Five Frugal Things | Guess what sold?
1. My remote sold!
You know that little garage door opener remote I bought at the Goodwill bins for something like $0.50? It sold for a little over $13 on eBay, within just a few days of me listing it.
Crazy!
So now my little Goodwill bins adventure with Katy is actually more than free; the garage door remote sale covered my purchases and then some.
I cut down a saved padded envelope to fit my very tiny item. And Chiquita wanted to bite it, of course.
2. I ordered red lids to save money
After a Pyrex lid cracked recently, I ended up with more 4-cup Pyrex containers than lids, which is causing an issue.
Lidless Pyrex is not very useful.
I hopped on to order a replacement lid, of the silicone variety, and noticed that the mint green/turquoise ones were 60% more expensive than the red and orange lids.
So, that made my color decision easy; the cheaper color is my favorite!
If you are sick to death of your Pyrex lids cracking, no matter how carefully you hand-wash them, may I suggest these silicone lids?
They are thick, flexible, and nigh onto indestructible (I have never had one wear out on me, and I've been using them for years.)
They are a little more expensive than regular replacement lids, but unlike regular Pyrex lids, they are a one-and-done purchase.
10/10, definitely recommend!
3. I glued my electric kettle lid
The "silver" (actually plastic) top part of the lid came undone from the bottom part. It's held on by a little plastic piece, which broke.
So, I used a tiny tube of super glue to put it back together, and we're back in business.
(In case you have a safety concern here: this part is completely inside of the lid, so there is no concern that the glue will ever come into contact with the water we are heating up!)
I love these little tubes of super glue; up front they seem more wasteful than a regular tube, but the nice thing about them is that you never end up with a big ol' dried up tube (which has been my super glue experience more often than not.)
4. I made a roasted vegetable soup
I had some potatoes, celery, and carrots that needed to be used, so I roasted them along with an onion.
Then to make them into soup, I blended them up with some of my homemade chicken broth and added some milk and seasonings.
And now I have a nice big batch of soup, ready to eat.
I am curious if this can be frozen, so I'm going to take my own advice to try it and see.
I'll set aside a small amount, freeze it, thaw it, reheat it, and see how it fares. That way, I'll know what to do next time I make this type of soup.
5. I got a free Starbucks drink for my road trip
I took a day trip to visit my college girl, and I got a free coffee for the road, using my Erie YourTurn Rewards gift card.
I got the pecan crunch oatmilk latte, which is delicious and also 130 calories less than a pumpkin spice latte (340 vs. 470 for the venti size in both).
5 frugal things for this week:
We created 2 shelves for the bathroom using the pieces leftovers from my drawer front error ( I bought the drawer fronts too big.) my uncle cut the down to the proper size and the leftover pieces are now living in the bathroom. We did pay 15 dollars for the clips/brackets.
However, there is no more clutter on the sink or window sill.
I thrifted a small shelf and a wine rack last week. The wine rack is now holding water bottles and to go coffee cups, the shelf has been painted to match the mirror and installed in bedroom #3. ( We already owned the paint).
We installed the open shelving in the kitchen. One is more for display, and it was styled with things we already owned.
We are switching to vent covers/opening from 15 X1 1/2 x 6 ( long and skinny) to 12x4x6 . I decided to remove the duct work for the 2 that we were working on, and clean it. It was very dirty but so satisfying to get it done. It will help the efficiency and improve the air quality. We are spending money here, but will pay for itself soon enough.
I've been reorganizing different areas in the house. I'm reusing/repurposing things we already owned.
Happy Tuesday everyone!
@It's me, Sam,
Yeah for water bottles in thrifted wine rack. 🙂
We do the same as most of my bottles are vintage/antique glass milk bottles I use for juice, syrup & water bottles. They are too tall for cupboards so wine rack does the trick.
@It's me, Sam, Ooh! Good idea about the wine rack! Maybe this will solve our problem of water bottles cluttering the counter. Thank you.
@It's me, Sam,
I keep my water bottles filled with water and in the fridge. Cold water on demand!
@Regina, my water bottles are also in a wine rack for the very same reason.
Mine too! I’ve also encouraged so many people to buy a wine rack for water bottles ! LOL crazy how many we can collect over the years!
1. We went to the local pharmacy for flu vaccines. Insurance covered the cost. It may or may not prevent flu but should at least mitigate it. Healthy = wealthy?
2. We went to day two of a semi-annual church rummage sale. It had been many, many years since I had been to this sale. On day two items are half price or you can fill a kitchen trash bag for $5. We each more or less filled a bag.
3. A neighbor four houses down advertised a yard sale. I put two boxes of stuff by the curb, with a Free sign, and everything was gone by mid-morning (including the boxes).
4. I walked with a friend on the local wooded trail.
5. A neighbor picked all the persimmons on their tree and shared the excess. I grabbed a few from the large container they put out with a "help yourself" sign.
@K D, It's always worth investing in health! I just booked my flu shot as well!
@Sophie in Denmark,
Good for you. I think it about the optimal time of year in the Northern Hemisphere.
@K D, I go to my local Walgreens to get my vaccine shots as well. My insurance pays for them, I get personal items that I need to replenish as well, and since I'm careless right now, a rideshare isn't that expensive.
@K D, That's without a car! Oops, not careless at all.
You look so fabulous and happy in the last / coffee picture! 🙂
--Now that it's cool enough to use the oven regularly, my husband is in bread baking mode. He requested that I thrift for a bread box for on top of the fridge, and lo! I found exactly the kind he wanted--retro metal with a rolling top--for $10 at my first Goodwill stop. (There are only two stores I check regularly because they're on my normal errand route.)
--Speaking of baking, we used pumpkin water leftover from roasting garden pie pumpkins in biscuits. SO GOOD! The biscuits turned out incredibly moist and lightly sweet.
