Five Frugal Things | I bought another dress
1. I bought another American Giant hoodie dress
I don't know if this is technically frugal or not...but when I was writing my American Giant hoodie dress review post last week, I was poking around online to see what secondhand options were out there.
I saw a light pink one on eBay for $42, but it was an XS. I thought my green dress was a medium, so I wrote off the XS right away.
But then I checked the size on my green dress and realized that it was actually a size small, and I remembered the green one does have a little extra room in it.
Soo, I decided to take a bit of a risk and buy the XS on eBay.
It arrived yesterday, and I'm happy to say that it does fit me; it's just a more snug fit than my green one, and it's a little more like a long sweatshirt than a short dress.
Yay! $42 is a really good price for a dress that retails for $140.
And since it's an American Giant item, I feel quite confident that it's got lots of life left in it, even though it's secondhand.
(By the way, if you want to search for a hoodie dress for yourself, just use the search term "American Giant dress" because I've seen some hoodie dress listings pop up that way, and they don't always pop up if you include the "hoodie" part in your search.)
2. I planted some basil seeds
As you all know, I am hardly a gardener. But basil is easy enough even for me to grow. 😉
It's obviously not warm enough to grow basil outside yet, but it IS a good time to start some seedlings inside.
So, I put some soil in my little Orta seed starter (which I got as part of an ebook bundle a few years ago) and I planted some basil seeds ($1.59 for a packet).
And soon, I will see some baby basil plants popping up!
$1.59 is a very, very good price for the amount of basil that these seeds will produce.
3. I caught a double charge
I'd paid for a meal at a restaurant, and when they had a little trouble processing my payment, a manager had to come over and help.
I figured all was well, but later I looked at my credit card statement and noticed they'd run my payment through twice, not once.
The meal was good, but not good enough to pay two times (!!), so the next time I was near the restaurant, I stopped in and they were able to refund one of the payments.
4. I got a replacement poster
Again, I'm not sure this is exactly frugal because it's not changing the amount of money I spent out of pocket. But it IS me insisting on getting what I paid for (which is a helpful frugal skill.)
I had ordered a small poster for my office wall, and while it came packaged nicely, I noticed it was a little bit damaged on the edges as soon as I pulled it out of the package.
I think it must have gotten bent in the packing process, and it is pretty noticeable when the light hits it.
I sent a quick email, along with photos, to customer service to let them know, and now a free replacement is on its way to me.
I don't know what I will do with the slightly damaged one; I might see if one of my girls wants it, and if not, I'll offer it on my Buy Nothing group.
5. I bought some paint repair supplies for Zoe's car
The Civic she drives is older, and it came to us with quite a few scrapes and dings.
Since she's a teenage driver, it's reasonable to assume that it might get some more scrapes and dings along the way (no insult to Zoe in particular; it's just an observation about new drivers in general!)
Given all that, I am not about to suggest we drop a bunch of money into doing body work on it; I just want to address the small rusty spots in a way that minimizes the damage.
I talked to my dad about it, and then I ordered a few products for Zoe and me to use to repair the rusty spots.
I'll let you know how it goes! It'll definitely be cheaper than paying for body work. 😉
Kristen, if ever you and Zoe want a fun project, spray painting an entire car is actually quite fun and can look professional if one invests in the right paint and is careful about prep. As with all projects, it’s the taping, sanding, and clean up that takes the most time.
I’ve painted two different vehicles for ~$40 apiece thanks to Memorial Day and Labor Day sales.
Anyhow, FFT!
—My husband had a routine dental checkup, and I asked him to request an extra freebie toothbrush since we go through them so fast. I knew our dentist wouldn’t mind, as she’s said before that they often get more manufacturer samples than the office can go through. My husband came home with extra everything: toothbrushes, floss, floss picks, toothpaste, you name it!
—The last of my husband’s birthday tulip bulbs arrived, but two were moldy. Since these tulips are an unusual color (a gorgeous deep purple-black), they were pricey-ish at $22 for 10 bulbs. I contacted the seller and requested a refund for just the moldy pair, which I promptly received.
—Our electricity is “free” for the next 3-4 months! Our electric company credited our $250 deposit to our account after one year of perfect payment. I found out when I called to ask why our current bill read -$200, thinking the meter was broken or there was a computer glitch! We average $50-57 a month depending on space heaters and air conditioning, so we won’t have to pay our electric bill again until late summer. Yay, little house full of natural light!
—A friend’s wife severely broke her leg. Since I live too far to offer meals, cleaning, etc, I put together a care package. My gift stash always has a handful of dollar store DVDs to choose from—some surprisingly good things end up on the $1 rack! I supplemented two DVDs with $10 worth of Trader Joe’s treats ($1 packs of gummy bears, chocolate peanut butter cups, etc.) for the family to share and a pair of $2 clearance nylon-covered ice packs from Target. All shipping supplies were reused.
—Our gas stove is located right by our back door, which has a window onto the covered back porch/mudroom. One of our cats will jump up to see us when he hears us coming or going, and his feet are just the right size to flip on the gas! To avoid blowing up the house or being asphyxiated, we keep the knobs off the stove unless we’re actively using it. After looking in vain at Goodwill for a pretty bowl for said knobs, I remembered a ceramic bowl one of my college friends made that has been carefully stored all this while. Now our oven knobs rest in a lovely bowl on the stovetop. The bowl makes me think of my friend whenever I’m cooking, as well as how beholden to the cats we are. 😛
1. I needed some business casual clothing for a new job so I hopped on to Thred Up to find some items that would work instead of buying new.
2. Spent a little bit more at grocery store picking up items for breakfast that take less work for me (bagels, English muffins) so kids can get own breakfasts this first week of me working.
3. Negotiated with insurance and supply companies to get medical equipment. It’s been a two month wait but it should be covered, which we were not guaranteed that before.
4. Found ski socks and pants on clearance with a “buy one get one for $1” sale. Unfortunately the two items were farther apart in price than I’d prefer, but I needed both.
5. Frugal fail: shopped hungry and ended up with three kinds of cookies. But two of them were Girl Scout knock offs, making them cheaper than if we had bought Girl Scout cookies.
1. I made broth from bones while the weather is still cold enough at night to cool it down when I set it outside. And I used up frozen veggie scraps to make it. (Finally, I have a System for this, and it worked!)
2. Library books.
3. I cooked meals at home-- except for the meal my husband and I ate out last Friday because it was my faraway therapy day. The frugal part of that is that we were gone at lunch time and supper, but we only ate supper.
4. We cooked up yet another pumpkin from last year's garden. Wow, these things are really lasting this year.
5. I used saved bacon grease to cook things. I also used up several bits of things from our freezer. I'm trying to make an effort to use up some older things.
FAIL: Last week my son told me I needed to go into our basement. There was a smell of gas? rotten eggs? sewage? I checked to see if the septic had backed up into the bathroom. No. I looked around for dead animals. Nothing. I sent my husband down, and he found a whole chicken rotting in a few bags. It seems somebody was sorting through freezer things and had set the chicken out for some reason. The chicken was forgotten for we don't know how long. None of us remember doing this. At least we caught it and it didn't explode out of the packaging all over the place.
