Five Frugal Things | actually, will it be five?
Since I am not living at my house right now, my life is a little...odd. Which means that my frugal activities are sometimes a bit few and far between.
This is one of those weeks where it feels like that has been true, so I may not make it to five this time around!
Let's see what I've got.
1. I made a two-heel peanut butter sandwich
Yesterday I needed a snack to tide me over until dinner, and I noticed that the loaf of bread I'd bought had just ends left.
So, I took two of them and made a sandwich.
Was it the greatest peanut butter sandwich ever? No. But it served its purpose.
Incidentally, I think peanut butter and honey sandwiches on 100% whole wheat bread can occasionally serve as a meal option for:
- breakfast
- lunch
- snack
- dinner
They are quite versatile. 😉
2. I put a book on hold at the library
My therapist suggested that I read a particular book, so I hopped on over to the library website to see if I could snag a copy there.
There are 13 people on the wait list, BUT there are 13 copies. So here's hoping my number pops up pretty quickly.
3. I submitted marriage therapy receipts to Cigna
Every marriage therapist we've seen has been out of network, so I always have to self-submit the receipts for reimbursement/credit toward the deductible.
This is an annoying process (something always seems to go wrong, and then I have to follow up/resubmit/follow up/resubmit), but at least it helps us get closer to meeting our deductible.
Every time I have to do this, I am reminded to be thankful that most healthcare providers have people who take care of insurance for me. God bless the dear people who deal with health insurance full-time!
4. I worked on my taxes
I actually hired a CPA to help me do my taxes for my blog, but she won't take over until next year's filing time. So, I'm still going the cheap DIY route this year.
Am I doing this rather last minute?
Well yes, yes, I am. Ahahahaha.
I am allllmost done though, so I should safely get them submitted before the deadline.
5. I found a free spreadsheet for blog money tracking
Since I have to submit financial records to the CPA now, I really need to be organized with my income and expense tracking.
It's sort of like how if you, yourself, are going to the grocery store, you can make a somewhat disorganized, vague list, with lots of abbreviations, and you still will know what to buy.
But if you are sending someone else, then you have to make a very accurate, detailed list.
Anyway! I found a free Google spreadsheet template that is perfect for making my quarterly reports.
__________
Whew. I made it to five.
Heel dilemma 😉 I always feel bad when there is just one heel left and I make sandwiches for the kids. Who gets the one with the heel? I try to solve the problem by cutting the sandwiches in half so everyone gets a good half and a bad one, and the dryer one is smaller to eat. If the heel is very thick, you can cut the dry crust off.
For frugal cooking, I've been a bit better in meal planning, using the same ingredients or already cooked food for more than one meal.
For frugal activities, I have chosen things I can pay for with a pass I get through work for wellness and cultural activities. I've used it for swimming passes and museum entrance fees.
Shopping-wise, I have avoided going into stores so I don't make impulse buys. I needed a new belt that I found found on sale but refrained from other purchases just because they were on sale.
Also put a book on hold at the library 🙂
Besides chocolates, have not bought anything for Easter.
@Kristina, I always feel the heel dilemma guilt with ours as well! I like to spread the peanut butter on the heel side, so no one actually sees that they’re eating a heel. The brown peanut butter help to conceal the brown crust. No complaints yet lol
@Haley, This is pure genius!
@Haley, I always put spreads on the heel side, too. Makes me feel less resentful getting the heel piece. 😉
@Emily U., Same here, but usually make a triple-decker pbj with 2 slices regular bread and the heel. I have hungry teenage boys.
@Kristina, I've started taking the heels and putting them in a bread bag in the freezer til I have about 8-10. They make great French toast when my granddaughter comes to visit!
@Haley, good idea! Funny I'm not the only one with the heel guilt. Now, if it's a baguette, that's a different story.
@Stephanie D, that's a great idea too! I sometimes dry them to make bread crumbs as well.
I don't know if I will hit five but I will try.
This afternoon I found some organic produce at 90%. Some came home with me.
I bought some chicken for my dinner and it was reduced a little.
I am so thankful my doctor bulk bills me so I never have to pay to see him.
I am also thankful and pleased that we have been told to expect an 8 hour electricity outage in the morning. I am pleased because I will save money and have been able to prepare for this.
Cleaning out the cupboard in the kitchen has created more space and order and do I really need four bags of brown sugar?
I flip the heel upside down (or maybe it is inside out), with the dry outside part getting the peanut butter spread on it. (It is much easier to spread peanut butter on the outside part than jelly) Then I match it with a normal jelly side. I cut them into halves or quarters and mix in with the rest of the sandwiches. The kids often don’t notice.
@Faith, I do the same thing with the heel! Flip them over and especially with grilled cheese, no one notices it.
FFT, Mutual Aid Edition:
(1) As I mentioned in my comment yesterday, one of DH's guy friends came by yesterday and fixed a few minor but annoying plumbing issues (a dripping kitchen tap and a couple of dodgy toilet floor bolts).
(2) Neighbors, friends, and relatives continue to be very generous with their extra COVID test kits. I now have enough on hand for several months' worth of visits to DH.
(3) One set of neighbors has taken in a gravely ill relative. I have lent them a walker, shower chair, and potty chair. (These all date from when DH's parents were recovering from various surgeries, and we've kept them for our own and neighbors' use as needed.)
(4) My dear widowed neighbor next door (the one who makes the killer brownies) has given me a number of terra cotta flowerpots. She's glad to have them out of her garage, and I'm glad to have them.
(5) And I made a pizza at home on Sunday and divided it with yet another neighbor who was temporarily on her own.
Awww, I love that your DH's friends are helping you out. What a lovely blessing.
@A. Marie, I have a bit of a weakness for Tera cotta pots! GOOD SCORE
So thoughtful and important to make available the various items to your neighbor's family! The priests' residence at my local college had a significant collection of medical aids such as you mentioned-- chairs, crutches, walkers, etc.-- which my husband once borrowed from. Such equipment is very hard working when shared.
It seems sort of the other end of life from cribs, baby swings, and other items that get heavy use and are swopped among families.
1. Bought ten lbs of chicken quarters at Aldi for 4.90 and cut them up into drumsticks and thighs and repackaged them into meal-sized portions in reused cereal bags inside larger ziplocks. Now have two bags of drumsticks and four bags of thighs in the freezer.
2. Bought a three lb log of frozen ground beef at Aldi for 10.00 and defrosted it in the fridge. Then repackaged it in half lb increments (also in cereal bags inside a ziplock) and flattened them out before refreezing so they will thaw quickly.
3. Used a half pound of ground beef mixed equally with leftover rice and beans to make hamburger patties. The verdict was I should've used an egg or two to hold them together better. I have now learned not to trust the stickiness of raw beef! However, they tasted good and everyone happily ate them. Hamburgers for four people that cost 1.66 in meat is not bad.
4. Painstakingly staked (literally) and reassigned my raspberry plants back into their garden beds and pruned out the old dead wood. Now I've reclaimed some yard and hopefully the plants will still fruit prolifically this year.
5. Haven't gone anywhere so far on spring break, so saving in gas and temptation purchases. Keeping busy by pruning and weeding the yard before the mosquitoes take over.
