Five Frugal Things | Back to eBay we go
1. I listed my Call the Midwife books for sale
They're originally an eBay purchase, and while I've been done reading them for a while, I have not gotten around to listing them for sale!
They're up on eBay now, so hopefully they will be on their way to a new home soon.
I loved them, but I am not typically a re-reader, so it makes the most sense to resell books when I'm finished reading 'em.
(Which is why library books are my favorite! You just...give them back when you're done.)
2. I got a 50% off haircut
Every now and again, I get texts from HairCuttery offering me 50% off a service.
The only service I ever get is a haircut once every six months, sooo, that's what I redeem the offer for. Ha.
I got one of them this past week, and I happened to be off work on the date offered, so I went in and got my trim.
Luckily for the stylist (and unluckily for me), I do not have a lot of hair, which means it takes them very little time to trim me up. And I always skip the blow-dry service, which saves me a little extra. There's no point in getting it because my hair is usually dry by the time I make the short drive back to my house.
(One small perk of being hair-disadvantaged. Ha.)
I always try to tip on the full amount, but I wasn't thinking at the register, and I just hit the usual percentage button, and I think it calculated on the discounted amount. Soo, now I feel like a cheapskate, even though it was accidental.
I will be more careful next time I go!
3. I put a library book on hold for a school paper
This time I am writing a paper about something I'm actually interested in! The topic is unethical research, and this is the type of thing I read about out of interest before I even went to nursing school.
(No one made me read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, which is the same genre!)
I knew some unethical research had happened at a hospital near me, so I found some online articles, but then I discovered someone had written a whole book on the facility in question. My library had it, so I promptly placed a hold, and now I have a perfect primary source to use for my paper.
Writing is so much more fun when the topic is interesting.
3. I did not go grocery shopping yesterday
The pickings are getting a little slim in my fridge, and it was tempting to go buy some new ingredients to make a lunch for tomorrow's shift.
But I resisted because I am trying to eat down my fridge.
So, I dutifully used up my slightly wilted kale to make a salad.
And then I thawed some shrimp from my chest freezer, seasoned them, and sautéed them for my protein.
SOMEONE CLAP FOR ME, PLEASE.
5. I bought some more Altras
I use these shoes for work shifts, for the gym, and for walking, so I put a LOT of miles on me. And that's why I am always on the hunt for more gently used pairs to have as backups.
I found a pair that looked pretty good on eBay, but instead of hitting "Buy it now", I just added it to my watchlist. I waited a few minutes, and sure enough, a discount offer popped up in my inbox.
This trick doesn't always work, but it's worth a try because it's so easy. 🙂
I usually give cash separately for haircut tip for my once a year extravagance. No percentage mix up, and they get the right amount based on usual price for a cut. ( I only go where there's a discount, like you!)
Frugal things:
* Husband went for haircut and by buying a gift card, his cut was free. He tips better than me as his hair is thick and difficult to trim. ( which is why I cut it twice and said never again!)
* used free bulk pick up to get rid of a mattress- we get one oversized item per month free.
* Husband fixed rusted out spots on his truck himself.
* took kids swimming over the weekend with our city pool pass.
* waited for the library hold for a popular new release and got it quickly.
* not frugal but necessary- new sneakers because the cheap one I got last winter hurt my feet after an hour of wearing.
* not frugal but an experiment- we bought a window AC unit for an upstairs bedroom. Old house never gets very cool upstairs with the central air on, so we'll see if this makes it more comfortable for the room with multiple teen sons. ( several of them run very hot). Probably should have done it years ago, but this summer had some heat waves that really showed how poorly the upstairs does in extended heat.
You will probably be very pleased with that new AC unit. We put a ductless unit in our master bedroom and we love it! They can be a bit pricy but they produce both air in the summer and heat in the winter. Best thing we've ever bought for our Cape Cod abode. Worth every penny! 😉
I use the library for the same reason! I love reading but I don't reread that often, apart from a small selection of books (I have some which are what I call my once a year books as I always reread them annually). I borrowed all the Call the Midwife books from the library and I keep meaning to read that book about Henrietta Lacks.
I love Chiquita's paw next to your shoes!
Frugals:
1. I made some burritos the other evening and thought I had a jar of sauce, but had misremembered. I made a sauce with tinned tomatoes and chilli rather than go to the shop.