@Jody S.,
Your fail reminds me of a story my sister in Florida told me a long time ago.....she and her husband had friends who liked to go hunting (this was probably 20 or more years ago). They would give my brother in law some of their "catch", because they knew he loved exotic meats (wild boar, etc), which they would store in the chest freezer right next to their house. You can see where this is going. They went out of town, and when they came home, the freezer had come unplugged - keep in mind, this is Florida, and not during a cool spell - they suspect my sister's son had knocked it out of the outlet when he mowed the lawn, but he has never 'fessed up to it - anyway, she says every package was bloated and disgusting, and the smell about knocked you down. She was never able to get the smell out of the freezer interior, which they either tossed or gave away to someone who didn't care.
@Liz B., So not fun.
@Liz B., Ugh! I'm gagging just imagining that smell. If a person doesn't gag at it - they should be a CSI.
I am continuing my no spend March, so I have been quite frugal! I have, however, spent more money on gas this month as I visited my mother once, and went to my property about 45 minutes away once. I do have plans to take a big load of books to Half Price Books this weekend to sell back and I hope to get something new to read. And my next grocery run comes in just under $50 for two people, so I call that a win. Still continuing to take my lunch every day and make my own coffee, ha!
And by the way, its a good idea to address that rusty spot!
Can you please share what the poster says? 🙂
@Anne, I think it's one of those "She needed a hero so that's what she became" jobbies.
Yep. One day I might write about why I bought it, but that'll need to wait until after the divorce, probably.
@Rose, I just realized I out-frugaled The Frugal Girl! I make my own posters and put them on the refrigerator where I'll see them (too many times) during the day. Of my current ones, one says "Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it's faced" (a James Baldwin quote) and another says "She decided to declare victory and move on" (a me quote). I think Kristen would approve the sentiments.
@JDinNM, A lot of my antique embroideries have mottoes on them. The one over my bed says "Be the day weary or be the day long, at last it ringeth to evensong." A screen says "Peace when thou cometh and when thou goeth let thy footsteps echo peace," and a sampler has the lines from Donne about "Under every grief & pine Runs a joy with silken twine." You get the idea.
@Rose, I get the idea and wholeheartedly endorse it.
@Rose,
Love it.
@Rose, JDinNM, these are all delightful to contemplate, thanks.
Kristen, My heart breaks that you had to but then it cheers that you did!
Aww, thank you for the cheers. 🙂
@Erika JS, I add my huzzahs for Kristen, Rose, and JDinNM to yours.
We're traveling so I don't have much:
1. We packed snacks to save time and money.
2. Entertainment has been seeing sights, it has included a lot of walking.
3. We are using the free hotel Wi-Fi.
4. I am printing my daily puzzles using the business center.
5. We are eating fruit from the hotel breakfast and fruit bowl.
Next week should be better.
1. Cooked and ate all meals at home, except for our oldest kid, who is on his first work trip ever (three weeks out in the West! ). I am proud, though, to report that he is availing himself of the hotel's complimentary breakfast that actually offers bacon and eggs, not just sugary waffles and cereal, and he has a small fridge and microwave, so he stopped at a grocery store to get food supplies.
2. Got an unexpected free non-dairy milk. I had asked my husband to get me some soy milk; by accident, he got Silk unsweetened almond milk. Which is fine, I can use it, especially since when I looked at the receipt it turned out I had clipped an e-coupon for a free Silk Almond milk! So I will use it up and we saved $3. I clip e-coupons if they look like something I might use, just in case, and it paid off this time.
3. I drew an a anniversary card for one of my best friends, and it was well received. I dislike buying Hallmark cards, and I've found over the years that hand-made cards are appreciated quite a lot over store-bought.
4. Took my youngest on a walk when it finally warmed up, to show him the Little Free Library in our neighborhood. He expected to be unimpressed, but then found a Minecraft book that he wanted to take home, so he was happy and we got some fresh air and exercise, and had a nice talk as well.
5. My husband's workplace recently got a Dunkin Donut's in it (ugh) and he's had coworkers inviting him to go for a coffee and a donut...only he doesn't drink coffee, and he doesn't eat sugar at all for health reasons. So he made some of our keto brownies to take in to work--he likes them a lot and figures it's cheaper/healthier than a donut, and will stave off the peer pressure. 😀 (They're made with xylitol and coconut flour, and are a hit around here.)
@Karen A., Do you have a link to the recipe?
@Karen A., Congratulations on what sounds like a very successful launch of oldest child! You did good, Mom.
@Elaine N, I cobbled the recipe together from a couple of others. I really wanted to use Xylitol (I use the XyloSweet granulated brand, I get it on Amazon), and a lot of keto brownie recipes use erythritol. Full disclosure, I bake this in my toaster oven, so I do not know how long it will take in a regular oven. Here it is:
1 ½ cup butter
1 cup cocoa powder
1 ½ cup xylitol
4 Tablespoons flax seed meal + ¾ cup room temp water
2 teaspoons vanilla
2/3 cup coconut flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup Lily’s brand sugar free milk or semisweet chocolate chips
Lightly grease and line 9x13 metal pan. I cut a sling of parchment paper, so that the "flaps" are along the long sides of the pan.
Mix flax seed meal and water and let sit 5 minutes while getting everything else ready.
Melt butter in a large microwave-safe bowl and add cocoa powder and xylitol; whisk well. Let sit for a few minutes.
With a clean whisk, whisk together coconut flour, baking soda, and salt.
Meanwhile, preheat toaster oven to 350 degrees.
Combine xylitol with butter and cocoa, then the flax mixture and vanilla. Sprinkle coconut flour, baking soda and salt on top and blend well, folding in chocolate chips as you do. Spread in prepared pan. Bake 30-40 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. Brownies will be cracked on top when done, and the edges will be pulled away from the pan where there is no parchment paper.
Cool COMPLETELY. Gently release from pan and freeze or refrigerate to cut cleanly. (You may want to put the pan in the freezer for about five or ten minutes before trying to remove the brownies.)
**These were a big hit with DH's coworkers, one of whom is diabetic and was pretty pleased to try a new sugar-free treat.
@Karen A., FYI. In case you don’t already know this and have pets…xylitol is deadly to dogs and maybe cats.
@Nancy, Yes, thanks! We do not have any pets. 🙂
That seed starter looks brilliant! I’ve been frustrated that I can get only plastic products locally for starting my garden, but now I know that at least there is other options 🙂
My fft:
1. Got to borrow a cabin for free for the weekend in exchange for hauling with us a new countertop. I was very happy that meant we got a dispensation to drive the snowmobile all the way to the cabin. Last time we borrowed it we went the last mile cross country skiing, but now the temperature suddenly dropped to -11 °F/-24°C. It would have been a very long mile skiing.
2. Have been real active cleaning out seasonal items and listing them for sale. Are envisioning myself on holiday every time I want to keep something since the money from the sales goes in my travel fund. It’s working! 😀
3. I had an association meeting (according to Google translate;)) that the shortest drive to was through Finland. So I bought groceries that are much cheaper there. The meeting was over two days so got a night at a hotel and some very delicious meals too without any expense for me.
