Five Frugal Things | bras, beans, bonuses, & a book
Item #2 on this list does not start with a B, sadly. I was so close to perfect alliteration!
1. I used multiple small discounts on a bra purchase
I wanted a couple of black bras to wear to work under my scrubs, so I hopped over to Target.com because I already knew what style and size I wanted.
A few ways I saved a bit on my order:
- I went through TopCashback to get 2% back
- I used my Target debit card to get 5% off
- I got free shipping because my two bras met the minimum order amount for shipping
- I accepted a slower shipping option for a $1 credit
And of course, I will wash my bras in cold water and also line dry them to help them last as long as possible.
Small savings like this are not going to allow me to retire at age 50, of course. But I figure that if I approach all of life like this, the little savings probably do add up to something significant!
(This is the bra I like; probably not enough support if you are well-endowed but it's perfect for someone like me. And no wires!)
2. I bought marked-down chicken at Whole Foods
Remember how I found some Whole Foods gift cards when I cleaned out my desk?
Well, I had to pop in there to do an Amazon return, and I looked to see if I could find a deal to use my gift cards on (because we know I always want to maximize my savings!)
I picked up a bunch of packages of 50% off Bell and Evans chicken (it was close to its sell-by date), paid for them with my gift cards, and put them in my chest freezer when I got home.
I don't care if chicken is about to expire; it will keep just fine in my freezer.
I looooove having a chest freezer. It is so lovely to have the space to store things without worrying that they will get freezer burnt.
3. I made a duplicate version of Aldi's bean salad
I have occasionally purchased Aldi's little containers of chickpea salad, which cost about $3 for a one-serving container.
To me, that has never seemed like a very good price for what is essentially beans, edamame, dressing, and some veggies.
So, I googled for a copycat recipe, came across this one from Margin Making Mom, and I gave it a try! It's a very good approximation.
The can of garbanzos* was $0.81, the edamame was $1.25, the craisins were $0.29, and the cost of the other ingredients was negligible. So for about $2.50, I have a big bowl of the salad, not just one serving.
Definitely a frugal win!
*I know dried garbanzos are even cheaper, but $0.81 is fine by me.
4. I borrowed an audio book from the library
My therapist, who knows about my spatial synesthesia, recommended Oliver Sacks' book Musicophilia to me because she remembered he discusses synesthesia.
Sadly, my library only has this on audiobook, and I prefer to read physical copies of books.
I almost went on eBay and bought a copy, but I decided to go the audiobook route for $0.
Of course, I listened to it at 2x speed, which is what I almost always do when I listen to podcasts or books. Sooo, the 11-hour book only took me 5.5 hours. 😉
It was an interesting listen, but I was bummed that he didn't talk about spatial synesthesia as it relates to music...just color and taste.
I really want to climb into other pianist's brains and see how their brains connect the music on the page to the keys on the piano.
The way I think of it is hard to describe, but it's almost like the keys and the printed music are meshed in my brain, even though the notes on the keys go low to high horizontally, and the notes on the musical staff go low to high vertically. My brain picks the printed music up off the page and lays it over the keys so that it sort of matches up spatially.
And I wonder if this is part of my synesthesia, or if it's how most pianists think.
5. I opened a checking account for a $300 bonus
You know those bonus offers you get in the mail for opening a checking account with direct deposit? I could never take advantage of those because I haven't had a direct deposit job since 1998.
But now that I work at the hospital, I do have direct deposit!
All sorts of wonderful bonus possibilities have opened up for me.
I did one that will give me a $300 bonus after I direct deposit $1000 in the first 90 days, and as soon as I get that one done, I have another $250 offer I will do.
Once the school year starts, I will be working very minimal hours, so these are probably the only two bonus offers I will do this year.
But next year after I get a nursing job, it's game on again. 😉
I like this way of multiplying my PCT earnings; I'm putting them to work for me!
I also have spatial synthesesia! I can't read music though.
This was a super unfrugal week but I did buy some things I needed, like a water filter and a screwdriver. This is what I can think of:
1. Line-drying clothes (relevant after yesterday's discussion!)
2. I got a really cute and well-made shirt in a sale for 50% off.
3. I used the library.
4. I went to a gym class which is part of my membership.
5. I used half a can of beans in a meal yesterday and will use the rest tonight. Still counts as frugal, right?
@Sophie in Denmark, why wouldn't #5 count as frugal?
@WilliamB, just that it's a very small thing!
@Sophie in Denmark,
Small things add up! Enough small things and they'll equal a big(ger) frugal win.
Hey, #2 could be Bell- so you pulled off an alliterative quintet.
Not too frugal here- planning for a trip. However, I did pay my property taxes in person, not mailing (did not spend 65cents) and not paying online (a charge of 2.5% of bill- which is a lot more than 65 cents!).
@mbmom11,
We have two online options for paying property taxes. One is to use a credit card and that involves a percentage based fee. The other way is to transfer funds from a bank account and there is a nominal fee ($1-$2). We are many miles from county offices and I don't trust the USPS (lost/late mail and/or check erasing/rewriting) so I pay the nominal fee each year. We do save a few dollars by paying early though with interest rates up it may be time to do the math and figure out if it is better to wait to pay.
@mbmom11, I don't understand that math either. My state does it too. You would think they would want it electronically paid to save a lot of time and money - and get their money faster. Crazy!
@Maureen, they have to pay fees, usually 2-3%, to accept card payment.
@Maureen, it is crazy and also there is an explanation. Their systems were designed before electronic payments were easy so they are optimized for the old-fashioned methods. I'm really looking forward to when they have to redesign it and the sensible methods become free.
@WilliamB, I interviewed for comm. director of my local township. The superintendent asked what I thought of the town website and one of the things I said was that it was utterly ridiculous that the town doesn't accept online payments for many things, and requires in-person meetings with the town clerk for others. That in 2024 I have to print out forms and mail checks.
I didn't get the job. Their loss!
@Rose, GOOD FOR YOU for pointing out the obvious to them! They will have to come up with the times sooner or later. 🙂
@Regina, This is an extremely wealthy town! Maybe the rich people have the help do it.
@mbmom11, using CC/debit (online or in person) incurs a profit (divided between the financial peeps but not the county) - I mean fee - of 2.29%. If you pay by cash/check/e-debit (savings accounts can be used) no charge.
I abhor fees and companies have gotten far too fat off of them.
@Selena, That's a convenience charge. If you don't want to pay it, don't, but I don't know why you expect credit card processors to work for free.
@Rose, good lord, do you expect stores to charge you for paying by check, or “allowing” you to use self-checkout, or a live teller, or or or? For whose convenience do you think the credit card use is? In fact, until recently it was a contract violation for stores to charge customers to cover the credit card fee.
@WilliamB, stop sputtering. We're not talking about retail, but local governments. It seems eminently fair to me that if someone chooses to pay via means that cost the local government an extra 3% that that charge is passed along to the taxpayer. Who is supposed to cover it? The rest of us taxpayers? Don't wanna pay it? Find another way. No one is forcing anyone to pay via credit card.
@mbmom11, I always take my property taxes check to my town hall. I'm not wasting an envelope and a stamp on that. My town is small to town hall is about 1.5 miles from me.
@WilliamB, while JP Morgan/Chase isn't charging you (yet) to visit a branch, they are starting to install kiosks so you can "confirm your identity" before being allowed to use teller services.
I'm expecting a surge in business for credit unions.
@K D, you also save by not driving a car. It costs about $.55 per mile to operate a car, according to the IRS, so it costs $11 to drive 20 miles. It is often cheape to pay electronic or delivery fees.