--A nieghbor brought me 8-10 lbs of carrots and a sizeable zucchini as a thank you for sharing my tomatoes and basil with her over the summer. Her tomatoes didn't grow at all, and (with the exception of my radishes) my root vegetables didn't do diddly squat. Thankfully, our informal "trading" evened out both our larders! In related news, dinner Wednesday will be basically free zucchini soup. 😛
--The chain broke for the pendant I've worn daily for 20+ years and counting. The fine links were unfortunately too, too tiny to fix. I only own a handful of jewelry (sentimental and worn regularly, plus metal allergies*), so I didn't have a spare chain. I ordered an inexpensive stainless steel chain in a thicker weave for $10, which will hopefully last at least another 20+ years. It's good to not feel naked without my pendant anymore!
*Even trace amounts of nickel will give me a rash within hours. All my jewelry is either pure sterling silver or--like the new chain and my wedding ring--stainless steel. Handily, I don't like gold. 😛
--The gas company installed an updated meter at no cost to us. The tech was very friendly and, upon request, showed me how to relight the water heater. It's the only pilot light I didn't know / have never had to light, so I appreciated the lesson. I, in turn, showed him how to relight our older furnace, which is a model he hadn't encountered before.
@N, I'm okay with nickel but yellow gold is out. Which cost me $150 more for a crown (area was too small for whatever the non-metal composite is).
Thank you for your silicone lid recommendation; my frugal thing has been to use mason jars (with reusable lids) until I can find Pyrex lid replacements for my bowl like yours, and also 2 & 4-cup rectangular dishes, which I love and used to use all the time.
How I'm being foiled:
- I can't find anything local (or in-person when looking out of town)
- The Canadian dollar + tariffs triples the price online
- Main online option is Amazon (respectfully, nope for me); others like Corelle won’t ship to Canada
So mason jars and scouring thrift shop is it for me!
@Shelag, Hi, if you have a Canadian tire close by, they sell replacement lids in the section where they sell the glass containers. Very reasonable price.
@Shelagh, Hey, Shelagh, Mason jars are an excellent option. I use them as well. They are particularly good for overnight oatmeal. Don't lose hope. These tariffs cannot last forever:(
@Shelagh,
I'm a hardcore Mason jar user. I reuse the lids over and over, since I'm not canning the item (most of mine have the two-part lid and ring tops). I also have some plastic lids made for Mason jars used for storage.
@Liz B.,
....and a giant UGH about the tariffs. I agree with Jeanette in SC Upstate, they can't last forever!
I love those mini super glue also. I too have had more than I care to admit dried up large super glue experiences. Though I did notice than that amount of mini tubes you get in a package is now less than before. Go figure. 😉
Frugal things---
● earned Sam's cash last month/billing cycle. Used some of it for Sam's club pumpkin pie= free to me.
● did another Consumers Energy appliance recycle & earned $105 (which will get check in mail in 2 months)
● teen alternator going on vehicle, used $20 reward earned towards purchase
● borrowed a book from neighbor to read since did not have at library.
● continuing to eat down pantry & freezer. All meals at home. Found some food in pantry that I can't eat/decided don't like that I will take to local mini free food pantries.
Frugal fail--
● I dug up the (28) sweet potatoe plants ($1 each) planted in raised garden bed & only got a small handful. I am looking for sweet potatoes bush next year instead. I have never had this bad of a crop from sweet potatoes & I've been using same plants & set up for years.
FFT, Mostly Brown Rice Flour edition
1. Went for a short bike ride during a break in the rain on Sunday, and checked out the Little Free Libraries near us. DS#4 picked up "A Brief History of Time" and a funny book about cats, and I found some lovely Christmas cards, still in their boxes, all the way from England! So my Christmas cards are sorted. Usually I draw mine, but this year I'm going to be just happy to get through November, honestly.
2. Went grocery shopping with DH, who always keeps me on the frugal path. 😉 Without being stingy, I hasten to add.
3. DH was determined to make his own rice flour, and tried our Ninja food processor, and I heard him call, "Brown rice was a mistake; this isn't working at all!" I suggested he try the Vitamix, and in one minute we had superfine brown rice flour.
4. After he used the brown rice flour to make pancakes, and they were very good and had a slightly cornmeal-like texture, I wondered if I could use the same flour to make a mock cornbread, which used to be a favorite around here. Turns out, yes, it made a delicious "rice bread" that DH said he likes better than cornbread and everyone else liked as well. Not only is it corn-free, but home ground brown rice flour is cheaper than cornmeal, at least here!
5. Last night I made homemade alfredo sauce for the first time, and used sifted brown rice flour to thicken it, rather than my more expensive gluten free all purpose blend...and it worked just perfectly. My kids do not like jarred alfredo sauce; they say the smell is horrible. But they love the homemade stuff.
@Karen A., I have several folks in my house that aren't fond of cornbread. Last time I made my recipe, I substituted some farina for some of the cornmeal. The haters liked it much better.
@Jody S., That's a good idea! We turned to brown rice due to wheat allergies, but I can see farina having a similar texture.
@Karen A., If you can get masa--corn flour used to make tortillas and tamales--that's a good addition to the cornmeal or cornbread, too. I usually use around 1.5 cups cornmeal and a half cup of masa. It makes the cornbread less gritty.
@kristin @ going country, Sadly, I was diagnosed with a corn allergy, which is why we were excited to find that brown rice flour was cornmeal-esque. The bonus was that my DH, who normally dislikes cornbread, liked the "rice bread" much better.
I purchased those silicone lids for my 1-cup Pyrex, and of the four I purchased, one of them has split at the top. It's still usable, but obviously not for very liquidy things. It happened fairly soon after I purchased them, but not in the return window (of course).
I FINALLY got our bathroom sinks/counters painted. These were original to the trailer, I do believe, which would make them more than fifty years old. The bowls of the sinks were so worn rust was showing, plus they were a dingy yellowish white that looked really bad after painting the bathrooms. And they were this faux marble finish that I always disliked.
It's possible to paint these with an epoxy paint intended for bathtubs, which I had never used before. It's also a huge pain. It's a two-part epoxy--like JB Weld, if you're familiar with that--that has to be applied in several thin layers. As with any painting, the prep work to start takes awhile. My husband removed the faucets for me and then I had to sand the surfaces to rough them up--thankfully, we have an electric sander, so I used that--and clean it all very well before I could even start painting.