4. Finnmarkslopet (the longest dogsledding race in Europe) has a check point here I live and this year it was an free concert with an amazing Sàmi artist, Katarina Barruk. I get teared up even writing this, it was such a strong experience hearing and watching her. For those interested I recommend searching up the song “Jimmatje».
5. I’ve needed a little shawl or bandana to use with some sweaters that are just too loose in the neck during winter. Now I have a beautiful little knitted shawl thanks to a barter. I’ve felted an old sweater and will sew a case for a spindle in return for the shawl. No money spent for either of us.
@Gunn from Northern Norway, I feel like such a weather wimp reading this. I told the dog we couldn't play frisbee this morning because it's raining. And only 39 degrees (fahrenheit).
@JDinNM, there is a popular saying in Norway: “there is no bad weather, only bad clothing”. Thankfully we live in a place with very low humidity, so it’s actually true here. With so low temperatures and rain, I would stay in too 🙂
I'm glad you added that about the humidity because my goodness, here in the mid-Atlantic area of the U.S., we definitely have some days that are so humid, they qualify as legitimately bad weather (at least in my opinion!)
@Gunn from Northern Norway,
Well done on the free cabin! I lived in southern Norway for a total of 5 years and have the most wonderful memories of a New Year's stay in a hyggelig hytte that we snowshoed in to. I hope you had wonderful weather and a koselig time!
And thank you for the recommendation of Katarina Barruk- I'm enjoying her music.
@Gunn from Northern Norway, In my (much) younger days I did climb up a downhill ski slope in Norway in my cross country skis. I was too broke to take the ski lift.
@Gunn from Northern Norway,
Have you thought about using the cardboard egg carton for seed starting? I have had success with them in the past.
@Gunn from Northern Norway, Thank you for the music suggestion; I'm listening now - lovely and ethereal
@Lindsay B, that sounds like a marvelous way to mark the new year! I think that snowshoes are a wonderful way of getting around, feel that I get to enjoy the nature much more than on skis. How nice to hear that you have such good memories from Norway. And thank you, yes a hyggelig hytte & a real koselig time! *giggles*
@JDinNM, Wow! That’s a strong will and wish to go skiing:D I must confess that I’m not born with skis like Norwegians are fond of boasting of, so I keep myself far from any hills or slopes so it’s perfect to live in Finnmark which is pretty flat.
@Jeanne, thank you, I’ve actually tried it before (also empty thingis from paper towels) but had problems with it getting mouldy and couldn’t find out how to avoid that.
@Suz, how nice to hear that you’re enjoying the music.
My parents got me an older car to start with and had similar logic. I got an '87 Cadillac DeVille. It was a tank, which was perfect in snowy Michigan! Its age made it a little less painful when I got in an accident when I was 16 (I felt horrible enough as it was). Years later we ended up selling it for the same amount we originally paid. Anyways! FFT...
1. My birthday wish list had a mix of practical and fun things because I am truly happy if I get very practical gifts. (I love my new tennis shoes and pens!!)
2. I checked out another hotspot from the library. My phone is having issues (it rarely ever has service and it definitely should) and after 3 hours of chatting with Xfinity I did get a replacement SIM card that seemed to help a little, but not enough. A new phone is on its way, but in the meantime I am borrowing the free hotspot from the library to tide me over since I can call and text over wifi.
3. I gave my son and husband haircuts.
4. I planted a whole flat of tomatoes and there were some seeds that didn't sprout, so I planted new seeds in those cells.
5. Continuing our frugal cleanup from the ice storm a month ago, we took over another few weeks' worth of firewood to my parents' house for their outdoor wood furnace. My husband also cut down another 7-ish trees that were destroyed. He did this using the borrowed chainsaw from my dad. And we have almost of a full flowerbed mulched from the branches we've put through the chipper we're also borrowing from my dad.
I feel like having the ability to speak up about something you've purchased not meeting expectations is one of the best frugal skills, even though it's not always comfortable. In fact, it's part of one of my own frugal wins this week, which stemmed from a problem that came up the last time we took our dog in to get a haircut and groom. I'm grateful my mom taught me that skill (and made me practice it!), along with living by the mantra "It never hurts to ask for a discount," which she especially applies if an item is clearly damaged a bit from the get go.
Basil is a great thing to grow yourself from seed! I always love to see people getting into seed starting and growing their own.
Here are my frugal wins:
https://www.toloveandtolearn.com/2023/03/21/weekly-frugal-wins-free-pet-grooming-a-green-feast/
Haha don't tell Zoe, but some people don't outgrow the stage of scratching the car! Well, I guess I've been pretty good about it lately...but I also don't drive much anymore. Alas. Good thing a pristine car is not important to me!
Feeling a bit defeated on the frugal efforts, but here's my FFT:
1. I decided to start taking transit to work in the morning, but I'm still walking home (it's an hour each way.) So at least the transit cost is half what it would be otherwise.
2. I brought my lunch to work every day even though I PROFOUNDLY did not feel like it.
3. I use inexpensive produce more frequently: we eat more cabbage, potatoes, carrots, and broccoli than, say, three years ago. I started making French shredded carrot salad a few months ago and it's a real win: cheap, easy, and keeps well in the fridge. The last time I looked at cauliflower it was 9$ a head!
4. There's a tax credit in Canada that we're eligible for, but a lot of people have had trouble accessing the benefit because some business owners are not providing customers with the information needed. I asked for the information I need, and we'll see! The worst they can say is "no."
5. Cheap weekend dates with Mr. B: on Saturday my parents watched over our daughter's nap while we went to an artsy district for a walk + coffee. On Sunday we walked to the mall with a sleeping baby in the stroller and strolled around, then walked home and made lunch.
Also as a side note, I really enjoy the FFT. It helps me get out of feeling like, "ARGH nothing I do makes a difference" and makes me reflect on some of the ways that we've made changes to be more frugal. It's a good weekly reframing, even if I feel like a total frugal-imposter lol
@Meira@meirathebear, I made carrot salad Indian style with black mustard seeds. So delicious!
I can't think of anything frugal I've done lately. It's possible I have, but really I've been splurging and indulging myself.
@Meira@meirathebear, I would love the recipe for French shredded carrot salad! I'm working on getting more veggies in my diet and one of my kids likes slaw-type salads.
@Meira@meirathebear, I am very impressed that you walk an entire hour to get home! If you walked to AND from work, that would be an entire 2 hours out of your day. Taking transit one way is a frugal win in two ways: being frugal with your time, and getting exercise without belonging to a gym. You are not a "frugal-imposter" —you are a frugal-multi-tasking-beast! 😎
@Rose, that sounds delicious!
@Central Calif. Artist, haha thanks for the encouragement!
@Karen A., I make the dressing and leave it in the fridge in a jar; this will make more than you need for one salad.
Dressing:
1/4 c red or white wine vinegar
1/2 c olive oil
1 tsp dijon mustard
1 tbsp maple syrup (or sugar)
optional: 1-2 tbsp finely chopped shallot
Salad:
A big pile of carrots grated--I usually do 3-5 carrots, but I buy big carrots
About 1/4-1/3 c chopped parsley
Optional: 1-3 scallions, chopped
Salad dressing, salt, and pepper to taste
Mix it all up! I use this dressing for lettuce salads, too.
