Five Frugal Things | Call me a cobbler
1. I fixed my snow boots with Shoe Goo
I got my snow boots on clearance back around 2012, so they have been with me for a good long time.
I wore them a lot this past month because of all the walks I took in the snow! Buttttt, near the end of the snow-on-the-ground time here, I noticed a weird feeling in the right boot and I realized the sole was coming loose.
Thankfully I was close to home at the time. Ha.
You may remember that I shoe-gooed these boots two years ago. So I guess the life of a shoe-goo repair is right about two years.
Anyway, my tube of Shoe-Goo was still just fine, and I did a second repair on the soles.
If this buys me two more winters, I'll be happy!
2. I got some free eggs at Safeway
The Safeway app gives me points for everything I buy at Safeway, and I realized I had some points expiring soon.
As I scrolled through the options for redemption, I noticed eggs were on the list. YES PLEASE. They're normally $5.79, but thanks to my points, they were $0.
A dozen eggs are $4.35 even at my Aldi, so I was delighted to get a dozen for free.
3. I got a big box of cereal for $1.97
Also at Safeway, I picked up a big box of Life cereal that was marked down for being dented. It normally sells for $6.99 at Safeway, which is kinda ridiculous, but I was happy with the end price of $1.97.
Two other small Safeway savings: I used an in-app discount on bananas and also applied my 5% student discount to the whole purchase.
And of course, I scanned my receipt into my Fetch app.
(Fetch gives you points for scanning in receipts, much like Ibotta. You can download the app here, and use code FETCH1000 for a 1000 point sign-up bonus.)
4. I bought a reusable lint brush
As anyone with a pet knows, it's hard to leave the house and not take some fur with you.
I know those sticky rollers work well, but I hesitated to buy one because I dislike the idea of repeatedly buying replacement sticky sheets.
So I ordered this reusable one, which comes with a holder that automatically removes the hair from the brush.
Thus far, I really like it! I feel better wearing my black shirts out of the house now. Ha.
I'm guessing the sticky rollers do work better at removing every bit of fur, but this is a decent-enough option for me.
5. I saved 1000 points on a gift card redemption
I use my Citi Custom Cash credit card exclusively for groceries because of the 5% cash back offer on that card.
And then I always wait for a gift card sale before I redeem my points, because we all know I like to squeeze every little bit of savings out of things. 😉
So, I got a $100 gift card for 9,000 points instead of 10,000 points. That's like getting a bonus $10, which is not too shabby.
We've three black cats, all with different hair textures/lengths. I just accept that they "travel" with me via my clothes, but I do have a hand vacuum for the studio. For being the one room they're not allowed in, it gathers a shocking amount of fluff! 😛
FFT
--I gave in to my seed pusher's 50% off spring sale and ordered $35 worth (the free shipping threshold) of heirloom, non-GMO seeds to add to my vegetable garden stash. After talking about what we still had in our personal seed inventory and the looming grocery inflation, my husband and I decided it was a worthy investment for ourselves and our closest friends.
--Related: A friend who LOVES to fish offered to trade me his freezer overflow for fresh okra, so I'll be planting okra for the first time this year. Twist my arm!
--A worn-out pair of flannel pajama pants was parted out for the rag bin.
--For $13, I doubled our hanging space in the closet with a shower tension rod. Our 1890s closets are narrow with ten foot ceilings, so my tall husband has the upper rack, and I've the lower. I take a "First do no harm" approach to our Victorian, and the tension rod works perfectly without needing screwed into the wall. Should we ever need to change the set up, we can do so easily, with no damage.
--My parents will be visiting later today! I'll make us Zuppa Toscana for lunch via my beloved 70s crockpot, and they'll bring me more venison (my little brother got his third deer!) to Tetris into the freezer.
@N, okra is one of my favorite foods! Soak your seeds in water the night before you plant and they will sprout quicker.
@N, I love the ‘first do no harm’ approach to renovation.
@N, I love the idea of a seed pusher, tee hee
@Kathy, Oooh, thank you for the tip!!!
@Kathy, I love okra! They love the heat and don’t mind if I neglect them up bit. Great for later in the summer when I’m worn out.
Heirloom seeds are great for seed saving, too. So free seeds for next year!
@N, Okra also loves full sun and space. Give the plants space and they will produce more. And it likes to be picked. Start picking as soon as it starts making and you will have more. Also, overcast days will slow it down. We used to grow okra for local markets when our boys were younger. We paid for our beach vacations with okra. Money doesn’t grow on trees, but it does grow on okra plants. You just have to pick it!
@Sherri in GA, I love this!!!
@Sherri in GA, Awesome tips--thank you so much!
@N, To echo Sherri, pick pick pick the okra! It grows sooo fast and gets woody quickly. In my garden it can grow well even in somewhat degraded soil, it is such a hardy plant. But yes it does love lots of sun!
I love Shoe Goo! Saved a few pair of shoes & boots for repair instead of garbage.
Frugal things---
● teen got gas yesterday (before prices increase today before predicted blizzrd) saved $0.10/gallon ($2.89) & earned $0.88 in rewards
● cashed in expiring points (just started how long points good for in New Year) to save $4.00 off total purchase at Meijer
● received gift card (early Valentine's) for dinner & got take out at Applebees Super Bowl Sunday getting free 20 boneless wings with purchase of $40+. Had enough for 2 meals for teen & myself.
● free (pink) TMOBILE umbrella (rewards)
● Valentine's day gift for teen is (needed) oil change & I got Snowflake cast iron pan (on sale).
Some tiny frugal things around here:
1. The Rubbermaid commercial mop head on my mop had started to disintegrate; I mentioned to DH I wanted to order another one. He offered to go pick one up at the store. He ended up ordering, instead, a Libman Nitty Gritty mop head replacement; a little smaller than the original, but a whole $20 less than the Rubbermaid commercial! And it looks like it will not shred as easily as the original one. I like Libman products, as well, since they're USA made.
2. I made Clark a treat puzzle box out of an old Amazon box and saved toilet paper rolls; you toss a few treats in there and he has to hunt around for them. He gets SO excited to do it. He is a very food-motivated cat, so I like to make him work for treats. And it didn't cost a penny nor was it made in China.
3. Kroger has had some nice sales on tea lately so I've been able to stock up on my favorite Traditional Medicinal teas as well as try out some new-to-me Yogi teas and Stash teas.
4. The heating element in our oven up and cracked on us; DH was able to find a replacement part for $30 and fix it for much less than a new oven. Plus no pestering our landlord. While it was out of service we had our toaster oven and crockpot to fall back on, as well as a hot plate, so no interruption of kitchen services!
5. I made some Valentine's Day cards for my friends using materials I had on hand.
Not-very-frugal: I have been thoroughly influenced by those in the Commentarian mentioning Sumo mandarins. I finally tried one when they were "on sale" (quotes because $2.50 an orange is not, to my mind, very frugal), but MY GOODNESS they are so good. I get a couple when I shop for a treat. The kids think they are grapefruits and won't touch them, and I see no reason to correct their assumption. 😉
I feel like I always forget this frugal thing: I gave everybody haircuts. I announced that I would be giving haircuts once a month on a weekend, no more of this "whenever I need one" business. It's much more efficient, as Amy D. of the Tightwad Gazette reminds us, to do things in batches. So I got five haircuts done in less than two hours. DH calculated I "earned" $100 dollars an hour, given the current price of haircuts. Plus in my barber shop you can watch whatever you want on TV while I work. 😉
I also finally figured out how to trim my own hair. Such a relief to get the split ends off without going to the salon!
@Karen A., Love it! Your "salon" sounds like the best.
@Karen A., I wish I had the courage to trim my own hair. But, in the words of Ray Stevens's "Haircut Song," I'm always afraid of looking like Larry, Moe, or Curly if I do.
@A. Marie, I have a funny hair cut story. In college I went rappelling off a building, and unfortunately, my long hair got caught in the rope. The only option for escape was to cut my hair. That resulted in a rough hair cut that a friend fixed in the dorm rooms. Now, my tolerance for bad hair cuts is off the charts. I’m always cutting my own hair and asking whichever poor soul is nearest to help me with the back LOL. I remind them a man hacked off my hair with a pocket knife and anything they do is an improvement!
