Five Frugal Things | DIY nail clipping (I hope!)
1. I got 50% off a breakfast sandwich
I met a friend at Panera for breakfast, and my app blessed me with a 50% off discount on a breakfast sandwich. Sweet!
I drank a cup of tea there too, which was $0 because of my Unlimited Sip Club membership.
2. I inadvertently got a great deal on a skirt for Zoe
I had stopped in at Hot Topic to buy her a birthday gift, and I happened to notice a little Godet-style black skirt that I thought she would love. It was her size, and it was marked down to just $15 from the original $37 price.
And then at checkout, another 30% came off.
Sweet!
3. I got a pair of Dr. Martens for $16
About 3-4 years ago, I'd used Sixth Continent (remember that site?? It's been defunct for a while now) to get a Zappo's gift card for 50% off.
I think I ordered some rain jackets that didn't end up fitting, so I returned them and sort of forgot about the whole thing.
Well, I have been wanting to buy a pair of slip-on Dr. Martens boots, and I thought, "Oooh, those are probably available on Zappos. I wonder if my store credit is still there."
And it was!
So a pair of these boots is on its way to me for $16 out of pocket.
Yes, I know I did pay for part of that gift card initially, but that was long-sunk cost at this point.
Give that Americans have millions of dollras of unused gift cards sitting around, I'm pleased that I managed to use mine. 🙂
4. I boiled my washcloths
I have some plain white washcloths that I used to wash my face every night; I think they were an organic cotton set from Costco eons ago.
Anyway, they were starting to get slightly discolored and a few smelled a bit funky, so I boiled them on the stovetop for 10 minutes, gave them a soak in a vinegar/hot water mixture for a half hour, and then threw them into the wash.
I figured this would kill any bacteria and also get rid of any soap residue.
In case you've missed this before, boiling kitchen dishcloths for 10 minutes is a magically easy way to get rid of dishcloth funk.
Also, here are my best tips for keeping linens sanitary.
5. I ordered a set of cat nail clippers
I have given up on the idea of DIY-ing Shelly's nail trimming; we tried that years ago and were unsuccessful.
(we even watched, "How to trim nails on your fractious cat" videos on YouTube!)
So now I just have the vet do it. Shelly's nails grow pretty slowly, so it's not like I have to take her in very often.
But Chiquita's claws get sharp so fast, and it is annoying to have to pack her up and take her to the vet for a trim so often.
Sooo, I ordered a pair of trimmers on Amazon, and so far I have managed to get almost all of Chiquita's front claws trimmed (with the help of treats as a bribe).
The clippers were only $10, which is less than the cost of a single nail-trimming appointment, so these could pay for themselves very quickly.
*We took the kids to museum/ aquarium using our membership. Lots of fun- otters for the win. It would have been about $110 for admission without the membership.
* We filled up with gas at Sam's club on the way home and saved 60 cents per gallon.
*I bought some things at Sam's that saved big money compared to home. ( hamburger, string cheese, garbage bags.)
*I tok the kids out for ice cream using a gift card their grandparents sent. A nice way to spend a day off from school.
* We also went to the library for books and movies. Unfortunately, our library will be closing soon as the glorious new one is complete and they will be moving everything over. It'll be a long month. We can use interlibrary loans to get materials delivered to other libraries, but I'll miss having it as a destination.
@mbmom11, Otters are so fun! Always a favorite for my kids.
@Ruth T, please ignore this test response. Kristen was helping me solve a subscription difficulty.
You’ve better luck than we do with cat claws. All three boys hate trims and stress out at the vet, so we have adhesive sisal scratch pads in key places around the house.
FFT, one-off edition
My ride has rear drum brakes that, owing to the way they face, collect road gunk in winter. Thus, the February tradition of having my mechanic clean and adjust the brakes continues! For the cost of labor, my car feels like it has a brand new set of brakes. PSA for my fellow drum-brake havers--if you don't do this already, ask your mechanic whether you should. It really makes a night and day difference, especially if you drive 3000 lbs of solid steel!
1. I went out for "coffee" with a couple of friends. I had a gift card for the local restaurant we went to that I received for supporting a local group that builds and maintains trails in our suburb.
2. I stopped at Safeway and used a $10 off coupon that I earned when I bought a $50 gift card to Pet Smart (that I gave as a Valentine's Day gift to our daughter). I bought only sale items including some to donate to the food bank. I paid $.24 out of pocket.
3. I stopped in Dollar Tree to buy some greeting cards including a wedding card. They still have some that are $.50 but the selection is much less than it once was. I stuck to the cheap ones.
4. I repaired a pair of reading glasses with a dab of glue. The lens fell out of one of them and while they aren't expensive I still like to keep things out of the landfill whenever possible.
5. Our daughter will visit out of town relatives this weekend. She likes to bring her cousin's little girls gifts but they have so much stuff already. I suggested she bring them a Hoberman Sphere that she still has but no longer cares about (it is still at our house though she has been on her own for many years). She agreed and it will be a win for the planet and her wallet.
@K D, Your #5: It's even more a win because you're helping another person become frugal 🙂
@Jody S., Unless she was frugal already. Then it's just a little free frugal fellowship.
@Jody S., free frugal fellowship on five frugal fings.
1. I saved $15 on a utility bill by taking advantage of their prompt pay discount.
2. Saved $2 by paying cash for an activity.
3. I defrosted different odds and ends of pork and chicken to make ground meat, it made delicious meatballs. This recipe also used up breadcrumbs made from bread odds and ends.
4. Reused Amazon padded envelopes to ship out some packages.
5. Roasted one of the butternut squash saved from my garden back in Oct.
Frugal:
1. Rewired an antique lamp myself.
2. Reused two old picture frames.
3. Re-hung an old door in the basement.
4. Refused to let the beagle use my alpaca slipcovers as a dog toy (OK, that's a reach)
5. New skirt for Easter which was 1/4 the original price
Not so frugal
1. Bought a pair of navy and white wingtip shoes for myself. I'd only been wanting a pair since 1986 or so. But will look nice on Easter.
2. Decided to toss/cross off my list some things that were unreasonable stressing me out
@Rose, Please proof your posts or don't type first thing in the morning.
3. Re-hung an old door that had been stored in the basement for 25 years.
4. Slippers, not slipcovers
2. Decided to toss/cross off my list some things that were unreasonably stressing me out. [Ed: how are these not frugal?] [Well, one of them was amaryllis bulbs that have been there since October.] [Ed: whyncha Freecyle them?] [Good idea, Ed!]
[My name is not Ed. I'm your internal editor.] etc.
@Rose, Lol I was intrigued at the Alpaca slipcovers!
@Rose,
You reminded me of one of my all-time favorite pair of shoes. Back in the day, I had navy and white spectator shoes, with stacked heels, of course. They seemed so perfect for Sundays or elegant afternoon teas. Not that I went to any “elegant” afternoon teas, but I did feel special when I wore them.