@Meira @ meirathebear, Thank you!
@Meira@meirathebear, Wow! I think grocery costs vary widely across Canada. I live in Northwestern Ontario and our produce comes from the east, west and even some from south, directly from the U.S. I paid $3.49 for my head of cauliflower. Our city has a lot of grocery store competition so I’m sure that helps too!
Tell us how the car painting goes!
1. My daughter had gifted me with some Supergoop Unseen Face Sunscreen which is just wonderful; it's not sticky or greasy nor does it leave a white cast. It makes a great makeup primer. It's also expensive - $38 for a 1.7 oz. tube. Granted, it lasts a good long while, but ouch. While looking around online for the cheapest place to get some more, I saw people commenting about the Trader Joe's facial sunscreen that they said was just as good, and only $8.99 for 1.7 oz. So I got the TJ sunscreen, and I so far don't see a difference in the two.
2. Of course, before I tossed that tube of Supergoop, I cut it open and used the last molecule of it.
3. I brought an orange to work in my lunch and as usual I brought the old Tupperware orange peeler I won at a Tupperware party - along with an egg separator that I still use - about 40 years ago.
4. I found some nicer vinyl-coated wire organizer bins at Goodwill, 99 cents each. GW's pricing is all over the place, but sometimes it's very good.
5. I was looking for nice paper to line my new-t0-me old desk's drawers, when I remembered that a few years ago I bought the very last roll of a lovely wallpaper at a paint and paper shop for $1. I had been saving it to use someplace, and this is just the place.
@JD, re #5: don't you just love it when something has survived a decluttering and then you actually use it?
Also, I remember those orange peeler tools. My dad was a citrus farmer and Sunkist handed them out. At first it was a novelty; then it became junk drawer clutter. I am impressed that you still have it and use it!
@Central Calif. Artist,
It was just so pretty I couldn't bring myself to get rid of it. I'm so glad I didn't. I love it when that works out!
Ha, that orange peeler and I go wayyyy back.
Finished painting my bathroom walls. Takes a while, but I saved money by not hiring someone to do it. And my husband keeps complementing me on how great it looks. Now to paint the vanity and cabinets.
Had a St. Patrick's Day party over the weekend and have a ton of food leftover. Last night I cooked some bacon and stir-fried some leeks and cabbage. Then I took some leftover potatoes and carrots and roasted them. Actually quite yummy! Today I will be making my husband some soup with more of the leftovers.
For decorating supplies, I have a ton leftover from previous years. However, I really wanted new centerpieces. All the supplies were bought at Dollar Tree and I've received a lot of compliments on how a niece showed my sisters how to put them altogether.
Found someone to do our taxes. I've been doing them the past couple of years, but with an interstate move, my husband didn't trust my math or computer skills. Took a while for the woman to complete them, but they are filed. Now to wait for the deposit. So happy we didn't owe money with living in different states now.
Filled up my gas tank while in town where it is 20 cents cheaper than where I live.
I was reminded the other day, when I was talking to a fellow gardener, how very frugal I am in my garden. So how about a list of things I do that save me money when I grow food? Yes.
--Instead of using some kind of greenhouse situation, I plant my seeds right in their places outside and cover them with plastic gallon milk jugs with the bottoms cut off. This works perfectly in our climate, and allows me to re-use something I will throw away.
--I do not use row cover. I know a lot of people like it, but it just ends up blowing around, shredding, and getting thrown away. We use the waste hay and manure from our sheep and horse to mulch instead.
--I don't buy fertilizer. Because of the above manure.
--I do not have a drip system or any special hoses. I water with regular hoses, by hand.
--I don't buy plants. I start seeds for things I want as plants, and everything else is direct seeded.
--I don't have dedicated seed trays, shelving, or lights, instead using various recycled things, including aluminum foil "disposable" baking pans as my trays and old shop lights as grow lights.
A lot of this I do because I can't stand plastic as a general rule and seek to keep it out of my garden, but it ends up being frugal, anyway.
P.S. I don't typically post links to my blog in the comments here, but since some people have asked . . . here's a link to read more about this, for those who are interested:
https://going-country.blogspot.com/search/label/gardening%20for%20food
@kristin @ going country, I direct-seeded lettuce and radishes yesterday with the full knowledge that it's still pretty dicey here to be planting even hardy stuff, but I thought of you and was so proud of myself. lol.
@Karen., Proud of you, too. 🙂 It's a pretty low-risk proposition, given how cheap lettuce and radish seeds are. You can always re-plant if you need to.
@kristin @ going country, I love to talk frugality and I love to talk gardening, so when I read your initial question my brain went, "YES!" We also plant everything from seed (except for the rare year where things go very badly - last year we ended up buying half of our tomato plants because it was one disaster after another for our seedlings.) I did get a 4-shelf greenhouse for $20-$25 from Aldi last fall and it has prevented the types of disasters that happened last year and my tomatoes and peppers are THRIVING and it makes me so very happy. I got grow lights for a previous birthday and heating mats for Christmas gifts and these very practical gifts make me very happy. We use grass clippings to mulch. It's interesting to me to read about how others garden and to hear what works in other climates!
FFT, Good Juicy Rationalizations and Trip Prep Edition:
(1) Still trying to figure out how to spend the $1 refund the Feds owe DH and me on taxes (see my #1 in yesterday's FFT at the NCA). 🙂 But I'm confident that JASNA BFF and I can use this to justify some small extravagance while I'm in the Big Apple.
(2) Frugal fail, sort of: I used Amazon Prime Visa points to order a second pair of Cozy Earth bamboo jogger pants at the insane price of $108.
(3) But here are my good juicy rationalizations for (2): (a) I let myself use the Amazon points on rare occasions as "play money"; (b) the pair of these pants I found for $4 at the Salvation Army makes me feel like a million bucks, which is not something a short, plump, elderly woman can say often about a pair of pants; and (c) I figure that $4 + $108 = $112, for an adjusted cost of $56 per pair. 🙂
(4) I'll be packing a sandwich, drink, and snacks for the Amtrak trip Thursday, to avoid forking out for same at inflated prices en route.
(5) And the Bestest Neighbors and my next-door neighbor will be tag-teaming the house-minding responsibilities (cat, mail, houseplants, etc.).
@A. Marie, I do the same thing with our Amazon Prime Points--my husband has called that my 'mad money' and I usually use it for books (only those I either can't get through ILL, or want to have to read again), or grooming items, things like that.
@A. Marie, re: #3—I HATE buying pants, because it makes me feel like I am a freak when none fit. So congratulations! And if you divide $112 by the number of years they will last, you will see it is quite a frugal win. Now I am going to look up that brand. . .
@A. Marie,
A whole dollar! Whatever will you do with it?
Have fun on your trip! Take care and enjoy yourself!
@A. Marie, Have you seen that Steventon House is on the market? Asking just over $10 million, so check the back of the sofa.
@A. Marie, Waiting with bated breath for details of the trip.
@A. Marie,
Pants buying is the worst. Congratulations on owning two more pairs that fit well! (Maybe you can find the Salvation Army pants online and find a way to buy more when the time comes.)