The paint itself is odd. Very drippy, and as I mentioned, has to go on in successive thin coats. I ended up doing three coats, plus one extra on the sink bowl in my kids' bathroom that had a lot of rust around the drain (it showed through the paint as pink, which was not a look I was going for). This took me literally all day because I had to wait for each coat to dry before doing the next one.
I also did both sinks simultaneously, because once the paint is mixed, it has to be used within six hours. I started moving things and cleaning as soon as my kids left on the school bus at 7:30 a.m. and finished the last full coat at 4:15 p.m. just as they got home.
The worst part of this product is the smell. It has such a strong chemical smell--again, like JB Weld, which I hate--that I had to have all doors and windows open in the whole house, plus fans in each bathroom. Our bathroom is in our bedroom, and even with the bathroom door closed overnight, I still had to run our overhead fan and have both windows open all night to be able to sleep in there. (It was 41 degrees last night. Good thing I like sleeping in the cold.)
BUT. The paint cost forty dollars. I sacrificed a paint brush and just threw it away when I was done, so maybe four dollars for that. While the faucets were off I took them all apart and scrubbed off all the filth and lime deposits, which means I don't need new faucets. When I decided that my bathroom looked too pale with the lighter blue paint on the walls and the now-white sink and counter, I painted the cabinet doors and drawers with leftover darker blue paint from the kids' bathroom.
So all together, this project cost me about $45. I didn't even look to see how much new bathroom vanities are, but I know they're more than that. We'll see how this paint holds up to hard use--all use is hard in our house right now--but I'm calling this a success for now.
@kristin @ going country,
You have worked hard on your renovation/renewal. I am in awe you haven't had any major setbacks. We renovated our bath a few years ago. During demo we broke a pipe. Water was gushing out of the wall. It was Memorial Day Weekend and my plumber was out of town. DH figured out to repair the pipe with help of the HD associate. We would have been without water if he had not. I am now trying to get DH to do other bath, but I am getting pushback. Adventures in renovation!
@kristin @ going country, what a sense of accomplishment I feel for you because I know you are feeling it. And why get new when the abuse is going to be hard, which would make you sad and constantly complain. Congratulations on making the bathrooms your own.
@kristin @ going country,
You earned yourself a gold medal in fixer-upper frugality! I bet both bathrooms look amazing! Congratulations on a big frugal win!
@Bee, My husband deserves most of the credit. He very much dislikes home improvement, but he can literally figure out anything if he has to, so he replaced all the rotting floors and fixtures (except the sinks). All I did was the "fussy stuff," as he calls it. 🙂 Which is pretty much painting. Literally every surface in both bathrooms has now been either replaced entirely or painted over, and when I say those bathrooms were way past due for renovation and repair, that's a serious understatement. They were a lot of work, but very definitely worth it.
@Maureen, That is a good point about buying new vanities: They would almost certainly get damaged relatively quickly, which would probably upset me if I paid a lot for them. We call this our disposable house because we don't much care about its condition while we have four very active children--three of them boys, who are rough on things--growing up in it. It makes me much more relaxed. 🙂
@kristin @ going country,
A few years ago, a friend was doing some DIY renovations at her house, with the help of her then-boyfriend (now husband) and some of her brothers. She had found a very fancy bathroom vanity on clearance for - if I remember correctly - $500. (This was before inflation, tariffs, etc., came in to play). It was very nice, and super heavy. She ended up selling her house shortly after the reno was complete, once she became engaged.
@Bee, glad my better half knows his limits. He was in the trades ( thank you 2008 recession) but knows his limits. His saying is just because you can doesn't mean you should.
Having just received a paycut at work, after 23 years of RN employment with the same hospital, I'm finding myself looking for even more ways to be frugal-er;)
1)opened a high yield savings account per Kristen's advice to make some of my money work harder for me
2)use up the dab of white paint on fences & edges to prevent waste despite preferring barn red which I would have to buy
3)more deliberate freezer/pantry use with removal of luxuries from the groceries (temporarily)
4)bought 2 bushels of seconds apples & cooked into sauce, froze 15 quarts.
5)aired up my son's tire, will take for a patch tomorrow
And the usual no takeout, cooking at home, pack a lunch, make my coffee etc
@Jennifer,
I cannot believe any hospital worth its salt would cut the pay of the nurses! OMG! Unbelievable! (I bet the CEO's pay was not cut....and I know he doesn't work as hard as you do!)
Hang in there! I hope things improve ASAP.
@Fru-gal Lisa, thank you! Ironically it's the loyalty pay that was taken away;)but I shall prevail!!! By sheer Grace if nothing else
@Fru-gal Lisa, I agree with @Jennifer. Priorities are in a mess when nurses are getting pay cuts!!!!!
@Jeanette in SC Upstate, @Fru-gal Lisa, and @Jennifer, priorities are in a mess for a lot of other reasons, but shorting RNs' pay is right up at the top. I wish Jennifer all the best.
@Jennifer,
That's just terrible!! Do they not realize nurses can go *elsewhere* to work?!? Loyalty is still worth compensating for!
Stay-cation edition of 5 frugals:
*We made a connection with a guy in town who might buy some of the stuff from our basement.
*By cleaning out the basement (partially), we found so many things we'd forgotten about. Now we can use them. They are no longer wasted money.
*Instead of going to the expensive-ish restaurant we originally wanted to, we bought picnic food at a grocery store for lunch on one of our outings. To be honest, we would have gone to the restaurant if there had been any parking and no tour bus parked outside.
*Our fun outing one day only cost gas because we drove around to see leaves and covered bridges.
*I began cleaning up some frozen beef fat to make soap. This is timely because it involves heating up the kitchen, and it's finally feeling chilly. Also, it's timely because we will soon be picking up a beef for our freezer, so we could use the space. Also, our previous batch of homemade soap is dwindling.
*Bonus: I also did not buy coffee away from home when my husband asked if I wanted it. I did not buy cute kitchen towels with funny words on them at tourist traps. I did not hop on a plane to go visit my college boys whom I miss terribly right now. I did not throw our two gas-guzzlers that need frequent repairs in the trash and replace them with a brand-new vehicle which would at least have repairs covered under warranty.