2. I didn't have any cavities in my last dentist visit, but was told there were some starting. In an attempt to reduce this and save some money, I'm going to try not to buy any sugary foods or drink soda this month (I'd cut down on drinking sodas a lot already but still have the occasional can). I have gradually replaced sodas with sparkling water with lemon flavouring during the last few weeks which helps.
3. I got some barefoot boots earlier this year but the weather warmed up, so I just started wearing them last week when it got cooler. The shoes were a little expensive but are supposedly very good for your feet, and hopefully will last a while.
4. I got some dvds I wanted for my birthday (The West Wing, because it got taken off the streaming service it was on), a new phone case and a wristwatch. I know most people don't wear watches now, and I hadn't worn one in years, but I missed having one, and this one has cats on it!
5. I used my gym membership and went running and swimming outside. I got a garmin watch as a gift last year and it's very helpful for getting an overview of my running stats.
I also line dried clothes, packed a lunch when I had to go into the office, made smoothies and used the library (frugal fail, I went to my book group and spent too much money there!).
Another watch person here! I just bought a Casio because the Timex ones I’ve worn for years don’t last very long. I feel lost without a watch.
Sophie, I consider watches like jewelry. Last year I got into a little moment of vintage Seiko tanks, the rectangular kind. I know they were made for men, but they are just the right size now for me! Etsy has tons, and they all work fine and come with working batteries. This search led me to another vintage watch called HMT, an Indian brand that has the most beautiful dials. I go for the complicated dials. Again, so inexpensive. I admit, this is my little splurge. I don't need beauty products or eat meat so I have justified getting a few choice pieces that I love. Check them out!
Clapping! Clapping loudly!
I read the Henrietta Lacks book years ago and loved it. It explains the term HeLa cells. Then my daughter had to read it in high school.
👏👏👏 For using up what’s on hand!! Same drill over here with an equally diminishing selection of food in the fridge.
I love 5 frugal things! It makes me realize how interesting it is to save money and have a creative moment at the same time.
(Keep in mind that I am a Senior even though I feel 35!)
I am an admirer of the 'Swedish Death Cleaning' style of decluttering so your children will not be met with a barage of stuff, even if it is 20 or more years in the future. With this in mind, every week I tackle a task that I may have put off for possibly decades. It isn't frugal, but getting the loathsome task completed makes me feel like I have won the lottery!
More plant propogation...Hoarder, maybe?
I made the decision to not turn my garage into an ADU. It already is a finished art studio, with exposed beams, an antique cast iron sink and lovely built-in shelving, my friends want to move in. However, my sweet son who has had life-long depression recently needed indefinate lodging, and I considered sinking a lot of money into converting it into an ADU, but realized I already had something that, with a few minor changes, would work out just fine for his needs. He actually old me not to bother, he was happier the way it was than he had been in years. As for the art studio, it was always a bit large for my needs, so no biggie. It is nice having someone nearby to do little things to maintain the 100 year old house and if I ever need a care giver, he will be there for me. I consider that a frugal win in many ways.
This next one may be controversial. I took Social Security early. I did the math and my catch up was @79, and I expect to hopefully live longer than that. It also allows me to keep my Roth investments growing tax-free for decades, which far outmatches the yearly update given. May not be for everyone, but it worked out for me.
I gathered items for my Historic Preservation Organizaton for their annual garage sale. Again, not a frugal thing, but ridding myself of things that might be a little too vintage or specific for a Goodwill donation and might be just right for another homeowner in my area seems like a win-win for me.
Ya'll have a wonderful week!
Clap clap clap!
I enjoyed the Henrietta Lacks book too. Thanks for continuing to inspire and educate - I have you to thank for several pairs of sneakers I bought on ebay, though my motivation was more size related (I’m a women’s 12 & the brand stopped selling favorite shoe in my my size…sigh.)
Your social security research seems sound and everyone's situation is different.
I didn't hold out for the highest rate but took it a little earlier. My thought process was that I would be posthumously pretty upset if I didn't have a good number of years of getting back my "investment" in social security and wanted to have the funds to enjoy life while I am able, healthy and mobile.
I have recently had friends and family exit this world unexpectedly or much earlier than they anticipated. I am sure they are glad they collected social security for a few years first.
I have been collecting social security for five years since the age of 62 for the reasons you and Jennifer mentioned. It's quite a sum of money that I have stashed away conservatively. No regrets!