@Regina, governments don’t have the staff to manage all the conveniences that businesses do. Most government jobs are defined by public need, and carefully monitored. My Ohio town must serve a lot of people who do not have computers or credit cards, so the bottom line for most people is direct and costs as little as possible to operate.
Summer frugal things with family visiting:
Meal planned, including "leftover night" when we cleared out the fridge. The kids liked the buffet style options.
Used my coffee gift cards to take them out for a treat.
Found free events nearby: went to an art market, farmers market, sat on the beach near a pier that had a live music event, sat on the front porch together when the breeze picked up, nice shade, nice sunset.
Played board games I already had.
Took leftovers from a shrimp boil and made shrimp salad and mashed potatoes for dinner, just enough for DH and I after they left to go home.
@MommaJo,
What lovely activities, it sounds fun and entertaining and at the same time relaxed and intimate. I would have liked to join!
@MommaJo, Aah, I love this list in that my granddaughters will be visiting next week, and I also live by the beach. 🙂
@Tamara R, it was wonderful. We love where we live and love to share it.
@JNL, it was the most relaxed visit we ever had. We all decided to just relax and not push ourselves this year. We also decided ahead of time to not discuss anything controversial this year if we already knew we disagree. It was such a nice break.
I really like these 5 Frugal Things posts; they remind me of ways to be frugal-especially helpful as our need to be as frugal isn't as required. Spending can be a slippery slope for some of us! This week's frugal wins include:
1. Finding cheap free entertainment (kayaking with friends, walks, reading the "free with subscription" kindle books, puzzles-that I get from a puzzle exchange) etc...).
2. Growing/eating veggies/fruit. Often, this isn't the most cost saving, but a few things like our berry bushes were planted years ago and we're still getting over 25lbs of fruit each season from them. In all honesty, the zucchini/cucumbers will likely not be a frugal win this year :).
3. Performing routine car maintenance.
4. Eating most of our meals at home/packing our lunches
@Sarah, I read a post yesterday (not this site) about planning & planting (aesthetic) gardens are not frugal & complete waste of time---I do not agree! Planning & planting growing of your own food (sometimes for years/decades to come) seems initially unfrugal but balances out over time/costs of food at time in grocery stores. We have some good growing years & some could have been better growing years. The food you grow is healthy for your body which is an investment worth making.
@Regina, For over a decade I have kept track of what I spend on the garden and how much I harvest of each vegetable or berry. The husband then goes to the store and prices produce per pound, comes home and figures out how much we would have spent for the food at the grocery store. Most years we are close to $1000 to the good, after we subtract costs for the garden. Even in our worst years, we have come out at least slightly ahead financially.
@Sarah, I also think factoring in that gardening can provide a lot of other things too in addition to just the food. For us, it is time outside, where we are getting some sunlight/fresh air/movement, and we all enjoy doing it together. Getting those things from other sources can frequently cost money - i.e. if we spent that family time at a restaurant or a mall or drove to a gym or even a trail (since that takes gas to get to). The harvest we get coupled with gardening being a hobby makes it a frugal win for us.
Added bonus: my four year old will try anything that we have grown from the harvest so it's also been a super valuable palette expander for us. Now to convince her that cucumbers from the store are also delicious 😉
FFT, "Keeping a Low Profile" Edition (continued from my FFT of yesterday at the NCA):
(6) Katy commented at the NCA that she thinks she'll adopt the phrase I used, "keeping a low profile," in place of "couch potato-ing" for describing what she, I, and almost everyone else in the current heat wave are doing.
(7) I continue to collect buckets of AC condensation water (the spigot drains into my basement sink) for use in the garden. As long as I'm running the AC anyway, I may as well tap this small liquid bonus. And fetching the water is another good excuse for going into the cool basement.
(8) I did a major watering of the garden beds first thing this morning. Minor frugal fail (I'm *not* looking forward to this quarter's water bill), but the AC water does help a bit. And letting the plants die would be much worse.
(9) The neighbors who hosted the Fourth of July cookout described in my #1 at the NCA (and in my most recent WIS/WIA here) brought me all the deposit bottles and cans that were emptied at the cookout. Very kind of them, plus rinsing them out will be yet another excuse for basement time!
(10) The neighbors who live next door to the Bestest Neighbors have arranged to have one of those document-shredding trucks pay them a visit this week (as a retired lawyer and a retired psychiatrist, they're still disposing of old paperwork from their practices), and they've invited me to add anything I want to shred. Very kind of these neighbors as well, and I've got a box of shreddables ready to go.
@A. Marie, Glad you mentioned the AC condensation! Many people forget or don't know what a great source of water this is, especially in a drought. Our drain is outside and we just keep a bucket under it.
@A. Marie,
I think you may have some of the best neighbors ever. I try to stay on top of the shredding, but it can be a challenge. BTW, the 4th of July cookout sounded extra special.
@A. Marie, Two thoughts for you on future shredding needs- both our local police department and our local senior center offer free shredding services on an ongoing basis. If you have either of these near you it might be worth checking.
@A. Marie, another good free water source is rain barerel/basin. We ordered one recently & hooked up to our gutters last night (just before unexpected rain). We moved to different location because this gutter gets majority of rain water from roof. 90 gallons is quite big container, but last night rain filled about half.
@Tamara R, our library has a truck come once a year and you can do a paper size box per person. We do it every year.
@Tamara R and Marybeth, as long as these particular neighbors live on our street, I'm good for shredding (they call the truck once a year or so). But if they should ever move (heaven forbid), I'll check out the suggestions. Our county recycling agency also does an occasional shredding event, but you have to register in advance and the lines are long.
Bird! Chicken is a bird! Your fifth B.
My FFT:
1. This week I am helping with drama camp for my two oldest kiddos, which waives my fee. $100 saved! My youngest gets to come with me and help. The two of us are in charge of snacks, along with my friend and her 4yo. We are having a great time!
2. Since my mornings are full of drama camp, my normal grocery shopping time is out. I did a Meijer pickup yesterday - met the minimum for free pickup, used my mPerks (including one for a free box of tea), and shopped the sales.
3. We went to Greenfield Village on Sunday afternoon and I packed one of our two meals. I struggle to pack two meals for an outing, but I got one done. For the second, we used the McDonald's app to get a free Happy Meal for one of the kids.
4. I used water from our rain barrels to water my garden last week. The barrels are empty now, but should fill again today and tomorrow.
5. We've had lots of playdates and pool parties - free fun!
@Ruth T,
I love how we both looked for that 5th B for Kristen!
@Ruth T, I almost snorted and definitely laughed out loud! Years ago my husband was driving through the countryside with our usually, very quiet young grandson … just the two of them. Grandpa about lost it when grandson spotted a bird flying overhead and yelled at the top of his lungs, “BIRD!” His other favorite sightings were “SPRINKLERS!” We laugh now!
@Casey, I do the same for cows and horses. 🙂
Wow, I haven’t seen anything like your number 5. here, so it seams like an offer almost too good to be true. I would be switching banks all the time 😀
1. Bought an unused outdoor puppy playpen on Facebook for a third of new price. Hopefully our pup will tolerate being in there so I can manage some gardening 🙂
2. Got a dog gate from our neighbors, with some work it will fit the stairs from our veranda.
3. Dug up some wild perennials by the side of the road and will plant them in our flower bed.
4. Needed a table for our sofa area and found a pine table on Facebook. It’s made from a local cabinetmaker that lost his eyesight during WW2 so I feel like I have a piece of local history in my living room.