@Karen A.,
I'm not the only Sumo Mandarin Influencer in the Commentariat (coughcough Lindsey :-)), but I know what you mean! I soooo look forward to when they come in season. I figure if we spend the ridiculous amount of $ we do on the diet soft drinks my DH has to have (eye ball roll here, no it can't be store brand), $2.50/Sumo is doable. My son loves them, too, so sometimes we share one.
@Karen A., Do you accept walk-ins? Or does everyone have to make an appointment? Do they tip well? Inquiring minds want to know....
@JDinNM, Show up on the first Sunday of the month but call ahead. 😉 Complimentary tea and beverages as well.
@Karen A., but do we get to give Clark a complimentary belly rub??
@A. Marie, He will pass out free nose boops but you pet his belly at your own peril!
@Karen A., I forgot haircuts too. I gave DH and my younger son one this past Sunday.
@A. Marie, I wouldn't dare to try except my hair has finally grown out of an unfortunate pixie cut, and is shoulder-length. I pull it into a ponytail and then slide the hair tie down until it's just above the amount I want to cut. I'm not interested in layers, so this works for me!
@Karen A., YES! to Sumos! Glad to hear the word is spreading, because several friends of mine are growers. One is the adviser to all the Sumo growers. They are super touchy to grow, pick, and pack, so that nutso high price is the result.
@A. Marie, I will NOT take the scissors to my hair nor would I ever to my kids hair. I am not good at it nor am I remotely interested in it - even to save money. I looked like Cousin Itt during Covid shut down. Not so vain as a woman I know who dangled money in the face of her stylist who traveled to her house during the shut down.
@Karen A., I am always touting Sumos, like someone was paying me to do so! Only one person has not liked them.
@A. Marie, since i have been cutting and thinning my hair, i am happier. every time i came from the salon, they would cut too short and i was always upset! take your time and you can do it.
@Lindsey,
called shiranui dekopon
I don't have to deal with cats thankfully but I have two shedding women in my house. Seriously, why is there hair everywhere in my house? No matter how much I vacuum or throw it away there's always more!
Not a super frugal week but let me see what I have.
1.) Found some shoes on clearance for $3 for my daughter. They are plain white and she is either going to try tie dying them or just use fabric markers on them. She likes to have fun like that and for $3, why not?
2.) Stocked up on meat that was on sale for the Super Bowl. We don't have a party (nor do we watch the game) but we took advantage of some sales last week.
3.) Tried buying something off of FB Marketplace and the guy ghosted me so I guess I didn't need to buy it after all ...
4.) My wife and I went through our daughter's clothes and determined that we don't need to buy her anything for a long time unless she has a sudden growth spurt. The hand me downs will go to my niece.
5.) Valentine's Day this year will be pretty frugal but also spendy. We don't usually do a big fancy restaurant but we will be buying some nice steaks (a bit of a splurge, yes) and having a nice dinner together which I will cook.
Oh and a bonus Frugal thing, I have not imported a vintage Kei-van from Japan as a toy car to drive around in. I just let other people do that and watch their YouTube videos. 😛
Haha kei-vans are so cute! I smile whenever I see one in real life.
@Battra92,
RE: your #5.....We are doing the same & have invited our adult children over. Spending some time with all my loves is precious to me <3
@Battra92, I saw a Kei-van in real life last week and it made me smile. So darn cute.
@Battra92, With five men in this house, I've noticed they shed hair as well, but you're less likely to notice it as with women if said women have long hair. 😉
@Battra92, I also LOVE celebrating holidays AT HOME. I love to make a special meal, go all out to set the table with my favorite dishes and candles, and for meMUSIC is very important.We love reggae, Dean Martin, Loreena McKennit, Motown, Spanish guitr, you name it, I choose a station on spotify to fit the mood! SO MUCH MORE FUN than a busy noisy restaurant!!!
I have a recipe for some really colorful stuffed peppers I was going to do for Valentines, but I was given a bunch of lemons and have chicken tenders in freezer to use up,so the lemon chicken won.I’ll make stuffed peppers for one of our other Friday night celebratory dinners. ( I celebrate for no reason often! WHY NOT!)
@Kristen, they are! I wish they were street legal in more areas. Of course it'd be a toy and not a practical car. They aren't even that expensive for what they are.
@Beverly, I saw a comment about how if you want a car to get people (especially women) to talk to you, don't buy a Corvette or anything like that, you import a small Japanese car. People just find them cute and fun.
@Battra92, in th 15 years me and hubby have been together, we have never once gone out to celebrate Valentines Day. We get in some decent steak and a bottle of good wine which means we have a fabulous home cooked meal for a fraction the cost of going out.
In the UK, most restaurants go down the "set menu at an inflated price" route for the privilege of being in the same room as a lot of other people trying to be romantic! Not for us, thank you.
@Stacey in UK, yeah we are hoping to have a date night soon. We may get to go out for a casual lunch together.
@Stacey in UK,
So agree. We started the practice years ago of picking a weekday near whichever special occasion (such as Valentine’s Day) we want to go out for dinner to celebrate. No crowds, no "set" menu, all the joy.
I’ve been meaning to comment about the Fetch type apps. It’s obviously an individual decision of a way to save money but I think it’s healthy to recognise that it’s not a saving, it’s the payment for selling your personal data. Store loyalty cards (which I use) are the same. Trying not to be doom spreading but in the US there may be some things you buy that you don’t want the government to have such easy access to.
Yesterday I faffed for a while to unblock my tube of sealant instead of throwing it away and getting a new one.
Oh, for sure, it's a trade-off, and everyone has to find their own particular comfort level with it.
It is annoying that you have to have a store card for discounts; I can remember the days when things were just sold at the sale price for everyone, with no card required!
@Victoria, I did Fetch a few years ago and had trouble with it garbling the type on receipts so that purchases did not register. The app also pestered me to death with messages. It was probably the hardest $25 I've ever made and thus quit doing it.
@Ruby, I like that I can use my Fetch point towards a purchase on Amazon, I just transfer them to Amazon and they build up until i need them, Every $3.00 is worth it.
I have one of those re-usable rollers, too. It was my parents' that I apparently just walked out of the house with when I moved out, which means it's at least 30 years old.
Let's see what I have this week . . .
--One of the most frugal things I have ever done is set the expectation for my children that extra purchases away from home are on them. So if they come to a basketball game with me, I pay their admission, but they have to buy food if they want it (except homecoming, which is the one game where we buy them dinner). When my older kids went on a weekend-long FFA trip, I gave them each twenty dollars to tip servers or whatever, but they brought their own money for gas station snacks, gift shop purchases, etc. This saves us money, of course, but it also is invaluable for having them actually think about what's worth spending money on, because when it's their own money, they will actually think about it. 🙂 It also keeps them from eating as much junk food, actually, which is the main thing they're likely to buy.
--My son's confirmation class was canceled this morning (in part because there's a skunk hanging around the parish hall, which is the most unexpected and funny reason I have ever heard), which will save us forty miles of driving. I appreciate not using the gas, but I appreciate the less-complicated morning even more.
--The fleece I run in is on its way out thanks to a separating zipper. It's over a decade old, so I was planning on replacing it, but yesterday when I was given a soft-shell jacket at work with my name and our school logo on it, I thought how perfect it would be for running in. Serendipity.
--Even though I've had a functional dryer for a few weeks now, I've still only used it for two loads of laundry. I continue to mostly use my clotheslines, which of course saves electricity and also wear and tear on the clothing.
--I'm starting to order a weekly box of milk (four gallons) from Sysco through our school again. I used to do this and then stopped because we were usually going into one town or another for something else, and the Sysco milk is almost $6 a gallon. However, the milk from most of the stores we can get to has a tendency to go bad or separate quickly, and the Sysco milk never does, so it's worth the extra few dollars. And also, it's nice to not have all that weight to push around in a grocery cart and load and unload with everything else. If it's just picked up at the school on Thursdays, my husband can get it when he goes in with the school bus.
@kristin @ going country, Hurrah for a milk supply solution! I've been keeping up with your milk acquisition plans via your blog and feeling some second-hand anxiety on your part. My kids do not consume as much milk but we do eat a lot of yogurt--specifically the zero sugar yogurt--and often the brand we need is out of stock, so I get it.
