for my daughter, grand daughter and grand son for Christmas (they're all recently converted hot tea drinkers!). I also made a babydoll blanket and pillow set, plus a dollhouse sofa pillows and rug for my other grand daughter for Christmas. I love sewing and feel like I don't often get the time to do so.
Since there's been a shift in weather lately, and winter is coming, I got my winter clothing out and summer clothing put away. My work situation is now permanently remote, so I no longer need so many work clothes. They've been posted for sale online--more money in my pocket as soon as they sell!
Yes, if I ever see an inflated flamingo that large, I am definitely getting my picture made with it, too! That looked fun.
1. I wanted to top up the soil levels in my container garden and went to a locally owned nursery to get soil. They had bags of their own mix of container soil, for less than half of what I normally pay for national brands. I bought a couple of bags and I'll see how it does. It looked good when I poured it out, at least.
2. I accepted a nice polo-style shirt that had been given to my daughter as a sample by a vendor providing company shirts at her office. She never wears a polo-style shirt, while at my office the employees wear them all the time, so she offered it to me.
3. I read it on the internet and I didn't quite believe it, but it worked when I tried it. One can make laundry soap out of English ivy and water. It may not work for everyone, but it did for me, and since I have English ivy in my yard, I guess I now have backup laundry soap at the ready.
4. Oh, yes, I am preparing my containers to plant seeds I chose from the free seed "library" at the public library in the county where I work.
5. I managed to keep my grocery shopping under budget this month, which was quite a feat, considering the prices.
@JD, your #3 about English ivy is an amazing tip. I too am overrun with the stuff, so I'm putting that tip on file in case I run out of detergent after civilization collapses.
And I hope that you and your DH are hanging in there.
@A. Marie,
I know, I have ivy growing all up an oak tree, so maybe this is will help take care of it! As long as we have water and a way to heat it, we're good. 🙂
We are working on solutions to get my husband into assisted living - and get him to agree to it. I'm struggling to get sleep and get things done, even with an 8-5, M-F caregiver. My kids and I found a place we like, but getting him to agree might be another matter. We are getting all our information lined up before proposing this place to him. Thanks for asking! I hope your husband is staying stable and you are both doing well.
@JD, you have my sympathy on the journey toward assisted living for your DH. Depending on how far advanced his condition is and on how much he is aware of his decline, you may find that you need to make use of "therapeutic fiblets" (as they're called on the caregiver forums on alz.org, which have been lifesavers for me). DH was so far gone by the time I placed him in June that I loaded the car with his belongings on the QT and told him--literally on the way out the door--that he was going to stay someplace safe for a few weeks while we had major work done on the house. No, I didn't feel great about the fiblets. But using them prevented a major meltdown on his part. And once I accepted that "his brain was broken" (another phrase from alz.org) and he was beyond the reach of reason, I didn't try to argue him into the move.
@A. Marie, yes, that (therapeutic fiblets) can be merciful. I tell myself that my husband, before his mind didn’t work right, would have absolutely, definitely agreed on the actions I took. As would anyone with the ability to reason and process decisions. Heart-breaking as everything was, I prayed for and felt the comforting presence of God/the powers of the universe and the human being that I linked my life to.
I try to post my 5 frugal things each week, but rarely participate in the "thankful" posts. Why? Because almost always they are all the same things!!
1) I made 7 quarts of homemade spaghetti sauce from tomatoes gifted from my neighbor. He also gave me the peppers to use. I had everything else on hand-including all the jars/lids-except enough onions, so I asked my niece to pick me up a bagful on her way through town the other day, and she wouldn't take any money for those either, so even though it was a lot of work, it was very fulfilling and FREE!
2)I foraged Comb Tooth and Chicken of the Woods mushrooms, both of which are edible, and we are trying them in different recipes. Yum.
3) As I write, my laundry is drying on the line. Not a huge or new thing, but it has been rainy quite a bit, so I had to wait for a nice day to get it out there.