@Rose, I totally adore two toned shoes, they are SOOOO 1940s.
I, too, was wondering about the alpaca slipcovers.
@Rose,
I had a pair of navy blue and white loafers that I adored, and wore often - until my foot got too wide and a full size larger. I especially loved to wear them with a long navy blue with white polka dots skirt that has a flirty, flowy hem. Sigh. I only recently got rid of them, but I have happy shoe memories.
Add me to the list of Commentarians who were intrigued by the thought of alpaca slipcovers. 🙂
Shearling upholstered furniture is super popular (not to mention expensive) right now, so you're not too far off!
*I continue with my Big Clothes Heap Challenge (which include accumulated fabrics from my mother and others). This week I worked with my middle daughter to begin a Christmas-y baby quilt that will be donated to a NICU. She learned to use a rotary cutter to cut squares from fabric that was given to me and/or leftover from a past project.
*I planned all meals (and adjusted as necessary).
*We defrosted one of the freezers and founds some stuff. I'll be working through that.
*Instead of asking somebody to pick up some refried beans in town, I pulled out some dried beans, soaked, and cooked them and used the stick blender. It worked. It was really cheap because, for some reason, my sister keeps giving me dried beans, lentils, and split peas. I have a serious stash of them, so I guess I'm trying to fit them in better.
*We used the library for physical books and audio ones.
@Jody S., I would love to have a stash of legumes! After switching my diet around, I'm eating more legumes and really liking how I feel.
@Jody S., I did the same with a bunch of pinto beans - ended up with about 8 cans' worth so I froze them in portions and will pull them out as needed. I used the slow cooker so it was pretty easy and low-effort. And also inexpensive!
@CrunchyCake, I'm using my instapot to cook pinto beans as I type this. Having tacos tonight and the rest will go in the freezer.
I didn't post last week so here is my frugal fortnight:
1. The best win was getting some free furniture left in my building. I got some useful shelves and a beautiful table. The rest of the list is more standard!
2. I didn't get takeout.
3. I got some reduced food at the supermarket.
4. I listened to some great free podcasts.
5. I reserved books at the library.
-my teenage boy continues to eat all the dinner leftovers so we are a zero-waste household in regards to dinner stuff
-we got our cat spayed which was expensive but will save on costs/hassles if she would have had kittens
-the vet clipped her nails for free while she was already under anesthesia. I have no idea how to do this if she is awake
-have gone skiing on my season pass
- brought my favorite coffee creamer to work so I can make coffee there the way I like it
@Sk in Norway, I managed to trim my feisty cat's front claws by wrapping his lower half in a towel and sitting him on my lap, while my son fed him a squeezable cat treat tube. The treat lasted long enough for him to be distracted while I got most of his front claws.
@Karen A., thanks for explaining!! I’m going to try that with our cat. He can be mellow but can also be feisty. Worth a shot 🙂
@Caitlie, It works for us! Clark gets testy when his paws get handled (most cats do, as their paws are very sensitive), but with his back legs contained he can't kick with his back claws, and the treat keeps him distracted so he doesn't bite. He is a very sweet cat but he is still, after all, a cat. 😀
@Sk in Norway,
I think most people with teenagers are a zero-dinner waste household with the amount of food they eat! 🙂
@Sadlebred, so true! @Karen A., thanks for the tips. I will see if we can convince her to cooperate
1. Had a $2.00 off coupon from a prev frozen pizza sale so used it on an 8 piece fried chicken special ($5 Monday promo) so it cost me $3.24. 2. 4 day weekend due to day off and holiday so stayed in and saved money and gas. 3. Temps milder here even with atmospheric river so no heater used. 4. Making own coffee and tea all week despite having a Starbucks gift card in wallet. 5. Non frugal but phone went on blink last Fri. I think I need new one as this one is 7 yrs old. Ugh!
FFT, “I’m the Wreck” Edition (updated from yesterday's FFT at the NCA):
Kind of a blah week here: The Central NY late winter blues are setting in, with a huge boost from hugely missing DH. (I finally let loose last night and had a good cry, which helped.) Nevertheless, here are the few small things I’ve been doing to keep my chin off the floor:
(1) My JASNA region’s February meeting Saturday was on Zoom (thank goodness I didn’t have to drive to it through more snow), because our speaker was a British expert on carriages in Jane Austen’s time. In pre-meeting chat, she mentioned that she’s also a vicar’s wife, so I told this old joke: A British lady was paying a call at the home of her local clergyman, except that she couldn’t remember whether he was a rector (so the house would be a rectory) or a vicar (in which case the house would be a vicarage). She got confused at the front door and asked, “Is this the wreckage?” The lady of the house replied, “Yes, and I’m the wreck.” Considerable mirth ensued–and mirth is always frugal.
(2) I made a pot roast Sunday with a nice chuck roast from my 1/4 steer, and turned the leftovers on Monday into beef barley soup, which I am sharing with my next-door neighbor and the Bestest Neighbors.
(3) I spent yet another weekend of @#$!! weather doing some cleaning of areas that are off limits to my cleaning crew, as well as more culling. I took the opportunity after vacuuming my closet floor to go through my footwear, and I’ve set aside three pairs of Keen sandals that (alas) no longer fit me but may now fit JASNA BFF.
(4) I also filled two more boxes with books and CDs, which I will again donate to one of our local libraries for its upcoming book sale. This makes seven such boxes I’ve filled since New Year’s.
(5) And I’m about to file a report on eBird for the Great Backyard Bird Count, which I faithfully kept from Friday to Monday. I had a good if not outstanding turnout of birds. And the folks at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology can use all the “citizen data” they can get.
@A. Marie, Rector? Damn near killed 'er!
@A. Marie, and if they were Scottish it would be a manse. How many times have I tried to get people to stop using the word as shorthand for "mansion"? About a million. How many people have listened to me? None. [Ed.}
@A. Marie, virtual hug to you as you miss DH. And I'm with you on the winter blues. I should have done your Great Backyard Bird Count since my winter blues were lifted by actual bright blue in my yard yesterday as first one, then 2, 3, at least 4 blue jays came and sat on a tree. I've never seen a party of jays here before, and they were so funny to watch, as they kept one-upping each other to be highest on the tree, each just slightly higher than the next guy. I should watch out the window more often..
@A. Marie, sending you love. Your posts help me. My step-dad passed away recently and I’m not always sure how to help my mom. Reading your honesty helps! She often has a good cry. Our big rainstorms here in CA have sent her into “The Sads” every single time. She lives far enough away I can’t see her every day and I’m an only child so I don’t have siblings to bounce anything off of! Much love to you <3
@A. Marie, Winter is bad enough without a healthy dose of grief added in; wishing you well as you slog through the rest of it.