5. Sold two sets of damask duvet and pillow covers. Had bought them new on Facebook marketplace but realized after washing that they were the wrong size. Happy to recuperate the money spent.
#2: Bell and Evans.
There, now all 5 start with B.
In honour of yesterdays post:
Washed on solar power
Made sure to use only half a spoon of powder per load
Line dried the laundry
Did not iron - no electricity needed
Used the time I saved by not ironing to read a library book.
@JNL, I think that a lot of us in the "Ironing? What's that?" club are going to be claiming your last two items as Frugal Things from now on!
@JNL, For my family, pods are frugal. We are completely the "If some is good, then lots more is even better!!!" people.
1. Having Covid is very frugal, especially since the codeine cough syrup was about $3.50 and I can still get Covid tests for free.
2. Despite having gone produce shopping and shopping everything up, I managed to avoid food waste while I was sick.
There was more non-frugality than frugality this week:
1. Expensive but not necessarily unfrugal: not only having to pull up the floor to fix the leaky shower but also turning it into a curbless shower while we're at it. The frugal part is realizing that this is the time to do that, since we're pulling up most of the tile anyway. Still feels like a lot of dollars though
2. Helping out a relative by driving two hours each way when they were involved in a car crash, including dinner at Shake Shack. It was definitely the sort of day that milkshakes were made for.
3. Still spending money trying to figure out why the elevator doesn't work. My poor roommate has spent months having to use the stairs.
A la Non-Consumer Advocate: I did not spend $10,000 on the light fixture for my dining room.
I could sort of read music but without getting into childhood trauma and being the forgotten middle child (as most of us are) I was never allowed to take up piano lessons or any sort of music lessons (the school band only allowed me drums as an option and Fourth grade me thought that was lame and I never practiced and ended up getting kicked out of band.)
That all said, I love music, particularly classical music (I was listening to Mahler's 1st just this morning!) While I can't play I can sort of read music at a basic elementary level. I always viewed it more abstract as a sort of code like computer code to get the sounds you want.
Anyway, here's ̶W̶o̶n̶d̶e̶r̶w̶a̶l̶l̶ my FFT
1. My daughter has really been enjoying this one Kirby game she got from the library but it's almost never there as it's quite popular. It's on sale right now for $35 at Target so we got it and will put it away for her birthday. So that's done. 🙂
2. Speaking of the library, we've been using that a bit lately. It's always a nice way to get some free entertainment.
3. Spotted some clearance tank tops while walking through Target. I texted my wife and asked her if it was a good deal and apparently tank tops for $1 is indeed a good deal so she had me buy her a few. We've both been purging a bunch of clothes for donating or disposal but we do need a few things here and there. Most Americans overconsume on clothing (and we're probably guilty) but everything I own gets worn dozens of times so I'd say we're doing okay.
4. Stocking up on some on-sale meat after we got the freezer down to basically just large cuts. Also we found a small pork roast in the freezer and it cooked up really well in my Air Fryer. We got the ATK recommended one and it's been fantastic! Using the air fryer also keeps the house cooler. Despite being in a heat wave the house has been cool because of using drapes and just the bedroom AC units.
5. Just doing all the usual things like shopping at Aldi, not buying name brand, buying on sale etc. It does sometimes feel like an uphill battle when you have to pay your taxes, car insurance (in full) and homeowner's insurance (again, in full) all in one month, though.
@Battra92,
I feel your number five. I pay my property tax quarterly, but I pay a quarter for it, the home insurance and the car insurance (both of those for the year) in ....(wait for it) ... December. Talk about poor timing!
@Battra92, would you be willing to share the brand/model information for the air fryer you got? I am in the market for one but having a hard time landing on a good choice.
@Cynthia, Instant Vortex Plus 6QT Air Fryer
@Battra92, excellent; thanks so much!
@Cynthia, I have very limited counter space. I replaced my old toaster oven with a Breville combo air fryer/toaster oven. Works great.
It's been so hot! Trying to cope with fans and swimming.
1. Got a gift card from the summer library reading program. Ordered from Amazon a hoodie on sale, ended up paying only a few dollars.
2. I had signed up for a new credit card with extra points after the first three months. Used the points to book airfare for Christmas week, and it took most of the fees off. Saved a lot of money!
3. Cooked meals in the morning, to pull out for dinner after a long hot day. Pizza, calzones, quiche.
4. Made a blueberry pie with frozen berries from last summer (picked about 50 pounds-way too many!). Blueberry season has just started here, so it was time to use up the old ones.
5. Made a summer cotton dress out of a pretty flowered sheet. Looks pretty good but needs a slip as it's a little see-through.
I start work at a local farm today, and am looking forward to a summer and fall with fresh veggies and fruit daily!
@Laurel A, good for you! There are so many pretty sheets, and they make wonderful summer clothes. Easy to sew, too.
Planning ahead for a visit from my daughter and granddaughters, which I think I've said here before (the planning ahead part) is one of my most consistent money savers.
- Will be expending energy vs money for the majority of our entertainment. We'll enjoy the toys we already own, and go boogie boarding, stand up paddle boarding, and kayaking.
- Planned a morning dolphin and whale watching event on the day that a local company offers half price trips.
- Will be making cookies and homemade ice cream with the girls, plus night swims at our HOA pool, plus puzzles and UNO for much of our PM entertainment.
- Will be attending a moonlight drum ceremony, and a children's outdoor movie night, both free and at the beach, so it's possible bathing suits will be needed as well, lol.
- Will take the girls 'shopping' at our local library's fund raising used book store, where children's books sell for 25 cents apiece.
They are coming from humid temps in the 90's and low 100's, while we're in the low to mid 70's, so that alone will likely be enough for them, ha!
@Tamara R, Such wonderful activities here!
What is the moonlight drum ceremony at the beach?
@Heidi Louise, It happens around a firepit at the beach here, once a month on the full moon. Folks bring drums, a few bring electric bass guitars, and there is a leader who determines the percussion rhythm for each set. It draws people of all ages, including families.
I found this description just now:
A drum circle is an instant rhythm experience for all ages and abilities – no musical experience needed! Frequently called in-the-moment music-making, drum circle participants sit in a circle and play drums and/or hand percussion instruments.
Some of the attendees bring LED-lit hula hoops, which are really fun to watch. It's a many decades long and beloved tradition here.
@Tamara R, this sounds like a lot of fun!
@Tamara R, Thank you for the description! I am sure if I attended as a child, I would have been awe-struck, even more than I would be as an adult.
I adore your alliteration!
1. Received a lot of leftover food from our family’s July 4 celebration.
2. For the family potluck, I made potato salad to use up the potatoes I got from the discount store. The last time I made this the potatoes turned out mushy even though I thought I undercooked them, so I took several extra (ridiculous?) steps to make sure that didn’t happen again. I put a sheet pan in the refrigerator while the potatoes were boiling and then I drained the potatoes and spread them out on the cool pan. Next, I took the tray down to the cool basement and set it on the tile floor. For good measure, I trained a small fan on the potatoes (after making sure the fan blades were clean). Success!
3. Brother gave us water softener pellets he no longer needs. And a watering can, too.
4. Farm friend gave us two dozen eggs.
5. Found a combination dog leash/collar on the street in front of our house. No one came back for it, so I put it in my car to use if I come across a lost dog.
@MB in MN, great idea! I live in the city and keep a slip leash in my car all the time as I often find lost dogs.
hmmm.....
