Five Frugal Things | also, I PASSED
First up: I passed all of my competency tests yesterday, first try. Yay!!
The two professors who watched me said that I did a great a job and that they could tell I'd gone to a bunch of the optional open labs (and that's true; I did sign up for tons of those).
So....a big WHEW.
I have competency tests each semester, and I think future ones will feel slightly less nerve-wracking because at least I will know what to expect.
On to frugal things!
1. I got a $3 survey bonus from Acorns
I have a little Acorns investment account, and I noticed they sent me an email offering me a $3 investment for doing a survey.
I can be easily bought, so I spent a few minutes doing the survey, and now I've got another $3 in my investment account. Sweet!
2. I got a box of free covid tests from the library
I studied at the library for a while the other day because I had some time to kill before an appointment, and on my way out, I noticed they had a bin of free covid tests, so I grabbed one.
Do I hope to avoid needing these?
Yes.
But just in case Zoe and I get sick, I will be glad to have some here.
3. I got a free pizza from Safeway
I had to stop in for a package of bacon one day, and as usual, I took a quick peek at the app to see if there were any good offers.
Lo and behold, there was an offer for a completely free Safeway brand frozen pizza!
So of course I picked that up.
4. I got a bottle of Maui Moisture for $0.51
I noticed I had a bunch of ExtraBucks in my account, plus a $2.50 coupon for a bottle of Maui Moisture.
Soo, I stopped in, purposely selected a variety that had "50% more free!", and used all my ExtraBucks to bring my total down to $0.51.
I'm don't spend a lot of time chasing deals at CVS, but here are my best CVS strategies.
5. I found a replacement pair of Vans
You know how I've mended my black Vans multiple times?
Well, I've had this pair since 2017, and the wear is getting beyond my repair capabilities.
Like...the soles are wearing down, and I've worn the inside lining by the heel so thin, there's not a lot of material left between my foot and the outside of the shoe!
I went to the Vans store, and could not find a pair exactly like mine; all the offerings had suede on the toe area, and I did not love that.
Suede looks nice but...I like to throw my Vans in the washing machine every now and then, and a 100% canvas shoe is good for that.
Luckily, the guy who works at the store told me that my particular style is still sold at Kohl's.
AND the Kohl's variety was about half the price of the basic style at the Vans store. Sweet!
Given that my first pair of this style lasted me for so long, I feel pretty confident that the next pair will also serve me well.
I'm happy for your stellar performance, but not surprised. 🙂
Frugal things . . .
--I'm finally starting to harvest some tomatoes from the garden . . . and we're going to have a hard freeze this weekend. It's been quite a year, but even in a really wretched year like this, I always get some food from the garden. And my particular style of gardening (read: cheap) means that it only takes about a dozen tomatoes to recoup my investment. Of money, anyway. Time is another matter . . .
--All the butchering we've been doing lately has been saving us quite a bit on dog food. The dogs have even gotten a bit plump from all the scraps. We'll call it their winter insulation. 🙂 They'll slim down when they're back to purchased food.
--Ditto the chickens. They don't eat as much meat as the dogs (mostly because I don't want to affect the taste of their eggs), but they do love it and it supplements their food, too.
--My husband and I finally got around to sorting a few bags of clothing he got from his dad and brother. In those bags, we found two very nice leather Western vests that will probably fit my eldest son next year and that he can wear for Western dress events (like prom, eep), and several lined flannel shirts, sweatshirts, etc. that fit my husband and that he's been wearing non-stop since it started cooling down. I almost bought him a lined flannel shirt exactly like that at a store a couple of months ago, but he asked me not to because it was fifty dollars, even on sale. And now he has two, for free. Yay.
--I used the try before you buy option on Amazon to get a pair of church shoes for my daughter. Her feet are growing, so I wasn't sure about the size and did not want to pay for return shipping if I guessed wrong. Also, I find the dress shoes to be harder to fit, as sometimes those ballet style flats just pull off on the heel even if they're the right size. These were Children's Place shoes, so they were pretty well made and work well.
@kristin @ going country,
I have found the same thing with ballet flats. We had such trouble with one of my girls' shoes that I avoid that type of shoe altogether if I can. Strap across the top? Yes. Dressy boot? Yes. Anything that helps it stay on her foot!
@Ruth T, This is 100% my daughters. The ballet flats NEVER have worked for us. We're all mary janes.
@kristin @ going country, when my boys were younger and in Catholic school there were specific shoes that they had to wear. At the last, and now non-existent, shoe store that did professional fittings, they always had to modify my one son’s shoes at the tongue and back. The back would be too wide. If for some occasion your daughter needs a strapless shoe you could try heel grips that go into the back of the shoe.
YAAAAAAAAY PASSING!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!! ALL THE CAPS!!!
Congrats! on Passing on the first go a round!!!!!
FFT, Silly Car Edition
I repainted my car myself for $125ish. I consider this my belated milestone birthday present to myself--and to my car, which has worked extra hard for us these past few years with our move, renovations, etc. My ride is in its mid-thirties and was bought for $1000 nearly a decade ago, which places it firmly in “I can do what I want” territory. In this instance, that means black and white (with a smattering of custom vinyl decals from Etsy) to distinguish it in parking lots. ;P
--Supplies were bought over several months (starting in March) to spread out the cost and to hunt sales. Related: I bought the orbital sander Kristen recommended on a Prime Day sale this summer, and it worked a treat! I already had the respirator and filters necessary for the sanding and fume-tastic paint. (Rustoleum Marine Topside enamel is amazing stuff, but it will knock you flat without safety gear and good ventilation!)
--I work at home, so having my car under tape and newspaper in the garage for several days wasn’t a problem. If anything, it saved money on gas and random wanderlust errands, which happen occasionally.
--The local grocery store saved old newspapers for me. I gave what I didn't need to the library, which uses them to contain kid craft chaos.
--I was able to safely remove the manufacturer emblems to make painting easier. I later reattached these with epoxy I already had.
—I was careful to run my car (parked, with the garage door open) for 5-10 minutes every few days to keep things nice and lubricated in the engine.
Admittedly, the time investment proved more than anticipated! 20 hours total including deep cleaning, sanding, cleaning again, a comical amount of taping, the actual painting, and removing ALL that painter’s tape. However, that represents just a few hours in the afternoons spread over a full week. I’ve spent more time on far sillier things, and it’s so nice to have my vehicle look as stately as it deserves.
@N, I would never do the car thing, but I find it impressive. (I'm the kind of person who doesn't put any bumper or window stickers on my vehicle.)
@N, Any chance we could see before and after pictures? This sounds like quite the make-over!
@N, I’m very impressed, that is a lot of work. Good job!
@N, that's amazing! I too would love to see a photo!
@Bobi, That's up to Kristen (no pressure, Kristen, seriously--your blog, your rules!) and how carefully I can crop the photos to avoid doxing. My ride has a reputation of its own, it's hauled so many notable things!
Re: the makeover, after 30+ years, my car's original white (which suits it) had oxidized to "Smoker/coffee drinker teeth," and the rust blooming along its bottom edges was honestly making me sad. After sanding and priming the rust spots, I painted the top 2/3 of the car bright white and then painted the bottom 1/3 black to hide the rust repairs and make future rust spots both less obvious and easier to fix. It's not a perfect paint job, but it looks solidly 95% better than previously, so I'm happy.