@kristin @ going country, I just about spit my chai latte at the computer screen over the skunk...I'm still rolling.
@kristin @ going country,
Cheering with you for the fleece that just appeared right when you needed it!
Glad the skunk did you a favor! There was a problematic skunk outside the high school where I work last semester. I THOUGHT I smelled something suspicious and usually those similar smells are a different type of 'skunk' (haha). But I couldn't identify the source of the odor so I just went on with my day. Turns out it was throughout the whole school! The security cams caught the principal and an assistant principal working to wrangle it into a plastic tote to take to the wildlife center. They are such good sports that they took screenshots and emailed them to staff for us all to enjoy 🙂
@kristin @ going country,
There’s never a chance of a dull post from your neck of the woods. Such fun!
@Heather Mar, Except I put it on to go running and could not get over how LOUD the nylon or whatever it is sounded when the sleeves rubbed the body of the jacket. I couldn't wear it to run; that swishing sound would be all I heard because I don't listen to music or anything. Highly sensitive person problems, I guess. And now I'll have to get another fleece.
@kristin @ going country, Bummer! I have to have music when I run. I can’t tolerate to hear my own breathing. It makes me feel tired prematurely because I hear myself huffing & puffing!!!
@kristin @ going country, Brilliant idea pertaining to kids' spending money! Amazing how quickly they decide not to buy stuff when they spend their oen money.
@Fru-gal Lisa, own not oen
@kristin @ going country, we were the same way when it came to
a) going to Disney - even back when my kids were young. Flat out told them that money is better spent on college.
b) spring break - if you have money for spring break, you have money to pay toward college.
c) overseas study. Both paid for the cost, we did give them a flat amount of food and sundries.
Suffice it to say both graduated college with no debt, money in the bank. We also had no debt and money in the bank. Life skills such as managing money means your kids aren't living in their childhood room/your basement at age 30.
@Chrissy, while funny it is not funny. Besides the skunk could be rabid, there is no worse smell on earth than a fresh skunk spray. Dead skunk in the middle of the road is aromatic compared to a fresh spray.
@Heather Mar, I smell skink as lemon, so I love the smell of them. So does my sister. I once saw an ad looking for women to participate in a study of women who smell skunk as lemon. My father used to take us for Sunday drives and I thought we were driving through some sort of lemon fields, until we figured out what it was. After that, when we wanted to go for a Sunday drive, we'd yell, "Let's go smell some skunks!"
Got a card with something I ordered in December that had no writing on it so I re-used it for granddaughter's Valentine's card. I actually got 2 and will send the other one in a few weeks.
Will make hubby's card before Friday.
We have been eating at home all week. On Friday I wanted to go out, but my husband wasn't feeling good. I made a huge pot of white chicken chili with all canned goods that I had on hand. He felt better as the day went on, but enjoyed the chili for dinner. Tonight we are having leftover chili and then putting the rest in the freezer.
Went to Kroger to use some coupon items and got my free bag of chocolate chips. Unfortunately eggs were not one of the free items. But I did get 2 lbs of 2 different butters on sale. And they had some great sales on meat, but since I didn't have enough money, I just picked up some chicken that I like.
Had some electric work done on our garage this past fall and we had a problem. The electrician came out to fix it and noticed a problem we had with the exterior light he installed. He came over yesterday to fix it and it looks good as new. And at no charge. I can't wait till I have to upgrade some of the electric in the house because this gentleman and his company are first on our list. Excellent work. And I will be spreading the word.
I'm running my numbers repeatedly preparing for retirement and a month with no income but eye watering health insurance premiums for myself and my daughter. Plus, I committed to a very expensive ( though frugally planned) trip in November. Every dollar spent has to work it's job+. I see a lot of creative ways to save. But still need socializing for looking for low cost options there.
@Sam, my favorite option for low-cost socializing is volunteering. Most of my friendships at church are from working on projects together and singing in the church choir. If you’re not a church goer, check out the local senior center or library. I have friends who joined the senior center and the gardening club when they retired. The library probably has classes and events you can attend.
@Sam, I found a local social group in my town called Golden Girls of East Valley and there are so many events (free) to connect with ..via their facebook page,I can sign up for crafts days, pot lucks,card playing, and also volunteer activities.Local library will have bookclubs and other events if you look. How about a local senior center?Mine offers FREE Tai Chi, yoga and other exercise classes.
Sign up to volunteer at a local food bank.. you will meet really nice folks and be helpful too.
Try to make friends with your neighbors..i have been in my neighborhood for 13 years, and have 3 friends on the block that meet up for cards and pot luck lunch every other week..no driving1 no restaurant food! AND FUN .
I also love my church and meet with other women every Thursday morning to make prayer beads (rosaries) which go to missions all over the world.Some of us go to lunch after. .usually Panera where I can get a nice $6.99 lunch deal. Not every week, but some. Good women! Good work!
How fun that you have a ncie trip to look forward to! ENJOY!
@Sam, This will sound funny to some people, but my church does not demand rigorous loyalty to a given theology. We recognize that a personal faith journey has ups and downs, and varies with individuals. We welcome participants in many volunteer groups—Habitat for Humanity, music programs, study groups, chi gong class and judo. We are part of the United Church of Christ (UCC), formerly Congregational.
@Sam,
My town is small (6500 people) and someone I knew from town asked me if I wanted to be on the public library board of trustees. I said sure and that was it. That's my one volunteer thing that I do along with purchasing sale bought food and health and beauty aids for our local food pantry.
@Kristina, that sounds amazing BUT what does have to do with her tight budget?
I can walk through snow in shoes so I never buy boots. I haven’t been eating eggs. I don’t like cereal and the packaging is so big and bulky and doesn’t really help in dispensing the product. You can dampen your hand and wipe off cat fur and other lint. I don’t mess with cash back and gift cards it’s annoying and I save more money by not buying stupid stuff. Free decaf coffee, thank you. A man paid for my hot fudge sundae with whip cream and gummy bears. Thank you sir. It cost 2 dollars to wash a load of clothes and the dryers were free.
@Tiana, that’s classic, and expresses my thoughts perfectly—I also save more money by not buying stupid stuff! Thanks for the grin.
Rescue Pup is a Great Pyrenees Mix. Nearly 100 pounds of white fluff. I walk through the house and her beautiful white fur sticks to me. I have found sticky rollers are not always effective. Perhaps I will try a reusable one.
I have one big frugal thing that I would like to share. Perhaps it will save someone else some grief. This week I saved $100 when I thwarted a theft attempt by a bank employee, and I learned a valuable lesson in the process. I buy and sell art, antiques, and vintage items. Many of my transactions involve cash. When this happens, I balance my cash against my sales tickets, count it 3 times, and put it in an envelope which I seal. I then mark the outside with the amount and a break down of the denominations.
On Friday, I went into my bank to make my deposit. There was a “substitute” teller from another branch helping out that day. I was tired, my back hurt, and I wasn’t really paying attention. I unsealed my envelope and handled the cash to the bank employee. I did not count it in front of him or fill out my own deposit slip like I usually do. He handed me a deposit receipt for $704 rather than $804. Although I noted the discrepancy immediately, he was insistent and the manager had another customer. I simply left.
At home, I double checked my sales receipts, checked my cash box, and made sure I hadn’t somehow left $100 bill on my desk. Frugal people don’t loose $100. I felt 1000% sure that this error was not mine. On Monday morning, I went back to the bank and spoke with the Business Manager. There are cameras everywhere and the bank unraveled the mystery. My $100 was returned to me.
Even though this bank has an excellent reputation, stuff happens. Don’t be afraid to speak up. But most of all, always be vigilant. I should have counted my money at the counter in front of the teller and filled out my own deposit slip. Once the cash left my sight, it was his word against mine. Unfortunately, this little con is not really that unusual. I’m sure I won’t be seeing this bank employee again!
Wishing you all peace, good health and prosperity.
@Bee, My puppy is just a small part Great Pyr, and he’s only 60lbs, but he got his full thick double-coat this winter. So much white hair everywhere!
@Bee, a similar banking situation might have happened to me about a year ago. Had counted out the cash multiple times at home before making the transaction. Came up 200 short upon deposit. I should have counted it in front of the teller before handing it over, ugh. Didn't think fast enough to call them out, just in shock. Will definitely be more careful with future similar deposits! Glad you got it sorted out!