@Becca,
What a deal on chicken!!!! I have been busy and have not had time to go to the market. My husband went to our local Publix for and spent $21 on 4 chicken breast. Also that was a great idea to stretch your hamburgers
@Bee,
I was looking for the advertised .99/lb chicken drumsticks family pack and asked the worker if these big bags were the family packs. She said "No, these are chicken quarters. The family packs are gone." There was no listed price for the quarters, so I asked her. It took her a couple minutes to look it up, but when she said .49/lb, that bag was in my cart so fast!!! I later saw the bags advertised in the next circular for .49/lb so I think I got them the day she was putting them out. I find it pays to shop on Wednesdays at my Aldi because I seem to be able to hit the sales from two weeks that way-a few of the leftovers from the previous week and then the new stuff that hasn't even been advertised yet. As always, it pays off to pay attention, and ask polite questions.
@Becca, I buy the .49/ lb Aldi chicken every other week. But sadly, last time they were out of ALL chicken except drumsticks. In fact, the shelves looked more bare than usual all over the store.
@SandyH, drumsticks in the air fryer taste fab. We like them better than wings.
@SandyH, This has been happening a lot at my Aldi.
-My husband and I spent two days and a night at a nearish big city for some shopping and time alone (first time away from the kids since before the pandemic). While this certainly wasn’t frugal—I wasn’t about to bring along sandwiches for dinner when it was our first time away in two years, we did bring along a cooler and Pyrex for leftovers and had it all for dinner the night we got back.
-We took the older vehicle that gets much better gas mileage rather than the more comfortable, quieter, newer vehicle.
-We mostly only bought things that were on our list to get in the stores that don’t exist in our smaller community. And stopped at every Goodwill that we passed.
-I started seeds inside to plant out in our garden/yard later this spring. Not frugal initially with the set-up we’ve created, but will save money in the long run.
-I made jam from fruit I picked from our garden last summer and froze (currants and strawberries) And the kids actually liked it even though they can’t stand fresh currants.
@MD, did you mix the strawberries and currants together? I make strawberry jam and currant jam every year but I’ve never made strawberry-currant jam and you have me curious!
@Florence, Yes, I mixed them together about half and half. I was hoping that would make it better for my kids since I wasn't sure they would like the flavor of the currants. It was definitely a success!
@Florence, if you have currant and raspberry in your garden I would recommend making jam of them if you haven’t already. That’s the favorite jam here in our house 🙂
The library at your community college may also have the book you’re waiting for! I’m a librarian at a college and my experience is that community college libraries are awesome and have great collections and really good loan periods 🙂
It never occurred to me to look there! I will take a peek.
@Robin and Kristen,
True about community colleges' libraries. Our County library system includes the CC and often the hold request books are there.
Especially true for TV and film DVDs and Blu Rays.
I had a unexpected expense($2500) so any savings feel minimal. Though it is the little frugal things that make the unexpected possible.
I won’t have to rent a dumpster to finish cleaning out my parents house. The city has once a month pick up for bulk items, you have 4 days to put it out. You can’t put much out at a time but every bit was taken as I cleaned. Some days I was able to build three or more stacks. This month I was able to put out 10 times the normal amount. Plus the pickers, bless them, left the area clean. So not only did I save the cost of a dumpster I also saved gas and time on not having to drop off stuff at the thrift store.
I purchased a new stereo receiver using cc points to pay for half of it. It then went on sale three days later so I called to get the price adjusted and received a $100 credit to my card.
The grocery had $5 off $5 coupon and breakfast sausage was 2lb for $5. I also got 2 boxes of Raisin Bran cereal for .99 a box.
@cc, that's a great frugal win with the bulk items pick-up! Also, what a great attitude about the pickers. They also help keep things from the dump, which is a big win in my book, and doing it with respect (keeping it clean and not making a big mess) makes a big difference.
@cc, I've been both a trashpicker and a pickee in my time. I always tried to leave a site as neat as I found it if not more so, and I always appreciate it when other pickers do the same at mine.
@Brooke, it’s good stuff, all types of metal so very recyclable. My family had garages for three generation. I really appreciate that they took the trash mixed in. I saw a house a couple blocks away that had trash tossed about. Even the homeowner hadn’t picked it up. I’ve picked up my share of trash because I don’t want it to get added to. People drive by tossing it out all the time. I even found a crystals glass! Made me think someone’s wedding gift got tossed out. I kept it.lol
@A. Marie, it’s nice that you are respectful and it is very much appreciated. My father had a garage and would set stuff aside and give it to anyone who asked. It was kept in a little fenced side yard. Most people took what they wanted and tidied up the area. When someone left a mess and came back they were told, nothing today. So a little respect and appreciation goes a long way.
I don't know that I have five either:
1. I made bread. I like Dave's Killer Bread but at over $5 a loaf I thought I should make some. I already had organic flour (I seem to be able to tolerate some gluten as long as it is in organic products), yeast, and other ingredients. I made two loaves and added some everything bagel seasoning. It over rose in the bread pans but is edible, just a bit crumbly.
2. We received our federal tax refund within about 10 days of e-filing. I'm so happy to be done with income taxes for the year. We will donate some of the refund and use some for home improvements.
3. I ordered a load of bulk mulch. It is locally made and delivered and there is no packaging. It is a bit cheaper but the big win is the low environmental foot print and also not having to haul it home from the store (though in the past we have ordered it in bags from fund raising groups and they have delivered it).
4. The tennis shoes saga continues. I didn't love the fit of the Brooks I brought home so I returned them, combined with another errand, and received a coupon to save 10% on a single item purchased in the next three hours. I was going to try a different size anyway so I used the coupon on a different pair of tennis shoes. After I got home I discovered the employee did not bring me shoes in the width I asked for. I will test drive the shoes around the house and decide if they are keepers.
5. I stopped at Lidl to buy produce and a few other items. I bought their sparkling water for the first time since it was on sale. It's not regularly consumed at our house but occasionally.
My daughter and grand daughter were visiting for four days to help me do some things around the house and lay mulch in my numerous garden beds. (The mulch wasn't frugal--but I can usually get two years from it and it brings my brain joy to see the gardens mulched, cuts down on weeds and eliminates watering. Neither was hiring two ladies to help haul the mulch, although it did save us time and energy, which is a frugal health win for me.) While my daughter was here, I baked chicken breasts one evening for dinner, and had enough leftover chicken to make chicken salad sandwiches for five the following day (me, my daughter, my grand daughter and the two ladies who I'd hired to help haul the mulch). I also threw a pork roast into the crockpot to cook all day and that evening, made carnitas. There was enough leftover pork for hash the following morning for breakfast (and it was SO GOOD), plus for my daughter to take home AND for me to make another batch of hash for dinner and breakfast. (Hash: diced cooked potatoes, diced onions and red peppers, chopped cooked meat--I used a pork roast--LOTS of butter, S & P, and some dried parsley. Sautee the onions & peppers in the butter, add the remaining ingredients and cook until everything browns and develops a crust.)
While they were here, I also made three minute fudge (a bag of chocolate chips, a can of sweetened condensed milk, a teaspoon of vanilla--melt together in the microwave for about three minutes, add some nuts if you'd like, then spread onto a sheet, cool, cut and eat). I also baked an apple pie, using some apples that were fine for pie, but questionable for eating raw.
Sent my daughter home with six dozen eggs from my hens who are laying like gangbusters now that the days are longer. (Frugal win for her, frugal karma for me in sharing the bounty.)
I invested in three new carbon monoxide detectors, one for each floor of my home (after a scare at my daughter's house when their hot water heater was releasing CO), and gave away the older one (with remaining years of life until it expires) to someone on FB Marketplace. I've received several free items from FB Marketplace, so I'm also stoked to be able to return the favor and pass along something to someone else.