@N, You can upload a picture here https://imgbb.com/
and then post a link on the blog.
@Rose, Thank you, I have learned things! Here's hoping the link works: https://ibb.co/5hWCv8j
@N, One more, as much as I can show without giving up my online ghost: https://ibb.co/wLdF59D The difference in lighting is the driveway for the "before" shots vs. the garage for the "after" while the new paint cured.
This is so amazing!! Good for you!!
@N,
I am so impressed! Well done indeed
@N, Super impressive!!
@N, It looks great! Good for you.
@N, it looks terrific!
@N, very impressive.
@N, I’m even more impressed by the fact that you painted it two colors!
@N, what a difference! I did that to my old rusty shed. A new one wasn’t in the budget and structurally the shed is sound it just looks awful. 6 cans of Espresso Rustoleum later it looks new! ( the shed is in a corner so I only needed to do 2 side as and the roof. I figured I couldn’t make it look Amy worse but it looks great now!
Congratulations!
FFT:
1. Got an email from the department of Ed saying they'd reimburse me for licensure fees (plus some, I think), as long as I filled out a survey and funds were still available. So I hopped on the survey as quickly as I could and filled it out. Now I wait for the check to show up in the mail.
2. I took advantage of free counseling offered by my employer, and a free physical fitness program.
3. I packed lunches, made dinners ahead, planned for the crazy of the week, etc.
4. I didn't buy anything at the store even though super warm mittens were calling my name. I still need superwarm mittens because mine (10 years old) have burst holes on my thumb and one pair the fleece wore out. I don't know enough about knitting to repair, but i'm going to check with the locals to see if someone could patch them up.
that's it. Pretty mundane.
Congratulations for passing competency tests.
Congratulations, and you can add me to the list of folks who aren't surprised!
My mundane frugal things:
-I planned my meals according to what I had on hand or what was on my list for my regularly scheduled grocery trip. To be clear, my grocery trips aren't regularly scheduled, but I was planning on being in the bigger town because of an appointment.
-When I took my youngest daughter on our "date" to face therapy and Panera's last week, I remembered just how much food comes with an order. I let my daughter pick (a flat bread pizza), and I shared with her.
-I made coffee and chicken broth at home.
-While I was working with another child yesterday, I asked my daughters to check and see if anything remained in the garden. They brought in a few random lunchbox peppers, a green pepper, and a few cherry tomatoes.
-My husband and I went on a date last Thursday (before I got sick). We did spend money for dinner, but the entertainment was free: we went to our library for a free presentation about Edgar Allan Poe. I got to hold his hair and a piece of his original coffin.
@Jody S., I feel dishonest if don't add that I was not terribly frugal when I needed a book for homeschool. I didn't want to pay shipping, so I added a few more items just to get free shipping. I really wasn't justified spending because shipping would have been less than the extra items. Books are my frugal downfall.
@Jody S., You should never feel guilty about books!
@Jody S., mine too! I always look at the library first, and then if it isn't there, I go to Thriftbooks. But sometimes I hear someone interviewed on a podcast and simply MUST order the book. . . To alleviate my guilt, I make sure to lend the book to any interested friend, and then, oh good grief will I ever learn, I forget to note who I lend it to and then I lose the book. But it keeps my shelves from collapsing that way. . . there is almost always a silver lining.
@Jody S., Same when it comes to books! I'm currently on a self-imposed book spending moratorium (briefly suspended when my husband offered to buy me a book or two when out on a date, I'm not made of stone, after all!). I was a little sad this year when I only had to buy books for one kid, since the others are all either in college classes or graduated from college...I always sneak in a couple of books "for teacher" in my online orders.
@Jody S., Your library date sounds amazing!
Congrats on passing your first hands on exam! Such a confidence building experience too 🙂
My frugal activities last week are solely related to creating tasty meals from my freezer as next week a big load of meats will be delivered, for this winter. It is also a good opportunity of evaluating what foods are good choices for freezing in the future. If an ingredient gets pushed to the back time and again (suet!) it is probably best not to buy that again.
Also I have started saving a little time, by happening upon and buying a gift for 5 Dec (St Nicholas) which I am sure the recipient will never think of. I can already start packing it and making the rhyme.
@JNL, how about using suet in mince meat (English sweet variety) or dumplings for stew (English recipe again)
@Nicola Ashman,
Intend to use it up in at least 1 thing sweet and 1 thing savory. But I doubt that I will buy again
@J NL, I buy dried Atora suet for my mince pies and steamed English puddings. Doesn't need to be refrigerated; should last forever unless it's left on a low shelf and a certain coonhound decides to eat the entire box. Sigh, it's a good thing scent hounds have iron stomachs.
Totally not surprised you passed!
1. I made my husband's costume with materials we already had. I had to purchase materials for my costume, but it was still cheaper to buy part and assemble it than to purchase the whole thing. One kid's costume came from a secondhand store. The other costumes were not particularly frugal, but not bad. I'm ok with spending that money.
2. I won a decorated pumpkin from a silent auction. It's huge and very nice looking. I only spent $7 on it. A good deal! I get a cool pumpkin and the organization gets some money. The pumpkins were donated by a local farmer.
3. I made most of our meals at home. I accepted food from my mom.
4. We are working on fall yard clean up ourselves. There's snow in the forecast, so we will have a mess. Our trees don't drop their leaves until very late. Most of our neighbors trees have lost their leaves though, except for the same type of tree as ours.
5. I am in the process of sewing on a million or so patches. My son just got his BSA patches for the last 6 months, which included summer camp. Only using thread we have at home. I'm using the sewing machine for the bigger patches and sewing the smaller merit badges by hand.
@Nikki, I am so bad with patches. For girl scouts I tried using the sticker stuff but then they'd curl and I didn't like that so then I'd sew the borders anyway. My latest misery is taekwondo patches. I'm destroyed my fingers (i've been hand sewing them because I don't really know how to use my sewing machine) and then didn't do a good job because a few of them curled when I washed the uniform. Sob sob...I'll try again before her next belt test.
Oh my, I can't imagine doing that by hand! Those patches are so thick. Do you have a thimble to help you push the needle through?
@CrunchyCake, Fabric glue?
Seeing patches is well in my past, but my fingers still remember.
@Nikki, I feel your pain about BSA patches. I, fortunately, had a lovely woman from church who machined sewed on the patches. My son made Eagle Scout so that was a lot of patches!
First off, woohoo!!! Congrats on passing your tests!
Frugal Five
1. I bought Chipotle gift cards for 20% off. This is one of the few places both my partner and I really enjoy, so being able to save a little on the front end is nice.
2. Went into Target and only picked up my prescription.
3. Filled up my truck using Upside. Cashed out the $14 that was in there to my savings account.
4. Ate food that was already in the house. Doing a freezer inventory again helped me to figure out what I had and what I needed to use up what I had.
5. Stayed out of stores (again), scanned receipts into Fetch, earned points with Bing and Mypoints, used the library, packed my lunches, and brought coffee and tea from home.