*Picking stuff from the garden. Fighting wildlife for my berries, excitedly watching some apples grow. The tomatoes aren't doing well because we've had so little sun here, sigh. Yesterday was the first day we broke 80 degrees.
*Making 48 meals out of the pot roast I made on Saturday. Best one ever.
*Avoiding all driving because the traffic this year is almost literally a joke. My daughter compared our downtown to the BQE (Brooklyn-Queens Expressway featuring always stopped traffic) the other day. Someone driving a green Lamborghini is revving the car downtown and driving very dangerously; I'm glad my neighbor yelled at him other than me because he pulled a knife on my neighbor and it's not frugal to get knifed. (My neighbor is OK.)
*Not going to the movies. Took my son an hour to drive somewhere that takes 15, tops, in the winter and he missed the movie. Entertainment at home is cheaper.
*For once I'm getting creative with food preparation since the local grocery resembles the Fall of Saigon.
All this, and the weather's been lousy.
@Rose, scary about your neighbor & the green Lamborghini. Someone should talk to police & have extra patrols &/or unmarked police to get this guy off your streets. Sounds like someone may get hurt in near future. Sometimes I just don't understand people.
@Rose, first, Regina is right about the crazy guy in the Lamborghini, and I don't mean to make light of him or it. But if summer life in the Hamptons is getting to you, why not consider a holiday in my little corner of Central NY--where very few of us can even spell Lamborghini, let alone afford to drive one?
Oh, wait: The older British couple who used to live up the street had a daughter who was (very briefly) married to a guy who owned a Ferrari. One Christmastide, Paolo left the Ferrari running in his in-laws' driveway. I derived considerable amusement from tapping on the front door and telling Paolo he'd better turn off and lock the car, or he wouldn't have it much longer.
@Regina, My neighbor did report it all. She reported it to our local police precinct: "She was not exactly helpful and basically expressed that she was powerless to do anything because of the crowds and traffic."
I know that officer and she's not usually this useless. IDK.
@A. Marie, I definitely need to get out of town. However, I managed to fill this summer with two puppies and a constant parade of renters who need help. Sigh.
That said, the orange Mclaren I see around town is my favorite Ridiculous Hamptons Car. (That was one square on my now-gone Summer in the Hamptons bingo card.) (Some of the others were Hamptons Gatorade (rose), Your Jitney Seatmate (a Yorkie going YAP yap YAP), Spoiled Brats, Yelling Alec Baldwin, Fancy Parties You're Not Invited To, Share House Next Door (picture of Delta House), Chris Martin Not Wearing Shoes, etc.)
@Rose, How big was that pot roast? 48 meals? Like wow.
@Bobi, Erm....exaggerating to make a humorous point? I think it was five pounds and we'll get four meals out of it. We're all tall, big people and eat a lot, so... Tonight is pot roast sammiches on Texas Toast. Tomorrow, Chicken Something.
Some weeks I don't feel very frugal. I guess it can be the small things sometimes.
1. Youngest (DS4) wanted to camp out for his birthday with DH. We rented a day lodge near the primitive camping site. It was very reasonable and gave them access to bathrooms during the day and the rest of us brought dinner (the lodge has a full kitchen, and a grilling pit). The primitive camping site was very reasonable and, DH said, very quiet at night, save for a rambunctious raccoon.
2. DS4 asked for hot dogs, fruit (he specified bananas, but I also brought oranges and grapes), chips, and no-bake cheesecake with strawberry topping. Easily done. And not too pricey, as the cream cheese and chips were all buy 5, get $1 off and so I saved quite a bit there. The Philadelphia cream cheese ended up being cheaper than storebrand!
3. Since I don't eat hot dogs, I poked around and found a recipe for low-sodium noodle veggie salad: https://www.sans-salt.com/post/low-sodium-napa-noodle-salad-with-peanut-sesame-dressing This gave me a chance to avoid food waste by using up a bunch of produce nobody was eating. Of course when I brought it along, my two middle kids wanted to try it, even though they CAN eat hot dogs. Luckily I'd made enough to go around. It was really tasty.
4. Learned how to make strawberries last longer in the fridge--DS#1 has fresh strawberries with Greek yogurt every morning. I briefly soak the berries in a vinegar/water rinse (1 part vinegar to 3 parts water), dry well, and put them back in the container. This week I learned one should do this upon bringing them home. I waited a day and found a couple of bad ones I should have gotten out right away. But it does work!
5. My dear friend offered the rental of her Florida house again this coming January. She charges much, much less than any other place in her area, and I can't wait to go back!
Frugal fails:
1. I got an email saying we're to sign up for the fall session of our church's book club, and it named the book. Went to 2 used bookstores and couldn't find the title. One store had a sale on "everything in the store for one dollar!" Spent 7 bucks. One potentially frugal thing: That store's DVDs were 50 cents each and I found 2 copies of the same Christmas title so I potentially have some holiday shopping done....not sure where I will go for Christmas or who I'll have to give gifts to or whether this will be an appropriate present, but for 50 cents....I will certainly keep 'em in my Christmas closet for use whenever! Or, maybe I could invite others to my place to watch.
2. So I tried ordering the book club title via one online used bookseller. The order didn't go through, it kept spinning...or at least I think it didn't go through. So I ordered the book through another online source, and it'll be 6 or 7 bucks. Here's the kicker: the email was sent in error and the book I ordered is a past title (I decided not to participate last fall since it was the 100th book by the same author and I got tired of reading him....). Book club chairman says we have NOT yet decided on this fall's title and to ignore the email. Too late! Not only am I kicking myself, but I just hope the first order really did not go through; otherwise I'll have 2 books I don't want/need. Aaarrrggghhh! Oh well, at least I didn't pay full price for a new copy.
3. Have been parking under a tree, going to work in this 100-degree heat. Keeps my car cooler. Alas, some birds like the tree as well. Kept my car outside my house hoping some rain from the hurricane will wash off bird droppings. Nope. We didn't get any. Will have to use up a free carwash coupon I'd hoped to save for later.
4. Hurricane Beryl went in the opposite direction and now I have to water the lawn.
5. Waited to0 late to transplant a plant. May it rest in peace. Garden 0, Compost Pile 1.
Frugal wins:
1. Got to go to neighbor's July 4 picnic, free burger lunch and swimming. Got to work later that day, so no lost income. Two workers have quit so I'm getting extra hours assigned. Not only am I being paid, but I can turn my AC to a higher temp while being in the store's air-conditioned environment.
2. The foil I taped to the back window (overlooks the back yard so no neighbor will be offended by its ugliness) is keeping some heat out of bedroom.
3. Found some trifocal reading glasses being sold at our store. It disguises the bags under my eyes -- I could be in a Plexaderm commercial, they're so bad! -- and also helps me see both far away AND the little bitty print on the price tags (we're old fashioned and don't use store scanners). Saving $ by not having to wear expensive Plexaderm every day is a frugal win! (Plexaderm is a product that tightens up the bags under your eyes so you don't look so old and out of it. They advertise it all the time on U.S. television.)
4. Used 2-for-1 restaurant coupons two Sundays in a row, and got to eat supper on the cheap with coworker. Enjoyed the company and the food.
5, Found a coloring book suitable for adults in a Little Free Library (the book is in the LFL not the adults); passed it along to friend whose mom is in a nursing home and enjoys coloring.
@Fru-gal Lisa, I would try to contact (2nd) book & see if can stop shipment or get refund explaining wrong book. All that effort for book not even needed. 🙁
@Fru-gal Lisa, Frugal Fail#4? I don't think I've ever seen "missed a hurricane" listed in this category. ;-}
FFT:
1. Placed a Walmart+ order and they sent the wrong item. I used the option for them to pick up the return, so we didn't have to drive to the store.