I guess not all of these were financially frugal wins for me, but they were frugal and beneficial for others, so I'm good with that.
@Mary, I loved your comment about a frugal health win by hiring the two ladies to help. Due to health reasons, I now need to hire folks to do things I was able to do myself in the past, and it felt almost like I was wasting money. However, if I tried to do those things myself, the price to my health would have been astronomical. Thank you for helping me to reframe my outlook on that.
@CS, @mary, a few years back I began to use a landscape service run by a few university students. I really needed their strength and knowledge to rip out my front lawn and put in native perennials. Oh my what a wonderful oasis they have created. The main fellow has been on this team through the years. He is in his second year of Landscape Architecture. He is grateful for the oppourtunity, experience and income he has earned. I am grateful for the execution of my dream and the ability to have supported these awesome students as they started out.
Speaking of bread heels: I have finally started using them in a way my family enjoys. I grab the heels off of every loaf, no matter the type of bread. I dice them into small squares and toss them in a gallon ziplock in the freezer. I add a drizzle of olive oil and some Italian seasoning. If I need croutons for a salad/soup/casserole- I take out as much as I need and toss them in the oven to toast and get crunchy. Nobody has to eat a heel sandwich and I never find a lonesome heel in a bread bag stuffed in the back of the fridge.
I’m sorry about the health insurance claims. This can be so frustrating!
1. I sold 3 items on eBay this week. I reused packaging that had been given to me.
2. I am using the library app Hoopla to listen to a book while traveling.
3. I am planning a vacation using primarily loyalty points from my husband’s travels.
4. I made the full allowable contribution to my IRA and save $1800 in taxes.
5. I have done some of the usual things, some of the time this week - drank primarily water, brewed my owned coffee, cooked at home, washed Rescue Pup myself, batched errands and read a library book.
@Bee, GO IRA!
I wish I had known of a Spousal IRA when my husband was working. I don't think the program has been around for very many years. It is an IRA for a non-working or very-little-income spouse, paid for from the other spouse's salary.
OOh, Lets see if I have anything...searching mental files...
My grocery bill was high this week (about $100) but I have packed up several meals from it that should keep me eating at home for the near future and that's always cheaper, and tastes better. I am eating my own pre-packaged leftovers for meals, too, and this is saving me time in the evenings.
I started in on Postcrossing! Ordered some Texas postcards from Amazon for $9, but I had an $11 credit. I also signed up for a trial of Prime, and I will cancel that in two weeks. I do not need Amazon temptation..
Found a $20 bill on the floor of the grocery store last night. Placed it directly into my wallet. Is that a frugal thing?
Doing my own taxes - first time in 40 years. Looks like I will get a refund which will go directly towards my recent Cap One bill for the sprinkler repair.
That's all I have...life seems spendy lately, but I'm probably doping better than I think I am. I am not purchasing any impulse items and being mindful about where my dollars go.
@gina, found money is ALWAYS a frugal thing! And you couldn't very well go up and down the aisles asking everybody in the store if they'd lost a $20, so don't feel bad about it in any way.
@gina, I’ve pulled out my phone and dropped coupons, so someone probably didn’t know they lost it.
You reminded me of when I was a child in the 70’s. My dad gave me $20 bill and I walked to the store to buy ice cream. I had the money to pay then noticed I didn’t. I turned around to see three men behind me. I ask about the money and they said nope didn’t see anything. I looked around the store and even went to customer service. No luck. So I had to walk home to tell my dad that not only didn’t I buy ice cream, but I lost the $20. Even though no one found the money I learned a great lesson in compassion and generosity. My dad listened to my tale then we got in the car, went to the store where he gave me more money to buy ice cream. As an adult I see how it could have went, as that was a lot of money. I’m very thankful for the lesson I learned that day that was beyond price.
@gina, my son just found $20 at aldi last week and we turned it into the cashier to put in the safe in case someone asked about it. After reading all these comments I guess I should have let him keep it. My rule has always been if I find it outside (on a trail or in a gutter) with no one to turn it in to then keep it, but if there is a chance they can find the rightful owner, I turn it in.
My dad has a job at a grocery store in high school and they would hide an old wallet or money around the store and see who was honest enough to turn it in. I guess the stories he told about the people that did and didn’t turn in the money and how the grocery store employees watched them has always stuck with me.
@cc, What a wonderful Dad! Yes, both compassionate and generous...a great combination.
1. My old sneakers had been glued, but we're still breaking, so it was time for a new pair. I went to a store and tried on shoes finding a size, brand and style I liked. Then I went on ebay and found what I wanted. Ebay one was $15.11 (including shipping), at the store it was about $60. They are used, but in excellent condition. Savings: $45
2. Sold some things from around the house on Fb. Earned: $80
3. Took the kids to the library and got loads of books and 3 dvds, only money spent was gas.
4. Found a quarter.
5. Had milk that was iffy and awithering peach, so I made a double batch of Amy Dacyczyn's universal muffins (actually my statside house doesn't have a muffin tin, so I made it in loaf pans).
@Katy in Africa, I've made Amy D's muffin recipe in a 13 x 9 baking pan, with good results.
@Katy in Africa,
Oh! Your shoes reminded me of another frugal thing I did this week! My favorite three year old twenty dollar sneakers from Aldi started doing a very annoying thing. The insert for the left shoe only started sliding back and up around my heel so that my toes were over the front of the insert. Kind of uncomfortable, and also maybe making it so my left toes were less insulated and more prone to chill blains. The shoes are otherwise holding up, so I didn't want to replace them yet, but no matter how many times I readjusted the insert, it kept sliding back! I thought about glueing them, but I wear them every day, so not sure they would have time to dry. Then, at work, I had a sudden inspiration: staples! It took a couple tries, but I finally got a good configuration-stapling perpendicular to my feet not parallel and straight down through the insert into the sole. Kept my inserts in place all day on Friday and cost nothing! Not sure how long it'll hold, but even if it falls apart again, I'm not out anything but a little bit of time and the "granny sneaks" live on!
@Becca,
Ooh, chilblains! I am a fellow sufferer of pernio. It started last year, particularly on my fingers. A primary care doctor had no clue what was going on, and mentioned lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and other scary things. A dermatologist finally gave a diagnosis, and said that it is quite rare in the United States, but common in England and Australia. I guess I must have a lot of British blood!
Good luck to you on handling them well. They can be painful.
God bless.
@st,
I had them before from shoveling snow for four hours straight, but then they got very bad after having COVID. I discovered that many of my preexisting conditions (I use that term loosely and include things like eczema and chill Blain's) got worse after COVID-lije my body was revolting!
@Becca,
Also canker sores! So bad after covid! Kristen, did your canker sores flare up after COVID?
What a creative repair!
@A. Marie, thanks for the tip! I just bought a 9 by 13 from a garage sale.
My FFT .......nothing. I wasn't going to comment, but I said to myself, "Self! You are probably not the only one that has a very not frugal stretch at times. You can let others know that that is okay! $$$$ happens!" So. In the interest of complete transparency... My disabled Mama has lived with me since she had her stroke about 4 years ago. She struggles with mobility, and as things become more difficult for her I've had to do some remodels (last year I had a walk in shower installed because stepping in and out of the bathtub was becoming increasingly challenging and unsafe for her.) THIS year it was flooring. My 20+ year old carpet (*hangs head in mortification*) was beyond gross and was very "ripples" from stretching over the years. I had hardwood floors installed to make it easier and safer for her to mobilize with her walker. I did get quotes and I did get a discount for paying cash - but I went a little nuts on Amazon and Wayfair because...you know...now I need new curtains and area rugs and oh look how cute those pajamas are! Yeah...I have absolutely no willpower. But I will keep trying! And eventually frugal will be my super power!