Congratulations on passing the hands-on test on the first try! I had no doubt that you would knock it out of the park.
Frugal things:
- Needed a snack to take to weekly happy hour so I dug in the freezer and found a package of puff pastry that I used to make savory breadsticks.
- Used the second sheet of puff pastry to make more breadsticks to go along with our dinner
- Signed up for lunch and learn at the office that comes with free lunch
- Avoided going to the grocery store for lunch items so I'm having PB&J sandwiches this week. It's funny to me how many people ask if we're having financial trouble when I bring PB&J sandwiches for lunch!
- Finally got around to getting my library card. I was encouraged to get it because of all the comments here about all the wonderful library resources available. I even convinced DH to sign up so he can access audio books.
@Beverly, people actually ask you if you are having financial trouble? That sounds kind of invasive and buttinsky. I love PB&J, or PB & banana; why does that signify poverty?? Those snobs are missing out on good food.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, Yes, coworkers have asked if I'm having financial problems. To be fair, we are taught to watch for signs of financial stress since that can make you vulnerable to being recruited for espionage (I work in the defense industry).
@Beverly, that is absolutely fascinating! Thank you for clarifying.
@Beverly, just WOW! Recruited for espionage. I'm speechless.
Congratulations! You were well prepared and took advantage of the opportunities provided for practice, and it showed. I suspect the future tests will have a similar preparation with the added bonus of knowing what to expect. I imagine helps that you don't take for granted that it will be easy even with the preparation and you are taking it, and learning the knowledge seriously. I also really appreciate the instructors giving you credit for the work you have put towards it.
A few frugal things.
- I am splitting a bulk order of chicken with my sister. A whole order is far too much for me to justify, but split it is a bit more palatable and manageable to get through.
- I have forced myself to say no to multiple pounds of sausage. A good deal is hard to say no to, but I don't need it at this point.
- I took an an updated inventory of my freezer so I can develop a plan to use it up. It was a reminder that I have enough and will be better steward of my resources if I focus on using what I have on hand. My bank account will also be much happier.
- I have multiple library books at the current moment. Based on Rose's suggestion I am reading "Can We Talk About Something More Pleasant?". A fine read, and inspiring to try to get my house in order, and stockpile less food...
- I have selected a cheap countertop for my kitchen project. It may only be a stopgap to a bigger purchase in a few years, but it will let me save up for something more long term, give me more time to plan, and stop me from fretting about potentially needing a loan.
@ElbowGrease, I LOVED "Can We Talk About Something More Pleasant"! Another great book on the theme is Elizabeth Berg's "I'll Be Seeing You". It is a memoir, written in Berg's wonderful voice of reality with honesty and humor.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, Have placed a hold at the library as I type.
Thank you!
Proud of you! Congrats!!
Thanks to the commenter yesterday who gave a heads-up about the Altra shoe sale- I ordered a pair to try on. I have terrible feet that are hard to find shoes for, wide with bunions, so we'll see if these work out!
Congrats on passing your competency test--although I am zero percent surprised by this. 🙂
@Kris,
Ditto and Here Here!
Congratulations on your test!
1. I used homemade vegetable stock, that uses vegetable peels, to make a delicious knock-off of Panera bread black bean soup. I used leftover rice to make rice pudding, which my daughter is loving. I roasted carrots and green beans from my garden to go with bean burgers for dinner this week.
2. I sundried the last of our garden tomatoes. I also dehydrated some over-ripe apples while I was using the dehydrator for the tomatoes.
3. I purchased 2 books, from a series, off Thrift Books because my library did not have them. I relisted them on Marketplace. I also sold 2 Halloween costumes from last year on Marketplace.
4. We planted garlic in our garden for next year.
5. I used Stitch Witchery to repair a small tear in a seam of my son's shirt, which was much easier than sewing.
Of COURSE you passed.
Frugal: getting a fab accent piece for the cottage free!
Not so frugal: Buying non plastic outdoor furniture for the cottage.
Frugal: there's a local guy who offers great deals and is delivering tomorrow.
Frugal: mostly cooking at home.
NSF: deciding I can't stand to cook and ordering pizza.
Frugal: ordering fabric to make a slipcover myself.
NSF: splurging on the fabric.
Frugal: buying a used carpet at auction for the cottage
NSF: no, it's just frugal! We have really good moving/estate sales here.
@Rose, I am a little confused as to what the cottage is. Is this an additional home on your property that you rent out or is this where you live? Just the term "cottage" makes it sound so appealing, and I am envious of the good estate sales in your area. Ours usually consist of worn out items from the '70s and '80s. Gag.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, It's a thing out here. Same deal with my great grandmother's beloved house which is nearby.
Back in the day, fishermen (1920) and their families lived here. They owned a main house, which was and is fairly modest (mine is three bedrooms, 2.5 baths), but as the Hamptons started to become a resort, and zoning wasn't a thing, many working class people built a small cottage behind their main houses. Either they rented that out for the summer to make extra cash, or they moved out of the main house, rented that, and stayed in the cottage.
My great grandmother lived here for decades renting. She had the cottage (truly tiny--my three sibs and I slept in the "living" room) as well as the enclosed porch which she tricked out as another living space. Sometimes she would even rent her living room along with the porch. I was completely fascinated by the porch when I was a kid--it was so small and yet so complete, with an adorable little kitchenette with a tiny 50s undercounter fridge.
My back cottage was built in the 1930s with no foundation, just right on sand. Sigh. It's two bedrooms, bath, living/dining, and a kitchen. One day about 15 years ago, the roof caved in on the original cottage, so I finally had to do something about it because it was hazardous otherwise. You're allowed to rebuild exactly as it was because of grandfather laws (which is good because the side and back of the cottage are literally on the property lines!) so that's what I did. Poured a crawlspace, everything was new, but exactly the same size.
For years, I lived in the cottage and rented out the main house, but in 2020 I spent a week in the hospital with Covid and when I got out, I decided the hell with it, I was living in the main house and renting the cottage.
Unfortunately bad tenants trashed the place (sigh) so I had to redo it again. Plans are for the cottage to be rented just for the summer next year, so I have to buy bits and bobs to make it high end so I can get $$$$ a week for it.
So, yeah. I have the "house" and the "cottage."
@Rose, thank you! I have been curious for awhile and finally got around to asking. It all sounds wonderful, charming, and picturesque.
@Rose, What a fascinating history! Thanks for sharing!
@Rose, thanks for explaining. I find it facinating and I'm in Northwest NJ so I know of the Hamptons. Great to have something to rent.
My husband's aunt had a "cottage" down the Jersey shore and every summer she would rent out her home in a lake community that was close to the bus to NYC and spend the summer down the shore. Hubby was lucky as she would take him and his siblings down with her for the summer. His parents spent August there with all of them. He had a couple of aunts that lived nearby his aunt's summer place and I've heard about the wild cocktail parties they used to have.
The cottage was two bedrooms, one bath with a tub, an outdoor shower and a big screened in porch for eating and entertaining. The train tracks ran behind it and every time a train came you had to stop talking cause you couldn't hear.