@Bee,
Years ago we had a Border collie-Pyrenees mix (the litter owner was trying to raise purebred border collies and purebred Great Pyrenees to sell to ranchers... her dogs had other ideas). There was so much white hair! He was a wonderful dog, though.
I am shocked, yet not, at what happened to you at the bank. I used to work at a bank, and a bank loan officer and loan department clerk had a scheme going to syphon off some of the loan payments to their own accounts. They altered documents and receipts cleverly, but eventually, they got caught and fired. Most bank employees are trustworthy, but there can be the rogue employee now and then. I'm so glad you were able to get your money back!
@Bee, the teller should always ask you how much cash you are giving them IF you do not supply a deposit slip. Also, once you tell them how much, they should then immediately count it using the auto counter. If there's a difference, they should have another teller spot them on the recount. That takes away any suspicious activities. I just retired from a bank, although not as a teller, we were required to work as a teller on Saturday about once every 5 or 6 weeks. One last thing, once there's an issue, the teller shuts the window and gets it resolved. Never would you allow a customer to walk away thinking you made a mistake with their money. Yes, cameras are everywhere at the bank and any issue can be proven.
@JenRR, it’s that double coat! So much hair!
@JD, Gosh it sound as if they should of gotten arrested also, That's awful
I have not been very frugal lately, with a week of Super Bowl parties and birthdays and Valentine's day. So my miscellany frugal things are tiny.
1. I did not buy the heavenly rose scented Mrs. Myers soap at Whole Foods yesterday. Because I have a huge Softsoap refill at home.
2. Speaking of soap, this morning I mushed my old soap ends into a new bar.
3. I also passed on the sparkly gold cake candles at Whole Foods (SO CUTE), and reused the same birthday candles I've had for years.
4. I reused gift bags and wrapping paper scraps for the birthday yesterday.
5. I am drinking my coffee from home, which I do every day.
I'm not sure if this qualifies as frugal, but this week I signed myself up for a heart saver CT scan for $49. Its my Valentine's Day gift to myself! I also joined a book club and with my Capital One rewards the book was 43 cents on Amazon. I have plenty of time to read it before the club meets! Lastly, paid zero dollars to city of Austin to pick up some bulky items from my curb, including a file cabinet and small tool cabinet as well as shelving I don't want. It might not be frugal to give things away, but as I slowly empty my life of all this extra cargo, it sure feels good. (:
Re: your opening line, Kristen: Well, I'm glad you didn't ask us to call you a cab!
Now, FFT, Keepin’ On Keepin’ On Edition (updated/revised from yesterday's FFT at the NCA):
(1) I have finished filling out the online form that my law office requires, prior to the consultation for end-of-life paperwork that CF and I are taking NDN to on Thursday. The firm wanted a ballpark idea of her financial assets, so CF and I had to do considerable spelunking through NDN’s massive piles of paperwork all through the house. Thank goodness she’s still a sweetie and fully trusts us both; I can’t imagine the hell this would be if we were working with someone with paranoid tendencies.
(2) While going through one pile of said paperwork, I found a $100 bill in a bank envelope. Score an FT for NDN!
(3) I made a squash soup on Sunday, using a 2-year-old Ziploc bag of frozen trashpicked pumpkin (not just ordinary pumpkin, but one of those fancy green Australian types), plus a box of chicken broth and a can of coconut milk that were a bit past their best-by dates. So far, none of us who have enjoyed it have died. Long may we wave.
(4) When I laundered sheets on Sunday, I used up the very last Bounce sheet out of an old, old box DH salvaged from a rental property years ago. I don’t run the dryer for anything except sheets, and I plan to use the dryer balls a friend gave me for Xmas from here on. But I figured that using up the Bounce was preferable to just throwing it out.
(5) As noted earlier, instead of watching the Super Bowl and its ads, I enjoyed a Cornell Lab of Ornithology “Superb Owl Awards” video. I’d rather have Superb Owls than the Super Bowl any day. And I'll be participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count, co-sponsored by the Lab, this weekend. I do get a lot of fun out of my Lab membership.
@A. Marie, I love my Cornell lab app. I feel like we’ve “talked” about this before. But, just this weekend, I sat outside with it listening & got so much joy out of hearing the birdsong & then looking down to see the bird doing the singing!!
@A. Marie,
I had to use my Cornell app (the free version, but they are slowly luring me to the paid version) to identify that lone Baltimore Oriole at our feeder, because we've never, ever seen them here and I thought I must be misidentifying her. I also love to capture the sounds of different birds I hear on my lunchtime walks at work to identify them. I recorded a tree full of grackles at work the other day, something I also never, ever, see or hear at home.
What type of lint brush is that? My dog is 60lbs of white fluff and my clothes are always covered in white fur now.
I had a surplus of oats and bananas in my freezer, was out of breakfasty foods, and we needed something to eat until I could get to the store. I made allergy friendly pancakes for the kids and banana bread for myself.
Yesterday, I saw my grocery store had a meat sale with 4 packs of meat for $20. I found the biggest packs available (typically $8+) and also decided to try a new cut of meat.
I volunteered to provide the craft for Valentine’s Day party for my daughter’s class and used a 30% off promo code.
Not the same type of frugal, but my high-schooler decided to take a personal finance class this semester. They are learning so many great skills, including having an ongoing budget complete with random “surprise” days that affect their money. He’s had to “buy” meds for fake pink eye two weeks in a row. My son has also asked to start his own checking account and wants to learn more about real world experiences.
I have my 6 month dental cleaning today. Our insurance pays most of this and the twice a year maintenance visits are definitely cheaper than paying for bigger teeth issues later!
@JenRR, Sounds like a great finance class! Creative as well. This also gives him an expertise that makes him a resource for his friends.
I agree on having regular dental cleanings. One way to save on six month appointments is to make them seven months apart. That means you will occasionally have a year with only one appointment.
Frugal.
I am really leaning into careful planned grocery shopping.
I made a big batch of dry beans this week. Always frugal.
Drove very little this week. Walked or stayed home.
Reading books from library.
Continue to make coffee and tea at home.
1. I have not spent money in a week. 2025 started out expensive, so I decided to attempt a strict lockdown on my budget for January and February. We'll see where we're at before maybe extending it to March. Luckily, I'm a bit of an over-buyer, so I'm not suffering.
2. I was lucky enough to score some body lotion and face wash from Buy Nothing. I like to dabble in new things, so this scratched my "try new thing" itch.
3. I was sick for a week, so spending was low that week as well. We did have to purchase some more Nyquil and cough drops, but no other spending happened.
4. I made a list of 25 things to not buy in 2025. I have enough pens, notebooks, wrapping paper, etc etc. I get distracted by new office supplies, even if I don't need them.
5. I cleaned out my pantry and put down some pretty contact paper. That allowed me to see what we had and I've been making my meal plan with the goal of using up one "lost" ingredient each week. (When and why did I buy soba noodles again?).
@Angel, I like the idea of a list of things not to buy!
I have an upholstery brush with a surface that looks a lot like your lint brush. It works well on my furniture. I brush one direction to get the fur off the furniture, then brush the opposite direction on an old washcloth to roll up the fur on the brush so that it comes off on the wash cloth or can be pulled off of the brush easily. I have no memory of where I got it.
My frugal things, which are probably all going to be small:
1. I volunteered to make the coleslaw for a dinner at the at-risk youth shelter. Instead of buying coleslaw, which I admit was my first inclination, I made it. I had many of the ingredients at home already, so this was definitely cheaper than buying it. Bonus, I got compliments on it.
2. My not-old washer is on its last legs (curse you, modern appliances!) so when I have small loads, I do them using my little manual washer and manual wringer, because my washing machine cannot keep the small loads in balance and will literally "rinse and repeat" two or three times trying to complete the spin cycle (and my lid won't unlock so I can adjust it myself even when I turn off the power... don't get me started on this). I did three small loads manually this weekend. Less water, less detergent, less time and way, way less frazzled nerves.