FFT, JASNA Annual General Meeting Edition:
As anyone who's ever attended a big conference in a big hotel knows, there isn't much frugality about this, and there wasn't for me. But here are some FTs that JASNA BFF and I did manage:
(1) Because I traveled by car, I was able to bring in quite a lot of breakfast and snack food--more than BFF could manage by Amtrak from NYC. I brought granola bars, apples, raisins, peanuts, Gatorade (one bottle plus several packets of dry mix), and a loaf of Wegmans Marathon bread just for BFF (she can't get enough of the stuff). BFF, for her part, provided bananas and other nosh from the nearby Whole Foods.
(2) At Whole Foods, we also found a Friday special on sushi (buy one, get another for half price), which was Friday's lunch. And BFF and I split an order of chow mein from a nearby Chinese takeaway for Saturday's lunch.
(3) I also brought a bottle of Madeira for myself (BFF doesn't drink). Especially during the two times when I hit overload on information and people, it was pleasant to curl up in our room for an hour or so with a glass of Madeira and one of BFF's or my newly purchased books. And imagine what those drinks would have cost at the hotel bar!
(4) Despite the fact that I wanted one of everything, I kept my purchases in the conference's two Emporia to four books and a few odds and ends.
(5) For the social hour, banquet, and ball, I didn't go Regency this year. Instead, I wore my best gold and black shirt and black slacks, plus a "Let's Party" headband left over from a previous occasion (in honor of Jane Austen's 250th birthday). I also carried a splendiferous 18" long fan with a gold and black dragon design, which I used to introduce myself to everyone as "JA's biggest fan." To several gasps of "Where did you GET that??", I replied modestly and truthfully, "My local Salvation Army!"
@A. Marie,
It sounds like a wonderful event. Good call on the wine. I drink very little, but my very occasional glass of red wine is running $18 a glass. My husband and I each had one on our anniversary dinner. It was definitely a splurge.
@A. Marie,
Tell 'em "Salvation Armani" if it's a fancy item....LOL!
@A. Marie,
I have yet to find Madeira. I must be looking in all the wrong places.
@JD, try looking in the section of your liquor store that includes port and sherry. Madeira, like those two, is considered a "fortified"/dessert wine.
@Bee, $18 a glass - that is like double of my area and I am comparing apples to apples. I lament the retirement of the best wine with a twist top - Boone's Farm Country Kwencher - no strawberry hill for me lol. It is definitely cheaper to drink at home.
Glad @A. Marie enjoyed her JASNA soiree. If you know of a Sir Arthur Conan Doyle or Rex Stout "NA", please let me know.
@Fru-gal Lisa, Hysterical!! LOL
THANK YOU for the silicone lid recommendation! I need to purchase a new lid for one of my favorite Pyrex dishes. I could not pull the trigger because I don't like the current design of their lids! I'm definitely going to give the silicone brand a try.
To steal Katy’s NCA phrase: I came into some money this week:
*Signed up for Verizon internet & got a $200 Amazon gc- stocked up on tp, cleaning supplies, toothpaste, etc. But, also, a tea kettle & a luscious fall candle. Not a fan of Amazon, but will take free!
*Did a BCBST survey & won a $50 gc- chose Walmart- see #1- not a fan, but free!
* Cashed in Fetch for a $25 gc to Chewy
*Rec’d $75 cash reward incentive from B of A for using card I already have, but never use. Have the reward & will now switch back to my AmEx
*Love Lauren/Ralph Lauren/Chaps. Needed a bit of a wardrobe refresh, so decluttered, & got 5 new to me long sleeve tops from EBay for what 2 would cost. Only bought after seller gave a discount for watching! Cannot wait to wear them!!
I only have one to share, but I have taken your advice and listed three textbooks on Ebay. Two of the three have sold, but not without a little aggravation. I didn't realize there was a "make an offer" option I could toggle off, so I was stuck in a back and forth with a few people before one person finally accepted my final price offered on both books. After looking at their profile, I figured out they were not a student looking for a deal, rather a person that buys old books and resells them, so I had a sneaking suspicion they were going to relist my books for higher than they purchased them. Which was why I was unwilling to budge much. It was a learning lesson for me, for sure, because the last time I sold something on Ebay, I don't remember that being an option. I may take down my third book that hasn't sold and relist it later, paying closer attention to the details before posting. I'm so used to Facebook Marketplace, which is an easier way to list and they don't take a profit like Ebay does, but I didn't figure school textbooks would sell there.
@Melissa, Textbooks probably sell better in late November-December-early January, before new semesters start. Ditto for late July-August-early September.
Boo on the re-seller!
@Melissa, you can also choose not to accept any offers that are less than the stated amount. I usually allow for some movement in my listings (20.%) especially if it makes my item slightly less expensive than the competitor. If you can position your product so that it is the best, the cheapest, or the only; it will usually sell quickly. I know there are other resellers who don't agree with this strategy. They prefer to try and maximize their profits on everything.
Thank you for the tip on the silicon lids. Many of my Pyrex lids are starting to crack. I also am trying to stay away from plastics on the advice of my oncologist.
1. I purchased a new kitchen table in August at an estate sale. I needed to replace my uncomfortable, antique kitchen chairs, so I've been on the look out. I found a beautiful set this week on Facebook Marketplace at a bargain price. Yay!
2. I donated my old chairs along with a few other items to my favorite thrift store that supports the food pantry.
3. I used Buy Nothing to give away some small items when cleaning out my office.
4. I am attending a Garden Club workshop today on plant propagation. It's free to attend.
5. I have used a birthday coupon at Ace Hardware, purchase a cute pair of linen pants at the thrift store, and I made a little money on a Thred-up closet clean out.
Wishing you all peace, good health, and prosperity.
I hope your visit was fun! I always enjoy spending time with my kids.