@Suz, thanks for the virtual hug. And my blue jays have provided me with endless entertainment this winter. I put peanuts in the shell out for them at about 8 every morning, and you should see the bickering and one-upping that goes on!
Also, if you or anyone else wants to read a REALLY good book about blue jays and the universe in general, get hold of Saving Jemima: Life and Love with a Hard-Luck Jay, by Julie Zickefoose. JZ (a bird artist and rehabilitator) is one of my real-life heroines, and I can't recommend the book highly enough.
@Caitlie, thanks for your good wishes--and please give my sympathy and good wishes in turn to your mom.
My best sources of help have been my friends, my neighbors (some of whom are among my best friends), and the virtual communities both here and on the Non-Consumer Advocate. I've found that the more I can reach out, the better I do. (And if your mother is a frugalite, why not encourage her to post on both blogs? She'll get a warm welcome.)
@Bobi, thank you, as always.
@A. Marie, sounds like a great book; I just put it on hold at the library - thanks!
@A. Marie,
When I put peanuts in the shell out for the birds, the blue jays come one at a time - usually stopping first to make sure *everyone knows* the peanuts are theirs - then they make their way over to the peanuts, look each way, and then search for THE PERFECT peanut before grabbing it and flying away. There's at least 3 blue jays that take their turn this way. it's truly comical.
On another note, I'm glad you had a good cry last night. It really does help when you're missing someone (in your case, your DH. After 4 years, I still miss my dear MIL). Hugs to you.
@A. Marie, So glad you share about the difficult. So many don't realize that bottled up grief explodes somewhere else. Hugs.
I have spent some of my mornings on the stoop waiting for Molly to do her business, talking to the birds and noticing which ones have returned. I stopped feeding them only because they became ready prey for the feral cats. It was cute that the pair of doves that inhabit the block returned on Valentine's Day.
@A. Marie, Love from the parsonage 😉
1. Cleaned out the refrigerator and repurposed some baskets and trays as organizers before I put everything back. (I admit to opening the fridge door just to enjoy a peek inside.)
2. Created a dresser inside my closet using a rolling wire shelving unit and baskets that I had on hand.
3. Went to the Minnesota Landscape Arboreum with my sister and sister-in-law. SIL has a membership so free admission for all of us. Then my SIL treated us to a beverage in the cafeteria.
4. Treated to lunch by another sister-in-law.
5. Redeemed a coupon for a free meal including a beverage. Instead of a fountain drink, I asked for milk instead and my wish was granted with a smile.
@MB in MN, To me there are few things as satisfying as cleaning/reorganizing the fridge, and pantry. I even enjoy the times we've moved and I get to stock a brand new (to me) kitchen! In fact, I think I should get to work on the fridge here. It's been a while.
Great deal on the skirt and the shoes!
This week I invited friends for dinner instead of going out.
I renewed a pair of canvas shoes by fixing a split with shoe goo and replacing the insoles. The uppers are in good shape, so I should get a lot more wear out of them.
I baked sandwich bread.
I cleaned out some cabinets and donated two boxes of items to the Humane Society thrift store.
Clark is just as fractious as Shelley probably is (maybe it's a tuxedo cat thing?) but I managed to get his front claws trimmed by wrapping him in a towel and holding him on my lap, while one of my sons fed him a Churru squeezy treat. His claws get razor sharp so I'll probably have to do this twice a month but it is worth it!
Other frugal things here:
1. Library books, plus a Valentine's Day trip to the Half Price bookstore. I sold a set of hardcovers I regretted buying and got a little store credit towards some Agatha Christies I wanted for my collection. My Lenten discipline this year is not buying any new books, and if I do buy any used books, other books have to be donated or sold to make room for them.
2. I had some lemons I'd stored in a jar of water to make them last longer, and they did! But I wasn't using them up fast enough. I peeled them and blended them in the food processor to freeze them in an ice cube tray. I'll use them when I want lemon juice in a recipe. Also saved the zest and hopefully it will dry enough so I can grind it.
3. We have eaten all our meals at home for the past month! Even when DH and I traveled in the beginning of the month, we bought groceries and cooked a very frugal meal at our VRBO.
4. Stocked up on several things that were on sale, like laundry detergent and tuna.
5. Finally replicated a delicious golden chai latte I once had at a fancy coffee shop, at home, with ingredients I had on hand! Oh, it was so good. And cheap.
@Karen A., would you be willing to share your golden chai latte recipe? That sounds wonderful!
Even my professional groomer can't trim my dog's nails by herself - someone else needs to hold her (the dog) while Sherry cuts them. Coincidentally, my groomer (hairdresser) is also named Sherry. But nobody needs to hold me down while she cuts my hair.
Here’s my (exhausting) frugal fail: Had to do a big grocery shop yesterday. Bad choice of days because I forgot it was a holiday and the store was packed. Had a completely full cart and headed to checkout. Unloaded everything and was halfway through when I realized I left my wallet at home. Slapped my forehead, loaded the shopping cart back up, parked it by customer service, apologized to my cashier, drove home, picked up my wallet which of course was right on the kitchen counter, slapped my forehead, drove back to the store, reclaimed my cart and found my cashier, unloaded everything and checked out, loaded up the car and drove home, unloaded the car, put everything away, looked at my receipt and realized I was overcharged $14 (a single item was rung up twice). Grrr. Slapped my forehead. But then I realized I had not been charged for 2 items ($2 + $8) so … a $4 net frugal fail. And a lot of wasted time.
But a frugal win: I had an outpatient medical procedure the end of December for which the hospital billed $81,345.18. My insurer (must have laughed and laughed and laughed!) paid $22,481.65. I paid … $220.00 in various co-pays. ;-} This might belong on Thankful Thursday but it was too frugal not to share today.
@JDinNM, that grocery shop sounds like something I'd get assigned to do if I ever had to do time in Purgatory. My sympathies.
@A. Marie, Thanks! The whole day was like running on a treadmill. No matter how fast you went, at the end you were right back where you started... Not sure if that's (a) purgatory or (b) limbo.
Love the boots! I have considered a slip-on pair for a while but am worried about the comfort level (I had a pair of lace up Docs when I was a teenager ages ago and all I can remember is how terribly painful they were to wear). I would love to hear how comfortable (or not) they are and how you break them in!
I love those boots and I'm sure they will last you for years. Frugal things lately:
*I swapped out my bedlinens and needed to wash my comforter. I found that it fits just fine in my washer, and I was able to get it mostly dried in the dryer, and I spread it out over some chairs for the rest of the way. Saved me $ and time vs. the laundromat.
*I stopped buying creamer and am slowly using up my Torani syrups from the holidays. When those are gone, I will enjoy black coffee.