First time commenter here.
Check out this site: gem.app It's an aggregate site which searches ALL the resale sites including eBay, Poshmark, Depop and multiple vintage sites all at one time. You don't even have to sign up! I use the web version but there is a mobile app. You enter a search and returns everything available across the web. Then you follow the link to eBay or whatever for more information or to purchase. You do have to sign up to save a search, but I've had great success with this.
You will see things listed more than once because items are posted on more than one site.
WOW! This site is fabulous, thanks. I need to start selling my vintage linens but can't stand the shipping part. Maybe all of you will give me a nudge to get started.
Clap clap clap! 😄
1. Was a volunteer at a local fair and got to use a free table to display my handmade things. Sold some items that I’ve sewn years ago so the $100 felt like «free» money.
2. Also sold some clothes and dog equipment not needed anymore online.
3. Found some unused handknitted items at fleemarket that will be superb Christmas gifts and an adjustable stool for gardening that I’ve been on the lookout for the last couple of years.
4. Home alone for two weeks and have been eating some..interesting dinners to use up things from the freezer 😉
5. Got up some free shelves in the basement for all my canning glasses. Now it will be real easy to make sure I have enough before future canning seasons and just as important: so I don’t hoard nice glasses as I tend to do, lol!
A question for the commentariat. I have noticed that in my area the FB marketplace and local selling sites have not been moving goods. A few items that I have listed in the last few months have not been selling. These are items that typically sell quickly. Overwhelmingly items are being posted for free and claimed. My thought is that the economy has folks really watching there spending. In our county overall food pantries like the one my husband volunteers at have had a significant uptick in customers.
Has anyone else noticed a slow down in the internet sales?
Learning about the unethical 40-year Tuskegee Syphilis Study was shocking. I can't fathom that kind of unethical research going on today.
FFT:
- Contacted Amazon to get a refund on a package that was delivered empty. USPS put a sticker on the box saying they had received it unsealed, and yet they still delivered an empty box.
- Ended a subscription that we were no longer using.
- Filled a prescription for my son's dog at Costco. A year of heartworm, flea and tick medication cost $60 less at Costco than at his vet.
- Returned products that were ordered by mistake. I have a monthly subscription and had forgotten to update prior to shipping.
- Started sewing cherry pit bags that will be Christmas gifts. The fabric came from Mom's stash I inherited, and I bought a large bag of cherry pits last year so no out of pocket expense this year.
Can you please explain how cherry pit bags are used?
I think you microwave them as heat pads for pain. I could be wrong though.
I also have a hair related frugal win! For a while now, instead of getting my hair professionally highlighted, I've been tinkering with doing it myself, following various sensible tips about how to make it look good as a very uncoordinated, non-hairdresser, fairly impatient person and understanding that there may be mishaps along the way, BUT that these can usually be at least mostly rectified and mitigated easily.
I am now at the stage where I have a proper routine and am confident in which brand to use that is inexpensive but consistently good quality, how to tone after (this is the thing I have found that makes the most difference and makes ''home hair dye job'' hair look plausibly professionally done) and suchlike. Yes, it takes time, of course, because colour takes time to process, but much, much, much less time than it would if I trailed to a hair stylist and about 15% of what I'd pay, excluding the things like petrol and parking charges. Very pleased with this latest round and will never go back to getting it done at a salon unless a real disaster strikes! I do get it nicely cut about 4 times a year - it's in a bob, so it does need occasional re-shaping and my stylist is excellent and I tip her generously... but it's a fraction of the price of colour services.
YES! I’ve been very frustrated with high priced hair bills with meh results or worse. I was over processed on highlights and ended up needing to cut 4!!!! inches of hair because it was so damaged. Decided I could do better. I am gray blending and going back to my dark brown hair, sans highlights. It’s $17 for product and I love it.
My teen son is getting a new stylist. Why? $48 plus tip and wash is extra? And it only takes 20min? No thanks.
1. Stopped at a farm stand and they were giving away potatoes if you made a purchase. I bought one of the best cantaloupes I’ve ever had and a watermelon and now have some potatoes as well.
2. Sold an item on Marketplace
3. Tried to get a part for my weed eater from the manufacturer. They sent a new weed eater to me free of charge.
4. I was given a small dorm sized refrigerator from a relative who doesn’t have a need for it any longer.
5. Had dinner with friends and made a fruit salad using the above mentioned melons and was sent home with some home grown tomatoes, leftover potpie and cobbler.