4) My niece (see 1), who is more like a sister, came for a girl's night in. My husband was gone for the night, so we popped corn in the air popper, watched movies we already had on DVD and did clay face masks at home from some old product she had, but most of all, we talked and laughed and shared and commiserated and that is priceless. No $ out of pocket.
5) I made a wreath out of acorns. The base is a grapevine wreath I got at Sal Val for 99 cents and the acorns are all free, so a cheap, fun fall decoration.
And bonus: I read this blog every day, which lifts my spirits and gives me new ideas. Happy dance!
1.) My daughter is getting the "free" (paid with taxes) lunch all week this week. Less for me to do and she gets some good food. Plus we save money.
2.) Got a free flu shot at work (my work partners with our insurance company and a pharmacist from CVS comes on-site to administer them.) Surprisingly this year I had no real reaction to the shot. I normally have a really sore arm and feel like garbage for a day or so (and don't get me started on my reaction to my Covid shots!) So not getting sick, not paying for the shot and not traveling to get said shot equals a win all around.
3.) Did some more jeans mending. They weren't as pretty as the ones showed yesterday (mostly invisible, actually) but they are functional and I can get away with wearing them in places that my crazy Frankenjeans won't fly at.
4.) Got a good deal on tissues at Target. I have given up on converting my wife and daughter to handkerchief users.
5.) Costco has a really good deal on an air purifier. Having one in my bedroom has really helped with my allergies a lot. Since my daughter appears to have the same issues as me we plan on purchasing this once it goes on sale later this week.
@Battra92, I had the least reaction ever to a flu shot this year. Usually my arm aches like crazy and this year I barely noticed it. Had more of an issue with the adhesive bandage making me itch. I joked that after having two Covid shots, my body has decided to suck it up and be a big girl the rest of this year. 😀
You had some great frugal travel wins!
1. Cooked batches of dried legumes and froze in mason jars.
2. So impressed with and proud of our niece who furnished and decorated her first apartment primarily from thrift stores, Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. It is magazine-worthy.
3. Showing solidarity with areas experiencing drought by limiting my use of water and reusing the water that I do use whenever I can.
4.Weaned myself off daily coffee (for health reasons, certainly not by choice) so I'm reluctantly saving money on coffee.
5. Husband bought two brand new T-shirts at the thrift store. He didn't try them on at the store and later realized they were too small for him. Since they were 90% cotton, I washed them in super hot water to shrink them to a size that I can wear.
1. This will sound odd but I'm staying with two grandchildren for three days and feeding them has always been a nightmare. I hate trying to cook in someone else's house to start with. They are both extremely well behaved but she eats VERY few things and her older brother is a vegan. Often I throw up my hands and just eat out. Very expensive. This time I planned menus and am bringing stuff from my home that will make everyone happy. Also bringing breakfast stuff for husband and I. It will all work quite nicely.
2. I was in the neighborhood of my favorite used bookstore and bought another armload of books for only $1.00 apiece. It's well over an hour away, in another county so I'm not there often. I NEED to have piles of books waiting for me or my brain gets anxious.
3. Frugal Fail. I had taken several packages from freezer to work into meals when husband came down with a toothache. Tooth had to be pulled and husband had to live on ice cream for several days. (Being the excellent wife I am, I sat right next to him and helped him eat it, so he wouldn't feel lonely.) By the time he could eat meat again I felt that the meat had sat in the fridge too long and I tossed it. It was a large packet, too. Stuff happens.
4. I totally want that pink flamingo.
I feel like most of my frugality is what I don't do. I believe the Tightwad Gazette addressed this, saying you don't see us going down the potato chip or soda aisle at the grocery store, or stooping at McDonalds.
1. I have been walking more places, to yoga, the drug store, to a houses of friends, when the distance is a mile or less. Really this is more about helping the environment than anything else.
2. We continue to borrow books, ebooks, and DVDs from the library. I love that the digital versions don't require a trip to pick-up or return.