*Almost done liquidating my un-worn jewelry on Ebay. I've been using padded envelopes I had saved and tape I always have on hand. I print the labels at home, too.
*Doing my own yardwork this week in the form of removing a tree-like shrub, and trimming two other skinny trees. Yard guys charge a LOT for these simple things.
Also, I used to trim my cat's nails, years ago, and I found that when you start doing that when they are young, they sort of go along with the program. Good luck!
That is cool about your super economical wardrobe purchases!
1. Mended my son's ancient Champion sweatpants for the second time (three holes and new elastic in the cuffs). I warned him that I cannot raise the dead so the next time they wear out will be the last time.
2. Went grocery shopping with a fistful of store and manufacturer coupons and knocked $5 off the total.
3. Pulled a curtain tension rod out of my stash of useful stuff and ran it across the back of the floor of DH's closet to keep his shoes corralled. The closet has one of those old fashioned slanted shoe keeper boards built in, but his shoes are too long and slide off. The rod gives them extra support.
4. Used some leftover mattress pad foam to add to a dog bed. It's now soft yet supportive enough that our older dog with the bad back can use the extra bed.
5. Updated the inventory of our little upright freezer and a meal plan in my head.
@Ruby, re: your #1, I'm a tad disappointed that you can't raise the dead--given your awesome track record on rehabilitating clothing. You certainly keep things going longer than we mere mortals can do. 🙂
@A. Marie, when the crotch goes on sweatpants, it's time to declare them goners. I have yet to figure out an attractive and comfortable way to replace fabric in that area. Gotta hand it to Champion on how well these are holding up. I think he's been wearing them about 17 years.
DH had a long-sleeved red t-shirt that was his favorite to wear to work out. I did manage to replace the armpit on it! 😀
1. We took our daughter to a free open house/fun fair at the local NHL practice facility. She got to skate, meet the mascot, shoot a hockey puck, and have some free popcorn. It was a great event.
2. The above-mentioned free event had a long waiver that they wanted us to sign that excused the facility/sponsor from all wrongdoing, without conditions, no matter what. You know what's frugal? Not signing away your ability to sue and make insurance claims. I read the waiver, crossed out the parts I didn't agree with, and signed it. The staff didn't care.
3. Mr. B and I celebrated a frugal Valentine's day last week by buying each other a sweet treat, plus he bought me flowers. Easy.
4. We went to a grocery store on Sunday night, and because Monday was a statutory holiday, the meat was 30% off! We bought a ton, which I re-packaged into more useful portions and froze.
5. We had extra milk, so I tried to make yogurt. I don't have a good way of keeping it warm long enough for incubation, so I have a big jar of very runny yogurt. It tastes like yogurt, but it's totally liquid! I'm using it as buttermilk. So far I've used some for pancakes, and I might make a batch of cornbread later this week. More experienced yogurt-makers: I don't have a slowcooker or an insulated cooler, and my oven doesn't have a "proof" setting. Any ideas on how to incubate yogurt?
@Meira@meirathebear, Look back on Kristen's blog. The reason I started following her was her yogurt making method. I use a cooler (small ice chest) with hot water to make mine in half pint jars and it turns out great!
@Meira@meirathebear, I just put the jars in the oven with the oven light on and leave them overnight. They set beautifully.
@Meira@meirathebear, I am 75 and have never had to sue anyone in my life, but I reserve the right to do so. Awhile back lots of doctor's offices were asking for a legal agreement that you wouldn't sue them. Are you kidding me? I always refused to sign and no one gave me any grief over it.
I haven't seen any of those documents in the last few years. I'm not sure why.
@Meira@meirathebear, I used to use my gas oven, with just the pilot light. When we upgraded to an oven without a pilot, I now use an old heating pad on low, with the quart jars of yogurt on top. Jars are wrapped in a towel, and a large stockpot is on top, covering the whole thing. It works better for me than the hot water in a cooler.
I *think* I read that solution from Amy D, back in the day.
@Roberta, Ooh, thanks! That's a great idea. A head-pad sounds like it could work for me.
@Chrissy, thanks, but I don't have an insulated cooler or room to store one--that's why I was asking.
@Ingrid, thanks--that makes sense, especially because it's over a long period of time. I guess that yogurt should set at room temperature, if you leave it out long enough! I might try that next time.
@Anne, haha I would refuse to sign that, too!
@Meira@meirathebear, I have successfully improvised with a cardboard box filled with newspapers, and an old throw pillows or two to insulate a wrapped lidded pot of hot water in old towel. (The jars of yogurt were in the pot of water.)
@Meira@meirathebear - and if you find you don't want to leave the heating pad on the whole time, I've used the low-tech trick of inverting an insulated grocery bag over the top after it's had some warmth treatment, so the reflective inner lining helps extend the warmth - good luck!
@Jennifer C-L, I have done the lidded pot of hot water but skipped the insulated box and wrapped the pot in two thick beach towels. The cardboard box, only with straw, was how I used to cook when I lived in a cabin without electricity. I would boil the item on top of my wood stove and then put it in a next of straw in a box. Shut the lid of the box and the pot of whatever will keep cooking and stay warm. I made stews, soups and yogurt this way. I read about the technique in some WWII novel and it works. They were called hay boxes.
@Meira@meirathebear, I heat the milk in a saucepan to 180, cool it to 120 in the same saucepan, stir in a bit of old yogurt, put on the lid, wrap it in a doubled-over beach towel, and set it in the living room where the woodstove is. It yogs in 3-6 hours.
@Anne, and no one can sign away YOUR right to sue. I always got a good chuckle on contract fulfilled paperwork at prior employers. Sure, I could sign not to sue but didn't mean my husband or adult kiddos couldn't sue. Companies (and all too many politicians) think we are all stupid.
Wow! You are brave to attempt trimming your cat's claws! I am impressed! My dog hates having her nails clipped and it becomes a battle royale. With me getting scratched, her running away, and once she bit me....not a bad bite, but enough to register her displeasure.
And you really scored on the skirt and boots!
1. My biggest frugal thing this week was FINALLY getting a car payment mess straightened out. My advice: never finance through Kia, use a local bank or credit union. Anyway, I bought my car last spring. To date, I have not gotten any paperwork receipts mailed to me, as promised; they are supposed to be sent 16 days before my payment due date. This is very frightening to me: I don't think getting one's car repo'd is very frugal and neither is getting one's payment lost or late (there goes your credit rating!). The young punks at my local dealership (they all look like they're teenagers, and act like it, too) tell me that Duh! they're not involved with Kia Finance and won't help me at all. So I have to call the 800 number and talk with someone from overseas (Korea? The Philippines? India? Who knows!) We can barely understand one another's accents, and this has been going on for more than 6 months. The Kia phone person, a different one each time, keeps saying they ARE mailing my statements and I should have received them. I never got any. Anyway, this time around, I got up at 5 a.m. to call....and had to wait until 7 a.m. for them to be there, and therefore they made me late for work (grrrr!). It took 45 minutes of conversation for us to uncover the source of my woes. It turns out that Kia (the dealership? Kia Finance? Not sure who.) somehow got my address wrong. There is a similar-sounding street to mine in my city, and there is a house on that street with the same house number as mine. So instead of sending my statement to 1234 June Street, let us say, they were sending it to 1234 July Street; I'm not sure what the occupants did with the Kia mail, but I never got it. Anyway, I made my payment on time over the phone, and I am supposed to start getting the statements. Which will come in handy because I still intend to refi the car at a local financial institution.