6. Biggest frugal thing - back to work after a long furlough.
I'm not great at putting things up on eBay but I'm going to have to get better at it. Somehow, just somehow, lol, the accumulation from three different family members made its way to my house so I've spent the past few months sorting family items and redistributing them to people that wanted them but there are a bunch of things that need to be listed on eBay or even Facebook Marketplace.
I was wondering if anybody had used the Vinted app to sell clothes and what their experience was.
Yes! I started using vinted about 2 months ago now and have sold 108 items so far. I've found that most things I've sold have been under $10, so I tend to list my yard sale type items rather than big ticket items. I've done particularly well on my sons outgrown clothing...I listed single things and found that a lot of people bundled items. Also, in the past I've made giant bundles of clothing sorted by size and listed them on marketplace and done well with that too, but I prefer not having to deal with flaky people.
This week's frugals:
-I received a voucher at work, and uploaded the value into an online shop account. There, I bought a book on the ancient technique of Nalbinding, since our library does not have any books on the topic;
-Since then, I also discovered that a regional reenactment group will attend an event not too far from where I live. If time allows I will go there, and see if I can speak to the person who does the textile crafts, including nalbinding;
- plus, I discovered I know someone who practises the related and also ancient technique called sprang! So I will be able to give that a try this winter;
- for online entertainment I spent free points issued by our bank to rent movies. I rather like arthouse movies, since they are hardly ever on tv. Recently I watched Plan 75 and The Father, and I highly recommend them both. I will probably choose some spanish movies to, to enhance my spanish practise;
- and right now I am travelling home on a reduced train ticket, since I am a senior citizin.
Other than that: meal prepping, making yoghurt and granola.
Will you be making your own granola Kristen, now you have one more day to yourself? The recipe can't be beaten, according to my husband.
I had to look up nalbinding! How interesting!
Me too Sophie! And cherry pit bags (a comment further up the page).
I haven’t commented here before but I always love to read your comments!
Thank you! 😀 And welcome!
I am a regular at Hair Cuttery, but while I do get deals in my email, I've never gotten one for 50% off! Now that's a deal.
1. My AC window units came down when my property manager scheduled window washing. It's not worth the hassle to reinstall at this late date, so I'm getting by without it. Fans, hydration, window shades, no cooking, all part of the plan, and should make a difference in my electric bill.
2. I clustered errands yesterday and included a walk in the community center, which was deliciously cool since the track surrounds the indoor ice rink.
3. I may have shared this already -- I bought two pairs of walking shoes at DSW, using a birthday coupon and a 50%off coupon for the second pair. Unfortunately, the shoes themselves were not marked down.
4. On the same day, I ordered a double smash burger at a casual restaurant for the same price as a regular burger. I bought home 1 1/2 burgers, as well as extra condiments. This provided two more lunches at home.
5. I was given a bag of casual tops by a friend, to keep or sell. They're all pretty nice, so I'm keeping them.
It feels like nothing is frugal right now, up to and including a daughter who sat on her glasses the first day of school, and her prescription is out of date (already). Sigh.
Mainly here to say I've caught up on several posts this morning after a very busy stretch of days, and I really appreciated the update from the reader with the difficult parent situation. Thanks to the reader and to you, Kristen, for doing that.
Well done you, on the eating what you have on hand!! Claps all around.
1) Sold a bunch of stuff on eBay (received an offer for 50% off promo listings, so took advantage of that, which clearly helped) & also sold my son's guitar for him to a college student who wants to learn to play. Lots of junk out, money in.
2) We've continued menu planning & looking for less expensive dinner options. Last night I made dinner using a package of the rotisserie chicken meat I prepped a few weeks ago. I bought two Costco rotisserie chickens, deboned them & froze the chicken into several dinner sized bags, making dinner prep easy (and reasonable, compared to other chicken options).
3) Met a friend for a workout class (included in my pack of classes I bought a ways back) & then we went to Starbucks to catch up. I used a gift card, so no out of pocket spending.
4) Bought a Southwest voucher for $150 off the value from one of DH's coworkers. Will use for transport for DS19 to/from college.
5) Set an aggressive target for myself to have enough in my HYSA to cover our first year of spend without my paycheck. (The money lives elsewhere if this doesn't happen, but I really like the motivation.) This has led me to really be scrappy with spending, as well as side hustles & reconsidering planned spend.