@sfeather, wow, sounds like quite a challenging time for you. And for sure you are not the only one not feeling frugal. My husband and I have been waiting for a work decision for two weeks, which has left us stressed and completely unmotivated to cook. So, we've gotten fast food/takeout more than I care to admit, but if I can balance it with careful grocery shopping the rest of the month, I'm fine with it.
And we have a short vacation coming up at the end of the month, which will not be frugal, but I've had the funds saved for it since late 2020 and it will be completely worth it for our rest and enjoyment.
@sfeather,
You should not feel bad about spending money to improve your life and your mother's. You are likely saving so much money by taking care of her at home already. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with utilizing assisted living facilities, but as I understand it, they are very expensive, so if you are able to care for her at home, any changes you make to your home to do so are inherently frugal. Also, enjoy your damn pajamas! Care giving is hard work!
@Becca, Yes, to all of this! We are ALLOWED!
@sfeather, what a blessing you are to your mother.
@sfeather, good on you for being your mother's caregiver. And chalk the pajamas up to self-care. A friend of mine and I (her DH was in the same cognitive care programs as my DH about 4 years ago) have a standing joke: "Everybody tells you to take care of yourself, but nobody tells you how to do it." You do it however you need to.
@A. Marie,
Amen to that!
1. Speaking of bread heels, yesterday I wanted a sweet afternoon snack with coffee, so I lightly toasted the heel (also sliced thicker) of a cinnamon swirl bread and spread with cream cheese. YUM.
2. Frugal dinner last night - 1lb. of cooked, seasoned ground round ($5 at Publix) mixed with a box of Annie's mac & cheese (on sale for $1 at Kroger), and a side of Steamfresh green beans ($1 at Walmart). Fed three people with leftovers for Hubby for lunch today.
3. Continued reading a $2 paperback copy from Goodwill of a book I've been wanting to read ("Still Alice" - by Lisa Genova, also excellent movie starring Julianne Moore).
4. Teen daughter wore a Spring dress I picked up at Goodwill for $5 and got several compliments on it.
5. Used fuel points from shopping at Kroger (and also doing their surveys from receipts) to save 20 cents per gallon on my last gas fill up.
@Lorra, Still Alice was a wonderfully written and poignant story of dementia. Excellent book.
I have been looking for a similar resource for our business. Can you share the location for the free spreadsheet?
JDS
My five frugal things....
1. was gifted a like-new mattress to use at our camp. My boss gave to us. His wife wanted a firmer mattress. We will buy a mattress pad for it. We are happy to have it for camp.
2. I had a $10 voucher from the craft store to use. I went in and got 3 candles that were 3/$10, just paid the tax.
3. Hubby wanted pizza on a busy evening, so I went to a gas station near us that has a pizza shop inside that makes really good pizza. I signed up for their rewards card and saved $13 on the pizza.
4. We have a membership at Sam's club that earns you 2% back on all purchases. I got an email telling me we had $52.39 in rewards to use. Hubby needed some food for a weekend at camp, so he went there and used credit towards his purchases.
5. Hubby needed a belt for his work pants as his old one broke. He likes the Carhartt belts that Tractor supply sells. We were paying and the cashier said we had a $10 reward and asked if we wanted to use it. Yes, please!
Bonus:
6. Our polaris Ranger had a GPS issue since we bought it a year ago. It was in getting a recall fixed this past weekend and I asked them to take a look at the GPS (different dealer than where we bought it). They were able to fix the issue and didn't charge us the almost $60 fee.
@Gina, It's nice to know Polaris dealers offer good customer service, wish I could say the same about John Deere!
Not sure if I will make it to five either!
1) I cooked all my meals at home
2) I did one big grocery shop and then didn't go to the shop again for nearly a whole week, except once to buy butter
3) I took local walks
4) I reserved a book at the library
5) I resisted getting lunch at a cafe earlier.
Made it!
Five frugal food things: Commodities, cafeteria, and carp edition.
--The cook at school isn't freezing leftover food anymore to use later because we're so close to the end of the school year, so she's just giving it to me. I either use it for the human household members (like the five pounds of mashed potatoes I used to top two shepherd's pies last week) or give it to the chickens (leftover pancakes) or dogs (spaghetti sauce).
--I've figured out a cookie recipe and a muffin recipe that can use almost entirely commodities foods that we get very regularly from our neighbors (mostly oats, white whole wheat flour, and raisins). I make one or the other every weekend for my sons to bring for their school snacks. Healthier snacks, no plastic to throw out, and very close to free.
--The free-ranging chickens have had to be more confined, as my small garden plants proved too irrestible to them, and they ate several of my cabbage plants and radish sprouts.
--We are at least getting 4-5 eggs a day from the naughty chickens, though.
--We went fishing last Friday and caught two carp. And yes, we ate them. Good meat, although VERY bony. My husband made fried fish with it first, and then he made chowder. The chowder was particularly delicious. And we could strain out the bones (mostly).
@kristin @ going country, I'd be interested in your muffin/cookie recipe if you feel like sharing! We're often looking for a treat that's tasty but less sweet and heartier than the usual cookies...
@Suz, I started with an online recipe, but have changed the ingredients and method (one bowl! no butter creaming!) so much that it's now really my own. Next time I make them, I was planning on writing down everything and posting it on my blog. I'll let you know when I do that.
@kristin @ going country, Thanks! I'm all about one bowl; much more likely it'll happen in the small chunks of the day. (I did look at your blog in case it was already there and got very distracted by the list of children's books; I still have shelves full from my n0w-teenager's younger days, and every time I try to cull them, the magic comes back and I just sit on the floor and read them.)
Some weeks we are bursting with frugal things, some weeks, not so much.
1. I earned $35 on a survey and used it to buy a grocery card, to reduce my grocery bill.
2. I used Swagbucks to buy an Amazon card and have a birthday gift sent to a long-time friend who lives in another state.
3. My laundry room's old-ish utility sink is built into a free-standing cabinet. My husband had run into the cabinet doors with his scooter several times by accident and I had put the doors back together each time. Last night I opened the cabinet to get something underneath and one door basically splintered in my hands. I took both doors off and pulled off the decorative piece above the doors that is warped by water exposure (it was made of MDF, sigh) then filled the screw holes with wood putty. I'll hang an under-sink curtain and paint over the hole repair. It'll be a lot cheaper than replacing the cabinet and sink combination.
4. For the sink curtain, I'll be looking for something that will coordinate with my laundry room curtain and valence, which I made out of a pair of pretty, patterned Ralph Lauren pillow cases that I found at a linen outlet store for $5 quite some time ago.
5. I'll use frozen lemon juice from my lemon tree to make a lemony dessert for Easter. The hardest part is deciding which one to make.
OK, calling myself out - I am the weirdo that LOVES the heel of the bread! It makes the crunchiest toast!! (Also, PB & Honey is the best!)
1)I listed 10 things on eBay after a little spring cleaning.
2)We had an early Easter potluck cookout at my Sisters, I was sent home with enough leftovers to cover 2 dinners this week!
3)Went to a play in the park with my BFF (we scored the tix for 50% off at a free local event last month ). We brought a picnic and she sent all the leftovers home with me - so there is enough Salami, crackers, cheese, pickles to make myself "adult lunchables" for my lunches this week!