2. I used my 15% discount card at Ollie's outlet to stock up on "good stuff cheap," such as shampoos and household goods. I splurged and got myself a really cool birthday gift: a boxed set of Peanuts comic strips -- books containing all the newspaper comic strips from the 1950s, '60s and '70s. It was so heavy I could barely lift it. I paid around $25, but the printed price tag on the box said it originally sold for $90. (Good grief, Charlie Brown!) Yes, I know this was a "want," not a "need," but every once in a while you need to make yourself happy. And with all my family gone, this was the only birthday "gift" I got. I will no doubt enjoy these 3 books for many years to come. (Fun fact: when the comic strip launched on Oct. 2, 1950, the original 3 characters were Charlie Brown, Shermy and Patty; Snoopy made his debut 2 days later, the first book says.)
3. Registered for prizes at the home and garden expo a couple of weeks ago. As I write this, I'm getting a free HVAC tune up from one of the vendors. No service call fee!
4. Added some Valentine candy I was given to the candy stash that I use at Halloween and for other "sweet" occasions. I put in some hard candy that doesn't look like it's only for Feb. 14. My large candy cannister is 3/4 full....and I didn't pay a cent for any of the treats.
5. Signed up for extra hours at the store where I work so that I got to work during the days that school was out (President's Day holiday and 2 teacher work days where they didn't need us substitute teachers). So I still had income coming in.
@Fru-gal Lisa, I hope you enjoy your Peanuts birthday gift! (And I hope you had/have a great birthday!) Sounds like you got a great deal! If you enjoy old comics, you might enjoy the new book called Three Rocks: The story of Ernie Bushmiller, the man who created Nancy by Bill Griffith. It's a graphic novel and was recommended on an art blog I follow. I got it from the library on a whim and really enjoyed it. It contains lots of old Nancy comics while telling Bushmiller's life story and the history of comics.
Trimming cat claws works well for us as a 2 person job - one holds and one snips. Mine has learned that before, after the front ones, and at the end are treats and is great about it!
It's been another month of extra output, so my frugal efforts are minute compared to outgo, but I limp along, trusting that a "normal" month will be in my future.
1. Postponed a dental appointment. Hubby has to have some fillings done, and the 2 appointments needed will be a total of $700. I already knew we needed to have brake pads and brake lights replaced on the car, so I postponed one of the dental appts til March. He's not having any pain, and it really isn't saving any money, but it's just less of a hit at once, and gives me time to practice what frugality I can elsewhere.
2. One of the dollar stores gives a $5 off $25 coupon for the following Saturday, for any purchase during the week. Used mine when purchasing candy for the Easter egg hunt my church holds for the community every year. The plastic eggs I'm filling were gifted me in the gifting group last spring, when a member moved out of state.
3. Had to go to Ace hardware for some items, and the cashiers gave me a $5 coupon to use for that very purchase (I was spending a pretty decent amount), and then gave me another $5 coupon for my next Feb. purchase. I know I will need to buy more filters for the heater vents as well as drain unstopper soon, so I will make a point to go before the end of Feb. expiration date.
4. Have not been able to find dental treats my dog would eat, and I just am NOT going to attempt to brush my dog's teeth. My vet suggested a dental diet by a well-known brand, and Chewy requires a prescription for it. I was shocked that a 5-lb bag was $35, and the instructions on the bag are to feed my dog 3 1/4 cups/day. Instead, I give her her regular senior food, and give her 3-4 individual dental kibbles at bedtime. They are about the size of a quarter-sized cube of cheese, and it takes her a while to chew them up, so I figure they clean her teeth well enough for the night. I'm waiting to see how long that 5 lb bag lasts.
5. Doing the usual stuff: scanning all receipts on Fetch, washing and re-using freezer zipper-closure baggies (that haven't had raw meat in them), cutting one-sided letters, junk notifications, etc. into 4ths for scrap paper use, bundling errands, turning down the heater early when hubby goes to bed, etc.
Just a comment to say that I have had cats for may years (current cats are 14 years old), but I never trim their nails and they seem to be fine?!? Same with my dog!
@monica, It depends on how fast your cats' claws grow, and how much scritching they get on natural objects like trees (or even indoor scratching posts). Our cat is quite young, and his front claws were like razors after a month home--the vet at the shelter trimmed his claws before he came home, but they grew fast! And he doesn't go outside, so his claws I guess don't wear down as fast as my outdoor cats' claws used to. It's mostly so he doesn't slice us up like Edward Scissorpaws when he's being playful!
I haven't really posted in a while for a lot of reasons but mostly because I've just not been super frugal.
1. Got a good deal on Goldfish crackers on Amazon. Small, I know but it adds up.
2. Went through the remote options for seeing a therapist as there are none in my area that take my insurance which are taking new patients.
3. Took advantage of some clearance sales and found some shoes for my wife.
4. Listing a bunch of stuff on Facebook Marketplace and possibly eBay or having a garage sale. We had our old bed frame on there and while it took a few days we finally got rid of it! Beats paying someone to throw it away! Hopefully I can turn some of the trash into treasure.
5. Instead of getting lunch out I've just been packing sandwiches and such. I do use apps at places like McDonald's and Wendy's but I generally don't need to be eating at those places anyway.
Battra!!!!! So so glad to have you back!!!!
@Battra92, I only recently learned that Amazon is a great place to get Goldfish! I have to buy them in the big cartons, so this will be helpful for me moving forward! Thanks for the reminder - I'm at the bottom of my last carton.
@Kristen, Indeed his absence has been noted. Glad you're back.
@Battra92, WELCOME BACK! I've been watching for your return (in a friendly way, not a stalkery way).
YOUR WIFE LETS YOU BUY SHOES FOR HER?? She must be easy to fit.
@Battra92, Welcome back! You have been missed!
@Ruth T, Costco is also sometimes a good place to buy them from.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, I'm honestly surprised people noticed I was gone.
And as for buying her shoes, it's quite the opposite but she knows of a few brands which fit her (e.g. Van's) so if I find one in that particular size when on sale or clearance I can order them. I am also responsible for returns if needed.