1. Continuing to list and sell items online (vinted/ebay/mercari/poshmark). This past week I sold 11 items for a total (after shipping and fees) of $69.20.
2. We used our trampoline membership twice this past week. A summer membership at the trampoline park was $70 for 120 days and includes all of the attractions like the rock climbing walls and ziplines etc. Each visit to the park is $30 - $40 per child depending on if you add the "deluxe attractions"....we've been a total of 9 times this summer so it has been well worth it. Both of my boys have friends that also have memberships, so we do that instead of having playdates at home, which has worked out fantastic since it was such a hot and humid summer. I also remembered to cancel the membership so I didn't get rolled into a monthly membership.
3. Planned our meals this week using mostly things we had on hand. I did need some chicken, salsa verde and a small can of tomato sauce for one meal.
4. My sons and I did a beach day with a couple friends over the weekend. I packed a cooler with waters, snacks and sandwiches. My friend drove and I paid for parking.
5. Lots of small things...uploading receipts to ibotta and fetch, using a free sample of foundation, bringing breakfast and lunch to work etc.
I recommend Paperbackswap dot com. I've used the service for many years both to request books and to send my books on to another reader. The only cost is postage when I send a book to someone else.
FFT, Rest of JASNA BFF's Visit and Other Things Edition:
(1) On the Sunday of BFF's visit, we frugally stayed at home. BFF, in her role as JASNA essay contest chair, had a pile of correspondence to catch up on. In the afternoon, we watched the Coen brothers' film O Brother, Where Art Thou?, which BFF brought up on her laptop with her Amazon Prime account. (I don't have a working DVD player at the moment, which deprived us of our usual video entertainment.) The movie was great fun, and I have a whole new respect for George Clooney as an actor.
(2) On Monday, we first visited NDN1 at her assisted living, which pleased NDN1 very much and gave BFF a look at what a good AL facility is like. We then moved on to Second Time Around, where we both made a few small purchases and BFF got to meet the friendly staff, and my favorite local secondhand bookshop, where we both also did some shopping.
(3) I mentioned the two frugal tilapia and roasted cauliflower dinners BFF and I had on Sunday and Monday in last Friday's WIS/WWA. And I hereby award Kristen the round of applause for eating down her fridge that I requested myself for using up the cauliflower!
(4) On the way home from dropping BFF off at the train station Tuesday morning, I gassed up at the cheapest station in town ($3.99/gal.).
(5) And this past Thursday, I went to LensCrafters to order the new glasses I've been prescribed. On hearing how the preceding pair of LC specs never really worked out for me (long story), the optician got me the best deal he could on the lenses, and agreed to use the practically new preceding frames without the usual sales pressure. I think it helped that I was wearing a Jane Austen t-shirt, and (as it turned out) he's a JA fan and a Regency costume designer in his spare time!
Your #5 gave me a chuckle lol. I love that! Life sure can be interesting <3 Glad to hear your part of the state has gas at $3.99. My part jumped up to $4.19, and camping in the ADK's right now, we paid $4.59 !!
Frugal.
1. Did not go grocery shopping this week.
2. Saying YES! To all offers of free produce from friends’ gardens.
3. Riding bike for errands close to me.
4. We have not eaten beef since July 4th.
5. Listening to library audiobooks.
Applause for skipping the grocery store!
I rarely buy books and use the 3 libraries I have access to, along with Libby and Hoopla. On the rare occasion I want to read something I can't borrow I usually hit ebay and try to get it used, and then pass it along when I'm done.
Ebook purchases are a last resort - if I'm paying for it I prefer something I can hold.
I have been with my hairdresser more than half my life, and have followed her to several different locations over the years. After my oldest was born I was short on time and told her to just wash and cut, don't worry about drying or styling, I had to go. That became the norm for my appointments, and as her prices have gone up mine has stayed the same since she can fit me in between other appointments, and I am always flexible on time if she needs to move my appointment. I tip very well!
I rescued another bread recipe!
Kristen I thought of you but this time didn't need my Call An Expert card.
It was the Moravian Sugar Cake recipe from A Taste of History and it was kinda jacked up. Which I didn't realize till I was partway thru. Not only am I not experienced enough to recognize it from the recipe, it used a sponge which threw off my sense of what dough should look like. Turns out it uses about 2x the liquid in the sponge that other recipes use, which I found out via research after the sponge wasn't rising.