@Rose, lol. I will be looking for spare change. I'm sure it is a steal at $10 million.
@Ginger Bruce, it's pretty nice though.
https://www.tatler.com/article/jane-austen-birthplace-steventon-house-for-sale
1. Found the Kindle Fire reader that was lost for a long, long time and was able to get it up and running. Now, I can read free library books via the Kindle! Already re-reading the one that I'd started back when I lost it. (More than a year ago!)
2. Bought some LED lights for the few remaining CFLs in my house. Walmart has all kinds of LEDs for very reasonable prices and even though they burn very brightly, they are of such low wattage they won't run up the electric bill. Every little bit helps.
3. Accepted an invitation to a banquet given at a fancy restaurant. It will be a free meal for me this coming Saturday night! I will have to sit through a presentation about remembering the church in my will, but if they try to sell me anything right now, I'm determined to say no; if ya ain't got it, ya ain't got it.
4. Used a restaurant gift card I'd been given last year. It was a $5 card to a new fast food place. A year ago, the card would've probably bought my whole lunch. Now, due to rising prices, it paid for a little more than half my meal -- chicken tenders, fries and a drink -- but, hey $5 is $5. And they gave me so many French fries, I took about half the fries home and ate 'em as part of my supper. Doggie bags rock!
5. Resisted the temptation to buy a green T-shirt for St. Patrick's Day and instead found something to wear from my closet. A sweatshirt with Snoopy, Woodstock and Charlie Brown on it. It was more sage green than bright green but I didn't get pinched all day. And folks liked the Peanuts characters!
1) I've been providing some guidance to my teens on getting a job, helping them with applications, etc. It's frugal in that they will be employed this summer (hopefully), which means they will be building a skill, saving money & growing their resume for future employment. My DS17 worked at this summer camp last year, and both of my teens are applying for this year. I also drove around DS16 for reffing games, so he can earn a bit of money.
2) I burned the bottom of a curry dish that I've made many times. I managed to salvage enough for dinner one night, but I do a batch cooking (cook once, eat twice), and don't feel good enough about it to serve it to my other diners. I've been having the leftovers of that for lunch.
3) I picked up avocados from a neighbor on BN, and they are the best avocados we've ever had. Turns out that they are called bacon avocados & are amazing.
4) I also picked up two containers of toilet bowl cleaner on BN, and gave away six pair of outgrown teen shorts.
5) Tracked down $10 in a erroneous toll charge. I'd gone the email route the first time, and didn't ever get it corrected, so I actually did a phone call yesterday. I dread using the phone in cases like this. But, they were quick to answer, and the woman was lovely & helpful. Double win.
6) Returned a few things I bought & didn't need, within the exchange window.
My first car was one of those infamous Ford Pintos with the exploding gas tanks that my Dad bought at a car auction. The first car I bought for myself was a two-seater silver Mazda RX-7 with a maroon interior and a stick shift. Friends came to see it and asked "But where can you put a baby's car seat?" Hah! "In YOUR car with YOUR baby in it!" I was having way too much fun ...
Very few FTs this week because it was a busy work week and I didn't go anywhere. Maybe that's 1st FT: Whenever possible, make more money than you spend. But ...
There seems to be a rash of cash register issues with prices. I had a $5 buy one get one free that wouldn't give me the "free", and a buy 3 get them for $2.49 each instead of $4.19 each episodes at the grocery store. You really need to watch out! Both issues resolved by helpful people supervising the self-checkout lanes. So if you wonder why those people seem to be just standing around, there's a reason you need them there! And not just to approve your wine purchases....
And I am continuing (time permitting) with my New Year Resolution to inventory everything last thing in this house so I stop buying things I think I'm out of when in fact I have a lifetime supply. I think I've been suffering from a Pandemic hangover of thinking there's never going to be another roll of paper towels in any store anywhere for the rest of time.
@JDinNM, My parents had the red, white and blue Bicentennial Pinto. Yes, just as attractive as you'd imagine.
@Rose, Thankfully, we all lived to tell about it.
@JDinNM, I rear-ended a Pinto on the freeway and it didn't explode. Holy guacamole, that was scary stuff! And I am drooling over your RX-7. What made you decide to move on? (a baby?)
@JDinNM,
My sister and b-i-l owned an olive green Pinto. They were hit in moving traffic in the front and both sides, but not the back. Each time it was the other driver's fault. This was, of course, before we knew about the exploding gas tanks... They got rid of it after the third hit, just because they'd had enough. Later we learned how lucky they were not to be hit in the back.
@JD, I shudder to think how many close calls there must have been.
@JDinNM, My first car purchase was a Gremlin also with the gas tank in the back and when that died I took over my sisters bright yellow pinto. I'm very lucky I never got in an accident.
@JDinNM, When I was in high school, my neighbors and I were waiting for the school bus. Our school bus stopped, and a Pinto coming in the opposite direction stopped. The coal truck behind the Pinto didn't stop. It tried to slow, but it plowed in to the Pinto which plowed into the bus. Miraculously, the Pinto's driver had only minor injuries. I still can see that collision in slow motion.
@JD, I was rear ended in a Pinto, no explosion. I think it was more of a slight possibilty, rather than a certainty.
@JDinNM, oh my gosh was just thinking about Pintos the other day. You never see them around anymore. My dad loved Pintos because he could work on them himself. My brother was rear ended but it never exploded. I learned how to drive with our last Pinto (yes, he had bought 3). I would drive it to the beach and you never knew if it was going to start, so I kept my roller skates in the back to skate home in. He finally sold it and got a Honda Civic after that summer.
My favorite frugal isn't worth much but I'm pleased at how exactly I managed it: I used $10 CVS Extra Bucks to buy $9.99 worth of candy.
I can't think of anything other than the usual - brownbag lunch, eating what I have, etc - right now. With the impending move I feel that I'm more in a spendy phase of life than a saving one.
Here's a quesiton. Is it spendy or frugal if I sell my house while I'm living it? I won't be spending on upgrades such as ripping up w2w, but I will need to hire help for staging and packing.
I have only ever sold a house while I was living in it!
@WilliamB, The last house I sold was bought by someone on the other side of the country sight unseen, for my asking price, before we even had our scheduled open house. I credit this to my selection of the very plugged in and well connected real estate agent I signed with. So my best advice is find a good realtor and let them advise you about how best to proceed in your particular housing market. They do this for a living, and will want to get you the best price at the best time. And they can arrange for any necessary staging, probably at no cost to you.
1. I used up most of the inherited yarn and ended up with 14 crochet dust/cleaning cloths. I felt more confident in my skill to crochet a winter hat with the more expensive yarn I bought for it on sale two years ago when I first picked up a crochet hook again.
2. Repaired a seam in the lining of a winter coat and found a few other weak spots that needed a few stitches to fix. Now I know where the infrequent and random feathers I find on my coat came from!
3. I diluted and scented hot process soap past to refill the foaming dispenser on the bathroom sink.
4. Celebrated our rescue dog’s 11th birthday with her favorite things: a long walk, an extra treat of freshly made yogurt and pumpkin from last fall’s pumpkins, and lots of pets and snuggle time with her humans on the sofa.