We love you, Battra. <3
@Battra92, there was some unwarranted harshness toward a comment you made and then you went silent. You've been honest about your struggles in the past year or so, and I know you are still hurting, so I was worried about you. I missed your good comments, and your male perspective on a frugal life.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, I had to look that one up and either I missed it or I dismissed it. I've just been busy and my mind was occupied on a lot of stuff to really care
--I never really thought about it, but having strictly outdoor dogs is very frugal. They've never been bathed, and we've never trimmed their nails. I guess running around on the rocky ground kind of grinds them down? I don't know. They don't have long nails, though.
--I currently have a cold. I don't buy tissues, so I've been going through a lot of the t-shirt pieces we use in their place. And then I just wash them and they're good to go again.
--Two of my sons have had digestive issues this week, which meant a day or so of no solids for them. I made lemonade and switchel (with bottled lemon juice), pulled out the beef stock I made a couple of weeks ago, and made jello with gelatin powder and frozen strawberries. Not being able to go to the store to buy these things almost certainly saves money, though really it's a matter of distance.
--My husband put in the new igniter for my oven, so I can bake again. Unfortunately, the oven gasket (seal) that I ordered did not fit my oven, despite being listed specifically for my model. So I had to return it and buy the name-brand factory one, which was twice as much. Oh well. Still cheaper than buying a new oven.
--Middle son hit his growth spurt, and I found some clothes he can wear that were his older brother's. And now youngest son has a lot of pants that were passed along to him from middle son. One benefit of them growing so fast is they don't have time to wear out their clothes, and then they can be handed down to the next kid.
Fortunately, we have been able to manage cat pedicures in our house since they were kittens (now about to turn 17!). As someone else mentioned, getting them used to it early helps a lot. What seems to make a difference is getting them used to having their paws touched in general, so that was something we made a point of doing when they were young. We also take a two-person approach: DH picks them up and I do the clipping, mostly so that I can do it where there's good light. I have only cut one claw too short once in over 15 years, so I can attest that being able to see what you're doing makes it much easier 😉
@JJ, It's so hard when they have long floofs in their paws, like ours does--he has white paws so the claws sort of blend in with the floof! I have to do it on a sunny day in front of a window.
1. My husband and I went out for Valentine’s dinner on Friday night. I remembered that I had a gift card for the restaurant that I’ve been waiting to use for a couple of years.
2. I found some clearance fancy tights at Target a couple weeks ago that I picked up to dress up my little black dress for a charity event we attended this weekend. $5 for tights is much cheaper than buying a new dress.
3. My freezer clean out is almost complete! We have a few odds and ends left, but what is left will be easy to move and/or easy to use up. This clean out has really helped keep our grocery bills down which is helpful because moving isn’t a cheap endeavor.
4. I’ve been able to batch errands over the long weekend to coincide with house showings. It doesn’t always work because I have the dogs with me, but my son was home from school on Monday so he was able to occupy the dogs which was super helpful.
5. My Valentine’s gift to my husband was free, but perfect! On a recent business trip, one of the events I attended had a watercolor artist who would take a photo and create a tropical version of your photo. The photo I provided was of my husband and I getting engaged, but the location was actually less than a mile from where the event was taking place. The artist recognized the location immediately! My husband was thrilled when I gave him the watercolor and we’re looking forward to putting it up in our new house. (the watercolor is postcard size, so easy to transport and quick to make)
I have one cat that will (unenthusiastically) allow me to cut her nails. The other I won’t even attempt (I value my life ) and purvey cuts them once yearly at his well visit.
I’ll add he’s such a bad boy at the vet that they have to sedate him with a mask to even accomplish his checkup and routine bloodwork. Aargh!
I have never even considered clipping my cat's claws. I've had several cats over the years, why would one do this? Are your cats indoors-only?
@Caro, Yep, in my experience (I've had outdoor and indoor cats), indoor cats' claws get quite sharp just because they're not on rough terrain and scratching trees and such. Clark does his fair share of scratching on approved objects, but it's not quite enough, so his claws are like needles if you let them go. Kittens in particular, and I believe Chiquita is quite young, get very needle-like claws! One kitten at the shelter tried climbing my legs while I was cleaning the room she was in, and she sunk her claws so deep in through my jeans I bruised and bled. Those kitten claws are no joke!
1. Made Kristen's granola recipe today
2. Used our library this morning for story time, free play, and of course check out books. Bonus- saw some other moms that I haven't seen in years (we used to be in MOPS together) and it was fun to catch up
3. Cut all 4 kids hair and my own. The time savings is just as nice as the money.
4. Celebrated my FIL's birthday with a gift and dollar store card, but also the kids each picked a printable birthday coloring page to make for him. My MIL made a delicious supper and cake, and I helped a little
5. I thought we were low on pens, and was about to put it on my list soon, but I sorted through our desk and organized my writing utensil containers, threw away a bunch of broken things, and found that I don't need to purchase anything
1. I was given some pens over a year ago that I love and the ink ran out on one. I finally made it over to Staples to get ink refills, which are cheaper (and have less trash) than buying new pens.
2. I had my annual well-visit this morning. We're in the midst of a bunch of other medical expenses, but at least this one was covered 100%.
3. My daughters and husband went to a Daddy Daughter dance this weekend and we had 2 frugal things from it: I did the girls' hair myself and one of my daughters wore a Princess Belle "dress" that lit up that we already had, which went great with the glow theme. The "dress" was actually a clearance Halloween costume, but I'm so happy that it worked perfectly for last weekend!
4. We stayed in-budget for a friend's birthday gift and made a cool card instead of buying one. Now that we know about making cards with perler bead things attached, I think that will be our go-to card option!
5. I worked a couple of days last week. Just over 2 hours each time, but our bank account will appreciate it! Bonus that I got fed the first day, then was able to bring home leftover snacks the second day. Also - catering is just fun for me and I was needing a fun break. I loved it!
My washer keeps doing weird beeping, we read you unplug it for 24 hours to reset itself and so far it is back to normal.
BCBSM has an offer thru Teledoc for a free blood pressure monitor and a weight scale. I was amazed at the quality of them. So glad I signed up.
Our weather has been nice so walking in the park with the dogs is free dollars.
Meijer has been sending me free item coupons so for the time being I am shopping there.
Trying to use what we have in the pantry. We have a $10K project coming in June to have a French drain and sump pump put in. The rain the last few months have made it so we keep getting water in our cellar. A. I don't want to have to lug everything upstairs and B. I'm trying to save money as much as I can.
1.I had lots of dehydrated mushrooms. So I made a new to us mushroom soup and we didn't like it. I added beef gravy and seasonings and put some on egg noodles. It is much better.