The instruction to use "medium eggs" should have been a clue.
I doubled the amount of yeast in the sponge and gave the yeastie-beasties more sugar to eat, and it took about 3x as long to rise as the recipe anticipated. When I made the bread I added about 50% more flour, based on the feel of the dough, and increased the other ingredients in proportion. Then I added inordinate amounts of of the butter-sugar mix that gets poured over the bread, just in case. Success!
In the end I have two very full 9x13" pans instead of one partly full one. We ate one full pan at book club (the neighborhood children often drop in for snacks and company), the other is for the Labor Day block party.
Yay for a rescue! Good work.
Unethical research sounds like a great topic for a deep dive.
I went climbing with a friend and it tuned out that as he has a membership he could have a free guest so it cost me nothing!
I went swimming at work and used one of my pre bought tickets. It's not exactly frugal but I already bought them so I should use them!
I made jacket potatoes for work and I've not tried this before but they were good in the microwave with cheese onion and mushroom so that's nice and easy for the rotation! And I only bought cheese so very cheap!
I have had a very quiet bank holiday weekend so low costs there!
1. I made a batch of tomato soup using tomatoes that I grew in the backyard! This year I only grew tomatoes, a couple of herbs, edible flowers, and carrots (but just for the greens) so I it was nice to cook a meal with what I grew.
2. I have resisted the urge to buy any new books – my TBR shelf and kindle are full! Most of my books come from used books stores, Goodwill, or Free Little Libraries but I don’t need to add to my collection at this time.
3. I found a discount code for our older dog’s medication.
4. Frugal for my dad/grandma – I asked my dad what size pants grandma wears and ordered a bunch of various brands on Amazon and had them shipped to my dad’s house. Getting her to the store to try on clothes is difficult for both of them and the assisted living staff requested more pants for her. I did ask grandma if there was any specific colors she would like for late summer/early fall. Once they arrive dad will help her try them on and I will take over any returns that need to be done.
5. Still packing my breakfast, lunch, and snacks when I go into the office.
I'm on the road, which makes my five a bit unusual for the folks playing at home 🙂
1. I replaced the GFCI outlet in my trailer and got all of the interior and exterior outlets working! Charging my sound equipment was a challenge when the outlets didn't work.
2. I agreed to share my campsite with a fellow performer's campervan (we are allowed 2 vehicles per campsite) in exchange for my camping paid for by the festival. I was able to share my new electricity bounty with her by way of my now working outside outlets since not all of the outlets on the power pole for this campsite work as well as we'd like
3. 90% of my tent camping gear, kitchen stuff, organizers, etc are working for the trailer. So far the only things I bought were 2 baskets to organize under the sink and 2 small storage shelves for the gally counters since A frames don't have upper cabinets.
4. The resident cast invited me to their Saturday night family dinner at the campground. It is a free will donation (although the Mom who invented me said they'd never turn away anyone who couldn't pay.) All of the donations will be given to RESCU a health care charity that assists Renaissance Festival workers.
5. I'm saving a lot of trailer organizing, a few decorating, and renovation things to my IKEA Family and Amazon lists instead of buying right away. This way I can noodle on if I really need it, find a thing that works better, use/upcycle something I have instead, or not use it at all. I use this trick for a lot and it has saved me hundreds of dollars
I am getting back into frugal mode.
I received an outreach call for raffle donations to a beloved charity. I used REI credit to buy 2 Yeti mugs to put up for bidding. No out of pocket.
I did NOT buy two more of my favorite exercise shirts. Old t shirts will do for now.
I subscribed to Jamzone last month to play Karaoke DJ to my friend's bday. I also want to use it for accompaniment as I lead singing in our tiny church. Going through the hymnal, I discovered only 15 of the songs on the subscription service. I found nearly all free on youtube. I canceled the service.
Moving Mom into independent living, I was going to buy a sofa sleeper. Instead, we are moving her old coach and getting her a new slip cover ( per her request.) if someone wants to spend the night they can for now sleep on the couch. Better to save her/ our resources.
Received about $100 worth of expired food and toiletries from Buy Nothing that no one else wanted. The way things were packaged in such large quantities makes me think they came from Costco and/or Sam's Club. Wasteful for the original owner but a bonanza for me. Having this much food on hand makes me uncomfortable so I'm making sure our meal plan deals with all of this as quickly as possible. Results:
-- Elbow macaroni that expired in 2019 tastes the same to me.