2. Figured out how to use the sprinkler system at the new house. We've never had a sprinkler system before so there was a learning curve. We've been in drought conditions so it's worth running the sprinkler in the early morning to keep the beautiful landscape we inherited alive.
3. Got several quotes for a move out cleaning before we list the old house. The prices varied greatly, from $295 to $550. Thankful that the $295 quote is from a company that has all 5-star reviews.
4. Used cherry tomatoes from my plant to make a pasta dish for lunch over the weekend. I only had to buy a box of spaghetti.
5. Got gas at BJs since it was 35 cents a gallon cheaper than the place close to the house. While I got gas, DH dashed in and bought hamburger meat so we could grill burgers for the 4th of July. We used buns leftover from BBQ family pack.
I went on vacation last week with a friend. Disclaimer: Her mother has a time share and since we were visiting family while in the area gave us a condo for free. She asked me along as an extra/night driver and didn't accept gas money.
1. We agreed to not stop at fast food on the way there or back so I packed both ways.
2. I went to Aldi to stock up on groceries. Also stopped at the farm market.
3. I took the shuttle to the beach and used the pool and hot tub at the resort.
4. We visited a friend while there and saw a different beach area. While on our way there we did a couple side trips to look at local architecture and gardens.
5. We went to dinner at a locally owned restruant and got the early bird special.
6. We went to breakfast at another local and got way too much food. So I ate leftovers all day long.
7. The last day we were there was leftover day. The young ones had the experience of eating hot dogs with white bread not buns. LOL
Love your #3! I love price breakdowns like that!
1. I got both my kids registered for NARHS (it's what we're using for them to get accredited diplomas through homeschooling). Because I paid early I got $50 off each, so $100 savings.
2. I've been shopping at the market instead of the grocery stores. This saves a ton of money as the have mostly imported food and we eat fresher.
3. An old ripped skirt went into the rag bag.
4. We got 2 eggs from our chickens.
5. Collected rain water.
We were (again) traveling, so it can be hard to find frugal wins in that type of a week. We are now enjoying the quiet routine at home again. But, a few wins:
1) DH & I took DS17 & two friends to Lake Tahoe over the 4th of July. We've never been there in the summer, and it was super fun. Used a free room offer, so rooms were covered.
2) Stopped at Costco for gas on the drive there, and the teens decided they wanted dinner from the food court. I fed five people (including three teens) for under $25.
3) Used Starbucks rewards to pick up a free coffee in the morning at the hotel.
4) Used lots of garden goodies (although, still battling squirrels and rabbits, and our solutions are making this really not cost effective overall). Strawberries, tomatoes, herbs, lettuce, peppers, cucumbers, etc.
5) By far the biggest from a $$ perspective... DS18 scored well enough on three AP tests that he has earned 12 college credits from the school he will be attending this fall. This has two big advantages. He doesn't have to take those classes (gen ed requirements) & saves the tuition there, but he also will be registering as a freshman entering with credit, which will give him some priority over the other freshman without credit, hopefully giving him better classes & keeping him on track to graduate on time. DS17 also got 4s on both of the AP tests he took, and the calculus one will definitely save him a math class next year. Both teens studied quite a bit for the tests, so I offered a small incentive for each passed AP tests. They went out to ice cream last night & were quite pleased. 😉
@Hawaii Planner, I love your number 2! Costco is such an inexpensive lunch or dinner. You really can’t beat it. My son and I stopped there specifically to eat lunch but the food court was closed for renovations. We got Rita’s Ice instead.
The price of bras is anything but frugal these days. It pays to take special care of them. I've read in more than one place that handwashing makes them last longer and stay in better shape. I don't know if that's true, but it's worth it to me to try.
1. I had some overripe bananas so I made 18 banana/carob chip/pecan muffins. I also made a loaf of GF bread and baked them both when the air and house were relatively cooler.
2. We have literally been having heat advisories every day for weeks. We aren't getting the usual rain that would break the afternoon heat a bit (then creates steam for the rest of the afternoon, but at least it cools the air a few degrees). I'm keeping my air conditioning set at 78 downstairs and programmed to be 82 most of the day upstairs. I keep the ceiling fan running when I'm in a room, too.
3. My daughter and I walked from her house to the park on Saturday to see the free fireworks and walked to a nearby restaurant to have a delightful summery salad, which she paid for.
4. I picked some elderberries from my two plants and froze them for later. I freeze them on a cookie sheet and save them up in a bag in the freezer, since the domestic and wild varieties ripen at slightly different times.
5. I would like to say I am getting ready to preserve my ripe figs, but heck no, I'm eating them right off the tree. Some things just need to be enjoyed now. It's still frugal though - I don't have to buy fruit when my figs are ready.
@JD, re: the price of bras, I've been checking out this bra-saving experiment for some time now: taking mine off the minute I'm out of the public eye and "going commando" around the house. In fact, I've even been "going commando" during early-morning gardening in this heat wave. As far as I'm concerned, ILGWU doesn't stand for the International Ladies Garment Workers' Union; it stands for "I Love Going Without Underwear"! ;-D
@A. Marie,
I put on sports bras, the cheapy discount store kind, under my shirt before I work outside or work hard in the house. This sounds yucky, but they help to catch the sweat running down my chest and back. I don't baby them, I throw them in the washer - and they need it after working in the yard!
@A. Marie, I'm with you. I want mine off anytime I'm home.
1. I picked up a kid's cook book (for a Christmas present for my kids) and a swim shirt for my son for next year off Buy Nothing.
2. I used up some leftover milk to make waffles for my kid's breakfast this week.
3. My sister gave me a bunch of clothes she doesn't want anymore. I went through my clothes and donated some.
4. We used our YMCA membership to use the gym and swim in the outdoor pool this past week.
5. Used herbs and beans from our garden for dinner this week
So how do you get slower shipping discount for Target? I purchase items from Target & always get free shipping but never an alternative slower shipping option shown/offered?
Frugal Things---
● Teen needed face care items last week & Target had on sale buy $25 get $5 Target gift card, plus I qualified for free shipping--will be here today.
● used my existing Target gift cards & earning to pay ($0 out of pocket)
● Meijer's had free slushie (again) yesterday only plus used my free slushie rewards equals 2 free XL slushies
● Dollar general had another BOGO free/cash back coupon for Tyson chicken (nuggets this time) that combined with $5 off $25 coupon
● picked up more soda (on sale $3) while still on sale & had bonus for me only coupons
● teen found metal truck bed toolbox at flea market ($50)
● I found (another) collapsible metal mesh egg basket $1 & $2 tabletop/hanging (foldable) 6 (tea light) candle holder at flea matket
● 4th of July carnival had food trucks AND WE DID NOT BUY ANYTHING! $9 grill cheese sandwich, $18 for 36 mini donuts (size of silver dollar with unappealing flavors)
Frugal Fail--
● 4th if July carnival was more geared towards young kids (not teens) & only thing we did was watch firefighters use hoses to spray ball on wire. Pretty much wasted time & gas.
● (usual) 4th of July fireworks were not very visible this year as they were not shot into air very high. Majority of people could not see very much of fireworks show. 🙁
I'd never seen the slow shipping offer before either, but it popped up at checkout this time. Yay!
So apparently I have spatial synesthesia, too. I reread your previous post about it, and I have a number chart and calendar that I visualize in my head. I am also a classically trained pianist (my undergraduate degree is in music education). I think I visualize the written music in relation to where my hands are on the keyboard, so it may be the same thing you are describing. I hadn’t thought of it that way before. If you play from memory, do you visualize where the notes are on the written music?