2. I make the dogs food. Lentils are good for dogs so I add some to it. I have so many dried lentils and beans from when my uncle died 6 years ago. No one else wanted them. I put them in buckets in the cellar and rarely used them. I have gone through 6 bags of lentils already this year.
3. I have pinto beans in the crock pot cooking. We are having tacos tonight. The rest will be frozen.
4. Got a $90 rebate check for dental work Hubby had done.
5. My daughter and I carpooled to Aldi and Whole foods. They are across the street from each other. I didn't need anything in whole foods so I stayed strong and didn't buy anything. My daughter is GF so she gets a lot of her stuff there. I found a penny at Aldi.
@Marybeth from NY, smart to stretch the dog's food by adding the lentils.
Do you ever eat lentils & rice? It's one of our family favorites! Rice, chopped onion, lentils, dash of salt. Add to pressure cooker and yum! My kids would eat this all day....
@Maggie, We have been eating lots of lentils this year. I have not done lentils and rice but we eat lots of beans with rice. Ham and lentil soup is how I grew up eating them.
My hat is seriously off to you for trimming your cat's nails!
Nail trimming animals is a challenge. My husky needs to be trimmed but it’s an ordeal to even touch his paw. I have managed to do 6 or 7 before it’s no longer a good idea. I need to do that again…
My frugal things:
1. Used a caribou gift card to treat me and the kids before school last week. It was also a bribe to make the morning smooth. And the coffee I got helped me cope with an asthma flare I was having.
2. Kids said they needed clothes at dad’s house, so i popped in once upon a child and found some great items for very cheap. One of the shirts was new with tags and only $2.50.
3. Picked up toothbrush lollipop things (used in hospitals, it’s a sponge in a stick basically) for my son from the local but nothing group.
4. I baked a chocolate and brownie terrine for a baking competition at work and won a $20 gift card. I didn’t realize there was a prize and had been doing some stress baking so everyone won: I felt less stressed, people had yummy treats, and I now have $20 to spend on things I need.
5. I snagged a few COVID tests the school nurse no longer was keeping in her office.
I fixed my outdoor work boots with Boot Goo that I found in dad's shop. Hopefully can get another year out of them.
I sold some fishing lures on ebay. So many fishing supplies! Fills an entire shelving system in the shop.
I bought a used chicken coop that I can pull with the tractor or atv for $200.
Started seeds for tomatoes, peppers, cabbages, squash, broccoli and cauliflower.
Made 2 casket spray frames this week. I do this for friends and family. I lost 2 friends this week.
@Blue Gate Farmgirl, I'm sorry for your multiple losses this week. What a lovely tribute to your friends, making the flower frames.
Blue Gate Farmgirl, sending you my sympathies in the loss of your friends.
My frugal things are pretty shopping related.
1. After a very long phone call that I was put on hold multiple times, I finally got my Amazon account credited for returning a duplicate present I got for Christmas.
2. I got a $15 rebate gift card because I bought 12 months worth of Heartguard at my dog's last vet appointment. The practice submitted the rebate for me. All I had to do was open the envelop when it came in the mail. Double win!
3. My husband and I used the comp tickets we got as part of a couples Valentines Day improv class package to see one of their shows for a free date night.
4. Used my Amazon credit to buy a replacement electric tea kettle and a couple of items on my wish list.
5. Spent the insanely surprise snowy weekend, breaking in the new tea kettle by drinking mint tea from my summer garden, crocheting a scarf with sale yarn, and snuggling with my pup while streaming movies on free streaming app.
Really had to wrack my brain for frugal finds this week:
1) Auto insurance was due. Paid for six months instead of one saving $36.00. And boy has it gone up from last year. The "Credit Union" and I own it together so it requires full coverage. $7.00 is for roadside assistance and has paid for itself at least twice in my ownership of this car, once when I locked the keys inside, once when it wouldn't turn over and needed a new battery.
2) After paying the deductible on pharmacy and for a high priced med last month, yesterday one of my meds cost $0.00. I'll take it!
3) Yard work that I don't have to pay for using my new "baby saw" and or my reciprocal saw with pruning blade. Picking up limbs from the heavy snowstorm several weeks ago.
4) Signed up early for a gardening seminar held not too far away and saved $5.00. It's the weekend before my birthday and how I "live large." The educational hours go to my community service record for Master Gardener. I bunch the "holiday" with visiting family there and shopping and eating unique places.
5) The usual: bunch errands, make chai latte at home, seldom go anywhere on my days off so car is parked until I work again.
About cat claws: I often pet my cats' paws, just forcing them to get used to being handled on their feet. I squish their toes a little and if they don't like it, at least they get accustomed to it. But having outdoor cats means that I don't have to trim their claws, so now I just do paw-petting out of habit.
Five Frugals:
1. Ordered 5 yards of pebble bark and saved an enormous amount of time and gas by having it delivered instead of making numerous trips at 75 round-trip miles apiece. (didn’t do the math).
2. Got lunch at the best place in town on a gift certificate and took it to a nice spot by the river to enjoy. (Spent $20 of the $30 certificate)
3. Found a dress I like at Lands End, and IF it goes on sale in a few months, IF my sister says she can change the ruffles into sleeves, and IF they still have my size, maybe I’ll buy it in the summer. (Shoulder ruffles would be a visual assault at my stage of kimono arm.)
4. Put my four broken watches for sale on eBay. Weird, I know, but lots of broken watches sell there. If they don't sell, I'll find a place to send them (for training or parts or recycling).
6. The clothes I ordered on sale from Coldwater Creek (that I don’t need) all fit, so I didn’t spend any money to return them.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, I hope your broken watches sell, but if they don't, you could check out Veterans Watchmaker Initiative - they ask for mechanical and quartz watches in any condition, so their students can learn to repair them (which I know because someone else posted about that here once; thanks for that!).
@Suz, I also saw that here. I went to the website, and emailed using their contact button; no reply. I wrote a note and put it in the mail; no response. I really want one of those watches to be repaired and returned to me, which is the question I asked. If they can't be bothered to respond, I can't be bothered to send the watches. (Shoot, I want to support veterans, but come on already, people!)
I forgot to mention that both Daughter and Organization Lady wear Doc Chelsea boots like those.
Me, I garner hilarity by wearing white Sex Pistols Doc lace ups. I LIKE WEIRD SHOES.
We also trim the cat's nails and we dremel the dog's nails. The cat is very tolerant, but my poor dog shakes through the whole thing is scares her so badly. She's even worse when strangers do it. Over the years we have gotten pretty quick so we all suffer through as fast as possible. Both of mine also hate being in the car so it's just easier at home.
I don't think I mentioned that I bought a roomba at goodwill for my younger son for $18. It looked fairly new and while cleaning it I saw it had sucked up a piece of the original foam cloth that it was wrapped in the box with. I think the original owner thought it just didn't work and donated it. My son put googly eyes on it and is thrilled that it sweeps his floor.