3. I continue to wear clothes I already have. I appreciate that my size does not change. This is a win for the environment, my time, and the wallet.
4. Not frugal for us, but we put out unwanted items for our community's yard sale with a "Free" sign. Just about everything was taken and I hope it helps keep stuff out of the landfills. It saves a lot of time to do this versus listing items on Freecycle or elsewhere.
5. I received my flu shot while I was at my annual physical. Insurance will cover the cost of the potential to avoid illness.
@K D, the "stuff I don't do" frugality is what both Amy D. and I call "passive frugality." And I do a lot of this too.
Great idea on taking snacks with you! I did that when my siblings and I went to Virginia for my younger brother's retirement ceremony. No one in my family is great about early mornings. His ceremony was at 1pm and there really wasn't a close place to go for lunch. The hotel we stayed in didn't offer breakfast either. We lived off quest bars and other snacks I had brought until after the ceremony. We are on a eating out break for now. That should save quite a bit of money:)
Continued working on clearing my parents' home.
1. Did not take any family items I didn't truly love.
2. Carefully considered weight and volume in what I did take, as I drove over 800 miles one way to get there. For instance, I took the dishwasher tabs (expensive), but not the half-empty bottle of liquid detergent. Used towels for packing materials rather than paper.
3. Chose an estate service that has a reputation for environmental decisions. What they won't sell is donated or recycled whenever possible.
4. Our new-to-us vehicle, a 2019 instead of a 2010, got much better gas mileage than the old one. Took snacks and water on the road.
5. In the trunk we kids could never look in was a quilt that was perhaps a wedding present to my parents, made by Mom's grandma. (This is our guess, anyway, so I will make the story up the way I want it! The way it was stored doesn't seem to indicate a yard sale item). It is pink tulips with green stems and pots, hand appliqued on a white/cream background, seemingly never used, absolutely precisely spaced design on the 42 blocks. It seems the maker actually bought new fabric, (unless feed sacks came in solid colors--probably from 1930-50's), instead of making a patchwork out of old scraps. That makes it particularly unusual for Mom's family, expensive, and very much a labor of love.
I just had a baby so these are all baby related!
1. I asked my nurse for an extra package of diapers before I was discharged. We normally use reusable diapers but we’re moving in a week so they are all packed! It never hurts to ask - she gave me 2 packs!
2. Now that I’m not pregnant I am back to drinking plain water.
3. I’m nursing which means free food for baby!
4. Baby boy is dressed in hand me downs from friends.
Awww, congrats on your new addition. And wow, moving right after having a baby; that's ambitious!
@Jenni,
Congratulations! Wishing years of joy and laughter!
@Jenni, congratulations!
@Jenni,
Congrats! I hope baby lets you get plenty of sleep at night somehow, so you don't do something while moving that I would do if sleep-deprived, such as pack the baby by accident.
@Jenni, blessings to you and your new son! I think it can be tempting for some new parents to justify non-frugality because of fatigue and joy, so it’s really admirable that you are staying focused on the long game!
Gosh, we have one of those giant flamingos still in the box in our camper. Maybe its time to sell it!
1. Our local buy nothing group has been super helpful lately. Two almost new pair of shoes for my son and some leggings for my daughter. I haven't posted anything to give in a while, but I haven been putting stuff out on the side of the road for free.
2. Some of you might find this a bit controversial, but I've been donating plasma to make some extra money. I am quite healthy and find it very easy to do. Plus I get to read while I do it. Its making the saving for Disney a little easier.
3. Purchased a large amount of Disney gift cards using my Target Red Card. I was able to get 5% off. I will use this toward our trip that is coming up in Jan.
4. Trying to find the most age appropriate way to tell my children about our specific money situation. They are 7 and 9. Saving up for a large ticket item is NOT their strong suit.
5. Doing all the normal things: Selling on Ebay, telling myself we do not need to keep up with the Jones, (or Moyers on our street) packing my lunches/drinks for work, etc.