4) Same BFF brought me half a bag of tangerines!
5) Stopped at my library and got all set up with the new "cloud library" app so I can read more free books on my iPad. (similiar to Libby, only more selection and new releases)
@Cheryl, I eat the heels a lot, usually toasted with pb or cheese. My husband commented last week that I could have a regular slice of bread.
This is when you say, "IMPOSSIBLE." 😉
@Cheryl, my husband and I both love the heels. Toasted, as sandwiches, just to eat as a snack. Once when I got home from grocery shopping with my daughter who, at the time, was about five, I discovered she had eaten the heel on the top end of the bread, but wiggled her little hand down the side of the sack to get the other heel. I guess I don’t know what’s wrong with the heels.
Heels almost always became crouton fodder around here. Strangely, my super picky offspring likes to eat the heels so we don't get as many of them.
Also, I'm glad you seem to be having good luck with your therapist in that they are giving you points to look for and books to read. Right now I've no appointments for over a month.
1.) Returned an item I bought but ended up not needing.
2.) Did a big purge of crayons. My daughter has so many crayons that I am beginning to wonder if there isn't some sort of free love society going on in her art supplies. Last night we went through all the crayons, pulled out all of the crummy ones (the ones that came from restaurants, those four color coloring packs my MIL used to give her all the time etc.) and either tossed them or put them in a bag (if they were halfway decent) or trashed them.
The good ones were put inside some stacking containers from Michael's (Simply Tidy Stacking Pencil Boxes) which I used a 20% off coupon for.
The lesser crayons went into a bag to bring to the church nursery.
3.) Speaking of said church nursery: Sometime over Covid it was decided by someone that the nursery was now off limits and that all children, no matter the age should be sitting quietly through a long sermon. They also tossed out(!) all the coloring books, the crayons, any book that wasn't up to their standards etc. Obviously this person is insane or just out of touch so we have reopened the nursery. So I have been restocking it with religious coloring books from Dollar Tree and the crayons I mentioned above.
4.) Picked up some good deals on the Easter sales at the grocery store.
5.) Used a giftcard on date night with my wife last week. This allowed us to spend a little more than we normally would have and that was kinda nice.
@Battra92,
I'm trying to picture my 3.5 year old and 2 year old grandchildren sitting quietly through a long sermon.
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Nope, I can't picture it. I can't imagine how anyone thought that was even doable.
That's good of you to help re-stock the nursery.
I’m back after a bit of a digital fast for the last month and a half. A bit late, but I’m so glad you shared your life update with us Kristen.
Not a very frugal week (or month) here. We just replaced our 50 year old furnace which was a huge expense. It did take a week though so we had no heat for a week which I guess saves a little in heating costs, ha. Also, hoping the new furnace is more efficient and cuts down on our bill over time.
We took tree limbs to the city drop-off site and took the opportunity to bring home free mulch. We also figured out where the city located its all-day, every-day mulch site this year so we can pick up more.
Bought used copies of books from a library book sale.
Remembered to bring coupons on grocery shopping trip. $10 off a $50 purchase (which sadly was not hard to reach).
Noticed a couple of grocery items had extra savings if you bought six, so I made sure I bought exactly six of the qualifying items.
DH made chicken broth from all the scraps in the freezer. Saved having to buy broth and opened up some space in the freezer.
I feel your stress about the last minute tax filing. Our accountant for the last two decades informed us in February that she was retiring! The person I switched to is doing it FRIDAY!! He assures me it will be fine. I usually have them done by March 1 at the latest. I wish I felt confident enough to do them myself, but I truly don't.
Here's our Five Frugal Things for the week:
1. My sister wanted to go to the mall to shop for a shirt for her daughter's baby shower. I can honestly say I can't remember the last time I was there. Although we didn't find the perfect shirt, we did have a lot of fun and I picked up three work-appropriate tops for myself in the "last chance" section for $4.63, $3.82 and $9.37.
2. A good friend and her husband contracted COVID and needed some emergency supplies. So, on Wednesday I combined my normal weekend errands, picking up her son's schoolwork, gassing the car at the cheapest station in town, and grocery shopping for the two families. This also gained me the time on the weekend that I normally would have spent running those errands.
3. While grocery shopping, the store had an unadvertised bone-in ham sale - the lowest price I'd been able to find. Yay! Ham and turkey breast (bought on sale at Christmastime) on the menu this Sunday. Everyone will be happy. And, oh, the leftover dishes I can make...
4. Used a coupon and saved 20% off the heavy duty packing tape my husband prefers to send out motocross parts he makes.
5. A new car wash opened. At their grand opening this week, they are offering free washes! I plan to go every day.
Kristen - Just a note to let you know I'm continuing to send you virtual strength and support as you journey through this difficult time in your life.
a NOT frugal thing to start: After our outdoor activities yesterday in the blustery windy I wanted Mexican food...so we went out. We do not go out often and WOW the sticker shock! Our bill at our favorite Mexican place was $30 more than it had been pre-pandemic. Yikes.
However, this was a good reminder that the next time I say, "I want a margarita" the hubs will remind me he can make me one at home!
FFT:
- still composting and having a lot of success with that this year
- eating all the leftovers; no food waste except for those composting scraps
- making my own trail mix to take for golf snacks (ok, I mix together mixed nuts and banana chips, but still!)
- making our own croutons with the last of some french bread
- (hopefully) saving money by trying a new strategy with my quarterly taxes...
1. Bought loose leaf tea in bulk to brew in a French press. A mason jar of tea leaves cost around one dollar. This is so economical and waste-free.
2. Attended a meeting that had a lot of leftover coffee. Brought the large coffee maker home and transferred the contents into mason jars that went in the fridge. The coffee was so strong that I even made another batch from the original grounds. I now have a couple weeks of coffee to reheat and enjoy. I jazz it up with almond milk or hemp milk.
3. Received large tax refunds from both state and federal so we changed our tax withholding amounts so that we don't repeat that mistake this year.
4. Ate (more like gagged down) some salad and soup that were both just about to go south.
5. Received some food from a family member that was about to go bad (the food, not the person!).
2 heel sandwich hint: spread the sandwich filling on the crust side of the heel, and put the sandwich together with the crust on the inside and the bread part on the outside, you can't even tell your using the heels!
So glad you are using your library (from a librarian) 🙂
1. I bought flower seeds instead of seedlings. This is much more frugal way of planting a flower garden.
2. Baked homemade bread again this week. Folks are liking the homemade variety much better so this may become a regular occurrence.
3. Hubby scored a large piece of treated lumber for free and used it to fix our mailbox and the trim around our back door that had some wood rot.
4. Repotted some verbena that has returned again this year along with some creeping Jenny that has multiplied. This will be repotted into several
Other pots once I get summer flowers planted. Any flower that I don’t have to purchase is a win.
5. Ordering potting soil and mulch in bulk rather than purchasing at a big box store. This is a savings in cost per cubic yard so we can get material we need for the yard and garden for less $$$.
Not terribly frugal this week either. I loooooove the ends of the bread so your sandwich would have been my jam!
We went out to a pricey dinner and then a pricey small venue concert after. AND IT WAS A LONG DRIVE ( gas!)It was not frugal but we planned ahead. We really enjoy live music. Concert was fab. Dinner was just okay, but time well spent.
Using free apps for music, reading, podcasts and workouts.
Eating up leftovers.
Redecorating for spring with things I already own.
Repotting plants I already own.