My FFT:
1. The A/C is still off!
2. I found a quarter, which is unheard of anymore.
3. I downloaded a book for free from a site called Archive, I think.
4. I tried some of my refrigerator pickled beets after 2 weeks of refrigeration. I really like them. No one else in my family will eat pickled beets, so I just made them for me, reusing a 1/2 gallon mason jar I got from my mother years ago.
5. I had the younger grandkids over and we made Chex Muddy Buddies and watched a streaming movie for free. I only had to buy the cereal itself, and the movie was on Netflix, for which my daughter generously pays for the subscription. Cheap fun!
I, too, am displeased at my Pyrex lids cracking. I've looked at those lids you've linked before and am hoping to find something similar (I'm not in the US).
I don't have five things to share today. I did start a new job yesterday and it's hybrid so I will be in the office 2- 3 days per week though right now it will likely be more since I'm learning the role. Though today is only day 2, my packed lunch is ready to go and I hope to keep this up. The new job comes with daily parking costs (boo hiss) which I did not have at my previous job.
@Tammy,
Congratulations on the new job.
@Tammy, good luck with the new job! Can your new employer cover parking expenses if they are required, I wonder?
Years ago, I emailed pyrex about a lid cracking and they mailed me a new one free of charge. I also keep an eye out for them in thrift stores. Probably 5 years ago (before thrift store prices went crazy), I bought a huge bag of nothing but lids for a couple dollars.
DH had his ACL & meniscus surgery yesterday. I double checked my medicine cabinet and we had many things he was going to need after surgery already on hand (stool softener, 81 mg aspirin, tylenol, bandages, etc). Sure enough, they sent us home with scripts for the three meds with his pain medication. I just filled the pain meds.
I asked on FB a few weeks prior to surgery if anyone had an ice machine for his knee and a friend had one from her knee replacement she just had. I was going to buy one because he has a knee replacement in the other leg in the spring, but she said to keep this one. I'll pass it along when I'm done with it.
I precooked lots of protein and fiber filled foods and have on hand plenty of fresh fruits and veggies while DH recovers.
I took snacks with me to the surgery center yesterday and an audiobook from the library. I'm glad I did since we ended up being there almost 7 hours (doctor was behind and also DH took a bit longer to get his wits after surgery).
Gave DH a haircut before surgery so he would be good for about 3 weeks before needing another.
@Marlena, All best to you & your husband!
1. still eating from our garden: the last of the peppers, tomatoes and the fall spinach and bok choy.
2. Making kim chi from the garden large tough bok choy.
3. Making ham and bean soup from a Easter ham bone and a 2.28 bag of soup beans.
4. Mending several socks to put back into rotation.
5. Son's birthday involved a Fried chicken dinner with mashed potatoes and mac and cheese. Some of his favorites from KFC but made part of the meal myself. We then palyed some games and ate cake.
Frugal Week Madrid Session:
I am in Spain Studying Spanish. Makes Sense.
There have been quite a few fails and misses but I have given myself lots of grace. I arrived under the weather to a solitary apartment miles from the school struggling to understand a new accent ( Mexico versus Spain.)
1. Made the rookie mistake of changing money at the airport and was bamboozled for about $70.00.
2 I blew out another adaptor, took an uber to buy a new, then bought the wrong adaptor ( grounded versus not grounded.) No I have to go back. Sigh.
3. I missed two already paid for art classes because of jet lag and confusion.
I am at a school with mostly teens and twenties. I am sixty. I like the spirit and vibe but things are a little tougher for me to navigate. I did get placed in beginning intermediate sessions (B1) which was the goal I set for myself last year. So three cheers.
@Mary Ann, I don't know you at all, but I'm super proud of you for having this adventure, keeping a great attitude & challenging yourself like this at 60. You are awesome! I hope to do things like this as well when I'm retired.
@Mary Ann, you are so brave & courageous! Strong work on all of those challenges, keep it up!
@Mary Ann, Three cheers for you!
1. Life is hectic but no increase in takeout! Still just getting our Thursday night pizza from the grocery store.
2. Even though I can't seem to manage fully packing my lunch right now I still bring food every day and that cuts down on spending at work. We take partial wins.
3. Digging deep here...still using my battered old free backpack. Not replacing it until it breaks!
4. Still wearing my 7$ thrifted wool sweater/jacket as my fall coat. It's gotta be close to 10 years old at this point.
5. Frugal fails: bought oat flour to make something specific but didn't like it--anyone have ideas on using it? Also, tried to repair my duvet cover last week, only for a 3 ft rip to open two nights ago--I think it's well and truly worn out!
@Meira Bear, A friend of mine uses oat flour to make pancakes and she likes them.
@Meira Bear, If you make bread, just use some of the oat flour instead of some of the wheat flour. Basically, use a little wherever you would use regular flour.
@Meira Bear, As Jody noted, you can use just a bit of oat flour every time you use wheat flour, like a half cup of oat flour with two cups wheat. It would work particularly well as a substitute for wheat flour in something that might already have oats in it, like a fruit crisp topping.
Thank you all for your suggestions! We make bread in a bread machine twice a week, so maybe I'll just add a bit to each loaf until it's done.
@Meira Bear,
If you make choc chip cookies, add a half cup of oat flout for some of the all purpose. It'll add a hint of oat flavor without the flaky texture.
And I have been spending money like water lately, changing planned meals on the fly, and left behind one bag after shopping. We all have fails!
The most fun frugal things are from Mr. Elaine:
Cutting board rack - he made me a little gismo out of scrap wood he had on hand. It is designed specifically for my five cutting boards, which holds them upright in a corner of the kitchen counter. As our kitchen is small, space for stuff is always a challenge. Now my cutting boards do not have to be propped up with the knife block to get them out of the way.
Wall stone retaining wall - after we spent three days clearing a thicket that began with a decades long overgrowth of forsythia, Mr. Elaine decided a small retaining wall that had been entirely covered with weeds needed to be extended. I can't imagine what it would cost hiring someone to do this!! Thankfully, his loves this kind of project and he knocked it out in just a few days with only two trips to Lowes.
The other things are the usual uninteresting ones like drinking tea or coffee at home, buying only what we need, driving old cars that we keep well maintained.