5. After comparing the prices of disposable razors and multihead replacement blades that they changed the mount for the handle I have AGAIN (grr!) I took a chance and bought a safety razor from Dollar Tree. For that price I can give it a go and if it nicks my skin in all of the ways I imagine, I’m not out a ton of money unlike the fancy safety razors I see online. So far so good after the first use but only time will tell.
Five Frugal Things here....
1. Bought next year's math curriculum on eBay so I saved $60.
2. Bought a pair of clearance snow boots for $1.00 at Walmart. And I grabbed a pair for a new niece.
3. Picked up free Bibles at Goodwill (they are always free) and am giving them away on our Buy Nothing.
4. Free cone day at DQ!
5. Sold a few more homeschool books on eBay. Feels good to earn something and clear my shelves.
A few years ago I bought a paint pen color matched to my car to take care of the bumper scratches that happen with urban parking. It works great and one of my repainted spots held up perfectly a few months ago when someone once again cut it too close parallel parking. That pen was an awesome spend at only $22.
My FFT are all the usual things on lather, rinse, repeat:
1. Mended my son's fleece sweatpants that developed a hole next to the pocket. Did a much more extensive sewing job to size down a pair of winter pajamas because I've lost a good bit of weight.
2. Cooked all our meals at home. We ate out once in February and not at all this month. It's too expensive and just aggravating.
3. Bathed and groomed our longhaired dogs myself. My son is helping me keep our super-longhaired cat groomed.
4. Continuing to declutter and take stuff to Goodwill. I make myself refrain from going inside after dropping off donations, though.
5. Paid for another out-of-state library card, which was $40.50 for a year. I had one to the Brooklyn N.Y. Public Library, but it stopped offering that service when the current cards expire. The new one is to the Houston, TX Public Library and I immediately found three books I'd been wanting to read.
For those who wonder why anyone would pay for a library card, the tiny city I live in has a library without e-books and physical books provided by donations. The big city a couple of blocks up the street charges $50 a year for non-citizens to use its library and the offerings are not that good (I tried it one year). So I slake my voracious thirst for books by getting an out-of-state card at a super library. It's many hundreds of dollars cheaper than buying books.
@Ruby, There's also openlibrary.org, which I adore.
@Ruby, I am super impressed with people who do their own dog grooming! This is the first time we've ever had a dog that needed grooming and while I give my dog baths, I've looked at him and looked at him and can't imagine trying to cut his hair on my own. I've spent more on our one dog grooming appointment than my entire family has spent on hair cuts for the entirety of our married life. Kudos to you!!
@Ruth T, I’ve groomed my 11 pound yorkie mix many times. I keep a jar of treats on hand during the process to keep him happy. Sometimes there’s a bit of shingling from the clippers, but it grows out soon enough.
I bought 5 fake candles at a moving sale for $5. I've wanted these for years and the price was right. (We aren't careful enough to use real candles.)
I bought some more art for $7 at an estate sale. (In retrospect there was another piece for $35 that I would have liked for the kitchen. Oh well.)
I bought pork shoulder on sale ($1.99/lb) and am making pulled pork to put in the freezer for emergencies.
At the same estate sale there were a bunch of shoes 1/2 a size too small for me and I DIDN'T talk myself into buying them to make them work.
We finally got library cards and were able to borrow for free a movie that we had planned to rent from Amazon.
Possibly not frugal: I bought a nice cardigan (at the estate sale) that was a little big, but due to some health stuff there is reason to think I might need some clothing that is a little bigger . . . But I do have a history of talking myself into "good deals" that are "almost perfect" but after 12 months of never wearing them, finally get re-thrifted.
1. We received a box of free energy-saving household items that I’d requested through our energy company. It includes several LED bulbs, weather stripping for doors, foam insulation for behind light switches and outlets, window weatherizing film, etc. Several of our outlets and light switches have a shocking amount of cold breeze blowing through them, once I started paying attention.
2. Redeemed a code for a free $12 fancy car wash– I was glad to be able to wash off the salt from the roads around here.
3. We had in-laws in town for a week and bought lots of foods we don’t normally eat. We sent home as much as possible with them, and have been working on finishing the food that stayed with us (yogurt really high in sugar, sour cream, bacon bits, and some tomato sauce high in sugar).
4. I’ve got the husband and I both caught up on our wellness activities that we are eligible for up to this point in the year, and we each have $175 on a debit card that can be used for vision or dental expenses. If we hit our deductible, we can then use it for any medical expenses.
5. I mended a large pile of items by hand (three things for Baby E and two for the husband), and will use a friend’s sewing machine to do some patches.
@Lindsay B, I always install foam insulation behind all the switchplates and outlets as soon as I move into a new place. They really make a difference! If you need more, usually you can find them at Walmart, Home Depot, Lowes or a hardware store. Mine came in a big package so I still have plenty left over. I've given some to friends moving into new homes or apartments.
@Fru-gal Lisa, I agree that they do make a difference! I wish I'd known about this simple option years ago. I am definitely going to be installing them all over the house.
Weekly, I find myself struggling to come up with 5 even though I practice frugality at home by doing projects ourselves, taking leftovers for work lunches, eating at home, using reusable water bottles daily, etc, etc. I find that If i write things down, then I'll remember them to post.....
1. Hubby and I sat down with mother-in-law and she taught us how to file our own taxes. Thus, we saved the cost of a tax preparer (my cousin).
2. I decorated for Easter using decorations we already have though I was tempted to get some new items. I decorate at home and at work.
3. My husband helped our friends pick up a mattress and box spring set and get it into friend's house & they treated us to a dinner of pizza.
4. We bought a ticket to a reverse raffle, but didn't end up going to the actual event. We didn't get a phone call saying we won a prize, but we also didn't spend extra money on other things like we would have if we attended.
5. We needed a temporary table for camp....one we could fold up when done using. I posted on facebook and was gifted a brand new card table and chairs set.
@Gina, I used to struggle to remember my frugal things, but I finally started keeping a running document on my computer that I update when I think of it. It's become something I really enjoy and look forward to!
1) I only bought one restaurant meal all weekend while I was traveling. It was a conference, so there were already a lot meals included. I ate an early lunch Friday before I left, and I had a late lunch at home when I returned on Sunday. The hotel gave me a free breakfast coupon because there was an issue with my room, which I enjoyed before I left for my Sunday flight home. The one meal I bought was the most giant pile of sweet potato fries I have ever seen for a late dinner on Friday night.
2) I bummed a ride with a friend back to the airport from the conference hotel on Sunday, which saved me the $50 I would have spent on an Uber. Luckily, he was leaving at the same time and going right by the airport. We're at the same institution, but I am currently on leave, which means my travel is not reimbursed. Knowing he will be paid for the mileage made me not feel bad at all. And I think we both enjoyed the company.
3) Yesterday I batched errands when I went to the grocery store. I picked up our daughter's medicine, made an amazon return, and picked the kids up from school. I ran into a mentor of mine in the Amazon line, which was a special treat.
4) I accepted an academic position for next year. It pays less than my current position, but is much closer to home. For the last two academic years I have spent $1,000/month on commuting and overnight stays. I will still have a little bit of a commute, but 75 miles is significantly cheaper to traverse than 500. And I will be home every night with my family!