@Jenelle, my supervisor has been donating twice a week for the last couple of years and he is frequently joined by his wife in doing so. It's how he and his wife have saved up the down payment for their house while working not well-paid jobs in higher education.
@Jenelle, no judgment here regarding plasma donations. Plus you're helping other people, too!
@Jenelle, I’m so glad that you can donate plasma to save for your trip! I’d love to donate for the extra money for savings and especially the ability to give, but I passed out two out of the three times I donated, so they understandably won’t let me anymore. 😛
(FYI, they could find nothing wrong with me either time, other than my blood pressure “went through the floor.” My RN best friend thinks they took *too much* plasma, basing the amount on my weight—150 lbs because my people have bronze bones—instead of the fact I’m 5’4” and a size 6.)
Please, get your A1c checked. That physical response to frequent hunger can be a sign of diabetes. Been there; done that.
@Linda Sand, first, try protein bars/cheese/nuts instead of “carb bars”! These start a vicious circle of needing to eat carbs every few hours. Drink more water. Been there, done that. If that doesn’t help, yes, keep records and tell your health care provider, and they can figure out labs that might be needed.
I was at a soccer tournament all weekend, which was not cheap at all. But, a few frugal wins here & there:
1) Packed lots of water & snacks, as we were out of the house for 8+ hours each day
2) Drove our electric car back & forth to the tournament (about 90 miles round trip), saving some money in gas. We charge for free at work.
3) Disputed a few erroneous charges on our credit card, & got the money right back.
4) Made zucchini muffins out of things lingering in our pantry, and zucchini from the garden that I shredded & froze.
5) Sold a pricey item on eBay
Mostly just the usual for me this past week (hanging laundry, drinking only water, using no A/C as the weather has cooled some, etc.)
1. I walk outside with a friend three days a week and with my sister two days a week. Free exercise and vitamin D.
2. I picked up a chair in a bag from the curb. The bag is a little dirty and smells musty so I plan to put it through the wash with towels. The chair is in perfect condition. It looks like no one ever sat in it!
3. No groceries purchased the last week. Made all meals at home from supplies on hand.
4. I used a JC Penney coupon for an additional 50% off and purchased 4 pairs of capris and leggings for walking. I paid about $32. The ones I had were so out of date with very wide legs that it was embarrassing to wear them! Some of them were probably 20 years old.
5. I continue to post items for sale, but sales have really slowed recently.
FFT, More Kindnesses from Friends Edition:
(1) One of the things my widower friend hauled off to the dump for me (see my most recent Thankful Thursday) was a huge, terminally cracked ceramic planter. I carefully saved all the soil out of that planter, am storing it in DH's "man cave" garage, and will reuse it next spring.
(2) And my other recently widowed friend has several partial bags of compost and mulch that she'll be happy for me to haul off. As she herself admits, she just doesn't do plants the way her late DH did.
(3) The friend in (1) came by the garage with a sidekick today, to store a large piece of antique furniture he can't move to his native state on his first trip. In turn, he and the sidekick helped me get the long-lost extra seats for my Honda Element out of the garage rafters and reinstall one seat. Now I can safely chauffeur two guests, including a fragile 95-year-old, to Dr. Bestest Neighbor's upcoming 85th birthday party.
(4) I took yet another bouquet of zinnias to tea with another group of neighbors. The variety, for those who would like a constant supply of cut flowers that deer don't eat, is named (duh) "Cut and Come Again." It seems to be widely available.
(5) And my sweet cat (a Humane Association bargain 6.5 years ago; she's now 9.5 years old) got me back to sleep last night after a long fit of insomnia by curling up next to my face and purring. She's better than melatonin.
@A. Marie, our kitty who adopted us 13 years ago is the best soporific ever created. Any time we can't sleep, lying down on the sofa with him brings on the deepest, most peaceful rest. We joke that's his super power.
@Ruby, pets know when they’re needed. <3
This week I bought an advent wreath for $5 (plus $9 for brass polish) from a yard sale instead of buying the $60 I had been eyeing online.