We continue to drink coffee from home and eat from home. We do go out once a week as a treat when we are in town and go to other places.
Made 3 cards this week from my stash. Finally can cross them off my list of things to do!
Hung lights that were purchased last year for our patio. We started to hang them last year, but did not have the correct plastic things to attach them to the roof part. So it took me a while to think, zipties. And those we had plenty. So another task crossed of the to do list!
Started cleaning the inside and outside of appliances and vacuuming underneith the refrig and freezer. Will be pulling out the oven too. Doing it a little at a time. But cleaning the back of the refrig and freezer is good to keep things running efficiently.
Husband finished cleaning the woodstove chimney and the fire is going today. Now to clean out the humidifier.
Husband also hung a clothes line for me and I've been using it the past couple of days when it was warm out. Now it's getting chilly and I'll have to resort to inside hanging.
1) I was also inspired by Kristen listing her books, so I remembered to list DS19's books for his lit class (12 lit books!) yesterday on eBay. 1 sold immediately. Definitely not going to get rich on these, but it keeps the books in circulation & hopefully is a frugal win for someone else.
2) On a related note, went through & cleaned up my eBay listings, gave a bunch away & lowered the prices on my few remaining items. Accepted an eBay deal for $10 of promo credit & applied that to my highest value listing. Three items sold in a few days.
3) Received a Venmo credit for the Facebook settlement? It was $37.
4) Meal prepped this weekend, and took advantage of a rotisserie chicken. Made a double batch of a black bean, rice, salsa chicken dish. Froze the rest of the rotisserie chicken, and had enough for two large batches of chicken broth for the freezer.
5) Not for me, but the company I work for tracks travel for events. I requested a refund from United for the downgrade in service when my flight was cancelled & I rebooked. They credited my company close to $3k. In order to ensure the credit successfully went through, I passed on the appropriate info to our travel team, and they deducted the cost from my travel billing for the year. (I work for a large company, so this saves my immediate team some money for someone else to take a trip.)
I'll start with my very not frugal: as I was getting ready for Church Sunday morning, running a pick through my hair, I caught my right hearing aid and it went flying. I heard it hit the floor and fully expected to bend over and pick it up, but I could not find it. I think it went down the heat vent. I have tried to retrieve it with the vacuum cleaner but to no avail. So far. It has been cool, but I have turned the heat down (Frugal 1) to see if I can still get it.
Frugal 2: Filled up with gas for $2.74 on Friday morning. Today it is $2.69! It is $2.79 in my work town.
Frugal 3: I made banana chocolate chip muffins (I thought I was going to give them away or I would have used nuts and not chips) using three black bananas. I always throw the banana peels to the base of any one of my roses to fertilize them.
Frugal 4: Made apple crisp for lunch at Church. I am about to get to the end of the bushel I bought late last month or early this one. The bushel was $20.00 (4 pecks) and though I lost about a peck to rotting, they were still cheaper than most others. I saw a peck of yellow delicious for $10.00. These do have very good flavor. Say what you will, I am a Missouri girl born and raised and love my yellow delicious apples!
Frugal 5: I repotted the hoya plant that was my Momma's. I used a hanging pot I already had. When I realized it did not have a reservoir like the old one, I found a long handled basket with a liner from a gifted plant to put the pot in and hung the pot hanger and basket handle together on the hook. It really does look better than it sounds. The plant needed pruned and I was able to remove some dead vines and also some vines that had plantlets suitable for propagation. I will gift them to someone else that likes plants. I could wish that were others in my family, but there are few plant lovers and I make up for them all!
@Chrissy, is your hearing aid blue tooth enabled? Might assist in your recovery effort as at least you'd know if you are close.
I like the super glue with the applicators you squeeze from the side. I usually get the Locktite version for what it's worth. Also did you know there are different types of super glue?
Congrats on selling your stuff. Maybe I will finally list my crap this week.
1.) Made a couple meals from a BJs rotisserie chicken. Regular chicken hasn't been on sale in a while and we were in a hurry. Still a precooked rotisserie chicken from BJs or Costco can be very frugal that way.
2.) Made a list of some deals to get at a non-local grocery store this week as we will be by one.
3.) Brought our lunch to a festival where everything was overpriced. We ended up not buying a thing and went home. So we paid admission and gas money but that was it.
4.) Discussed the finances with my wife and worked on out plans including contingency plans.
5.) Line drying clothes, making food at home etc. Didn't buy a kei van from Japan.
That was a good bargain!
This week I focused on food planning again. We have a few busy days ahead so I am glad I have some home made pickles and vegetable sauces that I can use. I often use the early weekend hours to prepare them -It sometimes helps to remind oneself, that future self will be thankful for the bounty in the pantry!
Apart from the usual:
I found a US cent at the station
I came across tame chestnuts and took some home to roast in the oven. I took the trouble of putting them in water and discarding the floating ones (too old = dry and mealy) and was rewarded with a surprisingly tasty bowl of roast chestnuts. I had them with Bruxelles sprouts.
I counted and so far this year I read 30 books, mostly from the library. I keep a list of them and add short comments for later.
1. I had taken a fancy silk skirt and blouse set into a consignment boutique run by my friend. Yesterday at church, she said it's sold and she will be mailing me the check. Frugal fail: gaining weight so that I can't wear it anymore. 🙁
2. Got assigned an additional shift at the store after a fellow cashier got mad at the manager and quit.
3. Our store has a special deal on Dr Pepper, so I bought a 12-pack for $3.99, which is two dollars off our regular price. Did the math: I'm getting more amount of drink than I would if I'd bought my usual 2L bottle. Plus, I can recycle the cans.
4. Snuggles has commandeered the duvet-covered comforter off my bed and used it as his doggy bed. Now it smells like Eau de Rottweiler, as in "Eew, de Rottweiler es very stinky and needs a bath." The comforter inside the cover got all bunched up anyway, so I will let him have it as his new bed. Meanwhile, he finally got interested in the free tennis ball we got at the Blessing of the Animals, and we had quite a fun game of him running to get the ball I threw. (One of the vendors, an animal clinic, had made what looks like ice cream cones with the ball being the ice cream. The "cone" was a bunch of brown dog biscuits rolled up in a cone-shaped triangle of clear plastic. They gave them out free to all the dog families. Very cute!)