Congrats on passing! All that hard work and diligence paid off. Can I get an infusion of that hardworking attitude? I need it. 😀
Nothing exceptionally frugal here, just the usual:
1. Library books--I just realized that it's been August since I last purchased a book via Amazon, and that's a record for me! LOL.
2. Cheap dates--DH and I went to a local outside mall--it's one of those "stores + restaurants + apartments" deals, so it feels like a little town--and walked around the mega bookstore there. We had a bet on whether there were more toys/nonbook items than actual books in there, and I won. There were more shelves of toys and accessories. So I got to buy a couple of books, and naturally I chose some from the clearance aisle.
3. Coffee and tea at home.
4. Reactivated my free Cronometer calorie counting app; I'm trying to not snack in between meals, and maybe the accountability will help. Less snacking, less food bought, right?
5. Cheap exercise: walks/jogs around the neighborhood (also double as cheap dates with DH sometimes), using the exercise bike (sunk cost, as we bought it a while ago).
1. We needed a firefighter's helmet for our toddler's Halloween costume (to go with the $5 coat from FB Marketplace,) so Mr. B called the fire department to ask if they had any little ones--they often do, as part of their outreach. They requested that our daughter present herself to the fire station and ask for the captain, who gave her a plastic helmet and let her sit in the fire truck! It was so, so kind of them.
2. I am NOT giving up on submitting receipts to my insurance for medical expenses. They sure make it annoying, but after half an hour on the phone and waiting a week for my new card to ship, I think I can submit everything tonight. It's close to $1000, and it should all be fully covered.
3. Mr. B made it out to the discount grocery store last night. Such a relief. The grocery costs here are absurd.
4. I am in the middle of making a warm pyjamas for my daughter, out of two old wool sweaters, lined with an old cotton t-shirt. If anyone has recommendations on easier ways to keep a toddler warm, I want them. She gets too sweaty in fleece sleepers, but cotton pyjamas are too light. Toddler sleep suits seem to be very expensive, but she can't keep a blanket on her, and it makes me nervous to leave a space heater on all night.
5. Not frugal, but we donated money to support victims of terror. We give monthly to a local kosher foodbank, yearly to our synagogue, but we do also give small and large amounts throughout the year to other organizations. It makes me feel--well, not good, because I don't really feel good these days--but a bit better to know that we're helping, and it's a financial priority for me to give to others.
@Meira Bear, I appreciate your generous heart. And my heart goes out to you in these hard days.
@Meira Bear, We lived in an extraordinarily cold house when my children were small--literal frost on the walls inside--and they all wore sleep sacks in addition to layers of pajamas until they were around 3 years old. Sleep sacks don't cover the arms, but they do zip up over feet. Those hats that look like bonnets that tie under the chin and cover the ears might help, too.
@Meira Bear,
My kids like to sleep in their robes and slippers. They are older now, but they did this when they were toddlers too.
@Meira Bear, May God richly bless you for helping the terror victims. We can all pray for them, as well as donate what we can.
On a happier subject, I hope you'll take a photo of your Little Lady Firefighter in her complete Halloween costume and send it along with the thank you note to the fire captain and his squad. I think it would greatly brighten their day! Goodness knows, first responders see more than their fair share of sad things, so they need things to make them smile.
Well, we all knew you would! (Pass) 🙂
P.S. We're all like proud parents, maybe we'll just all show up when you graduate.
@Bobi, they may have to reserve an entire section in the bleachers for Team Kristen!
I was expecting to hear you passed it first time! Congratulations!
1. I had a couple of tablespoons of curl cream left in a bottle and a brand new bottle of a different brand that I had never tried before and was wanting to try. I made myself use up that last dab of the old before opening the new bottle.
2. I harvested another bucket of roselle calyces and made Florida cranberry sauce out of half and froze the other half for later. My hibiscus plants are being very generous with the flowers.
3. I batch cooked in the oven this weekend and put meatloaf, sweet potatoes, winter squash and fresh sausage patties in all at once, cooking them on convection. I think that matches my record for how many things I cook at once in the oven. I set the timer for the thing to come out first then reset it as I take things out.
4. My A/C and my heat remain off and will be off as long as I can stand it.
5. I planned to go to a nursery that specializes in edible plantings during the 2-day local farm tour, but before I went, I checked the guide and found I had seen a misprint earlier. The savings for those purchasing during the farm tour was only 5%, not 25%. I'm glad I checked it before driving an hour each way! I elected to skip it for now.
@JD, I used to read a blog by someone in Toronto who had "heater wars" with her brother to see who could hold out the longest before turning it on in the fall.
Congratulations!
I’m working on finding ways to use old clothes. Some I don’t wear, some I wear too much.
I used old cotton work pants for making place mats. The ones I made before were from old jeans. I don’t have any around but thought the cotton pants should work just as well.
I had a heavy duty midi hoodie fleece dress bought years ago at a thrift store. Our house is cold so I would wear it around here. But it was hard taking it on and off, so it’s been stuck in a drawer. I needed a new robe and decided to cut this up the middle. It works so much better this way and I’ve been wearing it like a sweater.
Made tanks to layer this winter from stained t-shirts. I just need to start using an apron and stop staining them. I just have a hard time remembering to put the apron on.
Replaced the zipper in a jacket.
Before I replaced my swim top and shorts(I wear a shirt over the swim top). I used up several sport bras that I either didn’t like or wore out. The chlorine in the pool didn’t take long to make them useless. Then I didn’t feel bad about tossing them out.
@cc, I have the same problem with aprons! As many shirts as I have ruined, you would think I would learn.
Congratulations on doing so well on your competency tests!
This did not feel like a very frugal week, since I was out of town for a big chunk of it.
*I did bring food from home (and made food to leave with my husband) so we both avoided take-out.
*While I was away, my husband split a cord of firewood, then repaired the log splitter when it stopped working. We primarily heat with wood and most of what we get is free.
*I stopped at Costco on my way home. We live 3 1/2 hours from the nearest Costco, so when I'm driving right by one, I take advantage of the opportunity to stock up. Buying dog food alone pays for our membership, and I also filled up with gas while I was there.
*I was out of the food I'd packed for the trip and debated stopping somewhere at lunch time, but I don't really like fast food, and I had a car full of groceries. I pulled over at a scenic overlook and enjoyed a lunch of cheese and crackers and an apple.
*I sat down and made a list of meals I can make with things I have in the house.
@Cindi, we get our wood for "free" too, but it's only free if we don't count all the time to find, cut, load, unload, split, stack, and haul up to the house. I sometimes wonder what we will do when we are too old for this herculean effort.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, I'm hoping that by the time you decide to retire from dealing with free firewood, you'll have as handsome a stash as I still have from DH's "urban logging" efforts. It was one of his great joys in life until he couldn't do it any more, and it remains one of my joys to burn the wood and remember him lovingly.
@A. Marie, we never seem to get very far ahead, just enough (= or –3 cords) for each winter. What a sweet thing for your DH to do. "Urban logging" is a great term. I think woodheat is superior to any other type.
Big congrats to you on passing your nursing tests!! You go, girl!! 🙂 so happy for you!