I spent $3 on glass food storage containers at the same yard sale.
I mended my jeans (and promised never to buy that brand again).
I deep cleaned the kitchen. (This isn't obviously frugal, but it did greatly increase my satisfaction with an imperfect situation and contentment does save money in the long run)
sorry for typos my keyboard is in revvolt
I am SO EXCITED for this post this week.
1. I returned a pair of rollerblades and got $100 back!
I bought 2 pairs of rollerblades last December for my daughter - I wasn't sure if she'd need a size 8 or a size 9. Turns out she needed the 9. I put the 8 in my closet to return after Christmas and promptly forgot about them! I was cleaning out my closet last weekend and found them. I had the receipt in my email, but it was more than 90 days (ha) past when I bought them in December 2020, which is beyond what Dick's normally permits for any kind of return. I went to the store on Saturday, just hoping to get store credit. I went early in the day, before the crowds, was very polite to both the cashier and the manager, showed them the email, and they graciously gave me the entire paid price back on my credit card!
2. I packed my lunch every day, including some days when "lunch" had get pretty creative by just adding a can of tuna to some leftover veggies or something.
3. I packed stuff to make sandwiches for dinner after a kids' sports' event that was much further from home than most. I planned ahead enough to bring everything we needed (plates, condiments, etc.), and we managed to eat dinner before driving home without stopping at a single restaurant!
4. I found a hoodie for my son that's about 1/3 the price of the Halloween costume he was looking at. It's printed to look like the character, and he was so thrilled with that option, because it allows him to wear it to school (they don't permit costumes, but hoodies are ok) and beyond Halloween. I know I won't be able to make him a costume (time, budget, skill are all a little low right now), so this was a great compromise. My daughter had already decided she was going to dress up using items she already has.
5. I filled my entire 30" deep new raised garden bed FOR FREE (mostly). My neighbor had cut down a tree earlier in the summer. I was already planning to do hugelkultur, and had been talking with her about it. She had cut the tree sections into pieces that were just the right size for me bed (totally by accident!), and was just going to give the wood away at the foot of her driveway anyway. Then, my husband decided to dethatch our lawn (we use very little fertilizer and only in the spring, so I wasn't worried about that), and I was able to fill almost the rest of the bed with dead grass and twigs. Then, I had 6 bags of mushroom compost left over from a project earlier in the summer, which perfectly filled in the remaining space on top of the dirt (I had to dig out some of the lawn to level the bed, just dumped it back on top of the dead grass). My plan is to let it sit all winter, then just buy whatever garden soil I need in the spring once everything's had a chance to settle and start to decompose.
@EngineerMom, very, very excellent!
I have two questions for you!
1) Is there a way to jump from the top of your post to the comments? I can see that there are comments up there, but there's no way for me to click and jump down. Instead I scroll. Just a nice feature if it could be added!
2)Now that your kids are older... would you be able to do a post about holidays? Mostly, what Christmas shopping looks like for you. How do you know what amount to cap the spending? Who do you spend for? How early do you start eyeing things? Do you hide them in the house then? Do you make anything to give away? Do you have a go-to gift for the folks who are super picky or already have everything? Do you gift to the service people in your life? (such as garbage, mail, etc). I love gift giving (and I like to think I'm pretty good at it!) but golly...has it gotten SO expensive. I'm wondering if there's a way to still give without having to apologize to people for going less extravagant.
Ugh, I am SO ANNOYED that the link to the comments got taken away with the newest theme update. I have let Mediavine know my feelings about this in no uncertain terms (politely!), and I was able to do so face to face (but masked! lol) last week at FinCon. She understood where I was coming from and she's putting in a ticket to see if we can get that added back.
So, hang in there...hopefully a fix is coming.
And I will add your second question to a Q&A. 🙂
1) After a dental cleaning, X-rays, and checkup for my husband and me, I started to pay with a credit card but learned paying with a check would get a 10% discount. Walking to the car for the checkbook was no problem to save over $50.