5. Frugal fail: due to my washing and ruining the lined drapes in my bedroom + #4, I am planning to purchase drapes and a matching comforter. Over the past 6 weeks, I've looked all over town and online; Walmart, Ollie's Outlet, and other low-price stores/websites do not have thermal drapes in the quantities I need for my two very wide bedroom windows. So I'm going to shop at the dept. stores. (I may have to couple the drapes with thermal liners from JCPenney's.) Shame on me! But it's something I will greatly enjoy, hopefully for many years to come, having a pretty bedroom. So an occasional splurge is worth it.
@Fru-gal Lisa,
I found thermal drapes at Lowe's and at that time I found them, they were in several sizes. My great room windows are six feet high and one is a double window.
1. Brought my husband to the airport and went to the nearby IKEA to take advantage of free coffee (in my large reusable canteen) with my free membership. Also had a kids’ meal for $2.71. Thanks to Katy for inspiring me to become a member.
2. Using trial and error, I learned that using a flour sack towel for cleaning eyeglasses is very effective. Those little cloths we receive from the eye clinic don’t work all that well.
3. Went to a matinee movie with my sister. Saw Eleanor the Great which we liked a lot.
4. Bought a $2.49 pumpkin at the local hardware store. This is our sole holiday decoration and afterward we’ll use it to make pumpkin bread.
5. Received several useful things from Buy Nothing: dog kennel for our car, cushion for dog kennel (separate transaction but perfect fit), drywall corner bead, landscape edging, face powder and brush. I learned later that the powder and brush are expensive Laura Geller products. Great, since I know very little about makeup.
@MB in MN, re #1 - that's none other than Katy at The Non-Consumer Advocate.
1. Checked out a library book that caught my eye when my local improv team reserved a free room for rehearsal.
2. I performed/competed in a local comedy game show. I won my round and lost in the final but it doesn't matter because I made people laugh and more importantly, I got paid!
3. Spent an afternoon experimenting with stage makeup I already have and sometimes rarely use to create a fairy look that I like for a Halloween improv show where we have to wear costumes. I already have everything (including a set of wings and a crown) on hand even though I've never played or dressed up as a fairy before. Costumer powers activate!
4. Did an at home spa day due to some angry skin following #3. DIY hair and face mask, mani pedi, and a good home yoga session instead of the $$ for a massage.
5. Started meal planning at home since I got into the good and necessary habit when I was last on the road performing
Thanks for the tip about the silicone lids. I need to check and see which sizes I need. I love those glass storage containers and use them constantly, but the lids do crack after a while.
My husband went fishing and brought home some nice-sized trout. Trout isn't our favorite fish, but I turned them into fish cakes and they were delicious (I use Kristen's recipe!)
I made homemade bread and granola.
I got a box of seconds from a local apple orchard and canned 15 pints of applesauce. (The apples were $10).
The garden is almost done. I harvested the last zucchini and broccoli. We're still enjoying carrots, chard, and a little lettuce.
got a free crockpot from a neighbor that had it in his apt and never used. i have always wanted one. thanks for the chiquita photos. could we perchance get a shelley one. thanks.
- Although I splurge to go to Pilates once a week I have struggled with following through with home exercising the rest of the time. I have finally figured out a not too overwhelming plan and so far so good. I’m 76 and trying to balance improving bone density, strength, flexibility and balance without overwhelm. Our pooch keeps us walking every day.
- I “resigned” from taking care of two difficult plants in our yard but Hubby took it on and said it wasn’t too bad for him. Savings from not buying easier care plants.
- We had our 3rd grade granddaughter over for parents’ date night babysitting plus a sleepover and didn’t spend any extra on entertainment or food. Plus the bonus of free fun with her.
- Made a big pot of veg and grain soup. Froze leftovers.
Free coffee is GOOD!!! Remember to get your free birthday coffee when it rolls around. You can google free birthday stuff for a boat load of free things from loads of different sources. Facebook Marketplace and Free Near Me also have free stuff.
My husband and I live in the SC foothills. One of the trees that Helene destroyed is not a split rail fence along our tree line. Lemons = lemonade
P.S. I am so happy to discover your site.
Cats always have to bite things!
Five Frugal Things, Trip Edition:
1. I had a voucher for some money off my next Swedish train journey so I used that. I got an earlier train on the way back and, because that train was cheaper, I got another voucher for next time! I also packed a lunch for the train.
2. I bought a 72 hour travel pass which more than paid itself back. It was also valid for the ferry out to the islands 🙂
3. I went to a park which had a zoo, and both were free to visit.
4. I went to some Botanical Gardens which were also free.
5. The hotel I stayed in had a deal for 20% off when I stayed there and breakfast was included. The swimming pool was also reduced in price due to the time of year.
@Sophie in Denmark,
Botanical Gardens are always nice to visit. I am alwaya intrigued at the insects and birds they attract too.
@JNL, It was fantastic! There was also an arboretum.
I bet the soup will be delicious reheated, but if you know for certain you want to freeze it, set aside the portion prior to adding dairy, then when you thaw and reheat add the dairy then for a better texture
Instead of buying snacks for lunch (from the vending machine at work) sticking to the salad, soup, instant oatmeal routine.
Gave up on giving away the huge cardboard box and big pieces of Styrofoam--the box can be recycled. The Styrofoam unfortunately will go to the dump. Recycled two empty distilled water gallon jugs (have to use distilled water for the CPAP machine).
Am planning on adopting 2 cats early next month so the extra overtime and my Amazon gift card Stash will go for automatic litter boxes.
Am working hard at washing dishes as I use them and putting away dry clothes and towels almost immediately.
We have that brand of silicone lids in 3 sizes and they are wonderful. We have the smallest size in another brand and they are so hard to get off.
1. I used some home made pesto that used garlic and basil from our garden, home made sundried tomatoes that used tomatoes from my garden, pasta, and leftover artichokes to make my lunches for the week.