3. Venison is offered by one of the local farms whenever the farmer culls a few deer off his own land, usually just once a year. I ordered a small roast, but it turned out they ran out, so they offered me the backstrap, a more expensive cut, for the same price-per-pound as the roast. I gladly agreed to that.
4. By paying my annual homeowner's insurance bill with my credit card, then paying it off that month out of the savings fund I set aside for insurance, I got the 2% cash back and no interest charged. Then, I got a rebate almost two months later, consisting of one month's insurance premium, due to a state mandate, so after I got the cash back on the full amount, the rebate went to my card but I still got to keep the points on the entire amount.
5. Some critter made off with about half of a store-bought birdseed cylinder, which is made of fat, nuts, seed, and hot pepper. I used some of my recently rendered tallow with peanut butter, corn meal, seeds and HOT pepper to form a cylinder in a plastic container. I used an old wooden skewer to keep a hole in the middle for the rod that holds cylinders on the feeder. The birds are happily pecking away at it. I had every one of those ingredients on hand and it took very little time, other than a hands-off hour of chilling.
@JD, I admire your #3 and #5 in particular. Re: the #3, our street is one of the sites for the city's pilot bait/trap/euthanize program for deer, and it seems to be working well thus far--but we don't get any of the venison. 🙁
And re: your #5, I've got my own suet blocks hanging where the squirrels absolutely can't get at them, but a homemade suet cylinder with hot pepper in it is even better.
@JD, regarding your #2, after wearing out two HE washing machines in a very few years, I got a Maytag commercial washer and it is FANTASTIC. It works perfectly. Good luck!
Frugal things from today...
#1 - Filled up gas in my car at the cheapest gas station in town, only $3.19/gal.
#2 - Packed my lunch for work, a big bag of kale salad which was given to me for free.
#3 - Received my tax return and immediately put it to savings.
#4 - Requested a new book from the library instead of buying it.
#5 - Resisted the urge to order a new bag and decided to jazz up what I have instead.
It feels like a very expensive month for us so I'm doing what I can do save a little money here and there.
1) It's time to renew our car tags. I mail in our renewals, so I don't have to wait at the DMV. I refuse to do it online because of all the fees that get added.
2) Need a copy of our marriage license in order to get a Star ID, and after 37+ years of marriage, I have no idea where it is. I mailed in the request, so I didn't have to drive across town to get it in person. Again, I refuse to order it online since by mail it is $15 and order it online was going to be almost $50 due to added fees.
3) Our grandson's first birthday party will be at our house later this month and DD agreed to let me make his smash cake and birthday cake instead of buying one. I made a practice cake this weekend because DD requested a vanilla cake, for which I didn't have a tried-and-true recipe. I also tried out a new icing (Ermine cooked flour icing) since it was less sweet, and bonus is that did not use any eggs. A friend at work shared her stash of space themed sprinkles for his cake too.
4) We moved in the summer and the dishwasher in our new (to us) home decided to quit spraying water during the cleaning cycle. While I'm not excited about spending money a new one, I have done extensive research and found one that comes with free installation and has 4% Rakuten rebate.
5) I paid in advance for the full season (March-October) of mosquito defender and saved $100. I couldn't enjoy our new yard last summer because the mosquitos swarmed me every time I went outside.
Bonus: I found a pack of wings in the freezer, so I made baked Buffalo wings for Super Bowl.
Slim pickings this week*, but I did get $27.02 worth of very nice meat (1.5 pounds of Angus Beef boneless petite sirloin steaks and 2 pounds of 85% lean ground beef) for $17.02 at Sprouts because I remembered to use my $10 off $25 meat coupon that was expiring that day. I thought I had cut it a little closer (like $25.02 of meat for $15.02) but I’m not complaining. Came to about $4.86/pound versus $7.72/pound.
And then I spent $437 at the vet….
*Not to be confused with Slim Pickens, a rodeo cowboy turned actor (1919-1983) who appeared in Dr. Strangelove, Blazing Saddles, etc. For you young’uns who never heard of him.
@JDinNM,
I loved Slim Pickens! He was one of my favorite characters in Blazing Saddles.
@JDinNM, not heard of Slim Pickens?? I'm sometimes fantasizing about *being*
Slim Pickens as Major "King" Kong riding the bomb down to its destination in Dr. Strangelove.
@A. Marie, yes! I love that scene!
Thanks for the shoe goo reminder. My boots need a repair!
1. I bought a whole smoked turkey (11 pounds) for $6! I guess we will be eating turkey for a while.
2. There’s a good chance of freezing rain this week, and I have enough food on hand to hunker down and stay home.
3. I have a coupon for free eggs as well!
4. I mended a hole in my husband’s work shirt.
5. I’m thinking about fun valentines treats that won’t involve spending extra money. Maybe chocolate cake?
Well,,can’t wait to hear how you did on that test!! I am sure you aced it!
Frugal: Am eating down the freezer. It is packed,so I need to be mindful of using what I have. I found a pork tenderloin that is a bit on the older side, but still good, cut it into cubes and will brown it with an onion sliced, then add to a pot of sauerkraut in my crock pot today for a hearty meal.Will serve carrots on the side.Making menus for two weeks or a month at a time and trying to keep my big Winco shop to once a month with smaller Trader Joe runs in between.
Frugal/not frugal? I had a lot of old tee shirts/tops that had developed holes in them and even though I am retired and do not go out to work I do like to look and feel nice.I also do volunteer and other activities,so decided at end of the year to refresh my wardrobe. I have a favorite designer I love,John Marks and Johnny Was.. (sorry I do like nice clothes but only buy resale ebay and consignment) I went on ebay on Dec 31 daytime and found 5 beautiful boho tops I could wear for YEARS.. they were pricey.I decided to make very lowball offers on them (it said MAKE OFFER!!) and just forget about it.Well,I won all 5 bids! I paid a VERY low price for some very nice BOHO tops I feel like a goddess in!!YAY!
I figured some sellers may have wanted to clear out inventory at the end of the year/I made ridiculous offers! And it panned out!
Planning a stay at home Valentines for me and the hubby.I was gifted a bag of fresh lemons and have chicken tenders in freezer..so will make my husband’s fave lemon chicken over mashed potatoes with some roasted asparagus on the side. We’ll watch “CHOCOLAT” on tv.
LET US KNOW ABOUT YOUR TEST!!!
Great repair job on those boots!
The latch on our wood stove broke and my husband ordered the part and replaced it -- saving us $300+ that the stove company would have charged.
I filled a prescription that isn't covered by my insurance, using the Kroger Rx plan, which saved over $25.
I make tea every morning using loose tea. I mixed some green tea I wasn't crazy about with my favorite black tea. I can't tell that much difference in my morning cuppa and it will use up the green tea and make the black tea stretch farther.
Friends had us over for dinner -- pulled pork and macaroni and cheese. They sent us home with enough leftovers for another dinner and lunch!
I made homemade 'galentines' to send to some girlfriends.
@Cindi, "it will use up the green tea and make the black tea stretch farther." That's brilliant!
You should've headlined your blog, "Free Eggs" and quickly gone viral! 😉 I'm so sick of hearing about egg prices, stolen eggs, egg lines, etc. It's possible to survive without eating eggs but the current obsession with acquiring them is getting insane.
@Bobi, I haven’t heard about stolen eggs, but am also sick of hearing about the price of eggs. Even if each individual egg costs $1, it’s still one of the best nutritional bargains at the grocery store.
@Ann on the farm, Someone stole 100k eggs in Greencastle, PA and also from a cafe in Seattle.
@Bobi, that’s crazy!
@Ann on the farm, Agreed! They're still cheaper (by serving) than beef, at least in my area.
@Bobi, still picturing in my head a guy in a trench coat trying to sell all those stolen eggs.
@Bobi, you saw the cars lined up to buy eggs? And yes, we can live without eggs. Actually it might force people to stop buying too much unhealthy food. Of more concern is the cost of fruits (no way can the US produce enough Vitamin C fruits) and vegetables. Sure, they could take fields out of grain production and plant veggies but who is going to harvest them. The Joe Rogan bros?
Shoe goo has never quite worked for me, but seeing your wood press I know why!
For higher quality shoes I have taken them to the cobbler (do we call them cobblers still?), those little corner shoe repair stores at the mall. This winter I've been happy to walk around in my leather boots that I resoled last year.