-- Cake mix and icing that expired in 2024 was still fine. I made it in a loaf pan since we all know that quick bread is better for you than cake, right?
-- Hash browns from 2024, enchilada sauce from 2024, and diced tomatoes from 2023 were all featured in a delicious Tex-Mex concoction.
-- Jasmine rice from 2024 starred in a yummy concoction with edamame, chickpeas, tofu, red cabbage, cilantro, soy sauce, and sesame oil.
-- Pineapple juice from 2023 mixed with sparkling water made many refreshing mocktails.
-- Fifteen small tubes of toothpaste - the tube I tested was more than fine.
So interested to hear more as your research develops. That very Henrietta Lacks book was, oddly, left behind on top of the top kitchen cabinets when we bought this house. A frugal win from about 5 years ago! I found it devastating and fascinating.
- Taking a sick day to recover from this cold. Too much to teach while coughing. Grateful for paid time off and the opportunity to recover.
- Eating leftover fish that neither DH nor I love leftover but don't want to waste (it's still safe and smells and tastes right, promise lol). Thank goodness for hot sauce and mayo ha!
- I, too, have been avoiding grocery shopping for a nice while.
- I haven't spent much of my own money on school and am semi-patiently awaiting the school supply order.
Yes; devastating and fascinating is a perfect way to put it.
1. My husband and son finished building our shed, which saved us at least $2,000. I listed leftover construction materials and dirt on FB Marketplace, so we did not have to pay for removal.
2. I purchased a vintage lamp at a garage sale for $5. I listed it on FB Marketplace for $200.
3. My mom gave us vegetables, fruit, muffins, cookies, and bread.
4. I bought English muffins and flat breads at Aldi for 50% off.
5. I attended a free outdoor yoga class at the library.
I also like skipping shopping for a day or two and just eating what around the house. It's good to eat up what you have and not waste it.
Here are my FFTs:
– I used the water from waiting for the shower to heat up several times this week to water my flowers.
– I used frozen rotisserie chicken in a recipe for dinner.
– I helped my sister-in-law repair an art print which had slipped in its frame when the print became separated from the mat. With free materials provided by my artist neighbor, we took the picture apart, retaped the print to the mat, reassembled the frame and put backing paper back on the frame. We probably saved $50 vs. taking it to a framer.
– I used scrap fabrics and felt to make a decorative pillow using buttons from my button jar to make flowers.
– I used some heavy cardstock junk mail as a mat to protect my desk while doing a small craft painting project.
Clap for the using up stuff in the fridge! It's not always the most satisfying way to make a meal, but it gets the job done. I've been trying to do the same in the past several weeks. I'm not always excited to eat the meal I concoct, but it's mostly nutritious and that's what counts (plus, I'm a picky eater, so sometimes really hard to please about flavor or texture).
My five frugal things this past week:
1. Gave my DH a haircut. This is an every 5 weeks kind of thing that I've been doing for probably close to 30 years now.
2. Had no cavities and no old dental work in need of replacement at my six-month dental visit/cleaning yesterday. Hooray!
3. Took advantage of a sale on Land O Lakes butter sticks at the local grocery store to stock up (I use a lot of butter, never margarine or anything with soy oil when cooking, greasing pans, etc): each 1 pound box of butter was on sale for $1 off, PLUS butter qualified for the Buy 5 save $5 promo at that store, so each box of butter was $3.49 instead of $5.49
4. DH had a part he'd ordered off Amazon that didn't fit what he'd bought it for, so I returned it for refund, and used the free UPS drop off shipping option on the return as the local UPS drop site is practically across the street from my dentist's office.
5. Stuffed my hay loft with 360+ bales of hay bought off the wagon (ie right out of the field) rather than getting a little here and a little there out of someone else's barn at a higher price per bale later this year. Tired and sore from handling all that hay in two afternoons, but at $1-2 per bale savings it was well worth the effort.
Frugal #6 for you is attached to your #5: a FREE workout!!
Thanks for telling all of us about these, Kristen!
When I've made that mistake with tipping (too many times 😖), I go back and give the rest to the stylist.
One frugal thing that I have really appreciated over the last couple of years is my Houston library card-anyone with a Texas DL can get one, and I have gotten many e-books this way. The latest came in today!