2. Used the tips of chicken wings (that were purchased from Aldi for 50% off) and vegetable/herb scraps to make chicken stock. The chickens wings, with an Aldi 50% off pizza, was our dinner for 2 nights.
3. My daughter's "crocs" broke. Found new ones for her at Aldi for $7.
4. Went to a free camp fire and smores event at the YMCA.
5. Used Italian sausage I got at Aldi for 50% off, tomato puree using tomatoes from our garden, and leftover meatballs to make pasta sauce. Used chicken breast I got at Aldi for 50% off to make baked chicken parmesan. Used left over breads to make garlic bread.
Our local thrift stores almost always have lid-less Pyrex bowls for sale. Thrifted bowls + new silicone lids could be a frugal way for someone to upgrade their food storage.
@Jenzer, I just put small plates on top of our ancient Pyrex microwaveable "Grab It" bowls. They are stackable and airtight enough for the refrigerator.
1. My son picked a kid’s large sweatshirt instead of a men’s large sweatshirt at a recent Goodwill stop. We managed to exchange the shirt for different items at another Goodwill so no money was lost.
2. One of my Pyrex lids cracked as well! I have a little stash of new lids in the back of the cabinet since you can’t buy just one, so I pulled one from the stash and the container is back in rotation.
3. Each meal this week has had at least one item from the freezer – the freezer clean out challenge is going well and our grocery bill was much lower this week.
4. While watering my plants I took the time to trim a couple of them and propagate what I could. I’m planning on gifting props to my plant friends this Christmas so I was excited to add a little variety.
5. I made sure to fill my gas tank while at Costco – it’s a little out of my way so I don’t usually fill up there.
My comment will probably be lost in the sea of previous comments, but I regularly freeze soup. My advice for reheating is: definitely do not use the microwave, as the water/broth and ‘solids’ tend to separate. Then, texture wise, it’s not that great. I don’t really mind because I’m lazy, but reheating on the stove yields much better results.
Note: I never put dairy in my soup, so I’m not sure how that goes if you included cream or milk in yours.
1. I found 11 cents while running errands today.
2. We had our free home energy assessment last week! We will get details of the assessment and possible rebates we can use to add insulation or other energy-efficient upgrades to the house next week. This assessment would normally cost $625 but we managed to qualify for a grant through our city so it was free.
3. Also during the energy assessment, the technician sealed up some leaky areas on our duct work and the entrance into our attic.
4. DH and I were out on a rare child free date and ordered gelato at a local coffee shop. It turned out there was an artist reception happening there and the gelato was free as part of the event. The art was also really beautiful.
5. I found a large slow cooker at goodwill for $10. I’d been looking on Marketplace but those were closer to $25. Previously I only had a small one so I’m thrilled to have a bigger one for our growing family!
Oh, thanks for the recommendation of replacement lids! I had ordered Pyrex' replacement lids a couple of years ago, but those are wearing out. Excited to know there's a different (more durable) option. =)
I love not only that you made a few dollars selling that garage door opener, but that you put something back into use that would've gone into a landfill. Win-win!
I learned from the best. 🙂
Pulled up the tomato vines, sweet peppers, sweet onions and harvested the celery. I chop it all, freeze in 2 c portions for soups, stews and sauces. I picked the remainder of the hot peppers to make cowboy crack for Christmas baskets.
Braided the garlic to store in the larder. Wrapped the winter squash in Amazon brown paper and sawdust in boxes.
Harvested the last of the zucchini, shredded, drained and portioned in 2 cup freezer bags. Made pesto in ice cube trays.
Today is elderberry gummies day. My farmer helper took the last baggie of them to get over his wicked cold.
I love the wine rack water bottle storage idea! I see stylish wine racks all the time at estate sales. Silly me, I had been picking them up and buying a bottle or two of wine as house warming gifts. Ha!
My five frugal things are work, work, work, work, and work. Leaving me little time to spend money much less remember when it is pay day. Oh to be paid again once a month on the 15th or at least the 15th and the last day of the month.
Enough years at this job to officially "retire" but the earliest it will happen is next spring 1st day of the month when I turn 65. I can afford COBRA, ACA can no longer be considered a viable health insurance plan. Regardless, all of us in the US will be paying more for health care.
My Frugal 5+
- I’ve been craving my mom’s home cooked Vietnamese food so I’ve been self educating myself with free online video recipes and I’ve been cooking Asian food at home these last couple weeks.
- Will be taking my girls to the library tomorrow for their free monthly Lego Building club. They’ll be building a spider and Halloween cart together.
- While at the library, we’ll be returning items and checking out an inter library loan of the Harry Potter 8 DVD disc collection. My 2 oldest girls have been into Harry Potter recently.
- Will take my girls to the pumpkin patch on Thursday for their half admission day (normal price is $8 per person) and will bring a wagon for an extra couple dollars off.
- Been playing card and board games, watching free movies and reading books. Everything we all already had or borrowed.
5 Frugal Things
1. I packed lunch and dinner for my road trip to a work conference 3 hours away.
2. I decided against making an extra drive for some dessert once I arrived. Saving my wallet and my waistline!
3. I used my free night from Marriott reward for my overnight stay for the conference (the hotel offered by the conference was pricey)
4. Been in a fall soup mode- I made several pots of soups to mix and match for work lunches/dinners throughout the week
5. I wasn’t feeling great yesterday but did go to a prepaid gym class yesterday to use up my 10-class package ! I just took it easy during class.
1. I got a dozen jalapeño ketchups for 34 cents each on clearance at Aldi. I make food baskets every year for Christmas. Most of the men in my life love spicy stuff.
2. I got a bunch of summer clearance at Dollar General. The matches wouldn't ring up so they gave them to me for free. I love 90%off.
3. My friend and I went to a pizzeria for dinner last night. I brought the leftovers to work as my lunch.
4. I made a big pot roast on Sunday. We had finished the sides. I made mashed potatoes and carrots and we had that for dinner.
5. We still don't have the heat on. It's supposed to get cold the rest of the week so I might have too.