2) We took the new car to dealer 50 miles away for 6-month checkup. May not sound frugal but it was necessary, free, and got a free car wash.
3) We combine our weekly errands into one trip and include a lunch date.
4) This week’s lunch date used a coupon for BOGO free. Not bad. Plus we always have water as our drink.
5) I “doctored” a frozen pizza ($2.79 at Aldi) with chopped spinach and diced sweet peppers from our garden, along with mushrooms and a little additional cheese to keep the toppings on. The two of us ate half one day and had the other half a couple days later. May not be the most healthy, but better than without the veggies.
Yay! I’ve come up with 5 frugal things two weeks in a row!
@Gail, we love Aldi’s pizza and I also doctor it up. Usually with mushrooms and green peppers. And served with a salad or fruit I’ll call that dinner!
1. Called our health insurance company to make sure I'm clear on exactly what we're eligible for with my son's speech therapy. Today at his appointment I rearranged his visits to get the most benefit for him for the remainder of our insurance year without going over our allotted number of visits.
2. Batched some errands on Friday evening and packed dinner to eat on the road so we didn't have to get take out.
3. One stop Friday evening was the produce store where I got 3 cases of strawberries for $3.75/case! I made jam on Sunday and have frozen lots of berries.
4. I canned salsa on Saturday, even though it made me want to rip out all of my tomato plants and set them on fire. (Dramatic? Maybe. But since I only have cherry tomatoes growing right now, it's kind of miserable to cut up and de-seed 14 cups worth!) Now that I'm on the other side of it, I'm glad I did it since we'll enjoy the salsa and the tomatoes didn't go to waste. I also said, "No, that's ok" to my husband's offer of takeout since the salsa was driving me crazy. I appreciated the offer but figured that spending money on takeout would negate any cost savings from canning the salsa.
5. My daughter needs a particular color of gym shorts for something she's participating in this Friday. I'm asking around to see if we can borrow some extras from a friend rather than buy something she only needs for 2 hours.
Hope your trip was fun!!
1. I made applesauce using mushy apples, made pesto to freeze using the rest of the basil from our garden, and sundried more tomatoes from our garden.
2. My kids got their flu shot this weekend, which is of course preventative for their health, but also saves on potential co-pays in the future. Our insurane covers vaccinations for free.
3. We picked up a Soda Stream machine off Buy Nothing. The person gifting it never used it. My husband is going to learn how to refill the canisters, from a larger
CO2 tank, himself. We really like sparkling water and buy a 12-pack at Aldi weekly. This will save us the cost of the 12-pack weekly, but is also better for the environment.
4. My aunt gave us some coffee from our favorite coffee shop, a bag of oranges, and babysat our kids so my husband and I could have a date! The date was not financially frugal, but so needed!!
5. We paid our County and Town taxes in full to avoid late fees.
@Corrine, the blog Frugalwoods, has a hack for hooking up the larger canisters directly to the soda stream. There is even a kit you can purchase on amazon. We are still on our original "big" canister. I got one that fits on the counter and is mostly hidden by the soda stream itself.
Your trip looks like fun! So glad you were able to get away for a bit!
My Fab Frugal Five was pretty uneventful as well. They are:
1) I used reward pts to get a free $30 GC to Barnes & Noble.
2) I earned $5 to Walmart.
3) I earned $5 to Amazon.
4) When we had to cut down our walnut tree, I gave the wood to a wood carver so he could make knife handles. He's making me a bowl in return....I also had discs cut so I could use them as cake pop holders at the next church bake sale.
5) I cleaned up the front yard pulling grass/weeds/trimming. I told hubby that the trees/bushes need serious branch removal. He said he could use his jigsaw. If he can, that will save us $550 (I had gotten quotes). I don't know if it's better to hire someone, but I guess we'll find out.