5) I mended the zipper on our daughter's backpack, listened to library books for entertainment, brought my breakfast and lunch for the train today, checked our financial accounts to confirm money is moving in and out as it should, and promptly made a Thredup return.
Love the dress, Kristen.
Most of my frugal things are just habits so I seldom remember them. But there is one big one this week:
Doing taxes myself. For the past five years we have paid A LOT to have taxes professionally done. Each year the price goes up. I went through Ramsey Coaching training and one of the benefits is one year free use of their Tax Slayer software. It was pretty easy and probably worth paying for it next year.
Other frugal things include:
Eating out - my husband absolutely loves it and I don't. This month we've not done anything stupid. Yet....
Online yoga classes - I recently cancelled a long time membership at a local studio because it was hard to be at the right place and the right time to do classes. I signed up for two different online one-month-free courses in January and after trying them both out, pulled the trigger for a membership with one. I am so glad - it's great to fit a daily class into my schedule rather than figure out how to fit a scheduled class into my day. And the cost is less than 1/3 of the local studio.
Selling - a couple of things I have no use for on FaceBook marketplace.
The last frugal thing is in progress, so hopefully will be a benefit within the next few weeks:
Developing a system for cooking - Amanda's post yesterday reminded me that when I was working, I would try different systems in the past to organize but then got off track pretty quickly (unlike Amanda who works and does this beautifully). Now that I'm retired I have a lot more time to do this right. This morning I finished creating a spreadsheet page for go-to recipes listing their ingredients which will hopefully help me plan better grocery lists. Fingers crossed.....
Yay for DIY taxes!!
I used a 25% off purchase coupon at cvs to stock up on allergy meds and received $7 extra bucks that I will use to score some toiletry items for free.
I used a reward to save $10 off my grocery total at Walmart.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner taken to work from home. Enjoyed free coffee, sodas and snacks while there.
Sprinkler system repaired and amended and resulted in several heads being moved or replaced at no additional cost behind quoted price. These are normally $35 to move and $70/each brand new so we saved a couple hundred bucks here.
Eating from the freezer and pantry as much as possible. Meal planning and eating through leftovers. Baked 3 loaves of banana walnut bread this weekend, gifted on to a neighbor and received a dozen eggs from his chickens.
Ooh, you reminded me I need to return a book that got bent on its way to me.
1.) Bought some girls' socks and gloves on clearance at Walmart. $3 for 20 pairs of socks is an amazing deal! I found it funny that while I was rummaging through the bin of them at Walmart several women came up, looked through them and complained they were all for little girls. We were in the kids' section so I don't know what they expected.
2.) While at Walmart I meant to buy myself a little organizing drawer (the little 2 drawer plastic ones for a desk that fit pens and stuff.) Well, I forgot. Today at the thrift store I found one for $2 so I saved myself $8!
3.) Got myself a nice Brooks Brothers cardigan at the thrift for all of $3.
4.) Worked overtime for the first time in a while
5.) Just doing the usual of being my frugal self.
We repair rusty spots with clear acrylic nail polish first. ( chem teacher!). I know rust!
That nail polish brush is a perfect size for small spots too!
@Kristen, And I suppose any color would work, not just clear, if one is feeling artistic....
Played lots of board games (and Poker!) for frugal family fun.
Bought two kindle books with money amazon credited me for choosing slower shipping.
Enjoyed birthday freebies - a Nothing Bundt cake bundtlette, Jamba juice, Jersey Mike’s sandwich for my son, Crumbl cookie, Menchies frozen yogurt, and I’m still planning on using discounts at The Loft, Alter’d State, and Target before the end of the month.
Paid my 15 year old son $15 to do the nasty job of unclogging my bathroom sink drain. I would probably not ever do it myself, so better to pay my son than a professional. He learns a good skill and I keep my money in the family.
Saved 15% on my daughter’s prom dress by leaving reviews on Yelp and Google. Thanks to a very thoughtful salesperson for telling me about the opportunity to earn the discount. The dress was NOT frugal, but very beautiful.
I rescued a rusty 16' gate from the side of the road, sanded it, painted and mounted it in the barnyard - 239.00 savings.
The big barn door (huge) was not opening properly, I excavated under it with my new to me flat shovel and was able to remount it using the tractor. Saved me from hiring it done - minimum hourly charge of $100.
Cutting and splitting wood for next winter and beyond. This is wood my late brother had piled up like acorns all around the farm. He worked hard to cut and I will finish his job of splitting and stacking t0 save it from turning to mulch. Win for us!
I bought simpson brackets at an estate sale recently for my patio cover re-build. I bought 16 brackets for $4.00. They are $5.68 ea @ building center.
My country road neighbors got together with the local vet and we are capturing the unfixed cats that are dumped on our road from the nearest town. We will release them back to our barns. The local HS/ASPCA is booked out 9 months for neuter/spade clinics. This doctor is working with us on his office's day off, we will act as techs and take the patients home to recover. He is charging us $70 ea, which is $10 less than local HS/ASPCA. Last year we fixed 60 cats.
Rescued an antique metal kitchen cabinet from a whole house remodel to build an island in the greenhouse. I will pour the concrete top this weekend with the help from a handy friend.
@Blue Gate Farmgirl, I love that you are helping to control to control the local cat population. That's an issue dear to my heart. Abandoned and feral cats keep knocking on our door, with their little suitcases, asking us if we could provide them with three hots and a cot. We always say "Yes." We currently have three moochers with us now.
Of course, they have to agree to forego parenthood as a condition of being fed and snuggled with for the rest of their lives..
@Blue Gate Farmgirl, The animal gods bless you for taking care of those cats. One of the villages I lived in would eliminate the dog population by paying people $10 in the spring for every dead dog carcass they brought in. People ended up breeding pups so that they could kill them later for the bounty. (Not everyone, just a few no-good-nics.) It made me want to weep for those puppies.
@Lindsey, I'll be honest. I'm not an animal person. I liked our dog. I like our (outside) cat. I probably wouldn't literally weep for the puppies (though I hope they didn't suffer pain and neglect). BUT I nearly weep at the thought of living in a world with people like that.
@Lindsey, Oh, that is so sad! People used to dump animals out on the country road where my city-slicker parents built a retirement house. I was horrified to learn that their country-born and bred neighbors solved the problem with a shot gun. The neighbors thought they were doing a kindness because the abandoned pets would usually suffer an even crueler fate -- being attacked and killed by a pack of wild dogs that roamed the area. (They also shot as many of the feral dogs as they could, but there were still a bunch). They thought being shot dead was kinder. However, I really like Blue Gate Farmgirl's solution -- it's a win-win for the cats and the farmers. BGF, give my regards to the nice veterinarian for doing this, even if he is charging for his services.
1) I was able to exchange a Bath & Body candle that made me cough. It was an older candle with a lower price. BB had a sale on candles that day and I had to pay the difference of $1.
2)Decided to do an overhaul of our pantry. Got some great baskets at Goodwill. Joined their news letter and got an extra 5% off each basket. Did find a good deal on Amazon for storage containers for $22. Two day job but pantry looks great!