1. I have been picking so many wineberries. I made a batch of raspberry lemonade with some to see if Hubby liked it. It was a hit so I have made 6 more batches. I froze containers of it for future use.
2. Our SIL invited us Friday for a BBQ Saturday. I didn't want to run to the store or cook anything as it was very hot here and the AC has been going. I cut up 1/2 a watermelon and also made a chick pea salad. Both were a hit.
3. Sunday my sister came and dropped off her dog as she is now traveling. She cleans out her fridge so I got a lemon, 6 eggs, guacamole, 1/2 a pack of sausage and some tomatoes. I made her breakfast and she stole 2 muffins I made for her travels.
4.Hubby and I have been doing our own yard work. Most of our neighbors have lawn services.
5. I picked a bouquet of flowers from my own bushes. They are beautiful an make me smile.
I love how you describe how music appears to you!
This is several weeks of frugal choices for a long trip we took....
1) My DH and I needed Hawaiian outfits for a themed wedding. I found a dress at a thrift store (7.99) and a shirt for him (4.99). I was super happy to find a big and tall size for him as they are hard to find in most thrift stores.
2) For several weeks I bought select snack foods along with regular groceries. I looked for things that were filling, wouldn't melt, and were somewhat nutritious. Due to this planning ahead, we only ate two meals out the entire 10 days.
3) We planned ahead for gas stops, as the state we traveled to has gas prices almost twice what we pay per gallon. We only had one complete fill up while there. We did get a few gallons to get us safely to another state that had much better prices.
4) We brought air mattresses with us to be able to stay with family. In the past, we have needed to get a hotel.
5) Had a meal ready in the freezer for when we came home exhausted!
Love the alliteration!
1. I needed some new-to-me tank tops for summer, since most of my old ones are worn out and have been relegated to sleepwear or the rag pile. I ordered them from Thredup during their Fourth of July sale and used a coupon for free shipping too. Luckily, they all fit, so I'm now set for summer clothes.
2. I got $9.67 in cash back from Ibotta when I bought groceries.
3. I signed up with Capital One Shopping because they offered a $40 bonus if I spend $15 through their site in the next three months.
4. I've been hanging my laundry to dry (indoors, to prevent it from getting covered in pollen). Keeping the thermostat at 78 or 79 during the day and using fans and cold drinks to keep cool.
5. I changed my default credit cards for Walmart and Kroger online to Discover because they are offering 5% cash back this quarter at Walmart and grocery stores. Since I always order online, I don't have to think about which credit to use for the best cash back once I have it set.
Recent frugal things...
1) Volunteered for a local food event. Worked the first 1.5 hrs and got to enjoy the last 1.5 hrs for free. Beats the $67+fees each that the tickets cost.
2) Got two liquid measuring cups and some metal straws from someone off buy-nothing. Our plastic liquid measuring cup lost the handle a while back. Not replacing it right away worked out in this case.
3) Went picking for strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and cherries. The up front costs were expensive (especially for the blue berries and cherries) but the quantities gave us enough to preserve and beat out buying quarts at the farmers market. You do the work of picking and that qt of strawberries goes from $12 to $4 and the raspberries $6/pt opposed to $6/half pt. The blueberries and cherries we more of a "serious business/people come here from all over" so prices were higher but still worked out in our favor do to the quantities we picked. Granted this is in relation to local farmers markets...yes, these don't save as much if comparing to the supermarket but we value local.
4) Bought the qt of ice latte instead of actual individual ice lattes. Unfortunately we forgot to make and chill coffee for the next day. Pouring piping hot coffee over a limited amount of ice is not the same. So, instead of getting iced maple lattes individually, we bought the qt and used ice and maple syrup at home. Made 4 lattes for just slightly more than the amount of what 2 would have cost.
5) Husband won a $10 gift card at a brewery playing musical bingo last night. Did we spend much more than that attending said bingo? Yes, but it was his birthday outing so money was going to be spent anyway. They wouldn't let us use it last night (as of course they want you to come back) but it never expires so it can be a future frugal thing of $10 off when we eventually go back.
I repaired a pair of pants.
I ordered a used book "Laundry Love." I've been really impressed by Patric Richardson's knowledge of fabric and his tips for stain removal and cannot wait to learn more.
I turned left overs into meals.
I listened to "Talent, Inc." for free on libravox. (It's a fun si-fi and short).
We rented movies from the library and returned them on time!
Ooh what an interesting sounding book!
@Kristen, Well I'm hurt.
@Rebekah in SoCal, I ***love*** Laundry Love! It's such a great book and I like how simple his stain removal tips are. I feel like every time I look online there's a million different ingredients needed to remove a stain, none of which I keep on hand. I've had good luck so far with his tips!
I'm excited to actually have some frugal wins today!
Checked out garden section of Wally World last week when I needed to get potting soil which was marked down as "season" draws to a close. Noticed chrysanthemum plants marked down to two dollars. It is better to plant small ones in the spring (I know, I know, this is July), pinch them off, get established for longer lasting plants in the garden. The fall mums, which are so big and beautiful last mostly as annuals rather than perennials. I purchased eight and the checkout guy said he'd mark them down to a dollar. YES, PLEASE!
Bought a used propane grill about a month ago and put off looking to see what it needed to make it useful and to clean it up. Laid the grids in the grass for the dew to aid in cleaning them. Needs a coupler from the hose to the tank. Picked up one at WM. They still had chrysanthemums at $2. Picked up eight more and two knock-out roses for $5. Asked to have the chrysanthemums for $1. The guy in the garden section was hesitant and had to go back to check the sku on the roses (I was at the checkout already). The seasoned checkout guy and I gave up on the garden section worker returning and the checker used his magic to mark the mums down to $1 and the roses to $5. I have a project in mind at the nursing home for eight of the mums and for the roses. I may plant the other eight mums at church or at my house.
Returned the wrong propane coupler to WM and got $17 returned to debit card. Stopped at Hy-Vee for scripts, no impulse buys, BUT stopped at Customer Service for refund. The week before, I'd bought a gallon of milk and turned it on it's side to scan and it leaked all over the place. A helper got a different one and I inadvertently scanned it again.
Playing the Casey's Match for prizes game and yesterday picked up a free slice of pizza!
Got a $46 refund on state taxes.
@Chrissy, KnockOut roses are so great. My mom had a rose garden when I was a kid and I got into it with her. Back then, all roses were hybrid teas, and there always seemed to be something wrong with them, from aphids to black spot. It's hard to top hybrid teas for flowers, but compared to how simple knockouts are... I wanted to get a special yellow rose in remembrance of my mom, but all the nice ones were sold out by the day she died.
@Rose, I have two of my own KnockOuts and one of them is yellow. This is the first year the sawflies did not skeletonize the leaves. Even when they do, they don't bother me much.
@Chrissy, I'll see what's restocked in the autumn for yellow roses. I also need a light pink cold-hardy camellia for BFF. Right now I have yellow petunias for Mom.
Kristen, I learned about spacial synesthesia from you, and then I realized I had it as well!
I thought everyone’s brain (with regards to time, history, seasons) worked the way mine did. Surprise! I was wrong.
My brother and niece also experience it as well.
Cutting old shirts and jeans that can't be saved for throw away grease. Already have enough rags made from old shirts for cleaning.
Got tea oil and salicylic acid for face and scalp, 4 oz for $1.25, at Dollar Tree. This retails higher elsewhere. Also, items that I only need a bit.