Contrary to many here it seems, I DID go to a Super Bowl party, and was happy to bring home leftovers that will last for a couple of lunches.
Returned clothes that didn't quite fit.
Ordered new silicone lids for my Pyrex storage dishes that have cracked lids.
Cut open a tube of facial lotion to scoop out the rest that didn't squeeze out. The opened tube actually lasted several more days.
Haha, my method is slightly unconventional but it DOES work!
@Kristina M., I found a tiny spatula that helps me with the containers that can’t be cut open. It’s shocking how much is in there!
@Ann on the farm, seriously very aggravating to have product that's "designed" to be wasted. Good idea on the spatula!
1. I received a Best Customer Bonus from Kroger for 18 eggs for free. The same week they had a weekly digital deal for 18 eggs for $1.99/each. So when I hit the grocery I picked up my freebie and my limit of 5 packages of 18 eggs with the digital coupon.
2. I paid off my furniture bill and two credit cards. Woohoo!
3. I paid the whole 6 month premium on my car insurance as this gives me an extra discount and more cashflow in my monthly budget.
4. I paid off both my husband's & my Apple watches which reduces our monthly bill. I will begin shipping away at the phones now.
5. We have been wanting to expand our patio in the backyard for over two years now. We had planned on building a deck. This was an expensive project and had to be put off as we have weathered life along the way. The more I thought about the care, cost, and upkeep of wood the more I was put off. Especially given the price to build was so high. So I called a concrete contractor to get a quote knowing that we can simply seal the concrete, pressure wash it ourselves and it is basically maintenance free. I thought this was be much higher in price but it is only $500 more. We will save that in the first 3 years after install not having to handle weed control, staining/sealing and possible wood rot issues depending on the weather we get.
@Angie, 6 x 18 = 108 eggs. What are you planning on doing with them before they go bad?
@JDinNM, you can freeze them. And they do last a while in the frig, properly stored if properly handled until you purchased them.
@Angie,
I'm curious, how are you going to use all these eggs (freezing?) or are you sharing them with others?
1) Remembered to get a free drink at Starbucks on my birthday
2) Redeemed Swagbucks for a $25 Amazon gift card
3) Sold a package of vitamins (incorrectly delivered to me via Amazon, they didn't want them back) & earned $15
4) Continued to do surveys & users studies & earned $25
5) Ate leftovers for dinner, brought dinner out leftovers home & had those for lunch
You are infinitely patient with all those apps, scanning receipts, chasing down the discounts and refunds. Every time I am required to make a new user name and password, then a security question and a mobile # verification, I just say Nope, and delete the app.
My tolerance for such things is more limited than the desire to save money, so I choose to be frugal in other ways.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, I too have very little patience with the inconvenience of creating new accounts I never want to use again. It's interesting how methods of frugality change as we go through new seasons of life.
I've become resigned to the fact that I always have a certain amount of cat hair on my clothes, although I do try to remove as much as I can before leaving the house. I use an old nylon stocking as a lint remover - just put it over my hand and rub the fur/lint off the fabric with it. I read that tip somewhere years ago, and it works surprisingly well, probably for the same reason I hated wearing them. Those stockings generate a lot of static electricity, which makes the fur stick to them.
My frugal things:
I bought a box of cereal on sale for $2.97 and used a coupon for another $0.50 off.
I cleaned my scissors with vinegar. I soaked a rag in white vinegar and wiped them clean, getting off all the sticky tape residue from opening packages with them. I also soaked a slightly rusty pair of scissors in a bowl of vinegar overnight to make it easier to clean the rust off them.
I cut up an old t-shirt to add to my stash of handkerchiefs. Some of the cotton hankies I originally bought are very thin now and I'm not sure they will last much longer. These new ones are pleasantly thick and soft by comparison even though they came from a t-shirt that was getting too thin to wear.
Instead of buying candy for a Valentine's day treat, I bought ingredients to make fudge. This is much cheaper than buying allergy-safe candy.
I don't know if I can think of any frugal things I've done this past week d/t the sticker shock on my purchase of a ninety day supply of Xarelto. I have to be upfront with myself, saying, "Self. 1) this took care of this year's deductible, 2) It will not be this atrocious in ninety days, 3) It is cheaper than a blood clot." That said, it was $843.
Other ways I was frugal last week:
1. Ranch dressing from scratch (THANK YOU, @JD!), all the spices/flavorings bought from bulk bins except the dill weed ($3.68 for a tiny jar? Yep, I paid it.)
2. The recipe called for 1/2 tsp. of lemon juice (why bother? because the recipe called for it and I try to follow recipes the first time except for the shocking amount of salt, which I should have obeyed). So, I squoze & froze the rest of the the juice from that lemon. Honestly speaking, that wasn’t really frugal because I never pay for citrus.
3. I made yogurt after abstaining for a month. It turned out a little weird (barely set up) but I will not waste it.
4. After about 2 years, I still use 2 Molina vanilla bottles for water bottles. They are very sturdy.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, freeze dried dill weed is a game changer.
@Book Club Elaine, do you mean you freeze-dry it yourself from fresh? Or do you freeze dry-dill-weed (hyphenated so as to not be confused with freeze-dry) yourself by just putting it in the freezer?
1. CVS sent me three $4 off an entire purchase coupons and two $2 off greeting cards, as well as a 40% off coupon. I used all of them to get birthday cards and some Valentine’s Reese’s with very little out of pocket expense.
2. I washed my car in my driveway when the weather went above freezing this week. I just used a couple of buckets of water. I will have to run it through the car wash eventually to get the road salt off of the underside, but that will wait until the next round of storms pass through.
3. I did go to the car wash and vacuumed out the inside of the car. They have free vacuuming at any time so it didn’t cost me anything but my time.
4. I batch cooked some meals and prepped them for the freezer to use in the next few weeks when my schedule gets insane.
5. I cleaned out the pantry and organized what I have so that I now know what is expiring when. This will cut down on food waste and save money.
Ha! My cat, Penny, is white - and she's siamese mix, so has much floofier soft fur - so anyone who walks into my house is leaving with, what I call, "Penny's Parting Gifts"! LOL....We go through a LOT of lint roller in my house, on clothes and furniture. And, it has made me avoid wearing black....
@Cheryl, my very large long-haired cat is silver, cream and apricot, which results in pale, pinky gray fluff all over the house. She is extremely fond of the only cloth upholstered chair, and I get rolls of cat hair off it that could be spun into yarn every week while vacuuming it. The rest of the seating in our house is leather or wood because we have dogs who think sofas are just a better quality dog bed.
@Ruby, NDN and her late husband once had a husky named Lady who shed so much I used to kid NDN that she should save the hair to knit another husky. Alas, this never happened, but I think a husky hair sweater would be really neat.
1. We did a rig-up to catch water off our shed roof. It floods around the shed and we hope that diverting this water will reduce flooding.
2. Found a consignment person for the horse tack I was given. I have no good way to sell this so I was happy to put it on consignment.
3. Picked up birthday pizookie at BJs which will be my husband's Valentine's Day dessert. There will be no spending for Valentine's Day.
4. Sold a bigger thing on FB marketplace. So nice to have it gone.
5. Keeping scanning receipts on Fetch. Between that and Pinecone, I earn a bit. Fetch is much better than Ibotta for me because every receipt counts on Fetch https://referral.fetch.com/vvv3/referralsocial?code=GY8RYK If you are interested I'd appreciate you using my link. Remember to snap a picture of a receipt!
@Kara, How do you "scan" your receipts?
Oh my gosh, the pet hair. It's never ending. Great that you found a reusable solution!
This week:
-Today is a snow day and most things around are closed, so I am saving gas money by not commuting to work or even to town today. Hopefully tomorrow too, fingers crossed.
-We ate out more than usual since my last frugal report because...*life*.....but almost all of it was with gift cards. I think I only spent $5 at Chipotle and ~$5 on coffee with friends (which was more for the friend time than the coffee 🙂 Oh and $40 but that was to treat my mom for her birthday meal. If you haven't gotten to try Peruvian food, I highly recommend it!!
-The Chipotle closer to my home consistently gives more chicken than the one closer to my work, which allows me to make 2-3 meals out of just one purchase. I get the salad, then just add a little shredded cabbage, maybe a little sour cream, and boom, refreshed and delicious for leftovers.