3) I’m rooting green onion tops. They’re sprouting nicely and I’ll pot them.
4) My SIL was going to pitch a floor lamp that was wobbly. We took it off her hands and my husband fixed its wobble ( he offered to fix it for my SIL but she just didn’t want the lamp anymore). I moved a chair from our bedroom to the den and placed the lamp behind it, added a little side stool for a drink…new seating area and no money spent.
5) Earned a free dinner to go and listen to a Medicare Benefits dinner at a new Italian restaurant we’ve been wanting to try.
How satisfying to find the hoodie dress!
We're heading out of town and it doesn't seem like a very frugal week. But, I guess that it's the other frugality that makes these extras possible so here goes.
1. This weekend my husband brought home free matching leather recliners from a customer's house that were several steps up from our current ones. 🙂 The ones we're replacing are still in good condition, so they're listed cheaply on FB and getting lots of traffic. I'm hoping they go before we leave!
2. He also brought home several working appliances and a Cub Cadet riding mower in great shape the same day (all free, the folks wanted them gone), and we've already made $75 selling one appliance. The mower just needs a battery and should go for at least $400.
3. I'm printing all of my son's graduation invitation pictures with our inkwell printer on photo paper that was given to us.
4. Found some sweet yarn, craft supplies and kits at 75% off and was able to snag enough for several charity projects and little girl gifts. I like giving children things that encourage creativity instead of just having more toys to pick up!
5. Had the unusual (for me) forethought to make a DMV appointment online last week for my son when he was applying for his learner's permit (and double check that we had the necessary paperwork!). The place was packed, but we were in an out in under 30 mins, thanks to the appointment slot and me having a printed receipt. I've never had a more fast or pleasant experience, and this site is notorious for being difficult to deal with. Yayyyyy!
During the pandemic, our DMV switched to offering appointments for everything and I think that is one of THE BEST things to result from the pandemic. Ha. Before it was always walk-in for almost everything, and man, you could sit there for hours waiting to be seen.
Appointments rock!
I think the fitness of the 2nd dress is very flattering to your figure and the color is lovely with your coloring.
Good find!
Thank you!
@Connie, I think it's the fitness of Kristen's figure that's very flattering to the dress.
I’ve had some unavoidable expenses of late, but I keep plugging along!
This week’s frugal things-
1. The new oven has a “proof” feature. (Who knew? Um, not me.) So of course I will be using this.
2. I returned a pair of sandals. I finally decided that they just weren’t comfortable enough to suit me. Returned them at the Kohl’s Amazon return to take advantage of free packaging.
3. I also returned an extra outdoor security camera & solar charger. The return was free, but since I didn’t have any packing material, I paid for that. But a $5 packing charge for a refund of over $200? Yes please.
4. I had to spend some $ for a crown to save a tooth. However, I’ll submit my bill for reimbursement from the insurance company.
5. I made a concentrated effort this week to upload coupons for the loss leaders I needed from the grocery store. It lowered some prices to pre-pandemic costs.
Have a great day!
@LDA, I was reading, in wonderment, an article to my husband about ovens that have a feature to delay the start time and then the oven shuts itself off. He stared at me and said, "Our oven does that." In 8 years of owning this oven, I had no idea...
1. Did our taxes on Turbo Tax (not the free one) but filed through my Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards account for 1000 RR points and used my Chase credit card to pay for Turbo Tax that gives a $10 reward back.
2. Got a code for a free sample of Greenies (dog dental chews) which I promptly redeemed and got a pack of 6 Greenies for my dog, shipping included! These normally average about $1/each when full price.
3. Redeemed more free product coupons for review and submitted for a rebate on ibotta, netting $1.60!
4. Sold 3 puzzles on FB marketplace for $20. I bought 2 of them at Goodwill for less than $5 each and the other one was originally $10 so I probably made about $2 overall, but got more stuff out of the house.
5. Made a couple birthday cards for friends from my stash of cardstock and scrapbook paper, used leftover new envelopes from Christmas cards.
Interesting that Orta seed starter. I haven't seen one of those before.
Other than going into town on Thursday for my dental cleaning appointment at the college I spent the week at home...puttering, puttering, puttering.
I've ended my marriage (lots of reasons), he was/is a hoarder, so I'm sorting out the house. Have taken 27 loads to Value Village since Halloween. Now sorting for a garage sale I'll hold in late June.
As far as frugal wins:
1) Borrowed stories on CD from the library to listen to while I'm puttering.
2) Didn't need to buy groceries this week.
3) The kitchen painting project finished up today. The paint was not frugal, but it is good quality and should last for years. I traded with friends to do the actual painting, while I did all the furniture moving and getting things out of the paint splatter reach. I'm always amazed when I see how neatly Kristen paints! The paint is called "Jamaica Me Crazy" and is a lovely fern sort of green. Ceiling is a sand colour. The trade was a large egg incubator & set of seed starting lights. I wasn't using the incubator any longer and they hatch chicks to sell - so it worked well for both of us.
4) Removed 2 indoor doors - this old house has had additions over the years, so has 2 sets of doors at the front. My son asked why we kept the inner door, good question. So off it came. We will reuse it on the basement entrance if it will fit - someone put an indoor bedroom door on an outside exit. No only is it flimsy, it won't hold paint on the sunny side of the house.
The 2nd door is 34" wide and is on the living room. That door will go into the hallway where there is a 44" space on an open closet space. It will need 5" built into either side, but that's okay. Closet is going to hold sewing supplies and gift wrapping things.
5) Found the finial for a lamp that belonged to my great-aunt. I misplaced it a few years ago...was debating going to an electrical shop to buy a replacement, but putting it off. Found it yesterday...tucked away right where I knew it would be...not. Up on my list of projects is to try making new shades for this lamp and one in the living room. Thinking of using maps. Bought a small glue gun at a thrift store for this project.
1. I returned my cans for the deposit. Some people return them every week, but I prefer to save them until I've got the max return amount before turning them in.
2. I returned two fixtures (that I found I didn't need when I replaced the bulbs) and a few other items.
3. I used a $10 off / $20 purchase to treat myself to lunch.
4. I promptly filed the Amazon return when they sent the wrong item. I already have the right item and will drop off the wrong one Thursday when I am next door for another errand already.
5. I refused to pay more than the price for gift cards at the school fundraiser. Happy to have them (and pay) if the price is equal to the value, but not willing to go higher.
"And since it’s an American Giant item, I feel quite confident that it’s got lots of life left in it, even though it’s secondhand."
That is what I love about these kinds of brands. Especially for children's clothes, I enjoy buying second-hand brands that I know are made to last.
1. I cooked all our meals at home. We made some extra yummy snacks over "spring break."
1b. We finally got the snowblower fixed in time for spring. We are 7 inches away from breaking the all time snow record.
2. I completed the entire mending pile. Yay!
3. I recaulked the bathroom myself.
4. I worked on a quilt using materials we have on hand.
5. I ordered the part and fixed the vacuum myself. I also noticed that my kids' favorite cereal was on sale through Amazon and ordered that at the same time.
A fresh caulk job is an amazing refresher for a bathroom. Good job, you!