Decided NOT to mulch outside this year. Big savings. Going to do every other year now…it is good enough.
Well I LOVE the heel!!!!
Honestly, things just don't feel frugal around here either...prices are nutso for everything, it seems. So I try to do what I can wherever I can, even if it's little stuff:
-ate at home almost everyday (went out once). Even if the family is getting take-out, I ate at home (mostly because I wanted to eat healthier/better)
-Shopped at the non-brand grocery store and saved a bunch on fresh produce. The amount of produce I got for $20 was incredible in comparison to what I would have gotten at our local Ralphs or Albertsons
-When I do shop at the regular markets, I always check my apps first and drop in whatever coupons are available.
-I only run the big appliances and charge the cars during off-peak hours
-Baked muffins for lunchboxes this week for the kids. They take lunch from home instead of buying the expensive lunch at school. Since they're in private schools, their lunches aren't subsidized and are pretty pricy for what you get.
-Stocked up on pantry items while they're on sale.
1) I’ve been staying home instead of going out more often.
2) A picture broke during our move. I went to have new glass put in and found out I would save about $30 by just getting the glass and reassembling the picture myself. I can do that!
3) Occasionally we order pizza. Found that picking it up straight from the store instead of ordering through Skip the Dishes saves us about $20. There’s a special on a smaller size when you pick up so that difference in cost actually saves about half, and it’s not like I miss the extra leftovers.
4) Borrowed a kitten harness from a friend instead of buying one. Waiting to buy him a collar until he is full grown.
5) Got kitten insurance. This isn’t necessarily frugal in the short term, but he’s little and has no pre-existing conditions so hopefully this will save us in the long term. Our big dog cost us over $300 per month for over 10 years - once bitten, twice shy in that regard! I’d rather pay $32 a month and have the peace of mind.
What do you know, I got to five!
I forgot one: I replaced two broken zippers in my wife’s outreach hoodies for about $5 each.
Ok, this is huge! Replacing zippers is such an annoying task, so good for you.
Heels are my very favorite part of the bread. I will gladly take them whenever they are there (which is often--as my husband has a terrible aversion to them). 🙂
I don't believe I have many frugal wins this week. But.. I'll try:
1) My mom went through all of our kiddo's clothes that we've had at her house. She gave us three bags back of things that were likely outgrown (I swear, he went from 2T to 4T overnight). I took the bag to Once Upon A Child, and came back with $29 in cash. Though... I DID spend $13 of that on two diecast metal full-size cars for him. Did he need them? No. But this is my only kiddo and it gave me great joy to see his eyes light up. And we still walked away with $16 in cash that we didn't have.
2) I was very tired last night, and instead of pushing the easy button and eating out, or making everyone fend for themselves, I cooked. Lentil tacos. They were really good, too!
3) When my mother-in-law moved, she was going to toss out her small kitchen island. We grabbed it and it has been sitting in my husband's garage for nearly 8 months (this renovation is NEARLY.OVER.). My husband dragged it into the house, and I scrubbed the heck outta it. Found out it is originally from World Market (which means it was originally $500+ just about). It needs to be painted and the top needs to be refinished... but it fits the space we have PERFECTLY, and I have the paint and elbow grease to bring this beauty back to life. No money needs to be spent!
4) Every two years or so, I go through our entire house. Top to bottom. EVERY closet. Drawer. Nook. Cranny. And declutter. I've gone through 3 rooms in the house so far. I hate to even admit it, but I donated 7 bags of clothes + shoes between my husband and I. Oof. We are far lighter because of it, and now are down to clothes we actually wear.
5) I... did not buy a Peloton bike even though I desperately want one. I am telling myself to be content using my cheap indoor cycling bike that I picked up for $50 (and it has undoubtedly already paid for itself). Sigh. Some day I will save up enough for the Peloton. Today is just not that day yet... but I have $16 more toward it now 🙂
1. Cut my new boxes of Brillo pads and sponges in half.
2. This gas station in town is running a contest where you play a game and if you win you get a prize. The husband and I play each day (takes less than one minute) and over the last month have won, together, over $35 of prizes like water, pop, coffee, potato chips and gorp. It feels silly to play, but for little effort it is worth it.
3. Did a mystery shop for the movie theater. Paid for two of us to go to any move, plus gave us money for popcorn and pop and a small payment. It is the first time we have gone to a movie in over two years and I was a bit nervous but we ended up being two of only six people in the entire theater and all the staff were wearing masks.
4. I gathered up all the mayos, mustards, ketchups and soy sauces that have been lurking in a drawer, some for quite a while. I put them on the counter in a box, to remind ourselves to use them up before going to the fridge for condiments. It cleared up a messy drawer and is saving us a few pennies by using them up.
5. A friend who picked up a food box ended up not liking some of the items in the box. She offered these items to me rather than throwing them out and I was happy to take them. I wish our local food bank allowed people to "shop" the supplies like other food banks do, so that it would cut down on people getting stuff they don't want and (worse) might throw away.
Like so many others the month of March was not a frugal month for the family and April and May are shaping up to be quite expensive too.
We bought a house 4 hours away in a different state and already knew we needed to do some updates before officially moving in. So thankfully we have budgeted for these things but needing another $20,000 on top of closing/down payments makes me want to hide under the covers for awhile.
And on top of that we are having our second child at the end of May. Thankfully most of the things we have needed we were given as hand me downs from friends and siblings. And we’ll be sure to continue handing them down to others who have a need.
The silver lining in all of this upheaval is that my in laws sold their house 2 weeks after our closing and have graciously agreed to live in our empty new house during renovations while they look for their new house. Happy to have someone there watching over everything that is happening.
Hopefully once everything is settled we can get back on track with being more frugal and saving for another college fund. 🙂
The PB sandwich made me laugh because it is a coveted food item in my home. My eldest daughter LOVES the heals of all breads, but especially loves when the timing works out to a PB sandwich with 2 heals! She gets this from her dad who also loves the heal...there is much good-natured fighting over the heals of all the breads I bake.
1. Using both manufacturers coupons and Ibotta, I managed to get one item for free and two more severely discounted.
2. I got another random Eddie Bauer $10 reward certificate. I had not earned it buying anything, so I am sure it was sent to me to entice me to buy stuff. And it worked! BUT, I bought two shirts on clearance for my son and only spent $2. Still a good deal!
3. Over spring break, my kids and I went to see my grandpa at his nursing home in Pittsburgh, PA, which is a 4.5 hour drive for us. We stopped at a children’s museum on the drive over…both acting as a pitstop and a festive spring break activity. After 2 hours of museum fun, we got back into the car and ate a packed lunch. After visiting with my grandpa and swimming in the hotel pool, we ate a packed dinner. As we sat on the hotel bed eating and watching cable TV shows we never get to view, my 6 year-old declared, “This is the best dinner ever!” Love his enthusiasm for simple pleasures. We had free breakfast at the hotel, but did stop for fast food on the way home…but I felt 3 out of 4 frugal meals was a good effort.
4. My husband and children made a scarecrow for our garden out of items we had in the house and garage. Frank (named so because he resembles Frankenstein’s monster) is quite a sight, but hopefully he keeps the birds and bunnies away. The dogs don’t care for him and keep barking at him during their nighttime potty break!
5. All the small things…I listened to a book on Libby (“Such a Fun Age”... interesting read), walked with a friend, ate freezer leftovers, propagated a plant, used containers I already had to do some re-organizing in the art loft and made banana bread with some very ripe bananas.