Another frugal thing for me is using Interlibrary Loan. My library offers this service for free, and at some libraries, all you have to pay is the media mail rate for the book to be shipped. I have gotten several books this way that I couldn't find from other sources.
My favorite place for used books is Thrift Books. You get free shipping on orders over $20, and they only charge you the media mail rate for smaller orders. The two times that I have gotten books that weren't in the advertised condition, they sent me replacements free of charge.
Have not been using much gas because I have been mostly staying in due to the heat where I live. Learned the beauty of bundling/stacking errands from all of you, so I try to only get out twice a week-once for errands and once for lunch with my mom.
Walmart pickup continues to be a money saver for me. It's not only convenient, but it also keeps me from picking up things (impulsive shopper here) that were not on my list.
there is a flea market at my apt complex sept 19 and my zozo will be selling sculptures she is making for that. and also selling some stuffed animals. she has so many of them.
CLAPPING for you from Indiana!!!
Haha, thank you!
I haven't bought any but there's alot of gently used (and some not so gently) sneakers on Vinted. I so want to try Hokas but even used they're $50/ more or less.
A whole lotta applause in the comments! This is the first time I noticed people clapping. Was it contagious?
Haha, maybe I just had to ask! IN ALL CAPS. 😉
1. I shredded paper for the worm compost.
2. Found 2 dimes
3. Picked another watermelon. We've been making agua fresca with these.
4. Some of my son's school curriculum I purchased second hand
5. I made granola and egg bake for the freezer.
more here: https://practicalwalk.com/2026/09/02/frugal-five-first-day-of-school/
I've been reselling on Ebay and Poshmark for years and have recently started selling on Depop and Mercari.
Ebay just bought Depop in August.
The two newer-to-me platforms are all about sending discounted offers to people who "like" the item and sometimes to watchers. It is changing the face of reselling.
So, ALWAYS like an item and see if you promptly get an automated special discounted offer!!
'SOMEONE CLAP FOR ME, PLEASE.'
absolutely! resist until the last morsel...
You all have such great frugal finds! The weekly 5 Frugal Things have always been my favorite.
My Frugal 5s and More
• My husband managed to fix our stubborn bathtub plumbing so we finally have warm water again and got the fridge's water dispenser working.
• Scored big through the library contests with reading rewards, Pokemon prizes, and a free backpack filled with school supplies. We also cashed in on three free Pizza Hut personal pan pizzas through their Book It program.
• Back-to-school prep has been all about resourcefulness. We reused last year's supplies, filled the remaining gaps with budget-friendly Pen and Gear items, and reused last year’s clothes alongside some great finds off the Walmart clearance rack. Miraculously, all three girls got brand-new shoes for free, and their old sneakers are pulling double duty as gym shoes. We also finally moved my oldest into her own separate bedroom, decorating it entirely with things we already had around the house.
• Received extra food, clothing, and financial gifts from my Mom which has been such a huge help.
• Watered a friend’s garden while she was away, and in return, she gifted us fresh parsley, basil, chives, pickled radishes, and a gorgeous bouquet of zinnias.
• Focused on eating through our pantry, shopping strictly at the grocery store, and avoiding takeout and restaurants.
• Kept activities simple and fun. Played pickleball and longboarding at nearby parks, followed by grabbing ice cream while overlooking the river. At home, we’ve enjoyed movie nights on Prime, and the girls have been keeping busy with their Switches and the games we already own. They have such a built-in friendship and spend hours playing together both inside and out.
• My middle girl's birthday is coming up, and she requested a Minecraft panda theme, so we've been getting creative:
- Borrowed a stack of books and DVDs from the library for my middle daughter to enjoy during her sister's birthday week.
- Scored Minecraft party decor for 50 percent off in the Walmart clearance aisle.
- Cooked her requested food for breakfast, lunch and dinner at home.
- Baked a cake for her.
- Picked up a set of panda-themed micro blocks on Amazon when it hit its lowest price ever.
- Took her and her sisters to the free public splash pad for her birthday events.
- Had a at home painting class with her sisters.
*CLAPPING FOR YOU OVER HERE!!* Great job eating down your pantry and fridge, that is just so good for the planet (not wasting food or trashing it) and for your wallet too of course. I always feel like I want a prize or some kind of recognition when I do the same over here! It sure can feel like a big effort sometimes.