I, too, am not surprised that you passed ! Teaching mature students is so rewarding...because they do take the time to go to optional labs and do the work and really try understanding the material. Kudos to you! You'll make an excellent nurse!
You passed?!! That's so ... NOT SURPRISING, Kristen. I think you were probably the only one in suspense over this. ;-}
My frugal thing this week was not a purchase but a lack thereof, because I once again conducted an inventory of everything in the kitchen cabinets, refrigerator, freezer and pantry and ... Quelle surprise! Found a tin of mackerel someone brought me back from a trip to Brussels.... I will not have to go grocery shopping for at least two (2) years. (Well, maybe a little sooner than that for salad greens). As we all know, freezers are the bottomless pit, the infinite void, the abyss where perfectly good stuff is hiding in not quite plain sight.
@JDinNM,
I, too, mimic your comment "You passed?!! That’s so … NOT SURPRISING, Kristen. I think you were probably the only one in suspense over this. ;-}"
@JDinNM, oooh... I also successfully challenged a $200 bill from the diagnostics lab for annual blood work that my insurer would pay ... if only they had billed the insurer and not the provider. Thankfully the lab had a great website that allowed me to submit the correct insurance information and the lab actually apologized (!) and removed the charge the very next day. Very efficient!
Way to go, Kristen! The extra work you are putting in shows!
I mended a hole in the cats' bed with a t-shirt bought long ago at a thrift store just to provide mending material. Also mended and laundered all our old stuffed dog toys to make them nice for our new rescue pup, who we discovered sleeps better with a fluffy toy to cuddle with. Did some handsewing to make a bra fit better: bending over no longer feels like a perilous maneuver! Used a $4 store coupon to purchase protein shakes. Took another load of stuff to Goodwill and spent only 99 cents plus tax there to buy a deep soup bowl as the new pup's feeding dish. She's little but a messy eater and the bowl is the right size and weight to keep things contained.
Count me as one of your cheerleaders who knew you would make a slam dunk!
Consistent frugal: chai latte at home, iced at least until weather gets cold. On the same line, one of my co-workers gave me chai latte pods to use in the Keurig at work. They are a nice pick-me-up in the middle of the night.
Passive frugal: have not gone shopping for anything this past week (until this morning, and because I had a sad work night, and left late, the Bakery was open and I bought a half loaf of marble rye bread, and three muffins. I will space the muffins over the next few days.)
I did buy Jimmy Johns for supper last night, for $10.19, but the sandwiches are so big and filling and the cookie and chips that it will cover at least another if not two more meals. I don't mind repeating that. (I know, a lot of carbs including the muffins and rye bread and chai latte)
Not food! Had to have my car jump started last week. Used Roadside Assistance and promptly sent the receipt to the insurance company. I prefer NOT to use the app as it is so hard to explain things to someone in India when the RSA is six blocks away. My guys appreciate it, too.
Continue to not use heat or ac.
Most of my FFT stem from others gifting me items. I don't take just anything, only things I will use....
1. My daughter made soup for her co-worker's birthday lunch. She left me a bowl for my lunch the following day. She also bought a bunch of flowers for co-worker. She pulled out a small bunch for me and left me a "bouquet" on the table.
2. My sister gave me a black bra someone gave her (didn't fit her, but is a perfect fit on me). I needed an additional bra, so I was happy with this so I didn't have to buy another.
3. My oldest daughter's boyfriend shot a deer. He came over to use our meat grinder and our girls and their boyfriends did all the processing. They also used my vacuum sealer. So, in the end, they left us 5 packages of deer burger as a thank you for using our items.
4. Youngest daughter gifted me two necklaces she won't wear as well as a pair of glow-in-the-dark skeleton earrings that she bought and said they were too heavy in her ears. They were fine in mine!
5. and the best for last..... my husband had won $20 on some scratch off lottery tickets. He added $10 to the winnings and took a chance on a $30 ticket and he won $300!! He said we could use it for our stock up trip to Sam's Club. On the way into the store, I found a $20 bill laying in a puddle in the parking lot. I picked it up and we used all this towards our trip and we had a little left over. It was like free groceries to me!!
@Gina, free groceries, how exciting and fun!
@Gina, Somebody (could it be ... Gina?!) raised some pretty thoughtful children. May they be the gift that keeps on giving!
@JDinNM,
Awww! Thank you! Joint effort by my husband and I. I am super proud of my girls and their thoughtfulness towards others. We taught them to always try and do something nice for others and to always be kind; as this world isn't so nice most times and little acts of kindness make the world a better place.
@cc,
I was pretty stoked!! Relieves a little pressure on the grocery budget....for once....
First, add me to the lengthy list of those who are pleased but not in the least surprised that Kristen passed her test! Kudos!
Now, FFT, Last Days Before First Surgery Edition:
(1) I’m continuing to run around like a maniac stocking up on groceries/other essentials, working on garden cleanup, and otherwise doing everything I can that involves driving, bending over, and/or lifting heavy weights before my first cataract surgery Wednesday morning. The more I can do now, the less I’ll have to fret about later.
(2) I did make time on Saturday to drive to the next city over for our local JASNA group’s monthly meeting. I led a discussion on “Autumn in Austen,” which I think we all enjoyed. Also, my JASNA friend who works at a Panera brought me four more Panera frozen souffles (which will feed me well during my recuperation), and I brought some things from her back for her mother (who still lives in my city).
(3) During the meeting, I had the mild embarrassment of having a bra underwire pop out on me--an inconvenience that most of us generously endowed ladies can relate to. (Fortunately, I can talk my way through almost anything; I inherited the gift of gab from my mother.) The next day, I coaxed the underwire back into place, used a scrap of elastic band to cover the popout area, and sewed the elastic in place with Glide dental floss. So far, the mend is holding up.
(4) My local Wegmans is having a drive to collect personal care products for "care packages" being put together by our local United Way. So I took the opportunity to go through my stash of such products for things I'd overbought on or wasn't using, and dropped those off at Weggies this morning. Not personally frugal, but frugal in the senses of decluttering and helping others.
(5) Finally, the Bestest Neighbors and I are going this evening for another round of "BOGO Halloweenies" at our famous local hot dog stand (we had our first round last week). And I'm paying this time; it's the least I can do, given that they've got to pick me up at 6:10 tomorrow morning for my 6:30 appointment at the eye surgery center!
@A. Marie, Repeat after me: "Everything is going to be better than OK! I will be amazed at how well the cataract surgery goes and the wonderful results!" I'll be thinking of you tomorrow.
@A. Marie,
I'm praying that all goes well for you with your surgery and for a quick and painless recovery.
Good luck tomorrow, A. Marie!
Ugh, underwire bras. Yet another thing I decided I was never going to wear again, like pantyhose.
I hate underwires too. I wear them occasionally, when an outfit works better with a bit more lift (ha), but mostly I stick to unstructured bras.
@A. Marie, I'll be thinking of you tomorrow!
@A. Marie,
May tomorrow's surgery be a great success!
@A. Marie, May your surgery go swimmingly! My mother just had both eyes done, and the difference for her, a fellow avid reader, is beyond words.