It's so funny how some people love the heels! I do like heels of homemade bread, but I don't love them so much when the bread is store-bought.
I get those Eddie Bauer certificates sometimes too. I usually use them to buy socks!
I luv Haley's idea for heel sandwiches!
I don't have an outstanding Fab Five this week either. But a win is a win, right?
1) I earned a $5 GC at a Ace hardware store.
2) The water heater gave up. Instead of hiring a plumber, we purchased one and installed it. The tricky part was the gas line. But it's up and running. I'll put the old one on Craigslist for recycling and I usually find someone to take it away for free.
3) I've been buying clearance fruits for 99 cents a bag and dehydrating them. Bananas and pears do well. Mandarin oranges do not. ::Blech::
4) My brother and his gf are visiting this week. At least I didn't pay for airfare to see them this time.
5) My sis is sending me a food vacuum sealer. It was a gift.
1. Submitted my taxes (also have a 2022 envelope on the go-when mail or email comes in with a receipt, it goes directly in that envelope so I'm ready for next tax season)
2. Did inventory before grocery shopping
3. Cut up an old pillowcase & pajama pants for rags
4. Use reusable K-Cups and fill with whatever coffee is on sale
5. Planned my meals for the week making sure to use up stuff in fridge
6. Appreciate what I have and take care of it : )
My parents have a Keurig, so I've been using their refillable K-cup to make my coffee! It's nice that you don't HAVE to use the disposable K-cups in a Keurig.
A peanut butter sandwich sounds good! On non-heel bread, though. 😉
My FFT:
1. Last week was spring break and we did lots of free things. We swam, played with friends, and went to the zoo - all free. We ate out a few times (my kids were so excited to eat at Sam's Club - ha!) My school-age daughter said that the week was even better than going to Florida and I am still riding the high of making a really fun week that didn't cost a fortune.
2. This morning when I went to put a load of towels in the dryer they seemed really wet, so I put them through an extra spin cycle before putting them in the dryer.
3. I'm working today! I arranged things so I could work from 10-noon and then I'll go back and work from around 4-9. I helped with a catering job back in the fall or early winter and I'm glad they've asked me to come back for these once-in-a-while big events.
4. I've kept up with watering my seedlings. I had to replant most of them after I ignored them for a few days and killed them all, but I'm taking care of them everyday now and looking forward to all of the garden produce we'll have this summer.
5. I realized that I overbought produce (forgetting that we'll be out of town Friday and Saturday while my kids go to my parents' house) so I've been trying really hard to use it all up. Everyone had lots and lots of veggies with their snacks and lunches today!
The past week had some good frugal wins for me which is nice because my computer completely died (won't turn on at all). I had it repaired a couple of years ago to the tune of $170 so I don't think another repair would be cost effective.
1. I attended a free program on Saturday at the library. All supplies were provided, and I ended up with a framed art piece that I am proud of. I put it in my dining room.
2. I signed up for a free subscription to Better Homes & Gardens awhile back and received the first issue yesterday.
3. I sold a toddler dress that is about 25 years old for $5 on Nextdoor.
4. I got some great sales, clearance and coupon deals at 5 stores (all but 1 on the same street). Including our very high tax, I paid just $9.20 for all of this: Italian bread, 6 tomatoes, 5 bananas, 4 avocados, Silk oat milk, 12 tortillas, 2 large boxes of multigrain Cheerios and a Bob's Red Mill bar (Sprouts freebie). I will scan the 5 receipts in every available app to earn points for gift cards. I am very happy with this haul!
5. I found a birthday card in my stash and mailed it while out doing the grocery shops.
I have a tip for “heel” pb sandwiches! Put the PB and jelly (of fluff or honey..) on the actual heel side! Then on the outside of the sandwich it feels like a normal sandwich. It’s 10x better than a normal “heel sandwich!”
1. Mended another onesie hole, as well as a seam on my thrifted but nearly new shirt.
2. DH and I used a gift card we received from our realtor for a date night at Panera. Well, we got takeout and ate in the car since we didn’t feel comfortable taking Baby E inside yet (too many people). But it was still a lovely change of pace and nice to not cook.
3. Picked up 6 hours on Thursday- my first day of work since Baby E arrived. Glad my husband can flex his hours to cover childcare, and that I’ve been able to pump enough to cover baby’s feeds that day.
4. Redeemed stars for two free treats at Starbucks. All of my stars have been earned through using gift cards received from doing surveys, so this feels like a double bonus.
5. Eating out of the freezer and pantry and avoiding food waste. Grateful that DH and I both like frugal staples, especially for breakfasts (steel cut overnight oats with fruit, or eggs) and lunches (cooked dried beans, sauteed veggies, and either salsa or spices).
Do you heel-consumers ever make your sammiches with the crust side in? I feel like that makes it more palatable. (I am a devoted heel-avoider myself, but I do inflict them upon my children, ha.)
1. Pulled a wipe container out of the recycling at work to use as a bag container in our camper. I am tired of digging through the cabinets trying to find a bag.
2. The local baseball team hosted a "town day" for our town and so not only were tickets free, a family friend is the ticket manager and upgraded ours to right behind home plate. I spent a little too much on snacks, but we enjoyed ourselves.
3. We are still eating apples that were left over from a job fair at my work last week. No one wanted them, so we'll eat them or we'll make applesauce.
4. I utilized my workplace's four free counseling sessions for my daughter who has anxiety. On the recommendation of the counselor, I was able to get four more free ones (for me) and use it for family therapy. This has been a rough few months in our home.
5. Talked myself out of buying food "out" a few times last week. Rather we went home and I made something out of the leftovers. Boring but cost saving.
@Jenelle, Good for you. Always use counseling sessions!
(We encourage each other in bodily health, and need to do so in emotional health as well).
1) We took advantage of a promotion at Pollo Tropical for some free meals, something to do with the Miami Heat.
2) We’re doing some drywall repair ourselves instead of hiring someone.
3) I bought two swimsuits on Amazon and they are going back today. They’re cute, but not a comfortable fit.
4) My son used Gas Buddy to find the lowest priced gas near us, then filled up my car.
5) The usual, walking for free exercise, drinking copious amounts of coffee at home and still harvesting tomatoes ,lettuce and herbs from my container garden.
Usually the dog gets the bread heels because no one else likes them. 😉
Let's see if I can come up with five frugal things.....
1) Purchased gas at station that gives discount for loyalty card holders
2) Purchased a 6' laminate countertop piece that we're going to cut and install ourselves for the wet bar renovation
3) Purchased mulch while it was on sale and when we were already at the store
4) Made the purchases for countertop and mulch online so I could get Rakuten Rewards
5) Used eggs and canned tuna that were on hand for lunches this week
I washed the car myself, which is far cheaper than the gas station or the toonie scrub and wash down the street.
We are building an arbour for the grapes...the wood was not cheap but the labour (me and one of my boys) is free, and this is a fun project for the teenager to oversee.
I borrowed a saw to complete the arbour from my handy oldest son who lives close by.
I had coupons for milk, which are unusual where I live. Milk rarely has coupons, sales or discounts of any kind.
I found two boxes of bandaids that were $2 a box in a clearance bin. The teenage son works in a kitchen and is going through bandaids like no one’s business!
Tax return received and automatically deposited into a higher rate savings account.
I hear you on the peanut butter and honey sandwiches....I’ll take that over peanut butter and jam any day! I have never, ever been able to eat PB&J.