-I've been noticing more gasoline price fluctuations and have a few places on my normal routes that are usually lower-priced. I've been filling up when passing by and see a better price instead of going to Sheetz just because I have the loyalty/credit card. Their prices have been higher lately.
-About to buy some needed items from Vitacost.com and stack some great coupons.
-Been using up some freezer items which is both frugal and fulfilling!
• This week’s menu is freezer heavy. I feel like I just did a freezer cleanout, but it is magically full again.
• We invited my parents over to watch the Super Bowl. I made a variety of snacks and the leftovers have made it into lunches and one dinner. Hindsight tells me I could have cut almost every recipe in half.
• I made sure to use Upside when I needed gas this week. Thankfully the gas station that offers the best rebate was on my way home.
• I used all the funds in an old HSA account but forgot to actually close the account and I was charged a monthly maintenance fee. I sent an email request to close the account and they graciously waived the fee.
• I’ve been “enjoying our mortgage” – staying home and enjoying cozy hobbies, cooking all our meals at home, working from home.
Frugal Fail – I left two packages of buns on the counter where our older dog could reach them. I drove my son to practice and when I got home the buns were all eaten. He isn’t normally a counter surfer but when he does he goes big.
So I’ll try again here ( my comment disappeared suddenly)
My main frugal thing was repairing two insulated totes bags I use for grocery shopping. The bags had started to split in a few places. I’m glad I noticed the splits before groceries started falling through. The splits weren’t large but threatened to become bigger very quickly if something too heavy were in the bag. Anyway, good ole duct tape came to the rescue and the bags are as sturdy as ever.
I signed up for Fetch last Fall and immediately noticed an increase in junk email. In a couple of cases when I went to a place that was the first time ever for me I had emails within 24 hrs trying to sell me something. Is this the trade off? It was so dramatic that I cancelled Fetch and now wonder if I was too quick to judge. Thoughts?
1) I made a pair of mittens (granted the yarn was not cheap, but it was already purchased and now my fingers will be warm)
2) Shopped at Neighborhood for their dollar deal Monday. With the way prices have been, $19 for fresh veg for the week is a win.
3) Took a chicken carcass from my parents house to make some stock for soup.
4) Used a $10 coupon on my toilet paper order.
That's about all I got this week.
@Jaime, are you in Somerville?
Signed, A Somervillian.
I also have a pair of shoes that I repeatedly glue back together. These Birkenstock clogs are great for when I need to run out of the house without taking the thirty seconds it takes to put on proper shoes, so I don't mind gluing the top part back onto the soles every six months or so.
Cobblers, unite!
Twins on opposite coasts!
-bought a secondhand woven wrap to try/practice babywearing with. Normally they’re at least $100, but I found one for $30.
-I’m rehoming via Buy Nothing Group a bunch of household items for a friend who moved. This is more frugal for others although I did find several items I would use.
-I was able to redeem a 10% off coupon from local co-op that I thought had expired in December.
-I went to co-op for their 45th birthday and got free coffee & a slice of cake (they had 45 cakes made or bought for the party), as well as 8-10 samples.
-this last round of flu/asthma flare up I only used household items & natural remedies to treat, ie no purchasing store medicine.
I’m always learning so much here! I’ve been looking for a replacement to lint rollers with single use sheets for awhile, and that looks perfect. I used a very similar tool last summer when I stayed at a bougie hotel for work… they brought it to my room & everything! I will feel just as bougie using this one, and know that I’m not contributing extra waste each use 🙂
Now you can be FANCY like me. 😉
@Andrea G / Midwest Andrea, I have read to use the sticky side of duct tape, but cannot speak from experience with hair or lint.
My issue is long hair that wraps around the beaters on my vacuum cleaner.
@Heidi Louise, I use a sewing seam ripper to cut off the tangled hair from my vacuum cleaner beater, but not my good one!
1. I used some over-ripe bananas to make banana bread for my kids
2. We purchased pork at Costco that was $5 off. Costco eggs were also quite a bit cheaper than Aldi
3. Starbucks was offering a free hot or iced coffee yesterday. I stopped for a free cup on my way to get my hair cut, which was at Super Cuts.
4. My son grew out of his sneakers. I found sneakers in a larger size in our storage that I had picked up off Buy Nothing last year.
5. We have been frequently using our YMCA membership and going to the local libraries for entertainment.
I know well the “wearing of the fur!” I am going to check out the reusable lint brush! My week consisted of some extra savings due to simply calling customer service and asking—something I am becoming less and less shy about doing, the offer I get! I called my pest control company when my yearly bill came and was around $50 more than the previous year. I called and simply asked if there might be any additional discounts or anything they could do for me. After they pulled my account up, they offered to give me the same rate as last year, which I gratefully accepted. Then they offered an additional discount if I would renew for two years. Since the termites are still going to be around here munching my house down, I decided to take that two year renewal offer. About 10 minutes on the phone ended in a savings of $112! I also called Chewy when a coupon for $20 they had mailed me wasn’t working on the site. The nice customer service person gave me the discount, so it was again worth the phone call to me! More savings listed on my blog here: https://jesuscallsmefriend.blogspot.com/2025/02/pennies-from-heaven.html
1) I planned frugal meals this week: spaghetti with a side of garlic bread made from a loaf of bread a woman at church gave us, roasted chicken made with a chicken my mother in law gave us, salmon from a frozen bag of costco salmon I bought last week.
2) We have paid our deductible for the year, and I might start a new job soon that will come with new insurance, so I am ordering medicines and getting as many doctors appointments out of the way as I can before the end of February.
3) I finished writing on Friday and felt like I was at a good point to stop, so I spent the rest of the afternoon with podcasts and my mending pile. I pieced back together the santa hat that had come apart over Christmas. I repaired a pair of my husband's suit pants that split down the seam when he bent over a little too aggressively. I sewed the hem of one of our daughter's gowns back together.
4) A friend and I are hosting a birthday party for a third friend on Friday. We are keeping it frugal; we are using our office space as the free location, I am making the food, she is bringing a happy birthday banner she already has, and I have offered her the contents of our liquor cabinet instead of buying alcohol.
5) I resisted the urge to buy several books I really wanted to buy. Books are my constant struggle.
@Amanda in VA, I have a 96 yr old friend who is a big reader. She loves murder stories! I occasionally buy her a new book but have had great luck finding books for her at free little libraries in my town.
@Amanda in VA, remember that books don’t count in my Rule Book of Frugal Living. You can always look for them first at the library, then second at Thriftbooks.com. And if you share them, give them away, or resell them, they REALLY don’t count!
My 5 frugal things:
1. Sunday I went to a convience store and found .87 in the self check out. Whoot!
2. Went to my friend's house on Sunday for the Superbowl. We stayed til half time. My husband came too as he was invited and the roads weren't approved by my standard. Better to have hubby drive. My friend, who lives with her daughter, son-in-law and two granddaughters had the house to herself as the young family went to a Super Bowl party. I got to hold the 8 month old. Friend provided sausage and peppers, clam dip which she ate by herself and a leftover cannoli dip tray. We brought a bottle of wine. I scarfed up that cannoli dip!
3. Yesterday I went to the Red Cross to try again for donating blood that would be used in gene therapy, etc . My veins seem to be the only skinny thing on me so I didn't qualify but I still got my $50 gift card, a pack of peanut butter cookies and a bottle of water.
4. Using kitchen counter appliances that live in our basement. Hubby made cheeseburgers on the George Foreman Grill and cubed potatoes in the air fryer. So yummy! I will never eat tater tots again! Much less expensive to get a 5 lb. bag of taters for $2.50 and just use one for our cubed taters.
5. Keeping an eye on the electric and natural gas use. Turn down the heat at night and keep it turned down if we are going out. I have various flannel shirts, fleeces and sweaters to wear to keep me warm as does hubby. The lights get turned off when we leave a room. Hubby is watching tv in the dark now.
And another:
Hubby drained the water heater today and refilled it. It's relatively new (2 yrs?) but the water wasn't heating up as hot as I like it for my every other day shower. Now it seems to be doing just fine.
Five frugal things…..