@A. Marie, best of luck tomorrow!!
Knix Luxe Lift works well for me. Yes, you do get the monoboob effect, but can't have everything. They do hoist the girls up high and they're super comfortable.
Glad you have that test off your mind!
1-4: I washed old, hemmed new, and used here-when-we-moved-in, yard sale. and clearance curtains. It is not perfect, as I didn't wash the windows thoroughly, yet it is good, better than it was.
5. When cleaning out my son's toys, I found his vintage McDonald's Happy Meal Halloween toys. Five chicken nuggets and four characters, all with plastic snap-on costumes. I lined them all up on the front window sill for trick-or-treaters to see. He was pleased to see them again.
Kristen, OF COURSE you passed! If you hadn't, I would suspect trickinology on the part of the test makers. You are focused, goal-oriented, disciplined, eager to learn, enamored by the subject, smart, and completely immersed in the process of becoming a nurse. I think your teachers wish all their students were as engaged as you are.
A. As part of an ongoing landscaping project at church, I planned to add two trees.
1. I waited until this month when they are 20% off at the nursery
2. Two people learned of my project and each offered to buy a tree!
B. In helping my friend who manages vacation rentals, I often dig up volunteer plants in my yard to share with her.
3. I planted 5 little trees to create a hedge on the edge of one of her houses.
4. While there, some guys had just finished a power-washing job and were washing their truck; one of them washed my car for me!
C. My husband finally consented to giving up his useless Jitterbug phone (a simple phone for technophobes, but it gets no reception anywhere in our area). I will give him my iPhone7 and buy a new phone, also while switching from the huge and rude phone company to something that has actual humans working there.
5. He had been paying $20/month and I had been paying $60/month. Now it will be $60 for both of us (IF I can successfully jump through all the hoops to get them both working –such a cumbersome process of many steps).
6. I bought the phone from Amazon Renewed, which means it is not brand new. It was $150 less than the very same one offered by the new phone company. THANK YOU KRISTEN FOR GIVING ME THE IDEA TO BUY A USED PHONE!
No surprise for me that you passed that test Kristen. You are a supersmart, kind lady that is clearly operating in her God-given gift. Go get 'em girl!!! I am cheering you every step of the way 🙂
1. Scaled back the birthday events for my son this year. We typically do a big party but this year we wanted to tone things down a bit. We invited his two besties and took all three boys to Urban Air using free passes we had on hand. We did spend $30 to upgrade so that the boys could ride the zipline and do the ropes course. I cooked for all of them and made my son's favorite dinner, beef stroganoff with corn and green peas. Most of the ingredients came from our pantry and freezer. Shopped the Dollar Tree for candy. All told I think we spent about $100 on the whole affair and the kiddos had a blast.
2. We are eating at home the majority of the time - think 90/10. I have also begun making one dinner and requiring that all leftovers are eaten before I make another dish. This is helpful in avoiding food waste in our home.
3. Used a 10% off coupon that was sent to me by Target Circle to purchase my son's birthday gift. This combined with Target Circle days saved us about $35 off a large purchase.
4. On sale sneakers at a buy one get half off special. I always look for the ones that are on sale/clearance in order to save even more. I find tis especially helpful as my son is growing at a rate that I find challenging to keep him in clothes and shoes that fit. This is also evident in our grocery bill. I shudder to think what this two areas will look like when he and his buddies are regularly at our house to eat/hang out. Even still I am excited for that stage of life. I cannot imagine anything more wonderful than a house full of kiddos to feed and love on.
5. Related to the above growth spurt - sweatpants and hoodies on clearance at Kohl's due to discontinued styles. I have been looking for sweatpants/sweatshirts for my son and was appalled to see that a sweatsuit cost $75!! And it wasn't the fancy Nike ones either. I found separates at Kohl's for $11 per piece. That is a win in my book!
I'm sure your instructors are feeling that it's so refreshing to see a student who is working so diligently and putting in the effort. Way to go!
1. I went to JoAnn Fabrics to get some fur trim for my daughter's Halloween costume. While in the store, I also picked up a few other items and downloaded the app. Applied some coupons and walked out of there with some pretty good deals.
2. Was charged the wrong price for my daughter's meal at Chipotle. When I asked about it, the girl at the register, her trainer, and the manager tried to correct it but then somehow made it worse. They refunded me the correct amount of the meal (instead of the higher amount that they had charged me) and then were about to charge me the higher amount again. I pointed that out also (don't worry - I was polite and patient and even said "Don't worry about it. We can leave it as is - no big deal") and then the manager got flustered and said - "You know what, just take it. No charge."
3. I clipped a coupon in my grocery store app that gives $10 off if you buy $35 in groceries for something like 4 weeks. We do that anyway so I took advantage of it.
4. Needed a black pair of flare pants for my daughter's Halloween costume and found a pair at Old Navy online. Turns out there was a 50% off sale if you buy online. So I did that and then it turns out I had some bucks to apply so I did that too and just picked it up in store. Ended up being very inexpensive.
5. My family wanted to bake a 8 dozen cookies. Why? I don't know. But I decided to not be the usual killjoy and said yes but then required them all to pitch in. I bought butter at a decent price, restocked the brown sugar while it was on sale and everything else we had in the pantry. I timed it so that we'd be done by 4pm (when the higher electricity rate jump up) and I made use of my silpats, baking sheets, mixer and cooling rack. Most of these are 15-20 years old and making use of what you have feels frugal too.
@CrunchyCake, our electrical rates are higher during daytime until dinnertime (?) & rates just went up recently.
Congratulations! I had no doubt that you would pass.
Can I find FFT this week?
1 - I had designated October as a "No Spend Month", meaning that I am not to buy anything that is not absolutely necessary during the month of October and have stuck to this thus far.
2 - I took advantage of multiple, stackable offers to get a significant discount on gas when I filled up earlier this week.
3 - I continued to cook and make coffee at home. I made a large pot of keto chili yesterday.
4 - I applied a $45 off voucher from Costco to my $115 shop. It does not take very many grocery items to hit $115 at Costco. Yeesh.
5 - I have gathered up more items to take in for consignment.
Congratulations on passing this semester's competency exam, Kristen! I would have been shocked if you hadn't passed because of your diligence. Well done!!!
Not just a big WHEW, but a big WHOO HOO!! Way to go!
My FFT:
1. I placed a Meijer grocery pickup order that combined 3 or 4 coupons and sales to get 4 tubs of cat litter for half price. We'll use it all eventually.
2. We finished up our volunteer hours that are required as part of our financial aid package for my kids' school. Big win to be done so early in the year.
3. I forgot about a potluck that I needed a side and dessert for, but was able to find things we had at home to put together a side and dessert without buying anything.
4. There was a huge community event at my husband's work over the weekend and yesterday he brought home some leftover pumpkins and balloon bunches. I actually needed balloon bunches for something I'm doing in kids ministry tomorrow, so now I don't have to make as many!
5. I signed up for a free trial of YouTube TV so my husband can watch the Phillies in the playoffs. We're keeping track of when we need to cancel it before I get hit with the very expensive monthly rate.
Joining the chorus congratulating you on passing your test!
Thank you!