Do tracing of liners for days for girls.
Read Libby audiobooks.
Book club.
1. I canned jam with berries I harvested from my in-laws berry bushes.
2. Took home leftovers from a family get together. My sister gave me a watermelon because they were leaving on vacation.
3. Got dish soap on clearance.
4. Found an orthodontist closer to home. There’s nothing frugal about braces, the savings is in the driving time and gasoline.
5. Was too busy to go grocery shopping, used up odds and ends to make meals.
From the When Am I Going to Learn category: Took hamburger buns, cream cheese, and a bag of cheddar out of the freezer. Left it on the counter while I went to answer the phone. By the time I returned, all that was left was a plastic bag and the foil liner of the cream cheese. Clobber Paws ate frozen food! We have upped his food to 12 cups a day and even though his ribs are still showing, I cannot believe he is starving. He has even dug stuff out of our compost pile to eat. We've had giant breeds before but not one of them ate this much. The vet says it is not worms or some other illness, he is "just a growing boy." He is a year old, so will be growing for another year...
To compensate, we did have some frugal victories:
1. Not my doing, but I was doing a mystery shop pick up order and came home to find one of the bags was filled with things we did not order. I called to tell them and was told to keep it because they cannot restock returned food items. These people much love Danish butter, because there were four 2 pound packs of the stuff and they cost almost $8 a pound! Also dragon fruit and hazelnuts. It was like Christmas.
2. Harvested another two cauliflowers, one yellow and one purple, plus a cuke and more basil and scallions. I am thanking my past self for the work done planting the garden.
3. I needed more tomatoes for a salad so did a quick swing through at the farmers' market. It was the end of the day and the farmer offered me the rest of his tomatoes for $2 a pound, so I took almost an entire flat. Froze most of them so I can make spaghetti sauce when I have more time. They are so much easier to work with when frozen.
4. Cut up a bunch of paper blank on one side and made some notepads. I always seem to be looking for a slip of paper to write something on...cheaper than buying pads.
5. Made some birthday cards.
@Lindsey, If it makes you feel better, we have similar blindness to Rescue Pup's amazing ability to stre-e-e-e-tch where he wants to go. I don't know why it's hard to remember but it is. The other day it was expensive cookies from the local gourmet shop. Sigh.
I play piano (and have since I was pretty young), and I’m really not sure if the same thing happens in my brain! As best I can describe, when I look at the music I see where my hands should be on the keys. I think it is kind of an overlay of the music on the keys, but I could never have articulated that!
I would love to jump in the brain of a person who reads music but doesn’t play piano. Reading music is so tied to the keyboard for me, even when I’m singing or when I played handbells as a kid. It would be fascinating to see how it works in the brain of a person who only plays a horn or woodwind or stringed instrument.
@Elizabeth, as a violin player who is not really trained in music theory, my personal experience is that written notes correlate directly to physical finger positions - bypassing completely any conscious knowledge of what the name of the note is. I can figure out the note if asked, but it's an extra mental step beyond finger placement. This might not be the case for other string musicians who are more extensively trained though 🙂
I understand this so much! I can’t imagine divorcing my music from the keyboard. It is how I think about music spatially.
@PD, thank you! It’s the same way for me with the notes, I think. I know what they are and could tell you, but it doesn’t pop into my brain as automatically as the finger position.
@PD, I’m a professional violinist, conservatory trained, have been playing since I was five (I’m 63 now). I generally don't think note names while playing (unless it is a modern work with strange intervals) but I could absolutely reel off the note names in tempo if asked, no extra step. For what it’s worth, I have nearly no memory of learning to read music; it came very naturally to me. But I can’t wrap my mind around Kristen’s description.
For a meme (poorly describe what you do for a living), I once said “I track dots on a page at high speed with no margin of error.”
1. Found a quarter in an Aldi cart. There was a second cart but by the time my son saw it we were in the car and we decided it was too hot to get out and go get it. Lol
2. Watering my plants out front after the sun moves to the backyard.
3. Not initially cheap but we had all the windows replaced in our over 100 year old house. This is drastically helping with our current cooling system and excited to see what the heat bill will be like in the winter. The window sills were rotting and we even had a family of squirrels living in our third floor wall. lol. Now it’s all composite. No scraping or painting required. And no squirrels who don’t pay rent. I did end up with one baby squirrel I had to raise as he got separated from his family and all the wildlife rehab facilities near me were full. His name is Jimmy and he lives in a squirrel house in my backyard.
4. Went to the local thrift store today and took advantage of the half off senior day for the first time!
5. Sold quite a few free curb picked items on Marketplace this month. Very happy with
The extra $. I’ve been keeping track of it by month so I can see how much I’ve made in a year.
Thanks for the tip about the bonus for direct deposit! I forgot that I also now have a job with direct deposit! So I’ll be online looking for ones near me! I know Santander had one so I’ll look into this. Thanks!
1. Life is life so I am starting counseling again both by myself & with my husband. When I made our appointments I was told that I would have to pay a deductible and coinsurance for each appt. A phone call to Cigna confirmed that I have no limits, $0 deductible and no coinsurance for these visits. Annoying but cost saving.
2. All meals at home using ingredients on hand. Baking cookies and muffins and taking advantage of low cost snacks like watermelon and cantaloupe. Cooking batches of dried beans - full of fiber, protein and iron and so delicious.
3. Cleaned out closets and will have a yard sale this weekend. Getting rid of clothes that don't fit me anymore, picture frames and furniture we don't/can't use, extra stuff we have accumulated that we don't need. It is a comfort to have the house more organized and hopefully we will make a little cash to put towards a bill, grocery expenses, or back to school items. I also sold some of the things my son has outgrown to a local consignment store and gave some to charity as well.
4. Taking advantage of circle deals at Target to stock up on laundry supplies, school supplies and back to school clothing.
5. BBQ'd chicken purchased on sale at home and enjoyed the fireworks show that my neighbor treated us to on July 4th. A wonderful time was had by all and we didn't have to deal with traffic or finding a parking spot. So much fun.
This made me smile. I enjoy seeing your excitement over having direct deposit.
FFT:
1 - I downgraded my chequing account as the monthly fees are increasing 50% and the minimum balance to waive the fee is also increasing from $2,500 to $4,000 and that is no bueno. I downgraded that account (that I've had for decades) and am in the process of moving my daily chequing needs to another bank.
2 - I again partook (that word sounds wrong to me) in purchasing pre-paid Visa gift cards and got $105 in Walmart GCs for free.
3 - I'm keto so eat a fair amount of meat and I stocked up when my favourite beef & pork belly burgers were on sale for almost half price. I bought 9 boxes and they are in my deep freeze. I like to have premade burgers on hand for a quick meal during the work week. Less temptation to get take out and healthier, too. The store I purchased them at is brand new and had Grand Opening bonus point specials within their points program so I earned about $20 in points as well.
4 - I went back to a store to get a price adjustment for something that I had purchased that then went on sale a few days later.
5 - I cannot think of anything else but I did not buy an airplane, so, there's that.
1) Our bank has cash-back deals that I haven't really paid much attention to, but this time found one for the local grocery store, so I made sure to click on that offer. (Now I check the deals weekly.) Same grocery store had major price cuts this week, so I bought several 4-packs of Land o'Lakes butter and stuck them in the freezer. Several items were on sale, and I had some "shop and earn"rewards to cash in, so I bought $87 worth of groceries for $62. Plus, Rakuten pinged in some money to the account.