I have a love/hate relationship with downloading apps for retail stores, but the coupons really do payoff. Today, I got $19 off a $60 purchase with the Hannaford app, which is nothing to sneeze at with prices being what they are. Sometimes, they give you a specific item, but I do like this better as I can pick up what's on sale. Between that and other coupons, I paid $51 for $74 worth. I'll take it!
I planted more seeds this week to get a head start on the growing season.
I found a small pussy willow bush in the wild and plan to dig it up (after getting permission from the land owner) and transplanting it. I hope it works! I've always wanted one.
I finished a medical study and got paid $94.
I used pirate ship to save money on sending a package via UPS. Check it out online!
Peanut butter and banana sandwiches are great too!
1. I sewed a pair of mittens for my daughter.
2. We started some more seedlings and they are doing very well. I am interested to see how the celery seedlings do, as I have never grown them before. We planted onions and snap peas in the garden.
3. We took a walk to a County park near our house this weekend.
4. Used some meat we had in the freezer, that we got on sale, for dinners this week. Purchased 2 hams on sale to go into the freezer. Used some over-ripe bananas to make banana pancakes for breakfast for my kids.
5. I gave away some of my son's clothes on Buy Nothing. This is not frugal, but staying organized is. This week we will head to Goodwill for shorts for my son.
If you turn the heels in, it feels like eating a non-heel sandwich.
At least, to me.
1) decided to try a different brand of garlic supplement that was on a buy one get one special.
2) started more seeds for my garden
3) grocery shopped only for a few necessities and my Easter ham and dessert makings. Everything else came out of the freezer or pantry
4) delivered my water payment on a trip through town instead of mailing it and did multiple errands on the same trip
5) used up aging apples in an apple cake
I need to do more planning both for meals and other frugal activities. Time to read the Frugal Gazette books again
I finished our taxes today. I got 95% done a few weeks ago, but put off the last bit for a while. It feels good to be done. I treated myself to a yummy drink when I finished (Dr. Pepper).
It feels like we are hemorrhaging money right now as we prepare to move, buy a new house, and sell this one. Let's see if I can get to 5!
1) We've painted our cabinets ourselves so they look better to sell the house.
2) Rather than replace perfectly good countertops we're resurfacing them and so far they look amazing! I wish we'd done this sooner!
3) I eat all of my meals at home which saves us tons of money.
4) Hubby's new car needed new tires. Rather than getting them at the local tire store he had them air up the slow leak he had and took it to Costco to get tires today. He saved us about $200 and he thinks he got better tires too.
5) We've gotten free boxes from my family and saved others that we've gotten in the mail to pack the things that the movers won't take. Hopefully we won't have to buy any boxes!
I am shocked I got to 5!
For whatever weird reason, our household LOVES the heel of homemade bread but hates the heel of grocery store sliced bread. Those become croutons.
1. Spent several days at parents' house. I took them on a burger fast/casual mystery shop with me. I made no money, but it covered the cost of lunch for the 3 of us. They found it quite exciting and my dad wanted to know if we were doing another one the following day.
2. Made dinner for 7 people while there, just using what parents had in their house including marked-down ground turkey. Sister came and gave us 2 dozen eggs from her chickens. SCORE.
3. Filled up with gas as parents live in CT where gov. temporarily halted gas tax, making it much cheaper than at home.
4. Did another mystery shop on my long 3.5 hour drive home from work. Able to do it at dinner time and the extra $ helps pay for the cost of gas.
5. Set up 3rd mystery shop (in 5 days) for drive up to Maine tomorrow, which will happen during/take care of dinner. I'm REALLY sick of these burger fast/casual mystery shops, but it is free food + some gas money.
1. I made our meals at home.
2. We're eating up food, sometimes in odd combos, so it's not wasted.
3. My mother gifted me some items that she found while deep cleaning... lots of Barbie items, books, etc.
4. We have enjoyed free entertainment.
5. We went to the library before snowmaggedon.
Makes me laugh every time you refer to the ends of the loaf as heels, I immediately see you tottering about on high heels made of bread.
We call them crusts 🙂
Oh my goodness, I did not know this! And yes, that would make some of my sentences sound awfully funny.
Batched a bunch of appointments and errands to save on gas. Was near the cheaper grocery store that sells clearance produce so I stopped and got enough produce to fill my whole kitchen counter for just $5. Also resisted the urge to buy a bottled Starbucks Frappuccino in the checkout while I was there.
Used the library and free state and county parks for entertainment for the boys.
Made homemade resurrection eggs for my kiddos with stuff I already had instead of buying them online.
Harvested some dandelion roots from the yard and made tea for free.
Made maple syrup with sap from the maple trees in our yard.
Oh, lets's see. How did we do?
1) Used a grocery store reward to save $25 off of my purchase. I was picking up items for my parents visit next week, so it was nice to have the reduction in cost, as we will undoubtedly spend more feeding six people.
2) Noticed our credit card had been used fraudulently, and disputed all of the charges, and cancelled my card/ordered a new one.
3) Meal planned for the first few days my parents will be here. We will be doing delivery pizza tomorrow (one teen has a tennis match, the other has soccer practice), but I purchased groceries & have a plan for the other nights.
4) Used a $6 Rite Aid reward to buy some Easter candy for our egg hunt on Sunday.
5) I had to leave work early yesterday (one of my office mates has COVID, so my company requires me to not be in the office, and test negative multiple times before I can return). A friend brought me lunch before I left, as I was on my way to get on a bunch of calls, so it was much appreciated. (Lunch is free at our office.) Bonus, my office supplies free rapid COVID tests, as well as a more accurate test. I can use the more accurate version + a free telehealth visit for international travel.
The heel... personally it's my favorite. I've been known to save the front heel and the back heel for, drumroll please... boring regular old toast! What an amazing vessel for butter (extra butter 🙂 and homemade jam/jelly/honey! There is no leakage, no breaking, fewer crumbs and it's extra crispy deliciousness is ALL MINE!!
If I am faced with toast or sandwiches for the kids I will get out a new loaf of bread. They have a stern no heel policy in place... which is fine with me! LOL
FFT - I've never done this before!
1. All of our meals this week are from scratch - your pizza dough was on last night 🙂
2. My husband is a champ when it comes to eating leftovers for lunch in his cooler.
3. My daughter went on an overnight class trip to a nearby national park and hiking boots were required. I bought some on Ebay for less than half of new, and they were in near pristine shape.
4. I redeemed a rebate for purchasing a years supply of contacts, put it into my amazon account and got an additional $10 added to the original rebate amount!
5. Did you know you can use Good Earth tea bags 2x! Put two together for the second round. 2 bags = 3 cups.
FFTs...
1. I am attending a free concert tomorrow night at my local library.
2. DH and I took advantage of the spring weather here in New England and went for a hike on a wooded trail. We saw beautiful old stone walls, some tumbling down, built by the early farmers. We also passed by two shallow wells filled in with dried leaves. Good for the soul and free exercise.
3. A friend invited us to Easter dinner. She asked me to make a pot of Boston Baked Beans to go with the ham. Easy and frugal with dried beans.
4. I'm reading library books and have three more on hold. Finished reading Ordinary Grace by Krueger (fiction) and Cost of Living by Maloney (non-fiction memoirist essays).
Enjoyed both of them and Ordinary Grace made me cry tears of astonishment.
5. My last bottom sheet became full of tears due to years of use. I've been using a top sheet tucked in at the sides until I can get an inexpensive replacement. Works fine.
I love the heels of bread. My husband always cuts me a nice first piece on a new loaf. Because he loves me. And doesn't like the heels.