My five this week:
Bought new face cloths at a discount,
Turned the worn ones into all purpose household cloths,
Ate stale yeast bread my husband no longer wanted,
Bought and partly froze one day old marked down sourdough bread (sourdough bread does not get stale soon!),
Borrowed books from the library.
Nothing new or spectacular this week. For good measure I'll throw in: wrote grocery list on back of old envelope!
I think I can come up with a few....
1. We camped at our camp with my daughter's boyfriend's family. I brought food but his mom insisted on making most of the meals the entire weekend and fed us. Was so nice of her! They also sent us home with some leftovers.
2. We had a picnic at our firehouse. Hubby and I did a lot of the running around and cooked food. We went home with extra corn on the cob, went home and cut it off and froze it and got 9 2-cup bags for our freezer and got 8 ears for our dinner, plus 3 condiments and extra cheese slices. Every little bit helps!
3. I was asked to work the registration table at an event at our firehouse. The vendor gave me $50 as a thank you which I in turn used to buy groceries.
4. I went for my bi-annual dental checkup and was given free floss, a toothbursh and small toothpaste to go home with.
5. My daughters and I went to a book sale and paid $5 a brown grocery bag full of books and dvds. We bought two bags and got a ton of books to take home. Will keep us occupied for awhile.
Also....always taking hubby and I take lunch to work daily, make our coffee at home.
I am performing at a renaissance festival and almost all of my frugal wins are festival related.
1. I am performing a new character (I'm gnome) and had to make new everything from the skin out (Elizabethans wear lots of mix and match layers,) and didn't have the time to make detachable sleeves for my bodice for an unexpected cold weather weekend. Fortunately we have a pair of sleeves I made for my husband's old character that coordinated with my costume that I'll use as needed for the rest of the season.
2. I bought 3 wool and cashmere blend sweaters at Goodwill for $15 and a pair of Nordic style wool mittens for$20 on Ebay. I will use the sweaters as raw materials (some I will felt in the washer, others I will alter into a country and period appropriate garment) to make winter outwear for my character to wear when performing at an outdoor Christmas Village. This is a MUCH cheaper option that buying from an online Scandinavian store (although there are parts of my costume that I did .)
3. We got a free pizza for dinner using a coupon my husband got in his race pack when he ran a half marathon last month. We don't eat a lot of pizza so it was a nice, lazy dinner treat.
4. I bought three different sized fresh pumpkins on sale from 3 different stores while running errands that are decorating the inside of the house to save them from squirrels and mean kids. When time permits, I'll freeze some of the pumpkin for cooking (it's a squash after all,) and baking. The rest I'll dehydrate in cubes for healthy vet approved dog treats that my dog goes bonkers for and grind into powder with my blender to reconstitute for overnight oats and recipes when we run out of frozen. We have limited storage space otherwise I'd freeze it all.
5. I started my Christmas shopping. I like to shop the vendors at the ren faire because I can help my friends/small businesses which was awful for most of them in 2020 give unique and well made thoughtful gifts (there are a few wood toy makers that make the best toddler toys!) Many give me a performer's discount that I don't ask for and rather not accept given last year's events - I'm just trying to satisfy the handmade soap addiction I developed due to my friend's store 🙂 Mostly starting my shopping early lets me put more thought into gift giving and spread the expenditures out over a couple of months than all in one month. I also tend to go under budget this way
Oh, your costume sounds so fun! Do you get paid to do this, or do you do it just for fun?
Frugal things first, then the not very frugal:
1. Connected with a lady from Buy Nothing who will put together a postpartum bundle for me-- I have no idea what I might want or need postpartum, but I am happy to take hand me downs!
2. Found out I have 12 hours of training to complete from home in October for my per diem job. Since I don’t have very many shifts scheduled this is great for extra money, and I always appreciate learning more.
3. Reorganized freezer, which led to making chicken/veggie stock, banana bread, and finally using some frozen veggies that only I can eat as DH is allergic to them.