We are traveling to visit our daughter and family tomorrow, and I packed some snacks to get us through the airports without having to buy any outrageously priced food.
I donated blood and got a $15 gift card, which I will use in March since I have stopped buying for the rest of February.
I made little valentines gifts for the boys from things I had tucked away after Christmas when shopping mark downs.
I paid our oil bill early to get the discount price, saving $22.
Had a $8 coupon off an $80 order, so used that, plus $1.25 off eggs. It all helps, right?
I've been busy being frugal. With price of eggs going up, I looked into alternatives and bought a PKG of ground flax meal that you can add water to and use as an egg replacement in baked goods. I intend to use my real eggs for omelettes, quiches, etc . I also learned you can freeze eggs so I'll be doing that if I still have eggs left when they get close to their expiration date. There are other egg replacements as well, usually to be used in baking.
-- I used a digital coupon to earn 4 x the amount of a gift card in gas points at my local Kroger. I was going to buy the gift card anyway. In the same vain, Kroger has a digital coupon most weeks which doubles gas points for Friday - Sunday purchases. So if I find i need something after my weekly Tuesday ( senior day 5% off) shopping trip, I wait to Friday to get it if I can.
-- I always intend to eat oatmeal for breakfast 3 times a week, but sometimes I don't want to make it. So I decided to make a week's worth on Monday and eat it all thru the week. I also make a pot of soup on most Sundays that we can eat all week.
-- we had a big jar of peanut butter that was getting close to its expiration date. So I made a bunch of peanut butter cookies, rolled them into balls and froze them to bake later. So no peanut butter was wasted.
-- months ago I realized the ends of the toilet paper roll sheets often go unused. So I started saving the ends and use those small pieces of tissue to take off my makeup each night with baby oil.
@Joyce, I just bought some ground flaxseed too for the same reason. Plus it may help ou bad cholesterol levels if we add it to oatmeal or as a yogurt topping.
@Juhli,
Yes, we are going to use it on cereal, etc, too, and I'll split the bag with my sister and maybe my neighbor as I'll never use the entire 16 oz. bag before its expiration date
I bought two rotisserie chickens that were marked down while I was there to $2/each. I took the meat off and made a chicken casserole one night, chicken salad for lunch the next day, and DH used the rest of the meat in a salad. I made bone broth from all the bones.
My local Home Depot had rolls of shop towels (like really thick paper towels) marked down to less than $1.50 plus DH gets 10% off for being a veteran. We don't use paper towels often, but I keep them around for a couple of things and usually go through about 2 rolls a year.
We went to dinner early on Superbowl Sunday with the family because it was younger son's birthday. No Superbowl foods/snacks were needed since we were all full. We just did cake/ice cream around half time.
Bought DH 2 NWT golf polo shirts for this summer at a thrift store for $5/each. He needed those so I was glad to find them.
Made hummus from dry beans, packed DH's lunch for work tomorrow, made a pot of soup for our lunches throughout the week, and got a refund from the county tax office for an overpayment at closing on the new house (a big chunk back!).
1. We cooked all our meals at home. We brewed coffee at home. We made some cinnamon raisin muffins.
2. I attended a free orchestra concert.
3. I went through a box of books and found some "new" books for my youngest reader.
4. I noticed a Dr. Seuss book was withdrawn from a library and snagged it. I returned a DVD from a library that does charge late fees (my local library does not, so I have to be careful when I can use other libraries).
5. My oldest and I shoveled ourselves. He also helped a family member who runs a snow removal business, but is currently injured.
1. Decided against adopting my friend's foster dog, as he is way too big. Sweet as can be, but....
2. Got tough with the new yard man, who promised to have my leaves all raked and bagged by the time the city garbage trucks came by for yard waste. The guy didn't even show up! Next yard waste collection is 2 weeks away, so this poses a problem. He called wanting to reschedule and I told him no. I'll hire the high school boys that I used before; they show up on time and always do what they said they'll do.
3, My Keurig stopped working a long time ago, and I went back to a coffeemaker. But I took some Aldi coffee pods to work today and brewed myself some free coffee with the Keurig in the teacher's lounge.
4. Moved all the furniture I can lift out of the front room in preparation for the flooring installers. I will need some men to move the heavy pieces, but hopefully my efforts will cut the time they'll spend working down to a single hour, so I won't have to pay more.
5. Used a get-well card I already had + a heart-shaped Post It Note as a combination get-well and Valentine's greeting card for my out-of-state friend who has the flu.
Those are great lint brushes, takes a little persistence. But you can use it over and over and over!
No outfit is complete without cat hair. There is still cat hair on a desk chair from our cat who passed away almost 36 years ago.
Ooo … the reusable lint brush looks very useful. I might just get one myself.
My Frugal 5
1) Ate at home and either used up food from the fridge or brought it from the grocery store to cook at home. Hopefully, major savings since we also have family visiting.
2) Mostly walked instead of drove kids to school since it’s just around the corner. Exceptions are when it’s negative degrees.
3) Borrowed DVDs, movies and games from the library to celebrate Lunar’s New Year and Valentine’s Day.
4) Were at Hobby Lobby yesterday and got a branch of fake poinsettias for 90% off since it’s their Christmas clearance. Been wanting these for my garland and wreaths but held off since I don’t usually go in town. They were $10 and I got them for $1. Also avoided buying my girls stuff there they really wanted but didn’t need.
5) Got a free bundtlet for each of my girls for turning in their reading log to Nothing Bundt cake. It’ll be their treat for Valentine’s Day.
* Also batch run errands, return UPS packages to Amazon and got about $35 in credit, fix our broken mailbox flag instead of buying new, mend my girl’s face mask and mittens, mend my broken iPhone silicone case with gorilla glue, fix my girl’s neon light sign that we thought might needed new batteries, my friend gifted 2 jars of homemade applesauce and lent The Little House books to borrow, got a handful of cute pens from the library for doing their winter reading program, husband used a pressure cooker that he forgot he had until this week to cook pull pork, used what we already had to make Valentine’s Day boxes at school, got inexpensive Valentine’s cards at Walmart for the girls to share with classmates, didn’t go out for my husband’s birthday or our 15th Anniversary, fixed the Corolla, etc.
1. It is my friend’s birthday. Her husband passed away last year so it is her 1st one without him. Her daughter lives out of state. We had plans to go out to eat tonight. She asked if Hubby could look at her computer at her house instead. Take out is much cheaper.
2. I have cupcakes cooking that I made from scratch.
3. Her birthday card is from the thrift store 12 for $1
4. I am bringing some of the cupcakes with me to work for the lady I help.
5. It snowed again. Hubby shoveled and cleaned off my car for me.
Those lint brushes work quite well. The sticky ones do not remove as much cat hair as one might think they would. Packing tape works quite well.
FFT:
1 - in rapid succession, after being listed for quite some time, 5 ebay listings sold
2 - the sole of my winter boot came loose just the other day as well and I, too, will be gluing it back together, though I haven't done it yet
3 - I am leaving for a week in Mexico soon, which is decidedly not frugal, and looked for sales on sunscreen and other items I'll need to pack
4 - I have borrowed a few library books to take on my trip - some audio, some ebook
5 - I've been redeeming points from various programs to buy groceries and household goods
1. I submitted a request to replace two pairs of Darn Tough socks that have sprouted holes. They have a lifetime replacement warranty!
2. I completed my health assessment to add $50 to a health rewards debit card. I’m also working on completing other activities so I can earn as much as possible this year, up to $250. DH has also completed the assessment and I will encourage him to do the other activities as well. This is doubly important with all the uncertainties for federal employees right now.
3. I mended some board and toddler books.
4. I mended a toddler shirt and my mom mended some pants.
5. I finally returned something to Walmart that had been sitting around waiting for a while. $12 in merch credit is easy to use!
6. My mom brought me some women’s vitamins that she couldn’t return and which for some reason were not the ones she wanted. I need to take a prenatal while I am breastfeeding, and these are basically equivalent. So I’m set for a year (!).
i have an akita, i was getting frustrated, with constant fur, even though i brush him often. while i was shopping for food i saw a heavy hand mitt used for hot items out of the oven, it's rubberized. i bought several and keep them in several rooms. i put the mitt on and spray some water on it, use the mitt to gather fur from areas and it works like a charm