2.) The day before Independence Day I combined several errands and shopped at Aldi's because I had to go right by it. Got more meat than I usually buy, and the ground chuch prices were low enough that I bought a couple of pounds and we had hamburgers--for several meals. Also found a quarter in the buggy, but when I checked out, I paid it forward and left the quarter for another unsuspecting shopper.
3.) Got a refund from the health center for an apparent overcharge on co-pay. It was only $15, but I put it in the growing yard fund. We have had such a drought going on, that my mower man has not been here for 4 weeks now, and probably won't be for at least another week. The grass crunches when we walk on it. I continue to get out the amount of cash for a month's worth of mowing, though, and just save it up, like a mini savings account. That will go toward getting an awning put over the back door this fall.
4) There was a CVS coupon for $5 off 2 6-packs of Boost, but someone else cleaned out the flavor hubby prefers from both stores (again!), so I found it online and ordered it. As it was more than $10, and I'm an Extra Card member, I got shipping free, so I took advantage of that to get the other 2 things I wanted (also reduced price) and didn't have to get out in that blistering heat.
5) Made banana bread from really ripe bananas; cooked up some going-soft apples in my oatmeal; went to a different Dollar General to get some small bottles of water and Gatorade for the delivery guys and the cashier swiped an extra coupon for $5 off--and I didn't even ask her to; found a printed quilt pattern, originally $8.50) for $2.50 at the thrift shop, and won a free downloadable quilt pattern in an online giveaway from Missouri Star Quilt Shop.
1, 2, 3. Skipped dinner 3 nights in a row because of a robust "happy hour" with abundant finger foods. This is a tradition in our cabin neighborhood.
4. Tomatoes are coming on fast and furious in our mostly neglected garden.
5. Some friends have been watering the yard and feeding the cats while we are up the hill and won't take money for it. Feels awkward, but I am deeply grateful (and will not mention to one of them that he forgot to water the herb garden and now much of the ground-cover thyme is dead, but maybe those 112 degree days had something to do with it.
1. We made all our meals at home and used up foods that needed to be eaten. My husband usually coffee. He's not at home and I make terrible coffee. I know I could practice and just drink the coffee, but I opted for drive-thru coffee some of the days that he's gone.
2. I mended some pants for my child.
3. I borrowed a sander to refinish our table and chair set.
4. I am refinishing our table and chair set instead of buying new. It deserves its own spot on the list.
5. I need to mow the lawn before my child's birthday party, because some of it will be in the backyard. I *will* do it myself instead of hiring out.
I just got laid off, going from working about 60 hours a week to zero, so I do have some time to do frugal activities and share them.
1) I cut my husband’s hair- this saved about $30.
2) I re-loc’d my son’s hair- this saved about $70 (a loctition charges about $70/hour, so this would be more including tax and tip.)
3) I went to Aldi- this is a 15 minute drive for us, so when I was working, we would order pickup at a closer but more expensive grocery store. Aldi is SO much cheaper, but driving there and back and doing the actual grocery shop takes a lot more time.
4) I have been doing lots of yard work- this doesn’t technically save any money bc we don’t have an HOA so we just don’t do it at all mostly. And this is probably actually anti-frugal bc I ought to be finding another job, which would bring in actual cash money.
So sorry to hear of the layoff!
And I hope a new job shows up soon.
Pianist (12 years of lessons, 25 years of teaching, 25 years of being our church pianist, etc.) dropping in to say...no, what you described is not how my brain works. I think of mine kind of like a player piano: my sheet music (specifically classical pieces) are rolling through my brain, left to right, as I play. If I get stuck I can picture the page in my mind.
Hymns and things are much more just muscle memory since I play the same ones so often.
Human brains (and the differences in them) are amazing things!
Wouldn't it be so fun to learn how all the pianists think about this??
@Karen @ Living Unabridged,
I can see the page in my mind when I play the piano as well. Especially if I have memorized the music.
With hymns and such, I agree it’s a little bit like muscle memory. My hand automatically goes to the notes before my brain consciously thinks of or registers the note on the page.
Frugal wins of the week:
1) I timely returned 3 amazon items that would have be over $100 if I missed the window
2) I fought with insurance and got a denial reversed for a $1,200 claim
3) I cooked dinner at home every week day
4) I've been using Kanopy (the library's free media service) for movie nights
5) I've been working in the naturally cooler basement during the day to avoid cooling the upstairs a bit. It's a HOT one out there this week
Not a frugal tip, but about the Aldi garbanzo salad. I don't have one in the fridge right now, but it seems to me that the label states that it's two-point-something servings. One of my favorite summer salads and easy to make, but just a little high in calories.
I don't know what this says about me, but I've always eaten the whole container in a single sitting. lol
That is definitely not the way music works in my brain when I play piano! How very interesting though!
Knowing your favorite style and size of bra makes it so easy to grab a new one when they might be on sale. Mine are quite expensive and not available at Target (I call them industrial strength), so I am pretty militant about caring for them. Rotate wear, hand wash or wash in lingerie bags on delicate, watch the armpits for deodorant build-up, and never ever ever in the dryer. I've made some of them last for YEARS.
Ten years of piano lessons here and I never thought of the printed music as you describe.
Test text. Keep getting error message that 'There's something wrong."
This one came through!
Problem with copy and pasting.
Frugal Things—
Your 5 Frugals were impressive!
My 5 Frugals are ….
1) We offered to water my friend’s plants while she was away so she gave us a homemade lunch, 3 pots of marigolds for each my girls, a beautiful bouquet of fresh cut flowers from her garden, and some food from her refrigerator she wouldn’t use up before she left. We were welcomed to cut more flowers and herbs from her garden the next time we come to water it.
2) Girls continued to eat free lunch at the library and the park through the summer feed program. We also ate leftovers, used up food we have, and cooked most of our meals at home. Used Ibotta and Fetch.
3) Batch run errands to save gas. Combined trips to the eye doctor, grocery store, library, and playground.
4) Had free at home and local entertainment. Read books and watched DVDs through the library; Did crafts there and played their electronic touch screen games; Played card, board games, and computer games we already had at home; Went to the school, library, and local playgrounds; Walked, biked, scootered around the neighborhood; Played in the backyard and jumped on the trampoline; Went swimming at the lake a couple times; Rode motorcycle with the girls; Had a water ballon fight.
Also, got to walk around our neighborhood and watched fireworks for free from our front driveway that our neighbors shot. Our city allow fireworks to be shot from residential neighborhoods which is really awesome.
5) Girls got to enjoy some free hobbies. Went to Gardening camp which was sponsored through the library; Get to put into practice what they learned by taking care of my friend’s garden; Made lots of melty bead creations; Made rubber band bracelets; Drawing, coloring, and painting at home; Use of imagination.
Also, mowed our grass, cleaned out the garage, vacuumed our cars, installed a toilet seat, saved an inner tube from floating away.
Since I started learning piano at age 6, I visualized a vertical line with little notches along it, like a ruler. Not only do the pitches line up along that, vertically, but also the finger numbers. I don't really think of the notes on it, but of course the notes do line up in a system similar to that. At 6, I would hear the music in my head and visualize it moving up and down this line as the corresponding fingers twitched. That's how I would fall asleep most nights. It gradually expanded from the pieces I was learning to any music I was hearing in my head. I don't do it as often these days, but once in awhile I still do. If I'm falling asleep, I can't have my hand resting on my wife because my fingers twitch in music she can't hear, and if you can't hear it, it's an exercise in irritation!
Oh, that is so interesting how your brain processes that!