4. Slowly using up some skin care freebies and various lotions that have accumulated.
5. Used the free vacuums at the nearby car wash, but passed on the car wash at $11.
6. Taking tires in for free rotation at the place we purchased our tires. Helps keep our tires in good shape, and helps with gas mileage as well.
Not very frugal: after a quick budget review with DH, realized I have made some nonessential purchases recently (tea, skincare) that put us over budget. He was very sweet about it, but it made me want to be more mindful about using what we have on hand and trying to have no-spend days. When I was single and working full time, I didn’t have to think much about purchases. When he’s working full time and I’m only per diem, I have to be mindful.
1. I saved $500 for paying for Hubby's up coming dental surgery. If you pay 2 weeks in advance by check they give a discount.
2. My BIL gave us a gallon size bag of figs from his tree. I made jam out of them. I gave them one of the jars.
3. Hubby and I went on a free date. I had 2 combo coupons for a new fast food place. So we happily went.
4. I made apple juice from apples that we picked for $1 a pound. I used the cores to make apple syrup and the pulp to make apple muffins.
5. Aldi had pumpkins on sale for $2.49 each. I got my limit of 4. I will cook them after Halloween. They also had eggs for 60¢ a dozen so I got 5 dozen.
6. I cashed out $120 in CC rewards. We pay it off every month in full.
Looks like you had a fun time on your trip! Even your not so frugal things seem really frugal to me. How you saved money while traveling was a really interesting read.
My 5 Frugal Things are …
1) Got a solid wood mirror for free off our Buy/ Nothing group. Had some nicks and loose screws. Was a glossy black frame mirror so the nicks was easily touched up with black permanent marker and screws removed and repositioned. Will fit perfectly in our spare bedroom for guests. Also gave away a new bottle of specialized conditioner in the group and 2 crib mattresses to a lady who runs a daycare.
2) Sold girl’s Colombia coat for $40 which is the same price I got it for at OUAC. Realized my girl had 2 other coats that fit her already and didn’t need the extra.
3) Mended my girl’s sleepers. The areas where the toes would be are notorious for getting worn. I’m constantly fixing them. She’s our youngest so I’m glad she’s getting use out of them.
4) Also mended my girls’ dress up clothes. They love playing dress up and I got a lot of the clothes second hand or free a couple years ago.
5) Brought e-book for our mom’s bible study for my kindle instead of paperback and saved a few dollars. Eliminated paper waste too. Mended my girls’ dress up clothes. They love playing dress up and I got a lot of the clothes second hand or free a couple years ago.
I was on the road too! Visiting my sister in NYC. While parts of the trip were a little indulgent and not so frugal, I managed to squeeze some stuff in:
1. My sister is a sailboat captain and had customers booked while I was there. So, I went on a 2-hour journey on the Hudson at n0 cost. It was absolutely beautiful.
2. My sister, also a frugal person, had acquired four large bags of silk fabric scraps. Some were small, many were yardage. She had taken what she wanted and I went through the rest. I brought two full garbage bags home with me. I will be able to make so many fun things from it all, I'm sure.
3. Her garden and produce swapping source are in abundance at the moment. I brought home ground cherries, cherry tomatoes, bananas and plums.
4. Packed meals and snacks for the train ride so that I didn't have to purchase any food onboard.
5. While fabric shopping in the city, I found some tartan wool at an amazing price. Even with the leather closures I plan on purchasing, the skirt I will make will be hundreds less than an authentic tartan wool skirt that I could purchase.
This week ....
1. I was able to cancel an expensive monthly subscription.
2. Both my hubby and I were able to have free dental cleanings and x-rays with a new upgraded dental plan which has lower premiums than our previous plan.
3. My husband and I cleaned all our home windows after getting an outrageous estimate from a window washing company!
4. Our grocery bill was $25 lower this week than last week!
5. I scored a free magazine subscription for a magazine I love.
6. I was able to borrow a digital copy from our library of a book I have wanted to read instead of buying it.
7. We continue to adhere to one eat out night on weekends!