Woohoo!! Go Kristen!
Frugal things...
- my husband sharpened one of our most frequently used knives with a small handheld sharpener - what a difference!
- husband and son cleaned out the unfinished basement, throwing away lots of old, broken, and/or useless stuff
- I took all of the stuff that had been stored in the attic down to the basement, so that we can better insulate our attic. Threw away/made a giveaway pile of more stuff and ended up with three empty tote bins by the end!
- made homemade detangler spray with the end of a bottle of conditioner plus some water to dilute it
- my oven gave me an error message yesterday and would not turn on - thankfully after googling the solution was to unplug for several minutes and then plug back in! It worked (for now...)!
Frugal food - the new assistant bought us Donna’s donuts instead of Tim Hortons plus coffee for our meeting!!
There was an event last night at work and they had salad, sandwiches, and cheese trays for a free lunch today.
The caterer bought our office a dessert tray to enjoy and that we did.
Someone left us real coffee at work so we can enjoy the real stuff for awhile. I’m very thankful works provides us coffee but nice coffee is…nice.
Kohls had 50% off clearance and snagged the grands some shirts for less than Goodwill. At Goodwill I bought a play dress for $3 and a new puzzle for $5.
Congratulations on passing your exams! I'm sure none of us were surprised to hear that you did, but I'm sure that's got to be the biggest relief to have that behind you now 🙂
I'll have to double check with our library to see if they're offering tests again this year. I haven't seen them advertised like in years past, but the only covid tests we have on hand are definitely expired by now, so I'd best get on that.
Here are my weekly frugal wins this week, and we have some pretty huge ones!
https://www.toloveandtolearn.com/2023/10/24/weekly-frugal-wins-preserving-applesauce-going-all-in/
Whoo hoo! Good for you on the tests!!
Congrats on your test!
Not a big frugal week, but I did what I could.
We had to spend the night in Charleston for a doctor's appt early the next morning. We used points for the hotel so it was only $20 for the resort fee.
We ate at home all week except the one night in Charleston.
I purchased a couple plants on 1/2 price clearance that I will baby through the winter and put out next year. They were things I was planning to purchase next spring anyways.
Silly, but we needed some yard bags and found them on clearance for $1/5 pack. I bought enough to get me through the next year.
And my pepper plants/jalapenos/basil/etc have all continued to do well and we get something off them each day.
Congratulations on passing! You put in a lot of hard work - I'm glad it paid off!
For frugal items this week:
1) Returning daughter to college after fall break, I got gas on the way and back at 60 cents per gallon cheaper than at home.
2) Stopped at the Sam's club in big city on the way home to stock up on meat for much cheaper than I can get locally.
3) I did not order out pizza for dinner when I got back, even though I was very tired. I made scrambled eggs instead.
4)Made arrangements to deposit money in the HSA for future medical bills. Taken out pre-tax, so double savings.
5) I did not give into the impulse purchases of a wool jacket, new sandals, or anything else online. I have been bad about just ordering what I want, and I'm trying to limit those impulse purchases.
@mbmom11, wool jacket and new sandals in the same breath is just funny!
I would argue that passing your competency tests IS a frugal thing! Redoing courses is decidedly more expensive. Congratulations on a job well done!
Congratulations on your passing-never had a doubt you would ace the test!
Congratulations on passing! Your work ethic and study habits serve you well. 🙂
1) I bought two marked down meal kits for nights we were super busy. The price for both together was less than one fast food meal.
2) going through the pantry using up odds and ends
3) buying coffee on sale and making it at home
4) staying off-line and out of stores so I am not tempted to buy things I don't need.
5) bought some marked down meat and repackaged it for in the freezer.
Great job on test! Keep up the good work you've been doing moving forward.
Frugal things---
● Opened my Tmobile Tuesdays app today & got (2) free pink Halloween pumpkin bucket(s) (I have 2 lines on my account & was told long ago that can get 1 free for each line)
● Ordered black leather Bagnet on Poshmark $16 instead of $31.99) instead of with free shipping
● Used my 31 $20 bonus & ordered Snowman reusable snack bags & pumpkin square tote (clearance) so then got replacement bag strap in purple with blue trim (50% off) which made snack bags $10 each & strap $4.50 plus shipping divided up (1.50 each item)
● resubmitted Sam's club $15 e-gift card because needed different version of receipt (I had scan & go), waiting for re-submission to go through
● Ordered dogs Skeleton glow in dark pajamas (30% off) & teen thick skeleton socks, turtle dog toy & skeleton dog (30% off) free delivery. Gave me $1 off for all delivered same day plus used gift cards had earned for earlier bonuses. Recieved email that skeleton dog unavailable, would get refund & still free delivery (saved $5.99 delivery).
● shared my monthly fruit/veggies box with neighbors because lots of items we don't eat & don't want to go to waste
● took 2 boxes clothes & boots to free store & didn't go in to look for anything because looked through teen closet & found 2 pair dress pants (2 colors) so is set for awards ceremony. Black suit I picked up earlier needs to be cleaned (snot on pants) & have not tried on yet. Hoping might work for prom in spring---picked up white tie & black bow tie (which already had 1 of each in boxes)
Congratulations on your test!
1. My biggest frugal win was getting a gorgeous cocktail dress for a friend’s celebration of life (after a long illness he didn’t want a sad funeral or crazy wake) for FREE on Thredup after sale price + coupon code + credit I forgot I had. I will wear my grandmother’s sparkly jewelry with it to celebrate the spark of our friend.
2. We got a last minute (as in my husband just checked his personal email and read the invite) to a Halloween party this week. Luckily we have several costumes on hand that fit the party theme. The benefits of being married to a costumer 🙂
3. I made dough in the bread machine and baked it in the oven when we ran out of bread.
4. I mended a hole in a blanket I keep in my car, the seam on a tote bag, and a hole in the sleeve of a jacket.
5. Reused grocery and bread bags as trash bags when camping during the side show weekend
Congrats on passing the test!
I...
1. Haven't run the ac yet (where we're staying for a few days chargés extra for ac use).
2. Haven't bought a soda, but drinking free coffee and cold water.
3. Shopped to avoid too much eating out while here.
Just wanted to add my yay to you passing your competency test! I knew you would, but still I squealed with joy for you reading the title of your post!
Why am I not surprised? I knew you'd pass with flying colors! Yay, Kristen!
Meanwhile, I have no good news to tell other than this crud I've had for 2 weeks tested negative for covid and flu, and that I've lost 7 pounds. Believe me, being sick is not the way to lose weight.
But I suppose a $5 walk-in clinic copay is frugal. Yes?
I returned 3 gallons of oil (diesel truck) as I received a free oil change and 60 point check at a new to me dealership. They also washed the exterior so it would match the spotless interior.
I planted 500 tulip/daffodil/hyacinth bulbs for an elderly friend and she gave me a vintage 70's leather full length coat and her husband's dress shoes. I poshmarked them for a ridiculous amount and sold them! She was thrilled to clean out a spare room closet.
I harvested chives, dill, thyme and oregano and freeze dried them in my cousin's new freeze dryer. We also made onion, pepper, garlic mix. So fun!