I packed my breakfast and lunch for my work day this week. I also stopped to see a friend while I was in town (we moved away from where I work so I go back every two weeks...I always try to see a friend or something while I'm there for the day).
I found two new 1000 piece puzzles at goodwill for $2/each. I love puzzles so I was happy to find new ones. Usually I don't buy puzzles at thrift stores as I get very irritated when I get to the end and pieces are missing.
I found 2 Jamie Oliver cookbook on the library sale cart. $2/each.
I shopped at the commissary at the air base while I was in town for work and stocked up on chicken and ground beef. I haven't been there in probably 6 weeks and those items are always cheaper there.
And I called around for quotes for new auto insurance. We have been with state farm forever, but we had two glass claims last year (due to road work in our area...one ding made a crack all the way across my husband's windshield...another took out his side window!). So, state farm said they were dropping our collision...apparently the $30k we've spent with them over the years for house/car/etc insurance wasn't enough to make us not a risk after 2 glass claims (no wrecks/tickets). Irritates me so much. But I found a new rate and set that up.
I think that's it.
@Marlena, googly eyes on a roomba is great fun! Thank you for sharing that visual image.
And car insurance, nay, all insurance is beyond frustrating, irritating, annoying, and infuriating. I commend you for finding a new rate. They are all so eager to sell, but heaven forbid you should ever file a claim.
1. We made all of our meals at home. I used up some stuff from the freezer. We packed lunches.
2. My husband replaced a broken faucet. I still had clear silicone left from another project, so I used that around the new faucet.
3. We shopped the closet for kids' spring coats and everyone has one now. It's not spring yet, but it's too warm to keep wearing winter coats. It was 50 degrees today.
4. We sold an old gaming system and some games. We got store credit and purchased three new-to-us games. There's still some store credit left, so we'll keep an eye out for another controller.
5. I have not bought anyone holiday-themed clothes. I didn't buy any new decorations.
Five Frugals for the Week
1. I bought a Stanley cup (which was free after rebate from TopCashBack) and then sold it for almost full price on FB Marketplace. I used the money to buy tutoring supplies. 🙂
2. I worked a variety of odd jobs: subbing, cleaning, babysitting, sold a book set, getting ready to start a writing job and getting ready to start tutoring. It is true that people who want to work often can find plenty of opportunities.
3. $2 off a mocha at McDs = $1.30 for a focused hour of grading papers. And the papers were from a long time ago so this was needed!
4. Trying to really restrict our grocery budget, yet I keep going into stores for "one thing"... just trying to watch it carefully and only buy what is truly necessary plus sale items. The past 30 days we spent half of what we normally spend on groceries! So yay! And we are eating really well, lots of veggies, beans, fruit, lean meat - no snacks!
5. Did an Amazon return a month ago of a gift we were sent. The return did not process for some reason, so I hunted down the info and spent the extra 10-15 minutes on customer service to problem solve it.
1. I picked up a box or microwaveable popcorn, new dish towels, and overnight pull up diapers off Buy Nothing.
2. My kids have off of school this week. So far we attended a donut decorating event at a local farm ($5), a cooking class at the library ($0), played at the library ($0), went sledding ($0), and made a wreath with items we foraged ($1.25). Tomorrow we are going to the zoo. Our zoo is offering free admission for kids this month, so I will owe $12 for myself. Thursday we are going to a discount movie theater ($15).
3. I used some leftover milk and half and half to make homemade yogurt. It's so good with berries!
4. I used leftovers apple and orange juice to make popsicles for my kids. My husband made bread to go with our sauce and meatballs this week.
5. I used leftover artichokes and cheese to make an omelette for lunch this weekend.
@Corrine,
#2 - I love how many free and frugal ways there are to have fun with kids! You have some great ones there!
Let's see what I can remember...
1. Called customer service about a missing book from my order. They will send the correct book for free. I'm to find someone to give the wrong (French) books to who can use them.
2. Made a birthday card for my nephew rather than buying one. Frugal, creative fun, and more personal as well.
3. I needed to bring a snack to a gathering. I found items in my pantry, freezer, and fridge for a delicious spinach dip. I only had to buy bread for dipping. While searching through the pantry I found some food mixes I had forgotten about.
4. Ate leftovers when I really didn't want to.
5. Watched a movie on a DVD from my stash--cheap entertainment.
6. Had my students use card stock for poster projects that had extra printing on the opposite side left over from another craft activity. That side will be hidden, so no one minded.
7. Used gifted, individually wrapped chocolates as my Valentine's treats for my class.
Frugal Fail: Gave into my craving for sushi and ramen. $$ and it wasn't as good as normal. I think they may have new people in training. I hope they will return to their normal high standard soon.
1. Used my $15 coupon at BJs before it expired.
2. Purchased a taco kit at BJs instead of getting take out. We had leftovers for lunch.
3. Got gas when I was at BJs since it is the cheapest place in town.
4. Made a large pot of Buffalo chicken chili that lasted us for days. I made enough to share with pregnant daughter and SIL so they didn't have to worry about dinner for two nights.
5. Our son and I took maternity pictures of DD instead of paying someone to do it. I'm sure professional pictures would have turned out better, but it was nice to see DS use what he learned in the photography class he took last semester.
Kirsten, I love how you write not only about your big frugal wins but your small victories as well!
My Frugal 5's
1) Hubby and I had a quiet and inexpensive Valentines Day. No gifts for each other. Just home cooked meals at home, time spent together, and 'I love you's' said.
2) For our girls on Valentine's Day, I made heart shaped pancakes for breakfast and trifles for their after school snacks with ingredients we already had. Also watch the Princess Bride & Stardust movies at home on DVDs we already own.
3) Volunteered at church and got a large box of free food they were giving away. Freebies included bananas, brownie mix, a dozen muffins and half a tater tot casserole dish.
4) Fixed a broken waffle maker and game with epoxy and a play stroller with plastic glue. Here's hoping it works! Waffle maker will cost $30 to replace.
5) Took the kids out for rides on their scooters and the playground a couple times. Free entertainment and all either within our neighborhood or nearby.
"Dishcloth Funk" - sounds like a new music genre!
Test comment
I just tried the boiling technique on my washcloths. The fibers on some of them had become stiff. Two were yellowed. After the boiling (and cooling), the water was SLIMY. It was revolting! There must have been so much product build up. I don't use much stuff on my face, and never use fabric softeners or dryer sheets. I didn't expect the slimyness! Anyway, I then washed and dried the washcloths with my normal towel/whites load and they're much nicer. The hard ones are softer and the yellowed ones are whiter. This is going into my regular chore rotation. Next time I'll put fewer in the pot and do a couple batches as they probably need more space to be exposed sufficiently to the boiling water. Thanks for posting about this, Kristen!