I swapped a 5 gallon hydraulic fluid that was for a D9 cat (sold) for a hydraulic fluid that will work in my tractor. Win!
Congrats on passing on the first try! I knew you’d do great!
You are going to be one amazing nurse, Kristen! You put so much time and effort into your practice, it is no wonder you are acing it! Congratulations!
I had to do some thinking to come up with FFT, but here goes:
1. I had a friend over for coffee one morning instead of meeting at a coffee shop. I had everything on hand to make blueberry muffins, so had some nice warm treats on the side. She is recently widowed so we had a nice long visit which was good for both of us.
2. NOT frugal; went over our data for the second month in a row. Frugal; went to Verizon to get on unlimited data plan, which is actually cheaper. Also frugal; nurses discount, saving us 15% off the monthly bill. And more frugal, the Verizon worker removed the overage charge from the October bill. Yay!
3. Definitely NOT frugal, bought a new iPhone while I was at Verizon, but it was time. Frugal, used a recent gift of money toward the purchase, which made it quite affordable. And frugal, activated the three free months of Apple TV so I could watch a series that has been recommended. And I set a reminder on my phone to cancel it before I have to start paying.
4. Used a $3 coupon toward a sandwich that my mother and I shared, as neither of us can eat a whole one.
5. My husband was away for a week, so I was eating down the fridge all week. On the fifth night, I wanted something fresh, so I treated myself to some (on sale) coconut shrimp for .39 per shrimp. They were SO delicious! I had jasmine rice on the side and a salad made from the vegetable drawer. Under $2, and I had a restaurant quality meal!!
Ooh, I'm gonna have to learn about nurse's discounts once I graduate!
@Kristen, Guessing you are using student discounts now?
Congratulations on passing! You're going to be a great nurse.
1) I was tempted to just order a bunch of stuff online to fill the holes in the kids' wardrobes now that it has started to get cool. But a few minutes on DSW.com or even OldNavy.com convinced me otherwise. I placed a Thredup order for a few things that I think will work, and I continue to look for heavy coats at Goodwill.
2) We left the kids' halloween costumes back home where we will wear them to a party on Saturday night. But then we decided to go to their school's fall festival. (Hello free hotdog dinner!) So we are getting creative with what we already have plus what we can quickly and easily embellish. The one thing I did buy was a spaceman play helmet for one son. I just didn't have it in me to make one. And the kids will incorporate it into their play beyond Halloween.
3) I stitched up a stuffed animal and a pillow. The pillow was a Goodwill buy. I washed it at some point and some of the edging started unraveling. It wasn't too much trouble to sew it back together.
4) I've made a bunch of doctor's appointments for my husband and the kids. It's all things that aren't urgent, but "would be a good idea" kind of things. And we have paid our deductible for the year, so we are taking full advantage.
5) I listened to audiobooks from the library while I stitched up the stuffed animal and pillow, I have hung clothes on the line each sunny morning this week while we wait for the dryer repairman, my husband and I made a meal plan this week, I have managed to stick to said meal plan, and I have eaten leftovers each day for lunch.
My daughter has been picking up "free" food, which has stretched our budgets. Some of it is good, some is okay. I will be sharing some with the food pantry because it is a lot for 2 people.
One of the items was an 8 pack of bone in chicken thighs. For 2 people, it is too bad that it is frozen in one 8-pack. The thighs were quite large. I cooked them up for two meals, which worked out well enough. I think I preferred the crispy recipe to the seasonal cranberry recipe. Two free meals with the potatoes, onions and carrots that came with last week's box.
Congrats on passing your test the first time! That is awesome!
This week I:
Made sourdough discard crackers and homemade Lara bars for snacks for the kiddos.
Started making plum cheong (syrup) with some American plums I found along the side of the bike path one day. They had been sitting in my fridge for a while and I needed to use them up. Going to throw the pits in the wooded area by our house and fingers crossed one will grow up into a tree.
Foraged a bunch of mushrooms and used them in our dinners this week.
Made chicken stock with a carcass and onion scraps, then made into vegetable soup.
Embarking on an eat the freezer challenge because our freezer is jam packed and I have a ton of little scrip scraps of things in there that need to get used up.
That's so great tbat your extra practice paid off! Yay for no re-takes:)
My 5:
1) There was a rare buy one, get one bag of potatoes sale. Love potatoes!
2) Used library card for school & family game/movie night.
3) Bought clearance pumpkins & grocery store apples for fall fun.
4) My kids will be using dress up bin for costumes next week.
5) Selling old curriculum/keeping what we use currently in good condition.
Like everyone else has said, congratulations on passing your competencies! It's nice to start being able to check off those skills.
1. My parents were in town the last two weeks, so it’s been a little unusual for us with regards to frugality. We took them out for dinner; they also took us out for dinner. Mom did bring us some venison and other food odds and ends.
2. Mom kindly rigged up my new sewing machine and mended several kitchen towels that were sprouting holes, and added new velcro to a bib.
3. Dad helped DH stain the deck, which sorely needed it. Unfortunately it rained the next day before everything dried (there was no rain in the forecast for days when they stained), so things look pretty mottled and it may need to be redone. But some progress is better than none. This is my first house, and it’s a little older, and I’m determined to try to keep things in good shape so nothing totally falls apart.
4. I was able to make a meal for friends going through a surgery with supplies on hand. I did buy some bread and cookies to go with it, but I was glad to use my freezer and pantry for the rest.
5. All the usual things– using up toiletries, avoiding food waste as much as possible, finishing up two pounds of coffee a friend gave me ages ago, and the like.
6. I almost forgot one thing: I found my favorite dark chocolate bar on sale for half off, so I bought an obscene amount that I will have my husband slowly ration out to me. 🙂
Totally not surprised you did so well on your competencies.
Congrats!!
Congratulations on passing your competency exam!! So proud of you, Kristen!!
First of all Congratulations! What a wonderful blessing to have passed your competency exams!
Your profession will be challenging but so worthwhile. Plus you will be richly rewarded.
My 5 free and frugal treats for my birthday week!
1. A free Jeremiah's Mango and Vanilla treat
2. A free Publix Carrot Bar Cake.
3. 10% off my birthday Pedi and Mani.
4. A free Chick-Fil-A milkshake.
5. A free Crumbl cookie.
Bonus ... kids and hubby taking me out for Mexican dinner!!! So excited!
Congrat Kristen I knew you could do it. Aren't you glad that nurses no longer have to wear a dress, hose, white shoes and a silly hat?
My frugals for the week:
1. Went to a weight loss support group meeting and got samples of fruit chew calcium, iron and multivitamins. Also got a tube of protein powder to put in milk.
2. Sent a Dollar Tree card to my sister in law for her birthday and used one of my Forever stamps from forever ago.
3. Hubby went grocery shopping and stocked us up with on sale chicken thighs - .99/lb and ground beef.
4. Filled up the car with gas at Costco for $3.19/gallon.
5. Enjoyed the very warm fall days that we've had this week.
6. Couple of doctor appointments that will be free as I've met my deductible and my lung doctor filled out my form to get my handicap placard renewed for free.
Yes. Especially about the hat and hose!